Lab-rats! I have lab-rats! I get to perform evil experiments on them and set them running through impossible mazes while I stand over rubbing my hands in glee. Oh no wait, that’s one of my ate-too-late-at-night dreams… where I’m the lab-rat.
Before launching the new version of the blog, I put out a call for volunteers who would be willing to share their own Someday Journey with all of you. The four people I ended up picking include a great mix of situations and stages in the journey.
I’ll get to the introductions in a moment, but first I’ll tell you about the experiments – I mean exercises – we’ll be doing. Each week, I’m going to give them a Someday Lesson from the former version of the blog and ask them to consider how it applies to their current situation (with some additional questions to help guide them). I’ll then post my take on their responses throughout the week. I’m quite excited to see how differently people in such varied points of their lives will respond, and I hope that the responses will spark a whole lot of conversation here on the blog.
So, let’s get to the introductions…
First up is Crista Renner, a communications executive in the training and development industry and a mother of three kids (5, 7 & 9). Crista is not a blogger, but found me through a Facebook blog network tool. After working for nearly 20 years in her industry, Crista’s decided that it’s time to re-examine her passion for her youthful (not that Crista’s not still youthful) dream of becoming a lawyer. She’s starting it off with an online degree program in Social Justice. Crista’s at the beginning of her Someday Journey.
Next we have Salvador Vilardo, a sourcing expert working in government and blogger at Everyday Thoughts From Life. As a child Sal had dreams of being a dolphin trainer (age 5), and an Olympic diver (age 11). Sadly for dolphins everywhere and for those of us who like to look at muscular men in Speedos, Sal did not follow those dreams. Now, at just a little older (I won’t say how old), Sal wants be a hero to his two kids, so has decided to finally tackle his dreams of freelance writing and blogging. He’s a little further along the Journey than Crista, knowing exactly what he wants to do (which is burn his procrastinators club membership card – oh no, wait, he never got around to joining them).
Third up is Brett Legree of the 6Weeks.ca blog. Brett’s an engineer in Ontario, but would rather be a writer and personal productivity consultant (with a tech flavour) in New Zealand. He (along with his wife and four young kids) is already working towards that dream as well as several others. Brett’s challenge is to stay focused on all these dreams while still going about his day to day life with aplomb. Interesting fact about Brett; he also makes and sells handmade custom huaraches (low-heeled, often sling-backed sandals with an upper made of interwoven leather thongs – thanks Wikipedia!). I want a pair!
Finally, we have Marc Faubert, my not-quite brother-in-law (he’s my sister’s partner). Marc is a career consultant for the Canadian Armed Forces and one half of the recently popular dueling blog combo of Urban Panther/Urbane Lion. Like the other three lab-rats, he’s also a parent, to a boy of 10. Of my four lab-rats, Marc is the furthest along in his Someday Journey. In 2003, he sold a business which was giving him a six-figure income and two months off a year. Two years after that he decided to leave a 15 year relationship in which he’d been very unhappy for the previous 10 years. Although he is much happier today (of course he is – he’s living with my sister) and has no regrets whatsoever, the transition was very hard and is an ongoing process. He’s put the not-too-onerous expectation on these experiments – I mean exercises – of helping ease the rest of his transition and perhaps helping others avoid the mistakes he’d made.
So there you have it. Let the games – I mean personal growth opportunities – begin!
46 Responses to “Introducing the Lab-Rats”
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Please join in the conversation and leave a comment - I’d love to hear from you!
Woo-hoo, we’re live and out of the cage, into the maze!
(And I just remembered, I forgot to send you a picture with a close-up! Ah well…)
This is going to be fun - thanks for the opportunity, Alex.
-Brett
Look at that handsome man holding that baby. Geez wiz! But on a more serious note, I look forward to day 3 where electrodes are strapped to our heads and we run around in a maze looking for cheese. Muhaahaahaa.
Ok, all kidding asside, I can’t wait. I have already been working on our first assignment, but am slowing down a bit to make sure I get all of the details right.
Sal’s last blog post..What is a blog?
Hooray! This is actually exciting to watch.
Brett? Did you tell me you make and sell huaraches?! That is the coolest!! I can totally see them taking off in NZ, especially! Well, anywhere, really, but I see NZ as a very laid-back, beachy, casual place, aside from all the lovely hills and dales and stunning views.
Geez, I’m getting jealous this isn’t my dream. I wonder if I’m too chicken to dream that big and have faith. Oh man.
steph’s last blog post..Know Thyself
@Steph,
I don’t think I had mentioned it to you actually! I really need to get going on telling the world what I can do… which will be part of this experiment, I think.
