JW Marriott-Phuket

The Main Pool
Originally uploaded by Farflungcraft.

Some great shots from our much needed vacation. I did nothing, went nowhere, did nothing but lay by the pool, read 3 books, and scrapbook.

Heaven!

Self-Empowerment

Ok, with the last few weeks being in the shitter, I am glad that is all over, I am trying to get back on a positive mind wave. Generally, I think of myself as an upbeat-outgoing-positive person. This is hard to do when you are stressed out and under a lot of personal and professional pressure. I basically almost let my little craft business wither on the vine because the rest of life was being right up front in my face and pushing me on all sides.

Anyway, trying to get back on the optimistic train, so I started to read Iyanla Vanzant. Wow, that woman had a lot of crap on her plate before she got it together. Sometimes I wanted to reach through the page and just slap the woman for doing the same stupid things again and again, but then I think she writes it that way. She wants you to see that she, just like the rest of us, is full of day to day BS that pushes her in the direction that she needs to go, or towards a lesson she needs to learn. I am not sure where my lesson is in all of the last few months, but I am sure I will find it.

But, in her book Yesterday I Cried, I read a quote that is probably the most true thing I have ever read. I read it and said, YES, that is it! That is so absolutely right on the money. So, here is the quote:

"There is something magical that occurs when a woman turns forty. She becomes more attractive in a sensual and seductive way. It's not that her body gets better, but I think she becomes more comfortable with her body and knows how to maneuver it better. At forty a woman's eyes begin to sparkle. Not with lust or excitement, but with wisdom. She has seen some things, done some things, and learned some things that show through her eyes. At forty, although there are some things on a woman's body that lie down, at the same time, other things stand out. They become clear. A forty-year-old woman finds her voice, gets her vision and her footing. When I turned forty, I became too old to try to be somebody else, so I stopped trying.

As I thought about it, I realized that I didn't have any sense at all until I turned forty. At twenty three, I thought I had all of the answers. When I turned forty, I realized that I had no idea what the question was."

Here's to finding the question and celebrating my age.

Feeling better this week

So far, it is only Tuesday, but I am feeling much better this week. I am planning a weekend trip to Phuket. My co-worker bought a time share at the JW Marriott, and so he was able to "gift" us a three day package. We have to listen to the time share speil, but for the cost of airfare ($99Sing on Tiger air including taxes) we get three nights at a totally kick ass resort.

It appears Jeff will not be able to swim, so the pool lounging is all mine I say! Plus, I can go for a snorkel... and leave him on the beach. AGAIN, I RULE!

Here is the fancy website for the Marriott. Can't wait!

I checked out a few books from the library, you know, some good old life affirmation books, the ones where Iyanla Vanzant tells you what a crappy life she had, and now she is ok. I also pulled out my favorite Maya Angelou books. Coupled with a Julia Cameron, I AM FEELING BETTER. Jeff, of course doesn't get it, but I read these books and I feel better. I can focus again.

Now, in only 5 days I will be on the beach with a pina colada in hand and getting very very silly drunk!

An Essay on Hell

This week has been bad. It sucked. I don't ever want to have a week this bad ever again. Ever. My week, starting last Friday, began with the horrible day of putting my dog to sleep. It sucked, it was horrible, I hated it. As much as I know it was right to let her go, I still miss her. I miss having her tail me around the house, have her sit in the office... heck I even miss the noxious dog farts, cause it was all part and parcel of her.

I worked a good part of the weekend on a big big deal for TI. We just sold off our Sensors and Controls division to Bain Capital for 3 Billion bucks. Worked our asses off. I worked on both the Malaysia and Singapore sides and thank god that was it.

Monday, the escalator at Bukit Panjang Plaza argued with Jeff. Jeff lost, so we spent 3.5 hours in the hospital (while I was supposed to be working on the above closing) and Jeff got admitted to NUH for surgery. If he had a blog, he could tell you all about it, but I guess being in a Semi-private room with 3 others still sucks if you are placed in the renal ward.

I flew out early Tuesday morning to Taiwan for work, after only about 3 hours sleep Monday night. Didn't get to see Jeff he was still at the hospital. Worked all night Tuesday (all night) slept about 1 hour solid, the rest of the night would wake up every hour to check email.

Wednesday,all day on phone for closing, only to get urgent SMS from Jeff saying Kiera has now been admitted to hospital for Asthma. So, I cancel the rest of the trip to Taiwan and come back to Singapore. Life sucks. I really want it to be better next week. I guess the optimist would say it could have been worse, or it can only get better. I can only hope for the better next week.

RIP-JD

Today, my beloved best friend quietly went to sleep while I held her head and cryed with her. She looked me straigt in the eye until she went to sleep. Her life was a great one, filled with adventures of all sorts. From hikes around the great State of Oregon, camping with friends and family. Running around like a mad dog on crack after eating a bag of chocolate covered espresso beans, to jumping 6 foot fences. To hording food for the "possums" under our porch, to burying Lisa's turkey bagel sandwitch. Flying around the world as a international traveler, to being a watch dog and protector of me, Jeff and the kids.

JD, the best dog. A good dog. A dog that was part of my family-my life-

Rest in peace.

10/1/01-4/21/06