Photo

I thought it was time for a photo. This was taken at the end of July along the northern coastline of California.

Life is a bowl of cherry pits!

I am just so angry, annoyed, upset, lost and confused and there really is nothing I can do to help out other than lend an attentive ear for listening and signing over my paycheck. Of course I am beating myself up for not taking the time in the beginning of July to look into other options as now is time is running out because of some crazy doctor! Some one I love will have to struggle back at work next week and there is nothing I can do. She has worked so hard, played by the rules and has paid her dues at least twice, but now she is on the verge of loosing her health insurance if she cannot stay at her job. Life just sucks!

I guess crying and moaning will not help the situation, but what else am I supposed to do? She lives by herself, is in debt and needs to keep the job that will slowly squeeze her out. I guess I know I should be saving every penny I can because the proverbial rainy day looks to be a huge downpour.

:(

Work...

Somewhere along the way, a shift occurred. It used to be fun and I enjoyed what I did, but now it is just work and that makes me sad. On the bright side, I start a new job tomorrow. On the flip side, I am nervous and somewhat dreading going into the new place tomorrow. Is that bad? Perhaps. Or, it could just be the new job jitters. Will I do a good job? Will the people like me? Will I like the job and other tasks that I need to do? Ugh!

On top of all that, I have work that I need to do today to prep for my first day as the new kid on the block. I really should have put my foot down and did the work this morning instead of waiting until after 3pm on a Sunday to start the work.

"Crack" time for me to get to work.

Nervous

Tomorrow I have an interview.

Yikes!

It will be fairly informal - meeting a few people and learning about the job. I am still nervous.

Plus I am a bit sad that I may have a job soon. I do have to work for a living, but I was hoping this sabbatical would last a little bit longer as I hardly was into relaxation mode much less tourist mode.

Oh well. I guess I will have to squeeze in my fun on the weekends, just like (most) everyone else.

Chocolate Wisdom

Whomever came up with the idea of putting little uplifting thoughts on the inside of a Dove Chocolate wrapper was a genius!

Today's little wisdom:

There's no excuse not to dream.

Photo of the Day

On Thursday of this past week I went to a local photographers' club meeting. It is time to meet others with the same passion as I have. Of course now comes the difficult part of deciding which photos I will submit. No one likes to hear criticism, but when it is constructive it can help a person grow, and isn't that we all want to do in life - grow?

Hope - it is a powerful idea

As I wander through life, feeling as if I have absolutely no direction whatsoever, I need to remember the one little word - hope. Hope is powerful if we truly embrace it. Sometimes if life you just have to learn to enjoy the ride, even if you think you are 'off course' in where you were planning on going.

Still a little rough in my mind, but that is ok. Someday it will be clearer than the day before and before I know it I will be more gracious of the journey.

Where are you going?

That has been on my mind a lot today.

I wish I had an answer. :(

10 Secrets to Success

1. How you think is everything: Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment.

2. Decide upon your true dreams and goals: Write down your specific goals and develop a plan to reach them.

3. Take action: Goals are nothing without action. Don't be afraid to get started. Just do it.

4. Never stop learning: Go back to school or read books. Get training and acquire skills.

5. Be persistent and work hard: Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up.

6. Learn to analyze details: Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes.

7. Focus your time and money: Don't let other people or things distract you.

8. don't be afraid to innovate; be different: Following the heard is a sure way to mediocrity.

9. Deal and communicate with people effectively: No person is an island. Learn to understand and motivate others.

10. Be honest and dependable; take responsibility: Otherwise, Nos. 1-9 won't matter.

Time Quote

"We're addicted to having no time because we don't know what to do with it once we get some."

Happy Birthday Harry Potter!

In honor of Harry Potter's Birthday on July 31st, I decided to make a cake. (for those of you that really know me, there was another reason for baking the cake ;) but I just couldn't pass up the Harry Potter mania).

Hopefully the photo and the recipe will intrigue you to try this fabulous cake. It is so good, so chocolatey, that it may be my new favorite chocolate cake recipe.

Triple Chocolate Bliss Cake
from Kraft Foods

Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 2 hr min
Makes: 18 servings, one slice each

1 pkg. (2-layer size) chocolate cake mix
1 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
3 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided
1 pkg. (8 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate
1-1/2 cups raspberries

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 12-cup fluted tube pan or 10-inch tube pan. Beat all ingredients except whipped topping, chocolate and raspberries in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed just until moistened. Beat on medium speed 2 min. scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into prepared pan.

BAKE 50 min. to 1 hour or until wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 min. Loosen cake from side of pan with knife or metal spatula and gently remove cake. Cool cake completely on wire rack. Place on serving plate.

