TGIF.........Need I Say More

It's Friday! Let the Hallelujah chorus begin. No work, No homework for Zoom and I can actually sleep past 5:30 tomorrow morning. After a long and stressful week I am ecstatic for the weekend.  I'm headed to San Diego to discuss a future project in the making.  But it will not be work.......especially when it's with an old friend.

While the words San Diego are relaxing enough, I ran across this photography collection from Antony Spencer.  I was instantly enamored. What amazing moments this man has captured.  I longed to be at each location he has ever shot.  Go to his site and check out his portfolio! If you can't make it to San Diego this weekend, I have a feeling it will transport you to a place with less stress and its a good reminder of how beautiful and amazing this planet is.  

Oh Boy! Girls are sure opinionated....

In the past few months I read this article.  It's thought provoking to say the least. It's about woman and if they truly can have it all by ANNE-MARIE SLAUGHTER.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-cant-have-it-all/309020/

Today I read this article.  My eyebrows raised a little as I noticed I had an opinion too.   Was I referenced in this article? Not directly by name, but by position or role in life (working woman, mother etc).

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/82586.html

(The Reference to the entire Marie Claire article is below)
 http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/inspirational-women/hillary-clinton-farewell-3

Then I saw this on Facebook.  (Taken without permission from a friend quoting her sister-in-law)

I think the problem feminists have with Romney is that they don't value the role of mothers enough. It's like they think that being a stay at home mom and using our innate gifts as nurturers is degrading. Of course women can do whatever men can do but the most important job we have is nurturing and raising the next generation. I would be glad to have a president who acknowledges that and values mothers and the extremely important job they have.

..and then read about Eva Longoria's tweet on Twitter.

http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/eva-longoria-apologizes-controversial-retweet/story?id=17510004#.UIBaO8VX1C8

A political battle may ensue with these two references to candidates.  Tis' soon November.

However, it seems to me, that we as woman are not on the same page.  It seems we cannot even agree to disagree without creating animosity (yes that rhymes if read in rhythm and I'll take credit for it.)  Despite our political beliefs, most woman acknowledge that this life is hard whatever we are dished out.  Hillary Clinton has never been a stay at home mom of 5 children and Ann Romney has never been Secretary of State for the United States.  I've never heard either of them whine but I'd be okay with it if they did.  Both are hard jobs and I never want to judge another woman not being in her shoes.  We as women should support each other in every role and not paint each other as idiots for believing a certain way.  Aren't we all wanting to do our best in any role?    You don't have to be a feminist to fight for women's rights.  You can be a stay at home mom and understand lower wages of working woman.  You can be a working woman and value the role of mothers.

Goodness Gracious! We as women are all opinionated.  I just wish this brought us closer to understanding each other vs. pushing us apart on the political spectrum and elsewhere.  So please, don't judge or insult me by the many hats I do wear.  I am doing it all but am not having any of it.......But then again, I don't have the choice.

3 Tips for Mass Texting

I am single therefore I am forced to sext I mean text.  However I admit to being the worst communicator via my phones text messaging system.  I'm lazy or am just too busy/uninterested to bother.  It also could be my life long problem of not being a flirt or the fact that it takes me minutes to backspace my way through all the corrections my clumsy little fingers make while typing on a 3x5 index card. However I admit to having compiled a few mass texts (not to be confused with spam) and sending to multiple recipients as an intended personalized message.  It's an easy way to express sentiment to multiple people without spending the time or energy to do so.

As a recipient of these mass texts myself (the recent numbers and awareness is the direct result of being on the prowl) I am largely disappointed with the content of such messages (I am not as critical of mass texts from close friends and family vs. the ever so popular single man). There is an art to mass texting and all men are not currently aware of such skills. A future course in dating 2.0 possibly?  Here are a 3 things I noticed that made them devoid of any pertinence to me.  Mass texting isn't wrong, there are just social etiquettes and finesse that need to be done as to make every person feel important. (Please read How to Win Friends and Influence People if you have no clue why this would be important).


