We spent the Christmas Holiday in Arizona visiting my family.  We found one restauraunt that really stood out as a shining star for us.  It was a moment of feeling like we were at home again.  Palatte in Phoenix is a little slice of heaven... http://www.downtownbrunch.com/home.html

Happy New Year everyone!

TK and PJ

As you recently read I quit my job.  I didn't just quit on a whim.  There was a great deal of soul searching and turmoil as to what it really means to quit your job with no back up plan.  This I have never done.  Sure I've quit jobs before.  My long time readers know this.  I always had a plan for how I was going to take care of myself.  This time I have no real plan. It's new ground for me and stepping off that train at a station I've never visited is both terrifying and incredibly freeing.  I made the decision, but it wasn't without a great deal of support and love from my friends and family.  So many of my friends really hated the time and energy that I gave to my job and have no problem saying it.  The love of my life also began to dread the person I'd become when I was working.  My stress level would rise and he said he could actually see me disconnect.  One day I disconnected a little too much and the stress level at work was more than I could manage.  I ended up in the hospital with the most intense stress induced migraine of my life which physically and mentally took me out of the game.  I can't blame anyone for this, nor do I feel the need to point fingers or make anyone wrong.  It's the perfect storm really.  Had I not crashed I wouldn't have taken this very valuable step for myself.  So that's the first gift.  The second gift is that Paul fully supports what ever I decide I want to do. 

The third gift, and trifecta of sorts is that the company I quit working for has given me the gift of some incredibly valuable personal development support.  I admit that the idea of staying connected to my old company in this way left me a little uneasy, however I've decided that if I take it on from the right place could open my creativity up on a whole new level.

I signed up for an online writing course to get myself back into the swing of being creative.  My writing course starts tomorrow.  I have a therapy session tomorrow afternoon.  I'm going to the gym at 4:30.  All of these thing should make me feel like a million bucks.  Stay tuned for exponential personal growth.

Thanks for being my reader!!
Love,
TK

Last week I said goodbye to my career as a Procurememt Manager for a Pacific Northwest quick service restaurant company.  I struggle with this crazy notion that I am what I do.  I don't want that to be the case, so I'm changing it for myself.  I already miss the people I worked with.  Some of them I connected with easily and some I did not.  I miss them all. 

This morninig I got up with Paul and got ready for work with him.  He cooked breakfast, we ate together, and I scooted him off to work.  I couldn't help but wonder if this is how my grandmother felt as she scooted my gramps off to work each day.  As the garage door shut I realized I had some things I wanted to get done before I started writing.  I popped up stairs, started a load of laundry, swept and mopped the upstairs bathroom floors, did the breakfast dishes, and wiped the counters.  That was all finished by 8:20.  Hmm.  I had 40 minutes until the next load of laundry could be put into the wash.  So - I came downstairs and started checking email, myspace, and now I'm writing.  It took longer to check my email than it did to sweep, mop, and sort and start laundry. 

Today Paul's daughter wants to go shopping for fun wigs.  We'll do that, I'll finish laundry, go grocery shopping, and meet Paul a the gym this afternoon.

I'm signing up for a writing class to get my creative juices flowing.  Stay tuned.

TK

As you might imagine - I've been a little distracted from my goal lately with all the love and romance in my life.  I'm back on track though and lost 2.6 pounds this week which brings me to 209.  I'm under 210!!!  That's fantastic.  Yahoo!  9 more pounds and I'll be under 200.  How fantastic is that?  Woo hoo!

Oh - and by the way I am even more in love today than I was last time I updated all y'all.

Muah!!
TK

Recently I've been thinking about all of the text messaging I do.  It seems so easy and fast without the bother of stopping to give someone your full attention for a conversation.  I started thinking that this popular advance in technology, which has become an increasingly standardized form of communication for generations X, Y, & Z is actually reminiscent of Mores Code.

Wikipedia, my favorite online source of information, states that in speed contests between expert Morse code (which was developed in 1836) operators and expert cellphone SMS text messaging users, Morse code has consistently won.  This is so much fun to think about. 

Most of us don't remember how exciting it was to get the first phones and be able to actually talk to another human being rather than dash-dot-dash a communication across the world with electrical pulses.  How ironic – we're doing it again.  The improvement in technology is that we can carry these devices with us everywhere.  When we are out of the service area (aircraft, tunnels, rural areas, and other no coverage areas) we feel disconnected and alone. 

 

It amazes me how much it has opened up my ability to communicate in a timely manner.  I think about if my Grandmother were alive now and even slightly mobile device savy – I could write to her all the time.  As a kid, I would could have easily texed my parents to let them know where I was, what I was up to, and when I'd be home.  Instead I was in trouble all the time because I didn't take the time to find a phone (pay phone) and make the call.  I was busy having fun.

I think we've actually increased our communication capacity.  I find that when I am thinking of someone, I am much more likely to let them know about my thoughts if they have a mobile device.  My next likely form of communication is email.  Then I'll sit down and take the time to call, but only if I can commit to giving the attention a conversation takes.  Finally – I will sit down and put pen to paper and send a letter or a card, because it's just nice sometimes to get a letter in the mail. 

