If I haven’t mentioned it before, I work in a really cool place (thank goodness or else I’d never be able to leave Makenzie’s sweet little face each day).  I work in the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.  Our goal is to be a resource for business owners and  strategic players in companies as they take their business to the next level, essentially invigorating the WNY community.

When connecting with these business owners about their purpose, there is a little story that we use about how perspective can make a huge difference.  If you haven’t heard it before, here it is…

A man came across three bricklayers busy at work. He asked the first bricklayer, “What are you doing?”

“I’m laying bricks,” the first bricklayer said.

The man asked the second bricklayer the same question.

“I’m putting up a wall,” was the reply.

The passerby then posed the question to the third bricklayer.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m building a great cathedral,” the third bricklayer replied.

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It’s a pretty cool story, right?  And today it got me thinking about being a Mom.  Being a Mom is similar to being a business owner; it’s not always easy.  It can be exhausting, frustrating and trying, to say the least.  It’s non-stop and it can sometimes make you pull out your hair.   So I figured I’d share this story for all those over-worked, under-compensated, and over-tired Moms out there.

Think of it like this…

Yes you are constantly changing diapers, wiping spit-up and struggling with sleep deprivation.  But what you’re really doing is creating an amazing little life for your sweet baby.  You’re teaching your son or daughter everything about your world, your values and your focus on life.  You’re slowly but surely building the foundation for your child; and on that foundation, they will someday create a beautiful cathedral.

So on your tough Mom days, give yourself a break and take a minute to catch your breath and drink some water.  It’s not easy to build a cathedral one brick at a time, but you’re doing it!  And you should be very proud!

It is with a heavy heart that we say good-bye to our longtime pal, Mr. Jeep Liberty…

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In Loving Memory

Mr. Jeep Liberty

2003 – 2013

Our good friend, Mr. 2003 Jeep Liberty McGee (nee Quilty), moved along to the next phase of his life peacefully Monday evening at the ripe old age of 164,535 miles, surrounded by his long-time owner, and dealership employees.  Mr. Liberty was a longtime companion, friend, and accomplice during many of the McGee journeys over the past 8+ years.  It is an understatement to say that he carried us on his back through life.

Mr. Jeep was brought into this world (likely) on a muggy day on an assembly line in Michigan in 2003, and became a faithful member of the (then) Quilty clan in 2005.  In 2008 he celebrated his owner’s wedding and officially became a McGee during a quiet ceremony held simultaneously at the DMV and the Department of vehicle titles (is that a real dept?).

Mr. Jeep is survived by many good memories, 47 oil change receipts, a random cassette tape found in the glove box, paperwork from 8+  years of insurance, his license plates, and the extra key (which we forgot to turn in, oops).

Mr. Jeep exemplified the terms dedicated and reliable driving the McGee clan multiple times to and from Buffalo, Washington, Niles, Athens, Albany, Niagara-on-the-Lake and countless other cities.  Some of his finer moments include navigating a flood on the NYS Thruway, forging through snowstorms in Erie, and cruising along the highway on sunny summer days!   He persevered even when the backseat was doused with a gallon of coffee cream in the dog days of summer… quite the aromatic experience.   He was a trooper in every sense of the word.

During his recent days he showed his practical joker side often by flashing multiple dashboard lights while at a high rate of speed, and even deciding not to start once while in Canada with his pregnant owner (see below – a sentimental walk down memory lane from this summer).

Mr. Jeep, you have been a wonderful and loyal source of transportation, and a longtime friend.  Although our journeys will continue without you, we’ll always keep you in our hearts (and perhaps your spare keys on our key rack)!

So long, old pal!  Hoping you step on the gas and drive off into the sunset…

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(A recent memory/blog post to remember one of Mr. Jeep’s practical jokes)

Friday, June 15, 2012

Talk about chemistry!  I loved them

Maybe I should have been more worried today when my instincts told me to pack water, snacks and flip-flops before I left for Canada.  Or maybe I should have know that my good old Jeep Liberty would eventually need a break… But I didn’t.

So off to I went Canada today thinking my Nexus pass would be my ticket to fast border crossings on a day when a hundred thousand people were flocking to the Falls to watch crazy Wallenda walk on a wire.

It was a Friday and I was feeling good…  I quickly stopped in the offices in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and then hopped in my car to zip over to the hotel and meet my client.  And suddenly, my car would not start.  Hmm, not good.  But being the brilliant woman I am, I figured it had to be a temporary issue.  I would meet with my client for lunch and by then the car would fix itself.  They do that, right?

Four hours later I was ready to head home.  Computer bag loaded, key in ignition aaaand… nothing.

Three rounds of unsuccessful jumper cables later did nothing but jump start my fear of being stranded in Canada all weekend.  And then my fear got even more real when I realized that Denny could pick me up IF only he could access his passport locked in our fireproof box..  ya know, the one that I locked with the key on my key chain.

Tick tick tick.  It was now almost 3 PM.  All the local car places were closing for the weekend in 120 minutes and I had no solution.  Hmm, time for AAA intervention.  And what a worthwhile call!  Turns out towing a car across the border IS possible!  Success.

So by 4ish, I hopped up in the cab of the CAA truck and off we went.  Matt the driver has 5 kids ages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 (whoa), and told me all about how to remove Crayola from kid’s bedroom walls.  Good to know.  We crossed the bridge and by 5 he was unloading my car from his truck.

The Little Jeep’s visit to Customs!

Turns out Canadian drivers don’t drive into the US and US drivers don’t pick up in Canada, so I bid farewell to Matt, the baby-makin tow-truck driver, and waited for the tow truck driver from AAA to pick me up and take me on my last leg of the journey.  I waited, and waited, and waited.  Ninety minutes later, Dan arrived and loaded up the Liberty.  It was the victory lap to a long day.

Dan was quite chatty.  He broke the ice by asking if my pregnancy was a surprise (did he not notice that I practically have gray hair?), and then told me about how I am building character with Beanette by allowing her to ride in a tow truck.  Not exactly my goal, but I guess it was a bonus for the day.

By the time we pulled into the mechanics lot, tow-truck drive Dan was telling me step-by-step instructions of how to remove a cat’s head from a glass jar if it was to get stuck. Yep, more useless knowledge.  I nodded, convinced him to give me a Pregnancy Discount (he agreed!) and said Good Bye to Chatty Dan.  My ordeal was over and my cute hubby was waiting!!

It took almost five hours to travel home about 50 miles but it was quite the memorable (and comical) end to my week.  I’m finally at home… relaxing.. and enjoying my Friday with Denny, our character-filled Beanette and our cat (whose head is luckily not stuck in a glass jar).