Spa me

There's something juicy about trying to figure out when to schedule my massage next week in Asheville. And then there are the details. With a mountain view? With stones? A 50-minute or an 80-minute?

Oh, the chore of it all.

Music to my ears

The men in my family have provided a nice soundtrack for my life this week.

Dad converted four cassette tapes he had made me a while back into CDs. I've indulged in some swinging Sinatra the last few days.

My brother loaded up my MP3 player with goodies, most of which I haven't even gotten to yet. All I know is my workouts are better already. Each day there's another surprise.

The gifts that keep on giving.

Snake-bitten

Read this story about Wal-Mart today:

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/wal-mart-sues-disabled-ex-employee/20080329083609990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Reminded me of the fact that the endangered northern pine snake is holding up the building of a Wal-Mart near my parents' retirement community in Manchester Township. The proposed center would be five times the size of a football field.

Hope the slimy creature lives a long life.

A tree grows in Hoboken

So because of the holiday I was a little late in reading this week's Hoboken Reporter. There's an ongoing fight being played out in the Letters to the Editor every week -- should they have planted a bunch of trees in one of our parks here? I was amused to see this written in a letter from a 12-year-old girl who goes to nearby Mustard Seed School:

Due to the lack of play space we are not able to release enough energy to keep us focused for the rest of the school day. This causes stress for adults who are responsible for taking care of us, which is quite difficult when we are overflowing with energy.

OK. Either this was written by one of those parents who does science projects, too, or this child knows way too much about stress and energy.

They're just trees, folks.

A calling

A heady day of coaching. Sometimes it's so natural it's surreal. Four clients today, all amazing in their own right. Each one keeping me on my toes.

I lay my head on the pillow tonight knowing I do what I was born to do.

Coming 'round the mountain

I'm excited about heading to Asheville, N.C., in a few weeks for a conference called "Conversation Among Masters." It's for master coaches and the agenda includes some talks and facilitated conversations with some of the best life coaches in the country.

There is much to share and learn.

And, well, maybe a spa service or two to enjoy.

Piano man

Despite the fact that Billy Joel looked like his publicist and/or his wife forced him to be on Oprah today, the interview was not without its cool moments. He talked of giving birth to a song, a comment on process that spoke to the writer in me.

After he performed Only The Good Die Young, he talked about how some Catholic universities and others banned it, which made sales skyrocket. He told Oprah, "I said, 'Can you ban my next song?'" He went on to say that the only stand the song was taking was one of "pro-lust."

Good stuff.

A cool dozen

We're almost a quarter into the year. How are those resolutions going?

My latest Game Plan column on FOX Business suggests taking the next 12 weeks seriously:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/travel-lifestyle/article/new-years-resolution-failing-try-12week-makeover_527241_22.html

A moment of regression

If my eyes could speak, they'd be thanking me for watching Ashton Kutcher for 30 minutes tonight.

Eye candy?

Maybe a Lindor truffle.

Let's get real

How gracious and real, from The New York Times Magazine last Sunday, a Q&A with Laura Linney:

You were nominated recently for your third Academy Award, for your role in The Savages.

People come up to me and say, "Oh, I'm so sorry you lost." What did I lose? I didn't lose anything. I didn't lose a thing.

That's sane of you. What do you think of Marion Cotillard, who just won best actress for her performance as Edith Piaf?

Of the five of us, that performance was on a whole other level. It just was.

Where's the mudita?

Wrote a Game Plan column about something that bugs the crap out of me -- pervasive negativity. It appeared on FOXBusiness.com today:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/lifestyle-money/travel-lifestyle/article/goodness-sakewheres-mudita_522983_22.html

Race matters

What a real, wonderfully written speech by Senator Barack Obama today:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/us/politics/18text-obama.html?em&ex=1205985600&en=06a539b9d149224f&ei=5087%0A

It's a long overdue commentary on race in America.

Thank you.

NETworking

Just created an "expert" page on a website that serves as a resource for self-growth professionals. Check it out:

http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/nancy_colasurdo.html

Received

Just watched The Big Give. Andre Agassi's lightness of spirit is a joy to behold.

Strengths in numbers

Hmmmmm. Just took a test on the Authentic Happiness website. It's called the VIA Signature Strengths Questionnaire and it consists of 240 questions. Here are my top five strengths:

Your Top Strength
Appreciation of beauty and excellence. You notice and appreciate beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.

