a relationship with my mother in law...

I ran into my mother in law on the way to the coffee house tonight. She was heading home after a long day at her shop. I honked my horn and rolled down the window just to say hi. She asked where I was headed and asked if I was ok. It was comforting.

I think it's pretty ironic that I have what I consider a great relationship with mother in law. Considering that my relationship with my own parents is non-existant. Don't get me wrong.. the relationship isn't all bells and whistles either. She's my husband's mother.. enough said. But needless to say, I couldn't have asked, prayed, or given up my first born for the really comforting relationship I have with her. I try and make the attempt to swing by and say hi and check in on her to make sure that things are ok at least once a week.

I know that I have a certain amount of admiration for her. Along with that admiration comes respect. I don't think I would have had this relationship with her if I didn't have that respect. It's just nice to know that I can talk to her openly and know that she will always have our best interest in mind.

I'm lucky....

back to writing...

I remember back in the 8th grade when one of my favorite teachers of all time, Mrs. T introduced us to daily writing from "The Book of Questions." Back in 2000, I picked up a copy of that book along with another book to inspire me to write on a daily basis. With the intent there, time unfortunately did not permit. Now that I do have more time on my hands, it's back to writing. Writing not just to write but to keep the mind sharp and flowing.

So with that being said, I begin with question one.

For a person you loved deeply, would you be willing to move to a distant country knowing there would be little chance of seeing your friends or family again?

Wow, back in the day, my answer to this question would have been simple. But now that I'm older, it's alot harder to think of the right answer to this question as there are so many other questions that come up. The selfish side to me would say yes in a heartbeat. That would have been my answer in my early twenties. But now, as I approach the mid thirties, I can't say yes without hesitation. Sacrifice and compromise. Isn't that what life is about? One has to sacrifice and compromise in order to obtain happiness. How does love configure into this equation as there are so many types of love in my life? Would I be willing to give up the love I have for my husband and lose those who have been there for me even before I was married? It's not a fair question to ask and it's not a fair question to answer.

I think it's only fair to sit on this question a bit longer. I'll probably come back to it sooner than later....

Moving on....

It's taken me a while to write about this, only because the pain is still fresh. Very early this year, I decided that I had to give up my partnership in the business. Mostly because I disagree with how the business was being run. When it all comes down to it, one of the boys' old co-workers who is in the same industry, plainly put it... "We were working harder, but not smarter."

Why did I decide to walk away from my passion..... I have parts of it it figured out, I didn't like the stressful environments that I was placed into unwillingly, but mostly because I didn't like the person that I had become. It was hard for me to admit that I had changed as a person and harder even so to admit that I had really taken a major toll on my relationship with the one person that supported me the most. Sadly, I had stuck with the business based on the belief of the potential it had. The boy saw it much faster than I did but knew that I needed to come to the realization on my own.

I miss it though. Wallking away cold turkey... must be how smokers feel when they quite smoking. I'm slowly adjusting to life once again... a slower paced life. I do miss the creativity quite a bit. I've looked into art classes in the hopes of having a venue to release and satisfy the creative side of me.

So what's next... family and a house. Thankfully, I have a great job with the person who I was working part time for. She walked with me through the entire situation, making the adjustments with me. The boy and I are looking into buying a house towards the end of the year. But most of all, we're both looking to expand the family unit.

It's been a rough beginning to 2007, but I love how the rest of 2007 is looking.

Post Maui Blues

Maui was fantastic! It was 6 days and 5 nights of wonderous and much needed relaxation. It's funny how guilty one feels for being able to relax that way.

We did alot in the days that we were there. Para-sailing, a tour to Hana, a submarine ride, a helicopter ride over West Maui and of course a luau.

Gotta love the food in Hawaii... fresh pineapple every morning...wonderful dinner at Sansei Restaurant...didn't have the courage to try that tarot thing that's native to the islands...

I can't wait to go back

a small bit of an update...

Wow... can it be true that the last time I posted was back in March? I guess the computer doesn't lie in this case.

So just a bit of an update since my last post.

Life's been generally crazy yet again. The summer time is always my busiest season dealing with brides and their events. On top of all the events we've coordinated this summer, we also managed to move from one location to another location. Oh that move! I don't think I'll ever be apart of something that crazy again!

Our new space is wonderful. Tons more room and alot more foot traffic. But it was alot of work on everyone's part. I don't think our hubbies will ever be willing to eagerly lend a hand anymore based on what we put them through during the construction process. Like our previous location, we thought it would be a great idea to save some money and lay down tile ourselves. Never again! Hopefully, we won't be moving into another location anytime soon! Imagine 4 women and their husband laboring away on a hot Southern California afternoon on the Fourth of July. A day where we should be barbequeing and swimming, instead there we are laying tile covered in thin set trying to make sure that all the rows are straight. Packing up the new store and sorting what we would keep and what would be either ebay'd or donated, staining the new cabinets, buying new inventory... the joys of owing a business. Sometime I think I'm crazy but I don't think I'll ever feel this satified doing anything but what I do.

I did take up a new part time job. The company I work for is called The Latino Literacy Family Project. It's a wonderful project working with the school districts in both California and Texas. Just adding more to my plate. It's insane but I'm loving it.

On a more personal note, life has been a comfortable cycle. We're headed to Hawaii to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. I'm ankle deep researching the various activities to cram into 6 days and 5 nights of "relaxation." I know that the boy wants to go on a helicopter ride, attend a luau. Me, I want to drive the road to Hana. Can wait until the middle of October. Hawaii and it's beaches are calling!

Hopefully in my next post I can post the complete set of all my kiddos. All in all, my total is 15. Nieces and Nephews... all of various personalities and temperments.





I leave you with flowers. The boy is glad that he doesn't have to buy me flowers anymore. But when he does, he knows where to get them....