Grateful for Pink Trees

Greetings on a Friday!
Tonight I'm grateful for pink trees.  I absolutely love it when the magnolia trees are in bloom.  They are absolutely stunning.  The dogwoods aren't bad either.  I sometimes wish that instead of green, there would be pink trees throughout the summer.  It feels a little bit like a Dr. Seuss book.
Cheers to pink trees!
 

Grateful for Functional, Fun & Cute Toddler Clothes

Greetings!

Today I'm grateful for functional, fun & cute toddler clothes.  I have a passion for clothes.  It started in middle school and has lasted a lifetime.  It was reinforced when I got my first job:  I was very lucky to work for a credit union that served Macy's employees and thus our offices were in Macy's stores.  Not only did I get to walk past all the clothes every day on my way in and out of work, but I also received a discount.  Beyond that, some of the folks that worked at the credit union were former Macy's team members who still had connections to the current Macy's team and thus knew about sales and great deals early and often.  It was pretty fantastic.  So, when we found out we were having a daughter, I was really pretty fired up about being able to pick out clothes for her.  I'm confident that this will all backfire at some point and at 13 or 14 she'll decide that she's rebelling by wearing only one outfit that is bright orange with green horizontal stripes.  Luckily, if that does happen, my dear friend Thomas will be available to help me with an intervention.  I digress...

As a "newer" mom, I was blissfully unaware of the complexities of finding clothes that are not just cute, (because there are TONS of cute outfits), but functional.  What I've learned as we've tried different outfits is that in my opinion, the best choices are really "blousy" tops with jeans or leggings.  Dresses are also very cute, but didn't work well until she could walk.  I just felt lousy putting her in a dress when she was trying to crawl.  Again, not something that I considered until I had a little girl, but trying to crawl in a dress is just a pain.  The dress gets in the way.  As much as I love clothes, I also think that a kid should be a kid.  She needs to get dirty and messy and crawl and walk and roll on the ground.  No matter how cute, her clothes can't get in the way of that.

So, one of my favorite outfits is a gift from our dear friend Amy Stanton for MacKenzie's birthday.  It fits her so well.  It's comfortable (leggings instead of low rider jeans:  have you ever seen a little kid try to walk in low rider jeans?  Again, the jeans just get in the way).  It's super fun and adorable.  It's the perfect lady toddler "kit."  She was wearing it today and I captured a couple of pictures.  It's a little hard to get her to stand or sit still, so I'm not sure you get the full view of her outfit, but you'll get a sense:

There's a lot to learn when you are a new mom.  Some of it is really hard and painful.  Some of it, like finding what clothes are the most fun and flexible is just a joy.  I'm grateful.

Grateful for Daily Learning

Greetings!
Tonight I'm grateful for being able to learn new things every single day.  What I learn isn't always miraculous and big.  Sometimes it is just a new way to make MacKenzie smile.  Sometimes it is something new that MacKenzie learned (learning about learning: whew!).  Sometimes it is insight into how another person thinks.  Sometimes it is learning about leadership by watching other leaders.  Sometimes it is a new training technique that might make me a better runner. Whether it is about parenting or working or running, it makes me better.  It can be hard and even painful, but I'm so happy to be able to do it.
Today I learned a few things:

(1)  I learned that there is a school for auctioneers.  I saw two very talented auctioneers today.  They were a mother and daughter team.  It was really fun to watch them work.  They connected with the audience and were incredibly engaging.  I had no idea you could go to school to learn that skill.  Really interesting.  Here's a photo of Jill Doherty & Erin Nolan the auctioneers:

(2)  I learned that MacKenzie knows the words hair and arm.  She isn't articulating them well, but she can definitely identify what they are.
(3)  I learned that a man named Daryl Osler is working on developing a form of extremely fast transportation via evacuated tubes.  If it works, you could literally get from  DC to Beijing in two hours.   Think of all the travel we could do!

(4)  I learned that there is a 7-11 slightly closer to our office than the one I've been going to when I need a fountain diet coke fix.

Good learning today.  Until tomorrow...

Grateful for No Spam Turkey

Greetings!
Today I am grateful that I have never had to eat a spam turkey.  I think even if I ate meat, I would not be a fan of spam.  We watched the latest episode of "Shameless" tonight and Fiona wanted to be sure the family had a Thanksgiving dinner despite the fact that they didn't have any money for a turkey.  So, she literally shaped several spam chunks to look like a turkey.  Ultimately, Jimmy/Steve did buy the family a turkey, so the Gallaghers didn't eat the spam turkey either.  I'm very glad I haven't experienced this culinary delight.

Grateful for Tomorrow

Today, I am in lockstep with little orphan Annie.  I'm grateful for tomorrow.  

Today was one of those days.  I must have said, "that could've gone better" ten times.  Despite that, I'm grateful.  I'm grateful that I made it through.  I'm grateful for the optimism and persistence that moves some folks.  I'm grateful for sarcastic and ironic humor that can make me laugh.  I'm grateful for my friends that reach out and check in just to say "hey."  I'm grateful that I'm sipping a glass of wine.  I'm grateful that there are shining moments on wearing days that keep me going.  I'm grateful that days like today make the great days that much greater.  I'm grateful for cheesy musicals with really good messages that stick with you for a lifetime.  The sun will come up...

Grateful for Surviving the Clowns

Greetings on a rainy Sunday on Long Island. 

Today I'm grateful for surviving the clowns.  We took MacKenzie's to her first circus at the Nassau Colliseum.  It was very fun and somehow vastly different than my memory of the circus.  If you go early, you can visit with the animals and performers.  Our girl loves elephants and we were able to get pretty close to them.  We also got very close to the performers.  This included the clowns. 

I have had a hate/hate relationship with clowns for most of my life.  I've had vivid recurring nightmares about clowns since I was little.  It started way before I read "It" or wrote a paper at U of M on John Wayne Gacy.  Although, neither of those helped.  Not a big fan. 

