A Re-thought of My Blogging Strategy

1. I need a camera.
2. I need to take pictures with said camera.

Much to my surprise, I’ve become a blog follower; and, not so much to my surprise, some of my favorite entries by bloggers are detailed and/or built around pictures of their lives, landscapes or appropriate cuddly pictures of kittens and puppies (they’re always appropriate).  This became a highlighted interest when my Pin It button wouldn’t work to connect LifeMuses to my Pinterest account, due to the lack of any pictures to attach it.  Gah!  Not Pinterest-worthy?  Indeed, I’ve hit a need, so the appropriate budget entry for “work-related” item will go forth.

In the meantime, here's what I have to offer from the archives:

Credit to Emily Berglund

Sisters of varying degrees (all younger, though not all shorter!)

The staff of North Hedges, as of March 2012... long live those lost as the year went on... RIP Scott, Allie, Megan, Dakota and Josh!

Not a whole lot of change in the years since this was taken...

A Little Unrefined Rant

I didn't proof, edit or even pre-think this post.  In fact, I solemnly swear I will not do any such thing after I've written it.

I'm curious as to what the result will be.

Today, I was accused of piling up effects and symptoms of normal day-to-day life and attributing them to being sick; of course, that was my goal, to convince someone else to be sympathetic and compassionate when it's unnecessary.  I even went so far as to draw black circles under my eyes and talk in a deep raspy voice... kidding.  But really, exhibiting signs of hypochondriac tendencies?  Not really my thing.  Or maybe it is.

Also, yesterday's desk shift dawned a provoking conversation about abrasive name-calling and how unnecessary it is.  It's never easy to stay strong to what you truly believe in.  As Mother Teresa said,

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.

FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.

BE KIND ANYWAY.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.

BE HONEST ANYWAY.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.

BE HAPPY ANYWAY.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.

DO GOOD ANYWAY.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.

GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.

IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.

Even though I walked away from that conversation a little bruised and battered, what a quaint reminder of the reason to do what we do, and by 'do' I mean doing good, and by 'we' I mean all who endeavor, as I do, to hold themselves to a higher standard of treatment and treating others.

I realize this is a deep thought.  Today is a deep day; a deep, small-cup-of-green-tea kinda day.

The Kissing Disease

Hello, and welcome to the latest update on Kassi’s current health condition: MONO BABY! Today we’ll be discussing the how, what, and why of this perfectly-timed onset of a virus aimed at disrupting schedules and lives everywhere.  In a poem, or a song if you’re so inclined to sing it.  (Warning: some whining may be included in the publishing of this blog.)

By the way, latest pet peeve: my dinosaur computer (Dell Inspiron 1521 model, for the techy-friends) has no knowledge of what it means to CONNECT TO THE WI-FI at this fine coffee shop establishment I made a special trip to visit today… hence why I’m writing a blog instead of doing my statistics homework. Argh!

If I had a motto word for today, it would be ANGSTY.

Here it goes:

On a rainy day, just like today

I wandered up the brick-layed Mall

Headed to the infamous

Student Health- the bane of all.

Armed with homework, books and lists

I wandered in, aware

Once I set foot, I wouldn’t be free

For hours- but my time, sure, I’ll share.

There I sat, pricked and prodded

Awaiting the results

Thinking, “No big deal! Just an infection…

“Or a cold, some health protection.”

And yet, to no avail.

Handed a pamphlet and sent on my way,

I called my mom to say,

“Your eldest daughter is contaminated

Sentenced to a diet of soup and vegetation…

Lame movies, sleep and liquids are recommended.”

The what is easily explained:

Mono, ‘the kissing disease’, is a throat inflamed

Fevers, body aches and intense fatigue

Exhaustion that’d put anyone out of their league.

And the how?  Well, not so easy

You see, this little lady has been anything but ‘sleazy’

No boyfriends, no kissin’ for quite awhile

But I am guilty for swapping a taste for a smile,

So ‘share-rs’ beware, listen to this mono scare

Having this virus just ain’t fair.

Why?  Oh why, oh why, oh why

What I’ve concluded is that this is a test

Of my ability, my time management and patience to rest

A season to lay low, sleep and study

Occasionally whine, and go see a buddy.

But more than that, I feel this could be

A passing onset of what could NOT be

For our health is our lifeblood, powers our energy

And for me, I know, I’m not joining the clergy,

No… I NEED MOVEMENT! BUSY-NESS! TIME! ELATION!

I desire enjoyment to the fullest of this fine creation!

Nothing will slow me down, not mono or illness

I refuse to be delayed on this interesting path of success.

So, there’s my story, finely put

Angsty I write this, but by golly

I’ll put my mouth over my foot

And likely do the things I shouldn’t

In the condition of a sickly student…

I have things to do, and my time is prudent!

Awakening

I am refreshed; awakened; renewed.  The dawning of another place to record written words, so eloquently and yet in the raw, is exquisitely feeding into the depth of my soul. I am inspired, again.  I am free to embrace all that is me. I am woman, I am created, I am loved, and I want to SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!

