The Darkest Night

[photo from LPI Earth and Space Science Newsletter]

In a few minutes from now, it will officially be Winter - The Winter Solstice.

This is the day in the seasonal calendar when the day is the shortest and the night is the longest.

It's one of my most happy days because now we head back towards the light.

You see, since the Summer Solstice, the days have been getting shorter and shorter - pretty un-noticable until you reach that day in late Summer when you begin to feel the change.  Soon we are marching steadily towards the dark until we come to today - the first day of Winter.

From here on out, it's light light light!  Each day will begin to get longer as we move through Winter and into Spring.  This was a time for celebrating in ancient times - and I agree wholeheartedly.

So what can you celebrate today - right now?  Not just the Holy-Days and New Year but life in general?  This is a great time to reflect on the past 12 months - how did you spend them?  Did they serve you well?  Did you serve them well? 

What are your plans for the next 12 months?  How do you plan to welcome back the light?

Me, I've lit candles and made a lovely dinner.  I've put on some soft music and I plan to spend my evening relaxing and reflecting and setting my intentions for a 2007 that's prosperous and abundant in every way.

I wish you the same!

Corzine Signs Gay Civil Unions Law in New Jersey

Finally another state, New Jersey, is recognizing partnerships of gay couples - now it's not considered marriage, mind you - God forbid the religious right get their pants in a snit over that - they are calling it a civil union - but this does allow gay couples in New Jersey to enjoy some of the rights of married couples:  adoption, hospital visitation rights, inheritance, and medical decision-making. 

It's not perfect yet it's definitely a step forward for the gay community.  No, it doesn't flow through into the Federal level, but it is a start.

Watching the opponents rant and rave about this on the news I wondered what they are so darn afraid of?  They claim calling these partnerships "marriage" will soil the institution of "marriage" - heck, I know plenty of straight relationships who are soiling the institution of marriage pretty well so what's the rant all about?  You have the cheaters, the beaters, the marriage repeaters - I just don't get it.  And I guess I never will (and wonder if I even want to). 

Anyway, to all my gay friends living in New Jersey - congratulations!   You now have rights that I, as a straight woman, have taken for granted all my life.  I am thrilled for you and continue to support the efforts to move even more into the future where gay partnerships will fully be considered marriage.

Make Sure You Vote!

Tuesday, November 7th, is voting day in most of the US and I urge everyone to get out and VOTE!

While we all have been absolutely pummeled with the most outrageous and negative campaigning in a long time, and while we have all probably had it up to our eyeballs with this election, it's still important for us to make our voices heard at the polls.

In his new book, "The Audacity of Hope", Illinois Senator Barack Obama (my choice for President someday) calls upon us to all practice "citizenship" - we CAN make a change in the way this country is run.  We CAN make a change in Washington and in our own state capitals and local governments.

Don't wait for the "other guy" to make the move - get off your butt and get out and vote on Tuesday.  Your voice DOES count!  I'll see YOU at the polls bright and early tomorrow.

Bert's Allergies

Over a year ago we had a flea problem here.  Not sure how the fleas got in since my kitties never go out (you only need one pregnant female flea to have a major flea infestation).  Using only natural methods I was able to get rid of the fleas in about a month, but the after-affects continue to linger with my Bert.

I'm very grateful for Bert's doctor, however there's just so much chemical intervention I'm willing to go along with.  After two cortisone injections and a course of prednisone the rash on Bert's belly was still there - and of course it came back stronger each time the drugs wore off.  What happened was the flea bites flipped Bert's immune system and now he has a food allergy.  He's allergic to the proteins in chicken - try to find a cat food that doesn't have chicken in it!

So I did a lot of research and I have found a venison cat food that Bert and Ernie both enjoy (I can just hear Ernie whining every time I feed them - "Why do I have to eat this stuff???  I don't have a rash!")  

I also discovered Lita Radford, D.A., Hom, a brilliant homeopathy practitioner, who has an excellent web site: Pets4Homeopathy.  I highly recommend you visit her site.  I purchased several homeopathic remedies from Lita and I'm so happy to say that the rash is just about gone and Bert's growing hair back on his little pink belly.  I'm expecting a full belly of hair by Christmas.  He's a happier cat and I'm a happier cat mom!

Recipe: Black Bean and Corn Salad

This is a tasty salad and one of my fall favorites.  It's so simple and quick to make - you simply cannot fail at this one!
Here's what you will need:

1 can of organic whole kernel corn
1 can of organic black beans
1 medium organic tomato (heirlooms are great in this recipe)
1 bunch of organic cilantro
1 organic lime
1 small organic red onion (a vidalia will work well too)
some extra-virgin olive oil (evoo)

Drain the corn and the beans and add them to a large mixing bowl.  Cut the tomato into a small dice - you can peel and seed it if you like - I don't.  Cut the onion into a small dice.  Add the tomato and onion to the bowl with the corn and beans.  Drizzle the evoo on the veggies and beans just enough to glisten them - you don't want them swimming in the oil - this is part of the dressing.  Then add the juice of the lime and toss well.  Finally, add to the mix about a cup of cilantro leaves (cilantro can often be a bit sandy or dirty, so make sure you wash it well - you can substitute flat leaf parsley, but it just doesn't have the same taste and does change the flavor of the salad).  Season with a tiny bit of salt and ground pepper if you like - not really necessary.  Garnish with a nice sprig of cilantro to serve.  This serves about 4 people.  This is so easy and quick to put together!  Enjoy!

