Posts Tagged ‘Life’

It all started when I decided that each month this year, I would put up a photograph of a different city on the home page of TimeFinders Online Magazine.  January’s edition featured New York. Then HARO (Help A Reporter Out) wrote about  Nightshift NYC (book~blog~events). A fascinating look at a city that never sleeps and the people who work from sunset to sunrise.

Unlimited Magazine has an excerpt from the book and what seems for many of us a down the rabbit hole lifestyle. Until I read that I had never really thought about how hard it must be to function in a world that predominately revolves around a 9-5 way of life.

When I am remiss in connecting with someone I dash of an email with the subject line -  ‘Catching Up’ so here I go.

In 2008, Nov 4th was noteworthy not only because Barack Obama won the election but also because that was the day when I broke my foot. Sorry, Barack but my tears during your acceptance speech were 44% happiness over your win and 56% PAIN!

This is the first time that I have ever broken anything so I was fascinating by the whole process from my foot becoming a grotesque size and one big multi-colored bruise.  By the way, whoever designed the walking cast should be given some sort of prize. To the shoe area of my bedroom which took on a somewhat macabre look as it became home to one dress shoe, one boot, one sneaker and one slipper. Sadly, even though it was the holiday season my high heel shoes just gathered dust.

When out and about you are more reliant on the kindness of strangers. Those who took the time to hold open the door for a few minutes longer as you hobble over, people who kept up their snow and ice removal and even the cab drivers who yes, open the car door and were extra helpful getting groceries to the door. Speaking of shopping not sure what to say about the grocery staff who were restocking shelves and pretend not to notice me struggling to get an 8KG bag of kitty litter into the shopping cart.

Anyway, foot is basically healed now and it is a brand New Year. I don’t believe in New Years Resolutions but I do have a few things that I would like to work on.

1. Drink less coffee. Drink more green tea.

2. Learn how to make an omelet

3. Find more time to read and write.

4. Be the kind of Life & Business Coach who really helps their clients in these tough economical times.

5. Take Mia to the next level of obedience classes. The time together and the interaction with others will be good for both of us.

6. Stay in touch with friends & family so I don’t have to send those catching up emails.

7. Have massages and manicures on a regular basis.

8. Finish that pile of partially read books besides my bed.

9. Podcast & Twitter

It is really going to bother me that I couldn’t come up with an even ten.

………………….10. Work on an apparent latent tendency towards perfectionism.

The true test of an actors life is where in the newspaper they are featured after their death. Most get an article with their career highlights on the entertainment pages but a rare few get their life reviewed in the news section. Paul Newman’s passing and his accomplishments are in just that prominent place.

He is portrayed as a man who kept his private life private. He appeared in some memorable movies and some not so memorable. However, it is probably his philanthropic legacy that propels him to the front pages. Newmans Own is an outstanding foundation and as the person behind over $250 million in donations Paul Newman’s legacy is remarkable . As is fifty years of marriage. In these days of self-absorbed, snivelling actors it is good to remember that for one man acting was only part of who he was.

A few days later another outstanding person lost their life but the events couldn’t be more different. Her name was Malalai Kakar, actually  she was Lieutenant-Colonel Malalai Kakar. And she did not pass quietly into the night surrounded by family, she was murdered.

As a senior police officer Malalai Kakar was the head of the city of Kandahar’s department for spousal abuse and crimes against women. This woman who represented & defended women’s rights in Afghanistan was struck down by a single bullet to the head.

The best way that I can honour her is by not linking you to the news stories about her death instead here is the link to Maire Claire’s article on her life.

We made the decision, found a great breeder and got an Australian Shepherd puppy. What was I thinking!!!??? Actually Mia is wonderful but all that energy. I have surprised myself though, I am more patient than I use to be, laugh at her antics and quickly realized that the best thing to do was go with the flow and enjoy her.

I especially like the way that she has re-decorated the house. The living room is a delightful blend of PetSmart toy aisle accented with a few chewed up magazines tossed here and there for that splash of colour. The kitchen she has done in the wet look of upended water bowl. But nothing can surpass the bathroom now a trendy grunge look of toilet paper draped everywhere except on the roll .

House breaking is so much easier in the summer, as is her training and exercise. The blip is that the chocolate lab really doesn’t like her so I have to keep a close eye on the two of them. The back yard is fenced but I worry that he may try to push her through one of the few small openings or whisper in her ear that the little green unripe crab apples are really puppy treats. So I usually sit outside with them which has actually been a good thing. I stop slaving over a hot laptop, grab my book and relax for awhile. I have even strayed from my schedule, made my afternoon tea and herded them both outside. Quelle shock!

A friend of mine, UK Life Coach Lynette Allen is currently raising TWO spaniel puppies, she is using the Life Coaching puppy training method mixed with some timely cursing. While I am trying the Zen like ‘what the hell’ method mixed with expletives. Lynette’s blog is aptly entitled The Life Behind the Coach .

