One Word

Dear Readers,

The days since Christmas have passed in a blur.  Usually I think of the holiday rush as the days leading up to Christmas, at work it has been the days after.  Then add to the mix that someone quit, in the same day two people went home sick and it is the perfect storm for being straight out busy and ultimately exhausted.  I am off today so will gladly use the time rest up a bit.

A few weeks ago I was reading on artist Kelly Rae Roberts' blog that instead of making new year's resolutions, she chooses a word for the year and then does her best to incorporate it in her everyday.  (Her 2013 word has been unleash, her 2014 word is trust.)  Since I haven't ever been one to make resolutions, I really like this concept.  In retrospect if I'd had a word for 2013 I think it would've been courage.  I needed a lot of it this year. 

So now, looking forward to 2014 (on the eve of the eve of it) I have mindfully chosen a word that I would like to bring the essence of into my everyday.  The choice I have made may seem obvious, but as I previously wrote about it is a word that carries weight in my life.  My word for 2014 is hope.

Definitions

noun

1. (sometimes plural) a feeling of desire for something and confidence in the possibility of its fulfilment   ⇒ his hope for peace was justified, their hopes were dashed
2. a reasonable ground for this feeling   ⇒ there is still hope
3. a person or thing that gives cause for hope
4. a thing, situation, or event that is desired   ⇒ my hope is that prices will fall

verb

6. (transitive; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to desire (something) with some possibility of fulfilment   ⇒ we hope you can come, I hope to tell you
7. (intransitive) often foll by for to have a wish (for a future event, situation, etc)
8. (transitive; takes a clause as object) to trust, expect, or believe with confidence

I have been thinking about this for a few weeks now and knew I had decided on the right word when a package from my mom arrived and included a magnet that says "Hope Will Find You".  I promptly hung it by my "We Must Choose Hope Over Fear" magnet that was already on my fridge.  And when I was doing some Christmas shopping (thanks Rie!) I also picked up a t-shirt that says "Hope Is All We Need".

You are invited to partake in this idea and choose a word that you would like to use/have more in your life.  I think it will interesting and perhaps fun to see where this goes. 

I hope everyone has a fun new years.  Be safe.  Happy 2014!

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Happy Christmas Eve

Mele Kalikimaka,

Yes, I know that's actually the Hawaiian thing to say, however since the land of sunshine doesn't have its own phrase I am borrowing it in the brotherhood of tropicalness.  Or maybe tropicality.  I am working this evening and all day tomorrow (willingly!) so I just wanted to take a few minutes to wish all my blog readers all the best this Christmas. 

This morning Jak and I headed out to the dog beach even though it was cool and rainy.  With my work schedule it was the only time I could get there during daylight hours either today or tomorrow and it felt important to spend a little of my Christmas there.  I asked the gate attendant on my way in if cool and rainy  is equivalent to a white Christmas here.  That at least got a laugh out of her.

And speaking of laughs, I would like to share one of the Christmas secrets as posted on the www.postsecret.com website that I periodically mention here.  This just makes me laugh out loud.

I will leave you with some advice I got in a Christmas card this week...
"Take care of yourself, smile as often as you can, and don't forget sunscreen."
Amen.  Love it!

Have yourself a merry little Christmas.  Let your heart be light.
It's the only way to be.

Peace, Love & Christmas Cheer,
Hope

Are the Flowers Blooming in Houston?

Dear Blog Followers,

The title today is actually a line from my all time favorite movie, Apollo 13.  In the movie it is a metaphor (of course!) used when Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) is asking if Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise) got the measles.  No, I don't have the measles and I doubt the flowers are blooming in Houston today (didn't they just have an ice storm? or was that Dallas?  I don't watch the news.)  The reason it is the title of my blog is because the flowers are blooming in the sunshine state.  The flowers on my bean plants that is.

The seeds that I wrote about weeks ago have grown into plants and have started to bud.  Last week I had to move them out of their recycled cups and into recycled milk jugs because they'd outgrown their living accommodations.  Not everything grew, however the ones that did are happy happy.  I have four cherry tomato plants, two bean plants and a sunflower.  There is also a late bloomer coming from the original planting, though I have no idea what it is yet.  We will have to wait and see what grows.

Beyond tending my little garden, I have just been working and doing the usual stuff.  For different reasons, several people at work have left in the past week so there are plenty of hours that need to be covered.  The plan is not to hire anyone new until after the holidays because trying to train new staff when we are super busy would only add to the chaos.  It took me a while to get used to how fast things can move there and  I'm thankful not to feel so overwhelmed by it anymore. It's amazing how a little time can make a world of difference.

That reminds me of one of my hope-isms, that the slightest shift in circumstance or perspective can make a mountain of difference.  So.  Be kinder than necessary to others and also to yourself.  Express gratitude and love to those who are near and dear to you.  Sing along to Christmas carols in Target.  Buy yourself a little Christmas present (because you deserve it, Santa said so!).  And most importantly if a restaurant offers to let you take your sweet tea to go by all means say yes.  Sweet tea makes everything better.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

On This Day

Dear Peeps,

Seven years ago today a certain furry friend came into my life.  I had found him online at a nearby animal control and with some help from my friend Mary Ann, Jaksen Apollo was entrusted to my care. 

Because we are together everyday it's easy to forget that those early days were trying at times.  Jak had a lot of energy, he'd been in a pen at animal control for two weeks and he would also sit and bark at me for reasons I didn't understand.  In addition, I cried off and on for the first few days because although I didn't feel like I was replacing my dog Clyde (who's battle with cancer had ended six month prior to getting Jak), having another dog was filling that hole that Clyde left and I had to process that.

Clyde was my serious dog.  I had him throughout my 20's and I feel like his personality was representative of where I was in my life during those years.  Jak arrived shortly before my 30th birthday and I decided early on that his sunny disposition should represent my 30's.  And I do think these 7 years have been lighter for me than my 20's ever were, although I'm not sure I will ever have as much personality as Jak.  Like just yesterday when he found something edible (in his mind) on the beach and I had to wrestle it out of his mouth.  The look he gave me said it all.  I don't call him Stink Eye McGee for nothing.

Tomorrow is Jak's official birthday.  After having him for a whole 12 hours I called the animal hospital to make an appointment to have him neutered.  Because he was a stray and there was no way of knowing his actual birthday, the day I initiated contact about him was put as his birthday by the vet's office.  He was estimated to be about two years old when I got him so tomorrow we will celebrate his 9th birthday. 

