love, power, support, strength, laughter, energy, empowerment

love, power, support, strength, laughter, energy, empowerment

7 words that describe the 7 women that joined together last night to energize, empower, love, support and share with our friend B. A.

B.A. is facing an uphill climb in the next few weeks, and we will be there holding her up, pulling on her arms to get her over the crest of the hill, pushing her from behind to take that one step that will clear the hump in the road, and probably breaking into the unit to make sure she knows we are there!!!! Look for the police reports "Six Crazy women break into a sealed room, news at 6"

Just because we're grown up, doesn't mean we don't need someone to confide in. In fact, logic dictates that the opposite is true. Life becomes more complex and difficult as we get older. The people that we confide in as adults are very valuable. We usually choose our friends based on common interests that we share. We may have different friends for the variety of activities that we engage in. The important thing is that there is sense of mutual respect, and caring for each other.

And if you put all of us in a room, asked about our backgrounds, careers, incomes, interests, likes and dislikes . . . you would probably find more different about us, than we have in common. But you know what - who gives a shit - we laugh, we share secrets, we tell stories, we cry in honesty, we talk openly, we become one.

We are blessed, honoured and so lucky to be a part of each others lives . . . i wake every day knowing that one of these women will make me laugh til i pee!

For those of you out there that have not yet surrounded themselves with amazing women . . . get on it!

A few quotes to ponder:

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."
- Anon

"Friendship is one mind in two bodies."
- Mencius

“When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there.”

If you're alone, I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile. But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me. ~Author Unknown

Oh how i appreciate the small things in life

The older I get, the more I appreciate the small things in life. The little moments, the small giggles, the chats while driving, the coffee after work with a friend . . . . . the things that cost nothing but are worth so much.

I had the pleasure of spending the day with 3 friends yesterday. Just us and our cameras. The snow storm hit early in the morning, and there was talk of cancelling our day out, and that was making me sad . . . I so look forward to spending time with the girls. No men are allowed in our group when we go out and shoot, cos we man bash, kid bash, work bash and just laugh and share stories the whole day.

It started out with just Mindy and me going to Oakville lakeshore then we called Debs and told her we would pick her up if she was snowed in . . so it ended up with 4 of us driving along the lakeshore in Oakville and Burlington stopping to take photos. We had a great day.

Today I am heading out to do more shooting - i really love my camera, and am looking forward to learning more about photoshop and shooting over the next year. And mostly looking forward to spending more time with the ladies doing what we love.

No matter how poor, rich, or comfortable you are in life, you cannot put a value on the friendships that brighten your day. The girls make me laugh, smile, think, and make me feel so good . . . . i am so lucky.

Well this has been a great week so far . . . . .

Well I for one, certainly cannot complain about the start to 2011 for my family. We seem to have had some angels on our shoulders . . . . .

So Monday, ahhhhh, quiet house, Kyle at work, Brady at school, Dean at work - Nicky at home with a book AHHHHHHH. Prepped dinner for next couple of nights, did laundry, did groceries, hit the hay early. Was a lovely relaxing day.

Tuesday - off to work - and I was honestly really looking forward to it. . . i am lucky to love my job, and really enjoy the people i work with. It was a great, busy day catching up on the work created over the Christmas break.

While at work, i get a call from Brady's modelling agent. Is he available for work on Thursday? Well shoot, YES. Then "do you have a photo that is recent?" They have the photos that were given to them 3 months ago, "how recent?" i asked - "hmmmmmm how about taken today" they say. they must think i am addicted to my camera or something lol. I was meeting a friend for coffee on the way home, and didnt want to cancel, so I said "ok by 8pm I will have photos to you". Apparently the casting agent wanted to see them before he made a decision. Well i dont know if you have ever dealt with a tired, hungry 17 yr old, but the photos were not good. I actually hesitated in sending them. But I sent 4 anyways.

Off to work on Wednesday morning, then off to take Brady for his G2 test in the afternoon - so GTown to Vaughan, back to GTown to Orangeville. I let him drive to Orangeville, figured he could use the practice and then off he went to take his test. So while I am sitting there, feeling all nervous for him, my phone beeps - it is the agent- even with the crappy photos they had chosen Brady as one of 5 models for the job. Well, I think the whole MTO office heard my reaction - i had to bite my lip so I didn't yell YES really loud. I wanted to call him so bad, but figured it would not be a good idea while he was driving lol. So I sat there for 5 minutes, just fidgeting in my seat, in excitement and anticipation of his response, and the results of his driving test.

