The little moments ..

Where has the time gone?
 So, another birthday has come and gone, and once again I am reminded how lucky I am.
2012 came with so much change, and often times I am caught in the superficial drama of life.. but when we stop and just look at what matters most, I quickly realize who and what matters most to me.
My teenagers surprised me on my birthday by taking me on a sunset picnic dinner at Schoodic Point. It was by far one of the best birthdays ever!
We took over 500 pictures .. teenage girl has taken over my camera. I didn't realize she was taking these pictures, and had a great chuckle when I started previewing the pictures the next day.

And of course we needed to get a family portrait using the self timer , first the set up of balancing the camera..

then the quick jaunt to sit in the designated spot, not realizing what 'they' were doing ..

Finally a picture worth framing!

and of course A Schoodic Point sunset!

At the end of the day, I realized how lucky I truly am to have these moments with my teenagers. It's hard to believe that in less than 15 months, both my babies will be on their "own" ... well, somewhat!

Inspirations

Question of the Day (Brought to you by Q & A a day):
Write down something that inspired you today.
Hmmm.. inspired .. today I drove my teenage girl to school (mind you, we live two blocks from the school ..) and then went to the gym. Today is officially the last day of my non-employment status, so I wanted the gym to be a good, long session. I did my stretching without any of the emotional breakdowns (phew!), and got on the treadmill … and oh yes .. I ran 7 miles!! What’s even better.. (for me!) I ran it with a awesome pace of 8:45/mile … somewhere in this run I found my inspiration – I didn’t set out to run 7, and knowing I was pacing under 9 minutes .. oh baby!!! The run has inspired me to look for a half marathon .. there’s one in March, running through three different states .. Maine, New Hampshire and ending in Massachusetts .. how cool is that?! I’m contemplating it – it’s been 20 years since I have done a half marathon .. maybe it’s time since its 2012; my year.

                                                             A new prince charming?

Day 3

6 things I am grateful for today:

my Canon Macro 50mm lens

summer rain storms

the kind of friendship you can call anytime, anywhere

coffee first thing in the morning

the policeman that was good to me!

summer heels

Today's "finding gratitude" was difficult! I was appreciative for the rain because I had plans to go kayaking..and so it forced me to stay home and be a mom instead of running to the water .. it's so difficult; the summer weather here is so short, so when it registers at 80, all I want to do is get out there .. tomorrow is another day .. to run or to kayak???

I was talking to a friend of mine about this gratitude thing, and he mentioned a class he took about finding out your purpose in life .. the assignment was to write down 50 things you want in life .. this can be accomplishments, material things ..anything. Kind of made me laugh, I'm challenged at six items .. 50 things ..? Maybe I'll save that list for a snowstorm day!





Day 2

Tonight I am grateful for:

My kayak

Sunsets

Quiet moments on the water

Summer nights

This stage of my life

the sound of my kayak cutting the water

Sunday Stealing on Halloween

It’s that time again, if you want to play, click here ..

1. What inspires you to blog? the inspiration comes from just living day to day with two teenagers in my zoo called home.
2. What’s the best thing about blogging, for you? I’ve met some neat people through blogging .. and I love venting at times. 
3. What is your favorite book of all time? hmm.. books and movies.. I have a hard time remembering them. 
4. It’s 9pm and for some reason you’ve been hungry all day, despite the three square meals. What do you rustle up? Cheese and crackers .. and wine 
5. Who are three of your style icons? haha .. style icons? As in getting dressed? I don’t have icons .. but I do like to bounce ideas off of Janine ..she has a great knack for putting things together.
6. What’s your current favorite song/piece of music? I keep going back to Miranda Lambert’s The House That Built Me .. it reminds me of early summer .. and learning about myself  
7. What is the last book you read? I’m still reading a book I started this summer ..The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder 
8. What is your current favorite recipe? it’s not a favorite, but it’s the easiest .. the Chicken Chipotle soup  
9. Who or what first inspired you to set up your own blog? Tommie!
10. What object could you not live without? I don’t think there is an object I couldn’t live without .. but if I had to choose .. my laptop probably
11. Where do you see yourself in ten years? I want to get through the next 3 years first .. see what choices my kids make for colleges .. see where I am in my working life … one day at a time, right?
12. Who or what made you into the person you are today? oh .. I believe that the people we meet, may it be for a day, a month or a year .. play a part in which path we choose .. and the same goes for what we experience ..obviously my parents and my sisters have played a role, my ex, my kids …and the influences that are in my life now will play a part in how I choose to grow up!
13. What have your learned from blogging? That I do enjoy writing
14. Knowing what you now now, what knowledge would you pass on to your past self? Stop .. and listen to your gut .. take more pictures .. especially when I was in school. 
15. Sunday roasts - lunchtime or evening meal? How about early supper?
16. What has been your best blogging-related experience so far? Gosh darn..best blogging related experience .. that I won the book that I’m reading through another blogger??

