Well - it’s that time of year to ponder what we are thankful for and so here are my thoughts:

1. I am thankful for the most wonderful wedding this year that was better than I could have possibly imagined.
2. I am thankful for Facebook and all the friends I reconnected with this year.
3. I am thankful for a wonderful job and boss and opportunity to shine.
4. I am thankful for a loving, awesome, wonderful, and beautiful husband.
5. I am thankful for a kind, thoughtful, and intelligent son.
6. I am thankful for a terrific mother in law I can call Mom.
7. I am thankful for the words of wisdom my Dad shared at the wedding reception.
8. I am thankful for this years Presidential election results.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and can think of many things to be thankful for!

I know…I have been a very bad blogger and have not updated anything in quite a while. I tend to go quiet when I’m feeling down in the dumps, which has been the case in recent weeks. I just don’t feel like writing or sharing when I’m in that mindset. It’s probably the time I should be most vocal, but I just didn’t have the energy or motivation to work on the blog. Nonetheless, I have returned in better spirits and want to share some thoughts and events that I have recently encountered.
1. Michael and I had a wonderful 2 week holiday on a cruise from NY to New Orleans. The food was not the greatest, but our time together was quite nice, even for that extended period of time.
2. I am VERY happy about the election results (duh), but am very disappointed about the result of Prop 8 in California. It’s time we stop being kind and patient about gay rights - and make it clear that we’re in this to the end when we have the rights the Constitution affords us.
3. I am looking forward to the holidays. For the first year I have been invited to be a part of Michael’s Mom’s house for Thanksgiving. Long story short - Michael’s step Dad has finally gotten over himself and invited me to their home. In fact we spent a couple of hours thee yesterday.
4. Zac is doing very well in his new High School. He’s getting good grades, making new friends, and talking about his future. I am so proud to have such a wonderful son.

Well, that’s about it for now. I promise to write more often. Hugs and kisses to my few readers.

Michael and I are celebrating our 30 something birthdays this weekend. Tonight the Rents are taking us out to one of the nicer restaurants in the Hamptons. Can’t wait for those truffle fries!

Everyone has one, and yet they are all very different. No I’m not talking about body part sizes or even IQ’s - I’m talking about daily routines. Some people have a routine that means every aspect of heir day is different in every way every day. I personally could not live like that, however. I have a more stringent routine. Assuming I am not away for work, here is my daily routine in a nutshell:

4:00 AM - Awake (with or without an alarm mind you)
4:05 AM - Make French Pressed Coffee and Protein Shake/ Take Vitamins
4:15 AM - Go to my home office and boot up everything/Check email and news
4:45 AM - Head to Gym
5:00 AM - 7:00 AM - Workout
7:10 AM - Pick up NY Times and Post Workout Shake (and Water for tomorrow)
7:30 AM - Shower and make myself pretty
8:00 AM - Take Emma (our dog) out for a walk
8:30 AM - See Michael off for work
9:00 AM - Work
12:00 PM - Visit Local Butcher and Farm Stand for Dinner Supplies
5:00 PM - Start to wrap up work lose ends
6:00 PM - Dinner time
7:00 PM - Final Snack
7:30-8 PM - Bedtime with some reading

OK - I admit it - sometimes (not always - but enough that I notice) I can be such a snob. I make quick judgements about people based on how they look, what they wear or what they are doing. Recently I have made it a habit of going to a local 7-11 after my gym routine in the morning (get a paper, protein shake, water). I feel all strange and uncomfortable with the types of people that frequent the store.

It hit me this morning how snobbish and judgmental my brain has been allowed to process and categorize these people. What kind of person am I to be judging them based on external conditions alone? Maybe they are in a worse situation than I am - either personally, fiscally or otherwise. I really need to work on being a better human being and accepting people for who they are - despite what they wear, how they behave and who they vote for.

I have been feeling the arrival of life changes heavily over the last several weeks. I know what some of them are - getting married in Canada next week, for instance.

I also sold a small business this past week I have been building over the last 4 years. This will free me up to focus on my ever increasing passion - photography. I have continued working towards completion of my NYIP Photography coursework. I am going to start to market myself and get some good experience.

I also feel a change inside me - like something deep down inside where I am looking at the world with new eyes and feel compelled to make a change, a difference. I know that my time on earth is limited and loving Michael and Zac are two of my priorities that will never change. But I want to take my passion for photography to a place where I can influence our world in a positive way. I know this is such a selfish desire, but my heart yearns for my making a difference.

Here’s a photo from our front yard this afternoon. Had a surprise snowstorm (been so bogged down in work hadn’t seen a forecast in days).

I’m off to California this weekend for work. I expect the weather will be quite different.  Will be back later in the week.

I would like to make some predictions for 2008:

1. Hillary will get the nomination (but I won’t jinx the end result).

2. We will add a day to our calendar

3. We will burn 1.4 million bbl/d more oil than 2007.

4. I will be married and enjoy the best European vacation of my life

5. My son will begin high school (and I will cry for a moment)

6. I will be at my healthiest (I can’t be plump for my wedding)

7. Facebook will give MySpace a run for it’s money (but won’t catch up)

8. We will see little noticeable movement on the gay marriage issue in 2008

9. Omar Hassan Al-Bashir will continue to be a road block

10. Being Green will be the “In” thing (for those who can afford it)

You may have noticed recently that I have not posted anything new on the blog. I can honestly say that it has a direct relationship to my mood. These last few weeks have been some difficult ones for me personally. There is no deep hidden meaning to that other than to say that I haven’t felt up to doing very much besides working, eating, and poo-ing as required. The lack of energy and motivation has meant very little has been done in terms of my photography, blogging, gardening, and cooking. I feel like I am on my way back on the upswing of my mood which is why I am writing an entry this morning.

For my few close friends and readers, I apologize for my absence and I hope to have more interesting things to share in the days to come.

I am feeling totally swamped. I have way too much on my plate and as a result I feel stuck. I feel like I am drowning in quick sand and every time I wiggle I am getting deeper in it. I am trying to keep everything in perspective, but feeling way too deep to not feel the pressure. I am unmotivated to plug the holes which are draining my energy. I sense by the reaction of people around me that something is in the air of the universe. Am I alone?