Monday Feb 27

Well, I have not done what I said and found time to post every day...but will try and pick up again from here.
Came across this quote today and thought it very interesting.
When minds meet, they don't just exchange facts: they transform them, reshape them, draw different implications from them, and engage in new trains of thought. Conversation doesn't just reshuffle the cards; it creates new cards.

Theodore Zeldin

When you really think about this it is so true...

Hol...I don't think that is the way to eat grapes

I think Holly has watch Good Burger too many times. I am grape Nose Boy...or in this case nose girl, bloobidy, bloobidy, bloobidy... 

Cadets and....The Door

 

Cadets 2005

Photo is from the Cadets Championships in 2005. I have alot of great photos of this corps. Sometimes I just love to share...hehe 

Wednesday Feb 15

Oops no post for yesterday...But Happy Valentines day one day late to all. Just had too many things on my plate for one day yesterday, and many did not get done...Oh well, today is another day. Sun is shining and from what I hear the temp is suppose to hit almost 60...Whoo Hoo...Spring time here we come. Course...tell that to mother nature and the blizzard we just had.

Getting set for work:
Todays Intentions:

I intend to approach each situation with a positive attitude and find the good in each one.
I intend to give each person I encounter today including myself a postitive outlook and treat each with a sense of support and love.

The Explorers head Home...

 

They are on the move

They did venture on , luckily, this area of the yard was pretty wind blown yesterday and so the depth of the snow is much less than the 21 inches we got... 

Bubba and Tahlulah find a path in the snow

The dogs found their way to an area of snow that was not over their heads. They have had a couple of times where they have needed to be rescued, because the snow covered them up...My advice, stick to the paths...hehe 

Monday...The Day After

Holly took this picture this morning, what I really like about it is the bright spot on the left side of the pine tree. It is like the trees are sparkling g and exploding from the radiance of the sun. 

Monday Morning

Yeah the sun is shining...it is cold and there is 21 or more inches of snow, but the sun is shining. Stayed in yesterday, enjoyed a couple of good movies, course my poor son had to get out and shovel all that white...all I can say is Thank You So Much Bob....Hurray oh and Holly helped some too. We almost lost Tahlulah as she headed into the mounds of snow...she kept pushing foward and kept getting deeper and deeper over her head...luckily, Holly came to her rescue...
Read a really neat line in an email from Deron Beal of Freecycle yesterday....
This planet spins at a speed of 1,000 miles an hour and
as it careens around the sun at 10,000 miles, we just need to keep hanging
on and enjoying the ride as best we can.

I thought that was a pretty neat visual...like the one I get when I read:

"The object of life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, 'Holy Shit, What a Ride!!!'" -- Mavis Leyrer

That is just so cool...and I hope that I can live my life with as much fun and vigor as the visuals on these two statements make...

Todays intentions are like most:

I intend to not swear
I intend to face each situation with positive light
I intend to treat everyone including myself with kindness, dignity and respect.

Blizzard of '06

Bob is out tackling the 21 inches we got here in Meriden CT...he had to wear 6 pairs of pants and two coats just to stay warm... 

Snow...21 inches...

 

Bob tackles the storm

 

 

First picture of the snow...

This is just the start of the snow...oh man... 

Morning Picture

Since I am longing for the sun and warmth. This is the picture of the day. It was taken from the ferry crossing from New London CT to Long Island.

Maybe later I will post a winter snow photo 

Sunday AM, Blizzard '06

Sitting here looking out the window at the beautiful snow coming down. If this was just before Christmas I would be so happy, but since it is the February, I am little sad, as I was really enjoying the warmer weather. The forecast is for 14-18 inches before it ends early evening. The good news is it is Sunday, and I have no where I need to go.

Missed posting yesterday, went to the auction, did some shopping, nothing really exciting.

I read this quote this morning and found that it really made me think:

"When I let go of what I am,
I become what I might be."

-- Lao Tzu

Really true...we get into such ruts with our daily grind and sometimes don't see what is truely out there. I am hoping that by writing this blog, reflecting and doing my daily intentions that I can grow as a person.

Daily intentions:

I intend to not swear,

I intend to treat everyone including myself with respect, caring and kindness.

I intend to find the positive in every situation.

Breakfast of Champions

This photo is from the summer, it was the Breakfast of Champions for the Cadets drum Corps and families the morning of DCI finals. Boy I would love to have some of that fruit and warmth today 

Friday...

