Project Me Lunatic Cafe

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My #D500 wish you were here list – project me day 495

Posted by jodene May 10, 2011 12 Comments »

Yesterday was invites for day 500. There were the offline guests and the glitch where GMail spammed those invites, but we found out soon enough. Then there are the online invites for everyone around the world to join live on Twitter and to comment on my blog in the moment.
This morning I thought it wise to find out the GMT and have totally replaced Google with my very smart friends on Twitter. So it’s GMT +2hrs!

The whole time while doing my lists of peeps I’ve had this magical list that I would give anything to make come true. The gift I give myself is knowing that it might not be at this moment, but I spend my time with each of them at some point. I also know that everyone is with me, no matter how far away.

I still can’t help wishing that time was an illusion and space was molded by the very wish we make and that you were here with me on day 500:

My dearest friend, Pandora who I just haven’t found enough time to speak to this year, but who is never further from me that a heartbeat. Thank you for all you love and support and for reminding me that you can love someone in an instant.

My China Doll who pushed me to have my tattoo and always reminds me that people around the world read my story even if they never comment. Our friendship spans decades and I only see you a handful of times in all those years, but you will always be a friend beyond measure. Thank you for always speaking your heart and pushing me to live my truth, even when you say nothing at all …

My Aussie sista! Now we have spent years doing the Facebook poke thing and wishing each other happiness, love and truth. Sometimes it feels as though you left a lifetime ago and other times I can still imagine eating your yummy food as though it were yesterday. Friendship isn’t about reading the blog or making the skype call … it’s about knowing the other person will be just fine and trusting their inner strength and wisdom. That is the gift we have given each other and I wish I could hug you thank you for that.

To my blogging friends. I can’t believe that we have only met along this 500 day journey. On Sunday, when I give thanks for my blogging journey, it will because of the precious friends I have made along the way. I find my encouragement to go on and my understanding of my place in the cyber world for each of you!
Nikki, my lunatic cafe friend! You were the first friend I ever made in the blogging world and our bond has proved to me that you don’t ever have to speak to, hug or have dinner with someone that you can call your dearest friend.
Traci and your beautiful universe … your blog makes me smile and you usually make me cry! You never miss a moment to say exactly what I need to hear and I am so looking forward to getting to know you and your beautiful family with each passing day and the open and honest tales of your life that you share with the world. Save a cowboy for me … I’m coming to visit.
My vlogging, blogging, happy friend … OneClutteredbrain! Boy am I glad that we became friends and if I had my wish I would stream you in live to share with the world what I love so very much about you. I think that’s a plan though … a guest blog! You are a ray of sunshine and I save your blogs for when I’m about to pull another gray hair out!

Then there are the people who are so close, but yet so far. Just around the corner in Durban and Cape Town and I still hold out hope that I will be standing at the door and they will walk on in on Sunday … a girl can dream.
My Robbie who has been the most amazing support throughout the entire blogging journey. You have missed a handful of days without a comment or a special message of encouragement. You shove awesomeness pills my way at every moment and you never let me stop giving up! I totally love you Yoda!
Fred and Naz … don’t worry, I’ll come to you! How could I resist with your tempting comments of hot chocolate at Gloria’s. I feel as though I have known you forever and sometimes I forget that we haven’t even met.
To my special nerd, JC who jumps to my rescue and tempts me with the Cape Town view and a whole lot of reasons to understand coding. I might be seeing you in the fairest Cape soon, but you really do deserve a toast for your absolute patience with me

Lastly … to My Irish … who doesn’t get why I blog and can’t believe people read what I have to say. For not believing I would make it to day 30 and for now not believing I have made it to day 500 … but for never leaving my side every step of the way! I’d even drink a Guinness with you if only you were here to share Sunday with me.

There are so many Twitter and Facebook followers that I want to thank for your incredible support during my journey of blogging. Today really is a tough one and I know Sunday is going to be a kleenex moment of note because just thinking of my gratitude to all of you … near and far … is beyond my expression of thanks and love!

Okay … soppy enough for a Tuesday?
Today it’s off to get the hair done (dark chocolate brown), get more RSVP’s and … um …. where’s that to-do list?

