* I hate to cook. I'd much rather get takeout or eat a frozen dinner than to spend time in the kitchen.

* My dog. I hate the thought of leaving after work right after I come home to go to the gym. She's alone for 9 hours and needs to pee. Leaving when she's so happy to see me is tough.

* Laziness. I'm lazy thru and thru.

* Genetics. I definitely have my fathers fat gene's. :(

Steps to overcome:

* I need to make myself do something, anything, that is healthy for my body. Yoga, a walk around the block. Whatever it takes to start a routine.

* Learn easy to prepare, healthy meals. Make a larger amount and save for throughout the week.

* Involve my dog in my exercise journey by taking her for a walk after work.

* Give myself little rewards for overcoming laziness, like a manicure, etc.

* As for the genetics thing, I have no control over that. I just have to be the best me that I can be.

View my page on Unstoppable Fat Loss

This past week has been the best week in Wooster so far for me. My companion and I are pounding the pavement, and doing alot of less-active work. We were able to get 3 less-active members to church, and 1 of them was one that we've been working with for months. The lord truely does bless us for our hard work.

We're doing whatever it takes to gain the trust of the ward. We have a vision of what this ward could be, and we're building that foundation right now. Me and Ritchie are getting along good so far, having alot of fun, laughing alot and meeting alot of interesting people. Wooster is pretty diverse. Theres alot of rich people, a good amount of dark skinned people and some rednecks. So we can talk to whatever class of people we want, all within a few miles of us. Then theres also the Amish too.

The lord really does bless everyone, all we need to do is put our trust in him that the spirit will guide us.

Write me letters, i get lonely every once in a while.

i love you all.

Hello, world!  I have been sucked into the social networking vortex.  Rather than resist it, I am going to embrace it fully and start my own blog.  This should prove to be interesting.  I have decided to make this blog a type of experiment.  My own ‘Big Brother’ if you will, where you are able to peer into my private world and into my own process of transformation. 

I am going to be chronicling the process of achieving my dreams.  The ups, the downs, the steps forward and the steps back.  These are the very things that make us human.  As human’s we all go through a process.  We are constantly changing in ways seen and unseen and we are all struggling and thriving together.  I hope that this social networking phenomenon actually makes us more aware of how interconnected we really are.   

This experiment is indeed a risk but I have always been a risk taker.  Always pining to do the things that everyone told me I couldn’t.  The decision to take the plunge and start writing publicly was not an easy one for several reasons.  First, let it be known that I do not consider myself a “writer”.  Although, what does it take to be a writer anyway? Do you have to be published? Is chicken scratch on the back of napkin acceptable evidence?  What I do consider myself to be is a speaker.  So for the most part, I write how I speak.  With the help of my fantastic editor, I can seem like a ‘real writer.’   Be warned- my editor isn’t here.  This writing is simply my voice- raw and un-edited, for better or worse. Grammar buffs, be forewarned. I will be starting sentences with so and but and because AND you can’t stop me! 

Another concern I have about becoming a blogger is that I am not technically savvy. By that, I mean I’m lucky I can use a toaster.  So how exactly am I going to figure out the whole blogging machine?  Secondly, what would people think?  This is actually not a common concern for me as generally I am not a ‘people pleaser.’  It is a genuine curiosity - what will people think about what I am writing? 

I move in many different circles.  What is appropriate and welcomed in some is persecuted in others. I know that what I put out here for the world to see will attract some and repel others.  So, this is where I must trust.  I trust that if you are here, right now, then it is exactly where you are meant to be.  How could it be otherwise?  It is, in fact, where you are! 

Undeniably reading this will blog will make you think your own thoughts and have your own feelings.  I have not lived your life and I have not had the same past to color my present.  Yet in many ways, you and I are the same.  We are human.  We feel, we think, and we dream.  So, that is what I am going to do here.  I am going to express my humanity and dream for the world to see. 

If you have stumbled across my blog, it is probably because either you are getting married and need a minister or you have taken one of my classes. Maybe you just took a wrong turn in cyberspace.  However you got here, I am glad that you came and I hope that you will come back to visit. 

