(Found at http://thetrevorproject.tumblr.com/)

fog.

I'm not a fan of driving in the fog.
I can't see what's coming and it's too scary to take my eyes off the road enough to look behind me at where I came from. 
I don't like not seeing what's coming.

At all.

Control freak?
That's me.

So right now I'm feeling the fog.
I feel like I'm flying down the grapevine in the fog without lights.

It's exciting.
But naseating.

I don't do well without a clear plan laid out in front of me.
Someone remind me why God doesn't just lay it all out for us again?  I mean really...give a girl a hand drawn road map even?

Ahhhh...the fog.

-McGee

Why I love Mr. Man. aka Happy Birthday!

In order to properly celebrate a birthday in this household there must me a blog, so to you,

Mr. Man, I say Happy Birthday McGee style!

Top 10 reasons I love Mr. Man

10.  He's tall, darker than me and oh so handsome!

9.  He can really work a room.  So fun to watch.

8.  Mr. Man really knows how to plant a good kiss!

7.  Every day our girls are around him, he improves their "picker" by showing them how a man should treat them when they finally turn 46years old and are allowed to date.

6.  Mr. Man makes me laugh.  And lots of other people too.

5.  He also makes me blush for reasons that I won't get into.

4.  He is so dang smart AND the best salesman I've ever met. 

After all, he did convince me!

3.  He has an uncanny knack to remember things I mentioned long ago I wanted and surpise me with them on Christmas or my birthday.  I know he's always secretly wanted a blog all about him so I clearly have that knack too.  Hence the birthday blog.

2.  He's all in.  When he loves you, he really does. 

He forgives, he accepts, he loves.

And the number one reason I love Mr. Man...

Mr. Man is so aware of who he is and who he wants to be in this life.  He works so hard and so intentionally to be the man he is today.  He is a good man.  Truly.  The best.

And we are blessed for it.

Happy birthday baby!
You are so loved.

-McGee

the most loved kid.

Soapy D is now four and a half.
She splits her weeks between our house and her moms.

Tonight when I was tucking her in we were talking about how lucky she was to have two different houses. She grinned as wide as her little mouth would let her like she had a secret.  And then she said...

"I think that makes me the most loved kid because I have two families and a lot of people love me!"

In a day and age where blended families, single parent families and non-traditional families outnumber the rest and can sometimes be challenging or contentious, I am so glad this little girl has figured that out.  If nothing else, she understands that her two houses have a great deal of love for her in common.

This kid really gets it.

-McGee

Three simple rules in life.

Found this today.

Not sure which purpose it serves...

Reminder for me? 

Reminder to teach our daughters who are nearing the ages of responsible teens/young adults?

Either way...great reminder.

-McGee

10 more for the boys.

As pointed out-these lessons are universal.

But since I promised...to my boys...

1.  Go into the world and do well,

but more importantly go into the world and do good.

2.  Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle.

3.  Don’t underestimate how long something you say will stay in a girl’s mind. Speak kindly and wisely.

4.  Never let the fear of striking out

keep you from playing the game.

5.  But don’t play games with girls.

You will lose AND be confused.

6.  You don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.

7.  A strong man stands up for himself.

A stronger man stands up for everyone else.

8.  Finish each day and be done with it.

9.  Judging a person does not define who they are.

It defines who you are.

10.  A girl worth kissing is not easily kissed.

Except your mother.

Kiss her often.

So there you have it...20 lessons I would love our kids, boys and girls, to learn in life and share with others.

-McGee

10 cliches I want my girls to know...

In no particular order,

Subject to changes and/or additions as life happens...

1. Any guy who is nice to you but is rude to the waiter

is not a nice guy.

2.  Sometimes on the way to the dream,

you'll get lost and find a better one.

3.  Fall in love when you're ready, not when you're lonely.

4.  Also-grocery shop when you're full, not when you're hungry.  Same reason.  You'll bring home less crap.

5.  Take responsibility for the energy you bring into any space.

6.  Follow your heart but take your brain with you.

7.  Never sacrifice who you are

just because someone else has a problem with it.

8.  If you want something you've never had,

do something you've never done.

9.  Be curious, not judgemental.

10.  Keep your head, heels and standards high.

Working on what I want my boys to know too.

I'm an equal opportunity mother.

-McGee

food for thought.

Hmmmm.

-McGee

mantra.

seek first to understand, then to be understood.
seek first to understand, then to be understood.
seek first to understand, then to be understood.

my new mantra.

after participating on the board in a youth sports organization, being part of a blended family as a kid, then as a co-parent, having worked for a new company and an old one and growing up the oldest of six girls...I can tell you...all people want to be heard but it's harder for us to want to listen.

including me.
hence the mantra.

just sayin.
understand then be understood.
hmmmmm.

little MANnerisms

It's been awhile.
If you aren't familiar with little MANnerisms click here first:
http://justmcgee.blogspot.com/2010/03/kids.html

Today, completely out of the blue and totally random Soapy D says to me in a near whisper...

"I know most of the time I think about unicorns but sometimes I just think about myself." 

Holding back my laughter in hopes that she would keep going I asked her just what does she think about herself.

"You know like I think what would Soapy D do and what will Soapy D do now and just Soapy D, Soapy D, Soapy D."

And with that she hopped off our bed and went about her day.

Man I love that kid.

And Unicorns.

-McGee

commonality.

Is that a word?
Commonality?

I think it is.
But I've been know to make up a few along the way.

The year I turned 30, I finally left the county.
I went to Ghana in Africa.
I know, right?
Go big or go home!

I will never forget who I saw walking along the streets.

I saw me and my best friend with our kids.
I saw us catching up while the kids played.
I saw us getting dinner ready and keeping kids in place.

I saw women giving birth.
I saw sisters sharing.
I saw mothers mothering.

I saw the same damn things I see at home.
Just in different clothes,
and with different hair,
in different homes.

I look around sometimes and can't help but wonder...Would we treat eachother differently if we really saw our commonality rather than focused on the differences?  I've had my moments of feeling more superior, more righteous, part of the exclusive croud, better than you.  I've also been the black sheep in your eyes.

I see it in religion, sports, work, life.
It's not unique to one croud.
It belongs to us all.
We all hold the power.
And we all take turns abusing it.

It's naive-I know.
To think it's possible is to believe in world peace.

But if for one day only, if we looked for the commonality I wonder if we would love better, understand more and hate less.

Just curious.
Aren't you?

