Something disturbing happened today.

So, I train with Daymond Sewall at PHENOMENAL FITNESS.

I am a born again couch potato. But, I need to lose 30lbs.

I hate exercise and love food.

But, something disturbing happened today. I did this long UPHILL bike ride today. I didn't want to do it. But, I knew Daymond would not be happy if I didn't. And, after all, why have a trainer if you are going to ignore them?

All along the way, I could hear Daymond saying,

"Come on Pe-nel-o-peeee, (he has a wierd way of saying my name when I am working out) you can do it."

So, I kept going.

"Just to that next line in the road..... Just to that next car....... Just to that tree....." I panted.

Until I finally made it home.

Exhausted. Sweaty. Nauseous.

Didn't feel this glorious 'high' after working out.

But, the disturbing fact is that, this couch potato actually got off her butt and went for a pretty hard physical ride.

Miracles can happen.

With thanks to Daymond and all those at www.phenomoc.com

Whats with the election in the US?

Whats with the campaigning in this country?

I hate politics, always have done. In this country I am a Demublican! I get fed up with the politicians lack of integrity and sticking to their word.

Here in the USA, its NUTS!!

They started campaigning for the Presidential election about the beginning of this year. Its all we hear about on the TV and internet news.

The election is not until NEXT NOVEMBER!!!

Not everything about the UK is best, far from it. But, the election campaigning system is.

ONE MONTH. Thats it! One Month.

Thats enough for me.

And.... they have restrictions on the influence of outside political groups in fundraising and political advertising.

Come on USA, there is better things to spend our money and time on!

ipad2

So excited.

Getting an ipad2 soon.

Wanted one for ages. How useful. How portable. How fun.

I am just a geek at heart. LOVE gadgets!

Ordered it ages ago, online.

Why?

'Cos I have a son who works at Apple and he gets me 25% discount!

Nice!

But, they are back ordered, so I wait.

And wait.

And wait.

Its like expecting a baby, but less painful.

Or waiting for Christmas.

So, here I sit, by the front door, waiting for the FedEx man.

Waiting, for my ipad!

Fridays

I like Fridays.

Fridays are for winding down.

For relaxing.

For spending time at the end of the day with good friends, glass of wine and chatting.

Fridays are spent thinking about your weekend with family and activities.

Even if its a busy weekend, its often filled with fun things.

My weekend?

Friday Fun Night at our house.... so looking forward to that.

Saturday - Garage Saleing with a very good friend, Gardening, Friends over for dinner.

Sunday - Meeting as a church, Music Festival at the Lake where my son is playing.

I DO love Fridays!

I remember

Almost everyone can remember where they were on Sept 11th, 2001.

This video helps us remember.

I was asleep, when I was woken up by my husband. It was about 6:20am. He had been eating breakfast and watching the news.

"A plane has accidentally gone into one of the Twin Towers in NY! Put the TV on!"

I did as requested and together we watched. We discussed how a plane could go so out of the way, some kind of pilot or engine failure maybe? As we watched, to our utter disbelief, another plane crashed into the other tower. This was no accident. This was a terrorist attack.

Our children got up and watched in horror. We went to school but nobody could really work. Parents and teachers alike were in whispered tones. The day kept getting worse - a plane in the Pentagon, one in a field missing its intended target. We all cried as the towers disintegrated and fell.

So surreal.

After work, I came home and sat in silent, still shock. I started to cry.

All those people killed. All that devastation. All that evil.

As a Brit, how did I feel?

I felt like my country had been hit.

It was this day that I decided to become a citizen of the USA.

What DO we remember 10 yrs on? We remember the event. We think, pray and grieve for those who lost loved ones. We determine not to allow that kind of evil again, anywhere.

But, it also makes us remember whom we love today.

Hold on to those you love. Love them today with all your might. No regrets. No "wish I would have said that". No 'but only if they had known'. Love them today, because you never know if this day could be their last, or yours.

Social Media... is it wrong?

Debates have gone back and forth. Is FB, in particular, wrong?

My mother says its "silly". My sister wasn't convinced. My friend is not on it at all, because its 'stupid'. My colleague says, "he hasn't time'.

I can see the dangers. You have to be careful. But then don't you have to be careful in life?

Some people say we are missing the 'face-to-face', but in this hectic, busy world, I, for one, wasn't getting much of that anyway.

I am actually a big advocate of FB and all social media. Yes, it can distract me, and I can sometimes spend more time on it than I want, but there are some great reasons why I love it.

I connect with all my family and friends across the world - one sister lives in the UK, the other in South Africa. I love them, I miss them, and all their families. With Facebook I see pictures, hear their news and keep in touch with them with wall posts. Its wonderful!

And besides all that, I have reconnected with past friends, get events from nearby ones, made connections in business and learned more about the peeps in my life. How much more wonderful is that?!

In fact, the sister who was not convinced, I think is now. We post back and forth and it makes me feel so connected to her thousands of miles away.

I love FB and if you want to be my friend check me out at 'Penelope Atkinson' and our company at 'Giraffe Promotions'. Lets FB!

Taking your rest?

"Sunday, Sunday... Looks good to me."

Sunday, a day for chilling, unwinding, relaxing.

After meeting together as a church (the church is the people, not the building) - which was fantastic, I headed on home.

Its Sunday, so going to have a little nap, do a few hobbies, chat with family, friends come and go. Its all good.

Its all very good.

Whatever your beliefs, everyone should have a 'day of rest'. Whether you take it on Saturday or Tuesday, who cares? But one day is good for the body, mind and spirit.

Are you taking your 'rest'?

To blog or not to blog

To blog or not to blog, that is the question?

Questions.... lots of them, going around in my head.

Will anyone read this? Is what I write, drivel? Who would want to read it?

Still nothing ventured, nothing gained. If you never try, you never succeed (or you can have an awfully good time).

So, here it is. My first post.

Here starts the talking, nattering, chatting of a BRITish girl, living in California and what she observes! (Just bear with me as I get used to the site!)