And it all comes round

A couple very great weeks have been had in spite of bronchitis and work! Actually - work is a necessary requirement of having the fun so really, the fun isn't in spite of work I suppose but let's not think about that now.

I got to spend time with friends and family. Family posts of wonderful Thanksgiving celebrations will follow once I figure out how to get them off my phone and into the computer file; and by figure out I of course mean find the little cord.

Friend time - local and out of town. Spent an amazing weekend in Arizona with new and old friends. It was a great weekend of little to no responsibility, a fantasy for us parents. We hiked (beautiful for sure) up to the top of a summit at +/-2000ft elevation and the very next day sat around and watched football. Two of us literally did not get off the couch unless we had to use the facilities or to make our pizza when our wonderful male friends went out to handle the errands. It was a weekend everyone should have. And don't get me started on the cupcakes.

Locally I got to hang out with different friends ranging from the spa, hockey, too cooking/baking while enjoying our traditional mimosas. In itself these times are fantasy like as well, yes we had responsibilities and kids (let's be honest, even if they weren't in AZ they were still there) but it was fun times that were carefree.

Too often I think we try to work too hard to make events perfect and forget to just stop and enjoy them along the way. That was the best part of the prep for holidays weekend in AZ, we stopped and had fun. We smelled the roses and anything else we wanted. We laughed, cried (yeah, not really but maybe kind of a little as we know I don't do that cry thing, right? right.), we ate, danced, slept and just enjoyed each other's company.

My suggestion to all of you during the holidays? Take time to enjoy the company and the moment, you never know what doors it may open.

Race Day!!!

This morning I woke up very early on a Sunday, the day after Nikki's birthday, to watch her run a marathon. How does one watch a half marathon? You are there to smile, de-stress and pump up your runner. You hold the bag and convince them to take off the pants that will prove to be to hot once they hit mile 5 of 13.1. You make them use the dreaded port o potty before the 13.1 miles. The supporter cheers on at the start line making jokes and holding more layers deemed no loner necessary.

How do I know this? Well, I don't. I am guessing as this is my first time! I watched her in high school run cross country or track meets but nothing like this. In other words, I could be full of crap and not have been helpful at all...but it was fun :) and next time I will have signs. And balloons.

Once they are gone (in a very huge group of what looks like 1000s) you find a curb in the sun near the finish line to cheer on the end. I chose to lay down in the sun and read before I realized I needed to write. It's a beautiful day in the sun, there is music and people. Someone is shaking a tambourine which is awesome in itself! And of course the pumps from the bounce houses for the patient kiddos. Well, and the kiddos themselves.

The 5kers are coming in now and the crowd cheers for each one like they are personal friends. That last bit of support and push for the finish line. After all, we aren't running and most of us couldn't finish.

Side bar - someone just ran by in those funny feet shoes. Still ew.

Super fast marathons start coming in at about an hour and us fans start making friends with one another helping spot who we can as the runners start coming in at 1:30 (time). Oh, I found time to make a sign - they had a table and paint, it was perfect. Some of the runners come in looking fresher than I do by far, others death and everything in between. Nikki comes in under 2 hours (YEAH!!!) and while she hits the chute, I head that way.

Now comes the banana runs, power-aide supplying and end run support. The walking to stretch back out her legs, and whatever else it takes to keep her from see spots or locking up. It was so very awesome to share in this with her and she was a rock-star for doing it!

The weather was perfect and the morning even more so. By 10:30a (a mere 3 hours from when we got there) we are back in the car heading home; the 13.1 mile runner and me. It amazes me the strength those runners have to get out there and train and race, let alone run that full 13.1. Anytime I can support someone like that, I am up for it. Way too cool not to be a part of - thanks for letting me be:)

Sigh

I put the kiddo in a truck tonight on his way to yet another camp out. He loves these things, can't get enough of them, and seeing as how the first thing he does when he gets home is showers, I don't think he loves the weekends just because he doesn't have too!

