Thursday Thirteen #4

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Thirteen Favorite Quotes/Lines from Audrey Hepburn


If you can't tell by the theme of my site, I'm an enormous Audrey Hepburn fan. This week, as tribute to that great lady whose talents far transcended acting, a collection of my favorite quotes and lines from AUDREY HEPBURN.

1. "For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."
One of her most memorable quotes...I love it.
2. "I have no illusions about my looks. I think my face is funny."
(From Funny Face, 1957)
In real life, Audrey believed the same. Perhaps she never heard the phrase that imitation is the highest form of flattery, because women, including myself, have tried to imitate her "look" for decades.
3. "Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm. As you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself; the second is to help others."
Boy, do I wish that other people would learn this and live it. There are far too many people on this planet who just will not ever try to help themselves - let alone reach out to others.
4. "If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name!"
(From Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1961)
Stolen from my own blog's heading - one of the best lines in the film.
5. "Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future."
I aspire to live my life in this manner.
6. "Did you know that there are people who sleep with absolutely nothing on at all?"
(From Roman Holiday, 1953)
This line cracks me up...and her delivery of it is precious. I need to re-watch this film...it's been far too long since I've last seen it. Perhaps tonight!
7. "I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person."
I believe in this philosophy...if more people could just learn to laugh - and have people in their live to make that laughter possible - wouldn't we all be happier? When I made the conscious decision in my life to become a happier person, one of the only real changes I made was to laugh as often as I could!
8. "Oh, but Paris isn't for changing planes, it's for changing your outlook! For throwing open the windows and letting in... letting in la vie en rose."
(From Sabrina, 1954)
I've never been a huge fan of France, primarily based on their foreign policy and lack of military strength (How many gears does a French tank have? 4 in reverse to retreat and 1 going forward in case it is flanked from behind.) but this quote - and the character's experience overseas - could almost make me want to visit Paris!
9. "I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally; I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seemed to accomplish far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without my ever seeking it."
Profound wisdom from a WWII survivor who achieved far more than she ever expected. Could be used as inspiration for all of us to reach beyond whatever ills ail our lives and accomplish bigger and better for ourselves!
10. "The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she is treated."
(From My Fair Lady, 1964)
I have no commentary for this. Strong line, strong delivery, strong message.
11. "It's that wonderful old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second. This was the whole ethic by which I was brought up. Others matter more than you do, so 'don't fuss, dear; get on with it.'"
I struggle with this in my life.
12. "You're like this house. You suffer, you show your wounds, but you stand."
(From War and Peace, 1956)
Again, profound. I can offer no commentary, except to say that if more people would force themselves to remain standing even after the most grievous of blows, what a more wonderful place our earth would be.
13. "I don't want to be alone, I want to be left alone."
Amen!





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Where has the week gone?

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Have you all missed me? It's been a hectic week since I last posted on Monday!

On Tuesday, I spent the day at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport - flew a total of 5 hours to spend 4 hours there on the ground! The meeting was a huge success, however - it's the first Joint Leadership Team meeting I moderated as a part of my new position, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Long day, however! Left my house at 6:15 AM before it was light out...got home at 6:45 PM after the sun had already set.

And yes, I know I'm dreadfully behind on NaNo. I'm getting there, though. I promise! I WILL catch up. I'm actually working, still, on building a new schedule for myself to get enough time in to write! I read Maggie Lawson's lecture notes, in their entirety, on the plane to MSP (I wrote on the way back) and with the help of my new Change Coach, Patti, I think I'll be back on track in a jiffy!

On Wednesday, I spent the day at FSU - which is the American Airlines FlagShip University - first presenting as a part of a follow-on training session to new Internal Consultants (weird, because I was now in a position to present to the same people I went through training with initially...guess I can consider myself up to speed with my team now, huh?) and then attending our monthly core team strategic off-site meeting, which was both enjoyable and informative. Three months ago, I felt like I'd never learn enough to be on equal footing with my new team mates - now I really feel integrated! Yahoo!

Last night, I also went to pick up the glider and bed I purchased for what will be my dad's room. Traveling, traveling. Went from far east Fort Worth, where FSU is, to far southwest Fort Worth, where the glider was, to far northwest Fort Worth, where the bed was, back home to kinda-far-east Fort Worth, where I live. And just to hit 4 places in Fort Worth, I drove through a half dozen other towns. This is a crazy area!

