off the ground!

Today I had my first for hire ceremony...


Mexican weddings are a lot of crazy fun. The bride and groom showed up 2 hours later than the time they had told me they'd be getting there.. which left us about 10 minutes trying to coordinate all the last minute details before getting the wedding started.

But those who know me.. things start on time if I have any say. and I did. We started at 5:31 - for weddings that is a darn good accomplishment.


Oh. and I guess this is news.. I now have cats. Yes.. 2. and NO! I'm not turning into crazy cat lady. I promise.

Power

I have this on a sticky note on my work computer:


"POWER: The Ability to Translate Intention Into Results"


I was just given this definition of power yesterday and it has been on the forefront of my mind since then. I used to think I was in a power struggle with my boss, but the kind of power I thought we were wrestling over was nothing like this.

This is the kind of power that actually gets things done.


This is what EMPOWERMENT is focused around. This is what I want to give to the people in my life.

Culture Shock

I've been back to Arizona numerous times since moving away, but today was the first time in Arizona where I have really interacted with a variety of folks and felt the urban vs suburban culture shock.

Housing Prices. I pay for my 1 bedroom apartment what a good friend pays for the mortgage of a 5 bedroom, 3 bath, BRAND NEW, model 3,000 square foot house. The garage on the house was about 85% the size of my apartment.

Lifestyles.

Distances traveled for work/ commute times/commute methods.

Sheer Diversity in the population around us.

I feel like I owe it to my future kids to expose them to as much as possible about the amazing thing that is the human race, and I just personally do not see Arizona as the place where I can in full confidence do that.

So Phoenix. the heat has been absolutely wonderful. Being in the pool, heavenly. But you'll have to be a memory I carry with me forever, not a place to come back to.

Making Promises

For a long time, I always said I would only make promises I could keep. We know the things we can "keep" based on our current expectations and constraints, with no extra effort required.

I was challenged this week to instead ... MAKE MORE PROMISES!

If you are committed to living a life that is true to yourself, and you can honor your word and your commitments which align with the "to thine own self be true" mentality... then not making promises is a copout.

An excuse to hide behind instead of embracing a chance to challenge yourself and actually make an effort at living a life that is unreasonable but one that is absolutely yours.

I want to be someone who can be counted on, who can make a difference. In order to make a difference, you have to shake up the status quo.


And that begins with the only person who's state of being I have control over: Me.

Integrity

When I completed the Landmark Forum, one of the biggest ways this played out in my work life IMMEDIATELY was agreeing to play the rules of the "game" of being an employee at my office.

I started my Landmark Education Seminar Series Integrity: The Bottom Line last night, and it was a very quick re-awakening to how much diligence it takes to keep this idea and concept on the forefront of your mind. To realize you choose the decision, every hour, every moment, to play the game or not.


Part of the agreement for taking the course over the summer was the promise to not engage in gossip of any kind. I have prided myself on being, in my eyes, relatively gossip free. Oh, what a humble realization that was last night. The way it was described was "do not talk or complain about things to anyone other than someone who can do something about it". Gossip doesn't just mean talking about stranger celebrities, or people you mutually know others. It is the water cooler talk, its complaining about something with no intent to use that discourse to impact the situation in a positive way somehow.

Goodbye water cooler...

Drive By Gardening!

Since I don't have a dedicated balcony and the window ledges are not safe from furry creatures, I've no resort left other than enjoying the fruits of other's green thumbs.

The prize this week is hands down my favorite flower of all time, and in one of my favorite color combinations.

I need to get back into the more semi daily swing of updates. It has been an interesting few weeks, notably my time doing vessel safety checks with the Auxiliary.

Up next.. AZ Visit! The Family! My Dusty mop!!

One more day

Don't fear the future you don't know.

The past you do no longer holds the lessons... you've learned their secrets.

Distance and forward can be misleading... you don't have to be moving to go round in circles.


Everything has a circumference.

New Venture!

