I'm grateful that my colleague Laura Rakowitz came back to work today.
Laura had double knee replacement surgery just six weeks ago and is ahead of schedule for returning to work by a month! Welcome back Laura! You look beautiful and healthy! I'm so happy that you can enjoy life without the constant pain you were living with.
Happy New Year's Eve to everyone!
I'm grateful for my Nephews! John (on the right) & Chris (on the left).
We met up at Times Square this afternoon for "Almost New Year's Eve"... I'm very grateful that all 3 of us were together this year on 12.30.11. John is serving in the Coast Guard and is stationed in California and is on leave... Chris leaves for Marine Boot Camp at Paris Island in 3 weeks!... I'm so proud of my nephews!
Times Square looking up... nope... we aren't going to hang out for the ball drop tomorrow night... we will leave that to the tourists!
Thank you John for putting on the silly glasses again and posing for a pic to humor your Aunt... and you know you like them... And thank you Chris for being silly instead of "I'm too sophisticated for all this silliness" like your brother...
And yes... I posed too!
Early dinner at Havana Central in Times Square...
And MOJITOS too!
The Empire State Building is an awesome backdrop for some tourist shots for us locals :D
Then back to Penn Station... great close-up view of the ESB from across the street.
Uber-Cool John...
And A-OK calm and collected Chris...
What a great day! I'm so grateful! Love you both!
I'm grateful for a day filled with images and signs...
Happily Ever After is After Happily Ever NOW!
A Music Box.
Buddha is everywhere... Here he was in an antique store window... The picture doesn't do justice to the bronze sculpture... Yes, I went in and inquired... $1200... too steep for me and for many others... perhaps Buddha likes sitting in this window emanating peace, tranquility, and happiness to all those who pass by.
Lunch at Chipolte's in Westbury... YUM!
Discovering a new local musical artist... Michelle Ferreira... I shop at "For Birds Only" for Raul's food and supplies... Michelle's Mom is so proud of her daughter... we always chat during my visits and she told me that her daughter just graduated and produced a CD of her music... I couldn't resist, so I purchased one... glad I did. Michelle's music is young and fresh. I enjoyed it on the drive home and can't wait to see her and her band live. It was joyful to see a Mom so proud of her daughter... It is joyful to know that Michelle is following her heart and dreams.
I'm grateful that I completed the sports COMMS for the weekend.
It is dreary administrative work that is another life time away from my original career in television production. I'm glad they are done and I know that I need to have a happy mind always, even when doing COMMS... It is so very hard... I will work on it and be grateful for the challenge... If I can achieve a happy mind doing what I don't like, I'm closer to enlightenment.
I'm also very grateful that I didn't have a fever today... The first day since Saturday...
I'm grateful that I ran into my retired colleague Jesse Oneill today.
I was walking down 66th Street and he was walking up. Jesse retired in 2001... Wow, 10 years ago... He looks great and is happy.
Later my thoughts were with all the colleagues that had retired and didn't get much time to enjoy their retirement, and so many who passed before they ever retired...
We must enjoy and be happy everyday... Time and life wait for no one.
I'm grateful that kids still believe in Santa Claus...
I was walking Koda this evening and I saw this on the sidewalk. A child was making sure their house wasn't missed!
Nice to know that in a world of science, technology, and the internet... kids still believe in MAGIC.
I'm grateful that it is Christmas.
I have come to realize that for me, traditions are a form of attachment... My attachment to past times and memories have caused much suffering during the holidays in these past years.
This year has been better but working on Christmas Day for a long shift that prevented me from being with my family was difficult emotionally... Having a fever, a cold, and a painful back didn't cheer my spirits up either. My nephew John is on leave from the Coast Guard and in a few short weeks, my nephew Chris will depart for Paris Island... I'm hoping to see them on 12.30.11 for our "Almost New Year's Eve" meet-up in Times Square... Last year John wasn't on leave for the holidays and Chris and I went, so I hope it works out that we all go this year.
Christmas at ABC 2010.
Here is a shot of the hallway outside my office. It isn't as eerie as last year's shot...
A year has passed.
Reminder: Be in the present moment...
I'm grateful for Maryanne & Frank Suarez who invited me to Christmase Eve dinner at their home.
I worked today and the timing and logistics weren't going to work to visit and have dinner with my family in Queens... Maryanne & Frank to the rescue! They would have none of me sitting at home with Chinese take out on Christmas Eve!
Maryanne... dinner was outstanding... you are a fabulous chef!
It was my pleasure to introduce you to the decadence and splendor of Magnolia's Red Velvet Cake!
Thank you for a wonderful evening!
I'm grateful for the flowers I bought today.
It's the Eve of the Christmas holiday weekend. I will be at work for many long hours... the beauty and color of these flowers will bring me joy when I walk into the apartment when I get home... after petting a very happy Koda.
An offering of flowers for my Buddhist altar.
Happy Holidays to All and the Hope for Peace on Earth.
I'm grateful that I ran into my colleague Steve Mendelsohn at the ABC Cafeteria today at lunch time.
I hadn't seen him in a very long time, which happens often with me and colleagues since I rotate shifts... as I was saying how happy I was to see him, I realized that he was gaunt and looked ill and yet had a cheerful disposition. As we chatted, I soon found out he had Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Steve said the doctors told him he would be gone in June... and he said "well, it's December...and it's nice to be seen"!
I have to tell you all that are reading this, spending an hour having lunch with someone who knows they are dying yet are still living life to the fullest potential is an enlightening experience. Steve is still living every day doing what he loves and isn't waiting to die.
May we all take this example from an extraordinary human being and enjoy every day we are alive!