Hello Friends!
I'm getting this written under the wire of the final hour! Is that a legitimate sentence? Laughing! Who cares! Things are better here at Partak Central. The last three-plus weeks have been full of madness and mayhem. Things breaking, unexpected bills needing paid, and so much more. I know these life cycles come and go but are we ever happier then when they are gone? *Something to do*
I'm officially a soccer mom and Mason is really loving this game. It's still early, but he seems to have a natural ability to play goalie. It may be natural, raw talent or more likely it's that he has no fear of the ball. He also thinks it's cool that in this position he can use his hands making the dramatic dives and body-blocks so much more fun! I'll keep you posted and be sure to post pictures next week. *Someone to love*
ZipperBack Gloves is gearing up for Season II and it's my intention that we land the "Big One!" National chain that is. If we can get one big national chain on board, we can take this little company from red to black. Our adult glove is here and it will be for sale to retailers in January (for a fall 2011/2012 launch). It;s all pretty cool, from just the child's line of five sizes in one color to the child's line - snow and fleece, three sizes in a youth line, snow and fleece, three sizes in mittens (for the little-little ones), and two new colors in addition to the black! Welcome red and royal! I hope we have lots and lots of snow that brings lots and lots of good ZipperBack Glove news! *Something to hope for*
Now it's time for bed. One of my goals for this week is to get this new computer completely set up so we can get back to pictures each week. I miss the pictures, don't you?
Here is my Monday Motivator on Happiness: "Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, someone to love and something to hope for."
Joseph Addison
Monday, August 23, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
What Dictates Seasons For You?
Hello Friends!
Can you imagine a weekend on your calendar that has nothing on it? Me either! Well, that was this weekend here at the Partak household. Not to worry, we didn't sit around wondering what ever shall we do? Laughing! Saturday Dave went to work with a group in our neighborhood to clear a fire break along the canyon rim while I went to the farmers market and cleaned the house some. Many asked why I wasn't there helping clear the brush and the fact of the matter is, the moment I got my hands on the brush, I'd have been head-to-toe in poison oak. Nope! Not gonna do it!
So Saturday was the day we took care of housekeeping and grocery shopping. Saturday evening, we went out on lake Clementine with friends Robin and Hunter in their boat. We had such a good time. Dave went wake boarding and the kids swam. We had dinner on the lake and watched the sun go down, it was perfectly lovely!
Sunday was all down time. I developed some cookie recipes and for the most part, we just hung out. Now it's back to the work week, school starts on Wednesday and I'm looking forward to the routine...and fall! I love summer, but you all know how I feel about the homespun feelings that come with fall.
I hope you all have wonderful week and are making the most of the last long days of summer! As I sit and pen this, I realize how funny it is that our senses are more dictated by our schedules than we are by the actual sun and calendar. It's only August 16th and here on the west coast we still have months of sunshine and warm days to look forward to. Maybe it's that I love fall that it can't come soon enough, or I also get caught up in back to school = end of summer. No matter, make the most of every day and all will be well!
Can you imagine a weekend on your calendar that has nothing on it? Me either! Well, that was this weekend here at the Partak household. Not to worry, we didn't sit around wondering what ever shall we do? Laughing! Saturday Dave went to work with a group in our neighborhood to clear a fire break along the canyon rim while I went to the farmers market and cleaned the house some. Many asked why I wasn't there helping clear the brush and the fact of the matter is, the moment I got my hands on the brush, I'd have been head-to-toe in poison oak. Nope! Not gonna do it!
So Saturday was the day we took care of housekeeping and grocery shopping. Saturday evening, we went out on lake Clementine with friends Robin and Hunter in their boat. We had such a good time. Dave went wake boarding and the kids swam. We had dinner on the lake and watched the sun go down, it was perfectly lovely!
Sunday was all down time. I developed some cookie recipes and for the most part, we just hung out. Now it's back to the work week, school starts on Wednesday and I'm looking forward to the routine...and fall! I love summer, but you all know how I feel about the homespun feelings that come with fall.
I hope you all have wonderful week and are making the most of the last long days of summer! As I sit and pen this, I realize how funny it is that our senses are more dictated by our schedules than we are by the actual sun and calendar. It's only August 16th and here on the west coast we still have months of sunshine and warm days to look forward to. Maybe it's that I love fall that it can't come soon enough, or I also get caught up in back to school = end of summer. No matter, make the most of every day and all will be well!
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Ebb And Flow Of Life!
