tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-142497922009-04-09T11:11:20.231-04:00<i>"Your mind is filled with new ideas. Make use of them."</i> <br> <b>Join me as I love life, revel in my good fortune, nurture my family, open my mind and generally try to make the world a better place.</b>Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.comBlogger351125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-17974757712962688372009-02-16T17:36:00.002-05:002009-02-16T17:41:25.886-05:002009-02-16T17:41:25.886-05:00

Wow. I cannot believe I've been gone since August. Actually, I guess that's not true. I deliberately abandoned this blog because what I'd started here was quite far from what I wanted to write about. Still, it doesn't seem like I've been gone from here as long as I have.Lots going on. I'm writing a self-help book about overcoming depression. I'm really excited about it, actually. It's fun and (I

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-32238187059083741552008-08-15T16:56:00.005-04:002009-01-18T00:25:43.768-05:002009-01-18T00:25:43.768-05:00

I must get rid of this headache. I'm not sure if it's sinus related or if it's because I did a heavy duty cleaning of the dryer and its vents. I couldn't believe how much junk was in there. Definitely worth the time, but the dust kicked up wasn't pleasant.Speaking of sinuses, did I mention I am seeing an ENT (ear, nose & throat specialist)? This is the same man who did Rohan's tubes. I had a CAT

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-81397712753512737702008-08-11T13:41:00.002-04:002008-08-11T13:45:14.828-04:002008-08-11T13:45:14.828-04:00

If you haven't seen the men's 400m relay video, please do yourself a favor and check it out here. I don't think this is country specific; I imagine that anyone could appreciate a good race, which this definitely is.

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-10309992807409050782008-08-09T20:55:00.001-04:002008-08-09T20:55:02.677-04:002008-08-09T20:55:02.677-04:00

dreaming hillsides Originally uploaded by blue_fam I don't feel guided to write here anymore. I don't feel comfortable with expressing myself in such an open forum. I'm not entirely sure I'm going to continue with this blog.I had my first day of Reiki I training today, and during the second attunement, I started coughing. The Reiki Master later explained to me that the coughing means I'm

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-28281933712196245662008-08-05T17:03:00.003-04:002008-08-05T17:13:35.067-04:002008-08-05T17:13:35.067-04:00

GondolasOriginally uploaded by Garry' We returned from Pigeon Forge, TN, last night. We'd gone there on Thursday night to meet up with my family as well as Hiren's parents. My mom and stepdad rented a cabin on a mountain and it couldn't have been more fun. Everyone got to do what they wanted to do, and we were all left with things on our list that we'd like to get to next time.The two

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-19176432909551387692008-07-30T16:30:00.003-04:002008-07-30T16:32:12.079-04:002008-07-30T16:32:12.079-04:00

Beaver Marsh Boardwalk at SunriseOriginally uploaded by MarknCLE2007 I carried this around with me the entire time I was in boot camp (this and the "To Be or Not To Be" soliloquy from Hamlet). It was on at little card the size of a business card. I put it in a plastic Ziploc baggie to prevent it from the inevitable mud and muck of Marine Corps Recruit Training at Parris Island, S.C. I read it

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-52261629952209138192008-07-28T14:58:00.002-04:002008-07-28T15:01:35.607-04:002008-07-28T15:01:35.607-04:00

Smokey Originally uploaded by azmiaam How to say all this without sounding like a condescending, spoiled, rich bitch? No clue. I am so sick of de-cluttering my house. I am completely revolted by all the crap I've accumulated in my life. I have finally entered that state where I just want all the superfluous items GONE. Why in the holy hell do I still have the program from my 1989 high school

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-52744131986894251142008-07-23T15:28:00.004-04:002008-07-25T09:00:31.936-04:002008-07-25T09:00:31.936-04:00

Field of DreamsOriginally uploaded by jianming li I have been feeling particularly uninterested in computer time lately. I had friends visiting this weekend and was having too much fun with them to bother logging on much. They left on Monday, but maybe they managed to break me of my computer habit. *Oh please, oh please, oh please.*Just a few notes. I've been decluttering like a maniac. Four

