Happy New Year

I've been away from the blog for about three weeks; almost four really. I'd like say it's because I've been busy with holiday family/friends/church/school activities, fun, and obligations. But that is only part of the reason. The real reason is that I've been feeling overwhelmed by this change in my life. I'm still accepting that this change is not just something I'm playing at until the economy turns around. It's real; and I'm doing it. That alone is overwhelming. It's a difficult journey. One that is emotional, intellectual and spiritual.

And, along with this journey have come new friendships and a new intimacy with the working poor. I'm overwhelmed by the juxtapositions of my new life and my old -- the subject of this blog. There are so many topics to write about children, substance abuse, unemployment, health care, men, beauty, hair, retailers, food, debt, parents, education, transportation, sex, friendship, religion, movies, politics, networking -- in short, everything that touches all our lives. Is the blog about my career transition; about how beauty school is like, or not like, advertising; or is it about experiencing a foreign culture? Lately I haven't know where to start. I struggle with the transparency necessary to make this blog engaging.

So I'm going to break it down by topic and then slice it even thinner. Like.... I'll tell you about the day I got in trouble for texting during class. It was amusing because that same day, I got a survey from the Business Courier about business etiquette, the main focus of which was blackberry use (in meetings or in the midst of a face-t0-face conversation). You know who YOU ARE. I thought "wouldn't if be great if in business you could throw the offender out of the meeting and make them go home? Like in school." I didn't have to leave or go home, but I won't be texting in class any time soon.