Juggler Chris Bliss

One of the keys to Vital Living is laughter, smiles and just feeling good all over.

A friend introduced me to this video this week and I just have to share it with you.

The video is of Chris Bliss, probably one of the best jugglers ever.  This is his performance from a Juggling Finale in March 2006 and I have to say I've never seen anything quite like this.   Words cannot describe how amazing this man is:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4776181634656145640&pr=goog-sl

Laugh, smile and enjoy!

The Emmaus Halloween Parade

I live in the Borough of Emmaus in Pennsylvania (about an hour north of Philadelphia, in an area called the Lehigh Valley), and when I tell people who don't understand the "borough" part, they think that my town is inhabited by underground creatures.

Well, tonight you wouldn't be too far off.  It's the night of the big 85th annual Emmaus Halloween Parade and it's quite an event in these parts.  In fact, it's the biggest event of the year!  People were already staking out their spots along the parade route this morning.  The french fry and cheesesteak vendors are in place and they are putting the street barricades up as I type this.  It's gotten so big that the Borough has even placed porta-potties along the parade route.  That's a nice touch.

Folks started decorating their homes weeks ago in anticipation of this event.  This is HUGE!  It's televised on local cable and all the Borough dignitaries come out to view the parade (yes, there is a viewing stand) and vote for the best of show.  High School bands from all over the Valley march in this parade.  Local service groups and churches enter floats in the parade and groups of grade school kids and folks who just want to come out and have a good time join in as well.  The whole event has a Mardi Gras flavor and atmosphere to it.

They expect about 900 participants in tonight's parade with each person receiving $1.00 for marching in the parade.   Other monetary prizes are awarded to floats and bands.

Years ago I used to live right on the route. I had my big Halloween party on parade night and served up my famous oyster stew along with lots of freshly made salads and crudite with amazing dips.  Family and friends would join me to watch the parade from our bird's eye view on my third floor balcony or down on the street where all the action was.  It was grand!  I miss those days...

So ghouls and goblins, put on your finest attire and join me tonight at 7:30 - I'm walking into town to see the parade - hope to see you there!

Things I Learned from the USS Rangers CV4 Reunion

This year's USS Ranger CV4 Reunion was such a treat.  I got to spend time with lots of interesting folks and I also got to spend time watching and observing people interacting with one another.  I came away from the trip with several lessons learned...


1.  People love to be heard.  In fact, many people really need to be heard.  I spent a lot of time listening to folks who probably don't get heard enough.  Even I felt I needed to be heard, but I put that aside to listen to the old folks that no one else wanted to listen to.   So I ask you, dear reader, how much do you listen to what others have to say?  Do you find yourself self-referencing more and listening less?  Try to spend a day giving your ego a break and just listening to someone.  You'll be amazed at what good you can do by being a sincere and present listener.

2.  People will surprise you in many different ways.  I found it interesting that only two people asked me what I did for a living and of those two, only one pursued knowing more.  Another person, who most people avoided being around because she's such a talker, totally floored me and was right on when she hugged me on the final day and commented in my ear "You really must retire near the water - I saw the look on your face when we were on the lake and by the ocean."  Our conversation was totally one-sided so it felt good that she noticed that about me even though she was the one doing all the talking.

3.  Customer Service can be tenuous thing - honor excellence!  The service we received at the Best Western Executive Inn and Conference Center was the best I've received in a long time.  Absolutely better than the Sheraton I stayed at in Reston, VA last summer (I will never stay there again, folks).  Their staff was always ready to set things right if something was amiss.  They were eager to please and they made this reunion the best ever.  If you enjoy good service from someone, tell them.  Don't just let people hear about the bad stuff - catch people doing things right and let them know about it.

4.  Honor the oldtimers.  I'm a total pacifist at heart and don't get me started on the current war situations in the world today, but putting that aside for a moment, I found it really important to honor the men and women on this trip who served during World War II.  I took it upon myself to spend as much time as I could talking with these shipmates about their work during the war.  They are proud to have served their country and we are certainly proud of them that they did.

5. Nurture yourself.  In spite of the fiasco around my petsitter bailing on me, I decided that it was not going to set the tone of the trip.  I made it a point to always get my hot bath every evening and give myself a facial and sometimes a foot massage.  We all need to find ways to nurture ourselves, especially when we travel.  I made sure I still exercised every day and I also made sure I ate good healthy meals.  How can you nurture yourself today and every day?  Even if it's only a simple 5 minute thing, find ways to nurture yourself every single day.  Your body, mind and spirit will thank you for it.

6. Nurture others.  Once you nurture yourself, take the time to nurture others.  This goes back to #1 above.  Engage someone in conversation and really listen to what they have to say.  Be in the moment - be totally present for them.  Hear them.  It will do you both a world of good.

7. Do your best to not work on your vacation.  I thought I could do it, but as it turned out, it was a bad idea.  The wireless network, though greatly appreciated, left a lot to be desired.  It was slower than cold maple syrup - dial-up would have seemed like a Nascar race car heading for home.  I don't intend to ever work and vacation at the same time.  You can't guarantee the internet service and you can't rely on clients to behave themselves, knowing full well you are on vacation.  I had so many requests for work that should have been requested before I left - that was so annoying!  So lesson learned - vacations are for vacationing - period!

I may think of more lessons as the weeks go by and I'll be sure to share them with you...

USS Ranger CV4 Reunion - Final Day!

Sunday, September 24th - today is the final day for the USS Ranger Reunion and what a day this would be!