-McGee

unconditional love.

I love lots of things
and lots of people
conditionally.

I love fewer things and people unconditionally.

Unconditional love is a tricky thing.
Can you unconditionally love something or someone that is not exactly how you want it or who you want them to be?  And like we've always been told, can't love someone else unless you love yourself.  So what about you?  Are you unconditionally loving yourself?

I'm starting to think it's a catch 22.
Here's what got me thinking...
(lest you read this and think I'm talking about loving you!)

I'm not a fan of my body.
I surely don't love it unconditionally.
I'm guessing I'm not alone in this biting truth.

Sure, I love it when it's bronzed and trim.
When it's not creaking and cracking.
When the creases and lines in my skin are hidden.

But as soon as it betrays me, isn't capable,
or isn't the shape and size I would like it to be.
I'm done.

Totally conditional.

But then tonight as my critical eye came out I wondered...
If I don't love my body now...

How am I supposed to love it enough to pay it the atttention it needs to be more like what I want it to be? I am more likely to sabatoge it with neglegence and something bad for my health. 

If I can change that feeling...
If I can love my body for the things it can do
And what it looks like, right now, as it is...
I would feel different.
And treat it differently.

Right?

Hmmmm.
My body.
Circumstances around me.
Other people.

Makes me wonder what an adjustment on MY part would do.

-McGee

Mini-McGee makes me older.

Memorial Day reminds me of one thing

And one thing only…

The first time I was more than 9 months pregnant
And SO ready to burst.
I can’t believe it’s been 15 years!

It’s so odd to have a child so much like me.
I look at her and feel every moment of high school all over!
It’s like my heart walks around all day outside my body.

Although it should be said, for sure,
This kid has her head screwed on far tighter than I did,
And her grades are not reflective of her genes!
I was smart but lazy.
Mini McGee is smart, lazy with chores...
But crazy diligent with her school work.

I catch glimpses sometimes of the woman she is becoming
(I can already see her cringing reading this)
And it’s an incredible sight.

Mini-McGee is…

A brilliant, beautiful, athlete.
Fun to be around with a silly giggle.
Has incredible hair I would pay to have.
Is often wise beyond her years,
And yet fantastically happy being just 15.
A leader.
A loyal friend.

And my favorite 15 year old in the world.

Can’t wait to see what comes next.
This girl will do something, peeps!
Mark my words.
I’m a fan and a believer!

Happy birthday sweet girl!

-McGee

there's an app for that.

So untrue.

There isn't an app for how to be a grownup.
There's no app for living a successful life.

There's not even an app with all the answers out there.

dangit.

Being a grown up is overrated!

-mcgee

bipolar.

Saw this somewhere else on another blog and it struck my fancy.
So I borrowed it.
But I can't remember from who...so sorry.

I hate...

spiders
uncomfortable silence
mean people
brussel sprouts (sorry baby)
fighting...most of the time
black licorice
losing
being wrong
being lost.  literally.  hate it.

I love...

long chats with good friends
bacon wrapped hot dogs after a concert
good podcasts
tweeting. on twitter.
fighting...occassionally
a great salad
swimming in the rain
digging toes in the sand
good news
a great song that makes you smile

And apples.
I love apples.

Little Man Grows Old(er)

Yup.
True story.

Two birthdays, two days in a row.

Ahhhhh...my little man.
I remember vividly the May 4th he was born, late at night.
I teased I would have to name him Juan if he was born on the 5th.
And I don't know a lot of blonde Juans.

Little Man is the comedic relief in this family, generally unintentionally.  It's so much fun to have a boy amidst the gaggle of girls in this family, albeit a tender hearted one.  He's a head taller than the kids his age and a master of handball.  He is the best cuddler around, by far and no, you may not take him home with you.

Little Man can rough it up with the best of them but is a momma's boy at heart.  I know it won't last so I'll enjoy it while I have it!  It's so fun watching him come into his own as a big brother, too.  He's a sweetheart!

Happy birthday to my little man!

-McGee

P.S. And now back to your regular McGee postings...three birthday's down, one to go!

Soapy D Grows Up

It's birthday time again!

Today Soapy D turns 4. 
It's hard to believe-time sure flies!

Soapy D (her ganster name) is by far the Princess of the house, almost by default.  She doesn't walk into a room without someone paying attention to her, she's quite sure that's how the world works.  She has the most honest giggle in the entire house and has a never ending series of big sisters and brother trying to make her laugh.

Although-it's best when she just cracks herself up.
Which she does.
Daily.

It's so fun to watch her grow from a little toddler to a precocious, daring, brave, fun, entertaining, opinionated, giggly little girl who loves being the little sister of the house.

Without her, our family would not be the same!
Besides...

Who doesn't love a little girl in pigtails?

Happy Birthday Soapy D!

-McGee

moment of gratitude.

just for the sake of putting it all out there.

so grateful today...

for children who are becoming amazing human beings.
for teachers who take time to see what I see in our kids.
for family willing to drive hours for a kids birthday.
for my husband.  he's a hottie.
for a job I get fulfillment from.
for great music and fun podcasts.

NOT grateful for the new reality show The Voice.
I just shaved my legs...goosebumps I'm getting from the show?
NOT HELPFUL.

Come on girls.  You know what I'm talking about.

Peace out girl scout.

-McGee

words.

Words are powerful tools.

They can build people up, move societies to change, boost morale, enlist support, share love and support, tell stories and paint pictures, communicate compassion.

Words can also break hearts, accuse, tear people down, encourage hate, turn people against one another, spread gossip, bring pain and suffering.

I ran across a great quote although I can’t find who said it…

“You are a master of the words you don’t say

and a slave to the ones you do.”

You are master of the words you don’t say. I’ve been taught and then have tried to instill in our kids-Is it kind, is it true, is it necessary? In other words, is it worth it to say it out loud. They who have mastered the art of this are masters over the words they choose not to share.

You’re a slave to the words you do say. Once it’s out there, you sure can’t take it back. Our best words are celebrated and our worst, well, we can apologize and retract but they hang out there in the universe like laundry you just can’t get dry.

I’ve been hurt by others’ words plenty and sadly, I know I’ve wielded mine as swords more often then I care to recall. With Facebook and Twitter it’s so easy to spit out words that we wouldn’t say face to face either in passing as a quip or with our own political stance or agenda. It’s become easier and more comfortable to insert our opinions as fact at any given chance.