Regardless, it is great to see the kiddo really grow up into his own. It wasn't so long ago that I was helping with the packing, or reminding him of things like Wisps (the only way to have a boy successfully brush his teeth when the mom is not around). Now he packs, including the Wisps and is ready to go. Well, almost, we did have to pick up yet another headlamp.

Guess he still does need Mom reminding him:)

It's a circle

Ever have one of those moments that you are SURE you have done that certain action before, had that conversation or lived that part of your life. Well we all have and this isn't about that.

This is about looking at where you are in life now and knowing somehow that this was the way it was supposed to be. I am not referring to life as a whole, rather certain circumstances. There is a reason things happen when they do just as there is a reason why they happen and why they happen the way they do.

Today, while standing over a tire filling it with air and laughing with an old friend about how we just had to make it so far down the road I got the calming feeling that this was the way things were always supposed to be regardless of how we got there.

Just a thought, something to ponder as you are yelling at the traffic or getting frustrated with what life isn't giving you when you want it:)

Inner hall monitor - oh yes, you have one.

In movies, cheesy ones, there is always some sort of angel on one shoulder and devil on the other.

I have this habit, every day I read my horoscope (that I call horrorscope) late afternoon for a laugh. Well today it told me to listen to my inner hall monitor or something would happen, yada yada yada. As an adult, we spend most of our time listening to our inner hall monitor on what is right and what is wrong. There shouldn't be a grey and yet...I made the comment that I silenced that monitor years ago, and that really isn't true - I still err more on the side of caution and pleasing others than taking a chance and pleasing myself.

It's the old angel and devil scenario in living color. Who do you find yourself listening too more often?

Then life says HA

As an adult, a parent, you try to do what you can for your kids. Prepare them for life and all of its ups and downs. Then life smacks you and reminds you that while, even if you do the best you can, sometimes you have to say no. Sometimes, you have no other choice but no and there is nothing that can be done about it. And it isn't because the kiddo wouldn't be safe, or isn't prepared. It isn't because he did anything wrong at all - it is just life.

In time, yes I have a solution in my head and know it will all be fine - but right at this moment, I am still stinging from the smack.

Time to find that little thing to make this feel a little better...don't let the smacks get you down, get it out then move on. Spray on perfume, dance and laugh. It might be hard but it does get better!

It's a team

This morning the rain was coming down - it was 2am. So imagine my thoughts when the alarm went off at 4:45am...please let it be pouring, please let it be pouring. No such luck.

Drove cross town to boot camp and there is a drizzle but no trainer...hmm....after some thought, the class decided we were going to work out anyway. I was in the car at this point and they started to run laps. I have a boot right now so I get to watch the running, jumping, squats but did modify the other warm ups we went into with balancing and arm work. Still no trainer.

Then one of the ladies in our group asked me what exercise we should start with that I could do - and we did. We kept working until our trainer came and finished out the rest of the work out.

We have been in boot camp for 4 weeks but today? Today we became a team.

It's 104 in the shade

But today was free Popsicle day at Half Shells, so after my very mature lunch of honey chipotle shrimp tacos with fresh avocado I had a rocking rainbow Popsicle.

This small rainbow sugar and ice pop has put a smile on my face that will last the rest of the day:)

What is putting a smile on yours?

Really?

It amazes me how some people feel like they are above it all. Whether it be their professional or personal lives, it's about sleeping at night.

We are going through a scandal here at the office right now (yes, I know - I promised not to harp on work stuff) and it is becoming so cliche it is almost laughable. The biggest internal comments we have are disbelief at the treatment the big guys get compared to the little guy.

Let it be known, I am a capitalist through and through and believe that you have to stick to a contract, BUT it does beg the question...

:)

Just a thought for the day, I have been called many things not the least of which is a bubbly person. At my age, I have learned that isn't a bad thing, yes my friends, I embrace my inner cheerleader.

I dare you - embrace your inner whoever today!

Times they are a changin', but are they?

Tonight I am taking the kiddo to an Aerosmith concert with a dear friend and her daughter (who is also awesome). Kiddo wasn't sure he wanted to go, but decided last minute.

