I did it.

What a feeling, my goal was to parasail on Christmas day. Unfortunately the parasail company was not working on the 25th, but on the afternoon of the 26th, after many obstacles through out the day, I went up and parasailed over 100 feet in the air overlooking the beautiful beachesf of Punta Cana. The view was spectaclar and I probably would not have been so hell bent on accomplishing this experience if it wasn't for my leisure education class. One of the most exciting and thrilling experiences in a very long time. Hopefully my pictures will have turned out and I'll post at a later date.

Summary # 3

Well for some reason, beyond my control some times and in my control most of the time, I have prevented myself from experiencing leisure throughout many times during my lifetime. I usually use one of these excuses, “well, I don’t have time”, “whose gonna watch the kids”, “it’s too expensive” or “maybe next time”. If there is anything that I can take away from this class is the appreciation for leisure and the appreciation for life in general. My attitude about leisure is completely different than prior to September. I have come to the conclusion that life is too precious and life is just speeding right by me, if I don’t start doing things that I enjoy and doing things for ME, I’m afraid I will wake up one day and have many regrets. I don’t want to reflect on my past one day and find my self saying “I should’ve or I could’ve. I want my memories to reflect fun, enjoyment and satisfaction. I want to be able to say, I did this……., I went …….., I experienced………. . I want to teach my 3 kids and my granddaughter through my actions of experiencing life to its fullest. I believe these new views on life are from a combination of learning from the other students in class and learning from the course. Having experienced life much longer than most students in our class I have realized that my time to make life changes and experience new adventures has to start sooner rather than later. This class was a real “eye opener” for me. I remember during one of the first classes we had in September we had to write down something that we always wanted to do but have not done for what ever reason. I wrote down parasailing and for years every time I mention this to my husband, he refers to it as (paraplegic sailing) and talks me out off experiencing this out of fear and concern for me. Well mark my words, on Decmeber 25, 2008, I will do it. I will have my big ass in a sling sailing over the beach in Punta Cuna. I took the plunge and booked a trip to Punta Cana. And yes, it’s too expensive but so what. Who’s gonna watch the kids, I’ll figure that out later anyway there not babies anymore, oh but maybe next time, absolutely not, its gonna be “this time”. I’m pushing 50 and life is too fricken short and I’m gonna start living mine. I’ll post the pictures as soon as I get back. I just hope I don’t end up like one of those old ladies getting dragged face first in the sand on Funniest Home Videos. Stay tuned!

Leisure or Not

Who's really having a intrinsically motivating experience here???????

Top of the Rock

I finally got there, to the Top of the Rock. The 70th floor atop the Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. If you stand still you could feel the building sway by the wind. What a view, I could have stayed there all morning. The construction site you see is located on 42 street and is where my son-in-laws, kahonwase Rice is presently working.

I often wonder if Rockefeller Plaza is one of the jobs my grandfather, Mike Skye, worked on. The Mohawk men of Kahnawke have a long history with New York City. The men of kahnawake are infamous for their High Steel abilities and are known as some of the greatest "Skywalkers" in North America. As I stood on top of the rock I couldn't help think of my grandfather Mike, father Carl, husband Todd, and all my uncles, cousins and friends that do this dangerous work everyday. How can these brave men travel 500 miles every week for thirty, forthy , fifty years and never once have I heard them complain.? I so very proud of each and every one of them. They say "It's in their blood" and part of "who they are". These men are leisure educators in their own right as they pass on their knowledge and skill to next generation of great Mohawk Ironworkers.

In the pictures you see, to the North you have Central Park and the George Washington Bridge. To you eastt Brooklyn and Yonkers, to the south the great view of the Empire State Building and behind it in the distance the Manhatten and Brooklyn bridges. I also saw the crane in the distance where the Twin Towers once stood, to the west I see Kahonwase's building and further west I see the poluted dirty Hudson river and across the Hudson the view of New Jersy. The cars and trucks below look like toy dinky's and as the helicopters fly over it looks as if you can grab with your hand and pull them in.

My next conquest will be the statue of liberty. This was a very exicting morning and I highly recommend it to anyone who's not afraid of hights.

Do You Have Tme?

LEISURE

WHAT is this life if, full of care,We have no time to stand and stare?—
No time to stand beneath the boughs, And stare as long as sheep and cows:
No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:
No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night:
No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance:
No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began?
A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

BY W. H. Davies

Blog Summary 2

Personnally, I don’t feel that the past 8 weeks have been sufficient enough for me to feel like a real Leisure Educator. Yes, I think I’m slowly starting to educate others, mainly my family, but I have a long road ahead of me for to acquire enough confidence in myself to educate others outside my comfort zone. I feel that I am slowly becoming Leisure educated through self-actualization and through self-reflection. I am recognizing and learning how to overcome barriers. For me, my leisure is intrinsically motivated by spending quality time with my family, sharing laughs, good times, having a healthy outlook on life, and being proactive in having the ability to be able to pass on good attitudes and knowledge about leisure to my children, husband, sisters and all family members. By showing my them how to live a meaningful life through leisure and by imulating a "Quality of Life"style and modeling/coaching such a positive behavior of living a enjoyable and healthy life style, not just living and breathing to merely exist. I believe that leisure education is a life long continous process whether you are a leisure educator or a leisure participant.

Boston Bruins visit Kahnawake

The Boston Bruin alumni visited Kahnawake this past weekend. This event was enjoy by the young and old alike . My entire family and almost half my community have been Boston Bruin fans for decades. This was an event that the entire community Kahnawake came together and celebrated with family and friends and raise money for two worthy causes; the Karihwanoron Mohawk Immersion Program and the Turtle Island Theatre Company. This event not only brought out 2300 fans but raised an astonishing $110,660. The Hockey game was played in the afternoon against our community's elite hockey players followed by an evening of a great mohawk cusine dinner and smoozing with the Boston Bruin players like the legendary Mohawk from Six Nations, Ontario, Stan Johnathon. Also players like Brad Parks, Terry O'Reilly, Cam Neely, Middleton, and Ray Bourque just to name a few. Here are a few pic's of the great day and fantastic evening spent with my sisters and Mom & Dad (which does not happen very often). My father was speechless and in awe for hours. I think one day he will die a very happy man knowing he met his hero's and his hero's met him. I would like to thank Brian and Michelle Goodleaf for making this event a dream come true for so many fans young and old alike.

Japanese Game Show

If you want to have a good laugh. Follow this link. The Japanese have an amazing ability to finding and creating leisure activities that are halarious.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpg3xM-niVw

Happy Halloween

To Leisure or Not to Leisure.

I think some people have too much "free time" on their hands. It's not me.

Mama Nature gets Revenge

This video caught my attention. The main focus is not leisure but respect although some leisure activities are depicted. It very thought provoking. Don't mess with mother nature or she'll come back and bite you in the ass.