Bind & CrEATe

Admittedly, I’m kinda writing this post to impress my old friend Melissa, who studies all sorts of environmental stuff and endangered species. She would delight in what took place this morning, and I’m thinking you all might too. As part of my science writing position, I sometimes get to cover really cool stories about animals. Namely, peregrine falcons - a rare bird (once endangered) that lives atop buildings or rooftops. They mate for life (awww) after participating in a courtship flight, otherwise known as a beautifully in-synch flying date in the sky. Then, they find a place to live where they’ll stay for quite some time. We’ve got a set of birds atop a large building on campus, and they recently hatched three baby chicks. Today, I attended the “banding of the birds,” a ceremony of sorts in which the birds receive bracelets around their ankles so they can be tracked in the wild.

I sent this to my friend Kelly who was horrified. I guess I can see why – what a mouth on that guy. When they’re chicks, the birds’ white feathers are bushy and crazy. Soon enough, those feathers will fall out to expose a brown, beautiful coat. Below is a photo of the banding process, a little more up-close. Notice the metal bracelet. I swear, no birds were hurt in this process. The Game Commission knows their stuff. Though I’m sure none of these birds were pleased about having to come inside. They don’t really like humans.

Now it’s back to the hum-drum computer screen and writing. But at least I got out this morning and it was a bit exciting! I anticipate more field trips in my future.

Today, in a fit of near rage, I deactivated Facebook. The post in particular that sparked it? A girl I interned with in 2005 got engaged. I haven’t talked to her since 2005, when we both parted ways with Washington, D.C. When I logged on, I told myself that I was one engagement/marriage/baby picture away from deactivating my account, and Brandii (yes, spelled with two i’s) was my catalyst. After a quick g-chat with my friend Kelly (a fellow deactivator), I took the final step and clicked the button. Poof. In five seconds, nearly 1,000 friends and over 1,000 photos were temporarily erased (because, after all, it’s the internet – and things live here forever).

I told Frankie about my decision, which inspired this post. She confirmed my belief that it wasn’t necessarily jealousy that caused me to log-off, but instead the constant self promotion that Facebook encourages. Trust me, I’m happy for my friends who get engaged, get married, or have a baby. But  I don’t want to feel like I know the baby before I even hold it. I don’t want to feel like I was at a wedding in which I wasn’t invited. And I especially don’t want to see 1,000 pictures of a couple kissing. I’m sorry, but I don’t.

I feel a little hypocritical in a way because I used to post on Facebook quite a bit. I would log my runs, share pictures of my cat, and count down the days until a vacation. I liked using it as a mechanism for feedback: where should I make for dinner tonight? Should I take my cat to the vet because of this funky eye thing? Also, as a mechanism for bragging: Look at how many concerts I’m going to this summer; I’m so cool, don’t you think? I remember the feedback I used to receive from posting my crafting creations or books I’d made, and that made me feel good, valued, and a little more special.

However, over the past few weeks, I’ve felt much less inclined to share anything about my personal life. Things happen in which you don’t feel like sharing. It sort of takes away from the specialness in that moment. And, when there are more uncertain times (like I’m dealing with now), I start comparing my life to others and stop liking the way it looks – even though I shouldn’t make the comparison in the first place. My life is my life, and it is a good one. On top of that, the amount of people on my friends list I didn’t talk to became completely overwhelming. And so, I had to pull the plug.

I already feel better. A time suck: gone. The constant knowledge of others: gone. I feel a sort of freedom in this act, though I’m sure, to some degree, I will miss the ease in which I could stay in touch with people.

But is staying in touch through Facebook a real, honest form of connection? I’m not sure. Does me posting on a blog about it make me less authentic in some way, since I’m still using the internet? Gosh, I don’t know.

Leave it to me to put meaning behind just about everything.

ARTicipate is an eight week artistic journey that my friend Frankie and I have decided to embark on. We hope that you will join us as we create something each week based on a word prompt.

