Love and it's place in your life....

I think that this is going to be a blog about Love and Friendship, but I'm not sure what shape it's going to take.

Lately, I've found myself wanting to be a better friend. Not that I'm a bad friend, but there's definitely room for improvement. If you want friends to reach out to you, reach out to them. If you want friends to visit, visit them. If you want to be able to rely on your friends, let them rely on you. I could go on and on. You dont do these things because if you dont, they wont. You do it, I do it, because I want to be a better friend. I want my friends to know that they can rely on me. I want them to know I really am their friend, and, most importantly, that I love them, and that they're important in my life. Overall, in my life, Love is very important. Not everyone will understand what I mean when I say that. It's meant beyond just the saying of it, but more the showing and the feeling of it. The connection of it.

People use the word Love a lot. I have the tendency to be one of them. I've abused this word. This emotion. Feeling. I dont think there are many people who really embody or embrace what Love is. What it really is. My life is unusually and thankfully filled with people who do. There's something called conscious living and loving. Some people do it without thinking. I envy them. For others, like myself, it is hard, hard and constant work. Conscious living. Conscious loving. Ripping yourself wide open to expose your true self, because having that kind of love in your life, is worth the risk of giving it. Being authentic and true to who you really are; and surrounding yourself with people who will continue to love you, the real you, regardless of what that looks like.

Conscious love enhances the energy of those exchanging it. Enhances creativity and happiness in those who share it. When people get to this level of love and understanding with each other, they let go of power struggles and the need for control. When I, have reached this level with people, is when I've formed the strongest bonds and friendships. That kind of relationship deserves effort and kindness. It's worth is immeasurable. So. I will strive to be a better friend. And, if at the end of the day, even one person calls me 'friend', then I've done at least one thing right.


Faith makes all things possible.
Love makes them easy.

~ Unknown

Exciting Futures

Hello Blog Land. I missed out on the June 1st blog entry regarding Family Pride, so I'll do it in a space during this month. Tonight though, is about the future. I'll be working out here in about an hour. Day two of Jillian Michael's 30 Day shred. My regular days off will be Wednesdays and Sundays, but as my second day back, I'm going to motor through. That's my immediate future.

I made a huge decision recently. My family and I made a huge decision. I've been in law enforcement for about 18 years. I've seen a lot of great and awful things. It's been a passion of mine. I love it, but it does wear out your mind, your body and your family. And anyone who knows me, knows my other love in life, is cooking, baking etc etc. I love to be in the kitchen. If I can make something that puts a smile on someone's face, I feel excited. Satisfied. Fulfilled. There arent a lot of things in life you can say that about. Other then the obvious, spouses, children etc.

So, with the support and encouragement of my wife, my sister and a few really amazing friends, I have submitted my application for the August 2011 class at the CIA, Culinary Institute of America in St.Helena (Napa), California. I will be a part of the Baking and Patisserie' class. I will receive my Associates degree in in the program and then try to double major in an accelerated 30 week AA in Culinary Arts.

Jen and I went on a tour with my education counselor last week. It's the most beautiful place I've seen in a long time. I swear it makes you feel like your at Hogwart's in the summer time lol. They just happened to be graduating a Baking and Patisserie' class that day. Ironic. I think not. Amazing are the only words that come to mind. I was close to tears several times during our tour, from sheer excitement and yearning to be there.

We saw the chocolate room where they had just finished a competition. There were amazing chocolate scultpures and one sugar show piece. The room was cold, with it's marble slabs chilled for working with the delicacy that is chocolate. Upstairs we watched as a new class was learning the art of making eclairs and beniet's. Detail. Perfection. Beauty. I wanted to pull on a white coat right there.

There is an 18 week externship that can be anywhere in the world. I'm hoping to do mine in Portland believe it or not. There are some amazing people there who are top dogs in the industry. I would love to eventually be competing in sugar and/or chocolate on a large scale. I will have an acceptance letter in March of next year. It sounds far away, but I know it will come quickly. We decided to wait until the August 2011 class because we'll have no bills by that time, and it will make things much smoother.

I cant even say I'm nervous. I know it's going to be tough, but I also know I'm going to do very well. I'm so lucky to have the loving supportive people in my life that I do. So, here I go. Second career, check.

Dedication...

Recently (yesterday) a good friend of mine (you know who you are), rededicated herself to her blog, and another friend who reads asked, 'where are you?' (you know who you are too). My friend's blog is already awesome, but I figured if she could do it in the midst of her busy life, then I could at least dedicate myself to 30 days. At a time. There are a few things that coincide with this being a completely attainable goal. They are as follows.

Today was my first day back on the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. It was GREAT! I have the kind of body that needs to be beaten into submission lol. Actually, it was much much easier then when I first started two months ago. I suppose I didnt lose as much stamina as I thought I did in the month I was sick. I only gained back three of the 20 lbs I'd lost, so I'm happy about that. I will be blogging on my workout every day. At the very least. You may get bored with that, so I'll try to add something more to each day then JUST that lol. But, if it's been a day, that's what you'll get.

Jen started swing shift today. No more midnights. No more working all night and then being up with Addison all day. She did better then I ever could have. She's a champ. Now, however, she'll be getting regular sleep and can return to the human world. Time to put the fangs back in the box ;)

I have an amazing friend who just made it through surgery for breast cancer and I'll be blogging about her. She's awesome and the fact that she gets up every day and just keeps on moving, proves that.

Music. Everyone loves music, but recently, I've gotten back into finding new, different and meaningful music. I'll share as I find things that I like.

The last reason is a secret that I will reveal tomorrow. Not a secret to all of you, but to most. No, nothing baby related just to alleviate that balloon. I hope that everyone's well and getting ready for summer. I'm curious, what is everyone doing for fun this summer? For now, here's a picture of Addison. The T-shirt was made for her by our friends Tiffany and Karli. Their son Lachlan is Addison's future husband lol