Sunday, January 29, 2012




Sometimes it's nice being in one place for a little while. Although I think most often being in one place doesn't necessarily mean that I'm sitting still. More often than none I'm juggling, shifting and
multi-living. So even though I was pretty 08055 bound there was plenty of time to take in a track meet where Jordan cleared 6'6 pole vaulting (woop!), Taylor was particularly bedazzled and stunning striking a pose for cotillion and I even managed to get a little time soaking in the beauty of fifty five degree weather in late January. 


As we our on the heels of February it seems as if winter, to this point, has been pretty tolerable. I take advantage of any chance given to hop on my bike, breathe in a little crisp, clean Jersey air and sit still for a few minutes to take in a stunning sunset. There is something about a stunning sunset that leaves me in awe and wonder at the beauty of the creation around us. I've found myself propped up on the life guard chair of beach three soaking in many sunsets over the past two years. Finding time the time to make time usually pays off in the long run. I love nature. I love color. I love how epic our Creator is. Dig it. 

Sunday, January 22, 2012


There is just something about the sun and warm weather that is rejuvenating. For 53.6 hours Keith and I had a quick trek to Florida to attend the annual Manatee Festival in Crystal River. Keith and the kids had a vacation home there up until about a year before we met. So it was nice to visit a place that I have heard so much about over the past two years.



From Tampa airport we stopped by Tarpon Springs, which is home to the largest Greek population in the world outside of Greece itself. As Gus from My Big Fat Greek Wedding would say, "it's everything Greek."
Boats lined the docks touting tours and loaded with sponges. The sponge is a very large part of the industry here that not only draws tourists, but provides an income for area residents. I've never seen so many sponges in my life.
From Tarpon Springs we headed to Crystal River to embrace everything of a manatee nature. I've experienced quite a lot in my thirty four years, but nothing quite like swimming with the manatees.
They are fascinating creatures that I found myself totally mesmerized by their docile and totally unique nature.
At one point a calf approached me and rolled around in the water as I scratched it's belly. I even managed to get a little peck on my nose before it floated away to it's mama. What an experience....

Both on the way to and from the airport we hit Mykonos restaurant in Tarpon Springs. Everything is covered in a pasty white and electric blue representing the essence of Greece through color and pictures. We embraced the flaming cheese, gyro, greek salad and baklava. Yum! It was an instant flashback for me to Athens and Corfu. Greek food is an art and this place is the definition of legit.
If you ever manage to visit Tarpon Springs, put this place on the top of the list. Opa!


So although it was another whirl wind weekend, it was fully worth it. I was clinging to sun and flip flops for as long as possible. Sitting in the sun, sipping tea and embracing the state of relaxation before returning to the brisk chill of Jersey. But it is small chunks of time that make even the most gray, frigid day not seem so dismal.
Posivive self talk at its best : )


Monday, January 16, 2012

Peeps of a sharpened nature


Relationships are a pretty powerful part of life. As human beings the connections that we maintain with others often has a hand in quality of life as well as our self worth. I have always been a people person, but as the years have gone by I've become more selective with who I spend time with. That might sound a bit arrogant, but the truth is there is plenty of negativity and sadness out there and there are plenty of people that I have met over the years that reek with an internal 'yuck' factor. My feeling is that iron sharpens iron...I enjoy being with those who make me feel good about myself, lift up instead of tear down and who are a pleasure to be in their company. 

I count myself pretty fortunate to have a range of 'peeps' that range a broad spectrum in age, personality and interests. The past few years it has been a blessing to keep contact with a handful of graduates that have become a part of my life outside of the 9-5 realm. My feeling is that we can often find different forms of lessons and insight from young and old if we're willing to listen. I am often re-charged listening and re-connecting with young people that I have had the privilege to watch grow and mature over the years. It also is a pretty good feeling to have kids want to spend time with the old drug lady after all of these years : ) 

Arianna and I met up to break a little bean at Starbucks this afternoon and she has always had the ability to put a smile on my face. Great heart, big smile and a huge desire to paint the world with a whole lot of color...spread the goodness! 

Sunday, January 15, 2012

The last time I was visiting my parents I managed to track down a rubbermaid container filled to the brim with family pictures. It contains hundreds of pictures that when you start digging are countless memories and faces that make up who I am. My goal is to find order and bring the past to life. They always say that a picture says a thousand words and I believe that. One of these days all of these pictures will make their way onto my computer and ultimately into a book. When pictures fade, discolor or simply wear over the course of time it does something to my heart. A goal of mine during the course of the year is to begin assembling the time line of pictures and then share that with the family.

