Adios Amigos/Amigas

(Post Dated) September 1, 2007

Today is a busy day - by the time you all read this, I will have already been in Amsterdam, Lyon, Bairritz, Bayonne, and finally in St. Jean Pied de Port, France.

Tomorrow I will be starting my Camino to Santiago de Compostela. After three years there's only 800 km (500 miles) to go!

I will raise my hiking poles in gratitude to God for making yet another dream of mine be realized and for my wonderful friends and family who have helped me get here.

If you care to follow my walk, please visit http://mi-viaje-a-santiago.blogspot.com/.

I will not update this blog until I return.

But most very importantly - I want to be the first to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY DWIGHT! I'm so happy you're a part of this adventure! You can open your package now :0)

Adios!

In Case Of Emergency

My friend Louise is supporting (unwaveringly) my trip and but she is beginning to turn her lip under when discussing my imminent departure. So.....being the friend that I am...... I have made her an emergency Teri Kit to help her get through it. If the separation anxiety gets the best of her, she can break it open and indulge.

Contents:
Barry Manilow Greatest Hits CD
Corks from my two favorite red wines
My teal tiara
A pack of tissues
An early Christmas present
My favorite book about Paris (Happy Birthday to us!)
A stinky sock (so she knows what she's REALLY missing)
A scallop shell (symbol of the Camino)
A picture taken of us at Pat's Christmas party
And a mild "MEN!" greeting card (we don't man bash!)
Dark chocolate (or the closest facimile I could find on short assembly)
My ring and its magic yellow egg for safekeeping. (The bunny stays home.)
THE share bear
I'm-missing-her-too-but-don't-want-to-think-about-it air.

And I implore Team Teri to keep her IMd, emailed, Sushi Tuesday'd, wined, dined and otherwise distracted until I return.

Full Moon

Some friends of mine did the full-moon-from-the-chair-lift-at-Sundance gig last night. I knew ahead of time that I could just not commit to it so close to leaving. A good call on my part because I worked until 12:30 AM again.

I missed the eclipse - but several pilgrims posted about seeing it on the camino. I'm sure, in the middle of a tiny village, in the middle of Spain, this was a spectacular experience.

This morning *yawn* while I drink coffee and work on yet another before-I-go-commitment (only three left today), I'm looking out the kitchen window and see the full moon in the west. If I cupped my hands together to make a circle, the space is the total amount of sky view I have through my leafy trees. And there in the center is the moon. Hanging out, looking cool.

And month from now....I'll be in Spain and hanging out with it.

I just watched my countdown counter switch from 2 days, 48 hours, 2880 minutes to 1 day, 47 hours, 2879 minutes. And tomorrow - I get to say - tomorrow! After that I get 39 days of vacation....37 of which will be in Spain. I LOVE MY LIFE!

New Word - Assticulate

A friend was typing an IM last night and was saying someone was articulate (Mr D). Her kitties were helping her type and it came out as "asticulate". To which I responded......NEW WORD - ASSTICULATE (verb) ....an attempt at making a valid point while pulling the WAG (wild ass guess) out of one's ass.

It won't qualify for The Washington Post's Annual Neologism Contest because I changed more than one letter. But it will provide humor for years to come for anyone dropping onto my site.

Energizer Bunny

I have MORE work to do tonight. It will wrap up my warp speed do-it-before-you-go-list of things to do.

A few associates have dropped by today to wish me luck. A few customers have sent notes of encouragement. My friends are getting pouty about me being gone. The return parties are being planned - a greeting party of faux nuns and priests at the airport, sharing my Spanish wine with Chef Kent himself.

I am in awe of all of this. How can I not succeed?

I came home to a trimmed tree tonight. It was on my to do list, when I would be able to pull it off before I left, I don't know. The trimmer angel hath visited!

EVERYONE has worked very hard to make it a walk-away-without-looking-back event for me (contridictory to my type AAA personality). How can I ever repay EVERYONE?

Thank you ALL so very, very much for your interest and your assistance. My love to you all.

I LOVE My Sales Team!

Not only do I love them (they keep me employed and thus traveling) they love me back! Check this out:

Dear Princess,Good luck on your journey. I hope that it turns out to be everything you want it will be. I wish you health, strength, but most of all I hope that you find as many people on your journey that are as kind as you because you will need them. Be safe my friend. Gonna miss you.

Kids - Pay Attention!

When your algebra teacher speaks....listen.

You will need this information at some point in your lifetime (it's a badge of success).

