Fall Colors and Dreams Today

Fall is my favorite time of the year; it may have something to do with the beauty of the colors that surround us, the serenity before the cold, long winter nights, or just the prospect of change.  I have allowed Fall to usher in a break for all the stresses of the year, once winter sets in I like to shut off, and then I wait until the arrival of Spring, which reawakens ambitions and brings forth new opportunities, new agendas and the idea of something bigger and better on the horizon.  This year, however, I have taken a step backward and reassessed the nature of looking toward the future, towards Spring as the jumping board to a new prospective.

The future is ahead of us, and unless we take charge at the very moment we conceptualize an idea, a plan or a dream; the reality will never manifest itself. The future is actually in the present, this is something new I am trying to install in my thinking pattern.  Unless we start the process of pursuing whatever it is we want for ourselves at this very moment, it may never come to pass.

There is no time like the present, today, to readjust the path of our lives, rethink decisions, reawaken hopes and dreams from years past, or the ones buried deep in our hearts and bring them into the shadows of our present existence if they are ever to make their way into the light of tomorrow.

How many times have you looked to the past and realized that you had plotted your future in a different manner, and yet, here we stand in that future, now the present and nothing has become of our plans, our dreams, or they are in the process of manifestation and yet are not quite there yet.  We must have the strength and the reassurance that with hard work we can one day take a minute, look back, and realize that we have everything we wanted.

Of course, life brings with it trials and tribulations, unforeseen occurrences that throw us as far off our paths as we could ever imagine.  The  journey is part of our existence; we must learn to make it part of who we are, not run away from mistakes, grievances, or situations out of our control, but make them our own, make them part of who we will one day become.

I will take control of my life today, not wait for the coming spring, the start of something new; my new will start today.  One little step at a time may one day bring me the future, and in reality, it will be my present, but it will be the present I hoped for.

How many times have you wanted to do something different with your life, even if that means bringing a hobby into the realms of the universe that are visited by others.  How many times have you looked to the dreams of your past, the ones you made while in university or as a child and hoped to have the strength to make them your dreams once again.

If we as human beings stop dreaming, stop propelling our tasks into tomorrow, into something bigger and better for those around us, then we stop to exist.  We must try to stop being afraid of what will happen, what people will think if we try something new or admit to something old, and yet not forgotten.

Whether it is the urge to give back to the world and you do it only in the comfort of your own neighborhood (remember no one expects you to take a flight to a 3^rd world country and make a difference, it starts closer to home).  Whether you have always wanted to get into immaculate shape, take those dance lessons, dreamt of doing a marathon; start small, you may not become an Olympian, be on the cover of shape magazine or be cast in the Nutcracker, but you will become healthier and happier.

Whether it is the hope of love that keeps you moving forward, remember you are not alone; there are plenty of us on the same trajectory, reaching for what may never come to pass, yet with every breath urging its reality.  Whether you have a hobby of writing, painting, photography or anything of this sort, always remember in the future, the present of tomorrow, the hobby may become more than that if only today you put the power from within to work and start one day at a time.

To make change for tomorrow, we cannot think about the future, only concentrate on today and in the present decide to alter what we must to become the person that we want.

And let us not forget that we can still enjoy Fall and all its wonders, especially all the baked goodies that this time of the year allows us to feast upon.

To Leave, or Not to Leave, that is the Question

I went out of town a few weeks ago and left the pups with my parents.  I had to struggle to get out of the door; the pups have a little habit of grabbing the bottom of my pants as I exit; their specialty is putting up a great show in regard to their sadness over my departure.

I feel very lucky that my parents like my dogs and are always up for watching them when I am out of town, fortunately I have never had to board the little guys, either they stay with my parents, or they go with me (on vacations only, no business trips allowed).

For those of you who are not that lucky (one of my best friends had to recently board her brand-new puppy, I applaud her for being so calm about the process; I would probably have burst into tears), boarding your pets comes with its own set of problems, especially if you have pets like mine, and they have any kind of irritable bowl syndrome or are just plain finicky little beasts.

Remember the key to your successful trip and your pets successful ‘waiting it out game’ is always a solid plan, one that will make your pet feel secure and healthy while you are away.

If possible, leave your pet with a family member or a close friend, or possibly, if the pet is used to being alone for longer periods of time is to leave them at home and have a  trusty individual feed your pet and visit them a few times a day.

Another option is a pet sitter; this may be the least stressful for your pet, there are services that match you and your pet to a reliable house and pet sitter.

For those of you that have no other option other than boarding, there a few things to remember; always bring your pups own food, never pay extra just to have the boarding facility throw in their choice of food (even if it is more convenient), your little one will thank you.  Try to bring your pets bed, favorite toys, even feeding dishes, as the familiar smells will comfort them, especially in the evenings.  Another small, but rather important thing to remember is to give your pet something with your smell on it, an article of clothing you may not miss too much or maybe even a slipper.

The boarding facility should always be able to explain to you in detail what your pet will be doing all day and allow you to tour the facility at a moment’s notice.  The best way to choose a boarding facility is by word of mouth.

The most important thing to remember is to make sure you are not an emotional wreck when dropping off your pet; they will feel your tension and suspect something is wrong.

(Of course, that is easier said than done, I am a bigger mess when leaving my pets, than they are.) 🙂

Politics, Destiny or Writer’s block?

I have been in a slight writers rut lately; some excuses seem to be the ever persistent; not having enough time.  However, lately a most annoying hindrance has found its way into my life; that of election year.  You would like to know how this little matter can possibly get in the way of my writing ideas, habits and all around lifestyle.  Well, for some reason, or another, I find myself surrounded by family members and friends who seem to have excessive opinions, a hunger for debate and an all-around penchant for disturbing my writers chi.

