Thursday, November 29, 2018

One of my favorites

"Complaining is not a strategy.  You have to work with the world as you find it, not as you would have it to be" - Jeff Bezos

amen.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Motion

"Every day, you reinvent yourself.  You're always in motion.  But you decide every day: forward or backward." - James Altucher

I'm pleased to say, this has been a forward year for me.  I've done things I've never done before and in many ways feel stronger than I ever have before.  There's more work to do, always, but I'm confident and grateful to be going in the right direction.

Here I am at Point Lobos State Park in Carmel California.  It was a stunning hike along the Pacific coast that I did on my own.  Other than my first trip to the Northwest in 2011, I had not done much hiking before this year.  But my new hobby has grown quite enjoyable and I look forward to much more! 

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Friends

I have been blessed with a life full of wonderful friends!   Friends from elementary school remain some of my closest and since then I've added with college friends, work friends and "mom" friends.  I think being able to have a friend and BE a friend is one of the single most important things we can learn and I'm so grateful when I see J starting to form true friendships.

This picture from his party warms my heart!  My boy with his pals Owen, Shuvam and Jacob - each of them feeling so comfortable in their own imaginative young boy skin - no judgement, pure freedom with each other.   One of life's greatest blessings.

What is a friend? I will tell you… it is someone with whom you dare to be yourself. - Frank Cane

Monday, November 26, 2018

6!!

Just like that, you turned 6 years old!    We had so much fun celebrating YOU.   Your favorite things are legos, the color red, Imagine Dragons (Thunder and Believer), and nerf guns!   We celebrated with a Nerf battle at daddy's gym on your actual birthday, followed by a party at the Trampoline place on Sunday where 12 of your closest friends (from school, camp, life....) gathered to wish you well.  It was such a special time and you were beaming with joy! 

You're growing up, little man!  And it's so exciting to be on this journey with you.







 

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

November Rain

I've been slowly getting back to some things I used to love.   My spin classes in Woburn, formerly Fithouse, is one of them.   It feels so good to zone out, listen to the music, (try) to ride to the beat and leave with a nice sweat. 

My favorite is always, and has always been, the post-arm song.  It's usually more reflective and after all the choreography and then burning out our arms, it feels good to have a song just for you.  My very first class there was 12/31/13 and the song was Carry On by Fun.  My boy was just over 1 years old, we had been thru a grueling 13 months and I will never forget tearing up for this song during the ride. 

Last night (in a Rock themed class) we heard Guns N Roses, November Rain.  It's been a cold, rainy November week and the song was about someone needing time to themselves.  It felt so good.  For the first time in 37 years I am truly ready for some time alone.  Like Axel says, everybody needs some time on their own.....




Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Dining in Big Sur

A few more posts to commemorate a fantastic trip!    The dining in Big Sur was superb.  Each restaurant had it's own unique and funky vibe exuding California Cool.

Dining at Ventana:
  I had two meals at the bar in the dining room.  Service was great, warm & friendly servers, nice wine list and a fantastic roasted squash entree one evening.  I also enjoyed breakfast on the stunning patio on two mornings.  While the dining was good - relative to the rest of the Ventana experience, I would say they do hospitality and style better than they do food. 




Deetjen's:
  Located at the Big Sur Inn, Deetjen's is on the non-coastal side of Rt. 1 in a completely bohemian bungalow style compoud.  Very eclectic and quirky with a lot of soul.   Breakfast was good.



Big Sur Bakery:
  Lovely little spot with out of this world baked goods and a nice dinner menu, too.  Warm, hospitable and the gardens are fantastic.  Loved it.  Reservations are recommended for the evening and we made it to breakfast before a really long line formed! 





Nepenthe:
   Fantastic!  We ate on the enormous terrace for lunch, with views of the mountains and a very laid back family friendly vibe with kids playing around outside.   Dinner was a different atmosphere, dimly lit, moody, with large candlesticks on every table and a gorgeous fire pit.   Like all of Big Sur, service was friendly and spot on. 






Monday, November 19, 2018

Big Sur

Returning from the paradise that is Big Sur.   It was a dream of mine to visit and a dream to stay at Ventana.   Both came true and were beyond expectation!    Magical.....

