Sunday, 9th of May 2010 at 12:21:26 AM 
Moxie. We has it.
This week wraps up the “Discomfort Zone” for most of us, though one or two Plates may want to carry on for another week.
Lydia says: “I wrote a song about how I bought a shirt without trying it on and then got it home and it sucked. And also a song about how confused I am by “Lost.” Do you think I have tapped into the collective angst of my generation yet?”
Kira learned this week that the world was not, in fact, waiting with bated breath to hear her announce her secret desire to write more. Most people care not AND some family members *gasp* are actually not thrilled.
Mir isn’t sure if she learned or accomplished anything in the last four weeks, but the fact that she wishes she could spend the NEXT four weeks in bed with the covers over her head suggests that PERHAPS something has shifted, somehow. She will have to eat some more chocolate and let you know.
Joshilyn says: I am petitioning to change the name of this blog to Four Full Plates and One Elephant Fail Plate. Who would be me. Because I have yet to win or even reasonably complete a SINGLE challenge. I tried meditating, though. First, I googled “meditation for beginners” and got a six-minute tutorial hosted by an animated hairless lady-man whose brain sometimes throws up marbles and hwo likes chimes. I like the narrator’s VOICE, though. A LOT. Very soothe-y and deep.
My mind never quite emptied and I was poisonously bored, but I said OM. Lydia, please remit five dollars.”
Gray (that’s me): I scheduled my dental and yearly health checks! I’ve been posting in Gray James, and picked up a novel I’d put by that needs a few weeks of revision, and then I have to SHOW IT TO PEOPLE. This makes my bottom pucker, it’s so uncomfortable.
We here at Five Full Plates are beginning a new challenge these next two weeks. We are going to each Learn Something New. Then, in June, we are going to go on hiatus for a couple of months, because it turns out that we are all going to be gone half of the summer on vacation, on book tour, and other blog-crushing activities.
To all of you moms out there, to everyone who has ever loved, raised, protected or looked after a child, Happy Mother’s Day.
And we are DYING TO KNOW: what uncomfortably challenging goals did you reach this week? Show us yer MOXIE.
Gray, I started to leave a comment and realized it had turned into a blog post. I live in Nashville, and in case you haven’t heard, we’ve had a massive flood. And although I wasn’t flooded personally, I still haven’t seen my comfort zone in about a week. I’ve volunteered, I’ve gotten a tetanus shot, I’ve donated supplies, I’ve driven through unbelievable devastation, I’ve rationed water and not showered or shaved my legs for a few days, and I hadn’t bathed my children for a week until this morning.
Having failed all of the other comfort zone challenges (since my tetanus shot and adverse reaction coincided with my community’s blood drive, therefore keeping me from donating blood which would have been the only one I wouldn’t have failed at), I still feel like I’ve won. I’ve gotten out of my comfort zone to help strangers in need, and I no longer feel helpless watching the round the clock coverage of this disaster. I found something I could do to help, and I did it. And I will continue to do more. So I win. And everybody else who helps a stranger in need, they win, too. (And if you want to read my blog post about it, you can just click my name I guess.)
Oh Lori, that is SOME MOXIE. I hand you the ENTIRE INTERNET, which you have fairly won.
You speak the truth, too, when you say that all who give of their time, money, or even blood to help others WINS.
<3 you and give you a full FFP salute.
Lori, you CERTAINLY win. You go girl!
Sounds to me like all you plates win, including Joshilyn. In fact, especially Joshilyn. Your comfort zone may have been ripped away from you, rather than you cheerfully surrendering it, but it sure sounds like you’re nowhere near your comfort zone.
I’m looking forward to finding out what new stuff you all try this fortnight.
Me, I’m going to set up a fancy global filesharing website. Why? Because I have to for work. Fortuitous, eh? The thought terrifies me – I hardly know where to start.
Yes, Lori. You. Go. Girl. I was just logging in to say that the hairless meditator is a little freaky. . .and chicky-do up top seems to have an entire BOAT LOAD of moxie (not to mention some rockin’ biceps) though I believe she is either wearing a corset under her leotard or her ribs were already irreparably altered to that shape from other corset-wearing days. Either way–diggin’ the Gibson girl hair-do.
I think all of you have moxie and enough. . .and I am sad to hear about the break from FFP–hoping that after summer you all come back.
Oh Gray, the ENTIRE INTERNET!?! You are too kind. And the rest of you are so sweet. Keep Nashville in your thoughts and prayers; we’ll need them for awhile. And get out of your comfort zone and help a stranger. It does the soul good.