Europe, finally!

Traveling is very important to me at this point in my life.  My kids are still somewhat young, but I'm not as young, and there are things I want to see and do while I'm still healthy and active.  I don't want to wait till they are grown, because so many things can change.  Life really is NOW. 

I've always desired to travel, of course, and I've done a little travelling, but too many years have passed without me actually going to my dream destination:  Europe.  I've longed to go and experience the sights and history there since I was a young girl, but just haven't worked it out to get there as of yet.  Spain has always held a particular appeal for me, because I am so drawn by the passion and pathos of their culture, which is so evident in their music and dance.  I've mentioned many times how I love Flamenco.  I almost went to Spain back in 1994, but I took a 3 month train trip around the United States instead.  I then planned to go to Spain in 2011, but my sales early in the year prevented that trip. 

Now, here at the start of 2012, and after finishing 2011 strongly, I'm prepared to make a trip.  But, surprisingly, not to Spain!  Quite an opposite kind of place, really (but maybe I should withold any judgement until I get there.)  I'm going to ... Switzerland!  Life is funny in that it really surprises you sometimes.  This time the surprise came through a friend I met many years ago in Homer, AK.  Sabine Schatterling and I met when she was visiting AK.  We became friends and traveled to Anchorage to see Stevie Ray Vaughn not long before he was killed in a airplane crash.  We took mini adventures in my Jeep and enjoyed dancing together at the big end of Summer Homer/KBBI Concert on the Lawn.  She is part of my wonderful memories of that special place.  We reconnected on Facebook in 2009, and not long after that I became acquainted with another friend of hers who also holds fond memories of Homer.  His name is Remo Meyer, and he spent time in Homer after I left there.  I don't remember exactly how, but it was through Sabine on Facebook that he and I became acquainted.  He is a joyful, lively person who loves his dog, Kenai, and seems to enjoy experiencing life very fully and deeply.  I like him very well.  My friendship with him has grown over time and now I find myself eager to pay this delightful man a visit in his own country.  He says he is happy to host me, and I cannot wait to see this beautiful country and meet my friend in person!

Remo's home in the canton of St. Gallen

I will write more about my plans as they fully unfold.  I'm so happy to have something like this to look forward to in the coming months.  Life is so good!

Now...to get a passport!

2011 Saints vs. Seahawks Wild Card Game

Despite the Saints losing to the Seahawks, 41 - 37, I sure did enjoy traveling to Qwest Field in Seattle with my friend, Shellie, to see them play today.  It was a beautiful day for a football game, and the energy in the stadium was exciting! What a treat to see my favorite team out there on the field in front of me!  I walked down to the barrier, and was so close, Reggie Bush would have heard me if I'd called out his name.  There were a surprising amount of other "Who Dats" at the game, too, and it was a kick to call out to each other in the mass of blue and green. 

It was a disappointing loss, yes, but I had a good time, and can't help but smile for the Seahawks and their fans, because you know it must feel sweet for them to achieve that kind of upset in post-season.  Congratulations to the Seahawks! 

And a great big THANKS to the Saints for another wonderful, winning season!!

Some pics from the day:

Drew Brees, warming up.

Saints warming up and stretching.



Shellie and I were so excited to be there!



Just after the "Who Dat" chant. 

Loved when these flew over after the National Anthem!

Early Huddle - before the crowd became deafening.

This pass was part of an early drive by the Saints for a touchdown.

This one, too!

Unexpected Beautiful Day/Eve!

Love the action in this shot!

At this point, they likely couldn't hear Drew over the din from the stands.  Seahawks have LOUD fans!

Despite my disappointment as the Saints fell to the Seahawks, I still found something to lift my spirits!


Untill next year...

Season of Peace and of Joy

While I'm as busy as I ever am this time of year, I have found some calm and peacefulness too, because the storm of events that had tossed me around emotionally has started to settle down.  The heartache and conflict I experienced after my decision to leave my relationship is easing up, our friendship is intact, and I'm feeling hopeful about my own future. I'm fully recovering, also, from having the apron strings severed at work - and I'm finding I have a very strong inner drive that needs no outside influence.  My fire is lit and I can keep it burning on my own!  Both my home and office moves are complete, and while there is some fine-tuning to be done at home, I am really liking the new places.