Your Second Strength
Hope, optimism, and future-mindedness. You expect the best in the future, and you work to achieve it. You believe that the future is something that you can control.

Your Third Strength
Zest, enthusiasm, and energy. Regardless of what you do, you approach it with excitement and energy. You never do anything halfway or halfheartedly. For you, life is an adventure.

Your Fourth Strength
Gratitude. You are aware of the good things that happen to you, and you never take them for granted. Your friends and family members know that you are a grateful person because you always take the time to express your thanks.

Your Fifth Strength
Judgment, critical thinking, and open-mindedness. Thinking things through and examining them from all sides are important aspects of who you are. You do not jump to conclusions, and you rely only on solid evidence to make your decisions. You are able to change your mind.

Very telling. Yes, indeed.

Action packed

What a fun day.

Appeared on Martha Stewart Radio SIRIUS 112 this afternoon with host Mario Bosquez and career consultant Maggie Mistal in a discussion about "career serendipity." We took calls and really just had a good conversation about career issues. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tonight I attended a cast party for Shannon Durig, the star of Hairspray on Broadway. I interviewed her for a FOXBusiness.com column set to go live tomorrow (well, actually later today) and she invited me to her 1,000th show celebration at Spotlight Live in Times Square. They featured a Cosmopolitan-type drink with a splash of pineapple juice in honor of Shannon called Shannon's Shenanigans or something like that. Delish.

Yep. A fun day.

Publicity

How cool that I have a client and a former client on the newsstand! The current client, a musician, got a blurb in the March issue of More magazine. The former client, an entrepreneur, has a Q&A in the April issue of Cosmopolitan.

They're movin' and shakin'.

In the past, I've had clients who appeared on "Page Six," the New York Post's notorious gossip section, and on Crossing Over with John Edward.

I just love living and working in the center of it all.

New York, New York.

KISS-Y

Realized I was laughing out loud on the treadmill at the gym this morning.

Had Rachael Ray on the TV. She showed a clip of Kristan Cunningham making over a room for a couple. He was a huge KISS fan and had a room filled with memorabilia. She wanted a classy room. Cunningham managed to merge the two by furnishing it well and then putting KISS stuff -- like framed album covers -- around the room as accent. She converted the closet into this crazy scene with flames and blaring music whenever you open the door. The guy's reaction was priceless.

But better yet, Rachael Ray has them all on the show and says since Kristan broke a piece of his memorabilia, they have a surprise for him. Out walks Gene Simmons with a KISS lamp in his hand. I thought the guy was going to freak. And his wife was blown away, too.

Gotta say, that's some fun TV. Made my workout a breeze.

The facts of life

Interesting that the governor of New York is embroiled in a scandal the very day after I saw former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey in a Hoboken cafe I frequent. He looked relaxed and comfortable in his own skin and was warm and receptive to my handshake.

Now, more sex and politics in the news. Another man devastating his family and disappointing constituents.

Our leaders are flawed.

This is life.

Help

The Big Give is so inspiring and thought-provoking.

Tears aplenty streaming over here.

New York state of mind

Had a really pleasant dinner in Midtown tonight. Sometimes there's nothing like that Fifth Avenue vibe to put some zing in the day. It was a nice night. Strolled from Radio City to St. Patrick's and then browsed some stores before meeting my friend. Even ducked into the Lindt store for a sample truffle.

Zing.

Me and my keyboard

Did a lot of writing today.

It is always good when I can say that.

Entitlement

Dropped into my local Panera cafe today. Watched a group of four women with strollers get up and leave after eating lunch. They left every scrap of paper, every dish, every crumb, every tray for the employees to clean up off the tables, chairs and floor. It was a mess. And this is an establishment where you bus your own tray.

I was in disbelief.

My "glass half-full" side hopes someone slipped the floor manager a $20 for his troubles.

My well runneth over ...

Went to see Hairspray on Broadway today. What fun!

Brunch at Thalia's, five of us in all. Then the show.

Shannon Durig, who plays the lead, is magnificent. Her energy carries the show. And her moves are fierce.

What a great way to "fill the well," a concept from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. It's about immersing yourself in others' creativity to fill your own creative well.

Mission accomplished.