A Confession

I would like to admit that some of my recent blogs have been written hastily and with not as much thought as I normally put into them.  The reason is that I have not designated a time for the blog lately.  It's been done at night when I am winding down.  I will make sure that it will have it's very own time block in my day.  With that being said, tonight will be another brief one.  I'm doing a triathlon on Sunday.  The most important night for sleep when gearing up to do a race is two night before the actual event.  I need to be asleep in the next few minutes because tomorrow will begin early.

I will try my best to create a thoughtful, thorough blog tomorrow.  I will not be without a good amount of material to talk about.  Tomorrow will be a fun filled, informative adventure.  Those two adjectives (fun filled, informative) do not normally describe the same thing do they?  Well, that is exactly what it will be.  I'll expound on this in the next post.

Tea Time

One of my great friends has introduced me to the customs of English Tea.  Here are pictures of today's lesson in history and etiquette.

If I'm not able to travel to London yet then at least I can have a little taste of London right here in Wilmington.  Thank you Niki for our adventure today.  To many more!

Warm and Fuzzy...I mean Sunny

Yes, today was another exquisite day and I did take advantage as I promised.  I ran 3 miles by 6:30am in my new shoes to break them in for the upcoming triathlon (this weekend) and the half-marathon (next weekend).  I rode my sleek and swift road bike to my appointments for the day.  Got a massage to prepare my body for the endurance challenges coming up.  Entered a contest to win a trip to Ireland!  While strolling through the isles of the grocery store with a tasty coffee in hand, I discovered the forbidden rice.  Made myself a nutritious dinner of rotisserie chicken and forbidden rice.  I'm making sure I get plenty of protein and carbs for the races.  Watched Kill Bill Volume 2 (Uma Thurman rocks) with my hunk of a husband and the lovable pup, Captain.  Below is a picture of me and my sleek and swift road bike.  This was taken the week before my first triathlon Sept 09.

A day is not complete when I haven't been able to really connect with another human being.  Today had an abundance of magnificent connections.  I can't tell you enough of how these exchanges are what drive me on regular basis.  Not just the warm and fuzzy exchanges but the ones that take work and figuring out problems.  It's the happy ones and the sad ones.  It's being there for someone and vice versa.  Maybe you could just call me sentimental, but I believe it is what makes the world go round.  It's living your life with love, respect and understanding of yourself and everyone/everything around you.  It doesn't mean that living in this way guarantees happiness at all times, but I've found that it is a very fulfilling way to live life.  Plus when you give freely of those things they find their way back to you...and then some.

What better way to spend a warm and sunny day with the "warm and fuzzies".

Spring is in the Air

Today was absolutely gorgeous!  There is such an excitement in the air when people see the signs of Spring being on it's way.  I know most of the anticipation is looking forward to the warmer weather.  This is especially true when you live in a beach town.  Some of the vitality in our moods has to come from the new growth/life that Spring initiates as well.  It is definitely an energizing time of the year.

Here is Captain riding with me to the office to scan in an offer to purchase.  After finishing up with work, we went to the beach for an invigorating walk around "the loop" with our friend Niki.  "The loop" is a very popular walking/running route at Wrightsville Beach.  The route allows you to enjoy marsh, Intracoastal Waterway, socializing, ocean breezes, and much more.  Today was a lively day on "the loop".  Everyone seemed to be in good spirits with an extra pep in their step.  It's magical what Spring can do for the soul.  I don't believe I ran into anyone in a bad mood today.  It's not like I didn't see a fair share of people.  I would estimate I interacted with at least 50 friends, family, clients, co-workers and the like.  I believe there is going to be a few more beautiful days this week and I plan to make the most of them with many more adventures.

Observing More

 I said I would elaborate more on how writing this blog has helped me appreciate and be more observant in the moment.  There are three moments that come to mind from this weekend.

• My good friend MarCharia's baby shower 
• Being at Ferguson's with four of the most special men in my life.  My husband, my brother, my dad and let's not forget my Jack Russell, Captain.  
• Hanging out with my in-laws

Writing this blog has helped me reach a few goals.  The goal specific to this post is being more present.  In the three moments I mentioned above, not only did I enjoy the experience as I normally do but I also was aware of how special they were during the moment.  In the course of the baby shower I tried to drink in all the details of my friend's celebration, while partaking in it at the same time.  I considered things like the time and effort her family put into the event.  The way the guests interacted with each other.  At Ferguson's I payed attention to the bond that my brother and my husband have formed.  The joy my dad had in telling us about his golf game.  The love that was felt as all four of us talked.  Then, while hanging with the Hoffman's I reveled in the comfort I feel with them and embraced the conversations, the food and the company. 

