Perspective

"What If It All Goes Right"

I heard this song on the radio yesterday sung by 2008 Nashville Star winner Melissa Lawson. The lyrics - which I will post after my entry - really struck me. For most of my 20's I was the girl that spent too much time worrying "what if" the bad thing happened. And I suppose, sadly enough, that fear kept me from doing a lot of things I wanted to do.

So here I am, now in my 30's, finally starting to consistently feel like "what if" something good happens. And now that I'm in this new place where I can see more good, I have the perspective to understand that for every bad "what if" you think, you can just as easily think a good "what if". We are all going to face things in life that are scary, challenging, frustrating, etc. But what if when faced with those things there's something great waiting on the other side? What if it all went right, well then life would be pretty darn good!

What if that road that you’re taking’s a dead end
What if love leaves you all jaded and broken
What if that limb breaks you’re climbing out on
Yeah, what if it all goes wrong

But, what if it all goes right
What if it all works out
What if the stars line up
and good luck rains down
What if you chase your dreams
and it changes your whole life
Yeah, what if it all goes right

What if that road is a beautiful slow drive
what if that love ends up lasting a life time
what if that limb holds you, oak tree strong
what if this time nothing goes wrong

What if it all goes right
What if it all works out
What if the stars line up
and good luck rains down
What if you chase your dreams
and it changes your whole life
Yeah, what if it all goes right

What if you climb to the mountain top
and touch the sky
grab a cloud as it passes by
you might fall you might fall
but then again you might fly

What if it all goes right
What if it all works out
What if the stars line up
and good luck rains down
What if you chase your dreams
and it changes your whole life
Yeah, what if it all goes right

Same Old, Same Old

Another snowy day; hanging at home.

It's a good thing I made the effort to write about the things I like about winter the other day because I don't think I could do it now. I have made the supreme effort this morning to take a shower and get dressed but believe me the temptation to stay in my PJ's all day was there. I have the Australian Open tennis tournament on the TV, where they've just had to close the roof on the stadium because it was 130 degrees on the court. I've been sitting here trying to decide if I'd rather be there in the heat or here in the snow. So far I've come to no conclusion. I guess I'll go fire up the vacuum and make use of my day at home. I do imagine at some point during the day I'll curl up under a blanket and read a book - a guilt free pleasure on a day like today!

Trying To Be Positive

Things that I like about winter:

1. No snakes in the yard.
2. I don't have to clean up Jak's yard until the spring. (Done weekly in the summer.)
3. I can stay inside and read a book without guilt on a sunny afternoon because the temperature is probably 10 degrees outside.
4. I get to use my heated blanket.
5. Shoveling snow makes me feel like I've had a workout without going to the gym.
6. I get to wear one of my 20+ scarves every day.
7. The deck doubles as an extra refrigerator/freezer for temporary storage of food items.

If I think of any more I'll come back and add them to the list, but I have to tell you, I struggled to come up with those seven!

*I thought of another one for the list!
8. Sam Adams Winter Lager

Hitting the Slopes

Back in my ski boots again.

After a 2+ year hiatus from hitting the slopes, I went skiing again last night. The last time I skied I was still using my old straight skis and just about got laughed off the mountain because shaped skis are now all the rage. So at a used ski sale two years ago I bought some shaped skis. And there they sat until two weeks ago when I finally took them to the ski shop and got the bindings adjusted to my ski boots.

I'm not a die hard skier, I'm more the fair weather kind. And since the temperature was above 20 degrees last night I decided to give the shaped skis a try. Although I'm sure the shaped skis are better, it's hard for me to flat out say I noticed a difference because after all, I haven't been on any skis in several seasons. I'm proud to say I didn't fall even once and I kept my snowplowing to a minimum. I'm not sore today, although my energy level is such that I feel like I ran a marathon last night. It was good to get out on my skis again and as weather permits I'll probably get out there a few more times this season.

Peepa - If you're reading this, Ski Sundown just isn't the same without you! I hope you're having a good ski season in the mountains outside Vegas.

I am the...

Proud owner of Revvies season tickets!

I just got off the phone from selecting my seats for the 2009 season. I made the decision to purchase them back in October but new season ticket holders don't get to select their seats until existing season ticket holders have had the opportunity to move theirs if they wish. So now it's starting to feel real - and what pressure to choose! As I hesitated to make my choice, I said to the woman "it's not just one game, it's for the whole season!"