Jak blesses my world everyday.  I can't imagine having made this move without his companionship.  He's my motivation to get out everyday, he's my much needed laugh at times and he's my lovey dovey sleeping on my feet at other times.  Currently he has his head out the front door while he waits in hope that I will get up and open the box of cereal.  (He gets the frosted mini wheats that don't have frosting.)  Thanks again Mary Ann for helping to unite us.  He's a good friend.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Joy to the World

Dear Friends and Family,

I would like to add an item to my bucket list.  Participate in a flash mob.  I really do believe they bring some unexpected joy to the world and everyone could use a some of that.  Here is a recent flash mob video I came across...

In my own little corner of the world I am bringing some joy by decorating for holidays.  Putting Christmas decorations on a palm tree in 80 degree weather is a new experience for me and I have to say I liked it!  I am also proud of my Charlie Brown replica tree and at a suggestion from colleagues, I even came up with a make shift blue blanket (Wooby) to put under it.  My aunt picked up some Christmas tree boughs from Home Depot and made me a real wreath to hang on my door which makes it smell like Christmas around here.

The palm tree also has a string of blue lights on it, as I love my blue Christmas lights!  I haven't taken a night picture of them as they are the intense LED lights and I don't think they will photograph well.  I wanted to move the box in the picture (used to carry my plants inside when it's gets cold) but after the maintenance guy had a incident with that box and a snake the other day it is likely I may never touch it again.  It'll probably stay there till it blows away or I move, whichever comes first.

I am sorry/not sorry to hear there is some wintry weather back in the home state.  Sorry that my friends and family have to deal with it.  Not sorry that I live where it's 80 degrees today.  For those dealing with the inclement weather, stay safe and stay warm.

Until next time...
Peace, Love & Joy,
Hope   

What's In a Name

Dear Compadres,

The name Hope has always felt to me like it comes with a certain weight.  It's the kind of name you can live up to or crumble under the pressure from.  It's not just a name, it's a commonly used word.  A common word that can inspire, carry people's dreams and wishes or be the light in the dark. The reason I bring all this up is because yesterday I stumbled upon a dictionary definition of hope.  It included two words that I didn't expect to see.  Trust and confidence.  Really?  Hope isn't just some whimsical thought?  There's trust and confidence involved in it.  Oy.  The name just got a little heavier.

When I came across this definition I had taken a break from making calendars of my photography for my family as Christmas presents.  This is something I do each year and each year I struggle to pick out 12 pictures that I deem worthy of printing.  Mind you I have literally taken hundreds of pictures, a lot of them I love, but when I think about giving them to others my confidence and trust that they will be liked goes out the window.  And with the coincidental, or ironic, timing of the meaning of hope, it's sort of given me an identity crisis.  Can I be named Hope and not emulate the essence of it's meaning?  Okay, deep breath, I think it's important not to panic.  I've made it 36 years without crumbling under the weight of the name so I must be doing something right.  I suppose without the trust and confidence that something good can happen there would be no hope.  And a world without hope would be pretty bleak. 

So perhaps the lesson here is this.  That I just need to hope, with trust and confidence, that in the calendars that I made and in life in general I'm doing my best to put forth the essence of my name.  To be Hope I have to have hope. I got it now!

(Hey Mom, did you ever consider naming me Seth anyway?)

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Lighthouses

Dear Readers,

Thanksgiving was quiet, the weekend was busy at work and today I'm catching up on chores.  For lack of anything interesting to write about I decided I would share this by Anne Lamott...

Shine on, kids.  Light the way.


Until next time...
Peace, Love and Be the Light,
Hope

Giving Thanks

Howdy Pilgrims,

Happy Turkey Day from a chilly land of sunshine. And yes, for real chilly, a cool 37 degrees this morning.  My Thanksgiving tradition is to do something different each year.  I guess by default that was going to happen this year, no matter what I chose to do.  Several gracious invitations were extended to me, however I have opted for hanging with Jak and making corn chowder for my midday feast.

Because today is really supposed to be about giving thanks I have decided that I will share 13 things that I am grateful for this year (13 because it's 2013).  So, in no particular order, here they are:

1.  I am thankful for Jak.  He has been such a good companion through all the changes this year.  His easy going nature and great personality make my world a better place each day.

2.  I am grateful for the opportunity to pick up my life and move to a land that I love.

3.  I am thankful for the dog beach.  For the life lessons/metaphors that I have gained there and for the people I have crossed paths and walked paths with there.

4.  I am grateful for the natural beauty that I am exposed to so much here.  The amazing evening skies, the wildlife, the treasures that wash up on shore.

5.  I am thankful to live where I can get outside and walk pretty much everyday.  I feel so much better when I can be out in the air and be warm at the same time.

6.  I am grateful for all the love that has shown up in my mailbox during my months here.  Letters, cards, packages, they all surely make my day.

7.  I am thankful to have a job.  Though the learning curve was steep, everyone there has been great.  I wear my title as store matriarch with pride.

8.   I am grateful for sweet tea and biscuits.  So much better in the south.  I am adding red potatoes to this one also since I love me some skins on mashed potatoes and will also be putting some in my corn chowder.

9.  I am thankful for the laid back, friendlier lifestyle here.  It suits my demeanor so much better. 

10.  I am grateful for my friends.  The love, support and generosity astound me.  When I look around at the people I am surrounded by, I think I've done right by myself. 

11.  I am thankful for my family.  Without them, all this would not be possible.  I was given a solid foundation in life and at 36 I finally figured out how to have roots and wings.

12.  I am grateful for laughter.  It is such an important part of life.  Whether it be laughing at myself or laughing with others it is chicken soup for the soul.

13.  I am thankful for the this blog.  As an avenue to communicate with my peeps, as a platform to share my many life metaphors and as a creative outlet for the thoughts in my head.  Thank you all for reading it.  I greatly appreciate it.

It seems appropriate to leave you with my latest metaphor.  Because it's what I do.  Yesterday I was walking down the beach and I saw a large bird up ahead eating something.  I assumed it was vulture (they freak me out a little since it looks like their brains are on the outside of their heads) but as I got closer I realized it was not.  It was a bald eagle.  So what at first sight seemed to be something daunting turned out to be the symbol for perseverance and freedom.  Lesson learned.

Happy Thanksgiving.  Eat, enjoy, and laugh.  A lot.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Metaphors Galore

Dear Readers,

At the end of a 40+ hour work week, yesterday Jak and I went to walk the dog beach.  Though I knew it was windy, I did miss the gale force wind advisory that was in effect.  Oops. 