I remember my parents taking me to concerts, Diana Ross, Anne Murray, Kenny G, George Straight...we went to venues but the majority were after ballgames. Music is huge in our family. So now, I am taking my son to his second concert (Kenny Chesney with Sugarland and Taylor Swift was his first one) and realized, while the venues change - some of the artists don't, and the exeperience doesn't either. Tonight I get to hang with my preteen and can only hope he has as much fun as I did with my mom and daddy.

What did you do with your parents that you hope to carry on to your kids?

Relaxing

The kiddo just posted on his FB that he is home from Scouts and has nothing to do but relax until school starts, not that he relaxing during the summer and it got me thinking. While he has had a few weeks of sleeping until late and then being lazy around the house other than the chores his mean mother makes him do (oh yes, we do chores my friends) summers really aren't as relaxing as I remember.

I remember riding our bikes all day until dark, switching house where at we ate lunch and snacks. Moms not worried as they all has some secret network and knew that all the kids were together anyway and who was where wasn't even a thought. We were all out and about having fun.

Maybe it is just our town, or even our school (which is like a small town in itself), but the kids don't ride bikes all day or head up to the community pool and hang out. They go to games, camps and each other's houses sure, but not nearly like we used too.

Could times really be that different? I openly admit that I am the parent that signs him up for the summer programs, camps and trips - is it us parents that helped take the bike out of the everyday 'toy box'? And really - isn't this schedule what relaxing is to kids now? Heck, the first day he is home I know I will hear "I am bored"... oh and he just left for a baseball game.

Run On Peace

The mom/aunt sitting in the backyard with banana rum, watching the dog try to get his ball from the pool while the youngest member of our 'village' helps by getting the ball which leads to yelling by the dad as the dog runs with ball through the newly painted flooring immediately followed by the ball back in the pool, laughter from moms...repeat at least 2 more times.

Run on sentence? Yes.

Peace on a Friday night? Absolutely.

Hope you all found your form of peace, be it a crowded dance floor or quiet room:)

Oops

For those of you in the cube world, you know how fun over the wall wars can be...candy, beach balls, paper - you name it. Well, as shown in the picture above, I don't let the blue walls close in on me.

A warning was given, "I am going to throw this ball at someone! " 30 minutes later I let it fly, and instead of the cubbee cover I was aiming for I hit my wonderful friend in the head. Couldn't have done that if I tried. I laughed. Next I hear "RUN" and before I am even half way down the cube hall I am pegged. And it was well deserved. And funny. And enjoyed by many.

This was hilarious and we laughed again today. Somehow, in print, not as funny. Guess you had to be there. Bad luck for all of you that you weren't.

Enjoy the cube world my friends - goodness knows we spend enough time in them!

I.....yeah, nothing's coming to me just now.

I wish I had something witty or funny or creative but I have nothing.

Thoughts?

Is the new year now in August?

I just signed up for a boot camp for the month of August. Why August? Because I was asked by a friend so I did it.

I have since been supported by a number of other friends/acquaintances that have done the same thing! It is a often discussed fact that health club memberships go up in January and probably right before bathing suit season, but August? That is the start of the school year, so really it is another beginning of sorts. Could that be what is motivating us?

What is your school year resolution? Boot Camp anyone?

Mondays

It's funny, I was perusing FaceBook this morning and found it funny the amount of people who were unhappy it was Monday. First, let me make it clear - I am no different of course, Mondays tend to slap me upside the head and this one has been no different.

BUT (yes, the big BUT it is Monday afterall), Monday always comes, every week. It comes after Sunday which for most of us is the weekend. Now, if you have kids you know the weekend is actually busier most times than the week. Much busier and more exhausting. Is the difference that we don't have to go into work? Or is it that Mondays are programmed in our heads to be the day of dread?

I think I will like this Monday - despite the crappy way it started! Monday is now my day!!!

The best laid plans

So the Troop 285 bus was supposed to pull out this morning at 10am, meaning we had to be at the predetermined meeting site at 9. Which was quite a nice change from the 4am time of last year.

