First off- a little shameless exploitation....
A little exciting news. I have been on a self promotion bender as of late, and beyond the blog I went out and bought a domain. One week later, I have gotten it to link to my website. SO- WITHOUT FURTHER ADO- you can now find me at MalloryCyr.com

I'm pretty excited about it! hopefully it will serve it's purpose and make me famous. Riiiight. It's a step in the right direction of being pro-active if nothing else, and is a lot easier to tell people than blablalbla...dot blogspot.com! It has links to all my blogs, and more info about me, and what's going on in my life. I'd love feedback, so if you'd like to see anything else on it, let me know!

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Besides that- as some of you know (or anyone who doesn't live in a box knows) Last weekend, the sister and I took a spontaneous venture to our beloved city once again.
It was kind of random, and I bought the tickets before I knew how I was getting there, but in the end it all worked out!

Let me back up a little bit-

When my mom was in her one act play about a month ago, Colin called me from NYC where he was seeing In the Heights (he attempted to make me jealous...but really just because he was jealous of my recent events...come on now) He told me there was all kinds of promotion for the opening of Jason Robert Brown's new show, "13," and we needed to see it together.
I had promised Jason's bass player I would make an attempt to see it, so I decided to try to make it happen.

A couple of weeks go by, and I discovered a sample recording of the show, which I then shared with my sister, who in return got addicted to the show as well. I can't really blame her, seeing as how the show is about being a teenager and although we can both relate to the story- it's probably more her show than mine. I then realized I couldn't see it without her, or I would not be allowed to come home. I explained the situation to Colin and we decided to go ahead and look for tickets.
Five Row G discounted tickets later, we had to figure out how to get there.
I attempted to comprehend bus and Amtrak schedules, and even looked at how much it would be to just get a driver to go down so we would be on our own schedule and feel a little safer, but it ended up being more than the tickets to the show, so we decided to forgo that.
In the end, the third person on Colin's end wasn't able to go, so we decided it would make the most sense for me to invite someone and be able to have them drive down.

Enter other BFF- city loving fashionista, Shannon. She agreed to drive down and was almost as excited to get out of the State of Maine as I was. We were good to go.

Of course the anticipation was the worst part, but Maisy and I both just dove into work and made the time go by.
Finally, it was Friday morning- 10/10, 13 day!
Everything went as planned [for once], and we were out the door by 9:30. It was definitely an early morning but nothing a quick stop for Falleriffic Pumpkin Spice lattes at the first rest stop couldn't fix! Divas gotta have their Starbucks.


The drive wasn't actually too bad. The foliage was brilliant, and it was just so wonderful to be getting out, and being able to leave behind everything that was stressing out, even for just a little while. After the mandatory Auntie Anne's pretzel stop and listening to the entire 13 recording once through (it was only released a few days before we left! Exciting!)

We arrived at Colin's apartment in New Haven, piled into yet another car, and headed into the city!

In the meantime, my Blackberry was just about exploding with people who found out I was coming into the city and wanted to see me, or Broadway folks who had already seen the show and were wishing us a good trip! It is so nice to be loved :-)
Maisy and I put out the question of what we were doing for dinner, and nobody had any specific desire to go anywhere so we suggested Ellen's... of course, since they knew we were coming and we just can't possibly go to the city without at least making an appearance there.

Nobody disagreed, so we parked the car, and navigated through Times Square. At this point it still felt completely surreal. I couldn't believe I was back in the city, where nothing else matters except being there, in that moment. Before we knew it we were at the door of Ellen's Stardust Diner and barely had to wait to get a table, even though it was packed, since it was Friday evening at that exact time when everyone is getting dinner before their show.

We ended up upstairs, which was different, and not as thrilling as being on the first level, but it was definitely still enjoyable- and now we can say we have sat up there.
As always, the food was great, and they did all the right songs like they really did know we were going to be there (well, they did..but like they knew what was just RIGHT for that moment). They sang Don't Stop Believing by Journey, and FOOTLOOSE! Come on now... it was too funny. We had an amazing dinner, with delicious drinks, ran into people from Maine who were seeing a show that same night, and it was ironic and lovely.