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-9505581334032752182008-07-18T15:43:00.002-04:002008-07-18T15:45:13.763-04:002008-07-18T15:45:13.763-04:00

summer Originally uploaded by jokot This fantastic list was written by Pamela Redmond Satran for Glamour Magazine's July 2008 issue. I love these because they're short, elegant, kind, and forceful. I'm going to cut the article out and hang it on my bulletin board. With any luck, I'll have them memorized and ready to go when necessary.1. I'm going to have to pass.2. I'd love to, but I just

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-33849721010001240002008-07-15T09:47:00.002-04:002008-07-15T09:49:51.409-04:002008-07-15T09:49:51.409-04:00

a real dream Originally uploaded by Alex Alexandrovna Last week I said I'd hit two major milestones in my weight loss efforts, but I didn't want to celebrate them because I felt certain I'd gain weight this week. Well guess what?I've lost 31 pounds AND I've hit my 10% weight loss goal. Yay!!!!!!! Oooo-ooooo!!I've been steadily wandering into that "I feel compelled to exercise" area. I've

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-25267713171712439122008-07-14T15:02:00.004-04:002008-07-15T08:40:20.929-04:002008-07-15T08:40:20.929-04:00

puesta de solOriginally uploaded by Jose M.Ocaña I don't know what hit me yesterday, but I went through a filing cabinet of old documents. These were painful things that for years I played the "out of sight, out of mind game" with. Things related to my divorce and extremely bitter custody issues. My Marine Corps records. My VA records from when I first got disability. All of it--painful stuff

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-43141654579614374522008-07-12T10:50:00.004-04:002008-07-12T11:12:42.396-04:002008-07-12T11:12:42.396-04:00

I just received this note on my last entry:Nicole -You have been an inspiration to me for a couple of years now. I found it amazing that you were able to lose such a large amount of weight. I thought it was wonderful the way your husband loved and supported you through it all. but mostly because he never pressured you into losing weight - but simply accepted you for the person you are. Congrats

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-44125438500492730942008-07-11T16:32:00.002-04:002008-07-11T16:33:48.760-04:002008-07-11T16:33:48.760-04:00

grass car, kensington market Originally uploaded by sweatsock We went to Chinatown while we were in Toronto--it was the first place I noticed that I wasn't afraid of crowds. Believe me, on a sunny Saturday afternoon in the summer, that place is PACKED. But I was fine and enjoyed wandering around.Then we decided to walk to Kensington Market, which starts about two blocks away from Chinatown,

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-71017903000942878002008-07-10T16:27:00.002-04:002008-07-10T16:32:44.953-04:002008-07-10T16:32:44.953-04:00

After The Harvest ! Originally uploaded by SteveMG Something happened to me while I was on the treadmill today. I'm not sure exactly what, why, or when, but I know that I need to ramp up the changes in my life just a bit more.The biggest things I need to do is cut back on my computer time. True, I haven't been on the computer much in the past week or so, which is probably what's made me

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-86957927959528687792008-07-04T17:20:00.006-04:002008-07-04T18:15:36.659-04:002008-07-04T18:15:36.659-04:00

I am back in Toronto, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite places in the world. Thank God; it's soooo much closer than Istanbul.We came here impulsively. My mom wanted Ashlan to visit for a few days, and while Hiren and I were discussing where we should meet her, one of us offhandedly suggested meeting her in Buffalo and then heading across the border for some fun in Canada. Well, it's

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-89880185517097250992008-07-02T15:57:00.002-04:002008-07-02T16:02:49.504-04:002008-07-02T16:02:49.504-04:00

I've been married to Hiren for five years now. He loves India, and would travel there every year (or more often). Me? I'm not as fond of it. I could go into the reasons, but I'm not going to. I've decided that it's time for me to quit hoping I'll fall in love with India, and instead DO something about about.If you any experiences with India, I'd love to hear about them. However. I ONLY want to

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-72725264231394296242008-06-30T11:25:00.005-04:002008-06-30T11:41:52.599-04:002008-06-30T11:41:52.599-04:00

Worlds-End-VistaOriginally uploaded by charlie32480 My brother, Josh, took the photo on today's entry. He's an amazing photographer, and this is a gorgeous photo. Love it!I haven't felt like writing lately. I have been particularly uninspired, and for no good reason. Usually when I don't feel like writing it's because I'm depressed, but I can honestly say that isn't the case this time. Not