TGIF...we had just a little dusting of snow last evening...haven't checked the weather report..kinda don't want to, somethings are better not to know. Alright I peaked...shouldn't have looks like a blizzard watch beginning Saturday evening with 6-14 inches by Sunday morning...so much for no big snow storms...
Looking foward to the weekend.
Well, time for work:

Todays intentions:
I intend to not swear.
I intend to approach each situation positively
I intend to treat each person including myself with respect and kindness.

Waiting for the Summer

This photo was taken in August on the morning of the DCI world championships 2005. The group is The Cadets getting ready for their morning warm ups...They of course swept the finals with the highest score in history. It was one of the hottest days of the summer. I remember being miserably hot...but as I sit here waiting to see what happens with this northeaster...I realize some shade and a big glass of iced tea handles the heat...but snow...yuck 

Thursday PM

Of Course after making my post this AM, I thought I hope I didn't speak to soon...of course once I got to work, I was quickly informed that we are probably going to get a good size northeaster Saturday night into Sunday...so much for no big storms this winter...Oh well, I guess, it had to happen. Better on a weekend than during the week.

Morning at Lauderdale Beach

This was the morning but some dark clouds were forming...still really nice and we saw some great rainbows. The seagulls didn't seem to mind.

Todays intentions:

I intend not to swear
I intend to handle each situation in a positive manner
I intend to treat everyone including myself with respect, and gentleness 

AmyJo

[Just trying out this add a comment thing...]

Read more at amyjodef.blogspot.com/

Thursday Morning

Alittle late start this morning. Didn't feel so hot last night, threw up couple of times. Seem better today. Have to go have an MRI for my knee and really hate to go through that stuff. Sun is shining this morning. Yesterday, I saw a city truck with its plow on so I was alittle concerned...but yeah...no snow...for this morning anyway. Maybe we will sneak through the rest of the winter with no more snow...
Well time to get ready to go. Holly just got up and is watching cartoons. Gotta get her going too.

Wednesday Evening

Pretty good day today. Holly forgot her gym clothes, but that was about it for problems. Looking foward to receiving my tax refund...should be in my account hopefully in the next couple of days. Probably just going to pay bills, but that is ok. Well time to finish up and get ready to watch...American Idol..

I'm Watching You...

I love this picture. I know it is not necessarily a morning photo, but it does make me laugh so I am posting this photo of Bubba.

Wednesday AM

Wednesday yeah..halfway through the week. Sun is coming up, alittle cold but overall looks like a good morning. Watched American Idol and really have to say that there are quite a few people that I really wonder if they think they can sing. I don't think I would have the desire to get in the room with the judges and not be at my best. Maybe some of them just really want to be on TV. Tonight is the start of competition and it looks like they are really tough on some of these people.

Today's Intentions:
I intend to not swear
I intend to approach each situation positively.
I intend to treat everyone including myself with gentleness and respect

It is very interesting how the saying of daily intentions is really helpful in directing the day. I have a friend that I work with, and she is the one that has encouraged that I try doing this. She does it and she feels it really helps in her dealing with the day. So Thank You Connie, I am trying and it seems to truely work. Of course I sometimes slip up but really makes a difference not dealing with the negative.

Todays Morning Shot

The morning pictures were all taken by my kids, Bob and Holly. This photo is from Lake Sebago Maine, early morning, oh I am so looking foward to the end of winter. 

Tuesday Morning

I think Tuesdays are the hardest morning of the week. Its not the start and not near the end. I am trying to make an effort to read some of the articles that are posted with the Facilitators Course as this is a quiet week with no group activities. I have been reading one in the morning and one in the evening. Really interesting, there is so much information there it can get overwhelming.
Time to go to work.

Think todays intentions will be similar to yesterday.

I will speak without swearing.
I will think of situations in a positive light rather than negative.

This is what the water coming out of my sink facet looked like...Stinks huh? Atleast it was clean water 

PM Fun

Well work wasn't so bad, but then I came home. The kitchen facet was leaking so we had to replace the washer. Well, we turned off the hot water but not the cold, so of course we had alot of water all over...then to add to the problems I went down and turned off the main water and that worked great. Replaced the washer and then turn on the main again...right, wrong. I turn on the main and that starts running all over. Good thing my dad was home, and he was able to provide the answer for the fix. Really easy, just tighten the washer around the main. Thank God, I really did not want to call a plumber, and let me tell you if I had to pay a plumber to do what did to fix it I would have been ripped.
Well, so much for trying to not swear today...hehe, ok so I did pretty good all day, then the water thing...ok so I will try again tomorrow.