After eating, we headed over to the theater, which is actually a blur, but we weren't far away at all. As we were approaching the Jacobs Theater, I thought I heard someone say my name.
Lo and behold, there was the FABULOUS Mary-Mitchell Campbell, from our camp affairs. I had dropped her an email a few days before our trip, but figured it was short notice and she wouldn't be able to see us. Then, not only was it a fabulous surprise to see her, she told us where to go to meet the writers and musical director after the show. She was seeing another show, so she had to go on her way, but we went inside and in the process of finding our seats walked right by JRB himself. Of course we didn't figure it out til we were past him, and by then the show was going to start so we all just willed him to stay for the entire performance so we could see him after.

The show, was INCREDIBLE. It was relevant, and powerful in so many ways. I am 99.9% sure that everyone in our group could relate to that show in some way. Some more than others.
It was one of those moments, that was just so perfect. Seeing the perfect show, at the perfect time, with the perfect people. I haven't had one of those moments in so long. I just wanted to hold onto it, or not breathe or blink so that it wouldn't end.

Of course, like all of those moments, it did end, but the night was not over yet. We jumped up from our seats immediately after the curtain call to see if Jason was still there, and because we all had willed him to stay- he was! We got his autograph and chatted for a bit. I told him we were friends of MMC and thanked him for producing such an incredible work.


That show is something that has needed to grace Broadway for some time. In a past MySpace Blog I had said I had hoped something would come along for this generation since RENT is gone. Well- something has. And for that we can thank Jason Robert Brown.

After we talked to him for a bit, we purchased the essential tshirts, and headed to the stage door to meet the cast of amazing, talented kids who also put in the time and commitment to make this show a reality. Now this was incredible too, because Maisy & I of coursed shoved our way to the front a la Les Mis, but when the cast was coming out, they recognized HER.

This show is unique in that there is a myspace type site where people can network and talk

about their theater experience and the show. Maisy had written a blog about coming down, and people who were in the show remembered her. It was so cool to see her interact with them. She had found her people.

After I met the kids in the cast I went over to our special stage door with Colin, to meet the aristic team of the show. Tom Kitt was the musical director who had also done Next to Normal which we saw in March when we were in the city. He said it's playing again in DC (which I did know) and if we happen to be able to get down there somehow, to let him know, and he would hook us up. He was so fabulous, as was Dan Elish who wrote book of the show. They were both awesome as were all the kids.

After all of that we were far from tired even though it was about 11:00 so we headed to the nearest Starbucks (which of course wasn't far) and debriefed and laughed and began planning the next trip. Shrek the Musical opens on December 16th! Might be a possibility. I really want to go around Christmas. As many times as I've been to the city, I don't remember going around Christmas and it's my goal. So we'll see.

Finally we decided we should start heading back since we still had the drive back to New Haven, so we went to get the car and headed home.

The next day of course came much too soon, we packed our stuff, got breakfast and coffee at Dunkin Donuts so we could make it through the day, and depart to the northernmost part of New England.

However-
we were on the Mass pike when Shannon said, "So...do you guys have plans for the rest of the day?"
We didn't, so she said, "I really don't want to go back to Maine yet."
Of couse we couldn't argue with that, so she went on "Who wants to go to Boston!?"






The vote was unanimous, and the diva road trip decided to conquer two cities in two days! After a quick makeover in the parking garage of Saks Fifth Avenue, we did some shopping on Newbury St, where I finally had my introduction to the LUSH store and we tried on accessories that were more than several months rent, but it was so much fun.









We had dinner at a fabulous upscale restaurant, window shopped a little more, then decided it was time for the three Dorothies to go back to Kansas.

Maisy slept the whole way home, and we all felt like it had just been a dream. But we knew it couldn't have been because Maisy had the t-shirt. It was another adventure that had been just what we all needed and refueled us, and put things in perspective to face the real world once again.

Who knows what will happen- but we also just sent in Maisy's resume (which is extensive even in comparison to the kids in the show) and head shot to the casting director of the show....so keep all your fingers crossed and send good vibes! You never know til you try right?


