Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Control - It's yours if you want it

Today’s post may seem a bit out of context for some of you. But as promised I plan to keep this blog alive more than once a month so this something that is on my mind and worth publishing. Its something that I feel is good to remind myself of and maybe all who read it will be reminded of the control we each hold over our own lives and how our perception of any given situation makes a difference in how we experience it.

If you think the world is dumping on you, it is. If you didn’t ask for it but are getting overwhelming challenges, you see it as opportunity and it is. The external details of either scenario are the same, it’s how you choose to see it and how you plan to react to it that effects the outcome and your happiness while living it.

If something isn’t for you don’t do it. Plain and simple. But if its fear, self set limitations or even lack of learned capabilities keeping you from doing something, get over it and add some new skills to your bag of tricks. And enjoy overcoming your own internal difficulties.

Finally where do you want to be in life? Who is the person you want to be? What is holding you back? My advice, unsolicited of course, is to stop wasting time complaining and creating drama. Do not allow the easy escape of blaming others for what is going wrong, don’t worry about opinions they may or may not have about you. Look at yourself and find the strength you need to make it the life you want it to be. Let go of old baggage, know that no one is going to do it for you and maybe some will try to hold you back. I know you know that part but the hump I feel you’re having trouble getting over is the part about how in the end it’s up to you. Figure out what you want to do and do it.

The control is yours if you want it. I know this post is going to make you mad and you'll have many great reasons to prove what I am saying does not apply to you. But if you walk away with one little peice of doubt to put a chink in that thick armour of yours then I will be happy.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Getting back into the swing of things


I call this shot creative camouflaging. This was taken at Race Point Beach in Provincetown, MA at the very tip of Cape Cod. A guy came up and asked for the time and then I got the big idea of asking him to take our picture. I hand him the camera and then realize I am about to document what I look like in my bathing suit. Now I am not so self conscience that I won't wear my bathing suit in public, but really I am not thrilled by it and certainly don't need to document it. So thought fast and pick up Ms. G to hold in front of me. Good Plan.
Problem is I can't really walk around like that in real life. Got back from vacation and did my morning ritual weigh in. 140lbs. UGH. That is 5lbs over my "I have got to do something about this weight" weight. Well I guess it could be worse since It's not SO bad that I can't even post it here, but really this is bad. I am missing the benefits of when I had food poisoning earlier this year. I was sick for three days straight, but the tummy was flat and I was weighing in at a comfortable 133 lbs. Two vacations later and I am up 7 lbs.
So I guess I need to get my you know what to the gym, and leave some of it there. I'll rant here with some updates. Which brings me to the next point of my subject line of getting back into the swing. I have plenty of stuff to write about so I will make some time for it. A monthly blog is a boring thing.
The vacation. It was great. We rented a beautiful house on a bluff overlooking Cape Cod Bay. At night you could see a few lights, lighthouses I presume, over at the tip of the cape. One of which I did not see, Race Point Lighthouse, even though we were RIGHT THERE. It was behind a house and I didn't even know it was there. How stupid is that. I really wanted to take a lighthouse tour of the Cape but didn't, but I could have at least seen that one. Anyway it was nice to see it from our house.
The reason for our trip was to witness the Batz Mitzvah of Paul's niece Olivia. It was my first one. I didn't get to see much of it though because Ms. G was having a hard time sitting in her seat and an even harder time keeping quiet. The parts I did see were nice, apparently the rabbi is a bit on the non traditional side and sang and played guitar a lot. I was especially impressed with Olivia's poise and confidence in her reading and chanting.
The party afterwards was quite fun we got to see many of Paul's relatives that we never see, so that was good. Shame on us for not taking any pictures there.
The rest of the vacation was split between hanging out with Paul's immediate family and doing some day trips just the three of us. I know Paul really enjoyed spending time with everyone especially his sisters.
The day trips were also fun. My favorite was taking the ferry over to Martha's Vineyard for the day. The weather was perfect and the island was some of what I expected and then some I didn't. Part of that was because we were in the most touristy spots. With such limited time and no vehicle we really didn't get to explore much of the island.
Other favorites include a day trip with just Karen and I to shop and have lunch in Chatham. And getting a chance to walk on the beach and chat with Paul's sisters. I know Paul especially enjoyed having his Aunt Fran stay with us for a few days, and Gigi loved playing with her cousins.
All in all it was fun, we pushed Gigi's limits a few times and need to scale back on the schedule, but she really enjoyed herself.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Plymouth, Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard

The are Tons of pics and lots to say but not so much time right now . So enjoy the pictures below and for more click on >>>>>THIS LINK<<<<< for the entire album. The house was great, the view to die for. We really enjoyed time with the family, especially Gigi with her older cousins. The Cape and Martha's vineyard were beautiful...more later.

Gigi collecting rocks at White Horse beach.


Ramsey, Drew and Derek having a seaweed fight.


Paul, Gigi, Lisa, Karen and I.


Gigi sporting her new cap from Provincetown.

Laura, Karen and Janice.


The Barnstable Fair.


On the ferry to Martha's Vineyard.



The Harbor at VineYard Haven

The gardens and houses at Oak Bluffs


More on the ferry



Neighborhood Playdate

We just got back from vacation but before I get into posting pictures from that I figured I'd get a few up from a fun play date we had earlier this month.



Monday, July 02, 2007

Summer Fun

Well I guess this is getting to be a monthly blog, rather than a weekly one. The more I try to get more time out the day the less time I seem to find. Well Gigi is getting good on the computer these days, so maybe she'll take over for me. We all laugh but it will be sooner than you think! Right now she is really digging having her own machine where she plays games with colors and shapes, etc.
We are really excited she will start montesori school in September. I think she is going to get a lot out of it and really enjoy that she is going to school instead of day care. Only 2 more months!

I guess one reason I haven't been blogging much is the great weather, usually by now we are holed up inside with the a/c on. But its been great, we have only had a few a/c days, the rest we have been able to open the house and enjoy the weather. No time for the computer.
We had a great vacation last week, have one coming up in a few weeks, plus right before we went to the beach we had a great party with some of our friends. So I guess there has been a lot of work going on but also lots play, not much computer time.




For ALL the pictures from our party click on this link to Picasa web albums

OC Beach 2007


We just got back from the beach, it was very nice and relaxing. The weather was great, some cool and some hot. Mostly we went to the beach, went out to eat and took Gigi to ride the kiddie rides. And slept. It was good.


For ALL the beach vacation pictures, click here to go to Picasa web albums.