Palm Springs

Bright red lobster skin; do these people know about sunscreen?
Eating dinner at 5pm; in bed by 8!
I love lounging by the pool with a book...and an endless supply of Lava Flows.
I eat too much––because I’m on vacation––so parading in a swimsuit isn’t high on my list; but hey, that’s life.  It’s 120 degrees out here, and I’m letting it all hang out!

Hotel Hideaway.

Not even the luxurious pool can entice me into the scorching heat of the desert;
I’m swimming in a sea of blankets and shaded by blackout curtains in my hotel room today; because sometimes vacation is a date with room services and HBO programming.

Palm Springs Mini Vaca

I walked outside and my flip-flops melted to the sidewalk;
My head beaded up with droplets of sweat and my pits are soaking wet.
It’s the perfect poolside retreat.
I’m off with a book in my hand, zinc on my face and a handful of drink tickets:
Bartender I’ll take the bottomless Pina Colada’s please!
I love a mini vacation.

Holiday Break

It’s a rainy LA morning.
Christmas is just around the corner, and I am in full vacation mode.
There are hundreds of activities and errands I should be doing;
I’m giving myself the rest of 2015 off!
Although I just spent the last hour deleting emails from 2006 from my server––what can I say, I love an organizational activity.
Now, time for hot coco and puppy cuddles on the couch with a Christmas movie.

Family Vacation Day 5

A day to relax and spend quality time;
Blocking the negative from my mind––I’m focused on positive energy.
I love my family.
After we’ve said goodbye, I watch them drive away.
Back to their lives, and me to mine;
I will hold onto the fun memories and erase the dark spots.

Family Vacation Day 4

Long days,

Sleepless nights,

Hungry bellies;

Pointless fights.

I love my family. Even when they hurt my feelings.

Family Vacation Day 3

Expectations lead to let-downs;

Gratitude, love and letting go inspires laughter.

Sometimes.

I love my family.

Family Vacation Day 2

Early morning wake-up call;
Five grown adults and a kid have to shower.
I’ll let them fight over who goes first––I need a Starbucks!
The drive to Disneyland will be long:
Puppies in tow.
Christmas cheer among the crowds waiting in line for a thirty second ride;
Tis the season!
I love having my family in town.

Family Vacation Day 1

Nineteen years and worth the wait;
The city I call home––where we spent our childhood, my sister returns!
Mom, sister, and niece are here.
Breakfast at our favorite childhood hole-in-the-wall,
My niece and I collect seashell at the beach.
Sand in our feet, I love watching her react to the foamy, brisk Pacific water.
Memories of laughter and love as we drive past the house from our youth.
Now cuddling on the couch with a cartoon before our journey to Disneyland.
I love when my family visits me!
Life is good.

Vacation: What I've Learned.

After an extended amount of time out of town––jumping right back into the workforce can be overwhelming; not for me, for the lazy people who can’t keep up. Slacking off is never okay, even when I’m out of town.
I don’t expect perfection, just competence.

Palm Springs; Day 4

We beat the heat in the pool;
Just in time, we packed––late check out and headed out of town before the traffic crawled.
Life is wonderful with my family: Jeff, Ginger, and Lily.
It’s simple and lovely.
Vacation ends, and we’re back to the grind.
Thankful for the desert.

Palm Springs; Day 3

I gain weight just looking at food––so Mexican dinner last night didn’t help me in the swimsuit department;
I’m on vacation, I can eat what I want.
I was able tune out the nagging demands of my job for a few hour yesterday––and thanks to a late night work session, I knocked out a few things on my “to do” list for today.
Hopefully I’ll be able to release a bit more today. Perhaps an extra cocktail poolside will help me chill in the 110 degree heat.
Vacation ends tomorrow, I need to enjoy today!

Palm Springs; Day 2

God will give me what I need, when I need it.
[Repeat as often as necessary to enjoy my time on vacation.]

Palm Springs; Day 1

The heat seduces me into a coma;
Three weeks of sleepless nights have added to the cocktail.
I sit by the pool reading a book––trying not to focus on the work I need to get back to.
Even on vacation I make lists in my head: Enjoy the downtime, release, relax, when you get back to the room make sure to call... NO! stop it.
It usually takes a day to get into the groove.
Tomorrow I will worry less.

Dr. Orders: Take Two Days Off and Call Me in The Morning

Sometimes I feel guilty for wanting to take a break from work,
Then I remember all of those wise (by wise I mean people in their sixties) leaders on TV share wisdom to their younger self:
“I would have told myself that it’s all going to be okay.” or “You don’t have to try so hard.” or “You’re going to need triple-bypass surgery on your heart if I don’t stop stressing out so much.”
I’m giving myself the weekend off.
Starting now!

Snow Day!

Sledding, skiing and maybe even a snowman?
Anything's possible on vacation in Beaver Creek-
With two feet of fresh snow and only 10 degrees,
Even with my long underwear, it's going to be freezing cold.
As fun as spending a day frolicking in the bone chilling cold sounds...
I'm really looking forward to the "adult" hot chocolate that I'll be enjoying afterwards!
P.S. When is Starbucks going to get hip to #alcohol?

Vacation Equals Excuse

Have you ever noticed that vacation is like a get-out-of-jail-free pass for everything?
I shouldn't buy that watch.  ...but I'm on vacation.
I shouldn't jump off a cliff.  ...but I'm on vacation.
I shouldn't have another drink.  ...but I'm on vacation.
I shouldn't eat another cookie.  ...but I'm on vacation.
Seriously, I wonder how many people lie, cheat and steal while on vacation.
I'd be more creative with this blog entry. ...but I'm on vacation.

Overhead Space

That awkward moment when you quickly pop your perfectly sized soft-sided duffle bag into the only empty overhead bin left-

Leaving the business man with three roller bags where he belongs, checked at the gate!

#VictoryOverFirstClass

Family Time!

When family comes to visit, I can hardly contain my excitement!
Unconditional love and support, aside-  the members of my family are wild, crazy, and passionate.  They all have big personalities, too.
Especially my mom.
Whether we hang out at home watching movies and eating popcorn or go on a lavish shopping spree at the mall, the bonding time is irreplaceable.
Now that I'm an adult, I appreciate my family more than ever-
I realize I would be lost without them.
Even when they piss me off, I'd still rather spend my time with them than almost anyone else.
...I said almost.

Forced Relaxation

I always feel guilty taking time off-
My soul wants to create,
My brain wants a challenge,
My OCD wants to take action,
But my heart NEEDS time: with my family, friends and myself.
I need to calm my thoughts, fears and desires, and remember how healing it is to sit in stillness and appreciate my surroundings.
Enlightenment comes through meditation.