In these observations you witness not only the happy moments but also the troubled ones.  It is all important.  I believe that this being more present will infuse more vitality, quality and understanding into my life.  That can only lead to more vivid and exciting adventures!

 

A Lovely Weekend

As I mentioned yesterday I've been looking forward to this weekend.  The chance to see good friends.  To celebrate a dear friend's baby shower.  Greg helped Dad and Mike by bringing the ice machine from Wilmington to Ferguson's.  Found out that my brother Mike and my nephew Tripp just a race!  Seeing my Dad in such a frisky mood is contagious.  The rest of the weekend has been time with my in-laws.  Listening to my father-in-law play a bluesy tune on the guitar.  A nice family walk with the dogs.   We watched Alice in Wonderland  which was vividly portrayed with fantastic characters and costumes.  I felt it lacked the substance of plot that I was craving.  Next we had a delicious family dinner with even more family over for dessert and coffee.

Now we're back in Wilmington (just walked through the door).  I really enjoyed this weekend obviously.  I feel I've been able to experience it in such another level because of my blog.  I've found I'm much more observant and contemplative about what I observe.  For instance, in each segment of my journey from Wilmington, to St. Pauls, to Cary I was able to not only enjoy myself but appreciate/observe the disposition of all my friends and family around me.

I plan to explain this more thoroughly tomorrow.  It's almost 12am and my brain is telling me it is time to go to sleep!

Short and Sweet

This one is going to be FAST!  It's 11:46pm and I'm sitting in the living room with my in-laws.  We have had a big day.  Started at 5am this morning, got on the road to my home town for Mishie's baby shower, hanging with my Dad and Brother, then on the road to Greg's home town for a birthday celebration for Greg and his sister Jessica.  All week I've been looking forward to this weekend.  It's the first one I haven't worked in awhile.  I'm also going to see Alice in Wonderland!  I love Johnny Depp.

I promise to have more substance tomorrow.

May the road rise to meet you...

I've just spent an hour trying to figure out why the "Scottish" and the "Irish" are considered interchangeable (this is something I've noticed in my life here in the South).  I would love to hear the thoughts of someone from Scotland or Ireland.  My last name is of course Ferguson, something I'm obviously proud of.  From the little bit of reading I did I found out that the Ferguson ancestors came from the ancient kingdom of Dalriada.  This region encompassed the West Coast of Scotland and a portion of Ireland's coast.  Could the answer to my question be that simple?  The reason people consider being Scottish and Irish interchangeable is because the proximity of the regions?  There is no doubt that there was an integration of people between the Scottish and the Irish...along with Norwegian, English, German, French, etc (that's just how it goes).  

Why have I gone off on this tangent?  I received a letter in the mail today from Sineads Cottage, a gift shop of Irish and Scottish merchandise.  They're having a contest called "Home to Ireland", the winner receives a trip to the Emerald Isle.  It's a "voyage" for two where the winner will "embark" on a 8 day Irish Heritage Tour.  I want this trip.  Would I be eligible as a Ferguson?  According to my miniscule research Ireland could have been some Fergie's home.  

Whether I will or not I'm definitely going to celebrate with these shop owner's on St. Patrick's Day.  It appears they will be having a grand celebration of the Irish Holiday.  There will be Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream, Irish soda bread, and Irish sausages.  Sounds like a Fergilicious adventure!

How cool is this.  The Ferguson Clan motto is...sweeter after difficulties

Driver's Ed and Balancing Life

Now that I've finished the book that had so much of my attention, maybe I'll have a little more energy to put into my blog.  I feel like I've rushed some of my past entries only so that I could get back to Scarlett.  Am I being a hypocrite?  I say in my blog to soak up every minute of your life because it is your adventure yet I still crave to dive into a really good book (for hours, I've been reading since I got off work).  They've always taught you that books were so good right?  Then why do I feel like I have some addiction.  Can you be addicted to reading?  I guess it's better than some alternatives...but that's all relative.

