First post in 10 months

“Stop responding, start creating.”

“Focus on output, not throughput.”

Over the last couple of months, I’ve come across both of these phrases. Both have made me stop and think. So much of what I’m now doing is “responding.” Responding to emails, responding to text messages, responding to posts on social media, etc.

I suppose responding can also be referred to as “throughput.” These are both elements of a larger process that is not centered on creation. They may be focused on “getting things done” but not necessarily on accomplishing things that are truly worthwhile.

It was author Erik Qualman who said "Focus on output, not throughput" at a recent work event.

I suppose responding and throughput would not be so bad if simultaneously we were able to create. The problem, however, is it that we can get so used to the practice and relative ease of responding and throughput that we pretty much neglect creating entirely.

Personally, I am constantly putting off exercising my creativity in ways that used to be a core part of my life. I no longer write to elucidate my thoughts, or dedicate an evening to painting a picture. Instead, I’m all about crossing mundane items off my list.

The mundane tasks need to be done. But can’t they be done in-between pockets of creativity? It’s as if I’ve become so used to achieving these daily tasks that I’ve forgotten who I am, what I like to do, and how to create something of value.

Writing and art have become so unfamiliar to me that I’m afraid I can’t do them anymore. So I just need to sit down and do them.

End of story.

Finding toddler-friendly activities in Syracuse

While my 16-month-old daughter might not yet be a toddler (she is more so cruising than toddling/walking), she is certainly more a toddler than a baby. When she was a baby, we could just leave her on the ground with her toys and she'd be entertained for hours. But these days the girl needs new activities, a change of scene, things to climb/explore, etc. As such, we are on the hunt for toddler-friendly activities and places in our new city of Syracuse. So far we've found the following:

• Wednesday morning story hour (10 a.m.) at the Paine Branch Library in Syracuse (Eastwood)
• Thursday  morning story hour (10 a.m.) at Barnes & Noble in DeWitt
• Train and Lego tables at Barnes & Noble in DeWitt
• Playroom/childcare area at the East Area YMCA in Fayetteville (we are now Y members, so we take advantage of this resource)
• The Rosamond Gifford Zoo (got a family membership for Christmas)

Our daughter at Barnes & Noble in DeWitt

We also started attending the Plymouth Congregational Church downtown; they have a playroom/free childcare Sunday mornings as well as family fun nights every few months. 

We've heard about a few more resources we'd like to check out:

• Family fun nights (Friday evenings 5 to 8 p.m.) at the East Area YMCA, which are free for members
• Tuesday morning story hour (10 a.m.) at the White Branch Library in Syracuse (Butternut Street)

Clearly, there are number of wonderful community activities/resources for our daughter. It would be great, however, to find more free or low-cost activities such as nearby playgroups, play spaces, and sing-alongs. Maybe these exist, but we just need to find them. Or maybe something like a playgroup we would need to start.

Whatever the case, the situation should improve in the spring when we can take walks and benefit from nearby parks, beaches, and playgrounds. We're hoping that will also give us more opportunities to meet local families including stay-at-home dads like my husband.

Happy New Year!

I know this post is a little late, but happy new year fellow Syracuse-area residents! I look forward to spending my first full calendar year here since I returned to the area in September. Here are a few of my goals for the upcoming year:

• Settle in more to our new home (this includes getting more furniture, decorating more)
• Meet more neighbors
• Spend more time walking around the neighborhood
• Continue exercising on a fairly regular basis

Lowell Smith Syracuse ALS Walk

A couple of weekends ago, family, friends, and I joined hundreds of others to participate in the Lowell Smith Syracuse ALS Walk in Long Branch Park. It was a wet and dreary day, but collectively we managed to trek through the miserableness and raise over $250,000 for the ALS Association. The money will go toward helping patients diagnosed with ALS as well as finding a cure/better treatment for the illness.

At the walk

I was blown away by the donations I received from family and friends. One friend actually gave $500 and a couple of others donated $250. Even those who could only give a little made it a point to give something. This support meant a lot to me, particularly as my dad is battling ALS. I'm already started to think about next year's event. I would like to do some sort of fundraiser that goes beyond just asking people for donations. I think I will brainstorm with some of my friends who work in fundraising for some interesting ideas. I can always tap into my helpful network of moms in Somerville, Mass. as well. We shall see!

Believe in Syracuse

A couple of months ago, I came across the Facebook page "Believe in Syracuse." Started by J-D graduate John DeSantis, "Believe in Syracuse" is actually a nonprofit that promotes the positive features of the Greater Syracuse area and cultivates connections and civic engagement within the Greater Syracuse community.

The nonprofit's website provides more background on the organization:

The decline of Syracuse that happened between 1950 and 2000 has made fewer people believe that good things are possible here. By changing the conversation about Syracuse we hope to encourage civic engagement and make Syracuse a more positive place to live. Believe in Syracuse can't solve all our problems, but working together, we believe we can start a conversation that makes Syracuse better.

