~* Thoughts of a Middle Aged Tooth Fairy *~

Auf Wiedersehen....for now.

2011-06-10T00:36:00.000-07:00

*•.¸❤¸.•**•.¸❤¸.•**•.¸❤¸.•**•.¸❤¸.•*

Taking some much-needed time off

From blogging
From deadlines

From thinking
From trying

From .....everything.

*•.¸❤¸.•**•.¸❤¸.•**•.¸❤¸.•**•.¸❤¸.•*

Changes.

2011-05-31T01:06:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to understand

(finally!)

what is meant by ''turning tides''

I've always felt a pulling back
almost like an icy blast
the realization
taking me by surprise
kind of shocking, really
so

what happens when

seasons change
trust changes

attitudes change
conversation changes

relationships change

I don't know
I suppose
just like the tide

there isn't a damn thing

I can do about

Just a Week......?

2011-05-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

I was talking to a good friend of mine

the other day

a guy in his mid 50's

estranged from his lady love of 15 years

struggling to re-connect with her

and as I listened to him

(for the 382nd time)

bemoaning the

fact they didn't ever

have alone time

suggested they take a week

go to a far off region

just the two of them

no TV

no phones

no books

no computer

no internet

no work

and just....be together

I was completely taken aback by his reaction

it was almost as if I'd stomped a kitten

He was aghast

''what in the world would we do?''

he sputtered

stopped and thought about it for a minute

and

decided to tell him what *I* would do

if I had the opportunity to spend

all that time with a partner I loved

we would have

tons of

conversation

picnics

walks on the beach

sex

kite flying

wine at sunset
kissing for hours

blanket forts

photography

the list is really endless

but

as I ran down that list to my friend

I could tell he didn't get it

and so I stopped

because

he can't stand to spend a single week alone

with his lady love

then she isn't someone
he is supposed to be with

in the first place

You've been Flamingo'd

2011-05-28T23:27:00.000-07:00

What does a bored 48 year old

do to the neighbors
on a Saturday night

for fun

?

Yep.

Notify Me....Never

2011-05-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

One

of the biggest things police officer

spouses and families
dread

is the random knock on the door

telling them their loved one

has been killed or seriously injured

in the line of duty

This has been my reality

for the past 29 years

as a wife

I've been asking Wes what the

notification policies are

at his department

and I discovered

didn't really know

his reply

"I guess the Chief and the Chaplain would show up''

well
since it's ME
daily uncertainty simply isn't going to work

So
in my quest to remove the ''what ifs''

last week
I wrote a note to be placed in Wes' personnel file

designating a certain officer

(a good friend to both of us... a riding buddy)

to be the

liaison between myself and the police department

the person who will be my notifying officer

because I know

in the unlikely event of a catastrophe

when the chips are down

( and I fall apart )

he is the kind of stand up guy

who

would know exactly

what to do

ULTRA NEW !!

2011-05-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Thank-you, Amazon

for

only selling

NEW

toilet paper

!!!

Hands

2011-05-21T00:08:00.000-07:00

Call it a recent obsession
Lately

I've been photographing hands

doing ordinary things

extraordinarily

What color is your parachute?

2011-05-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Recently

during a delightful

''getting to know you''

sort of interview

I was asked the following question

"what color best describes you?'

I didn't skip a beat
My answer:

"Plaid"

There was a minute of

stunned silence
(and a grin)

then he said

''NOBODY has ever said plaid...you DO think outside the box''

Well....duh.

Sleepless in Oregon

2011-05-18T00:48:00.000-07:00

Sleep...perchance to dream

I haven't been sleeping well lately

I bought new pillows

and

forced myself to sleep on them

flopping around like a trout

trying to get comfortable

however

once they got broken in

they were flat and stupid

I'm always cold

then I'm too hot

the phone rings at all hours

the dog whines to get up on the bed

the neighbor's lawn service starts at 7am

Wes is there, snoring

then he isn't

its getting to the point

I'm convinced I am going to

have to remove

both

the pillow top

and

the puffy down mattress pad

to get down to the

~~pee~~
pea

A Trust Broken

2011-05-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

25 years of marriage

down the drain

4 children devastated

1 wife humiliated

yet another reason

why I have gone on record here

many times

saying

you really NEVER know

what goes on behind closed doors

even when there are cameras

pointed directly at their

face

The High Price of Mastery

2011-05-15T23:54:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday

I've been taking all day classes

food preservation

canning

dehydrating

freezing

cheeses

It's been more intense than I expected

between homework and critical thinking

and hard metal chairs

I'm pretty tired by day's end

June 16th

I will have earned my

''Master Food Preserver Certificate''

This means

I will be expected

to teach courses

write articles

handle speaking engagements

and man booths at farmer's markets

regarding food preservation
It also means
I probably won't kill
anyone
eating my homemade stuff

How cool is that?

????

2011-05-15T00:29:00.000-07:00

Some things

it seems

will always remain

mystery

Feb 15, 1950.....

2011-05-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

How did Walt Disney know?

A Cringe Worthy Past

2011-05-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

As a child

you're born ignorant

that is

until

your parent teaches you

Then

that is all you know, until you are exposed

to other viewpoints

learn

different ways of doing things

and
you put that knowledge

into a template of sorts

and measure everything

you hear

against what you actually know

For instance

I remember my father

dumping barrels and barrels

of used motor oil

down our very long driveway

making the gravel less dusty

I don't think he realized

he was harming the environment

ruining the soil, the air and the water

and I also

remember trips to the beach

playing in the tide pools

when we kids would pick up

all the starfish we could find

dozens and dozens

and

put them into a plastic bag

bring them home to dry out

eventually forgotten and tossed into the trash

never understanding these were living creatures

or realizing how this would disrupt the eco balance

As I regularly walk the beach

in the Pacific Northwest

seeing a starfish in the tide pools is fairly rare

and
I often wonder how
my earlier actions

played
in that outcome

Word Up

2011-05-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

I'm learning

not to use generalized

words like

always

never

because they aren't true

the minute they leave my lips

Hmmm

2011-05-10T18:45:00.000-07:00

I received this on my computer.

Somebody has a sense of humor over my grave misfortune, it seems.

500 Internal Server Error

Sorry, something went wrong.