We boarded the bus and headed east this time - towards the shore and my favorite sight in the world - the ocean!

We visited Hampton Beach, NH, Newburyport, NH, and Portsmouth, NH.  We had some time in Hampton to walk the beach a bit.  Even though it was a bit rainy and overcast, it was still beautiful being on the beach and taking in the salty air.  I love the beach any time of the year.  And in spite of the cool air, the sand was still warm and toasty under my feet.

Back on the bus, we headed for York and Cape Neddick, ME and the Nubble Light Lighthouse.  The view was breathtaking and we had ample time to walk around the point and take pictures of the lighthouse and the water.  After that we were off and running to our clam bake at Foster's Downeast Clambake in York Harbor, ME.

The clambake was held in a huge hall.  We all had bibs we could wear and there was music provided by a hale and hearty local musician.  They had service down to a fine art.  I had the vegetarian offering - eggplant parmesan.  It was very tasty.  We all had chowder (oops, sorry - chowdah) as well as steamed clams and mussles, boiled potatoes and onion, corn on the cob and of course our main entree - lobter, chicken or vegetarian.   Before dinner we all sang along to the music.  (that's Betty and her sister ready for their lobster!)

After dinner we got a bit rowdy - some of our group played tambourine and maracas with the band guy while others, like Priscilla and Ann (see photo), danced New Orleans style in the ailes.  We all had a great time!  It poured rain while we dined and then the sun came out for most of our trip back to New Hampshire.  We were going to stop for shopping but a thunderstorm and torrential downpours put an end to that.  Instead we did a drive by Point Walker and the Bush Compound.  To tell the truth, that was enough to make me gag and almost lose my lunch.  I am so not a fan of the Bush family.

It was a quiet ride back to the hotel - we all knew this was it - the end of another fabulous reunion.  We all had a wonderful time and now it was time to hug and bid adieu to those heading out that evening.  Monday morning we had the chance for more hugs as the rest of the group headed for home.  Dad and Ann and I barely got all our stuff in the van (I swear things multiply and honestly, I did not buy that much! :>)) and we headed home around 11AM.  On our way home we stopped in Easton, PA at the Olive Garden to celebrate Ann's birthday.  I got home to my sweet home and my kitties around 7PM.  It's good to be home, even better hearing the purrs of my Bert and Ernie, and I am filled with wonderful memories that I will treasure forever!

USS Ranger CV4 Reunion - Day Five

Day Five, Saturday, September 23rd - Today would normally be the last day of the reunion, but the reunion director, Steve, set things up a bit differently this year so we still have a lot to look forward to on this trip.

In the morning they had the Men's meeting, where they discuss reunion matters and determine where next year's reunion will be.  I've heard from an inside source, my Dad, that next year it will be in Covington, KY.  Also, this is the day the Ladies have their annual auction.  We all bring items to auction off - and everyone has an hour to mark the cards with their bids.  Sometimes the bidding wars can get very interesting!  I brought a huge shopping bag of goodies to auction off for the group.  The funds from the auction and the various raffles go back into the reunion coffers to help pay for setting up these great trips.

We all had the afternoon off - some people headed down to the local mall to shop or have lunch while others relaxed in their rooms or by the pool.  At 5:30 the photographer showed up to take the pictures for the Memory Book.  The hotel provided a cash bar, and at 6:30 we sat down to enjoy a wonderful buffet banquet.  A keyboardist played for us while we dined and then Don entertained us with his harmonica music.  Even the Mayor of Manchester was there to give the Rangers the Key to the City.  We got to visit and socialize with more new people who came in only for the banquet.  The food was delicious and the camaraderie was so enjoyable.   

As I mentioned earlier, usually this would be it - we would be saying our goodbyes and people would be starting to head home.  Ah, but no - there was one more wonderful day trip scheduled for Sunday.  On to Maine via the New Hampshire coast and a scrumptious clam bake and lobster feast!

USS Ranger CV4 Reunion - Day Four

Friday, September 22, 2006 we boarded the bus in the morning and headed north this time to Lake Winnipesaukee.  The last time I was by the lake was quite a few years ago on ski trip - the Lake was frozen and dotted with ice fishing houses - it was so charming and beautiful with the trees all frosty and snow on the ground.

Our first stop was the Wright's WWII Museum in Wolfeboro, NH.  This museum is unique in that it shows the home front during WWII - so there were dioramas of rooms in a typical home during that era.  Boy, did that take me back!  Reminded me so much of my Nana's house - the living room carpet they used and the chair in the room were exactly what my grandmother had in her living room.  The upright piano was exactly like the one I played on as a child.  It was interesting seeing the advertising from those days.  If you are ever in that area, I highly recommend checking it out.

After that, we boarded the bus for a wonderful treat - a train ride around Lake Winnipesaukee and a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner.  We boarded the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad in Meredith, NH.  The dinner was catered by Hart's Turkey Farm.  Thanksgiving is one of about 4 times a year that I eat turkey - and this dinner was scrumptious!  It included lots of turkey, baked to perfection, pureed squash, filling, rolls and butter, cranberry sauce, beverage and dessert.  The men serving us were long time residents of the area and their stories and anecdotes kept us laughing and amused for the entire trip. 

The lake is so beautiful.  Some folks were grabbing their last boating time on the lake - in a few weeks they'll be bringing their boats into dry dock for the winter.  I imagined spending a winter on the lake - would be an awesome place to write a book.  And yes, about half way through the trip, I did see a loon on the water!  What a treat!

