A Nice Reminder

"We don't know anybody that wants anything, whether it's a change in their body, or a physical condition, or a relationship, or an event, or a pile of money- we don't know anything that anybody wants that isn't for the same reason, and that is you THINK that in the HAVING of that manifestation you will feel better.

And what we're saying is- you MUST find a way to feel better FIRST, then the manifestation will happen.People say 'give me the manifestation and then I will feel good'- and we say, you probably would, but FEEL GOOD and then the manifestation will come.
And if you can't feel good about where this manifestation is then find other things that you DO feel good about. Use ANY excuse in the world." - Abraham-Hicks -

A Tribute To Friends In Need

Early this evening, I received a call regarding some friends who tragically lost their father. As I spoke with my "messenger" friend, we talked about how we can support them during this time. We could not decide upon one "right" answer. But what we did find as truth was that no matter what... Energy is energy. Energy is powerful. Energy is constant. All thoughts and prayers find their way to those who need it. Distance is an illusion. We can all, on some level, feel when others are sending us love and supportive thoughts. All of these little moments of focused thought energy MATTER!! Any action springing from supportive intention will add value to those who are processing.

So, to my dear friends Jackie, Cora, and your family... I send you blankets of love and support to wrap around you during this time.

And anyone who reads this, please take a moment and send loving, supportive thoughts to my friends in need. Because every little bit matters. Thank you.

Reminiscing...

After coming home from Puerto Rico and sifting through some photos, I realized that I had taken mental notes of some (mostly) subtle nuances there. So, I am allowing my stream of thoughts take over as I peer into a few past picture perfect moments...




Ah, the coffee in Puerto Rico. What was it that made it soooo good? I am not too sure exactly, although the heated milk on the stove with some brown sugar to boot was enough to get me drinking this whenever I could! Seriously, though. Get some coffee from a local coffee shop in Puerto Rico sometime.




Aaah yes!, the Bio Bay. Glowing little micro organisms....99.9% pollution free bay.....shallow waters.....kayaking under the moonlight.....swimming in the dark among friends....glowing arms and legs....a wedding proposal....it doesnt get any better. Truly the 8th wonder of the world.



I tried snorkling for the first time! It was harder than I thought. Due to the previous hurricane, the waters were a little more rough than usual...and murky. Between inhaling salt water and my goggles fogging up, I opted for a nice tan on the beach. We left the snorkling to the boys and they managed to swim around a few little islands off the shore.



An interesting phenomena at Viequez. Horses run wild! They are on the sides of the road just wandering around! Lots of locals use horses as transportation. I noticed that they trot in the most unusual way.


The view from our Villa (www.HectorsByTheSea.com) was breathtaking.



Viequez has a few black sand beaches. I must admit that we never actually explored them. However, on a walk along the coast line, I did find some brain coral in the sand and lo' and behold! I was standing on some black sand!







I loved the bright Caribbean colors that seemed to grace the scenery. There is an element of vibrant energy and zest for the finer details in Viequez and Old San Juan. Old San Juan is the "downtown" area of the city of San Juan. Its on the coast, surrounded by massive stone walls that used to protect the city from pirates! An old cemetary sits on the coast line as well as the ghetto of San Juan. As we peered down into the battered homes, we couldnt help but notice the amazing view. Old San Juan's streets are cobblestoned and narrow! Its easy to feel the history of Puerto Rico as you walk past an old stone fortress, prison, lookout towers, and open spaces once used to for cannons.


Something I noticed with every home and restaurant I visited in Puerto Rico was the indoor-outdoor set up. All doors and windows were opened wide all day and into the night. As you sat on a couch, you were right next to a palm tree blowing in the wind outside. I loved this feeling. Most of the "windows" didnt even have glass. Everything was open and it allowed you to take in the sounds and views of the ocean, the palm trees, the glow of the pool, and all the little lizards running around!

Puerto Rico Recap

I am wrapping up my trip to Puerto Rico. 10 days of overwhelming generosity from the people of Puerto Rico. We have encountered incredible hospitality, great cooked meals, an abundant offering of rides, and most important- highly valued friendship. Jason and I cannot express enough how grateful we are of everyone who shared in our amazing experience here. We will surely miss the wonderful people here!

I must admit, I am also grateful to come back home to the states. Things are different here in the Caribbean. Lots of A/C!!! FREEZING COLD A/C! San juan has an over abundance of cars! And the driving here is...well...interesting. Its crazy in a laid back sort of way. Hard to describe unless you have experienced the Puerto Rican way. Things take a little longer to happen in PR than the states. It adds to the high level of patience that I observed with the people. Just sit back and enjoy the ride...

Apparently we were here during Hurrican Dean. But we wouldnt have known it..other than a bit of rain one day, and some tossled beaches the next, we were maxin' it out in the sun! We snorkled at our favorite beach- "Red Beach". The waters were churned up from the hurricane so visibility for snorkling was low. However, the shells washed ashore were aplenty!