Happy first week of NOVEMBER …. is it really that late in the year?!?

reflections .

Exactly a year ago today, I pulled out of my driveway at 5 AM with my kids, a dog and cat .. hauling a 6x12 ft trailer containing items that represented the last 20 years of my life.

It took four days to drive from Texas to Maine .. four days with thoughts running rampant, guilt and slight excitement.

Dr. Phil always talks about "self-defining moments" .. there have been a handful, and pulling out at 5 AM that Monday morning, and driving those miles with just my thoughts .. it's a time I don't want to go back to .. ever, but at the same time, it was something I needed to go through.

Change is good; it brings on a process that we all have to go through. Every process has it's own pace .. and no one can dictate how to set the pace but our own self.  Welcome the moment -  every moment brings a step forward in the process .. the process to which we will find answers that will better ourselves.

Thursday 13 - Month of August

So it's that time again .. time for Thursday13 .. click here to play! Happy Thursday ... it's close to the weekend!
A photo of:
a dragon lady!

Current Scent:  I had to give in and buy a plug in Glade thing for the downstairs bathroom because I can't stand the smell of the litter box .. ugh! so now I walk into a house that smells of "rain water" and litter box .. overwhelming!
What I am reading: One of my patients dropped off a book about Running .. and how to run the right way! I love it!
Newest Music added to my play list: Don't Fight It by Kenny Loggins and Steve Perry - yes another old running song .. I just need to run again
Movie I saw: This is terrible .. the last movie was in June with Nelson .. how sad. I want to go see the new Julia Roberts movie "Eat, Pray, Love"
Something yummy:  ohhhh .. something .. more like all the time .. Pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips and butterscotch chips tonight .. Chocolate covered strawberries this past week TWICE!! .. no wonder I feel fat!
The last place I ate:  the last restaurant was Massimo's .. nice Italian restaurant .. I had delectable tuna and tiramisu .. yum!
Something that made me cry: I don't think I cried hard this month .. just a very angry moment this week ..
Something that made me laugh: At dinner tonight, listening to my Teenager banter with his girlfriend.
Something I look forward to in September: This is really tough .. I'm so sad to see the summer end .. just not ready for it. In September the teenagers start school. I'm excited for them .. I can't believe Teenager One will be a junior!!!
Something I want to remember from August: Hmm .. let me look at my calendar.. August flew by>> I want to remember the great road race: Beach2Beacon ..
Something I am thankful for: I'm always thankful for my kids, my job and my health ... 
A photo I took this month:
Another kayak moment ..

