Heart Attack

I like Valentine’s Day.

Certainly much better than Halloween. That is a fact.

We do a few things around here every year and this year added a couple of new twists.

Since the kids have been young we celebrate Valentine’s Day with them and not without them. My Mom also spends Valentines’ day with us too (unless she has a date with some hot guy that is!)

I have always had this thing that I want to include the people I love on this day rather than exclude them. I don’t like the feeling that unless you are in a love relationship with someone, that you have to sit home by yourself and watch TV on a holiday. So we will always have something special going one here for now and forever to underline this occasion that all single older teenagers, single younger adults  and single hot grandma’s can enjoy together with us.

No lonely hearts in this family.

My favorite tradition on Valentine’s day that started many years ago is our daughter receiving a rose wherever she is that day from her DaddyJ)))

 If you ask me what tradition of over the course of the year means the most to me it is this.

It is totally sweet.

He delivers it to her school and she feels like a million bucks. He has promised to do this all of her life. And he will. She will always have a single rose delivered to her by her Dad to her school, her home or her workplace. Her smile is so broad and proud every year on this day. She feels so special that her Dad leaves work and hand delivers a rose to her-wherever she may be in the world.

I have had so many people wanting to start to do this tradition themselves for their daughters and Beauty always says “they are copycatting it is our tradition!!!, but I have always told Beauty that this started with us. This is not something we found somewhere else, or started doing because of somebody else. It is our tradition. It is for her.

(besides the fact that I steal traditons all over the place too!)

The boys always wonder.”What about us??” There are many things that are fair in life, and many special things they get.

But the rose from Daddy is for our girl. It means a lot to us on many levels. It’s simply and specifically for her because she is a girl. Who said life has to be fair?

The kids (and hubby) all get little gifts on the table in the morning, chocolates and little stuffed animals and I  got an amazing gift from my hubby this year that he said he will continue to give me every year which is a wonderful book of memories.

This year I was especially touched. The kids went out by themselves and bought their Dad, myself and Didi gifts with their own money. That was really, really sweet. I love that this was part of their own “to do list” and had nothing to do with mine.

Usually we have gone out for fast food for dinner which is a treat. This year it will be fondue at home as we are low on money! We have made a promise that we won’t eat out more than 1 time per month as a family as it  is  costing too much and catching up with us. We have already used up our time in February so it's fondue at home this year.

We have booked an hour of bowling for the family that evening since this is something the kids often ask for and we never find time to do.

One tradition we will add this year is something I stole from a blog I read “71 Toes”. The writer Shawni has a ton of good ideas. This one is each family member writes a few things on separate heart stickies that they love about each other and when it gets dark I will post them all up over the kitchen. In the morning we all come down to a “Heart Attack”. We will also write things about Didi and out angel housekeeper and they can have some fun with this too.

Thanks Shawni for a great new tradition! That being said I can do without your surprise for my husband which I am supposed to do all year “Make sure dinner is on the table for him when he comes home at night and ensure you give him a compliment about himself before he sleeps at night” Umm Shawna…….2012?????????  But I have to love this woman-it’s the 80/20 rule right? Love 80 % of her ideas and think the other 20% are just really, really weird.

(I can only hope that people feel that optimistic about my own blog and not the other way around (hating 80% and loving 20%)

The evening will end with a nice bubble bath with candles (not with Granny or the kids of course).

All in all Valentine’s is a good excuse as far as I am concerned to spend some nice time together as a family and enjoy each other. Don’t really need an excuse to do this or a reason. But it’s always a good reminder.

Are you Adding too much Value?

At a work meeting this week I attended the seminar of Dr. Marshall-author of the Best selling book " What got you Here Won't get you There"

There were many things I took away from his keynote address, but the most important one was:

We often focus more on teaching people what to start doing rather than teaching them what to stop doing.

Often people , either in the workplace or in personal life, can be close to perfect in their interactions, dealings and relationships....if only they would stop....????
Or could control??
Or could understand how annoying it is when????
If they became aware of the ????? And accepted it and changed it-their success would reach new heights.

And what keeps them from changing these destructive behaviors? Lack of self awareness. They usually don't know the impact they have on others.

I loved this seminar. Loved it.

I thought of all the annoying things I must be doing that could potentially be keeping me from reaching my own highest potential. I thought of others around me and wonder how their lives would alter as well with a good dose of 360 degree feedback.

Feedback is a gift-if we can digest it that way. It's an opportunity and an honor.

Dr Marshall taught me a number of things in that simple hour. Made me keenly aware of the power of expertise and the importance of knowledge sharing to really touch and impact the lives of others.