Thank goodness it is a new week! The last few have been grueling and I'm full of hope that it's getting better from here.Don't get me wrong, there has been plenty of fun in the last few weeks, but you can only have so much fun when everything is falling apart around you, I mean literally falling apart! Since it is a new week, I'm not giving power to all the crap and I'm going to focus on that which gives hope for a turn of the tides.I bit the bullet yesterday and purchased a new laptop. I bought a Dell and so far there is only one little hiccup. Yep, less than 24 hours and there is something not quite right...but that is par for course. I bought a pedometer yesterday, too and it doesn't work. Tell me again why I bought anything in a major "ebb" cycle? Oh yeah, because I can't work without a computer! Not to worry, I am not letting these two little issues squash my hope for the "flow" cycle that I am intending for today, this week, this month!
Back to the intentional turn-around, I was able to access all of my pictures from Julianne's visit and boy did we have a good time! I promised last week that I would post those as soon as I could and I am going to do it today. I also will be reaching out to many of you about some of my plans to help people figure if loan modification is the right thing for them to do and know you will want to help if you can!
Today, I want to leave you with this...it is not some tragedy that things go wrong, it is merely life. If we didn't have the crap, it would be impossible to appreciate the wonder. We all have so much to be grateful for even if the car needs new tires (air in twice each day), the bed needs repair, the insurance isn't covering the new computer, and we are having to fight to keep the government from attaching Dave's wages for a bill we already paid! Yes, we have the proof, but they say they can't stop the process. Really? Next time I'm finding all is going well, I will know how I know! Big smiles and Happy Monday!
Monday, August 2, 2010
No More Cherries!
WOW! The last two weeks has been one of those wild rides that keeps you on your toes...some would simply say, "Sounds like life to me." My blog background of cherries are gone! Par for course today, I guess I need to find a new one.
The last two weeks have been a combination of amazing and infuriating! The crap first because I prefer to end on an up note. My computer crashed a week ago and I was confident that the computer coverage I have would cover it. Nope. Today I learned that because I was not careless and ran over it with my car, it will not be covered. I now need to figure out how to replace it ($$$). I've also been struggling with some personal issues, many you know about (our mortgage modification versus selling the house), and some you don't. Relationships are usually pretty easy for me, but lately as we all face different (some not so different) challenges, those stresses show up in our relationships. Communications are not clear, the patience that we usually have for each other is less present, and in general, we just don't have the where-with-all to grant beingness like we would under normal or less stressful circumstances.
We've all heard it said that in these tough times, we need love and understanding more than ever. I'm here to shout it from the roof tops! Patience is hard to come by when you feel like you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Don't we all feel that way now? Many of you do because we talk and I know though it's not all financial, people you know are unemployed, struggling to keep their houses, losing their houses, trying to make ends meet, working to support those we love in their struggles and being frustrated that they may not be doing all we think they can do. Or maybe making choices you wouldn't make and then coming to you for help. It doesn't matter what the circumstances are, we need to find it in our hearts to not judge and simply love. I know I recently hurt someone I love. She hurt me, too. I felt like through her pain she couldn't listen to me long enough to understand what I was trying to communicate. I believe she feels she heard me loud and clear, and completely. I know she didn't. Maybe we will discuss it, I hope so. If we don't, it will be one more casualty of the pressure we are all feeling right now. It makes us a little crazed and it's nearly impossible to be present when you are under any amount of pressure.
The good stuff in the last two weeks is that my friend Julianne was here from Minnesota! We had so much fun! Here's the short list: We went to Viaggio Winery (also the name of her company http://www.viaggiobracelet.com/), we had a gathering in Clements at Julies house, we went to Lake Clementine, out for a night on the town in Nevada City, went to the Studio KYK grand opening (http://www.studiokyk.com/ - the official photog of ZipperBack Gloves and Boreal Ski Resort), and wrapped up her visit to Auburn with a lovely cocktail party on Saturday night in our backyard. On Sunday we flew to Orange County where she took care of some business and we met several wonderful people from twitter. After all, that is where Julianne and I met more than a year ago!
So this MM is a little long, but it's also been two weeks. I can't post pics just yet as it's just one more pressure to make Dave's computer compatible with my Blackberry which is where the pics are. As soon as I get that handled, I'll post pics, lots of them! Happy Monday, be patient, be kind, and don't judge. You may be making all the right decisions and choices now, but you can surely remember the times you have not. Loving, just be loving.
