Just Do It! No, seriously... go ahead!

Have you ever jumped off a diving board? I have. A few times. Most often, I end up in a spectacular belly-flop, writhing in pain for a few minutes, and then cursing myself and swearing that I'll never do it again. Until the next time, that is. There's always that one time though, where I make a perfect dive, and slice through the water, sharp as a blade, and surface, feeling like I've just won the freaking Olympics. Those dives are the best. I revel in those, perhaps because they happen so infrequently. It's sort of like going ahead, and trying something that you've never done before. Chances are, you're going to fail miserably, and feel like a major dork, but maybe, just maybe, that one time you do it, you'll come out on top, and feel like Leo DiCaprio did on that damned boat. You know, before it sank, and he along with it.

If you'll recall, my last post was about inspiration. I think. I might've been drinking when I wrote it, so I'm not too sure, to be honest. But, all that talk of things that blow my fur back got me to thinking. What if, this time, I take a giant leap off the diving board, and not worry if my bathing suit falls off? So, with that in mind, I'm going to do it. Not actually dive, but rather, I'm going to step out of my considerable comfort zone, and do something new. In this case, it's going to be starting a new career path, hopefully. In May of this year, I'm going to embark on a Visual Design program, with a specialization in Interior Design. I know. I'm just as shocked as you are. Like I said last time, I love messing around with colours, and fabrics, and art work, and paint, and everything that goes with, even if it is on a shoe-string budget most of the time. I love making things pretty AND functional. (which, sadly, my kitchen is only one of the two currently. Who designs a kitchen with only one and a half drawers, anyway?) I'm constantly going to friends homes, and itching to re-hang their photos and pictures to a proper height. Which, in case you're wondering, is about 58" from the centre of the piece to the floor. Usually. It depends on where it's hung. Doesn't it always depends on how it's hung? So, I thought I would make it official, and actually get an education in the process. Ultimately, I would love to be able to design interiors for people, but for now, I'm aspiring to staging homes for the real estate market. Well, that's in addition to actually passing the program. Baby steps, right?
I'm as nervous as hell, but so excited at the thought of making a dream a reality. At least a dream that doesn't involve standing in front of JLo, Steven Tyler and that other guy... Yeah, like THAT'S gonna happen.

I also thought, in keeping with actually having a blog, that I would track my progress. So, please expect to hear, in the coming months, plenty of commentary on my journey. You know it's going to make you laugh, even if it's only because I showed you some of my work. ;)

Inspired? Eh, maybe...

Well, the cold weather has hit with a vengeance, and along with it, my motivation for accomplishing, well, anything at this point. I think Mother Nature must've finally realized that it's supposed to be cold, and she's making up for the last two and a half months by giving it to us all in one shot. Minus 30 doesn't really inspire anyone to do anything, other than occasionally turn up the heat. I think I almost froze my tongue to the window glass this morning, and I didn't even think such a thing was possible. On the upshot, the power and gas companies must be loving this whole "Christmas in January" thing.

At any rate, seeing as I'm going to accomplish 2/5 of nothing today, I started thinking about what really does inspire me. At this point, I really can't think of anything. How sad is that? Does eating count? I'm trying to think if I've ever really been inspired by anything, other than a plate of bison tartare that I once had the delight of tucking into. I was inspired to order more. Which I did.

There really isn't a lot that I'm extremely passionate about, although I'm sure if you ask my husband, he'll tell you that yelling at speeders on our street ranks pretty high. Actually, I am pretty passionate about our little community, to the point where I now sit on three separate boards in the area. On the days where I think I can do anything (which, at this point, let's admit it, isn't bloody likely), I aspire to one day being a City Councillor. I've always wanted a job where people can criticize my every move, and lambaste me on a daily basis. I mean, I can do that now, being a Mother, but I just don't get paid for it.

The other thing that gets my blood pumping, to my husband's EXTREME chagrin, is home renovation and decor. I hope to one day find that hidden gem of a house, just crying out for my fabulous sense of design and vision. (at least I "think" that's what it's crying out for. It might just be that it sees me coming and doesn't have anywhere to run.) I'd like to think that I have a good sense of what works and what doesn't as far as home style is concerned. My wardrobe is another matter entirely.
We've now renovated two homes, and the second one still isn't done. There's a full-on kitchen reno coming in the next couple years, and I already find myself planning and scheming as to what mayhem I can come up with. My husband is already stocking the wine and Ativan. In a perfect world, I think I would do reno and design for a living. Sadly though, I'm currently stuck just playing with my own home. Still, you never know what can happen in a year.

So, that's what makes me tick, other than a good bottle of wine and some foie gras pate, of course. What inspires you? Anything? What really floats your boat these days? I'm genuinely curious. Go figure.