333 Challenge

What if you lost your checked baggage on an airplane trip and only had your carry-on bag? Maybe you grew or shrunk two sizes and most of your clothes don't fit. Or what if you went through your closet, and gave away all the clothes you never liked, never fit, never wore, and there wasn't much left? Starting on October 1st, 2010, hundreds of people have engaged in a challenge of using less of their possessions, fortunately, by choice...

Swing dance in the city

Going out to Brighton for a few hours of chatting and dancing. Should be a good time with friends.
Some pix of other days (that's me in the sparkly white top):

 Grand Rapids Rosa Parks Circle at night, above and below.

 Swinging in downtown Brighton, above and below.

Renovate My Boudoir, My Life

A couple weeks ago I made a large file of information on my boudoir, or bedroom. It contained dimensions, colors, furniture classification, problem areas, and common themes. While I was recording, for example, what exactly was under my bed and in my closet, I began to wonder why. Why all this junk, these ideas, and unfinished business I was facing? I was a collector and saver of stuff and memories.

Here's an excerpt from the file:

The worst aspect of my room is the hodge-podge of colors, styles, and maturities. With no clear style or feel, my room is like a ship without a rudder, subject to whims and impulses, out of control.

Second is the proliferation of clutter and excess, exacerbated by the lack of proper storage units and caused by a save-now-use-later mindset. 

After the last thought I went on and examined a few flaws in this mindset. The end result has been a jog toward minimalism (I like things on one extreme or another). Minimalism has basically been reduce, refuse, and rest. Reduce the overflow of stuff, refuse to replace it, and rest in the thought of using what I have.

First Thought, at 1am

Seeing something in its most flattering light is the truth, but is it the whole truth?