Moments D662: Pampering Mani/Pedi Redux

Today is Valentine's Day.  This year is slightly different for me in that I have love in my life now.  That said, I still feel like V-Day is a "Hallmark" day.   It is, at most, a milestone which reminds me of all the other days of the year that we forget to appreciate those we love.  

This year, I wasn't planning on anything special for the evening.  Why not?  Well, because EQ and I try to celebrate us a little every day.  So my big plan:  introducedEQ to my (now) tradition for Valentine's Day:  A Mani/Pedi for us both!.

We spent some time post work pampering ourselves and enjoying a little chatter with the ladies at the salon. A side by side mani/pedi for EQ and I.  What a treat that was!  After we were all buffed up, we headed home to order in and curl up on the couch together.  Not a whole lot different than any other night, except the fact that EQ spoiled me greatly today.  This I had not expected.

EQ was bound and determined to make it a very special day for us as it is our first Valentine's Day together. He was successful!  

First of all, my morning started with a song that he created for me.  What!?  Really?  Yes!  That alone is the most touching thing anyone has ever done for me.  He later greeted me with an armful of flowers at lunch and showered me with words of love in a special card for me after dinner.

His point:  Valentine's Day is an opportunity to celebrate our love with a little more depth and frivolity. He did that with great charm today.   In the end it was the perfect way to spend our first Valentine's Day together. 

On some level, he's right.  Today is indeed an opportunity to pause and appreciate those you love.  All those you love!  So today's moment:  recognizing this point and conceding to EQ's vision for the day.

And so, I pause:  I am fortunate to have a man in my life that loves me sweetly and deeply.  I am also fortunate to have friends that love and appreciate me (and I them!).  I am grateful for my ever loving and supportive family.  And, in the spirit of EQ's perspective, I sent out text to many of my friends offering a reminder love today.  I even ended up sending out a couple of cards in the mail as a surprise.  

Today isn't easy for some because it's a day aimed at romantic love and those without it can find it a tedious day.  Today, I celebrated both, my romantic love and the love I have for those I am fortunate to have in my life.  

Which brings me back to my nail place.  When EQ and I first arrived the owner catcalled to us as we entered the door:  "She wins!"  She was talking about the fact that EQ is here in Toronto.

Yes.  I did win.  But not really in the way she thinks.

Moments appreciating a quiet moment with the man I love.

Moments realizing that Valentine's Day can be more than just a milestone to lost moments.

Moments D661: How do you.....

.....make a heart as an emoticon.  Yes, this was a serious question today from Chica.  She was so cute and shy when she asked the question.  It totally cracked me up.  Easy for me to see this as today's moment to share with you.

AND, in case you are wondering (at least for those of you who don't know how to create a heart emoticon, it is  <3.

That is a "less than" sign (<) and a three (3), side-by-side.

Fun?  Yes!

Silly?  Indeed!

Moments enjoying a simple question from a co-worker with a huge grin.  

Moments knowing that now she knew how to create a <3, Chica was going to be spreading much love!

Moments D660: It's done. Phew.

Another midterm under my belt.  I survived it.  It wasn't pretty, but I wasn't really expecting it to be.  The first part wasn't as hard as I expected.  The last part, sadly, was harder than I expected.  Of course, that last question was worth the most on this test.

Was I disappointed in my performance?  Yes.  I ran out of time.  I know, with more time, I would have offered up a better tax report for that final question.  I simply ran out of time.  I wasn't fast enough in applying the knowledge I had in my brain ad it's going to cost me dearly.

But, as disappointed as I was, I found myself shaking it off quicker than ever.  I was very much looking forward to being home and curling up with EQ on the couch for a couple of hours before heading to bed.  I know how hard the past few days have been on him, on me and on us.

And so, I stopped on my way home and picked up dinner for the two of us.  When I arrived home, I could tell that his bad day had gotten the best of him too.  With both of us licking wounds, we ate in a content silence as we watched a couple of Ted Talks.

At one point, I asked him if he wanted to talk about it.  He said no.

At another point in time, he asked me if I wanted to talk about my midterm.  I declined.

And shortly after that, we decided to end this day, crawl in bed and pull the covers over our head.

Phew.  It's done.  This day is finally over.  Now for sleep and to begin anew tomorrow with a refreshed view on how to tackle the next half of this semester.

Moments struggling with the day's events.

Moments realizing it's not so bad and after a good night's sleep, it will barely be a blip on the screen.

Moments D659: Change is in the air

It's not quite spring, but change is in the air.

Today was a challenging day in that the day thrust its need for change upon my work world.