On that note-

FALL 2008- HERE I COME.
Change is in the air, I'm ready to move forward, so let's do it!

you know you love me.

xoxo

Click here for All the pictures





Now playing: Green Day - Time of Your Life

WE LOVE YOU PLN

After I wrote my last entry, a good friend of mine (and faithful reader) said to me “You need to write more!”  So I am proud to say it is not even a month later and here is another entry!  Of course, I partly wish I could say, well nothing has really happened, so there is nothing to write about, but as we all know, my life never has a dull moment, and it has already felt like months

 have passed! However, because of recent events, all my selfish rantings are going to be put aside for now, because my heart and mind is only focusing on one thing today.

I’m sure most of you know by now, because clearly the media is far ahead of me (when I began writing this, there was not much out there but now there is).  A very important man passed away today.  Some of you know him from movies, some of you know him from his amazing organic food line. I know him, because he created camp, and changed my life.  Until my recent years, I didn’t know him as a “celebrity.”  I knew him as Paul…the guy who made camp, and dressed up like a woman in the gala to

 make people laugh…
Now- I am fully aware of everything he has done, and have met his truly wonderful family, and I am really feeling his loss.

I believe that he had done all that he could to make sure camp was in the right hands, and went when he truly believed it was time.  Having listened to his daughter Lissy at the gala last month, we all knew deep down that it wouldn’t be long, but it wasn’t real until today.  It was a grey, rainy day, and hard not to feel the sadness that I know is shared by all THITWGCers no matter where they are in the world.  It is because of this one man that we were able to create such a strong, expansive family, and although he is gone, I know that will not change.  I wish we could all be together today and celebrate his life.

As I ate dinner with my entire family this evening, and both of my grandparents, I couldn’t help but think about Lissy Newman’s children I sat behind at the gala, and how it wasn’t about losing a movie star, it was about real kids losing their grandfather.

Joanne- and the entire Newman family- You are in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope that you find the love and support that I know, because of Paul, has been provided to so many others.

To my extended camp family- I love you all, and know we are all sharing similar feelings today.  I know it’s not the same, but when you are feeling sad, and that nobody else “gets it.”  Close your eyes and imagine we are all in the dining hall holding hands, and singing Can You Feel the Love Tonight, because I know for a fact that as spread out as we are, I definitely can and even though Mr. Newman may be gone physically, he will never leave camp, and that love will always be strong.

To everyone else, however you are affected by this- realize how lucky you are when you hug your grandparents, or give your husband a kiss or your father a hug tonight.  Look at all that Mr. Newman has achieved in his time and realize that HE is a hero.  He is what we should all aspire to be.  Be genuine, be good, be selfless, but don’t forget to drink beer, make jokes and raise a little hell.  He’d want us to.

And always remember- as I was reminded every summer at THITWGC:

**The time is short and there’s so much to do.  Don’t waste a moment of what’s given to you. Don’t waste a moment cause you’ll never see it returned…**

Thank you.

The Facts.

Loved by all....

Camp Fabulous!  Gala 2008

It’s officially fall!  The air is chilly, and I’m sitting here in my Yale hoodie (did I mention my best friend is going to Yale for grad school.. I’m a little proud…)  

And I’m not at school.  This is the second year this has occurred, but I’m still not used to it.  I mean- when you go to school for fourteen years or something ridiculous- it’s a little hard to train your body and your biological clock to not automatically associate early sunsets and crisp nights with having classes and moving back into a dorm.  But alas here I am- and once again I am so ok with it.

Not being in school that is, not necessarily being home…. In Maine (although everyone else thinks it's pretty cool...)

Let me back up a little bit.  I am still coming down from a really surreal, emotional, intensely fabulous weekend.  It involved another camp fundraiser that Maisy was in, but for the first time, I was not in the show.  I spent the weekend trying to figure out what my role was, but in the end I did discover it and was completely thrilled.  I had an alumni committee meeting the day of the gala, and it’s a small group of people made up of campers, counselors, and board members.  It’s quite an honor considering how many people have graduated from there in 20 years!  We discussed opportunities for alumni events, and went over the beginning seed of a social networking site (a la facebook) that will just be for camp alumni.   There were some great things discussed, and it’s good to know I am not done with my camp involvement.  …and I have a feeling I won’t be for some time.

