When I was young, we moved around...A LOT. My Dad was a businessman and that's just what you did at the time. I was a school transplant and I am sure my life was one of bullying at the time. I was never the popular one or perfect by any standard. When I was in 4th grade there was a girl that wanted to beat me up everyday and my parents said, "get out there and fight". They weren't bad parents, its just what you did in a time where guns, knives and toxins weren't ever a part of any battle. I was never a fighter but I did gain some back bone in the process. My biggest fight was with a few neighborhood bully's. I was on roller skates. Need I say more:)


There are two worlds and people are innately kind. As time has gone on for me I am often amazed at the way we as humans treat each other. Its been through the love and kindness of friends and teachers over time that have gotten me through some of my toughest times. Its also been through my "friends" that I have come to realize that sometimes friends aren't really friends. This brings me to the real bully. TECHNOLOGY! Hey, I love it, live it...twitter, blog, cell phones, Facebook etc but lets face it, its puts your whole world out there and also allows others to see in and have there way with it anonymously.

I had the honor of judging the Miss and Teen International pageant last summer. I was so amazed at the maturity level of so many of these young ladies and many of the trials they have gone through at such a young age. It stuck in my mind that about 90% of them on their paperwork had bullying and self esteem issues as the number one thing that young women deal with today.

This is a huge issue. I have seen so much in the VOY world and assumptions made on who is posting what. College boards are no better and cater to negativity. Now I would love to tell you this all this stops at 18, 19 or 21 but even as grown married women it prevails. It is said and just makes me wonder why these forums are out there?????

In a land of information, technology and a vast amount of opinions...I ask....do we cater to bullying? Do we encourage others by actions within ourselves? Do we walk the walk we all talk about?

Listen, I realize that we cannot control everyone. There is a reason why tabloids exist, we all slow down at the sight of a wreck and, "If it bleeds it leads" comes into the news cycle. I just wish for one day or even one moment in time we could turn on the news, the computer, our phones and our heart and just be happy. Happy for everything around us and everyone in our lives. Then again, maybe its the pageant in me and world peace is just too much to ask.

Listen to your heart...D

I realized today as I was making dinner that I am a NUT and I need a GPS for everything in my life. Lets recap....in the past week I had a groomer tell me my dog Jack needed ADHD medication. Jack has his own personality and is a good dog...he is just Jack. So I picked up Halo (my perfect pup) and Jack from the groomer and drove off in a huff. Lefts face it, fur or not, FAMILY IS FAMILY right? So...I was leaving the groomer and every car seemed to honk at me. I was thinking it was a bad day until I heard someone say...YOUR WALLET. Yes, that's right...my ADHD pup apparently has an ADHD Mother and my wallet was on top of my car. Thank goodness for great Samaritan's!

So move forward a few days and I did the Great Start! Heart Walk for Baltimore MD. The day was beautiful and the GPS had its own mind but we arrived. So half way around the inner harbor I realized that my cell phone was still on top of my car. So the walk turned into a run as we ran back...but we did join back in and the phone was still there...THANK GOODNESS!

So...today...I am cooking all Rachel Ray inspired. We are working out, trying to be healthy and I am venturing out on my culinary skills. I opened the oven to turn the pork chops and...here we go...my glasses fell off the top of my head and into the oven. THE BACK OF THE OVEN!

I fished them out before demise but come on....ayayayayaya...so even in a stressful week

listen to your heart...d

Miss Teen International, Juliana Mckee, members of the "Got Heart" team and I

Around 2 am this morning I woke up. It was one of those nights that a lot was on my mind. I was so afraid of over sleeping that I did not sleep!Today was the Greater Baltimore Heart Walk. IIt actually turned out to be a much warmer day than expected.

We needed to be there by 8:30 am so I knew this meant MUST LEAVE EARLY as we are over and hour and a half away. So after a failed GPS and my phone that I left on top of my car (anyone who knows me may see a pattern this week for me) we were off.

There were a lot of walkers. Some for themselves, some for others and some just because. It was amazing, The Baltimore Inner Harbor was beautiful and the sun could not have shined down on us any brighter.

A couple of things came to mind to me today...why am I walking...

After my heart attack and post surgery January 18. 2010

And who I am walking for.....my Mom and Dad who passed away from Heart Disease at 54 and 56years of age and ...

My son and husband.....

Today was a good day...never mind that, it was a great day!

This weekend we are doing the walk for the American Heart Association in Baltimore. I am looking forward to that. My first journey into walks was in 2001 for ," Train to End a Stroke". My Father passed away on June 7th and it was just something I thought I could do. He passed away of a heart attack after a double valve replacement and not a stroke but my Mother had a stroke in her 30's. (and passed away at 56 after complications from surgery at our house).

I had a dream about my parents the other day. My Dad always said to me when you give up your dreams you die. I do feel like he talks to me sometimes.

Listen to your heart......

This weekend was a good weekend. I really don't think we could have asked for better weather. Andy, Carter, Jack, Halo and I drove to Richmond, VA to attend the VA International pageants. The drive was beautiful and we arrived in enough time to check into the Hilton and make the pageant. Once we were unpacked and ready...dogs had been taken out (we love pet friendly hotels!) we headed to the car. Well we ran into a slight problem initially. We had locked the keys in the car and the spare was MIA. After a bit of chaos, we made it to the pageant.

Andy and I have been attending Deshawn and Marcellas pageants for 3 years and they just keep getting better. They are the Directors of the VA and MD Intl pageants for Miss and Mrs. The pageant ran well and on time and soon the new queens were announced! Congrats to Deshauna Barber, Miss VA International and Rebecca Crossen, Mrs Va International 2011!!!!! Both were beautiful and will represent VA well all year and at nationals!

In attendance were also Juliana McKee, Miss Teen International, Ashley Smith, Miss International and the devine Mrs International, Shannon Devine! Halle Grace, Shannon's daughter gave Carter his first kiss:)

Sherry Benson, MD Teen Director, Joy Pfister, Carolina Int'l Director and myself.

Halle Grace Devine and Carter Linz...Carters firts kiss. We are already planning their wedding:)

In the amazing company of beautiful royalty!

Myself, Shannon Devine (Mrs Int'l), Juliana Mckee (Miss Teen Int'l) and of course Halle Grace...a future Miss Teen Int'l!

With Rebecca Crossen, Mrs Virginia International 2011! Congrats beauty!

With some of my favorite ladies!



With the AMAZING Mrs Devine and Mrs International 2010!



Juliana Mckee, Miss Teen Int'l looking like perfection!

With Cristen. She is one of the most beautiful ladies and so sweet too! Love her!

Until next time...listen to your heart...D

You know life can teach you so much sometimes. We all can dwell in our own pity parties, reflect on the negativity in life and watch LIFETIME until our life seems so much better but in reality, we all wait for the train wreck. When it happens, it is our moment to justify every other wrong doing in life.

I spent a good portion of today at Walter Reed in the Ortho department. It was amazing. The spirit lies in the soul of those who are willing to believe. Today, I felt it. I met and saw some of the most amazing people. I said to my husband, there was spirit. Spirit in the doctors, spirit in the nurses, spirit in the staff.

I have been around A LOT of medical personnel in my life but today was so inspiring. In a world that so many had lost limbs or faced with the challenges of walking or movement came the most spirit of all.

They weren't missing anything. They had Love, God and family and the belief that anything is possible. I was humbled today and honored to be in the company of so many amazing people.

Thank you for all who serve our wonderful country and those who stand with them, before them and behind them. The future comes with a past, the past comes with a future and today and this moment comes with the honor to live in both for a mere second.