As we walked headlong into the wind making slow progress, it got me thinking about some things.  First, Mom, please send my winter coat and hat soon!  More so it brought up a topic that has been simmering in my brain for a while.  It is always the same ocean and the same beach but sometimes it seems so different.  Depending on the weather, the tide, the moon, the season.  Sometimes the sand is plentiful and sometimes there is a lot of erosion.   And no matter what the conditions, the ocean is just there doing it's thing with the changes only being apparent to an observer.  I feel like that is a lot what life is like.  We are the same people that get up each morning and take on each day.  We are always evolving and changing which at times is too subtle to notice and other times feels huge.  There are days where we feel eroded and raw and other days where we our layers are plentiful.  And for the most, because we are just living each day doing our own thing, our outward differences are more apparent to others.

Another metaphoric thing about the dog beach that I can tie into this, is how it starts out along the river and then takes a 90 degree turn toward the ocean.  Logically I know this has to be true.  On a map I can see that it is true.  However, when I walk it, it just doesn't feel like it makes that significant of a turn.  I think that's how life is a lot of the time.  The direction we are heading in takes a 90 degree turn without us even realizing it.  Because we are living it.  And looking at our lives in retrospect, like looking at a map, we know that we really did take a big turn without even being aware of it.

So many of you have shared kind words and encouragement since I embarked on this journey which are so appreciated.  Since I am the one here living it, it kind of makes me wonder how different my life looks to an observer.  I am the ocean going with the ebb and flow of where life takes me.

While walking in the wind yesterday Jak and I also had several discussions about pissing in the wind. That's another metaphor for another day.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Still Makes Me Smile

Bon Jour Mes Amis,

Something I wondered about when I moved was if things that were highlights of vacations here would lose their appeal and become mundane in living here.  The other night Jak and I were jogging down the beach when a dolphin surfaced so close to shore.  It was 20 feet away from us, if that.  I assume it was feeding periodically coming up for air and flipping its tail around.  I came to a complete stop and stood there watching (to Jak's annoyance) for at least five minutes.  With a huge grin on my face.  Nope, the novelty has not worn off.  The beach and the ocean and the dolphins still make me happy.

As I was watching the dolphin I was wishing I had my camera and it made me think.  The times when the clouds are beautiful, the sunset is spectacular, there's a vivid rainbow or Flipper is so close he could high five me with his tail, I don't ever have my camera.  Maybe this means that the best things in life are just meant to be experienced and enjoyed.  There are so many times I have looked at pictures I have taken and thought that the captured image just doesn't do the real thing justice.  Now, for those of you that peruse my blog just for the pictures, don't worry I'm not giving up photography.  My point is more that if you find yourself witnessing something picturesque without a camera handy, no worries, just use the moment to soak it all in.

This week in an effort to pick up some extra hours at work I went from being scheduled to have 3 days off to having only one day off.  As I said, I pick up extra hours when I can so I'm not complaining.  I am, however, tired.  Of course I will persevere and my paycheck will reflect my efforts.  When next week's schedule was posted I again found myself considering some wheeling and dealing of extra hours until I realized I'd only have one day off again.  That's when I backed down on that and reminded myself about healthy boundaries and that "no" is an acceptable answer too.  That is a work in progress.

Until next time...
Peace, Love and Keep on Truckin',
Hope

Sympathy vs. Empathy

Dear Peeps,

This week I've been listening to a Brene Brown CD (the shame researcher I periodically mention here) and she was talking about the importance of empathy.  She also made a point of distinguishing between sympathy and empathy.  To me sympathy is I'm sorry (and I"m glad I'm not in your shoes) and empathy is I'm sorry (and let me try to put myself in your shoes so I can try to better understand what's going on for you).  Maybe that's over simplifying and although I could probably come up with my own metaphor to better illustrate this, I will instead turn to an all time favorite borrowed metaphor.

It is from an episode of West Wing in which Josh Lyman has to see a therapist for the PTSD symptoms that he's experiencing.  Leo McGarry, the Chief of Staff, sets up the intervention for Josh because he sees him self destructing aound the office.  I will post both the video and the script (in case you are somewhere you can't watch a video).

Leo McGarry: [after Josh finishes an intensive therapy session set up by Leo with a trauma therapist, Josh walks past Leo in a nearby hallway of the White House] How'd it go?
Josh Lyman: Did you wait around for me?
Leo McGarry: How'd it go?
Josh Lyman: He thinks I may have an eating disorder...
Leo McGarry: [bemused] Josh...
Josh Lyman: ...and a fear of rectangles. That's not weird, is it?
[pause]
Josh Lyman: I didn't cut my hand on a glass. I broke a window in my apartment.
Leo McGarry: This guy's walking down a street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep, he can't get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up, "Hey you, can you help me out?" The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along, and the guy shouts up "Father, I'm down in this hole, can you help me out?" The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey Joe, it's me, can you help me out?" And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, "Are you stupid? Now we're both down here." The friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before, and I know the way out."
[pause]
Leo McGarry: Long as I got a job, you got a job, you understand?

Sympathy is dropping a piece of paper into the hole.  Empathy is jumping into the dark with your friend.  And even if you haven't been in the exact same circumstances, it's the willingness to just be there with your friend because you've been in your own dark place and know there's a way out.  Last week at work one of my colleagues was coping with heartache over relationship issues.  Instead of saying "it'll get better" or "it's not meant to be" or countless other cliches that are all too easy to say, I told her this.  I've known heartache and it just sucks.  There are no words that will make you feel better right now, so just know that I care and I'm here if you need anything.

Mostly I think when we fall in a hole, we just want to feel like we're not alone there and that even if it's not completely obvious, there is a way out. That is what empathy means to me.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

In the News

Dear Readers,

It is a cool, windy, overcast day in the land of sunshine.  My work schedule doesn't lend itself to a trip to the dog beach today but we would likely not be going anyway since they have predicted gale force winds.  And yes, they used the word "gale".  I'm not just being dramatic for effect.

The big news around town is that they are filming scenes for a Disney movie that is due out in 2015.  Rumor has it that George Clooney, Tim McGraw or Hugh Laurie could be making an appearance though no official sources have confirmed that.  Scenes for this movie have already been filmed at Disney World in the Carousel of Progress...my all time favorite attraction there!  And then I read that some of the scenes here in town will be filmed at the Dairy Queen...um another favorite of mine!  This movie already gets two thumbs up from me and it hasn't even been made yet. 

This morning after a 12 hour fast and a delayed cup of morning coffee I had blood drawn for routine labs.  It gave me flashbacks to when I tried to give blood a while back.  She stuck my right arm and could only get one vile so then she had to stick my left arm to get the rest.  And it hurt.  I whimpered out loud.  She asked if I wanted her to remove the needle.  I said if you can get the samples you need, just do it.  Currently I am sitting here ingesting coffee thinking that I won't try donating blood again anytime soon.

