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.

Leisurely Friday's

Friday's are my day to catch up day's for laundry, homework, cleaning, etc. or just chill and relax (Leiurely). But starting tomorrow morning and every Friday after that, for a while anyway, I will be spending it with my one and only Tiohahison, my 17 month old granddaughter. I was so excited today that I went to Sears after school and bought her all kinds of toys. I can't wait to sit on the floor and play with her. I hope tomorrow will be the beginning of many Friday's together.

Self-Determination and Self-Awareness

Self-Determination is a challenge in itself. "Acting as a primary causal agent in one's life and making choices". Last week I jumped in the car and went to New York. It wasn't the first time but it was one of the first times that I didn't feel guilty. I drove there and back alone. As for self-awareness, I have thought about it but never stopped on the side of the road to admire the Adirondacks mountains before. The beautiful changing of the leaves. I even saw a rainbow out of no where. I feek like I am slowly becoming Leisure educated. I would have never taken the time to "stop and smell the roses" before. Could it be working?

My Honey

My husband Todd is truly my best friend. You know when some is your best friend when you can tell them anything (good or bad) even things that your better off taken to your grave and they still will never pass judgement on you. We've been together for 22 years. He is my soul mate.

LOVE

I could stay up and hold her all night long. Grandchildren are an amazing experience. You will not hesitate to protect them with your life. If only I could put her in a bubble.I hope everyone gets to experience this at one point in your life. Only then will you know how I feel.

New York

Last week I made a trip to New York for two reasons. I wanted to go and support my friends that had been taking part in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, which I have taken part in for three years in a row from 2004 -2006, but this year and last year I couldn't do to many major contstraints I was unable to participate. I have to give credit to my 4 friends Arlene, Nelva, Lanore and Rhonda, this is their 5th year in row, and they never let constraints get in there way. The second reason I went to go to NY was because I wanted to see a Broadway show, which I have been wanting to do for at least 10 years , and I had fully intended to do just that but agian I couldn't do to bloody constraints again. I figured that this would be my chance to do it, for myself and for my Leisure class activity. Unfortunately, time, huge lineups for tickets, and the price of tickets was outrageous. I will see my show before this class is over. In the meantime I had so much enjoyment cheering on the walkers of New York and my friends. Spending time with my honey, I mean husband, while leaving everyone else home. I went shopping on Canel street for knock-off Louis Vouton and Channel purses. What a thrill, an adventure in itself. Going into secret hiding rooms of china town, up secret staircases, going into hiding places/rooms as big as closets to buy your purse, coming out back entrances into side streets and hiding your newly acquired knock off purses from New Yorks finest. What an adventure. To bad I couldn't get pictures of those rooms.

Purple Leisure - Is it worth it?

This is very disturbing video. I think this video should be shown in schools maybe kids will think twice before trying drugs.

Summary # 1

If there is anything that I have learned in the past 4 weeks, it is the understanding of the value of Leisure. For me, Leisure as a noun sums it all up: “Leisure is the basis of enjoying life”. By implementing the definition of Leisure in ones life such as, state of mind, freely chosen, and intrinsic feeling of happiness, one can only conclude that your end result would be total satisfaction. I have decided that I am no longer going to let leisure constraints such as lack of time and lack of skills get in my way from trying new experiences and preventing me from enjoying my life to the fullest. When I re-examined my blogs, I notice that the vast majority are focused on others’ individual intrinsic moments rather then my own. Although I love my family very much, I seem to be experiencing my life’s happiness for the sake of others enjoyment. In the last few weeks my attitude on leisure has changed somewhat. I have become more self-determined regarding my leisure. Both my interpersonal and intrapersonal constraints have been impacted in such away that I am making a concerted effort to put myself first. I have decided to reprioritize several aspects of my life including making decisions fro my own well-being and satisfaction that include making intrinsic moments for myself rather than what others would like me to do for their happiness. I'm sure there will be many grumblings in my household, so what, they'll get over it.

After the Viewing of Sex in the City

Well, I just got back from Sonia's. Great fun and good company. Seven wild and crazy women sitting around in their PJ's watching the newly released DVD. Complete with party favors, Sex in the City Trivia Pursuit, fake jewellery, food and alcohol. And our very own Mr. Big serving the food up. What a blast!

Sex in the City

I have to make this quick, Sex in the City just came on video today and a bunch of my friends are getting to watch it in 30 minutes. This should be a blast. I didn't get to see it when it was at the movies. Samantha is my HERO. G2G

It's Monday Night Again - Mexicain

It's Monday and we just got back form Grandma Sandra's. Another very interesting and fun Monday night dinner. Much laughter and good conversation. On the menu tonight was Mexicain. Taco's, Buritos and Taco Salade.