And even though my opinion is generally right…
(just ask Mr. Man-I’m rarely wrong)
It’s maybe not necessary.

All this to say-here’s an amazing quote that I will now be memorizing, memorializing and possibly imbedding it into our kids' sweet heads…

“I appreciate people who are civil, whether they mean it or not. I think: Be civil. Do not cherish your opinion over my feelings. There's a vanity to candor that isn't really worth it. Be kind.”

-Richard Greenberg, playright

Those are words to live by right there:

Do not cherish your opinion over my feelings...Be kind.

I'm not sure why that was such a novel concept to me but it is.  Don't cherish my own opinion over the feelings of others.  Wow.  See-those are the kinds of words I want to be known for.

Thanks Mr. Greenberg-right on!

-McGee

Little Miss is officially a teenager!

When I started this blog I didn't want to be a "mommy bogger"
Now-don't throw anything at me.
There is nothing wrong with blogging about being a mom.

It's just not what I set out to do in THIS space.
But along the way I realized that I am the sum of my parts.
And a large part of who I am is a mommy!

So hold on to your shorts...it's birthday month in our house and I have some birthday blog bragging to do about our babies!

So today I realized...I now have TWO teenage daughters.
Litte Miss has crossed the road and is now officially 13.

Warrents a top ten list, dontcha think?

Top 10 Best Things About Little Miss:

10.  She is the bomb diggity in the kitchen!

9.  Little Miss is a giggly fun person to be around.

8.  She is a natural athlete!

7.  Little Miss is sharp and smart.  Really smart.

6.  She will play with her younger siblings for hours on end.

5.  Little Miss picks great friends-hard to do in middle school.

4.  She has an incredibly beautiful smile and it's contageous!

3.  Little Miss is spunky and walks to her own beat.

2.  She has a tender and very loving heart.

And last but not least...

This year she brought home a letter from a friend who wanted her to know that she appreciates how Little Miss doesn't really care what other people think and can just be herself.  Because of that, this friend is feeling less self conscious about herself and being around Little Miss makes it easier.

The number 1 thing I love about this daughter is her willingness to be herself and the space that allows the people around her to do the same.  She is a beautiful, talented, funky fun teenager that I am blessed to have as a daughter.

Happy Birthday Little Miss-you rock girl!!!

-mommy mcgee

older.

Little Man gave me a good long stare down today,
Raised his eyebrows
Squinted his eyes
And proclaimed...
"You DO look a little bigger today, mom!"
Followed up with the sweetest birthday snuggle I could ask for.

It made me long for the days when how tall I am was the most important measure of growth, where age was just about getting to the next one and birthday's were all about cake and presents.  Ok.  Maybe they're still all about cake and presents, Facebook too, by the way. 

(Tangent coming!) 

Had a birthday on Facebook yet?  I kid you not...makes you feel like a rockstar-people you haven't seen or heard from in years wishing you a happy birthday.  It's pure awesome sauce.  I may just change my birthday every couple months so I get a few days a year like this. 

But I digress...

These days I am hyper aware that the most important measure of growth changes somewhere past 18 but before 30.  The personal growth that occurs, however graceful or not, over the course of each year has been painful, slow coming, glorious, freeing, terrifying and exhillerating.  It also reminds me how much more I need to grow!

If you asked me what life would look like now, a year ago, I'm not sure I would tell you I would be where I am.  In fact, I know I wouldn't!  MANY big changes, bumps in the road, growth and blessings have put me where I am today.

Someone said to me the other day that they were on one path but things changed and they were making peace with the fact they were now on another path.  I can't help but wonder, when we think we're making some big, grand change or life has thrown us in what we feel is a different direction, if there isn't a grand design or choreography of life that really just takes our ONE path all over the place.  Is it possible that we aren't constantly changing paths, that this is just PART of the path?

Am I waxing too poetic tonight?
Forgive me.
The wisdom of my whopping 35 years is overwhelming at times.
I can barely contain it.
Or my sarcasm.

So happy birthday to me.
Here's to another year full of opportunites to grow.
Hopefully each year a bit more graceful than the last!

-McGee

food for thought.

free will or divine design?

at which point do my efforts trump divine choreography?
or will someone else's free will take precedence?

i'm currently in an argument.

and i'm fierce when i think i'm right...

but fighting with the divine?

i fear i'll never be right until i let go and let what is, be.

i'm here again...which part is mine and which part is yours?
(Remember this one...
http://justmcgee.blogspot.com/2010/11/which-part-is-mine.html)

but hey if i have to yield...can You at least let me in on the plan?
that would be great.  k, thanks.

-mcgee

random curiosity

Blogging is a curious thing.
Anyone, anywhere can read what I write.
It's SO cool for those of us who have CRAZY big egos!

My little blog has been plugging away since Fall of 2009, I learned how to track my handful of readers (thanks mom, sisters and bestie for being early readers) and it was cute to see how a couple people read me a couple times...then one lovely day in February of 2011, Legendary Film Maker Kevin Smith (want to make sure he feels special)  tweeted about my blog and BAM-980 readers in one day!  Life at justmcgee.com has never been the same since.

What's really cool is that 2219 of you have made it to my site.
And you come from...are you ready for this...
52 countries and at least one reader in every one of the United States.

It's a trip!

So I'm just curious...
Who the heck ARE you?
Tell me where you're reading from and something random about yourself.

Don't be shy.
I know you're reading!
From Rancho Cucamonga, CA to Bangor, Maine.
And 51 other countries from Canada to New Zealand.
(No silly.  Go east all the way around.)
Introduce yourselves!!!

I'll start.
Random fact about me...
My dimple is really a scar, a scar that started a multi-million dollar company.  It's a hell of a story for another day!

Your turn!

-McGee

girl power. x10. and then some.

I'm the girl that would love to go to TED...

But hates watching the speeches later on youtube.

Sure.  You tell me about the great ones.

And in theory I should take time to watch.

But 20 minutes on a computer?

Uninterrupted?

Without checking Facebook?

no can do.

Except for this one.

If you only get through the first 3 minutes it's ok.

They're the most powerful!

Try it...

And in case you didn't get through the first little bit...

Here's the transcript of her written word.

Every girl I know needs this.

Every.