On our way back to Manchester, we stopped at the Pepi Hermann Crystal Factory in Gilford, NH (I've skied at the Gunstock Cross Country Ski Center in Gilford many years ago - one of the areas finest).  I did buy myself a nice pair of crystal post earrings and a crystal votive candle holder.   There was also a yarn shop in the building so many of us checked out the fabulous yarns they had.

Our final stop was the Wine and Liquor store - I like to visit the wine stores of different states.  Pennsylvania's wine system is so antiquated and they don't carry wines of many small wineries.  I was delighted to find a few wines that I used to have to travel to Delaware to purchase.  Ever since I saw the movie "Sideways" I've really enjoyed shopping for and exploring different wines. 

Back at the hotel, they had our cookies waiting for us in the lobby.  We spent the evening relaxing together in the Hospitality room and preparing for the Ladies Auction to be held the next day.

USS Ranger CV4 Reunion - Day Three

This is a bit late in getting posted.  The wireless network at the hotel left a lot to be desired.  It was slower than dial up!  So I decided to wait until I returned home to post the rest of our Reunion journey!

Thursday, September 21st - our day in Boston, MA

We boarded the bus bright and early and headed south to Boston and an exclusive tour of the USS Constitution, a trip around the city on the Boston Duck Tours, and then an afternoon on our own at Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Market (Mawket ☺)...

The tour of the USS Constitution was quite a treat.  We had a great tour guide and everyone enjoyed exploring the various decks of the ship and hearing about life back in the "old days".  The Constitution, also known as "Old Ironsides" is the oldest Navy ship still in commission, so they always have a full crew on hand.  They often take her out into the Boston Harbor, which I am sure is an amazing sight to behold.

Following that tour, we headed over to the Boston Museum of Science to pick up our Ducks for our Boston Duck Tour.  I took a Duck tour in Washington, DC last summer with my friend Carol and it was such a hoot!  I was really looking forward to this trip.  We had two Ducks for our tour.  I was on the Red Sox Nathan and others were on the Molasses Molly.  Our ConDUCKtor was Captain Courageous and we thoroughly enjoyed his commentaries on the tour.

After our Duck Tour, we were dropped off at the Quincy Market area and Faneuil Hall where we had several hours to shop and eat.  Dad and Ann and I enjoyed a bowl of clam chowder (pronounced chowdah ☺) and while they went to shop, since I'm not a shopper, I headed out to see what else was on the menu.  I found a Bertucci's restuarant nearby and went inside to enjoy an individual Margherita pizza and a Sam Adams beer.  Ah, what a treat.  I almost never get to do that since I am always the designated driver.  But, hey, on a bus trip, I get to enjoy!  My waiter, Tim, was a delight and the pizza and beer were absolutely yummy. 

While waiting for the bus, we got to explore the New England Holocaust Memorial.   It was dedicated in 1995 and is a beautiful tribute to those who suffered during the Shoah (the Holocaust).

We arrived back at the hotel around 6PM, tired and happy and ready to do more socializing in the Hospitality Room.  Some headed off to the swimming pool and hot tub.  I headed back to my room for a hot bath (but only after picking up a few chocolate chip cookies which the hotel had out for everyone every evening). 

After my bath I checked in with my morning petsitter and to my dismay found that she wasn't giving my Bert his medications and that she couldn't do her morning run on Saturday, so I spent the next hour or so frantically calling everyone I knew to get someone for Saturday and to see if Joel could give Bert his meds in the evening.  I thank God for my client, Kari - she came through for me - I appreciate her so much!  I decided to have her do the morning visit Saturday through Monday and I fired the sitter who bailed on me.  I was so disappointed to have to do that, but my kitties are my family and you don't mess with my family! 

Tomorrow we head for the New Hampshire Lakes Region!

USS Ranger CV4 Reunion - Day Two

What a great day this was meeting and greeting all the former USS Rangers and their families.  The actual count of men goes down every year as they get older and become ill or disabled.  Some widows come in honor of their husbands.  Some children come in honor of their dads.  Even grandchildren show up to honor their granddads.  It's really nice seeing the love and warmth between everyone.

And they come from all over...

One man, Don, joins his brother, Roy, who served on the Ranger, and this man is a world class harmonica player - he and his brother live in the Minneapolis area.  Last year Don performed at the banquet to the cheers of the crowd.  He told me he has a new harmonica this year and will be performing again.  What a treat!  He's such a sweet man.   (That's Don and Roy at the New Hampshire Beach the day we drove up to Maine)

Another couple is from New York City and were NYC cops when the towers came down on 9/11.  They lost a lot of friends in that horror.   I just love Delia and Richard.  Delia's dad served on the Ranger and she comes to the reunions every year to honor him.  (That's Delia at our Boston Ducks Tour)

Cliff and Judy are from Oregon.  Julie and Bob live in South Carolina.  Tom and Jane and their daughters Laura and Lisa live in Pennsylvania, about an hour north of me.  It's so nice seeing them again and catching up on what they've been doing this past year.  Cliff, Bob and Tom all served on the Ranger.

Lou and his girlfriend Amanda join Lou's mom Roberta, Roberta's sister Linda, and Lou's grandmother Helen - they are from the Pittsburgh area.  Lou and Amanda were the youngsters on the trip and such fun to hang out with.   (That's Lou and Amanda on the USS Constitution in Boston)

So the hospitality room was open today and tonight we had an ice cream social.  Yummy!  Over 45 of us made our own sundaes and then sat about and swapped stories and caught up on each other's lives.  Tomorrow we head for Boston for the day.  That promises to be a great trip!