1.  If you are......Shout it from the rooftops!  Mass texts don't need to be personalized but for heaven sakes, allow the reader to understand it was meant for multiple people.  Include pluralities such as 'you all' or 'hey friends' or "we're meeting at'.  If you want to disguise the lack of personalization then spend a little effort in forming sentences that will make her/him think it was absolutely meant specifically for her/him while still sending it to a few others to maximize your effort.

2.  If I wanted a tweet I'd follow you on Twitter. These are the dead giveaways of mass texts.  Absolutely 100% no personalization.  Why would I care what you were doing at any given moment without me.  Twitter allows us all to stock our favorite people appropriately while texting is designed to let people know you have given them your number for a reason.  Send the mass text with imitations of personalization.  For example, "Eating at the Crab Cooker" is a tweet.  "At the Crab Cooker, wish you were here" can make a girl's heart swoon......even more than one.

3.  Respond back if they respond to you.  This is truly fostering a relationship with that individual.  Again, if you went through the effort to fake sincerity than this is not the time to prioritize between responses.  Your intent was to elicit emotion wasn't it?  Continue to communicate.  If you don't want this relationship....then never text that person again.

I hope this helps in your endeavour to text.  Especially if you are single soul. Heaven knows we all need help. By the way, this is meant to be funny.  However, it is still 100% true.

Surf Shack Favorite

My dream car is a 1943 Jeep Willy Wagon. The thought of restoring one and driving it to the supermarket everyday makes me giddy.  Imagine my excitement and inspiration when I came across this post off Remodelista's web site of which is one of my favorite surfing spots for ideas and inspiration.  A restoration of an old 1959 bus! Who needs an airstream when you can toss down 75K on this (no actual knowledge of cost or specifics disclaimer inserted here).  The before and after pictures are worth a peek in you're interested. (click here for details)  The possibilities of my Willy wagon just became even more dreamier.

Are bloomers really appropriate to put out to dry?

Truthfully I'm not sure what bloomers are...whether they are fashion or underwear, if they are modest or not and if they really are apropos to air out in the open for others to see.  The fact is when they are, it leaves you vulnerable and very much aware that you are exposed, naked even, with the world seeing things that may or may not be appropriate.

....And yet it's bloomers I think of versus the ever so popular thong when thinking about telling my life story (could this represent how protective I am figuratively with my laundry). Before I explain, I am well aware that my life story isn't yet complete and I'm hoping I'm not quit half way to death, however the thought of being exposed, vulnerable to the elements of truth, of my life up to this point, really made me think about how much we do actually tell people. If we 'go there' so to speak.  Do we tell the truth and risk offending others within this narrative?  Do we withhold the entirety of the experience protecting ourselves and others of any judgement that may come?  Do we air our dirty laundry and chance that the wind won't blow it in every possible direction. Is it about being honest with ourselves or respectful of the details of these life experiences?

Pretty heavy thoughts I know but as I venture on to new projects I am suddenly feeling there is a line that I cannot cross. That all the details relevant in personal history shouldn't be told.  That these experiences may be sensitive to others, even affecting current and possible future relationships, and that my humanity/honesty is less important than the feelings and/or response of others.

What are your thoughts?  Is this selective censorship?  How is the picture painted if we don't disclose all of the details of our past?  Can others still learn and understand our lives without them?  Point being, I am suddenly aware that I have much that hasn't been told.  That I have withheld many pieces of my story.  Maybe my laundry is already dry. Maybe it's not. Maybe if I do put my bloomers on the line, feeling the breeze will be exhilarating.  Maybe it's more work and cleanup than may be needed.

Must Share of the Day

This made me homesick for Beautiful Central Oregon!


Within Two Worlds from Goldpaint Photography on Vimeo.