If I should have a daughter, instead of Mom, she's gonna call me Point B, because that way she knows that no matter what happens, at least she can always find her way to me. And I'm going to paint solar systems on the backs of her hands, so she has to learn the entire universe before she can say, "Oh, I know that like the back of my hand." And she's going to learn that this life will hit you hard in the face, wait for you to get back up just so it can kick you in the stomach. But getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air. There is hurt here that cannot be fixed by Band-Aids or poetry. So the first time she realizes that Wonder Woman isn't coming, I'll make sure she knows she doesn't have to wear the cape all by herself. Because no matter how wide you stretch your fingers, your hands will always be too small to catch all the pain you want to heal. Believe me, I've tried. "And, baby," I'll tell her, don't keep your nose up in the air like that. I know that trick; I've done it a million times. You're just smelling for smoke so you can follow the trail back to a burning house, so you can find the boy who lost everything in the fire to see if you can save him. Or else find the boy who lit the fire in the first place, to see if you can change him." But I know she will anyway, so instead I'll always keep an extra supply of chocolate and rain boots nearby, because there is no heartbreak that chocolate can't fix. Okay, there's a few heartbreaks that chocolate can't fix. But that's what the rain boots are for. Because rain will wash away everything, if you let it. I want her to look at the world through the underside of a glass-bottom boat, to look through a microscope at the galaxies that exist on the pinpoint of a human mind, because that's the way my mom taught me. That there'll be days like this. ♫ There'll be days like this, my momma said. ♫ When you open your hands to catch and wind up with only blisters and bruises; when you step out of the phone booth and try to fly and the very people you want to save are the ones standing on your cape; when your boots will fill with rain, and you'll be up to your knees in disappointment. And those are the very days you have all the more reason to say thank you. Because there's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's swept away. You will put the wind in windsome, lose some. You will put the star in starting over, and over. And no matter how many land mines erupt in a minute, be sure your mind lands on the beauty of this funny place called life. And yes, on a scale from one to over-trusting, I am pretty damn naive. But I want her to know that this world is made out of sugar. It can crumble so easily, but don't be afraid to stick your tongue out and taste it. "Baby," I'll tell her, "remember, your momma is a worrier, and your poppa is a warrior, and you are the girl with small hands and big eyes who never stops asking for more." Remember that good things come in threes and so do bad things. And always apologize when you've done something wrong. But don't you ever apologize for the way your eyes refuse to stop shining. Your voice is small, but don't ever stop singing. And when they finally hand you heartache, when they slip war and hatred under your door and offer you handouts on street-corners of cynicism and defeat, you tell them that they really ought to meet your mother.

Sarah Kay?

You've got it girl.

Thanks for sharing it!

-McGee

having it all.

It’s funny.

Being the daughter of a baby boomer.
And old enough to remember the first Wonder Woman,
I was told, for as long as I can remember…
That I can have it all.

I fought that, struggled with it, embraced it…
And now reject it.
I no longer think I can have it all.

Before you get all “She’s Debby Downer” on me, follow me…

My generation of women watched our mom’s come out of the June Cleaver era, burn their bras and take on the Man’s World like their mothers couldn’t. They had the burden of paving the way for us to do whatever we wanted. They are an amazing generation of women!

By the time I was a mom, I respected them but also respectfully declined the “be all you can be” way of life and preferred to aspire to being “just a mom”. And then life happens, as it usually does. I found myself at an unfamiliar place, desperately wanting it all.

I went through college with two kids, graduated, started a business, bought a house, had a cool car, lost the house trying to save the business, downsized the car, lost the business and divorced. And throw in another baby somewhere over that space of time.

Fast forward to now.
Great job with ZocDoc.com where I’m working hard for my money.
(queue Donna Summers)
I am married to my favorite adult. Ever.
Kids are happy, healthy and productive.

But I don’t own a house, my house isn’t always perfect, my job keeps me too busy some days, the kids don’t have Suzie Homemaker 24/7 for a mom, I’m sometimes grumpy, I have a cool car but not my dream car, and occasionally (ok, often) you can find me lounging in sweats with my hair pulled back and not looking so hot and I live in LA but I have yet to attend a red carpet event.

But I’m happy.

It’s a balancing act.
It’s ok that I don’t have it all.
I could-I think-if I wanted to sacrifice all things important to me.

If I wanted to totally relinquish the raising of my kids to someone else I could probably have made more money last year. If I wanted to spend less time with my favorite adult I could work a little longer. If I wanted to drive a better car I could max out my credit limit and live outside my means.

Instead I choose to do my job as well as I can and enjoy what I’m doing.  And then I choose to hurry home for softball games and family dinners.

I want it all, I do.
But I’m ok that I don’t have it all.

Because what I do have is worth more.

I have a man I adore, kids who are amazing, family that will always have my back, friends who love and support us all, laughter and fun...when I let myself.

Hmmm…

Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate what having it all really means.

-McGee

miss me?

Cause I miss you!

SO much happening, SO little time but SO much to say!

For now...check out my new company http://www.zocdoc.com/
And by "my" I mean the company I love, adore and work for!

And for you newer folks...here are a couple of my favorite posts:

Letting go.
http://justmcgee.blogspot.com/2010/07/letting-go.html

Insides to Outsides.
http://justmcgee.blogspot.com/2010/03/insides-to-outsides.html

Which Part Is Mine?
http://justmcgee.blogspot.com/2010/11/which-part-is-mine.html

The rest of y'all...keep coming back, it works if you work it.
Wait.
Wrong place.

Keep coming back though...lots to say SOON!!!
-McGee

laughter is the best medicine. literally.

Some days a good laugh is just what the Doctor ordered.

Enjoy these giggles!

birthday shout out.

There are 5 kids on the planet that call me mom.
Lucky for me, I only had to birth 3 of them!

When I first started this blog, I gave them all blog names.
Little Man and Soapy D you hear about all the time.
They’re young enough to not be embarrassed yet!

Little Miss and Mini-McGee pop up occasionally.
But they ARE teenage girls.
They only think I’m sorta funny, some of the time.

And then there’s Bmoc.
Big Man On Campus.
I didn’t birth him.
But I am his mom, or at least one of them.
I’m like pork, the other white meat,
I’m the other mom.

I married into being his mom just before he turned 4.
He was a leap year baby, so it was technically his first birthday.
Today…or tomorrow…which is it?
He turns 19.

And he’s rad.

We caught Bmoc on the phone tonight for a proper happy birthdaying (he’s away at college) tonight and it was the coolest thing. Each kid got on the phone and one by one their sweet faces lit up as they answered questions about their lives and what was new. Lit. Up!