USS Ranger CV4 Reunion - Day One

It's always difficult for me to head out on a trip and leave my kitties behind.  I have two sitters for them this time - one in the morning and my friend Joel will stop by in the evening.  I'm a little apprehensive about this setup - something just doesn't seem right with my morning sitter, but I'm hoping for the best.  I've used her before - and two times I had to return early from trips but she didn't offer me a refund on her prepaid fees.  I find that a bit disconcerting.  So my stomach was queasy when Dad and his partner Ann arrived at 7PM to pick me up.

We arrived in Manchester after a very long 8 hours on the road.  The trip was supposed to take only about 5 and 1/2 hours.  We ran into traffic on Route 78 pretty much as soon as we got into New Jersey and crawled the next 60 miles - took us nearly 2 hours to get to Route 84.  After that we made better time.  Even stopped to fuel up on a fish sandwich on the way.   Of course that experience left a lot to be desired - our order was all messed up - they were so overly eager to get orders out quickly that they didn't LISTEN to people's orders.  Ann got sauce on her sandwich even though we asked to have one dry, and I got caffeinated coffee when I asked for decaf.   And it's always curious to me how, when a mistake is made, so many service people look at you as if it's your fault.  Whew!

All that said, the drive up was gorgeous - the leaves are just beginning to turn - reminded me of a New England Fashion Week - giving us a preview of the full flash of color to come in a few weeks.  The dusty mauves, pale pinks, burnt oranges and magnificent maroons are simply stunning.  A flash of yellow here and a blaze of red there.  Just little touches to simply take your breath away.

We were the first to arrive at the hotel - they didn't have my room ready so I was assigned a different room which I was quite happy about (and talk about customer service, the service at the Best Western Executive Inn and Conference Center is TOP NOTCH - more on that as we go along!)  My room is further away from the hospitality room, so it will be quieter for me.  Yay!

The Best Western Executive Court Inn and Conference Center in Manchester, NH is a real gem.  The rooms are beautifully appointed and I enjoyed a luxurious hot bath that night (as I intend to do every night )

A few folks showed up that evening and we set up the hospitality room for Wednesday's check-in.  It was such fun seeing familiar faces from last year's reunion in San Diego.  Everyone in the group is big on hugs so I certainly filled my hug bucket today! 

9 of us went out to dinner together - to the local Cracker Barrel - certainly not my pick of restaurants, but being with friends made it worth the fat and grease laden meal.  Gag!  It's a challenge being on a healthy diet and traveling with folks who aren't.  It started to rain while we were eating.  We made the mistake of allowing my dad to drive us back to the hotel - with the glare on the road from the rain, and a newly paved road with no markings yet, and my dad's horrible driving, we barely made it back alive.  Had a near miss on a curve with a curb and the median.  Thank God there wasn't any other traffic on the road.  Dad turned 88 today and I love him dearly and I really think he needs to re-think his driving.  I realize it's not going to be easy for him to stop, but I'm afraid he might hurt someone else as well as himself if he continues to drive.  In fact, the stipulation for me going with him on this trip was that Ann and I drive up and back.

Tomorrow will pretty much be a free day - it's just for checking in, meeting and greeting, etc.  Thursday we start our day trips and festivities so stay tuned!

Navy USS Ranger CV4 Reunion 2006

Well folks, tomorrow I head out with my Dad and his companion, Ann, to this year's USS Ranger CV4 Reunion.  This is an annual meeting of the crew and their families from the USS Ranger CV-4 that served during World War II. 

This will be my second reunion - last year's was in San Diego, CA (ah, what a beautiful city!).  This year we are headed for Manchester, NH and I will be posting my journal and pictures of our journey right here, so check back often for updates!

Also, tomorrow is my Dad's 88th Birthday - Happy Birthday, Dad!

Prospect Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast

I recently had the good fortune to spend the night at the Prospect Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast in local Alburtis, PA.  What a treat that was!

I won this great night by being the high-bidder of our local PBS auction and was planning to use it as a treat to myself and my generous friend Carol who is always doing nice things for me.  Unfortunately we couldn't synchronize our calendars to make it happen.  Then I thought I would give the voucher to my Dad but he didn't have time to use it either.

So 4 days before the voucher expired, I headed out by myself for a lovely stay at Prospect Hill Farm...

The Innkeeper, Jane Arndt, met me at the door.  After showing me to my beautifully appointed room (The Posey Patch) Jane offered me a glass of red wine and a delightful crabmeat spread on wheat crackers - yummy!  We sat together in the cozy living room swapping stories and enjoying the lovely June evening.  Her husband, Aurel, arrived home and I repaired to my room to take a long hot soak in my private bath.  This is always such a treat for me since I only have a shower in my apartment.

After my bath, I sat in the living room with their dogs and read until sleep beckoned.  The bed was so comfortable, the windows were open and a lovely breeze drifted in all night long.  It was during a really rainy period here and I was lulled to sleep by the sound of the rain falling outside and the leaves rustling in the breeze.  Listening to the rain is one of my favorite things to do.

Feeling totally rested in the morning, I was treated to one of the finest breakfasts I've ever had: fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh fruit compote with a lovely vanilla sauce, a luscious vegetable omelet, wheat toast, fresh blueberry muffins and a pot of freshly brewed coffee.  Delightful!  Jane sat with me while I feasted and we shared more stories.  It was such a refreshing experience and I do plan to return very soon! 