Check this out:

=SUM((437/12)+(0.0765*(G17+G36)))

This is my morning!

My Dream

I'm sure I dream, but I hardly ever remember them if I do. Last night I went to bed early so I was pretty restless in the pre-dawn hours. But...I do remember what I dreamed about this morning and it was WEIRD.

It was about the place you go when it is time to die. Not ghastly or anything. You just go there, get essentially euthanized and move on to the afterlife. However......I didn't know how I got there, I hadn't heard anything about it prior to my arrival and when it was all explained to me, I was like, "well how about that?". My next question was if I had to deal with it right then or could I hang out a bit longer. Whomever (or whatever) seemed to be in no real hurry. I started looking around, pretended like I was interested, quickly and quietly gathered up my stuff, slipped out a back door, booked a flight and left for France.

I'm not going to shop there anymore.

I'm Official!!

My Camino Blog was accepted into the Way of St. James Web Ring!! I'm at the top position of the hub with a little yellow NEW beside it. I haven't been in a web ring since having to handcode web pages back in the day of Ronnie Dog (you can still find residual pages cached on the big ole Internet from WAY BACK THEN!).

You can get to the blog there from here: http://mi-viaje-a-santiago.blogspot.com/ and then if you want more, jump into the web ring at the bottom of the page.

Poodle Power!!

Please visit the blog below and leave a comment in my favor. The baby needs the poodle costume. It may be her only chance at pinkdom.

Please tell your friends and ask that they tell their friends. This is an important cause.

Poodle Power.

http://planetjules.blogspot.com/2007/08/happy-heinous-halloween.html

Poodle Power.

Workin It - Workin It

Checking into http://mi-viaje-a-santiago.blogspot.com/, I see I only have 82 hours till take off.

At the rate I'm going this week half that time will be spent at work. And I'm not going to complain for one second.

This the season - budgets for our customers and budgets for us. I actually LOVE both! The customers' budgets mean money for us and my budget means salary increases and stuff for my team. I feel like Santa Claus - projects for everybody!

So off to la-la land. Gotta feed the beasts and I'm told I should have a package waiting for me. (I LOVE PRESENTS!) Wash, rinse, repeat.....but only for a few more days :)

The Time Has Come

I have before me this wonderful pilgrimage - full of nature and God.

But to press forward, I also have to leave behind some things:

I have to leave with my brother in Hospice.

My friend in the hospital.

My friends with whom I frolic - here and afar.

The job I dearly love.

Email.

My sorrows and my losses.

All of these people and these events and have gotten me here today - ready to walk to the end of the earth.

You're all in my pocket (I'd put you in the pack, but then you'd be on my shoulders and that would be a major bummer).

Hello Today!

Life changes quickly.

I ran across an email today that I received last November:

Hi Babe,

I’ve been reading your blog for about 20 minutes now. Every day it fills my heart with a greater love and warmth for you as I discover more and more about your soul and your mind. I am the luckiest man in the world to have you in my life. I don’t think it’s possible to appreciate you more, but know tomorrow will bring a new revelation to make that happen.

I absolutely, totally, completely, most assuredly, and unwaveringly Love You Teri (last name removed)! Thank you for the gift of your heart.

(smiley face)
(name)

While at one point in time a few months ago this would have had me unloading a bucket of tears - today it does not. It is what it is - the course was not mine to chart. I'm better for having had the relationship, but really no worse for the wear for not having it now. I learned lessons I would not have otherwise have had the opportunity to learn. I learned that I was still lovable. I was able to understand what really happened to Robert and why I was helpless to "fix" that too. And so the light at the end of the tunnel is another evolution of me -which at the end of the day is the only change I can truly influence. I'm less timid than I was before to be loved and exponentially more appreciative of those that have endured the passage of time and trials and continue to love me.

Hello today! I can't wait to meet tomorrow!

Weekend End

It's 9:00 pm and I'm heading to bed.

The work work did not get done. I can go in early and tough it out.

What did get done was enjoying the capricious weather, uber cleaning, updating my iPod with some music D sent me, exchanging emails, downloading a movie to take along and thinking about my brother, girlfriend and daughter.

I talked with my girlfriend for awhile tonight. She's got hashmarks on her hospital room whiteboard noting the "Days Served". Six days left until she's out of the "major woods" and into the "woods". Oh and she hates the hot pink poodle costume I sent for her soon-to-arrive daughter. I told her she can't be a red crayon her first Halloween it just isn't right. She said she's going to have to have a long talk with the girl about her "special" Aunt Teri.

