A WICKED Kind of Day

It was a special day...an altogether WICKED day.   Last Thursday, in the middle of the work week, three friends and I took a vacation day. We planned to ride to Charlotte to see an off-broadway production of WICKED.  Everyone needs that kind of day.   It started by sleeping in, then a nice enjoyable ride to Charlotte.  We did have to go by car, unfortunately we unlike Glinda (the good witch) cannot travel by bubble.  We stopped at McCalister's for lunch.  A treat for us since we don't have one of those locally.   Then on to the theater. I wore the perfect blouse for the occassion..a green, black, and white plaid top.   It was unintential but perfect for the show.  Once I realized this...it just moodified me in the best way possible. (sorry for all the "wicked" phases..they are just funny).

After a spectacular performance, we traveled over to Cheesecake Factory for dinner and dessert...We even sat on the patio for dinner.  The day was just wonderful...most of all I enjoyed the time spent with friends.  They say life happens in the moments you are least expecting.  I guess this is a perfect example.   A little slice of life served up on a plate of happiness...what more could one Thursday offer.

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A little more than you needed to know

I have these crazy little goals.  Sometimes they are perfectly sensible and sometimes they are a little cooky.  One of my life goals is to spend the night in every state and visit 5 continents.   I've accomplished a good bit of this.   I've actually spent the night (not just set foot) in 31 states and have visited 3 continents.  Here's 5 places I've visited ... hope you enjoy!

5 Places I've visited



New York city, New York
It's maybe my all time favorite city to visit.  Love walking in Time Square, eating in trendy restaurants, going to shows (LOVE THE SHOWS), and walking through china town buying purses off the street.  Who could ask for more.   I'm not sure this is a city I could live in full time..but I sure would like to give it a try.


Jarkarta, Indonesia
Wow,  this is a HUGE city 12 million people live in Jarkarta.  They have two seasons..the hot dry season and the hot wet season.  It's just hot there.  There are people everywhere and they drive motorcycles.  No Joke, more than once I saw a family of 5 on a motorcycle. It takes about 26 hours to get there from SC and I can promise you've not seen anything like it before.  Also,   you will eat food you don't recognize....life can be really exciting..enjoy it!


Montreal, Quebec
Snow, Snow, Snow well  that's mostly what I got to see.  I stayed in a little town called Terrebonne that was picturesque.  Lot's of people talking very quickly in a language I understand very slowly.  It was the first place I tried sushi....loved it. 


Cancun, Mexico
Most people go to Cancun for a holiday.   I went to work.  I learned how to mix cement by hand (rocks, sand, water, stir with a shovel).  Beautiful place, beautiful people.  First place I truly understood that love and compassion could cross any boundaries.   Also, the first time I experienced a nude beach.  Quite a eye opener if you know what I mean.


Winnipeg, Manitoba
This was one of the flattest stretches of land I have ever seen.  You could see for miles.   I was there during the month of October and in case you wondered...IT WAS COLD!!!   Lots and lots and lots of cold wind.   No snow...just wind.  I was there during the Canadian Thanksgiving and got to have Turkey with Yorkshire Pudding..mmm mmm good.


Tell me about places you've visited.

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Organization - My Friend and Enemy

Organization is not my strong point.   As a matter of fact I struggle to even have the resemblance of organization most days.   I’m more of a person who constructively places things out of view so that I appear semi-organized and then at some point realize spring cleaning must occur.   At that point, lots of “stuff” is placed in trash or give away piles.   I’m actually pretty jealous of those naturally organized people.   You know the ones…their desk is always straight.   They never lose things because whatever they are looking for is in its correct spot.   

I have a friend whose like that….she’s just very, very organized.   I think she thinks in patterns of organization.   LOL   It’s a little intense at times!   But as always, these organized people are put into my life for a reason.   They are there to help me.   So last week, I called this friend over to my office to help me.   Basically, I said…..take a look….decide what needs to be done and HELP me.

She did….she was dealing with very little space and lots of stuff…so she helped me and my office mate (I share an office) go to Target.   We came back with matching containers…..My desk feels cleaner and more organized.   I have really enjoyed having that clean, I can get more done feeling that an organized desk affords…..now if I can bring myself to let her see the coat closet at my house.   Kira -  save my coat closet?!?!?!

