for the birds

For the Birds Has Flown the Coop.

But you can find us here: http://forthebirdsblog.com

Cheers!

Did Somebody Turn out the LIGHTS?

A few weeks ago For the Birds celebrated it's one year mark -- picture me sitting at the keyboard with a party hat on....vodka bottle rolling on the floor...  silly string still stuck to the monitor.. I mentioned in my post that FTB has built a following with over 20,000 site visitors. This is a rough estimate, because  -- come on, really. You don't think that I actually believe that 20,000+ of you are out there reading these almost daily observations... And thanks to all of the lovely comments that I received pointing this out. Side note, I am not that BOARING Ms. Kelly from Kentucky -- and although you don't know how to spell, I might have better things to do with my time but I choose to do this -- and if it's just not that interesting to you -- then STOP visiting. But, keep checking in if you must, I am into all things that depreciate. 

So, getting to the point, I do know -- thanks to those smart heads over at Feed Burner, that we do have a factual regular readership of 25 concrete, real-live people. That's right - a lovely and lucky 25. And to you I am calling out. In the next few days the following will be happening:

1. For the Birds will turn out the lights for a much needed beauty rest.
2. For the Birds will return, refreshed and better than ever—but only viewable at the new (still shiny) URL - http://forthebirdsblog.com
3. The old ugly domain http://designsigh.typepad.com/forthebirds will GO AWAY, so DON'T GO THERE
4. Those of you that have the old domain/URL in your readers, you will need to change to the new domain.
5. For the Birds will only be accessible from http://forthebirdsblog.com
6. This has very little to do with the evil birders over at forthebirds.com 

Unfortunately, I don't have specific timing on this event—otherwise I would fill you in. But the wheels are in motion. We've checked the logs, Batman, and will make a swift return... So, if you happen to be settling in for the evening, and pull up to FTB for some mild entertainment, please don't be alarmed if you receive some sort of error message or blank screen—We are still here... we are coming back—this has very little to do with the evil birders at forthebirds.com AND, the best is yet to come... More shameless self-promotion of multiple personality abundance -  I want you to know but I don't anxiety disorder...  have I mentioned most of us here are geminis? Any questions? Email me - rmsatbwdstudiodotcom.

Somewhere between Pollock & Kandinsky

It's all changing way too fast around here.

Last week I took a look at Will and thought MY GOD, he's huge! I swear that during the night he grew about 2 inches. Suddenly he was reaching up to turn the faucet on... Suddenly he is making up his own mind—From out of nowhere deciding that nap time—The regular every day 3 hour-plus nap was not for him anymore.. He's sleeping now (10:41am) so his body and mind are at odds...Yes, definitely my son.  

He's talking now, or should I say YELLING. Says Hi-BLUUUUUUE when the Bluedog saunters into the room... Dad. Mom. MOOOOM.. BYEEEEE-eeeeee... And everything is hot - he hovers his hand over objects before touching, looks at me and questions... Haute? Guests that have been around -- he calls out to them... KAAAAAATTTEEEE KAAAATTTEEE -- Anneeeeee—and the infamous, My & G. He couldn't care less if I use the hair-dryer—an act that used to cause devastating results, what was I thinking.

He's beginning to get it. Yesterday I suddenly had the opportunity to design a logo. I looked at Will, who was starting to vibrate due to being in-doors via inclement weather. I said, under my breathe—mostly speaking to myself, "Will I just need to sit at the table to get this done, are you going to let me?".. Glancing in my direction, I sensed that he was annoyed by my suggesting that he would object. He pulled himself from the pile of toys he had been mildly entertained with, picked up his pad of paper, walked to the table and put his hands  in the air for me to lift him into his seat. Once I had peeled myself from the floor I decided to let him try out some watercolors. I sat next to him and the work began.

 

Is it too soon to talk to him about controlling the internal artistic angst that comes with being creative, or do you think he knows already?

365 days later...

Year one has passed!