The first home game of the season is April 4th; only 72 days to go...but who's counting?!?

Clicking My Heels

These are 'anywhere but here' shoes.















It may be a little hard to tell from the picture but they are sparkly silver shoes and when I first got them I used to get references to Dorothy's ruby red slippers. I started telling people that since they are silver not red, they aren't "there's no place like home" shoes, they're "anywhere but here" shoes. Implying of course that if I click my heels together when wearing them I would be transported elsewhere.

I'm sitting here today trying to pull myself out a funk by listening to my Kenny Chesney CD - "Be As You Are" which contains only songs with a tropical feel. One of the songs, "Old Blue Chair" has a line that goes "I've watched boats sail in and out of Cinnamon Bay" so for the heck of it I decided to Google Cinnamon Bay. The image results are as follows:



























On a cold New England day, at least a girl can click her heels and dream...

Birthday Wishes

Belated birthday wishes to cousin Cap!

My apologies for being a day late - I didn't get online yesterday to extend them in a timely fashion. I hope you had a good day with your family watching the football game!

Winter Woes

Warmer temps. Melting snow. Dirty dog.

It was a balmy 32 degrees today which was a welcome change after the miserably cold temperatures last week. With the warmer temperature comes the melting snow which Jak and I have no choice but to walk in on the side of the road. On top of the slushy mess is a truck load of sand that has been spread on the road and is quickly absorbed by the long blond hair on Jak's belly. Last winter I asked the town highway superintendent (also an owner of a golden retriever) if they could not sand the stretch of road that Jak and I walk on. But NO, something about the steep grade and dangerous road conditions if not treated, blah, blah, blah. Oh well, if the alternative to a dirty dog is not walking because it's too cold, I'll take the dirt; I know how to run a vacuum.

P.S. If you haven't updated your blog in a week or more, hop to it! (Please?)

For a Few Moments

The world was strangely quiet today.

I was out walking Jak when I noticed how still and quiet the world seemed. No cars driving by, no planes flying over, not even a breeze in the air. It reminded me of September 11th when all flights were grounded and living close enough to an airport to actually notice, it was unusually quiet. The quiet today was soon enough interrupted but it was nice to drink up a moment of nature at it's finest.

It took a lot of gumption to actually get out and walk Jak today since the temperature is not 20 or above (my minimum temperature rule) but with temps in the single digits and below zero most of this week the walks haven't been happening. It's suppose to snow most of the day tomorrow so that will preclude a walk then. I hope everyone is staying warm, since it's seems all are feeling the cold in some capacity this week.

It's so cold...

My coat sounds like crinkling paper.

Not exactly sure why it sounds like that but if you live where it gets cold or have lived in the cold, you know what I'm talking about. I believe it was around -6 degrees here this morning. With the highs predicted to be in the 8-14 degree range today.

I heard on the news yesterday that it was the same temperature in Anchorage, Alaska as it was in Daytona Beach, FL; 41 degrees. I'm sure to you Floridians, 40 is feeling pretty darn cold, but to us in the northeast, 40 would be a heat wave. It's all relative I guess.

Pictures

Thirty-two candles; no fire department.

Another Q & A

Really, who comes up with these?

(If I sent this in an email I'd probably be sending it to the majority of my known blog readers so I figure I might as well just post my answers here - maybe someone will learn something fascinating about me that they didn't already know!?!)

Welcome to the 2009 edition of getting to know your Friends. ' press FO R WA R D ' then change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to your friends including the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends that you might not have known!

1. What time did you get up this morning. 7:10 (unwillingly)

2. Diamonds or pearls? Both!

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Sex & the City

4. What is your favorite TV show? Brothers & Sisters

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? oatmeal with chocolate chips and cinnamon

6. What is your middle name? Kathleen

7. What food do you dislike? mayonnaise - anything that contains mayo - especially tuna fish -
anything that resembles mayo - like salad dressings

8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Lady Antebellum

9. What kind of car do you drive? Felicity the Fusion

10. Favorite sandwich? BLT - minus the mayo of course!

11. What characteristic do you despise? meanness

12. Favorite item of clothing? Adidas running sneakers at the moment

13. If u could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would u go? Alaska to see the Aurora Borealis

14. Whats you favorite brand of clothing? Old Navy, Kohl's

15. Where would you retire to? the Carolinas

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Yesterday!!

