It's true! A new Nokia N95 from Nokia FREE! They tried to deliver it today! Jammy or what? I've also been asked to review a range of Mccain... They have a new line called Gourmet, which is a range of potato based side dishes. There’s ‘Mature Cheddar Cheese & Wholegrain Mustard’, ‘Diced Potatoes with Leek, Onions & Parmesan’ and ‘Baby Potatoes with Oven Roasted Tomato & Garlic’. It’s not quite cooking from scratch you might think but it might as well be quite handy to have them in the freezer when a busy night occurs?! They've sent me a voucher to buy one and then tell you what it was like so watch this space! Still happy about my FREE phone!!! Had a mega mega busy day today..hospitality trailers, livery of vehicles, visitors, event management, banners, t-shirts, truck demo's, prize draws,CV show invites, charity, London 10k shirt, Golf Day,Paper Recycling,stationery discussion, demonstator bookings, Point of sale discussion, website pointers, training, Sandbach Festival of Transport, furniture, measurements...Roll on tomorrow... I am in Chester so looking forward to that! Oops correction later on today!! Friday already! nite all

Saturday went to the Trafford Centre.Saturday night went out with Rach to Newcastle Under Lyme. We had a very nice meal in Red. I had crab and avocado, followed by cod with mussels in champagne sauce followed by rasberry cheesecake...so lovely...chief trougher..what a fab place! Excellent service and food! Then we went out dancing to Fluid! Had a few laughs, dropped Rach home and tootled home. Today I've been out to Macclesfield with Joanne. Turns out she'd made us an appointment at my old friends business but she didn't tell me until we were on our way that it was Broadstock! I've known Carl Muncsh since I was about 13 so it was a bit mad to see him again. I haven't seen him for about 10 years since I was a buyer at Paccar. Anyway here's to Munchie!! Seems to be doing ok now!! http://www.broadstock.co.uk/ My Mum used to teach him so one of the first things he said was how's is your Mother! lol I think he was a bit of a Munchkin at school! I said see you in another 10 years then Munchie!! lol On the way back to the orifice we stopped at Morrisons in Leek. Been for my 2.5mile run tonight I can feel my stamina building from all these 2 & 3 mile runs!

Jessica, your Expression of 2 ...
Your Potential Natural Talents and Abilities

You are a loving individual whose kind actions and words often touch the hearts of those you meet. Your selfless attitude towards other and genuine desire to connect kindred spirits with each other is greatly appreciated by others. In fact it is often your own ability to network that results in jobs or relationships for others.

You are also a great mediator, liaison and peacemaker. Professionally you work best in a team. You never feel rewarded really unless it is a reward that is somehow shared with others. For this reason money or ambition rarely motivates you. However, the approval of others means everything to you as how others react is the mirror by which you judge the effectiveness of everything you do. Unfortunately this willingness to please others sometimes means that you don't always get the credit for all of your hard work.

Still you are happiest working behind the scenes, as you secretly dislike being in the limelight. You don't accept compliments easily because you find displays of pride to be tacky. Your supportive and cooperative ways however often earn you great financial rewards and friends for life as others recognize how invaluable you are to their own success.

You treat everyone equally and consciously make an effort to fight bias and prejudice in society. Number 2s are also known for their natural charm and the twinkle they have in their eye. You have the ability to soothe the pain and hurt feelings of animals and other humans with just a few well place words. This is due to your enormous empathy and sensitivity to others.

You know the importance of eye contact and a smile and easily connect to others. Your ability to quickly gain the confidence and trust of others often makes you the keeper of many secrets. This is why it is very important for you to watch a tendency to gossip as it as been the downfall of many number twos.

You can be quite insecure and your confidence is easily shaken by criticism. Sometimes your need for approval expresses itself as insecurity. You may talk too much or not talk at all if you feel nervous in a social situation. However once others do get you talking there is no shutting you up. You are an excellent story teller with a great sense of humor. You love to talk about sex, family and children, as you are also a great lover and observer of human nature.

Physically you are very fit and graceful and probably excel at dancing (especially with a partner.) You are probably youthful in experience and move quite lightly on your feet. You are likely to express yourself with cooking and crafts as the fruits of these labours can be shared with others. Many twos are also great writers and painters because they have such empathy for human condition.

