Maybe the crab

The ultimate paradox in life.  Do you stay in your shell and risk suffocation or leave your shell and risk life and death?

Hermit crabs (and I believe most crabs) at some point in their existence must leave their shell or die.  Their body out grows the shell.  They must discard the old shell - go out and find a bigger shell or hide and wait for the new shell to grow.  While discarding the shell, they risk death.  Someone/something could eat them.  They could get stepped on or carried out to sea.

The risks are HUGE.

And our lives as people, are very much the same.  Although, with people, we don't all need to grow.  Some are very happy living in the same shell forever.  That's not a bad thing.  Most of us in life though, have to grow - or we will suffocate.  We need to take risks in order to find that new shell.

A few years ago, I was in Newport Beach, CA.  A friend's daughter and I were looking for shells, crabs, and sea creatures under rocks.  It's always fun to see what is living under a rock!  In fact, a few years before this same girl and I had found a squid!  Very cool.  (No wonder boys look under rocks - there is all sorts of interesting stuff there!)

We picked up a little hermit crab and it was crawling around on my hand.  Then the most amazing thing happened:  it walked right out of it's shell and kept going.  Off into the water - it never looked back.  We stood there amazed.  Neither one of us had ever seen anything like that.  A naked crab running away leaving a shell in my hand.  Shock.  We didn't know what to do or think.

Being the over-thinker I can be, I kept thinking about that crab.

Maybe the crab:

• Gave me everything he had and that had to be enough
• Knew I needed the protection more than him
• Had to grow without his safety
• Was sent to protect me, because my current shell wasn't strong enough
• Thought I was the more powerful bigger crab
• Thought it was better to surrender than to fight
• Knew there a better, prettier, stronger shell waiting
• Was about to suffocate and felt safe leaving his old life with me
• Felt strong enough to go on
• Wanted to get bigger
• Had to leave his past behind
• Knew that all you really need is on the inside anyway
• Wanted me to follow him naked into the water
• Didn't need a shell anymore
• Knew sometimes you have to risk it all

I still have that shell.  I carry it in my purse.  

I'm going to tri

I'm a list person.  LOVE how productive I can be and will be when I have a list.  The best lists are those I create and then shove into a drawer.  It's amazing what is accomplished if it is written down - then you pull that said list out of the drawer months later - and you can see what you did accomplish.

Of course, there are the lists you aren't supposed to put in a drawer:  Grocery List, Stuff to get to the boys school; places to stop on the way home.  (Wait, is this a list of lists??) 

I guess we could break lists down into a couple kinds:

Short term  (what I need to accomplish today)
Long term  (what I need to accomplish this week/month/year)
Really long term  (what I need to accomplish in my life)

Notice I don't say "I need to DO" or "I want to".  My lists are more facts.  This needs to be done - or better yet - This will be done.  I like that.

I'm not into resolutions.  I'm not going to change.  Have no intention of changing.  Yes, I can improve, I could lose weight, not drink so much wine, watch a few more movies, but chances are that's not going to happen.  (Goes back to you can't fail if your expectations are low!) :-) 

What I do for the year is make a list.  Sometimes it's a short list.  Sometimes it has a lot of goals on it.  Or things I need to do. 

For 2011 - and I laugh as I write this.  My goal for 2011 was to WORK more.  Yes, you read that right. And that was the only thing on my list.  Then in about February, I decided that WORK stood for World Opportunities R Knocking.  And no sooner than I made that acronym, well Hawaii came knocking on my door.  I thought there might be a few more "world adventures", but I accomplished my goal.  I did WORK more.  And here I thought I was talking about improving my financial situation. 

For 2012, I'm headed into 2012 - going with the 12 theme.  I'm starting out by saying - this is what it stands for:  12 months, 12 events, 12 non-profits and the 12 fascinating people I meet along the way.  And if past indicators are a predictive of future behavior, what I thought that this was going to mean, will end up meaning something completely different.  But for now, I'm going to tri........

Viva Las Vegas

It's all about the destination. 

We've all heard the quote "It's the journey, not the destination"  (or something like that).  In this case, it's about the destination.  The goal.  The journey is part of it.  Come on, I went to Athens, Greece to do a marathon!!!!

I receive an e-mail from my girlfriend whom I ran the marathon in Greece with.  Want to do a race??  Well, yes.  It's not about the race.  It's about WHERE the race is - WHERE the journey will take us - the DESTINATION.

Let's go to Vegas.  December.  Run the Strip at Night - the race starts at 5:30pm.  Yes, let's go.  Wait, I thought they said "Run and Strip", not "Run the Strip".  How cool will that be????  

I haven't trained, I'm broke (financially not physically), it's the holidays, it's my oldest sons birthday coming up - I REALLY shouldn't go.  And if you've been following my story or my life.  You know the ending. 