Please Pass the Parfait

Today while talking with a co-worker, I mentioned how I love McDonald's dollar menu. I truly feel some odd sense of pride when I drive away having only ordered $2.00 worth of food for both my son and I (frugal or cheap discussion inserted here). Later in the day that same co-worker brought me a bag from McDonalds.  I opened it only to find a parfait.......my favorite item off the dollar menu!  My heart was so delighted and somewhat giddy in this treat (yes yogurt can make me giddy).  This unexpected kind gesture had made my afternoon.
This made me reflect on kindness.  I'm sure we all have made attempts to do something nice for somebody once a day.  It has yet to become a habit but of course this helps to switch the attention off ourselves and onto the welfare of others.  However, how often do we consciously focus on the kind things that were done for us once a day?  Did we notice that somebody held the door for us at the Post Office?  Or that while merging lanes in traffic somebody waved us on instead of giving us the bird.  Do we acknowledge the compliment somebody extended to us and value its sincerity? This is where our thoughts need to be. Focused of the kind acts instead of concentrating on how rude people have been.  We tend to get consumed with the ladder and complain about everything.  When we are focused on the kindness or others our days will because brighter and we more than likely will pass this kindness on. The bad experiences quickly will dissipate into the past.  We remember what we CAN do for others and how we can spread that joy just as it has been done for us. Thank you Bryan for this kind gift.  It truly helped me remember the value of $1.00.

Now to find somebody who can appreciate a hash brown as much as I do.   My second favorite item of the dollar menu.

3 cheers and tips for Pinterest

Pinterest has been an answer to my prayers.  Of course figuratively it has and not literally.  I haven't been praying nightly for a way to categorize my digital finds.  But if I had, I would know God hears my prayers and wants me to be happy.  I'm sure it was somebody elses prayer He answered and I am the fortunate beneficiary.

Before all this Internet hype, I would take tear pictures from magazines and put them in a folder for future reference.  Later, I would find myself reposting on a blog (which I still do as well) because my folder was and still is busting at the seams.  Now I find that whenever I think of it, I can go to pinterest to look at my vision board,  books I want to read or track what prayers have actually been answered.  It is my list of lists. I'm not so much a pinterest browser but rather a pinterest pinner.  I still read blogs through readers, surf the web for needed answers and research everything I do and buy.  Hence the happiness with Pinterest.  I pin what I like wherever I find it.  I definitely know of several improvements they could make and still don't understand how they make money, but that is a post for another day. (but if you know how they make money let me know) So, if you're not pinning then get too it.  Here are three tips for you

1.  Use it as a resource and not a time waster.  The internet sucks our time and pinterest may yet be another time warp. Don't let it happen to you... ....except for maybe Rainy Days and Mondays.
2.  Like things rather than pin.  You can still find what you liked but don't have to clutter your boards with stuff you really don't want to see again or won't find useful in a category.
3.  It doesn't matter who you follow.  Follow interesting people you may not even know that are original pinners.  It will expand your horizons. For some people Pinterest is the new twitter....but without words...and with cool pictures.....because reading is the lazy thing to do now days.

Sometimes you just need a little someone to lean on.  Someone who's taller, and stronger, and will be there when you need them.  

Any volunteers?

Do this and Never do that!

My grandmother used to tell me to never leave the house in curlers.  What a wise woman she was and I miss her tremendously everyday.  Not that we all don't know this but I guess the really question is, do we follow this wisdom?  I personally haven't put curlers in my hair since my wedding day and look how that turned out.  However, I have worn sweats to the grocery store, forgone the boulder holder, and left the house looking much like Montezumas revenge.....and on several occasions.  Inevitably 'IT' happens.  I run into somebody I know and it's never the somebody I want it to be.  A long time ago, a certain woman (the name and date have been changed to spare anymore embarrassment) had been swimming laps at the pool.  She hopped out, stripped off her suit, and decided to take a shower at home vs. the locker room of the rec center  With chlorinated dripping hair, suction cup marks around her eyes,  and mascara smudges to zoombify the effect, she trekked to the car hopping to make it from point A to point B unnoticed.  For heaven sakes, it was only 200 feet away.

I'm sure you know how this story ends.  It involves a past boyfriend, his beautiful wife and children, and the small talk that goes along with not having not seen each other for over a decade.  These moments of insecurity are wracked with horror and haunt us for days.  They are filled with the 'should have done's, and the 'only if's and the ever daunting 'why me's.  And then my thoughts return back to my grandmothers' words.

