about a month or so ago, i posted this, amazed at its appearance in my flower bed:

oh how i so wish for a pumpkin.  please, please, please, pumpkin fairy, bring me a pumpkin!

with the photos in my last post.  i tried to fix them numerous times.  finally gave up.  = )

here’s one that i seem to be enjoying quite much lately.  always come back to it.  she is so innocent and young and funny and bright.  i miss her terribly, but i’ll see her again here in a few weeks when they come to visit. 

i then had to go to mexico for work on june 10th and returned june 21st.  what an amazing time.  this trip was like no other.  i mean each trip i take for work is so different from the others.  sydney, for example, was just what i needed at that time.  i needed to get away from my life.  i needed to see something new, do something totally unlike me.  this trip, mexico, it was to reassure me that this is what i am suppose to be doing right now.  seeing the world.  experiencing life.  i saw some of the most beautiful places this trip.  we went to taxco (tas-sko) mexico.  a town built into a side of a mountain, a big mountain, where the main industry is silver.  i bought SO much there.  all unique pieces, stuff that if imported into the US, would cost a fortune.  i was also able to see a couple of pyramids, and the cities built with them.  unbelievable.  as i stood atop the sun pyramid, climbed all 200+ steps to get to the top, i wanted to time travel, to witness how it was.  these were simply amazing!

we cannot forget the team building that was done on a wednesday night!

the end.

its been a while.  i have been traveling since june 5th.  i went to florida for a long weekend to see my sister and family.  also to witness my brother-in-law promoted to commander of a test pilot squadron.  very cool thing.  his new job and the ceremony.  then there was beach time and sunshine!

in photoshop again.  this time though i took my inspiration from a family photographer in california.  she used a ‘view finder’ framing on her pictures that i just fell in love with.  gives them the ‘old’ or i should say ‘vintage’ look.  here’s my attempt at it. …buckingham fountain, chicago.

edit – if i didnt get the modern building in the background, on the right side, this would have looked like a true old picture.  with the older building on the left.  damn.

why is it on somedays it takes everything in me to just unload the dishwasher, but on days like today i do the following without blinking an eye:

-workout
-plant flowers on front porch, back porch, backyard flower bed
-wash car
-oil change
-return shirt to the gap
-grocery shopping
-paint toe nails
-clean bathroom
-make beer bread for tonight’s bonfire

i actually still need to do the last two … waiting for the toes to dry.

i am exhausted … i could easily sit on the couch and stare off into space…or sleep … whichever comes first.  i am not picky today.

edit – add unload/reload dishwasher to list (check, done…)

well, its now this, after i decided to be ‘green’ last fall.  (ie, green = toss it in the backyard flower bed just like the rest of the WT here in the hood)

*you can see all the pumpkin seeds and the remaining decay of the great pumpkin.  hopefully the birds are so sick of pumpkin!

This month’s ten thoughts on whole living in Body & Soul.  This is probably the only reason I get this magazine, just for these 10 things to remind me I am not crazy!  And to help put many many things I am sure I blow out of proportion into perspective.

-Look for reasons to get active – and let your inner radiance shine.
-Your attention is like a muscle; it needs to relax in order to reengage.
-See your more difficult moments as opportunities to rise above.
-Health is the manifestation of internal balance.
-Dont miss a chance to get outside and experience the warmth of the season.
-Once you decide to take action, you’ll be surprised by how things fall into place.
-Discover ways to embrace boredom.  Its part of the human condition.
-Your words have a bigger impact than you realize.
-Eating sustainably involves not just what you eat, but also how much.
-Sometimes the expression of love is the most powerful healer of all.

the 27 year old sales rep from ohio wanted to go to a cubs game this weekend.  and it had to be this weekend.  says he got free tickets, i beg to differ.  either way, good game.  really good when zambrano decides to break his bat over his knee! 

in the city on saturday with a colleague from our singapore office.  i cannot believe i got this!  that is rachel in the reflection. 

and welcome to my new home!  thought i’d try something new!