Here are some pictures of our new addition Mia on the Casselcreek Australian Shepherds website.

(For those of you who are new to this blog the Aussie in the picture with me is Jenna, we lost her to a brain tumor in May.)

So late last year, certain things happened and I ended up sitting in my gynos office and the C word comes up. It’s ok male readers there will be no details because that is not what this entry is about. Anyway over the next six months we took certain steps and yesterday’s appointment confirmed that all is now well.

What is kinda’ interesting is where one’s head space goes during those somewhat traumatic events. For instance the first thing I wanted after yesterday’s appointment was to go to the Starbucks across the road. So I bellied up to the counter and asked the barista for a venti latte with whole milk AND a piece of banana loaf. What the heck, husband was driving.

Then on the way home I tried to remember what deal had I struck when this all began. Had I promised to enter some monastary, which wouldn’t be too bad if I didn’t have to take a vow of thou shall not use thy laptop. Or had I offered my first born to the other end of the spectrum in which case I was in trouble as that would be the neurotic chocolate lab.

Truthfully, my mental deal was far from spiritual and not even remotely noble; I had in fact promised that my healthy self would work harder to grow my business and I would find the time to write more. Now, don’t take the high road until you have been there. The brain is a mysterious thing and when backed into what it feels is a corner it is amazing what thoughts emerge. The fact is that I love working and we have a house in Nova Scotia that needs a lot of expensive renovations. The Plan being to move there in 3-4 years when the house is completely restored. The property also has a lovely little art studio (& it too needs work) which is going to be my office. So far from being mercenary, I just want to work harder on ‘The Plan’.

It is also true that in the face of an unknown one does dwell on plans not accomplished, places not visited and goals not met. So, did this experience leave me with a greater comprehension of the meaning of the time before me in which I can still tackle some of those things, yes it did.

I was out this morning walking neurotic chocolate lab (I’ll share his story another time). We live in a normal neighborhood where 97% of the homes are well kept with nice gardens but then there is THAT house; little lawn maintenance, overgrown shrubs you get the picture. What really gets me seething is that this who cares attitude spills over onto the sidewalk. Walking past the house one steps over cans, wrappers, paper coffee cups, grass cuttings from where he actually trimmed the grass growing through his fence but never bothered to pick it up and then there is the broken glass beside his curb. Now I am not saying it is all his but really, let’s have some civic pride here!

After plowing through this mess for the umpteenth time I went home grabbed broom, gloves and green garbage bag and cleaned up the potpourri of garbage. Sometimes enough is enough and you have to just do something. I wonder if he intends on thanking me?

On Saturday night husband and I rented ‘The Bucket List’. The critics didn’t particularly like it but it’s not a critics type of movie it’s a people movie. We enjoyed watching it together; laughing through some of it, lump in throat in others and wincing during a few bits but as I said it’s not a classic. We even engaged in some rare analytical conversation related to what was happening on the screen during certain parts.

It got me thinking that whether you call it a Bucket List, Life List or 10 Things To Do Before You Die List there is nothing too big or small, silly or serious as it really is not just about being all deep or profound but more about what is important to you. If that means being served tea in your private compartment on board the Orient Express then write it down. Oh wait , that is number three on my life list.

So anyway watch the movie with your beloved it is worth making the popcorn for.

First, let me say I admire what you have accomplished, I really do. Recently though it seems that you want to save the world. You take us to task on our soul’s, our cluttered homes, our colons and even our comfortable grey sweats (I’m maybe ok there, I wear yoga pants in my off duty hours) and now a reality show?

I also wondered if you had noticed that you often talk over your guests and don’t let them finish their sentences? You really don’t need to Oprahize everything, your show used to be a platform for new thoughts and forms of expression. I expect to read in the newspaper one morning that you have started your own small country.

And I am going to say it if no one else will, the continuous ‘money cannot buy happiness’ from a perfectly groomed billionaire (and I am loving the hair this year) with the expensive outfit is wearing just a little thin. At forty/fifty something we get it; we are now wise enough to know that money can provide opportunity if managed wisely. Perhaps if we too were able to wake up in a beautiful (uncluttered) bedroom without the ‘living in the real world’ worry of stretching our resources as far as possible, we would be able to sagely nod our perfectly styled heads while analyzing the potential spiritual pitfalls of wealth.

I realize that I don’t have to watch your show but I keep hoping that you will return to what you do best. By the way, did you read in the business section that Starbucks, has realized that they have gotten too far from their roots and now have gone back to perfecting the art of preparing a good cup of espresso?

Here are a couple more points of view on Lady O.

“Dear Oprah Winfrey, Please Cut Me Some Slack ” from The Best Kept Secret Blog

“Guess I’m a Shlumpadinka………..so what” from the MidLife Maze Blog