Sea World in Florida,

Me and my daughter Kasennati sitting in front of an aquarium at Sea World, just one week before school started.

We call her "Mother Earth".

"We do not inherit the land, we borrow it from our children."

Native American saying - Author Unknown

"Take care of the earth and she will take care of you".

Author Unknown

I cannot think that we are useless or the Creator would not have created us. There is one Creator looking down on us all. We are all the children of one Creator. The sun, the darkness, the winds are all listening to what we have to say.

Geronimo - Apache Warrior

Strong Family Ties

"Gunner" celebrates her 18th Birhday with family. The first out of six grandaughters to turn 18. My mother always instilled in us the importance of family. This picture represents 4 generations. My granddaughter, my son, myself and my mother. The other picture is my three children and my granddaugher Tiohahison and myself out for a birthday celbration.

Legal Tomorrow

Legal Tomorrow - I hope she's ready!

Tomorrow my daughter Kanorarih'tha, translated from mohawk means(She causes the corn to ripen) will turn 18. She is the eldest of two daughters. She has been waiting patiently for this day for about 4 years. !!!!Why do kids want to grow up so fast and adults would stop the clock if they could!!!

Hurricaine Fay Hits Florida And We Were There

Meet my brother Carl, Carl is 35 yrs old and Down Syndrome. Carl loves water, eating and kisses (not necessarily in that order). Roughly three weeks ago, my family and I went ot Florida for a week. We arrived August 18th, 2008 just in time to take cover and hunker down before Hurricaine Fay arrived that evening. We had 5 days of straignt wind and rain. No major damage in Orlando. On Sunday, August 24, 08, the day before we came home, the sun came out to shine for the first time in almost a week. We spent our entire one and only day of sun by the pool. Rain ponchos were purchased and we manage to have a few great windy and rainy days at the disney parks. It really didn't stop us from having a good time. After all , if your with family or good company, the weather really doesn't matter.

My Baby Girl Tiohahison

This is my granddaughter Tiohahison, translated in Mohawk means (She makes her own path/road). Tiohahison is my greatest pleasure in life. I've always heard from my elders that you love your grandchildren more than your children. and I always wondered how that was possible. Now I know. If only I could wrap my heart around her, I would. Talk about Intrinsic Motivation!

NHL Play Offs - Montreal & Boston

Meet my Dad, Carl Skye Sr., retired High Steel Construction worker and the biggest Boston Bruin fan you'll ever meet. My dad is not in the best of health and suffers from several illnesses. In March he and I, along with my sister and niece went to his first hockey game in 36 years, the tickets were courtesy of a young Mohawk man , Bryan Goodleaf, who new of my dad and his passion with the Bruins. My Dad has followed the career of Bobby Orr from the time he broke out in the 60's as a young teenager. It was an honor tobe present and witness an old timer like my Dad have the time of his life. Thank you Bryan for your compassion, caring and thoughfulness. It was a day we will all never forget.

Our Puppies - One more mouth to feed

Harlow (the black puppy) was my daughters dog originally. The beige puppy is Polo, Harlow's brother, and belongs to my nieces who lives across the road from me. I never was a great dog lover but she's grown on me over the past month and a half. I find myself thinking about her more then my kids when I'm at school. I wonder if she is all tied up around a tree or stuck to something, maybe she's caught on a branch. Did she spill her water? Is she thirsty? Today she almost broke her chain to get to me as I got out of my car. I am surprised at myself for how much I care about her.

Monday Night at Grandma Sandra's

It's Monday, every Monday for the past eight years, since my father-in-law died, we have gone over to have a family supper with my mother-in law Sandra . Mondays are great because not only do I not have to cook but we all get together, all brothers, sisters ad spouse and all the grandchildren (11 of them). This is where we catch up on the weeks activities with everyone. From soccer and hockey game stories of the kids to latest golf and hockey games, and weekend blast of the adults. And as strange as it sounds I think my father-in-law shows up sometime too. Once a knife suddenly fell off the counter onto the floor when we were suggesting the possibility of having a friend or companion for my mother-in-law. That was the end of that conversation.

Golf & Shopping weekend at Lake Placid

It's Sunday and I just returned from a golf and shopping weekend in Lake Placid with my husband. Golf is his greatest leisure and shopping is on my top five list of leisure activities. To bad I forgot the camera so you'll have to settle for some clip arts I found on the internet.