Never leave the house in Curlers!  or anything like unto it.

The finer things in life

The Widows Mite

This last Christmas I discovered artist Annie Henrie at a local exhibit.  I loved this picture of Mary and the Christ child and snapped a picture with my phone thinking that I would remember her name.  When I arrived home, I found myself frustrated that I didn't write her name down and it was yet another realization that my memory is not what it used to be.  However, while walking through Salt Lake City recently, I came across this other picture and I instantly knew it was the same artist.  It had instantly struck a chord with me.  Upon further research, I learned that Annie was voted one of the great new talents under 30 for SouthWest Art Magazine and was receiving additional recognition for her talents.  There were several original pieces of work to admire that day but the $4000 price tag of The Widows Mite didn't quite fit in my budget.  Thankfully, they had a smaller giclee that I am now the proud owner of.  I am grateful for the inspiration that this picture now offers me.

Rejoice

Recently, a friend came to me with good news.  Her desire to share this news was half of the excitement. Her countenance was bright and you would had thought that she had the winning lottery ticket for $365 million.  Later that night I received a text from her telling me that her spirits had been dampened after talking to friends who told her to not get excited about a book deal until she saw the contract.  This had brought her back down to earth and she apologized in having shared her delight.

Bah Humbug!  (or anything replaceable for the load of bull just dished out by her "friends")

My reply back was instant and opinionated.  It doesn't matter what your friends say!  Don't let them rain of your parade.  It may be the shortest main street in history but these are the moments that let us soar!  The moments that let us feel the confidence that enables us to make it through another day.  I don't know about you but I don't receive good news daily and when I do I certainly want to make that feeling and joy last as long as it can, even if its not practical.  There is so much sorrow, too many downtrodden hearts and not enough rejoicing in our every day accomplishments.  For heaven sakes, its a book deal!  I would have broke out the champagne for completing a haiku.

So the next time someone shares good news with you, be happy for them! Share in their excitement and REJOICE in the moment.  Even it you know that their newly refunded $1.27 from the IRS, will not fund the vacation they have been planning.  Let those details come to fruition in due time.  You may just be surprised at how well they could budget that $1.27.

One thing that I am not is Polished.....and that includes even my nails!

I read somewhere that people make snap judgements about other people depending on the look of their fingernails.  We assume somebody's profession and even wealth within our own society. If ones nails are unkempt that is a sign of a lower class.  Even the color on a women's nail supposedly creates an image of our mind about their personality. 

What must people think of me?  My nails are atrocious and I'm not even an auto mechanic.  They peel, grow crooked and the left hand is always cut short with the intention that I will practice the guitar daily (and of course I never do).

Adding this to the To-Do list of beauty regimens is definitely a must.  However the more I starting thinking about this the more I realized there is something else at play.  Why haven't I maintained my nails in recent months?  Could it be that the lack of luster in my nails is directly proportionate to the lack of handholding going on.  Or does that statement need to be reversed.  The lack of handholding is directly related to the look of my hands and that no individual would desire to hold it after seeing such hang nails.  (I will refrain from posting exhibit A)

It does leave me in a quandary as to how to remedy both situations since a connection seems to have been established.  A nail file, cuticle cream are of course top priorities. But what about that hand holding? What is the solution for that.

I might be a little late to score a valentine for 2012 but my nails will look PDG when I pass out those valentines' out to lucky individuals.  However, yours might just come in the mail if I don't see you on a regular basis.  So please, imagine beautiful nails and pass the word.  There is hope for 2013!

2012.....for one more Month

Life has happened.  It took over, monopolizing all of my time.  The End.

How is that for an excuse for not writing or being productive.   I know, I feel the same way.  It's not much of a sob story if everybody can relate.

However, something big is coming.  A change, an epic adventure and a story to tell.  Something that will push all my priorities through.  I'm excited....Finally.....I control my life once again.

