It's A Pooh Calendar Kind-A-Day

So.

Workload is getting heavy.

Lauren is drinking too much coffee.

Alarm is going off earlier and earlier in the mornings.

(Didn't you just do a blog post on balance? Really Lauren, really?)

The results? 

Blog posts are getting less frequent and more silly.

WHAT TO DO?  

Go back to the basics Lauren.

Poo.

What does today's POOH calendar tell us?

A Hot Cup of Mud

The world's most expensive coffee, 

costing hundreds of dollars a pound, 

is civet coffee.

Treasured by gourmets, 

it is gathered from the feces of civets, 

catlike animals.

(You mean this guy? Whoa!)

Civets consume

coffee cherries which them ferment in their stomachs,

then poop out the fermented coffee bean.

The resulting brew is said

to be exceptionally smooth.

Ummm.

Naw.

Not buying it.

(literally not purchasing the items nor 

do I believe these coffee connoisseurs)

So...yeah.

Ms.Wells'sss Work Life Balance (Short Image Version)

HECK NO I do not have work life balance  but who does?

Well, then PASS ALONG THE RECIPE - would ya?

Been looking for it for years.
Sigh*
Never did find it.

First ingredient to finding work/life balance?

Things that WE love vs. Things that WE don't like as much

Hmmmm.

What if I feel equally torn between the two?

Meaning I love work

(which is what most people don't like)

AND

and love doing things that I also love to do outside of work

(Example? Long runs, getting lost often and

ultimately exercising with a fatal twist to each workout - HAH!)

Okay.

Let's take a different approach.

What kinda SKILLS do you got?

Self-discipline is always a tough one for me.

Too many ideas, too many activities to do which

I can't seem to let go.

Maybe laughing about it all (not having balance that is) would be better?

Help me let go?

Be less stressed?

Less pressure?

Can you be searching for that balance, 

trialling-failing-trying again 

WHILE having fun?

(Like stealing Candy from a baby like this guy is doing?)

Hmmm.

Or what if you decide that it's OKAY to be unbalanced for a little while...

...then slowly put your other foot down.

Hmmm.

Is that healthy?

Or is it okay to ask for a helping hand?

When do you ask? Or long should you wait?

Hmmm.

I just don't know.

If I could get instructions step-by-step that would be great.

Impossible yes, but great to imagine none-the-less.

I think work/life balance is a load of b.s. because....

...there is no recipe, no one stop-shop answer.

It's every man/woman for themselves.

Everyone is different.

Everyone therefore has different limits.

Trying to figure out those limits and comparing is exhausting.

It cannot be done.

Your "balance" comes from you which means that 

experimenting,

trial an error,

making mistakes

maybe making those mistakes twice, three times if necessary

are all apart of your finding your recipe for balance.

Slow and steady wins this race, 

not 

those who do nothing to find balance 
or those who do too much.

Sigh*

Definitely striving for my work/life balance to look 

A LOT MORE LIKE THIS.

Nailed it.

It's Friday - SCHOOL IS OUT!

School campus after a LONG Friday.

Kids are GONE, teachers are GONE everyone is OUT.

Except for this guy.

So why don't I show you around, no?

Done & done.

One of Ms.Wells'sssss classrooms....

....there's the evidence!

Courtyard outside my room.

Lovvvve these benches.

Well, no. 

I haven't actually sat down in one of them.

I will though, I am sure I will.

Eventually....maybe in 6 months?

More outside school shots.

(Who doesn't LOVE a table with an umbrella? Sigh*)

The back fields are massive...it's awesome!

Really awesome.....

One of my favourite parts of the school 

other than

my classroom of course...

Well, the students too, of course!

And OH yeah.

My colleagues are kinda amazing too, of course....

Just keep digging Lauren.

Keep digging.

WHERE WAS I?

Oh yeah.

THE POOL!

With a GYM right above it!

Happiness is being able to workout at your school right after a long week.

Boom.

As I said, spoiled rotteeeeeeeeeeen.

Hah!

Pinch Me Harrrrrd.

Pinch me.

No please, pinch me hard.

I said hard.

Harrrrder!!!

Naw.

Didn't feel a thing.

Well, guess I gotta keep living the dream?

I mean really?

REALLY!?!?!

Do I really live here?

Sigh*

Yes, yes I do.

(smiling*)

After Three Years, It Happened....