On Monday, I went to the Veterans' Day service in town.  It was a beautiful day and a nice service.  Where the mayor lost points with me for talking politics in his Memorial Day speech, he made up for it when in lieu of making a speech he invited every Veteran in attendance to come up to the microphone and state their name and branch of the military served.  My guess is that there were between 50-100 Veterans there and we applauded each and everyone of them.   As it should be.

Because it is cool here, I think it must be cool everywhere today, so bundle up and stay warm.

Until next time...
Peace, Love and BOGO Lattes from 3p-5p Today -Sunday,
Hope

Thank You

Dear Military Veterans,

For all you have given and continue to give for our freedom, THANK YOU!  The sacrifices made by you and your families are the true back bone of our country.

Since I talked about Post Secret in my last letter I will share with you a video originally posted on that blog specifically devoted to personal secrets shared by military personnel.

PostSecret / Soldiers' Secrets
http://vimeo.com/79014342

Thank a Veteran today.  And everyday.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

The Change

Dear Friends,

Last week I heard another old Garth Brooks song and have had it rolling around in my head ever since.  I knew it was a blog letter in the making however it took a cranky week at work for me to finally put it in the right perspective and compose the message.

The title of the song is The Change and the first verse and chorus are as follows: 

One hand

Reaches out

And pulls a lost soul from harm

While a thousand more go unspoken for

And they say what good have you done

By saving just this one

It's like whispering a prayer

In the fury of a storm.

(chorus)

And I hear them saying you'll never change things

and no matter what you do it's still the same thing

But it's not the world that I am changing

I do this so this world will know that it will not change me.

This week I allowed myself to get drawn into the negativity of others.  I bought into it hook, line and sinker.  And all I got out of it was annoyance and aggravation plus a nasty headache to boot.  I'm a positive person.  I get along well with others.  So this morning I decided it was time to pull myself back up out of the negativity pit and go to work with a better attitude.  It turned out to be a better day.


There is so much negativity that surrounds us everyday that sometimes I think it is hard not to get caught up in it or let it get you down.  I didn't change the world by going to work in a better frame of mind.  I did it so the world would know it can't have my goodness.  Even when I stumble that is a non-negotiable point.


(Here is a link to Garth Brooks singing The Change as a tribute to the heroes of the Oklahoma City bombings back in 1995.  http://vimeo.com/8716214 )


There is a blog I regularly visit at www.postsecret.com created by Frank Warren.  It is on going project in which people anonymously mail postcards to his address with a secret on them.  I first learned about it by watching one of my beloved TED talks. http://www.ted.com/talks/frank_warren_half_a_million_secrets.html Every Sunday a select few secrets from that week's mailings are posted on his blog.  This past Sunday there was one I found particularly remarkable.  I think it fits well with my blog letter today so I will share it here.

 

I hope the world doesn't change the person that wrote this post card.  We need people like this.

Until next time...

Peace & Love,

Hope

Day Off

Greetings Friends, Family and Unknown Guests of My Blog,

After a busy weekend at work, I am enjoying some hang time on the futon today.  One of the advantages of working all weekend is that I didn't have time to go to the laundromat so I avoided any unwanted Saturday encounters there.  It does mean that I hadn't done laundry in over a week so I had several loads to do today.  The laundromat that I go to has a wash and fold service and there is part of me that is jealous of those that breeze in to drop off or pick up their laundry with no thought of doing it themselves.  However there is a bigger part of me that just feels weird about a stranger touching my clothes.  And since it's not financially an option anyway, I'm not sure why I bother thinking about it to begin with.  Feel free to insert an "Ohope" here.

On Saturday morning I finally came to terms with the fact that my cup garden was not growing.  I mixed soil with coffee grounds and I think it was too dense and/or I buried the seeds too deep.  Anyway, I got some new planting soil with fertilizer mixed in, dumped everything out and started again.  The only that was trying to grow was a sunflower seed so that got transplanted.  When I came home from work Sunday evening, the sunflower had already pushed two little leaves up through the soil.  Yay!  Hopefully the rest of my plantings will now follow suit.

I haven't posted many pictures lately so I will leave you with a few from today.  My cup garden, the new decoration on my front door (thanks to the new line of seasonal beverages at work - the fall line was out and going in the trash - and it already had magnets on it!) and my poor forlorn doggie.

Happy Monday.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Fall Back

Good Evening Readers,

Tomorrow is probably one of my least favorite days of the year.  Why?  Because we turn the clocks back.  I know, I know it means an extra hour of sleep but more so to me it means less daylight.  Alas, there is nothing I can do about it so I best just get over it.  It should at least be lighter here a later into the evening than back in the home state.  I will take all the daylight I can get.

Yesterday at work we started the transition from our Fall beverages into our holiday selections.  It was rainy and cool here today so there were plenty of people willing to drop into the store and try out the new beverages.  (That's my roundabout way of saying it was BUSY!)  The more time I spend at work with my colleagues, the more I like them.  They are snarky and sweet, sassy and caring.  They give hugs willingly and most important they make me laugh. And I hardly ever have to throw around my matriarch title to keep them in line.  As I've said before, it's not where I saw myself working however I'm starting to find my niche there.

This evening after Jak and I went for a walk I ran to the grocery store to pick up a few things.  I was chatting with cashier about the cool weather - it was below 70 so I had on long pants and a hoodie - so I told him I moved here a few months ago from the north but you wouldn't know it by the way I bundle up.  He said that the cold is different here.  I agreed with him.  He then said the cold here "hurts."  Amen kid.  I'm picking up what you're putting down.

My beloved New England Revolution played their first of two playoffs games tonight.  The early rounds of MLS playoffs are decided in a home and away on aggregate format.  If that sounds confusing (it took me a while to figure it out when I first became a fan) it means they play two games so each team has a home game, the team that advances is based on the total of points scored in both games.  With the Red Sox fresh of their World Series Championship, let's hope a little of that luck spills over on a fellow New England team.  The Revvies will head to Kansas City on Wednesday night with a 2-1 lead going into the second game.

Tomorrow is a work day for me so I best set my clocks back and get to bed.  Remember to change your clocks, though showing up an hour early is better than an hour late.

Until next time...
Peace, Love and Give Me Back My Daylight,
Hope
   

Bucket List

Good Morning Karmann Ghia,

Years ago on my way to work I used to pass a parked Karmann Ghia.  So I made up a little song I would sing each time I passed it.  "Good morning Karmann Ghia, it's really nice to see ya." And now once again, on my way to work there is a lime green Karmann Ghia that I pass.  And yes, of course I still sing when I see it.  This got me thinking that I would like to drive and maybe even own a Karmann Ghia.  So I've added it to my bucket list.  Two other items currently on my list: see the Northern Lights in person, have a ride along in a Nascar race car (preferably with Dale Earnhardt Jr.).

