Another day gone by ..

Question of the Day (Brought to you by Q & A a day):


Today you lost _another day of your life. The longer you hesitate and feel depressed, the more time you waste not enjoying the really good life you have. You are healthy and strong, you have wonderful family and friends around you, you have a great job that you absolutely enjoy to the fullest.  You are extremely well respected, everyone around you loves and enjoys your company. You don't have a need for anything, and all you can do is sit on a fence. Get out of your own way; start enjoying the good life that you have, start living... be happy.__


Things I wish I could say out loud to a certain somebody.

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?

On the Nine

Shamelessly stolen from ****April**** I'm joining her with a new meme!

It's what I am doing today, on the 9th of the month:

Listening to my teenage girl laugh as she watches Family Guy
Loving the idea that I have new clothes for work, loving that the holidays are over and the days are getting longer.
Thinking about the rumbling of my belly .. I guess eating a whole bag of Trader Joe's trail mix, combined with a cup of hot chocolate with a strong shot of coffee wasn't the best snack to eat!
Wanting to stay on track with my modified clean eating so that I can keep my weight in check... wanting to skip a couple of months so that I can see in the future .. but NOT wanting to always allow time to pass by too fast.
Needing to take my own advise and not allow life to pass me by. I find myself counting time away instead of living in the moment.

A Typical Day?

Question of the Day (brought to you by Q & A a day :

Was today typical? Why or Why not?
     Today was definitely not a typical day for me. I started the day going to the gym .. during my start up stretching I always listen to my "cool-down" playlist and Kenny Rogers sang "Lady" in my ears. For some reason I completely lost it. Well, I shouldn't say for 'some reason' .. there is reason .. whether it's a good reason needs to be determined .. the relationship I was in ended promptly (again) last night. Oddly enough if you have followed my blog (and also my old blog Wait4thenews), you'll find that this is a normal occurrence!! Except this time I need to be more angry at myself .. you'd think by now I would learn. It's difficult when the man is so damn sexy and that I consider him the love of my life. Once again he is in need to figure out life .. each time he does this, he contacts me within weeks and wants to try again .. the last attempt was this past summer .. and five months later, I sit still again. Shame on me, I won't sit still this time! (and I won't pick up the phone!!)
So, back to my A-Typical day .. after the gym I decided to go to the mall. I had word today that I am starting my new job on Wednesday .. and with a new job comes.. new clothes! So.. I had a great sales lady help and together with her, I managed to spend $400.00 on work clothes .. it was so much fun! ..NOT! Actually, it was a little stressful! I could have waited a month or so until I was truly getting a pay check ..  but sometimes you need to just live a little!!!  I'm finally getting comfortable with my sense of fashion .. it's taken a long time, so I did enjoy trying the different outfits. I purposely went outside my box .. and hopefully we did okay!! 


Happy Typical Day!

Questions and Answer A Day

So teenage girl and I decided to each buy a book called "Q & A a Day" .. basically one question a day, and you do it for five years .. very cool idea. Buy it here!
I'm going to try and post one question per day to get motivated to write again .. for tonight I will post all eight questions to catch up for the new year. Here it goes:

January 1 : What is your mission?  To have a successful year .. new career - I want to be financially strong. I hope to start a new job this week .. if I succeed, I can do well for me and the teenagers .. if I fail, then all i can do is get out and look for something else, but at least I am in the field. 
January 2 : Can people change?  I don't think people can change .. I think people can grow and have new perspective on life and living, but their core doesn't change. For some it means that they need to work at their change, and it will be a battle forever.
January 3 : What are you reading right now?  I had started a Nicholas Sparks book in the summer .. think I need to start over since I don't remember it. Now that I am single again, I may have plenty of time again!
January 4 : The best part of today?  I was able to get into a tanning bed without any appointments .. not planned .. had 20 minutes to kill .. it was heaven! (i know.. not healthy.. but i wanted the sunshine feeling!)
January 5 : What was the last restaurant you went to?  of course Miguel's .. they only have the best deep fried ice cream!
January 6 : Today was tough because __We're back with relationship issues .. AND I am without income. I hope both will be considered temporarily .. only time will tell!____
January 7 : You are lucky; how so or not?  I am lucky.. i have two beautiful and healthy teenagers, and I am healthy and able to move around.
January 8 : What song is stuck in your head?  for the first time I don't have a song stuck in my head! If i had to choose one, I think it would be "Wandering Stranger" by Lionel Ritchie. It always seems to be a comfort song for when I am feeling a little blah.