A team of highly trained monkeys has been dispatched to deal with this situation.
If you see them, show them this information:

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The Birthday Boy

2011-05-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Wes' birthday was Saturday

He opted for a ''princess day''

meaning
he didn't want to make any decisions

be held accountable for his actions

watch his cholesterol

and

he wanted to be

pampered

surprised

I was able to pull the day off

spoiled him without much of a hitch

(I did say no to the sponge bath, however)

but

some of the best surprises

came from the people who didn't know him

those people were willing to go the extra mile

to make his day special

for instance

this donut appeared out of no where

at the breakfast place

a farm we love

I think little touches

such as this
are like hugs from strangers

They
reinforce my belief
in the inherent kindness

of humans

Make Lemonade

2011-05-08T23:49:00.000-07:00

know a lot of good people

who have had lousy things happen

Job Loss

Divorce

Handicapped Children

Businesses Closing

Health Issues

When
these things occured

they let it consume them
they became cocooned in pain

the problem became their entire life

They
couldn't see this supposed setback
as a stepping stone

an opportunity, if you will

to something new

a new path

to forge

a new life

and what makes me angry

is
how much of their life
(and others)
they have squandered

playing the victim

waiting for opportuinities

instead of making their own

when there are other people

who will never have the same chances

they have

and would give anything

to be them

even for a day

O.M.G.

2011-05-07T08:57:00.001-07:00

Break Out

2011-05-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

I've always wondered

if humans

who are in fairy stable

socio-economic areas

(ie not starving in an African continent)

all have addictions

of some sort

Alcohol,

Drugs

(including prescription and caffeine)

Cigarettes

Porn

Food

Sex

Internet

Plastic Surgery

Texting

seems to be the way so many of my friends cope

with today's pressures

when

they give up one addiction

it seems as if

another takes it's place

It's

enough to make me say

''hmmm''

Yesterday Was Sublime

2011-05-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

BEST. DAY. EVER.

(doesn't Tawanda look cute there in the middle?)

Bliss.

2011-05-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today

is supposed to be

70 degrees and sunny

instead of pulling out the lawn mower

re-stringing the weed eater

pressure washing the moss off sidewalks

and a few others

will be blissfully flying

thru some serious curves

making our way to the coast

with our bikes

ipod blazing in my ear

stopping off

for some buttery clam chowder

served in a sourdough bread bowl

raising our voices to be heard

talking smack about

how someone came into a corner too hot

who is the worst rider

who has an ugly bike

then

knuckle bumping and nods

as we suit up again

taking the winding road back

tired and spent

smiling

the whole way

home

Think.

2011-05-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that"
-- Martin Luther King, Jr

Gotta love Stewie

2011-05-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

It doesn't matter how often I watch this...it STILL makes me laugh.

Thin Blue Line

2011-04-30T23:46:00.000-07:00

Being married to a police officer isn't easy

the divorce rate for cops is 98%

I can understand why

have been married 29 years

Wes has been a cop for 34 years

far longer than most

of his current co-workers have been alive

the job takes it's toll

emotionally, physically and mentally

vacations ruined

sleep interrupted

court dates changed

threats

accidents

negative public perception

groupies

gruesome sights, smells and sounds

may have a thin blue line protecting us

around town

but

in my house

the thin blue line stops a couple of feet

into the driveway

The

house rule is

Wes isn't allowed to be a cop here at home

for instance
we don't have cop paraphernalia

lying around

his uniforms are hung in a separate closet

along with his gear and guns

Our

home is his sanctuary

his peace

(as it should be)

After

a particular tough time

I usually get a phone call midway through his day

and
I can tell in his voice

if it's been a bad one

(child abuse and murder cases messes with your mind and heart)

when he gets home

I do my best to help push away the demons

keeping conversation light

meeting him at the door
with a beer and a kiss

making a great dinner

a sympathetic Scottie to cuddle

he immediately showers

washing off the despair

and
slides into comfy clothes

I've usually got a funny movie lined up for him

an interesting project

while he tries to forget

what his mind doesn't want to accept
about his fellow humans

I often wonder how he does it

my silent husband

the cops who are typically the most affected

by this kind of work

the ones who don't talk it out

nobody thinks they are bothered

so stoic and quiet are they

but sometimes

they are the ones who need the most support

the most praise for a job well done

as they try their best

for all of us

today

and

everyday

Perception

2011-04-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

Perception is Everything

have often said

people only hear what they want to hear

the rest they will make up in their minds based on their

mood,

character

combined experiences

In saying such a thing

let me give you an example

I simply hand a person an apple

he may decide in that moment

1. I am nice and going to feed him

2. I am giving him a poisoned apple and trying to kill him

3. I want something in exchange for the apple

(or a host of other things)

In the meantime

in my mind

I am merely handing him an apple

because

the tree in my yard produced so many

Is it any wonder

how miscommunication

occurs

And?

2011-04-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

I feel like our American lives

have been taken over by the silly wedding

of someone who doesn't even live here

cannot wait for this day to be over

after all the hashing and re-hashing

who was there

who wore what

who said what

who kissed who

who ate what

who ..........

Who CARES?

Enough

already

please

Time Bandits

2011-04-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

I've managed

to identify several large time sponges

that I gravitate to

these are the things that I do

to waste sweet, precious time

It's interesting

all have 24 hours in one day

I have

always been surprised how

some people seem
to get so much done

in the same 24 hours

while lately

I move at a snail's pace

With

a clear eye

I've been watching myself

standing outside looking inward

and it seems
the trouble starts

when I don't have a list of goals

for the day

I find I tend to gravitate
to the time sponges

or anything shiny and fun

and

after what seems like a brief time

(which really isn't so brief at all)

the day has whiled away
and it's dark outside

That's
fine once in awhile

but

like eating candy for every meal

after a bit

I don't want candy anymore

I'm finding

I'm needing some vegetables

leaving the candy

and the time sponges

for a time when I

have time to

spare

*this is one of my favorite songs, sung by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman....to say I have everything recorded by Andrea Bocelli would be an understatement*

Interesting Video...please watch

2011-04-26T19:11:00.001-07:00

Greetings!

