When we make plans, God laughs!

In keeping with my promise to do this every Sunday night, here I am, ta da! It's been one of THE most challenging weeks of my life with not so great health news for me and my beloved llasa apso, Brat. I'm handling mine well but alas alack, pray for my little guy. I was so excited to come home after a rough week and just hold that little man in a furry body, dogs are indeed so comforting. My Bratty as he is often called as well as Bman, Bratman, Bratsky, Bratster, you get the picture is the most loving affectionate smartest dog ever. OK, OK, parents do brag, y'know!

His front legs gave out and he is unable to walk, so far we have been to his Vet, a neurologist, the emergency room and currently he is housed at an orthopedic veterinary surgeon's office..don't ask...more than my mortgage. I'm off again tomorrow to Vegas and my fabulous dog sitter, Gay will pick him up and take him with her. We hope the meds will take within 5-7 days and he will walk again. Pray for my Brat!

I love many poems by Edgar Guest and this is one of his on dogs;

"Tis pity not to have a dog, for at the
long day's end, The man or boy will
know the joy, Of welcome from a friend.
And whether he be rich or poor, Or much
of little bring, The dog will mark his
step and bark, As if he were a King.
Though gossips whisper now and then,
Of faults they plainly see, And some
may sneer, from year to year, My dog
stays true to me. He's glad to follow
where I go, And though I win or fail,
His love for me he'll let me see, By
wagging his tail. Now if I were to list
the friends Of mine in smiles and tears,
tho' through and through are staunch
and true, And constant down the years,
In spite of all my many faults,
Which critics catalog, Deserving blame,
I'd have to name My ever-faithful dog.
"Tis pity not to have a dog, Whatever be
his breed, for Dogs possess a faithfulness,
Which humans sadly need. And whether
skies be blue or gray, Good luck or ill
Attend, Man's toil by day, a dog will stay,
His ever-constant friend.......

--- Edgar A. Guest ---

Mexican Madness

I no sooner got back from Tahiti, Mayo Clinic, New Orleans, I was on a plane to Cancun, Mexico with my Vistage group and spouses…26 of us! We stayed at Paradisius Resort which was spectacular but the service was not. Who cares when you’re with 25 fun people who you adore. We all had a fabulous time,in the sun, drinking, at the beach, drinking, eating, drinking, meeting, drinking,,,yes, my gang they love their booze…and it was all inclusive☺ The resort must have lost money this weekend.

Most of us arrived Thursday, some earlier, some stayed longer. We hung out at the pool or beach by day, interspersed with spa visits, some snorkeling, reading, lots of cigar smoking, no not me. At night we had dinner in the various restaurants, L’Hermitage one night for French cuisine and Capri the other night for our Italian fix.

Held the regular meeting on Sat. morning with our guest speaker, Harvey Goldberg from DC, speaking on finding everyone’s trigger words and how to recover in business and relationships. Harvey partied with us all weekend and that was so much fun as we have been friends for years and he is also a Chair. The spouses left after the speaker at noon and then I conducted a short version of our regular meeting with just the CEO’s. Not only do I have THE best members but they have the most awesome spouses. And with no turnover in years, they all know each other quite well which makes it all the more fun.

I had a fantastic room overlooking the Caribbean with a Jacuzzi on my deck. That’s all you get on that one☺ I am on the plane headed home and home I will be for a whole week, hooray... to run my Key meeting and my Speakers School. See y' next Sunday, that's my new MO, each Sunday night so you'll know when to catch it and I'll know when to write it. Stay tuned!

Don't Pass the Mayo

The Mayo Clinic, that is... I had the extreme pleasure to experience this world class institution, the "mother ship" as they would call it, in Rochester, Minnesota this past week. Now one might think being the astute woman I pride myself being that given the Chicago winter, I might have chosen the one in AZ or FL. I wanted to experience "the best". Before you all panic, I went to have an executive physical, something I recommend everyone consider at some point in their life.

What an amazing place! From the magnificence of it's vastness, to the classical pianist in the lobby, accompanied by various singers who happen to stop in, to the first class medical practitioners, the innovative technology, and the people, who truly uphold the reputation of "Minnesota Nice".

It is so big, think, college or university and coincidentally, I got a schedule printout just like you would at school, telling me where to be and when. Despite the magnitude of the place, you couldn't get lost if you wanted to, there are enough signs and designated people every two feet. In today's vernacular, "they've got it down".

Doctors who actually take all the time in the world with you, doctors who literally explain every single thing to you, doctors so nice you want them all to be your friend, doctors so real, so attentive, so caring, doctors so smart you are in awe of their brilliance which truly shines through their simplest conversation.

I am a new and eternal fan and don't know how I will ever be satisfied with any less than what I experienced ever again.

Don't pass the Mayo!!!