Mornings SUCK! I am not a morning person as you can now tell. I can honestly say I am always late to work in the AM because I can not get my bottom out of bed!

Maybe it is because I do not sleep well at night. My mind is always racing so it is hard for me to fall asleep. After I do fall asleep, I tend to wake up during the night and start thinking all over again. Then the morning comes and I am dreading getting out of bed.

So I am trying to improve my morning experience. I know that being late is not the best thing and I need to enjoy getting up in the AM.

Here are some of the tips I am going to try:

1. Go to bed early - Right now I tend to go to bed around 10 or 11. I am going to try to set a consistent bed time and see if this will allow me to get enough sleep.

2. Have drapes that let the light in - I am buying new drapes so when the sun starts to rise it will allow the light in. This is supposed to be the best way to wake up naturally.

3. Stop hitting snooze - When it is time to get up, I am going to stop giving myself the option to hit the snooze button. Instead I will just get up.

4. Play Music - My friend swears that if you get up and turn on music, it will get you excited about the day and make your shower more fun.

5. Learn to Enjoy the Morning - I really enjoy the night so it will be a change for me to enjoy the morning. I am going to look into ways that I can enjoy it. Maybe it will be the birds singing, the sun rising or just the quiet before the day begins.

I may never LOVE the mornings but I can learn to like them a little more. Maybe I just need to remind myself of the joy of naps.

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Yesterday I presented “Coping with Difficult People” at a conference. I was thinking about how many times I am requested to present this topic. It tends to be a very popular and everyone always has tons of stories to share about difficult people.

They say that only 2% - 3% of the population is difficult but they take up about 50% of our time. That is a lot of our time wasted on negative people. Why waste so much time dealing with difficult people?

Isn’t true we allow people to treat us the way they do? What if we took a stance and stopped allowing difficult people in our lives or work situations. Would we send a message to difficult people that being negative or difficult doesn’t get you results?

I even thought that maybe I need to stop teaching Coping with Difficult People and teach a course called, “You are a Difficult Person”. Maybe then I would be able to help people see how their behaviors affect others and most of all, themselves.

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This is week two in the “If… Project” in which I answer questions from the book “If… (Questions for the Game of Life)” My friend Nick started this off so you can read his answers over on his blog.

These are this week’s questions and my answers:

If you could have lived through any war in history (without actually fighting in it), which would it be?

Honestly, I can not come up with one single war I would want to live through. Of course, I wouldn’t want to die either but I do not think living in a war time is the best time of life. Conflict is always going to happen and we will have defend our rights but it is said that lives are still lost. I thank all those men and women who choose to protect our freedom. Thank you for all that you do because I know I wouldn’t be able to do it.

If you could eliminate any one type of insect permanently from the earth, what would you get rid of?

In Florida we have huge roaches so I would get rid of them. They gross me out and always show up when you least expect it causing you to scream like a little girl. I am sure the moment I get rid of them, it will cause some off balance and we will be attacked by spiders or ants but I really would like to see roaches gone.

If you had to eliminate a single type of animal forevermore, which would you choose?

Snakes would be gone for sure. When I listed the 150 things about me, I mentioned how I am so scared of snakes. They just freak me out! I think it is the way they move and how they are so slow and then so fast. They also hide a lot so they come out of no where and cause me to scream like a little girl, AGAIN. I know I would not miss them at all.

If you could have an elegant dinner alone with anyone presently alive, whether you know them or not, who would you want it to be?

Well, I know I would not pick someone I didn’t know. I wouldn’t want to spend a whole meal with someone I was meeting the first time besides, who knows if I would even like them in person. I would choose Justin. He would like the experience and most likely would have done tons of research about the place before we got there. He would laugh at my jokes and would let me just be myself. I wouldn’t have to worry about pretending to fit in and could really just enjoy the dinner. PLUS, Justin would so carry the takeout boxes for me.

There are my answers for this week’s questions. What are yours?

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I have always wanted to get a picture taken that shows your aura. I finally was able to do that yesterday. Jeff from Aura Pix took my picture and explained my aura to me.

As you can see, my picture is orange and red but my prominent color is yellow. This is what they say about yellows:

“Yellows are the most fun-loving, free spirited, energetic, and childlike personalities in the aura spectrum. Yellows are wonderful, sensitive, optimistic beings, whose life purpose is to bring joy to people, to have fun, and to help heal the planet.

Yellows can either be very shy and sensitive, or they can be the life of the party. These playful characters have a great sense of humor. They love to laugh and to make others laugh. Yellows believe life is to be enjoyed. They like to live life freely and spontaneously. With a perpetual smile on their face, they remind people to not take themselves or their problems too seriously.

Yellows would prefer not to work at all, unless their work was fun, playful, or creative. They love nature, and often have concerns for the survival of wildlife and the environment. Dogs are very drawn to Yellows and often become their best friends.”

How cool is that?

Well another thing crossed off my life list and learned a little more about myself.

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Spending time this weekend with friends got me thinking of my friends from the past. People who were in my life for a time and eventually just faded away. We both played a part in letting the friendship fade but I am still lucky to have had the time I did with them.