I understand the importance of elections; I take part in them, am very well-informed and very set in my political outlook.  I do not understand the turmoil that has settled upon my mind.  The thinking process necessary to form coherent sentences has taken a siesta, and in its place a plethora of jumble-jumble thoughts have taken root.  I find myself questioning people in politics (of course I have always done this, but now it is tenfold), the idea of resting my future in the hands of individuals who just happened to fall into office is a little mind-boggling.  I have a friend that is working on his PhD in political science, mind you; he has been working on it for almost ten years, but his ideas and thoughts about the governing world are out of this world :), but alas, he will never become a senator or governor, let alone president.  Why, do you ask, because it does not seem to be in his destiny (in his pocket book either).

We may possess all the brilliance in the world, have the most creative ideas and be full of life and possibility and yet, destiny never peers down on us, sending rays of ‘there they are’ in our direction.

Thoughts like these find their way into my mind, and all else fails for a while, the blinking light must be quenched and the engine restarted, hopefully come November 6^th all will be right with the world, my creative writing world, of course.

In the meantime, UEFA Championship League matches (Hala Madrid) are once again upon us,

Chasing Mavericks is out in theaters this weekend (a little surfing madness to calm the nerves),

Not to mention that Skyfall is nearly here, James Bond is the perfect fix for my unsettled brain.

Oh and for all my fellow writers National novel writing month is just over a week away, to get us all back on track.  Catherine, Caffeinated has a great little article about the madness of writing in November.

The pups, of course, do not seem to feel my pain.  Their mind is right where it should be, on the topic of sleep.

Soccer International Break: The Rain of World Cup Qualifications

My nerves on the edge of betrayal, the love of the game intertwined with the reality of what is to come, the calm before the down pour that brings joy, disappointment and the wonders of a sport alive until the very last seconds; turning dreams into a different reality.

The future is swift, history created in one moment; the honor of World Cup champions hangs by a very fine string.

La Roja beats strong, the heart of a defender with nothing to prove looks to the sky and gives thanks for the honor to score for a team that etched their glory into a past never forgotten.

How is one to decide the path that lays open for creation, wide with anticipation, and long with possibilities.   The clouds roll in and allow the magic of water to flow, encompassing the green below, mixing tension and fear with determination and hope.  Can the ripeness of what could happen, be picked with certainty?

The strength of a four-point lead, allows the wondrous sprinkle of sunshine to bring joy to those that never give up.  The fog rolls thick, one hundred ways in which one man brings a smile to the faces of many, but within the raindrops, the win cannot be achieved, yet the applause will remain forever to keep.

A sparkle of aspiration for countries long forgotten, lost in the shuffle striving to be found, looking for a moment of glory.  The monster of the south, with the help of a number ten legend, showing the unstoppable hunger to find the splendor of 2014.  A country which has yet to step up to the game, make their own mark on the name of football, a European foundation that has yet to stronghold its existence in a country with youth on its side.

The love of a country, the rain of the past, makes way for the forthcoming mistakes that lead to a rebirth of a people full of love for the world, the strength to overcome a sodden mess that makes way for a glorious contribution to a game that will continue to keep fans cheering in their seats for its unpredictability and wonder.

A game of magic that leads us to shout for the past to make way for the future; rays stream through the cloudburst.

(Some of my favorite Groups)

GROUP A

Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Belgium	4	3	1	0	8	1	10
Croatia	4	3	1	0	6	2	10
Serbia	4	1	1	2	6	5	4
FYR Macedonia	4	1	1	2	3	4	4
Wales	4	1	0	3	3	11	3
Scotland	4	0	2	2	2	5	2

GROUP C

Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Germany	4	3	1	0	15	6	10
Sweden	3	2	1	0	8	5	7
Republic of Ireland	3	2	0	1	7	8	6
Austria	3	1	1	1	5	2	4
Kazakhstan	4	0	1	3	1	8	1
Faroe Islands	3	0	0	3	2	9	0

GROUP F

Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Russia	4	4	0	0	8	0	12
Israel	4	2	1	1	10	5	7
Portugal	4	2	1	1	6	3	7
Northern Ireland	3	0	2	1	2	4	2
Azerbaijan	3	0	1	2	1	5	1
Luxembourg	4	0	1	3	2	12	1

GROUP H

Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
England	4	2	2	0	12	2	8
Montenegro	3	2	1	0	9	2	7
Poland	3	1	2	0	5	3	5
Moldova	4	1	1	2	2	7	4
Ukraine	3	0	2	1	1	2	2
San Marino	3	0	0	3	0	13	0

GROUP I

Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Spain	3	2	1	0	6	1	7
France	3	2	1	0	5	2	7
Georgia	4	1	1	2	2	4	4
Belarus	4	1	0	3	3	8	3
Finland	2	0	1	1	1	2	1

GROUP MATCHES

Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Argentina	9	6	2	1	20	7	20
Ecuador	9	5	2	2	12	9	17
Colombia	8	5	1	2	14	6	16
Venezuela	9	3	3	3	8	9	12
Uruguay	9	3	3	3	16	18	12
Chile	9	4	0	5	14	18	12
Bolivia	9	2	2	5	12	14	8
Peru	9	2	2	5	10	15	8
Paraguay	9	2	1	6	6	16	7

GROUP A

Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
USA	6	4	1	1	11	6	13
Jamaica	6	3	1	2	9	6	10
Guatemala	6	3	1	2	9	8	10
Antigua and Barbuda	6	0	1	5	4	13	1