I believe that in our desire to remain constantly connected, we have sacrificed some of the beauty of our language and the quality and intention of our communication has taken a steep dive.  While texting we abbreviate our thoughts to make them short and sweet.  I received a hand written note in the mail today.  Though is too was short and sweet – I felt a certain connection with the person by being able to experience the hand writing style and the rhythm of their words.  It was personal and warm. 

As I reflect over my preferred forms of communication, I realize that you're more likely to get a text from me than an email, call, or letter.  I might just surprise you though – because more than anything I love the rhythm of  language – and here you are reading it so you probably do too.  Call your mother.

 

 

TK

Hello subscribers.  Thanks for being here for me to share with.  As I've said recently - the universe is giving me everything I've asked for and more.  This past month has been a whirlwind of excitement for me.  My man asked me to move in with him - and I said yes.  I love living with him.  I get along well with his kids - Boy 16, Girl 19 - great kids.  I know - you are thinking of course she gets along with his kids - she gets along with everyone.  Hey, there's a big risk when entering a family unit as the outsider.  I am so happy that they like me.  I like them too.  Whew!  I should say they're not so much kids as young adults.  Very nice, well adjusted, young adults.

So - living in Portland again is wonderful.  I love waking up next to someone I love and who loves me more than I ever imagined anyone could, but as much as I've ever dreamed of.  More than I ever dreamed. 

The house is perfect.  He's a very tidy minimalist, just like me.  Things are just perfect. 

Tomorrow after work we're going shopping for motorcycle gear for me.  I need a helmet, boots, and pants.  How exciting is that?  I'm going to have my very own helmet - and soon my very own sport bike.  Vroom!

Ciao friends!!
XOXO
TK

Each of us measures the freedom we have in different ways.  For me, I moved out of my parent's home on the 4th of July 1988.  I made a committement to myself that no matter how tough things might get - there would be no going back.  I never did. 

These past 20 years have been such a great life lesson.  I have many friends to thank for supporting me in ways I could never have imagined.  So - you know who you are - because you're reading my blog right now.  Thank you..

I have recently found the love of my life.  I am amazed at how right every moment feels and that someone can love me the way I need to be loved.  I am so happy. 

My wish for you is that this 4th of July brings you something you need and peace in your heart.

Love,
TK

For quite some time now I've been working to create a positive space and have been telling the universe exactly what I am looking for in a partner.  On Saturday June 7th I met him.  We have been on several amazing dates and talked about all the important things in life.  We get along very well.  I'm tickled pink to have him in my life and looking forward to learning everything about him.  Dancing around happy as can be about every moment I spend with him.

Monday morning he delivered two dozen red rozes in person to my office.  The ladies all went wild over the gorgeous man with the romantic streak that had me all aglow.  This is just one hint of way he feels about me.  We went on a unique date last night.  We went to the shooting range and I learned that I still have my mojo within less than 1/2 inch from my target.  We also ate dinner with his friends.  They seem very nice and really care about him.  Several of my friends have met Paul over the past two weeks.  Everyone seems to think he's just as fantastic as I do.

The universe loves me.

TK

Holy cow.  I forgot to update you on last week's amazing weight update.  I lost 3 pounds.  I can't wait to weigh in on Sunday and see how this week went.  I think I did very well - however I have eaten out more than usual - with the dating and hanging with friends.  Portion control and good choices. 

I'm getting closer to my goal - and I will be reaching my goal for the month of June if I lose 3 more pounds!

Woo!

Hey there cyber friends - I've lost yet another pound.  Moving right along at a steady pace.  Isn't that fantastic?  I think so.

What did you do this weekend?  I'll tell you.  Friday night, a night normally reserved for PS3 MotorStorm with my friend Jeff, we changed things up a bit.  I started the evening by seeing "Sex in The City" with Summer.  It was a long movie and I had to leave before the end to meet up with Jeff for our evening adventure.  His sister invited us to go on the tug boat that pushes the fireworks barge out into the river for the opening of Rose Festival.  Fireworks right from the barge - you could only be closer if you were the guys setting them off.  It was simply fantastic.  Saturday was just as fun - for a completely different reason.  I woke up late - as I like to do after a late night - and went to breakfast with Rob, Tamara, Summer, Matt, and and Rob's nephew at Old Wive's Tales.  I had the fruit bowl.  Good choices.  After breakfast I went to Everyday Music and bought the New York Rifels album.  Thate evening my bff and I took the twins down to the starlight parade.  Jeff's sister got us seats right on the front row of the parade route.  The girls were so excited.  They got to shake hands with many of the parade participants and had the best view in the house.  What a fantastic weekend. Sunday morning I slept in - very late - got up - did some laundry - went back to bed - got up switched loads - back to bed - and on and on until right about 12:30 when it was imperative that I get the heck out of bed and go weigh in at Jenny Craig.  Woo - hoo another pound. This evening I am watching a friend's kids until she gets home from her weekend away. 

I hope you had a great weekend too.

TK