Golf

I have not played the game of golf for very long. In fact, the last time I actually played was when we still lived in Phoenix, a good two years ago.

So when I had the chance to play in a charity golf tournament with my husband and two of our friends, I jumped at the chance. Especially since it was for charity and there was really no pressure on me to perform well.

We arrived at the golf course at 8:40 am on Friday, ready to smack some balls around. I had my clubs, some new shoes, and pretty pink balls. Let me tell you how excited I am about these balls! They have a clear plastic cover, which gives the pink on the inside a depth that just is a visual masterpiece. Seriously, I was impressed with my golf balls!

At 10:00 am, we finally got off to start the tournament. It was a scramble format with a shotgun start, and our team started on hole dos. That's two for all of you gringos. The men tee'd off and we women stood back and admired their strength! Woo hoo! We were off to a good start.

Hole three was interesting as one of the guys in our group (coughcoughAARONcoughcough) was trying to chip onto the green, a mere 5 yards away, and swung for the fences, clearing the golf course and scaring the bejeesus out of some soccer mom in her mini van on the road adjacent to the course. On a side note, I wonder how many golf balls these people who live in the houses surrounding the course find in their yards on any given day. I know two of them will find some pretty pink balls in the backyard soon. Moving on.

As the day wore on and the beer girl realized we were her best customers, we started getting fatigued. I did well overall, for not having golfed in so long. Chris did well, Steph did well, even Aaron did well. We had a good time, really. Mulligans and birdies abounded, beer flowed freely, there was some crazy golf cart antics thrown in for good measure, and tons of sexual harassment on the links.

Just another good day at the golf course.

Springtime in New England

Chris and I left San Diego on a beautiful Southern California day. The weather was fantastic, the breeze warm and beautiful off of the Pacific. The sky was blue with soft puffy clouds.

We arrived in New England a week later, October 1st to be exact, on a blustery, rainy fall day. It was dreary, windy and wet. The sky was gray. We had to make a trip to the mall to gear up for this crisp fall, since we hadn't packed accordingly, and our stuff would not be able to be unpacked until our house was bought and moved in to, a good thirty days away. We were bunking down at the hotel, and there wasn't a whole lot of room.

We moved into our house on November 1st. The leaves were a beautiful red and orange blur, and started falling en masse. By Thanksgiving, we had our first snowfall. We hibernated for the winter. It's difficult to do anything productive outside when you have spent the better part of the last 15 years in two climates that allowed for shorts and t-shirts year round.

So with a few false starts and teaser days, we actually broke into spring for good this week. Suddenly, we were renewed. We've bought flowers and plants for the yard. We bought new patio furniture for the deck. We gave the house a thorough spring cleaning today.

Chris and I sat on our deck tonight, admiring the cool Spring night air. We can honestly say that we are finally feeling like this is a place we can live in for a while. Mid-winter, we were planning for warmer climates. Right now, we're thinking this isn't that bad.

Of course, summer and humidity, two things that are by now foreign to us, are only days away.

Slacking

On a whim and in between phone calls and meetings today I decided to revisit my Blog. Then I realized I haven't blogged in over a month. Well, ok, it's a DAY over a month, but it has still been a while.

So let me catch you up really really quick:

Work, work, work, Puerto Rico, work, work.

Yup, we snuck a quick weekend to PR in there. Chris' birthday was May 3rd and I decided to take him on down. Well, he hooked up the plane tix, and I, well, *I* hooked us up FAT with a hotel room....POOLSIDE....in PR.

Puerto Rico is a beautiful island, full of beautiful, friendly people. They all are bilingual to some extent, with most of them being able to easily transfer between Spanish and English. Even that nice man who insisted on bringing me Midori Pina Coladas (and anyone at our Memorial Day BBQ Bash will get to taste those) and on bringing Chris DonQ and cokes while we lounged poolside for three days was a gem. Nelson was his name. His Spanish was impeccable and his English was really good.

Chris and I did what any fun loving American couple would do while on a short vacation. We sunned. Oh, we did some touristy stuff, but mostly laid by the pool and lounged. And drank. And tanned. And drank. And lounged.

It was a nice preview to our Jamaica vacation...in T-minus 4 months one week and one day....and counting.