We all went home with more than a book in our hands that day. We left with inquiries, questions and reflections on our own lives and the habits of those surrounding us. It was a powerful day.

No..But..However...will slowly make their way out of my sentence beginnings as I am sure they will in all of us who attended this workshop

Yes..I will. Ok...make their way into our interactions a whole lot more.

He's In!!!!!!!!!!

OMG would be the only words I have.

Bear was accepted to the 5yr sports program for high school ...FINALLY.

Emergency surgery on audition day with a week in the hospital. Months of conversations and letters and reports and re-auditions. Months of anxiety, and tears, and worry. Months of hope, and pride, and connecting the dots.

Truly surrendering to trusting the process fully.


I may not be in Canada right now Bear-but my heart and soul are with YOU only every step of the way of this HUGE and important Win in your life.

A massive and heartfelt congratulations goes out to my beautiful boy.

You did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(February 9th will go down in our records as a phenomenal day)

Work Hard- Play Hard it has Always Been.

Tonight as I prepare to go to sleep really soon because I am really tired, I feel gratitude.

Very grateful for the amazing people that I get to work with every single day.

These are people who are brilliant, who are savvy, who are fun, who make me laugh (on a constant basis), whom I learn from, who are team players and who many of whom I  consider good friends.

I feel lucky that in my case my work is really my life in many ways. And I really like my life.

I love that I get to be exactly me at work and that the leaders surrounding me get to be them.

We work in a truly phenomenal environment

It’s an amazing place to spend so many days, hours and weeks when I am not at home.

My wish for my kids is that they get to one day have such intergration of their lives as I do. Where going to work .....feels every bit as good as snuggling up to a good book at home.

I wish for them that they learn in life that there is nothing better than looking forward to what is to come the next day..everyday.

Golden Advice

When I first started more than 7yrs ago at the company I work for now I immediately learned some important advice.
It was from my Manager at that point and time, who went on to be extremely successful in his career and so I tend to believe that he must know what he is talking about.

He told me to shop as much as possible in airports.

So I did that today in Miami as I wait for my flight for Panama City.

He said if you travel for business you have to make it worth your time. You have to maximize moments. Be productive.

So I am!

He used to have this great routine where his Dad used to drive him to. airport each and every time morning or night. Just to have time to catch up.


(My taxi driver was friendly).

He also said that each time he came home from a business trip it was with a bunch of bags. I am assuming they were things for him and not souvenirs for the kids? He should have been more clear in his instructions!


So since his advice I have become a high performer in airport shopping (only at good airports none of that tacky souvenir stuff) I have bought great sunglasses-cool coverups-sweet soap and books for my shelves.

Why does Visa keep calling me for unusual credit activity? Shouldn't they understand by now this is my routine?

Today was even more profitable. I bought elastics for my hair that proceeds go to charity. I mean -nothing like an opportunity to give to a good cause right?

So thank you old Manager for that excellent and useful advice. You were a smart one and I thank you for it.

Love those long connections.

The Beginnings of an Orthodontist

It is Bear’s birthday. God I love this child. I give thanks for him almost everyday of my life; I honestly don’t know if I know anyone as sweet and kind and smart as this guy.

He wrote this composition for school this week and I just love it. It talks about what he sees in his future. Orthodontist or surgeon!!! 2-3 kids. Says health of his family his biggest value and wish.  Skiing and golf and cottage every weekend. Boating, Sailing and Amazing Race with his brother! Sounds like he and I will get along just fine in adulthood-can’t wait to hang out with him.

We did an early birthday celebration for him last week as I will be in Panama City this week for work all week.

He had a day off from school so I prepared a treasure hunt for him and his friend sending them from his shoe, to the microwave to the shower to the medicine cabinet to the dishwasher. In each place was some money for treats. Lunch at Gigi’s Pizzeria, then hot chocolate at the French Bakery, fudge at Paniers and gum at the depanneur. He was so surprised and so happy. So what if he felt sick to his stomach for 3 days? Part of having no treats in your house Mon-Friday and being on a total health kick is spoiling them on weekends and holidays::)

Then his birthday dinner at home with his chosen menu: Raclette. Yummy! Big feast with gifts of course from Didi  that he loved. He got his hat and his “I love Boobies” bracelet. He was thrilled. I love his reaction to gifts-he is so thankful and happy and he shares all his candy with us too.

We went out to Cage au Sports on the way up to Trent and they played “Happy Birthday” on the loudspeaker  -this was much better than a gang of waiters coming to table and having you stand on a chair and hold a rubber chicken!

Candy poster of course on his real bay. I added in a loony beside each candy this year. I figure the middle child should get something special for once? The others were very jealous and furious as predicted.

