My Badge

Thursday nights this summer are Frisbee night...ultimate frisbee night. My gawd do I ever love Thursdays. :). I laugh because when I was single in Toronto I loved Thursdays for a whole other reason. ;)

I love playing ultimate frisbee. I love that I can be as good or as lazy as I want. I love the exercise. I love the comraderie. I love that each week a teammate brings BEvERages to the game for half time. I love having an outlet for my aggression, not on the other players but in a playing hard-blowing off steam kind of way. I love that I'm pretty good at it. And I love making a great dive to catch the disc and score a point.

Tonight I did just that, one point away from our win, breaking up their 3-point run, looking fantastic while I did it and scraping the hell out of my ass. It looked pretty spectacular when I caught it (always the show-woman) and the results on my butt are pretty spectacular.

Something on the ground, in the grass, scraped up my upper-thigh/butt cheek pretty nicely and yet...I show it off. I have no idea why, but I wear it with pride...a "look how hard I played" injury. Nothing debilitating, but brutal enough to look awesome. :)

I had a great night and now I have the wound to prove it! ;)

Tomorrow...Girls weekend...Montreal!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Lots to do

Sometimes having too much on my plate can stress me out. However, mostly I love being busy...cope-able busy, but busy none-the-less.

Tomorrow is the last official day of school. There's a ton to do right there. The good news is that I've pre-booked a couple of mornings of overtime next week, so I won't be panicking tomorrow trying to get everything done. There are deposits to do, cheques to cut, finances and books to balance, report cards to mail, reports to print, filing to do, kindergarten information packages to prepare and mail, people to say goodbye to, kids to wave to through teary eyes.

I will plow through what I can tomorrow amidst the people and the kids, the stress and the goodbyes, the last minute questions and the see you again hugs. We have breakfast and lunch brought in so their will be socializing and I want to enjoy that too.

I look forward to getting it all done and closing the books in a calm, cool and organized fashion when I officially leave next week. I take pride in all that I have done and I respect the person who is taking my place and I want to leave her with a clean slate, to make the school her own.

My current "lots to do" is making me feel very happy and very non-stressed. I have enough time for everything that needs doing...just the right amount. And lots of time to do all of the other things I have ahead.

I've been reading about patience - be patient there's no rush, learning about time-management - there's exactly 1 minute for everyone 1 minute required (you can't fit 2 minutes into 1, so stop trying), and letting go - I have little control over most outcomes, all I can do is my best while being true, the rest is up to the universe around me.

And so once again I head to bed in this happy state of contentment. I have a "plan", I know what I'm doing, and I'm happy, grateful and excited for all that I have and for all that will be :) everything does workout just the way it's supposed to...we just can't always see it right now. (note to self: read this when I can't see it) ;)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Got it! #2

I have now gone through two 0.25 position interviews and the second position has been offered to me tonight. I accepted, it was a lovely offer, not financially, there's very little wiggle room in there, but just in how wonderful and positive and hopeful she spoke about me in the role. Now I have to see tomorrow if it's possible to shift the hours slightly to be able to do both 0.25 jobs.

I had another interview this afternoon and although I thought I presented strong and was myself and true, the way the principal closed the interview made me feel as though I won't be getting the job offer. This is the same hours as the other two put together, and I can walk there from home, however, I didn't necessarily feel the same pull for this job. A part of me kind of hopes I don't get the offer so that I don't have to turn anyone down.

I have trouble making choices when presented with too many options. I want to do everything, to help everyone. I hate saying no, or missing out on an opportunity. I like restaurants will small eclectic menus and small plates so that I can order lots of different flavours without having too many choices from which to pick.

And...Hmmmm...? Maybe I just answered my own question here...small eclectic plates...am I just suggesting that I should stick with these two 0.25s and turn down anything else?

There's still another outside company with which I'd like to interview...more to help them out over the summer, possibly under my new company (under development) while also working for my singing teacher.

I have so many things I want to accomplish, so much I want to learn, so many people I want to help. Please help me to do all of this...and do all of it well, while taking care of myself and my husband and our family and friends. Just enough time and energy for everything. :)

That being said...my first week of summer holidays starts next week and I'm already booked solid with work, workshops & meetings. I really do love my life. :) This feels busy and fabulous!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

And I thought it poured last week!

I know I keep using this same expression...but it's so appropriate!

Today I was so happy I felt like head was going to explode. Like the pressure that builds in the air before a storm. I have so many opportunities presenting themselves. I feel so blessed to have so many options, so many choices, so many possible outcomes.

I continue to feel gratitude for everything that is offered to me, for everything that is meant to be and will be.

