Thursday, May 24, 2012

Miracles, miracles and yet more miracles!

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Oh my goodness. What an exciting and busy life I am leading at the moment, which has meant I have not been able to get posts on my blog. One day I will be more organised and write blog posts in advance (oooh what's that flying overhead?).

So, I wanted to update on my meditating month and a few 'miracles' that have been happening recently. Some are small and some much bigger, some I can tell you and some have to be a secret for a while! Oooh I am bursting to tell something really exciting but I don't want to jinx it, so I'm going to keep quiet until it is all confirmed.

I have been pretty good at my meditating. Sometimes at weekends I have simply got too busy and forgotten, but am working on that. But I can already see the little miracles happening in my life. I know that if I can appreciate all the good things that I will create more things to appreciate and a lovely upward cycle will continue. So here are some of the fab stuff that's been happening:

Work 

I am currently temping (full time) for this amazing events management company. The work itself is quite boring but I just love working here. Mostly because the people I work with are so lovely. But also because every 5 minutes we get a treat of some kind. Here are a few that I can remember offhand:

  • When it is quiet (which, thank God, it was all through April) they are quite happy for us to do other things, like write or blog.
  • Free bagels every Monday (4 kinds of bagel, 3 types of cream cheese).
  • Taco Truck - every so often they hire one to drive into the carpark below and everyone is allowed to eat as much as they like during the 3-4 hours. It was delicious and I discovered I was saying "Taco" all wrong. I was being very English and pronounding it "Tacco" but really it was "Tarco". Well, how was I supposed to know and explains why I have so much trouble ordering at those bloody awful drive throughs at Taco Bell.
  • Lunch - they are always providing scrummy lunches if we have training. Last time it was 3 different delicious pasta dishes, 2 different salads and 2 types of bread. Yum. But not good for my gluten-free, dairy-free diet! 
  • Easter - they hid eggs with chocolates inside all over the office and then dressed someone up as the Easter Bunny and we were all given an easter egg with a $2 note inside, with random eggs containing $50 notes!
  • $100 gift cards - given out when you have worked hard (obviously I have not had one of these). 
  • $10 gift cards - given out when a colleague says you have done something really good (I forced my friends to say nice stuff about me and I got a 10 bucks Starbucks card).
  • But I have saved the best til last ... in August they are taking ALL the staff (there are 80-85 of us, including temps) to Las Vegas for the weekend, just for fun. And we are all going to be staying at The Venetian Hotel, which is bloody gorgeous (and was on my wish list of places to stay). AND they recently decided that instead of sharing, we can all have our own rooms.
How fab is that?

Writing

My writing group reformed at the beginning of the year as the Write On, Mamas! We decided to make it more of a cooperative group with everyone helping out and contributing, rather than driven by one person. It has simply been amazing. All these talents that had been hidden previously have come to the surface. We have gone from a core group of about 5 in January to 38 members and growing, and are going to self-publish an Anthology this year. Here are some of our recent achievements:
  • We already have an agent interested in our Anthology, who will also help if we self-publish
  • We have a sponsor for the launch party
  • We have a spot in the increasingly popular Litcrawl (this is like a literary pub crawl, which happens as part of Litquake - the largest literary festival on the West Coast - in San Francisco). The Litcrawl is really sought after and getting a spot in a real coup. It means that 5 of us will read something we've written aloud to a rowdy, possibly drunk crowd in a bar, or art gallery or even a laundromat! A bit like an Open Mic, I suppose, but not 'open', so just a mic. I will let you know if I get chosen to read. The subject: Mommy Sex!
Also, my very exciting secret news is under this heading, but sshhhhh Secret Squirrel!

Silly stuff

  • Kindle. I have a brand new Kindle Fire at home I hadn't yet had time to work out how to use (it's really my husband's which he needs for work, but I am obviously going to nab it). I keep thinking that I really must take it out of the box and then just can't be bothered to work out how to use it. Then, at work yesterday, for an incentive program I am working on, everyone is getting a Kindle Fire and I was shown how to turn it on, charge it, connect it to wireless internet, load up a pdf document, and add and remove favourites. So now I know how to use the damn thing I might actually open the box at home. Any suggestions for my first upload?
  • Mountain Play. They do these amazing plays on the Mount Tamalpais in Marin Co which are supposed to be fabulous. I have wanted to go since I got here, but my husband wasn't keen to go again and I hadn't got around to organising it. Last week, one of my lovely American friends emailed me to say she had FREE tickets and would I like to be her guest. Yes please. But my son Tom wanted to go too, and no sooner had I mentioned this but she somehow managed to have another free ticket drop in her lap. Normally you have to hike up the mountain (apparently all part of the experience, but in the hot Californian sunshine with my dodgy knees?) and wouldn't you know it but my friend also has a FREE parking pass which means we can just drive up and park at the top.
There has been other wonderful stuff happening too, little things, but I am in danger of being verbose again!

