Sunday, July 20, 2008

Brandes Summer Picnic
























Ah, summer... let's all get together, put on our SPF60 and eat food! We did just that w/ my co-workers and their families. But since my DH (aka Dear Husband) has to work on weekends, I got to take my friends Stephanie and Sonnet. In fact, Auntie Lori really loves this opportunity to hang out w/ my girls. (Lee - I love you and all, but I sure had fun without you!)

This Summer our company summer picnic was at the Waterpark behind the Mission Beach roller coaster...... it was truly a gorgeous day. And I can't wait until next year!

I especially have fun watching our CFO on the wave machine!


Friday, July 18, 2008

RESPECT...

I'm a Republican. And I admit it... I voted for George W. Bush. Have I agreed with everything he's done (or not been able to do)? No. Do I think we've had more efficient Presidents? Yes. Will I bash him for it? No. And if the U.S. had a Democratic President making similar mistakes / creating similar problems ... we shouldn't be bashing him/her either.

Whether you are republican, democrat, independent or something else altogether... even Nancy Pelosi made a huge mistake by calling our President "a total failure". I won't go to the lengths to say she shouldn't have said it (free speech, right?)... but I do firmly believe that she shows us who she is every time she opens her mouth... and so far I'm not impressed.

President Bush is just that - our President! Where's the respect?! (Oh, I'm sorry - maybe I'm assuming too much here... does RESPECT still exist in our world?)

LISTEN - If you didn't vote at the last Presidential election then you can't complain. Next time - do your part!

I know, I like to mince words. Should I tell you how I really feel? Nancy Pelosi is not someone I want to have on my 'team' ... and quite frankly I'm embarrassed for her, and by her lack of decorum. Anyone else?!

Take for instance - kids who talk back to their parents. Face it, we've all done it. But does that make it right?! No - it's completely rude, disrespectful, unproductive and reflects a bit of imbecilic stature.


Article:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/17/pelosi.interview/index.html



Saturday, July 12, 2008

A change in perspective...

Had to share this... it's changed my perspective this week!!! - Lori

The Law of the Garbage Truck™Copyright 2007 David J. Pollay

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of your success is how quickly you can refocus on what's important in your life. Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. And I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, the car skidded, the tires squealed, and at the very last moment our car stopped just one inch from the other car's back-end. I couldn't believe it. But then I couldn't believe what happened next. The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. How do I know? Ask any New Yorker, some words in New York come with a special face. And he even threw in a one finger salute! I couldn't believe it! But then here's what really blew me away. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that!? This guy could have killed us!" And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck™."

He said:
"Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they look for a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you.

So when someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Believe me. You'll be happier."

So I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the street? It was then that I said, "I don't want their garbage and I'm not going to spread it anymore." I began to see Garbage Trucks. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead People." Well now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to dump it. And like my taxi driver, I don't take it personally; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favorite football players of all time was Walter Payton. Every day on the football field, after being tackled, he would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best. Over the years the best players from around the world in every sport have played this way: Tiger Woods, Nadia Comaneci, Muhammad Ali, Bjorn Borg, Chris Evert, Michael Jordan, Jackie Robinson, and Pele are just some of those players. And the most inspiring leaders have lived this way: Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King. See, Roy Baumeister, a psychology researcher from the University of Florida, found in his extensive research that you remember bad things more often than good things in your life. You store the bad memories more easily, and you recall them more frequently. So the odds are against you when a Garbage Truck comes your way. But when you follow The Law of the Garbage Truck™, you take back control of your life. You make room for the good by letting go of the bad. The best leaders know that they have to be ready for their next meeting. The best sales people know that they have to be ready for their next client. And the best parents know that they have to be ready to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses, no matter how many garbage trucks they might have faced that day. All of us know that we have to be fully present, and at our best for the people we care about. The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their life. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my bet: You'll be happier.

David J. Pollay is the author of "Beware of Garbage Trucks!™ - The Law of the Garbage Truck™. Visit www.bewareofgarbagetrucks.com to join the No Garbage Trucks! Revolution. His book, The Law of the Garbage Truck™, is due out this summer. Mr. Pollay is a syndicated columnist with North Star Writers Group, creator and host of "The Happiness Answer™" television program, an internationally sought after speaker and seminar leader, and the founder and president of TheMomentumProject.com

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Celebrating Independence!









Lucky me! I got to spend July 4th with my friends... well, they are family... but they are also FRIENDS that I'm super happy to have in my life! My mother's brother lives in town, with his wife, his three children, and two grandchildren! (SIDE NOTE - Oh my gosh... my uncle's a grandpa?! HA! I love doing that to him!) Well, it was another hot day in East County... so we spent it by the pool... great people, BBQ (aka 'great food'), and as usual, lots of laughter!

We will never forget the time we spent together today! Will we?!
As you can we had a lot of fun!

Copyright

All images are © Lori Tisdale, 1990-2011 unless otherwise noted. Images are posted for your personal inspiration only and may not be copied/pasted into emails to share with anyone else, posted on other sites, copied for publications, contest submissions, or monetary gain. I'd have to track you down and who knows what would happen then?! Thank you for being considerate.