two of my favorite gals

doris and mabel, dec. 04

thanks tojo!

mr. wonderful's sister is in town helping package our little abode so that we can move into a bigger one. she arrived last night and is an awesome help! she can only stay until the afternoon so i'll miss her before she leaves. on friday, she will return with fab father and lots of stuff for us to move into the house. right now it all seems so strange. we're moving. are you sure?

as i finish up a few things here at the office, i came across yet another wonderful place to shop. have you heard of ten thousand villages? very cool stuff. tojo would love this. maybe i can send something her way soon.

another cool thing i found about a week ago was piperlime. it's all about shoes. check it out. brand new! fun stuff.

look what i've done

According to this list I found in the blogosphere, I have done almost half of the following things below.

What have I done?
73/150 = 49%

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and fell asleep)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight (with best brother…nothing like bananas and twinkies)
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends (still do!)
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke (love some karaoke!)
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving (does snorkeling count?)
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business (does mowing lawns in the neighborhood count?)
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch (they were no longer edible)
78. Won first prize in a costume contest (fourth grade. I was a unicorn.)
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house (almost there)
91. Been in a combat zone (sort of)
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror ( watched it a few times )
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach (mr. wonderful hates them)
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ (had a fishin’ show)
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

What have you done?

Merry Christmas!

Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.

I love celebrating this glorious day!
Peace to all...

Christmas on the First Coast

Mr. Wonderful and I headed north for our Christmas gatherings with families on each side of the pond. The continued holiday spirit flowed from doorstep to doorstep as we celebrated the birthday of baby Jesus. My sweetie really wanted an ice cream cake but will bring the idea back next December and make it up real special for Fab Dad inlaw.

I have finally come to a true point where the joy of giving is so much better than the joy of receiving. Maybe next year, we'll even suggest to everyone no gifts. If you see something that makes you think of us, then get it. Otherwise, don't be limited by a date to overwhelm yourself to find something perfect and special. Enjoy yourself. Focus on the kids. Be at one with the peace that His birth gave to each one of us. The Love that is shared from one person to the next. Remember to see the season with new eyes...As if you're a child trying to catch Santa delivering your gifts in the middle of the night. Be wise. Be full. Be thankful.

This Christmas, we were thankful. We were happy to have those we love so much surrounding us. We were sad as we missed the one who kept the celebration going and who made it so beautiful for each of us. We were, and still are, grateful for our family, friends and those we haven't met yet who make life so amazing every day.

peace and love

off to celebrate with friends and family. in addition, mr. wonderful and i are frantically packing for the big move. can i just be bored for one day? nah! so not my style.

love and peace to all.

where are you china girl?

no word from china girl. guess plans changed.

tonight, super wedding planner and i are off to chinese together. would be better with china girl.

happy happy

last night, favorite boss and i went to a meeting and enjoyed a night of laughter and fun. she's glad i'm here and i couldn't agree more. really glad to be in the house.

on another note, china girl is coming to town tonight! hoping we can enjoy some good hang out time.

found a house

so it's official. we are getting ready to buy a home. yep! mr. wonderful and i have found a great house, in the neighborhood we wanted and the floor plan we were looking for. the only thing we weren't anticipating was the gigantic pool. it's kind of become an added bonus to the place. looking to move in before the end of the year which is extra fun since there's so much to do between now and then. but, like everything else, we will make it and we will make it so much fun! here's to growing up and doing it together!!!

APR girls rule!

had a wonderful evening at seasons 52 with the APR girls who I now consider close friends. it's amazing what a professionally challenging situation can do to a relationship in terms of growth, understanding and sharing. i am so thankful for both of them. for their support. for their endless encouragement. for the way we are all so similar but so different.

what a week!

so many wonderful things happening...

first, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear friend, JoAnn! talked to her this morning and wished her a beautiful day. she is taking the fam to "D-I-S-N-E-Y" tomorrow. she had to spell it out on the phone this morning since the pre-schooler was in the car with her. couldn't help but love the idea of showing children the park for the first time. what an awesome thing!

monday was full of adventure and started early at the favorite breakfast place with APR buddy. there's so much going on for both of us. had a great lunch at PHO with the pres-elect of the Florida PR group. really great gal! she's got a lot of wonderful ideas for not only her crowd, but the entire community.

tuesday i went to work and had to leave a bit early to meet mr. wonderful's dad at blue lake. it ended up being a bust since he didn't like the place. we saw a lot of properties and finally settled on one that mr. wonderful was going to love. we were there for, what seemed like, several hours.

wednesday we made an offer on the place we saw the night before that was not at all on my radar because of the asking price.

thursday we heard back from the sellers with their counter. so, we countered. had a meal over at ID that was a bit tense due to our fluctuating state of mind.

