JodyMcG's blog

I have learned to dislike hypocrites.  I hate people that condescend to others when they themselves have done the exact same thing.  I hate it when someone gets mad at you but can't see that they do the same thing they are getting mad at you for (did that sentence make sense?)....

I am a sucker for piano music - yes sometimes pop-ish music with piano in it...  My new favorite is a band called A Fine Frenzy.  Definitely emo like...  and definitely affecting me today....

A FINE FRENZY LYRICS

"Near To You"

He and I had something beautiful
But so dysfunctional, it couldn't last
I loved him so but I let him go
'Cause I knew he'd never love me back

Such pain as this
Shouldn't have to be experienced
I'm still reeling from the loss,
Still a little bit delirious

Near to you, I am healing
But it's taking so long
'Cause though he's gone
And you are wonderful
It's hard to move on
Yet, I'm better near to you.

You and I have something different
And I'm enjoying it cautiously
I'm battle scarred, I am working oh so hard
To get back to who I used to be

He's disappearing
Fading suddelly
I'm so close to being yours
Won't you stay with me
Please

Near to you, I am healing
But it's taking so long
'Cause though he's gone
And you are wonderful
It's hard to move on
Yet, I'm better near to you.

I only know that I am
Better where you are
I only know that I am
Better where you are
I only know that I belong
Where you are

Near to you, I am healing
But it's taking so long
Though he's gone
And you are wonderful
It's hard to move on

Near to you, I am healing
But it's taking so long
'Cause though he's gone
And you are wonderful
It's hard to move on
Yet, I'm better near to you.

Yet, I'm better near to you.

So yes, I made it back form St. Lucia in one piece. 

It rained most of the time on my vacation.  That was ok though.  I met some really great people, ate and drank myself silly and got to relax a bit.  A 4 day whirlwind visit but now I can say I have been there.

I read this amazing book on vacation.  "Eat Pray Love" By Elizabeth Gilbert.  Basically an autobiography about this woman who leaves the country to "find herself".  I love the way this woman writes.  It definitely gave me plenty of food for thought and I would recommend the book to anyone.

One of the most interesting parts for me was when this spiritual friend of hers tells her that she should stop trying to control everything in her life.  "If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the MIND.  Drop everything else but that.  Because if you cannot learn to master your thinking, you're in deep trouble forever."  Control your thoughts?  Instead of the other way around?   This personally seems amazing and almost impossible to me.  I guess what he was talking about was trying to forget about the existence of the negative thoughts, recognizing then but then trying to dismiss them.  The author then adapts this "mantra" that goes something like this.....  "I will not harbor unhealthy thoughts anymore" and repeats this 700 times a day.

I might need to work on that one

Hello Hello!  From the relaxing resort in St. Lucia.....    Full Day #2.  Unfortunately the weather has not been cooperating with my plans of beaching and reading.  Yesterday it rained ALL DAY.  However, I was not upset.  I finished the book I was reading and sat on a comfy chair drinking drinks, reading,  meeting new people and laughing lots.  The resort employees are all so very happy and you gotta love that!  Customer service at its finest!

Today it is a tad bit overcast but I am willing that sun to start peeking out.  Whether it rains or not I am hitting the pool today, only to say I used the swim up pool bar!  I have been eating just to eat... because it is all inclusive and come on...  you HAVE to right???  :)  I have learned to stop asking what the weather will be like becuase the reply I always get is "Who knows...  keep your fingers crossed..." 

I have plenty of pictures but none really say how beautiful this island is.  I hoping the sun comes out today so I can take some pictures of the gorgeous scenery to share with all of you upon my return to the states. 

I came here to relax and that is exactly what I am doing!  I am not going to want to leave....  I have checked my email and my kids must not be missing me either becuase they have not responded to my emails or even emailed me once!  They must be enjoying their time away from me also!  hehe

I hope everyone else is well and has a great weekend!

... counting down the hours...  In 24 hours I will be on a plane to St. Lucia.  I can't tell you all how much I sooo need this little break-a-way vacation! 

Trying to take one hour at a time...  But come on... GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!

:)

This weekend near the end of my migraine hell....  I walked my puppy in my pajamas - in broad daylight.

I bet my neighbors think I am a lunatic!!

hahahahahahaha

It was a migraine weekend.... bleck. 

4 MORE DAYS TILL I LEAVE FOR ST. LUCIA!!!  YIPPEE!

The hanging shelf in my closet fell down yesterday...  guess there were too many articles of clothing hanging on it.  Pulled the bolts right out of the wall...  Now my closet looks like somebody threw up in it.  Clothes everywhere.  What a mess to clean up.  Good time to go through the stuff I don't use/wear anymore right?  However, that means finding time to do that.

My daughter is home sick today.  Fever and sinus issues... 

My son scored a goal this weekend in his hockey game.  BUT, he got PUMMELED into the boards on Saturday and hurt his knee.  Poor kid.  It is stiff and sore now but he will be fine. 

Oh and they fixed the soda machine at work.  The refrigeration unit is still loud but at least it isn't making ridiculous alien noises!  :)

Again...  4 MORE DAYS UNTIL ST. LUCIA!!!

Whew!

Happy Monday, folks.  

Well it was a fabulous weekend for my daughter.  So get ready for the proud mama blog....

