Sweet Dreams

I really don't envy poor Bill. He'll never escape the public eye...and this tape of him getting some "shut eye" is no exception...

...I know it was a US holiday yesterday...but *sigh*...he should have imbibed some more java before the service. I also guess he's got all his finances in order...as the approaching US recession doesn't seem to be keeping him awake!

Macquote of the Day

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life, don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice."

Source: Steve Jobs

Indulgences

The meaning of indulging:
1 a: to give free rein to b: to take unrestrained pleasure in : gratify
2 a: to yield to the desire of : humor b: to treat with excessive leniency, generosity, or consideration
Source:Merriam-Webster Dictionary

It has taken me years...but I finally realize that you have to take good care of yourself...you can't expect anyone to do it for you.
I have always been one to make sure everyone around me is ok before I think of myself. I've missed out on some things in doing that and have held some resentment. No more. Even though it will always be in me to care for others, I have started to do more things for me. I am a much happier, stronger, confident and calmer person because of it.

It's important to indulge yourself from time to time. Here's some of the things I love to do for me!

Soaking in a hot aromatic bath (with bubbles preferably!) surrounded by candles, soft jazz and a glass of wine
Enjoying a cup of chai tea on a cold day, snuggled in a blanket on the couch and reading a good book or magazine
Having a great conversation with a friend on the phone, msn or facebook
Getting out for a long run on a sunny day in temperate climate
HOT chicken wings
Going for a long walk with a loved one and just talking about anything and everything
Staying up all night with a friend, some wine and great conversation
Pizza with lots of cheese, anchovy, green olives, chili, pepperoni, tomato, onion, basil, mushroom and peppers
Downhill skiing on powder snow on a sunny day with blue skies and not so freezing temperatures
Sharing popcorn with a loved one in a movie theatre while watching an epic film
Singing at the top of my voice with all my heart
Sushi
A big bowl of delicious pasta
CHOCOLATE!
NUTELLA!
hot chocolate with peppermint Bailey's in front of a roaring fire
doing something I have never done before
X-rated....
getting a massage
getting a foot massage
having someone cook me dinner
CHEESE (preferably Vacheron D'or with fresh baguette and a glass of chardonnay or riesling)

There's a hell of a lot more things...but I can't reveal everything (have to leave something to the imagination!)

It's not too late!

Thanks SL for putting this on your blog first....it was SO DYNAMITE - that I had to do my own.....:)

Coming to a field near you.....

I guess, I believe that UFOs and aliens exist. I remember when I was much younger, I used to get up in the middle of the night and look out my window to see if I could catch a glimpse of a UFO in the dark sky. A friend of mine recently shared with me that he thought there was a "presence" one night in his room that was not ghostly..but more alien-like. He was almost expecting to be "taken aboard".
Several years ago, my mom, who doesn't believe in anything that has "imagination" involved, called me outside to watch a large steady light way up in the sky. It was there for over an hour, moving extremely slowly, maybe not at all. My mom insisted that I call a local radio station to tell them about this mysterious sight. After her nagging, I had no choice so I left the radio station a voice message. I felt kind of silly in a way. It was probably a planet or a bright star...who knows?
But I believe that all beliefs are based on something very real. The mystery of UFOs and extraterrestrial beings goes way back. Check out the vid below that I was recently mentioned on the nightly news discussing UFOs sightings on the increase around Lake Erie, ON. I'm a little skeptical about this one.....maybe it's because the videographer is sounding like he is stoned or something.....you decide...but I do believe there is something out there.....Have you ever had an alien encounter or seen what could have been a UFO?..I'd be interested in hearing your stories!!!!

Saving up.....

And this is what beanonfire is saving up for.......the whole set.....can't wait to have people over for dinner :)