friday we finalized the offer and settled on a selling price. in between it all, i had a great sushi lunch with some of the most hilarious people i know. we also got to celebrate with friends at creative girl and super husbands abode. it was a great evening of fun.

all this to show how quickly things happen for people in the world of real estate. as i mentioned in the rundown, the house we are hoping to make ours wasn't even on my radar due to the original asking price. now, we're going through the process and really learning so much. mr. wonderful's dad was a fantastic help and still is. we're so thankful to have him as we plug along this crazy road of home ownership.

weekend in miami

the golfer, the angel and their boys

mr. wonderful and angel at the doggie birthday party

dragonFLY and angel hanging in south miami

the guys before heading to the jags/dolphins game

go gators! go dolphins!

mr. wonderful and i are in hollywood with smid and kathy for football, fun and freedom. love spending time with them! their house looks great. looking forward to a super weekend!

Christmas 2004

sending out some china girl love

china girl sent me the sweetest note today. she's coming to a city near me very soon!

Still upgrading...

last night, i was invited for a secret celebration with apr buddy. it was bittersweet since she has yet to receive official word about her test results. we both know she passed but there's always that chance when you haven't heard anything yet. since we've been with each other throughout the entire process, i couldn't help but feel incomplete in toasting to success when my success should include hers. despite that, we enjoyed the evening by "bonding" more about life as a 30 year old and what that looks like professionally, personally and beyond. i revel in a sincere connection and it makes me appreciate people in a whole new way.

I PASSED!

i did it! i did it!

i passed my APR exam.

i can do it!

just telling myself this today...i can, i can, i can. just have to. i have to!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last night, Mr. Wonderful and I headed north for a few days to enjoy food, fun and family. So far, it's been very nice but so different than what I've become accustom to over the last several years. In the past, I would be sleep deprived, running on caffeine and smiley all day long. It was tough since I'm not 16 anymore but I would make it and still have a good time with best brother and Mr. Wonderful. Today, I just want to be present to what I have been given and surrounded by people I love. I am thankful for so many things, for so many people. I am thankful to God for blessings and for strengthening me through the loss of many...It has brought me to this moment of pure gratitude and joy.

thankful for joy!

my be fri (pictured left) who is pregnant. her belly is still smaller than mine.

a couple weekends back, i went to atlanta to visit joy and marty and as a bonus, the majority of joy's family was there for ella's dedication so i got to witness that and enjoy time away with people i have grown to love and respect for so many reasons. every time i see them, they make me feel like part of the family and right at home. i am so grateful for their love and friendship.

below is pretty much the only photo i have off of my camera of joy and i from the entire weekend. just know that you should never peruse an unfamiliar camera and graze the format button the morning of the day you're leaving -- big mistake. now, if you know joy's family, you know that the fact that she and i are pictured below in a restroom at a highlands thai restaurant is, believe it or not, quite appropriate.

i love you joy! thanks for a fantastic weekend.

house hunting

mr. wonderful and i are on the hunt right now for a house. we've seen a good amount over the last several weeks and hoping to make a decision very soon.

A Man that Cooks is a Man I Love

Happy photo: Mr. Wonderful cooking

some of his famous mushroom soup.

Love him!!!

acceptance

A few thoughts that watered my growth today.

read the below comment on another site and had to post it here in total agreement. seen this a million times. the next conflict or difficulty you encounter, be sure to take a moment and consider the source.

Some folks try to think for others because they are afraid of what they might find if they look inside themselves.

also, the following was shared by Dawn through e-group discussion regarding Thanksgiving and dealing with difficult family members:

I had in-laws in my first marriage that despised me. I just decided that there was nothing I could do to change them or how they felt about me but thatI also did not want to behave in a way that gave them an excuse to say. "See? THAT is why we can not stand her!" I decided to react to things in a positive manner. I was not guarded and tried to find something to enjoy about each of them. For instance, while my mother in law did not like me she did raise myhusband and he was a conscientious worker, etc and I honored that she was part of the reason for how he turned out.I was true to the person I was but because I realized that their reactions to me were those of fear it made it easier to understand why they acted likethey did. They felt that I was not good enough for their son and that I would some how bring him down to a lower level. How sad for them! To live yourlife in fear and from fear is the worst type of existence. Living your life from your heart and in love is the ultimate and most fulfilling way to be.When I understood that it gave me pity for them.Looking at any situation from the "outside" and "observing" it rather than becoming part of it also helps in stressful situation. We can choose to participatein a situation or not. We can allow a situation to effect us or we can decide to just watch the action. We do not have to absorb the feelings of others and make them ours. Know that and practice it and you will find that many things that "make" you angry or upset will no longer have control over you or your life. When you know that, you will gain the ability to keep your own power rather than giving others or situations control over you.

