It's Happened!

It finally happened this week ... my son started high school! We dropped him off on Monday morning at the new high school ... he is 1 of 782 Freshman this year!! (and I thought my graduating class of 97 was big!) As we dropped him off, we toyed with yelling out the window "love you, honey" ...but of course we didn't. Instead I felt myself tearing up as I watched him walk up the walk way ... carrying himself tall with an air of confidence.
It is happening all so quick!!

Manic Monday .. (late)

If you could take more control of one aspect of your life, what would it be?

.. I am trying to get into a new career path .. so I need to make sure I don't detour!


If you were to name the difference between the male soul and the female soul, what would it be?

I think this is an interesting question .. because how do you name differences in souls? I think when souls find each other, and they meld together, there isn't a difference in the souls. I believe that is how you get the term "soul mates" .. the souls are drawn together .

I think differences in souls are felt when souls don't get along ... same idea as the aura a person has and that instant feeling of liking someone or not liking them the moment you meet them.

So I am not sure if there is a difference between male and female souls .. .. ..


If you had to admit the most selfish thing you do on a regular basis, what would you say it is?

hmmmm ... I have a hard time with the term "selfish" ... because I do take time to do things for myself ...

Don't we all have to do some things for ourselves to insure our sanity .. is that selfish, or is it necessary? So the most "necessary" thing I do on a regular basis ...... ensure that I have quiet time to myself.

Recap of last week ..

So last week was a crazy week in our household for a multitude of reasons ... I haven't felt much like blogging lately .. but then again, I haven't felt much of anything lately. Not only did my creative juices stop flowing, but so did my ambition to run (!!) ... it was a big bunch of things combined ...I'd like to think I had the "no name bug" .. it zapped my energy and just made me feel tired. Monday was our 19th anniversary ... we celebrated quietly going out for dinner to a new restaurant in Belton called Dead Fish Grill. It reminded us of being in Maine .. it was a wet rainy evening, the view looked out on the lake. They had to keep all windows closed because of the weather! (Go figure .. even in Texas!)

Then when we came home, I received notification that our previous home in Maine was for sale again ... I almost cried on the spot! Seeing the pictures ... some of the improvements they did .. the brand new kitchen my husband had built .. it made for a very tough evening!

On Tuesday I had to do a lot of running around between the kids needing pick ups and drop offs and appointments. Wednesday Demi was finally spayed ... we were hoping for a less energetic dog .. still waiting ..

Thursday was a mild day at work .. and Friday I got a call from my ever loving son ... letting me know he was ready to be picked up .. 20 minutes early .. "but not a big deal, I can wait .. and, oh by the way, I may need stitches in my arm." Please understand, this is my son who broke both his wrists (separately) .. but on a pain scale of 1 to 10, he thought he was a 6 .. had him in ICU for 2 days due to a severe asthma attack .. but when asked by the doctor 'how do you feel?' "i feel fine ..." .... so when I got off the phone with him, I looked at my manager and said "don't think I will be back after lunch today .." ... six hours and, 8 stitches later ...my son has another ER visit he can add to his repertoire!

So, I am hoping this coming week will bring better energy ... Saturday I managed to kick the "no name bug" to the curb, and ran 8 miles .. I plan to run this whole week .. because in less than one week I am running in the 10k Nike Human Race!! ... and don't forget .. SCHOOL STARTS ... heehaw!!

What is Missing Here?

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

So, Saturday night came .. I was completely out of wine .. I went to our local grocery store where they have this wonderful idea of "why buy 1 when you can buy 6 and save ...". All too familiar with this practice since it was something Tommie and I shared all the time when our husbands were out fighting the bad guys in the big sand box, far, far away .. (almost)every weekend she and I would split a six pack. (We weren't THAT bad! ... were we?!)

So what's missing in this picture? Not just a mere 3 bottles of BAREFOOT Pinot Grigio ... but a whole lot more ...

My sisters, SeaDog moments, Coffee mornings at the Bakery .. Maine ...

This week was a tough week ... I'll stop whining now .. and have a swig of red wine! (where's the chocolate??)

Wrinkled ...

Demi is still too big for her skin ... (although she has doubled in size since we adopted her) .. a frightening thought!

When this week's photo hunt was about wrinkles .. I couldn't resist:

the wrinkles I am always reminded of! (Yes, .. I should be using those $60.00, .17 ounce jar of "miracle wrinkle remover" creams! )

Friday Fill In ..

1. Dancing to the _soundtrack of Mamma Mia_ while _cooking_ makes me _happy__.

2. The last time I ___listened to Noah's zune__ I nearly ____fell off my chair ... all I can say is WOW! (How can he listen to it???)___.