Friday Fill-Ins

It’s been a super long time! Here we go … for more info visit Friday Fill-In:

 

1. Discussions _with my teenage girl can be so challenging .. she needs to be a lawyer____.
2. _I don’t like saying__ goodbye. (unless we’re talking winter)
3. I think it's time _to say goodbye to winter and hello to summer despite the fact that we’re only in January____.
4. _Thoughts of  a glass of wine, in a kayak__ puts a smile on my face.
5. Maybe sometime _in the near future, I will finally know what it feels like to have extra money EVERY month____.
6. _Seeing my kids happy__ gives me strength.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _thinking of new furniture____, tomorrow my plans include _going to the gym and going to Boston to watch UMaine play at Fenway (how cool!)____ and Sunday, I want to _recover from Saturday____!

 

Happy weekend!

2012 …A brand new year

Happy New Year! I’m going to try and get back to blogging .. I miss writing and I miss taking pictures .. I’m hoping that one will spark the other. 2012 is poised to be a good year .. I’m ready!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? actually took a beach vacation
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions and will you make more for next year? I didn’t make a New Year’s resolution .. I did make one for this year; simply to build a home, from the inside
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Not that I am aware of!
4. Did anyone close to you die?  No, thank goodness not. 
5. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? pay attention to my needs
6. What countries did you visit? Mexico … does Las Vegas count?
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?  It’s silly .. Aug 10 because I was asked to be exclusive. Yet there are other dates … Dec 7 .. I was fired from my job; a blessing in disguise
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?  Keeping somewhat sane with two teenagers!
9. What was your biggest failure? see question 7
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? thank goodness not .. still battling an old running injury
11. What was the best thing you bought? my Miele vacuum cleaner … love, love, love it!
12. Where did most of your money go? rent, gas and bills
14. What song will always remind you of 2011?  Give Me Everything by Pittbull
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
     i. happier or sadder? I think happier … not really sure
     ii. thinner or fatter? at this actual point, thinner .. I accidentally lost 10 lbs. in December due to stress! But that won’t last
     iii. richer or poorer? financially poorer! Loss of a job will do that to you!
16. What do you wish you’d done more of? spend more time at home
17. What do you wish you’d done less of? spend time wishing and wondering
18. Did you fall in love in 2011? I think I tried
19. How many one-night stands? Absolutely NONE!
20. What was your favorite TV program? Not too big of a TV watcher .. but am happy Football is back, despite Peyton’s MIA
21. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I am not a hater
22. What was the best book you read? I read  two .. but couldn’t tell you the names anymore!
23. What was your greatest musical discovery? … I switch monthly! I will like Give Me Everything .. “grab somebody sexy ..” great dancing song
24. What did you want and get? On Dec 23 I got a job offer that I wanted to allow me a new career
25. What was your favorite film of this year? I finally watched Bridesmaid … GREAT
26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 45 .. and really.. don’t remember what I did for my birthday .. is that a sign that I am older? The kids and I went to Miguel’s ..
27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Personal strength .. I don’t think I stand up for myself like I should
28. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? Okay, let’s explain this question .. I’m confused!
29. What kept you sane? Running, Kayaking, wine and pretzel M&M’s  (not necessarily in that order!)
30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011: That trust factor keeps rearing it’s ugly head!
31. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
      “Me not working hard? Yeah, right, picture that with a Kodak …
       Took my life from negative to positive and I want y’all to know that
       And tonight, let’s enjoy life …
       Tonight I will love, love you tonight
       Give me everything tonight, for all we know we might not get tomorrow
       Grab somebody sexy, tell ‘em hey Give me Everything tonight!”
        
Here’s to a great new year!

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

A New Project

Today may start a new project .. lately (okay .. so maybe a little longer than “lately”) my creativity factor has been zero. My blogging abilities are gone, my photo love is lacking… I have just been in a complete funk.

Today I was able to attend an outdoor excursion photo class with some of my old photo friends and wonderful guru-teachers. Bernie (guru number one) gave me a new lesson; a life lesson! He noticed that I wasn’t feeling the love, and hadn’t been for a while. He said that when the creativity juices aren’t flowing, it means that life is too much into your head. In order to be creative, some time needs to be set aside just for yourself so that you can appreciate and be grateful for things around you.

His assignment for me, for a week, was to sit down every night and think about the day and write down six things I am grateful for from the day. The man is brilliant, he said once I have done it for a week, I will automatically look at things differently, and appreciate stuff again which will also clear my head from the chaos we call life! So, I’ve committed to a week.. I need to clear my head so that the juices can flow again!