Sunday Stealing

Cheers to all of us thieves! This is where I go to Sunday Stealing to have some fun for the end of the weekend ... Click here to play.. 
1. Are you happier now than you were five months ago? hmm, that would have been March .. let me think ...  I think I am
2. Have you ever slept in the same bed with anyone that you shouldn't have? Yes .. most definitely ..and I would do it again! (hah!)
3. Can you sleep in total darkness? I can, but I don't like to
4. Your phone is ringing. It’s the person you fell hardest for, the one who got away, what do you say? I think I would be speechless ..
5. What do you think about the weather this summer? it was the best weather Maine has seen in quite a while
6. How many people do you trust with everything? just a few .. it's how honest they are with me that scares me!!!!
7. What was the last thing you drank? Red Wine .... silly question
8. Is there anyone you want to come see you? What a self serving question ....
9. Name one thing you love about winter?  I love the sound of the air when the snow has stopped falling ..
10. Have you ever dated a Goth? the answer would be no ..
11. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?  it's Monday ... another day I can hug my kids? oh, wait .. they are teenagers now, they don't like to be hugged ..haha .. I crack myself up sometimes
12. Name something you dislike about the day you’re having?  hmm, dislike the day I'm having .. I had a good day.. I need to take teenager's boyfriend home .. I dislike that
13. What's the longest that you have committed to one person and one person only? that would be the marriage I had ..
14. What’s the first thing you did when you opened your eyes today?  jumped .. there was a handsome man in my bed! (ohhh.. now I'm really rolling on the floor laughing!)
15. Has anyone ever told you they never want to ever lose you?  actually yes .. it was my ex ... action speaks louder than words
16. Is there anybody that you wish you could fix your relationship with?  yes .. I don't like leaving relationships unresolved ..
17. Could you go out in public, looking like you do now?  yes .. t-shirt and shorts ..
18. Do you think things will change in the next 3 months? How?  I think there are a lot of things that will change in three months .. We'll be in November .. GULP ... cold air .. holiday season .. I can feel the stress already ... I don't like Christmas (yes, **April**!!) ... can we skip and go straight to Spring in three months?
19. Do you believe that you never know what you got until you lose it?  Yes ... isn't that the same as Hindsight 20/20? That's why I try live for the now moment .. and try and maximize every moment ... wait, was this question referring to material things?? I forgot my cooling racks in Texas .. and a lot of other things .. that big mirror that was in the hall way .. all that furniture that I could have used in this house .. but I knew I had that ..  oh dear, now I'm confused ..  
20. Do you have a friend of the opposite sex you can talk to?  Yes ..... actually I have several .. I like my men friendships ..

Another kayak moment ....

Say It Isn't So ...

 

I went kayaking today .. I tried to ignore it .. tell me it's not so ...

I'm just not ready .. I won't give in!!

I won't welcome fall .. with the cool crisp air .. I won't do it!  ... not yet!

Happy Children's Day!

        

Another race day! This was a quick, fun race .. the start up of the town's Children's Day.

After the race we had a big parade .. who doesn't love a parade? I think it is so American .. never having been raised this way .. parades down main street was just something we saw in the movies ... just like the yellow school buses ..

Photo taking is such a must during a parade .. 

 

It was a great day for a parade ....

Thursday Thirteen

So, back in May I did a T13 with random questions from People magazine .. there are enough doctor/orthodontist/dentist visits .. so more questions were collected! Feel free to copy and paste .. go ahead.. take advantage of my hard work ..!! Make sure to sign in at T13 to say you played!

Generally when I play these questionnaire things I try to answer with the first thing that comes to mind .. kind of like when you take a multiple choice test. Of course, it can get you into serious trouble at times ... and other times you realize you could have been much more PC .. but what fun is that?! Kind of like the whole truth serum thing ... drink a little too much .. and oops! WATCH OUT ...those words come flowing out!!

 

Guilty Pleasure: Can I say I don't have one? Oh .. okay .. I have many .. my favorite, in the summer .. a long day on the water in my kayak

 

Drives Me Crazy: Bruce ...yes, my dog .. not the man (Bruce Willis) ... although men ...

 

Wish I Had: A money tree .. don't misunderstand me, I'm not materialistic .. I want to provide better for my kids ..

 

Could Really Use: More days off .. paid of course! I believe we should adopt Holland's policy and have six weeks paid vacation ..

 

Deserted Island Must Have: Silly, silly ... kayak and paddle ... sun tan oil #4 .... okay,  a stud muffin to apply the oil ... one of those canopy beds on the beach .. was this one of those 'only one item' things?! oops!

 

One of the Hobbies: I would like to perfect is my photo style .. sometimes I feel like I'm all over the place ..

 

Secret Obsession: this is a trick .. once on blog, it is no longer a "secret" obsession .. haha! Do I even have an obsession? I guess that's a question for my girlfriends .. okay .. sometimes it's the quest for the perfect picture .. I don't think I obsess a lot .. maybe in phases .. haha! :next question!

 

Personal Play list: Like as in music? Right now I have a few songs, House That Built Me, The Only Exception .. I'm in the reflective mode right now

 

Place to Go Back to: Repulse Bay, Hong Kong. That is what first came to mind .. not sure why, I think because during my junior year I went there often during school .. and if I pondered long enough, then I would like to go back to Penang, beach ..Bali, beach ... Hawaii, beach ..... hmmmmmm, oh my! I think I just created a pattern!

 

Favorite Chore: so, I like to fold laundry .. 

