Dearest Thingportants and Friday Fumblings

Dear Thingportants and Friday Fumblings,

I had high hopes for you a while back.  As usual, I created you with the highest of expectations.  Ah well.  Twisty, turny, tumbly, fumbly...

Although it's been quite a while since the dawn of Friday Fumblings, I'm in the mood to move forward.  So here's some of my new thingportants, in the "dearest" way possible.

Sincerely,
DTL

Dear Star Jones,

Get over yourself.

Dear Adobo Seasoning,
You give my cooking a little something extra every time.

Dear i-pod,

Where are you?

Dear Hair,
I think you're a little too light.  Time for some lower lights.

Dear Tucker,

It's just wind, buddy.  No need to tear up our NEW bedding.

Dear Mark,
Thanks for discovering adobo seasoning!

Dear Brayden,
Happy 1st Birthday, buddy!

Dear All My Children,

You make noon so, so, so worth it!

Dear Chamomile Tea,

Thanks for your natural calming properties.

Dear Skin,
Please, please, please stop breaking out.

Dear Real Simple Magazine,

You DO make life real simple!

Dear Camera,
Where are you?

Dear Backyard,

Don't worry!  We'll spruce you up with flowers and plants very soon.

Dear Heart,
Please stop racing.

Dear Body,
Heads up.  Many runs and hikes, including 14-ers, headed your way!

Dear Jess and Jill,

You are my sisters from other mothers. (Sounds better with "brother...")

Dear ADHD,
Never mind.  I can't remember.

Dear Sense of Humor,
THANK YOU!

Dear Android Evo,
You're welcome for the new, bigger battery.

Dear Mark,
Thank you...  You know why.

Dear Holland,

Lucas and I miss you today!  Hope you're having a blast in the mountains with your family.

Dear Lucas,

I hope your 7-month-old shots aren't too traumatizing...

Dear Denver,

Thank you for the sunshine!

Dear Chicago,

My heart aches for you...

Dear Timing and Circumstances,
You are certainly peas in a most realistic pod.

Dear Family,

I wish you were closer.

Dear F,
TGI!!!!!!!

Sincerely,
-DTL

Video Confessions of an Anxiety-Prone, Scattered "Hot Mess"

It's been a rough couple of days for me.

Nothing specific happened to cause said "roughness."  It was just ME. I happened to myself.  I explain these rough patches to my family and friends as "bad brain days."  We're all prone to them.  I get that.  But if you really know me, you're aware of the inner workings of my "bad brain days," and how often they tend to occur.  (If you don't really know me, you can get caught up here.)

Well.  I've felt like the little boy in this clip, Luke, lately:



And yes...as I child, I did this very same thing because I didn't have my glasses on.  I also walked directly into a plate glass wall.  What evs...

As a result of my "bad brain days" as a child, my immediate family lovingly (Uh...I think...) used to call me "Mallory."  As in Mallory from Family Ties.  This clip explains it all:  (excuse the foreign subtitles)



Man...looking back as an adult, I'm a little offended!  Good thing Mallory was pretty  :-)

Well, over these past few days, my house has looked like a tornado hit it.  Or a bomb went off. Or -- you get the point.  My car, my purse(s), my work bag(s), etc. -- all a disaster.  My appearance, too.  My outfits, hair, makeup (or lack of) can pretty much be summed up in one word:

 HAPHAZARD.

The more messy each fragment of my life has gotten, the more anxious I have become.  Which, as my cycle of ADHD, anxiety and depression has conveyed in the past -- it's' a recipe for disaster.   My heart has been racing since Monday.  My sleep patterns have been less than desirable.  My dog, who tends to be destructive as a result of my anxiety, has torn apart our new sheets and mattress, and chewed my favorite sneakers to an unwearable state.  I was super late for my best friend's birthday party, and as a result of racing to get there, I arrived with smashed cupcakes.  The list goes on.

During these "rough patches," however, I try to keep a positive attitude and an open mind.  It's tough sometimes, but we all go through stressful periods, and I know that part of being a responsible human being means working hard to get myself back on track.  I know I'll be able to turn things around -- heck, I'm Denver's Tumbling Leaf.  I created this blog for that very reason.

However, when I stumble upon videos like this one, I can't help but get a little ticked off.  I don't care if he's a "Christian" comic.  He needs to do a little research on what life will be like for his three "ADHD kids" (AHEM...kids WITH ADHD) when they grow up.  Listen dude -- my kindergarten teacher called my parents too.  I'm still impulsive and hyperactive.  During my "bad brain days," I have to battle the guilt that comes with being late all the time...a destructive dog...smashed cupcakes...etc.  It's NOT fun, and to me, it's not funny.




Well.  I'll get off my high horse now.  I know I shouldn't let this get the best of me.  I have a wonderful life, and could have it much, much worse. I just needed to vent today.  So I did it here.

Now that I've blown off some steam, I'll remind myself (and you too!) to just...BREATHE.  It's typically what gets me through these tough spots, and ultimately helps me turn my little leaf.  I need to.  I "needtobreathe."

Enjoy this song...I absolutely adore it.

-DTL

Byrne Urban Scholars is recruiting new mentors!