I have to say that the clowns today were pretty impressive and much less frightening. I was particularly impressed with how they made a point of not only bending down to get to MacKenzie on her level, but actually sat right down on the ground and invited her to approach them.  It was a very welcoming and non-invasive approach.  They were also much funkier and hipper clowns than I have ever seen.  See wasn't drawn to them exactly, but she didn't run away either.

It was a good reminder to me about not passing down my fears to my daughter.  It would be easy for me to tell her immediately about how scary I think clowns are.  But, she deserves to have her own experience.  Who knows, she might just love them and that would be really great for her.  She'll have plenty of fears in her life, although I hope fewer than me. 

Today, we survived the clowns.  Hopefully my dreams will be clown-free tonight as well.
Until tomorrow...

Grateful for my Saturday with MIS

Greetings on a Saturday in New York.
Today I'm grateful for this day with my daughter.  It wasn't anything complex or crazy.  Just a really nice spring day.  We did our swimming lessons and went under the water again.  We went to the park and played and walked and threw more than our fair share of dirt.  We walked along the bleachers like we were on a tight rope.  We explored the inside of the dug out.  We went to the grocery store and giggled racing down the aisles in the cart to make sure we stayed entertained.  We listened to Ira Glass during lunch time while we enjoyed our grilled cheese (MIS) and bagel with cheese (Mommy).  We went back to the park after lunch and hugged a little boy who introduced himself to us.  We practiced Dave's invitation to play under tables and dream (see photo below).  We went to the wine store and said hello to all the friendly wine folks.  We read some books.  We ate dinner:  a burrito, some raisins and a kiwi along with some pieces of rice cake.  We did our 20 minutes of iPad time and giggled along with the Princess & the Frog.  We took a bath and brushed our teeth.
I'm grateful for my daughter and this day.
Until tomorrow...

Grateful for Ashley Judd

Greetings on a Friday evening.  Looking forward a quiet weekend with MacKenzie.
I'm catching up with my DVR this evening.  I'm grateful for Ashley Judd.  We're enjoying her new show, "Missing."  I'm a super huge fan and I can hardly believe she is on television.

She's a fantastic actress.  In my opinion her two best movies are "Kiss the Girls" and "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood."  Both are favorite books of mine made into movies.  Both have fantastic casts.  After "Kiss the Girls" she went on a run of movies with Morgan Freeman.  He's also a favorite.  I also loved her in "Double Jeopardy" and "Where the Heart Is."       

The one movie that I can hardly believe that she made was "Bug."  If you haven't seen it, you haven't missed anything.  It was awful.  

One other really cool movie she was in was "Simon Birch."  This movie was based on one of my all time favorite novels by John Irving, "A Prayer for Owen Meany."  The movie is good, but as with most great books, the movie doesn't quite compare.  

I'm grateful for Ashley Judd and all the cool movies she's made.  I'm liking Missing.  Hopefully it has a good run.  Until tomorrow...

Grateful for Fellow Runners

I failed a bit on my commitment to gratefulness this week.  We had the credit union GAC and I didn't carve out the time that I should have.  However, today, I'm back at it and I'm grateful for fellow runners.
One of the great parts of attending the GAC is reconnecting with credit union colleagues from across the country.  One of the brightest stars of our industry, Jeff Russell, is also a runner and he was kind enough to commit to running with me yesterday morning.
I haven't had a lot of people to run with in my life.  I had a dear friend in college who was a very compatible running partner.  My former boss, John Normandeau, took up running and we were able to run several races together.  Beyond that, running has mostly been a solo sport for me.  So, it was really fantastic to have someone to run with yesterday morning.  Having someone to chat with really makes the miles tick by faster and it's just more fun.  It was one of the highlights of my week.
Thanks Jeff!  Happy running.

Grateful for little learners

Greetings on a Saturday in DC.  Happy St. Patty's Day!

Today I'm grateful for little learners.  We had MacKenzie's swimming class this morning.  It went better than they have in the past, I'm guessing largely because she spent so much time in the pool or hot tub when we were in Florida.  Anyway, today was the first day that the class practiced putting their heads under water for the first time.  The teacher took every individual student and helped them put their heads under.  What I thought was most interesting about this was just how adventurous and willing to learn little kids are.  Imagine how big and new the world is for someone under two years old.  They've likely been in pools less than 20 times at the most.  It's noisy and there are lots of people around that they don't know very well.  Then a woman that they've only seen for 30 minutes four or five times takes them away from their parent and pulls them through the water until they go under for a bit.  Talk about being uncomfortable!
Here's the thing:  very few cried.  Almost all gave the teacher and their parents a high five after it was over.  Even if they were blinking away water out of their eyes and looked a little unsure.  They were all excited to have done something new.

As with so many things, kids can teach us so much about being open to learning and new things.  Change might be uncomfortable, it might feel really strange, but it's likely to help you swim to places you never expected.  The next time I'm nervous about trying something new or need to stretch myself a bit, I'm going to think about all those little swimmers going under for the first time.  They were inspiring.
Here's a little clip of the first dip under water:

Until tomorrow...

The next grateful challenge

Greetings on a Friday!  TGIF.
I've made a decision about the next stage of the gratefulness challenge.  I'm going to stick with it, but change the rules a bit.  I'm going to commit to at least one thing that I'm grateful for daily.  I'm going to do my best not to do repeats, but no promises.  If I'm really moved by something that is a "double-up," you may see something more than once.  I'm not sure about the timeframe.  We'll see how it goes.

Today, I'm grateful for mentors.  I had the opportunity this morning to join the "Mentoring Partnership of Long Island's" for a portion of their 2012 "Mentoring Matters" conference.  It was really incredible.  My boss, Linda Armyn, who is on their board kicked off the breakfast with an inspiring talk including the role that her father played as a mentor and how his mentees still remember him and his impact many years later.  The Executive Director, Jean Cohen and the National President/CEO of MENTOR both spoke with such enthusiasm and passion about the difference that mentors can play and the stark realities that can face young people who do not have the support that they need.  Finally, Keith Davis and Devan Wyman from the NFL lead an incredibly engaging session with a group of young people.  They were dynamic speakers and had such a wonderfully positive message.  It was exciting to see the kids so engaged.  It was clear what a difference these folks are making.  It was a magnificent way to start my Friday.