He walked in, so non-challantly, and gave me a silent thumbs up - phew he has passed. But I couldn't wait, I yelled "Brady - you got it", he thought I was talking about his licence . . . . "you got the modelling job". Well the whole place went quiet and just stared at him. So here I am waiting for his response and all I get is "cool". COOL! that is all you are going to say! OMG BRADY - I could hardly contain myself, i wanted to hug him - but no, that would embarrass him. Then we re-read the email, he needs khakis, 5 different shirt, casual jacket - all with no logos . . . . show me a teenage boy with shirts with no logos, and I will show you a pig flying past my window. So now we have to head to GT for plain shirts and khakis . . . . we get him all suited up. Then I have to launder and iron any other non-logo stuff we can find, so finally by 830pm i got to sit down.

So today was a huge staff meeting at the office, from 10 to 12. Had to be out of there by 12, had to get to the DVP and Queen St. by 2, and me being the anal, never late person that I am, i wanted to give myself 2 hours to get down the 427, across the Gardiner and thru the East end of Toronto (and yes Pam, I now know where the Distillery District is). So I dragged Brady into work with me for the morning. The funniest part of the day was when one of the women said to me "I went, damn, who is that? Then I realized i was looking at a co-workers son and had to behave" The even funnier part was when Brady says "ok, small office, I can hear you" That caused a set of giggles.

Well the big boss was running late, and the meeting didnt start until 1030 - oh shit, we are going to be late. At noon, i just looked at the boss and motioned that I had to go, and off i went. Well so much for my 2 hour window - made in there in 50 minutes! So we were 1.5 hours early! But that's ok, we got to watch another model do his shots, and to meet the people that were in charge, a great group of people. So we started shooting at 130 and finished at 245, he was so nervous, but he did awesome, and hopefully one of the shots will be the 'money shot' and used for the promotion.

The promotions is side profile head shots for the Royal Ontario Museum. Their March program is all about water, and they are using the profile shots for posters, bus shelters, brochures and potentially some billboards. I am proud of my youngest dumbass . . . . he was shaking, but overcame it. He was scared about his driving test, but passed it (even though the instructor says he needs to work on his parallel parking!). He overcame 2 huge fears this week . . . .

Now I am sitting here, relaxing, and reliving the day - one day I may see my youngest child on a billboard in Toronto . .. how freaking neat is that??????? and yes I LOVE MY LIFE>

2011 - the things i resolve not to bitch about . . . .

In 2011, i resolve not to get frustrated about the following things, the list could be a mile long, but here are my main triggers.

DRIVERS - idiots in $80,000 SUVs that think because they have winter tires on their vehicles that they can drive at 130kmh on the 407 in a blinding snow storm, while talking on their phones.

DRIVERS - those damn soccer moms in their Lexus or Audi putting on their lipstick while passing me while I am doing 120 - and wondering why they are weaving from lane to lane.

DRIVERS - (why am I sensing a theme here?) that think that we all have to listen to their stereo, or their mufflers (my son included) while we sit side-by-side at a stop light.

DRIVERS - that do 60 in an 80 zone, drive like Sunday drivers, don't use indicators when turning and make sudden lane changes. Both my parents drive (76 and 70) however, I think all new drivers and drivers over the age of 70 should be retested every year (at a much lower cost of course), then those that pass the retest with a high enough mark can get a discount on insurance!

HUSBANDS - they are the men we married, we cannot change everything (but dammit we try), but we don't always feel like a 'trip to the lake', and really enjohy looking at the Blue balls on the shelf in a jar, it adds to the ambience! But all kidding aside, I resolve to not nag, yell, annoy, wind-up, forget laundry, snore or do anything else that bothers my hubby - but I am not a miracle worker - so i already call B/S on that one!

CELL PHONE COMPANIES - Canada charges almost the most of any other country for cell phones - how did we get so lucky! I keep wanting to cancel my home line, as the only calls we get are telemarketers, but then my sis in UK could not call me - so for now, i will keep it. Why do we have to sign 3 yr contracts when the phones only last for about 6 months and then are obsolete.

