You are managing to dive beneath the waves more often now, Gemini, and spend more time in the calmer waters below. Although it feels like you have so much to accomplish and are wasting precious time…a small, but convincing, voice keeps reminding you: you are where you need to be.

So unbelievably cute. Happy Monday.

Do you ever feel that your need to do a good job, be great, excel and succeed derails you from attempting to do the things that could really rock your world?

I have always considered myself a perfectionist, with some degree of pride. That means I do a great job, and you can depend on it! Except I have been noticing that the same thing that drives the ‘great job’ also stops me from taking risks, both personally and professionally. What a stinker!

Great article from Pamela Slim on this. Also reminded me of an article from Superhero Journal on why getting things done ‘quick n’ dirty’ sure does beat not doing them at all…

So in the spirit of riding March in, like the lion that it is, let me share my new ‘quick n’ dirty’ playlist called ‘Uplift Me!’:

1. New Soul: Yael Naim
2. Good Vibrations: The Beach Boys
3. No Woman, No Cry: Bob Marley and the Wailers
4. Unwritten: Natasha Beddingfield
5. I Hear the Bells: Mike Doughty
6. The Hideout: Sarah Harmer
7. Better Together: Jack Johnson
8. Having Wings: Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
9. Jump: Van Halen
10. First Day of My Life: Bright Eyes
11. Oh Very Young: Cat Stevens
12. Come Fly With Me: Frank Sinatra
13. Let Go: Frou Frou

Here’s to riding the waves of March, and even ducking under a few to see what’s underneath!

I had lunch with my friend Mel yesterday, a fantastically yummy lunch of baked mushroom salad and spinach lasagna at Terroni. I always walk away muttering ‘mah bellah…fuuuullll’, because the food is so great at that restaurant. It’s also a great place to be present, as the smells, tastes, sounds, and sights are so rich and awe-inspiring.

The intent of our girlie afternoon yesterday was to start going through travel brochures to begin narrowing down locations for the wedding (Tim and I got engaged February 14th…hurray!). After going through the first mammoth magazine, head-spinning with information, I announced my new intentions: to elope. (Which I noticed this morning, is what Alex over at GypsyGirlsGuide did last week…congratulations!)

Mel, who I introduce to everyone as: ‘my bestest friend since grade six!’, works in the travel industry and did a great job of talking slowly and giving me the low down on what I needed to know and consider about various locations.

We also had a great talk about what was really bothering me: that although I don’t want to expect everyone to incur the expense to travel to a tropical local for my wedding, I am afraid that no one will. And having my family together on a vacation has never happened, so what will that look like? Then add Tim’s family? And what if they fight, have nothing to do, are upset….on and on and on….

By the end of the day, though, I was feeling better. I think that if I can research and give the most information to people as soon as possible, they can make their own decisions on whether or not to attend, and what they want to do while there.

And maybe I can give everyone the responsibility for their own enjoyment instead of keeping that on my to-do list.

He (from the kitchen): “Emo is a pessamist.”

She (half asleep): “Huh?”

He: “He always sees his bowl as half empty.”

**Tim’s response to Emo’s daily ritual of meowing us awake so we can turn on the tap in the bathtub for his little drink (David Suzuki would have my head on a pike, rightly so) and also ration out the morning cup of kibbles, into a bowl that already has food in it, partially eaten.

You are underneath a heaping pile of work today, Gemini, and it doesn’t look like it is going to become a smaller mound any time soon. I guess it is kind of funny that you try to maintain sanity by working through one thing at a time, but the latest 3 hour revisions to your document did not save.

“We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.”
Hanmer Parsons Grant

I was over visiting Sparkletopia today (I find myself visiting that lovely site to get a dollop of inspiration quite often!) Amongst the articles, photos, and interviews was the quote above.

The quote was so fitting seeing how I have been feeling quite tossed about lately. It’s funny how changing perspective changes the height of the waves of chaos. Pulling back inward when the waves get to high and taking stock before charging forward helps so much. Notice when balanced, the wind seems less strong or maybe its just that you know which direction to best face it.

I have been putting finding the balance between work and play as a high priority lately. I am a two speed person it seems: one that charts a course, charges full speed ahead and stays the course no matter what happens or one that comes to a complete and total stop.

Meditating regularly has brought real balance and allowed space for insight to creep in, and for that I am so grateful.

Well, Gemini, it was a helluva day. It started off with chairing a project meeting and none of the participants showing up. To think of it, that could have been today’s theme! Well, it’s your party and you can eat an ice cream sandwich and have a nap if you want to. Remember, Friday night’s coming up and it’s will be the right time for margaritas.

“You should glean teachings from all directions, keeping true to those that bring progress yet remaining open to changes in yourself.”

Deepak Chopra ‘The Book of Secrets’

The weather here is wild. We have had a lot of snow over the last couple of weeks and got a big pile today, added to -20 degree temps. Brrrrr….

I like snow. When I am sitting at home, enjoying a mug of tea and reading a book. Not so much on a two and a half hour drive home from the office. Vey.

The highlight of the drive was coaxing the car up a winding hill, slipping and sliding all over the road and realizing that I was talking out loud to the car. Sounded a lot like: ‘C’mon girl, we’ve done this before…you know how to kick this hill’s ass! Forget about those stupid other cars, they don’t know what they’re doing…c’…mon…nice, nice…’

And then out of nowhere, singing ‘We Built this City’ by Jefferson Starship.

Because it helps?