Your style is casual yet fashionable. As you are a very sensuous individual and love the way certain fabrics feel against your skin you are more likely to choose cotton or silks over polyesters. As you love to attract other people, you often dress in bright colors, just like a flower that is trying to attract a butterfly.

Jessica, your Soul Urge of 9 ...

What You Desire To Be, To Have, and To Do In Your Life

The highest expression of your soul's urge is to connect in a mystical way with others. Although your aspirations are lofty, you are also a humanitarian who is often gifted with a sharp intuition and keen analytical skills. Often you give up opportunities that should be yours, simply to help another. This is because your faith in yourself, god and the future is so strong that you live by your conviction that the universe is always unfolding as it should.

Others simply do not possess your spiritual sophistication and may be amused or repelled by what they see as your irrational talk or beliefs. You may be accused of being stupid or foolish simply because you won't take the bait (of a job or money) at the expense of your ethics. Compared to the other numbers, you excel at letting go of lovers or opportunities simply because you know you can't take emotions and material goods with you when you die.

As you are driven more by compassion than common sense, you are the first to fall on your sword for a worthy cause. You may often be broke because you see money only as a tool of change. You would much rather spend money on art, charity or a trip. In fact, ostentatious displays of wealth anger and disgust you because your ideal is a world where all humans are equal.

You might appear very eccentric to others who don't quite understand your fascination with the spiritual world or your insistence on being a seeker of truth.

You have a soul that must be continually assured and fed with new sources of spiritual information. To stay healthy, your psyche may require that you make special trips to holy or mystical places. You may have to seek out special teaching to help you understand and cultivate your talents so that you are in control, as opposed to terrorized by them. Being able to foresee the future or see through other people is often painful, so some therapy might be required in your life to help you detach from your own sensitivity.

One of the sins you are most vulnerable to is spiritual pride. This can bring you situations that cause your faith to be seriously tested or where your pride can take a big fall. However the highest calling of your soul urge is to share your intuitive talents for free.

BTW my photo's aren't serious! I'm messing about! I'm full on into the training now for the London 10k run. I've been detoxing, running every day with one rest day a week and doing aerobics on the middle days. Roll on July...should be mega fit by then if I don't keel over before hand!! lol Ouch! My m8 bunty has torn his achilles tendon. Get well soon bud! x

I mean free clothes is quite something but a free £650 phone is pretty cool too!!
Nokia are sending me a free yes free Nokia N95 cos they want me to use it for three months and tell them how good it is......YAY!!! The best bit is it has Sat Nav built in so that should help me get around the country a bit more efficiently! Been to Derby this week which was cool! I actually really love my Nokia N73 so I might not want to part with it when the N95 arrives? Who knows

Are you getting your daily requirements? Just like those recommended vitamin quotas for physical health, you could say that there are also "requirements" for our emotional health every day. With recent studies showing that negative emotions can actually affect our health and even our life span, it just seems to me to emphasize how important it is to become aware of our interactions with others on a daily basis, and keep them as positive as possible. As a matter of fact, experts in the field of positive psychology have found that the frequency of small, positive acts is critical to our overall happiness. Maybe you might think that you don't really deal with that many people each day. But if you start to think about it, you could be surprised.
Whenever you travel anywhere, you're dealing with others. Whenever you buy something or a service, when you need information, when you need to make a complaint, when you need technical assistance, when you have financial transactions – there are so many times a day that we actually have contact with others, whether in person or on the phone. And this is not counting interacting with loved ones or co-workers.
Turning these encounters into positive ones can be very simple. Sometimes just a smile is all that is needed, or simply acknowledging someone's presence, according them the respect you yourself would expect. A "thank you" can work wonders. And, perhaps not surprisingly, when you approach others from a positive point of view, you become more open and more positive as well. Any negative emotions won't have a chance!

Wow regional food...How yummy! My friends have introduced me to Pikelets they are like a crumpet but much thinner. Anyway we had them for breakfast on Saturday morning , how fab!