2011-04-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

clearing out and cleaning my old office

I came across greeting cards

stacks and stacks

probably 500

would be a pretty good estimate

handmade on filmy paper

beautiful holiday cards

funny friendship cards

sympathy cards that brought a tear to my eye

and

as I reorganized each card

into their new niche

I realized those cards represented

my good intentions

but my terrible lack of follow through

sure
my friends and family know I mean well

They

get emails, texts and phone calls from me
all the time

but

they never received the touchable part

telling them they matter to me

I guess

I can only move forward from here

I will go to the post office tomorrow

pick up some stamps to keep handy

update my rolodex

and start sending out

a piece of my heart

with each card

I write

The Remodel

2011-04-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

The picture isn't of my house

but
it may as well be

because

we are remodeling our downstairs area

I'm not sure if I should be happy

completely freaked out

by this mess

I've created

YES

I did it to myself...it was my idea
my vision

Although
Wes has been doing the bulk of the work
(he's pretty handy, and actually LIKES this stuff)

my spare time this past week

I had to take everything out of the downstairs office

load it into the formal living room

the rec room is full of saw horses

dust paint cans and tools

stacks and trails

dirty dusty messes
everywhere

In my heart of hearts
I know
I have to overlook this temporary mess
I have to keep the big picture in mind

a gigantic laundry room

folding tables

floor to ceiling cabinets

labeled with contents

a built in ironing board

right next to a 7 foot window

Everything

it's place

and a

place for everything

but
my limited patience is wearing thin

I cannot wait

to be

finished

Quid Pro Quo

2011-04-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

I try my hardest not to keep score

but

when I have someone

in my life

I constantly give give give give
to

and I ask for one teensy favor in return

something simple and easy

and she refuses
(without a reasonable excuse)
I admit

I react in a really negative way

This
person has no clue how I feel
it's not worth the drama of telling her
in her selfishness
she won't see
what I'm talking about

but
from here on out

the word '''no'' will be on my lips

far more than the word
''yes''

Little things.....mean a lot

2011-04-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

On a recent week-long trip, these products above were
replenished in both hotel bathrooms daily
Which I then took home
~~and I may have filched some off the housekeeping cart~~
~~grabbing an armful and sprinting down the hallway like~~
~~a running back in the NFL~~
~~while Wes cringed in embarrassment and refused to speak to me for 2 days~~

plus, I found some extras lying around
which was nice too
.............

I dearly love the teeny soaps and shampoos

I find in hotel bathrooms when I'm traveling

since

I can't possibly use all of the stuff

I get

I save them all up in a big box

then

a few times a year

I pull out some zippy bags

and

put together care packages
soap, shampoo, lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste

Wes

keeps them in his patrol car

or his locker

at work

he looks for an opportunity to hand them out

to someone in need

or
delivers them to the local homeless shelter
a wandering hobo

the local abused women's home

isn't much
doesn't cost me a thing

and
takes very little effort or time

but

if you think about it

sometimes the little things

like a personal are item

makes all the difference

in someone's day
it may mean someone cares

what are you doing

to help out your fellow

human being

Delightful Surprises

2011-04-18T00:01:00.001-07:00

Sometimes

opening up my email

is a like unwrapping a gift

this one

came complete

with a big heart

and a

green eyed

beauty

Yes, it's all about YOU.

2011-04-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

Urban Dictionary defines narcissism as ...A personality disorder where you have an abnormal desire for ones self, where you lack empathy, and unconscious inadequacy of self esteem, due to regression of child development. Also a delusion that you are more important than everyone else.

Once again, I feel the need to reiterate....this blog is about stuff going on inside MY head.
If you think a post I write is all about you, then I highly suggest you take a look at your own behavior and modify, if you think you should.
And try to calm down by taking deep breaths.
Remember, panic isn't pretty.

The Wisdom of Kings

2011-04-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

There's a story
I'm pretty confident you've heard it before

it goes something like this

This is a tale about 2 mothers

both fighting over the same baby

they decided to let the King

determine who would be allowed to raise the child

The King

(wise man that he was)

declared the baby would be cut in half

and an equal piece be given to each woman

On hearing this
one of the women was completely satisfied

as she stood there with a smug look on her face

but the other woman was visibly distraught

and

agreed to give the baby to her foe

to spare the child's life

or rather

her baby's life

In doing this
the King
instantly knew
who the real mother was

because she was
willing to sacrifice her own happiness
so that her child would live

......

An interesting fable to be sure

and

even today
one that plays out
in
so many different
forms

Completely Funny

2011-04-15T00:01:00.001-07:00

I dare you not to laugh

(my best friend is Australian...I can see us in these two)

On Being Human

2011-04-14T01:07:00.000-07:00

While putting in a day a week

volunteering at the dental clinic

I have to admit

hit huge emotional roadblocks

in my soul

every time I am there

Working

with a child

who has rampant cavities

watching him

cringe in pain the moment I touch him

yet stoically not say a word

as I attempt to clean pus filled gingiva

thanking me afterwards with a shy smile

and a high five

as he gratefully climbs out of my chair

looking like the treasure chest of

cheap trinkets

is the best thing he has ever seen in his life

and

as he walks away

clutching his new toothbrush and a tiny ball

I often wonder where he will wind up in life

these poorest of the poor kids

so very shy

speakers of spanish

with the most

beautiful brown eyes

and

I have to tell you

my heart really does bleed

every single day

for them

and their plight

even though I cannot say

a word

Lesser Evil

2011-04-12T23:00:00.000-07:00

I consider
Americans

as some of the lucky ones

in that
we have elections

instead of an antiquated monarchy

or fascist dictators

the ticket comes down

between these two

above

during the next elections

I'm not sure which one I'd pick

The complete and utter ass
with decent business sense
but who has his own agenda

The guy who didn't live up to his promises
but has done a few good things
despite being handed a huge mess
he had no hand in making

Either way

I'm pretty confident

my ridiculously high taxes will continue

there will be soup lines

high unemployment

war

Un Pretty

2011-04-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

Have you been hearing about

all the women who are dying

after enduring cosmetic procedures

hotel rooms

I don't understand

why someone would put themselves

into the hands of fake doctors

have back room surgeries

botched face lifts

and

bizarre permanent implants placed

into their bodies

by someone unqualified

My thoughts are

you're dead

you aren't saving money

are you

Social Media

2011-04-11T09:05:00.000-07:00

You really have to read

between the lines on social media

Don't
buy into the hype
of

how glorious people's lives are

making

everyone jealous of their

amazing kids

stellar marriage

perfectly perfect lives
Obviously
people aren't going to reveal their warts
But how I wish they could
at least be honest
We
all have things that aren't great
marriages that dull with time
kids who screw up
friendships that implode
money deals falling thru
barely holding a job in a wobbly market
After awhile
in reading most of their posts

I have to say
I find it to be almost comical
and a tough thing

to stomach

especially

when you know their

real story

Mmmmm....sigh

2011-04-10T09:56:00.000-07:00

Try not to drool on your keyboard

The world's greatest steak in the world's greatest steakhouse

(note the HUGE pat of herbed butter?)