I don’t know how to explain this without sounding arrogant, and I want to preface by saying that is not my intention at all- but I am kind of a big deal there.  People from the board of directors were bringing me around to meet people to tell them about camp (specifically, former Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax…)  and I would introduce myself to people saying, “I’m Mallory,”  80% of the time their response was “Oh, I know!  I saw you in New York!  (or… on the video… or the giant banner at the 20^th reunion)”  It was kind of amazing.  I mean… I chalk myself up to being pretty fabulous around here… but to see it was true there was kind of intense. 

 

Not to mention the schmoozing and chilling I did with some fabulous theater folk.  I have gotten pretty tight with the musical director of the show (what is it with me befriending musical directors? ) Mary-Mitchell Campbell since she did my first gala in 1998, and we’ve been working together for 10 years.  She knows I’m pretty knowledgeable about the world of Broadway and is the one who hooked me with front row seats to Next to Normal, back in March.  The director (James Naughton) and all the costume people and even the stage crew know who I am, so I basically had free run of the theater and spent the first afternoon watching the sound crew work to get things ready.  It was a little weird to not have to be in rehearsal, so I had a lot of free time, and that night I found myself having pizza and wine in the dining hall with some lovely sound boys!  I am not one to mingle with techies usually, but my perception has totally changed!  One of them works on Hairspray and Jersey Boys on Broadway, and the other (who totally reminded me of Anthony Rapp) was leaving for Rome with Liza Minelli!  ...and of course they were all from New York.  

The next night was the an incredible, catered, surf and turf dinner where all the camp, board, and theater people came together for a night of celebrating everything that was going to occur the next day.  It was my first time of what happens after the campers go to bed, and it was amazing.  The dining hall was transformed into a candlelit dinner reminiscent of the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Mary Mitchell quickly found me and asked if I had met Tituss yet (Tituss Burgess- of Sebastian in the Little Mermaid, and Jersey Boys fame) I said I hadn’t and she quickly introduced us. He was absolutely lovely and joined us in the festivities til almost 2 a.m!  Nothing like partying like a Broadway Rockstar…

.

I ended up chatting for quite some time with someone from the main camp office who works on the promotion of camp.   I mentioned to him how in school I was a creative writing major and had written a piece about camp for my portfolio. In it I had said “Camp isn’t something that can be described with words.”  And the critique I receive was, “But you’re a writer… you have to!”  He replied that he totally understood what I meant, because that is his job is to portray camp so it will receive funding.  Long story short, we really connected and he wants me to speak to the board at some point!  It was the most amazing, thrilling networking I’ve ever done.  And I realized one thing.  I was passionate. I cared.  I was honest.  I was me 105%.  That's the thing about camp...

The next day was the day of the show and GALA Day!  I had my alumni meeting, and then we attended the auction which was completely overwhelmingly powerful!  One of my old counselors, Bud was there, so I sat by him (Aka Calvin Trillin

Keith Richards auctioned off a guitar that went for $30,000 (which one of my friends and I had to help set up earlier in the day!  Ahem…) 

Sandy Kofax (who I had mingled with earlier and had NO IDEA ….I fail) auctioned off a signed bottle of champagne he won in the World Series.  Alec Baldwin was there hanging out and bid $12,000 which he ended up giving to the guy who was bidding against him.

Among other things, we got the most choked up when a poster of Paul Newman in Exodus had speed fire bidding and went for $30,000.  Remember- all of the money made goes to the camp, so kids with serious illnesses can attend for free. You really have to be there to understand the power of it all, but it was such an amazing experience, I was so thrilled to be a part of it. 

When it was time for the show, we ended up being in the third show, between Sandy Kofax (who by now I knew pretty well!)…and Lissy Newman…and her kids.  Making them the Newman grandchildren.  The show was incredible.  It was such a thrill to be on the other side of the stage and to see what happened in the audience.  It was so incredible to be seeing my baby sister who has been doing camp fundraisers since she was four, up there on stage, now transformed into a chorus line showgirl sharing a stage with Bette Midler.  Not to mention that when I was four, my mom and I used to dance in her bedroom to Bette Midler… now we were watching our baby up there singing with her!  I kept elbowing my mom saying “did ya ever think!!?!!!”