Not only does this seem like a worthy mission, but Mr. DeSantis is regularly posting interesting news and updates related to Syracuse's growth and success. For example, recently he has been publicizing an upcoming event showcasing the transformation of the Babcock-Shattuck House at Westcott and East Genesee streets.

My husband plans to attend the event, so I will report back on his impressions. Anyway, I just wanted to highlight this organization, and the work they are doing to improve perceptions of Syracuse as well as the city's quality of life. I'm sure I'll be writing more about the organization!

Eastwood

As I mentioned in a previous post, our home is in walking distance of several business districts. One of those is Eastwood. I actually haven't yet walked there from my home, but Google Maps says it is about 15 minutes away.

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I parked at Eastwood, and explored the neighborhood. While we couldn't find a coffee shop farther west than Cafe Kubal (a 30-minute walk from our place), we did come across a couple of cool used bookstores, several bars, a Philly cheese steak shop, a burger joint, a Seven-Eleven, the post office, the old Palace movie theater (which today is used mainly for events/concerts, but also sometimes shows movies), a couple drugstores, and quite a few hair salons (that seems to be a reoccurring theme in these parts!).

Books and DVDs I purchased at Books & Melodies used bookstore

Also, if you go a little farther to the East (in the direction of Cafe Kubal), you'll encounter a Byrne Dairy (yummy milk, and it apparently has an ice cream bar too), another ice cream place with nice outdoor seating, a city library branch, some churches, etc.

All in all there are quite a few destinations in Eastwood, but what my husband and I really feel is lacking is a coffee shop in the western portion of Eastwood. Perhaps we will discover that the Seven-Eleven or a smoke shop I forgot to mention earlier have delicious coffee as well as nice spaces for enjoying that coffee. But until we learn of these secrets, we'll have to settle for the longer trip to Cafe Kubal or the 15-minute walk to Shop City (where there's a McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts).

While at the Westcott Cultural Fair on Sunday, I overheard someone say there's a great tai chi place in Eastwood (which reminds me there's apparently also a small gym in Eastwood). Between all of these businesses and the fact that the Eastwood Neighborhood Association seems quite active (right now they are really pushing a 5-mile road race on October 26), I'm excited to better acquaint myself with this neighborhood!

Sedgwick Farms Neighborhood Association

Today my husband, daughter, and I attended our first meeting of the Sedgwick Farms Neighborhood Association (SFNA) - which took place at the Sedgwick Farms Tennis Club. We figured it would be a good way to meet some neighbors, and learn about the key issues facing the neighorhood.

It was a good experience. We met a number of nice people (about 20 people attended the meeting, including three sets of new neighbors and Syracuse city councilor Jake Barrett), and learned quite a few things. Here are the main topics that were discussed:

• The association is replacing the light at the entrance to the neighborhood (next to the sign for the neighborhood at Sedgwick Drive and James Street). It has been broken for some time.

• This year's Halloween event will take place Sunday, Oct. 26 from 4-6 p.m. Neighborhood children, grandchildren, and friends can pick up a trick or treat map at 115 Wendall "Scare-ace" (Terrace hehe), and there are snacks and activity stops along the route. The event differs from past years that involved a party at the Sedgwick Farms Tennis Club. From what I gathered there are fewer young children in the neighborhood (or at least in the Sedgwick preservation district); thus, it made sense to skip the party this year.

• The most heavily discussed topic was the association's membership. I believe they said that there are 200-something houses in the Sedgwick preservation district and about 90-some of them are paid members of the association (though only 60-some have paid so far this year). While this amount of revenue (annual dues are $50) is sufficient for the association's expenses, some meeting attendees seem to think there is more the association can do to increase its membership/paid membership. One gentleman said by his estimate there are over 1,000 houses in the greater Sedgwick neighborhood, and that it would be good to target all of these people including those outside the preservation district. He said the Eastwood Neighborhood Association is a great model as they have attracted over 800 members and have quite a few events.Currently, neighborhood residents who live outside of the Sedgwick preservation district must be "sponsored" to become official members of the association (though generally speaking they can participate in the association's events). Association board members said there was talk several years ago of not requiring those outside the preservation district to obtain sponsorship, but this proposal was met with little interest. In addition, considering the association has not been able to recruit the majority of preservation district residents as paid members, it doesn't necessarily make sense to target people outside the district. My family and I technically live outside the district, but were told we would surely be sponsored to become official members of the association (though membership is free your first year in the neighborhood). As part of the discussion, the topic of designating "block leaders" was suggested. This could be a way to get the overall neighborhood more engaged with the association. In addition, meeting attendees were encouraged to update the association when they are aware of new neighbors. 

• Every so often, a member of the association volunteers to host a cocktail mixer for all association members. Hosts simply provide their home, paper plates, and napkins. The association provides the glasses, and guests bring a bottle of something as well as an appetizer or dessert.

We are looking forward to attending future SFNA meetings and events!