Monday, January 05, 2009

am I a chuck-a-rama?

Smart mama has a sort of flavor of the week tendency, but yes, you knew that. She is always trying out some new little venture. Oh there might be some blogging, some writing, some painting, some teaching, some counseling, some cooking, some embroidery, some sewing, some food extravaganza, some volunteer work, some humanitarian excursion. Part of me wishes I didn't enjoy doing so many things and really my new years resolution involves simplifying more.

I was complaining to my mother that she and my father raised me to be a "USEFUL girl". The helped me developed varied interests and skills, and they have plagued my life with stuff. Cake pans, teaching files, professional books, every art supply on the planet. My creative lot leaves me like a butterfly, flitting from project to project -- a jack of all trades and master of none. Some people are truly masterful at a given thing (not that they aren't at many things, but they have truly perfected a given art), like my friend Emily Milner from Segullah is at editing, or like my favorite restaurant The Blue Point in Duck, NC. Where every single dish is deliberate, every herb purposeful every flavor impeccable. Everything compliments and harmonizes. Me, I am such a hodge podge of things, none of which are done with the finest ingredients or patience for perfection. No dish mastered in it's true form. I have a little something for everyone, I am a sort of mass offering...

Alas am I really chuck-a-rama or a bad sizzler buffet?
1.a good editor 2. healthy breakfast 3. playing Harpard Lake with #2

12 comments:

LL said...

buffets are the best, I love variety! and I'd say you've mastered it all!!!

Unknown said...

Oh whew! I sat down with some lunch to 'read,' and paused at your post title... I'm SO glad it didn't include a story about up-chuck-o-rama-ing! You're a FINE mixed palette (thinking art, because I can't help it when I look at your blog!).

Smilin' sunshine said...

My dad is a huge fan of what i call upchuck-a-rama!

Variety is the spice of life, if you were only good or masterful at one thing, a person like you would be bored!

Be glad you are good at so many things and have so many talents, not everyone has that!!

lyn said...

How about a tapas restaurant or a sushi bar? Both have a variety that you keep ordering, but in smaller portion sizes. It sounds a little better than chuck-a-rama.... :)

Anonymous said...

a woman of many talents? yes! a multi-faceted diamond? yes! chuck-a-rama? NO! More like brunch at the Waldorf Astoria-- platters and goblets and tureens of every wonderful thing.

Sheree said...

I was going to say Tapas too--somehow, the girl who doesn't even do Ihop can't be categorized as Chuck-a-rama!

I love all your skills because you are so willing to share them. From cake decorating, oil painting, adoption profiles, etc. You are so helpful! I love how you share what you've learned and your desire to help others too.

Anonymous said...

You flatter me--an editor can only help as much as the writer allows. (Trust me, I have learned this from experience). So pat yourself on the back for being a great writer. And I think you're definitely a cut far above Chuckarama (they don't even have calphalon knives there!). I like the tapas restaurant idea.

smart mama said...

you guys are kind to cast in the light of tapas or something more delectable and elegant

emily- you have special writing diagnostic abilities- really a good editor rocks, there wouldn't be so much great writing without editors to clean it up!

Swimmingmom said...

Ok, so I was thinking about you overnight after reading this and I have to say I was stunned. Can I just say, you are truly one of the most talented people I know. Really. How great to be really really good at pretty much anything you try or do. I think it takes our whole life or more to truly be a master an anything. We can be very good, excellent, amazing, by a master? So you are very good, excellent, and amazing!

smart mama said...

D- you are too kind- you has seen my life and house in it's most disheveled moments, you who has rescued me many times in hours of need... you know my weakness
I do critique myself- for my lack of focus and stick-to -it ness (wonder where #1 gets this from?)

Tamlynn said...

Jack of all trades, master of none...that sounds like a great name for a blog. Oh, wait.

lol.

Susan said...

I agree with Lyn. I don't like the chuck-a-rama reference. You are way better than that.