Thanks! I’ll send you an email all about it. I agree, they will sell like hotcakes over there. Hey, don’t worry - being chicken is okay, there are a lot of chickens out there. I’m one of them.
(My wife calls me The Big Red Chicken, which is a character from Dora the Explorer.)
-Brett
Brett Legree’s last blog post..viking fridays - the worst sickness.
Good luck to everyone. This sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun.
Writer Dad’s last blog post..Here is a Macbook, Go Make Your Million.
@Brett and Sal
I’m really glad you two are enjoying yourselves. Being an experiment, curiosity as to where we’ll end up has me super-excited!
@Steph & Writer Dad
Thanks for the well wishes and I look forward to seeing your contributions to the discussions. Perhaps Steph you’ll roast the chicken and find some really good meat on the bones (bad metaphor, I know…)
This is going to be so much fun.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..Godiva Chocoiste and Men, or Hoping To Get Lucky
This is so cool - like reality TV without all the hype!
Janet Barclay’s last blog post..And Now a “Real” Award!
@Janet: Even better though, it is with people you know…sort of.
@Janice and Janet
Yes, it is going to be fun and 100% drama free. Crista won’t be complaining about how Sal never listens to her and insists on picking at his mosquito bites even though he knows seeing that makes her want to vomit…
Oh Alex, just a tiny pinch of drama …:))) or at least muscular men in Speedos…purely for research and artistic interests of course.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..Godiva Chocoiste and Men, or Hoping To Get Lucky
@Alex - Woo-hoo. My Lion the Lab Rat! (mixed animal references). Maybe if he experiences what it’s like to be a rat, he will warm up to the idea of me getting an actual rat. I miss my rats!!! I can’t wait to follow this series. The Lion is being very secretive about the whole thing *chuckle*
@Janice - speedos?! Nooooooo….should be outlawed on any male over the age of 10. Muscular though, I’m good with.
@Sal, Brett, Marc - off with those shirts! Janice and I want you to bare it all!
@Christa - equal opportunity. You too, if you if you like.
@Alex again - I think Janice and I should get to control the experiment variables.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..He’s a scamp
Sounds fair to me. Reasonable even.
I have to admit Alex, I keep thinking about your view. I mean look at it up there all blue and Basque and islandy looking… just the thing dreams are made of . Sigh.
Are you out to tempt us all into our best selves and places? Hm. Nice gig, that.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..Godiva Chocoiste and Men, or Hoping To Get Lucky
Great candidates, Alex. Will indeed be looking forward to the progress of your experiment.
Al at 7P’s last blog post..The Hero with a Thousand Jobs
@Panther,
I’ll have to break out the razor first, unless you and Janice are into the “Sean Connery 1960’s” kind of man…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..viking fridays - the worst sickness.
@Brett - I am good with Sean Connery.
@Panther,
I must warn you I don’t drive an Aston Martin though, just a VW… I do like martinis though!
Brett Legree’s last blog post..viking fridays - the worst sickness.
@Brett - oh, chocolate martinis at Milestone’s downtown. Oh ya, baby.
@Alex - I’m warming up the lab rats for you. They’ll be good and wired by the time you get your mad scientist gloves on them.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..He’s a scamp
@Panther,
LOL that reminds me, I had given my wife a martini set for her birthday last year. I also bought all of the necessaries to make the martinis - including real Russian vodka.
Silly me… she wanted *chocolate* martinis! So the vodka and I became great friends. Hmm. There’s still some left…
You know, I can almost see Alex wearing a crisp lab coat, dark goggles and a maniacal grin on his face, as lightning bolts dance back and forth between the Tesla coils in his mad scientist laboratory…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..viking fridays - the worst sickness.
@Brett - ROFL no, that’s our dad!!! One of his hats was research scientist…complete with absent mindedness and wild fly away hair.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..He’s a scamp
Hi Alex,
What an interesting concept. I’ll be following along as your experiment continues.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Your Audience - Hitting The Bulls Eye
This is fun - I’m excited for them all. Marc is forgiven for sucking waitresses pants. I was in a bad marriage for a long time too - so I can understand why he might feel compelled to do things like that.
But I didn’t know that Brett made sandals too. He has heaps of talents.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Are You Blogging Like A Barbie Doll?
@Everyone
All I can say is wow! The support! The laughter! The off-topic conversations! Keep it coming!
@Cath,
(blushing here) thank you. I have this crazy plan to have as a nerve centre of sorts a cafe/store/office/studio/whatever, just because I have so many interests and it would somehow all work together.
(Come to my place for a coffee, I’ll make you custom sandals while you wait, or fix your computer!)
@Alex,
This is what I’ve loved about my blog, or MwP, and many others - and you have it too - the great community, the great conversations.