every moment

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
(1 John 4:16)

bringing home the beacon

so today, i just finished my first beacon award entry. it's one of those times where i feel like i've given mental birth to something that's been growing over the last several months. since the project is still underway, the entry (beautifully presented in a fancy schmancy folder) was a bit premature but for me, at least this time around, it was the process, not the prize. needless to say, i am very glad it's nicely packaged in a fedex box and on its way to DC to be thrown into a pile of other entries, thumbed through and possibly judged by a panel of seasoned industry professionals. oh great. now, i'm nervous and there's nothing i can do because it's gone and in the mail.

brett, jan & dragonfly

hanging with the sa gang. this is one of the few photos i have to prove that i was in atlanta last weekend.

happy photo

my nephew is almost a year old.

time flies when you're so darn cute!

gift giving

in nine days it will be thanksgiving and then in 40 days it will be Christmas. the list of who to purchase for and ideas of what to buy each person has been drafted but still, there's so much to do and so much to consider.

one consideration is the whole gift giving thing. every year, mr. wonderful and i pile in a car and head out of town to meet up with our family on Christmas eve. in tow, we have a ton of things i've purchased for each person, emergency gifts for the unexpected guests and gift wrapping. i guess this year with so many things being different for all of us, i kind of find myself hesitating to what we do all the same way. of c ourse, i want to buy gifts for everyone. it is by far one of mr. wonderful and i's favorite things to do. so to change it up, i'm thinking about making a point to not do the following while giving gifts this holiday season:

-- no gifts that would take up a huge amount of space (unless someone really needs a table or a lamp)
-- nothing similar to what has been given before from other people or me
-- more experiential gifts
-- special and personal over expensive and hollow
-- creative gift wrapping over the usual paper and bow (too much wasted paper)

i enjoy gifts but not as much as i enjoy giving them. as of right now though i do not have the space nor the use for any appliances, clothes or trinkets. it's funny how the same people will never ask you what you could possibly want and they continue to purchase things that neither mr. wonderful nor i have any use for. now don't misunderstand me please. we are extremely grateful for everything but our whole point of being a part of holiday gift giving is NOT for the gifts but for the people.

we truly enjoy seeing everyone and spending time together. what other time of the year does that happen? it's bothered me for years that families in general just simply do not come together unless there's a holiday attached to it which is probably why i create parties and get togethers as often as possible because most people require some kind of special occasion to feel compelled to even attend. but what about all the other days? if only i could express somehow that the real gift is your time, not your money, not the food you made and not your beautifully wrapped gift. the presence of the people i love is a present, the best kind. sometimes, i think about being radical and not accepting any gifts but i would assume that most people buy gifts for the same reason i do. but i do have to ask, "couldn't we all just bake cookies together and play cards or something?" i'm cool with that.

after reading this article by cheryl richardson, i was impressed by several points she made about "reclaiming your holiday" through five steps that will make for a nice holiday season:

-- temper your expectations
-- mine the past
-- set a new intention
-- start planning
-- CELEBRATE!

Take a more mindful, deliberate approach to these next couple of months, you'll reclaim your time to spend with people you love.

monday night soccer

played well last night and lost with Team Amanda by one goal. i really wanted to beat this team too. oh wellsies. we're done until next year. after the game, i snuck onto the field with Team Brett and they lost by one goal. i did make a really great shot. it missed so once again, they're done for the rest of the year. thankfully, cc united asked me to come back next week as they are in FIRST place. it will be fun to play one more game before the soccer hiatus. after the games last night, i met Team Amanda at the ale house and enjoyed getting to know everyone better. it really is a great community of people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds. this year has been so much fun thanks to soccer and so many other new things happening in my life.

random happy photo

super sisters: cin, moi and to at my bridesmaid

luncheon back in 2004

i'm here!

so, i arrived in atlanta and everything was so smooth...plane on time, nice people sitting next to me, good take off, good arrival, all of it. but then, the baggage claim devil got me. it took over my experience and i stood in the area searching in the sea of luggage for something that looked like mine. no such luck. it never arrived so i had to file a claim and leave with my dear joy who was tired of circling the airport. we picked up kelly (funny girl) at her house after we got lost. thanks joy. i stepped in dog crap and didn't know until we were driving for at least ten minutes. i had to hold my shoe outside the window until we got to ru san's, a cool sushi restaurant in buckhead. so yummy! while we were there, i got the call...MY BAG ARRIVED!

it was so great to see kelly and catch up and the icing on the whole evening was the arrival of my bag...the one that had everything except magazines in it.

i am here safe and sound and in the presence of super duper people who i am so happy to see. tomorrow we're off to the dedication of baby ella.

off to see my joy

leaving shortly for ATL and couldn't be happier since it's not only friday but the day i get to give a hug to some of the most amazing people God placed in my life who taught me so much about friendship and about family.

can you say cute?

lost the soccer playoffs - 1 to 0

it was a valiant effort but we didn't score a goal and they did so we're done for the rest of the year. love the team though and the way we all just enjoy having a good time no matter what.

soccer playoffs tonight!

this could be the last week of soccer on a wednesday night for the rest of '06. hope we advance. results of the below games to come tomorrow. until then, wish the Voodoo Posse luck!