Life takes us in different paths and we lose touch with our friends. We no longer work with them, go to school with them or have same likes or dreams anymore. Either way, you still miss them and wonder what they are doing.

I wonder if Kim is still married and what her life is like now. I wonder where Mandy is and what drama is going on in her life. I know Lennart is still Lennart and I just hope he is happy. I think about when I worked at Red Lobster and wonder how Aleks, Heather, Frank, Ryan, and Debbie are doing. I wonder what happened to Fran and Terry. I wonder if Mike is still doing touring shows. I miss Natalia and wonder how her child is and her life. I miss Stacey and wonder if she is still working or staying home with her daughter now. I wonder how Peter’s life turned out with moving back home with his parents. Is he still in the closet or has he come out. I think about my acting days and wonder how Jessica and Dave are doing. I wonder if Vanessa is still married and working in timeshare or has she moved on.

Hopefully one day, I will randomly run into them and get to catch up. Maybe they will even come back and be part of my life. But I can not stay thinking about the past because it is just that, the past. I do not know what the future will bring but I know it will include some of my current friends, new friends and new adventures.

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This past weekend I spend time with my friend Nick who came down for what he called his gay-cation with Lauren, Karen and his boyfriend, Kevin.

We spent the day at Magic Kingdom enjoying the sights. Unfortunately one of the sights of Florida they didn’t want was the wonderful sudden thunderstorms. We got caught many times in the storm’s pouring rain but were lucky to always find an attraction to keep us from getting completely soaked. At one point, we just missed a random downpour by getting in line for “It’s A Small World”. Here is a quick video of us on the ride. Enjoy Justin’s dancing:

The storms allowed us to get exercise running from one side of the park to the other to see if the Jungle Cruise would finally be open. We weren’t able to see the Castle Show due to the weather but were treated to seeing one of the dancer’s back was scarred up from which I hope was only a drunken night fall and not a “Sleeping with the Enemy” type boyfriend episode.

We set up at our “secret” viewing area to get an almost front row sit to the fireworks early in the night. Unfortunately, 20 minutes before the show, we had to move the table quickly under the overhang when the storm poured on us one more time.

The Wishes fireworks were great and Tinkerbell, which we were afraid wouldn’t show because of the weather, flew right above us to end the night in the Disney magical way.

I realized on the way home that the weather didn’t damper our time together. It was the friendship and laughter that kept our day sunny. I am glad to have been able to spend another day with one of my best friends, Nick as well as make new friends from NYC.

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My friend Nick found this great book of questions that allow you to really think about your life and choices you would make in a variety of situations. He is going to post 4 of the questions each week and his answers.

Talking with him, I decided to do also post my answers to the questions each week. This will allow everyone just to get to know a little more about me each Monday.

This week’s questions:

If you were granted one wish, what would it be?

This is a simple question that reminds me of being in elementary school. When ever someone offers you a wish you ALWAYS wish for more wishes. This way you have tons of options when it comes to wishing. IT just makes sense.

Of course, if the rule was you could only have one wish and could not have more wishes, I think I would wish for good health for my friends, family and myself. I know it wasn’t for the world but I figure it is like in the movies when you wish it for the whole world there is this evil consequence so I recommend making friends with me if you want good health.

If you could spend one whole night alone with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?

I would pick Megan Mullally. I think she is a riot and from her talk show, I can see she is down to earth, quick witted and just fun to be around. I figure spending an evening with her will be filled with great conversation that is not just about her, lots of laughter and great food. I believe she also is a loyal friend and if you are lucky enough to be part of her circle friends you would have a friend for life who truly has your back. PLUS, I would have to get her to do Karen, just once.

If you could spend one whole alone with anyone in history, who would you choose?

I really can not think of anyone I would like to meet from history. If history means that past is no longer here, I would choose my mother’s grandma. I wasn’t ever able to meet her so it would be nice to finally spend time with someone my mom talks about so much. I know she is a sweet woman and full of funny adventurous stories. I know she is full of love and I would leave feeling great and able to connect with part of my family I would have never had the chance to meet without this opportunity.

If you could physically transport yourself to any place in the world at this moment, where would you go?

I know exactly where I would go Sydney, Australia. I do not know why but I have always wanted to go there. As you know it is a very long flight so it would be great just to be there in a moment. I have heard how friendly the people are and the city and sites look beautiful! I would to be able to just spend sometime over there, soak up the culture and maybe some sun rays and then head back home.

There are my answers for this week questions. I hope you will share your answers with me.

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Sibling rivalry is very common among brothers and sisters. I was lucky because I am 12 years younger than my closet sibling in age so I grew up basically like an only child.

Of course, I do have siblings. Two sisters and one brother. They are all in their 40’s, currently, until next year when my oldest sister turns 50. While at my sister’s birthday this past weekend, I started to think back on some of the memories I have from them:

My sister Donna invited me over to spend the night on many occasions. Having older siblings mean I also had an older niece who happened to be my age. We would play games late into the night keeping my sister and my brother in law up. She would always have slices of white bread, from her neighbors, for me because she knew I didn’t like wheat bread.