How's your mood? Believe it or not, it may be due to something you ate. I've been noticing a lot of articles and books out now about how what you eat can boost your mood -- or make you "crash
." Maybe you've read some of these as well. I know that personally I find it very interesting. And I've observed the same connection (usually when I've been tempted by something sweet!). What it seems to come down to is that eating healthily is not only good for the body, but also the emotions.
Those foods that generally are "bad" for us, weight- and health-wise – full of sugar or fat – are also the culprits that can affect our blood sugar levels and send our moods plummeting. So, to keep our energy and mood levels up, it's best to concentrate on fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meat and fish, beans, whole grains and nuts, low-fat dairy products. And, of course, moderate caffeine and alcohol intake. So, the next time you feel the need for your favourite "comfort" food, why not make it in a healthy version – like some fruit, or low-fat cheese and wholegrain cracker, or some low-fat cocoa. I guess Mother Nature knows best, after all!

I live a comedy......I can tell it far better than I can write it however
I am sure someone could make millions out of my life and comedy sketches I mean it's just soooooo funny! I can't even blog about some of it cos it's soooooooo funny and sooooooooo embarassing....I could tell someone and they could make a million out of it I am SURE! They could just follow me around with a camera and they would have comedy for life ;o)

Friday night we went to Yvonne's 60th Birthday at the Limes in Sandbach. There was a Kareoke which was fun, a buffet and lots of friends. Joanne and Rach were staying at my house so it was all friends together. Sophie and Chrissy met us there. Later on we went dancing at the George in Sandbach..Something quite bizarre happened I lost my phone well that's not bizarre...anyway someone had handed it in...Chrissy said to me have you got your coat I said no so she said well ask about that too, so I did. Do you mean this one the DJ said and held up my coat...Yes that's the one...Didn't think anything of it until the next day...when I found out I had two identical coats! So ok I had picked up a coat exactly the same as mine which I didn't go out in...and some poor lady had to freeze on the way home without a coat cos I was wearing it...and probably thought someone had stolen it..The bizarre thing was though what are the chances of a DJ holding up exactly the same coat as mine that wasn't mine..I mean this was an unusual coat....haha or so I thought!!! Anyway first job Saturday was to return it to the George so that whoever could get it back...So funny you couldn't write the script could you?!? Saturday Joanne went home after giving Rach a fashion show in my shoes! Rach and me went to see Mum& Dad followed by lunch at http://www.themerlin.co.uk very nice too! Lovely food. Then we went to find the Bridestones in Congleton. It said on the internet that you have to beware of the dog! Whoever it was who gave that piece of info wasn't wrong a big barking Rotweiller next door greets you when you arrive! The Bridestones are a Neolithic chambered long burial chamber made of stone. Obviously the mound of earth that covered it has gone..but what's left is interesting. Dating from 3500 to 2400BC associated with high status burials...can't believe they have been there that long! Lying at the foot of the Pennines and with views across the Cheshire Plain, the Bridestones are said to be unique in England although there are similar examples in Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
Last night we went for a meal in Panacea in Manchester which was nice, Rach had a bottle of champagne to herself as I was driving...I had a few non alcoholic cocktails that were quite impressive..bumped into a few friends which was cool!

Today I've called to see my Mum, Happy Mother's Day Mum xx

A very Happy Birthday to my wonderful friend Yvonne 60 years young today and I think she's ACE! So HAPPY BIRTHDAY Darling xxx

Luck was on my side today! Beautiful morning sun shining. Dropped ickle man off and Mum & Dad had bought him some M&S uniform! Bless how nice was that, I have a great MUM & DAD. Later I had 3 new tyres fitted on my car for free! Yes for FREE! Had a really productive day at work even got a large credit off LDV that I wasn't expecting into my budget!! Adobe Illustrator is on it's way too! When I arrived at the orifice there was a hot c blank blank f blank e waiting. I work with an angel!! lol could things possibly get any better? Had a very funny moment in my friends car today. I always play the same track over and over in my car and Rach is always ribbing me for it. Today we went to Morrison's at lunchtime in Rach's car which is very unusual...she flicks on her CD and YAY the same track was on in her car too! Classic! You couldn't write the script! We laughed a lot! She said I have 6 CD's in this car and of all the tracks that one had to come on! lol Tonight went to Tesco in Congleton and ickle man picked up a couple of things he wanted including something for me for Mother's Day and then made me look the other way whilst he counted out his pound coins..bless he didn't have quite enough so I paid..how cute though! Had Shredded Chicken and Cashew Nuts with Yellow Bean Sauce tonight yummy!! 500g Chicken Breast Fillet and a bunch of salad onions into long thin strips...scissors is good! Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok, add 100g Unsalted Cashews and fry until lightly coloured. Remove with a slotted spoon. Add the chicken and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until cooked. Add the salad onions and stir-fry briefly. Return the cashews to the pan with a 250ml jar Wing Yip Yellow Bean Sauce. Bring to the boil for 1 minute until well cooked. Serve with basmati rice. 10 minutes YAY LUCKY ME!!!!