Not having such a great time with this latest weather change. My joints are just screaming these days. More on that later...I'm planning a pity party posting for my aches and pains...beware and make sure not to read, haha! Also have a sniffle that will not go away. Dang it.

Oh, well - life's not all that bad - this week is actually falling into place quite well! And so, with that, on to my Thursday Thirteen!

Manic Monday #3

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It's just another....Manic Monday!

Great questions this week! I still owe a few people visits from last week - I promise, I'll come visit, soon!! :-)

Describe yourself in one word:
Independent

What is your favorite kitchen utensil and why?
My Pampered Chef chopper - man is that thing awesome. First, you put whatever food you want chopped under it. Next, you place the circular opening on top. Finally, you wail the shit out of the top of the chopper, mincing whatever food item to pieces. Anger management therapy plus cooking all in one. I love it.

What is the one thing that frightens you the most about growing old?
Having to have someone to take care of me. I hate that thought.

Weekend Recap and Goals 11/05

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Hi, everyone!

Hope ya'll had a great weekend and are enjoying a good start to your new week! Halfway through my Monday, I thought I'd share my recap of the weekend and last week, and my goals for this week!

First, let me just say that NASCAR weekend was just awesome. Perfect weather, good friends to share the races with, awesome neighbors in the campground - just goodness all the way around. Ended up having a little disagreement with the hubby (long story, but I was pretty ticked) but I think we've resolved it and are moving on. Still had a good weekend at TMS and can't wait until the next!

Now, a recap on last week's goals:

1. Attend Fall Leaders Conference - check!
2. NASCAR races - check!
3. NaNo starts on Thursday - I wrote on Thursday and just a teeny bit on Friday. Didn't so much work out to write at the track while camping for NASCAR - too much else going on. Check out my goals below for my catch-up plan.
4. Patti's press release - Got it posted to several sites, and she's experienced a 300% increase of hits to her web site - awesomeness. The timeline for releasing her author interview is below in my goals.
5. Blog 5x for writing blog, 2-3x for non-writing blog - check and check!
6. Finish reading The Daddy Spell galleys for Patti and write/post book review - Still reading - will complete soon! Added to this week's goals!
7. 10 freelance articles - Not quite...just simply ran out of time. Dang it.
8. Apply for a few identified ongoing freelance opportunties - I didn't get to the application phase on these, but have gathered all of the information and done all of the pre-work necessary to move forward. Added to this week's goals.
9. Plastering on staircase; more organizing upstairs; finish rebuilding desktop. No, partial, partial. Getting there, getting there! Finding out that a second parent would be joining us for the winter definitely changed what had to be done in my house last week.
10. Have a great week! CHECK!

So, I was partially successful - can't win 'em all, but I'm happy with what I did get done. On to this week's goals:

1. Swap out some furniture/decorations in upstairs bedrooms; pick up bed and glider purchased from craigslist; pick up television purchased from eBay; pick up mirror frame with new mirror glass installed - Monday evening. (This will finalize our preparations to get ready for Karen and Dad. Total spent on furniture and mirror replacement: $145. Not bad. I love craigslist/eBay!)
2. NaNoWriMo - catch up time, already! This week: the goal is 2000 words per day on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, plus 2500 on Saturday and Sunday...and for Tuesday, it's catch-up time - 5 hours on a plane to MSP and back for a 2-hour meeting (the logistics of my travel amaze me) equals 3000 words, I hope! :-)
3. Part 1: Author interview - Patti - post final version to AC after getting Patti's approval - Thursday. Part 2: Book review - Patti - post final version to ArsC - Friday.
4. Blogging - 5 posts here, 2 posts on other blog.
5. Press release/marketing - Isabel - phone conversation pending her schedule.
6. Applications - other writing jobs. MUST get done this week. We'll say Thursday night.
7. Writing - 10 freelance articles. Saturday/Sunday mornings.
8. Welcome my mother-in-law to my house! She arrives late Wednesday evening.
9. Work out final details for dad traveling down next week.
10. Have a great week!

And I hope you all have a great week as well! :-)

Tiffany

Thursday Thirteen #3

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It's that time again! I'm off to start on NaNo - can't wait to write my first few thousand words - but before I do that, since the clock has turned and the day has begun, it's THURSDAY THIRTEEN TIME!



Thirteen Random or Little Known Facts about TIFFANY ALLER


1. I work for an airline...and travel fairly often for work...and, in addition, I've flown almost a half million miles in my life for pleasure, spanning several continents and almost the entire continental United States...and I've had informal flying lessons and personally taken the controls of three different small planes...and one of my goals is to get my private pilot's license by age 30...and despite all of that, I'm TERRIFIED of flying!

