And your first impression is what??

So, what would you think if you saw someone riding at 5:45 AM with a beer can in the water bottle holder? DUI? Would you cut them a wide swath? Shake your head? Call the cops?

Impressions. Our eyes see a situation and we jump to all sorts of conclusions about people, attitudes, circumstances.

Truth: I find it nearly impossible to ride by litter; especially when I'm not carry a water bottle.

A Schedule To Keep

It's summer, but I still have a schedule to keep. I know, for me, exercise comes early in the day, or not at all. Promises made to "do it" later are never fulfilled.

The hardest step is always the first. Once I'm outside pedaling, I'm so grateful. Don't delay for the exercise window will slip by like water under a bridge.

Parenting

Parenting is full of  prickly situations.

When children are little, it's a lot of, "Don't touch the stove. Don't touch the stove. Don't touch the.... you touched the stove..." And they learn, not by our parroting the same warnings, but by experience, unfortunately.

Next lesson allowance spending,
"Mom, I'm buying this $20 in candy."
"But what about spending money for vacation?"
"But I want...."
"It's your money," as I shake my head and walk away.
Then on vacation the tough lesson of, yes you got it -- No spending money. Two got this one, one is still learning. But I have hope.

And now, "Make a good decision. Make a good decision. Would you please make a better decision."

We are full throttle summer; full throttle tweens deciding to watch excessive TV. Why do I allow it? Why am I pulling my hair out? Why do I take deep breaths?

Because, and I'm hoping and praying, my parenting experiment works, that eventually, the lesson of time management will be learned the better way than by me sounding like a broken record.

Stay tuned.

Yeah, it's in there

Why make ravioli when you can pick up 12 ounces for a dollar in the neighborhood grocer's freezer section? It's that subtile, sweet, secretive ingredient pinched into every ravi. Yeah, it's the love.

Happy 75th Birthday Dad.

Rise and Shine

Rise and Shine and give God your Glory, Glory.

In all that I do, this day is for You, Lord.

Take Your Best Shot

Each day, live via kindness, Recognize and greet the Divine in all that you meet.

Think about it. Isn't that the Disney way? For it's the best in each and every cast member recognizing and greeting the best in each and every guest.

Back On The Saddle Again

It takes 3 weeks to make a good habit. And just about the same amount of time to lose one. Late June I hurt my back. One freakish reach and a 20 mile a morning bike habit evaporated in a spasm. For a solid week there was pain. Another week I nursed it. And the next... I kept reminding myself, each morning, that there was a bike and a ride waiting for me. That I had built up a morning riding routine and it was slowly slipping away. Being replaced by the completion of long term projects that had hung over my head for months and even years. Where's the harm?

The answer: In the complete lack of exercise.

I'm back on my bike. Starting slowly. First day 4 miles; second was nine. Today maybe nine again or maybe 13. The important thing is being back on the saddle again.

jeff noel at lane8.org thanks for the reminder to get back out there, even when it's sissy slow.

There is a mouse in my goldfish!

Expect the unexpected blessing. Life can throw some mighty curves. Much not to our liking. Heard Greg Louganus speaking on NPR on living with HIV. He said it is a blessing in his life.

It's Not Goofy

It's not goofy to seek blessings everyday. Though many times they're not what we expect, hidden in life's every day framework.

Where's the Magic?

The magic is within each and every one of us. Though some places make it more evident than others. Where is your magical place?

More on Labels

Hung around her neck. Handy reminders.

Brand Recognition

We're all labeled. Nike, Reebok, New Balance, Levi, Guess, Pink, Land's End, Disney, UA. Identifying logos stamped on our shoes, shirts, hats, and in too many cases, blatantly stamped, for all to read across young girls' butts. But what about those marks that don't use bright letters, recognizable characters or swirly trademarks? What we do matters. Each kindness. Each not so kind act. Invisibly labeled but for the eyes of the world to see.

Believe to Perceive

In other words, believing is seeing. Don't just keep the faith, nurture it.

Care Everyday

Care about life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Care about others: family, friends, strangers. Care about the environment. Don't litter to the point of picking up after those that do. Care about your health, and the health of those around you. Don't smoke. Exercise, Be Kind. Care.

In Life

In life, when living like it matters, there is no backstage.

Charles Peachock

Strong fingers paint
 

Illuminating

We watched Charles Peachock juggle illuminated orbs. His act is Magical, and so appropriate as we were sailing on the Disney Magic.

Out of the ashes

On the way to a client's home, this past winter, there was a house fire. For months the small one story structure has stood boarded up, empty. Until last week, that is. Last week, construction began and not only is the house getting a new roof, it is getting a second floor.