I began publishing For the Birds on this date circa 2008—wow oh wow have things changed since. Initially, For the Birds was to be a marketing tool for Breakwater Design Studio, and although it does serve that purpose, FTB has also opened up whole new worlds for me... Writing and Internet Social Media. Once shunned—Facebook and Twitter are now common tools that promote, engage... Once feared, writing a very public diary of almost daily observations has given me a personal boost that I never could have imagined... Sharing accounts with readers who then become friends with common interests and concerns... And then my favorite -- sharing our lives with existing friends and family scattered all over the world. In short, connections have become a way of life and For the Birds has allowed my family and I to have a mini piece of the pie—actively participating on an almost daily basis.

So, I guess that I need to thank me for jumping into a way of life that I never knew possible... but -- as I take my place at the podium to accept the award for 2009 Ego of the Year—I really thank all the readers... to date a shocking 23,247—even those that hit the website and went "what the f is this" and x'd the browser out... I have kept my word and emailed everyone back that has commented—and I have kept most comments private... knowing that privacy is still a major player in the evolution of For the Birds.

On another note, I really want to acknowledge a few other blogs out there that have given me the courage to share in this open forum... In no particular order:

Dooce
Mighty Girl
Suburban Bliss
Gotham Gal
Designing Moms

I don't think that any of these authors are aware of me or how much they have influenced... If they were aware—I'm sure that restraining orders would be issued. At any rate, I read their posts with the hope that someday FTB will boast it's own URL (damn you—you evil birders at forthebirds.com) and claim a regular readership. Until that day—keep stopping by—I promise generous helpings of almost daily observations... blood, sweat, tears all mixed with a fine selection of mundane tribulations.

PS. If you want to hear me talk more (The floodgates! Typepad you're killing me!)—visit me at Twitter.

No more Rhyming, I mean it.. [does anybody want a peanut?]

I've tried to write this post a few times without much success.. it seems there isn't a way to lay it out without sounding like a wet rag or homeless puppy... but it is the middle of the summer and vacation is what everyone is doing or thinking about -- add on top the recession and we have stone soup. The result of this has taught me a great deal about myself, which is good should I ever find myself in a padded room laughing hysterically at nothing.

From a professional standpoint I have seen much better days. I would say that things have been slow -- but that would mean that there should be something dripping from the faucet. I should feel comforted by the fact that none of this is my fault -- All of it is due to those pesky circumstances beyond my control -- but I can only compare "these days" with a perpetual itch in the unreachable middle of my back.

A brief time line:

This time last year - Breakwater had a busy busy staff of four -- counting myself. We had just relocated to Main Street, projects were flowing and I was looking to hire more designers. 

October 08 - the work began to dwindle. Our national accounts started closing their doors. Then local clients started pulling plugs.

December 08 - I cried (and still tear-up about) when I let my last designer, Patrick, go.

May 09 - I cringed when we moved the office into a smaller space.

I go over it and over again trying to figure out how I could have done things differently.

Between May 09 and now... I dive into every project that comes my way with embarrassing energy... like I haven't designed in years. Hungry -- the results are very rewarding, but the work continues to come in drips and drabs... and then.. my insanity switch goes off --

• I behave erratically when dollar amounts plunge. I decide to sign up to sell Avon products on the side (ha ha - in the Hamptons) -- only to have my husband remind me that I am still applying makeup on myself that I bought before we met.
• I apply for an advertising sales job with a "positive energy" online search engine... only to realize that I couldn't sell bananas to a monkey.
• I am offered a writing job -- only to have my first draft thrown back in my face for grammatical errors.. Apparently I am not good at writing in the 3rd or 2nd persons (and I'm okay with that).
• I start contributing to a few other blogs with some success... but it's only to take up the time in the day that I could be designing something.
• I talk to others in similar situations.. everyone seems to be vibrating around looking to collaborate on something.. anything.
• I realize that I need to create. So I cut-up Will's old pjs to make something...The sewing machine thread-thingamajig still lays murdered in the basement on the "I am going to SEW, dammit" once was for drafting but is now a craft table. Designing, yes - Crafts, no.
• I pace around.. checking my iphone every few minutes - Is anyone doing anything? Maybe I should go into real estate or win the lottery or write a childrens book or... "Whoever he is he's too late... SEE -- THE CLIFFS OF INSANITY!!"