At one point, Lissy got up and gave a speech on behalf of her family.  She didn’t intend too, but she knew she had too.  I cried harder than I had cried all day.  Later that night I saw her in the dining hall and talked to her.  I told her I was so happy she could be there, and it was so important that those blue eyes could have a presence there that night.

After the show, I bypassed the masses and just went back stage to see my baby sis.  The only person guarding the door was Matt (my Anthony Rapp sound guy) and he said “uh, I dunno, you guys have pretty much been here for the run… go ahead!”  I got to the green room right as Bette was finishing taking pics with the kids, and I swooped in to congratulate my sister on an amazing job.  I was so proud of her.  It has always been us, but this was ALL HER.  And she rocked it

The next morning there was breakfast to be had with Jim Naughton and his family, and John Pizzarelli and his lovely daughter Maddie (who reminds me so much of Maisy!)  He is married to Jessica Molaskey (Songs for a New World anyone?) and they are the most enjoyable, down to earth people ever!  They were incredible performers too.  I got to thank them for being a part of the gala, and it was so cool.  I think that’s another thing about camp is how it is so humanizing and really lets you just get to know celebs like regular people….cause…well they are!

So… now I’m home.
and a little lost.
The more I travel and do fabulous things I realize THAT’S where I’m at home.  I like being known, I like doing big things.  It’s starting to really hit me that people say, when I tell them I’m from Maine “…you’re so much more than that!”  I’m starting to believe it myself.

I know, I know everything will happen when it’s meant to, but I just felt something so powerful… I don’t think we have seen the last of each other!  Even if I have to pay $1500 to go to another gala, I’ll do it.  I need to be there.  I need that sense of fulfillment that I don’t get anywhere else.
I guess bottom line, I just realized, once again what is really important, that I AM a big deal, and that I shouldn’t let silly Maine drama get me down.  I have great things going for me.  People know who I am, and some day, when I’m ready, all my ducks will fall in line and I WILL end up where I’m meant to be, doing what I’m meant to do.

Everything else… is only for now ;-)

xoxo

California Dreamin'!

It's so weird, because I think doing my nails inspires me to write. I love the sound of nails on my keyboard. It's therapeutic, even when everything else is driving me nuts. I just did my nails hot pink (well, magenta) for the beach tomorrow for Maisy's birthday, and thus feel the need to write about everything that's gone on since last time! I can't believe she's going to be 15.... ugh. That scares me....

Anyway. California was amazing. As anticlimactic as Miami was, that was how awesome Cali was! We flew into San Diego, where Danielle met us to drive us back to L/A with her and Joe for two days. We did everything. We went to Pinkberry and had dinner on Sunset Blvd right next to Ketchup, (which was totally where Jason and Lauren ran into Heidi and Spencer...). Then we went and walked around Beverly Hills for awhile before going home. I won't describe every minute, but the next day was shopping, lunch in Malibu, and more sightseeing.
The last day with Danielle, we went to Manhattan Beach before driving back to San Diego and we had our final stop at Starbucks together, and I bought an adorable Roxy purse at Diane's surf shop where the lovely girls of Laguna shopped for Cabo....ahem.





Every minute was fun, and I was totally reminded of why she was (and that she really is) my best friend, which of course also made it a lot harder to leave her once again. It was awesome to reminisce and talk about how we had not imagined ourselves being able to hang out in LA back when we were in high school, but we had both known we wanted something more than rural Maine...which is why we were both out there and other people were home with babies in trailers....(not there is anything wrong with babies, if that's what you want to invest your prime years in, but it was the it happened for a lot of people...)