With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour

So you noticed, I’ve been keeping secrets – project me day 483

Posted by jodene April 28, 2011 4 Comments »

When I first watched Julie and Julia, one of the scenes that struck me most was when Julie and her hubby had a fight and he warned her not to blog about it. “That’s pretty impossible for a personal blogger,” was my initial reaction. Then why am I finding myself not blogging in absolute and open truth at the moment?

Okay, so the past few days have been wafty and distracting excuses for a blog, but when I was outed by my dearest friend Nikki who happens to be a personal blogger herself (The Lunatic Cafe), I had some truth to tell.

I have some truth to tell …

I don’t quite know where to start because I don’t quite know what is going on with anything and I think that’s why I’ve been so vague.

Obviously the biggest concern is that I’ve been hinting at falling apart friendships and to settle everyone’s minds, it’s not Greggie. It has a lot to do with him too though because everyone seems to throw us in the communal pot and it highly pisses me off. Do you know how many times Greg has been invited to events and I have been shocked that I wasnt and then when he gets there the persons asks where I am because they assumed that he knew the invite was for both of us. Um … no … we are not a couple! We are best friend! Huge difference people!

So … when the fight happens between Greg and Twinkletoes, my books got returned and I got kicked off the friendship list too.

I can’t explain what happens when I’m pissed off. It’s this silent processing and in that moment I am evaluating how I have been treated and what I did to be treated so unfairly. It’s pretty impossible to evaluate anything when I didn’t actually do anything. So I’m upset! I’m pissed off and I’m confused. I’m mostly confused because now he’s carrying on as if nothing happened.

Of course I didn’t want to talk about this on the blog … but then I would have to admit that I don’t have the ability or balls to be a personal blogger … and I do! And I am!

Men … she got me on that one too! I honestly don’t know what to say here either. A part of ‘project me’ is acknowledging that there is a natural part of myself that has flirt written all over it. I do know, however, that I have a different kind of flirt if I like someone and it’s pretty hard not to miss.
First it was Inked guy who was chatting to me nearly every day (for hours) … with sms’s of “have a beautiful day” and “sweet dream” and when dinner had been put off for the 5 or 6th time and I called to say “that’s it … let’s set a dinner date!”, I never heard from him again.
Wait there’s more … There’s the Prince who was so sweet and charming and making it very clear to everyone in the room that there was a ‘spark’ with “hello’s” here, there and everywhere on Skype and then all of a sudden … nothing! Well sort of nothing. Now I hear nothing more than his single life and his very vague hints at shagging other people.
No, you won’t believe it … there’s more! Mr Tweet (I have never, ever found a flirt on Twitter before) starts getting very chatty and finally says that Twitter isn’t the place. We hook up on Blackberry chat and Skype and messages are back and forth like a tennis final. He suggests on the Thursday that we meet on Saturday and when I ask for a time … I only hear from him again on Sunday! Like nothing happened! Then it goes back to “I hope to get to know you better” and … of crap … did you really have to ask about men?

I can’t really say much about work until I have settled a few things with the offers on the table, but that’s an acceptable secret I hope. It does seem that my career path is on it’s own mission and I’m slowly being guided to do what I love the most … blogging and social networking! Hold thumbs …. I really want this one.

Oh … and I haven’t posted pics of the new house because every person who offers to help hand up pictures and light fittings just doesn’t bother to materialise and I don’t want to show you until it’s all sorted … but I am frustrated with it all, that’s the truth.

I hope there are no secrets left un-spilled!

This hasn’t been easy, of course … but it has been true!

With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour

{Sponsor: The Lunatic Cafe blog} Nikki Ramsey’s project me story

Posted by jodene March 07, 2011 2 Comments »

I have a friend, I call my dragon. And as you can imagine, it’s not a very good friend. For most of my life I’ve lived with anxiety issues, OCD and depression. It makes doing normal every day things difficult. Luckily I’m a reader and escape into a magical world every chance I can. I can’t begin to tell you how much books have changed my life and my way of thinking. But I don’t just read them, I want to write them, and have been practicing now for 17 years.

