House sitting and other thoughts

I have been taking care of Jen's dogs while Kathy is on vacation with Beth and the family. I have a good routine now and enjoy the quiet time without too many extra "jobs" here. At home I have that push to do something extra. Susie arrived home from her vacation with Buck, Andrea and Allison in Michigan. Long trip back with an unplanned overnight in Salt Lake. Yesterday Jim and I were trying to find two tickets to the US Open Tennis tournament for Trey and Carolann. Of course the official site has no available tickets - ticket master plays that game on every inquiry and it is a pain. There are other sites that have purchased blocks of tickets and then are reselling for an healthy profit of course. Gouging comes to mind. Our neighbor said she just walked up to the window and purchased tickets so maybe that is what will have to happen. Bah humbug!!

Warm weather, family and tears

We have had Trey and Carolann here visiting for several days and that has been terrific. Carolann flew back to Boston yesterday and I miss her already. It is so nice to feel comfortable and relaxed around your son's honey bunny. Now after another warm, sunny day Trey and Jim are on the tennis courts for some laughs and bonding time. Tomorrow Trey heads back to New York (that's where the tears come in) to get back to work and enjoy the city in summer. It has been great having him visiting his home away from home. We will have to plan a trip to NYC to visit soon.

responsibility

Of late, I have mulled how taking responsibility for our own lives, health and well being seems to have been slipping through the cracks. There is such a push to blame others, frighten us from exploring new ideas or encourage us to relinquish our own authority over our lives in deference to the opinion of some "authority" that we seem to have been drifting away from thinking for ourselves about what works for us. Self empowerment is the goal of living through our lessons in this lifetime - to do that we must accept our own responsibility to create the life that works for us best. Not the life that works for someone else.

The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.

Albert Einstein, (attributed)

A summer's day

Things at home are wonderful - my son and his girlfriend are visiting from the East coast and it is wonderful to have them here. Last night we shared a 27 year old French Bordeaux in celebration of their visit. What a special gift along with a lovely dinner. Today it is very warm and we are all doing our best to stay cool - the dogs are slugs, Jim is on the tennis courts teaching (yuk) and the kids are making breakfast before a trip to the beach. Me, I will be holding down the fort at home between dips in the pool. Life is good!!!!

Just a Thought

"The master in the art of living makes little distinction between her work and her play, her labor and her leisure, her mind and her body, her information and her recreation, her love and her religion. She hardly knows which is which. She simply pursues her vision of excellence at whatever she does, leaving others to decide whether she is working or playing. To her she is always doing both."

Home and Away Again

Well, after a long flight home and a few screaming children; I am home, rested and packing again to go to a Kryon event in Sedona. It should be fantastic - many friends are flying in from all over - Europe, South America and around the US. Reflecting on the trip to Russia and the Ukraine, I am struck by the magnificnece of the world outside our immediate comfort zone. Each trip brings new sights and wonderful opportunities to stretch beyond the familiar. How great is that! When I get a minute, I will load my pics to share.

Kiev is Awesome

Yesterday we spent the day sight seeing in the city. The weather was perfect for it - sunny and warm. We travelled to many historic sites, took lots of photos and then walked all around the central city district - stopped for lunch and coffee and then more window shopping and people watching. Left my camera bag in the car with our guide so won't be able to load pictures until tomorrow. Today is a set up day and tomorrow we begin the three day seminar. Early morning flight on Tuesday back home. This has been a very successful and entertaining trip.

Hi from Russia

Actually I am now in the Ukraine - Kiev to be exact. We took the night train from Moscow. Had trouble getting into my site in English until now so no posts. Dial up at the hotel was difficult. The event was great and we had a busy work time. Weather also conspired against much sight seeing but since this was our third trip it was ok. We had a fabulous farewell dinner sponsored by our hosts Arsen and Yelena. It was in an old home built by the Masons for a Count and his family. We received a tour which was lovely and the meal was sumptuous. Then a mad dash to the train station with tons of luggage and nine of us in one car - two people to a sleeper plus one stranger to even things out. That is the way of it here. I was glad that this year I wasn't the one sleeping in a car with a stranger. Whew!! The weather in Kiev is much warmer and sunnier. Sight seeing tomorrow and hopefully some pictures that I can insert to entertain. Got to get some more rest before then. Pepper, Glenn and I were driven to dinner in a Porsche SUV that was beyond luxurious. We tried to get our friend to drive us in real style to Kiev but too long for him I think. Also had a great time with my friend and translator, Amir. He gave me some Tai Chi exercises to start.

Slowly I creep, step by step ...

Two full days to get ready to leave on my newest great adventure. I met a woman in the bank who was speaking Russian and we struck up a conversation. She is actually from Ukraine and said that I would love visiting Kiev - it is beautiful in spring and there historical sites are as well. My plan is to be ready before 2AM on Tuesday morning so that I can catch a few hours of sleep before the long plane ride. So many of my friends will be there for this trip so it is reunion time for us all. Took a break and went to my nephew's baseball game. They won and he had "an inside the park homerun". Luckily this time I was there to see it in person. Whew!!!

Time is Short but I still have had some fun!

It's less than a week before I leave and while packing is calling, I played hooky and babysat with my great niece (I can barely stand to say that) Holland. She is the youngest child of my niece, Beth. What a precious, precocious, little munchkin. Mom had a physical therapy appointment so I was called into service to entertain "Baby" as she is known to her daddy. This photo is of Holland a bit younger than she is now.

I also spent time today with my friend and associate, Shirley Michael, working on a new program which helps design an eating program that is based on Metabolic Typing. It defines how the body processes food, which systems are dominant and gives you food choices that help the body return to balance and wellness. I am excited to start and will keep you all posted about my results. We worked out a plan for eating the best I can while I am on the road.

Upcoming Trip

When I sent off my visa application for our upcoming trip to Moscow and Kiev it seemed like light years away but now it is exactly one week away. Yikes. We, Lee Carroll (Kryon) and Pepper Lewis (GAIA) and the team will have work time and play time which is always exciting. Our trip last year was wonderful and I am delighted to see Kiev. We saw such artistic architecture and powerful spiritual places last year - had a private serenade by a men's chorus in Catherine's Palace which also houses the "Amber Room". Stay tuned for updates from the trip.

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day and I am exploring the process of developing my site. Please excuse the simplicity - I am sure that in time I will evolve..."During the holidays, it is always a time for reflection on the past but our moments in the present are fleeting and precious so do not linger too long in nostalgia for things long gone or fantasy for things yet to come." bw