So here it goes, six things I am grateful for today:

1. living in Maine – it’s truly a love/dislike relationship. Today was a love day- the weather was perfect, Acadia was gorgeous.. wish we had weather like this year round!
2. where I live in Maine, I’m 45 minutes to the nearest beach.. and hour and a few minutes away from mountain climbing and ocean living.
3. Cyn, my  best friend. We share the love of photo taking and we share a great friendship. She is brutally honest with me about everything and slaps me across the head when I need to wake up, yet comforts me with that same honesty. Magnificent friend!
4. my camera
5. my new addition to my camera .. 50mm lens .. yay!!! A new world will be opening again!
6. that my teenagers are teenagers and I can take little day trips and they are okay by themselves ..

So that’s the start .. committed to finding gratification so that creative will come back.

One of those moments ..

I miss my family .. this weekend I went over to Rob's sister's and met most of the family .. his sister's, cousins .. little babies. I got to watch new grandparents, and great grand parents all interact. It was pretty cool. In my married life we would go to the in-laws every Thanksgiving and see Grammy and Grampy .. all the uncles and aunts and cousins. They were nice, very down to earth ..I find myself always wishing I had my sisters and their families close by. Now that I'm divorced, the teenagers and I go to my sister's house in Massachusetts. I love it there .. my nephews and niece are so fun. Hard to believe I changed their diapers 25 years ago!!! My other sister lives in the Philippines .. we're lucky if we see each other every other year. I haven't seen her girls since 2003!
My other sister lives in Amsterdam .. usually we'll see her family every other year. My mom lives in the Hague ..every other year is just too little. My mom is getting older, and traveling for her is getting more difficult .. I don't like the thought that we'll never have those family gatherings.. watching my nephews have babies, seeing my sisters become grandparents ... large family dinners and lots of conversations going in all directions... complete chaos .. but family chaos.
Right now the best I get is daily Yahoo Instant Messaging with the Manila sister .. a weekly call to my mom .. and maybe every other month to Amsterdam sister. I talk to my Massachusetts sister probably every other day ... I should be grateful that we have that .. but on gatherings like this weekend, I begin to realize how much I miss my family.

My uncle and aunt, my sisters and me in 2009.

Friday Fill Ins

 

It's Friday .. time to play Friday Fill Ins .. click here to play:

And...here we go!

1. Hey! _I love you soo, I want you to know. That I'm going to miss your love the minute you walk out that door .... Please don't go__.

2. _Why is it_" kernel of truth."?   is there so little truth?

3. Eat _to run, run to eat .. Pretzel M&M's doesn't provide any form of nourishment other than instant gratification soul nourishment__.

4. _Stuck _ in the middle., with you ..

5. First thing to note: _never wake a sleeping teenager before 10 am on the weekend__.

6.  _I miss moments of  distraction.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _being with my teenagers (but then again, their plans change pretty quick!)_, tomorrow my plans include _a bit of sleeping in, gym time and then we are on the way to Southern Maine __ and Sunday, I want to _enjoy the Red Sox, and hopefully get that picture I have been wanting to take__!

Happy Weekend!

Thursday 13 - 13 Gym songs ..

So, it's Thursday again, time for Thursday 13 .. this is what is currently playing on my shuffle .. there are not in any particular order..I added my favorite part of the lyrics.The teenagers make fun of me because I'm limited in the knowledge of play lists and music loading ..I have two basic play lists "Running" and "Cool down" .. do I need more??
Here we go:

1. Club Can't handle Me - Flo Rida -You know I know how to make em stop and stare as I zone out
2. King of Anything - Sara Bareilles -Who died, and made you King of Anything?
3. Hold on Tight - ELO -Hold on tight to your dreams
4. Paris (Ohh La La) - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - you've got me down on the floor
5. Wanna Be Startin' Something - Michael Jackson - Lift your head up high ..
6. Beatles Medley - Stars on 45 - listen .. do you want to know a secret?
7. S & M - Rihanna - .. I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good
8. If I Die Young - The Band Perry -If I die young, bury me in satin, lay me down on a bed of roses ..
9. The House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert - I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
   This brokenness inside me might start healing
10. Waiting Outside the Lines - Greyson Chance -You'll never enjoy your life, living inside the box
11. Speechless - Lada GaGa - Oh boy you've left me speechless .. so speechless
12. How Deep Is the Ocean - Eric Clapton - How much do i love you ..

Weekend is almost here ... going to a Red Sox game!