It also made me think about the many mentors that I've had and what a difference they've made to me.  I've been extremely lucky to have a lot of mentors at different stages in my life and they have all shaped who I am today.  I can't possibly write about all of my mentors here, so this is not intended to be a full list, but there were a few that were on my mind today:

Bill Clarke: He was my science teacher in middle school. My seventh grade year was extremely difficult for me and he was kind and generous with his time.  Knowing that he was there for me and would be an ear when I needed it really helped me to get through many days that very challenging year.  I'm not sure what I would have done without him.

Pat Pastula:  He was my cross country and track coach.  If you know me, you know how much I love to run.  My love of running started with Mr. Pastula.  He taught the little things like how to pace myself, how to eat well, how to condition and train.  More than anything he taught me about commitment.  He taught me that no matter what the circumstance, no matter how uncomfortable, you can always run and that being that diligent pays off.  There were days when I really didn't understand why we would be outside running. Today there are very few days that I would understand why I wouldn't be outside running.  He gave me a very big gift in introducing me to one of my life's passions.

Kathy Elliott:  She hired me at BestSource.  She taught me so much about marketing and leadership.  More than anything she helped me to develop my passion for credit unions and our industry.  She shared a lot about how she grew her career and helped me to get my start.

John Normandeau:  He is the CEO at BestSource.  He believed in me and my talents.  He saw things in me that I didn't even see and pushed me to look deeper until I saw them and acted on them.  He taught me about the importance of knowing your strengths and weaknesses and how really great leaders not only know themselves well, but surround themselves with people that compliment them.  He also taught me how important humor can be even in really tough situations.

Mike Neill:  Mike is such an incredible mentor.  He has taught me nearly everything I know about sales & service culture and credit unions.  He is always honest with me and tells me like it is even when it is hard to hear.  He is extremely loyal and always gives me a chance to get better and improve myself.  He is super funny and has made me laugh even when I felt like crying.  He taught me so much about how to be an effective speaker and an effective leader. He showed me how important modeling is.  He also taught me how critical it is to give back consistently.  I feel very lucky to have him in my life.

My mom:  I know it might seem like something that everyone says, but my mom has been the biggest mentor in my life.  She is the epitome of what people mean when they say mentor.   She has provided me with unending support in every situation I've encountered.  She loves me no matter what I do.  She is here for me and will answer my call whether it's 5 AM or 5 PM.  She'll talk to me whether it's the first time we've talked in a day or the fifth.  She has helped me to make decisions and has known when she needed to step in a play a larger role and when to give me the space that I needed to decide on my own.  She taught me to play the violin.  She taught me to read. She taught me to write.  She taught me how to treat other people.  She taught me what family is all about.  She taught me what it means to be a working mom and how important a career can be for a woman.  She's given me so many gifts, it's hard to articulate them all.

I was reminded today about how crucial mentors are.  It was fun today to think about some of my mentors and their impact on me.  Thank you to all of my mentors.  I'm looking forward to finding ways to be a mentor in the future.  I've always known how important it was, but today was a good reminder about how much they are needed.

Grateful Day #30

Greetings on Grateful Day #30!  Here's my top ten list today:
(1)  I'm grateful for having a great lunch today.  I met some new fun people, learned a more about one of our business partners and had an awesome sandwich.
(2)  I'm grateful for all I that I learned today about tanning.  The folks I had lunch with were telling me all about it.  I haven't been to a tanning salon in more than 10 years (at least).  It seems a lot has changed.  You can pick different kinds of tans.  There are beds that make you not feel like you are in a coffin.  Who knew? I'm grateful for learning something new today.
(3)  I'm grateful for colorful heels.  They make black suits much more fun.
(4)  I'm grateful that I survived running past the creepy lady for the 100th time today.  I pass a woman almost every morning when I run who carries an umbrella no matter what the weather.  (Yes, this is different than the crabby woman that I also pass on most mornings and no, that woman hasn't smiled at me yet!)  She doesn't wave and she always looks at me with dagger eyes.  My heart starts racing every morning because I'm just not entirely sure what's going on with this person.  I'm hoping she is just a crabby and cautious walker and not a serial killer.  I'm going to keep trying my stock response:  smiling as much as I can.  What else is there to do??
(5)  I'm grateful for the pictures Grandma Marge sent to us last night.  Reminded me of our fun week.  Here are a few:

(6)  I'm grateful for my dear friend Kelly.  She's super smart, very kind and generous.  She's a great mom and a great friend.  She and I were pregnant at the same time and we have a lot in common.  She came and rescued me several times when I first had MacKenzie and needed a few minutes to workout and didn't have much back-up.  She's on my mind because I'll get to see her next week at GAC.  I'm grateful for that as well!

(7)  I'm grateful for my dear friend Dawn.  She sent MacKenzie a gorgeous scarf and she absolutely loves it.  Dawn is a long time friend with one of the biggest hearts on the planet.  She's a spectacular mom and friend.  She's creative and funny and super generous.  She has a way of "just knowing" when I need a card or a call to connect.  Just wish we lived closer. Her birthday is tomorrow.  Happy Birthday Dawn!

(8)  I'm grateful for those runs when I just feel light and full of energy.  There are a lot of daily runs that I love doing because I love how I feel when the run is over, but that I really slog through. I feel like my feet are stuck in cement and I have to play mind games just to keep myself from looking at my watch to see how far I've gone.  Having had to "hit pause" on my running career when we were pregnant with MacKenzie, I am grateful for every run, but I'm especially grateful for those runs when I just feel amazing every steep of the way.
(9)  I'm grateful for gin & tonics.  I haven't had one in a really long time, but they are one of my very favorite adult beverages.  I used to wonder why in the world my mom drank them when I was little because they smelled like pine trees.  I couldn't imagine they tasted good.  They are so refreshing and delicious.  Cheers.
(10)  I'm grateful for having taken this challenge.  It's helped me to gain perspective and value the many fantastic people and things in my life.
Wondering what happens on day 31?  Meet you back here tomorrow and we'll see what the day brings...