Leaving was hard. We had a last dinner together at a sushi restaurant in San Diego and I checked into my hotel (which was pretty gorgeous and had an amazing pool). It was definitely hard to switch into conference mode for the 8th annual Oley Conference after being in superstar/Hollywood mode and having to focus on my "medical issues" but balancing the two is what I'm known for I guess. Sometimes I have to remind myself of that.
It was really emotional to all of a sudden thrown into a world where TPN was everywhere, and all the people were hooked up. I guess I didn't really expect to be phased by it, but it was an overwhelming sense of "coming home," if you will- to see everyone else dealing with the same issues as me. For those reasons, the first day was kind of rough for my mom and I (and that fact that once again, my phone and computer were all screwing up at once so I couldn't even connect with the people from home)
I won't go into too much detail, cause a conference is a conference, but it was such a wonderful experience. I met some amazing people, specifically young men about my age, who, by the end of the week, we were finishing each other's sentences. All the twenty somethings got to go on a Trolley tour and see San Diego, which was so incredible (but a little too long was the general consensus) and Alicia, our moms and I went to Old Town one night for dinner in a pseudo Mexican town (where my mom had actually already been the last time she went, which was really kind of ironic). We definitely made the most of every moment we had.

The last day was the "picnic" which was actually by the pool at our hotel, so the scheduled activity was to hang out by the gorgeous pool all day. Absolutely perfect. mom and I grabbed some chairs fairly early and just talked to people all day. That was when some serious bonding took place. I also got the chance to really network with the lovely woman who does the Oley newsletter. We've talked a little since then and she wants me to write an article for the newsletter about transition for both parents and youth. Yay poolside networking!
I also really spoke up about my experiences, and told people about my work now, and they invited me to come back next year to help plan the "transition" session for the young adults, which I'm really excited about! My family is already just assuming we're going to go, and hopefully make a vacation out of it. There was definitely a void without the dad and sister there. It's also in St. Petersburg Florida which doesn't hurt.

Looking back, I realized I got so much more out of attending Oley than I thought I would. I had some preconceived notions from the last time I went and was ready to go to simply learn, and share the information I knew, but what I came away with was a realization of (once again) how lucky I really am, to have such a handle on my health and be able to live such a normal life, AND that there are other, REALLY COOL people doing the same thing, and we really are "all in this together." I made some amazing friends, got to see some old ones and had an awesome time, and I am definitely an Oley fan for life!

More to come, it has been such an eventful summer but I've been bad with updating. Stay tuned!


As always, for more pics:
Los Angeles!

More Cali with Danielle!

Oley in San Diego!



xoxo The Mal

Behold, the power of a facial!

So, following up from my birthday post, my party was FABULOUS.
There are pictures: here
But it was absolutely perfect. The only thing I would've changed is that Colin would've been there, but he spoiled me crazy on my actual birthday, so it balanced out (we ate all day long- Espo's, Applebee's, and Starbucks of course, and he bought me Enchanted on DVD....which we saw together). This whole birthday was amazing!

Yesterday, mom and I drove down to Vermont for a conference I was presenting at today. As some of you know, I've been feeling sort of...in a rut, in regards to my work lately, so I was really not looking forward to coming. We had no air conditioner driving down, so it was a little annoying, but soon we got a rainstorm and began driving up the mountain and it cooled right down!
We found a random amazing restaurant on the way up since the restaurant in the hotel was closed for the season. Silly skiiers! We ended up having an amazing dinner, and I slept wonderfully. I always manage to sleep better in hotels bed, than my own (hmm...maybe I need a new bed.....)
Before we turned in however, Patti showed up to go over our presentations, and I mentioned how I had noticed that the presentation they had us down for on the agenda was not the 2nd powerpoint she had sent me. Then something incredible happened. We began a new Powerpoint, and she created 2 new blank slides and said "Here. These are yours."
I looked at the situation and figured I could do 2 things. I could just say "I can't think of anything...", or I could run with my two slides and begin proving what I AM capable of.
I chose the 2nd one. I made one slide a list of what I have learned in my life that I would like to relay to others, and the other one was a collage of pictures of things I've done to prove there are no limitations, and anything is possible if you're willing to find a way!
After hardly even looking forward to the conference, I went to bed feeling actually EXCITED for our presentation, which I had really not felt in a long time.

