The Power of Sisu

Lauren, one of my eight fellow Finnish Lapland travellers and NJ friend, surprised me Thursday with a gift book in the mail: The Finnish Way. Finland was such a magical trip in so many ways. Perhaps Sisu, a concept that many unknowingly embrace, was one of the reasons our journey to the Arctic Circle was so inspiring. Another explanation could be that we were surrounded by the happiest people on earth. Either way, it will be intriguing to read what makes this place and people tick. Inside the cover:

• Pronounced "see-su"
• A Finnish concept that dates back to the 1500s
• A unique type of fortitude, of resilience, of not giving up in the face of a challenge, big or small, that anyone can develop

Happy Kids, Happy Grown-Ups

There's nothing like a couple of sweet kids to lighten things up around the house. With our teenager down in the dumps, our young visitors are brightening everyone's day. First, they had us laughing over a couple of rounds of Apples to Apples, a fun kids card game.

Then, we all participated in a heartwarming project for Billy. We made "get well cards" in the art studio. It was fun! 

After Oreo pancakes, and two meats, we were really off to start the day.

Spring Can't Be Too Far Off

Compartmentalize: An Easy Way to Deal With All that Stuff in Your Brain

After reading a post from a fellow blogger, friend and vineyard enthusiast, Joan, over at MV Obsession, I have become intrigued with the concept of compartmentalizing.  I remember someone once said that President Bill Clinton had a unique and skilled gift of being able to compartmentalize his life.  Joan wrote a post about an author she met on the street in NYC recently.  The book, to be released March 2nd is called, The Nine Rooms of Happiness: Loving Yourself, Finding Your Purpose, and Getting Over Life's Little Imperfections.  Since reading the little bit about the book on Joan's blog, I've created and labeled my own nine rooms, and have been sorting my thoughts accordingly.  It's a curious and effective exercise in letting stuff go!  

The First Sport I Was Ever Good At

 

Photo by MelvinSchlubman.

Fred Morrison, the inventor of the Frisbee died at the age of 90.  Throwing and catching that plastic little disk was one of the first things that I was really good at as a teenager.  A real self-esteem booster.  People used to say, "she's really good, for a girl."  Playing Frisbee provided endless hours, during nice weather, bonding with friends and family.  In the winter months, I became proficient at playing pool.  People used to say, "she's really good, for a girl."  I know, I know.  A wasted youth.  Now, I run; and people say, "she's really good, for being so old."  RIP Fred, you changed the world with a playful little toy!

Claire Kathryn is Born Today in Chicago

My dear childhood friend, Maggie, is a third-time grandma today.  Her oldest daughter, Shannon, and Joe, delivered a sweet baby girl by C-section this morning.  I particularly love her name:)

Shannon, grandpa Kevin, sister Kaylie, brother Jack, dad Joe, grandma Maggie greet new baby Claire

Mysterious Fan Mail

With the proliferation of angry blog-stalkers and spam commentary, I have recently started to moderate my comments to ensure suitability for publishing (love that censorship bonus as a blog author).  Well, I know it wasn't the bloghusband, as he was fast asleep next to me at 12:30 am, but someone made my day by leaving a very nice comment on my blog.  Later this morning, another reader, made my year by also having a pleasantry about my blog.  Who knew I had two other readers?

Good Quote

Do or do not, there is no try.  -Yoda

Tuesday Weigh-In

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap
but by the seeds that you plant.

-Robert Louis Stevenson

Don't Give Up

Don't give up. There is no quick fix to lose weight. Eat healthily. Exercise. Forgive your missteps. Keep going.

Sappy Poem of the Day

Anyone with an email account and a bunch of friends gets a bunch of sappy emails over the course of time. Some are worth the read and others simply get the delete key. The timing of this poem in my inbox this morning is curious, and I felt it was blogworthy for a couple of reasons. First, it is a heartwarming poem, which I have seen several times before and always find truths within. Secondly, it has been circulating the Internet for over ten years and has been attributed to several authors along the way, including Hillary Clinton, Maya Angelou and Jesse Jackson. Pamela Redman Satran wrote the following poem, and it was first published in Glamour Magazine in May, 1997 under the title: "30 Things Every Woman Should Have & Should Know by the Time She's 30." It's never too late girls, enjoy!