Interested in learning more about becoming a mentor for Byrne Urban Scholars?  See below for information on an upcoming Open House at Breckenridge Brewery in Downtown Denver.  Hope to see you there!  

What a Difference Six Months Can Make

Getting to Know My New Mentee

It's been a little under a year since I wrote this post about becoming a mentor for an amazing Denver organization called Byrne Urban Scholars.  I had just completed the interview process and was anxiously waiting for the mentor / mentee matches to be made.  Around this time last year, my future "mentee," a.k.a., the young woman who I would mentor throughout the her high school years, remained a mystery.

I had little-to-no idea what was in store for me and my future mentee.  I was nervous, excited, and eager to take on the "mentor" role in any appropriate capacity.  Would she need help with her homework?  How could I set a good example for her?  How do I cultivate a trusting relationship with her?  I had so many questions... First and foremost, however, I was just eager to learn her name!  To shake her hand.  And of course, if the situation called for it, to give her a big, annoying "Chrissy-style" hug.

I met Juanita in August of 2010.  I clearly remember driving anxiously to her house to meet with her, her family and our case manager.  I was especially apprehensive because I was told that her parents' first language was Spanish, and I only knew enough Spanish to say "hello," "thank you," and to ask, "Where's the bathroom?"  In the back of my head though, I knew it was perfectly normal to have butterflies. I promised myself I'd keep a level head and try to just be "present" for the initial meeting. So when I pulled up to her house, I took a deep breath, slowly got out of the car, and gladly left the butterflies in the back seat.

I quickly realized that I had nothing at all to be nervous about.  Her family welcomed me with open arms, and our case manager did an excellent job translating for us so we all felt at ease.  I felt a comforting sense of closeness between the beautiful fifteen-year-old sitting across from me, and her parents and siblings.  Although it was a quick meeting and Juanita was fairly shy, I could tell that the next three years, though challenging, would be filled with fun, excitement and meaning.

Since August, I've learned that although Juanita can be quiet sometimes, she isn't really all that shy.  She's not afraid to take risks, and she is very successful in school.  She just started her first after-school job, and she has amazing friends and family.  At first, I struggled with knowing exactly how to be a good mentor to her, because, well, she's just a downright wonderful young woman.  She is kind, respectful, and has a strong work ethic.  Her grades are great, and she is very motivated to go on to college.

Eventually, I figured out that I could help her by simply letting her know I'll be here for her if she ever needs me.  Whether it's now, next year, throughout college or beyond -- I'll be available.  I can support, advocate or inspire.  Most importantly though, I can just "be."

Open House Please join us at our Annual Open House!     Thursday, March 24th   5:30pm ~ 8:00pm Breckenridge Brewery 2220 Blake Street ~ Denver 80205 This fun evening event is a great way to mix and mingle with other Byrne Urban Scholars supporters as well as learn more about our programs. Don't miss our brief presentation by a couple of our outstanding graduates who will share how being an Urban Scholar impacted their lives.    RSVP to Susan Duncombe at susand@byrneurbanscholars.org.  Bring a friend! Join us for a drink and some appetizers.   We look forward to seeing you there!

"I don't need incentive."

I'm absolutely beaming with pride.

As I mentioned in a few previous posts, I'm a mentor for a sophomore high school girl.  Tonight we celebrated her hard work in school and impressive first semester GPA with a pizza dinner. 

As we were sitting at the table with our case manager and a few other mentors and mentees, we casually chatted about how the job interview went that she today had after school.  She described being a bit nervous, but it helped that she was interviewed by a peer.  She also mentioned that the organization offers a higher wage for students with good grades. 

My initial response was, "Wow!  What great incentive to work hard in school and get good grades."
Her blunt and realistic reciprocation:  "I don't need incentive."

I can't really describe how "wise-beyond-her-years" that sounded to me.  This fifteen-year-old is confident and driven, and knows what she wants for her future.  To her, getting good grades and working hard is simply not an option.  It's just what needs to be done.

To say that I'm impressed would truly be an understatement.

-DTL

To Juanita:
(Keep it up, girl...and the higher wage will be yours, throughout your remaining years of high school and beyond!)

bbbcraft - gifts, inspiration and more

Perhaps one day I'll start a crafting blog.  Or maybe I'll write a book.  A cookbook, perhaps...or a book of my photographs (once I actually learn something about photography!).  Or...  or...
 
ahh...so many ideas, very little attention span...

Until I sort out my future creative endeavors, I intend to live vicariously through blogs such as bbbcraft. Friend Anna Blessing and her sisters Amy and Sarah are the crafty creators of this breezy blog. 

If you're in the mood for some one-of-a-kind gift ideas, or are simply searching for creative inspiration, scroll through the short-and-oh-so-sweet posts featuring their whimsical and stylish craft projects, including these adorable pinecone firestarters:

Photo credit:   http://bbbcraft.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-bbbcraft-diy-on-designsponge-today.html

  (Check out Design*Sponge for a diy how-to!)

Even though those pretty pinecones easily "sparked" my creative itch, I vow to stick to DTL's intended blog platform.  For now, anyway...

-DTL