The last two weeks have been a combination of amazing and infuriating! The crap first because I prefer to end on an up note. My computer crashed a week ago and I was confident that the computer coverage I have would cover it. Nope. Today I learned that because I was not careless and ran over it with my car, it will not be covered. I now need to figure out how to replace it ($$$). I've also been struggling with some personal issues, many you know about (our mortgage modification versus selling the house), and some you don't. Relationships are usually pretty easy for me, but lately as we all face different (some not so different) challenges, those stresses show up in our relationships. Communications are not clear, the patience that we usually have for each other is less present, and in general, we just don't have the where-with-all to grant beingness like we would under normal or less stressful circumstances.
We've all heard it said that in these tough times, we need love and understanding more than ever. I'm here to shout it from the roof tops! Patience is hard to come by when you feel like you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Don't we all feel that way now? Many of you do because we talk and I know though it's not all financial, people you know are unemployed, struggling to keep their houses, losing their houses, trying to make ends meet, working to support those we love in their struggles and being frustrated that they may not be doing all we think they can do. Or maybe making choices you wouldn't make and then coming to you for help. It doesn't matter what the circumstances are, we need to find it in our hearts to not judge and simply love. I know I recently hurt someone I love. She hurt me, too. I felt like through her pain she couldn't listen to me long enough to understand what I was trying to communicate. I believe she feels she heard me loud and clear, and completely. I know she didn't. Maybe we will discuss it, I hope so. If we don't, it will be one more casualty of the pressure we are all feeling right now. It makes us a little crazed and it's nearly impossible to be present when you are under any amount of pressure.
The good stuff in the last two weeks is that my friend Julianne was here from Minnesota! We had so much fun! Here's the short list: We went to Viaggio Winery (also the name of her company http://www.viaggiobracelet.com/), we had a gathering in Clements at Julies house, we went to Lake Clementine, out for a night on the town in Nevada City, went to the Studio KYK grand opening (http://www.studiokyk.com/ - the official photog of ZipperBack Gloves and Boreal Ski Resort), and wrapped up her visit to Auburn with a lovely cocktail party on Saturday night in our backyard. On Sunday we flew to Orange County where she took care of some business and we met several wonderful people from twitter. After all, that is where Julianne and I met more than a year ago!
So this MM is a little long, but it's also been two weeks. I can't post pics just yet as it's just one more pressure to make Dave's computer compatible with my Blackberry which is where the pics are. As soon as I get that handled, I'll post pics, lots of them! Happy Monday, be patient, be kind, and don't judge. You may be making all the right decisions and choices now, but you can surely remember the times you have not. Loving, just be loving.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Family-Fair-Fun!
Hi Friends,It's Wednesday and The Monday Motivator is finally being written. Mike sent me an e-mail mid-morning on Monday asking if I was working on it and I replied, "Yes, this afternoon." It's been one of those kind of busy weeks!
Juggling kids (out of school/summer activities), multiple jobs, schedules while Dave travels, and regular things that need to happen is just too much for one Super-Woman! Enough about why a Monday column is arriving on Wednesday!
The last couple of weeks, Dave's dad has been in California spending some time visiting family and dear friends. He is living my dream this summer driving all over the country in his little motor home. Without advance planning, it turns out he was here when the state fair opened and expressed how much he'd like to go. This made me smile. You all know how much I love the fair, I haven't missed a year in, I don't know how long. Back in the early 1990's, my granny used to love haring about my jaunts to the fair. I invited her to go with me and much to my surprise, she said yes! We covered every bit of the Cal Expo fair grounds visiting each exhibit, shopping with the vendors (you know, before As Seen On TV, this was the stuff you could only buy at the fair!), eating anything we wanted and simply enjoying being together. I had so much fun that day, I forgot to take pictures! Ah, but I was not completely remiss in documenting our day, I made sure we got a picture of the two of us with the golden bear, the mascot of the State of California that greets guests at the front gate. My granny never went with me to the fair again, but every year when I shared with her about my recent visits, she would smile and we would reminisce about our day and how much fun we had.
As I was sharing this with Dave's dad, I was excited that Mason would get to go to the fair with his grandpa and though he may not appreciate the value of this time now, he surely will in his adult life. Our trip to the fair last Saturday was great! We made it a double-duty trip and bought tickets to Raging Waters water park as well. This was the perfect way to spend the day keeping cool and enjoying the fair. Mason, who is not quite seven, has no interest in the exhibits (though we made him go with us anyway) and just wants to ride the rides, play a few games, and eat. Breaking the day up between experiencing the fair and playing on the water slides, Breaker Beach, and floating around the Lazy River was a nice balance.
It's never lost on me that we need to grab hold of the opportunities that are presented to us, especially the ones that involve the gift of time with those we love. I don't know if we will have an opportunity to go to the fair again with grandpa and I'm quite certain a trip with either of the grandmas is not in the cards, so to say this was a memorable weekend would be an understatement. Frankly, it was a weekend I will treasure and keep super-safe until Mason is old enough to treasure it for himself, like I treasure my day at the fair with my granny.