So today was comuning and thinking about those I love and tomorrow will be work. Sounds like I finally got it right.

Can't Do It

I need to do some work stuff today. I can't. I have the work, I have a deadline and I can't get into gear. So I'm going to switch gears. Keep going with my weekend, plow through the chores I have left for the trip. I'll go to bed early and into the office early and stay there until it is done. I didn't say when on Monday I would turn my project in. It is a dangerous stone to throw because my job is so dynamic...but I'm going to toss it out there anyway.

It is thundering and raining and throwing a hailstone or two every few minutes. I'm having a much better time sitting on my porch watching nature play around. And...because of the rain, I can scratch watering the lawn off my list of things to do today. The air is cool and flirty feeling. After all the hot weather we've been having, it seems a waste to just let it pass.

I'll let my mind float for a bit while I sip my stateliquorstore imported French wine and dream about the carnival of flavors my tastebuds are about to experience for the next month. I'm trying to recall some French phrases like how to say "thank you", since I'll need it for the better part of a day (to be polite). How on earth could I forget Merci? One of my favorite french words (I only know a handful). It sounds so tinkly and animated when heard in France. My Spanish is still limited, but the pronounciation will be correct for what I figure out how to say. I figure it will hone itself during "the walk".

Whatever comes from the trip now will be what it will be. The trip is now up to St. James and God. The remaining time here will be making sure all left behind in a good state.....work, home, friends, cats, etc. That's my responsibility.

My Lucky

Just four days until I begin my current "journey of a lifetime".

I say current because my life seems only to build - a constant crescendo of facinating experiences and people. I long ago abandoned the fear of a climax in my life's experiences.
At some point, when I'm too decrepit to walk, my feable brain will wander back in time to lots of lovely places.

I have "key" people in my life, who along the way have carried me over obstacles, pushed me through portals, pulled me out of trees and pulled me through forests and up mountains - literally and figuratively. And a select few, by knowing that tomorrow I get to see them, hear their voice or read a tender note, sail me through today - no matter the challenge that I face.

This is my lucky and I am blessed.

Irony

My daughter came down to see me this weekend. Her fiance didn't come - they decided to take separate trips.

She expressed her disappointment in his actions because he often spends time outside on the phone with other people, doesn't ask her to go with him when he goes somewhere, and he spends a lot of time on the computer which doesn't invite interaction between the two of them. She commented about feeling unappreciated because she'd been getting groceries after working long hours and making sure there were nice meals on the table.

This morning we went together to do shopping for her son for school. This afternoon she worked on the computer, spent several hours on the phone, and just left without a word to go out for the night with a friend. She's mentioned doing the same tomorrow with another friend.

She'd sent me the nicest note earlier this week and I was really looking forward to her coming to see me. I had worked very hard this week to be ready for my trip so I could spend time with her this weekend. I turned down some other invites so we could be together. I took them out for breakfast and dinner.

I can honestly say I completely understand how she feels.

The Twins

I have a really close friend at work. We are almost inseparable these days. Our friendship has grown slowly, but has gone very deep. We keep finding things that we have in common. The most recent discovery goes back to the early 80's. We both had daughters and we both made our girls the same dolls.

She has her daughter's doll at her home and my daughter brought her doll for the photo opportunity:

Need Your Prayers

This is my brother. He needs your prayers please.

(The portrait is painted by his wife and is "spot on" him and his work. He too is an artist.)

I Love My Friends!

This week has gone so quickly. Work has been busy and just nuts. Thankfully so! I'm training my replacement, customers need quotes (yea!!!), conference calls are to be had, extra hours of work needed. I'm so grateful my vacation cover is working with me now. There's enough work for the two of us.

And then my wonderful amigos and amigas are throwing a party for me. I feel a little strange. I'm just going on vacation (OK a little bit of an exciting one). We're having Paella, Spanish wine: Albarino (white spirit) or the Rioja (red spirit) and smallbites (tapas?). I'm so lucky. How thoughtful everyone is! D - wishing big time you were going to be here to play with us!

And this weekend - a kidlet will be home. Can't wait to see her before I take off for my fun! Only 200 hours to go :)

My Next Project

Today I worked, I walked, I'm writing, I have a glass of wine and homemade wockamole. I love being an adult. I can eat what I want for dinner - and this is it. I can play letter games or roll my eyes because someone else does it.