GAS COMPANIES - tell me how, and why, the gas goes up by 1 to 3 cents a litre on a weekly basis. If we were in a service industry and kept changing the prices for our clients - how long do you think we would be in business? It is all a money grab - the rich get richer, and we get poorer

INSURANCE COMPANIES - how come they have all the lavish offices, while we pay through out teeth for minimal coverage! Drives me nuts. Again, the rich get richer . . . . . . . .

MEN! - i work in a male dominated industry - and boy oh boy, some of the men I have come across are the most bigoted, egotistical people - but I set them right LOL. Why do men think that women are inferior to them. Having a penis does not make you smarter (even though you now have 2 heads to think with) - it just makes you think with the wrong head most of the time. Give me a room full of people, and I will guarantee you the women want it more, will try harder and will kick the pants off of any of the geezers in the room - Girl Power!

WORK - oh shit, can't complain about my work - i love it. I have no complaints right now, and I feel lucky to say that.

MONEY - we will never have enough money, none of us. Because as we have more, we want more. The biggest purchase I ever made (next to a used car) cost me $900 - and it took me weeks, if not months, to decided to make the purchase . . . . . that was hard earned money, a months worth of groceries, an airline ticket, 6 months worth of insurance . . . . but . . . and this is a big but, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and treat yourself. I am not going to worry about money in 2011. I will pay my bills, treat when I can, and aim to get to the UK with my hubby.

CHILDREN - as much as i bitch that my kids are lazy and untidy, I have to revel in the fact that they are good boys. Yes they piss me off sometimes - but they are home at night (if not at Linzis), they hug me every day, and they are not into drugs, booze or illegal activities (yet!) - so 2011 is the year I let them spread their wings, learn by their mistakes, grow up and become adults.

NEGATIVITY - no more dammit! I will not allow negative people into my life, i started making that move in August 2010, and my life has changed so much for it. No more bitches, whiners, complainers, downers . . . . just positive, happy, spiritual, welcoming, supportive - that is what I will surround myself with.

LOVE - well, I dont think i have to bitch about that. I love my husband, my family, my friends, my job, my car, my camera, my life . . . . . . . . . and you know what, I am staring to love ME - it has been an almost 5 year battle, but 2011 is the year I will love me again.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

James Van Praaghs 'Unfinished Business'

I am a reader . . . an avid reader. . . 3-5 books a week on average, and i rarely remember the titles or authors, just if they were good books. But I picked up 'Unfinished Business' and read it cover to cover in 2.5 hours - it is a life changing book. I passed it on to a good friend today, with the instruction that she has pass it onto someone else when she has read it - someone in our Spiritual Womens group that could gain help and insight from it.

I have read books by Sylvia Browne and John Edward, and also previous books by Van Praagh - but the lessons in this book will remain with me forever.

Since we started the Spiritual Women group, i have felt empowered, positive, enriched and strong. The group of women that we have put together has bought some amazing moments; some laughter; some tears - but most of all, a support structure that you cannot place a value on . . . . it is priceless.

The book talks about the unfinished business of us left on the earth plane. Those that regret not being there when a loved one pass; felt guilty for their actions prior to the loved ones death; anger at what the person that passed did to them and more. The book teaches you to look forward - holding on to emotions from the past create the inability to heal withing yourself. He talks of people that dont speak up or out, keeping secrets, afraid to confront - these people have to overcome the FEAR - they have to move forward in their lives. Internalization can cause sickness, stress, hatred and fear.

This book is enlightening . . . . and should be read by anyone that is struggling with the death of a person, or a current relationship. It talks of past lives connecting with current lives, of alcoholic parents being forgiven, of abuse victims that hold everything in healing themselves by forgiving. I know this is hard for a lot of mainstream people to believe and/or comprehend, but i suggest you read this book, skeptic or believer, it is not a book about ghosts or mediumship, it is a book about living, loving and learning . . . . . take the time to read this.

And to all my 'Spiritual Women', my life has changed since August when I started my new job, and we formed the group - you make me smile everyday, and get up ready to take on the world, and we are all learning from each other . . . . . . and i thank you for that.