Why did this make me cry? Well there are many answers to that, but the biggest one is relief.

She has relief now. No longer physically attached to this mortal coil, this woman is now free. Her husband has relief now. He is a strong and brave man in my opinion. His actions appeared to me to be selfless and incredibly challenging. He really fought to do what he felt she wanted.

The country has relief now. The courts decided that in the end it was up to her husband.

Her family has relief. Their endless struggle and difficulty in dealing with her situation are over.

And I’m relieved.
I’m relieved that it’s not going to be on the news anymore. I’m relieved that the very conservative religious don’t have control over everything in the country (yet). I’m relieved that the rights of a husband and wife are that secure. I’m relieved that our government has three branches and in my estimation they worked in this situation.

It’s tragic and it happens to families all over the world more than you’d care to think about. It may be happening to the pope right now. It is an artifact of us getting so good at living. We have more years to live than our parents, grandparents, etc. This makes it more complicated. But in the end it is a family affair. The decision was made by the family she chose. That’s relief for me.

Cosmo,
originally uploaded by evoljen.

I’ve never really liked alcohol. Beer always made me feel full and I didn’t like the taste. Wine = headaches in the morning, I liked the taste and loved the experience, but there were always consequences. Sweet liquor with sweet drinks made my stomach hurt.

But then I met the martini. I like martini’s they don’t make me feel sick. They are fun. They are the drink of the ladies. Classy and incredibly potent.

That’s ok. It was probably good for me to get away from all these
pixels but coming back and being locked out my blog, that hurt.

but i’m back in now!

please, dear readers, forgive this absence.

I appreciate the opportunities I have had. I have been places that make me better today and not everyone is that lucky.

You can measure you passion level for your work if you both love and hate it. If you feel luke warm or are generally content then you probably don’t care that much and that’s ok as long as you are doing what they’re paying for. Not everyone has to be a rock star. Not everyone can be a rock star. And lastly not everyone should be a rock star.

When you are passionate, it gives you energy. This in turn makes you feel alive. Your work fills a very real need for you individually because it makes you feel that you are contributing value to the world around you. Honestly some people don’t think about it this much and that’s ok too.

It’s a wild west phase II. I like doing this for a living. I organize information for people. The exciting part is that it’s happening at a time when people really need my help. That’s cool. I’m glad to help.

I found Canada to be a most agreeable place to be. I am not prone to the boastful ways of my American counterparts (stereo type) and I find the Canadians to be so friendly and so polite that it is a joy to be a guest in their country.

My third trip to Canada, I am lucky enough to be in Montreal. This city is so lovely. I am entranced. I’m here for professional reasons. A conference if you must know, but that is utterly beside the point. I want to stay here. I love the people, the food, the vibe. The only thing missing is my wonderful partner and my doggies.

What I like and appreciate the most is stepping out of my normal routine. We should all challenge ourselves to do that often. A foreign country, even another region in your native country opens your eyes to the world around you. You notice the new in the new place and when you go home again, you see that world with new eyes. I’ve learned so much, shopped, eaten amazing cuisine and spent quality time with some quality people and had a good reminder about an important concept.

Appreciate. Life is too short to not be awake for every lovely gift. Friends are precious, rare and sometimes truly amazing. It is an honor and a blessing to be able to know what you want to do with your life. I found my profession through a series of crazy events. Each event led me to the place I find myself today. You build your life one moment at a time. Appreciate those moments. Be awake for the new perspecitve. Embrace the new, take comfort in the old and constantly push forward.

Life is an evolution.