Then the bus showed up at 9:30am with no a/c. For 41 boys, 6 SMICs and a 4+ hour drive to OK. Not going to work my friends. They send us away to wait saying coming back at 10:30am for the new bus. In what can only be described as a comedy of errors, the new bus doesn't show up until NOON.

A little before 12:30pm our boys, and the brave men, head off to Oklahoma for a week of Boy Scout camp. I spend the rest of the day trying not to think about another week without the kiddo, having a great time of course with friends, paint, a pool and white wine (it's hot in this state so yes, chilled white instead of the standard red). The reassuring email comes that they arrived safely and are looking forward to a great week.

Then life gut checks you and you have to pause and remind yourself that raising an independent child is awesome...yet... he will be gone before I know it and well prepared for life.

Here's to our amazing children, and the moments we realize that the pride we feel is only second to the love in our hearts for those crazy, moody preteen boys:)

Go....

I spent a great night with friends/family and know that even though my blood family is far away, some of my family is less than 3 miles away...proving once again true friends are the family you choose.

Thank you my family - the kiddo and I would be nowhere without you! Yes my friends, even the strongest and most independent of us have to admit we need our family; and if I can do it - so can you!

Think about it, who is your family ?

Little Celebrations

Tonight I have a date with my #1 boy - my son! Burgers and a movie...SO EXCITED!

See, my preteen kiddo is growing up way to fast and is quickly approaching (if not already there) that phase where he doesn't so much need Mom and would rather hang out with his friends. I am going to celebrate these moments with all I have as too quickly he will grow up...as he should.

What are you celebrating today?

Just a quick question

Too many people today have earned the following infamous dog look of "What in the heck is your problem? You are kidding, right? I am not amused but nice try."

College kids today

Had another tour of our 'experience' today for local college kids who might want to work in IT someday. The tour ends with a presentation from one of our top technical talent about what they do and how to be a success.

I am pretty sure I talked about this before, but back in my day (yes I am being an old foagy) you dressed up, or at least business casual for these things. These are potential employers and you are given the opportunity to see things that the average student is not.

Tell me the level of self ego allows you to show up in athletic shorts and a t-shirt? Anyone?

Yes, I am old.

Back from vacation

There is always a let down coming back from vacation, the waiting laundry, house chores and, of course, the work. In this day and age of email, to see 300 unread messages waiting is enough to put me into a tail spin sometimes.

This time however, coming back was different. Yes, all the chores and work were waiting but so were the decisions of what to do next. Do I go with the status quo? Do I think about what the end of that vacation means? Do I look at this as a new door?

Here's the thing - I did have a suitcase come with me, and a lot of GREAT experiences while gone. I think this is a new door, even if it is at the same house, same office, same everything. It is different because in that week away, I am different.

And of course - there's always the ears:)

Rain - time to dance

When I lived north, it was in a state where the sun rarely came out and the rain/snow/yuck was not something we treasured.

Now I live where rain at this time of year is a rarity and I find myself dancing in the rain as if I hadn't done the same thing yesterday.

Life is full of surprises, failures and victories. When we forget how to have fun with the little things - i.e. my dancing in the rain as if I don't have a care in the world - that is when we truly fail. Being down sometimes is human, being scared and feeling lost is part of the journey. However, getting through those times (maybe through dancing in the rain...) is the fun part.

What is your rain dance?

Fun times

There is a lot of random info in my head, and most of it is such a waste of space that I am convinced if I used my powers for good instead of evil, I would run the world. No, not the country. The whole damned world. I have that much wasted space up there.

Random info filling it right now? Who knows? Because my mind is blank. I read old blog posts (the ones on my front page) and was completely bored. I apologize for spreading my boredom to all of you.

I want it to rain - I want to dance in it. I also want banana ice cream with chocolate chips.

Drinks with friends

I had a standing happy hour with friends last night and this month a few of us needed to air some out, you know, sounding board it with those we trust. I have pushed trucks, sang on tables, done shots, and laughed hilariously with these people so trust is not an option.