6:35 3)Bud v 6)Cleats

6:35 7)PBSJ v 10)Bs United

7:30 2)Express v 7/10Winner

7:30 8)TM United v 9)Ricardo

8:30 8/9Winner v 1)Ma Papa's

8:30 5)Voodoo v 4)Buckets

look who won it all -- EXPRESS!!

Playoffs Nov 8th

Bud 2 v Cleats 0

Bs United 1 v PBSJ 0

Express 3 v Bs United 0

TM United 1 v Ricardo 0

Ma Papa's 2 v TM United 0

Buckets 1 v VooDoo 0

Final Four Nov 15th

Express 2 v Bud 1

Buckets 2 v Ma/Papa's 2

End of Reg.Buckets 4 v Ma/Papa's 3 (P.Kicks)

Championship Game

Express 3 v Buckets 1

Congratulations to Express

Capt - Mike Nunez

Mvp - Pam Mattheus

HM - Dermit Quigley

thanks gator boy

i was trying to think of a nickname for s.e.g. who i had the pleasure of seeing today at lunch. initially, gator bait came to mind but then hyper boy surfaced. others include bell boy or happy gilmore. still not sure which one to go with so i may try and keep them all and insert into this blog when appropriate. either way, he's cool. i wish him the best this holiday season and remain, as always, available to help when needed.

TWO DAYS UNTIL JOY!!

Okay, I can no longer contain myself. In two, yes TWO, days I will be in Atlanta visiting my bestest frie in the entire universe -- JOY! Who, by the way, is expecting her own little bundle come April. To top it all off, the entire family will be there to witness the dedication of her brother's little baby girl. It's going to be great even though I'm sure it'll go by so quickly. So excited!

I VOTED!

It was late and after work when I voted so I didn't get to wear my sticker throughout the day. Thought I'd let the world know here on the blogosphere.

On another note, exactly one year ago today I started this BLOG. My how things have changed in a mere 365 days.

seeing the fracture before the break

i was talking with a good friend last night about how sometimes a friendship can become fractured much like a bone in the body. without proper attention, care and usually, rest, it can never heal properly. what started out as being nothing, turns into a full break of everything that you tried to hold together even after nothing turned into a little something and then a little something more and more and more until one day, crack! everything is different and whatever attempts you made to prevent this from happening is lost. but even with broken bones, you can still live and celebrate what's not broken. and, with time, healing takes place. it reminds me over and over again how God makes each one of us so unique, so special, with our own set of bones that can get hurt or broken.

Reminded today by the following from Rick Warren: You are unique. It’s true. There's not anybody in the world like you. There never has been, and there never will be. When God made you, he broke the mold. God does not create carbon copies; he only creates originals. If you were to search the whole world, you wouldn't find two people who had the same footprint or fingerprint or voiceprint. Each person is unique. Why did God make you different from every person who's ever lived? Why did he go to all that trouble? Because he wants you to know how much you matter to him.

Congrats Linda & Dan!

the little boy is no longer in this belly. linda gave birth last night.

linda's someone's mommy now. amazing!

Dylan Kroha Rosenberg
Born: Sunday, November 5th, 9:41pm
6lbs, 3oz
19 inches long

mummie glowie's messages

my mother (aka mummieglowie) recently wrote mr. wonderful and i cards for our second year anniversary...we received them a couple weeks ago. after sharing it with the mr., i read them again and couldn't help but appreciate the way she expresses herself from mother to daughter and from mother to daughter and her husband, it was sweet and inspired a moment, a rain moment, to just breathe in and enjoy.

in her card to both of us, she writes:

You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world.
-- Woodrow Wilson

in a card to me that's already printed, it reads:

My Daughter, Your birth was a joy and a blessing! Having you in my life has provided me with my greatest opportunity for growth, and for that I am grateful. I have come to understand and accept that love has brought us together for a reason. I have learned so much about myself from loving you and learning to accept you as you are. Watching you grow and develop has provided me with some of my greatest joys. Watching you learn from your journey has taught me how to let go. Your talents and potential are extraordinary, and I thank God for the gift of being your parent. Thank you for sharing all that is uniquely you. I love you!

in the same card, she writes:

Dear Baby Girl ____,

May "u" go for the Gusto Glows. My silver living behind my darkest clouds. You, who has the gift to heal everyone around her whose wounds need to be mended. Perhaps other than hers come 2nds??? For the Good of Human Kind w/such depths!!! In return, a Boomerang of Showers of Blessings steering your way.

w/love,
"MummieGlow"


i enjoyed her brief "surprise" visit the other day. i don't know how she does it but she does and never ceases to amaze me. love you mummieglow!

friends since 1991

rojo, gin-g, et moi

the Happiest B to ToJo

wrong racquet, new holiday

played racquetball today with a new 47 year old who said to me that from 30 to 47 goes by so fast. i wholeheartedly agreed not because i am 47 but has anyone stopped and smelled the pumpkin lately?? it's NOVEMBER people. what the hay? i blinked and now seven at night feels like ten. by this time, i've got cards already done and gifts already bought. since december will be significantly slower professionally, i guess i'm enjoying the lull in activities and not missing the necessity to hurry up and get it all done before the 25th of december where i am usually a total zombie and not sure how to spell my name from burn out (in a good way, of course) and sheer physical exhaustion. hallelujah! people will receive cards from me in december, maybe even late december, instead of the day after thanksgiving. i just might be able to work out regularly this festive season and avoid gaining the holiday 15 since i'll have some extra time and none of my good friends will send me chocolate or cake for gifts. (still send cake in march please) maybe this year i can make gifts from hand rather than shop online and pay extra for gift wrapping. oooo...maybe i'll make wrapping paper like i did six years ago! this year, i can agree to attend a cookie swap or two (props to rhonda who never gives up on me) instead of creatively excusing myself from attending anything that requires me to bake (seriously, it's not a pretty sight). i can go to the mall for pleasure, for the joy of holiday shopping (woohoo), instead of having to meet with management, spy on workers, pick up donations and fluff trees and display information. i can take some days off in november and before december 24 to just do holiday stuff or here's a crazy one -- relax! for this holiday season, the possibilities are literally endless. at the same time, i can feel the withdrawal setting in as i would normally be preparing for the seven week rush of adrenaline and caffeine. i'll miss the people, the opportunities, the privilege to serve something much bigger than me. to share His love with others and to understand what that really looks like in the faces of hundreds of individuals and families. to stand beside a team of people who are dedicated to the same purpose, the same mission...that is exactly what will forever be a part of who i am and who i strive to be, no matter where i find myself living or working.

Happy Halloween!

Some cute kids in costume enjoying the treats! Thanks to the brother and fab friends who sent these adorable pictures my way.

Baby Yoda

Tinkerbell

Buzz Lightyear

Cinderella

halloween prep @ the d's

had a great time last night at the d's celebrating halloween eve. food was great! kids were all so cool in their costumes. mr. wonderful and i are so thankful for fun and friends who don't mind dressing up for special occasions.

awesome job genius!

cute tinkerbell

the scientist (love the hair)

the witch with the coolest socks ever!

we are the champions (of last night)

last night was awesome! voodoo posse won 4 to 1! by far one of our best games ever. we're on a roll. in addition to mike, ymir and chris scoring a goal, i scored a goal too! it was great to finally get one in since i've had plenty of opportunities but last night, it finally made it in the net (thanks chris).

heading into the playoffs with a winning season. yea!

monday night soccer

absolutely wonderful weather for soccer these days. team amanda played last night and tied with team brett. i've played on both teams which is always strange considering i know the names of everyone on the field and what foot they favor. everyone played well overall. too bad we didn't win. we were so close! i had a personal best with this new team so i am looking forward to next week.

saw it on a sign the other day

We are called to be witnesses, not judges.

remembering

if the only reason i learned how to play trombone was to create this moment for matt's birthday in january, then it was well worth it. i miss her a lot today.

Birthday Wishes to a very Creative Cat!

love my little nephew

that's just fantastic

I was talking with a colleague earlier today about the next few months as we are both in the same boat and trying to paddle somewhere great together. I always enjoy finding a reciprocal connection with another person as far as hopes and aspirations for a certain project or initiative. You just never know what you got with them until you're there. It gets me all happy and compels me to do a great job because someone else is just as committed as I am.

don't make GREMLINS

In my opinion, there is information sharing overload and the tools to do it are countless but there are some things you shouldn't share via insert latest gadget and/or form of communication. Such as AND I start with email. You should NOTpress send after typing the following words:

-- I'm pregnant.
-- I'm getting married. (mainly to family and close friends...thinking of you KT ;-) )
-- I'm leaving Las Vegas (the Sheryl Crow song just came into my head...Sorry.)
-- I quit this job! (at least have the decency and take the pleasure out of letting someone you've worked for understand how sincere you are in this decision by telling them face-to-face.)
-- Your mother/brother or anyone your close to just passed away.
-- Your blood work report came back and you should know that you ________
-- I'm getting a divorce. (mainly this one wouldn't be good to your spouse or close relatives and friends. I've received a mass email from a friend who got divorced three months after the elaborate and dazzling wedding. )
-- It's over. (specifically for the dating crowd because you just don't e-break up. I don't care what the culture says or how much change has happened in the last few years. Ending a relationship over the phone is mucho bad...By email, now that's just plain mean.)
-- I'm in the hospital. (prefer to get the call personally to do the quick question and answer thing...it helps get the right information out and not give anyone a cardiac arrest while sharing fthe info with others.)
-- I need to borrow money. (at least have the courtesy to pick up the telephone or better yet, have a face-to-face so that the giver understands what the need is by listening and looking at your expressions.)
-- I won the lottery. (at first this may seem like a good idea BUT the funny thing about email is that it can travel fast to everyone in the world so unless you want to world to know, don't put it in writing via email.)

The list can go on and on...For the most part, anything that is life changing, monumental, that will create a strong response by the person or people you're sharing this information with, is just not appropriate to send by email. Remember that email is technology's version of Gremlins. There's a lot of rules behind its existence in order to maintain some type of control. Feeding them after a certain hour can result in multiple monsters that are difficult to get rid of...Pressing send with a serious conversation involved for any aspect of life should be dealt with delicately, cautiously and personally. If not, you'll end up with a really messed up toy department and a very sad and sick Gizmo who at one time was really cute and cuddly but now, is the creator of a big mistake that will take forever to reconcile.

good ole mr. symonds

couldn't help but feel like the following paragraph written by symonds could apply to so many different things --

And need I remind you just how insert whatever got here? We got here by being bold, by having the guts to take chances and by worrying more about conquering new worlds than protecting old ones.

the power of being nice

sent this out to a few dragonFLY friends earlier today...enjoyed the read and hope you will too. :-)

Christian Science Monitor
from the October 16, 2006 edition –
see actual article here

At work, 'nice' is on the rise
In a huge shift from the 'me first,' 'greed is good' attitudes of the 1980s, corporations seek a kinder, gentler culture

By Marilyn Gardner Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

Patrick Morris could call it "a tale of two companies." As a new college graduate beginning his first job in public relations at a major cosmetics firm in New York, he knew he would be the proverbial low man on the totem pole.

"You feel you're going to get put upon and crunched and tossed around," he says. But instead of the huge egos and "attitude" he expected, he found himself surrounded by good, caring people. "It made all the difference in the world and helped to shape me into the professional I am today."

By contrast, his next job at a television shopping channel proved to be "an environment full of finger-pointing and backstabbing," he says. "It became a nightmare to go into the office."

In comic strips and movies, tyrannical bosses produce plenty of laughs. Think of Mr. Dithers, Dagwood Bumstead's nemesis in "Blondie," or Miranda in "The Devil Wears Prada." But in real life, managers like these are hardly funny.

Today, in a competitive age that sometimes takes a "nice guys finish last" approach to business, a quiet cultural change appears to be under way. "Nice" and "kind" are becoming operative philosophies in some companies, among them Mr. Morris's first employer. Those adjectives are also showing up in titles of books and organizations. They stand in sharp contrast to the 1980s, when a "greed is good" attitude prevailed in some quarters and business books carried titles such as "Corporate Combat" and "Office Warfare."

"There's a huge shift we've observed," says Russ Edelman, one of the founders of Nice Guy Strategies, a consulting firm in Newburyport, Mass. "Companies are fundamentally saying, 'We need to employ more ethical practices as well as create an environment that supports a nicer mind-set.' Organizations are asking, 'How can we create an environment that is friendly, welcoming, and warm, but also ensure that people in the company are held accountable and can achieve success?' There's a balance people are struggling with."

Workplace observers attribute some of the changes to a reaction against corporate scandals at Enron and Tyco. "In the past decade there have been a lot of egomaniacal bosses," says Tim Hiltabiddle, one of Mr. Edelman's business partners. Sept. 11 also heightened the yearning for a kinder workplace, he says.

Yet that approach is "not about everything being nicey-nice," Mr. Hiltabiddle emphasizes. Nor does it mean being wimpy and naive, lacking backbone, or serving as a doormat. Being too nice, in fact, carries its own perils. "People might take advantage of your good nature," he says.

As one way of framing the issue, Hiltabiddle and Edelman sat down in a restaurant and drew up a Nice Guys Bill of Rights on napkins. Those rights include speaking up, setting boundaries, taking risks, valuing your time, and being accountable.