In the summer of 2012 I crossed off a bucket list item when I attended a night race at Daytona International Speedway.  Though I had been to day time Nascar races, I hadn't ever been to a night race.  Going to that race changed the direction of my life.  It was from that trip that I ultimately decided I wanted to make the move south. 

Now, I'm not saying that I think every item on a bucket list necessarily results in big life changes.  Sometimes a bucket list item leaves you feeling like why did I even bother doing that.  However in order for it to be on your list there is some kind of draw to it.  And even if it isn't life altering, just by checking it off the list you have propelled yourself forward.  It's kind of the same as my blog about the concept of dreaming the dream vs. living the dream.  Dreaming it is putting it on your list.  Living it is actually doing it and checking it off, whether it's a good or bad experience.

So, what's on your bucket list?

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Chilly Week

Dear Friends and Family,

It happened this week.  The thermometer dipped down below 70 and I was looking for my long underwear.  Seriously, how did I survive all those winters in New England.  I always joked that I had Florida blood, now I do for sure.  The nights have been chilly enough that I actually got "The River" quilt out of my closet and put it back on my bed.

On Wednesday of this week I headed west out to the flea market.  En route on the east bound side of the road there was what I assume was an injured bald eagle.  It was standing and moving so I'm guessing it was a wing injury.  There were a bunch of people around most likely waiting for wildlife personnel to arrive.  By the time I came back through there was no one around.

The only treasures I came back from the flea market with were vegetables and sunflowers.  Although I did look at a painting of a mountain scene surrounded by a lake and white birch trees.  I didn't buy it or even ask how much it was.  Today the local storage unit facility was having a community yard sale so of course I went.  When I came across the same painting from the flea market I decided I should probably have it.  She was asking $5 for it.  I offered her $3 and she accepted.  It is now hanging in my living room over my futon.

The conspiracy theorist was at the laundromat again today.  I managed to avoid a direct hit by going to the garden shop and buying seeds for planting while my clothes washed.  I started a new project this week.  I'm growing a garden in recycled cold cups that I bring home from work.  I cut holes in the bottoms for drainage and viola, planting pots.  So far I have beans, cherry tomatoes, a sunflower, and lavender started.  I also brought home some coffee grounds which are supposed to make great fertilizer.  We give them out at work all the time for people to use on their gardens.  Down here there are fall and spring gardens.  The summer months are just too hot and humid. (In case anyone was wondering why I was just starting to grow things now.)  The great part of the recycled cups is that if it does get too cold here at night, I can just pick them up and bring them inside.



Next week we turn the clocks back so Jak and I will have to find an alternative place to walk as the dog beach will start closing at 6pm.  With my varied work schedule I will hopefully still be able to get there some of the time.  I'm not a fan of this time change.  I'll take sunlight over an extra hour of sleep any day.

That's all the news that's fit to print for today.  I hope everyone is having a nice and relaxing weekend.

Until next time...
Peace, Love & Sunlight,
Hope   

 

Things

Dear Followers,

For the past few days I have been thinking about this quote I heard...

"Things, when magnified, are forgeries of happiness."  Abraham Joshua Heschel

I think our society puts a lot of importance on the having of things.  And although I do believe things are necessary in life, when things become more important than meaningful interactions and connections with others that's where I can see a forgery of happiness can take place.

When working the drive thru at work, if someone's order is not ready we are suppose to chat with the customer to pass the time.  I think this is probably intended more as a distraction however I have embraced it as an opportunity to connect with people.  One woman was driving a Harley Davidson special edition vehicle so I talked with her about bike week.  Another lady had a copy of a Brene Brown book in her backseat so that conversation was easy to strike up.  What I have found is the people really seem to enjoy the interaction.  They become willing participants in a brief connection with a fellow human being.  And the thing they are waiting for, their caffeinated beverage, becomes far less important.  I always welcome these interactions,and not just at work.  As I've mentioned before I'll talk to anyone, not for the sake of talking but for the sake of connecting.

Another great illustration of the above quote is the Wizard of Oz.  Dorothy and her friends spend the whole movie looking for the things they think will make them happy.  And in the end Dorothy figures out that she has always had what she needed without looking outwardly for it.  I will leave you with a few lines from the movie. 

                        DOROTHY
 Oh, will you help me?  Can you help me?

   GLINDA
 You don't need to be helped any longer.
 You've always had the power to go back to
 Kansas.

   DOROTHY
 I have?

   SCARECROW
 Then why didn't you tell her before?

   GLINDA
 Because she wouldn't have believed me. She
 had to learn it for herself.

   TIN MAN
 What have you learned, Dorothy?

   DOROTHY
   Well, I -- I think that it -- that it
 wasn't enough just to want to see Uncle
 Henry and Auntie Em -- and it's that -- if
 I ever go looking for my heart's desire
 again, I won't look any further than my own
 backyard.  Because if it isn't there, I
 never really lost it to begin with!  Is
 that right?

That's right Dorothy. 
Until next time... 
Peace & Love,
Hope

Dreaming the Dream vs. Living the Dream

Greetings Peeps,

My post a couple of days ago got me thinking about something.  What is the difference between dreaming the dream and living the dream? After some careful consideration I came to following conclusions.

I think that dreaming it and living it are both important parts of a dream.  Dreaming it is the foresight, determination and passion that are necessary to get the ball rolling.  It is the ability to believe that your dream is a possibility which usually involves seeing past present circumstances.

Living the dream is the part of the process that happens once the dream has been set in motion.  Living it takes courage, resilience and gratitude.  Living it is going with the flow of where the dream takes you and sometimes requires letting go of some of the vision from the dreaming stage.  Letting go of it not because it is impossible but letting go of it because the river has taken you to other possibilities.

Before I moved, I believed I would arrive here, settle in, have a job within weeks and be living in a land I love with financial freedom to boot.  Well, it hasn't happened quite like that.  The thing is if I had thought it would take months to find even part time employment, I'm not sure I would've made the move.  The fear of financial instability would've paralyzed me from living my dream.  That's why I think dreaming the dream is as important as living it.

There is an old Suzy Bogguss song, "Hey Cinderella" that I think illustrates my point.  A line from the chorus goes, "Hey Cinderella, maybe you could help us out, does the shoe fit you now?" And although there seems to be some snark intended in the song, maybe the shoe doesn't fit now.  Perhaps Cinderella and Prince Charming have 3 great kids and Cinderella's feet are too wide to fit into her glass slipper.  However maybe having kids has been even better than wearing a glass slipper.  Dreaming the dream and then living it.

Until next time...
Peace, Love & Dream Big,
Hope

6 Month Review - Yup, Already

Ahoy Mateys!