3. When I drive I_think_. (Unless I am driving the black car without AC in Tx .. then I am cursing!)

4. I saw a __cowtree just_ standing _there_.

5. Give me the beach_, give me a beach chair_, give me _sunshine!!_.

6. Next week I am looking forward to _school starting!!!!!!!!!!!_.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _knowing it's Friday night!_, tomorrow my plans include running 8_ and Sunday, I want to _make sure the kids are ready for school_!


I guess I am just a little excited that school is starting up again! Does that make me a mean mother??

Manic Monday .. (late)

Is there something you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?

I want to finish school! I'm working on it .. it's taking a looong time ..


If you could make any fictional character come to life, which one would it be?
I would like to see Tigger ...everyone needs a Tigger in their life ....


If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be and how long would it take you to spend the $10,000?

Well, if it was "free" money .. without the guilt? .. .. a girls weekend to go shopping for work clothes .. maybe some running stuff .. shoes ... yes, shoes! A woman can never have enough shoes! One store .. is there such a thing to be able to satisfy all those wants?



Name three things you wanted as a child but never got.

Wow .. that's tough .. I am not materialistic now, and wasn't then .. I was lucky to be the youngest of four .. when my sisters received something new, it would be inevitable that I would get it as well .. I think my parents tried to be fair on items like that. I really can't recall anything I really wanted and didn't get.

Outgrown Sunday ..

It's that time AGAIN ... it seems to happen all too often lately! My kids keep GROWING! Imagine that! It feels like we just went shopping the other day for clothes .. oh wait! We did! Guess we all know what this week will bring! (btw, that t-shirt with the tags ... it's part of the pile!)

Photohunt ... Colorful

For every birthday, my sister sends a bouquet of balloons to my kids ... these are the left overs!

Friday Fill In ..

1. The last meal I had at a restaurant was __Hibachi at Nami's ... (overpriced!)___.

2.__Arrogance_ is something I intensely dislike.

3. The full moon __always gets my attention ___.

4. _"Hell to the no"___is one of my favorite local expressions from a PCS'ed neighbor.

5. Sometimes it's best to __just let it go___.

6. _Mamma Mia!___ is the best movie I've seen so far this year!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _wine? pizza?____, tomorrow my plans include _cut and wash out that gray!!!!!____ and Sunday, I want to _chill_!

Color My World ...

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Yesterday Aletta received a letter from her best friend who is at summer camp for two weeks. She was so excited to receive an actual letter! It brought back so many memories .. We lived for the mail! We didn't grow up in one place .. (kind of like this military life) which meant every time we met someone, either they would move or we would move. No one stayed in one place longer than three or four years; the friends we met also became our pen pal. Letter writing was our only way of keeping the link open to our friendships.

When Aletta announced that she wanted to write back to her girlfriend, I immediately told her all about how we used to write letters .. .. .. I was waiting for the usual roll-the-eyes, "here-comes-the-walk-in-the-snow-uphill-both-ways-to-school" stare ... but there wasn't! She actually was listening!!! My sisters and I used to spend hours creating small novels ... I loved writing letters (and so much more, I loved receiving them!) .. we used coloring pencils, stickers .... fancy stationary ... you name it .. it was just another way of today's scrap booking or making greeting cards!

So today, as I sat in front of my laptop .. responding to an email, I watched as she wrote her letter .. taking time to draw a sunset .. adding a bear sticker, then drawing a cartoon balloon enabling the bear to speak.. then lots of words.. .. Was it really that long ago ...?

ABC's of the day ...

I am completely copying Tommie for today's blog! She is my inspiration and motivator when it comes to the world of blog!! (also with other things .... wine, baked goods ....... why did you have to move??)

5:15 AM start of the day,
By rolling and limping out of bed.
Contact lenses in, a sure way of waking me up ..
Demi lifts her head, as if in utter disgust at the
Early movement of the day.
Finally, I'm out the door,
Grimacing at the already 75 degree temperature and
Humid day. My
I-pod turns on and Michael
Jackson
Kicks in with PYT (Pretty Young Thing .... not something I am feeling at this point!)
Losing myself in my run, I think about the Army Ten
Miler that I was able to sign up for this year! (another one of my goals!!)
Never did I think I could get in for this year's race ..
oh, by the way . .. did I mention, Hood
Poison Ivy is the name of the team that I will be running with!
Quite an adjustment for me .. I like individual sports over team sports when it comes to participation..
Running along, I saw THREE
Shooting stars!
Truly! Never have I seen shooting stars ...they were so clear! I made a wish on the first one, but by the time shooting star two and three came along ... my thoughts were focused on trying to
Understand
Vehemently
Why I love to run ... oh "Waterloo" (by ABBA ... did I mention Mamma Mia???)comes on,
eXcitement kicks in once again .. there is something about their music ..
Yes! Another run accomplished ..... this is my favorite part ..there is a
Zen like state that comes over me for the rest of the day! I can tackle ALMOST anything!