My workspace is absolutely fantastic.  I sit in what is generally considered the best seat in the sales department, a corner desk facing North looking out 4 very large windows here in the 6th floor of the our office building.  I've got close-in tree tops to my right, and they provide the backdrop for all sorts of shenanigans  by crows, finches and other fine feathered acrobats, especially when the breeze picks up.

To my left, I have a more expansive view, which allows me to stretch my eyes and watch the horizon blush when day flirts with night each morning and evening.  The fog adds another shifting dimension, and it's an ever-changing scene which makes my soul smile.  How can one be stressed out when you can see the world continuing on it's lovely way every day? 

Besides the views, I have more quiet than at my old office.  Facing North, the sun is never blinding me and I can leave the blinds all the way up and not touch them again.  I'm away from the door through which the smokers clanged incessantly at the old office, and away from the threshold to my boss's office, where there was a constant flow of traffic and lots of loud and sometimes even raucous conversation.  I can concentrate here.  I'm far more productive. It shows in my numbers and sales.  I'm also finding my own personal groove here, which isn't so dependent on the relationships I have with people in my office, although those are good, too.  I'm happy, though, that is my work is what is driving my contentment and which gives me purpose.  Helping my clients.  Doing the activities which drive revenue.  Owning my territory.  I'm grateful to have a job at all, and even more so to have one which satisfies me so well and allows me to care for my family and enjoy some of the niceties of life.

Speaking of niceties, I've been enjoying some good times lately and am planning more.  I've recently gone wine tasting in Hood River with a fun group of friends, and I have been enjoying viewing art with another newer friend.  We are planning to go up to Tacoma and Seattle for a change of scene in January.  I've joined a hiking MeetUp group and have signed up for a couple of trips, including a snowshoe trip to Mirror Lake at the end of December.  I'm looking forward to getting some outside Winter exercise.

I'm still planning on traveling to Spain next Fall, and a couple of friends have offered to help me practice Spanish over the next several months.  I'm ordering Rosetta Stone in December! 

Right around the corner is a fun trip to Chicago.  My friend, Vincent, the satirist and playwright who visited me here in Portland recently, has a play opening up soon in Chicago, and I've decided to treat myself for my birthday by traveling there to see it!  I'm going for four days, and plan to visit the Art Institute of Chicago, which is my favorite of all the art museums I've been to, including MOMA and The Met in NYC.  I can't wait to see the Impressionists again!  I'll never forget my reaction to seeing Old Man with Guitar from Picasso's Blue Period, either, so will look forward to saying hello to that old friend.  And I plan to try and see the Thorne Miniature Rooms while I'm there, since I've been told they are amazing (and I've been shown, too - Scott took some wonderful photographs of them while he was there.)  I just read that they are decorated in holiday finery during the festive Winter season.

I will also be eating dinner with Vincent, his wife and some of the friends he wants me to meet one night.  It will doubtless be a lovely evening.  I will also most definitely hit the Southside for some blues while I'm there. Kingston Mines, here I come to lose myself in your backbeats and soulful guitar riffs!  Maybe I'll check out Buddy Guy's Legends again too.  And I'll certainly ask the locals where to go.  My hips are aching to swing already!

The hotel I'll be staying in is a beautiful old hotel on the Miracle Mile, called The Inn of Chicago.  It was a real star attraction in it's day, favored by guests like Judy Garland, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra among others.  It was also the home to the Chicago Press Club Headquarters from 1960 to 1978.  Today it has it's same old great looks, but has a very modern feel inside.  I hope I like it, but really, I won't likely spend much time there anyway.  I do look forward to seeing the Miracle Mile and all it's holiday decorations, and I might go across the street to ice skate at Millenium Park.  And although I've already taken care of our some of Christmas for the kids, I'm looking forward to finding something special for each of them in Chicago.