She is a competitive figure skater.  This weekend was a huge competition called South Atlantics.  (Non-qualifying though)  This competition brings kids from all along the East Coast to our little town of York, PA. 

We always discuss her goal for the competition.  She was competing in 5 events.  She really wanted to do well with her freestyle program because the top 3 place finishers are entered into the Final Round where all the groups at her level then compete.  She managed to secure a 3rd place in her group which moved her on.  Now keep in mind, there was 7 groups at her level - all with 9-12 girls in each group.  Approx 70+ girls.  21 moved on.  She was one of them.  From there, she placed 9th!  She was slightly disappointed in herself because she did fall on her second double jump.  However, when I put it into perspective for her, telling her there was 70+ girls and she placed 9th!!!  Come on!!!  That's good stuff! 

She then went on to bring home medals in all her other events.  Total count for the weekend was 2 GOLD medals, 1 SILVER and 2 BRONZE!  She couldn't have been happier!

The great thing about her too was that she was amazingly appreciative.  Thanking me for taking her and spending the entire weekend in a freezing cold ice rink!  She can be so sweet sometimes!

Um... yeah... so I sit near (but not THAT close) to one of the soda machines at work.  This machine makes SOOO much noise.  When the refrigeration unit kicks on, it starts making *eep* *eep* *eep* types of noises I SWEAR aliens are trying to communicate something of value to me.  I haven't figured it out yet.  I figure since it almost never stops, it must be improtant, right?   I have kids, I can tune things out but this thing... NO WAY.  I turn my iPod pretty loud but then I can't hear anyone that comes to talk to me.

So I sit here wondering what it could possibly be saying to me....

You are all excited about something and someone squashes your excitement?

Last night was night #3 in a row at the gym.  I gotta tell you....  I think I am killing myself!  My legs hurt so bad I can hardly walk.  Last night was most difficult.  Running on the treadmill was exhausting.  The elliptical machine was not my friend.  Walking on the treadmill was hurting my shins...  I guess too many nights in a row.  I am certain this is somehow good for me.  Although it is killing me softly.  Or not so softly.  Not sure yet.  But guess what??  I was still there, plugging away....

DETERMINATION:  as found in the Urban Dictionary:  http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=determination

Determination is simply not giving up. No matter how hard things get, or how badly you want to just give up, you keep on going. Sometimes you just want to let go, when it seems like what you’re going for is just out of reach, sometimes you tell yourself if what you’re trying to get is worth the great amount of effort that you put in it. When things get hard, you start thinking that its not worth it, and you just want to let it go, but let me tell you this, the more pain and suffering you put into something, the better it'll feel when you get it.

-Determination is not giving up.
-Determination is not letting go.
-Determination is not "this is not worth it" shit.

-Determination is falling on your face and getting back up.
-Determination is losing feeling on your legs, and wanting to keep on going.  (Yeah - that is me!)

In my words, determination is going until your legs lose feeling, until your arms break, until your head feels like its about to explode, until your brain tells your that your done, and when your brain tells you that your done, you tell it, "Just one more time," just, one, more, time...

So "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end", right?  I am ready for my new beginning....

It can start any time now.

That's right!  BRING IT!

I first must get back to the gym and stop talking about it and just do it!  If I am going ot wear a 2 piece in St Lucia I have a bit of an inner tube to get rid of.  I am so not motivated but I must I must I must!!!

Here's hoping I find some will power and control!

I have to say that I am not sad at all to see this month be finished.  September was not a good month for me.  My 3 year relationship ended and along with it went so many other things.

Therefore, I am glad to see October get here.   A new month and lots in store for this month!

Random: 

My little man turned 11 this weekend.  11!!  My baby is 11!!  UGH!  How sad.

I got a new microwave.  And thank God for that one because running to my ex's house just to use the microwave was getting old!!  HAHAHA -but the kids gotta eat right?  :)

Hockey season has started and I think my little man is going to be an Assistant Captain on his team!  Fun stuff!

Haven't really had time for pictures this weekend but I am going to upload a couple boring new ones.  Enjoy and have a good week!

So I decided to TRY to blog every day...  however, probably won't happen (setting myself up to fail already) but I always have a lot going on and plenty to bore you all with!

My good news for today is this...  Watch out St. Lucia here I come!  A friend of mine in the travel business has to go to St Lucia for a 4 day trip.  His wife will be 8 months pregnant at that time and cannot travel.  Therefore, I get to go along for the ride!!  All Inclusive, all paid for, I just have to take care of my airfare!  I am psyched!  I have never been to St. Lucia and this is just what I need to put my camera to good use!   The last few weeks have been rough for me and I soooo need this.  Only 4 days but hell - I will take it!

Whew-hoo!

Anyone have any pics of St Lucia so I can dream for a while!???

Thank you all of you for welcoming me to Ipernity.  I am so excited about all of the fabulous photography here.  Because so many of you are overseas, I feel I am traveling to your countries as I look through your docs.

I am hoping this place is just what I need to get my creativity flowing again and to be motivated enough to get off my ass and get moving and take some pictures!!

Thank you all!

First blog.  Here I am.   What you see is what you get.  2 kids, 2 dogs and a cat.  I love photography - very much an amateur but hey!  Everyone has to start somewhere right.  Here's hoping this place is something new and exciting for me to dive into!  I could use some change.  Change is good.  Difficult, but good!

I like to smile.  I like to laugh.  I need to have more of that right now!

Talk to  me.