Studies show that niceness can also produce bottom-line rewards, such as increasing productivity and reducing turnover, says Robin Koval, an advertising executive in New York and coauthor, with Linda Kaplan Thaler, of "The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World With Kindness" (Doubleday). Being nice, she adds, can mean "having the courage and creativity to stand up for what you want, but doing it in a way that is not ugly or threatening."

Women, Ms. Koval finds, are typically taught the importance of being nice. That can produce stereotypes. Noting the popularity of the book, "Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office," she says, "We take issue with that. We think we're nice girls, and we have corner offices."

For men, nice is a more liberating idea, Koval adds. "They're the ones who have been socialized to think, 'I've got to be a tough guy, never show my emotions, it's a dog-eat-dog world out there.' "

But "dog eat dog" isn't the only modus operandi. "To be successful in business, you need to have a certain threshold of knowledge of your industry and techniques," says Peter Handal, CEO of Dale Carnegie Training in New York. "But it's not enough just to be good at what you do. In my experience, the people who reach the top are nice. They're people-friendly. They're ones who can communicate with people around them, up and down."

They're also the ones who avoid what Duane Boyce, author of "The Anatomy of Peace," calls "false niceness." He explains the term this way: "If I'm not focused on results, I'm just expecting my friendliness, my politeness to get me by. That's not nice."

In the political arena, this is shaping up to be another season filled with harsh campaign ads as candidates trade jibes and paint negative images of their opponents.

"It's so disheartening that election after election becomes about tearing down the other person," Hiltabiddle says. "It's not constructive in building something; it's tearing down."

Yet politics creates unique challenges. Assuming the role of a politician, Mr. Handal says, "The way I get ahead is either I sell people on me, or I knock you. There's only a binary choice. In business or nonprofits, there are lots of choices.

"Who moves up in organizations? People who are liked."

Customer service is another field filled with negative images. "People are tired of the indifference that we're receiving from so many companies these days in the name of customer service," says Ed Horrell, author of "The Kindness Revolution: The Company-wide Culture Shift That Inspires Phenomenal Customer Service." He notes that consumers want service "peppered with some respect and dignity and kindness."

Mr. Horrell praises companies known for excellent service, such as Nordstrom, FedEx, L.L. Bean, and Chick-fil-A. Their emphasis on core values - dignity, respect, courtesy, kindness - begins at the top and requires commitment from the CEO and managers all the way down to front-line workers. "The way they treat their employees is virtually always the way they'll treat their customers."

For Morris, the publicist who tells the tale of two very different companies, the positive examples set by his bosses and co-workers at the cosmetics firm continue to influence his work as public relations director of his firm in Troy, N.Y.

"If you want people to perform, and you want people to do a good job, you have to treat them nicely," he says. "It's not to say you don't lose your cool sometimes. But if somebody makes a mistake, what's not going to help them is to have an intensely negative reaction to it. What's going to help is to say, 'How do you think this happened? What do you think we should do to fix it? What steps should we take next time that this doesn't become a problem?' That's the way I was taught."

That kind of approach can pay big dividends. Pamela Gregg of the University of Dayton Research Institute in Ohio praises her bosses for "going out of their way to be nice to those around them." In addition to being fair and expressing appreciation for jobs well done, she says, they give employees "free rein to take risks and make what we can of our jobs."

Everyone works hard, Ms. Gregg says, so her bosses often lighten the mood with levity. One employee will soon celebrate 45 years with the institute. For others, 20, 30, and 40 years of service are not uncommon. Last year the Dayton Business Journal rated it one of the Top 10 winners in its "Best Places to Work in the Miami Valley" contest.

In an era of corporate downsizing, even cutbacks offer an opportunity for companies to soften their approach. "The act of laying someone off does not mean you're unkind," Horrell says. "A kind person does not want to do that, but there's a kind way to do it."

Making a case that "nice is very powerful," Koval says, "We all have to network with each other. We all work in teams. Unless you're a chemist in a lab bent over a test tube, nobody works alone. The old command-and-control way of doing business is clearly over." She adds, "Meanness is so last millennium. Niceness is the future."

cutest baby in the world - check those teeth

Baby and Mommy enjoying a beautiful fall day.

He didn't enjoy eating the snowcone daddy got him. Yuck!