Grateful Day #29

Greetings on Grateful Day #29.  On this unseasonably warm New York day, here's my top ten grateful list:
(1)  I'm grateful for seeing a good credit union friend that I hadn't seen in a long time today.  I'm also grateful that I'm going to get to see her again next week at GAC.
(2)  I'm grateful for how much MacKenzie loves being outside and that it's light enough now to play outside after dinner time.  We moved sand from the sandbox into the yard.  We pointed at the flowers.  We threw her baseball.  Fun.
(3)  I'm grateful for spontaneity.  I'm not particularly good at it, but it's fun when I try to be every once in a while.

(4)  I'm grateful for Puffs.  They make living through a cold slightly less rotten.
(5)  I'm grateful for crossword puzzles.  They were a joy in my grandma's life and I love doing them when I am able.  I particularly like doing them when we are with my in-laws.  Jeff helps me complete the things I don't know.
(6)  I'm grateful for the smell of oranges.  I am not really that big a fan of the taste, but the smell is really refreshing.
(7)  I'm grateful for postcards.  They are fun to send and fun to receive.  My in-laws are great about always sending them from their trips.

(8)  I'm grateful for how much MacKenzie's hair has grown this week.  It's really fun to see it grow and curl a bit.
(9)  I'm grateful that some day MacKenzie will learn to say "yes" as well as "no."  She responds "no" to practically everything either with the word or a shake of the head.  I am looking forward to "yes" and nods.
(10) I'm grateful for all the letters my grandmother wrote me.  When I first went away to U of M, I was really homesick.  My parents were pretty smart and knew that if I came home every weekend I'd never acclimate, so we made a commitment that they'd talk to me daily and come see me a fair amount, but that I wouldn't come home very often until I got settled in.  My grandma wrote me a letter every single day.  I kept most of the letters.  They are newsy and sweet and chronicle her days for most of my college years.  It's really cool to have these little treasures that I can go back to and remember her.  She was just incredible.

Until tomorrow...

Grateful Day #28

Greetings on grateful day #28.  Here's my top ten list for the day:

(1)  I'm grateful for the gorgeous sunny day here in Columbus.  The sun and the warm weather feel amazing.
(2)  I'm grateful for the great folks that I presented to today.  I love presenting to and talking with credit union Marketing folks.  So much energy and passion for what we do.  Fantastic!

(3)  I’m grateful for some recent conversations pointing me to consider the concept of work/life balance.  As a working mom it is something that you hear about all the time.  You hear people saying that they want or need more of it. You hear people saying they feel close to it.  You almost never hear people say they have it mastered.  You read about it and some people say it is a fallacy similar to control.  In this case, in my opinion, everyone is right. 

Balance is a feeling.  It’s something that you feel singularly.  Nobody can tell you that you have it or that you do not.  However, it is something that you are sure that everyone has an opinion about.  As a working mom, you think that people are watching you and judging you and deciding if you work too much or too little.  You are sure that people have opinions about how you play with your kid and how often.  I’m not sure that this is always true, but it feels like reality and it probably is at times.  As people we are quick to judge. 

For me, balance is about being able to experience two sides of experiences.  Neither is better or worse.  I appreciate each because I get to do both.  Here’s an example:

Traveling with a toddler:

Last week I was traveling with MacKenzie and Scott.   We were hauling around three checked bags, a diaper bag, my laptop bag, my purse and Scott’s carry-on.  A man stopped us to tell us that we definitely hadn’t mastered traveling with children.   It took us longer than most to get through lines.  People were very flexible and patient because they saw that juggling our bags and our baby wasn’t easy.  They smiled at us a lot and joked with us. 

We tried to eat at the airport and mostly just made a mess as our daughter doesn’t eat particularly well when she isn’t in a highchair of some sort.  As we waited for the plane, I chased MacKenzie around the airport and we played with a group of wheelchairs that we found.  She put her tongue on the disgusting airport window.  She got under at least ten people’s feet.  People smiled and laughed.  We were every passenger’s nightmare as they ascertained whether or not they would be sitting near us on the plane.  I looked at business travelers and felt pangs of jealousy. 

As we flew, Scott and I took turns juggling a 17-month old.  She kicked the seat in front of us.  She threw all the papers and magazines out of the seat pocket.  She screamed and cried for 15 minutes because all she wanted to do was crawl around.  She threw her books on the floor.  She finally fell asleep in frustration.  I napped for a while with her and then woke up and enjoyed watching her sleep peacefully in my arms.  She hugged and kissed me when she woke up.  Pure joy.

When we got off the plane she roared with laughter at the little stuffed animal that rolls on the ground and giggles.  People in the airport smiled at her and they smiled at me.   Strangers talked to us in both airports about the backpack that Scott was wearing to carry MacKenzie and how comfortable it looked both for her and for us.  They were friendly and kind and commented about what a sweet baby she was. 

Traveling without a toddler:      

This week I’m traveling on business alone.  I don’t get nearly as many smiles.  If I’m slow or get in someone’s way they are not patient.  I am much faster getting through security.  I have my luggage well organized and I am adept at maneuvering the bins.  My luggage feels light and manageable.  I am able to read and work as I wait in the airport.  At the hotel, I practice my presentations in my room several times and fall asleep early.  I wake up and am only responsible for getting myself ready.  I practice my presentations again after I call home and listen to MacKenzie and Scott starting their day.  I really enjoy presenting to the groups and hearing their feedback.  I think on my way to the airport about changes I will make to my presentations in the future.  I catch up on phone calls that I’ve missed and write a bit.  I get lunch at the airport and eat it at a leisurely pace because I can.  I enjoy drinking a diet coke and don’t worry about it getting spilled. I’m able to read and work on the airplane.   I make lists of things that I need to remember to do at home and at work.  I think about what time I’ll get home and what parts of MacKenzie’s routine I’ll miss.  People do not look at me like I have cooties when they realize they will be sitting next to me.  I look at other moms and feel jealous.  I wish that I were holding MacKenzie.  I close my eyes for a few minutes on the plane and it feels really good. 