All my anxiety problems hit me when I was 5 years old, pretty much over night. Over time I got to the point of getting physically sick just going grocery shopping. It made my childhood very difficult and hard to enjoy. Ok so it made most of my life before I found antidepressants, aka my happy pills, difficult and hard to enjoy. Things hit rock bottom in 2004 when I had my first miscarriage. It’s one of the darkest times in my life, and one that still has an impact on me. I became pregnant with my son just a couple of months later, but I couldn’t enjoy it. When he was a year and a half, I had a total breakdown while brushing my teeth. To this day I won’t speak of the thoughts I had, but it was like standing in a hard down pour. I was hit with one horrible thought after another. I scared my husband so badly he wouldn’t go to work the next day. A few days later I learned that I’d been right about being depressed all those years, but had no clue I also had OCD.

It’s been 5 years now, many happy pills later, and while I still deal with the anxiety and depression every day, I’m so much better than I used to be. I got to a point of not wanting to leave my house, I was sure that everyone was laughing at how over weight I’d become. Then I started imagining all the things that could happen to me and my family on road trips, even just to the grocery store. Every day became a nightmare, but once the pills kicked in that all changed. All of it. Nothing was completely gone, but it was manageable. I wasn’t 100% cured, but for the first time I felt like I was me, like I wasn’t just observing the world from above. It was the coolest thing, and even on my worst days, I can still see a difference.

Most days I don’t feel brave or like I’ve accomplished anything, most days I feel like a total failure because my depression and OCD still affects what I do. But I keep trying, because I’m determined not to let something like a mental disorder dictate my life and the mark I leave behind.

My writing has gone OCD I have to admit, if I don’t write I notice my moods turn dark and my anxiety goes on high. Like any writer, I want published, I want it badly and every day I’m a little bit closer.

Today I’m a stay at home mom of two miracle babies, having lost three in miscarriages, I’m married to a remarkable man who says nothing if I read or write all day, and I couldn’t ask for more.

Sponsors information: The Lunatic Cafe Blog

Blog URL: http://the-lunatic-cafe.blogspot.com/

On a personal note, I have been following The Lunatic Cafe blog for almost as long as I have been blogging. I remember the day I joined the blogging community and glazed over the thousands of blogs. Very few caught my eye, but only one stood out because of the truth that laced every word.

Nikki lives with a mental illness that is beyond my comprehension. Her bravery came shining through from the moment I read her first post. So did her humour. Because I believe that there is always a reason to laugh, I have been a fan of her outlook on life and an admirer of her daily attempt at living life to the full.

Although we are thousands of miles away from each other and have never heard each others voices or given each other a hug, I would like to introduce you to one of my dearest friends. Her blog is nothing short of bold, real and a joy to read.

With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour

SA’s Mr Motivator, Fred Felton, Interviews me

Posted by jodene February 21, 2011 10 Comments »

There are many reasons for social networking but one of my favourites is meeting people who inspire me to do more, try harder, dream bigger. It has become my joy to share those people with all of you and I have been waiting to introduce you to Fred.

Here’s his story and my answers to the 10 questions he asked me. I got to ask Fred my curious questions too … so check them out on his blog (after you’ve read my answers of course! )

Fred Felton is 38 years old and lives in Umhlanga Rocks. He owns the company Falcon’s Cove.

He is an avid writer and coffee addict. He has written 4 books among them 100 Motivational Tips and 100 Motivational Tips for Small Business. He has also just finished 100 Acting Tips. They are available here http://tinypay.me/s6nXlzj4

They are also available for sale on Amazon.com.
He is busy with his next book a mixture of poetry, short stories and photography.
He is also a motivational speaker and does seminars on Twitter 101, Facebook 101,
Email 101, Youtube 101, how to market online and how to write a blog.
He is also a IT consultant and Business Consultant.
Sometimes you can also find him doing voice over work and acting.

Look for him on twitter: @fredfelton

His blog is found here http://mrmotivatorfredfelton.blogspot.com/

It’s Q & A time:

1. You are quite the blogger. What is your advice for someone starting to write a blog for the first time and which blog sites should they use?