After three years in the Desh, I have now found myself in a city where

rowing is actually possible....

...and so, yeah.

It happened.

I rowed a boat.

NOT wearing that stupid hat of course....pffft!

Who wears a hat like that anyways while rowing?

(My shipment has not come in, I had no choice! No wonder I 

had to "tryout" to be considered for the club)

Whatever,.

I AM TOO DANG EXCITED to be back in a single.

(Until I get blisters, then I quit!)

Hah.

Ahhhh, Hanoi.

I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship.

Un Petit Pose (A.k.a. Forced Relaxation for Ms.Wells)

I made myself stop everything and do a little "self-care"

(although I cannot tell you how long it too me to DRAG myself out 

to this place....over a week!)

Love the bricks, the statue, the plant that is all up in my space.

Hah.

A shoutout to Pacifique...the TEA in Dhaka is STILL better!

(Grand BISOUS a toi Bella!)

Maybe I could get an artist/carpenter to come into my house,

take out a wall

and put this wood work in instead?

(And then of course, move the following year....that's my style)

Or who needs a painter or carpendter?

Why not just let plants grow right on the wall?

Something like this.

It's a plant-rack-growing-thingy of COURSE!

Done & done.

Ahhhh, that lake never gets boring to look at.

Good name, good place, I feel better.

Job well done.

Now back to work!

So...yeah.

Just A Regular First Day Assembly...

Umm, did this really happen?

At my first assembly?
 Of my new school?
(And will they keep be awesome like this ALL year?)

WHOA.

Yessssss, YES IT DID HAPPEN!

Giddy up.

I am spoiled rotten, 

loving-life, 

let the SCHOOL times roll baby!

(and the work load too, of course)

(Gulp)

p.s. I want to be the school Mascot.

I Want to Ride My Bicycle, I Want to Ride My Bike...

Me and my bike 

have been spending a lot of time together.

We ride to school together.

We train together.

We even ride the elevator together...

...even when there is not enough room for both of us.

Sigh*

To sum up?

I love my bike.

(Although I realize its still the honeymoon phase,

don't worry, I know there are hard times ahead.

Example?

It looks like its gonna rain and this little guy is no

good on slippery and slick surfaces - ugggh!)

Oh WELL!

For now, I am THRILLED to be back on a bike everyday!

"I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike

I want to ride my bicycle, 

I want to ride it where I like"

p.s. Wearing my most elegant and trendy HARVARD jersey!

Bahahahhah!

Milles fois merciiiii Marc&Tonia ;-D

Things I Miss and Really Appreciate

Okay -okay.

I know what you are thinking.

You miss the bridge or the white behind of someone?

I miss BOTH!

(If you can believe it, both white butt and red bridge)

Why?

Because it belongs to this lovely lady...okay, maybe look at the smiling face below.

BAH-Hah!

One of my last afternoons in Wakefield, Quebec was spent sitting on rock,

in the sunshine,

reading my book,

talking with Tina,

people watching, 

wading in cool, dark, bridge waters

and of course,

listening to Quebecois French.

Tee-hee.

Ahhhhh - heaven!

There is that BUTT picture AGAIN!

For PETE's SAKE Tina...move your delightful butt, would you?!?

(It can't ALWAYS be about you Tina!)

Tsk-tsk!

What would Rhiannon say about this photo?

What would she say about this swimming spot?

What would she say about jumping off the bridge? 

She WOULD love this place.

And probably jump more than once off the bridge...although she does

like watching things splash into water rather than herself

being the "splash" in the water.

Like I said, this really is a little piece of heaven...

...and this is me ferociously trying not to cry.

Epic fail.

But we didn't get the crying bit on camera.

(Thank GAWD. Pretty sure you can all use your imagination!)

So...yeah.

10 Reasons Why Getting Older Ain't that Bad (First Draft)

I have been arguing a lot with people lately.
About what?

Well...

ABOUT GETTING OLD = LIFE SUCKS

(A.k.a. that getting old is NOT fun).

That the real truth about getting old is that it makes life

sad,

depressing and,

even flat-out surprises some people 

because it just sneaks up on you and then once you realize it...

it's all downhill from there.

Really?
Wait, a minute. Can you repeat that?
Whaaaaat!?!

No way.
Nope, I don't get it.

I always thought being "old" or getting "older"
was cool?

Did I miss something?
Isn't that what we all wanted as kids?