I could chatter on about other good things too, and even some things that are challenging, but I have to get focused here today and also have a meeting.

 The main thing I wanted to say is that life is good!

Charming Old City

I spent 6 wonderful days of escape in lovely, old New Orleans this May.  I have yet to reclaim my heart from this grand old city, and a part of me is walking still along the old cobblestone and brick sidewalks and streets.

My travel partner, Shellie, and I heard great Jazz and talked to so many warm and friendly people.  We drank refreshing cocktails unlike any I've had before, and  we soaked in sights that have been shared by travelers and fellow romantics for hundreds of years.  There was such a rich mixture of history, delicious food,  pathos, debauchery, beauty, heady scents and magical moments.  I won't forget sweet Miss Elizabeth, the psychic tarot card reader with the healing spirit we met on our way to a late night bite to eat.  And Noche Flamenca, the world famous Spanish flamenco troupe who shared our hotel space, provided a truly unique diversion during our downtime.  What fun they were with their singing and clapping by the pool!  Their company was simply lovely.  Their performance at Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, the oldest continuously running theatre in the country, was absolutely breathtaking.  It brought tears to my eyes.  Today, my words aren't really up to accurately describing everything I loved about New Orleans.  I truly  felt like I was in another country.  It was such an exotic place.  For now, I just want to acknowledge a trip that will hold a special place in my memories for the rest of my life. 

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the trip.  Some are not technically great, but they make me smile to see them.  I hope you enjoy them, too.

View of Antoine's from our balcony meal across the way on the first night. Lovely sunset.

Shot from a cab as we rushed not to miss Noche Flamenca. 

Thought this porch and railing was so pretty.  Loved the architecture in N.O.

In the Garden District.  Live Oaks make things even more beautiful.

Best Shrimp Po'Boy ever!  At "Catch" on Magazine Street.

View from outside of gated cemetary.  Got there too late to stroll inside.

Simply loved these steps leading to a Garden District Home.

Passion Flower

Inside Napolean House - est. 1797 

Serving 'em up at the Napolean House!

Loved their Pimm's Cup!

Saw this type of horn nearly every day.

Couldn't help snapping this...loved everything about this guy.  What a friendly face. N.O. was full of friendly people!

Found the flower on the ground and placed it here...

Funny story behind this pic!  Shellie made him smile like that.

Too cute!

Jumbo Shrimp Band - gotta love their fun, Dixie-Land style jazz!

Sudden Downpour

Took me a long time to get this shot.  Had to wait for droplets to quit splashing and people to move on...

Very old street after a heavy rain.

Shellie in the pool in our hotel courtyard.  We loved The Olivier House on Toulouse Street!

Seen on Bourbon Street near Toulouse, early one morning.

Early morning peek across the Mississippi River.

Pretty Sunrise on the Mississippi

Caffe Au Lait and Beignets at Cafe du Monde - so yummy!

Rain washed Jackson Square before the crowds came in.

I wonder how long these have been there.  So pretty.

Cute baby statue in Audobon Park

These girls were so cute and having so much fun on Bourbon Street

Night Scene in the French Quarter

"Touchdown Jesus" as the locals say.

Old Street Drainage

Spanish Cabildo Ironwork

Daytime Shadows

This and That

Almost finished unpacking from the move.  Things are unfolding more slowly at this house, because I really am having to be careful about what I keep and creative about where I store it.  I still have boxes to go through on the carport, and shelves to hang inside.  I still need to buy new dishes, because, much to my sincere delight, my old ones were broken in the move.  I also still need to hem and iron my new bedroom drapes,  and purchase a couple of more panels for the living room window.  There are just many things that still need to happen for me to feel settled here, and I think I’m okay with that, as long as I don’t lose too much momentum.

