Day 2-Auckland

What a difference a good night sleep makes. I feel wonderful and rested. Sitting in the lobby of the Spencer on Byron waiting for the twins to arrive. Tonight is our fellowship dinner where we get to meet everyone. I've been told there are 3 buses full of travelers . Red Carpet Tours has all of is color coded and we are yellow, hopefully I'll love my bus mates and not wish I was on a different one, lol. The tour is being coordinated like a small army, each bus leaves at a different time, and in some cases goes to a different location. The only minor complaint I have is, I want to meet everyone and what if someone is on a different bus, I don't want to be one of those complainers. So I'll just have to be amazing and be the one e erroneous else wants to meet. I have meet a handful already, and they seem nice and every bit as excited as I am.  Varied mix of ages, and surprisingly a large group of young people, so the Twins should be ale to make some good friends.

First 24

Not a great start to my adventure. Air New Zealand doesn't have a spot in Chicago. My tickets say Air New Zealand, and no one in Ohare knew where I was supposed to be. 2 hrs I went from one terminal to another's , so worried that I was ging to miss my flight. Finally made it dripping sweat and pissed off.  I ended up going to an Asian airline and they helped me the best.  Didn't get first class which was promised, but not guaranteed.  Meet Neal Schon and Mikaele Salahi, and had a lovely conversation with them, sorry peeps no pics.

2 Days to go

I have to days left before I leave for New Zealand, I'm excited and a little nervous. I'm washing everything I own, so that i can decide later what to wear. right now the weather is about the same as here in Chicago, 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit , So ill probably bring jeans , sweaters and a couple shorts. Make sure my cameras are loading and then pack,,I don't want to rush tomorrow, ,,,,,  

Less Than

A few weeks ago, I was having a pleasant conversation with a work acquaintance on life .  This wonderful full person turned to me mid conversation and asked me why I'm not dating anyone. How do I answer that? How does anyone answer that? Being single, still has the stigma, that something is wrong with you, you must be less than, because no one wants to date you. This isn't a subject that I've never thought about.  In fact I've spent many hours over the last number of years, but as I've gotten older,hopefully wiser, my answers have changed. This is my answer now. 46 years in and at a place in my life , where I'm good, since happiness is a journey not a destination, I won't say I'm happy ,yet.


I don't know why you don't like me. I don't know why you never approached, never bought me drink, never wanted to get to know me. It really is your loss. I like me, and I'm a wonderful person. But just in case you can't recognize , I'll spell it out.
1. I love my blue eyes, I love the way they twinkle when I'm happy and they let you know when I'm not happy.
2. I'm tall
3 I like my laugh, it's a laugh that can fill a room, makes people smile when they hear it and brings out the joy in my heart
4 I love to dance, dancing also releases joy, and happiness
5 I play the piano
6 I have a song in my heart, and most times on my lips. I love to sing! I sing in the shower, in the car, at my computer, anywhere and everywhere. No I don't sound like Bocelli, but who cares, I don't anymore. Years ago I sang on stage and people laughed, I had severe stage fright since then. But recently I realized I allowed these people to steal a piece of me, and then I allowed that to haunt me for years, why? What does it change? Nothing except changes me, takes some of my joy and makes it  ugly.
7   I'm smart. A walking encyclopedia. Who needs google when I'm around.
8  I'm a genuinely nice person. I believe kindness is easy and should be free, it costs nothing and can cause ripples that extend far beyond me.
9 I care. I care about me, you and the world around me. I don't enjoy talking to people that care for nothing. If it doesn't affect them personally they don't care. And that's just wrong, on so many levels.
10 I love to read.  I enjoy reading a good book, and just enjoying the weather, it's a good afternoon curling up with a good book sitting by a window, reading.
11 I love photography. And most importantly I care about my subjects, so everybody looks good.
12 I'm a traveler .  I've been all over the World and will continue . I really enjoy it. Going to places I've read about, castles are my favorite, historic places, and sometimes just the beach. I think I'm an easy traveling companion too.
13 I'm easy.  No not that way, I'm easy in the sense that I'll try anything and everything, if I'm with someone I enjoy to be with. Sometimes just being with you and doing what you enjoy, makes me happy. That's easy
14 I will tell you what I think of you.  That I love you, love your laugh , that you smell nice, look great and are smart funny and whatever else I can think of , that's positive and uplifting. I believe in saying nice things to people, sometimes strangers, which can get me in trouble sometimes. I love when people say nice things to me, sometimes it can change my mood. Spreading a positive energy is a good thing.
These are just some of the things that I am,  why you don't like me , I don't know. I don't have a clue. But I'm not less than anybody. Having someone to share life can be a fantastic , wonderful experience. But I do have someone you see. I have me, and I'm great company !

The One Call

While moaning to myself that I was stuck taking 9-11 calls today. I recieved a call from a hysterical 12 yoa boy. He stayed home from school because he was sick,and he was home ALONE. While lying in bed probably watching a bootleg of The Avengers. His house Alarm goes off and heard someone breaking into his house ! He was so scared he couldnt remember his Dads phone number , but he knew mine 9-1-1, ...I stayed on the line with him and used an Old Jedi calming technique. I told him where to hide until the police got there.( in the basment ) Every once in a while we take calls that get to us,, heart starts racing, palms sweat all noise in the room stops, and only the sound of your heart and the callers frantic voice can be heard. This was mine today, hope he grows up and uses his gift to become Superman!

My beautiful Puppies -Samwise and Beren