Adults get to do whatever they want, right?

No rules?

No curfews?

No one telling them what to do?

Look at my granny, owning it at 93 years old.

Coolest most easy-to-talk to woman I know.

WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO INSPIRE

to be like that?

This outlook on "getting old" angers me but also really scares me.

What if getting old is NOT what it's cracked up to be?

So I came up with an idea

(and got some help from some new and old friends)

WE MADE A LIST.

A list for why it's AWESOME and EXCITING to get older.

(especially in your 90's)

10 Reasons Why Getting

Older Ain't that Bad

#1.

Senior discounts are HUGE both in the 

U.S.A. as well as, Canada.

Everything from;

restaurants,

hotels,

entertainment,

phone contracts,

flowers

car rentals,

transportation, 

YOU NAME IT!

And the best part?

A lot of other countries also have these special discounts for

people who are older...so GET EXCITED!

(Clearly I'm excited about this! 

My dad has ALWAYS been a fan of this (my Pop's in pic below).

He's always been after the "Seniors discount"

Classy dad, CLASSY!)

#2.

Some of the best looking teeth in the world.

You can GUESS why?

Fake teeth = PErrrFECT teeth!

ANOTHER THING TO LOVE

ABOUT GETTING OLDER

(Or do you wanna look like this guy below?

NO TEETH?!?

I didn't think so)

#3.

Your SEX LIFE is the BEST it's ever been. 

(Pardon me? You are joking right.)

I do not joke.

I will repeat.

Studies show that as you get "older" your sex life

IMPROVES

and

 according to studies become more enjoyable 

in your 

40's, 50's and 60's.

(crickets)

YOUPEEEEEEEEE!

Well....who knew?

(I sure didn't but guess what? I will take it and get excited about that!)

Next.

#4.

You finally know WHO you are.

(And you don't really care WHAT people think because...

...you're so old!)

Bahahhah.

Examples?

Best SPICE GIRLS possy I have ever been apart of.

Hands down!

Go SPORTY GOOOOO!!!!

I have never had so much fun...and NO ONE my age would 

have been as CRAZY as these ladies.

No one.

Another example  of one of the most delightful, 

fun, 

silly, 

generous

"older" ladies I have ever met.

The best part?

She is pretty important in her career and well....

it don't matter!!!

She knows who she is and she 

know how to WORK HARD but also

PLAY HARDER.

Just ONE of MANY amazing "older" people that I know whom 

I respect, look-up to and fiercely adore.

True story.

(If I could live life the way she does at her age,

I would be so happy and proud of myself.

Here's to trying!)

#5.

You have time to visit the places 

you've ALWAYS wanted to see!

A little bit of London perhaps?

Or beautiful, secluded islands off Madagascar...

Ahhhh, a little night along the promenade.

Or the Canadian wilderness?

Okay, maybe a garden with flowers as big

as your head is not a REAL

destination...but you never know?

#6.

You can watch your kids 

(or if you are an auntie like me)

get older and support them...or is it SPOIL them?

Bahahha!

(I was TOTALLY spoiled as a kid...it was AWESOME!)

Thus why I SPOIL my nephews and nieces....naturally!

Have some chocolate Mal? It's all for YOU darlin'

Yup - brushing your teeth on the counter instead of standing up.

Crazy auntie Lolo let's us to ANYTHING!

Boom.

#7.

You probably own lots of STUFF!

Like what?

Money

Boats

Houses

Cars

Jewelry

Furniture

More furniture

More dishes than you know what to do with

Five TV's

SHOULD I GO ON?

And if you don't want them all?

YOU SELL THEM AND GET $$$.

SO yes, 

getting older = being RICH!

Fact.

I am looking forward to THAT!

Bahahhahaha.

(I am and will be the richest poor person I know!)

#8.

What about the simple pleasure of knowing and 

having a real understanding between 

WHAT IS IMPORTANT

and 

WHAT IS NOT IMPORTANT.

I feel like I have been trying to figure that out for

years...balancing between the two.

Comparing.

Failing,

Trying again, experimenting.

Succeeding.

And then failing again.

YOU DO GET BETTER AT THAT, right?

Sure as HECK hope so.

(Fingers crossed.

Or it's gonna be a long-long life full of drama and silly mistakes!)

That's all I got for now.

THUS WHY IT'S DRAFT #1.