17. Favorite sport to watch? Soccer

18. Furthest place you are sending this? N/A

19. Person you expect to send it back first? N/A

20. When is your birthday? January 12th

21. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night, definitely

22. What is your shoe size? 8.5 or 9

23. Pets? Jaksen Apollo

24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? I won $200 on a scratch ticket I got
for my birthday!

25. What did you want to be when you were little? a mailman (the female version) or a truck driver

26. How are you today? Better now that I'm out of work for the day.

27. What is your favorite candy? Cadbury milk chocolate mini eggs

28. What is your favorite flower? white roses

29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? March 8th - Daylight Saving Time begins!

30.What's your full name? Hope Kathleen

31. What are you listening to right now? a TV commercial for Microsoft

32. What was the last thing you ate? raw carrots - a post workout snack

33. Do you wish on stars? shooting stars

34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Lemon Yellow

35. How is the weather right now? Cold with some snow on the way

36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today? somebody at work about payroll, can't remember who

37. Favorite soft drink? been drinking a lot of 100% Cranberry juice lately

38. Favorite restaurant? Zanto

39. Real hair color? dark brown

40. What was your favorite toy as a child? my Snoopy Playmate

41. Summer or winter? SUMMER!!!

42. Hugs or kisses? Depends who is giving them

43. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate

44. Coffee or tea? Coffee

45. Do you want your friends to email you back? N/A

46. When was the last time you cried? Watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition a week or so ago

47. What is under your bed? shoes, summer clothes, probably a cat

48.. What did you do last night? went to dinner, picked up my newly adjusted skis, went to Costco and Kohl's then home for the annual lighting of the candles

49. What are you afraid of? nothing immediately comes to mind so why come up with something?!

50. Salty or sweet? Depends on my mood

51. How many keys on your key ring? 3

52. How many years at your current job? 8 years

53. Favorite day of the week? depends on the week

54. How many towns have you lived in? 2

55. Do you make friends easily? No, but once I do I'm a very loyal friend.

56. How many people will you send this to? N/A

57. How many will respond? N/A

It's Time

Climbing back on the workout wagon.

A few weeks before Christmas I was so caught up in buying a car and of course all the pre-holiday stuff that I fell off the working out regularly wagon. Now, a month later, I feel the time has come to get my butt back to the Y. In my defense, although weak, I have still been walking Jak up the hill in the cold so that must count for something. It's going to be a struggle to point my car toward the Y and not toward home. Actually come to think of it I haven't ever driven my new car to the gym and it was four weeks ago today that I bought it. Enough said, it's time.

On this day...

The world was graced with Hope.

And it probably hasn't been the same since! Yes, it's my birthday - 32nd if you're wondering. I would say for the majority of them it has snowed, and thankfully there is none predicted for today. As a kid the snow was always a form of heartbreak because whatever plans for my birthday that had been made inevitably got postponed or canceled.

I spent the afternoon yesterday with my letter writing friend. We had a really nice visit and when it came time for refreshments she apologized for not having time to bake so she had bought a cake. "I hope you like this kind," she said as she produced a Boston Creme Cake from the refrigerator. Like it, it's my favorite - perfect! When I got home, my mom had unearthed 32 candles - not birthday cake candles - jar candles, votives, tapers, any kind to make up the right amount. They will be lit later this evening with a picture to follow in an upcoming blog. From there it was off to my aunt and uncle's for a birthday dinner; really for Bea, Maggie and me, since our birthdays happen within a 13 day span. It was an enjoyable evening which ended with me dragging my mom away from playing Wii with Will since it was a school night and he needed to go to bed. I walked into work this morning to find a birthday cake and presents on my desk. Although I have been told I don't have to share the cake, I think I shall.

Between cards, emails, cakes, dinner and presents, I am feeling very loved on this January 12th and let me just say it's a very good feeling!!

Snowy Day

Getting ready for another big dig.

It's been snowing since last evening and is only now trying to stop. Thankfully it wasn't heavy snow so maybe only 6 inches of the white stuff; I haven't been out yet to give an official estimate. The temperature is under 20 degrees which means it's fluffy snow, therefore easier on the back when shoveling.