RESERVE 2 Tbsp. of the whipped topping. Microwave remaining whipped topping and chocolate in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 to 2 min. or until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after each min. Drizzle over cake. Immediately drop reserved whipped topping, by scant teaspoonfuls, around top of cake; create star shape by drawing wooden toothpick through middle several times. Spoon raspberries into center of cake. Store leftover cake in refrigerator.

Note: I did not bother with the reserved whipped topping or the raspberries. Plus if you forget to pull out the Cool Whip to thaw, no worries as you need to microwave it until it is liquid anyway.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Nutrition (per serving)
Calories 340 Total fat 20g Saturated fat 8g Cholesterol 55mg Sodium 360mg Carbohydrate 39g Dietary fiber 2g Protein 5g Vitamin A 4%DV Vitamin C 4%DV Calcium 8%DV Iron 15%DV

Get moving

Today is a day that it is a bit slow for me to get the things done that I want to get done. Perhaps it is because I do not have to get them done today. Or perhaps it is because I am I am a little tired today.

Yesterday we went sailing. I choose to leave the camera at home, but of course I wish I had it once the heavy, dense fog cleared up. Unfortunately I am a little sore and a bit sun and wind burned. Ugh!

Hope everyone is doing well.

Warm, Happy Heart

Yesterday was a great day! The past few weeks, even over a month, have been a little crazy for me personally and I finally was able to stop, take a deep breath, and enjoy the future. Sometimes I forget the craziness of my life and do not allow myself the freedom to feel frazzled. Life has been crazy, yet at times I tell myself that it is normal. Perhaps that is what helps me keep getting up everyday without feeling like a mad woman!

Going for a walk after a great lunch (Trader Joe's Sourdough bread, 4 Cheese topping was wonderful!) I was able to feel a big warmth from the inside - a happy heart! It is hard to put into words, but it was such a great feeling. If I could only bottle that feeling to help me out when I do hit the lows of life. However, I probably could not have felt that wonderful without trudging through the lows either.

I hope everyone has a happy Wednesday.

Data Management

Our computer has blue screened twice today, so I thought it best to back up our data. To my surprise the super big (at the time I purchased it) 160 GB external hard drive now has 3.7 GB of free space. Yikes! I shoot a ton of photos and that space will not be enough when I get back from my next trip to hold all the great photos I hope to capture.

So I turn to the trusty google search and find data management for photos from Matt Greer Photography. I am putting the link here so I do not loose it.

http://mgreerphoto.blogspot.com/2006/12/image-file-management.html

Photo of the Day

Moss Beach, CA

The low tide was not the greatest, but we still saw a lot of cool things in the tide pools. I just love the feel of this photo.

Enjoy!

Wednesday evening - 2 is the magic number!

Yes, I have finally hit the number 2. Two more days left at my job! Hip Hip Hooray!

In other number news, 5 days until I get on a plane and head to another state. Crazy!

Today was a bit of a weird day - way too much to do considering it was my third to last day in the office. Unfortunately my hard work was bumped by me so I get to repeat something tomorrow. Pain in the neck, if you ask me. At least I don't have to spend the time figuring out what I have written up.

Oh well!

4 is the magic Number....

It is amazing how something so big can become just ho hum when something bigger happens.

For me, the big countdown is the last few days at my current job. Long story short, the job was not the best fit for me. It may make for an amazing chick lit this summer as I have nothing else lined up right now. The crazy thing is, the timing couldn't be better. Family healthy issues popped up on Sunday, so now my mind is consumed with that. What a shame as I worked really hard at my job to not have the 'floating on air' feeling of leaving the place behind!

The crazy thing today, on Monday, I was the last one at my place to leave, yet I am the one with less than a week left to work. I either need to learn to focus more at work, work faster, or care less.

6 is the Magical Number

Life on the other side of a huge decision is always a good thing. Of course I like to over think any decision, but I am coming to peace about this great decision.

So much fun, so much potential!

Happy June Everyone!

Happiness

"Being fulfilled is not something you can delegate. You must take charge of your own happiness and emotional well-being."

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Daily Calendar

Happy Holiday Weekend!!!

Yes, I have been WAY too busy with work and looking forward to my long weekend away from the place. So much has happened at work that I have not kept this blog up.

On the lighter side, I do hope to find more time for my photography. Taking beautiful photos makes me happy, so it is something I should pursue more. Now I just need to find some more time to do it in.

Happy weekend to everyone! I know life can get us spinning, but I do hope to slow down and reconnect with those that are important to me.

Here is a nice photo - wide angle lens bliss for me!