How bad can a Cornish game hen be?

(plenty bad when you add wicked good potatoes and sour cream)

Truffle chocolate cake, anyone?

I had no words, as my eyes rolled back in ecstasy

(note the extra large dollop of whipped cream)

...................

Yes

These are actual pictures

I took with my handy dandy camera phone

of some of the stellar meals I ate

For

whatever reason

when I travel

I go balls to the wall

eat whatever I want

when I want it
feeling an obligation to be polite
if something gets sent over
or
someone wants me to try
''the best thing on the planet''

This is not ideal

I realize
I simply cannot

eat these kinds of calories

Sure

I was busy

walked a lot

swam most days

but

the reality is

as a 5'3'' female

I really should be subsisting

a lettuce leaf and some broth

with

maybe a broiled chicken breast

sans spices

Since

I won't be traveling for the rest

of April and most of May

so far anyway

(yaay!)

I will be living like a cloistered nun

nibbling carrots

refusing luncheon dates

avoiding anything that resembles pizza

or cheese

or deliciousness

and

working out 2 hours a day

bear with me please
as I cut back on
yummy

Lean on Me

2011-04-09T22:53:00.000-07:00

When

you step outside your comfort zone

take on the cares of the world

try something new

and

it doesn't work out
and you fail miserably

you count on someone else

to provide you a soft spot to fall?

do they give you
constant caring and support

a shoulder to lean on

(or maybe a spot to shed a tear or two)

And

I suppose the bigger question would be

Do
you in turn

give the same to them

Home Sweet Home

2011-04-08T23:54:00.000-07:00

I've been traveling quite a bit

and
no matter where I've gone it's still the same
I've realized

it doesn't matter how nice your hotel

how interesting the entertainment

how fun the conversations

how gourmet the restaurants

when

you finally get home

slide into your jammies

fix some toast and tea

love on your pets

kiss your husband

and

sink your head down into your pillows
in your own bed

there's such an indescribable and delicious
feeling of

'ahhhhhh'

The Dental Convention

2011-04-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

The Dental Convention

is being held in Portland

I will be there

getting in 3 days of continuing education

seeing all the latest and greatest

meeting people

trying not to drool over

automatic sharpeners

tasting prophy paste

(I have a thing for the strawberry cream and chocolate combo packs)

watching normally sedate, conservative people

drinking themselves into oblivion

at the after parties

~UGH~

This year I'm going with my friend, Angie

we have a 2 bedroom condo with an indoor pool

which is exactly
(after the fun day of convention-ing)

where we will be hanging out

in lounge chairs

feet up

wine in hand

enjoying our time

away

I'm 48.

2011-04-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

wow

when did that happen

(this song cracks me up)

The Safety Dance

2011-04-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

There is a fine line

between friendly

and
being in danger

....
As

a woman

I don't want to appear paranoid

however
take yesterday for instance

when a man approached me in a shop

continued to talk to me far beyond a greeting

made a point to get into the line I was standing in

and
then walked with me

(bags in hand)

to my car

I got a little concerned

In
the past

I have had my life threatened

the kids unable to go outside to recess

and so we had to cloister ourselves
as a family

I hope I'm not ~~being~~ sounding ridiculous

but yesterday

I found myself

with all my senses kicked into high gear

(but playing mellow and relaxed on the outside)

fingers on my mace

planning my exit strategy

feeling like a complete idiot

because

in the end

all the guy wanted to do

was
to be friendly and laugh

a little

The Other White Meat

2011-04-02T22:54:00.000-07:00

In the event you want a

sparkly

magical

high protein

low fat

sandwich on whole wheat
or
perhaps a hearty rye

I highly suggest you try

unicorn

The Creative vs The Non-Creative

2011-04-02T00:59:00.000-07:00

I know I have blogged about it before

by ''it''

I mean people who take my ideas
insert it as something original

Some
say it's using ''creative license''

and to chill out

take the blatant thievery as a compliment

feel pity for someone less artsy

I admit I can't let it go

It really pisses me off

How

can taking my ideas

be different than stealing

loaf of bread from a

grocery store

The Spelling Police

2011-03-31T21:25:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure we've established

I'm far from perfect

but

there are fewer things that drive me crazy
as a reader

than the following errors

their, they're, there
your, you're
it's, its
affect, effect
I've seen it in
magazines
newspapers
menus
books
blogs
etc

These are things
we all learned in elementary school
but
when these common mistakes are made
they make the writer appear far more
dumber than they really are
and
causes the reader
(namely ME)
to wonder if she should point out the mistake
let it go
or
never to read anything by that writer again
the
English language
is a conundrum
but
one I feel we must guard
carefully

A moment in time.. for 27 years

2011-03-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Have Kleenex handy....you're listening to a real love story.

Fast Forward

2011-03-29T19:01:00.000-07:00

In another life......

This was small

This was normal

This was dull

This was tedious

This was blase'

Once upon a time
living a fast lifestyle

was forgettable

and boring

and

expected

Although it was fun at the time

my old life

feels like a lifetime

ago
Once in awhile
I'm obligated to go back
return to the chaos
and
it's then that
I understand again why I left it

I can say with gratitude
I'm so happy to be home again
in my real home

living more simply
feeling better

being kinder
listening

and
breathing in and out

slowly

Empty

2011-03-21T01:12:00.000-07:00

Some days

the glass is half full

some days half empty

and occasionally

that glass is

completely dry

It seems
I have an empty well

which means

I don't feel motivated to share

myself

my inner feelings

my acerbic wit

my heart

I don't want to fix things

nor mend relationships broken

I don't want to lend an ear
nor advise

I don't even want to hear good news

and so

gentle reader

I am taking some time away from this blog

a week or so should put me to rights

I doubt it will be longer

but if it is

I'm sure you'll be just fine

~* Thank-you*~

World War III

2011-03-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

Am I the only one

freaking out about the possibility

World War lll

Let's recap our position

10 years ago

America invaded the Middle East

(as terrorists, since the United Nations were in opposition)

We have troops still in Bosnia

We just bombed Libya yesterday

North Korea is making noises like it wants America

wiped from the face of the map

(and has the nuclear power to do it)

and

God-knows-what-else-is-out-there-they-aren't-telling-us

Now

would be the perfect time for a huge war

America

is on her knees economically

our allies are few

our troops are thin

our people divided politically

our world position isn't one of respect

Think about it

Am I being ridiculously paranoid?

perhaps

perhaps not

The Learning Curve

2011-03-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

This past week I had

to give up on my beloved

Blackberry phone
in purely technical terms

the rolly ball thingy decided to stop working
(wh-what? that isn't techno talk? oh.)