A rock should never be shaken, for it is of the ground.  So what happens when the entire earth below the rock gives way to the slope of hill upon which they both rest?

Changes happens.  It's inevitable.  It's scary.  It challenges us and asks us to dig deep.

It also inspires.  To dream.  To go beyond.  For as one door closes, another opens.  What opportunity lay before you in this time of change?  They key is being aware.

So today, I celebrate the change, even though it was challenging.  Even though the days ahead, righting our footing from the avalanche, will continue to challenge  us, it is an opportunity to reinvent ourselves.

And I think we are ready for that reinvention.

Moments being shaken to the core in an unforeseen avalanche.

Moments realizing, once the dust has settled, that it's time to rebuild.

Moments D658: KD - also known as MAC n CHEESE

Tonight was another night in the books.  After tonight, I have only one more night to cram three chapters worth of tax knowledge into my tired brain.  I pushed hard and I persevered through some challenging twists and turns.

But I didn't do it alone.

No.  Tonight EQ sat with me and quietly read.  His presence and calm energy was very welcomed. But the best part, the part that is my moment today was that he made me my favourite "I-am-studying" dinner.  K-D.

Of course, I came to learn that K-D has no meaning to EQ.  Kraft Dinner is what we Canadians know it as.  But to those south of the border, it's known, not by the brand, but by what it is "Mac n Cheese".

No matter what we called it, I called it damn good! 

Not only was it done up special (with a touch of love!), EQ took the time to spice it up a bit.  The attention did not go unnoticed and I had to Instagram it before I even took a bite!

Yes, that's right.  Bread with oil & balsamic as a side with a coriander garnished K-D plate.!

It was heavenly!

Moment appreciating the simple dinners.

Moments being surprised that it wasn't so simple after all!

Moments D657: Found

I know I have talked a lot about words in my blog.  I suppose that is apropos given that I've taken to sharing a moment with the world every day via a blog.  Written words.

Written.

It seems I am better equipped to find the right words (or more coherent words) when I write.

Today was one of those reminder days.

It was a challenging weekend for me.  I've been nose to the grind digging into my textbook to get caught up enough to do well on my coming midterm.

It hasn't been fun.  It hasn't been easy.  It has been necessary.

At the end of today, my spoken words were failing me.  I was frustrated and I, frankly, gave up on them.

EQ came to my rescue.  Just at that moment where you are ready for the world to implode on you because you can't seem to express yourself well, he came to my rescue.

With some magic (at least it was magical to me), EQ found the words that had been floating in my head.  He brought to life the thoughts and feelings I was struggling to explain in my own words.  He was concise and eloquent as he did it.  In three or four sentences he had it all summed up.

It emulated a perfectly wrapped present.  You know, that present that you are dying to know what is inside, but it is so prettily wrapped that you are afraid to open it up and destroy its beauty.  What if, the goodies inside were not as expected?

And here was my perfectly wrapped present from EQ.  A neat little package of words that were deeply meaningful to me.  Was I really ready to open it up and dig a little deeper?

Yes, that was a pretty powerful moment.  That moment where I had a choice to accept those found words or deny them.  I chose the harder path.  The path that forced me to go deeper than ever before.

In the end, it seems I was ready for digging deeper, for what ensued was a profound and fulfilling conversation about growth, opportunity and the excitement of our future together.

All because of a few found words that I wasn't able to find, but were found for me.

Brilliant!

Moments failing with words.

Moments where your partner picks up the vibe and finds the words.

Moments D656: Study breaks

Today was day one of hard core studying for my coming midterm.  I haven't been a very diligent student to date this semester and it's showing.  Between unexpected distractions to a shift in life priorities, my readings have taken a back seat to other things.

Today, there was no more delaying.  It was time to dig in, and dig in deep.

And I'm learning.  Not only the subject that I'm supposed to be focused on, but about taking better care of myself.  I paused mid-day and had a good catch up with BFF.  I took micro-breaks throughout the day and caught up with EQ.  I also ended the day earlier than I normally would so that EQ and I could enjoy a date night together.

Looking back, it's been a good, productive day.  I feel a little uneasy with the work left to do before my midterm, but in the end, I'm also trying to let go of my need for that A+.  Really.  Is that so darn important?Nope.  Definitely not.  It's time that need take a back burner.  It hasn't been easy for me to shift gears, but I can feel the shift more than ever.

That said, tomorrow I'll start a little earlier and work a little later to get more of what I feel I need to get done.  What can I say, I'm slow to shift.

Moments focusing on the back-burner.

Moments realizing that I don't need to push quite so hard.