There were so many other things that I wanted to blog about today, but the feeling that hit me mid-afternoon, when another opportunity presented itself, it was such a giddiness, such a feeling of bliss and joy, how could I not share it.

And all that happiness from an email and another job interview tomorrow. I am trusting, I am having faith and I am grateful for all of these positive, joyful feelings which are just radiating through me right now. Instead of keeping this all to myself I am sending it outward, to everyone reading my words, to my friends and family, to all of my loved ones I share this feeling of glee with all of you too. I thought I wouldn't be able to contain all this happiness and I was right, buy not because I can't but because joy like this is meant to be shared with everyone. :)

I am not worried about what tomorrow might bring. I trust and have faith that the next couple of months will fall into place just as they should and I am going to enjoy every step of this journey, like I did today. I will also continue to share out all of this positive energy with all of you, feel it, have it, use it...it's yours ;)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Not only happy...but grateful too

I don't know where to begin. This piggy-backs on my "When it Rains it Pours" post.

I have had more opportunities present themselves to me today.

I should let you know that I never went for the financial services interview. The morning of the interview the headhunter called to discuss salary prior to my meeting with the firm (one of the downsides to going through a head hunter...I can sell myself better than they ever could). The hiring company's maximum salary offer did not come anywhere close to my current salary. I knew I would not consider the position without at least matching what I'm making at a job that I love to do. Needless to say the headhunter and I both agreed that the interview would waste both my time and the time of the financial firm, seeing as our numbers were not close. That being said, I knew the offer would have had to be something special, not only to change my current "plans" for the future, but also to get me back into the financial industry.

I put the word "plans" in quotations, because although I put out there all the things I would love to do...I know that whatever plans I try to control will only be at the mercy of what the Universe has in store for me when it hears what I'm really asking.

My "plans":
- to work for the school board in a part-time capacity, for both the permanent long-term job security and the benefits, but also to continue working and learning in the field of education, in a role that I have loved doing
- to continue working as the studio manager for my vocal teacher, because I love to help and make a place better and more organized and because I love her and love helping her too
- to take my slower summer months "off" and start my own administrative consulting company (with me as my only employee), an administrative specialist of sorts, helping individuals along with both small and large businesses with all of their administrative needs.
- to make black-raspberry jam again this summer!!! ;)
- to someday run for school-board trustee, because I really feel like I can make a difference
- to continuing persuing the performing arts and maybe someday doing any or all of them professionally (still more of a dream than anything else)
- to continue writing as much as I can

What I actually ask of the Universe every moment:
- to be my most successful both professionally and financially
- to make a difference where ever I am
- to continue to love passionately and be loved by others in all that I do
- "The be the Best for Me. To be the Best for the World Around Me."

So with the honest heartfelt request of the above I know my "plans", albeit hopeful, are only thoughts in my head, and not necessarily where I will end up.

After the school interview last week, I was offered the job of the 0.25 assistant in September and I accepted it. Today I received a phone call and will be interviewing for another 0.25 for which I applied. And then, much to my delight and heartfelt gratitude, I received an email from a parent hoping not to offend and asking for my resume for a position which might interest me.

I have no idea what the Universe has in store for me. But am I ever excited! I trust that the next part of my journey will be amazing and fantastic. I have faith that I will make a difference and play an important role. I believe that I will be doing something that will be the best for me and the best for the world around me.

Tonight I thank the Universe for everything I cannot plan and am grateful for all that I have received. :) I am truly blessed!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Happiness is...Happiness

Last night I had the honour and the pleasure of singing at the wedding of a very good friend and his now beautiful wife who I look forward to getting to know more in all our years to come. I still feel blessed to have been able to bring my voice to such a wonderful occasion!

And it was during this magical evening, throughout the ceremony and the reception, with new friends and old, that I was reminded that happiness is what it's all about.

I watched two people so blissfully and happily in love join themselves together and promise each other to continue on in this happiness. :)

A wedding day is an important day of love, family and friends and everyone sharing in that love and happiness. We are witness to the promise of two people whom we love, and to be present at such an occasion is a blessing to all.

Congratulations Sean & Sue!

With Love
~sarah~

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When It Rains It Pours

I had an interview this morning and it went really well. I wouldn't say I knocked it out of the park, not necessarily one of my top interviews of all time, but it was definitely a solid performance.

The good news is that I got the job. I spoke to the principal of the new school right after she called my current principal as one of my references. It was a good feeling, everyone was happy and excited for me and I could see the shape of my future a little clearer.