Because he’s the thing…

He is really great at making everyone feel incredibly special. It’s a gift, it really is. Even when he’s home and exhausted he takes the time to hug on, chat with or pay attention to whoever needs it. It is one of, if not his absolute greatest strengths.  He loves unconditionally and without restraint and his siblings benefit maybe more than anyone else on the planet.  At least until "That Girl" comes along!

So.

To the kid I fell in love with as a toddler…
Who is now a grown ass man…
You, big man, are awesome!

Happy birthday kiddo!
-the other mom

leading from a place of us, not me.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”-John Quincy Adams

I was born and bred to lead.
No seriously.
Google my mom.
Born and bred.

Then I went to school for it.
Degree in Organizational Psychology.
How to lead people, create successful teams.

But life happened, and jobs come and go.
Bought a business, built a business, lost a business.
Changed careers, found new paths.

I’ve witnessed brilliant leadership.
I’ve endured misguided leadership.
The difference?
Coming from the place of US or ME.

I worked for a company that shall not be named-no need, really. This publicly traded company made the announcement that they were being sold and reentering the private sector but they announced to their employees with little fanfare and less explanation. The overall result was a lackluster work place where people were scared and scrambling to hold onto their jobs, uncertain about what it all meant. The quieter the leaders, the more chaotic were the employees. Morale was shot.

Christmas time came, deal closed, Christmas bonuses were more of a lottery where we all picked envelopes-some had $1 and a few had $20 or $100 bills. Wasn’t that fun? Time for a champagne toast for the employees and leaders to celebrate the coming changes and the official sale of the company.

CEO starts off with a toast.
They typical ‘Isn’t it exciting? Great things to come!’
Then the epic fail.

To his workforce, afraid for their jobs, inadequately prepared for the changes ahead and largely without a Christmas bonus, he toasts the following…

“Driving to work today, I was so excited and filled with hope. Then it hit me. I realized I woke up with extra zeros in my bank account today!”

No joke.
Leading from a place of me.
Inspiring no one.
Except, perhaps, his accountant.

Jump forward to my new position at an up and coming start-up company in the health sector with an inspiring team of investors, the likes of whom have invested in Facebook and started Amazon.com. And then we have our fearless leaders who work side by side with us to make what’s great, even more amazing. Literally. Work side by side us. Totally approachable and involved.

I found myself sitting in a small room with my new CEO and three other trainees. One of the trainees asked something along the lines of “What do you guys do with this aspect of this business?”

CEO’s response?

“You’re at the end of your first week grace period. It is no longer ‘what do YOU do,’ it’s ‘what do WE do.’ From here on out you owe me a dollar every time you forget that YOU are a part of US.”

And then he answered the question.
About OUR company.

The difference is night and day. When you lead from a place only of what can you do for me, you lose people, lose their faith, there is no buy in, they lose their hope and their meaningfulness in the work.

When you lead from a place of US, you inspire, you include, you challenge, you demand excellence and you get it. And we all win. We may not all have extra zeros in our bank accounts but we feel rewarded, validated and appreciated. And then WE all work harder. Because WE want to be a part of the greatness.

Again.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”-John Quincy Adams

It’s all about US.

-McGee

rethinking "Mr. Mom"

So.

It’s Valentine’s Day.
I’ve been known to celebrate people on their birthdays,
But today deserves a special nod!

I happen to be blessed to be married to my best friend. There are numerous things I love about him, too many to list. But here’s the thing…sometimes I forget how great he is, just the way he is. This past week I was in New York training for my new job. Mr. Man was here holding down the home front with ALL FOUR KIDS home. I am a good mom. I am. Ask anyone. But even I would feel overwhelmed by all four kids for five nights without my partner.

So I arranged the nanny’s schedule.
I signed all the kids school paperwork.
I double checked the calendar.
Did all the laundry.

I did everything I could do to set up success.
But then I left.
And it was up to him.

So here’s where it gets tricky. As a mom I happen to think that my way is, well, you know, THE way. And while nothing goes totally according to plan, I wanted to think that they would.

Go according to plan.
To my plan.
Mine.

The first time things seemed to be off course I was cranky and panicky. The second time I was probably rude. The third? Definitely rude. Then I heard him refer to himself as Mr. Mom. Or maybe I saw it. Probably a Facebook thing.

And then I started thinking.
Mr. Mom?
That’s kind of offensive.
To him.
Just follow me for a sec.

Fast forward 7 days, when I get home we have a pretty clean house, food in the fridge, a husband who is really glad to see me and four happy, healthy kids who had a great week with their dad. Not a great week with their dad who pretended to be mom or did things mom's way. They had a week that went by dad’s rules. And dad’s rewards. And you know what? It was good. It was all good.

I was so focused on him pulling it off and being the perfect “Mr. Mom” that I didn’t realize I was asking him to not do him, not be dad, not do it his way. And that was wrong. As mom’s I think we tend to expect dad’s to fall in line with our train of thought, be that Mr. Mom when we can’t be there. Out of necessity this week I had no choice but to watch from a far as he did things his way. And his way was great.

So to all of those “Mr. Mom’s” out there…
Forgive us.
You do you-because you do it well!
And to Mr. Man…
On our first married Valentine’s Day…

I adore you.
Just you.
Just the way you are.
Every. Single. Day.

Thank you for being the man you are.

-McGee

Follow the puck.

Just last year I saw this quote on a Kevin Smith tweet:
(Director of Clerks, Dogma, He's Silent Bob.  If you don't know-you better find out.  Quickly!)

“Don’t go where the puck is, go where the puck is going to be.”

He attributes it to Wayne Gretzky’s father. It doesn’t matter if you know hockey or not, here. I’m fairly certain most of us know that Wayne Gretzky is the Michael Jordan of hockey. (If you don’t know who Michael Jordan is, there may be no hope for you and I to be friends. Just saying.)

So I saw this thing on Twitter.
And I put it up on a post-it note.
On my bathroom mirror.
About a year ago.

A year ago, right this very minute, I had no idea where my life was headed. Ok-that’s a bit dramatic-but there were many variables-just ask my girlfriends, whom I used tirelessly to whine and cry to about my work and personal life. But every morning, as I brushed my teeth, I saw those words-be where the puck is going. So I bore down, kept my head up, and muscled through. It was kind of miraculous what happened next. My life, it came together beautifully. And on top of that I was surrounded my amazing people I hadn’t known before.