Lucky for the school kids (and Cindy!) this storm has at least arrived on the weekend and won't require another day off from school. My estimation is the kids will be getting out for the summer sometime around the 4th of July after making up all the snow days or so it seems. One year here in town the school actually gave up their February vacation and had school so they didn't have to go so late making up snow days. Let's hope that doesn't happen this year!

"God is great, beer is good...

...and people are crazy!"

I am a fan of country music, it's mostly all I listen to. But when I heard this song yesterday, even I had to stop and laugh. I guess, if you can't say it in the lyrics to a country song, where can you say it?

New England Weather

Another wintry day in the woods.

So far today we've had a little snow, then some freezing rain and at the moment it's sleeting. Supposedly it's going to change to all rain by the afternoon but that remains to be seen in the hill towns. I've decided to stay home today unless of course it does change to rain and then I'd consider going to work for a while.

I had the chance to go out and enjoy the weather first hand this morning when Jak inadvertently got loose and took off for a romp around the neighborhood. I figured he would come back but with the not so good road conditions I couldn't just sit around sipping my coffee awaiting his return. Once I came close to hitting my neighbor's dog when the roads were bad and she was standing in the middle of the road so I would hate to put someone else in that position with my dog. I walked about a quarter of a mile down the road and saw no sign of him so I headed back home. By the time I arrived he was in the backyard waiting for me. Crisis averted!

Just in case the rain this afternoon is freezing rain here, I've turned the heat up, taken a shower, and done a load of laundry. This girl has learned a lesson about the value of having electricity!

It's a Good Thing

Finally, something to feel good about.

I have maintained throughout the war in Iraq that if the media chose to report on some of the good things that happen instead of always focusing on the bad, it might be easier to see the effort hasn't been all for not. And since we, society, rely on the media to get our information for the most part we only ever get their slanted view. Well, today I came across the following article and am pleased someone finally chose to report on something good in Iraq.


Having a ball in Iraq
By Ted Hayes

BRISTOL — For one day at least, there was peace in one tiny corner of Iraq. Soldiers traded their fatigues, weapons and flak jackets for soccer uniforms. Shia and Sunni Muslims came together as friends. And children, many of whom have little to be thankful for, enjoyed a day of fun and play. Through it all, Bristol’s Jimmy Pepoon, 26, smiled.

On Friday, Dec. 26, after nearly a year of planning, the United States Army held a regional soccer tournament in a stadium in the town of Taji, an arid village just north of Baghdad, and invited some 60 players from across the region to play in a four-round tournament against each other and a team made up of American GIs. The Iraqis and soldiers wore uniforms donated by folks back in Bristol and beyond, wearing donated cleats, shin guards and other gear to kick donated balls. When it was over, the winners received donated trophies and each of the hundreds of Iraqis who watched from the stands went home with donated sporting goods and other freebies.

The tournament, the first of its kind and size since the U.S. entered Iraq in 2003, was the brainchild of 2000 Mt. Hope High School graduate Jimmy Pepoon, a member of the United States Army’s 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry, Second Stryker Brigade, 25th Infantry. Since being deployed to Iraq in December 2007, he spent much of his free time on the phone and computer with family and friends back home in Bristol, soliciting donations of everyday items such as clothing and school supplies, as well as soccer uniforms, equipment and other supplies for not only the tournament but for the youth of Iraq.

The effort encompassed much more than the tournament itself, and involved a host of Bristol fund-raisers, volunteer efforts by his mom, Donna St. Angelo, and a huge cast of others from Bristol and beyond. Since it began, hundreds of Iraqi children and adults have been given free equipment, jerseys and other supplies that they otherwise wouldn’t have access to in Iraq, many of them donated by or through Bristol residents.

But the tournament, held the day after Christmas, was clearly one of the most enjoyable parts of the effort for SSG Pepoon, who has loved the game for most of his life. He said it was a huge hit not just because it brought Shias, Sunnis, young and old, and Iraqis and Americans together, but also because it gave everyone a chance to forget the war for a little while and concentrate on having fun.

“It just brought everyone together for a day,” he said during a telephone interview. “It was just, ‘Go out there and have a safe, fun day.’ We had 15 (soldiers) walking around all day with no gear on, just acting like regular people. It was a really good time.”

And it was a long time coming.

Click here to read the full article.