It's hard to believe 3 months have past since my last review.  The weather here is in the mid 80's by day and 65-70 at night so it's also hard for this New England girl to believe that it is the middle of October already. 

Since I am off from work today and have yet to take a shower I think I will skip the inclusion of any "selfies" of Jak and I.  As you might recall from the picture I posted in my last review, it didn't turn out all that well anyway.  I suppose my biggest accomplishment and change in the past 3 months is that I'm working now.  For the most part I do like my job.  It's been very busy though and I find when I spend my whole shift running and multitasking, I'm pretty tired when I get home.  I like the people I work with and wear my title as store matriarch with pride.  For the first month I worked there, I was so overwhelmed by the learning curve I put the serious job search on hold.  I have once again resumed looking as I'm not sure I am cut out for this type of work long term.  And perhaps more so, I'm still not making ends meet.  The ends are, however, closer than they were a few months ago.

The 7 month apartment lease I signed when I arrived here runs out in November.  I was given the option to sign another 7 month lease or a 12 month lease.  After weighing the pros and cons I opted for another 7 months.  Although this means my rent will be going up, I don't know what a year from now looks like for me.  It just felt right to pay a little extra and keep my options open.

Yesterday on the radio I heard "The Dance" by Garth Brooks (both song and singer are long time favorites of mine).  Hearing it got me thinking about a sentimental favorite Garth Brooks song, "The River".  When I graduated from high school my mom made me a quilt that was designed after this song.  The pattern of squares form a river diagonally across the quilt with a green shore on one side and blue sky and sunshine on the other.  It even has a turtle on a rock.  For those not familiar with the song, here are the lyrics...

You know a dream is like a river, Ever changing as it flows
And the dreamer's just the vessel, That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you, And never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle , Just to stay between the shores.  

(chorus)  And I will sail my vessel, 'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind, These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination, If I never try
So I will sail my vessel, 'Til the river runs dry.  

Too many times we stand aside, And let the waters slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow, Has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline, And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids And dare to dance the tide.  

(chorus) 

And there's bound to be rough waters, And I know I'll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my captain, I can make it through them all.

(chorus)  

Moving here really is living the dream for me.  And the dream is like a river.  Sometimes it flows smoothly and sometimes it feels like braving the rapids.  Everyday, in some way, it all feels worth it and I am grateful.  "So I will sail my vessel, til the river runs dry."

It's amazing what one can do with some courage, strength and a good support system.  Many thanks to all of you for the love, kindness and encouragement you have shown me (and continue to!) on this journey.  I wholeheartedly encourage all of you to, "Choose to chance the rapids.  And dare to dance the tide."

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Judgment or Self Preservation

Hello Peeps,

Something I've been trying to be more aware of lately is how much I judge others.  From what I've read we judge others because we judge ourselves.  And in the moment of passing judgment there is a brief high of feeling better about ourselves, which I suppose to the ego is the appeal of judging.  However that moment is at the expense of thinking someone else in some way is lesser than we are.

Here's where I find trying to be more aware of passing judgment gets a little tricky.  Today I went to the laundromat.  Doing laundry on a Saturday is a bit risky because there is a guy that is usually there and he likes to talk.  About government conspiracies and such.  So I get to the laundromat and the coast is clear.  I get my laundry started and then head over to a little gift shop to browse while my wash is going (27 minutes).  While I'm looking around the gift shop the salesperson comes over and starts chatting with me.  The conversation somehow got to dogs and the woman started telling about her dog and how she dog sits for everyone else but she doesn't ever get to take a vacation because no one ever offers to watch her dog and she probably wouldn't trust them to care for her dog anyway.  So I'm standing there listening.  And part of me is feeling empathy as I had a hard time leaving my dog Clyde with anyone.  On the other hand I'm thinking why is this lady telling me all this.  It felt like too much information for the circumstances.

In this situation part of me was being an empathetic listener and part of me is thinking RUN!  So is the part of me that's thinking "run" passing judgment on this woman, or is it intuition telling me to make a break for it?  I was finally able to make my exit and returned to finish my laundry.  The conspiracy theorist was there by the time I got back.  Now, in case it seems like calling him a conspiracy theorist is passing judgment, this guy believes there is an organization in Alaska that controls our weather.  He is also very suspicious of the fact that the city built a new police station and he hasn't been able to see inside it.  "Have you?" he asked.  Um, no and I'm completely fine with not having a reason to.

This evening at the dog beach I think I did just flat out pass judgment on a couple with four dogs and not one of them was on a leash.  For the most part unleashed dogs don't bother me.  There is a leash law though.  The issue I have with it is, I can't let my dog off his leash.  His instinct is to run far and run fast and in a place like that I might not ever see him again.  When he's around other dogs that aren't leashed, Jak gets overly excited and I have a hard time controlling him.  So I stopped where the couple could see me, thinking they might get the hint to contain their dogs.  Nope.  Eventually I just turned Jak around and headed back.  It was a short beach walk today.

I was able to snap a few pictures before we left the beach and I will leave you with those.  (No, it's not a pirate ship!)

Dredg-er!  Dredg-er!

Until next time...

Peace & Love,

Hope

Being Creative

Dear Blog Readers,

As I was looking back through some of these blog letters that I have written I realized that they not only serve as a way to keep friends and family informed of my happenings, they also serve as a journal for myself.  Yesterday while I was making this...

I was thinking of when I wrote about my neighbor asking if I was a baker because she could see my KitchenAid stand mixer on my counter.  And although I'm not up at 5am baking every morning, it got me thinking that I really do like to bake.  I crank the tunes up on my laptop and then sing and dance around the apartment while I bake.  The above picture is a mini apple pie that I made for myself.  A little slice of New England in the land of sunshine.  I even rolled the dough with my grandma's rolling pin.  While I don't see this as a career,  it does bring me joy in my own kitchen.  (My dear friend Jak was sadly mistaken when he thought I might give him the other half of my mini pie.)

Yesterday I also started another project...

I call it moveable art.  Ever since I started my new job I have been collecting used gift cards.  I wasn't sure exactly what I would do with them but I knew there was something more creative than throwing them in the trash.  This idea came to me the other day.  The front door of my apartment is metal so I got some magnet sheets that are sticky on one side, cut a small piece for each card and viola, moveable art.  I'm going to ask my colleagues to start saving used gift cards for me also.  So far I have 22 on the door.

On a different note, I'd like to take a moment to send my thoughts to a close friend who lost a family member yesterday.  Though I have my "funeral pants" and am known amongst my family as the professional mourner, I still feel at a loss for the right words to offer a friend in times of grief.  There is the standard greeting card type of things to say but really the most honest way to put it is like this.  I'm sorry, this really sucks.  I wish I could give you a BIG HUG.  And anytime you want to, let's talk about your birthday.