Do you have fond memories of time spent with your grandparents? Share one with me, I would love to hear. Keeping our loved ones alive by sharing our stories and remembering their lives is the best gift ever (in reference to my granny, Dad, I'm well aware you are still living!)...especially for those of us who are still living and miss them so very much!
Motivator:
Don't let those moments pass when you can say I love you, go to the fair, or just sit and talk. It will be those times that you will cherish and be forever grateful when the opportunity is gone. I made time to spend a weekend a month with my granny a few years before she passed, best use of my time ever! It may be too late with some, but it's never too late with those we still have! Big Wednesday smiles!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Chasing Dreams
Happy Monday!
What a glorious morning it was! Sun shining, butterflies flitting, birds singing...it was a bit like waking up in a Disney film! Now it's after noon and it's H-O-T! I love it!
The weekend was good, everyone got to do a little of just what they wanted and we all did some of what each other wanted. What more could we ask for?
There are lots of changes on the horizon for the Partak's, most all for the better, but some of them will require some letting go. We are evaluating where we are and where we want to be and researching what we need to do. It's amazing to me how when we simply take the action to consider changes how new information presents itself. As soon as I buckle down and recreate an old budget, I find money all over the place; a $20 in my pocket, a penny on the ground, then a dime an hour later, then Mason found $11 on the floor at SaveMart. He ran up and handed it to the man in front of us, but I think he wasn't the one who dropped it. It all happened so quickly, but the man kept the $10 and gave Mason the $1. Nonetheless, it's money all over the place. I read that as a message from the universe that there is abundance everywhere, you just have to be aware.
We are looking at what we can and need to do to continue to grow ZipperBack Gloves and see Dave's dream through to being a park ranger in Gettysburg. Yep, that means a cross country move. Through our talks over the last few months, it is making me feel increasingly more fulfilled as I support Dave in following his heart. He has wanted to do this since he was just 14 years old and if I can help him get there, what better way to show my love? Not to mention the amazing adventure it will be to move to the east coast. Our emotions are high as we think about making a move, leaving our family and friends, but they are not crazy. We know this is what we want to do and we can't do it without some tugging of our heartstrings.
So now you know what's on the horizon for us, but not immediately. There is still lots to do with Dave continuing school and finding that dream job with the National Park Service. It could be a year, it could be three...but then again, if the opportunity presents itself, it could be tomorrow. Our mantra right now is, "Be open, aware, and flexible." I hope you all are staying on top of your dreams and working every day to get one step closer to making them come true!
Lots of love!
What a glorious morning it was! Sun shining, butterflies flitting, birds singing...it was a bit like waking up in a Disney film! Now it's after noon and it's H-O-T! I love it!
The weekend was good, everyone got to do a little of just what they wanted and we all did some of what each other wanted. What more could we ask for?
There are lots of changes on the horizon for the Partak's, most all for the better, but some of them will require some letting go. We are evaluating where we are and where we want to be and researching what we need to do. It's amazing to me how when we simply take the action to consider changes how new information presents itself. As soon as I buckle down and recreate an old budget, I find money all over the place; a $20 in my pocket, a penny on the ground, then a dime an hour later, then Mason found $11 on the floor at SaveMart. He ran up and handed it to the man in front of us, but I think he wasn't the one who dropped it. It all happened so quickly, but the man kept the $10 and gave Mason the $1. Nonetheless, it's money all over the place. I read that as a message from the universe that there is abundance everywhere, you just have to be aware.
We are looking at what we can and need to do to continue to grow ZipperBack Gloves and see Dave's dream through to being a park ranger in Gettysburg. Yep, that means a cross country move. Through our talks over the last few months, it is making me feel increasingly more fulfilled as I support Dave in following his heart. He has wanted to do this since he was just 14 years old and if I can help him get there, what better way to show my love? Not to mention the amazing adventure it will be to move to the east coast. Our emotions are high as we think about making a move, leaving our family and friends, but they are not crazy. We know this is what we want to do and we can't do it without some tugging of our heartstrings.
So now you know what's on the horizon for us, but not immediately. There is still lots to do with Dave continuing school and finding that dream job with the National Park Service. It could be a year, it could be three...but then again, if the opportunity presents itself, it could be tomorrow. Our mantra right now is, "Be open, aware, and flexible." I hope you all are staying on top of your dreams and working every day to get one step closer to making them come true!
Lots of love!
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