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
a youth she's content to leave behind....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ........
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a feeling of control over her destiny...
how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect....but it's over....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more....
how to live alone.... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

May You Be Filled with Gratitude Today

Everyone gets into a funk now and then. Over the last couple of days, I found myself slipping into a state of negative thought exhaustion. I said a prayer in the morning asking for, what I refer to as a positive-energy-thought-reversal-pattern, and lo and behold, I ended up having the most amazing day. It wasn't until I was in bed last night, did I realize how fortunate I am to be surrounded by wise, caring and loving individuals who appreciate me and the goodwill I hold in my heart. A string of events during the day blessed me with the most uplifting conversations among friends, family and even a few strangers. While it's so easy to slip into a state of depression, it is just as easy to take all the goodness people have to offer and turn your mood around. May you be filled with gratitude for all things and people in your life today.

Your Thoughts Become You

Thoughts that bring about good feelings mean you are on the right track. Thoughts that bring about bad feelings means you are not on the right track. -The Secret

I'm always trying to get the teen blogson to understand this concept. Positive mental attitude is a challenging discipline, and must be practiced daily.

Brendan Loy's Tribute in Lights

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51629368@N00/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

One of my favorite bloggers, Brendan Loy, took this photo and writes:

A breathtaking view from Staten Island, on the second anniversary of 9/11, of the "Tribute in Light" at Ground Zero; the illuminated Statue of Liberty; the red, white & blue Empire State Building, directly in between the Tribute in Light beams; and the Chrysler building. Oh yes, and Mars, just a few weeks removed from its closest approach to Earth in 60,000 years.

I took this photo from the Staten Island Ferry dock, after riding the ferry across the harbor just to see what the view of the skyline would look like with the Tribute in Light. Although many photos were taken and published of the skyline that night, I've never seen another one from this particular angle, which I maintain was the most beautiful viewpoint in the whole city that night.

The bloghusband and I both worked in the World Trade Center at different times in our careers. After the first bombing in 1993, Wild Willy's office moved into World Financial Center, just across the street from the WTC. Luckily, he was in Hong Kong on 9/11/01. Eight years ago, I picked up the blogson from his second grade classroom. It was a very sad reunion and, as we walked back to the car, I tried to remove the fear, horror and sadness in my voice, while attempting to explain that a life-changing event occurred while he was busy learning how to write. I started by telling him, "something happened today, and we will never forget it for the rest of our lives." Before allowing me to continue with the news, and in his sweetest young voice, my eight-year-old said, "You'll forget it, Mom, you forget everything." That was the one and only smile of the day. Unfortunately, it's just one of those things we will never forget. What a day to be living. What a day to be living in Greater New York.

Happy Mother's Day

After nearly a full week of daily rain, the sun is shinning in a big blue sky. The green of spring is vibrant. May flowers are in bloom. What a glorious day to celebrate life! Being a mother is one of life's most special privileges. The joy of raising and nurturing a body and soul is an honor, which extends throughout life. The bond between a mother and child lives forever in revered memories of tenderness and strength. Tonight, National Geographic channel is presenting Extreme Amimals: Life in the Womb. The program will explore the reproduction of four different animals with 4D ultrasound images.

Danny Gans, RIP

In a former career, I planned sales and incentive meetings for top producing financial consultants at a major brokerage firm in NYC. In the early 90s, I came across an entertainer named Danny Gans. He was one of the most inspirational gigs that I ever booked. Danny had an amazing gift for impersonations. Recently, he had been performing in Las Vegas. I just heard the news of Danny's death. Danny died in his sleep this morning. He was 52 years old. RIP funny guy, you amazed millions!

What a Glorious Sight

This picture is part of Brendan Loy's ISS flyover and Moon-Venus occultation collection on flickr. Check out the whole set.

Summer Arrives in the Northeast on Saturday

Expect 80's and sunshine this weekend!!! Who woo!

Sláinte!

To your health, as they say in the old country. Here's some rebel rousers wishing you a good day.

Discovery Set for Launch Tomorrow Evening

From NASA: The STS-119 launch was scrubbed at 2:37 p.m. EDT due to a hydrogen leak in a Liquid Hydrogen vent line between the shuttle and the external tank. The launch team is currently beginning the process of draining the external fuel tank. We'll turn around for launch attempt tomorrow at 8:54 p.m. EDT. This is the last of the space station missions for the U.S.
This image was taken this morning at dusk.

**UPDATE** Launch scheduled for no earlier than March 15th.