I guess it comes to the age old wisdom of finding a balance.  It's like how I learned to drive...no not when I scared everyone in Mr. Phillips Driver's Ed car by whipping onto Interstate 95 like a bat out of Hades.  It's like when you have your hands on the steering wheel and you learn to constantly make small adjustments in your steering to keep the car driving straight.  With balancing the facets of your life (family, career, health, emotions, etc) it takes constant small adjustments to balance our ever changing lives.  There is no secret formula that once you get this right and that right you've achieved a harmony of it all.  It's takes us paying attention to the signals in our path.

Finding Consistency

The last two years have been illuminating for a part of my life.  It started with deciding to do a triathlon with my co-workers, it was a decision that meant I would need to consistently train for a certain period of time.  Throughout my life this was something I thought I was incapable of... doing something consistent for long periods of time.  Even though I never considered myself consistent, I've always been dependable (I even won most dependable in high school =).  Hmmm...I thought those two characteristics went hand in hand.  Well, in the last two years I have discovered my consistency!!  Here is the group of us who trained together for our first triathalon.  We are all about to do another one in two weeks.  

The reason I am talking all this "consistent" talk is because that's what it takes to write every day.  This blog has strengthened my belief in my(consistent)self.  It was yet another triumph to prove that I can do what ever I set my mind to.  The blog and triathlon are not the only ways I've challenged my consistency.  I trained hard for a half-marathon I ran in Nov. 09.  I made a decision to only read classic books in 2009 and did it.  This year I decided to track everything (finances, work, fitness, etc).  It has been incredibly gratifying to realize I can improve on something in my life that I considered a weakness.  While you are trying to strengthen your weaknesses it is important to acknowledge and use your strengths.  One of my strengths has been my Fergitude.  

Wow!  This blog has not only helped me work on my weaknesses but has also employed my strengths.  

 

Next

30 days of blogging.  Check.  Now what?  There's a part of me that wants to say, "I'll do the 365 Day Challenge".  The inspiration comes from the movie "Julie and Julia".  365 days of blogging seems a little intimidating.  A cousin of mine suggested I break it up into monthly challenges.  I think I'm going to see just how long I can keep this daily routine going.  It will be an endurance experiment.  How long can I keep it up.  I like that it makes me write daily because I definitely need the practice. I love how it reminds me to be present and to stay focused on the fact that this life I'm leading is remarkable.  Each day, no matter how wrapped up I get in the small stuff, is creating the masterpiece that is my life.

There we have it!  The next goal is to see how long I can keep blogging daily.  I have a few other goals that involve the content of the blog, I'll discuss those later.  The theme will always remain the same:  to live my life with Fergitude,  the mindset that each and every moment is a grand adventure.  My mission is to relish everyday, to experience, to love those around me and to love me.

Now that I have decided on my plan of action I can take some time to reflect.  The next post will be a reflection of how attaining this goal has effected me.  I'll examine the course of my writing and thoughts.  What tangents did I go on?  What subjects did I mention that deserve more thought and words?

Onward and upward on our next adventure!

30 Day Challenge completed!

Here we are at the finish line!  Day 30 out of my 30-day blog challenge.  My tendency, that I'm fighting against right now, is to blaze right over this accomplishment.  I've noticed that often I don't stop to properly celebrate the reaching of a goal.  Instead my thoughts rush to the next step.  For instance, I was preparing on how I was going to do justice to a description of my Mom (which I will save for another post soon), remark on some of the comments from last post about Mom (thank you Bustling Butterflies and Niki), and decide/introduce what my plan was going to be from here out in this single blog post.  Then it dawned on me...I've reached my goal.  This should be a celebratory post!

Wooohooo!!!  There is also something else that is even a better reason to celebrate.  My Dad called today with great news from the doctor.  His cancer is contained and will be treatable!  Wait a minute, while we're in the party mood...it's my hubby's birthday tomorrow!  I could go on with this list of wonderful things but I'll stop before I get too excited and can't go to sleep.  It's amazing how your thoughts can totally alter your world.  In the span of a few minutes of writing I have transformed my whole outlook.  I began writing with a bit of apprehension on fitting so many subjects into one post. Once I realized I needed to appreciate the right now... my 30 Day Challenge victory, my Dad's treatable cancer and my sweetheart's birthday, my tune quickly changed.

I need this blog.  It has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.  I want you to know that your comments and the fact you read this has touched me in so many ways.  I plan to keep writing about fergitude.  I want this adventure to continue.  I hope to have you beside me in our journey.