Forgetting Is Yeezy

I forgot to blog today, so am trying to keep my commitment by writing now. Even with fun of the holiday on Monday and our annual Community Partners of Dallas’ Staff Bonding Day Tuesday, it's been a tough week. I’m so grateful to have a fantastic group of women to work with each day and I would put my team up against any group in town.

Come back and visit me next week and I promise something pithy and funny — I have some stuff I’m working on and you are going to enjoy it, damn it!

Ps. Did anyone see the preview of David Letterman getting dressed by Kanye on The Today Show this morning?  Dave looked amazing and I think everyone was surprised (including Kanye)!

Well, hello again.

Hello, it's me.  I've thought about us for a long long time.

Shout out to Todd Rundgren

I gave up blogging a few years ago.  I liked it -- in fact at times I loved it -- but I do miss the practice.  It made me feel smart.  And if you know me very well at all you know I like to feel smart more than anything.  I'd rather be smart than pretty any day!  Hasn't that worked out well for me?

Truly, the reason I quit it was that we raised the funds and built a new facility for Community Partners of Dallas in Dallas' Caring Corridor.  As the President and CEO, I was involved in every donor ask and every decision made on the building from carpet to ceiling.  We moved to the new building in January and it is wonderful.  I'll write later about those choices and how they were made, but know that this place is going to be a revolution in how children are cared for by CPS.  

And abused and neglected children need all the revolutions they can get!

The garden (a British floral designer I heard recently asked why we call our yards "yards" instead of gardens, so I'm embracing it now) has had work done, but you can get an idea here.

 

Hello From the Other Side

It's been 10 months since my last blog post.

NOTE:  That reminds me of my short stint as an Episcopalian about 20 years ago:  "Forgive me, Father, it's been ten months since my last confession..."

NOTE to NOTE:  Surprisingly, blogging fills a similar role -- confessionally speaking, I mean.

I'm not sure why I stopped, other than feeling as though I was super busy at work and personally.

NOTE:  Didn't even plan to start blogging again today, just decided to jump back in on a whim.  Boom.

Anyway, back to our story:

I guess the biggest personal change is that I MOVED!

I used to move about every two years because I would buy a house, make it beautiful, sell it for a profit, then buy another one and repeat.  But my most recent move (about 10 years ago) into where I thought I'd be living for the rest of my life, was not my last move.   As the years went on it became apparent that I had one more move in me and I have now moved into and decorated what will be my final home -- yippee!  I posted a couple of photos below.

So, I'm going to try to get back to blogging occasionally.  Can't promise I'll return to twice a week like before, but who knows?  Life is fun and we all need a little confession occasionally.

Thanks for reading.

Did I Really Say That?

I started writing this blog 5 years ago Sunday.

Writing was never something at which I thought I was particularly good.  I'm a talker.  I like to look at people and give a speech. I was trained as an actor, so of course I like people to look at me while I'm speaking, too!

So how did I end up here five years later with 267 blog posts?

I know how it started.  One of my co-workers wanted to write a blog for Community Partners of Dallas and pitched her idea to me to do it.  Sarah was already writing a personal blog -- that was quite good, btw -- but when I discussed her idea with our communications team (at the time our communications "team" was really only Joanna and I), we decided that if someone was going to write a blog that it should be from me as the "face" of CPD.

Note:  The "face" of CPD could stand to lose a few, but it's the face for now!

At the time I didn't want to write a blog, so we let the idea go.  Within the next 12 or so months, I attended a non-profit and social media branding workshop put on by my friend Kim Whitman.  Kim brought a few experts together to educate us charity folks who were there and there it was again -- should I write a blog???  What platform do I use?  How do I get started? Yikes, yikes, yikes!  I vividly remember talking to Kim after the meeting and she said, "Oh just use Blog Spot (now Blogger) -- that what I use and it's easy.  You can do it, Paige."

Note:  Kim is a real, live TV personality, an entertaining and life-style brand expert, gorgeous friend, and a wonderful mom.  If you don't already read it (and I'm sure you do), check out her wonderful-ness here:  http://kimberlyschlegelwhitman.blogspot.com

That's was all it took.

