Dressed For Success

Doesn't show off the outfit, but these are some powerful peeps!

It has been a big week preparing to welcome a major scholar and contributor to the civil rights movement to Madison.

This morning when I was getting ready, this song popped into my head:

Tried to make it little by little
Tried to make it bit by bit on my own.
Quit the job, the grey believers
Another town where I get close to the bone.
Whatcha gonna tell your brother?
Oh oh oh
Whatcha gonna tell your father?
I don't know!
Whatcha gonna tell your mother?
Let me go...
I'm gonna get dressed for success
Shaping me up for the big time, baby.
Get dressed for success
Shaping it up for your love yea yea yea.
I'm not afraid
A trembling flower
I'll feed your heart
And blow the dust from your eyes and
In the dark things happen faster.
I love the way you sway your hips next to mine.
I'm gonna get dressed for success
Hitting a spot for the big time, baby.
Get dressed for success
Shaping it up for your love. Look sharp!

And as usual, I was grateful for the company of my inner ipod as I did my best to dress for success today...

Everything Will Be Alright

Ok so this song is kinda creepy, but its title and refrain are my mantra today:

Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright

And here's why: I didn't get the job. It's disappointing for a number of reasons -- I was excited about the possibilities, I was excited about returning to campus -- but I also have to believe that it wasn't the right job for me, otherwise I would have gotten it.

It still feels like there are many possibilities, when it comes to both career and lovelife, I just don't know what they are or what they look like. But you know what that means, days fans: I'm pregnant with possibility. Yup.

And although most of the lyrics to this song are too weird to speak to this, these two lines are an exception:

And baby doll, I meant it every time
You don't need to compromise

Thanks guys, I agree. I sure don't.

'Cause as you said:

Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Everything will be alright
Will be alright...

Under Pressure

Everything feels a little subdued today, especially for the 40 and 50 something folks out there, with the loss of one of the most original artists of all time.

Bowie had so many looks and so many songs over the years, but it was this one that came to me today. Maybe because I am indeed feeling under pressure, what with my career path uncertain:

Pressure pushing down on me
Pressing down on you, no man ask for
Under pressure that burns a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets

It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming, "Let me out!"
Tomorrow gets me higher
Pressure on people - people on streets

Chippin' around, kick my brains 'round the floor
These are the days - it never rains but it pours
People on streets - people on streets

It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming, "Let me out!"
Tomorrow gets me higher, higher, higher...
Pressure on people - people on streets

Turned away from it all like a blind man
Sat on a fence but it don't work
Keep coming up with love but it's so slashed and torn
Why, why, why?

Love

Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking
Can't we give ourselves one more chance?
Why can't we give love that one more chance?
Why can't we give love, give love, give love, give love, give love, give love, give love, give love?..

'Cause love's such an old-fashioned word
And love dares you to care for
The people on the edge of the night
And love dares you to change our way of
Caring about ourselves
This is our last dance
This is our last dance
This is ourselves
Under pressure
Under pressure
Pressure

Lucky for me, I got to visit my therapist last week, and she helped me name what I was feeling and see the possibilities before me.

Bowie did exactly that for so many people -- may he rest in peace while the rest of us work to make something of the legacy he left behind...

Earn Enough For Us

I heard this song on the radio today:

I've been praying all the week through
At home, at work and on the bus
I've been praying I can keep you
And to earn enough for us

I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us

And it feels perfect for marking this day in so many ways:

1) When I asked my daughter if could pay her for mowing the lawn, she said: "I don't need money, Mom, you need money." Ouch.

2) Breathe for Change moved into our new office on the Square today -- and it is so awesome having space to work together downtown!

3) And last and least, I've recently become aware that my basement needs all kinds of work done to deal with the mice and other issues that make it so I don't have any desire to go down there:

Found a house that won't repair itself
With it's windows cracking
And a roof held together with holes
Just because we're on the bottom of the ladder
We shouldn't be sadder
Than others like us
Who have goals for the betterment of life
Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest
I've been praying all the week through
At home at work and on the bus
I've been praying I can keep you
And to earn enough for us

So you're saying that we're going to be three
Now, a father's what I'll be
Don't get me wrong, I'm so proud
But the belt's already tight
I'll get another job at night, but honest

I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder
We shouldn't be sadder
Than others like us
Who have goals for the betterment of life
Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest

I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
I can earn enough for us

Yes I can. I wasn't really, this Spring and Summer, but all that's changing now and I'm so glad!

Workin' For A Livin'

I've talked before about the Notes from the Universe that arrive in my inbox each morning, but this morning's really felt spot on:

What if the word "work" was changed to "dance-with-life," Sarah? And instead of it being viewed as an alternative to fishing or a way of "paying your dues," it was seen as a chance to meet a parade of new friends, discover your own untested potentials and unpolished gifts, and open avenues for abundance to come pouring into your life?

Yeah, I bet lottery sales would plummet.

Start the parade,
    The Universe

It really feels like I have begun to make this shift in my life. To come at my work from my heart -- to work on the problems that I feel most need to be addressed -- and to do it without compromising my integrity. Partnering with other smart people who want to help change what's not working in our world. It's a pretty amazing feeling.

And it's pretty diametrically opposed to the song that came to me when I was reading my Notes from the Universe:

Somedays won't end ever and somedays pass on by,
I'll be working here forever, at least until I die.
Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't
I'm supposed to get a raise next week, you know damn well I won't.

Workin' for a livin' (workin')
Workin' for a livin' (workin')
Workin' for a livin', livin' and workin'
I'm taking what they giving 'cause I'm working for a livin'.

Hey I'm not complaining 'cause I really need the work
Hitting up my buddy's got me feeling like a jerk
Hundred dollar car note, two hundred rent.
I get a check on Friday, but it's already spent.

Workin' for a livin' (workin')
Workin' for a livin' (workin')
Workin' for a livin', livin' and workin'
I'm taking what they giving 'cause I'm working for a livin'.

Ooh, workin' for a livin'
Ooh, taking what they giving
Ooh, workin' for a livin'
Ooh, ooh

Bus boy, bartender, ladies of the night
Grease monkey, ex-junky, winner of the fight
Walking on the streets, its really all the same
Selling souls, rock n' roll, any other day

No more soul selling for this chick. I'm working for myself now -- and while it is still under construction you can check out my new web site to see how things are starting to shape up...

Dude (Looks Like A Lady)

Today was a long day at work, the kind that'll try the patience of any yogi, especially one who only managed to get her butt out of bed early enough for sun salutes today, not her whole practice.

During the course of the day, someone said something that made me think. Apparently the quote is attributable to Margaret Thatcher, not the most feminine of women if you ask me, but here's what she said:

"Being in power is like being a lady if you have to say you are, you're not."

I like it. It sorta seems similar to the actions speak louder than words mantra I had going a week or two ago.

It also fired up this classic on the inner jukebox, which provided some relief to yours truly during her labors today:

Dude, dude, dude, dude looks like a lady
Dude, dude, dude, dude looks like a lady
Dude, dude, dude, dude looks like a lady
Dude, dude, dude, dude looks like a lady

Never judge a book by it's cover
or who you gonna love by your lover
Sayin' love put me wise to her love in disguise
She had the body of a Venus, Lord imagine my surprise.

So baby let me follow you down (let me take a peek dear)
Baby let me follow you down (do me, do me, do me all night)
Baby let me follow you down (turn the other cheek dear)
Baby let me follow you down (do me, do me, do me, do me)

Oo, what a funky lady
Oo, she like it, like it, like it, like that.
Oo he was a lady!