Now that you are here, let me introduce myself.  My name is Rev. Laura C. Cannon.  Sounds official, huh?  Don’t let it fool you. While I take what I do very seriously, I realize that life itself isn’t that serious.  I believe in laughing at the world.  I still get a kick out of the way people treat me as a “woman of the cloth.”  It’s funny that some people talk to me like I’m superhuman because I’m wearing a particular piece of clothing or have three letters before my name.  It’s funny because nothing could be further from the truth.  Underneath it all, we are all human.

We all have a spark of divinity in us that makes us unique.  There is no one who can be a better you than you.  I encourage others and myself to let that spark ignite your whole being.  Really live life the way you feel inspired to live it.  For me, I feel inspired to witness, encourage, and support others through the process of transformation in their lives.  Whether they are getting married, ready to shift an old way of being, or just need to know that someone else cares- I am there.  It is my greatest joy and privilege to facilitate a process of transformation with someone.  My purpose in this life is to transform- not just others but mainly myself.  That has been my own process, my own journey.  Through serendipitous and miraculous transformation in my own life, I came to find that transformation of a radical nature is available to all of us.  It is not something to be earned.    

While I am not usually into quoting scripture, this one really fits my core beliefs:

“Ask, and it shall be given.  Seek, and ye shall find.  Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  For everyone that asketh, receiveth.” – Matthew 7:7

I believe that when you seek to transform, you will… as long as you are up for the journey.  So here I am, bags packed and ready to go on a new journey of discovery.  I have set my destination, plotted my course, and I plan to take you along for the ride.  Watch me as I fall and as I pick myself up again.  My hope is that by allowing you to witness my process that you too will have the courage to crawl and then walk and then run towards your soul’s calling.   Hold onto your hats… it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

“Oh! Sorry.” I said, and kept walking. 

My first sense of Costa Rica... the musty city air blowing in through the open terminal doors. I loved it! As I approached the exit, I heard a young couple speaking English.

“Excuse me, where can I find a taxi?” I asked them.

“A taxi? Where are you going to?”

The young women with a British accent replied.

Laughing slightly I told her, “I am not sure, a hotel I suppose. I thought my friend was going to meet me here, but I don’t see her.”

I looked around the couple, down the hall and back over my own shoulder.

No Suzanne.

“Oh, you would not see her in here. Only passengers are allowed in the airport. Follow us, we are headed out.” The boy said.

I was tired and looking for a hotel in a strange country at midnight did not appeal to me. Yet, I lifted my heavy bags with enthusiasm. I had made it!

The Costa Rican air was cool; it sent a chill all the way up the back of my legs. It was invigorating. It felt like nothing familiar, as it wrapped its mystery around me. As exciting as it was, I was nervous. Dropping my bags at my feet I pulled out a warm fuzzy sweatshirt. It was comforting. It smelled of home. 

“Thank you. I’ll just wait to see if she shows up.” I said.

Minutes went by.

The night was dark, so I couldn’t see very far in the distance. Just lights. The lights on the few cars that flew by on the highway and the twinkling of lights from what must be houses on nearby rolling hills.

I noticed the young couple was still only a few feet away. They looked as if they were waiting to speak with me again. They stopped talking as I turned towards them.

Taking a step towards me, the boy said “We can wait with you, we are in no hurry.”

He pulled the girl to him and they stood close, with their arms around each other’s waists.

“Where are you from” She asked.

“Seattle" I answered, smiling.

“Never been there. I hear it’s lovely.”

I could only nod my head yes, at that moment I was so overcome with jet lag and  apprehension, that part of me wanted to be back in Seattle. Cold, rain, and all.

I remembered 10 days ago, when I was standing in line to pre-register for the fall semester at school. Clare was there, telling me all about the weekend escape to the hot springsshe had planned for the group. Rebecca and her kids, Maya and Cassie. We would all drive for hours into the middle of nowhere, check into a desolate cabin, with a crumbling fireplace and a broken space heater, freeze our asses off (It is cold in the mountains of Washington, even in the summer.) and tromp through miles of moldy leaves to soak in smelly sulphurous hot springs. Any other June and I would have jumped at the invitation.  

Winning the confidence of our customers is based on trust and expertise. We learn something everyday regarding the needs of small business within the small business accounting space. Just recently, I enrolled into the QuickBooks ProAdvisior Program which is the highest level of certification within QuickBooks. Along with my LearnKey Quickbooks Certification, our customers will know that the education of our staff is one of the highest priorities we require of each of our members, including myself.

Going through this process seems expensive, but we feel education in technology and accounting practices is a requirement for the benefit of our customers. As we build our regional markets for VioletsOffice.com each member is required to stay on top of certifications and continue with an understanding that our culture is based on the value of personal growth and education.

Whew ! Let me just say . . . there is nothing "easy" about certifications and or having the "expert" role. I am very fortunate to have a team of advisors and Certified Pubic Accounts that surround my operation. They help our credibility position and the accuracy of our services.

Thank you to all of you who inspire me.

Violet

            It was a five-hour flight and as my temporary bliss wore off, some fear of my new reality finally set in. I was supposed to meet Suzanne and her girls as soon as I arrived.  But, Suzanne hadn’t called to find out my flight information. She didn’t even know the day I was arriving. I pictured her barefoot in a garden at the doorstep of an elaborate rain forest cabin. I could see her bending over to pick fresh flowers and herbs, pausing every few minutes to push her tiny wire rimmed glasses back to their position on her slender nose. The girls were probably no where in sight. If I knew them as I thought I did, they were on the beach 24/7.

All I could do was hope that Suzanne had called Dr. Fedar sometime during the day to find out when to expect me. Suzanne and I worked at the same Doctor’s office. She was the Doctor’s assistant, and I was the receptionist, or Girl Friday, or sometimes a goo-fer. My position was not traditional. I did whatever needed to be done and that meant anything from filing thousands of papers to entertaining the two giant golden retriever puppies that Dr. Fedar kept in the yard adjacent to the clinic. Dr. Fedar lived and worked on an expansive estate just outside of town. Her property was perched high on a hill and surrounded by swaying evergreen trees. Her darling teenage twins lived in a house on the same property and their family was full of laughter and smiles. I loved my job but not enough to spend another minute in the dreary rain of the Pacific Northwest.

Suzanne’s girls, Hillary 17 and  Meg 14, were quite the brave travelers. They often traveled solo, meeting relatives or friends in far flung corners of the world. Once Suzanne found out that I had the travel bug and was heading south, she added Costa Rica to her upcoming travel itinerary and arranged for us to meet. Thinking of her daughters drove away some of my fear. I told myself that if they can do it, I can do it. Traveling at least.

            I looked around the plane, wondering why everyone else was going, looking for a story. There was an unsettling amount of businessmen on the flight. What were they doing heading off to a tropical paradise? Not sure I ever answered that question, except that I didn't except San Jose to be so Metropolitan.

Before I begin to convert the ocean of emotions in my head into typed splatter I'd like to state two things. I am very aware that this post is extremely off-topic and for this I apologize, and I will try to keep this as interesting as possible. Secondly, and possibly more importantly, I am not emo. I absolutely despise complaining, whining or otherwise talking about how bad my life may be: I just do not do it and I simply cannot handle people who do. As a result of my pet hate for "emotism", I think I'm a very reserved person and I hate talking about problems in my life. I want to make it very clear that this post is in no way an emo post. I do not want attention, I do not want sympathy. With that said, I will now continue.

After writing the previous paragraph about my dislike for the emo generation, I've lost my plan. Give me a few seconds to gather the imaginary notes in my head.... Ok, and I'm back. Obviously my Father's anniversary does get me thinking, every year. It's not much more than thinking. It's been such a long time since I spent a tear. Around thirty minutes ago I started thinking about my Dad, trying to remember what he was like and after searching my filing cabinet of a brain, all I could seem to salvage was a few memories. Why can't I remember more?