I’m enjoying having a pretty and comfortable bedroom.  It’s cozy to snuggle in my private little oasis and read before going to sleep, and I love waking to the sunlight which streams into the large window and door which lead out onto the deck and into the backyard full of greening trees. I’m glad I finally did this for myself.  Here’s one angle:



I purchased my tickets to New Orleans last week.  Shellie and I are really looking forward to our trip at the end of May.  We can’t wait to talk to the locals, hear some good music, eat fabulous food and have a few drinks in the Big Easy.  We both look forward to photographing the architecture and enjoying the history of this old city. We are staying in the French Quarter for most of the trip and then making a quick trip into Lafayette and the surrounding areas to see Cajun Country, and my family as well.  We’ll be staying at a  cute little cottage with a screened in back porch looking out onto the Bayou Teche.  My brother has promised me a crawfish boil, and I am so looking forward to that.  I’m also looking forward to paddling a kayak in the Atchafalaya Basin, and hopefully getting some shots of cypress knees and alligators, Spanish moss and egrets.  What a great change of scene that will be!

At the end of this month, I’ll be taking a smaller trip with my kids, during their Spring Break from school.  Like last year, we will go and stay at Kahneeta Hot Springs Resort in Central Oregon.  My kids like it because they can swim all afternoon in warm water with water slides and sunshine.  I like it because I get to wake up to beautiful sunrises in the high desert, and get to take wonderful  hikes in the mornings before relaxing at in the natural hot spring water in the afternoon and evening.  On the final day, we will get up and head out to Smith Rock, which is one of my favorite places in Oregon.  Early Spring is a wonderful time to be there, before it gets overly crowded, and too warm.  I love hiking there.  Beautiful place with stunning vistas and jagged red rocks around which a gorgeous river winds.  I go back again and again in the Springtime.  Can’t wait to head out with my new camera this year!  Here’s a phone camera pic from a trip I made alone in late May/early June of 2009:





There have been all sorts of things on my mind since I last wrote, but they can’t all be tackled here and now.  I’m just happy to say I’m working out some kinks in my life and staying on track toward some important goals for myself and my family.  I’m grateful to be in touch with old friends and to have the understanding and love of so many who touch my life right here and now, too.  Even with the daily challenges, life remains so rich.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Kee-yaw, but I scared the heck out of one of the owners of my company this morning!  I had ridden my bike to work and because it was raining out, I decided to bring my bike inside to store in my cubicle before heading over to the gym next door to shower.  I didn’t expect to bump into anyone in MY cube so early in the morning, but I was surprised myself when I nudged someone just as I  pushed the bike past the cube wall.  I heard Cathy let out a startled yelp just before I saw her surprised expression.  She was standing there with a feathered Mardi Gras mask in her hand, looking sort of sheepish.  Turns out I busted her hanging Mardi Gras decorations in my cube! 

It took me a minute to sort this out in my head, but I quickly remembered that Cathy is aware of a trip I’m planning to go on if I hit my personal sales goals for this quarter, and she wanted to help provide incentive!  My friend, Shellie, and I are going to take a long-talked about trip to New Orleans during the Jazz Heritage Festival in May of this year.   Our sales trainer has been encouraging us sales people to set personal goals above and beyond our quota numbers, and to make it more real and more fun by coming up with a reward for accomplishing those goals.  Makes sense to me! 

He has also encouraged us to tell other people and even include them somehow if we think it will make us work harder.  I figured he was on to something, so I told Shellie that I was ready to take that trip if I hit my personal goal of hitting 130% of my quarterly quota.  Well, she was all for it and immediately started sending me a steady stream of links of places we could stay and things we could do.  The pressure was on to hit that goal, because I couldn’t risk letting Shellie down!

I don’t know how, but that extra pressure HAD to have some influence over my focus or something, because I’m at 110% of my quarterly  PERSONAL goal right now, and it’s only February 1st!  We are definitely going – and boy are we excited!  Just one more sale before the end of March will do it.  I think I need to set some supplementary goals to keep this drive going!  I want to visit my family in the heart of Cajun Country, too, so I will need to earn a little more for that part of the trip.

I’ve wanted to go to the Jazz Heritage Festival since my early 20’s.  This is going to be a dream come true, and I can’t wait to “pass a good time, cher!”