I have always wanted to do a time capsule, especially when I saw the gang on 90210 do one. Remember, David put Scott’s cowboy hat in it right after he killed himself playing with a gun?!? (I still heart David Silver!)

In my time capsule, I would place:

1. A current newspaper so I could remember what happened on this date 20 years ago.

2. A CD with my top 20 favorite songs. Probably also a portable CD player since those may be gone in 20 years. Probably not, but I worry about things like that.

3. A few of my favorite photos of friends and family.

4. A letter to me describing the current state of my life, the world, and what I hope to have accomplished by the time this is opened.

5. I love my celebrity gossip! I would put in a few celeb rags – InTouch, Inquirer, People and maybe a Vogue. I think it would be fun to play “where are they now” with today’s pop culture.

What am I missing?

I sat down this weekend and wrote the next 5 days of entries, but could not come up with Day 15. I take that back. I could completely half-ass Day 15. But this is Challenge so I feel like I need to be challenged by it. So, I’m skipping it for now so I can really get it right.

To be continued….

I used to think that bliss could only happen on BIG occasions – your wedding, the birth of a child – you know, BIG things.

I spent a lot of time searching for bliss and being disappointed that I couldn’t find it. It was pretty flippin’ depressing. And then a friend (OK, therapist) suggested that I find bliss in every day. I told her that she was completely off her rocker, but she challenged me. And I’m stubborn, especially when challenged. So I kept a bliss journal, and you know what, there is bliss in every day. Every single day.

Just a few examples:

• Waking up on my own – no alarm, just gently waking up and the feeling of peace.
• Seeing something new. A friend and I went to Lake Tahoe a few weeks ago. The highlight of the trip was not the shopping or casino….it was driving around the lake – two hours of sitting in the car, driving around the lake. I was in heaven.
• Snuggling in clean, just out of the drier, sheets.
• An unexpected hug from my nieces or nephew.

Every. Single. Day.

Blissfully yours!

It was a lovely spring morning in April 1978 when I was first introduced to the last person I texted, even though we had been together for nine months prior. 🙂

My momma! I don’t even know how to begin to talk about my relationship with my mom.

My mom is the one constant in my life. (Even when I was the devil child around age 13.) She attended all of my games and events. Took me and my friends to practices, dances or whatever we “needed” to do. My friends loved being at my house, well, because I’m awesome – and because of my mom. She was just a great mom. High school friends remember fresh cookies, slumber parties and awesome music (The Beatles, Bee Gees, Elton John).

She’s even a published author…of romance novels! Not the slutty ones though. She always said that she wanted her daughter (me) and mother to be able to read her novels without being mortified about the content. I loved ready the manuscripts. She’d print them out chapter by chapter and place in a box (think envelope office supply box or hanging folder box). While I was in high school, she took a sabbatical from work to focus on her writing. I remember going to sleep listening to her typing away and being at such peace.

After she and my dad divorced, I always worried about her. My dad was the first guy she dated. But you know what, she survived and I believe she is truly happy with her life today. She learned to make it on her own and taught me so much more than she probably even knows. I feel like I’ve learned more from her in the last 15 years than in the first 20 years of my life.

And in the process, she really has become my best friend. We talk almost daily, even with the three hour time difference. She’s still my mother can gets made a me for not having an earthquake kit or worries about me when I’m sick, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a true friendship.

I’m sure I have a million and one stories that could illustrate my point but there is this watery stuff blinding my eyes. I better stop before it gets any worse.

Love you momma!

I’m a bit behind in my challenge but I’m not giving up – I will finish all 30 days!!

I think this is probably the toughest day yet. I am my own worst enemy when it come to saying something nice about myself. It doesn’t come easy to me. I used to be one of those girls who couldn’t take a compliment…until I realized how annoying that is. So instead, I smile, say thank you, and mentally determine that you are completely ridiculous.

I have a college degree. I have a master degree. I’m pretty self-sufficient. I’ve finished two half-marathons. I’ve left abusive relationships, survived and gained strength from those relationships. These are all things that I am very proud of and very well should be. At this moment, I think I’m most proud of following through on a dream I’ve had for decades (yes decades – I’m old).

When I was 17, I had the opportunity to go on a class trip to San Francisco, California with the high school journalism department. All it took was 5 days and I was in love with the city, the bay area, the west coast – I could not wait to get back there. And 17 years later, I finally fulfilled my dream and moved to the bay area.

The dream fluctuated between Florida and California. At 23, I was ready to head to Ft. Myers, Florida. Then I met a guy and I stayed landlocked in Indiana. This same scenario happened again two more times. But when the most recent opportunity to head California appeared, I was gone. I knew that I had to do it for me. This move, this adventure, was for me.

And I have loved every minute of it!