Find Your You-ness!

Time to throw in my hat for the Expedia and National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY) contest.  The NFFTY is the world's largest youth film festival.  

The contest is to write a blog post about what my focus would be if I visited a particular destination to make a travel "Find Your ____" video. 

My chances of winning are slim as there are a number of entries for this amazing contest.  But I am still going to enter because travelling really is one of the most amazing things in the world and I wanted to share my story.  

My video would be called Find Your You-ness in Australia.  I would choose this location as it is diverse in nature and people, offering so many activities and adventures that are not available here at home.  These differences and environments that I'm not used to would push me to try  adventures I haven't tried before and to learn what I can and cannot do.  And even the act of travelling and meeting others forces you to find out who you really are in a country that you don't know a soul.  

There would be a number of things I would want to try to push myself and find out what makes me...well, me!

I would love to set up a bench/area in some random city in Australia.  There would be a sign saying something along the lines of "What makes you unique" or "Whoever comes and sits here is the right person."  It would be so random but I love just talking to people and see how they're similar to me and better yet, how they are different.  We're half a world away from each other, but there must be something similar and there must be something about me that makes me unique!  Who knows where the conversation would lead to?  How fun would that be?

Would love to visit a destination in Australia that has dolphins that I could swim with!  How amazing to be with such unique mammals that I could share curiosity about the world and the joy of swimming.   

It would be incredible to surf in some of the most pristine waters.   I've just started surfing.  It would be an opportunity to test my new found skills in a new country and new waters.  Can I do it?  Is it the same or is it different?

I would love to try camping under the stars in Ayers Rock.  Not because I love camping (in fact, I'm a terrible camper), but because I want to push myself to live in the elements.  What can I actually do with no essentials like electricity?  

Would love to try a tree top adventure/or rock climbing!  I'm terrified of heights!  But I want to push myself to see what I can do!  I want to prove to myself that it's ok to be scared, but being able to conquer a fear would just add another element of being me and what I could do.  

Each experience pushes one to discover your true self.  And travelling in such a different place would offer such amazing opportunities to push myself in many different ways to really help me find out who I truly am!  

Thanks for the great contest and good luck to all participants!!

Ring

Well, even though I had an unexpected day learning about my travels, the one thing that I did plan on doing today was to go pick up my wedding ring.  I had to get it fixed as I had dented the thing from taiko drumming.  I went back to it for a little bit, but my schedule and the distance to the studio made it difficult to go all the time.  

But due to the dent, I couldn't get my ring on after I took it off.  Bummer.  My husband thought I was purposely not wearing it.  Nope.  Just couldn't get it on with the dent!

I finally got it fixed and it's back on my fingers.  Is it the biggest ring?  Nope.  Is it the fanciest one?  Nope.  But the ring is mine, given to me by my husband.  And that in itself means so much.

And I really did feel better having it back on.  The ring, all shiny and cleaned up, reminded me once again of the vows I took 13 years ago.  It made me think of all that my husband and I have gone through.  It made me think about my future with him and all our future plans together.  Marriage can be tough but it can also be so amazing.  

Amazing what a chunk of metal and a shiny rock can represent.  

Unexpected Day

You can plan for a day, but sometimes your day doesn't turn out the way you planned.  But sometimes, it's those days you get the neatest surprises!  

As next year is my 40th, I've been yapping with a number of my friends about possible ideas and trips to celebrate.  It's quite the milestone and I figured I'm going to celebrate.  My hubby is going away with a number of his buddies soon to Vegas.  That's totally awesome.  His best buds in a crazy city like Vegas.  They all need to let loose and good on them.   However, that's not my kind of thing. 

So ideas have been bounced around for Europe, possibly Barbados, Spain or maybe even Japan.  Honestly, it wouldn't really matter as it would be something different.   However, I know that people are busy and sometimes we just talk about travelling, but we'll never get to it because life just gets in the way.  So, I mentioned to my hubby that in the event that my travel plans fall through, I'm going to go on a trip on my own.  Not sure where, but I will go and travel by myself.  I love the adventure and have no problem trying things on my own. 

And sometimes, I guess when you put things out there, things happen.  Imagine...today, I'm at work, checking my e-mails like any ordinary day.  I see some message with Congratulations on the header.  I'm thinking it's probably spam.  But it seems legit enough. 

So I open it.   Basically, I won a tour of Croatia...accommodations and transportation within.  Couple of meals thrown in there too.  Yes, I have to buy airfare...but STILL.  Worth every penny for a guided tour of the place!!!  I can't say this was a top 10 destination, but it was definitely a place I wanted to visit.  And now I will!!

And of course, my mind is just reeling about where I could possibly hop to in conjunction with this trip.  If I'm there, might as well just add another day or two somewhere.  I might not end up doing so.  But it's definitely worth thinking about.  

I also just heard back from one of my friends just now...she's interested in joining me in Croatia...or she's still open to Barbados/Caribbean!!  

So, I didn't expect today to be a day about travel.  But it definitely has turned out that way...and I'm just thrilled!!!  And that's just life sometimes.  You never know where it may lead you and take you.  

Time to go grab me some maps!!!

Dreams

For those that don't know me well, my dreams can be pretty good indicators for things.  I actually dreamt of 3 pregnancies and sure enough, friends of mine had babies.  One of them, I even called up and said that they were going to have another baby.  They didn't believe me.  But they did when they got the positive test. 

However, the flip side is just as true.  I've dreamt of certain people telling me they would pass or I'd have some really inexplicable dream with the person in it, then when waking, be ever so sad about the person.  That's when I know they're leaving. 

Call it coincidence.  But some of these dreams, I never get an indication from the person that perhaps they are sick/wanting to get pregnant, etc.  Maybe it's some weird magical thing in the air.

I like the happy dreams, not the yucky ones where the person goes.  And I'm concerned that someone will be leaving me.  I had the dream where the wife called and gave me the bad news that her husband was passing.  I hope I'm wrong because I hate it when I'm right about these types of dreams.  

Bus Rides

Now that I've been bussing it back home from work, it brings back memories of why I never truly enjoyed bussing when I was younger.  When I was younger, it was about freedom, getting to places to be with friends, to get around, etc.  Now it's just a "need" to type of transportation.  

So, what I definitely don't miss are all the sick people on the bus.  If you're going to be sick, please, bring some Kleenex and take some meds.  I don't want to get sick.  Because if I go down and the kids go down, I'm going to be upset.  When I'm down and sick but still have to do everything else, I'm not very fun to be around.  Everbody's going down with me.  

I don't miss the long journey.  Even though I carpool in the morning, I'm there usually by 6:20 but I can't start until 7.  I'm waking up at 4:45.  But the bus ride back home, on a bad day can easily take 1.5 hours.  I'm travelling to Seattle every time I go into work.  It bites and definitely eats into my time.   Hello...I could watch almost 3 episodes of a show!!

I don't miss the painful flirting that goes on between people.  For example, today, this one lady was sitting next to this guy and they knew each other.  Looked like they were co-workers.  But she was obviously flirting, blushing at all the right moments and doing a ton of nervous chatter (which if frustrating to listen to).  But the sad part was that the guy talked about his wife, his kids and how long he's been married for...and that he can't wait to take his next family trip.  Girl.  You're looking for love in all the wrong places!!  And take a breath...you're talking WAY too much.  

Right now, it's summer and the weather has been pretty good for commuting.  But come winter, it's going to suck with the rainy umbrellas, big jackets and jam packed bus!

I could go on and on about the crazies that I meet on the bus, the insane stories I hear about, the stupid make out sessions that I have to see, and just the random crap that is so not fun.  

But it is what it is.  And it does save me money versus driving all the way downtown.  So no complaints on the saving part.   But oh...wouldn't I just love a shorter commute with less crazies.  

Friendships

As my kids get older, the conversations become different.  I don't have to talk about Dora or High 5.  I don't have to talk about poop and farts.  Well, maybe a little on the poop and farts.
But it really is nice to have deeper conversations with them. 

Last night, we were at the dinner table just talking about our days.  Homework, daycare, school.  Then they started talking about their friends.  "I like C. because she's funny, silly but really, really nice.  We share the same interest in art and she's really talented."  

Well, that's lovely and all.  But I would ask them how that friend made them feel?  "Oh, I feel really good around them.  They give me energy and it's fun."  

And what was interesting to me is who they talked about next.  They both are having issues with a girl in school/daycare.  They started listing out all the things that this little girl has done that they don't like.  And it's a pretty big list.   When I asked them if they play with her, they both said, "no way!"  "I don't like her because she says yucky things about others."  "I don't like her because she gives ultimatums!!"  

Granted, we are not talking about full on betrayals or anything crazy like on Desperate Housewives.  But I can see that they are understanding the complexities of friendships and how they can make you feel.   Friendships should make you feel good and restored, not depleted.  And it's nice to see that they're making good choices in terms of their friends that support them and make them feel good. 

Ok.  I'm taking a small moment to congratulate myself for not being a total failure of a mother.  

Blogging Again

Well, I sure took a hiatus from writing!  Sometimes life just takes over and really, blogging is the last thing on my mind.  

So, what's happened since I last blogged?   Let me start off with Honolulu.  Had a great time with friends and some of their family.  It was nice that I had no responsibilities per se to anyone. I didn't have my kids, or hubby.  And with my friends, we all agreed that we are responsible for ourselves...so if we wanted to take off and do something, by all means, go for it.  

Got lots of sun.  Got some good surfing and snorkelling in.  Tried some new restaurants and had some good grub.  Got a chance to do some stuff that I haven't been able to do, like hike Diamond Head.  Even made my to some Hawaii Five-O sites.  But overall, I chilled.  I love chilling.  

Of course, Hula girl came with me and she had a lovely time going back to her home land!  Though, I am a little sad that Hula Girls' arm refused to stay "unbroken."  So, she was the amputee Hula Girl.  Still loved her the same.

So here are some pics:

Waikiki Beach

Me, forever as the fat pineapple at the Dole Factory:

Hanauma Bay for some snorkelling

 

After Waikiki, I came back home for a short while and then headed out to Gatineau/Ottawa for work purposes.  Well, it was still "winter" and no Hawaii.  But I must admit, the heated pool outside was divine!  I loved that I could swim outside as if I was at the beach (even at night time) and was warm!  And though I was there for work purposes, at night time, that was my own time. My girlfriend flew out from Toronto to come spend some time with me!  Yay!! 

View from my window...notice how different it is from Hawaii?

Some fun cookies at a bakery in Ottawa:

Ottawa was doing really well in the playoffs, so hockey fever was on!

Oooo.  Obama cookies!  

Coming home from Gatineau was great.  Got to see the family and be with them once again.  Though, while I was away, a small problem was brewing in the house.  Actually turned out to be a HUGE problem.  One that was large enough where we had to break down drywall and renovate.  In a nutshell, a big, fat, rotting rat in between the wall of my pantry and garage.  And when you're not a DIY home renovation person, renos take a little longer.  

And life just keeps ticking by.  Lessons, activities, birthdays, taxes and everything else in between.   

Big shout out to my "flower girl" who isn't so little anymore.  Happy Graduation!!  So proud of you!