Write thinking

There is a card that a former co-worker gave me that is now clipped to the stand-up file organizer on my desk. It says, "Merci" in lovely script and there is a little sketch of a hand with a quill above it. To me it says, "Thank you for the gift of writing."

It is a perfectly drawn sentiment.

Liz

I was on a long train ride today and settled in with the Sunday Times. By far, the best thing I read was -- among the stories written about people who had died this year -- a piece on Liz Claiborne. What a success story -- she was innovative, financially prosperous and a humanitarian.

My favorite line in the story:

Her parents were so opposed to her career choice that her father, a banker, dropped her off on a corner in New York City, handed her $50 and did not speak to her for 20 years.

Don't know what I can add to that.

Fun day

Naivete about the crowds in midtown Manhattan aside, it was a good birthday spent with a dear friend. My idea of strolling through MOMA has been postponed. However, visits to Tiffany's and the windows at Bergdorf's were fun and nearly overloaded my senses. Which, of course, led to a raspberry margarita.

Dinner at a down home Italian restaurant in Hoboken topped things off wonderfully. Mussels marinara, sauteed spinach, veal parmigiana with angel hair.

Splendid.

Many more ...

It's after midnight, so it's officially my birthday.

Yesterday I was in a local cafe I don't frequent much and as I was ordering my coffee, I was singing along to You're The One That I Want by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Next came an old Janet Jackson song and again I was mouthing the words. The young guy behind the counter smiled and said, "This is your music, right?"

Yes, young lad, it is. Nice to know it shows.

Happy Birthday to me.

Fine things

Today was the day to hit the sweet little stores of Hoboken to scout out half-price Christmas ornaments. I love to score really good deals on fine things. They make great gifts for next year and it makes me feel smart and organized to stow them away. The bonus is opening each ball of tissue next December and delighting in each new treasure.

All buttoned up.

Craft

I was putting the finishing touches on a column for FOX today. On about the third read, I realized a line in the fifth paragraph should be the lead.

It was one of those moments where I realized what a gift it was to do daily journalism for so many years. It forces you to overcome and push through perfectionist tendencies, the kind that often stop artists from creating. They get hung up on one thing and it stops their flow. Had I dwelled on the imperfect lead and not written beyond that, I would have been in a real bind.

Instead, I'm excited about how it turned out. And furthermore, had it turned out good instead of stellar, I would have lived with that, too. There's another column just around the bend.

I love my craft.

Gathering

Today I will go to my old stomping ground and eat in my very favorite Chinese restaurant, Sunny Garden, in Mercer County, New Jersey. Bring on the seafood and vegetables embedded in a nest of angel hair.

A great start to a packed holiday weekend.

Childhood passion

I love that this 8-year-old kid on Fashionably Late With Stacy London is a jewelry designer with 33 people working for him and that the proceeds go to a dog shelter. Hard to imagine, since at that age I was sitting in a chair reading Nancy Drew books.

You call this work?

What a day! Interviewed a great subject for a column at Tavern on the Green this afternoon. Did a coaching session after that and a consultation. All good stuff.

In between, I did a half-hour interview on a radio show called Women On Top hosted by the dynamic Erin Weed. It'll air on Sunday at 4 p.m. EST on www.am760.net or 760 AM in the Denver area. We talked about life coaching, The Secret and my column on Foxbusiness.com, among other things.

Fantastic.

Free

The day job has gone away. I started the morning at the gym. I conducted an interview, met with a client, wrote a newsletter.

I am immersed in satisfying work. Time is my friend.

I am free.

If I were Mary Tyler Moore, with whom I share a birthday, I would throw my hat in the air.

I am free.

Peace loving

So far my favorite holiday cards this year contain messages of peace. Two are from life coaching clients. One is from a close friend.

I have attracted wonderful people into my life.

Baking and bonding

Spent the weekend with family, but the main goal was to bake cookies with Mom. The biggest laughs we had came when we burned one batch and botched the white chocolate glaze on another. However, we did emerge with a lot of delicious goodies.

This tradition has taken on more meaning than ever to me. Each passing year, my friends and relatives are losing parents. It really drives home the message that you really don't know what next year brings.

This year we baked and laughed and people we love will reap the delicious rewards.

All is well.

Serene scene

My Christmas tree is up and it makes me feel serene. I'm going to write some holiday cards tonight, settle into my couch, enjoy the glow.

It's one of the joys of the season.

Strong

I had some intrusion into my life today.

I am being tested.

I will not wither.

Coming through

When the writing is coming through me, when I am channeling the words, there is nothing like it. Just finished writing a column for FOX Business, my fourth, and it flew off my fingertips.

Feels like I'm soaring ...

Indulging

Going to have some vodka rigatoni tonight. So rich. Probably have it twice a year.

It's cold out. It'll warm my insides. Please my palate.

I'm going for it. I'm due.

Perfect.

Merry madness

Did some good shopping in Macy's madness today. So good. Bought only things I really, really wanted to give. And, drumroll please, used the coupons to advantage. That is a key combo.

One of the best things to come from some financial struggles a few years back is my remaining desire to keep the holidays about simple gestures and tokens that will give people joy. My old self would have had to not only buy someone a sweatsuit, but a shirt to go under it, socks, etc. No more excess. My debt does not make anyone's Christmas merrier and it certainly doesn't improve my life.

I like to shop. Sometimes there's nothing better.

Mayhem can be good.

Well wishers

The amount of people reaching out to congratulate me on the FOX column (see yesterday's post) is astounding and heartwarming. What a rush.

People I just met. People I've known for decades.

So gratifying and special.

Game Plan

Check it out. I have a brand new life coaching column on the FOX Business website and I'm thrilled to be able to share my message in this forum! "Game Plan" will run every Wednesday and Friday.

Here is its debut:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/travel-lifestyle/article/new-column-business-life-coaching_386466_22.html

The rage

Got myself up on Facebook. Spent time on a profile.

Not sure why. Don't really "get it."

Must be missing something.

Treasure hunt

I haven't picked up a book in a while. Feels like it's time. What to read? I love this process. Will it be a spiritual book? Or a biography? Fiction, perhaps?

I will scan my shelves and pick an unread winner.

Disconnect

I don't have an Internet connection in my home at the moment. It's crazy how disconcerting that is.

Solution is in the works.

In the meantime, blogging when I can ...

Keyed up

I just went to a craft fair and bought a cool ring for a whopping $10. It's a typewriter key on a silver band. The key is an "N" of course.

Typewriters are special to me. The writer inside of me is so happy right now she could squeal.

The timing is right. Yesterday I resigned from the day job to pursue writing and life coaching fulltime. A regular column deal is in the works. Clients are coming.

There is abundance.