Good Morning.... 

Monday Morning

Sitting here listening to Howard...really makes my day. I love starting the day with a laugh.

Superbowl is over with the Steelers winning. Gotta say, the reason I watch is mainly for the commercials. There were a couple of good ones, but not the best year for commercials.

Holly went to practice yesterday. Looks like she is learning alot and enjoying it. Bob should be home today. Stayed down in Jersey at a friends for the Superbowl.
I really didn't accomplish much this weekend. Hopefully this week will be a good one.

Todays intentions:
I will treat everyone with respect
I will not swear.
I will think positively of each situation.

Lets see how I do with the above intentions...

Sunday Feb 5, Superbowl Sunday

Sunday morning and still kind of dark outside. Holly has practice today and Bob is still in Jersey. I finally got my Sirius radio up and running...I had been having withdrawls from not hearing Howard. Really a great service and well worth the money. Listen to some comedy, music, and of course the Howard channel. Unbelievable how technology just keeps getting better.
In the past I was dependant on the local Cable company to get some good TV...but I really do not like the company and so for several years we just used the rabbit ears.
Now we have Direct TV and the quality is great and a much better deal than the local cable company.
Gotta go get ready to take Holly to practice. It is a long drive about 55 min each way, so I guess I drive about 4 hours on practice weekends. It is well worth it though. She is getting exercize and learning guard moves. She plays the trumpet very well, but being that she is a teenage girl, the idea of wearing a pretty outfit, makeup and nice hairstyle, outweighs playing the instrument and wearing a bulky uniform and hat...ok if you look at it that way...I think she made the right choice.

Bob on the field at finals, World Champions 2005,  

Gotta Love Bubba, Holly loves taking pictures of him sleeping...usually with his tongue hanging out 

Here we are at Thanksgiving. My parents came from Florida and we all ate at the hotel. Pete Renee, PJ, Stephanie, Julie, Holly, Me, Mom and Dad...The only one missing (except for Rick's family) was Bob...he was marching in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade with The Cadets. 

Bob 2005 The Cadets 

Saturday Feb 4 2006

Wow it has been a long time since I have updated this blog...and alot has happened. Well, first was that The Cadets won the World Drum Corps Championships with the highest score ever in DCI history. We are very thrilled and proud of Bob. It truely has been an awesome experience. And now we are already into a new year. The Cadets are already hard at work on their new program for 2006. Bob also marched in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade with The Cadets. Bob says this was a great experience and time.
Holly is growing up and this year she will be marching with 7th Regiment out of New London. They are a division 3 corps in DCI. Great starting point for her. Maybe one day she will be a Cadet.
Things with me are about the same. I am still working with Midstate VNA and also maintaining my online store Books Galore and So Much More
Keeping busy with The Freecycle Network(TM). Recently was given an honor by the Waste Management group. Freecycle Network is really a great organization with a great group of world wide volunteers. Here is a exerpt from the press release about my award.

MeridenDec. 16, 2005 – Amy DeFelice, resident of Meriden, today received the Environmental Stewardship Award and a gift from Waste Management for her work on behalf of Freecycle, the world’s largest online network that focuses on gifting items that might otherwise be thrown away.

Amy was recognized by Freecycle peers worldwide for her outstanding work in helping Freecycle divert reusable products from landfills and to conserve natural resources. Amy is the moderator of the Meriden Freecycle group -- Amy is a member of the worldwide leadership team of 8 people who run the entire global network. She also heads up the worldwide Back Office Team as well as being the local Freecycle leader and community hero. These efforts, combined with a total of 3,238 local Freecycle groups used their online network to keep more than 100 million pounds of goods out of the nation’s landfills in 2005.
“Amy DeFelice is one of the leaders of a global online network of people keeping over 22,000 items a day out of landfills.

Itwas a great honor.
I have recently start an online workshop on Facilitating Online groups. Workship is given by Nancy White. This is a great workshop and although alot of work it is really enlightening. I have found alot of great people with great experiences from this group. Can't wait to see what the upcoming weeks reveal.

Well that is it for now, I was reading the notes from one of the participants of this online workshop that said something along the lines of ...you have to make time for blogging and other things because there is never enough time in a day. So I am going to set aside time each day to reflect in this blog