This little opportunity has come so quietly, and yet reassuringly meant to be.  My mind buzzed with words, stories, travesties of life for so many of my young teenage years.  With each book I finished, especially those that touched the deep, the raw emotion of a character, I wanted to join the forces of writers and embark on the creativity so longed for; but, to no avail.  For as much as I desired these things, I simply had no experience to write from.  In fact, I still don’t, not really.  I’ve lived more than some and less than many more in the 20 ½ years here, on this earth.  Still, here I am.  Writing a blog.  With incomplete sentences and nearly exaggerated posts… ah, freedom!

Here’s some people and websites that inspire me:

www.goodwomenproject.com

www.nishhappens.com

http://www.youtube.com/user/joyeggerichs

Prime Time with God emails, from www.churchgrowth.org

www.pinterest.com

What’s the commonality of all these, you ask?  They’re people, organizations and outlets for the creative and inspirational nature that I long to convey.  Folks, whatever track of life we’re on, we’re here for a purpose.  I want to discover mine, continue to discover it and dive deep into the heart of it.

What about you?

A Tidbit of Me

An introduction: that’s the goal of this little blurb, in all the simple moments and joys of daily life.  Once, someone told me I would one day embody the characteristics of a Proverbs 31 woman (for those unknowing, Google it… it’s a commonly-referred to ideal, especially among Christian women); heck, I’ll claim it!  She’s a collector of intrinsic characteristics, a model of servant-hood and cherished by her family and her Lord (more on faith in another post).  My train of thought was leading to the important phrasing of “one day”, a day seemingly far away, so for the now I’ll collect as many memories and moments as I can in hopes of taking on the honor of that title.

To be honest, the productivity of creating and writing a few excerpts today is directly proportional to the lack of effort applied to my statistics homework and Introduction to Business paper I must finish in just a few hours.  That’s right, folks: I’d rather pass up my academic gains to mess around with musing and writing. In fact, I love writing. I’m a Business-Accounting major, and I LOVE TO WRITE. Blasphemy!  Aren’t the number-crunchers supposed to abhor the word-writers?  Indeed, I’m walking the fence of creativity and structure, and the risk is indelibly delicious.  Folks from either side may be confused, as am I.

You know what, though?  I’m going to use bad grammar, be completely scatter-brained and post whatever and whenever I like, because I was exquisitely created to do so and I will embrace the creation of ME.  Have you done that lately?  After all, you’re just as incredibly unique as I am, whether or not your heart believes in a Creator or you subscribe to a different method of understanding our world. Who we are is undeniably different than the person next to us.

Enough with that rabbit trail… back to introducing me.  Hello!  My name is Kassandra Jo Putnam, a child of the 90’s and two parents with 20+ years of military service.  I’m a native Montanan with high hopes of escape into the rest of the world, whether permanently or just on adventure.  I’m a student, and at the same time a Resident Advisor, and my job is a consistent reminder of how cool all our life paths are (more on my job later).  I’m undeniably shorter than the average person, I love the outdoors and yet am often found curled up with a cup o’ tea and either a good book or some accounting homework.  My faith in an awesome God completely defines my life.  I’m currently facing daily life single and unattached, though I hardly look at it that way; singlehood is an incredible season of defining yourself and chasing after adventures and dreams better suited for an independent lifestyle, a viewpoint of which I strive towards daily.

I laugh, a lot J Joy abounds in every situation I seem to get myself into.  For instance, let me share some funny things about today: I contemplated every possibility I could to get the crayfish out of my fish tank without touching it, including the use of tongs, a brave neighbor and building a makeshift ladder for its use… I tried to learn Portuguese by eaves-dropping on some residents (to no avail, but if you’re reading this, thanks for the beautiful conversation about whatever you were discussing)… another resident told me about her recent dissection of a sample of Bubonic plague (it still exists, I had no idea!)…and it’s only mid-afternoon.  I love this life!

I hope to never offend a reader, though offense seems born of two clashing ideals... and clash is guaranteed to happen at some point or another.  Please, give me a piece of your mind; disagree; debate.  I want to hear from you, know you and be friends with you!

And now, onto the rest of the day…

¡Salud!

“Hello, and welcome to my blog”, “Hey! You’re visiting my blog!”, “Let’s blog together”… Never, in the roughly 7,474 (as a number-lover, this is a lovely sign of blessing) days my soul has lived on this earth, would I have guessed that on this rainy Wednesday morning I’d be starting a blog. It’s not monumental, but it is significant in some way, mostly due to the new title I’ve taken: BLOGGER.

In this paragraph, I’ll tell you about what I expect to share with you in this online public diary. Ready? It is in this personally formatted page that I wish to share my job, my faith, my family, my love life (candidly), my college experience… my dreams, hopes, and adventures… and the absolutely hilarious moments I seem to encounter on a regular basis. I’ve been told I’m joyful, but really, it’s more a reflection of one very simple enjoyment of today. This day, and every day, I pray for the desire to do one thing: to live fully and with reckless abandon.

I’ll probably make fun of blogging too.  Heck, let’s face it: An online network of bored blogger-followers (not to judge… I am one, too) drinking in the daily life muses of someone else? Ha! The very idea cracks a smile across my face as I realize I’m immersed in the culture with the dawning of this public musing of my own life.

So, without further ado… here we go!