The C word

I think I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that the majority of people in long committed relationships are unhappy.
In today’s world, I find that people have become too independent. Independency is good, even important – however, no one really NEEDS anyone anymore. Let's face it, life isn't so bad when it's just you. You don't need to answer to anyone, worry about hurting someone's feelings, staying at work late, going out with friends. You do your own thing and that's that. Sure having someone around to snuggle with and have sex with from time to time is great. But from time to time. Having someone around more often, or living with someone is another story altogether. Nowadays it seems, that at the slightest hint of a problem arising in a relationship, one partner (or even both) run in opposite directions. Like I mentioned already, there is no "need" to have a significant other and it is easier to just walk away when the going starts to get a little rough. It takes a strong, committed couple with a mature love, to continue communicating through it all and agreeing to outside help if needed. A relationship that works for the long haul is an anomaly these days. We won't even talk about marriage, as it hardly has a sacred meaning anymore (I will be blogging on the M-word soon!). It definitely is an achievement when a couple stays together for years and can honestly say they are happy. And I believe that a successful relationship involves “work”. I know some friends would disagree on that term. But work doesn’t mean it needs to be grueling. The definition of work here is to “shape, form, proceed along a path or goal, to cultivate or influence”. Work can be very fulfilling, rewarding and fun. Heck, who wants to toil at a relationship day in and day out? Hell no! Relationships for the most part, chip away at your own freedom. Suddenly, when things get serious you need to schedule in time to spend with your partner. If you already have a busy lifestyle, this is really hard to do. It gives you less time to do your own thing – unless you don’t mind sharing your “own” thing with your partner. All relationships are fun in their beginning stages. Meeting, dating, discovering and having that excitement. The “honeymoon” phase. It is quite addictive. I was blessed with a partnership that had a long honeymoon phase. It was absolutely amazing. But that phase in mostly all cases, will come to an end. The outcome is a more mature love and deeper connection for some. For others, the party’s over. Once that “excitement” is gone, some people confuse this with no longer being in love. They feel the relationship is suddenly going downhill. Sometimes, this may be the case, but often times, it is merely going into another phase which should be embraced and cherished. You may still get those butterflies coming back from time to time, but it won’t be as frequent. You’ve heard of the term “Seven year itch”. This is exactly what I’m talking about. This is when the C word - Commitment - is a very bad word - something to fear. Granted, a relationship can get stale if it is not monitored by both individuals. People get bored. Routine sets in. Things get taken for granted. A relationship should always be evolving. There is always something new to discover. And what is even more important (and a personal lesson well learned) is not to lose your own individualism in a relationship. Don’t just leave yourself on the wayside. Do what you want to do, don’t rely on your partner for happiness, spend time with yourself and your friends. You’ll bring more value to the relationship by doing these things and by remaining true to yourself. You do have to know when to compromise. It is also important to stay strong and not take the easy way out. Stick together and try to overcome the obstacles that are bound to get in the way. It is life after all. Having a loving relationship that is based on respect, communication, trust (and a whole lot more) is a blessing. A relationship is like a dance. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. One partner may forget the steps, the other is there to help him/her along. The music may change, other dancers may get in the way from time to time. The important thing to always remember is to take turns on who leads, practice makes (near to) perfect and never let each other go until the dance is done.

Getting your priorities straight....

I first heard about the rideable cooler through CP24 website. Only in the States you say?....could be coming to a Canadian Tire near you...but you won't be able to drive it on GTA roads. Gosh darn...I was looking forward to my ride home from work, with a brewskie in hand. I'm sure I could make a lot of friends along the way! The cooler retails for $500US and it's selling...go figure. And our neighbours are already coming up with unique ways to use this new contraption...I never doubted it....check it out!

Top Model for the Day

Reuvi is one year old. He hails from New York, NY and stands 2'7" tall. This handsome fella is looking forward to more modelling in the future!

For D (my dance instructor) Oct 6, 1993

Swept right off my feet
is what I want to be
desire in your eyes
is what I want to see.

It's only the sun
that makes petals unfurl
reach out and touch me
I want to be "your girl".

There's nothing to lose
maybe a dance or two
from that moment on
it could be me and you.

Can you read my mind?
all I'm trying to hide
tingling sensations
as you move by my side.

It is in your arms
where I float like cloud
up higher I fly
to a love that's newfound.

Detox

I wish it was spring already. I'm ready for it. I love winter, but there hasn't been much sunshine..and really not many "nice" snowfalls...For many, with the thought of spring, comes the thought of renewal and rejuvenation. I decided to start my body cleanse or "detox" tomorrow. Since this is my first time doing this, I chose a seven day program. There are ones that last up to a month. Some people do this once or twice a year, some more often. There are different cleansings, although the liver and colon are most common. I chose to do a complete body cleanse that is all natural. I will take 4 capsules each morning and 4 different ones each evening for seven days. Along with this is a slight change in my already fairly healthy diet. No wheat products, milk products, processed meats or pork, shellfish, yeast containing foods (like bread), no pasta, potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms (a favourite!), sugar, alcohol or fruit (except for lemons and limes). Wow! That cuts down A LOT on what I normally eat. So though, I don't think I can observe this 100%, I will try to cut out most of the above. The idea of the detox is to rid your body of excess toxins that have accumulated over time. Apparently, in doing this, I should have more energy, regulated bowels, greater immunity, rejuvenation and improved digestion and nutrient absorption. Hey, it's worth a try. I'll keep you posted as to how it goes and whether I see this as being a beneficial thing to do or not. Cleanse me now!

Pour Doug - March 2, 1991 Villars, CH

C'est comme je fais une promenade
sur une rue d'air.
Je reve de la jour
quand je peux combler ton coeur.

J'ai trop de l'affection
que je ne peux pas me calmer.
Pour te gagner,
dis-moi ce que je dois faire.

Tu m'as mis dans un cage
ou je ne trouve pas une sortie
mes emotions ne peuvent pas s'echapper.

Beef of the day

MuchMusic doesn't play music, much

Will it work?