Question:  What can you do today to treat yourself?  You may not be able to spend the night at a bed and breakfast - it could be something as simple as buying yourself some flowers, or taking a hot bath, or going to bed early to read a good book.  Treating ourselves well is a great habit to build.

If you are ever in the Lehigh Valley and would like a great bed and breakfast experience, I highly recommend the Prospect Hill Farm Bed and Breakfast!

My Cat's In The Dog House...

Cue music...."bad boy, bad boy, whatcha gonna do...whatcha gonna do when they come for you...bad boy, bad boy..."

Yeah, it was a scene from Cops for sure.  I just purchased an MP3 player on Sunday - I wanted an easily transportable means of carrying music with me while out on my long daily walks.  It's the cutest thing - it holds 500 songs and I can upload right from my cd player or the radio.  So imagine my dismay a few hours after opening the box and playing with uploading music that I hear a chewing sound coming from my desk, right next to me.  (Here I thought he was napping - but ohhh noooo!)

Yeah, there's Ernie, eating the ear bud headphones.  He chewed right through to the wire in two places - he probably would have chewed all the way through had I not stopped him.  Aaargh!  Cuff that guy and put him in the slammer!  He did spend timeout in the bathroom for a couple of hours and has been very remorseful ever since.   Got some electrical tape today in the hopes of salvaging the headphones - if not, it's another trip to Staples to find a replacement.  And even though there seems to be remorse (as well as a cat can experience remorse) I still don't trust him, so the headphones and anything wire-like now lives in a drawer where he can't be tempted....

"...bad boy, bad boy, whatcha gonna do...whatcha gonna do when they come for you...bad boy, bad boy..."  Fade out....

Follow a Path instead of a Goal...

My friend Eric said something very profound to me today - he said "...for someone as organic as you are...who follows her path as it unfolds...setting future goals can [be] a little difficult."  You said it Eric - you get me like no one else!

When I look back on my life, I've always followed a path, even when I had a goal or two in mind.  My goal to be a nationally certified massage therapist took me down the most distorted and convoluted path and the process lasted 12 very interesting years! 

Through that time I enjoyed lots of other passions while holding down a demanding and frustrating j-o-b.  I knew that sometime, somewhere in the future I would attain my goal - I just didn't have a set timeline in which to do it and there wasn't a pressing urgent need to attain it either.  I certainly wasn't driven - I simply allowed it to unfold.

All my life people have been trying to push me into a niche.  Catholic schools tried to squeeze me into the Catholicism niche - I struggled with that from birth until I finally left the church when I was 18.  My parents tried to push me into niches of their choice until they finally gave up and spent (and continue to spend) their time enabling my sisters who still don't know how to live like real grown-up adults.
Teachers tried their darnedest to get me into a niche, which I rebelled against much to their dismay - the whole thought of doing one thing all my life scared the heck out of me.  My ex tried to niche me into being a simple stay-at-home woman doing the cleaning and cooking and ironing his shirts (you know, the stand-by-your-man type) and after 14 years of struggle, thinking there was something wrong with me, I finally ditched that scene.  Even now some of my coaches and well-meaning colleagues urge me to find a niche.  They just don't get me.  Eric does, though, and I thank him for that.

So, while out on my walk today, I gave this a lot of thought and I realized I do have a niche!  Are you ready?  My niche is right where I am!  I AM MY NICHE! What a concept! Wherever I go, there I am, in my niche and happy as a clam (oops, pardon the poetry, but it does feel like poetry in motion!). 

Whether it's doing bodywork, writing articles, watching the birds in my backyard, coaching clients, hanging out with friends, traveling with my dad, building websites, meditating, doing administrative work for clients, kick boxing, watching my favorite movies, I'm in my element - right here, right now.  Whew!  Glad I have that all figured out.   Now everyone can drop the niche thing, ok? [grin]

My niche is the moment.  After all, the moment is all we have, isn't it?

Environmental Links...

Many thanks to my friend Diane for typing all of these in a file so I can share them with you!  These are from former Vice-President Al Gore's book "An Inconvenient Truth".  I highly recommend the read and if you can see the film, all the better...

These are lots of resources that can help you make a difference in the environment.

I can't guarantee that all the links are still working - do check them out and make changes in your environment now!

Download environlinks.pdf

Get a Theme Song...

I'll admit it - I'm a TV and movie-head - I just love both the small and the big screens!

One of my favorite TV Shows from 1997 to 2002 was Ally McBeal - created by David E. Kelley.  Ally's boss, John Cage (played by Peter MacNicol) encourages Ally to see his therapist, Dr. Tracy Clark, played delightfully by Tracey Ullman.  One of Dr. Clark's "things" is having her patients decide upon a theme song. 

John theme song is "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" by the late, great Barry White.  The purpose of the theme song is to build confidence and it usually included a cute dance routine.  Whenever John had a date coming up or a tough case to face, he would stand in front of a mirror and play the song in his head - the visuals were wonderful!

Ally (Calista Flockhart) struggled with defining her theme song - but I have to admit, John was right on with his.  Barry White's song is definitely a great one (and my new dance music station I mentioned recently plays it regularly - yay!)

So what would your theme song be?  Pick one that you love - one that instills inspiration and confidence - one that makes you get up off the couch and dance and sing - one that makes you feel good and groovy...

Oops, speaking of Barry White, they're playing my song now!  Gotta go and get my mojo moving....

Fresh Mozzarella Salad

One of my favorite summer meals is a fresh mozzarella salad.   It's tangy and delish!

