Happy trails, contrails, trail mix. Whatever makes you happy.

This is the last official working day of 2006, at least for me. I'll more than likely be in the office this weekend, but I won't count that now, because I may just put everything off until next year. Like most people I have a billion and one things to do before the ball drops at midnight on December 31, 2006. How is it that we have created these imaginary deadlines for ourselves and just about run ourselves into the ground trying to meet them?

Sunrise ~ Placencia, Belize ~ Aaron McGrath

I propose we, as a collective, make 2007 the year of less stress. No, not a new years resolution, just a conscious effort to see things for what they are, take time to sit on the beach without worrying about how horrid the commute home from said beach will be. Make an effort to stamp out our personal road rage and enjoy the hour commute to and from work. It can be a time of solitude and reflection on the prosperity (although it doesn't always seem like prosperity when this type of thing is out there) we have as Americans. It is true, we have so much as Americans compared to most of the world.

Sunrise II ~ Placencia, Belize ~ Aaron McGrath

I guess what I'm trying to describe is a form of Zen. If we could find a buzz word that would bring us back to reality whenever we get wound so tight we forget that life is now. If we would stop for one minute to look out the window at a sunrise that defies description.

Sunrise III ~ Placencia, Belize ~ Aaron McGrath

May your days be merry and bright.

God bless us all in 2007.

XO

Just Read: When Madeleine was Young

Author: Jane Hamilton

Not the type of book I would ordinarily pick up. But, it had good reviews and I was desperate for something very different from my normal genre(s) of what lately has been maritime disaster and old Steven King. Ms. Hamilton won awards (click on the book above) for other books she has written, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Although, interestingly enough, I've had "A Map of the World" on my night stand for years and haven't picked it up to read.

The book is written by a woman in the voice of a man. There were many times in the book that this was obvious, at least it seemed that way to me. The book isn't as much about Madeleine as you would think either. Its more about a boy, who grows up by the end of the book, and how his family lives their lives through the personal trajedies and political upheaval of the VietNam war. I don't really have much to say about this book. I read it and I'll probably forget about it in 6 months. I guess this isn't all that glowing a review.

Oy, that was a boring post, but, there you go. I'm dedicated to writing reviews of the books I've read, however short and boring the post may be.

Oh, that dedication only actually corresponds to books I'm not embarrased to have read. And don't ask why I'd be embarrased by books I've read, but, well, you know, its like admitting to watching some decadent and brainless television, oh something like, Wife Swap or Nanny 911. Not that I've watched those. You know, just seen the commercials. Yeah, that's it, the commercials. I admit, I'm a rubber-necker, these kinds of train wrecks, if I accidentally come across them, draw me in for the sheer freak nature of them. There are actually those people out there and examples of them are on our prime time television for all to see.

I guess if I'm confessing, I'll just get it out, I just also reread Stephen King's "The Talisman". I read it 100 years ago, sounds better to say 100 than the actual number which is a crazy long time ago. Yes, its still a classic King novel. If you've read any King, you know of what I speak. Oh, and also, I finished reading his Gunslinger series, awesome. Yes, I said awesome. You either like King or your don't, but this is really the least King-like thing he ever wrote.

So, can you tell at what point in this post the 16oz latte kicked in?

I've got to go, ya'll have a wonderful new year. See you in 2007.

the long haul ~ edition X

am i too young to have a mid-life crisis?

so, your answer should be, yes, way too young!

oy, what is up with me? i am irritable the minute i get to work. i stay that way most of the day and only after i leave does my mood improve. i've been contemplative for a while now. the new year is coming. do i have the strength, because i really believe that is what it takes, to make a major change? you may be wondering what the big deal about this is. i'm so stable in a good way and i'm so static in not necessarily a good way. its a big deal for me.

i'm ready for this life now.

its just not an option, right now.

so how do you change your personality to fit what you want? how do you uproot yourself when your roots are buried deep and entwined with everything? how do i make the first move? how do i let go of the fact that i think others may be hurt/offended by my choices? how do i care about my own happiness more than the perceived happiness of others?

seriously?

So, New Years Resolutions

... I'm not a New Years resolution kind of gal. They don't usually work out. I prefer to make life altering decisions (for that's what resolutions are usually about) around Thanksgiving. I don't know why, I'm just that way. But, in that light, this year I didn't really make any promises to myself that I may or may not break. I tried the no sugar thing for about 4 days and then decided to give it up.

• Maybe I'll try a 40 day sabbatical from sugar beginning Jan 1.

• In accompaniment to that, I may add a detox/cleanse beginning Jan 2. That will be 7 days (maybe 14), depending on how crazed I am on day 8.

• I have a couple other things I want to return to in my life, going to church on a more regular basis and also Wednesday Bible studies during my lunch hour. I used to do those things weekly and somehow, I got really lazy. I'm really not all that wild about organized religion. For some reason, for wrong or right, I don't mind and actually prefer to be a little anonymous in that venue. I think that may be why I stopped attending regularly, I was starting to meet people and they were starting to ask me to do things with them. I know, I'm an anomoly. But, I do miss the way I feel when I do these things regularly. There is a peace and a calm that enters your life. It can center me like nothing else. I need that.

So, there's the list. I'll need to post that somewhere so I remember what I promised myself.

Oy, so easy to break promises to yourself.

Joyeux Noel

... et une bonne annee.

Back to life, back to reality

Mixed bag of things brought back with me from my trip. The amazing beauty of the people and the place and the atmosphere. The beauty of the land and seascapes. The overwhelming poverty and joy. There's so much I haven't processed as of yet.

Sunrise - something I don't see much being here on the west coast.

Good Morning

Well, I guess I'm back. No, it's good to be back. I was ready to come home when the time came to do just that. The trip was fantastic. Nothing went majorly wrong and we have all our luggage, which is just short of a miracle when you see how many people handle it.

It may take me a few days to get back into the swing of things so, for now, here's a pic of the dive computer on Nick's wrist in the blue hole. 130 feet is the maximum recommended depth for recreational divers unless one has additional training. Nick ended up with a 134 feet max depth and I ended up with a 137. My deepest dive to date. It was amazing and a blur all at once.

Somehow I have to figure out how to step back into reality today. Wish me luck.

Anticipation

I don't photograph well, never have, this includes underwater. So, here are my yellow fins in Curacao. That's as good as it gets. Those fins will again be in the Caribbean very soon. Oh, and me, diving in. Getting a little excited about the trip now.

Ok, so, here I go. XO