Then we met HER. And then she collapsed on our happy hour and we talked in code. We then should have played a drinking game on how many time we got threesome vibes from the couple when the other half showed up. Two of use wouldn't have been able to get up from the table let alone drive anywhere or remember our names. It was funny to the point of making the night that much more enjoyable.

It was a fun night, like I said - we always have fun. Just a hilarious night we will no doubt relive next time.

I have sitcom life. Seriously.

Sunday - a bright revelation

I went to my normal church this morning and celebrated mass as I have now for 34 years. It is my favorite mass, with the traditional choir and the traditional service. I prayed, sang and enjoyed the company of the congregation.

Then I went to a brunch, a Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues with two girlfriends. It was an amazing celebration of all faiths. We sang, we danced, we yelled and met our neighbors.

I finished the day at a wonderful BBQ with new friends - friends who I am sharing the Word with and whom I have a deep respect and admiration for, ones whom I think will become part of (if they aren't already) our village.

I don't typically speak much about my faith or discuss God's blessing throughout my life but today - today God was here, and I welcomed him with open arms. Today I was not alone. :)

Prespective

Perspective seems to drive every situation. What is great to one person might be the worst thing ever for another. We all know that, right?

This isn't just true in our personal lives folks; it is true in our professional ones as well. Sometimes you just need a good friend to remind you of that...it helped me:-)

Hoot Suite

Learning Hoot Suite for work, very cool for the setting up of Tweets and FB posts for later in the day. Just further proves that the more we use technology, the more we don't have to be actually present in what we are doing. And while we complain about 1 person doing more work, and I have certainly done my fair share of that, I wonder how many tools are out there that we just need to use...?

It's a Girl Thing

It amazes me how women can sit around a table for hours and talk about nothing at all, but when you get a group (maybe just 1 other person in the group!) that are true friends, you can look at them and not have to talk to know that life is great for them. That things are looking up and while they might be rough at that moment, they just know things are better.

And they know the same about you.

Grow Up not Old

It never ceases to amaze me how immature adults can be!! I understand that it is human nature to gossip, but COME ON PEOPLE, what does it help? Now I am not saying that I have never gossiped, but I do not gossip about those I call a friend to others, and I do not believe gossip I hear about friends. Nor do I repeat it.

What I am saying is that I have a naive heart and honestly believe the best in my friends no matter what conspires between us over the years. Hell, even married people fight and come home again!

I do stay up at night and worry about what others are hearing and believing, damned heart. Really need to work on that.

Batman is riding an elephant

Life has a funny way of teaching you lessons and bringing together the true friends while showing you the not so much ones. Thank you life, your lessons are good ones. Sometimes.

And with that I say:

'Chillaxing"

I don't like that word - I actually don't think it is a word and certainly doesn't invoke relaxation in my mind. But to each her own.

What calms me down is music, and not any type of music in particular just music. More precisely, lyrics. I can not like the singer, think they have no vocal talent whatsoever but the lyrics, that is what speaks to me.

For example, right now I am stuck on the following from a terrible joke of an artist:

Hey, slow it down. What do you want from me?
What do you want from me?
Yeah, I am afraid. What do you want from me?
What do you want from me?

How many times have you wanted to go out and SCREAM that at the top of your lungs? Instead, I open the sun roof, roll down the windows and sing it at the top of my lungs.

Sing out people, it will help - I promise.

The Disney Company's 10 Management Principles

Disney does an amazing job of creating fantasy out of life, giving each child (and frankly, adult) the dream of the fairytale ending. How the heck, in this economy and changing (translation - more rude than in the past) society, is this possible? I would rather look at it on how we can apply them to our lives, and it is a lot easier than you might think.

1. Make Everyone's Dreams Come True: Think about it, as a child our parents told us there is nothing we can't accomplish. No dream that won't come true. Well, why can't we live our lives with those dreams? Yes, some dreams are just too far fetched and need realism, but, what is the point of starting something if you can't dream about the potential? The fairytale results? If you don't try, you won't ever know!