2. Little known fact: when I was in college, I pledged a co-ed service fraternity called Alpha Phi Omega. I remain involved in this organization currently, as an alumni volunteer who travels around the country teaching Leadership Development courses at college campuses. Some of the colleges I've taught at include UCLA, USC, SMU, UT, Elon, UC-Irvine, UTD, UD, TWU, Drake, Creighton, U Toledo and Texas Tech. I think I'm missing a few, but can't think of them!

3. Littler known fact: at my naming ceremony when I finished the 8 weeks of pledging activities (read: hazing is a bad word and we officially don't recognize it...but boy was Hell Night - er, Finals Night - fun!) was a bit, er, embarassing, when I was tagged with the following: My Little Levi's Loving ROTC Hungry Husky. I can't remember if I may be missing a word or two, but what I do remember is that this made me die of embarassment when I had to explain it's background, a la the history written by my Big, to my fellow pledges. I think the potentially missing part had something to do with Tom Cruise. I just can't remember.

4. When I was in third grade, a dear friend died in a snowmobiling accident. That year, at Easter, I wrote a story (even then, I was a writer) about how I wanted to spend spring break visiting him in heaven. In sixth grade, I was asked to write/deliver a dedication when my elementary school opened an outdoor classroom constructed in his name. Those two writings - the story and the speech - were my first two times to be published - the local paper carried both. What an awful way to gain publication, though...although I often think of Brent, I rarely remember those writings.

5. The first two tapes that I owned as a child were the soundtracks to Cocktail and The Bodyguard. Mom bought them for me as stocking stuffers one Christmas. I think that if she'd known the storylines of those movies, I would have gotten a different gift.

6. The first two CDs that I owned, in high school, was the soundtrack to Friends and whatever Mariah Carey drivel was out at the time.

7. I plan an agenda for preparing Thanksgiving in 15 minute time slots. My friends and family make fun of me for this, but I'm 2 for 2 - I've never failed to get Thanksgiving dinner on the table for the years I've hosted at the exact time promised. Hoping to go 3 for 3 this year!

8. I'm a packrat - I save everything. Some people have favorite items of mine (ok, not necessarily favorites, but things they've seen) that they make fun of me for keeping. For Danielle, it's my wardrobe in nearly its entirety. For Mike, it's my juror's badge from 2005. Random stuff!

9. Speaking of wardrobes, I've been nearly the exact same height and weight since age 13 - I'm now 27. Since 13, my weight has fluctuated only by 10 pounds in either direction of where I am right now. That means I have a LOT of old clothes from middle and high school, plus college, that I still wear. See, I'm not the fashionista type. I'm lucky I don't go to work in sweats every day. I could honestly care less about my clothes 99% of the time. I certainly don't allot any money towards fashion but instead buy new duds when I get gift certificates or whatnot. But I consider it a damn good thing I saved so much clothing from, say, debate tournaments and music recitals, because that meant I didn't have to but much in the way of suits or work clothes when I became the corporate type 6 years ago! :-)

10. I have two stories from my past that I haven't shared with anyone I met since moving to Texas: why I left ROTC and why I have an aversion to super short hair and people named Anna. I'm finally at the point where I think I may share both with my husband. Neither reflect poorly on me or are embarassing or anything like that, but both just remind me of things that I'd rather forget, in the interest of not dwelling or being upset.

11. When I was a little kid, my mom refused to let anyone call me Tiff, saying that she'd named me Tiffany for a reason, not Tiff. To this day, I've never introduced myself to anyone, ever, as Tiff. I do scribble Tiff sometimes when writing my name on a list and I use Tiff as part of my AIM nickname, but I've never asked anyone to call me Tiff instead of Tiffany. Despite this, 99% of people call me Tiff at least occasionally. I decided, years ago, to not let this bother me...I am not my mother! :-)

12. In high school, I broke to finals at speech and debate states for Radio Announcing. In college, I became a DJ for the campus station, hosting Classic Rock and Top 40 shows. I think it'd be so neat if I could find a way to get back on the radio in present life...but I'm thinking my chances are slim, wouldn't you say?

13. In 1990, at the age of almost-10, I performed my violin at Carnegie Hall. To think: the height of my musical career, at age 10. But boy...that's something I'll never, ever forget.





And there you have it, folks. 13 totally random things!

Have a great day, ya'll!


Tiffany


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!