A good friend of mine was visiting over the Thanksgiving holiday.  A week before the race.  I've known this friend for 20 years.  And he tells the story of many years ago when I showed up at his parents house.  And his mom made them take me out with the group.  And I said, "sure, I'll go".  And the guys laugh - of course, they didn't want me to "tag along", but me, well, being the girl I've always been, goes along......  Oh, "she's pretty cool, she participates and doesn't really care that we are acting like fools".  Then 4 or 5 years ago, I show up again.  I haven't seen these guys in 15 years.  And most people play this 'what have you been doing game'.  No, she just shows up and asks where we are going and tells us she's coming too.  She doesn't need anything from us.  Just wants to go have fun with the people whom are having fun.

A little back-story there to explain part of my personality.  If you invite me, I show up.  Don't ask me just to be polite, because I WILL say yes.   Just ask our friends from Hawaii....

Of course, I went to Vegas.   I'm going to Vegas, if you come or not.  Okay, well I'm going.  Let's see how this goes.

I check into my flight on Friday night (not leaving until Saturday).  I was upgraded to First Class.  Maybe I was meant to go.  I've been a Premier Member on United all year - free bags, free upgrades.  In all my travels this year, yes, I was business class, but never first class.  My last trip of the year, and I receive the upgrade.

The race is Sunday night.  Cheap Trick the band, plays before the race.  ("I thought they said "RUM", that was a "cheap trick")  Although a race not starting until 5:30 pm leaves MANY HOURS during the day in Vegas.  Yes, we had cocktails.  (at noon???)

It was COLD, it was OVERSOLD, it was DISORGANIZED and it was INCREDIBLE.  Not because of the event company (in fact, I can honestly say, I won't do another "Rock N' Roll Marathon series" event. My third of their events, and the same thing EVERY TIME).

It was INCREDIBLE because, it was the Vegas Strip at Night.  45,000 participants.  10's of thousands of spectators.   The Strip was blocked off.  The crowd carried you the whole way.  If I can run 13.1 miles, off the couch (no training), and run 12 minute miles. - anyone can.  

There was no heat to fight.  Just crowds, bad water and a few Elvis'.  Oh, and the bride and grooms.  You could get married at mile marker TWO.  It was fun to see people running in their "just married shirts".

Another half-marathon?  ABSOLUTELY  Run the strip again?  NOPE  Checked it off the list.  On the fence if I would tell someone else to do it.  Great experience, not a great organizer.  Maybe there is a non-profit/charity out there whom can pull off something smaller on the strip.  It would still be worth doing.

Where is the destination upon which I will next journey?????  I have a feeling something big is coming soon........

What did you pray for?

I'm not a religious woman, I'm a spiritual woman.  I don't know a lot about Christianity, but I consider myself a Christian. 

And TODAY, for the first time, I felt Christianity was abused.  All religions are abused.  For heaven's sake, why do you think we are at war?

I'm SICK of Tim Tebow and the arguments to follow.  He is a good leader.  Period.  He is use to winning.  And somehow, he has a team, a city and a nation behind him.

HOWEVER,  I was always taught it was wrong to pray for something we wanted.  Isn't that selfish?  Isn't that greed? Does the word "covet" sound familiar?

Last week, Tim Tebow tossed a passed (sorry, we know he can't throw) and we won the game - he knelt down.  What was he saying thank you for?  AND, why was it televised?  What if:

• he was praying to Allah?
• sending thanks to Buddha?

I'm sure there are great players out there, thanking God, Allah, Buddha, heck probably even thanking their mom.  What the sudden interest?

A connection between someone and their God is very personal.  I was taught it was wrong to ask for something personal. So, when Tim Tebow said "Thank you".  What do you think he was thankful for??

The completion of a pass?
Winning the game?
Playing to the best of his ability?

Unless it was the last thing, we will never know.  Actually, we will never know any of it.  In fact, what does it matter.  That is Tim's decision to make.   And we are not here to judge.

I do have to say THANK  YOU - for standing up and saying out loud what and whom you believe in.  It's a cruel world out there, and we should all be proud we live in a country where you can stand and tell the rest of the world how you believe.

Just don't want me to jump on the band-wagon to support you.  Yes, you Mr. Tebow.  I will support you.  You play for "several" of my teams.  And if, your beliefs help others, yes, that is great.  In this instance though, I was here to watch some football.

The TOP 10 Things you won't ever hear me say....

We've all read those lists  "Top 10 things you won't hear a "redneck', 'southerner', 'northerner' say".  I think we should all have lists like that.  In fact, I think it should be a prerequisite in life to have one.  Then no chance of offending someone.  They won't ask you to do something that's not on your list.