When my son came home from school Friday....he started to tell me all about how on Thursday night I had him in a grip fast asleep and I asked him if he had his dress yet for the doo? Haha apparently he said Mum what ARE you on about firstly I am a boy not a girl so I wouldn't have a dress and secondly I'm not old enough to go to the doo! Apparently we both laughed a lot...me in my sleep....and then it went silent...Of course I remember nothing but how FUNNY! He keeps reminding me of all my funny stories and we have cried a lot with laughter so here's to our funny life!Look at the manicured lawn I used to have lol!! I used to drag him round the garden in his sledge cos there was no snow!!

“From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: that we are here for the sake of each other - above all for those upon whose smile and well-being our own happiness depends, and also for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labours of my fellow men, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.”

~ Albert Einstein

Came across this photo of ickle man! Oh how we've laughed tonight! Poor child he went to nursery school from 3months old and one day they had a fancy dress..which he won! Amazing what you can do with a babygro, a wooden spoon, some tin foil, a tea towel and a tennis headband!! haha Looking back I am not surprised he won at ALL!! Sooo cute

I was reading about the results of a study. It showed that when people were asked to visualize an event from their past and judge their progress since then, those who were told to visualize things from a third-person point of view – that is, to visualize it as if you were watching a movie, as an observer – judged themselves less harshly and saw the progress that was made.
But those who were told to visualize "through their own eyes" -- in the first-person -- were more critical of themselves and couldn't separate their emotions from the event. That really says a lot about how our emotions can sometimes keep us from accurately judging any progress we make. It's like that old saying about seeing ourselves as others see us. When you can imagine watching yourself as the star of your own movie, you'll have a better chance of judging your "performance" fairly. And you're more likely to appreciate your own efforts, which will make it easier to continue on your path. When you look back helping a friend in need gives you a feeling of purpose and satisfaction. Don't be surprised if some good luck comes your way as a result of your continued acts of kindness. After all we are all the stars in our own life story so appreciate what you've done!

DA DA This one WON

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!!!XXXXX
Had a lovely time at the dinner dance. Met quite a few people we knew there which was fun. Stayed at Joannes. Sunday morning later on PJ went with his friend for a spin in my car!! He borrowed some money to goto the pub! Son's make you smile! Then I picked ickle man up and went for a run in the car to Buxton which was very nice. Had a little shop and a little beverage then Ickle man wheelied all on the hills. Tootled home with the roof down.... Tingly cheeks all round lol

Well I think dress three wins and shoes one! Wish me luck carriages at 1pm lol my guest is Rach

Well I had jaw ache last night from laughing...went out for Tracey's 40th Birthday to Obsidian in Mancheter. The girls were great company!The food was very good I had scollops on black pudding followed by steak all very delicious. During the meal I had a text from my friend Dave who owns the gym in Upton. He moved to Cheltenham about a year ago and he has tickets to the Gold Cup on Friday did I want any. So looks like we might be going there on Friday! I was a bit late as I had to find the restaurant from the car park but by chance a very nice taxi driver who was picking up someone from a hotel directed me. By the time I was in China Town I had a whistle from the same taxi driver who had now dropped off his client and he shouted the directions to me. Bless very bizarre. I found it thanks to him anyway.
http://www.obsidianmanchester.co.uk/gallery.html
Later we went to Tiger Tiger but we soon left there the music was terrible it was grungy stuff..So we then went across the road to the Bird Cage. The Bird Cage is a 2000 capacity nightclub where every 30mins or so they stop the dancing and you watch a show...a combination of drag queens, showgirls and cheesy music.. The perfect dancing girls night out. Very popular with hen and stag parties, not really my cup of tea but great to dance with the girls.
Tonight we have to do it all again as we are out at the IRTE Dinner at the North Staffs hotel entertaining customers...will blog tomorrow...just need to decide on the outfit! That's another story but I have four dresses oh and two pairs of shoes to chose from all from one of our Customers....who had a look in his warehouse and pulled out some things my size. They were all FREE yes FREE I now have to decide which one I wear! I think I have gone to heaven! haha never a dull mo
I will post the pics and you can advise