These experiences happen to me every single day.  I have my moments with my girl.  I have my moments without her.  The moments with her are magical and she is the light of my life.  The moments with her are also sometimes frustrating and hard.  The moments without her are also magical.  The moments without her are sometimes frustrating and hard.  I like working and I like contributing.  I love credit unions and the difference that we make for people and their finances.   I appreciate both more because I do both.  There is never a 50/50 split.   I’m lucky to juggle both though and I’m thankful to be challenged to think about balance because it makes me appreciate my life in its entirety not just in its parts. 

(4)  I’m grateful for hearing about a “Red Shoe” campaign done by Wayne County Community Federal Credit Union.  This shop and their CEO really get their “why.”  Inspiring.

(5)  I’m grateful for how pretty clouds look from the sky.  It’s crazy that there was a time when folks didn't fly and didn’t get to see how cool they are up here.

(6)  I’m grateful for bagel sandwiches.   I really love them and the one I had today was particularly great even though the woman that made it seemed very confused by my request (cheese, lettuce, mustard…”That’s it??”)

(7)  I’m grateful for the funny pilot today who teased me after I had to go through “additional screening” by TSA saying, “so you got sent to time out hunh?”  Made me laugh. 

(8)  I’m grateful for not getting hit by a car this morning.  In the hotel restaurant last night a man commented to me that there were frequent pedestrian accidents in the area.  I was slightly on edge when I ran.  He didn’t seem to know what contributed to this.  He seemed to think it was the pedestrians.  Both interesting and scary. 

(9)  I’m grateful for my mom and grandma’s hands.  I don’t know why but every once in a while I think about them.  They both have/had amazing hands.  Long fingers.  Not fancy, but well kept nails.  My hands are stubby and my nails are in disrepair.  I will encourage MacKenzie to take note of my mother’s hands. 

(10)  I’m grateful for BestSource Credit Union.  I stumbled into my first credit union opportunity in 1998 just looking for a marketing job and have become a credit union “lifer.”  My credit union journey started there:  in the basement of a department store without any windows.  Thank goodness!   

Grateful Day #27

Greetings from Columbus, OH on grateful day #27.  A speaking engagement as brought me right into the heart of Buckeye territory.  Here's hoping they don't all rate me low the minute they hear where I went to school.  Here's my top ten list for the day:
(1)  I'm grateful for how excited MIS was to get up this morning.  She was so happy and giggly.  I really do think she was happy to be in her own bed versus the pack-n-play.
(2)  I'm grateful for my hotel having food.  I didn't have the energy to trek out again once I checked in.
(3)  I'm grateful for how interested in credit unions people are these days.  The woman that took me to the airport today really wanted to know all about us and is ready to join.  It's a great time to be a credit union.  Love those conversations!
(4)  I'm grateful for all the other business travelers.  It feels good to not be the only person away from home.
(5)  I'm grateful for there being coffee available in the hotel. It'll make for a solid morning.
(6)  I'm grateful for the midwest.  I just like being here.  You can't take it out of me.
(7)  I'm grateful for how busy March is.  I really do like this pace.
(8)  I'm grateful for my jeans and tennis shoes.  It's way better to travel with my heels in my suitcase.
(9)  I'm grateful for the "This American Life" app.  Ira Glass is a rockstar and his show is fantastic.  I love being able to listen wherever I am.

(10)  I'm grateful for running in new places.  It makes the run more interesting and it's a fun way to see a town.  I'm not sure if it'll be light enough to actually see anything tomorrow.  The time change has me confused about sunrise times.  Either way, it'll be good.
Heading to practice again.  Until tomorrow...Cheers from Ohio.

Grateful Day #26

Greetings on grateful day #26 as the weekend comes to a close.  Lots to be grateful for...here's the list for today:
(1)  I'm grateful for the potted plants at the park.  MacKenzie absolutely loves digging in the dirt.  Lots of playground equipment, but dirt makes a better toy.  I think we may be raising a gardener.
(2)  I'm grateful for urgent care clinics.  I am very glad to have seen a doctor today and I'm hopeful the Z-pack will start working quickly.
(3)  I'm grateful for the ten degree difference between this morning and this afternoon.  Our afternoon trip to the park was much more comfortable.  Not Florida comfortable, but New York comfortable.
(4)  I'm grateful for paper towels.  They make life with a toddler much easier and slightly cleaner.
(5)  I'm grateful for the person who planted bulbs in our backyard.  We have a few little flowers blooming. Yeah!
(6)  I'm grateful for "scenes" from the next episode.  It's just fun to have a taste of what's to come.
(7)  I'm grateful for MIS recognizing Grandpa Jeff in pictures today.  She beamed and said "Grandpa" when we were looking at pictures from our trip.  So cool to see her start to develop relationships with her family.
(8)  I'm grateful that Althea is eating again. She always goes on a hunger strike when we travel.  It's good to see her comfortable again.
(9)  I'm grateful for the summer trips that we have planned to head to both Michigan and Wisconsin.  It's always good to have a trip to look forward to and I'm excited to have more time with our families.
(10)  I'm grateful for the book of the day selection:  "Fancy Nancy."  It hadn't been the book of the day yet so not only was MIS enjoying the book, but it isn't one that I have memorized.
It's time to get packed for my quick trip this week.  Until tomorrow...