My sister Vicky and I would play tons of video games together. She was always there to help me with a flat tire or when my car battery died. She was the sibling who showed up at the hospital at 2 in the morning when I was bleeding from my tonsils stitches opening up. It was Vicky who gave me a wine cork when I was a kid and told me it would keep the monsters and nightmares away and I believed it.

My brother Eric had to deal with being the baby of the family and then 12 years later having a new baby brother. He would allow me to play with his Star Wars figures and read his comic books that he kept in pristine condition even though he knew I was careless and most lucky going to ruin them. It was my brother who rushed to my elementary school when my mom had forgotten it was the day we got out an hour early to rescue me and take me home. It was my brother and his friends who played shark with me in the pool until my eyes were red from all the underwater swimming.

I am sure I can come up with many more stories about my siblings including all four of us making a musical video singing MMMBop, the thousands of birthday party board games we played, and our family trips to Sanibel Island.

There are also tons of things my sisters and brothers have done through the years that have hurt my feelings. But, there is one thing I always remember, they are family. The hurt is the price I pay for loving them so much. Only people you truly love can hurt you and in the end it is worth it. The hurt is only a drop in bucket of a lifetime full of laughter, support and love.

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Spring is official here even if the weather where you are may not show signs of it. I love the spring because this is the time when everything begins again. I love watching the plants bloom and the animals return. The warm weather returns and the days start to be sunnier.

As you can see from the photo, for spring I started growing a small pot of clovers. I got it for a dollar at Target and I was amazed to see them blossom. Each day they reach for the sun through the window.

I realized I am reaching for the sun. I am ready to be outside reading in the sun again. I need spring just like all plants. This is my time to start a new me.

I have already been spending time spring cleaning my house and working on a plan for some house updates in the next few months. My home is growing in the spring so I should as well.

I decided I am going to set 3 personal goals for myself. Goals that push me to personally grow as a person. I want to use the spring to allow myself to be a better me. I am reaching for the sun like the plants. I want to soak up the sun!

What goals could you set for yourself to grow this spring? It is time to spring into a new you!

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This is my 150^th blog entry!  What do you write about on your 150^th blog entry? I wanted to do something fun to celebrate this accomplishment and I wanted it to be themed with 150 so, I decide to share 150 things about me with you.  I appreciate all your support and readership and I want to allow you to get to know me a little better. After 150 things, I think you will know more than enough. J  

1. My favorite holiday is Halloween
2. My birthday is October 14^th
3. I am the baby in my family
4. I graduated early from high school
5. My first job was at Pacific Sunwear (I was a mallrat)
6. I am scared of snakes and throwing up.
7. I am working on reducing my fear of flying. I do fly but I am not a fan.
8. When someone makes a good point that I agree with, I say “TRUE!” (That is the written form used in text messages, emails, and IMs) The in person version sounds so much more fun!
9. I stole a DVC Welcome Mat for my friend Nick because he is a HUGE Disney fan.
10. Outside of Florida, I have traveled to Nassau - Bahamas, Bartlesville – Oklahoma, Gatlinburg – Tennessee, Charleston – North Carolina, Hilton Head – South Carolina, and Macon – Georgia, San Jose – California, and Napa Valley – California.
11. My favorite Yankee Candle scent is Sun and Sand.
12. My favorite Disney movie of all time is the Little Mermaid.
13. I have had 3 pets in my life, First dog was Fluffy, (who we gave away because of bad behavior) my second dog was Rusty, (who passed away from old age) and currently I have my first cat, Piper.
14. The first car I drove was a white and sliver Grand Am. The first car I owned was a red Saturn Coupe. I then owned a Grey Jetta and this year, I bought a Red Honda Civic Coupe.
15. I am currently trying to learn how to juggle.
16. I love Cirque du Soleil. I have seen La Nouba, in Orlando, at least 5 times. I own a lot of Cirque merchandise as well.
17. My friend Becky and I purchased a tension rod for her shower and then created a song about it called, “I love my tension rod” which we sang for quite sometime.
18. I have been to two foam parties which were held in Orlando at the Club at Firestone. The first one was the best; the second one was just cold hence why it was the last.
19. I wore clear braces when I was 16.
20. When I go to Starbucks, I order a venti iced green tea or chai tea latte. I love Starbucks.
21. I love playing with stress toys and have them laying around everywhere, even in my car.
22. I am an Apple Addict. I have a Macbook, Ipod and Iphone.
23. A friend once convinced me to go to a “Paint Your Own Pottery” place. Since that one experience I have painted 2 coffee mugs, a candle holder, cat water bowl and a potted plant pot.
24. I was invited to a preview event when IKEA opened in Orlando. The only thing I bought that day was a potted mini palm tree, and white pot for it, which I named, IKEA.
25. I was on the Mickey Mouse Club when it was filmed in Orlando. I was in the audience in the episode when Dee Dee and Chase sing “Tell Me I am Not Dreaming.” Continue Reading »

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