Here's how I make mine - you will need:

1. About 3-4 ounces of organic baby mixed greens.  I have a preference for baby arugula and red and green leaf lettuces.
2. About 4 ounces of fresh mozzarella (this is the kind you get in a ball in water) - sliced and then cut into bite-sized pieces.
3. 1 medium organic tomato - cut into bite-sized pieces.
4. A heaping handful of fresh organic basil - break the leaves onto the salad - it releases the flavor better than cutting them.

Arrange all of the above on a platter.  Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste - I use close to a 1 to 1 ratio - I really love the taste of balsamic vinegar!

Add a liberal sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and a very scant pinch of salt (take a pinch and then put at least half of it back in the salt dish - sprinkle the rest on the salad)

Enjoy!!!!

Wash Your Hands, Boost Your Self-Esteem

I just read an article in the September 2006 Body and Soul Magazine that says for really clean hands, soap up for as long as it takes to hum "Happy Birthday".    How cool is that?  I prefer singing it, actually - and I sing it to myself every time I wash up - even though obviously every day is not my birthday.  Who cares!

What a booster that is - always puts a smile on my face.  Try it!  You'll find that you have really clean hands and it just may put a smile on your face, which can be very contagious as you make your way out and about (see Putting Your Best Face Forward).  And with winter pretty much around the corner (ok, at this point it's pretty far down the block, but it's good to prepare) you'll be setting a habit in place that will help you stay healthier when colds and the flu start making their rounds.

Happy Birthday to me...Happy Birthday to me...!

Get Up and Dance!

I've been cleaning out closets all day today and when I started I knew I needed some additional motivation so I turned on a local dance music station.  Wow - does that really rev me up!  In between going through boxes and getting bags of donations ready for the Good Shepherd Thrift Store I simply had to let loose and dance around the living room.  What fun!

Dancing is such good medicine - it can perk you up, relieve stress, get you going, change your mood from a sour one to a happy one, it burns calories and it's FUN, FUN FUN!  When the Sister Sledge 1979 hit tune "We Are Family" was played, I had to laugh as I danced remembering the scene from "The Bird Cage" with Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman and Diane Wiest - what a great movie!  I encourage everyone to take some time every day to dance (and sing!)  And don't worry about how you look or sound...

As a popular Irish proverb goes:
Sing as if no one is listening,
Dance as if no one is watching...

Let loose - dance and sing and have FUN!

Losing a Relative...

I learned on August 5th that my uncle Len passed away in 2004. I don’t know – for some reason I felt this morbid urge to search the obits on the internet. My mother and I have been estranged for some years now and I figured I probably would never know she’s gone unless I read it in the paper. So I searched for her name and found nothing. Then I decided to search for my uncles, her brothers. And Len’s name came up. He was in his mid-seventies and did have a heart condition, so it came as no surprise, yet it hit me like a brick.

He lived in Arizona since 1976 and he and my mom became estranged after their dad, my grandfather, passed away a in the mid-eighties.

I feel sad that I didn’t know my uncle better and that I didn’t keep in touch with him. He pretty much walked out of our lives after he and my mom stopped talking. He was always my favorite uncle – very happy marching to the beat of his own drum – quite a free spirit – in fact, in his obituary, they listed his nickname as "Outlaw". That’s Len.   I’m sorry we weren’t closer. I'll have to see what I can do to locate my 4 cousins. One was listed in Colorado, two in Arizona and one in California. I thought how cool it would have been to hook up with my cousin in San Diego when I was out there last summer.  So much for lost opportunities you don't know about until they are over.

Introducing My "Boys"...

I would like to introduce you to my "boys" – Bert and Ernie. They are my little loves. They were 11 years old in June 2006 and they certainly light up my life.

Bert is the one with the white nose and Ernie has the tan nose. And yes, they are truly brothers. They came from a litter of 4 – their sisters are calicos and live in southern New Jersey.

They love hunting down bugs and mice. With all the humidity and rain this summer, we have a wealth of thousand-legger bugs (centipedes) that come into the apartment from the basement. Ernie is the best bugger and Bert is the best mouser – he’s had 8 mouse captures to date.   I have no idea how many centipedes Ernie has "de-legged" - I just know there have been a lot!  I do try to do the right thing with the bugs and mice - if I can capture them away from the cats before they are harmed, I put them outside at the end of the property.  Most times, though, the damage has been done and they've gone on to mouse or centipede heaven.

Bert and Ernie also love getting bodywork and I often find them sprawled out on my massage table waiting for me to work on them.  Bert prefers Shiastsu and Ernie just loves Reiki.

They are my "meditation bells" – reminding me throughout the day to take a break, do some deep breathing, and chill for a moment. They love me even when I'm having a bad hair day and they never tell my secrets.

You’ll be hearing more about my boys in future posts….

Autumn is coming...

At some point in the month of August, there comes a day where I get the sense that autumn is just around the corner.  Yesterday was that day.  I know the days have been getting shorter since the summer equinox - and yesterday it really showed up big time for me.  The sky was bluer than blue.  The shadows were noticably longer.  The air had a different crispness to it.  The humidity from the recent heatwave had vanished and was replaced by a cool northern breeze.   It just felt different.  Even the birds were behaving differently...they emptied the feeders 4 times!  The chipmunks were racing from the area under the feeders to their little nests all day long, cheeks bulging with goodies, much to the delight of my kitty Bert who was watching them intently from the kitchen door.