After

nearly 2 years I suppose it's time
she was allowed to rest
Good bye my friend...goodbye

Since
everyone I know

loves their Android phone

I caved in and chose the global unit

Supposedly it
will work just fine for international travel

does just about everything

except wash my dishes

(and I'm sure there's an application for that)

the problem is me
ME

I was so attuned to my beloved Blackberry

I knew her quirks

her sleek pink case fit perfectly in my hand

she cradled my ear like a sweet friend

her glow was unmistakable

This
new Droid is almost harsh

in its capabilities

so sure of itself

a hefty masculine weight

hard edged
slide out keyboard
not a gentle pixel to be found

sporting a black and white utilitarian edge

and
I swear it eats
it's own battery for breakfast

I
suppose it all takes some getting used to
the
new technology
new feel
new applications
I can only hope I can find it within myself
not
to throw my new toy against the wall
while I'm
learning

Laughter: Music of the Spirit

2011-03-18T00:34:00.000-07:00

Did you know that

laughter

releases endorphins

a chemical 10 times more powerful

than the pain-relieving drug morphine

into the body

with the same exhilarating effect

doing strenuous exercise
?

the next time you feel like you need

to take a pill

have an alcoholic beverage

reach for another cookie

lash out at someone you love

try laughing really hard

first

Luck of the Irish

2011-03-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

Happy St Patrick's Day!

I used to comb over patches of grass

looking for the elusive

4 leaf clover

and

then one day I realized

I invested the time I wasted

looking for luck

and

spent that time working on my dreams

and myself

I won't be just lucky when an opportunity

arises

I'll be ....prepared

when it does

A Beige Life

2011-03-16T00:01:00.000-07:00

have a friend who stages homes for sale

She takes out everything personal to a home

paints the walls neutral colors

puts in decorator accessories

Her

home is a beautiful fashion plate

her own personal fashion sense is impeccable

(think pointy toed shoes, cashmere twin sets)

But

I have to ask people of her profession

Do buyers really WANT a beige room?

Isn't that the same as having a beige life?

do people default into beige

because it's easy and expected

and safe

I think having something

like a purple house

(no, that isn't my style--trust me)

isn't easy in the least

because bucking the system

swimming against the current

showing who you really are

in many ways

takes a ton of courage

and
how I wish people could be who they really are
free themselves
of self and society
imposed shackles
in every aspect of their life
without fear of
retribution

The Prank

2011-03-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Some things are just funny

Survivor...The Real Game

2011-03-14T01:34:00.000-07:00

(click on the picture to enlarge)

The nuclear reactor meltdown

in Japan

has me fairly concerned

I live very near the Oregon coast

The
news media here

are saying the radiation could possibly

carry in the wind

and

head straight toward my area
bringing 750 rads into the air
(1000 rads will cause certain death)

I understand
the pharmacies and hospitals

are

laying in a supply of potassium iodide

which will help neutralize the radiation

this is a great alternative to that whole painful
death thing

however

wouldn't you know
the only allergy to medications I have

would be to iodine

once again

I'm left hanging in the wind
sitting here
wearing an aluminum foil hat
eating enough carbs to numb the fear
and
wondering why Twinkies
don't actually have an expiration date
I guess
I am a girl without a plan

and really

doesn't

that just figure

The Rescue Club

2011-03-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

I feel just awful about what Japan
is going through right now
the ramifications of this disaster
will be felt for many generations
I'm sure
....
At
the risk of sounding heartless and cruel

( I am neither of those things)

I would like to to give voice
to what many in America are wondering

Someone
please tell me why
the United States

feels the need to run to the rescue

every country hit by a disaster

I wonder where the rescue
money is coming from

and
the man power

I mean

our own country is at 20% unemployment
(some places more, some less)

soup lines are getting longer

our people are homeless

hungry

unable to afford medical care

guess I also wonder

where these countries were

when Katrina hit and devastated millions

and
the BP oil spill spoiled our waters

(a British company, by the way)

Where
were these countries
when
America was in

trouble

Cheap Thrills

2011-03-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

It doesn't matter what

political party

religious affiliations
continent

generation

you are

we are all people who live on this planet

and
we are
harming her

on a daily basis

I believe

(and hope)

she can repair herself in time

if the damage isn't too great

but

we all need to realize

there are serious consequences to

cheap gas

inexpensive power
pesticides

strawberries in December

war
because sometimes cheap
is pretty damned
expensive

Pied Piper

2011-03-11T01:23:00.000-08:00

Pure Imagination....of course.

Unboxed

2011-03-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

I don't get it

I have been told time and again

that I think outside the box

I suppose I do

in many instances

but

I suppose my next question to people

would be

Why

would anyone ever

WANT

to have their thoughts locked up in a box

in the first place

Honey Bear?

2011-03-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

I know I devote quite a few posts

to food quality

and

I realize I probably sound like

some crazed food fanatic

I'm really not

but

when I see this kind of packaging

hiding
corn syrup and coloring

imitating real food

natural honey

it really makes my blood boil

all need to read labels

take responsibility

for allowing our food

to become contaminated

with junk

Sometimes....

2011-03-08T00:01:00.001-08:00

Self Discipline

2011-03-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

This week

I am hunkering down

getting a bunch of stuff done

things I've been procrastinating

things that take time

effort and especially

imagination

which for some strange reason

I have had precious little of lately

I suppose I will find it again

once I get started

but

how I wish self discipline

tasted like

cotton candy

Signs of Spring

2011-03-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

Since Spring wasn't coming to me fast enough

(I'm impatient like that)

I decided to go to Spring

These pictures are from me and my camera

being out and about in Oregon

Looking for signs
of
sunshine

Proud Mama-Oregon State University Sheep Barns

Chicken Nuggets-The original

Hanging with the peeps at the Feed Store

Greener Pastures

There are some naked sheep hiding somewhere...shivering.