Cold - Crossfade

Looking back at me I see
That I never really got it right
I never stopped to think of you
I'm always wrapped up in
Things I cannnot win
You are the antidote that gets me by
Something strong
Like a drug that gets me high

What I really meant to say
Is I'm sorry for the way I am
I never meant to be so cold to you

And I'm sorry about all the lies
Maybe in a different light
You could see me stand on my own again
Cause now i can see
You were the antidote that got me by
Something strong like a drug that got me high
I never meant to be so cold

I never really wanted you to see
The screwed up side of me that I keep
Locked inside of me so deep
It always seems to get to me
I never really wanted you to go
So many things you should have known
I guess for me theres just no hope
I never meant to be so cold

Busy Like A...

Like a what? Why does everyone always say "Bee"? Bees are pre-programmed to be busy, doing busy work. I wouldn't exactly call what I do "busy work". Yes, I am busy DOING my work, but it is always keeping me on my toes. Things can ebb and flow and the tide can change at any given moment. One minute, I am bored out of my skull and the next I am so busy that my desk looks like a filing system organized by a three year old.

There's a lot of thanklessness in the position I am in. Not so much from the clients, but from the management. Fortunately, I can lay my head down at night knowing that I did a good job. However, words of encouragement tend to motivate people, and sometimes a simple "Good Job" or a "Thank You" would suffice. The funny thing is that the management has been heard "thanking" those who are more pretty, or younger, or who have bigger boobs. Yup, I said it. And now it's out there. I'm not saying this person didn't deserve an enthusiastic "Great job" for a flyer she spent the better half of the day on (when my 12 year old could have whipped it out in about twenty minutes), but I am saying that the preferential treatment is a sight to behold.

As are the boobs.

I wonder if my husband will get me that boob job now.

It's The Little Things

I am a very visual person. It's a fact that most people find surprising about me because of my creative ability. And my creative ability usually entails the ability to visualize things in your head before putting them into reality. I am not one of those people who can go at something with no forethought and come out with a Picasso.

I tend to need to see something before I can quantify it. Take, for example, when I am reading a book. I can visualize the characters, visualize the setting. I have to, or else the mainstay of the story fades quickly and I lose interest. I can do this irregardless of whether or not the author has done a good job with the visual alliteration. I'll even sometimes change what the author wants me to see, if only because it makes more sense in my head.

I am an event planner. I plan parties, showers, and weddings. I will talk with my clients and doodle, sketch and make notes as I am talking with them. I draw out what they are saying to me, so that there is not much room for error. Sometimes I am completely off-base. However, 90% of the time, I am right on.

Take for example this weekend. I met with a mother planning her daughter's baby shower. As we stood in the room, talking about what she wanted where, I was sketching it on my pad. She took one look at it, and said, Yes! That's it!

I also met with a couple planning their wedding. I mentioned things to them that they hadn't thought of (which completely amazes me, considering my own OCD and control issues, but that's fodder for another blog), and one of them turns to me and says "You should do this professionally."

Cue the crickets chirping in the stunned silence.

I thought I was doing this professionally. I mean, I get a paycheck every two weeks. I plan and replan and plan again. I check and double-check every little detail. I may not be J-Lo with the headset and the apron full of pharmaceuticals, but I still do this professionally.

So I went home with a sense of accomplishment on Saturday. I had upgraded the Baby Shower, and booked a nice little wedding. I told my husband about the comment and he just chuckled and said "Well, maybe it's a springboard for something you can do as your own business!" Just what I needed to hear. Then he high-fived me.

He so gets me.

Scars

I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And my scars remind me that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel

Drunk and I'm feeling down
And I just wanna be alone
I'm pissed cause you came around
Why don't you just go home
Cause you channel all your pain
And I can't help you fix yourself
You're making me insane
All I can say is

[Chorus:]I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And our scars remind us that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel

I tried to help you once
Against my own advice
I saw you going down
But you never realized
That you're drowning in the water
So I offered you my hand
Compassions in my nature
Tonight is our last stand

[Chorus]

I'm drunk and I'm feeling down
And I just wanna be alone
You shouldn't ever come around
Why don't you just go home?
Cause you're drowning in the water
And I tried to grab your hand
And I left my heart open
But you didn't understand
But you didn't understand

Go fix yourself

I can't help you fix yourself
But at least I can say I tried
I'm sorry but I gotta move on with my own life
I can't help you fix yourself
But at least I can say I tried
I'm sorry but I gotta move on with my own life