Grateful Day #25

Greetings on Grateful Day #25.  Back in New York and here's what I'm grateful for today:
(1)  I'm grateful for being home.  It was a great vacation, but it's also great to be home.  MIS was so happy to be here.  She was thrilled to see "doggy" and her toys.
(2)  I'm grateful for MIS finally falling asleep on the flight.  After 15-20 minutes of screaming and crying, she finally gave up and crashed.  I'm confident the man that sat next to us is telling his family tonight that he sat next to a terrorist toddler.
(3)  I'm grateful for how pretty the country was today as we flew over it.  MIS was excited about the clouds.
(4)  I'm grateful that neither of the wine bottles we packed broke on our travels home today.  It would have really been rotten if our clothes were covered in wine.
(5)  I'm grateful for a wireless connection that works for more than 30 seconds.  Writing this will take half as long as it did all last week.  Lots of great things about Disney...wireless service is not one of them.
(6)  I'm grateful for Althea holding down the fort and being in good shape upon our return.  It's always a little stressful when we leave her for the first time in a new home.  She's a good old dog.
(7)  I'm grateful for the "Happy & You Know It" app MIS and I found today.  She loves it.

(8)  I'm grateful for being unpacked.  As little as I wanted to unpack when we got home, I would have been very unhappy to have to do it in the morning.  Particularly since I need to pack again tomorrow night.
(9)  I'm grateful for the Terry Gross interview with Maya Rudolph we heard on our way to the airport.  Love Terry Gross.  Love Maya Rudolph.  Will have to find it and stream the rest of it tomorrow.

(10)  I'm grateful for our last morning in Florida.  We played at a different playground and MIS dug in the sand.  It was fun.
Until tomorrow...

Grateful Day #24

Greetings at the end of the week.  It's grateful day #24 and our vacation is rapidly coming to a close.  It's hard to see a good thing end.  Here's my top ten list for the day:
(1)  I'm grateful for being here at Epcot during the flower show.  It was just gorgeous today.  I am simply amazed at how they create life-size characters out of flowers, moss and other garden-like materials.  Awesome.

(2)  I'm grateful for the three playgrounds we found at Epcot today.  They were absolutely fantastic and MIS had a wonderful time playing.

(3)  I'm grateful for knowing that when MacKenzie is happy, it's priceless.  I watched several parents yank their young kids kicking and screaming off the very cool playground equipment saying, "we didn't pay this much for you to play on a playground."  I do understand that coming here is very expensive, but for me, if our girl is loving a really cool playground, that's the place we'll stay.

(4)  I'm grateful for the way that Florida rainstorms work.  While it looked threatening today, there were really only three downpours and we were able to enjoy the day regardless.
(5)  I'm grateful for Dana and Lisa arranging this week's events.  They are definitely the Disney experts and it was awesome to have the week with our family.  Thanks guys!
(6)  I'm grateful for the Disney guy who stopped us today and asked if he could take our picture.  We really have so few photos of the three of us and it was really cool of him to take a minute to get a nice shot.
(7)  I'm grateful for the fact that it's going to be 65 degrees in New York tomorrow.  That will make for an easier transition back to the North.
(8)  I'm grateful for MIS learning to say "hail" in the hail to the victors song tonight.  She was yelling "hail" in the store.  What a moment!
(9)  I'm grateful for the many funny conversations that you can't help but overhear when you are in an amusement park packed with people.  The highlight from today was a conversation Scott overheard. A mom was talking to her small child who was having a tantrum.  In a very quiet and calm voice she said, "You'd better stop acting this way now or you will regret it.  Also, you'd better stop embarrassing me right now or I'm going to start embarrassing you."  Seriously.  People do talk like this.  My second favorite comment was one that I overheard.  A dad went over to one of the people working at Epcot and said, "Excuse me.  I just wanted to let you know that there is a rabbit dropping over there.  I wanted to tell you before someone stepped in it."  Good times.
(10)  I'm grateful for the nap I was able to take this afternoon while MIS napped.  I was really tired and am trying to fight off this cold.  It was good to get some sleep.
Wishing you a happy Friday.  Until tomorrow...

Grateful Day #23

Greetings on Grateful Day #23.  I did miss day #22.  There was simply no way to get to my laptop last night, so tonight, there will be 20:
(1)  I'm grateful for the Pooh Bear ride at the Magic Kingdom.  Absolutely loved it as did MacKenzie.

(2)  I'm grateful for bananas.  MIS ate three today.  She's a super big fan.

(3)  I'm grateful for anti-congestion medication.  It makes dealing with a rotten cold tolerable.
(4)  I'm grateful for sunscreen.  I'm not sure what we'd do with MIS' fair skin without it.
(5)  I'm grateful for Space Mountain.  It was my first roller coaster ride in probably ten years.  It was fun to scream and giggle.

(6)  I'm grateful for Faye Stearns.  She has been my bath time helper every night in Florida with MIS.  It's really nice to have another set of hands.
(7)  I'm grateful for having a few more years before MIS is coming home with homework.  Watching the kids do homework on this trip has got me slightly nervous for the homework to come.
(8)  I'm grateful for Alice in Wonderland.  Seeing her this week reminded me of how much I love that story.  I'm especially grateful for the Mad Hatter.  I would love to have tea with him.

(9)  I'm grateful for the joy on Grandma Margie's face when MIS reached over to hug her several times this week.  It's really cool to see how much people love our girl.
(10)  I'm grateful for all the help that Grandpa Jeff gave us this week with MIS.  She really does adore him and he has a great way of quietly taking her and letting her stretch her legs and get the space she needs when she is melting down.  My favorite moment was when he suggested renting a surrey.  We biked around the big loop with MIS and Faye in the basket in front.  So fun.
(11)  I'm grateful for all the green in Florida this time of year.  It does my heart good to see so much green.  I can't wait for the spring in New York.
(12)  I'm grateful for that MIS didn't get stung by a bee today.  Not only would it have been awful for her, but it would have brought the day to a screeching halt.
(13)  I'm grateful for the little playground by the pool.  MIS and played there this morning before we left for the park and she was super happy to slide down the slide three times.
(14)  I'm grateful for giggling kids.  It really is a great sound.
(15)  I'm grateful for swim diapers.  I gotta ask: what did people do before those were invented?  Yikes.

