We survived!

The wedding is over and we all survived.  During the rehearsal, one child fell in the reflecting pool (which we knew was only going to be a matter of time and we were taking bets on who it was going to be) but other than that, we survived.  Luckily the day of the wedding was a little warmer than what they were originally forecasting (originally they were calling for 60 and overcast; it ended up being in the high 60s and sunny) but on the preemptive side, Mom bought the bride and us bridesmaids faux fur stoles that not only kept us warm but helped us look like movie stars.  The bride was beautiful and the ceremony was lovely; filled with some comic relief courtesy of two of my nephews - one just wanted to be allowed to run around and adventure and the other one didn't want to be involved in the wedding (even though he's my sister's son and she was the one getting married) and he's terrified of bubbles.  Oh, well.  Memories to tuck away to help remember the day.

Even though it has been a whirlwind trip, I have enjoyed spending time with family and welcoming my new brother-in-law into the family.  Today Mom and I took one of my nephews to the zoo and we had an absolute blast.  He had a great time and so did we - he even got to experience his first carousel ride (he got petrified right before it started but was all smiles as soon as it began).  Tomorrow is my last day here and I know I'll see some of my family members but some that I only saw on the wedding day will have to wait until my next visit (which will hopefully be in December).

I bought a new book in the airport before I left and one of the first phrases caught my attention and has stuck with me - "cherish yourself a little."  When I first read it, I scoffed a little bit then I went back, read it again, and realized the profoundness of that statement.  Or at least how it was profound to me.  I too often brush off any sort of compliment I'm given and I hardly ever compliment myself  so I definitely can't say that I've mastered the art of cherishing myself.  I know it's going to take some hard work and introspection but I want to change this. 

I want to start looking at myself and talking to/about myself as I talk with my friends.  I know that I need to be kinder to myself and take better care of myself.  One of the things I want to come with a plan for is how I approach work.  I am still working too many hours, am too stressed, I don't really eat at work and I don't take off the time that I should.  In terms of work, I think I do a pretty good job with coming up with game plans to accomplish tasks - I need to take this skill and apply it to my life in general.  When the work day is done, I need to leave.  If I work extra hours, I need to work a half day or take a day off.  I need to do more things for me - I haven't been to the aquarium or whale watching in forever and those things help to refresh me.

I see that I've used the word "I" quite a bit in that last paragraph and I think it's because I'm realizing it's time for me to be a little bit selfish.  I need to start putting myself and that may require some major sacrifices on my part.  I am becoming increasingly aware of this, especially as I get older.  I am supposed to be in the "prime of my life" but I don't necessarily feel that way.  I have some thoughts in my head of how to potentially change this but I want to see about putting some plans into motion before I write about them here.

Well, my dear readers, on that note, I'm going to sign off of here for this evening, read a little bit and head to bed.  Tomorrow is my last day here with the family, I travel all day on Tuesday and am back to work on Wednesday.  I am going to indulge in spending the last day here and take time to fully enjoy being back with family before going back to the "real world."  I hope you find opportunities for muchness in your own lives - I will be grabbing at my own opportunities with both hands!  =)

Extra time?

It was another long week for me and I'm still reeling a little bit from it.  The employee that contacted me last week ended up calling out from work Monday, Thursday and Friday and on Thursday/Friday I had another employee with time off so we were very short handed.  I ended up being in programming to help cover and that meant that I fell a little behind on my work.  I don't like feeling as if I let anyone down so not getting work done frustrates me.    I have to keep reminding myself that I get done what I get done and leave it at that.  I just found this quote and need to embrace it - Finish each day and be done with it.  You have done what you could.  Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can.  Tomorrow is a new day.  You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.  ~ Emerson

This weekend I didn't necessarily get as much accomplished as I could have or should have.  I worked for about six hours yesterday, had a couple of errands to run and then I had a gig to get ready for.  My dance instructor had a Libra party last night to celebrate all of the Libra gals in her life (herself included) by having a dance party at the studio.  I had no clue what I was going to perform but I got it between two choices - the first piece I ever danced (a middle eastern version of the song I Put a Spell on You) or a piece that I do a veil/sword improvisational dance - she picked the improv piece.  By the time I got home, I was exhausted.  Today I've done several load of laundry, gave my two dogs haircuts/baths and I started to put some items towards my suitcase (I leave Wednesday afternoon for my sister's wedding).

I'm potentially working 12 hour days tomorrow and Tuesday.  On Wednesday I will go in about 6:30 or so and leave (hopefully no later than) about noon.  I then will head to the airport at about 2:00 pm and arrive at my destination Thursday morning about 9:30 am.  I'm not one who is usually able to sleep on planes but I'm hoping that I'll be able to shut my eyes for a little bit so I'm not doomed - I don't really want to be a zombie when my parents and one of my nephews pick me up from the airport.  At some point before 2 pm Wednesday, I will need to finish picking up my apartment and packing my suitcase.  I also need to figure out what I'll be wearing overnight to travel - I'm not one that wants to wear yoga/pajama pants to travel but I definitely want to be comfortable since I'll be traveling for so many hours (and be in 4 different airports - counting where I'm taking off/landing).

People have been asking me if I'm going to be doing anything special this week for my birthday.  My response has been, um.... when do I have time for that?!  My birthday is on Tuesday and I figure if I celebrate at all it'll be when I'm with my family later in the week.  Honestly, I would like to take the day off of work and only do things that I want to do but with getting ready to travel and being open for full day programming at work (kids are out of school - I'm very lucky that I was able to get the time off for my sister's wedding that I did...).  This year isn't necessarily one of those milestone birthdays for me (I'm 35 this year) but maybe one of these days I'll take the opportunity to celebrate me...

Well my dear readers, I should probably bring this to a close for this evening and get one thing crossed of my "to do" list before I head to bed.  I hope you take opportunities for muchness for yourself this week and maybe bring muchness to someone else in your world.  Thank you for joining me along my journey for another week!  =)