Right Here Waiting

I know I've been mistaken
But just give me a break and see the changes that I've made
I've got some imperfections
But how can you collect them all and throw them in my face

But you always find a way to keep me right here waiting
You always find the words to say to keep me right here waiting
And if you chose to walk away I'd still be right here waiting
Searching for the things to say to keep you right here waiting

I hope you're not intending
To be so condescending it's as much as i can take
and you're so independent
you just refuse to bend so I keep bending till I break
But you always find a way to keep me right here waiting
You always find the words to say to keep me right here waiting
And if you chose to walk away I'd still be right here waiting
Searching for the things to say to keep you right here waiting

I've made a commitment
I'm willing to bleed for you
I needed fulfillment
I found what I need in you

Why can't you just forgive me
I don't want to relive all the mistakes I've made along the way
But I always find a way to keep you right here waiting
I always find the words to say to keep you right here waiting
But you always find a way
To keep me right here waiting
You always find the words to say to keep me right here waiting
And if I chose to walk away would you be right here waiting
Searching for the things to say to keep me right here waiting

It All Felt Good

Remember my Patience and Timing post? If not, just scroll on down to the post under this one, and you'll see what I am talking about.

Well, my patience has paid off. I landed what I am anticipating will be the most fun and exciting job I have had. Ever.

I am finally at the point in my career where I can, well, focus on MY career. For six years I have been following my husband around the country in pursuit of his career. He is now at a place he wants to be, in a position he wants to be in. Enough so, that we can finally turn our attention to me and my career.

I have always wanted a job that is fun, creative, and fulfilling. And until now, I didn't think that I could get all of that. I'm not saying it's all sunshine and roses, because no job is like that. What I am saying is that this job will allow me to express myself, and be very social, and plan PARTIES, which, if you are ANY friend of mine, know that's something I like to do. And if you ARE any friend of mine, then you have most likely attended one of my parties, and you know they can be pretty fun!

So my patience paid off, the timing couldn't be better. And when I accepted the job, it all felt good.

Patience and Timing

Patience and timing. Two things that inevidably go hand in hand more often than not. When you are waiting for something, be it an answer, a job, or the UPS man, it's all about patience and timing.

Right now I am in the throes of a full-fledged panic attack that I may have done more harm than good to my career by choosing my current assignment. I say assignment because it is a temp thing. I am not a permanent employee, and I have not pushed the issue to become permanent, even tho it is past the time when I was promised that I would. I am five weeks into this assignment.

And lo, on the horizon, is an opportunity that was just TOO good to pass up. The details of which can be summed up by saying "Right place, right time."

I have met with the powers that be regarding this opportunity. Twice. I am now waiting. Patiently.

OK, maybe not so patiently. What choice do I have, however, in a world where noone's sense of urgency is by any means greater than your own?

I sent a follow up email yesterday, since the key decision maker was out last week on a business trip. You know how that goes, out of sight, out of mind? So I put myself back IN mind.

And yet, here I still wait. Relying on another to help to springboard my career back on to the path where I want it to be.

Right now, I consider my career on a "holiday".

Hold On

Hold On
Wilson-Phillips

I know this pain
Why do lock yourself up in these chains?
No one can change your life except for you
Don't ever let anyone step all over you
Just open your heart and your mind
Is it really fair to feel this way inside?

chorus:
Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day
Things'll go your way
Hold on for one more day

You could sustain
Or are you comfortable with the pain?
You've got no one to blame for your unhappiness
You got yourself into your own mess
Lettin' your worries pass you by
Don't you think it's worth your time
To change your mind?

chorus

I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day and
Break free the chains
Yeah I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day and you
Break free, break from the chains
Some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day yeah
If you hold on

Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day,
If you hold on
Can you hold on
Hold on baby
Won't you tell me now
Hold on for one more day
'Cause
It's gonna go your way
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can't you change it this time
Make up your mind
Hold onHold on
Baby hold on

Overheard While Living My Life

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Another Year Come and Gone

So I have made the round of my life cycle for another year, and here I find myself back at the starting point that is my birthday.

I am getting ready to complete my 34th year on earth, and begin the journey of my 35th. I look back on the last year of my life and realize SO much has happened. I started this year with a great job, a wonderful group of friends, and a general sense of peace and well-being in my universe. I have experienced profound joy, happiness, sadness, tragedy and sorrow. I saw devastation, wedding bliss, death of a loved one and making a cross-country move.