(16)  I'm grateful for that Scott's glasses didn't break completely when MIS pulled them off his face at the Animal Kingdom.
(17)  I'm grateful for the times in my life when my toes have looked so much better than they do now.  I'm hopeful that they will look that good again.
(18)  I'm grateful for being mostly disconnected from technology for most of the week.  It feels good.
(19)  I'm grateful for not inhaling any dog hair this week.  As much as I love our girl Althea, I do not miss waking up with hair all over when I'm trying to sleep.
(20)  I'm grateful that I haven't yet seen a snake on any of my runs.  I've been very nervous all week that one is going to peak out at me.  Let's hope I make it for the rest of the week without an encounter.

Whew...twenty in one night is tough.  Until tomorrow...

Grateful Day #21

Greetings on a Tuesday & Grateful Day #21.  We spent the day in Animal Kingdom here at Disney.  Here's my top ten for the day:
(1)  I'm grateful for the Boneyard at Disney's Animal Kingdom.  MIS had a ball running around and digging up "bones."  She really was ready to be out of the backpack and mobile.  It was fun to run around with her.
(2)  I'm grateful for pina coladas at the pool.  I hadn't had a pina colada since Scottie & I were in Mexico years ago.  It was delicious and MIS ate our pineapples.  She loved those.
(3)  I'm grateful for being with Grandparents who I know are taking pictures.  There is a certain amount of pressure I feel as a parent to capture the moments in MacKenzie's life.  When I'm with my parents or Scott's parents, I feel a little less of that pressure because they take great pictures.
(4)  I'm grateful for the new book I'm reading by Adam Mitzner.  It's called "Conflict of Interest."  Having finished the last Stieg Larson book, I was really hoping for another great read.  I'm enjoying it so far and he refers to "Mr. Brown Can Moo."  Made me smile.
(5)  I'm grateful for being able to watch MIS sleep a bit more than normal this week.  We are very disciplined with her sleep schedule and we also don't allow her to sleep with us.  So, I very rarely am "up close" and personal watching her sleep.  This week we are sharing a room and she's also had a few naps in my arms which is highly unusual.  We won't make it a habit, but I do love watching her sleep.  She is so incredibly peaceful and sweet.
(6)  I'm grateful for USA Today.  It's just a fun newspaper and because I only really read it when I travel, it reminds me of traveling.  I also love their crossword puzzle.  It's challenging enough to be fun, but not so brutal that I have to give up.
(7)  I'm grateful for Runners World.  I was able to read my copy yesterday during nap time.  I just love that there is a magazine that is all about running.  Love it.  I do miss the Penguin's articles though.  I'd vote for him to come back.
(8)  I'm grateful for Michigan gear.  I have seen more of it this week than I have in a long time.  Every time I see someone in a U of M shirt I smile.  Go blue.
(9)  I'm grateful for the new books that Grandma Margie got for MIS:  "What am I?" and "I Howl, I Growl."  She's a big fan of both and it's really nice to have a book to read that I haven't memorized.
(10)  I'm grateful for all of the cool animals we saw today on the safari "ride."  I just love seeing animals.  The baby elephant was my favorite.

Sorry for no pictures again on this post.  The internet connection here is brutal and it's been all I can do to get the posts complete.
Until tomorrow...

Grateful Day #20

Grateful Day #20
Greetings on a Monday. Here's the list for today:
(1)  I'm grateful for MIS having a good nap today.  She really needed good sleep and she got it.
(2)  I'm grateful for the collaborative efforts of credit unions.  It really is wonderful how willing credit union folks are to share.
(3)  I'm grateful for balloons.  MIS's cousins brought her balloons and she was so tickled.  Hysterical.
(4)  I'm grateful for my vegetable sandwich today.  Delicious dinner.
(5)  I'm grateful for not seeing alligators today.  Scottie & Jeff saw one when golfing.  I really hope I don't see one.
(6)  I'm grateful for the ESPN restaurant. I'm not sure what we would've had for dinner if it weren't for them. Yeah.
(7)  I'm grateful for our friendly waitress.  She was very kind and it helped make our dinner.
(8)  I'm grateful for pedicures.  I need one and am hoping I'll get one soon.
(9)  I'm grateful for Dumbo.  MIS loves Dumbo and all elephants.
(10)  I'm grateful for water bottles.  MIS loved playing with them while we waited.  Fantastic.

Grateful Day #19

Greetings from Grateful Day #19 which is also our second day in Florida.  Here's the top ten list for today:
(1)  I'm grateful for cheese & crackers.  Stearns & I used to have wine, cheese & crackers once a week before MIS arrived.  We had it tonight with the Stearns clan.  Simple. Delicious.

(2)  I'm grateful for MIS loving the characters at the character lunch.  She was so pleased to see Pooh, Tiger and Piglet.  She tried to kiss Pooh and Tiger and had a high five for them all.

(3)  I'm grateful for finding a Publix.  We really needed some of MIS' staple foods and we weren't finding them at Whole Foods.  Publix did the trick.

(4)  I'm grateful for the baby pool.  MacKenzie had such a great time tonight.  Dumbo was spraying into the water and she loved it.  She was enjoying splashing me in the face.  Every time she splashed me she roared with laughter.  Awesome.
(5)  I'm grateful for the hot tub.  I was so cold after the baby pool and it felt so good to be warm.  It also completely relaxed MacKenzie.  Awesome all the way around.
(6)  I'm grateful for making it back alive after my run this morning.  There was a pretty intense thunderstorm and I had a branch drop on my head.  It was slightly frightening.  It felt good to get back without any major injury.