This week our prompt word is planned around the upcoming holiday, but the remainder of the words are going to be chosen at random (and pulled from a hat). If you have a blog, please post what you’ve created for the challenge. On Wednesdays, Frankie will post a recap of what everyone’s done for the previous week. (Note: If you don’t have a blog and choose to ARTicipate - email Frankie at tobefrankblog@gmail.com with photos and a description of what you’ve done, and she’ll include them in the recap post.)

ARTicipate is about challenging creatives into action, without the competition that challenge implies. The joy of creating is in the act – not necessarily the product. We hope you join us this week as we explore the prompt: Memorial. And remember, all forms of media are welcome. I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!

The next word will be chosen randomly Monday, June 4, and we’ll post our “Memorial” creations that day. Please join us in posting your creations on or before that Monday (or email us your photos/descriptions if you don’t have a blog). We are allotting an extra week for this prompt since it falls over a holiday weekend! A full round-up of Memorial projects will be posted Wednesday, June 6. Happy Creating!

There is something about anticipation. An enthusiastic wonder, a long-awaited arrival, excitement in the unexpected. The way you wait for something to happen for so long and then finally: it emerges from you, into the world.

There are the people who get you there. Those active participants. Friends who offer encouragement, loved ones who constantly love, and mentors who never fail to inspire you.

In all of this, there is a place for art, and there is a place for creation.

Together with my friend Frankie, I am embarking on an 8-week creative exploration, and I want you to join us. For 8 weeks, we will participate – and anticipate – on a weekly basis just how much our hands can do. We will work with new and old materials, different mediums, and crafts we may never have seen before. More importantly, we will work with each other and share our successes, failures, and creative journeys.

The key to ARTicipate is simple: Choose to participate. Choose to anticipate. Choose to create.

The Details

Every Monday, Frankie and I will post a word or a theme. Crafters and artists will then have one week to complete a craft/art project based on the word. You can make anything from a piece of jewelry to a painting or a baked good. Writers are encouraged to participate, as well. Whatever your medium, you are welcome here.

By the following Monday, you can post your craft/project on your own blog, or if you don’t have a blog, you can send your work to Frankie, and we will post for you. Every week, Frankie will post a round-up linking to all of the projects, so be sure to email her at tobefrankblog@gmail.com or leave a comment with a link to your post when your post is up.

If it seems daunting, don’t worry. It’s only 8 weeks of your life. The length of a class, and that’s how we’re treating this. Because for both Frankie and me, deadlines keep us working. And we’re hoping they do the same for you.

We hope you’ll join us on our journey, whether you choose to do so weekly, or just once. We look forward to having you on this creative exploration, and we hope it leaves you with a sense of articipation when it’s over.

PS: A very special thank you to Frankie’s friend Shellby for creating our button! Neither of us are the best at graphic design and Shellby did us a favor by creating this beautiful button. Feel free to add it to your blog’s sidebar by copying and pasting the code below into a widget if you’re going to ARTicipate!

<p style=”text-align: center;”><a href=”http://tobefrankblog.wordpress.com/2012/05/introducing-articipate/” target=”_blank”><img title=”Final Button sized” src=”http://tobefrankblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/final-button-sized2.jpg” alt=”" width=”200″ height=”200″ /></a>

Somehow I managed to forget about blogging for nearly two weeks. That will happen when you’re facing the post-race blues. It’s now been over a week since I conquered my second half marathon in Pittsburgh, and I’m not sure what’s next. I’m not sure what to do with myself, how to fill this time. I do know, however, that I’m proud of myself. I’m proud of myself for continuing to run when I wanted to quit. For not giving up despite how much the heat drug me down. For not being *too* hard on myself when I was 10 minutes slower than I wanted. For looking this chipper at 6 a.m.

I know I need to get a move on. Pick some new hobbies for myself. Come up with some new projects for the summer. Quiet my mind in a different way. But I miss running already. After a week off, I miss the therapy it provided and the strength it gave me. So, I’m putting on those shoes again today – and getting out there.

Stay tuned for lots of changes. They are in the air. Crafting challenges. School endeavors. New sports. I am ready to tackle this summer with grace & strength. And running – well that’s coming with me.

More half marathon photos to come. Thanks to everyone for your support over the past several months. I couldn’t have done it without you.