Happy Memorial Day

Many of us are off work today, and it is turning out to be a gorgeous day here in NY. Will the day bring a cookout, golf, cold beer, a lot of doing nothing? Whatever you decide to do on this day, take a moment to remember what this holiday is for. Take a moment to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country, as well as to remember and support their loved ones. It doesn't matter how you feel about war, or your political beliefs, stop and remember what these patriots have done for our country. I'm proud to be an American, and I am proud of the men and women who allow us to have all the freedoms that entails, particularly those who have lost their lives fighting for this freedom. How will you choose to remember them today?

What I've Learned This Week

Things I have learned this week:

1. Even if the power goes out (causing a blinking alarm clock), your internal clock will wake you up in time
2. Do not adjust a tension shower rod while in the shower - the water does not help you adjust the rod
3. Buying a graphing calculator from Walmart is harder than it should be
4. Avoid going to Walmart at 4 - there is a shift change/break time at this time, so if you need any help, it will be hard to find
5. If your GPS cannot find a place you are heading to - get specific directions from someone who knows where you are going
6. A purple table cloth makes a great rain coat in a pinch (or when it is pouring and you are are wearing 4 inch heals so running to your car isn't an option)
7. Friends always make what could be stressful something to laugh about (ok, I already knew that one, but it is important to remember)
8. Children always know when you need to laugh
9. There is nothing a dinner with great friends can't help
10. Taking the long way home (such as a ride down 9N from Lake George to Corinth) will bring back lots of good memories
11. It is ok to take a day off from the gym if you wake up with a sore knee - even though the machines may be low impact, your knee will hurt more when you are done and it is never a good idea to limp out of the gym
12. Reading a good book isn't a good way to go to sleep - when it really grabs you, you will stay up late to find out what happens

Ok, so 7-12 are all things I already knew, but they were also all reinforced this week. It has been a good week. Sure, there were some bumps (1-7 all happened on Monday alone), I'm still laughing. I had a friend mention I looked happy in recent pictures and, you know what, I really am. There are things I am still looking for, but I can't complain about my life. Especially not when I have great friends and family to keep me laughing.

End of the World?

There are quite a few people who truly believe the beginning of the end of the world will happen tonight. They have looked into a variety of biblical stories and have determined that major earth quakes will start tonight - the rapture begins. I'm not going to dicount what they're saying, or try to say they are wrong - everyone is entitled to believe in whatever they want. Hopefully, panic is not running rampant in any families.

So what is the positive that can be found from this (since I don't think panic is a positive). If this belief, and the media coverage around it, makes even one person take a moment to tell someone they love them, or call that long lost friend to catch up, then some good has come from it. Whether or not the world is coming to an end, it is important to reach out to the important people in your life. Make sure they know how much they mean to you.

I Graduated - Sort of...

Sorry I've been out of touch - things have been super busy! But I'm back... with a picture of some special shoes. These shoes are the shoes I wore when I walked across the stage at my MBA graduation this past weekend.

It was a great ceremony, and we had a blast. It is ironic, then, that I am currently avoiding homework and have classes until the end of June. It was 100% symbolic - they let us participate in the graduation so we could celebrate with our families and friends.

I'll take it, though. Last weekend was awesome. It reminded me how much the people I have been taking classes with mean to me, and it reminded me how many people support me through my life. I love my amazing friends and family!

The Spider War Has Begun

It seems as though my favorite topic lately has been the gorgeous spring weather, and how great it is to feel the spring sunshine, which all continues to hold true. I love this time of year. What I don't love are the critters that are showing up various places. Particularly spiders - I am deathly afraid of spiders and they seem to be popping up everywhere.

I know it is totally irrational, but I see a spider and I freeze. I have to talk myself through the process of killing it. Ok, move your feet to step on it. No shoes - ok, move your feet to get a shoe to kill it with (yet another reason I love shoes). Or, go get the can of Raid and coat it with that. No raid, you can try hair spray, but it doesn't kill them right away. Wow, I'm sounding cruel! I have my reasons, though.

The other day, I was taking a shower, and I looked up to see a spider glaring at me from the corner of my bathroom (way up on the ceiling). I know he was plotting a way to fall onto me and cause my demise... Needless to say, I took the quickest shower ever, and then I got my trusty shoe, climbed on the tub, and crushed him. Only to go out into my hall where I saw two more spiders, also hiding in the corner of the ceiling. Sadly, I could only reach one of them, so the second is still creeping around my apartment somewhere.

So, along with the happy positive thoughts spring brings, I need to accept the critters that come with it as well. Easier said than done when I'm being stalked by an eight legged monster!

Does anyone know what shoes Kate wore?

The dress was gorgeous, the bride and groom were beaming, the guests looked amazing, the hats were spectacular, and England has a new princess. I swore I wasn't going to get sucked in, but I have to admit I woke up this morning and watched the recap, and then went online to catch the pictures, and even waited to get into the shower until after the kiss (X2). It was an exciting and joyous occasion (and I wonder if Catherine Middleton truly knew what she was getting into).

I did see some amazing shoes on the guests, but with that amazing train on that amazing dress, we have no way of knowing what shoes she wore. I'm curious... maybe we will see some gorgeous shoes with the reception outfits - keep your eyes peeled. At least we had the hats to look at - I guess accessories will have to do (and even though it isn't a hat, the tiara was gorgeous).

On a serious note, as all of the news channels focus on William and Kate, I want to take a moment to send prayers to everyone whose life was changed forever by the horrific storms the South faced. Last I heard, the death toll is close to 300, and that doesn't even take into account the families that lost their homes and belongings. Let's not forget those that are mourning and in need on this day. Send them love and prayers.

Whether you think you can or you think you can't

I was at a networking event this morning (shout out to the Rensselaer County Chamber for a great breakfast) that focused on women leaders in business. This event was inspiring, and it was great to hear how women have overcome a variety of obstacles, or opportunities, to be successful in the world. The quote that was repeated twice was Henry Ford's "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you are probably right." Although I have heard this before, it is an important thing to remember.

We put limitations on ourselves daily, focusing on what we can't get to, or what we can't accomplish. I'm a believer that if you don't challenge yourself, and believe you can be successful, you won't be able to move forward and meet your goals. You won't go anywhere standing still. Hmm... can I throw any other cliches in here? It doesn't make them any less true.

Another positive note about these networking events - great shoes. I love seeing the spring shoes that everyone is wearing - I saw lots of great ideas for growing my collection/obsession... I'm have to wait until my snakeskin sandles are delivered before I buy any more though :-)