(7)  I'm grateful for our cousin Chris' ice cream bowl and spoon.  Licking his spoon and bowl kept her happy for nearly 30 minutes today.  It also made most of us laugh for about that same amount of time.
(8)  I'm grateful for the coffee Dana made today.  It was so much better than the crappy coffee Scott tried to get for us.  Delicious.  Caffeine.
(9)  I'm grateful for naturally curly hair.  As much as I've fought it all my life, it's nice to be able to make a choice and wear it either way.
(10)  I'm grateful for how sweet MIS looked when she crashed in the backpack after the character lunch.  Darling.  Peaceful.

Until tomorrow:  Cheers!

Grateful Day #18

Greetings on Grateful Day #18 from Walt Disney World.  Here's my list for today:
(1)  I'm grateful to be sitting down.  It's been a long day.
(2)  I'm grateful that MacKenzie enjoyed licking Shirley Temple off of straws at dinner.  It was the thing that finally settled her down.

(3)  I'm grateful to Faye for sharing her Shirley Temple so pleasantly.  What a sweet kid.

(4)  I'm grateful for our iPad.  It made flying with a 17 month old (almost) manageable.
(5)  I'm grateful for there being two parents for travel.  It was vastly easier than it could have been if I were doing it on my own.
(6)  I'm grateful for sweet potato fries  Sam shared a few with me and it was the highlight of my dinner.
(7)  I'm grateful to our waiter at dinner being so observant of my need to basically take in diet coke intravenously.  He is my hero.
(8)  I'm grateful for being at Disney World for the first time since I was four.  I'm excited to be here.

(9)  I'm grateful grandma Marge bringing fun new summery clothes for MIS.  I'm hopeful that because they are 24 month sizes that she'll be able to wear them this summer too.  Grandma's rock.
(10)  I'm grateful being able to run without gloves tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it.
This traveler is a bit weary.  Until tomorrow...

Grateful Day #17

Happy Friday!  It's grateful day #17 and we leave for vacation tomorrow.  Here's the list for tonight:
(1)  I'm grateful for the lack of wind this morning on my run.  It's been a very windy running week and it was amazing how effortless it felt this morning without it.
(2)  I'm grateful for family vacations.  It is really good to have time with the people you love.
(3)  I'm grateful for the vacation to Ireland that Amy & I are planning for our 40th birthday.  We went to Europe the summer between our junior and senior year at U of M.  Our husband's go on a golf trip every summer.  Thus, we've decided we need a really great trip the year we turn 40.  Ireland is the spot.  It's also a way to make that birthday year a little less painful.
(4)  I'm grateful for the trips we've taken to Colorado.  All of them have been fantastic.  The first was Scott & my very first trip as a couple. We hiked and camped and spent time with Eric while he was at Colorado State.  One of the best trips of my life.   Subsequently we went back to celebrate Eric graduating from college.  Despite running out of booze during the family celebration due to blue laws, we had a great celebration.  Our last trip was the year before we got pregnant.  We met my mom and Scott's parents and spent a week hiking.  Eric was there working and Marien also joined us.  Jeff, Eric, Scottie and I attempted to climb Long's Peak.  Eric & Scott made it to the summit.  I made it to the keyhole and then had to stop due to my terror at the extreme heights and small paths.  Jeff made it further than I did, but came back and kept me company while we waited for Eric and Scott to finish up.  One of my favorite few hours with one of my favorite people on the planet.  My father-in-law is a quiet and funny genius.  There are few people I'd rather wait at the top of a mountain with.  It was a really amazing day.

(5)  I'm grateful for our trips to San Francisco.  The best one of all time was the year we got engaged just south of the city in Davenport.  We'd just finished camping and were on the beach enjoying wine and cheese.  That beach will always be one of my favorites.  We've been back several times.  We are lucky to have Eric and Marien living there and it's really fun to have loved ones living in such an amazing place.  I'll be there for work this spring.  Can't wait.

(6)  I'm grateful for our trip to Vancouver.  Another one of my all time favorite trips.  I was going for work and Scott and I went the week before and vacationed.  We celebrated both our anniversary and my 30th birthday.  We hiked, we stayed at the most amazing B & B, we walked nearly 20 miles on my birthday, we had one of the most amazing meals, we posed with hundreds of bears, we saw the most gorgeous flowers at Butchart Gardens,  and we met Ice Cube.  Glorious week.

(7)  I'm grateful for all of my trips home to Michigan.  I miss my friends and family like crazy and there is very little that feels as good as turning onto Foust Road and pulling into the driveway at my mom's farm.  I get flooded with memories every time.  Last summer was MacKenzie's first trip to Hillsdale.  It was so special to have her there.  We're headed back this July.  It'll be even more fun now that she's a little older and can experience it even more fully.

(8)  I'm grateful for our annual trips to Pittsburgh.  Since Amy & Curt moved there we've started a little tradition of going to visit every year.  It's so great to have time with my best friend and her amazing children.  It's also really fun to have a couple that we both enjoy hanging out with so much.  We're working on getting it scheduled for this summer.

(9)  I'm grateful for all of our trips to Milwaukee.  I love Scott's parents home.  Even though I didn't grow up there, it somehow feels very much like my home too.  Jeff has the most glorious rose garden.  They always have great food and great wine.  We've been to the zoo and the Wisconsin State Fair.  We've seen Dave play at Alpine Valley.  We've been to the museum and I've run my long runs along Lake Michigan.  Scottie gets to play golf at their club.  We're hoping to get there for Labor Day this year.  This will be MacKenzie's first trip to WI.  Yeah!

(10)  I'm grateful for our trips to Memphis.  My last time there was just after Jude was born.  It was so fun to meet him for the first time and see my sweet cousin as a mom.  She was so happy.  I really love Memphis as a city.  Scott and I went there for Memphis in May when we were in Chicago.  The river is such a presence and the city has such a fun history.  The last time we were there before Jude was born we went with Danielle and John to the Civil Rights Museum.  Very moving.  The other great thing about visiting Danielle is that there she and John love Mexican food as much as we do so we almost always a tasty quesadilla-filled meal.

We've been lucky to have traveled to some amazing places so far.  I'm super grateful.
See you back here tomorrow from Orlando!