Until next time...
Peace, Love & Hugs,
Hope 
 

Integrity, Courage and a Dredger

Good Evening Peeps,

Integrity is something that I take pretty seriously.  And yesterday due to a scheduling snafu at work I felt briefly that my integrity was in question.  Here's the thing, I may not be fast in my new job.  I may not always know what I'm doing.  And I may not know what to do to keep busy during slow times.  What I do know is I always show up when I'm scheduled to be there.  In this case, what I was told and what was written on the schedule were two different things.  In the grand scheme of things, I know it's not a big deal.  However it did get me thinking about how much integrity society has in general these days.  Take our federal government for example.  And after thinking about that for 5 seconds I decided not to think about integrity and society.

The other night I was talking with my mom and the conversation segued into courage.  Mom said she was thinking about me making this move and she realized how much courage it must have taken for me to get in my car that April morning and drive away.  First of all, I was touched by the sentiment of what she said.  (Thanks Mom!)  And secondly, I think courage steps forward when one gets to the point where not being courageous seems scarier.  I thought about making this move for a long time.  Then the day came where I knew if I didn't just pick a date and set the plan in motion it wasn't ever going to happen.  And no matter how scary putting the plan in motion was, I was at the point where not doing it seemed like a far worse fate. The other night as Bill Nye the Science Guy was voted off of Dancing With the Stars he said that he was grateful for the opportunity and that in life, "you don't remember the things that you did, you remember the things that you didn't do."  Perhaps the opposite of being courageous is the things that you didn't do.

And finally, during my evenings walks on the beach there has been a vessel loitering around the inlet.  At first I was sure it was pirates.  Just waiting for the chance to come ashore and steal Jak and me.  And then I asked an old gent what it was doing.  It's a dredger!  They're removing sand from the inlet to keep the channel open and periodically the dredger leaves the inlet and goes out into the ocean to dump the sand.  Well that is far better than pirates.  I am all about a good dredger, I just hadn't ever seen a working one.  The ones I've seen were abandoned on land.  I'm also glad the old gent clarified as the dredger is around a lot and I would've gotten super paranoid if I continued on with the pirate theory.  Now I'm trying to figure out how to get on board so I can see how it works.  That stuff fascinates me.  Dred-ger!  Dred-ger!

Until next time...
Peace, Love & Pirate's Booty,
Hope

Living the Dream

Good Morning Friends,

When asked how's he is doing, a favorite response of one of my colleagues is "I"m living the dream."  He is personable and perhaps says this to get a smile out of people.  I'm not sure if he really is living the dream. 

It did get me thinking about my own life though.  And I can honestly say, with no snark or sarcasm attached, I really am living the dream.  As previously mentioned (more than once) it's almost October and the weather here is still lovely.  I wear shorts and flip flops on a daily basis.  When I open my door in the morning to take Jak outside my first thought is, it smells like Florida.  I'm not sure exactly how I would describe that smell but I relate it to many visits here when I would get up early to go walk on the beach.  I feel grateful to now live in a place that was always so hard for me leave.

Has every day here been a dream?  Well, no.  Really though, is everyday a dream anywhere.  I haven't ever felt lonely here though I do miss my friends and family back at home.  It would be nice to meet up face to face and share triumphs, difficult times or just to hang out.  For those who are wondering, at this point I don't have plans to visit back at home.  The delay in finding employment and now that I have it, if I don't work I don't get a paycheck so travel has become a low priority.  If I came for a long weekend I'd have to figure out Jak care and if I bring him then I would have to drive which would take more time than a long weekend.  I do think about visiting and when the time is right the puzzle pieces will fall into place.

The other day I was walking Jak with dragonflies buzzing around us and the dolphins were surfacing out in the inlet.  The sun was sinking in the evening sky.  And all of that is part of any given day here.  Yeah, I really am living the dream.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Against the Odds

Greetings Folks,

Today the odds of it raining were 20%.  It would've been a good day to bet against the odds.  It's now 1pm and it's been raining since before I got out of bed this morning.

Yesterday I worked 7-3:30 which meant I had to get up at 5:30.  I didn't sleep well that night and at 2am I had to get up and clean up dog puke.  Needless to say I was a bit tired at work.  The morning was busy, the afternoon less so.  I actually think the slower pace makes for a better atmosphere, not just for the workers but also for the customers.  Long lines and employees running around to keep up doesn't seem like a  relaxing coffee house to me. 

The two shift supervisors working yesterday are probably the most relaxed of all the supervisors which made for a fun afternoon.  There was laughter, high fives and stories from one colleague about being a witness to a police shoot out that happened on the highway earlier this week.  (Well the last part wasn't really fun but we were all, of course, intrigued to hear about it.)  We were probably being a little too silly at times, however the necessary work was getting done.  It reminded me of the old times with the Crisis Team where every so often we would just have one of those days.  (I'm sure Heath doesn't miss those days!)  Sometimes, I think a silly day is necessary in any work place.  It relieves stress.  Laughter is medicine for the soul.

Last night I attended a gathering at a local health food store to learn more about Reiki.  It has been suggested to me that it might be something I'd be good at doing.  I am currently undecided on my feelings about it.  I met some interesting people and I'm glad I went.  Though I can't say I am any more interested in Reiki than before.  Who know if that's good or bad.

Another weekend is upon us.  Wherever you are, I hope the odds work in your favor for a good weather weekend.  I'm holding out hope to see the sunshine here before the day is through.

Until next time...
Peace, Love & Roll the Dice,
Hope

Patricia

Dear Blog Constituents,

This week at work I have been reminded of a former colleague because I feel like my journey has some similarities to hers.  Before I explain the similarities, I would like to share a piece I wrote about her for the agency newsletter after she passed away in 2010.  She was an amazing lady who touched many people's lives...

On January 26, 2010, Patricia, a team member of the Crisis Program passed away after being diagnosed with cancer this past September. 

Patricia devoted much of her life to raising her seven children and came to the human services field later in life.  As she pursued this new direction, it became a specific goal of hers to be an employee of the agency.  With her bachelor degree she inquired about clinical work but unfortunately there was nothing available. Undaunted Patricia applied her great determination and worked toward earning a master degree so that someday she could obtain a clinical position.  In May of 2005, at the age of 63, Patricia graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Master of Arts in Psychology.