2. You Better Believe It: This one is pretty self explanatory. If you can't believe in whatever "it" is, how do you expect anyone else too? And when you stop believing in "it", even for a second, have that friend that brings it back for you. "It" was important enough for you to think about it in the beginning, why not now?

3. Never a Customer, Always a Guest: I will take a little more liberty with this one (my blog, my way). What if we looked at the challenges of life not as something to please, or fix, i.e. the Customer, but rather a new opportunity to impress, a Guest? I am not going to say it is easy, but think of those rough days when you are ready to knock someone out and then treat that instance as a guest, someone/thing that you can charm and bring a dream too. Might be a little easier.

4. All for One and One for All: Adults are mean to each other. Women are especially vicious. Be there for your friends, for their "it". Be there for each other even if you aren't their friend! Just because they hurt you, doesn't mean you get to/have to hurt them back! You might end up needing their support in the end you know (I admit, this one is much easier said than done).

5. Share the Spotlight: Life is a lot easier and more fun when you have people to share it with, and it doesn't have to be all about you. Sometimes the littlest sharing of the spotlight gives another person the lift they need to get through the experience. This is a good pay it forward, share (something our parents told us as children again) and good things happen.

6. Dare to Dare: How do you know you will fail if you don't try? The only way to fail 100% of the time is not dare, not try! This is true in work, family, love, LIFE!

7. Practice, Practice, Practice: Bad news, no one is perfect, not even you. We practiced to walk, to talk, to read and to write. We practiced to learn anything and to get better at it too! You are yet to be perfect, so PRACTICE! A friend of mine is a photographer and I hate pics of myself. What did she say? Practice in the mirror. I never would have thought of practicing to smile in a mirror for a picture. So before that big conversation, that big action, before anything big or small, take a minute to practice. Trust me!

8. Make Your Elephant Fly: This one holds a special place in my heart as I am the elephant lover. I actually have a picture of an elephant para-sailing in my cube. Elephants can't fly, but yet, Dumbo did. I understand it is just a cartoon, and that an elephant cannot flap it's ears and fly. However, and elephant could be that bit scary 'it' that you can't overcome and if you don't get creative and try, what's the point? Disney used it's ears! The elephant's ears! Think of something that is ridiculous, DREAM it and I bet you can make that elephant fly!

9. Capture the Magic with Storyboards: I am clearly a writer, but I don't write my big stories, speeches, etc. on a computer. Nope, I get out paper and a pen and write. I got through drafts and drafts on paper. Those are my storyboards. I draw the new pages, I draw the ads, whatever it is. What is your storyboard? A journal? A legal pad? A blog? Heck - it could be your iPhone, or a friend you bounce ideas off of before a decision is made. Take some time to draw out your ideas and you might be amazed in the end on how you make that elephant fly.

10. Give Details Top Billing: My Daddy always said, "Details, details" and he is right. One of my favorite parts of Disney is the meticulous costumes that haven't changed since I first saw Snow White. The roses on main street that really do look painted. The thousands of light bulbs that get an examination every night. It is the details of life that make or break your success. No one notices my nails but I paint them for me every night - even if it is just clear. The details that could launch that dream into reality or soar that elephant to the moon.

Am I crazy? Probably...but I thought everyone should think about it so I storyboard-ed and made this elephant fly.

Then 2010 happened

And blogging stopped abruptly after what must have been a Cat 4 day.

Wow - spring, it has been that long. FB has really taken off and, while I swore I would never participate I am full on involved now. Even to the point where I exchange fun little quips with the parents via our 'walls'. Twitter is still lost on me, I have to do it for work, but at home? Who really needs to have a minute by minute accounting and would we really want everyone to know? Uh, thank you, no.

Listening to the ipod and The Best is Yet to Come just starting gracing my ears, good time to hear that song. It is still songs that can trigger memories (good or bad, happy or sad) but for some reason, this one is always a happy one. Despite the fact that it does bring back a night watching the beautiful fountains and thinking about all that my future held.

Well kids, the future can hold so very much more now and here I go into it, like a Cat 4 storm.