 

Role Model: ugh .. that's tough .. I used to have a role model about 15 years ago .. a co-worker who seemed so balanced in life.. I don't know if I have a role model anymore .. maybe that is why I lack direction .. haha! I think there are basic rules, and we don't need role models : I just realized, I think I'm too afraid to be disappointed if I made someone my role model and they faltered .. hmmm, what does that mean?

 

Want to Meet/Reunite: I would love to see Paul again ... not for anything but to just say 'hi', and find out how life has treated him.

 

Preferred Greeting: Okay, immediate response: uhhh?? greeting? Like Ms Brandt?! .. or greeting like when you get my voicemail? ... or ... like "hey buddy!" okay, okay .. preferred greeting: always positive and cheerful whether to me or from me

Weekend is almost here!!! Happy Thursday!

Sunday Stealing

Shamelessly stolen from Sunday Stealing .. Click here to play

Cheers to all of us thieves!

45. Favorite color? In the summer .. coral
46. Have you ever slapped someone? I don't think I have .. I know I would have liked to ..
47. Is your hair curly? not curly ... noo
48. What was the last CD you bought? last CD bought?! .. that would have been in Texas .. and I would think it was Mama Mia soundtrack..it's been awhile!!
49. Do looks matter?  As much as I hate to admit this .. yes, somewhat
50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?  hmm.. forgive for what? I'm not a grudge holder ..
51. Is your phone bill sky high? Perspective ... in September my cell phone bill was $700.00 .. sky high yes, it was the situation..
52. Do you like your life right now? I don't NOT like my life! I have so much good going on, with a few struggles ..
53. Do you sleep with the TV on? no.. I couldn't sleep with it on
54. Can you handle the truth? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH! One of the few lines from a movie I can remember! Yes, I can handle the truth .. I would rather the truth than to be lied to.
55. Do you have good vision? -2.25 ou.. I can function, but don't let me drive. Oh, and I'm presbyopic ... what the hell!
56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people? Not a hater ..  there are some folks I would like to have a piece of conversation with.. but would they listen?
57. How often do you talk on the phone? To whom? I talk daily
58. The last person you held hands with? hmmm.. that would be the one with nice hands!
59. What are you wearing? this question always freaks me out .. it's a stalker question!
60. What is your favorite animal? I don't have a favorite .. it would hurt too many feelings! .. haha .. I love polar bears
61. Where was your favorite picture taken at? once again .. this favorite thing .. I have many favorite pictures! What makes it a favorite is the moment, not the place ...
62. Can you hula hoop? hahaha .. kidding right? If I can't take a step class.. I certainly can't do the hula hoop ..
63. Do you have a job? yes, I work ..
64. What was the most recent thing you bought? Apart from groceries today ... two summer dresses a couple of weeks ago
65. Have you ever crawled through a window? hahaha .. YES ..my son's window ....  I needed to see why it was wide open when there was central air blowing  (it was 6 AM)... ..

happy new week!

Little Princess ..

Today I abandoned most of my motherly duties, and decided to go kayaking by myself to get a little air. I wasn't sure what I was looking for; but I knew I just wanted to be in a kayak out looking! I came across this little princess .. a proud moment! For once I was able to see the eyes peeking out of the water from afar!

 

Happy Weekend!

In a nutshell, this was my weekend ... one big kayak time! I went twice on Saturday, and twice on Sunday ... both days were fabulous .. my last big hoorah before I was back to being mom! (okay.. so I never stopped, but it was fun to have moments where could I pretend!)

Here is where I park the kayak, and I grab my book ... and let the sun do her thing ..did I mention ...

I love being back in Maine!

(now if I could only find my running aura ..)

Thursday 13

So ... Thursday is coming .. my favorite meme .. T13, making a list of 13.. click here to participate!

I've been on another blog dry spell ... maybe the daily blogging of June just took all the energy!  So in total shame, I'm stealing a T13 from another player .. and keeping it simple by making a list of 13 things I did today!

 

How positively exciting!