...and did you see my brothers Christmas video!  Click the link below to view.  Hopefully you'll love it half as much as I do.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fztm1yg8pxI&feature=colike

Catalog Tear of the Month

I often tear pages of outfits I love out of catalogs.   I then post them in my closet so as I'm getting dressed I remember the looks and styles of the season and more easily dress 'my style'.  I have imitated so many looks through the years that I feel as though I'm a walking catalog page but without shimmer, shine, and oh....I won't be wearing a size 4. 

I'm loving this look by Garnet Hill.  It's casual chic and the double wrap scarf makes it all the more stylish.  The dress is a whoopin' $98 which deems itself pricey for a cotton dress.  However the reviews are great for this Eileen Fischer Dress and I will be watching for it on sale.  Hopefully it will go down to 75% off (and that's still a lot if you're unemployed and your ex is petitioning to not pay alimony anymore)

In the mean time, its a good thing that this look can be copied from most any closet.  Leggings are wardrobe essentials, the scarf is duplicable, and the dress only needs to be a solid color.  You can belt yourself for an entire different look.  It seems accessories make all the difference and when the scarf, also at Garnet Hill, is another $108, its easy to see why I'd want to reproduce this look.  

Time heals all wounds

After 8 months of x-rays, MRI's, catscans, surgeries, and a numerous trips to physical therapy, I have gone and done it again.  Saturday was the first time I ran since the morning of July 27.  On that morning, I headed out on my family reunion after a run, for a day of water skiing on our local lake.  The next morning I was still sitting in the ER wondering if they were going to amputate.  Okay, maybe that's a little exaggerated but I had seriously screwed up my leg and have wondered during these last months if that would have been a better solution.  A week ago I was wondering if I would ever resume my normal lifestyle and this week I feel like I can conquer the world.  All with what stated out as a five minute treadmill experience.

Don't misread my running capability.  My goal was a mile, as I still only have 50% of strength in my left leg.  But running through the pain was the biggest hurdle and my doctor said Go and Do.  So I did, and I feel like I can put this behind me and stop using it as an excuse.   HIP HIP HOORAY for our bodies amazing ability to heal.  HIP HIP HOORAY for the patience in dealing with it. 

Now the trial begins to get back in Shape. I'm thinking my goal will be a triathalon come June. 

Hands off the ChaCha

Since the extra calories I've burned by not having a remote (you can read about the case of the missing remote here) haven't taken any inches off my waistline, I decided to invest in an all in one remote control.  It's not an expensive one or the one I hoped a manly man would buy me to redeem himself, but I'm hoping that by buying a cheap channel changer, nobody and especially movie watching dates will never be tempted to steal it again.  I'm also so relieved that I never have to get up to change the volume only to return the five feet and find out I still can't hear it.  That's like 20 feet round trip and then to regain energy another 40 to the refrigerator to regain energy for sitting on the couch again. No wonder I haven't slimmed down any.

But this is what I have to say to all my future dates and visitors who might be eyeing my possessions.  Hands off the ChaCha! (the alter ego of a remote which is short for Channel Changer) I have to lay these ground rules from the beginning or I might just end of violated again. 

The read orginal post explaining it all.  He gone and done it.

How wise is this wisdom

Yes this sign was taken at the world famous Crab Cooker in Newport Beach.  I have since adopted it as my motto...and I have also adopted the Crab Cooker as my new favorite 'must stop'.  My love of seafood must be growing because one shrimp skewer was just not enough.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

My green is in the form of a hat today.  A beautiful...not so spring...big yarn fedora, that has been scrunched in a suitcase and looks nothing like a fedora anymore.  However, I bought this at Nordstroms last month and absolutely loved it and wondered when I could sport it in southern California oh so sunny weather.  But today is cloudy and it is Saint Patrick's Day.  Out comes the fedora and voile!  I still love it.  Though Zoom and I have no big plans, and I'm not making cornbeef and cabbage because of my diet, we will probably venture out to find GREEN food. We're already had a green protein shake (thanks to Spinach and not food coloring :) 

..and I will always think of my nephew Seth Patrick today.  So beautiful and precious you were.  Your family loves you tremendously. 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day