Summertime...and the living is easy...

All my bags are packed...I'm ready to go!

If there is one thing I've done very well over the last 8 and a half years--it's TRAVEL! I have been to Paris, Provence, Rome, Cinque Terra, Venice, Florence, Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, all over Germany...Dodgers' Spring Training, Seattle, New York City, San Francisco--I've been in Africa for crying out loud!
I love to GO...to MOVE...to EXPERIENCE cities, food and people!
I want a destination...an adventure!...and I want to do it NOW!

The definition of "travel" is to go on a trip or a tour; to go from one place to another; to move in a give direction or path
to journey...
AND...to move rapidly.


You'll notice there's no mention of sitting down there. No 'rest' or 'relax' in the traveling definition. And, I'll have to admit, you'd be hard pressed to find a photo of me sitting by a pool or reading by a lake.
Or resting.
Or relaxing.
I don't usually do much of those things.

However...things are changing in my world. And I'm gearing up for what I might call my very first VACATION.
The definition of vacation is: a respite or a time of ease, reprieve or recess from something; a scheduled period during which activity (as of work or school) is suspended; a period of exemption from work granted to an employee.
Yep, I am going to be on vacation. 

Dave and I have both had a very busy (and slightly hectic) last six months. Heck, we've had a crazy last few years. Come to think of it, we've had an action packed fifty years!
Having both helped at home when we were kids and having worked and gone to school while raising our families and keeping up our homes, we both quickly learned to juggle while spinning plates and twirling a hula hoop so that everyone around us (friends, family, patients, customers) was happy and well cared for.
And, amazingly, we kept a smile on our face the whole time!

Here we are at 50 and we are FINALLY able to admit it...we're exhausted, thrashed, weary, shot, run down, frazzled, spent. We need to mend, to refresh, to heal, to revitalize...we need to BREATHE.
And we're ready for a VACATION. Next month we will be heading to Alaska on Princess Cruise's Grand Princess!We are looking forward to sitting down and enjoying the beautiful scenery. We looking forward to reading, and walking, and EATING and relaxing! We have already made the decision to NOT sign up for ANY of the outside tours or excursions! We don't want to rush or hurry or have a time limit or deadline!
And...we're seriously considering literally unplugging from the world by not taking our computers and by turning off our phones...

However, since I am truly a traveler deep through to my core, I am reserving the right to update my status on Facebook (even if it's just 'sitting with a latte on the deck'), share a few experiences through email (I'll send you the link to the antique store we just wandered through!) and, of course, I can't imagine being about to resist Instagram-ing a photo of a totem pole or an Eskimo....or iceberg or two!
And then I'll probably need to blog about it.
You might even see the rarest sight of all--a picture of me sitting down and reading...and relaxing.
Of me--and Dave!--on vacation.

One Day More!

Today is DAY 11 OF 11 DAYS STRAIGHT at work.
11 days of getting up at 4:20am...
11 days of getting in the shower, getting dressed and eating an Atkins bar in the car at 5:15am
11 days of putting nylons and a suit on...and looking perfect and being perky and happy
11 days of running a marathon before 8am...
This is the longest run of straight work days I've had in the last eight years...
And I am tired of coming home tired...
And, not to mention, I am now 50. 

Tonight I am meeting some high school friends for dinner...OH how I look forward to that!

I am so excited to NOT have to
set my clock for 4:20
set the coffee for 4:15
put nylons on. (Yeah, especially that...)
and not have anything that I HAVE to do...

It is finished. 
Well, almost...

That's what a hamburger's all about...

In N Out


A friend of mine who used to work at Montage and now works at the In N Out Corporate office, recently sent me two gift certificates for a hamburger, fries and a coke. Last night…we drove through the In N Out drive through (in our jammies) and redeemed our gift certificates. We set up the table and watched the Dodger game while enjoying what I would call a MOST extraordinary culinary delight! (in our jammies no less!)

OH—MY—GOODNESS!!

It had been AT LEAST three years since I’d had an In N Out burger—probably longer since I dared eat French Fries—and OH what an incredible treat it was. I MOANED in pleasure with every single “protein style” (definition: sans the bun) bite of deliciousness. Honestly, the flavor of the meat, the fresh tomatoes, the PHENOMENALLY perfectly grilled onions all wrapped in crispy (perfect!) lettuce was nearly indescribable! I ate every last bite and thoroughly enjoyed every morsel! And though I would have liked to have eaten every last one of the (fabulously flavorful) French Fries, I was able to leave half of them just so I wouldn’t feel any guilt…and I didn’t feel ANY!

Honestly, it was one of the nicest treats we’ve had in a very long time.

And FREE to boot! How much better does life get!

It will more than likely be another three years before I have another…but the memory will last a whole lot longer.

Talk about an amazingly simplepleasure.

It's June 22!

 Happy Birthday to my favorite sister, Gina!

For you, Lu

I had already set this to be on my blog today...and then received your card with the same exact quote!

You are one of my all time favorite and oh so charming gardeners! 

And you constantly make my soul blossom...

I AM oh so grateful for you!

I will not live a life of regret...

Happy Birthday Logan!

 Happy 24th Birthday to my favorite nephew! (Don't tell the others, ok?!)

Happy Birthday Mom!

You sure have a LOT to show for your SEVENTY THREE years! Happy Birthday!

More Oprah

I have never been much of a magazine reader. I’ve never purchased People Magazine or US or SELF or anything that has to do with movie stars or celebrities. (I can’t keep track of my own family’s dramas, why on earth would I care what THESE people are doing?) 

I’ve purchased a few fitness magazines, but am able to find much more information on line, so I stopped buying those too. I like to look through Recipe Magazines and even home improvement magazines (especially those that are big on organizing!) but, in the last 8 years, I’ve never had a subscription to any of them.

But..I MUST say...I am practically IN LOVE with two AMAZING magazines at this point of life! They are upbeat, positive and encouraging! They have articles on loving and living life at ANY stage of life! They have segments on clothes and makeup and fitness—for MY age and stage of life! They have fabulous writers who cover people who have started new and empowering careers, hobbies and LIVES after 40—after 50—and beyond.

Both of these magazines are CHEERLEADERS for moving forward, embracing JOY and for LOVING the life you’re living! 

How to get a life lift! How to age well! How your body improves with age! 

Talk about great articles...and for MY age and stage of life. 

I do believe I’m going to buy each of my girl friends a subscription to one or both of these magazines for their 50 birthdays. I want them to have a monthly reminder that life is as good as you make it…and that it's good and enjoyable and that we can do ANYTHING WE WANT TO DO! 

And that this is the youngest we’ll ever be. 

BIG thanks to BOTH these magazines for ALWAYS making me feel like I can do anything I want to do. 

I play this game every single day. 

And I win every time.