I am an ordained minister and I have decided to make a little more formal effort to make this public knowledge in a twofold mission: 1) provide quality, memorable, and affordable officiant services to the Chicagoland bridal pool and 2) to learn more about and be inspired daily by the different cultures and ways that committment, love, and promise can be communicated.

The website is not together yet but I am going by "A Ceremony Your Way". I think it is concise, and describes the niche and market I want to take without any extra clarification needed.

This should be fun!

Latching Vs Dancing

Landmark is amazing. I am by no means an expert but I love how it is stretching me, growing me. It gave me a new circle of people to help mirror my actions and thoughts back at me. Give me the honesty you need to hear in order to decide what you want your world and your future to hold.

I was struggling with some decisions about dating and choices and "What Am I Looking For? Why am I doing this?"

Along the way.. I got a little selfish and got sidetracked. I know I am a pretty unique personality and a great catch for the right person. It has been a new experience for me to be at the center of someone else's relatively undivided attention. Or at least future potential undivided attention. And it felt nice. REALLY nice.

Annnnd trying to do whatever I could to keep that feeling coming instead of remembering the big picture and my goal to broaden my network here Chicago bit me in the ass.

Now I'm aware and caught that thought pattern. Now to work on keeping things what they are, and not what I am tranposing on top of events. It is a moment by moment effort.


and I absolutely love this picture.

* by Sergey Lekomtsev

In my thoughts

My sister has been in Tanzania for the last year.

Starting earlier this week, she's not doing so well right now and she's been on my mind even more so than normal.

So Elizabeth... get better soon. We are all rooting for you and wish would could be there to keep you company. Know you are loved... even my cat Charlie says hello and get better.

This picture is from when I was in town for Beth's graduation party before she left for Africa.

Can't wait to see you again!!

Voice in my head

There's a voice in my head that I can't seem to shake. Even when I have all the noises around me.. actually, even more so when I have my hearing aid out and it is dead quiet.

I hear this voice echoing around in my head.

It whispers in my ear...

Walk with my Dad

Time with mom is precious.. time with Dad is Priceless.

We took a walk, just us, to Illahee Dock. I will really miss my dad when we go our ways.

No more words are needed.

Heard at Breakfast

Mom: I need to go print something, and use the bathroom.

Dad: Don't do both at the same time.

Later.....

Ring Ring Ring.

Dad: "Whats the matter, honey? Did you fall into the toilet? I told you not to do both at the same time. "

My parents are quickly becoming good entertainment.

It appears dad forgot JC The Donkey. Perhaps this is for the best.

Seattle!

I am spending the next few days in the Pacific Northwest. Oh how I have missed traveling.

It makes for long days, and there is the overpriced airport food, screaming kids, stiff chairs.

But it is a change of scene and a world you can immerse yourself in. A world where you see your life hitting a wall and breaking into others.

I am here primarily for some extremely long time coming family time. I had originally planned to rent a car and hit up Vancouver as I mentioned earlier. There was a small twinge when I got off the plane and realized how relatively close I am to several groups of friends I would love to see. It is only a few hours to Portland, only a few hours to Vancouver. Alas... it is not for this time.

But!

I am going to do everything in my power to spend Monday and the Museum of Flight. My mom goes back home Sunday afternoon, and so I think that I should be able to talk my dad into at least dropping me off. He works with airplanes and so I am sure while he might not realize I plan to spend 5-6+ hours there, he'd at least humor me and come along for an hour or 2.

And yes. Me. 6 Hours. Planes. Can you say true bliss?

Oh and the coffee. Don't even get me started on the coffee.

Tres de Mayo

Its not the 5th.. but I could so use a dose of warm central Mexican sun. And more tacos. And Tecate.

Maybe I will make my salsa chicken this week.

It is time for another beach visit this week. I've not been back in a few weeks and it is one of the places I love to share with people. The last few plans did not quite reached fruition.

Maybe one of these days....