In January 2006 Patricia began her employment with the agency.  As a per diem clinician she picked up available shifts and did so with enthusiasm.  Her determination to learn was once again demonstrated when the Crisis Program began transitioning from handwritten documents to computerized documentation.  Patricia, having limited computer experience, got a typing tutorial program and taught herself to type.  One year after Patricia began working for the Crisis Program she accepted a full time position, splitting her 40 hours between crisis work and outpatient therapy.  As a full time crisis clinician she worked evening, overnight and weekend shifts as well as seeing outpatient clients 20 hours per week.

Outside of her work at the agency, Patricia was an advocate for domestic violence awareness, organizing and speaking at local events.  She was an adventurer and often shared stories with her colleagues about her audacious treks on and around her rural property.  She always had a kind word to share or a tale to make you smile that could help ease a stressful day at work.

Many words could be used to describe Patricia; strong, determined, dependable, gracious and congenial are just a few.  She will be remembered and missed for all of these qualities but especially for her thoughtful caring ways and her ability to make people laugh.  Patricia touched many lives through her work and taught us all that anything really is possible. 

So here's the similarities with me in my new job.  I'm older than my colleagues.  I'm doing work that I haven't ever done.  I am not as quick as the younger folk and sometimes I need them to help when I get far behind.  I show up faithfully.  I stay after my shift is over and I have clocked out to finish things that I don't want to leave for someone else.

Today I asked my friend Tamie (also a former colleague) if she thought Patricia ever got down on herself.  To which Tamie replied, "She did get down on herself for being slow and messing up but I think she balanced it with knowledge of what she brought to the team.  A good attitude and life experience go a long way." 

After a few days of being down on myself some Patricia inspiration is just what I need.  Thank you, Tamie, for helping me put it in perspective.  If I can bring a fraction of what Patricia brought to the Crisis Team to my new job, I'll make this world a little better place.

Until next time...

Peace, Love & Gratitude,

Hope

While You Were Out

Hi Y'all,

There used to be an interior design show on TLC entitled "While You Were Out".  They made over a room at someone's house while one of the occupants was lured away for a few days.  Today, while I was out my friend Jak had himself a little snack.  7 packages of peanut butter crackers and 3 snack size packages of M&M's.  Both of which I mistakenly left on the table.  He of course was the picture of innocence when I got home and it wasn't until I found the wrappers that I figured out what he did.

This is on the heels of an incident the other night involving a pan I left on the stove.  I wasn't even out that time, I was in the shower.  I heard a tremendous crash and it took me a minute to get my bearings to figure out that Jak was up to something.  Thankfully the pan was not hot.  The impact of the pan hitting the floor dented it.  As in the lid no longer fit.  And it isn't a flimsy pan.  I had to use a hammer to realign it so that the lid would fit again.

So, I'm wondering if Jak is acting out a little since I'm working again.  Of course I should know better than to leave food anywhere he may be able to get to it.  I just vacuumed this morning so now I'll have to do so again to clean up cracker crumbs.  I will say he took his feast onto his bed (where he's supposed to take his treats).  I always look for the positive in a situation.

*Update* Later that same night...
Jak had the nerve to give me the stink eye because I got the vacuum out for the second time today.  He got the stink eye right back.  The question still remains...who taught it to who?

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Nice Matters

Dear Readers,

The unhappy people of the world have been converging at work this week.  As previously mentioned it is best not to take this stuff personally.  Actually it tends to make me wonder what a person has going on in his/her life to make them come in and ooze hate all over perfect strangers.  When I encounter a lot of negativity it makes me think about what I could do to bring some good into the world.  I made this for a friend of mine a while ago and I believe it's true...

Yesterday when Jak and I were out for our evening walk, I wanted to take the boardwalk instead of the sand path to get to the dog beach.  At the entrance there were two women and two little dogs.  One of the women had a walker and was moving very slowly.  In order for us to get on the boardwalk we would've had to get around them.  After a quick scene size up I knew it would be chaos trying to get Jak by, so a little begrudgingly I headed down the path.  After we got a ways down we came upon a family that was trying to take a group photo using a tripod and the timer on their camera.  When they saw us coming they politely moved out of the path.  And as they did so Jak decided he'd found the perfect spot to do his business so then they had to wait for us.  When Jak was done and I had cleaned up after him while they waited, I asked if I could take a picture for them.  Sure! 

Well, I had a little trouble using their camera.  It was like mine but a fancier model with more functions than I am used to.  After much assistance, I finally took the picture or two or three and hoped for the best.  I handed them their camera, collected Jak (who was tethered to my foot) and continued on our way.  As we ambled off the woman was looking at the pictures I took and I heard her say, "Wow, that's a really great picture."  Phew!  It was better than I thought.  And I guess that's why I was meant to take the path and not the boardwalk.  I was happy to oblige.  Because nice matters.

Until next time...
Peace & Love,
Hope

Sunset, Moonrise

Good Evening,

Here's a few pictures taken tonight.  The ocean is rough and the tide is high, signs of a full moon.

 

Until next time...
Peace, Love & Toes in the Sand,
Hope

Nappuccino

Hello All,

Even though my paycheck has become dependent on selling and/or making caffeinated beverages, for years I have made a point to limit my intake of them.  So on days like today when I had to get up at 5:30 to be to work for 7:00 I get through on my morning cup of coffee.  And then when I get home, it's nap time.

Now, I know there are a lot of people that don't nap or don't have time to nap and for them I say bring on the espresso! I come from a long line of nappers.  My grandmother used to say she needed a "rest" after lunch.  In my immediate family we call them snappies (short nap).  Whatever you call them, I hope you're catching one every now and then.  It's worth passing on the cappuccino for a nappuccino every once in a while.

My day on Sunday was long and a bit frustrating at times.  I had an impatient 19 year old colleague yelling at me because I wasn't working at a pace to her liking.  And then later things slowed down and there were too many workers with little to do.  After speaking with my manager on Monday, this will be last my week of training so next week I won't be the extra person, I'll be regular staff.  This is good in that I'll get more hands on experience and also because it makes me eligible for the tip pool.

Last night when I was walking Jak wearing shorts and a tank top in mid September, I had a moment when I felt like I was right where I needed to be.  Although I have been missing fresh picked apples, I have not been missing the cooler weather that I know is settling in on the northeast.  Some people I have met here gripe about the perpetual summer and lack of seasons.  I always felt sad when summer was over and days got shorter and cooler so no complaints from me.

I'd like to give a shout out to my four legged niece and nephew, Ella and Auggie, who are recovering from a tangle with a porcupine last evening.  Thank goodness that their mom is a vet, the pictures weren't pretty.  Sort of like acupuncture gone wrong.  Might I suggest reading them this book...

I'll give you a hint...very carefully.  Feel better pups!

Until next time...
Peace, Love and Leave the Porcupines Alone!
Auntie Hope