A little while later my new principal copied me on her email to her staff introducing and welcoming me, and as I was reading the email, before I could even enjoy the moment, my cell phone rang. A random name and the word Work came up. I didn't recognize the name, but I must have programmed it in.

As soon as I answered I knew who it was...a guy at a temp/placement agency with whom I had spoken a couple of times, but months ago. He was calling me to ask if I'd be interested in a financial industry position, similar to what I have done in the past. It caught me completely off guard, but knowing never to turn down an opportunity (at least not until I've thought it through), I said I would interview for the position.

So I am reminded again today that not only will I always be able to find a job, but that I should NEVER get comfortable thinking I know where my life is going. Change and opportunity are constantly bombarding us. I have already thought through 100 scenarios, and there hundreds more that I can't even fathom yet.

And so, knowing where I would like to see myself, I head into next week with a job in the summer, two jobs for the fall, tons of other plans on the horizon, and one visible possibility that all of this could change at any point.

I trust that what is supposed to happen will happen. I will continue to focus on my prayers, my mantra, my daily manifestation.

"I ask for the best for myself; financially, successfully, emotionally, physically & spiritually, while at the same time asking for the absolutely best for the world around me."

I am grateful for the rain, whether it sprinkles or it pours. It's like a fantastic movie and I can't wait to see what happens next!

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Those three little words...

Thai. Chicken. Pizza.

Tonight I did one of my favourite things...I made dinner. I made my trusted stand-by, something I loved when I worked at Boston Pizza, Thai Chicken Pizza...it's sooooo good.

But tonight I had to mix it up a little. The pizza sauce is supposed to be peanut sauce, and although Ian assured me that we had a jar of peanut sauce in the fridge, he was wrong. But thanks to the glory of the Internet I found a couple of different recipes to make your own peanut sauce by using peanut butter.

And as I prefer to do, instead of following one recipe, I look at a bunch and use them and adapt them and make up my own recipe. Peanut butter (unfortunately all we had creamy...chunky would have been perfect!), water, brown sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic, fresh lime and a little sesame oil. It didn't taste exactly the way the jarred stuff does, but it worked beautifully on the chicken and on the pizza.

I threw on broccoli which I've never put on this pizza before along with the normal fried onions, chicken, peppers and lots of lots of mozzarella. Topped with some fresh green onions when it came out hot and voilà...fantastic dinner.

Ian loves this dish and cleans his plate every time, even when I hide a couple of mushrooms under the cheese!

I also love cleaning up after myself while dinner cooks. There is nothing better than a spotless kitchen before you even serve the meal. It's much more relaxing to know that the dishes are already done.

Perfect night, fantastic meal, a couple of episodes of Eureka (great show) and I'm not watching that which will make me sad (#Canucks). I can wait for Twitter to let me know when I wake up (but it's not looking good).

Yup, great day!

And oh yeah, and I have a job interview tomorrow morning ;)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Directions

At many times in my life I have felt like I was at a crossroads. Feeling like I had to be careful what choice I made because it would mean the first day of the rest of my life.

You could say I'm in one of those places right now, however it feels much less dire that it has in the past. I have previously described the feeling as waiting for the other shoe to drop. Nervous anticipation of the unknown.

This time I wouldn't even describe it as a crossroads. I don't feel like it's a yes or no decision, a left or a right. Instead I feel nervous excitement. There's a little fear and apprehension of the unknown, but there is so much faith and positive energy, enthusiastic optimism that I can't wait.

And yet with all of this energy that should be driving me forward, I am really enjoying finishing everything I'm leaving behind. A little part of me wants to stay, but I also know very strongly that my work here is done.

My favourite part of looking forward right now is the unknown, which is the part that normally scares me. Right now I look ahead at ANYTHING I WANT! Really! My own business doing whatever I put my mind to, or maybe travel to another country, or settle down in a long term stable job and have kids, or become a world famous performer. Or a little bit of everything or even none of the above...something I can't see or even fathom from where I'm standing!

I never thought I could stand in a moment like this and just enjoy and appreciate and be at peace in this place. It's a wonderful feeling...almost...dare I say it...waiting patiently. Okay, maybe not totally patient...I AM excited! :)

I'll let you know what it is when I get there, but for now enjoy this place with me :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Bombarded with life!

What a fabulous day...no one thing made me happy. Every THING made me happy today, from start to finish.

As we were lying in bed this morning my phone rang and I got to spend 2 hours catching up with an old friend. We haven't seen each other in ages, too long. But we talk and chatted and discussed and delved and I miss her and am so glad she called this morning.

While I was on the phone Ian made me a friend egg sandwich and one of his fabulous Americanos (better than any coffee shop). I feel so loved and spoiled by him...I really am!

