My Life Mosaic

I have put together a fun and educational telesummit for new and
budding women business owners, and I thought you might all like to
know about it. I’ve recruited what I consider the “best of the best”
mentoring across five broad themes: Knowing oneself, business basics,
selling your values, building support teams, and online/offline
promotion strategies.

I invite you to join in or to share with those you think may be
interested.

All the details can be found at: www.abusinessofonesown.com

Fifteen dynamic speakers will share inexpensive business-building
promotion strategies you can use to give authentic expression to what
matters most to YOU! Speakers include:

* Viki Viertel (The Business Buddha) * Lisa Earle McLeod (Forget
Perfect)* Debbie LaChusa (10Step Marketing) * Suzy Spivey (Daring to
Dream) * Adam Urbanski (The Marketing Mentor)*
* The Blog Squad™ * Sheri McConnell (Association of Web
Entrepreneurs)* Kyle King (Inspiring the Amazon Within)* Christina
Merkley (The Shift-It! Coach) * Michael Port (Book Yourself Solid &
Beyond Booked Solid)*
* Joe Nunziata (Spiritual Selling)* MaryPat Kavanagh (The Queen of
Connections) * Lynn Scheurell (My Creative Catalyst)* Mara Castello
(Navigating from the Heart) * Wayne Kelly (ON Air Publicity!)*

These hand-picked experts have been brought together to illuminate
your path to becoming the successful business owner you know you can be.

Learn How to Sort Through the Clutter of Business Building Tactics,
Focus Your Marketing Strategies, and Claim Financial SUCCESS—without
Abandoning the Passion Behind Your Goals or Killing Yourself and the
People Around You.

And you will have the choice of either phoning in to each session or
streaming live over your computer. If you aren’t able to make the live
calls, you’ll be able to listen to every call via MP3 download
following the event, so you won’t miss a single session!

The cost for the entire TeleSummit including MP3 downloads is only
$97! Many of these speakers charge thousands of dollars for their
business building programs and materials. Imagine having access to
each one for an hour for not much more than the cost of a Starbuck’s
Mochachino!!

In addition, a BONUS CD will be sent to every registrant: “A Business
of One’s Own™ — Women’s True Path to Authentic Expression & Financial
Independence”.

Visit www.abusinessofonesown.com for more information or to register
now! Even if you don’t want to participate, I bet you know someone who
would like to start her own business, so please share this email with
them.

We disembarked from the ship about a mile and half off from where Roger and I thought we remembered we’d seen cruise ships two and half years ago. That made for a total of three miles he pushed his mother Mary’s wheelchair into downtown Cozumel. Oops.
I’m confused. Jimmy Buffet’s Maragaritaville can be found in both Key West and Mexico. More a state of mind than I realized.

We toodled about the main square visiting with locals. With Mary on wheels, we were able to give her a quick overview of the place and to have lunch at La Choza, one of our favorite restaurants. Mary enjoyed her serenade. Alone, we probably would have stayed for hours. We consumed enough guacamole and their unique salsa to hold us until we can get back, but I would have enjoyed another yummy maragarita. Move over Jimmy, these guys make the best.

We popped into a few of the major shops on the main drag and watched a bunch of kids compete at maneuvering complicated sequences on their bikes at the main pier. On one of the back streets, Roger located a couple of intriguing cigars and I popped into a shop to purchase a couple of sun dresses. When I came out, there was a small crowd surrounding Roger and is mother. A local fire fighter had spotted Mary’s blood-stained pant leg. Apparently, she had bumped her leg on the wheel chair foot rest and probably before we ever let the boat. Her thin aging skin took a hit, but a trip to the ship’s medic proved her seaworthy as ever.

With a short day off the boat and Mary with her cane, we decided not to go to far a field once docked. Restaurants, bars, and tons of shops selling stuff nobody needs face on Duval Street. Poking along we noticed interesting architecture of the older homes. We visited the grounds of the oldest residence in town.