It felt strangely exciting and yet very sad experiencing that little subtle change in the weather.  I do enjoy autumn, although summer is still my favorite month, even with the heat and humidity.  I vow to spend as much time as possible outdoors, savoring every delicious bit of summer and autumn until it's ripped away from me by the winter chill.  In fact, I'm heading out now to watch the full moon rise...

Where are the Conscious Singles?

On the last evening of a class I was teaching at the local community college, one of my Relationship Success Training students lamented "there are only 6 of us who have taken this course! How are we going to find another conscious person out there who knows what we know?"

I totally understood what he was saying – it's something many of my single clients have lamented over the years.

Let me tell you – there ARE single men and women out there who do know who they are and what they want in a relationship. They are conscious and they are being the choosers in their dating experiences.

I met one recently. He is a childhood friend and we had dinner together a short while ago. I wondered beforehand what our conversation would be like. As teenagers, neither of us were very conscious about relationships. That was over 30 years ago. Would he be different? I was certainly ready to use this opportunity to "test my requirements" in a fun way. But was he?

To my surprise, he was! Here is a man who never received relationship coaching. He didn't take any relationship success training – he was conscious from his past experiences. He knew exactly what he was looking for in a relationship – he had his values prioritized and he knew what experiences he needed to have in a relationship in order for it to work. Our conversation that evening was fun, funny, deep, engrossing and easy.

We both discovered in a few short hours that neither of us fulfilled the other's requirements and that was okay. We will continue to be friends and keep each other in mind should we meet someone who might fulfill those requirements for the other.

So to my student from several years ago, yes, there are conscious singles out there. And I think the more you do the work, the more attractive you will be to those singles. It's the Law of Attraction in perfect action. When you are conscious, you will not attract an unconscious single. When you are conscious, you will ooze that vibrant "I know what I want" confidence and only another conscious person in alignment with that energy will appear. It will absolutely happen. I realized this after my friend and I shared a meal. He would not have been attracted to ask me out had I not issued that energy. And I would not have been attracted to say yes had he not been issuing that energy either.

When you are conscious and aware, The Law of Attraction will not allow you to be in the space of an unconscious person. It's that simple.

To take a simple Relationship Readiness Assessment, click here!

Putting your best face forward....

I love people-watching and I have been interested lately in faces and their expressions and emotions. I've noticed that a lot of people appear to be frowning most of the time – they look so unhappy and serious! So I decided to make it a point to be aware of MY face and what facial expression I presented to the world on a daily basis.  It was quite a rude awakening!

I consider myself to be a happy person and when I am out and about I think I have on a pleasant face, but upon catching myself in a mirror or a reflection in the glass of a store front, I actually see a scowl or a solemn expression!  Hmmmm.... So with that new awareness, I am making it a point to smile more – not just when there's something really tangible to smile about, but all the time.

A friend once observed about someone we know that this person always had a smile on her face – no matter what – she walked around all day, every day with a smile.

She was so supremely happy in her life that it showed in her facial expression – she literally glowed and her smile was always there.  It's as if she simply can't help herself!  That's the way I want to present my face to the world. How about you?

I encourage you to take a moment to be aware of your facial expression. Do you gravitate towards frowning more than smiling?  Do you walk around all day with a serious expression on your face?  Does your face "growl"?  Do you smile only on certain occasions or only with certain people?  Or does your face beam with the happiness you feel inside?  If you're not beaming on the inside, it can be a real challenge to beam on the outside.  However, if you start beaming on the outside, the inside will be more prone to follow. Kind of like faking it 'til you make it. So take a moment to look at your facial expression.  It says a lot about you. I think if we all start smiling more and frowning less, we'll all start, well, smiling more!

What is YOUR Inconvenient Truth?

After reading former vice-president Al Gore’s new book "An Inconvenient Truth" and then seeing the film (more on that later), I began to wonder:  Did I have any inconvenient truths in my life? I have a feeling we all do.

What is yours?

An inconvenient truth is something you absolutely KNOW you have to take care of but doing so will require a change in your life or your lifestyle – that’s the inconvenient part of it. The truth is you will not have a complete life unless you follow through.

To prime your pump, here is one of mine…

Even though I love where I live, I really don’t like it.  It’s noisy (I live right on a freight train line), it’s dirty (lots of traffic and again, the constant train traffic), my apartment is cramped and small and I don’t have a bathtub (yes, I love to have a soak now and then). And even though I don’t like it, I make it a point to love it every day in order to maintain my sanity and happiness.

The truth is, I really want to move. The inconvenience around it includes:

• the financial cost
• the energy needed to pack and deal with the move
• leaving familiar place and faces
• saying goodbye to good friends
• putting my cats through the stress and anxiety of moving
• actually finding the right place to move to

These are the things that stop me – the inconvenient aspects of moving. So what, I ask myself, will it take for me to deal with this inconvenience and deal with the truth that I want to live somewhere other than here.

Well, it takes coming up with a plan that can walk me through each step and each fear and each inconvenience until they no longer become inconvenient but rather easy.

That’s something I think about and work on every day and I get closer all the time to serving this truth in my life.

So what is YOUR inconvenient truth?  What is the dream you have been carrying around that has a few inconveniences attached to it?  What will it take for you to follow through and, in spite of the inconveniences, fulfill the truth that absolutely needs to be fulfilled?  You know in your heart that it must be done – your life and your happiness depend on it.

Welcome to the Vital Life Coaching Blog!

Welcome to the new home of the Vital Life Coaching Blog!

Check back often to see what's up in my life and the what's happening at Vital Life Coaching.
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