A few years ago I had a crap boss. (I've been fortunate and that label in my life has been limited.) He gave me an interesting gift once though. It was a little spiral notebook and the cover was dark green crushed velvet. He said it reminded me of him. I did NOT ask for the correlation. But....

One day, I was so overwhelmed by sadness in my marriage. I took my little book, some flourescent highlighters, red licorice laces, Pez, my Walkman cassette player and went to the beach. I drew pictures of things I saw. Yes, wtih highlighters. I don't recall crying, but I do remember feeling very, very alone, but also knowing that I would somehow, with my little book and bright markers, be OK. In that book, I wrote down observations of couples very much in love, some billboard comments, stuff I made up: When Harry met Sally it wasn't time, etc. I made a list of a dozen or so things I wanted to do some day.

After I completed my juvenile adventure, I took off in the car down a road that followed the waterfront. I ended up somewhere near Tacoma. Via backroads that's pretty damn impressive.

When I got home I was asked what I did that day. I explained it. "Why would you do something like that?"

Things like going to the Issaquah zoo, flying to a Barry Manilow concert, be skinny so I could priouette, etc. Later I had included seeing Barry in Vegas. And I did - I was invited to his PBS special taping in December 2005. Later I added things I wanted to do after my youngest daughter left home.

Some of these things I've done. With some of them the meaning has changed. I think now, I would add more exotic places and probably some service projects (like Mexico next year). Some are silly, some are grand.

My mother died in 1993 when she was 76. Lots of my family seems to pass on in their 70's.

I've started a blog that I will start working on when I get back. If I Live Until I'm 75. It has a count down counter - like my camino site does. I will know, based on this estimate, how many days, hours, minutes and seconds I have to live my life wholly. It isn't a death timer. Heavens - if I can keep up the fun, I want to sprint past our family's averages! What I want is a reminder that live is precious, special and my own canvas to paint it as I can. This life is a gift and I've been blessed time and time again. I don't want to forget and I don't want waste a single second of joy.

Bring on those markers folks....we have something special to start creating!

I Don't Get It

There was a note stuck on my door about a boy doing an Eagle Scout project (major boy requirement here in Utah). His project was to assemble hygiene kits. He was asking for something like $4 for each one and his goal was to make 150.

I called him up. I travel for my work and have a box or two of shampoos, soap, mouthwash, etc. that I've schleped home from the hotels. Some is darn nice stuff. Nicer that I would buy for myself.

He can't - he has to make them out of specially purchased merchandise. The whatever LDS church society that he's doing it for's requirement. Huh. He has to collect cash, to buy it from a church store (I'm guessing on that), and then assemble the kits.

He declined the items I have, that I hauled back with me - for just this purpose.

I'm now going to officially sound old....

First - Eagle Projects used to be a difficult, grow up the boys, think on your feet and outside of the box endeavor. It required blood, sweat, tears and acquiring the skills to rally a community together for a CAUSE. It was not sticking notes on doors with a time indicated where they would return to collect cash, to buy church sponsored supplies to give to whatever need was determined by the church. This is paint by number and I think it's a shame.

Grumble, grumble

More Thoughts

My daughter sent a email today. In the middle there was these two sayings. I related to them.

To handle yourself, use your head.
To handle others, use your heart.

God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

I Missed The Boat

Oh boy, did I miss the boat. Literally and figuratively. Not that I didn't realize it then or many days since.

Dear Prince Henry - thank you for making me feel, again, like the most royalist Princess in the land.

You are the one person who has always placed me on a pedestal and never, ever, even under probable cause - (OK, OK due cause), attempted to dethrone me.

To read what you wrote today to all my friends and family and people I barely know (the guy from Spanish class and Customers :-) is surreal - that anyone would say something so sweet and kind about anybody and you said it about me.

Yes, I'm weepy and humbled and honored and feel very, very special.

Thank you.

The Best Mistake I Ever Made

I wanted some Sonny's on chicken for dinner tonight. I like to poach the chicken when I drown it in BBQ sauce. I didn't have any stock open and I didn't want to have any hauting my refrigerator. I had water and one (of two left) bouillon cubes. Looking in the cabinet I found some Savory. I had no idea how it worked/tasted. I went to sprinkle some into the water and spilled it in (my MO). Oh like so yum! Now I'm debating whether I want the BBQ sauce or not.

The other day I stumbled across the apron I brought back from France for SweetStuff. Maybe I should go put it on. Nahh - I don't have any dessert fixins'.