karel = blog fail
May 11, 2009
Well, I’ve just got entirely too many projects going on lately, as well as a general lack of enthusiasm for writing about myself, I guess. Work has been chugging along – this week I’m in the computer lab about half the day each day, proctoring some online assessments for the kiddies. At some point I think I might have to head to the middle school and do the same there, although all efforts I’ve made to find out if I’m needed have been met with silence, so who knows. Ha. Can you tell I’m slightly frustrated?
Anyway, I’m really excited about this coming summer and fall, which is maybe why I haven’t been writing either… everything I think about is projected to the future. Although I’m starting to feel like that’s been my typical course of action for the past couple years or so… maybe I need to work on enjoying my present life as well.
This past weekend I got my first professional haircut in about eight years. Yes, eight (8)!! The last time I paid for a haircut was, I believe, the end of my freshman year in college, spring of 2001. Since then it’s been a self-done hack job every time, although I did hone my skills pretty well by the end. I guess I was just feeling like now that I’m in the latter half of my 20s, maybe I should be mature and established enough to get my hair done and have it look decently shaped and layered. And maybe I just wanted to be pampered 
Anyway, I chose Tiger Tiger which is in the Alberta neighborhood. The reason I chose it is because it got pretty good reviews on Yelp, and it’s in a more edgy and artistic neighborhood. I wanted a less polished and luxurious feel (because let’s face it, I am neither polished nor luxurious – and I’m okay with that) and the prices seemed pretty reasonable. My stylist was very friendly, for which I was thankful, but I was so nervous that I felt like I might faint, or puke, or both. She’s new to Portland, which is a recurring pattern in my new acquaintances lately, and we had a great time chatting about the city and what brought us here, and how the heck I’d managed to cut and dye my own hair for eight years and not totally muck it up.
In the end, it was shorter than I’d intended for it to be, but I do love it. It’s a drastic change that I’ve definitely been needing!!
You like??
I’ve also been finally, FINALLY working on some new jewelry for Sunshower Design. I kind of put it on the back burner for a while, what with our move and work getting crazy and me generally just feeling out of it and not very creative for a few months. But I’ve got a new collection in the works, and am in the process of revamping the website and preparing for a spring/summer push. Want a preview? I thought you might.
In addition to that, my summer is going to be full of excitement. I’ll be taking a couple classes in preparation for my foray into grad school, and nannying for at least one of my favorite families from school. (Hopefully two!) I also met a really awesome woman last week through a babysitting site and am planning to sit for her kids (8 months and 2 1/2 years) on a regular basis. Also, Brian and I are planning a couple trips to the Oregon coast, which I hear is amazing in the summertime. Yay!!! Then at the end of August, we’ll be heading back east for a two weeks to spend some time with our dearly missed friends and family.
I just need to get through another month or so of work until then
May 12, 2009 at 1:08 am
yes I do like!
May 12, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Hi, Karel:
You don’t know me, and I’m not the type who usually accosts strangers and asks to get to know them, but here goes. Did you know that when you google “Mandarin immersion babysitting Portland,” your blog is the fourth site in the list? Well, it is. That’s how I got here (yesterday). And I read a little (enough to see your blog isn’t at all about babysitting). And somehow I got hooked enough to read a little more (though I felt like a spy), and while I’m quite sure your site isn’t intended for reeling in strangers looking for babysitters, here I am, because there are just too many coincidences for me to ignore.
Before I launch into all the coincidences, let me introduce myself: I’m the mother of a one-year-old and a three-year-old, who is in the International School’s Chinese immersion program for preschoolers. My husband is a stay-at-home dad who would understandably like to get some time to himself on occasion; my office is in our house, so I’m very accessible but also know when to stay out of the way. Our girls are lovely, smart and engaged. I’ve been futilely searching for a sitter for the summer (maybe the school year as well, schedules permitting) who can speak Mandarin to our eldest (heck, our youngest, too). We currently have two regular sitters who provide a few hours a week collectively; neither speaks Chinese, which hasn’t been an issue until now, when we’re facing a long summer without language skills. At any rate, while both sitters are adored, one is graduating from college in June and will soon be off traveling the world, and the other is going to be away from the city for much of the summer.
As for the coincidences: I saw in your blog that you have lined up some families to sit for (maybe you’re not fully booked? We’re flexible! We’re only looking for a few regular hours a week!). I saw that you just moved to the inner NE (that’s where we are!). There are several clues that you speak Chinese (as long as you speak well enough to converse on a very basic level with a preschooler, you will have surpassed all expectations! Cultural enlightenment would also be highly desirable!). You’re very articulate and clearly know how to hook your audience (I’m a writer!). You lived in NY (me too!). I also think I may have a failed adrenal gland! LOL. The list goes on and on…
I know your blog is not your professional face, so I feel very weird approaching you like this. But that’s actually what swept me up: your personality and sense of humor shine through—and there’s nothing in what you write that I can’t completely empathize with. If I had a blog for you to read, I’d share it with you in a heartbeat. As an alternative, would you consider a phone call? And if you feel comfortable, perhaps we could meet in person and I could introduce you to the girls? For a preview, the youngest is starring in gDiaper’s newest marketing campaign (she’s the blondie in the middle, wearing the blue diaper): http://www.gdiapers.com/. She’s very lovable! Just like her big sister.
I can assure you I’m not reaching out solely out of desperation, but because all signals point to your being a great match for our family. Please shoot me an email (lambst@bernstein.com) and I’ll fill you in on names, phone numbers, etc. I hope to hear from you!
May 12, 2009 at 2:56 pm
I love the haircut!!
June 5, 2009 at 11:53 pm
GREAT haircut, Karel!