On soft Spring nights I'll stand in the yard under the stars - Something good will come out of all things yet - And it will be golden and eternal just like that - There's no need to say another word. - Jack Kerouac, Big Sur














Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Done!

In the beginning of 2018, I set "intention" as my word.  I wanted to live the year purposefully.   A lack of planning and dedicated focus is a bad habit I slip into and I wanted to improve.  My first goal was to begin building a true career - something I could be proud of and something that felt in line with my self-worth.   In April, I received an important promotion and in October another.  I am proud.  I have worked hard, managed my emotions, people pleased while having firm limits and achieved it.   The promotion was the beginning of the work.  I have the title, very much a hard part of the climb, but now I must contribute and deliver.

To help me do so, I enrolled in a Strategic HR Management course through Cornell.  It was my first formal learning experience in over 15 years and I was challenged.  I took 6 modules and completed probably 100 pages of writing and yesterday I finished!  Again, I am proud.  I am doing it.  I can do hard things. 

This post isn't to boast, but rather to record, for my own future reference, what I can do with a keen focus and concentration.  There's a difference between doing it and talking about it.   I'm doing it.  Onward.

Monday, November 12, 2018

Together

When J was a baby, I was part of a newborn mother's group.   We met once a week and discussed the mundane challenges of our new lives - nursing, lack of sleep, washing bottles, pros and cons of the Snap n Go and Rock N play.  We were exhausted, in love, elated and scared to death as we held these perfect little bundles of life.

One afternoon someone remarked that every day felt the same.  It was winter in Boston and cabin fever and sleep deprivation were setting in.   Another remarked - "although it feels the same, it is not.  We are on a long walk with these children and though we may not always feel like we're making forward progress, time is passing, we are doing it, and every day is another step forward." I needed to hear that then and some days I still do.

A lot has changed since that afternoon.  I am a single mom.  We moved and moved again.  We found a new school, new friends and neighbors, I am working very hard at building a career I am proud of and at the same time - raising you: my truest joy, my biggest challenge.  The love of my life. 

I was introduced to hiking earlier this year and have grown to enjoy it.  I like the peacefulness of nature.  The sense of accomplishment, the scenery, the healthiness of the hobby.   I've tried to slowly introduce you, J, as well.  I dream of it being something we can do together.  At age 5, 15, 25....  I dream of walking with you in foreign, beautiful places.  I hope you will tell me as we walk about a love that you found, a problem you are facing, or an adventure you seek.   I hope I continue to be strong and that my experiences, both painful and joyous, can teach you something.

Over the weekend, we got you your first pair of hiking shoes.  You wore them proudly and well.   We did our first "peak" and you made it to the top of Wright Tower.   I was reminded of my friend's story.  I remembered you swaddled as I listened.  You were so perfect I couldn't believe you were my boy.  Six years later, you walked to the top.  Yes, you stopped to play with lots of sticks.  We looked at the tree stump that had fallen.  You crunched the leaves.  Today you are a boy, filled with curiosity and goodness. Despite our slow and winding pace, we arrived to the top. We continue our journey.  Nothing is today as it was yesterday and before long you won't stop to look at the sticks, you will  walk faster than me.  I will enjoy these days.  As precious and fleeting as the others. 

My wish for you today. "May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.  May your mountains rise into and above the clouds." - Edward Abbey.




Monday, November 5, 2018

Catching up - fall 2018

I'll try to get caught up here since it's been awhile!   Kindergarten is off to a great start - you are doing so well as you begin your official school career!   Writing all of your numbers and letters with no issues.  Your teachers tell me that you are nice to everyone and always a happy boy --- it is no surprise but still warms my heart to hear.   You tell me about your friends, play legos and battleship at afterschool, and your favorite day is still Monday, when Grammy picks you up! 

We had a fun Halloween - you dressed as The Hulk, did pumpkin carving at Nolan's, had a few parties and we Trick or Treated on Dudley St with our neighbor friends and mom and dad.   I still feel overwhelmed by how much I can love your little soul.  My baby boy, growing, but forever mama's angel. 
Ready to start Kindergarten!

Ice cream in Davis Sq with your friend Shuvam

Doing so well! :)

Halloween party with your good friend, Claire! 

Proud!

With our friends at Linea

My love <3