Two people I know (through a good friend), and of whom I am fond, just informed me that they are going to try to work things out. They were together in a serious relationship for years, which ended up in a breakup (though not mutual, from what I’ve heard). I am aware of some of the issues they had which led to the dissolving of their relationship. I often wondered if with just a bit more effort to overcome these issues, if they would have ever ended their (what seemed to be great) relationship in the first place? For a while they kept in contact as friends, and then each decided to move on in their own ways and with other people. Last year, fate seemed to have brought them back into contact with one another, and again they found themselves spending some time together as friends and enjoying one another’s company once again. Now it seems that both have agreed to give one last stab at trying to rekindle the feelings that had originally brought them together. Though there is obvious apprehension, possible unresolved issues and the fact that one party is bringing more emotion to the table - this is what they have chosen to do. Though not lacking in physical attraction, it seems what is lacking is the emotional connection they once knew. Can they find it again? In order to find out they decided on an intriguing plan. In order to determine whether their new “relationship” is solely based on the physical or not, they have decided not to have sex for a while. Since sex tends to “cloud the mind”, they decided to take it out of the equation and get to know each other again on a different level. Just like when they first starting dating, they didn’t hit the sack right away but enjoyed each other and learned about one another in other ways. I don’t know if I could do it, but I understand where they are coming from and it makes sense. These guys are terrific individuals and I (and all our mutual friends) always thought they were a lovely couple and meant for one another. Let’s hope so. Time will tell….Good luck and thanks for letting me blog about this M….I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed for you!!!!

Just stop it already!

Maybe it’s an Aries thing……
I dunno….but when something is bothering me personally…I have to end the torture as soon as possible. Sometimes, I know things are meant to be left as they are, sometimes it is best to walk away from the issue at hand, let it breathe a little. I normally try that…though I will admit, I am an impulsive person by nature. I find it hard to keep my emotions in check sometimes. I openly share them and my concerns when it's not the forum to do that. But if something is festering inside, then I rather just get it out in the open then let it keep building inside of me. I don’t see the point in letting it eat at me….even if I know, I probably would have been wisest, to just shut the f*&k up – I usually don’t have the self discipline to do that. It’s still a toss up as to whether this holds more advantages than disadvantages. I’ve had my share of both from being determined and also impatient. I don’t like to wait for answers, I like to know where I'm headed. I do hate the fact though, that I just think TOO MUCH! And not only thinking too much, but I analyze EVERYTHING. I toss things around in my head from every angle until I get dizzy. I ask for so much advice that something what started to get clearer, starts to get all blurry again. It must be a disease or something I inherited (ha!). I have spoken to several friends, and there are a few female ones that seem to do the analytical stuff a lot too.
Help! I need to stop! It’s a curse y’all!

So now what?

It's kind of strange, but I think that since I was a little kid I’ve been stubborn as all hell. I was always determined to get what I wanted and often didn’t take no for an answer. This has carried me through to adulthood. I’m a go getter. I go after what I want with unwavering focus and drive. I do not let up or give up easily. I am a fighter. Though I am proud of this part of my character – it does have it’s bad sides too – I realize that. But for the most part, I have been successful in going after what I wanted in my life. Naturally, I want that to continue. I do have to say that it is funny how sometimes I put so much energy and persistence into getting something and then once I have gotten it, I don’t really want it. I guess sometimes for me it is the challenge to see if I can achieve and accomplish. A lot of the thrill and adrenaline comes from just getting to that point. This doesn’t happen all the time, but I do remember several occasions where I was like, ok, now I got this…so now what?

2008 - wake up - it's here!!!!

Happy New Year! It’s my year – Year of the Rat – in the Chinese calendar. Looking ahead, I think this year is going to be a defining one for me. I am looking forward to making my health and developing my own personal style, a priority. I will continue to search deep to find out who I am, how a want to grow and improve. I am committed to helping out the community this year – whether it be on a social or environmental basis – or maybe both! I will put time aside to work on some more creative pursuits and possibly embellish on my entrepreneurial spirit. Not sure what the gods have in store for my family this year. Due to my dad’s illness, we may be expecting the worst. It is not easy to prepare for something like this – I cherish every moment we spend together. My mom hasn’t been fairing too well as of late either. She is just exhausted but too stubborn to slow down. Looks like she is getting some kind of rash too, which I am sure is due to nerves. This woman is a strong lady. I worry that she will just breakdown one day. She can’t go on like this forever. She needs to start making some hard decisions, especially due to my dad’s situation right now. I think mother is running herself ragged and making excuses, because she doesn’t want to deal with it. I completely understand. As for me, I try not to think about it too much and also keep myself busy. This year I plan to continue my yoga and running regiment. My goal is to run 10K by the time summer hits. I want to try a body de-tox within the next few weeks. I heard that it is terrific and many of my family members in Europe have been doing it for years and swear by it. Hey, if they can make it to their 90s and are in good shape, then they must be doing something right! As for social stuff, I will continue to nurture my old friendships and hope to make new ones. You can never have too many friends. I want to have people over for dinner more often! Right now, I’m happy in my home. I do need to get some cabinets for storage, a new TV and some photos on the wall. Just want to make it “my own”. So, 2008 has a lot in store for me. I’m sure there is more than I listed but hey….being mysterious makes it all the more intriguing! Wishing everyone all the best for the New Year. Peace, love, good health, prosperity and lots of happiness.