The most spectacular place we visited- the 8th wonder of the world- was Bio Bay. http://www.golden-heron.com/biobay.html ..A must see for all! Truly magical.

All in all, a great trip. Jason and I learned a lot about ourselves. Experiencing some contrasts and then some inspirations, we feel more focused on our direction. Will we live here someday? Perhaps. We have some dreams that could very well manifest themselves in the Caribbean. For now, we find comfort in our home turf and the future visits to the islands.

Engaged in a Dream

I never really understood the desire to get engaged and be married. Standing on the outside looking in to others' experiences, I struggled to truly understand the deeply rooted excitement that all brides-to-be exhibit. I thought that perhaps they were one of the girls that when young they dreamed about the dress they would wear, the number of bridesmaids they would have, what the ring would look like and how long their veil would be. My thoughts never wandered into the "M" territory. I didnt even know where to begin when it came to rings, proposals, wedding plans, guests, setting the date, picking the location, and deciding on the colors....

When I met my soulmate, I realized what all the soulmate "hype" was all about. Before, I could only guess as to what it would feel like to just KNOW that you had found your soulmate...your life partner. Its true what they say: When you know...YOU KNOW! Just experiencing my soulmate has been the ultimate cosmic treat. And when he proposed to me, I had no idea what this committment would mean to me on a SOUL level. I see now where the excitement comes. It comes from a deep well spring of love and eagerness to begin a life-long committment of love, trust, and support. Its not about the ring, the dress, the location, the veil. Its about the committment to another human being. Its about the joy in taking on the responsibility to compromise, support, listen, flex and bend to eachother's dreams and growth. The details in the ceremony are the symbols of the love. I can say now that YES! being engaged enhances the relationship in the same way that committing to your dreams enhances more of who you are. You know the path ahead and your not afraid. In fact, you cant wait to get started...

A Taste of Puerto Rico

Go with the flow.

When Life Hands You A Lemon.....

....then what?

When do you use life's obstacles as "Character Builders" and when do you qualify them as roadblocks: "DEAD END" "NO OUTLET" and gratefully turn around and find a different path? How do we know when to be the wiser?

I'll be honest. Life here in the 'Barrel has been hurling loads of lemons my way. What are they trying to say? Some of them are flying by so quickly that I cant read the signs! And some, I think, are "below the belt". I didnt know the universe played so unfairly. If I call "MERCY" will it ease up a little?

One lemon.....makes you stronger.

Two lemons....builds character.

Three lemons.....stretches your comfort zone.

Four lemons......testing your patience.

Five lemons.......finally throwing your hands up and saying "WHAT?!"

Six lemons.......You find your spirituality again.

Seven lemons.....Now its just funny.

Eight lemons.....Okay now the universe isnt playin' around.

Nine lemons......You dont even want to know.

Ten lemons.......You cant wait to make the change.

Eleven lemons or more......Your stalling!

....Make Lemonade....

Where in the world is Steph?

Here I am, taking a break from riding my bike as we happened upon some horses on the bike trail....this was after I fell over on my bike rolling to a stop. Those damn clip ins!

Okay so here is the National Mountain Bike Series Finals in Snow Mass. Here is what the starting line looks like. Looks exciting..and it is...at first. Then they ride off into the hills never to be seen again till 2 hours later. I guess I was hoping for more action. They rode up 7000 feet. In the meantime, I met a lovely girl named Sarah. We both lollygagged around before deciding to take a trip up the chair lift. The scenery was beautiful. I wish I had pics to share....they wouldnt have given the mountains justice. Chair lifts in the summer with flip flops on are fun.

A lovely trail Jason and I hiked in Durango. We encountered a deer along the way.

Durango is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen....a wonderful place to visit. The community is mellow and friendly and THE BEST coffee/pastry/bread shop called "Bread" is located there. I have never met a business owner as friendly as Bread's. Thanks Rob for all the goodies!

A covered bridge in Vermont. Very lovely. We crossed this to eventually end up at a secret swimming hole along the river. Vermont has amazing forests.

This is called a "Feed Zone." Yeah, i didnt know what that was either. But its where you give water to the racers throughout the race. This happens to be Brian Alders- a pro racer on Team Monavie. http://www.monaviewcannondale.com/.

Jason and I headed down to the racing venue in Vermont at Mount Snow. This looks like I am having fun but really I had nothing to hold on to, no place to put my feet, and we were going highspeed down a very high and long hill. You should have seen the rigamarole we went through just to get us on and balanced on the bike.

Okay so I have decided to start posting updates and photos of my journey. My partner is turning out to be my own personal paparrazi photographer and seems to catch me doing things that I didnt even know I was doing. So i figured, why not start letting the rest of you know what in the world is going on in my world. Teaming up with a Pro-mountain bike racer http://www.jasonsager.com/ has its job cut out for me. I have to travel and galavant around to places that are remote, beautiful, but typically pretty boring for the average spectator (i.e. me). So I am taking it upon myself to venture where no average spectator has ventured before at these races and take some photos of the scenery, the terrain, the racers, the scene....

so where have I been lately?? here is a recap...breckenridge, Vermont, Durango, Aspen. Coming soon.....Puerto Rico!