Got home early tonight ickle man was having tea with his friend from school at my Mum& Dads. They then played a duet on the piano and clarinet how cool!! I've had a lucky day I've had two pairs of shoes and a top for FREE. My Dad was excited when I arrived home he's had the BBC on to put him and the Sandbach clean team on National tv. I've been to see Darren at European Textile Recycling today. If anyone has any clothes to recycle to make money for your nominated charity they give £25 up front then £185 per tonne of clothing collected, then a further £15 if you do it again and £10 goes to your nominated charity for every tonne.
I went to visit a friend in the hospital the other day, and I happened to go into the flower shop they had there. I don't know what it is about such places, but as soon as I entered, I felt very calm and soothed. Just being in the presence of so many flowers and green plants was refreshing. So I bought a plant for my friend, and she was delighted to have something natural to look at in her sterile room. Since then, I've run across research that indicates that the presence of houseplants and flowers can have a beneficial effect on our physical and emotional well-being. But did you know, that studies have shown that plants also help lower blood pressure, aid concentration, and improve memory? And it has been found that having flowers in the home boosts your mood and energy level, and people report being happier and more enthusiastic at home and at work. So there's certainly an incentive to share your living space with green plants and flowers. Even if you don't have a green thumb, there are many simple houseplants that are easy to care for. And you don't need an expensive floral arrangement, you can easily pick up a small bunch of flowers at your local market – whatever strikes your fancy at the time.
So I guess that old slogan about "flower power" is truer than we thought!



Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Imagine that a golden shower of light is descending on you, starting from the top of your head. Visualize it moving downwards through all the parts of your body, cleaning any dark spots that may be there. See it pushing this "sludge" of dark negative energy out of your body down through the soles of your feet into the ground. Keep visualizing this golden light doing its clearing action until there is only the light left in your body. Open your eyes and sit for a few minutes, enjoying the sense of calm and peace. This was mentioned in an article I was reading about a "light café" in Stockholm. Of course, that far north, they can often only get daylight from around 10:00 to 2:00 PM during the winter. This special café provides more than food or coffee. The interior is all white, and provides a high intensity light, while its hexagon shape enables the light to reflect off the walls in all directions.

I love the snow! I love skiing! I love sledging!
What's your happiness thermostat set at? I was reading an article about the happiness phenomenon – how the idea of happiness is being seriously studied in psychological circles and the possibilities that you can actively increase your overall happiness. Evidently, it used to be thought that you were "stuck" with a certain level of happiness, like a basic setting on a thermostat.
But now, more research has shown that you can indeed actually work on improving your happiness level. Apart from major life events, good or bad, that have short-term effects, achieving a daily level of satisfaction is really the goal. And there's a very simple exercise to help you do this. All you do, is think back over your day and pick three good things that happened, and analyze why they occurred. Now, I'm not talking about something major, like winning the lottery or getting a promotion. They can be quite small, like finding a 5p on the road, to getting a compliment, or finding a parking space....yee haaa that feels good! The effect of this little exercise is to make you focus more on the good things that happen, rather than any disappointments of the day.
So, why not try it? It makes me think of that famous quote by Abraham Lincoln, "people are as happy as they make up their minds to be." Go ahead and set your happiness thermostat on "high."

