Love, True Love

Passion

My last post got some interesting feedback.  One person actually reminded me of something that absolutely belongs on my bucket list...owning my own business.   This has always interested me, even when I was a kid.   I not only wanted to be a chef...I wanted to be a chef in my own restaurant.  In college I took a class on entrepreneurship and interned at a non-profit that helped women start their own businesses.  In grad school I took another class on entrepreneurship and interned at an incubator that helped international companies get a presence in the US.  I have the passion, but am too risk averse.  I scrapped the idea of the dog bakery because I just didn't stick with it.  I didn't have a passion for it and I had to admit that to myself.  Also, many of the online dog bakeries I was tracking went out of business. 

I have something else in the works right now that I do have a passion for, but there is very little money in it.  Since my day job pays the bills, I'm going to give it a go in a side business that I do have a passion for, even though it won't pay the bills, but could make me happy. 

Any guesses???

No Bucket No List

My husband and I were talking about bucket lists the other night and things he'd put on his if he knew the world was about to end. These aren't things he'd actually do (because most are illegal) unless he knew the entire world was about to get hit by a meteor or something equally catastrophic. It got me thinking and I couldn't think of one thing I would do. Does that mean I've led a full life or that I don't aspire to much?  Of course there are places I want to travel to, but I don't think those really count as I've been to the places in the world that I always wanted to see. 

Today I read about a teenage girl dying from cancer who started a blog with her bucket list.  She is going to write about it as she ticks things off, although she's not well enough to complete them all now. 

I still can't think of anything I would do and this bothers me.

What's on your bucket list?

Why We Love Pippa

I admit it, I think Pippa looked great at her sister's wedding and I'm curious about her.  But what makes her so different than Paris Hilton?  Nothing.  The American public is drawn to pretty charismatic women and these two have a lot in common.

1. Grew up in a life of privilege
2. Never needed to work
3. Primarily supported by their parents, even as adults
4. Sense of fashion style
5. Close with her sister
6. Likes media attention
7. Unique name
8. Never held a real full time job
9. Life of the party
10. Famous for no good reason

I'm sure the royal family is keeping tabs on her to make sure she doesn't do anything to embarrass them.  Hopefully there won't be a mug shot in her future.  I wish her the best with her new found celebrity...I'll be watching!

Things I Will NEVER Do

What is exhilarating to one person is frightening to another.  I don't find being scared as something I enjoy doing.  I don't like scary movies or roller coasters.  I only do these things because someone else wants to.  I also get motion sickness very easily so a roller coaster can ruin a day for me.

Here are a few things I will never do, no matter who asks.

Hot air balloon
No way. Never.  The idea of floating around in something that a person cannot really control is so frightening to me that I will never do it and it would not be fun.  Not to mention that there is fire involved.  I made it clear to my husband long ago to never surprise me with a hot air balloon ride (since some think it's romantic) because I will not go.  He likes to joke with me about doing this saying it's something he's always wanted to do (which is a lie) and every time I see a news story about a balloon ride gone wrong, I make sure he knows about it.

Bungee jumping
Motion sickness and fear in one?  No thanks.  I really don't understand why anyone would do this.  Those bungees do break...

Sky diving
Yea right.  How many movies have we all seen where the chute won't open?  Plus my brother did this and said some people in his group felt sick for days.  Apparently after it was over the operator told him that about 80% of people get sick.

Ferris Wheels
Ok, I have been on a few ferris wheels, but I never liked it.  I have visions of the basket tipping too much and falling out or the entire wheel coming off and rolling away.  There was just a report today of an 11 year of girl falling out to her death.

Have you done any of these?  What things WON'T you do???

Diet # 463

I'm pretty good at losing weight.  I'm pretty awful at keeping it off.  It's almost like a game to see how much I can get away with and not gain weight.  It's a game I always lose.  So here I am now up 15 pounds from this time last year.  I started a new diet today and also started another Biggest Loser contest at my work to help stay motivated. 

On the bright side, I have learned to accept myself in a bathing suit...even a bikini.  No more old lady bathing suits for me!  No offense meant to anyone, of course.  A year ago I went out in public in a bikini for the first time as an adult.  Luckily the strings on the side make it "adjustable".  Even though I am up 15 pounds from this time last year, I still wore my bikini on the beach a couple weeks ago. 

So, here we go again...I want to fit into my clothes again.  Stay tuned for updates.

Kitten Hugs

This is just too cute. 

Kate & Michelle: Real or Wax Figures?

When I saw this picture online, I thought it was from a wax museum!  I can't believe how tiny Kate is!!!

And why do the Royal women always carry a purse?  You'd think Kate and the Queen could have someone hold it for them. 

A Royal Good Time

Thank you to Will, Kate and the Royal Family for putting on a great show!  This world seems to be filled with sadness lately with one horrible thing happening after another.  The wedding gave us something happy to focus on, if only for a little while.  I thought Kate looked so beautiful...and it had nothing to do with her dress.  Her smile and radiance is what made her beautiful.  She looked truly truly happy and I wish them the best! 

When I woke up that morning, the first thing I did was look at my phone to see a picture of her dress (my phone is my alarm clock so it is by the bed). I taped the wedding on two channels in case one had better coverage than the other.  I watched in on BBC America which seemed more appropriate than having Matt Lauer tell me about it.  I thought her dress was a little demure, but I know there are rules about what a bride can wear in Westminster Abbey (no bare arms!).  I loved Pippa's dresses, both day and night version.  I was shocked to see her in white but it all looked very elegant.  I also loved Kate's evening dress.  I obviously do not know her, but the idea of a "middle class" woman marrying a prince made me so happy for her. 

What did you think about the royal wedding???

Mother's Day Downer

Ads for flowers, jewelry and brunch are all around us right now.  After all, Mother's Day is right around the corner.  For me, it's just a reminder that I'm not a mother and I don't have a mother.  This is the saddest time of the year for me.  I've learned to deal with not having my mom at Christmas.  Her birthday and anniversary of her death, which used to make me sad, now pass each year without a thought or a tear.  But Mother's Day is impossible to ignore because it is everywhere right now. 

To anyone reading who still has their mom, cherish her.  Nobody is perfect and believe me, you'll miss her when she's gone.  I have a few friends who have issues with their moms.  I just don't understand how they can get so upset to not want their mom to be a part of their lives.  I'd put up with a lot of typical mom annoyances to have my mom back for even a day.