1. Laid in bed, listening to the rain, wishing for coffee to brew and deliver itself to me .. I would ask Bruce to do it .. but he just can't grasp the whole making the coffee thing ..guess that's what happens when you're a dog!
2. Ignored the cries of the cats - they were hungry and out of food!
3. Turned on my shuffle, and played my music nice and loud .. you can do that when there are no teenagers in the house. It's like you were in high school, with no regard to loud music! I love the song from Miranda Lambert - The House That Built Me
4. Late for work ... apparently laying in bed too long, isn't always a good thing!
5. Listened to Michael Buble in the truck .. he always puts me in a good mood!  (Not that I was in a bad mood ..)
6. Had a long day at work ...
7. Couldn't find anyone who was willing to go out for a drink .. I was craving for one Pomegranate Martini - yes just one!!
8. Stopped at the grocery store to buy cat food (ugh, I sound like an old maid!)
9. Walked Bruce ..... it's always good to have the exercise!
10. Grabbed my camera and went out for more pictures .. tonight is the last night I get to play with the borrowed lens. *sigh*
11. Fried up sweet potatoes ... I was craving something sinful all day .. and since I didn't have anything, and nobody was willing to deliver, I finally caved and FRIED slices of sweet potatoes for dinner ... the shame of it all! I even added extra salt!!! ( I skipped dessert .. even though I was wanting ice cream! Sometimes you just have to live!)
12. Anticipated a glass of wine, realizing only too late that there was only quarter glass .... hmm, no martini, and now no wine ..
13. Opened my lap top for the first time in a long time, with the intent to blog ... just too many distractions!

My Prince …

Meet Prince .. my new beau.. one of my friends in the photo class spotted him and is giving him to me .. I fell in love with him instantly .. hence his name  ‘Prince’ .. I have determined not to kiss him because I like him exactly the way he is. 

More Alphabet ..

F G

 H I J K

Fabulous Kayak weekend!

So this will  be a double post .. which means it counts as two posts since I am falling behind … only because I had such a great weekend!! First a little ridiculous news …. just slap the “L” on my forehead … I was going to run a race .. but oh, you can’t run a race on Sunday when it was scheduled on Saturday! Shall we review the ‘how to read a calendar’ class again ….. …..!

Okay .. on to new and much better things! Saturday night I had the pleasure of experiencing something new: a full moon paddle on the Penobscot! It was so cool! … and added benefit … there was an eagle perched on a tree. The pictures aren’t that great because I didn’t want to bring the Rebel .. so it was a point and shoot and my I phone .. and it was getting dark out. This was such a cool experience .. I’m definitely doing it again in July .. thank goodness the full moon comes out every month!

Of course no real good pictures of the full moon…!

So today I went and kayaked on my most favorite river ..in Belfast. You launch in the harbor and then paddle up and it becomes a river. I have no idea when it turns from ocean water to river … one of those mysteries I will just enjoy paddling in … but the weather was perfect .. and it felt so great to be back on this body of water.  On the way back the wind had picked up and it was tough going back towards the harbor .. that’s when the eagle was spotted. I’m surprised the picture came out as well as it did considering every time I stopped paddling, I would float backwards and sway side to side, away from him.

What a great weekend!! If the weather stays this great … my kayak and I are going to best friends! Between this weekend and last weekend I saw so many places where you could paddle to, climb out and just spread a blanket, bring a lunch, a good book and relax for the day …….

ahhhhh … i love being back in Maine!

The Alphabet Game -

One of our assignments in our photo class was to find the alphabet in natural state … So to finish off the month of June … I’m going to cheat .. just in case I don’t have anything exciting to blog about!

A

B

C

D

E

I wanted to be on blog strike today … it was the first night that I was home before 7 .. I walked the dog .. made dinner, poured the wine … and ahhh ……… enjoy your Friday night!

Long day!

What a day! It started with a fabulous run … fabulous because after Sunday’s snail pace event, today’s run was smooth, the pace was comfortable and .. the company was good.
Anyways, after my run .. we drove over to the orthodontist because that kind man double booked teenager girl so she could have her braces off before going to Texas …. what a great guy … to show our appreciation we baked him a tiramisu cheese cake! New recipe … OMG … it was delicious. The man had three slices by the time we left!! He is training for a triathlon … so I guess he can eat the whole thing …
Then we had to race to get on the road for the airplane ride. Four hours to the airport … they got on the plane  and off into the New Hampshire sunset … (okay, okay .. no sunset .. just sky) Four hours back to Maine ….enough of the complaining … I do it because I can! (the complaining)
I went straight from the airport to my photo class. They were naming the  photos for the upcoming gallery show … please give me some ideas!

This is the plan that took my babies away!

The girl with her new teeth!