We spent what was left of the morning and into the early afternoon preparing fun food; bruschetta, salad, crostini, guacamole, hummus and flank steak.

Another old friend came over and brought her 11 month old, who I also haven't seen in ages. We caught up over food and white sangria. It was so great seeing the two of them today. They are both so happy and look fantastic...how I've missed them.

While they were over, Ian was working hard on relaying our front pathway, almost finished. And it looks great! Now for some dirt :) And I also missed a call from another old friend. I'm sorry I wasn't able to catch up, but I'm already looking forward to calling her tomorrow and catching up with her too :)

Then Ian and I straightened up and started getting ready for dinner and my dad arrived.

We ate, we drank, we laughed, we talked, it was a fabulous night all around. It was great to see him too.

We finished the day and the bottle of wine, Ian and I, cuddling on the couch.

I couldn't ask for a more perfect Saturday. I feel surrounded by life and love.

I am truly looking forward to all the world has in store for me. I awoke from my dreams this morning with sadness in my heart and I recognize it and will not ignore it, but I will also move on and point toward the future.

I am grateful for days like today that make everything worth it. Days like today and what make life worth living! :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

A New Piece, A New Viewpoint

It's funny...I haven't taken a ballet class or any dance class in 5 years, but I think of myself as a dancer. I feel confident that I could walk into an audition or a studio and I would be able to learn an enchainment or a piece of choreography no problem (except Hip-Hop...I can't figure out Hip-Hop!). And not only could I learn it but I would do a fabulous job.

And acting, well, I never worry about that. Put a script in my hand and I look forward to analyzing, studying, creating, learning and performing. I've always been an actress. When aren't I performing? ;)

However, although I've been taking voice lessons going on TWELVE years now (!!!) I still feel like a child who doesn't know what she's doing.

And then a night like tonight happens and I realize I'm better than I think. I mean I know I can sing, but it's more than that.

The piece I learned tonight is not the most complicated composition, or the longest, and I've heard it before, but it's a beautiful piece of music, and in Italian, and I learned it in a half hour lesson well enough that, aside from memorizing the words completely, I would feel confident performing it tomorrow.

Don't get me wrong, I realize there is still a ton of work left to do to make it sound really beautiful, but tonight made me realize that I'm not just a dancer or an actress anymore...I'm a singer, really and truly.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Garlic

Ian forgot to cook dinner tonight while I was out at my other job. I had called and changed my hours and in the change he forgot to prep anything.

He told when he picked me while suggesting shwarma. I mentally did a once over of the fridge and pantry and realized it was probably a take-out night. Problem was, once shwarma was mentioned I couldn't think of anything else.

Needless to say...we got the shwarma. And now, my mouth stinks. I reek of garlic. My breath is so garlicky that I can taste it. As gross as I feel, I also feel wonderful as well.

I really love garlic. :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Prayer

Some days it's harder than others to think of the happy things. There were lots of happy things that happened to me today. I got a lot of work done. I connected really well with my coworkers. I made a little sad boy with a boo-boo smile. I bought a happy new dress and two fun hairbands. I had a delicious meal of leftovers with my wonderful husband.

However, there are sad things happening around me and in all of my joy and happiness, I know that not everyone is in the same place as me.

I am reminded of how wonderful it is to have this happiness. I am reminded to be grateful for all I have. To be thankful for my health, my stability, my love, my family and my friends. And amidst this thanks and gratitude I offer prayers.

I pray for those who are sick, who are fighting to get well. I pray for their families and friends around them who are loving and supporting them. I pray for those who are out of work, who have lost their jobs. I pray for their families and friends who want to help any way that they can.

I do not want to lose my happiness through sadness for others, that helps and strengthens no one. And so from my happiness I offer prayers of strength and love. Prayers of hope and happiness. Prayers of peace and fullness.

If you are reading this with sadness I offer these prayers for you, and if you are reading this in happiness I ask for you to join your prayers with mine.

I am not a religious person per-say, however I feel strongly about the power of prayer. I believe that our thoughts and our love have the power to conquer and heal.

"The mind is a muscle that can move the world." (Firestarter, Stephen King)

Thank you.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Great show!

It's been a fantastic day today, starting, of course, with Give Away Weekend. One of my favourite bi-annual events in the city of Ottawa. I'm a big fan of reduce, reuse, recycle, and Give Away Weekend does just that. Basically you put stuff you don't want at the curb and other folks can take it. No not garbage, just stuff you don't want. Sundays are often better because the folks that forgot on Saturday put some good stuff out on Sunday. Today we found a fantastic armchair for our living room. We might get it re-upholstered someday, but it's nicely retro and fits perfectly.