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-40481325851067480292008-06-26T22:11:00.002-04:002008-06-26T22:14:22.057-04:002008-06-26T22:14:22.057-04:00

DSC_0120 Originally uploaded by ericgood Try as I might, I didn't make it to that lovely "30 pounds lost" marker. I maintained this week at 29 pounds gone. Which is just fine because I'd lost five pounds in the previous two weeks.I am really proud of myself for exercising so much and for sticking with WW. I can't believe I've lost nearly 30 pounds. Beyond that, I can't believe that I've

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-32673779374280818062008-06-23T14:30:00.003-04:002008-06-23T14:58:55.890-04:002008-06-23T14:58:55.890-04:00

Roan Mountain VOriginally uploaded by Rob Travis HIREN IS HOME!! Yay!! I'm so glad to have him back. He had a funny story to tell about Istanbul.The hotel he'd stayed at, the Four Seasons on the Bosphorous, had only opened a few days before. He tried to explain to his taxi driver that he wanted to go to this particular hotel, but the man didn't know it existed. So, Hiren told him the name of a

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-5457171187205218432008-06-18T14:22:00.003-04:002008-06-18T14:24:44.364-04:002008-06-18T14:24:44.364-04:00

NOVEMBEROriginally uploaded byphoto61guy We had just returned from getting Rohan's hair cut for the first time. He was so happy; it was obvious that he thought he looked very handsome. He was also thrilled that the nice lady gave him a gorgeous red balloon with a looooooong ribbon string that reached all the way to the floor.I'd settled him into his highchair and given him some peaches, when

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-84269581816546029012008-06-17T22:07:00.003-04:002008-06-17T22:10:27.071-04:002008-06-17T22:10:27.071-04:00

BlondeOriginally uploaded by Akcija / Katarina 2353 I'm ridiculously tired right now, so this will be brief.Remember how I lost 4.5 pounds last week? And how I said if I could maintain that big of a loss, I'd be doing great? Well...I lost an additional half pound this week!! *gasp* I am stupefied and happy.Hiren flies from Moscow to Istanbul tomorrow. NOW I'm jealous. That's my favorite city

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-52603670094242603242008-06-16T22:54:00.003-04:002008-06-16T22:56:40.989-04:002008-06-16T22:56:40.989-04:00

Close to My HeartOriginally uploaded byBluebird0927 (IN/OUT) FINALLY back to ESL today. I'd completely forgotten how much I missed it. Today was our first day of summer session, so we have a lot of new students from the ESL classes that don't meet over the summer. It should be fun getting to know some one students.The one Russian lady grabbed my arm today and said, "Nicole. You are so

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-55274873639480537162008-06-15T23:01:00.002-04:002008-06-15T23:03:11.697-04:002008-06-15T23:03:11.697-04:00

Taj Mahal at sunset Originally uploaded by betta design I did everything I needed to do today, which mainly means I kept my sanity, cared for the kiddos, and did my treadmill. That pretty much sums it up.Hiren made it safely to Moscow, slept most of the day, then went for dinner at an Indian restaurant. It's really hard for him to get vegetarian food in Russia, but at Indian restaurants

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-56669532125207961212008-06-14T22:57:00.002-04:002008-06-14T22:58:14.274-04:002008-06-14T22:58:14.274-04:00

Inverno Originally uploaded by giancarlo rado Today is my fifth wedding anniversary. Where DID the time go? I seriously had to do the math to make sure it's really been five years. I doesn't seem like it's possible.I've been feeing sorry for myself all day. No, not sorry for myself so much as sad. Hiren is somewhere over the Atlantic right now, on his way to Moscow. Then to Istanbul. He'll be

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14249792.post-86307885360235160712008-06-11T13:01:00.004-04:002008-06-11T13:59:33.863-04:002008-06-11T13:59:33.863-04:00

I haven't done one of these in a while, have I? Behold my list of things I'm loving right now:1. Ceramic nail files. You wouldn't believe how cool these are. They don't even seem like they'd work because they're barely rough, but believe me--they work great! The foot file is amazingly good at smoothing out rough feet, to the extent that I've retired my Bath & Body Works file. Also, since I'm a

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10201356679764486248noreply@blogger.com5