Write about what you want to say and not what you think people want to hear. There are more blogs than stars in the sky most probably and in order to be unique and stand out you have to separate yourself from the collective and shine through with the uniqueness of who you are.
I am the greatest fan of WordPress because it has so many brilliant features that help your blog become very socially versatile in the networking sphere. You don’t have to know much got go far with it! Join blogging communities … lots of them … and make friends because you never know who knows who out there

2. Sea or Forest? And Why?
The sea! I have a very special bond with sea even though I don’t live close to it. My novel (that I am in the final stages of editing) is based on a woman’s journey to self discovery when she moves to live by the after she falls ill! Ironically … I’m scared of the sea and like to splash in the baby pools that the gods have created for kids and scaredy-cats like me!

3. If you could take one book with you to a deserted island which one would it be and why?
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. It’s the most powerful book I have ever read and there are so many profound statements that I could read it forever and never get enough of the lessons and messages within this incredible story.

4. Tell us about the latest film you just saw?
I watched Tangled last night. I’m still in awe at 3D and took my glasses home because I know that eventually we’ll own a pair. Maybe Dolce & Gabbana will bring out a range of them. It was a gorgeous movie, but then Disney always is.

5. Why is twitter so amazing?
I have made some of my dearest friends through Twittering. Beyond the sphere of the power that it has a social networking tool, it turns the world into one big cocktail party and I could mingle all day. Well, it introduced you and I, didn’t it Fred?

6. What is your advice to writers?
Just write! Don’t ever delete anything you have written and don’t underestimate the power of returning to a piece of writing at the perfect time in your life.

7. Why is South Africa such a beautiful place to live in?
As much as I envy those who have white Christmas’s and get frustrated that American Country music is not beg enough here to ever feed my thirst for it, I love being South African beyond words. The vastness of cultures, most beautiful sunshine, rainbow nation and eternal hope of the people are the roots that ground me.

8. What funny things have you have seen in your neighbourhood?
I live a few blocks from Wanderers cricket stadium so I have the time of my life after a cricket match. Drunk girls and boys staggering down the road, singing songs that make no sense and shouting for the winning team even if we got our ass whipped.

9. What is this Project me all about?
It started as a daily blog that I needed to drive me to never give up on my dreams no matter how tough life got. However, project me has been a part of my life for years. It’s my commitment to myself to live each day with courage, consciousness and a sense of humour. I never, in my wildest dreams, thought that the blog would grow to what it is today and that my life would change with each passing entry. We all have a ‘project me’ and I have now expanded my blog to include a section called ‘Your Project Me Story; where others share their stories too because you never know who needs to hear exactly what you have to say. We are all that powerful.

10. Give us 10 websites you like and why do you like them?
1. Obviously I’m on Twitter all day and use it as my tool to grow my following as well as interact with some of the most inspirational people in the world.
2. Facebook is my place to escape form it all and enjoy my time with my friends and followers. I can honestly say that it sits open at the bottom of my screen the entire day.
3. I’m a social networking tart and check my stats like crazy. I challenge myself to do better and so I am always on My Scoop which is a social networking aggregator. I can check my rankings on so many different platforms and it inspires me.
4. I use a lot of images for my blog and I’m always on Stock.xchng.
5. I follow a lot of bloggers but have some of my faves and the one dearest to my heart is my friend Nikki who has a blog called Lunatic Cafe. We met on a blog networking site and are the perfect example of the gifts of blogging.
6. My business partner, Greg Arthur, is an incredible writer and through is blog ‘Oh God Knows’ I get my inspiration to be that individual.
7. If you’re waiting for a news, sports or weather site, you won’t find it. I listen to the news once a day and then I got to my other fave places like Wisdom Quotes. I also like to drop a few of those into Twitter every so often!
8. She’s the geek is a blog that inspires women through technology. It is a South African award winning blog that motivates me daily.
9. Website marketing is as vital as it sounds. It is a blog that keeps up to date on all the tools and information about marketing on the web. With a blog, trust me I need it.
10. Youtube … I get my fix of Country Music there and have to admit that I listen to a few to many songs a day, but maybe that’s where all the inspiration comes from