United 93 ...

    

 I went to see United 93 last night with my brother in law, my niece and some of her friends from New York. It was sort of like being at a memorial service.

     Because of all of the media coverage of the actual event, coupled with the fact that the movie was based only on the evidence collected after the crash ... I don't think that I learned anything new from seeing it. 

     The silence from such a large crowd both before and after the movie and the intense outburst of emotion afterwards, from individuals that were affected on the extremely personal level of loosing a family member of friend during the event was heart wrenching to say the least.

     Have any of you watched it yet?     

                                                 

    

Just checking in ...

     I'm just starting to get settled into my new job. 2 1/2 weeks of intense training and waiting for background checks to clear and now finishing up first full week out in the field. What a first week it was.

     Although I've been with this company for about 9 years, sales is not my background. While certainly knowledgeable enough, assertive and competitive enough by nature there is still a huge learning curb ahead for me.

     I've been driving to places all across South Florida, that I barely knew existed. I did get a GPS for my car, a most valuable tool of the trade for this kind of job. One less thing I have to worry about.

     With the kind of schedule I working, I have had nearly no time for the artsy things I like to do, like paint, photograph, Photoshop or even to pick up my guitar. Hope that will change as I continue to settle in more.

     Yesterday I was a little early for my 5:00 in Miramar and happened to spot a photo opp with mamma duck and co. above and couldn't resist. I know she's Muskogee (correction, Muscovy) ... still cute to me.

    BTW ... I made my first sale yesterday, as a matter of fact I sold a kitchen to both of the people I met with and ... someone I met with the day before called back and asked me to come back on Friday. Hoping to finalize details on that kitchen too.

     Whew ... this commission only thing was starting to get a little concerning, I was starting to imagine getting an IOU or UOME on payday. Realistically speaking, by the time they took my insurance and such out I could have ended up owing them for the hardest week of work in my life. LOL

     Have a good rest of the week, I'll check in when I can.

                                                    

A welcome time out ...

     I've been really, really busy training for my new position at work, it has required two weeks of total focus and concentration.

  

     On Sunday, I welcomed a time out to celebrate Easter with my family.

 

     Mandy did not get to come home this year but my niece Brittney was here and put a lot of effort into helping my sister make this an extra fun day for the little ones in our family.

 

 

     The whole day was all about the kids.

  

     Oh come on ... you know you want a bite!

  

 

                                                             

Quiet thoughts

Things they are a changin` ...

 

The Vandas ...

        are in bloom. Pretty, right? I love this time of year!

       

      I'm not away, just started training for my new job today. Trying to memorize a really long script. Will be here when I can, just have to focus elsewhere for now.

     Oh, a friend sent the following in an E-mail today. I'm going to need it with all the driving I'll be doing.

     Have not had time to try it out yet but I will. Hope it's not one of those joke E-mails. Maybe I should have tried it first. Oh well to late, right?

    

This is pretty nifty.
Just enter your  zip code in the site below, and it tells you which gas stations have the cheapest prices (and the highest) on gas   in your zip code   area.  It's updated every evening. 
 
http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx!

Be a good neighbor and   pass this along ..      

                                  Have a good week all!

                                        

#4 Just Like A Lighthouse ...

     I will always believe that Chris was one of the greatest songwriters ever, as were many, ok ...  all of our roommates except me (I do plan on catching up soon though). Just like a lighthouse was one of my favorites, always will be.

     I am reposting the entry below (and comments), from March 2004, it was the second Dancing in the Rain entry ever. This song has followed me throughout my life, my kids all know the words by heart. My X Husband probably does too, though I doubt that he would admit it ; ) 

So often I direct most of my time and energy to taking care of what's best for the people that I love the most. It can become all consuming and sometimes I forget to take care of what’s most important me.

I want my daily rounds to become more motivated to making necessary choices that will bring more health, joy, love, creativity, passion and contentment to my own life.

Today my journey changes direction as I begin to reclaim my life. I'll be searching for the knowledge and determination to make the crucial changes that will allow me to become the best me that I can be.

This reminds me of a song that Chris, (one of the closest friends that I've ever had) wrote over 25 years ago. The song is called "Just like a Light House." The lyrics included a part that said ... “I’m just like a light house on a stormy sea, if your boat gets lost you can depend on me. When it's cold as the rain and it’s black as the night, look for me and I am always in sight. But all I want to know is who,who looks out for me when I'm looking out for you?”

The truth is ... no one. No one looks out for me. I have spent so much time looking out for everyone else, when I should have spent more time looking out for me.

The journey begins, or should I say continues ...

                           *** Coy ***

#3 Cast of Characters ...

     Chris and I moved to Atlantic City NJ in 1978. As you might imagine, it was much to my Mothers delight. (Yes ... still sweet 16, you can stop doing the math now).

     Does any of this sound farmiliar? At least Mandy waited until she was nearly 19. Funny how what comes around goes around, right?

     Below is a photo I took of our room mates (some of them anyway). Chris played in a band called Rebirth and I worked. First at the Lighthouse Tavern, Camillo's and then at Resorts the year that it opened.

     David front left (later renamed himself Jamon) not sure if that was Rebecca or Denise sitting next to him. The hair was wet, hard to tell ... both of them were there. Chris playing the guitar, Ray with the flute, Melissa dark hair towards the back and her Dad in the chair.

     This was one of the first photos that I took with my very first camera. It was a Konica 35mm with wide angled lens. I bought it at a Pawn Shop. We were in upstate New York at the time, visiting Melissa's Dad he was a producer, film if I recall. Can't remember all of the details but I do remember how much he loved his little girl and how he and his wife opened up their home to the entire group of us and treated us like family.

                                               

#2 Chris ...

     This is a photo of me and my friend Chris, from 1978. Yes ... sweet 16 for those of you trying to do the math!

     Chris is probably the very best friend that I've ever had. We still keep in touch on ocasion and have vowed to remain friends until the end of time.

     BTW ... Chris and Rebecca were friends long before I met either of them and I'm sure they will always remain friends as well. 

 

                                                                  

#1 How Time Flies ...

     Some of you may remember this entry, I posted it about 18 months ago, how time flies.

     No ... I never did catch up with Rebecca before she left town and I also never got around to telling more of the story like I intended so ... I would like to do that now, as time allows.

     This was one of the best times in my life and it's a story that needs telling. Thought I would start by reposting this entry and it's comments.

    

 

Rebecca

    

 I just got off the phone with an old friend, we talked for over an hour as if we were 18 years old again. It was almost like nothing of great importance had happened since the last time we saw each other and that was 25 years ago.

  The conversation was fast paced and exciting as we bounced memories back and forth of a shared adventure of a life time that took place so very long ago.

  There have been 4 or 5 other phone calls over the years so we were not completely in the dark about some of the major events in each others lives like husbands, children and divorce.

  Rebecca only lives about 25 miles away, isn't it sad how sometimes we just don't make the time to nurture the friendships that we do have in the business of our everyday lives.

   I found out that she will be moving away in just a matter of weeks, seems like I caught her just in time. I guess that making the time to catch up with an old friend is the silver lining in the dark clouds of this hurricane day.

   I'm going to be posting some old photos that will be a reminder of the old friends, old memories and the really great story that we share. More details later.

   Grateful for cabin fever on a hurricane day in South Florida.

                               *** Coy ***