I've enjoyed writing this blog so much.  I have posts I'm super-proud of and that still make me cry, as well as throw away ones that make me shake my head.  I love knowing which posts were more popular than others -- Blogger tells you this -- and I am apparently an expert on board service because my posts related to non-profit management tend to have more reads and longer legs.  I've also gotten to know people I've never met in person through blogging.  I love this writing thing.

Thank you for reading!  268 down -- more coming.

Yoga Is My Life

Tonight, I have to go to yoga.

Now, when most people say that, they really mean:

• That they should go to yoga -- as in I haven't been to yoga in awhile.
• That I cannot do what you want me to do because I don't want to do what you want me to do, thus I have to go to yoga.
• That they are meeting a friend at yoga, so that is why they have to go because their friend will kill them if they don't show up at yoga.
• That they paid for that yoga class already and dammit they have to go to yoga.

None of these are why I have to go to yoga.

I'm going because one of my friends organized a yoga class at We Yogis to benefit the Back-to-School Drive at Community Partners of Dallas.

NOTE:  The friend who did this wonderful thing is Lilly Neubauer and she is a fantastic person and blogger -- her blog is http://www.pancakesandbeetjuice.com and it is wonderful.  And I must say that she has the cutest daughter in town!  This is Lilly:

Isn't she adorable?

I'm no good at yoga.  I actually "practiced" (and I use the term so loosely that I dropped that term like a hot rock and it has rolled on down the hill to Houston) yoga for a few months about 5 years ago.  While I could do a beginners class at the time, I think the 5 years that have passed may have closed the kennel door on my downward dog.

But, I'm headed to yoga tonight.

I picture myself as this

But this is what I anticipate

If you see me over the next few days and I'm limping or my head is listing to the right, you know why.

Informational Interviews Stop Here

As someone who has been in the non-profit world for umpteen years, I am often asked to do informational interviews with people (usually young women) who are looking for a first job or even with older folks who are interested in making a career change.

I am always happy to have these meetings  -- particularly if it causes some old friend to call or contact me about setting up the meeting.  Some people only call you when they need you -- and YOU KNOW that is a-ok with me, so bring it on.

Five Tips for Informational Interview Seekers:

1. Have your friend (or mom or the last person with whom you had an informational interview and referred you to me) call me up and ask me to meet with you.  This is the best way to get a happy Paige calling or contacting you back quickly.  Will I still hold the meeting if my acquaintance doesn't actually ask me to do it before you call me?  Yes, I will, but I want my friend to ask me because I'd like to hear from them.  Otherwise, my friend is just another person in my FaceBook feed vacationing in Costa Rica or posting pictures of their kids graduating from high school.
2. Bring your resume with you to the meeting.  Even if you have emailed it to me in advance, have a copy to pull out if I ask you for it.  That shows me that you really want a job/career change -- and I might just have someone in the office that day who might be interested in hiring you.  Be prepared!
3. I've said this before, but arrive on time for the meeting.  Don't come early -- I hate to think of you waiting while I'm finishing up a project that I planned for the 15 minutes prior to our meeting -- and for sure don't arrive late.  Even though this is not a real interview, you strolling in late doesn't make me want to recommend you to my network.
4. Be ready to tell me why you want to work in non-profit -- or even why you are interested in learning more about the sector.  If you have no passion for the field nor the idea of working in it, don't waste my (or your) time.
5. Do what I tell you to do if you are really interested in finding a job.  Follow up with me after you meet with any contacts I give you.  Shoot me an email if you apply for a job -- I want you to be successful because I am invested in your success.  Be sure to join the groups and organizations that I recommend too -- becoming involved in Dallas is important for all people who work in non-profits!

P.S.  I'm going to try participating in a fun meme called Hodgepodge on Wednesdays -- thanks to my friend at http://preppyemptynester.blogspot.com -- so I'm planning to post my usual blog on Tuesdays or Thursdays for the future since Wednesdays will be given to Hodgepodge -- it is part of http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com  You guys know I'm not very technical, so fingers crossed for tomorrow.  Also, BTW, tomorrow's Hodgepodge is not going to be new, but it will be new to this blog!  Let me know what you think -- Paige

My Readers Are Waiting!