I love this meditating lark. My manifesting ability is getting really good. Now, just gonna go and work on that red Ferrari ...

22 comments:

  1. Las Vegas?? Just for fun?? What kind of a hell-hole are you working for!? I am disgusted that there are bosses out there, who would treat their staff with such respect and caring...it would never happen over here. Shame on them.

    Seriously though, how amazing is that! it's nice to know that there are still employers who value there workforce.

    And I don't want to push the whole secret thing...but I need to know... NOW!!

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    1. I know, what are they thinking, Lily? Honestly, forcing us to go and enjoy ourselves in a swanky hotel in Vegas, organising two parties for Friday and Saturday nights and everything. Horrible. Truly awful.
      Oooh I so want to tell you my secret ... are you on Facebook?

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  2. Wow tons of stuff going on and Las Vegas!!! That is soo awesome. I am jealous now, I want to go too haha

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    1. I know - so fab. How was your holiday? Oh, I suppose I would know if I'd had to visit your blog! Welcome back.

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  3. Wow, you have been very busy! It's seriously awesome to know some companies still give a crap for they workers. Las Vegas will be a blast!

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  4. Holy Toledo, I want your job, even if just a temp. I am currently looking for a new position, maybe I need to dump the husband and sons and come live with you and work there. I am also jealous of the Kindle Fire, although I have a kindle, 3G WiFi and the fire is only the colour version up 1 so maybe I don't really need it, but do let me know how it is as an e-reader, as we are looking at getting another kindle and I wouldn't mind going for a fire if it is good as a reader. have a great weekend

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    1. Thanks :) I will definitely report back on the Kindle Fire - I am quite excited to get it working now.

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  5. Now Claire, I haven't finished reading yet, but damn you. You KNOW everyone wants to know the company you work for now LOL!

    Back to reading.... secret best wishes :) Katharine C.

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  6. Have fun at the play, I've never been myself, the thought of that hike up to the ampitheater, yikes. Although our standards for hot weather are clearly different, you being a Brit and me being a Mid-Atlantic stateside gal. Posting as anonymous because I'm too lazy to make a profile right now,
    Katharine (so excited and fingers crossed...)

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    1. Hey Katharine, thanks so much for commenting. I know, aren't they a fab co? I'm hoping the parking pass means I don't have to hike?

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  7. I am so, so happy for you. I am also on facebook and want to know that secret!!! I hope things continue to go so well for you. maybe I need to try this meditation after all.

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    1. Yes! Meditating is the business! Are you my FB friend? I can't access FB from work but will check when I get home. I have nothing more on my big secret, so hoping I haven't jinxed it! Arrrgh!

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  8. MIRACLES ABOUND FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE!!! Yay YOU! I am SOOO happy and proud for you!! Now give up that damn secret Claire or the squirrel gets it! ;) - Seriously! What's the secret???

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  9. OH! And I totally forgot, as if you don't have enough on your plate, I tagged you in a meme over at my place so when you get a minute - hahaha - c'mon over and partake! ;)

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  10. I want your job too! It sounds wonderful! How did you find it?

    Great blog, Claire, and I know your secret. It's fabulous!

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    1. I know, boring but with fab perks! But at least my down time means I can blog more.

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  11. This sounds like a really fun job. I just found out that I get a Kindle Fire to use in my classroom next year so I get to play figure out how to use the thing as well. I already have a tablet, but I'm looking forward to playing with another new toy, especially since I don't have to buy it :)

    Just found your blog - new follower :)

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    1. Hey Tasha, thanks for commenting and following. Freebies are great, aren't they?

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  12. OMG, girl! You have some awesome Karma going on! And I want your job.

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  13. I lived at the Venetian for 6 weeks last summer. Definitely awesome. And it has a distinct scent, which my friends and I could never quite describe. It is neither good nor bad, but it is definitely there (and I think purposely).

    Great to see all your good karma, but more importantly your recognition of it.

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