SO, here goes:

"The Top 10 Things you won't hear Leasa say":

• Let's go to the mall, instead of on a bike ride
• I was thinking of not going anywhere this year.
• I'm sorry, I can't do that
• Oh, that race is too far
• You've poured me too much wine
• I want to start another remodeling project in my house
• I'll never finish that book
• My career comes first
• He's WAY too old/young for me

And the number ONE thing you won't hear me say

• I haven't watched enough hockey this weekend.

What's on your list?

Spreading the love

Be afraid.  Be very afraid.  Especially, if you have ever met me or Carolyn TOGETHER - especially, if you have met us in Vail, CO. :-)

Truth be told, you would be proud to have us as friends.  The scary part of having us as friends, well, is the fact, that well, we DON'T go away.  Good thing/bad thing.  Glad you had you the experience/Not sure you want the daily reminder.  We aren't THAT bad.  We aren't DAILY reminders.  We just pop up when you least expect it.

We SO were the FB of our times - only we thought WE had to keep in touch with everyone.  And not all the time (there is NO time for THAT).  Not some computer program.  MUCH, much easier now.  Just an "update" here and there

Really, we didn't think we were going to stalk you.  It goes back to collecting.  We weren't collecting seashells, we were collecting people.

Any why not?  The more people in the world whom make the world a better place.......Why wouldn't we want to be friends with them.  Or more importantly, why wouldn't they want to be friends with us??

You may think it was a casual encounter.  And you may continue to think, "it was really nice to meet them".  But then somehow you look into our blue eyes.  You have just checked into the Hotel California.  There is no going back.

Backstory:     Carolyn got divorced in 2001. Her divorce was final on THE 9 11.  It puts it all into perspective.  (I'm talking the divorce, not this story).

And you REALLY shouldn't be jealous when your best friend (shouldn't that be in capitals like a title:  Best Friend) gets divorced.  Sorry for the ADD there.

I moved out of my house (the house with the husband and kids) in Jan 2002.

Carolyn met a wonderful guy in 2004.  That's another story.

The POINT OF THE STORY is:  from Jan 2002 - Spring 2004.   Those are what we refer to as "THE FOUND YEARS".

Not the "Lost years", but those we found.  While looking for ourselves out there......

Somehow, and I remember how, but it was random (imagine that!) we ended up in Vail for the weekend.  Superbowl weekend 2003???  must have been.  We had only been to Vail to ski one other time.  We had never stayed and never gone out.  Wait a minute, we had gone out, but not in Vail.

We are in Vail and we are standing outside of a restaurant and we hear live music.  (Note to others:  We ALWAYS stop for good live music).  We should go in.

And that's a whole other story.  A good one at that.

Fast forward:  October 2011

What, 8 years later?  We text 2 of the people we met that weekend.  "On our way to Vail.  Drinking Mojita's and remembering the good times"

We got two texts back.

Thanks for making us smile.  You are welcome for your smile (And to the general public, yes we kept in touch, well, for a while).

And it was all good.  Then you need to send the one final e-mail.  The one to find out about the one who got away.....  "Whatever happened to Fisher?"   "Haven't heard from him in a LONG time, but I had a Dr pepper/diet coke mix today and thought of you.  And yes, the Diet Coke was on top".

So here we are - Eight YEARS later.  Still spreading the love.  And all we wanted to do was, well, be the FUN PEOPLE.


UPDATE:

As a recruiter (AKA a stalker) for a living - we found Fisher.  He got married last year.  And truly, my very first thought was "should we send him a wedding present??"

I e-mailed Carolyn.  And her first response was "Did you send him something??"

"Could you imagine the look on his face?"

And we wish him the best.  And we don't want anything.  Anything other than him to know:  We were thinking of him.  WOW!!!!

How great would that be if everyone we cared about knew.  Just for a moment.  We were thinking of them.....

Spreading the love......

Volunteers

Unbeknownst to me, there are different definitions of volunteers. 

When we say the word "Volunteer" - we, or at least me, think of people contributing something (time, money, etc) to a cause.  Any cause, a thing one believes in.  Political, schools, kids, cancer - you name it and there are incredible people out there whom help others.

There is also another definition of the word. 

And until a few years ago I had never heard the word used in this text.  Volunteer - something that grows unexpectedly.

This year, I discovered volunteers.  And the best type of volunteers at that!  In my back yard, I have TWO blooming tomato plants. 

We didn't plant plants this year.  There is nothing growing in the garden but weeds and grass.  And oh yeah, two tomato plants.

In general, don't volunteers make other people happy.  And aren't the best things in life - well, not things???? 

Cherry tomatoes - free tomatoes, unexpected pleasure in life that surprises you at your own door-step - without even asking for it.  THAT would be a volunteer.  And once again, life delivers you something when you least expect it.  This is the universe telling you to go look.

After all, there are only two things money can't buy........