Thursday 13 - Month of May

Here we go .. haven't done Thursday 13 in ages .. always the last Thursday of the month ..
Current Scent:  Really, still no scents ..
What I am reading: I finally received my subscription for Cooking Light ... yum!
Newest Music added to my play list: Paris (Oh La La) by Grace Potter .. another great song for running!
Movie I saw: Teenager girl and I rented Black Swan ... weird to say the least!
Something yummy:  ohhh, I made delicious pizza this week .. it had portebello mushrooms, chicken, peppers with a pesto sauce .. yum
The last place I ate: Seadogs, Saturday night ..wine was good and of course my date was great!
Something that made me cry: ya .... crying is for girls ... oh wait!
Something that made me laugh: oh, definitely the time Rob and I tried to launch a kayak into the ocean .. it was so hilarious. I'm sure we provided a good show for all the beach bathers!
Something I look forward to in June: I am hoping it will be a summer June .. we've had 50's and rain so far. Ugh!
Something I want to remember from May: Well, Mexico of course....
Something I am thankful for: I'm always thankful for my kids, my job and my health, my friendships ..
A photo I took this month:

my serenity picture from the beach in Mexico!

Shaking My Head ..

So I am proudly copying a title post from April ..
Teenagers
Life with teenagers can be so mystifying .. today I had to have a conversation with my 17 year old son and explain to him why I was not comfortable with having him spend the night at his girlfriend (of 2 weeks). About an hour later I received a text from the girlfriend's mother explaining to me that she bought a blow up mattress, and that she and her 11 year old son would be home ...
Okay, call me a hypocrite .. I had to have the same conversation with my 15 year old daughter several months ago when she asked me the same question and I allowed it. It made me feel so anxious inside, so after two sleepovers, I told her no more. (btw, she slept in the bed with me while he slept downstairs on the couch)
I didn't want to deal with it again, so I called the mom of my son's girlfriend, and explained to her that I wasn't comfortable having my 17 year old son spend the night at her 15 year old daughter's house... then I felt the need to explain why ...
Work
I have never worked for such a dysfunctional company .. everyday something is said, or something happens ..
Ex's
My son explained to me that the reason his dad didn't give him any cash while he was flying from Texas (where dad lives) to Maine, by himself is because dad and wife bought a kitten ... and my son thought this was a reasonable  ...

NaBloPoMo - February 5

Another post for NaBloPoMo - A Dr. Suess character look-a-like!

I can't wait for summer!

Friday Fill In

It's Friday and time for Friday Fill .. click here to play!

1. My friend believes,We are on this earth because _we have to live our experiences before we can meet our soul mates in the next world__.
2. _One day I will_ experience _extreme happiness__.
3. One of the hardest things for me to learn _is that I can't have everything all of the time__.
4. _With all these electronic devices we are always_ connected.
5. I remember _being a junior in high school, like it was yesterday__.
6. _SOMETIMES the chaos____ is one of the best parts of my life, because it's my chaos.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _dinner with Nicole's parents__, tomorrow my plans include _photo time,gym time, possible shopping with Teenage girl, and hopefully a moment with my honey__ and Sunday, I want to _watch Super Bowl, even the Colts and Pats are playing__!
 
Happy Friday!

Thursday 13 and NaBloPoMo combined!

Thursday 13 is one of my favorite memes .. and before I stole some ideas from People magazine ..now I'm stealing from Runner's World .. same idea, interviewing someone by starting a phrase, and finish the paragraph (or sentence):
Here we go:
this is part of the Character for NaBloPoMo .. !!

I ran .. my first (and only!) half marathon October 1991
In 1984 .. I graduated high school
My current goal .. is to have a bikini body
My inspiration .. MOST of the times.. the Teenagers! haha
The teenagers and I .. have done well in our new little life!
I keep wondering .. what life is going to be like in two years.. big changes are coming .. graduations..
Back and hip pains .. have hindered my running, but I think I may be getting back on track
I travel with .. as little as possible.. but I think that is going to be changing soon
For the last month, .. I have been counting down the days until spring (46)
On my long-run days, .. I would step out of the house, and just run .. I miss those days 
I work with .. the most interesting group of people .. culture is lacking in this company, very sad.
I listen to ..all kinds of music when I run .. I love that moment of getting lost in the music
One day .. I hope to be completely relaxed

NaBloPoMo - Feb 2

who put the GLAD in GLADIATOR ... HERCULES! Who remembers that tv show??
Hercules used to be one of my favorite shows when the teenagers were little .. I loved the theme song because it was such a happy, go-start- the-day- type- of- song.  So in honor of the theme Character and NaBloPoMo .. today's post is about Hercules the character .. he always overcame the challenges that were thrown at him.

NaBloPoMo - Feb. 1

So ... I've decided to accept the challenge of National Blog Posting Month .. posting everyday for the month of February.. with the focus on character .. you can write in character, post about life experiences that formed your moral character, the people in your life and their character and even play with character as in symbols and letters ..
Let's start with the Chinese character for LOVE .. shameless stolen from Perfectly Spaced.
Chinese Symbol for Love (愛)