On a Magical weekend cruise my little one became ill. Nauseous and unable to sleep, we walked Deck 4 to get some air. She and I together; arm in arm. Watched New York City awake. By sunrise, her belly settled; she was ready for some quick winks.

Out of unsettling situations; goodness can happen.

Be Prepared

A motto for more than the Boy and Girl Scouts. Proper prior planning prevents poor performance. In many cases, it could be the difference between life and death.

Add Hypothermia to The List

In a previous post I mentioned new fangled weight loss approaches via freezing or electrocution. Well add hypothermia to the list.

On a recent daytime morning show, the author of another weight loss book, said weight lose is promoted by soaking in a cold bath for as long as you can stand it. The author, a man, said it made sense. The cold kicks up your metabolism as your core temperature cools.

Ah, no thanks... I hate being cold (period).

Truth Be Told

The magic is within each and every one of us.

The Summer schedule

My Beauties

As the school year waned and summer blossomed, we set a schedule for the two "little ones". It was an attempt to give the girls something besides TV to fall back upon. So... one month into summer, how is it going?

The rule is: Do your school work, do your choirs, and the rest of the day is yours.

They do their school work. On which they are tested every Friday. They do the choirs I give them one or two each day: fold their clothes, wash the kitchen floor, vacuum the living room. And for the rest of the day, unless otherwise engaged outside the house, they are watching TV mostly.

I'm not them. I can't sit still enough to watch 3 movies back to back. They can, and I have to let them manage their time, as agreed upon.

One glimmer: My youngest asked me to form a book group with her. At bedtime, she is reading a Young Adult series on the Greek Gods. I put my own book club book aside to read about Hades. When she sees me reading, she smiles and says, "Isn't it good. I told you you would like it."

Honestly, its a fine YA book. But what I'm really looking forward to is our discussion time.

Perceptions: Lesson Learned

My nephew Will and his bride Liz. May they have few sleepless nights.

I have a couple as clients weekday mornings. The husband, usually, rises with the sun. The wife, not so much. She and I have an agreement that her rise and shine time is 10 o'clock. And at times that is a struggle.  For the last nine months I have listened to family members going on about how much their mother loves to sleep. "I've come over at noon and she's still in bed." or "She sleeps and sleeps and sleeps."

One could think she's just lazy. One could think she is depressed. That is until you catch a whiff of her wild sense of humor and charm. Or one could have been part of a recent conversation where she confided in endless sleepless nights after bearing up to 70 years of her husband's restless sleep patterns.

"You know, he sleeps though all the banging, tossing and turning. I'm up half the night."

I casually mentioned separate sleeping arrangements. I got the "You've got to be kidding look." Then she smiled and we sent about our day. Though I did ratchet back the PT, because she looked tired. Understandably.

Lost and Found

Last week I lost a client but gained a friend. For her situation changed so she no longer requires my services. So now when I stop over it's not as a caregiver, but as a friend.

What do I love about my job?

Today's smile brought to you by the fact I am there to help my clients. And they do everything in their power to help me.

Breakfast With Buddha

Written by Roland Merullo
From page 153
... It has always seemed to me that, if Christ's message could be distilled down to one line, that line would have to do with kindness and inclusiveness, not rules and divisiveness.
Amen.

How can this be outside my comfort zone?

Camping? Why would I not want to go camping? I've been camping, tent camping, since I was a baby in a stroller. But the logistics of our recent trip to the island were never clear to me. I was a skeptic. No more. Despite the mystical unpublished ferry schedule, the island experiencing a booming rat population explosion and the lack of coordination on gear (we had 3 camp stoves and really we needed one), we'd sail away camp again anytime. And on the rats, personally I'm thankful they never chewed their way into the tents.

Let's go fly a kite.

Look Mom!

So cool.

Today's Agenda

Same as yesterday. Corral some baby crabs in a girl made tide pool. Slowly get use to the temperature of the North Atlantic water then go swimming until our fingers and toes are pruney. Explore. Collect a bushel basket of butterflied mussel shells. Nap. Dream. Yes, a full day.

Beach Story Buddies

Enjoying the cool of the day.

Home, Sweet Home

Very Sweet

First stop: George's Island

We are a shuttle boat ride away from no electricity and running water. A short hop from mattress to sleeping pad. Fort Warren is rich with history. The sea breeze cools both air and temper.

Come to the well

The well of knowledge; our senior of citizens, they can teach us so much if we are willing to stop and listen.

Thank you my dear friends for all that you teach me.

Happy Birthday America

What's love look like?

You tell me...

Another Lesson From the Workplace