Oregon is typically green, but this is just beautiful

Flowers peeking under a tree

All wobbly legs and curiosity

Baby Bargain

2011-03-05T02:10:00.000-08:00

While

shopping in the Dollar Store

(for the aforementioned umbrellas)

I turned down one of the aisles

and

spotted a home pregnancy test

for $1
On the box
there appeared to be
English
and
what looked like Swahili writing

I admit
I completely laughed out loud

I think
of

all the things I wouldn't trust

coming from a dollar store

an
ancient dusty foreign
pregnancy test

right up there on

top

The Umbrella Project

2011-03-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

While
out doing errands and such
I noticed

in my hurry to ''get things done''

I realized I wasn't interacting much

with my fellow human beings

I decided to do my own personal

umbrella project

I bought 10 umbrellas

in various colors

at the dollar store

a simple and easy $10 investment

I kept the umbrellas in my car

and

handed them out to people

who had been caught the deluge of rain

which we commonly have in Oregon

Other

than being a great way to
keep someone dry
build community

bring a smile to someone's day

(including mine)

my little umbrella project has

been a great way for me
to look outside my bubble
&
notice things

Just this past week
I've

given umbrellas out to

college students walking home from school

elderly people with scooters

a homeless guy recycling cans

a gentleman waiting for a tow truck

a Japanese business man

(who bowed so often and low, things got embarrassing)

2 women shopping

a family out walking their dog

people I would normally never have talked to

and

you know....

it's pretty cool to see those umbrellas being used

Just
yesterday I saw the homeless guy

out and about

with his jaunty purple umbrella

(now covered in stickers)

dumpster diving

in relative dry comfort

Maybe
what I did wasn't rocket science
or fancy-schmancy
I was only giving away $1 after all
but
perhaps ordinary people like myself
and you
just need to look around
open their eyes
get inspired
and
see what they can do for others
and ultimately
themselves

Special

2011-03-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

During a recent question and answer session

I was asked

''What makes you special?''

oh dear
I was actually stumped for an answer

kind of started to sweat a little

stumbled over my words

mind and heart racing

because

the things that I think make me special

may not be of value to someone else

After

some quick thinking

I realized what made me special

in my own mind

and I said the best and only answer I could

''I think I'm conventionally unconventional...and fairly fearless''

whew

I guess being fearless is due to my constant quest

to grow and change and evolve

I skydived when I was in high school

(long before it was trendy and tandem jumps were the norm)

I learned how to build houses from a friend

and

was the general contractor for the house

I built on 55 acres

I've started businesses that are still in existence today
I've had to make private choices that would surprise you

I write things which shows others my vulnerable side

(not always easy for me to do, by the way)

I ride a really big motorcycle
I love too hard

I scuba dive

but

beyond all that

what makes me the most special

is that

live

Give us this day...

2011-03-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

(the above picture is of my Pullman sandwich bread)

Yep
every week

I bake my own bread

I mean

who wouldn't love

straight from the oven

deliciousness

I know what you're thinking
but
It's not like some hippy-dippy tree hugging ideology

I simply prefer to know

I'm using (and eating)

quality ingredients

olive oil

sea salt

freshly ground whole wheat

honey
no preservatives
handled with care and love

I can't say that about any grocery store brand

besides

there is something completely

soul satisfying

about making a sandwich

out of bread

you crafted with your own

two hands

Matters of the Heart

2011-03-01T01:25:00.000-08:00

Have you ever helped a friend

spent hours and hours

days weeks and months

listening

cajoling

supporting

helping

while they go through their personal heartache
and after a time when
things have calmed down
the minute you think

their situation has gotten better
some sort of normalcy has returned

they must be doing just fine

crises averted

then

completely out of the blue
in a back handed kind of way

you find out

they have jumped back on the merry go round
thinking this time will be different

yet
doing exactly the same things

that put them over the edge in the first place

I guess
all I can do in this particular situation
is stand by with a safety net
attempt to keep my mouth firmly shut
and be a
friend

The Period Palace

2011-02-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

(This is my ideal hut pictured above, complete with mini bar)

I'm going to talk about menstruation

if you're even a little bit squeamish

please log off your computer
wring your hands a few dozen times
mutter stuff about ''disgusting bloggers of the Pacific Northwest''

contact your therapist

and discuss

...............

many cultures

women who are having their monthly menses are considered

''unclean''

and must be separated from the rest of society

This tradition

used to absolutely incense me
I'd get so angry
because

I couldn't believe how awful this banishment

must be for the helpless women

However

recently I've been re-thinking my stance
on the menstruation hut
and
found a new appreciation

Can

you imagine

a week out of the month

you trudge down to the little house

in the back yard
pink suitcase rolling awkwardly over sprinkler heads and grass

throwing sad glances over your shoulder

at your family

waving mournfully

blowing kisses

calling out ''I love you's''

but

inside your head

you're gleefully thinking

''YESSSS''

no cooking

no cleaning

no kids or husband pulling at you

no car pools

no phone calls

no work

just lots of

naps
chocolate

reading

jammie days

crafts

Personally
I would probably figure out a way
to stay there more often
because
after an entire week all to myself
transitioning to the regular

routine again

wouldn't be

easy

Silence Isn't Always Golden

2011-02-27T01:44:00.000-08:00

My parents taught me

''If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all''

I can't always agree
with that philosophy

I believe

''All that is needed for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing''

This

doesn't mean I'm going to race around shouting

and raising a ruckus

but
I can say

I am doing what I can

my little corner of the

world

Nap Quest

2011-02-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

I want to write a little something

in defense of napping

I see nothing wrong with a midday siesta

recharging one's batteries

in the hustle and bustle world

I mean
is

there anything more delicious

than laying down

somewhere quiet

letting the cares of the day slip by

as you feel

your body relaxing

your eyes closing

and once again you are

transported to a drowsy
daytime

dreamworld

Under The Microscope

2011-02-25T01:44:00.000-08:00

Sometimes there are things that make you say

''hmmmmm''

and

if you examine these things too closely

you have the potential of having

hurt feelings

sometimes it's just easier

to walk away
good feelings intact
&

without knowing
everything

You can't polish a turd.

