Stormy Monday
Monday, monday....rained all day.... and it was a stressful day today with an unbelieveably rude person who came in....but....I can let the rudeness of the person continue to mess up my day, corrode my spirit, and shatter my happiness....or I can breath.....tell myself it is their problem....breath again.....and ask myself to make a choice to let it go, and connect with my peace inside. I can choose to be happy about all the good things. I can remember there ARE good things, LOL.... One of the good things is my vacation coming up next week....I'm flying to San Juan, Puerto Rico (rolling my r's exaggeratedly)....and then catching my cruise through the islands...St. Maartin, Grenada, Bermuda, etc. Never been to any of them, and I love to explore, so I am looking forward to it. I'm going with my oldest friend (the one whose husband passed away last Summer). We try to go on vacation together at least once every 2 yrs as we are on different sides of the country. I'm in california, she's in florida. It will be great hanging out with her. We both like to do karaoke, so we'll have a great time snorkeling, lying on the beach during the day, and then singing in the evenings. The last vacation she and I went on....I actually went and pawned all my jewelry for the money to go. Due to gambling, I was broke. I had to watch every penney I spent, and it was very rough trying to make up for the lost income while I was gone and to get my stuff back (which I did at a tremendous interest rate!) This time, thanks to being gamble-free for over a year now, I can go....with NO WORRIES. I've saved the money needed. I've sort of been worried about the temptation of the casino onboard...but then I read eastwester's journal....about blaming gambling on external things....and I realized that hey, I could be in a casino in 20 mins right now...but I'M NOT. I don't have to worry about the ship's casino....proximity is not an excuse to gamble. I was also worried about the free bingo card the cruise usually gives you to "prime the pump" so to speak....but I've decided I'll give my friend the card and I will do something else while she plays it if she wishes. Thank goodness she is not a gambler, but she does like to do the cruise bingo (the free cards only!) I haven't told her about my addiction, but I may on this trip. If she seems upset about me not wanting to play bingo, I'll tell her for sure! Anyway, haven't packed one thing, and I'm leaving Friday evening on the red-eye flight....much to do between now and then! Big Hugs, Much Love....Dianne
Replies
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Mabe someday I will actually be able to save enough to take a cruise, just have to get the kids grown up and moved out first. lol. I will need to hear all the details so I can live vicariously through your travels, hope you don\'t mind. You are very right, I could be gambling in about 3 minutes from where I am, and I am not. I did worry when a friend tried to get me to go to a bar, but I had my nephew so it wasn\'t really an option. But I guess I shouldn\'t feel so freaked out, I know better than to gamble. There\'s no reason I shouldn\'t be able to go have a drink with a friend. Thank you for sharing your courage and strength.....we are all so blessed to have it.
Diane, Your trip sounds great. The cruise I took a few years ago started in San Juan. Our hotel was just about a block from the cruise ship. Gonna send you a message. Hope you have a wonderful time... you deserve it my friend.
Wow! Fantastico!!! I hope you have a marvelous time. What a huge success story for you to be able to say you have saved money for this trip. WTG. Friday will be here before you know it. {{hugs}}
OMG!!! That sounds like a wonderful trip!!! Do you have room in your suitcase for me? lol. Diane, enjoy, relax, have fun! That\'s what this is all about. You\'ve earned it. You\'ve saved for it. Go for it! Please post pics when you get back. Would love to see them. Have a blast!!! Ginny
I love rolling my rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr\'s!
And to the unbelievably rude person I jester :p
I\'m so, so, so happy for you :) I mean it! I can remember when all I could be was envious of others happiness - how yucky, huh? I hate to even admit it. But we\'re friends, and it helps me to express my \"real\" thoughts, how it was and how it is now. You\'ll know if the time is right to tell your friend about your addiction. She might even notice a change in you... you\'re so much more happy then a year ago! Me, too Have a wonderful time. Proximity is not an excuse to gamble, I need to remember that the next time someone wonders how I can live in Vegas... good one :) Remember when you worried about going to Tahoe? Change feels so good! Karaoke! You can sing, too? You have skills! LOL I can only sing behind closed doors! I know I\'d love to hear you belt out a tune! And I sure can understand that wonderful, wonderful feeling of not having to worry, worry, worry about vacation $$$...been there, done that! And poor Mark didn\'t even know I was sweating it... it was awful. I had to make sure he didn\'t go to an ATM...like I was doing him some BIG favor by handling the banking! It feels so good not to have to live that way anymore. We have come a long way...recovery.
Remember to pack your bikini & sun glasses ;)
Love you...
Dianne,
Enjoy your trip, you deserve it. I know you will not have a problem with the on-board casinos, you are strong.
Hugs
Tessa
Enjoy your vacation Dianne,
You so deserve it !!! soak up some sun for me, your friend in penguin land,, LOLLL
Kimber
What a awesome trip you have coming up Diane. You definitely deserve it. I\'ve never been on a cruise and I\'ve wanted to before, but I had changed my mind because of the casino on board. But you have really put things in perspective for me. I could be gambling in a few minutes from here if I wanted to, but I am not because I choose not to. I guess the same thing would work for me on a boat and know for sure it will for you. Have a blast girlfriend!!!
Love & Hugs,
Kim
Hope you have a great time on your vacation Dianne! Do me a favor and sing at least one country karaoke songs, while your down there. Dam the torpedoes full speed ahead! Take your right hand and put it on your left shoulder, now take your left hand and put it on your right shoulder, ok now squeeze. That\'s a big hug from Darrel
Hi Dianne,
Hope you have a wonderful time on your trip, You deserve it. I have been reading alot of your posts in discussion and you have been so insightful so hurry back from vacation cause we are going to miss you!!!! Thank you Dianne for being a good friend and have lots and lots of Fun.
Hugs
Judy
Well, I have finally caught up on your journal entries! Belated congrats on your move, it definitely sounds well worth the work involved and I know you will get that cozy apartment all fixed up the way you want it to be.
I am so excited for you, being able to go on this cruise and spend time your your friend. This is probably just what she needs after the loss of her dear husband. I\'m sure that being with you will soothe her soul. What a wonderful feeling to be able to go on vacation without any worries about money, having saved and prepared for the trip. Hopefully I will be in this position in ten months, heading to Jamaica with my husband to renew our wedding vows. This is my long term goal for this year, working and saving in order to make that trip happen without any worries.
As always Dianne, thank you so much for your support and inspiration. Have an absolutely wonderful trip and travel safely!
Love Julie