That night he stayed up late with his Dad and me and slept in our bed (well he slept and we were squished and stayed awake all night!). We all went in the Jacuzzi together late, late and opened all the windows so his hair turned to icicles-he was impressed. He took a meditation stance in the hot tub it was really cute.

Part of his gift was a cool new “sweaty” from the ski shop that goes down past his knees for skiing. He loves it.

Later February he will have a number of friends come over for pizza and I will take them all to the cinema. He has asked that we not stay with them and just drop them off. He has also said it does not matter which movie they see because they don’t watch it anyways. Happy not to be with those loud boys-I would be embarrassed.

As he made his wish on his candles this year I wondered if he wished for his sport program spot? Or was he like me..And doesn’t need to wish on it..because he is confident it will happen anyways? I hope he used his wish for what is most important to him. I hope his wishes come true.

As my boy turns twelve today, I am so grateful for the person he is already and who he will become. When I look at him I see kindness, and love and joy and intelligence. We feel tremendous pride in this boy and what he is to this family.

He had got to be the most stubborn and hard headed person I have ever come across but living with him in general is a complete and utter joy.

I always knew he was the one that would take care of us and come and visit us when he is older and so are we-and I still believe that. He is the one who will spend every weekend with us at the cottage, and every Sunday night dinner. He will always come back home. He wrote in his composition that by the age of 31 yrs he wants to be married to a “femme magnifique” and I am certain he will be.

This kid knows exactly what he wants and he will make it happen.

I love you from the deepest corners of my heart and soul my boy. I never knew that I could have as much respect for a 12 yr old that I do for you. You make us so incredibly proud every single day of your life.

We will fight for you and what you deserve forever. Don’t worry Bear you will be climbing that Mount Everest one day soon! There is NO chance a school could give up a leader like you. They might qualify as insane if they did that. They aren’t.

Love forever and a day,

Mommy

Just Do It

I was reviewing my Happiness Project that I did in November and will update periodically on elements of it.

Some aspects are going very well and other parts less well.
Overall am I happier? I would say no..I am not happier (yet) BUT this project has made a big difference in my life so far on some important levels.

EXCERCISE:

Before this happiness project I don't think a year has gone by since I was 17 yrs old that exercising more has not made it onto my resolutions for the year or any plan I make to change behavior.

I have always exercised on and off. And it has always been a part of my life-but in an inconsistent way. I have always really loathed going to the gym, or aerobic classes, but I often still do them half heartedly and with medium consistency and determination.

When I started having major neck and back pain issues a number of years ago it got me into a better routine of exercise and seeing chiros and other specialists and doing prescribed stretching etc...because I literally had no choice unless I wanted to suffer all day and night. It made me make time in my life for more regular exercise. But I still generally hated it.

On the flip side we are one of the more active families I know on the weekend and I love our family sports a lot. Swimming, water sports, skiing, walking on country roads, skating, snow showing, kayaking all make up a big part of our weekends and I look forward. To every moment.
So although I have not been friends with formal exercise I am very far from a coach potato.

With this Happiness Project I have finally been able to start actually looking forward to excercsing. I am not sure why actually-the change has been huge. I think for the first time in my life I have not equated exercise with the goal of changing my body (necessarily).

My goal has been to reduce back and neck pain, feel more energized, get outside more during the week and have a bit of space in a day for myself.

It has come to the point in the last few weeks that I am actually very resentful of anything that comes between me and my planned exercise sessions! A miracle considering I used to invite any distraction that would keep me from the gym most the time.
I feel genuinely pissed off when I have to cancel exercise. Hallelujah!!!

I mean I don't commit to a lot but what I am committing to I am enjoying. Mondays which is my more flexible day-it's a power walk and a gym session and then Tues and Wed a 30 minute power walk and my stretching for back etc. Thursday the gym for a class-and go to work a bit later that morning-but that is hard as meetings get scheduled half the time..but I do it every week that I am able and try to make this happen as often as I can control.

But its hard to fit everything in. I am not one to go into the office early unless meetings early so I am generally at my computer or on blackberry for a good part of early morning before 8:30am or taking meetings that can be done on the phone or fall in various other time zones. That is what I like about walking--I can work and then take a break for a power walk and then still get to work for a good time. Going to the gym or pilates involves a bit more time and planning-but I am committed to making it happen as I have to do it. It replaces physio for me and is necessary. When I don't I feel it right away.


So all in all- I am starting to seriously care for exercise for the first time in my life. I really it energizes me, makes me feel more confident, makes me concentrate more, and makes me feel proud and good overall.

Exercise is definitely a factor...that will in the long term make me happier.

I hope I stay this way. Disciplined with good habits. Finally on my way. I think.