2011-02-23T23:37:00.000-08:00

I keep learning the same lesson
I suppose it's because I tend to look at
things that sparkle and shine with rose colored glasses

thinking it has both substance and dazzle
I'm realizing
to have both is rare and precious
sadly
I know I'll be learning this lesson

until I finally
get it

No matter

how much you want it

not to be

even a gold plated

pile of manure

is still

manure

Today

2011-02-23T05:05:00.000-08:00

It's only 5am

and

I wish

TODAY

was

over

Invisible

2011-02-22T00:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning

I spent a couple of hours getting

light chemical peel facial on my face
(it's a girl thing)

I walked out of the day spa

no makeup

face red and blotchy

wearing my pink ball cap

glasses

nasty sweats and a tshirt

grey pullover zip front hoodie

with sneakers

looking....quite frankly

like a homeless, hot mess

Not

wanting to run home and change

I decided to run over to the grocery store

popped into the stationary shop

then to an afternoon matinee

I felt pretty self conscious

because I looked so schlumpy

as if I was ''less than''

but

what I noticed after awhile

was how completely

invisible

I seemed to be

nobody looked at me

not one person smiled at me

in fact

a guy actually ran into me at the theater

spilling my popcorn

he barely muttered a ''sorry''

as he brushed past me

doors were slammed in my face

I walked behind people going into shops

nope
not one person stopped to hold the door open
what was that about
?

I guess

I learned a pretty big big lesson yesterday

about assumptions

manners

and

always looking a person
in the

eye

Kids and Koins

2011-02-21T00:54:00.000-08:00

I wonder how parents

teach their kids about money

these days

After all

nobody uses cash

and when you do need some

paper money just spits out of a machine

plastic cards are simply swiped

and

it's rare to see anyone writing a check

what

a difficult concept

to teach to children anyway

Essentially
you work

you receive paper

you go out and buy stuff with the paper

and the ultimate game winner

the person who is able to

keep as much paper in their pocket

I'm

grateful that my kids

knew about money

before it

disappeared

zzzzzzzzzzzz

2011-02-19T23:44:00.000-08:00

Baby Got Back

2011-02-19T11:25:00.000-08:00

Having a baby changes a woman's body

Not all of us are Heidi Klum, who can sport a skimpy bikini panty set (complete with wings )on a runway a week after givng birth to her 15th child in 6 years.

Granted, she has lovely genetics.

She obviously eats right and works out during her pregnancy.

But come ON.

How realistic is she?

Take me for example.

I had a baby at the ages of 20 and 23, respectively

I gained a ton of weight

Never worked out beyond lifting granny panties onto my thighs

I figured at my young age...it would all snap back.

After all, my mom had a bikini body after having 3 kids

The woman didn't have even one stretch mark, despite being 4'10'' and 95lbs and birthing 8 pounders.

I was golden.

Boy was I wrong. Dead wrong.

Since not everything ''snapped back'' to my pre-pregnancy look

I've learned the art of the lounge lay.

Those little maneuvers that are meant to shave imperfections off your post-baby body

Lift thighs up slightly off of chairs so they don't look all spread out and bigger

Wear great uplifting demi bras in hot colors to detract from the fact that you're essentially rolling your breasts up to put into the cups

Stand slightly behind someone in photos

Ride a giant motorcycle so your ass looks smaller...or they are too afraid of you to say anything

Do these things work?
Sometimes.
Do they make you look completely neurotic and vain?
Yep
Besides, I think a woman who is a size 4 in her 40's looks gaunt and old
Look at Helen Gurley Brown
Can we all say a collective ''ewwww''?
So, my advice to those of you struggling

Give it up and eat what you want.
Enjoy who you are
and
tell yourself
perfection is overrated anyway

The Handyman

2011-02-18T00:44:00.000-08:00

I don't fix things

I never really have had to figure out

if I have the aptitude or not

I grew up with guys who fixed stuff

and

married a guy who fixes stuff

The following is an actual conversation

between my husband and myself

................

Me: "Does it bother you that I never fix stuff?'

Him: "Why are you asking me this?"

Me: "No reason, just wondered''

Him: ''Well, I figure you make dinner and I fix stuff''

Me: "And you're ok with those roles?''

Him: (shrugs) "Seems to be working''

Me: "What happens if you die first and I have no clue on how to fix stuff?''

Him: "Likely you're going to be in trouble. ''

Me "Maybe I can learn''

Him: "Then what would I do??''

Me: "Make dinner. We could trade off"

Him : "No"

Me: ''Again...what happens if you die and I can't fix stuff?''

Him: "Sounds like you'd miss me very much''

....................

There you have it

I'm pretty much

screwed

Me, on a plate

2011-02-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

I love watching cooking shows

they inspire me

Imagine

my surprise when a fellow foodie
while having lunch
waving her fork in the air
mid bite

asked me

''If you were to put you on a plate, what dish would you be?'

Without skipping a beat

I replied

''Lobster Pot Pie''

I'm

recognizable

comforting

saucy

multi layered

and

have an edge of surprise

So having said that

think for a moment

and
ask yourself

what dish would
YOU
be
?

What's It Worth?

2011-02-15T01:32:00.000-08:00

I've owned

wait

rather been owned

by 3 lovely funny sweet

Scottish Terriers

spanning the past 18 years

Cady

Dewey

Maggie
........

Mad Maggie McTavish

(aka 'The Moo')

is the only one left

and at age 12

I've noticed she's slowing down a bit

isn't hearing as well

her eyes cloudy

she sleeps more

barks at nothing

her beard gray

I can't help but wonder

when she will join the other two

as treasured memories

When

I have moments of thinking like that

I have to ponder

the 12 or 13 years of unconditional love

one gets from a pet

worth the pain of saying the final goodbye?

the all encompassing never ending
grief
?

I have to say for myself

the answer is a resounding

Nothing is worth that kind of pain

not even

Scottish Terrier
love

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day

to those out there

who care about such trivial nonsense

the romantic absurdity

silly hearts

overpriced flowers

moldy stuffed animals

stale chocolates

overblown expectations

......

Or
maybe

you're still waiting for that

elusive soul mate

whomever

they are

.....

Take heart

sometimes when you least expect

the right someone comes along

and

you give them

your time

your trust

sharing spirits

and

neither of you are ever

the same

Thanks Mr. Kerouac

2011-02-13T00:10:00.000-08:00

"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round heads in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify them, or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do."
— Jack Kerouac

What women really want

2011-02-12T00:01:00.001-08:00

If you truly want to know what women want....

* We don't want you to have the body of a god. We really don't. We love it for bragging-to-our-friends purposes, but if you're in better shape than we are, well.....ugh!
However, a man who takes care of himself by working out is infinitely more attractive because it shows he cares about his physical health.
Regular grooming, showering daily, shaving, trimming (yes, even using moisturizer) and choosing an outfit that looks good is hot. By the way....The right amount of cologne can turn a 5 into a 9 pretty fast too.