Another time we might rent bikes to investigate the 2 by 5 mile long island to see more of the flora and fauna rather than the commercial side of things. Or maybe snorkel with sea turtles. We learned of that possibility over dinner Friday evening with Loren, Renata, Walter, Ida and Natalie.

Roger can never pass up the chance to make the acquaintance of canines en route, and Bruno was kind enough to pose – and sing – for us. He did a much better job than the Elvis impersonator down the street. Roosters and chickens strut their stuff wherever they like. We passed many handsome fellows.

We had a quick snack at the Hogsbreath Tavern and tried conch fritters. As much as I love seafood, conch is an acquired taste that has passed me by. And we’re always disappointed when the local brew isn’t local.

We found the heat and what we were looking for at Pepper’s, a specialty shop selling all things related to peppers of every kind. Their tasting bar sports an extensive inventory of hot and barbeque sauces, and the proprietor is good at quickly discerning preferences in order to offer appropriate samples. We purchased three sauces with kick: one hot, one barbeque, and a curry. Can’t be timid with heat when facing what looks to be a long, cold New England winter back home.

None of us three – not Roger nor Mary nor I – had ever been on a cruise. We’d picked the four night, five day trip as an alternative to the usual holiday expectations that somehow feel forced.
We did a bit of research online but didn’t really know what to expect. With such a short trip, we figured we couldn’t get too much wrong and went into the experience thinking of it as a teaser to find out whether we’d ever be interested in doing something like this again.
Itinerary:

• Day one - Connecting flight from Manchester, NH to Fort Lauderdale. Transfer to the ship in Miami.
• Day two - Half day in Key West and then out to sea.
• Day three - Almost a full day in Cozumel
• Day four - Day at sea
• Day five - Back in Miami for debarkation and the trip home

We were blown away by the Celebrity’s international staff. In particular, Vincey, our stateroom attendant, seemed to have a sixth sense about when we would emerge from our room and return from various activities. He was frequently at the ready to open the door to our room for us. Sudi, the martini mixing magician extraordinaire kept us in stitches.
All of the waiters and bartenders were friendly and helpful. We enjoyed learning where each was from: Thailand, Slovenia, Russia, Mozambique, and the Philippines to name just a few. We were surprised to learn the typical schedule is six months on the ship and two months off. Such a different lifestyle. Kind of like running away with the circus.

Our stateroom was amazingly clever in its layout. Cubbies, closets, and drawers built in everywhere. Two people could have been very comfortable even with a trans-Atlantic crossing. The best part was the unexpected balcony (now I couldn’t imagine being without it, especially as back-up dressing room). Interesting to sit out “on” the water noting our progress both early morning (feeding our new friends was fun!) and late at night (with a full moon), as well as while docked scoping out the other ships in port. Our ship of 1750 passengers and 768 staff was small compared to most others we saw.
The last two nights, I became obsessed with the slot machines. We grew our initial dollar into $40 or $50 at some point, but happily closed out with $7 to the good. The craps table and various poker games looked a little dangerous to me, but taking a chance with quarters I found dropped behind curtains was fun.
In addition to the on board casino, we visited the various lounges, and duty-free shops, and lounged by the pool. We attended the “Broadway Review,” magic show, and second variety show – all better than we expected. We took a pass on the seminars and receptions designed to encourage purchase of artwork, jewelry and vitamin supplements.

Eating in the Grand Restaurant was an amusement, as we were seated with an extended family of five (a young couple, two single parents, and one grandmother celebrating her 80th birthday on ship) for all of our meals. Nice to have something familiar over the few days in different places, but also odd to become an instant group. Overall the food was pretty good. We quickly learned which options would be most promising.
Without trying very hard, we could easily have filled our days with snorkeling at each destination and then swimming, reading, and eating and drinking way too much while in transit.
Ships are designed for romance and adventure, I think. Roger and I decided we’d like to try another cruise, but likely next time as a duo rather than a trio. ;^)