I've been missing in action lately -- so much so that my readers have started to ask me why I haven't been posting.

NOTE:  Really it was just my friend Jill, but who's counting?

NOTE TO NOTE:  Of course, I was thrilled that she noticed.  Thanks, Jill!

Anyway, I was about to let it slip again this week, but I was reminded that even though my life is super busy right now, that I always have something to say in the blog.

This reminds me of a quote from Josh Groban about his privates and a groupie, but this blog isn't going to post itself anytime soon...

NOTE:  At least not with my technical abilities at the helm.

So, I'm going to post a photo of a great inspirational quote from my Oprah box this morning.

And to my loyal reader out there -- a post about CPD and mothers soon!

What would THEY say?

Well, I missed my normal blog posting schedule yesterday – not sure why, exactly, but just did – so I’m writing on Thursday instead.

Does this matter?

Why do I write the blog on Wednesday, you might ask?

Well, when I decided to write this blog I did a little research (and really, I do mean a little) and something I read said that Wednesday was the best day to post a blog.

Now, do I know why this is?  No.  Do I know who said this?  No. 

I will give it to the ever-present, ubiquitous “THEY” who say lots of things that we end up believing.

THEY said that Wednesday was the best day to post a blog.  Funnily enough, I have had several people (two, I think) of the multitude (of tens) who read this blog each week tell me that they never even see my posts until Saturday.  Saturday is the day that I re-post the blog that I write on Wednesdays (except for today, of course – today the Wednesday blog will be posted on Thursday – confused yet, ‘cause I kinda am).  And I decided to re-post on Saturdays all by myself – THEY had nothing to do with it.

The more that computers and the World Wide Web can provide us with what THEY say at the touch of a Google search, the more we may believe it.  Is that smart?

Access to information is amazing, but I want to always think for myself.  Maybe I need to Google that – THEY may know something I don’t.

My #FundraisingFriday $10 gift is going to the Wikimedia Foundation.  I hope that THEY approve.

Tips on Blogging from a Non-Expert. Really, I mean that, people.

It is day 2 of the Dallas ice storm.  What am I doing?  Well, I tried to learn how to edit video on Flip Share (unsuccessfully -- thank God for Natalie Farr), talked to my mom numerous times (she is planning a party, so lots to discuss), worked remotely on the CPD computers (hear that, Community Partners of Dallas’ Board Members – I am always working!), built a fire (somewhat successfully – the wood is pretty wet), and am starting to think about lunch.  But Wednesday is my normal blogging day, so I am sitting at the computer, writing. 

Blogging is an interesting activity.  Have something to say?  Put it out there!  Is it controversial?  Think about it first, then decide how you would feel if they quoted it on the front page of The Dallas Morning News, then do it if you feel strongly about it!  Can you pass along interesting content that people would like to read?  If so, do it (and by the way, you won’t know if people want to read it until you do it – but you’ll find out quickly enough – your blog site will tell you how many views you get for each post)! 

What can your blog be about?  You can choose to blog about an activity that you enjoy:  One of my friends (the wonderful Katie Mears) started a wonderful blog this year called “Is There Any Wine Left” (www.IsThereAnyWineLeft.com) and it is all about recipes she loves.  Or you can just start writing about whatever you want to write about, more like mine.

My blog (http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/) has been a lot of fun for me and you are actually reading this (Thanks, BTW!), so it is helping me to get the word out about CPD, as well as about other things that I enjoy.  I never would have started my blog without encouragement from others – CPD's Program Director, Sarah Thomsen; one of our former college interns, Brian Wellman; the Development VP at Hope Cottage, Leslie White Clay; and Brad Mays, a friend from HPUMC.  Also, I learned some basics from a Social Media seminar put on by Kim Whitman’s Rsvp Soiree that featured Mike Merrill.  Many thanks to all of you for your help and advice.

So, allow me to be your encourager if you are thinking about starting a blog.  Do it!  And if you need some advice about blogging from a relative novice, feel free to call me at 214-624-7557.  But not today, I’m at home – it’s a snow day.

P.S.  When I wrote the first paragraph of this blog, I had no idea about what would come out.  So, call for advice at your own risk.  Fair warning!  Stay Warm!