Hello to my long lost blog - well not really lost, but certainly neglected. It’s hard to believe it’s been over 2 months since I posted anything. I don’t even know where to begin! I guess I’ll start where I left off.
My absence began with another shamanically induced journey in mid-November. This one was different from any other experience I’ve had, and yet it was similar in some aspects. This journey was enhanced by a small, chocolate heart affectionately referred to as chocoma. The sweet, little treat 
I ingested that evening was a combination of chocolate, mushrooms, and ayahuasca. Not what you typically find in a candy dish. What I found interesting was the progression of the journey which began as a typical mushroom experience and later morphed into more of an ayahuasca experience.
What I learned from my Shaman is the mushrooms soften and ease you into the ayahuasca experience, and the chocolate prevents your journey from becoming an exclusively inward one. I found this to be true on both counts. The message and experience I gained that evening was one of love, bonding, and a personal commitment to enhancing certain relationships in my life.
The next morning I left on a physical journey with Russ to Cabo San Lucas. I had been to Cabo once before, but I forgot just how beautiful it is there. We shared a wonderful week in a combination of ways; exploring, relaxing, and indulging at the beach. We also went on a journey one night and ended up Nowhere. It was a wonderfully romantic trip, and we were blessed with perfectly beautiful weather.
One day we had just arrived and started lounging at the beach, soaking up some sunshine and our first cocktails, when the bar began a game of name that tune and announced the winner would receive a bucket of beer. Being the music lover that I am, this is my game and I know it. I looked at Russ and said excitedly, “Honey, I’m winning you a bucket of beer!” Russ had hardly finished his first beer from the first bucket he had ordered (before the game began) by the time I won a second 
bucket for him. He had his work cut out for him that day as I don’t care for beer. I tell this story not to say the highlight of the trip was a day of drinking at the beach (although we were in Cabo), but rather as an example of clear intent and the fact that I am indeed a winner. 
The following week was Thanksgiving, which brought out of town family and 
friends to the house. Thanksgiving with the Petrones and the Hopkins is a grand affair with lots of love and appreciation to go around. Before dinner we listened to a tribute of Kind and Generous by Natalie Merchant. It is the perfect Thanksgiving theme song, and those of us who took the lyrics to heart connected on a different level. Everyone else was like, “Hey, can we eat yet?”
During December I gave two speeches and did another photo shoot with Tony. Since my last post I gave one more speech in January, finished all of the 
requirements to earn my Advanced Leader Bronze award, and was elected as President of my Toastmasters club. The shoot with Tony was the Victorian & Lace shoot. Tony and I also did another shoot last weekend, the Red, Purple, & Black shoot. Updating the photos in my online modeling portfolios is continuing to slowly creep up higher on my agenda, and I expect to post some new photos sometime within the next week.
Of course the end of December also brought some holiday parties, gatherings, and festivities. Once I finished my shopping (and my speeches), I was able to relax and enjoy the season. Russ and I spent a week in St. Louis with my family, which was wonderful. My nieces are the most adorable things ever! They are so fun to play with, and Santa was really good to me too.
- San Diego Properties
It’s hard to believe January is already half over. It’s just been whizzing by, but at least I’m caught up with this blog now. I haven’t been slacking off on my writing though. In fact, I’ve been working rather diligently on a new blog I created for Petrone Properties called Houses for Sale in San Diego. I’ve been reading, researching, and writing about issues and programs related to the San Diego real estate market. I also decided to earn a real estate license, and I’m halfway through my first 
course. No wonder the days have been flying by. I’ve been packing them full of goals. As I said in my last speech, “Goals are your golden ticket to success – as long as you take action to achieve them. Your golden ticket is waiting for you!”
by Psi Seminars.
and pose for photographs.
me about Toastmasters?”
complimenting my writing, I read between the lines and also surmised that based upon my speech, she never would have guessed I could write so well.
was suggesting lame, easy goals, and my coach was calling me out on it.
Now I was not terribly excited about this goal as it truly scared me and yet something within told me it was time to face this fear.
Now 10 speeches later, I have earned a Competent Communicator Award and a Competent Leader Award.
I guess I’m right in that perhaps I have more free time than people with evil j-o-b-s.
working non-stop without taking any breaks to enjoy life.
My answers revealed to me I had squeezed the juice out of life and was left with an empty rind without ever having enjoyed any of the fruit.
without any plan for when I would invest time working on each goal.
determined which days I would work on which goals.
changes you can make to be happier and more effectively manage your time.
From my resting place near the pond, I shifted my attention to the majestic rock formations and the gorgeous setting sun. The rocks embodied their pride as they stood strong, tall, and solid. The sun shimmered with brilliant hues of orange and red as she shimmied down away behind the rocks and mountains.