It's easy to get trapped in the mindset that our parents are the individuals that we have known since birth and confine them to that. But I am always amazed at the people Paul and Brenda were before their three kids entered the world. Young kids who wanted to live, experience life and see the world. They busted out of Bayonne and haven't looked back since. I admire who they are, but I find myself possessing a similar spirit to the young P & B who camped out on the beaches of Hawaii, drove across cross country buying a plot of land in Idaho and trekked along the coast of California. With each picture I come across my mom and dad come across less as parents and more as people who have always possessed a level of passion for life that was then passed onto their kids.

There are moments when looking at pictures still strikes a nerve or causes my throat to tighten at a past that part of me feel has faded. Smiles and memories of when my sisters and I were little kids riding horses,  smiling on the beach with surfboards in hand as the thermometer read thirty degrees and sitting around the table eating pancakes that mom made hot off the griddle.

I don't think it will ever not make my heart a little sad and a little happy, but my hope is to never allow the faces and memories to slip through my fingertips. Memories and what was is a part of all of us. It's sometimes easier to not think about, but all of the good, the bad, the sad and the joy forge us into who we are. So before December rolls around I hope there will be a book assembled with the history and life of a little kid and her two sisters from Medford.

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Saturday, January 7, 2012

Jam Session...



This has to be one of my favorite clips of all time. Keith and the girls had an awesome weekend in Florida at the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon. Disney always does things top notch and that includes dinner.

Taylor was selected to do a little jam dance session up on stage in front over a thousand people! The girls continue to amaze me...always keeping things interesting : )

Check out the clip....pretty cool.


Keith and the kids entered the sunshine state on Thursday and headed straight for Disney. They had awesome weather and it was a weekend full of sun, Disney goodness and the Princess 1/2 Marathon.


My parents and Tristan were able to trek to Jersey for a quick weekend while Jess and Gabe held down the farm. They very rarely have the opportunity to just relax and I think this weekend allowed them to do just that. I'm not really sure it is we did, but whenever we have the chance to spend time together it means the world to me.
Saturday the weather couldn't have been any more ideal. Sitting on the beach, playing in the sand, eating chowder and searching for shells hasn't been on the agenda since they left the Outer Banks. Needless to say, it was a pretty great day.
It was a joy to watch them just relax, lay on a blanket and have great conversation. It has been a long time since 'zen time' with the parents has happened and I'm so very glad it was possible. 


While we sat on the beach Jordan and Taylor were in full gear running. They both had great times with just over two hours. The past month plus they have been hitting the tread mill and putting some miles on their sneakers all around Medford and it all paid off.
I've run my share of 5ks, but to run 4.5 of them I think my legs would detach from my body. I'm pretty proud of them....what an awesome accomplishment! Go girls!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

New connects to the old

It always takes me awhile to transition when a new year sets in. This might age me a bit, but there's a sense that with each year that passes the time slips by a little faster than the year prior. Scribing 2012 on a banking slip yesterday felt awkward and I'm often amazed that yet another 365 days have passed by.
We returned to school today and although I was not overly enthusiastic about returning from a great break, it was nice to see my friends and kids again. It's nice to love what you do.

Last night I met up with my dear friend, Sue,  who is prepping for a two year plus venture in England with her husband, Mark, who was transferred to Bath. Sue and I have been through thick and thin and it's one of those relationships that months can pass without seeing one another and as soon as we're together we pick up right where we left off. Time sort of stands still when we get together to chat, laugh, cry and be the crazy drug ladies that we are. I have tremendous respect for Sue and as she embarks upon a new journey my excitement for her new chapter grows.




Change can be super overwhelming and anxiety provoking, but quite often how we look at the path we are embarking upon plays a roll in the journey. If you anticipate the worst and the 'what ifs' it's pretty definite that you'll be more inclined to be surprised for things to go well than the contrary. Life is a journey and we can choose to keep our eyes glued to the rear view mirror stuck on the past (the good and the bad) or we can opt to look through the windshield going forward and being able to have a grasp on what is ahead of us; that also includes the good and the bad.

So often, we white knuckle the future clinging to what was and what could have been instead of what can be. I am a part of Sue's life, but I will be here when she returns. Life goes on. Each of us have our own life to live and pages to fill. The trick is to not allow the rear view mirror or white knuckle mentality to forge our path. Live, embrace and dig the journey of life.


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