Ahhhh...Florida!!

Highlights from our recent trip to Fort Lauderdale...

My sudden, childlike urge to color with crayons in coloring books. This activity kept me busy on both the flight to and from Florida.

The Yankee Clipper Sheraton-right on the beach, packed with crazy New Yorkers on vacation, great pools, perfect location

Coconuts, Bahia Cabana & Oasis Cafe ("Home of the Swing")

Those swinging tables at so many restaurants in Fort Lauderdale

Conch Fritters

A new reality show discovered for us to indulge in: "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" on A&E

A beautiful wedding with a gorgeous bride, sweet bridesmaids and a very happy groom

"You're Next!!!"-hilarious moments with Jenn S.

Seeing my husband laughing and joking with his best friend

Those foot-long hot dogs we couldn't get enough of

Munchies!!!

Not thinking for one minute about work, school, stress, concerns, worries

Returning to rainy, dreary Dallas with one helluva tan and some great memories

Ramblings...

I feel great today. I look great, too, if I do say so myself!

It's a beautiful spring day in Dallas and I had an enjoyable lunch outside with a friend, which was a much-appreciated break in the day.

Really proud of the fact that there are three really awesome Democratic candidates for the 2008 presidential election-Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. I have a favorite, but I would be happy with any of these three as my president.

I'm on Spring Break from school and it is so nice to have my evenings to myself to do whatever or nothing if I want.

We are t-minus five days from our vacation to Fort Lauderdale and I am ecstatic about it. I hope to return refreshed, rejuvenated, tan and beautiful.

Love spending time with my Irish in laws. We visited them last weekend and we plan to go out to see them again for St. Patrick's day-a huge deal for the O'Neill's and Walsh's!! My husband and I laugh and talk, talk and laugh when we're with them, and there's a new baby boy for me to love on-Aiden Patrick. Told you the Irish thing is big!!

One of my close friends is getting married next week in Fort Lauderdale and I am so excited and anxious for her. I know what this week before the wedding can be like-nerves, so much to do, being on edge, being excited. I am so happy for her and the husband-to-be. They are both awesome people and a great couple.

Right now I know of at least four people who are pregnant. Am I just more aware of that news, or is it "that time in my life" when everyone seems to be going through that change?

I love my husband's food. When I have other people's cooking, and even when I eat in most restaurants, I realize that he doesn't just know how to cook well, he has a true talent for flavor and the melding of different cuisines. I am the happy recipient of his delights on a weekly basis and I am so spoiled. I love it!

I know it is time for a change professionally. I'm not making any rash decisions as I have school to finish, but I need more of a challenge, more leadership and growth. I look forward to something new and different in the near future.

Can't wait to spend time with Mr. and Mrs. S next week!! Meltie, Uncle Richie...lots of "Hey Buddy" and "What's up, Mrs. O?!" Time in the sun with a cold beer and lots of laughs-just like it should be.

"As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do." — Zachary Scott

Things I regret not doing include...

applying myself more in school;

spending more time with my grandfather before he died;

spending more time with my favorite great aunt before she died;

keeping in touch with certain friends;

being more true to myself in my decisions when I was younger;

thinking about what the outcome might be before making a choice;

studying abroad;

speaking my mind all the times I knew something wasn't right;

moving somewhere outside of Texas and living there for a while;

waiting for so many things/being in a hurry to grow-up.

Isn't it so interesting to hear someone close to you re-tell a crucial part of your life from their perspective? (Check out www.miaspeaks.blogspot.com for what I'm referring to.)

When I checked my mother's blog today, I read about a time in my life that was so challenging, both in good ways and bad, that I hardly can think about it now without getting emotional. There was something I wanted so much, worked so hard for and it felt so good when it was finally over and I could look myself in the mirror and say I did the very best that I could. How often can we all really feel that way about things we strive for in life? This feeling was only heightened by my achieving the ultimate goal.

Not long after this goal was achieved, I realized that what I thought I wanted was not exactly as I'd thought it would be and I had to make an agonizing decision (as agonizing as it gets at 16 years of age) to walk away from all that I had worked and longed for. Now that was tough.

I must admit that this time in my life, more than 11 years ago, will go down as one of the times that I began to create who I was to become as a young woman. Though I didn't realize it at the time, walking away from something that you have wanted and worked so hard for can be the most challenging and most life-altering decision. I think that now, more than ever before, I needed to read this story from my mother's perspective and re-connect with what I went through at that time and relate it to some of the things I am going through now. I am 11 years older, but the lesson is not that much different than before. Unfortunately, it seems much scarier, much more of a leap to make tough decisions as you get older, or maybe it's not that it tougher to make the decision, but harder to bounce back from it. Resilience is something one has in their youth that slowly begins to lessen over time.

Anyway, I am very grateful for this story, how my mother has told it and the perfect timing of it all. It has given me strength, made me feel proud and allowed me to see that I can do whatever I need to in order to overcome and achieve what is meant for me in my life, even if that is still somewhat unknown.

"May you have warm words on a cool evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door."— Irish toast

Love this. Need I say more?

Making me happy...

a husband who makes me laugh

co-workers who don't make me crazy

people who wave when you are a courteous driver

dogs

babies

the elderly

charity

kids that say exactly what's on their minds

laughter

gratitude

grace

people who aren't afraid to dance and sing and have a good time

confidence

patience

intelligence

books and movies that make you sad when they've come to an end

cleaning, organizing and achieving a sense of order

decorating and re-decorating

saving money

spending money on things that make you feel good

baby animals

hot & iced tea

roaming through an open house for sale

that first dip in the pool in the summer

the ocean

flowers

bubble baths

candles

Friday after work

Saturday morning

that glisten to your skin and brightness in your eyes after a good workout

french kisses

making love

sex

looking good and knowing it

having a friend put her arm around your shoulders just when you need it

a mother's love

music

a grandparent's spoiling

feeling close to those you love

meeting someone new that you really connect with

re-connecting with an old friend as though not a moment has passed

God

spiritual connectedness

being outdoors on a perfect day

rainy day slumbers

happiness

A High-Flying Weekend

Spending time alone outdoors and reading and watching chick flicks; time with good friends, enjoying drinks, a nice dinner and some musical talents; and time with my husband...all of this made for such a great weekend.

One particular outing made this a memorable weekend for sure. Below you will see a photo of me and my husband in a Cessna airplane flying 2,000 feet above Dallas. My husband manned the controls overseen by a flight instructor, and it was one of the coolest experiences we have ever shared. Through fears and anxieties, we both learned a lot about ourselves-our limitations and our expectations-both of which surprised us during this excursion. You would be shocked at what you can do when you have a real desire, and it makes you so pleased to see someone you love overcome their fears and limitations in such a huge way.

I am very grateful for such a wonderful weekend and such an exhilarating high-flying experience.