I went to this Moxy Workshop and found my moxy. Big time.
I married my very best friend, our way, untraditionally, and fabulously.
And at the end of this year, I went out on a limb.
I applied for a job I wasn’t sure I would get.

Now remember-I’m the girl who doesn’t do anything unless I know I will be the best at it-ever-because I don’t like to fail. However. My company had been sold, I was passed up for a promotion, people were leaving and it wasn’t an industry I was in love with. At all. I saw a job listing in a market that was new to me and I thought about the puck.
So I went for it.

Over.
And over.
And over again until they took me.

So I took it! A great start-up company, backed by the most amazing venture capital players in the history of the planet-big time players folks-in the medical industry. ZocDoc.com needed a new salesforce in Los Angeles and I was about to be a part of it.

Fast forward to my first week of training.
Second day in New York.
Getting on the elevator, 3000 miles away from home.
And I see Kevin Smith’s signature jersey.
In the elevator.
Being worn by Kevin Smith, himself.

(Sidenote…Mr. Man and I frequent a live show at the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club called Jay and Silent Bob Get old. Seriously-like we’re there once or twice a month to hear Kevin Smith and his buddy Jason Mewes record a podcast. It would not be that hard to meet them, I just haven’t had the good fortune to do so as of yet.)

So I lean in and say-“hey man, would it be weird if I told you I was at your show last Friday night and I’m a huge fan?” He was shocked, excited and amazing-so friendly, took a picture, shook hands, etc. It made my day. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, I ran into the man later than night and chatted it up about his new project for 10 minutes. AND he tweeted about meeting me and how it started his day off with a bang.

So here’s the thing.

I would not have been in New York had I not had the wherewithall to go where I thought MY puck might be going. And even though, in theory, I should have met Kevin Smith a dozen times in LA, I met him 3000 miles away from both of our homes, following MY puck as he was following his.

So now what?

Well-I defer to Kevin on this one.
(We’re totally on a first name basis, even if he doesn’t know mine)

Kevin Smith has a new film-check it out at www.coopersdell.com and even better than that, he has a new distribution model he’s trying out. Bucking the system a bit, four walling it and taking the film on the road. It’s brilliant and significant enough for a blog post of its own. But in Mr. Man’s terms-he’s doin it. He keeps saying it’s time to put your stick down, head up and SKATE! (think hockey)

So that’s what’s next.

This new job will try me in ways I have not been tried yet. It will be totally worth it but demand more out of me than any other job has. It will be amazing. As long as I keep my head up, stick down and skate like there’s no tomorrow.

So it’s time for a new post-it on my bathroom mirror.
And hopefully, in a year…
Kevin Smith and I will both be reaping the rewards!

Thanks Kevin-keep skating and I will be too!

-McGee

committee meeting.

(I wrote this for a guest blogging stint at http://www.themoxyproject.com/ but never posted it here.  The voices in my head have been loud and busy this week so I thought it appropriate to share!)

Sometimes I hear voices.

Like in my head.
Ok. More like often.

I know that’s not what you expect to hear when you come to the world headquarters of all things Moxy but I hear voices and oddly they sound a lot like me.

I refer to the voices as the committee.
And sometimes they start meetings in my head.
I have fired them before.
And I’ve adjourned many a meeting throwing people out as I go.

But allow me to back track a bit…

I’m a leader. I lead people, that’s what I do. I was born to do it. Then I studied it. Applied it. And rocked at it. Never once did it occur to me that I needed to lead myself. Until, that is, I came unglued. I managed to control every last piece of my life and the people in it (or so I had convinced myself) and then it all seemed to come crashing down at once. The year I sold my car, my house and lost my business made me realize that perhaps I didn’t have it all under control.

I know what you’re thinking-I totally WANT to tell you that I pulled my head right out and picked myself right up and moved along. I want to be that girl. But it took me awhile. I got caught in a committee meeting that just wouldn’t end.

You see-when life gets in the way of my plans or my plans go awry, my committee meeting is called to order. I hear voices when I should be listening for peace, inspiration and calm.

“I knew that would happen.”
“See? It always happens to us.”
“We can do this!”
“Nope, we don’t have any reserve left, let’s just cry in bed.”
“If only____then life would be better.”

It’s weird, it’s like I have the eternal optimist, the wounded teenager, the feisty hellion and the angel on my shoulder all going to bat for how I need to handle life. I used to try and work it out with them but it rarely ended well.

Here’s the thing, they work me up into such a frenzy. It’s as if I can’t even figure out which way is up. I’ll start reacting to one situation with the stress of another and before I know it I’ve irritated not only myself, but anyone within a 50 mile radius that needs anything from me. I react out of fear; I’m defensive while secretly confused and my knack for indecision runs rampant. I become the master second guesser-any decision I make might make or break my universe so I can’t figure out which way to go. It’s messy to say the least!

More often than not I ended up crying in bed with my pajamas having a pity party. Sad thing about a pity party is that the food is never any good and the company is worse.

And then someone told me to fire the committee and adjourn the meeting.

So I did.

I literally called a meeting in my own head-let them know that we would not be meeting like this anymore and I raised a gavel and said out loud-YOU’RE FIRED.

I learned to quiet the voices and just be in the crisis.
I learned to let go of the old story of my life and look for the new patterns.
I learned to be still and feel the moment.

I found that when ideas rattled around and around it probably wasn’t time to move in any direction. Once I felt calm I had a better idea of what to do next. I learned to trust myself again.

Like any time I’ve learned to set boundaries, I initially set them with a firm stance. (Read: iron fist) Ignoring my inner beings by shutting them down was easier than leading them, that’s for sure.

But with time I’ve accepted that the committee meeting in my head is an amalgam of my life and the parts of me that have been scared, hopeful, wounded and loved. Perhaps there is some wisdom there to honor.

As I’ve learned to honor myself and commit myself to more conscious self-leadership I’ve allowed the committee meetings to resume.

At times.

However.
I still hold the gavel.
And sometimes I need to recues a member or two.
But in large part, I check in with my committee to get what I need.

And then?

Meeting adjourned.

-McGee

pop up bubbles.

I've never been much of a Miss America fan but after learning that a new found friend competed in Miss Kansas once upon a time, a friend I actually regard as pretty smart and very interesting, I thought I would give it another look this year.  Just for kicks. 

Did you know that during the talent portion they have their own version of Pop Up Video?  It was awesome.  Random facts about the performing contestant in a little box on the screen.