* Be a champion-get between us and whoever is trying to tear us down (even if we're the ones doing it to ourselves)

* Listen, but don't offer up solutions. Just simply say ''how can I help?'

* Be trustworthy. If you aren't, don't expect us to be fine about being lied to and deceived.
Nobody wants to be perceived they are an idiot.

* Be interesting...have a hobby or a passion that you develop outside of us

* Be a caveman sometimes. It's OK and shows you're male. We may roll our eyes, but secretly we kind of like that

* Slight jealousy is fine , it shows you care...out of control jealously is silly. We are here with you because we want to be. No amount of legal paperwork will make someone stay if they don't want to

* Have friends. Go out with them

* When the door closes in the bedroom, be fully present. Be there. For us. You can't expect intimacy in our relationship if you aren't giving 100% too.

*Love our children. Be soft and firm with them, as needed. Know their hopes and dreams, who their doctors are, where they go to school, their teachers. Be a parent, not a friend. By the way, when you're watching the kids, you aren't ''babysitting'' them. They are YOUR children too.

*Tell us we're beautiful, even when we know we aren't.

*Surprise us in little ways. Sure flowers and candy are great, but so cliche'...use some imagination!
Lotion, a towel and a foot rub don't cost anything...but are remembered.

* Help around the house. There's nothing sexier than a man with dishpan hands, or is willing to roll up his sleeves. Hint: When the woman isn't exhausted by work, kids and housework--you get more sex.
Trust me on this one.

* Don't bitch about your job constantly. It makes us feel guilty and we cant fix it. Change jobs if you hate yours so much.

* Give us time to ourselves.Take some for yourself too

Hope this clears up any confusion you guys may be having.
Now, go get us some chocolate.
And hurry up, please.

Bieber Fever?

2011-02-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Just in case you needed a little nudge

Justin Bieber's new movie

comes out on Friday

3-D

Tiny Bubble

2011-02-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

Don't get me wrong

I love small towns

I grew up in one

The
people are typically friendly

the traffic congestion is low

you know who you can trust

and who you can't

however

I think it's important for people

to leave small towns

and return

(maybe)

after they've experienced

life outside the bubble

travel

learn new ideas

new ways of looking at things

expand their minds a little

but I really feel

the growing is in the leaving

For

instance

just this week

I've talked with people

from small towns

who

''don't like internet''

''don't have cable''

''don't read outside newspapers''

and

refuse to grasp that there are important

concepts

happening beyond their small world

they love the idea

remaining big fish in tiny ponds

it's their claim to fame

kind of like

the quarterback in high school

(now a portly insurance agent)

still wearing his letterman's jacket

30 years later

(sigh)

The Sensitive

2011-02-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

You would think

as outspoken and direct as I am

that nothing phases me

I must be made of teflon

but

on occasion

I've been accused of

being the sensitive sort

thin skinned

too easily crushed

takes-everything-personally

~Imagine that~

Back to Basics

2011-02-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

After watching that horrendous program

''Food, Inc''

I've decided to live with more intent

no longer will I be mindlessly buying things

off a supermarket shelf

without knowing where it came from

how humanely animals are treated

nor will I dismiss

the impact of my purchases on the world

I'm getting back to my roots

I'm buying raw milk now

about 4 miles down the road

from a farmer in his late 70's

grizzled, opinionated and wearing faded overalls

he pats his cows

with affection when he's talking to them

gallon of milk a week

self serve

money paid on the honor system

these 2 jars of mine
(above)

produced 1/2 pound of butter

and
the buttermilk left over

makes the most delicious

2 loaves of bread

which I then turn around

and barter with my neighbor

my
extra butter and a loaf of bread

for his eggs and honey

keeps us both happy

our ecological footprint minimized

tiny, baby steps

but steps

nonetheless

Letting Go

2011-02-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

Sometimes

letting go of someone

means letting go

your expectations
the person you thought they were

and

not who they actually

are

The Writing Gig

2011-02-06T00:30:00.000-08:00

There is a very fine line

writing humor

attempting to get a point across

quickly

not being vulgar

staying timely

sort of hip
but not too current

showing confidence

politically correct

but

with a razor sharp edge

I've learned

not everyone is going

to ''get'' my humor

appreciate the actual thought

that goes into

every sentence

every word

every punctuation point

Although

I dearly love getting paid

to do such cool work

I've quickly discovered

it's a job

there are trade offs

compromises

and oddly

the one thing I lost

right away
in writing humorous prose

would be
my real sense of

humor

Get Well Soon..and Hurry Up

2011-02-04T01:52:00.000-08:00

It's been an incredibly weird month

the span of 4 weeks

my sister

my uncle

my son

my niece

have been in the hospital for

life threatening illnesses

In America

the home of

'we don't want you stepping foot into a hospital'

where

insurance companies not doctors

determine your care

this is a huge

thing

Event Planning

2011-02-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

After much thought

a couple of glasses of wine
a late night

and
some late 70's music
bolstering the nostalgia factor

I
decided to be the organizer

for my class reunion

that was 3 days ago

in that time

I have gotten 4 hate emails

9 ''yaaay I'll come if you're throwing it'' emails

anger

angst

fear

countless texts

offers of help for ''just the fun parts''

calendars of when people's kids are out of school

schedules from their work

and

the bottom line is

I finally have figured out
in
putting this circus down
I won't make 100% of the people 100% happy
even if I tried
and

its true

''no good deed goes unpunished''

(our class song)

Over and Over Again....

2011-02-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Flogging a dead horse

over and over and over

repeating the same issues

conversations

thoughts

disappointments

is a brain drain
emotion killer

and completely

counter productive

to moving forward

After
a bout of wallowing
which is completely understandable

try to learn from the situation

pull up your big kid panties
make different choices for your future
and carry
on

♫ Perfection ♫

2011-01-31T00:01:00.001-08:00

It Does Get Better

2011-01-30T00:01:00.001-08:00

I love the campaign for gay teens

entitled

''it gets better'

meaning there is a whole new world out

of high school

where they won't be bullied

treated badly

or
feel alone

I wish someone would put together

another onslaught

of videos

reassurances
and

success stories

for the rest of the kids
gay and straight

because

even if you shine

in high school

there is still so much

self doubt

insecurity

pressure

it would have been so nice

to know you aren't alone

in your anxiety

and there's a whole new
open, beautiful, perfect
world
out there
after you take off your
cap and gown