I woke up energized and excited to make the most of the day, no matter how it went.
The day began with our keynote speaker, Scott Chesney. He was absolutely wonderful, and everything echoed my life to a T. He overcame his challenges and did everything he wanted. He even had a job in PR in NYC. Hello. Did somebody call him and say "Hi Scott, Mal is going to this conference, and is really questioning everything in her life right now. Anyway you could give a speech and bring her spark back?" Because that is exactly what happened. He made me remember anything really is possible, and what kind of a person I really am. I don't settle, I don't get trapped. I make the most out of every moment and follow my heart. I always have and I'm not going to stop now.
I spoke with him after, and he even said he'd e-mail me and put my name in with his people in NY! Eeeeep! Overall, I was just transformed.

During the speech I also got a phone call that my beloved purple Fit I met when my mom was car shopping, can indeed be adapted!!!! There was an automatic blackberry pearl Honda Fit coming in this week, unclaimed. My dad put a deposit on it today, and let's just say NOW IT'S CLAIMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The universe is completely on my side this month.

With this news I was completely amped for our presentations, and they both went wonderfully. I didn't hold back. when I wanted to say something I did, and I was MYSELF. I was me again, and that was all it took. I wasn't afraid of not knowing the information absolutely perfectly, I just dove in head first and had fun, and the audience did too. It was excellent.
All in all, the entire day put me in such a good place I'm ready to take on the world!

Before we went to dinner, we had some time to kill, so I decided to investigate the spa. I wanted a mani or pedi, but they didn't have a nail tech. I felt so good about the day I decided to reward myself with a facial.
I t was worth every penny, and I can't even describe it. It was borderline spiritual.
I mean, how often do you just lay there quietly, thinking peacefully while taking care of yourself. I just kept thinking about all the good things in my life and how absolutely lucky I was. It was like a trance. I pretty much did not want to move after. It was so rejuvenating, and I felt like a totally movie star.
I'm hooked now. there will be another one before Cali (I get to go to California.... I got my dream car.... I get facials)
I think these conferences really wake me up to how lucky I am, and how much I take for granted. I'm going to work on that. and I'm going to write my book. Because I can.

I know it sounds cheesey, but I really got an awakening and am ready to tackle this summer for everything it's worth. I have too much going for me to complain. I need to just DO.

So.... here's to a new summer. A new car, and refound gratitude for everything I have!

Cheers.




(as always, you can read more about my travels here: http://divajetsetter.blogspot.com )

Spring's Awakening!


I have so much amazing stuff going on right now, it's ridiculous. It's actually 53 degrees outside right now, and the snow is melting (I'm afraid to say it.....) I'm sitting here with my window open, in shorts (pj's....but still) and it's just divine. I
I've been so energized and pumped, and as for my social life picking up in April, that has definitely been rocking as well. I've had a dinner date like every night this week, last week Matt and I went out and played Wii (then I hurt for like 3 days...), and Jordan and I planned a wine and cheese party last weekend that was absolutely superb! Shan came down, and we got all pretty and went over early to help him set up and cook, then everyone else got there and we just drank wine and talked, and oh my goodness I have not laughed so hard in forever.
It was amazing. Robin was there, from high school, and we reminisced about everyone and high school, and it was such a mind trip.

I also randomly reconnected with Jake, who, for awhile, (I won't lie...) I had some mixed feelings about. I sort of still do, but we've both grown up a lot and I think we can really relate to each other right now, being young and successful and doing things bigger than Maine. I'm really trying to connect with people like that right now. I need to realize I'm an adult and take advantages of opportunities given to me, and connect ith people I know....

I'm going to be going to California in June for the Oley conference, which is just for people on TPN! I talked to work about it, and told them how bad I wanted to go, and how much I feel I could not only learn, but offer to others, since people on TPN seem to get sort of hung up on transition.... I'm kind of a big deal.... (lol, but it's true)
AND I told Danielle I was coming over and I think we're going to go down a few days early to spend time with her and Joey in L/A. Can we say excited? I wanted to go to Cali soooooo bad, now it's just happening. Wow. It'll be amazing.

Speaking of amazing, I also booked a room yesterday for my birthday party. I had a training in January at a place nearby and it was so beautiful I decided I need to have a party (and because my 21 and 16....were a little lackluster). I'm so excited!


anyway I need to run, I'm on a phone call for work and then Andrea and I are going to get some dinner, cause it's goooorgeous out!



xoxo