He loved it when Uncle Wonderful let his arms fly like a bird.

love the thursday

lovely day here in the sunshine state...it's thursday...i am wearing a new sweater (yea, no jokes. it's in the 70's and for us floridians, it's cool out there)...had a great lunch with group team member and talked to several people today via email, phone, im, etc. isn't it amazing and scary sometimes how many people we communicate to in one day? i can be on the phone, have someone in my office motioning my thoughts to and read my email and respond all at the same time. even as someone who is in the communication business, i still am amazed and frightened by it all. i enjoy the opportunity to multi-task but then, i quickly find myself circling the office after a few hours of work just to gain clarity so i can write that feature newsletter article for the entire company of ga-thousand people to skim through. i'm tired. pooped. don't like to use that word but today, it's the best word out there for my current state. plus, it reminds me of someone who makes me laugh daily about the subject. (like i'm gonna tell you who!) anyways, it's chinese night (thank God!) and i couldn't be more ready to just sit back and relax. so, whatever you're doing, wherever you are -- enjoy and for goodness sakes, turn the blackberry off!

preciously prego

Love this photo of the Dr. and the Beauty. She's 35 weeks along. Thank God for this Lisa Baker photographer girl because this photo is so precious! It arrived today in my email in-box and totally made my day. To think, I saw Beauty last year get married and this year in NYC and now, SHE'S HAVING A BABY!!!

time flies when you're in love

TWO years ago...Mr. Wonderful and I became husband and wife. I love him more and more every day!

happy anniversary to my mr. wonderful

weekend view

the love key

leaving town for a few days to celebrate mr. wonderful and i's second year of being happily married. he truly is wonderful. to prove it, he's planned a weekend of relaxation on the beach and spent last night cooking food (chicken curry) for our trip. we will be in a highly remote area so as long as we have good food, good conversation and each other, we will have a great time commemorating #2!

upgrading your conversation

i have found my new bumper sticker -- upgrade your conversation. absolutely love it and must share it with all since how many times do conversations happen without purpose or love or anything really worth talking about. these past two days have been very different but amazing. the conversations have been so rich. it all started on wednesday during strategic planning. i know that's hard to imagine but really, i am on one of thee most dynamic teams in all of cable world and i found myself completely immersed in the good energy. then, yesterday was a complete adventure of which i am so thankful. i learned that i am someone who takes the bad and makes it fun...keeps glowing (and growing) no matter the obstacle. also, i am okay with disagreeing with people more and more because most of the time, that's what makes the conversation worthwhile. i think the hardship comes into a situation when people are NOT listening and they only hear their own thoughts and bits and pieces of yours which leads to misunderstanding, which leads to frustration, which leads to a confrontation, which leads to more NOT listening, which leads to total explosion and many bad things (especially if you're dealing with someone who doesn't deal with themeselves). been there, done that. so, i am happy to report that conversations that have taken place in the last 48 hours have been solid. like today, i began with a great connection with mr. wonderful about his current office environment. of course, he sees right through a lot of the muckity-muck and focuses on what he does best -- do a fantastic job and not get caught up in the never-ending drama. then, the presidents of the local pr community came together to discuss how to bring everyone together. love those kind of talks. they each are so impressive and strong. i have grown to love and respect my pres. and could only hope to carry the leadership level she has displayed throughout the whole year. after that, i engaged in many conversations at the office. lunch with one of the marketing directors who just happens to be someone i connect with because our paths seems so similar by way of geography and finding the current situation. plus, we share a love for thai food. always a thumbs up in dragonfly's world! during the day, i continued to engage in conversation with my superiors who just happen to be so incredibly in tune with what's happening and how they are a part of moving things forward. after work, and this is where it only continues to get better, i had a great conversation with kathy about life, love and possibilities. she is the inventor of "upgrading your conversation." while we were talking, i made the following notes for myself and since it was an ABC conversation -- A = Kathy and B = DragonFLY and you the reader, are C = not there, you might not be interested in the rest of this...it's for me and my accountability: What's wrong with being selfish? (one of the topics was about taking time for you vs. time for everyone else. trying to fit it in AFTER everyone else is taken care of.) Why can't the weather just be unpredictable? ( i really like this one since just looking at something as what it is instead of putting expectations all over it. Guilty as charged!) How can this represent a life? (we talked about trish's funeral and the photos displayed...they were beautiful photos of her but they're only pictures, not a life, she was so much bigger than a photograph. ) What will represent my life? (inspired by the previous question obviously.) What is the context of the conversation? (really being present to what someone is saying not the words coming out of their mouth.) Where does being upset and disappointed show up for me? (inspired by the previous question) And finally, always a good questions to ask -- In what ways, am I purposely being responsible and not being responsible? Delving futher, how is that effecting my choices in how and who I choose to be?

Upgrade your conversation, you will only become better at you.

that's information

it's not that you're busy, it's how you're busy.

found my coffee...woohooo! the woman on the mug looks like me except i am smiling much bigger!

talking a lot this week to people who have a lot on their plates. when there's more to do than time will allow. on my way to soccer last night where i was questioning my crazy idea to play two games in a row instead of just one, i heard the song with the lyrics, "it's better to wear out than to rust." seems to be a reoccuring dragonfly theme this week with all that's going on. it's been such a good place. being busy but a good busy. i can't help but wonder what would be a better word for busy...active? involved? energetic? crazy?