In case I decide to compete for the Miss Older America pagent some day I started working on what my pop up bubbles would say...

Observed a solar eclipse on a hillside in West Africa.

Uses hairspray to keep her hair in place.

Hopes for world peace.

Makes the best fudge. Ever.

Once tore a ligament
kicking a locker door shut.

Inspired by Oprah, Kevin Smith and Jesus.

Secretly wishes to be on Oprah. For any reason.

Often mistaken for Charlize Theron.
Ok. Not really.

Mom to 5 kids but only had to give birth to 3.

Can’t raise chickens nor plow a farm.

Loves Smashing Pumpkins.
The band, not the activity.

All County High School Basketball player.
A long, long time ago.

Loves Thai food, Indian food and Chinese food.
Can’t cook any of them.

Once sold $10,000 worth of Tupperware in 30 days.

What do you think?  Good start?
What would be in your pop up bubbles?

-McGee

little MANnerisms

Time to ring in the new year with the first little MANerism of 2011.

Mini-McGee, Little Man and I are sitting outside of an In-And-Out Burger waiting for our order.  Little Man notices there are two walk up windows and says...loudly...Mom, that line is for the white people

and that one is for the black people!

(uh.  is it wrong to want to smack your kid?  did I mention there are plenty of people within ear shot?  and he's not quiet.  mortifying.)

Me:

"Dude.  What are you talking about?"

Little Man:

"There used to be two lines."

Me:

(LIGHTBULB) "Are you learning about Martin Luther King Jr in school?"

(Note:  I said it loud enough for the guy three blocks away to hear all the while praying that his answer would be yes so I could get the lady next to me to stop looking at me like I was a crazy racist.)

Little Man:

"YUP!  They used to have two lines and it wasn't nice or fair so on January 17th we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day and we fight with our words, not with our fists because with our fists would hurt someone."

Ahhhhhhhhhh...gotta love the thought process of a First Grader.

-McGee

parenthood.

Parenthood.
It makes me cry.

Well. I mean. I don’t mean being a parent.
Then again-sometimes that does make me cry.

But tonight I mean the show.
Are you watching Parenthood on TV???

Ah. Maze. Ing.
I tease (sorta) that my life is Parenthood meets Modern Family.

Tonight Sarah (Lauren Graham) is fumbling with how to support her daughter Amber (Mae Whitmen) who is a Senior in High School and really trying to find her own way. Sarah sits down with Amber and says:

(and yes. I did rewind and type this word for word.)
(I’m a geek. I know.)

“When you have kids, if you have kids, there’s something you should know. A very confusing thing they don’t tell you. You see so much of yourself in them. You see your ironic take on the world. You see your smile, your laugh, and your sense of humor, whatever. And you think they’re you. But they’re not you. And they shouldn’t have all of your baggage, your fear, your insecurity, and your life experience because that’s not fair. They have their own.”

Then she tries to help her daughter spread her wings and do her thing.
And I’m crying.
Not because it was sad.
But because it is so true.

I have a mini-me. I have two actually but the older one is hitting all the mile markers of growing up two years ahead of her younger sister. I have watched Mini-McGee and projected myself on her because I see McGee at 14 when I see her face. I want to protect her from the ugly world. I want to shield her from hurt, any hurt I ever had. Ever. But I can’t. And she will have her own experience no matter how like me she is. And so will my other mini-me. It’s part of life.

I couldn’t find the clip of Amber ending the show singing at an open mike night spreading her wings but this little montage gem made me cry a little harder so I thought I would be so kind as to share it with you.


 
If you aren't watching this show, start now.
It's awesome.
 
Need more tissue...McGee

I gotta feeling...

The Black Eyed Peas were on to something.
I gotta feeling tonight 2011’s gonna be a good night year!

Mr. Man and I have this little ritual.
This thing we do when we need to refresh and regroup.

HOT TUB TIME!

Last night just happened to be one of those nights.

Don’t know what is in the water or what magical healing powers can be found in the San Bernadino Hills or the 909 but whatever it is, I’m feeling it.

LAst night I was reminded of two things:

1. I am really married to my best friend. I could sit and talk to him over a hot tub picnic for hours on end until my finger tips are so pruned they no longer look like finger tips.

2. We have a lot in motion that holds a great deal of promise and upside to our future right now. We’ve worked really hard and are starting to see great results. Life really is good.

Yes there are obstacles.
Yes I would love to have more money in the bank.
Yes life gets in the way.

I’m just sayin…
It’s feeling like a good year coming on!

-McGee

my mom is the bomb.

In an interview this week:

“What makes you so successful and amazingly great, McGee?”
“Uh, my mom. Duh.  Google her.”

Ok so it didn’t quite go down like that but almost. Sitting through an interview this week (hopefully more to come about that on another day) I was asked why I was successful-where did my drive come from? I had to take a minute and adjust my answer because the first thing I thought was “I was just born and bred this way.” And I wasn’t sure that was the answer he was looking for.

You see, when it came to business, my mom has lived the Cinderella story-without the whole evil step sisters kind of thing and she didn't need a prince to save her-she dd that on her own. My mom got knocked down a couple times and always stood back up. Not only that, but she stood up with determination and the wherewithall to kick some serious ass and do it well. I’ve watched her succeed in business in any realm she applied herself with various degrees of financial reward and just grew up thinking that’s what you’re supposed to do. I just didn’t know any better I guess.

I’ve been knocked down a couple times. I don’t get back up as gracefully as her yet and my degrees of financial reward pale in comparison but hey-I’m only in my 30’s. I’m just getting started! But I have a hell of an example to follow. Everything that followed in that interview I could trace back to something my mom told me, showed me or expected from me at an early age.

On a randomly related note…Mr. Man and I were sitting outside the other night chatting and he told me his advice for Little Man once he was old enough to understand, would be to take a good hard look at your girlfriend’s mother. If you don’t love the mother, don’t marry the girl because odds are good…that’s what you’ll get. And seeing as how he married me even after knowing my mom really well in life and in business, I’ll take that as a huge compliment!

All this to say-today is my mom’s birthday and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate her than to play to my strengths that she gave me, fostered in me and expected from me (AND to remind her that her son-in-law loves her too). Us girls tend to rail against the “you’re just like your mom” card as teenagers but the older I get the more I hope people do see the parts of me that are just like my mom. I’m really good with that-bring it on!

Happy birthday mom!

-McGee

just for today.