I was reading an interesting article about a book two female marketing executives wrote about their unique attitude. Their philosophy was that it pays to be nice. In other words, they didn't go in for the dog-eat-dog mentality. They said, "Actually, it takes courage to be nice. It takes bravery to help your enemy or give kudos to your competitor. It takes great inner strength to show compassion for someone who isn't treating you particularly well." And they cite research that has shown that taking the nice path can strengthen not only your career, but also marriage and even health. Well, I'm actually not surprised at that.
What it really boils down to is that old saying about "what goes around comes around." And that is just a description of what you might call the Law of the Universe. What we "put out there" comes back to us. So, if we're expressing ourselves negatively in our thoughts or words or acting in a destructive way, the Universe is going to reflect that back to us. On the other hand, if we have a positive mindset and act for and look for the best in any situation, the Universe will echo back that to us in abundance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w84qzHdEms
Do you have a complaint? Well, join the choir! A complaints choir, that is. I had a good laugh the other day, when I saw this video on the Web of the Complaints Choir of Birmingham. Here was a group of people, not trained singers, who got together to sing a string of complaints that had been woven into a song by a local musician. The complaints ranged from trains that were never on time, to bananas that don't ripen, expensive beer, dead-end jobs, bad hair days, and other people never sharing their biscuits. Evidently, the complaints choir was the brainchild of a Finnish couple, Tellervo and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen. They had been discussing the huge energy that people seem to put into complaining that could be directed into something else. In Finnish, there is an expression called "Valituskuoro" – which means a "Complaints Choir" – a situation where many people are complaining at the same time. They thought it would be interesting to take this "Complaints Choir" idea literally, and organize a real one. This idea started to catch on, and so far there have been Complaints Choirs organized in Helsinki, St. Petersburg (Russia), and Hamburg, with more to come all around the world. Now, I think this is a great idea. There's good psychology behind it. It's well-known that the act of singing helps release emotions, and singing about your complaints helps defuse them. Not to mention that it begins to seem silly, and helps you see the light side of things.
So peeps the next time you're feeling frustrated, why not try putting your complaints to a little tune or chant and singing them away? You don't need to join an official choir or even be able to carry a tune. You can even get creative and see how many complaints you can put together. Have fun with it – and sing your cares away!
Today I've been shopping for gifts for our ladies at the Dinner on Saturday they are getting yummy Pink boxes of Thorntons chocolates and I've had them all gift wrapped too. Phoned a girl today called Jess Smith in Manchester I could hardly leave the message for laughing...is Jess Smith there...it's Jess Smith..Anyway when I spoke to her she said she went to school with four Jess Smith's so it's normal to her HOW BIZARRE!! More bizarreness Rach's sister is best friends with Karen whom I went with to the Price is Right...come on down....years ago...I said surely not Karen who ran round Trentham Gardens in Flintstones outfit for charity??? Yup same one..small world!

Do you have a "guilty pleasure"? I have to confess that I like to watch reality shows where an unsuspecting person has been nominated by friends and family for a wardrobe makeover. All of the subject's clothes are discussed and shown why they aren't flattering for the person, and then they are thrown out. Then the person is given some new guidelines for clothing that will flatter their body type and has two days to shop for new clothes. And of course a new haircut and makeup are thrown in, too.
But what really makes the show interesting to me is that, without fail, each person describes how it has been a transforming experience, really going beyond just acquiring new clothes. They have come to look at themselves in a new light, and to recognize their good points and how to take advantage of them. And they acquire a better sense of self-worth and self-respect. All too often they have been with people who focus on the negative and forget to tell them the positive, leaving them to feel worthless.
I think we could all do with a "makeover" every once in while, as a reminder of our good points and qualities that others see in us but that we might not be aware of or value properly. Why not exchange doing makeovers with a friend or loved one? Instead of clothing tips, make a list of all of the other person's good qualities -- physical, emotional, and mental – and have them do the same for you. You could be surprised – and pleased – when you receive your new "makeover."

Last week, I found myself caught up in a web of all of the wonderful communication technology at our disposal. There I was, glued to the computer for what seemed like days, catching up on email, drafting articles, etc., with hardly a break. Finally, needing to run an errand, I ventured outside my office. And wouldn't you know it, I ran into a friend I hadn't seen or spoken to for a while, and she persuaded me to have lunch with her. At first I was reluctant, thinking of the work still ahead of me, but I'm so glad I gave in. Because we didn't just share lunch -- we caught up with each other's news, shared our problems and concerns, and renewed our friendship. We reestablished that human connection between us, and it lifted my spirits and I felt ready to tackle my work again. So, that small incident provided me with a necessary reminder. Too often we can get caught up in our work, busily "communicating" but without establishing the face-to-face human contact that's so necessary to our well-being. We have a built-in need to share our lives with others and feel connected to them. Just like in my case, I think we all need a reminder every once in a while to not neglect that part of ourselves. It makes for a more balanced and joyful life. As Albert Schweitzer said, "In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit."