The most beautiful thing

This morning, as I was walking to my car, I saw the beginning of daffodils... just the leaves out of the ground, but between that and the warm weather, it is probably one of the most beautiful things I have seen in a while. I am excited to see the city as it comes to life this spring, including the beginning of street cleaning! Happy early spring!

I Thought We Were Supposed to Support our Neighbors

I was driving home last night and listening to my local NPR station give a report on the Catholic Charities of Washington DC, who have suspended all spousal benefits because Washington DC just approved gay marriage. And as we all know, according to the Catholic Church, being Gay is wrong.

I guess in this case, it also means that you don't deserve equal rights. I wasn't alive in the 60's when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched on Washington DC and gave his amazing "I Have a Dream" speech, but I would equate this blatant inequality as the same thing.

Being raised Catholic, it became clear to me when I was about 13 that I would never be able to commit to an organized religion that didn't do two things: 1. Treat people equally (women and men, gay people and straight people) 2. Respect my right as a human to make choices that they may not agree with, but instead of condemning me, respect that I have made the choices I made for a reason and that I am not inherently evil.

I am continually discouraged by the Catholic Church and its inability to see the forest through the trees. What did Jesus teach? He certainly didn't teach turning your back on someone because they were an outcast.

The Catholic Church will soon find themselves an outcast, and I wonder if they will find solace in the arms of the people they have oppressed because those people know what it is like and instead chose to follow the real word of God and love thy neighbors as they themselves would like to be loved.

Happy Holidays Everyone

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday. I am looking forward to 5 days out of the office, spending some quality time in Maine with family. This year has been full of change followed by happiness.

I managed to have three jobs in one year... not something I recommend or would have planned, but I couldn't be happier. And in each experience I learned more about myself and my strengths. Probably the most important being: it's easier to focus on your strengths and just do that than to try to rid yourself of your weaknesses.

Shane and I were engaged in February, and as blissful as I wanted "being engaged" to be, there is nothing blissful about planning a wedding. But in order to plan a party that pulls in friends and family from across the country, it had to be big, and it will be. We are so excited for July 17th and even more for the honeymoon, when I can kiss the wedding planning guide goodbye!

No year passes without milestones sad and happy ones: The passing of an Uncle- a truly amazing man, the celebration of my grandfathers 90th, the celebration of my 30th, weddings and births for good friends.

Each year that passes only makes me more thankful for all that I have: health, family, happiness and someone to share it with.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

No matter what, golfing matters less than Healthcare

I grew up golfing. I played Jr. Golf starting at age 7 and went into retirement at 17. At 21 I realized that if I was going to work in technology sales in the bay area, I was probably going to have to play again. So, now, 9 years later, I play 1-2 times a year, max. Golfing or anything about golfing should matter a LOT less than Healthcare.

But all the sudden our country cares more about a golfers extracurricular than they do about the way that we receive health care in this country. Tiger isn't going to affect the doctors you can see for the rest of your life. His "companions" aren't going to be the nurses that care for you as you recover from your heart attack, at least you better hope not. Elin doesn't care if you have to pay 50% of your income to pay off hospital bills, she's going back to Sweden, which has government funded healtcare if you care.

We all need a little gut check on our priorities. We need to quit clicking on the tiger stories and instead tune into CSPAN to see what's going to make a difference in our lives.

COME ON PEOPLE!!!!

Happy states- I just keep getting happier

I just read this interesting article on the "Happiest States"and I realized that I have managed to go from 18 to 9 to the 8th happiest state in my lifetime... Not bad. I do have to say, the one suprise on this list was # 5. I am going to claim ignorance, because I have never been there. And if anyone has any insight, do let me know. Check out the link, it's an interesting read.

My difference may not be great, but it means something to someone

I just read the most lovely blog post, and it was about me. Me. and I didn't write it. I am incredibly flattered and overwhelmed.

I am often inspired by LARGE acts of kindness. I often wonder if I am supposed to be running a non-profit for pennies and making all of my other dreams (financially focused ones) fall to the side.

And then I am faced with a blog post that illustrates that while my gestures aren't grand. They are noticed. And to the people that matter most to me, that makes me happy, beyond belief.

To Alana and Emily. I miss you both terribly and thank you, you made coming into work fun and inspiring!

Get back on the horse- man!

After the long weekend I am invigorated and have a new found love for my blog. I feel like I have been ignoring it and updating so infrequently that my readers, may not know exactly what's been going on. For that I apologize. All that being said. What have I been up to?

This past weekend we went to Atlanta to visit family. They are our only niece and nephews. As many of you know, I love kids. I am biased and will say blatantly, that I love these kids more than most. They are all so unique and hysterical. Of course, they are not without their fits and arguments, but some of that is even more interesting. To watch children interact with their siblings is a true study in human development.

One of my favorite things was dancing with all of them to Miley Cyrus' Party in the USA, Flo Rida's Right Round and I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas. There is something so freeing about dancing with kids. They don't care who's watching and what people think, they just move. I can't wait for the wedding, we are going to CUT A RUG!