2019 – The Year of Reflection and Change

I started out 2019 with some great goals. I was going to get back into working out. I was going to focus on my career and finding my happy spot. I was going to go on great trips, and including a trip to Bali for my 40th birthday and my first ever solo trip. I…

Place in the World – My Favorite Places

This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge was “Place in the World”. I wanted to explore what my favorite places were, and where I can be happy the minute I am there: This has been a part of the WordPress Photo Challenge: Place in the World *Starred photo taken by Atma Photography

Baptizing My Niece

Baptisms are beautiful events.  While never overtly religious, I was raised Catholic and do believe that there is a higher order that helps drive our lives.  Religion is a beautiful way to celebrate that higher order, and seeing a child welcomed into that religion is always a special event, where you see the innocent life…

My Mother’s Wedding

Late in life love – it was something I didn’t believe in. I never had any examples of it in my extended family as I was growing up. My grandmother who got separated from her boyfriend, moved in with us when she was 50 and never dated or married again. I thought that was the…

Getting My Cheer On

Cheerleading doesn’t get a lot of respect. People don’t know the work that goes into it. The hours spent on flexibility and strength training to get those jumps right, to do those incredible lifts, to throw someone in the air, and make sure they are caught safely. The hours spent working so that routine looks…

Making Lemonade Out Of Lemons

My trip to New Jersey was not planned, it’s only intended purpose was to say good-bye to my friend.  My wonderful sister drove home so she could attend the services with me and support me on the difficult day.  But, at some point realized we were both in town and it was 1 week before…

The Trip You Never Want To Take

As I write this, I’m in an airport,  waiting to board my flight back east.  I bought my tickets yesterday,  knowing this day would come but never wanting to believe it. Some regular readers may have noticed comments from On Beyond Cancer.  She regularly followed me and I followed her.  But what you may not…

My “Me-Time” Vacation

I really wasn’t expecting it to be this way, it was supposed to be a normal New Jersey trip, filled with too many people to see, and the kids out of their element and clinging to me.  But as luck would have it, a few things worked in my favor this time around.  The main…

A New Impromptu Trip

Is there anything more exciting than planning a new trip?  Especially one you didn’t expect to make? As readers of my blog know, I occasionally travel to Boston for work. I have a partially packed trip coming up that is going to necessitate me to be in Boston for the full work week.  This means,…