Dear God,

Thank you for knowing better.
Thank you for denying my request for more hours in a day.
No matter how many times I asked.

Amen.

Days like today make me grateful that every 24 hours we get to close our eyes and recharge. Days like today make me so glad there are only 24 hours a day. Even better? I’m not generally awake to deal with all 24 hours!

In 12 step circles we hold tight to the concept of just for today. I always felt that one day at a time was all fine and good but until you give me the tools to practice that it’s just a cheap cliché thing to say. Then I read something called Just for Today…here are a few snipets…

"Just for today I will try to live through this day only, and not tackle all my problems at once. I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if I felt like I had to keep it up for a lifetime."


"Just for today I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my luck as it comes and fit myself to it."


"Just for today I will be un-afraid. Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful, and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me."

I look around me and see people on any given day that are dear to me who are dealing with big problems, little problems, crazy people, sick people and just plain assholes. (Pardon my French but frankly that’s my lot in life today). So for my sanity as well as yours, I offer you my own personal just for today…

Just for today I will think before I speak.
Just for today I will take people for who they are right now.
Just for today I will let God handle the universe for me.

Just for today I will not reach through the phone, rip her a new one, tell her what I really think of her, degrade her with my witty quips about what an asshole she is and how tired of her mean spirited, nonsensical passive agressive craziness I am.

What. Too much detail?
I never said I was perfect.

The point is, just for today. Tomorrow I may take it all back. What I’ve found though is that tomorrow I generally feel different, have more perspective, or I will have gained enough grace that I have enough to share and will find the courage to share it.

Things look different tomorrow than they do today.
So I will deal with them just for today.

And I will thank God that today is merely 24 hours.

-McGee

no. joke.

So Mr. Man and I are walking through the grocery store the other day gathering last minute odds and ends for dinner and this chick walks up to us.

She's wearing pajama pants, she's probably in her 50's, her hair is a crazy, hot mess, she has a coupon or two, a wallet and a bag of veggies balanced all in one hand.  And she walks up to us looking four kinds of crazy and missing a screw.  Not a screw loose mind you.  Just looking like she's missing it all together.

The us that includes Mr. Man who hates nothing more than strange people approaching him for any reason whatsoever.  If you don't know him, kindly leave him be while he picks his produce, thank you.

And she says...You guys wanna hear a joke?

To which, despite my present company, I say sure!

She puts her free arm on our cart and away she goes cracking herself up along the way...

"So this guy goes to the dentist for his toothache and the dentist says bad news, two root canals, this won't be good.  Let's get going but I'll start you with some pain killers right away.  The guy says no, no, no, I'm in recovery-I'm clean-I can't have any painkillers.  I'll just deal with the pain.  Dentist tries to convince him otherwise.  Guy stands his ground.  Dentist numbs him up and right before going to town hands him two little blue pills.  Guy says-hey man, no drugs.  Dentist says don't worry-these aren't narcotics.  Guy says-wait, are these Viagra?  I'm too young for Viagra, I don't need it for this work for sure, what are you thinking?  Dentist says...

(at this point she slaps the cart and busts out the punchline as she walks away)

"Well.  Without drugs I'd imagine you'll need something to brace yourself and hold on to."

Dude.  Did that just happen? 
Look to Mr. Man...

He's speachless.
And that's hard to do!

-McGee

2011? Oh. I got this!

Goals?
Not exactly.

Plan?
Too concrete.

Trying to think of what to call my replacement for New Year’s Resolutions. Last year worked out so well for me that I’m going double or nothing! Rather than produce a list of potential failures I decided, on good advice of my brilliant friend SARAH, to choose how I wanted to live and who I wanted to be each year.

(Yes. That IS the sound of the sky parting and the Hallelujah chorus.)

This year I would like to live on purpose and chose wisely my focus’s. (Or foci? Choose what I focus on more wisely. That’s what I meant. I defer to the first English expert that comments me the correct correction.)

Remember THIS? It is time to live my life on purpose. Daily. Living on purpose means being an active participant in life, no victim, no “innocent” bystanding, just participating and doing it on purpose. It's about living, not just letting life happen to me.

And then there’s focus. I read this somewhere this year-can’t find where I got it from so if it’s from you feel free to speak up! Or maybe it’s Oprah. She’s my default. If it’s great and I can’t figure out where it came from…she’s a likely suspect.

At the end of the day you either focus on what’s tearing you apart or you focus on what’s holding you together. Either way-it’s a choice.

Such an Ah-ha moment. Either way It’s a choice! Choose to focus on the haters or focus on the support people. Focus on the drama or focus on the joy.

IT. IS. A. CHOICE!

So 2010 peace out girl scout!
2011 Bring it on baby!

Focused and On Purpose.

It’s going to be a good one, I can feel it.

-McGee

peace-out 2010.

1 year
12 months
52 weeks (or is it 53?)
8,760 hours
FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED MINUTES
(Insert RENT theme song here)

Looking back I cannot believe a year has passed since THIS POST. Last year I decided I was through with New Year’s Resolution lists, also known as the list that leads to failure or how I make myself feel bad by March 1st every year. I wanted to live 2010 more openly and more creatively.

I WON!
I DID IT!
For the first time in my 34 years I actually succeeded.

And man it feels good!

2010 held a hell of a lot of CHALLENGES, buckets of CHANGE (not the jangling kind-the painful kind) and many, many BLESSINGS. I had people affect my life that I would care to never see again and made friends whom I hope will be in my life for as long as they can lovingly tolerate me! I have been open to other people and the way they do things (even Mr. Man a time or two, I’m still working on that one.  He has been right more, lately...thinking that's more about me than him...hmmm). I have written more, opened myself up more and been less perfect out in the open.

Result?

A blissfully open and creative life.
(For the most part-I mean, really-who’s perfect?)

It’s been amazing and freeing. I did lose some of those pounds I wanted to get rid of. I did change some habits I had been meaning to change and I made more money than the year before but the list was never the focus.

So as I sit down to write out my new focus for 2011 I raise a glass to 2010 and am secretly glad it’s over!  It’s time to refresh and renew and move on!

Check me out Wednesday for the new plan!
(GASP-I didn’t mean PLAN plan, we all know what happens when McGee makes a plan...God's laughed enough lately!)

-McGee

1.1.11

I cannot believe it.

It's already here.

Weren't we just at 1.1.10???

Still mulling over my past year and lusting over my next year.

More to come...but for now...

HAPPY NEW YEAR to my PEOPLE!