None of this is right. And those of you that know me know this. It took a family getaway to grasp reality -- a strong, "Ry, you're a designer" from my Dad to come back down. And so I digress... I put away the makeup wearing positive advertising real estate mogul craft guru lottery winner dreams and am seeking out the calm... concentrating on what I do have to do and doing it right... And if this plan fails... I'll convince the crew, depart the ship and join the Dread Pirate Roberts in retired in splendor.

a little before & after

Before:

After:

 


Brought to you today by the Letters - B, W & D
(sesame street reference, fyi)

Stay Visible.

Towards the end of April, there was a  segment was on the news about Slow Down London. A group of people... with time on their hands, decided to walk as slow as possible across Waterloo. This "Big Slow Walk" was in an effort to get people to slow down—take a while to circumvent and relish. It was hilarious. Not only did the crazy Londoners look like a bunch of you-know-whats... walking heel to toe as slow as possible—like zombies.. But they were really ticking off everyone else... you know, the normal people that were trying to busily cross the bridge. People were speeding by in cars shouting to speed up—throwing things at the zombies.. Craziness. I laughed and laughed... shook my head—but I didn't miss the point (as I ran off to do 12 things at once). You can see for yourself, here.

Now, a few months later... as people seem to be very busy doing ... well, very little, I found myself infuriated by just that... Busy accomplishing nothing. Twittering about. The thing is that if we all stay slowed down, nothing much is going to be accomplished... and although it is nice to stop and smell the roses—breathe in the salt encrusted air... don't we all have to lift ourselves out of the monotony and move on?

And now a word from our sponsor... (please click to enlarge)

 

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My Happiness Project [ part one ]

Before going out to fight the Memorial Day weekend acutremont gatherers, a morning of calm....

• 2nd cup of tea
• Baby swan
• No messages
• http://www.lenneganandmarantz.com
• The new Citarella is now open in the old Red Market in Bridgehampton
• Open windows
• Monday is a holiday making today [Thursday] the new Saturday
• Pizza night
• The IRS is surprisingly understanding
• Will's haircut
• Fun people coming to visit this weekend—arriving on an early Jitney
• Gardening, playing, updating
• Thai food this weekend
• I understand Flickr
• I'm beginning to understand Twitter
• Bluedog is all better

 

If I do say so myself...

This new logo design for Lennegan & Marantz is lovely and refreshing. I'll pat my own back, thanks.

But enough shameless self promotion... Lennegan & Marantz is a new furniture retail line that has opened up on Main Street in Bridgehampton—at the American Wing. Please view their website... http://www.lenneganandmarantz.com . 

In other news... (back to the shameless self promotion) if you are looking for us, we've moved our Studio space one door down.. swapping with our neighbor. Office swapping if you will. This decision was made because we've become a smaller operation... more nitche—unique—specialized.... dare I say, boutique. Still at 2405 Main Street—and still signless (sigh).

Happy weekend!

And so...

We've been in a holding pattern for the past few weeks, hence the missing lists and posts. The big giant economic crisis finally found our little hideout in Bridgehampton, and unfortunately, we are feeling it. Difficult times have resulted in even more painful decisions... so we are thinning ourselves out... becoming a little leaner.. and meaner. Taking the empty void of time to realign, focus on the reality of it all... get back to basics. It is prudent, in days like this, to pare back. Everything, including this bloggedy blog needs to be evaluated.... and so be it. A morph may be what we need to sustain... but regardless of what reamerges...

Wanting to come back strong means that we will.