Twice in One Week

Okay so what are the odds....

On our way up to Aspen from Durango, we came upon a motorcycle crash that had just happened not even a minute before. And being first on the scene, I, once again, did First Aid. This guy was not wearing a helmet. He landed on he stomach with his head turned to the side. I stablized his head and neck in the same position I found him and did everything I could with the help of his friend to keep him from moving. Blood was pooling underneath him from his head and while he seemed mentally okay as he was talking about his pride being hurt, he kept asking the same question over and over as if he had never asked it before: "Is my bike okay?". Paramedics arrived 30 mins later. Walking past his bike to our car, I noticed his helmet was strapped to his bike's rack. Good place for it.

Apparently my First Aid/CPR class paid off. ...again.

Words to the Wise

You never know when its going to be you at the scene of an accident. When someone is laying on the ground injured, unconscious, unstable. What would you do in that situation? Would you count on someone else to hopefully know the CPR/First Aid to save their life? What if every bystander at the scene of the accident knew no more than you?

Riding my bike in durango, I was at the right place at the right time. A boy on his bike with no helmet was hit by a truck. He was unconscious- going in and out- possible head injury, and who knows what else. Many people hovering around him and no one knew what to do. I barely knew. I had to wrack my brain of all those First Aid and CPR classes that I took only a few months ago. How quickly we forget. I remembered to stablize his head and check breathing and pulse. But what I wasnt prepared for was how the scene was not at all set up like it was in class. Everyone around was completely lacking in First Aid knowledge and the kid wasnt laying on his back- he was on his side. And he was fighting me stablizing him- he was strong! I dont remember that part of the class! Anyway, I did the best I could. But the lesson here is that we should all be keeping up with First Aid and CPR. You just never know. You never know when it could be your turn to step in and save a life.

oh, and one more thing. WEAR A HELMET!!!!

Pondering Glimpse in Durango

Durango Colorado is a beautiful place with friendly people and an amazing backdrop. In every direction your vision is captured by surrounding by mountains. Very inspiring. I was able to get on my roadbike and ride for 2 hours on roads nestled up to the mountains and a bike trail following the Animus River. Other than that, just chillin' out...trying to find the next step in my journey...the step that will bring me closer to my "soul's work"- as my astrologer puts it. http://www.bettetimm.com/astrology.html Perhaps more school is next on my list. Perhaps a move to a faraway land? And enough side ventures to keep me entertained.. for the time being. Will I realize my ultimate dream? I think so. I think every step I take is bringing me there. I have glimpses of the big picture where I am reminded of what I ultimately desire to feed my soul for this lifetime. And then it fades as I re-enter the step-by-step reality of which it takes to get to the desired destination. But its those split-second glimpses of what I dream I could do that keep me wanting to take another step. Some days the steps seem long and arduous. I wonder what its all for. My stars say a resounding "YES!" that I will get there. So I keep on and try to stay present to the beauty that surrounds me now.

Powerful Influence...Could happen in Your Life this Month...

.......As this month wears on....you may begin to notice that its more intense than usual...or that things are changing abruptly and possible rapidly for you....that new chapters are opening while others are closing....or perhaps your struggling just to find your way this month......

It is at these moments of awareness...should they happen to you...that I implore you to consider the profound influence of the stars.....you can find solace in the stars....find comfort in forces larger than you ...assisting you..guiding you...facilitating your destiny.....believe in this picture if just for a moment.....and rest assured you have company on your journey....

Susan Miller, world reknowned astrologer http://www.astrologyzone.com/forecasts/ ,talks about the astrological influence that may effect your life this month:

"This month, the ECLIPSES in Pisces and Virgo are back. They always come in pairs, two weeks apart, in the form of a full moon and new moon. The first will be a full moon lunar eclipse, on August 28 in Pisces. Next month, a solar new moon eclipse in Virgo will arrive on September 11.

In astrology we know that eclipses are the most powerful tools that the universe uses to create dramatic change. They shake us out of our complacency, and bring new adventures and certain truths that help us solve certain mysteries. All the while, they keep pushing us forward, helping us see that we are stronger than we assumed, and able to do more than we ever imagined. Eclipses can be pushy, but they are effective in helping us get moving. Decisions that would normally be put off are often accomplished in the blink of an eye."

Strategy...by Rob Brenzy

"(1) If you don't precisely articulate your conscious desires, your unconscious patterns will come true instead.

(2) If you want your conscious desires to trump your unconscious patterns, speak or write your conscious desires every day

(3) It's better to have three huge, soaring, potent desires than 25 puny, scrabbling, half-assed desires."