-Brett
Brett Legree’s last blog post..can’t fly without wings? fake it.
Go the lab rats. How incredibly inspiring and fun. It’s great to watch them in the mad scramble for the finish line.
I’m sure Brett’s sandals will come handy for that too. Do you make them in mice size Brett?
Finally the mystery of the UP/UL has been lifted. I saw the pack animals converging on Brett’s blog and wondered whether there was an knocked down zoo keeper somewhere in the bushes.
Hey Alex, glad you found me since I now have the chance of getting to know you. Loved your story on the about you page.
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Humble Reality Check And The Art Of Living
@Monika,
Any size you wish, custom made to fit you!
I agree, Alex’s story is a great one (kind of like yours).
Brett Legree’s last blog post..can’t fly without wings? fake it.
@ Brett: Hehehe….cool, I might get some for my birds then.
Yeah, Alex intrigues me, although I have yet to start on a novel.
Bye the way, do you ever sleep Brett?
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Humble Reality Check And The Art Of Living
@Monika,
No sleep til New Zealand.
@Monika
Adding your blog to my RSS feed was a must, especially given how own you are. Life isn’t happy-happy-joy-joy all the time and personal journey blogs should reflect that!
@Brett & Monika
Thanks for the support - for me it was a simple thing to do because I realized it was what I was passionate about.
Wow, I feel like I have been the rat cowering under the rock because the wheel seems too daunting. With my new mouse-sized huaraches courtesy of Brett, I am ready to start my run. Oh, sorry to jump back a few comments, but as for the guys in Speedo’s, ask Alex about them.
Sal’s last blog post..What is a blog?
Okay, give Alex. Sal says there IS a Speedo story.
Janice Cartier’s last blog post..Steve Holl and the Paper Chase
Alex,
The new site is wonderful. I wish I could jump right in to that water!
I am all subscribed and ready to watch the lab rats! Yeah!
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..New Adventures
Can’t wait to see how the lab rats progress (though I only really know one of them, Brett) …
Dave Navarro’s last blog post..Pollyanna On Ecstacy: Why Positive Thinking Just Doesn’t Work
Alex,
What a well-rounded group of “lab rats” you have chosen! I can’t WAIT to see how your “experiment” goes - and how you handle the actions and results. This is quite exciting, and I’m right behind you every step of the way.
Best of luck!
Rita
Rita’s last blog post..The FIRST Time I Almost Got Expelled from College
Alex,
What a lovely bunch of lab rats! I hope they all have spectacular progress with your evil experiments, and I hope you have fun writing up their progress.
Regards,
Kelly
Oooh for sure this is going to be cool. Helps me express the exhibitionist in me. UP & Janice: Let me pull out some of my more suggestive pics….
Urbane Lion’s last blog post..The Naked Lion
@Urbane Lion - for the love of all that is decent, do NOT pull out THAT picture!
Urban Panther’s last blog post..Who is the Panther anyway?
VOTING TIME FOR ALL:
WHO WANTS TO SEE THAT PICTURE?
I VOTE YES!
Rita
Rita’s last blog post..The FIRST Time I Almost Got Expelled from College
@Rita
I do NOT want to see suggestive photos of my not-quite brother-in-law!
Rita: Trust me Rita… you don’t want to go there!
Urbane Lion’s last blog post..The Naked Lion
@ Brett: I knew it! I’ve had my suspicions all along. Good job NZ is getting closer all the time. You ought to be exhausted, albeit on an excited high.
@ Alex: You’re the man. A person that speaks of passion is a man after my own heart. I guess I can relate to your experience because I’ve been following my passions too (and still am).
@ Rita: You naughty girl you. That sex talk the other day must have gotten to your head. Now all you have in mind is dirty pictures.
That reminds me, when are we going to chat?
Ah yes, I put my hand up for the picture too. Oh…did I just say that? Must be my alternate ego.
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Humble Reality Check And The Art Of Living
@Monika and Rita - TRUST ME! It makes me scream and I’m his girlfriend!
Urban Panther’s last blog post..Who is the Panther anyway?
Hey Alex,
If you don’t mind, take a minute off. We need your blog comment space. Thanks.
So, M & UP - when ARE we going to talk? Let’s get a plan going!
R
Rita’s last blog post..The FIRST Time I Almost Got Expelled from College
@ UP: Now you REALLY have me quivering for it (the pic)
@ Rita: Here is my skype ID (birdy2005) hit me up and if we are both live we can get rolling. Same goes for UP is she has time to prowl.
Monika Mundell’s last blog post..Humble Reality Check And The Art Of Living
Glad everyone is making friends with each other here. It makes me feel like a proud father.