And through all of this, I have become a stronger, more secure and independant person. My marriage has become more comfortable, and I am blessed to have such a wonderful man with whom to spend my life.

My son is becoming a more thoughtful and sensitive individual, and I like to think that it is because of a joint effort from all of his parents.

In all fairness, my life is not always sunshine and roses. There are days when I am so disjointed I want to cry. But those days are not outnumbered by the days in which I wake up every morning and thank God that I am alive, and healthy, and that I have the best group of friends and family in my life that anyone could or would ask for.

Thank you God, for another year.

Do You Have a Minute?

This is going to be another post about my absolutely gorgeous son. But it is also going to include some pics of my equally adorable nephew.

Thanksgiving was at my house this weekend, with the kickoff start of the snow we woke up to on the ground on Thursday morning. I remember my alarm going off, and stumbling downstairs to start the coffee. I looked around at my kitchen, making small mental notes as to what needed to be finished before the weekend feast.

I realized that there were some tools on the kitchen table that needed to be put back in the garage, and decided to take them out. As I looked outside, I had to focus and make my mind believe what my eye was seeing. SNOW! A good two inches! I raced upstairs, recreating the sound of an elephant stampede, raced into the bedroom, and pulled up the blinds. "BONE!" I said "LOOK!" Chris, without even sitting up, said "We got snow, didn't we?" And yes, kids, yes, we did.

Here's the boy, playing in the snow, throwing snowballs and making a snowman. He was in all of his ever-loving glory!

He absolutely could not get enough of the snow. And the hot chocolate with marshmallows that I made sure was waiting for him when he was finished.

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving, lots of fun and family, and an all-out blast of a snowball fight right before dinner. Chris made snowballs for the kids while they attacked me, my sister, her boyfriend, my mom and dad! We all laughed so hard! It was by far one of the best Thanksgivings we've had in a long time.

The boys had a great time, and Kristofer taught Logan how to play basketball on Playstation2. We all stood in the living room and cheered while my nephew made dunk after dunk and thought he was the coolest thing since Kareem Abdul-Jabar!

I love my two boys. My son and my nephew.

And I love my family.

It was certainly a Happy Thanksgiving.

Look at these faces - would they lie to you?

Fall In New Englad

Doesn't even need words.

Ah! I Smell Stuffing...

And here we are, at the bottom third of November, and getting into the wild ride we call "The Holidays".

It starts at a feverish pitch with the merchandising and the Pre-Thanksgiving sales, and the Lowest Prices of the Season. My mailbox is stuffed full every day with flyers advertising sales at Filene's (Robinson's May and Famous Barr for you Midwest and West Coasters). They always include that wonderful little additional 20% off card.

Then comes Turkey Day. A day to be thankful. A day to reflect on all of your blessings over the past year and to give THANKS.

And to not drink too much, cause you gotta be up for the Black Friday sales the next day.

I've had a lot to reflect on this past year. It's been a very hectic third and fourth quarter for Chris and I. It's been something to be thankful for.

That and the 20% off card.

Email

This was said to me in an email yesterday:

I swear, you have got to be one of the only people I know that says, okay, I need to get a job, and Bamm, you have one, and it's a good one too. That Rocks!!!

Yup - I guess it does.

A Quickie

Short post today kids. We are in the house. I have managed to unpack a few boxes. I am happier than I have been in a month. Enjoy Kelly Clarkson, it's a pretty thought-provoking song.

Get Right....

Some of you may have noticed that I added video code to my blog (Where is that music coming from? Scroll ALL The way to the bottom). If you need it to stop, press the "X" button on your browser.

Most of you who know me know that I love everything that has to do with dancing. I love the physical movement of dance, the music that you just can't help but dance to, whether it's tapping your foot or going into full-blown convulsions on the dance floor.

There are only a few dance songs that I feel are requirements to dance to. Anything with J.Lo - you gotta DANCE! Same with Prince.

So watch my blog for some great videos of my favorite dance songs.

And at the very least, tap your damn foot!

Why Don't You Do Something?

I feel like I ask this on a daily basis lately.

Enjoy Britney. I don't care what they say, this song rocks. That is all.