Then the in-laws came and the men conquered the kitchen while I started on dinner. The end result is the kitchen looks fantastic and dinner was delicious!!!!

Then after dinner we treated our in-laws to a wonderful production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels by Orpheus at Centrepointe Theatre. Many of our friends performed and they were fantastic!!! :)

David McLaughlin was absolutely fabulous as the hilarious Freddy Benson...no one can thrust and air hump quite like Dave!!!

If you don't have tickets already, do yourself a favour and buy yourself some and get your butt there. Money and time well spent. Orpheus never disappoints!!!

Uhm...oh yeah...and Canucks won Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals at 11 seconds in to overtime!!!!!

GREAT Saturday!!!! :)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

PD Days

Different people like PD days for different reasons; embittered teachers because they can go to work when there are no kids there, happy parents who enjoy the extra day with their kids, baking and playing games, the local malls, when the kids come in to increase their weekday revenues. I always like them because I bank some overtime and take the day.

Not so today. I have the overtime banked, but it's June and I'm way too busy to take a full day off. Instead I scheduled our annual furnace maintenance in the afternoon, so worked the majority of the day, managing to get our supply teachers paid, and then rushed home to be there for our maintenance time window.

My happy thing today is how much work I managed to get done at home on this short afternoon off. The kitchen is squeaky clean, the powder room is disinfected enough to eat in, and the rest of the house is tidy and organized, with all of the laundry done to boot!

Knowing that I'm heading home, after a wonderful dinner party, to a completely clean and tidy home, where no work needs to be done, is a fabulously wonderful feeling.

There are many household chores that I don't mind doing, but when I get rolling I really enjoy cleaning because I love working toward that feeling of a clean and tidy house in which I can just relax and enjoy.

And so now here I sit...Ian with a glass of wine in hand, and me finishing up my blog, while listening to some 50s music...knowing that my work is done.

And I already know what my happy thing for tomorrow will be...It's Give-away-weekend!!!! One of my all time favourite events! :)

With Love
~sarah~

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First game back!

Well I'm back on the frisbee pitch and loving it...although the field was in pretty lousy condition. Lots of rain this spring and it hasn't been mowed yet. So knee length grass to run through, but at least the ground was soft enough to take some of the impact and hard enough to give enough support. (plus soft enough to not break me when I'd dive.)

It was a really great game, both teams equally matched. The final score was 13-12 for us...iFlick...and we had to really fight for it. It felt fantastic :)

I don't know what I love about frisbee the most. My team is awesome, the exercise is great, after almost 10 years of playing I'm actually pretty good, and I love sensational plays...like diving, rolling and spectacular falls for some fabulous catches. I'm a bit of a risk taker on the field and I love it. :)

It's only game one and I'm so excited for the next 2 months...plus...more stuff about which to be happy...

Nationals are in Ottawa this year!!! :) YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!

Sleep now and hoping my legs will continue to support me in the morning ;)

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada

Back into the groove

Not an easy day, you'd think, to find something happy about which to blog. It was confirmed first thing this morning that I will not be continuing to do the job that I've been doing for the past two years, due to a union technicality, that didn't permit me to be in the running for it, all because I believed I was doing the right thing ethically last fall.

So, now that I'm passed my little rant (there's a much bigger rant that I'm working at releasing because it's not going to do me or anyone else any good) I will try and move on with some happiness in this blog. Because even on an understandably difficult day, I have a TON of things about which to be happy.

So many people said so many wonderful things about me, TO me today! How unique I am. What a fabulous job I do. How I'm the most efficient person they've ever known to do this role. How much they've enjoyed working with me. How much they'll miss me. How much I shine. How much happiness I bring to their day. And the list goes on and on.

So although this day made me sad...sad to my core because I still feel somehow cheated by a system for which I worked so hard...sad because for the first time in a long time I felt like I was in the right place doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing...sa because I have felt every say that I was making a difference...sad because I love this job...my heart continues to have wings :)

My friends and loved ones around me are supporting my hopes, my dreams and all of the fabulous opportunities ahead of me. I could not move forward without all of this support and for all of this I am truly blessed!

So I will continue to work on releasing the dark & negative, sad and ugly thing inside me..,it wants ito get out so I will just let it go. And instead I will focus on my blessings...how could I not? They are everywhere I look. And I thank the Universe for all that it has provided and conitues to provide.

A friend said to me...every shitty thing that happens = 2 good things :) I am looking forward to these two and many more good things in the days and weeks to come.

With Love
~sarah~

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Location:Jackson Ct,Kanata,Canada