I See What You Meme

This week, I started something pretty amazing.  I am honored to have been selected in ENLP Cohort 7. We're a rowdy bunch! the latest class of the Emerging Nonprofit Leaders Program  (ENLP) run by the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence here in Richmond.  This 9 month program allows me to go through leadership training with a cohort of 19 other nonprofit leaders serving a variety of organizations in the RVA.  Every month, I will take a day (or so) out of my work schedule to learn more about leadership, about my strengths and challenges as a leader, and about the Richmond nonprofit community as a whole.   I couldn't do this without the blessing and support of my bosses at Commonwealth Autism Service .  I am the third employee from our organization to go through the program and I am grateful that they have allowed me both the time away from work and the funds to make this professional development possible.  I'm 40 feet in the air (on the left) ...

It seems that there is a need for more hours in the day.  I just can't fit it all in.  Unfortunately, the writing has taken a hit these days.   Here is a small review of recent events: Starting next week, I will be taking on my new role as principal of The Dominion School. I was still tying up some loose ends with other projects but the gears are in motion.  There is so much to be done but I am super excited.   The book events continue.  I know that some people were frustrated by a delay in book delivery from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  I think we have worked out the kinks in the warehouse distribution so if you have placed an order, it should arrive shortly.  I am slowly but surely lining up book signings and appearances into the fall.     Me! At the Ashland Strawberry Faire! A new reader buys a copy and enjoys a beverage at the Starbucks signing.   The biggest news I heard today is that the b...

The past week has seen such a whirlwind of activity, I almost forgot to share another major announcement.  As most of you know, when I'm not leading the uber-glamorous life of a newly published author or trying to keep things organized at CJSTUF , you can find me working at Commonwealth Autism Service .  As challenging as my job can be, I really love it.   Recently, I was offered a new challenge at work.  Our agency has been working with a local private school in the area for a few years now. Because of some developments in the past year, Commonwealth Autism Service has taken on a larger role in operating the school.  As of July 1st, not only will the Dominion School be operated by CAS but I was selected to be the principal.   Yes. You heard that correctly.  I am going to be the principal of a school.   Isn't that crazy? First of all, I'm honored that my boss and the others at my agency feel so strongly that I was the best candidate ...

While strolling ( not  trolling) through some of my favorite blogs, I found a fun new meme on Avitable's website.  It seems he got the idea from The Verdant Dude . The gist of the meme is to put each letter of the alphabet into your browser and see what website comes up. If you're working in Chrome or Firefox, you will get a pretty accurate collection of your most frequently visited websites.  As I type this, I haven't even tried it yet so I have no idea  what is going to come up. I promise to share my results just as I find them. Drum roll please... A - The official ABC website .  I will admit that I have been catching up on Desperate Housewives lately. How is it all going to end? B - The CJSTUF blog  (since the official web address is blog.cjstuf.org) C - The CJSTUF website . No surprise there.   D -Google Docs.  I use it a lot for work.  E -My Eagle Rare Life entry . All that daily voting certainly paid off! F -Th...

I was sorting through the cups in the kitchen the other day and realized just how much my collection of mugs told a story of my life.  Today, for a change of pace, we have a photo blog: This might be one of the oldest mugs in the cabinet, dating back from my pig collecting days .   I don't have to add extra sugar to my coffee when I use the Precious Moments mug. I actually have been given two of these over the years.  The back contains an acrostic poem on my name:    R efreshing A dventurous C harming H armonious E ager L ight-hearted It's almost like it was custom designed for me.   When I'm not writing or working on the Foundation, I'm working for Commonwealth Autism Service .  It's the job that pays the bills but it's also one of my dream jobs .  I'm a lucky girl.   Roger is actually the one who drives the Saturn in the family. Our household is on our third Saturn. Not sure what we will do when the latest ...

This has been a difficult week but it ended well. On Sunday, I heard the news that a child was missing in the woods north of our house.  Not much later, I learned that the child in question was Robert Wood, Jr. For those of you living outside the Richmond area, Robert is an 8-year old with autism. He is nonverbal and his skills are somewhat limited.  He wandered away from his father and brother during an outing at a local park on Sunday and they have been searching for him all week. I was nervous as a parent who could only imagine how challenging it would be to know your child was missing.   I was riddled with anxiety as someone who works regularly with children with autism.  I know that these kids can sometimes bolt and run, even when you are providing conscientious care.  Any time a child goes missing it is stressful but when that child cannot communicate effectively, the risk is that much greater.  I was also sad and scared because I know Robert. I k...

What a week it's been!  I found myself frequently surprised this week.  Here's what topped the list: Sting turned 60.  What? Are you kidding me? How is this possible?  I don't care how old he is.  He's still making great music and he's still sexy as hell.  I'm lucky to say that I've seen him live, in concert, twice.  Perhaps if he keeps touring, I'll get to live out my life's dream of becoming one of his back-up singers.  Someday.  Someday.   Steve Jobs died I wrote only 6 weeks ago , at his retirement, about Steve's impact on the world. While I knew that it would only be a matter of time before his body succumbed to the pancreatic cancer that invaded his body, I had no idea how the death of someone I never knew personally could impact me so deeply. It was inspiring to see the many eloquent and beautiful tributes that floated around the Internet on Wednesday and Thursday.   We've been fighting the war in Afghanistan...

I've been really happy lately.   It feels really good to say that.  Just in the last week, I have found myself reflecting on my feelings.  I've had more than one person say to me, "You seem really happy."  They are right. I am.  It feels kind of strange. When you go through a challenging time in your life, a lot of people will empathize by saying "Cheer up" or "Things will get better" or "You need to look on the bright side."  It's understandable.   People look for happiness. They're drawn to it like a magnet.  There have been many times in the last (almost) 3 years when I have wanted to tell the people who said these things to fuck off  leave me alone.  Sometimes I probably even did  give them a few choice words.   I think it's ok to be sad sometimes.  It's important to acknowledge the anger.  It's important to feel the pain of heartbreak. It's ok to wallow in a little self-pity for a while. It's ...

It was ten years ago this month that I finished graduate school. Although I had held a few jobs in the decade preceding that graduation, that was the moment I launched my career . That was the end-point for 6 years of advanced schooling. I was ready for the next chapter.  In the decade that has passed, there have been a lot of chapters. In fact, I feel like I've experienced more of a novella. Most of you (my devoted blog followers) know the gist of the story so I'll spare you the details.  Sometime in the early 2000s ( the "NAUGHTies?" ), after a conversation that I'm pretty sure emerged during a road trip with the hubby, I made a list.   What were my top 5 Dream Jobs?     I've kept the list in various forms and it currently lives on my iPhone...for handy reference.   I've been thinking a great deal about that list lately.  First of all, I'm living my dream. My job at Commonwealth Autism Service is #3. I love my job and I'm proud to say...

So I've officially been  a blogger  for a month now.  I think I like it.  Apparently some of you do, too.  Thanks to everyone who has started following my random and scattered musings.  I appreciate the comments and all the "followers".  I'm still not really sure where this is going but I'm hoping that with some practice I will find my voice.    We're barely a month into 2011 and already changes are afoot.  The major news in the Reynolds household is that I am getting a new job.  Actually, I'm getting my old job back.  Before Roger and I jumped off the proverbial ledge of entrepreneurial adventure to run Romp n' Roll , I worked as an educational consultant for Commonwealth Autism Service  (CAS).  I really loved my job but in 2007 we felt that the time was right to try something new.  Little did we know that a global recession was brewing.  We continue to try to make Romp n' Roll work (a...