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Bravery, Patience, and Joy

I stumbled onto a quote today.  It’s from Helen Keller, who is one of my all time heroes.   It says “We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world.”   I went looking for a quote because I had a friend who was pretty upset about something that happened to her.   She was feeling hopeless in the circumstance she found herself in.   Now this wasn’t a terrible circumstance.   No life altering choices or decisions…just found herself backed in a corner not knowing quite how to react.    She came to me for some encouragement and hopefully I was able to give that to her.  

After our little pep talk, I wrote the quote down on an index card and brought it home with me. It just stuck with me somehow.   I’m not sure if it was the words or the author, but I decided to investigate the true meaning of the words used.   Here we go:

Brave ~ Possessing or displaying courage; valiant.
Valiant (Valor) ~ Courage and boldness
Patient ~ Bearing or enduring pain, difficulty, provocation, or annoyance with calmness
Joy ~  To take great pleasure; rejoice

You know in life we sometimes are discouraged by the things that are unfair or harsh.   If asked, we’d want a life of peace and happiness. In truth, if our lives were all peace and happiness, we wouldn’t understand how to appreciate it.   Sometimes it takes the uncomfortable  or harsh things to push us to react with bravery or valor.  

Now patience is a different matter.   It (at least in my life ) requires practice.   I have a mentor that always says never pray for patience, pray for wisdom.   It’ a funny little quote, but it’s true…..we  normally learn patience because we HAVE to not because we want to.  

So I guess, I’m going to rejoice in the fact that I can learn bravery and patience.   I’m also thankful that my life affords me the opportunity to experience joy.

Have a brave, patient, and joy filled day!

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Parking lots are Against Me!

Have you ever been watching  a movie and you know it’s going to scare you.    The suspense music is playing, you know that the main character is going to open that door and the bad guy is behind it…just waiting for him.    When watching movies like that my stomach flip flops a little.   I want to yell out an escape plan for the person.   Well……..that’s how I sometimes feel about parking lots.    I hate to admit it but I have a fear.   It is irrational…….I’m smart enough to know there is absolutely no reason to panic……but I do.   I can’t think,  I start to panic a little, no rational thoughts can override the sense of anxiety I feel.   It’s weird and a little funny.   It’s especially funny to the people with me and I’m not so far gone that I can’t laugh about it.   

I guess I have to tell ya.   I’m afraid of losing my car in parking lots.    I’m guessing the fear started when I traveled SO much.   A different car every week…..but it’s not something that has gone away.   I mean some of the scariest moments I face are when I walk out of Wal-mart and stare at the vast unknown parking lot (LOL).    My car could be anywhere……I mean anywhere, and I don’t have one clue where it is.   (hopefully you are laughing with me).  

My friends tease me about this.   They’ll say “Do YOU know where the car is, I forgot”   I respond by saying “ Of course I don’t know where the car is……it’s YOUR job to keep up with the car”   then I’ll panic a little…….get a distressed look on my face and scan the entire parking lot for my car….even though we’re in my friend’s car!!!!   As I stated….this is considered most entertaining to everyone around me.    The funniest incident happened last fall.   I was talking on the phone…just chit chatting away…parked the car….went into  the store and shopped.   I had several bags....as I walked into the parking lot…it hit me.    I had NO clue where the car was.  I wasn’t even sure I came out the  same door that I went into.    I was all alone……no one could help me.   So after I decided I had to put one foot in front of the other,  I started the search.   Now, I know the normal person could just think back to where they parked, but you see my brain will not work in these situations.   I’m in a panic mode.    So   I just started walking……up one aisle….down another.   Suddenly, I saw it.   Not my car, but my friend Tricia.    There she was to rescue me…..I’ve never been so happy to see a minivan.   She pulls up ….opens the door and laughs….she knows exactly what has happened.     Being the friend that she is…we rode around and found my car three rows over!!!   She was my hero that day.     

So if you see me wandering, please stop and help…..the parking lots are against me! 

Pam

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