Sometimes when people lose a loved one, they hang photographs of them on walls, or keep them in their wallets. I've never done this. It reminds me of the loss I've suffered. I don't see how a reminder of pain can make it go away, I've never understood it. Despite my preferences, I do have a few pictures of my Dad so I decided I would dig one out. After brushing the dust away from the glass I caught a glimpse of my Dad, frozen in time. I cannot describe the feeling I got a few seconds later. A huge rush of sadness, fear, disappointment and hope came across me all at once. It was perhaps the most bizarre thing I've ever felt.

Fortunately I'm not the kind of person to wallow in my own self-pity and misfortune. My life will carry on as normal, as it does every year. I'm not depressed, or sad. I'm me, as always. Why look back when I'm moving forward? I can honestly say that right now, I am very much determined to get what I want, to persevere and to succeed. There's always blue sky behind the clouds.

Thanks for reading.

my last companion i assume is safely back in his beloved utah home, and well im glad hes gone.

My new companion also comes from Utah (3 in a row!) from the Ogden area and so far its going great. We're working hard, and trying to make the ward turn around. We've had alot of fun, and i'm looking forward to working with this guy.

Other good news. A girl i helped teach in st.marys was just baptised over the weekend. The branch really got together, and the baptism went through. I'm really happy to hear that all went well.

Otherwise, the work is good, i would love your letters and whatnot.
-Elder Marini

Another airport, another crowd, more lines. This airport magnified LAX by 10, in size and in the amount of people, but the excitement of traveling had set in and I didn’t feel stressed. After a few minutes of manuevering through the crowds, I saw a bar and remembering the lax Mexican drinking laws, I went in. (No, I wasn't quite 21 when I made this journey.)

The place was dark with tinted windows and small pewter lanterns on every table. Very universal décor, nothing shouted out "Ole!" in here. I chose a booth by the window, and settled into the plush velvet maroon seat. Sipping the sour margarita, I wrote. 

About 4 years ago, I started making jaunts to Dublin to visit friends and "extended family".   Ultimately, Ireland in its rich green pastures, rock walls, and ancient history snared me, and i became deadset on moving to Ireland.

Ultimately, it took me almost 4 years to finally get here, and now, I am living and working In Galway Ireland as a Manager of User Centered Design.

This blog is an American POV of my journey into the Irish lifestyle, from its over use of firedoors to its great majestic cliffs, music and traditions.

I have chosen the name "clone stamp" because it relates to my interests, combining photography along with social comments and science.

First I think a small bit about me is in order.

I am a father, husband, engineer, business owner with endless hobbies including a current undeniable need to opine on matters of politics, science and anything else for which the world would seem to need a kick in the pants.

My science background is extensive which will inevitably lead to posts on subjects such as climate change, space, energy and a couple dozen other things which I don't feel like listing here.

With all the crazy uninformed opinions continuously being spouted by the media, what could one more hurt.

Who: Carla "Cox-n-ator" Cox-Wright, Belen "Bell-n-igan" Moreno  & Angelica Pharisien (no-one has come up with a BRILLIANT nickname for me yet (at least one they have told me about!!! ) Come on guys- am I the only one who is good at making up nicknames???

When: Approximately 3 years ago...

I showed there and then my courage and my strength that I had lost a long time before that. At home things were not going well at all and I went the weekend away, along with Ferreira and his wife to a congress of our business. We were sitting at the dinner table, and they asked me straight forward what was happening to me as I was not myself. Mind you, these people knew me for a year. I waived that comment away and they said that I was not the person that they met a year ago, as I lost the twinkling in my eyes. It was a shock to me. If, people who knew me for a year could see that, what were my grandparents and parents thinking? Talking about a wakeup call.

I went home after that weekend and tried to solve my home problems. And then it hit me… I was really unhappy and I had to do stuff and be with people that made me happy again. Going back in time, I realized that since I arrived in Portugal I was being unhappier with the day.

It was after that big wakeup call that I decided to change my life. Not only the appearances (cut my hair off and changed my wardrobe), but also the life itself. I decided to return to the Netherlands, with Fiona. I wanted to spend Christmas with mom and dad as always, but at home. It was a big shock for my grandparents, whom were used to having me around. But after a while they supported me in my decision (they still miss me). I talked to my employers and told them that I was going back to the Netherlands.

My return to the Netherlands started.