Manic Monday ..

Using no more than 10 nouns, and ONLY nouns, describe yourself.

Noun: person, place or thing ..

You already know the person .. so .. here are things:

red wine .. rich dark chocolate .. kayak .. running shoes .. lakeside camp .. sun .. beach ...

(funny daughter said "light switch" .. on in the morning, off at night!)

Picture by Alet as well .. she is so talented!

If you owned your own store, what would you sell?

Hmm, been there .. we had an Optical Store .. I loved it at the time .. I don't think I would want another store again .. but IF ...I would love to own an "outdoor sports" ..store .. I think the clients are more "down to earth .." (... haha!)

If you were to name the most comforting thing for you to hold in your hands, what would it be?

Hmmmmm...... does it depend what the comfort is for?? A glass of red wine goes a looooong way!!

Happy Monday!

Happy Sunday!

If you have to make a resolution for this coming week .. make a date to go see Mamma Mia! It's a great "feel good" movie ... (you have to like ABBA music!)

PhotoStoryFriday ~ Klondike Bars

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Klondike Bars ... I love them .. haven't had them in a very, very long time until this past week! Let me explain! You see, my motto is "if it's not in the house, I won't eat it..." .. so when it is grocery shopping time, I try very, very hard to only buy the "good for you" foods . Okay, occasionally the bag of M&M's or Peppermint Patty's find their way in my shopping cart ... but on the whole, I try to be good.

Every week I create my grocery shopping list .. and every week I ask my wonderful teenagers what they would like ... last week my loving son said "Klondike bars" . I looked at him (trying hard to conceal the jubilance of the mere idea that we would have Klondike Bars in the freezer!!! Yippee!) , I asked "Klondike Bars??" he said "Yes, you know .. especially the ones with M&M's in them!". Noah is a very constant personality .. so to ask for Klondike Bars was really something different for him. As mother, who am I not to grant him his only wish for the week ... Klondike Bars .. WITH M&M's in them! (He is also NOT a junk food eater .. so this was really HUGE!).

So .. fast forward to the freezer section of the local Super WalMart .. who knew there were SO MANY choices of Klondike Bars ?? Last time I looked there was only the "original" and now there was Dark chocolate .. Oreo .... but alas, No M&M's! Husband looked at me .. what to do? My son wanted M&M Klondike Bars .. the best solution ... buy two kinds: Original and Oreo's ..after all, he loves Oreo Cookies ice cream (hmm, which is my favorite) ..and if he didn't like the Oreo, surely he would enjoy the Original... it's all about choices isn't it??

When we got home, and were unloading .. I proudly announced to Noah that we bought the Klondike Bars .. but explained that they didn't have M&M's. We promptly put them in the freezer .. (imagine .. TWO packs of Klondike Bars in the freezer ... that's a total of 12 Klondike Bars ..... mmmmmmm!). Every night Noah has dessert after dinner, so this night was no different than any other night. He picked up his plate, put it in the sink .. then went for the freezer, and pulled out an Oreo Klondike Bar. He opened it up, took a bite ... then another. (All the while I am thinking ... "mmm which one, Original or Oreo ??")

Suddenly he started to wrap up the half eaten Oreo Klondike Bar back in the wrapper, and said .. I don't really like it, want it?" as he began to hand me the blue packet. "You don't like it?!" (is this MY child?) I asked with complete confusion .. "No," he said, "I don't think it's what I wanted .. you know, the Klondike Bars come in a box .. with M&M's .. there's six in a box .. I don't think you put them in the freezer ..... you used to buy them all the time, as snacks for us ..." ...My mouth dropped open "you mean GRANOLA bars?" ... "Yes, I guess .. they come also with chocolate chips .. " .... "yes, son ... those are called Granola Bars, not Klondike Bars ..."

AUGH! Now I have 9 Klondike bars in the freezer (yes, do the math!!).. .. .. .. .. how many miles do I need to run? I need to call bf J, she is my accountability food manager .. she is not going to be pleased!

Photohunt .. Clouds

So I am cheating a little .. this is an older picture .. I love sunset sky...

Friday Fill in ...

Questions 1 and 2 this week are courtesy of Sherry, thanks!Here we go:

1. If I could travel back in time, I'd go to the countries that we grew up in, and capture on camera, life there _.
2. Give me _"a kiss to build a dream on"__ or give me _my running shoes__.
3. I am listening to _Rock Band being played .. LOUD!___.
4. Somewhere, someone is thinking _"how many more weeks until school starts??"__.
5. I'll always be _strong and independent__.
6. My idea of a good time includes _friends, food and lots of laughter.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _El Chico's____, tomorrow my plans include _7 mile run____ and Sunday, I want to _relax_!