Final session: Stop screwing yourself over! Newbies only. October 24, 2007
Posted by Niels in : Personal , add a commentWith less than one week left in Seattle, it’s down to the wire. This is your last chance to get all the fundamentals down before I take off. I don’t want to see people ingraining bad habits while I’m gone. Be sure that you’re practicing good stuff.
To that end, this Friday’s session will be on the big picture, but the subtle details of it. The little things that you’re probably doing wrong because you don’t even know they’re important.
I want to end the common mistakes I see people making over and over again.
If you were here two weeks ago, you left class more attractive than you came in. You understand how to project confidence before you even open your mouth. And you can reinforce that first impression by having fun bantering.
If you came last week, you left class more emotionally available than you came in. You pay attention, hear the emotion behind people’s words and you can relate to it.
You can now see the big picture, but this week we’ll step in closer and examine the brushstrokes.
-Keep the banter flowing (just because I like banter)
-Never be called “creepy” again
-Escalate smoothly
-”Difficult” situations
-and more
Last Friday was great. Lets keep the momentum going. See you this Friday, October 26, 7-9pm in our new private room.
I’ve rented a room again at Solid Ground (formerly the Fremont Public Association) where we can have some privacy. Plus, the money is going to a good cause.
1501 N 45th St.
Seattle, WA 98103
Details on the “pay what you can afford system”:
I don’t want exclude anyone because of their financial situation. At the same time, I’m no longer teaching workshops and I’ve got to make rent. So there’s a tradeoff.
Weigh what you can afford vs. what the evening is worth to you and put that much in a blank envelope (cash, or a check made out to “Niels Hoven”). I’ll open them later, so everything will be anonymous (well, not the checks), but hopefully I’ll remain motivated to keep doing this, no one will be excluded because they can’t afford it, and we’ll all live happily ever after. This is your only chance to work with me for much less than my usual $200/hr.
See you Friday! If you haven’t attended before, RSVP to me by email.
-Niels
P.S. Newbies only, as always.
Your thoughts?Record setting potluck comes through for us October 24, 2007
Posted by Niels in : Personal , add a commentWe set a record with 21 attendees to this Tuesday’s Groovy Tuesday potluck. A good time was had by all, the last guests stayed until 2:30 in the morning, and we have leftovers for the next week. We win again!
Potato candy October 23, 2007
Posted by Niels in : Personal , add a commentDid I really forget to mention the potato candy? Our neighbor Christina has an old family recipe that involves boiling one small potato. You mash it up, add about a pound of powdered sugar, stir, and the mixture turns into a liquid. It’s amazing.
You then very quickly add another three points of powdered sugar until the mixture turns into a dough, following which you roll it out onto a surface dusted heavily with powdered sugar, smear it with peanut butter, snake it out, and then chop it into little bits that harden quickly into potato candy.
One piece the size of your thumbnail is really all you need. I ate four or five, leading into the sugar low to end all sugar lows and me falling asleep for seventeen hours.
Your thoughts?Cider pressing and an extra Thanksgiving dinner October 22, 2007
Posted by Niels in : Personal , 2 commentsWent down to Eatonville on Saturday for a cider press at our neighbor’s uncle’s house. It was a great event with close to a hundred friends and family members all pressing apples and cooking and eating and talking. I had a chance to look at his WWII-era Stearman biplane, which is apparently what my grandfather must have trained military pilots on. Ate so much amazing food it was like and early thanksgiving. And I now have five gallons of fresh-pressed cider.
I’d like to have a huge family like that someday. It does make me a little sad that I probably won’t, given how late I’m starting…
Your thoughts?Funemployment or funployment? October 20, 2007
Posted by Niels in : Personal , 2 commentsCraig criticized my use of the word “funemployment” today. He says “funployment” is really the correct term - “funployment” like “employment”.
I think they’re two different things. I’m definitely funemployed now, but with time, hopefully I will graduate to funployment.
Also, Seattle is beautiful. Even in the rain. This afternoon’s view from my living room:
