Wednesday Wickedness on Thursday!

It's been a long time since I have blogged .. here is a new meme .. Wednesday Wickedness .. taking a famous person and using their quotes to start a conversation! Perhaps this will get me started again!
Today's famous person is Mark Twain ....

1. A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.
Do you let yourself off the hook easily?  It depends what it's about .. my mom did a great job teaching us how to feel guilty .. so when it comes to my teenagers, I think I do an awesome job beating myself up ..

2. A man is never more truthful than when he acknowledges himself a liar.
Do you think everyone lies?  Yes, unfortunately we all lie .. big lies, little lies .. white lies ... often times I wonder if we create too much of an environment to make the other person lie .. there are so many types of liars .. I have very little tolerance for the 'ask forgiveness instead of permission' liars .... or the ' I'm-not-recognizing-I-need-to-take-accountability' liar ..... what about the "do-you-think-my-butt-looks-big" liar ... that poor liar doesn't stand a chance! In the past I have been lenient with my teenagers when they've been honest with me. I believe in preaching to tell the truth, and let me decide what I'll do with the information ... if you lie ... then the hurt is more from the lie than the actual  reason of the lie.

3. A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
What was the last thing that you had to learn the hard way? To only depend on myself 

4. A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read.
What types of things do you read? I like to read information things .. runner's world, cooking light, news stuff, self help, blah, blah .. an occasional chick book

5. A person with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.
Have you ever thought about something that did not exist and later it was invented? hmmm... i don't think so!

6. Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.
How well do you think that you observe people? I think I do a decent job. I'm an 'action speaks louder than words' type of gal .. (observe question 2) ... I lived too long with a person that believed in white lies .. so I take words with precaution, and wait for the action to follow .... BUT WAIT, was that really the question?

7. Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.
Have you ever used humor to diffuse a difficult situation? Ohhhhh .... all the time! It's the only way to get through it all, sometimes!

8. Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
How important is your age to you? Do you ever lie about it or refuse to reveal it? How important is it? Well, from the standpoint .. I'm frustrated that I'm 44, but  feel like I'm living again as if I'm a college student .. with teenagers!! I'm floored when I look at pictures of my mom when she was 42, and I clearly remember thinking that was "old" ....  so, is my age important? .. when it comes to buying wine ..don't bother asking for ID ..just let me have it! .. when it comes to seeing my wrinkles  life experience lines and drooping girls ... *sigh* ... I just hope that the next 20 years will be kind to me because I certainly don't feel like I am old!!!

9. All you need is ignorance and confidence and the success is sure.
How important do you think confidence is? Are you confident? confidence is everything .. but there is a fine line between the BS Artist and the confident person ... believe in what you know ..

10. Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.
Do you do everything you should to be healthy?  oh .. fur sure ..! Let's take a look at what time of year it is .. we just finished Christmas .. I think I may have consumed 20,000 pounds of sugar .. real healthy!
I committed to myself yesterday to be a hard body in 2011 ... which means lean eating and lots of exercise. When I am done with this blog, I am going to create a list of 35 lean meals to prepare. Then I am going to try and schedule a menu. This way all temptation will be gone.. and all that is left is lean food to eat. This is not to say that I won't cheat occasionally ... I just want to have a bikini body by May! (This is NOT a New Year's resolution!)

Another Day at Work ..

So here is another day at work ...

From: Brandt!

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 10:30 AM
To: J
Subject: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?


From: J

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 10:31 AM
To: Brandt!
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

I did—you said you CAN work, right? I just wanted to be sure—I played it twice and still wasn’t positive. I plan on staying.

From: Brandt!

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 10:56 AM
To: J
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

I’ll stop mumbling!

From: J

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 11:14 AM
To: Brandt!
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?


Thank you!

From: Brandt!

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:09 PM
To: J
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

I feel grosssssssssssssssssssssssssss
3 chocolates .. a huge chocolate chip cookie ………. A bowl of soup and chips and salsa …………………. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
grossssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

From: J

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:10 PM
To: Brandt!
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?


I was good until just after lunch and the new Snickers Fudge bar in the machine started calling my name, so I gave in and ate it. Why????????????? I always beat myself up afterwards, so why do I do it in the first place???????


From: Brandt!

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:15 PM
To: J
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

OMG… YUMMMY … I thought MS was a wellness workplace … that doesn’t sound very wellness to me!


From: J

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:17 PM
To: Brandt!
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?


I think you should bring us a treat when you come to C tonight. I would , but I won’t have a chance to be out of the building. Can you think of something easy that you could just grab somewhere?


From: Brandt!

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:26 PM
To: J
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

Well.. I have to swing by my house and drop off N’s birth certificate at the school for drivers edge … I can pick up something …

From: Janine Tremble [mailto:jtremble@mainesavings.com]

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:28 PM
To: J Brandt
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

Don’t do anything that will stress you out. I just have the urge for something delicious!

From: Brandt!

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:31 PM
To: J
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?


Name it!

From: J

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:33 PM
To: Brandt!
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

Well, fried ice cream wouldn’t travel very well…..so that’s out. Plus we need to be discreet, because I’m supposed to be doing WeightWatchers! I don’t know—maybe some yummy cake or pie from Governor’s or Dysart’s or something like that. Or maybe whoopie pie from PGs.

From: Brandt!

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:34 PM
To: J
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

Holy cow woman … you weren’t kidding!

From: J

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:35 PM
To: Brandt!
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

I’m awful! Just get a whoopie pie at PG’s—that’s easy, right?

From: Brandt!

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:37 PM
To: J
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?


But I don’t like those

From: J

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:50 PM
To: Brandt!
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

Maybe not sweet, maybe sushi? Does Hannaford here in H sell sushi now that they’re Hannaford?



From: Brandt!

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:51 PM
To: J
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

Hahaha you are too funny!
Are you PMS’ing???
I’m still thinking ..

From: J

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:52 PM
To: Brandt!
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?


I’m not even close to that time. How weird is that?

From: Brandt!

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:54 PM
To: J
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

I think Hannaford sells sushi .. I can stop by on the way.. and a bottle of wine?
IF they don’t … what else is your heart’s desire?

From: J

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:59 PM
To: Brandt!
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?


You’re kidding about the wine, right? I don’t want to get fired! I don’t know what my heart’s desire is. Maybe chocolate covered pretzels or something like that.

From: Brandt!

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 4:08 PM
To: J
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

Of course I’m kidding about the wine, but not really … no, I wouldn’t bring it in to C.
Yum, chocolate covered pretzels … I’ll poke around Hannaford and bring something.

From: J


Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 4:08 PM
To: Brandt!
Subject: RE: hey did you get my voicemail this morning?

cool


I ended up getting a weight weighter's Terriyaki pizza .. and one chocolate chip cookie for the both of us. We behaved!

Something new for Monday!

I was searching for a new Monday Meme .. and came across this blog .. so I shamelessly stole it from Infinite Possibilites .. something new to try .. feel free to copy and paste and be shameless like me!!

On the outside


Name: Juliette
Birthday: too many
Current Status: crazed mother .. trying to balance life!
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Currently, level 6 brown, red ... streaks of blonde ... ask me again in 7 weeks!


On the inside

My Fear: Snakes, Spiders .. Elevators.. complete darkness
My Weaknesses: Wine, Chocolate ..over thinking things! (hence the wine!)
My Perfect Pizza: Papa Murphy's Cinnamon Wheel Pizza .... okay, Pat's Pizza in Orono personal size Greek


Yesterday, today, and tomorrow

My thoughts on first waking up: “What day is it today?”

My bedtime: It depends on the day and night ... I am trying to get a minimum of 6 hours in .. so hopefully by 10:00 ..
My most missed memory:  Is there such a thing?? A missed memory? Moments are missed ... I miss my dad

Your picks

Pepsi or Coke: Neither .. not a soda lover

Single or group dates: with who? I love a quiet date night ..

Adidas or Nike: Adidas when I was in high school ... only because they sponsored the Dutch soccer team! I like Nike clothing .. but really for running .. Asics.

Tea or Nestea: Hot TEA .. Nestea cold

Chocolate or Vanilla: Really ....do we need to go over this again?!

Cappuccino or Coffee: Coffee ...

Do you

Smoke: No

Curse: I rarely curse .... I have to be angry
Take a shower: Always ..
Have a crush: Big time.

Think you’ve been in love: Yes..

Go to school:  No, I need to go back (again ..)

Want to get married:  hmm, no not at this time in my life ..my life is too complicated right now .. I still need to find my own path ..

Believe in yourself: I try to .. I tend to forget that I've done okay so far ..

Think you’re a health freak: hahhaaa .. I'd like to think I am .. but I've been busted too many times eating the stuff that isn't considered healthy ... OR I've overdosed on the healthy stuff rendering it unhealthy!!!!!! (A full bag of Trader Joe's  Trail mix ... in four hours!!)



In the past

Smoked: Too little to really consider it anything .. a long, long time ago!
Gone to the mall: Unfortunately yes .. ugh!

Been on stage: isn't our life a stage ...

Eaten sushi: Love, love, love sushi .. my favorite.. brown rice and eel

Dyed your hair: hmmmm..... I rather call it .. washing out the gray



Have you ever

Played a stripping game: hmm .... me?? would i play like that?!?
Changed who you were to fit in:  .. no .. let them fit in with me .. haha!

Done something your kids will never know about (at least till they are adults):  I don't think so ... I've been pretty honest with them .. I wasn't an experimental person .. so not a lot to tell!!


Age you’re hoping to

Get married: hmmm... that's silly ... there is no "good age" ....
Take your dream vacation: sooooooooooon!



In a guy

Best eye color: I was never picky about eye color .. just never dark eyes.

Best hair color: I've always liked the sexy silver fox look!
Short hair or long hair: Always short.

Best attribute: strength ..I love a strong man -  physically and emotionally


What were you doing

A minute ago:  sippin' the wine
An hour ago: watching Dr Phil
A month ago: what part of last month ... it was a crazy month .. on a Monday November 8, I was prepping for surgery.. so I was out to dinner and had quesadillas!
A year ago: Dealing with the fact that my teenage girl was manipulated by an online predator ... .... very, very scary... I'm so glad that part of life is over.




Finish the sentences

I love: dancing with my man -

I feel: sleepy ..
I hate: not running as much as before
I hide: my head in the sand occasionally ... it really doesn't make things go away .. just delays the inevitable!
I miss: summer and kayaking ... and sun ... and long days ... being barefoot ..

I need: to make a list of unfinished projects and finish them.

Happy beginning of the week!

Sunday Stealing ..

Here is another edition of Sunday Stealing ...  stealers stealing posts for blogging ... click here to play ..Cheers to all of us thieves!

What was the last thing you put in your mouth? A big gulp of wine .. Peyton didn't play to well .. needed some consolation ..

How late did you stay up last night and why? I don't remember exactly what time I crawled into bed ..it was when he woke me up after I curled up on the couch and fell asleep as he watched the dvr'd Notre Dame game after the Christmas party ...

If you could move somewhere else, would you? Not at this moment .. the teenagers have had too much upheaval .. I must stay put for at least the next three years .. Sunshine, warmth and water ...

Have you ever been kissed under fireworks? I don't believe I have been kissed under fireworks .. but I think I have seen fireworks when I have been kissed ..

Do you believe ex’s can be friends? uhhmmmmm, I don't think this is a good question to ask me at this time .. try again in maybe four years, when both my teenagers are over 18 ...

When was the last time you cried really hard? Cried really hard?? Hmm ..I think I had a huge melt down in July when I yelled at teenage girl on her birthday .. yah, nominate me for mother of the year ...

What items could you not go without during the day? My truck keys .. my running shoes ... a filled glass of wine ... kayak and paddle ..... ohhhh, am I not understanding the question???

Who was the last person you visited in the hospital? Probably my sister in Feb '09 ..

How do you feel about your life right now? It's going pretty good ...I think emotionally, I am in the best place I have been in a long time ..

If we were to look in your facebook inbox, what would we find? Just a couple of emails .. nothing big..I'm not a face book fan and often question why I have reactivated my facebook ... it stirs too much emotions
Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass? yes .. just give me my wine and I'm happy
Has anyone ever called you perfect before? hmm.. no, I don't think so .. I've been called many things .. but perfect? that would be a lot of pressure..

Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m.: who do you want it to be? there better be a d@mn good reason that someone climbed a ladder  to knock at my window at 2:00 am when my cell phone is on, and I have a front door without my dad and his dog guarding the house!

Do you think too much or too little? most definitely an over thinker....

Do you believe in fairy tales? No, I stopped believing .

Have you ever licked the back of a CD to try to get it to work? Are you telling me I have a wonder tongue?
What’s the largest age difference between yourself and someone you’ve dated? 8 years, 6months and 5 days .. to be exact
Have you ever been on a blind date? no

Do you have any friends that you’ve known for 10 years or more? yes! the longest one is my best friend from high school, whom I met in 1983 .. a picture here (with a small story) ..
Have you ever had a crush on a teacher? Ohhh my .... absolutely yes!! He was my biology teacher, advisor, soccer coach ... AND I babysat his baby son .... I was obsessed with him ... hahaha!!

What song do you want played at your funeral? I would have to do some research, but probably something happy .. because really, it's all about celebrating a life ..
Would you tell your parents if you were gay? ... hmm, at this stage in my life yes .. back 15, 20 ..30 years ago ... probably not .. I think my dad would have had difficulty with it, and my mom would not have known how to handle it ~ so it would have been easier to keep it quiet.
What would your last meal be before getting executed? REALLY?? .. sorry, I find this question ridiculous .. I'll never be in this situation ... so... not playing!

Do you walk around the house naked? Hmm... I've had my moments .. especially this summer when it was too hot to get dressed after a shower and I still had to put on my make up and dry my hair .. and the teenagers were in Texas .. so I was home alone playing loud music .. ahhhhh, those were the days ...
What do you do as soon as you walk in the house? Examine the damage ..

Who is the person you can count on the most? I choose to only count on myself ..

What is your favorite Holiday? Thanksgiving ..

Would you ever get plastic surgery? my first reaction is .. no ... but then it will depend on the circumstance ..

Have you ever caught a fish? Yes ... many, many, many moons ago in Holland on the lake where we had a house, and I was in a rubber green row boat ..

What is the first thing you notice about people? their mannerism and then their energy

What is the farthest you’ve been from home? where's home?
How did you meet your spouse or significant other (or most recent one)? hmm .. the ex spouse I met when I was in search for eyeglasses ..
Where was the last place you drove (other than home/school/work)? if grocery shopping doesn't count .. then on Friday night I drove to Portland Maine ..another dinner event with good company

Sunday Stealing ..

This is the blog where blogs are stolen and copied and pasted .. click here to play!
Cheers to all of us thieves!



1. Lots of pillows or just one? Describe your pre-sleeping rituals. I have six pillows on my bed.. four in my actual bed when I go to sleep... pre-sleeping rituals?? that depends now, doesn't it?!?  ... know what i mean?

2. What kind of books do you read? the books I choose are normally the simple, quick .. and forgotten by the next book type .. I need to change that, I know .. but it works for me right now.

3. What are your neighbors like? i'm on the main road .. so I really don't know my neighbors .. the town crier does live a street down from me, and he walks by my house often, talking to himself, quite loudly .. which annoys the dog (which then annoys me)

4. What's really creepy to you? the town crier

5. What's your current fandom/obsession/addiction? are these three catagorized as the same? I don't view them as the same ..

6. Do you prefer your junk food sweet, salty or savory? that's a tough one .. it depends .. right now I'm dying for fudge .. seriously, fudge or chocolate no bakes .. just give me something chocolatey please!
Trail mix .. yummy cashew, pistachios ... BBQ potato chips .. or better yet .. Salt and Vinegar .. yum!

7. What was the last thing you expensive bought? hah .. that's a joke right?! Expensive is too broad .. I just had to go out and buy the teenagers more clothes .. nothing expensive is on my list .. haha does $250 on groceries count, a couple of weeks ago??


8. What is your greatest fear? that i fail my teenagers and they choose not to come home for Thanksgiving or Christmas when they are older

9. Do you get cravings? If so, what do you crave? I already said what crave as a food ... I crave a hairless house. I would love to sit in a chair without hair on it .. wear fleece without looking like a dog wearing fleece ..

10. What do you do to change your mood? I ask Michael Buble to sing me a song or two ..if he is not available and if it's summer .. kayaking .. other than that.. moving my body..

11. What was the last meal you ate that you loved? meal that I loved? .. hmm, traditionally it's not just the meal that I love, it's the company, the setting .. the moment ...

12. Do you want to learn another language? If so, why? i'm good for right now .. I wish I could remember the languages I learnt


13. What's something that you'd like to say to someone right now? hmmmm .... I think it's safer just to keep those thoughts to myself ..


14. What are you looking forward to? I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving .. I'm excited to see my sister and the rest of the family .. the food, the fun ..

Have a happy week!

Just saying ..

I always believed that I would raise my babies fairly. I would be respectful to them ..  never speak down to them. My sisters and I were raised as the “seen but not heard” children, we didn’t know anything, because, after all, we were just children.Even now, as they are teenagers, I continue to “be fair” … Maybe it’s the guilt, and the wonder that I may have ruined them with the divorce .. so, I’m sure I tend to be softer than I should.  One of the ways I try to be “fair” is on the weekends .. Friday nights are their night .. I make myself available all night to them. If they need rides .. whatever, I’m home and it’s their night. Saturday night is my night ..that’s when I can to do whatever it is I want .. Well, this past weekend was a little different .. my honey couldn’t go out on Saturday, so we agreed on Friday night .. (note: Still one night out of the two nights available!)

Here is how the conversation went on Friday morning before we all went our separate ways for school and work …

Mom: Okay, what are your plans tonight guys, loving teenagers?

Teenage Boy: I don’t know…

Teenager Girl: Mom, I’m trying to get ready for school, I don’t know (always friendly)

Mom: Okay, so here’s the deal .. I’d like to go out tonight, and so, I’ll be home tomorrow night .. does that work?!

Teenage Boy: What? but I want N to come over tonight … and tomorrow night we may go out for dinner ..

Mom: (feeling the need to explain .. when I really don’t NEED to) .. Well, R can only do something tonight .. and since he and I haven’t seen each since last week .. I think it’s okay for me to go out with him tonight, and be available to you guys tomorrow night … I’m just switching nights this one time ….

Teenager Boy: But Mom, you said you saw him in the hospital this week….

Mom: Uhmmmm… loving son,  I was in a hospital gown, with an IV stuck up my arm …. I really don’t think that counts …..

Teenager Boy rolls his eyes …and mutters something I choose not to hear

REALLY?!?! Maybe I should have been more like my parents … just saying …. 

Friday Fill In ..

1. When pigs fly _reminds me the flying pig I bought at the OWC Bazaar.. here's a picture and the story behind it .. I bought the flying pig because I knew it would remind me of that particular period in my life. If someone would have forecasted to me that I would one day move to Texas, as a new army wife, experience deployment, after 16 years of being a civilian wife, then leave Texas as a divorced woman .. I would have said "when pigs fly" ... ____.

2. _No WINE .._ seriously?!

3. Call me _doesn't that remind you of that Blondie song?____.

4. _I think you should stop by for some wine .. _ if you know what I mean.

5. The most entertaining person in my life is _my mom_ because _i love listening to her stories; there's always an element of drama.. maybe that's why I am challenged with my teenager girl.. she's just like my mom .. the story is always about them... at 75 it's acceptable, at 15 ... not so! haha!!__.

6. _Let's move on,_ who's next?


7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _doing a little more recuperating with a glass of wine__, tomorrow my plans include _hopefully some work hours, an easy workout, and maybe a glimpse of my honey_ and Sunday, I want to _get the house ready so that we can start this craziness again__!

Happy Friday!

Thursday 13

A new Thursday 13 from me .. Right now! (borrowed from Janet, who borrowed from Dawn)


1. I am thinking… that my belly is full from dinner, that my glass of wine taste delicious ..

2. I am thankful for… my healthy kids, my health .. my jobs .. my friendships and day to day relationship!

3. From the kitchen… the aromatic smell of Sweet Potato Chicken Curry taunting me!

4. I am wearing… Old Navy pink fleece pj pants, t-shirt and fleece sweater .. comfy clothes after a long parent/teacher conference day

5. I am creating… a new life for me and the teenagers ... and I think it's starting to work for us! The parent teacher conferences went so well .. I just kept hearing what great kids they are, how smart they are (if she would only apply herself!) ..

6. I am going… to take a trip to Australia someday.. and take pictures of Koala Bears

7. I am reading… Still reading The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells and can’t wait to start the next book ..

8. I am hoping… that the extra hours of work will pay off at the end ..no pun intended!

9. I am hearing… Dr Phil talking about “mothers(in law) from h*ll” .. and the dog licking things I don’t want to know about ..

10. Around the house… I see lots of pet hair every where .. I need to break down and purchase that fancy vacuum cleaner to make living conditions more acceptable to me.

11. One of my favorite things… a glass of red wine.. so much power in such a little glass

12. A few plans for the rest of the week… hoping to get some extra hours in, since I wasn’t able to go in today... really, I need to also finish framing pictures that I promised my xmil .... since Mother's Day!

13. A picture to share…

Sunday Stealing on Halloween

It’s that time again, if you want to play, click here ..

1. What inspires you to blog? the inspiration comes from just living day to day with two teenagers in my zoo called home.
2. What’s the best thing about blogging, for you? I’ve met some neat people through blogging .. and I love venting at times. 
3. What is your favorite book of all time? hmm.. books and movies.. I have a hard time remembering them. 
4. It’s 9pm and for some reason you’ve been hungry all day, despite the three square meals. What do you rustle up? Cheese and crackers .. and wine 
5. Who are three of your style icons? haha .. style icons? As in getting dressed? I don’t have icons .. but I do like to bounce ideas off of Janine ..she has a great knack for putting things together.
6. What’s your current favorite song/piece of music? I keep going back to Miranda Lambert’s The House That Built Me .. it reminds me of early summer .. and learning about myself  
7. What is the last book you read? I’m still reading a book I started this summer ..The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder 
8. What is your current favorite recipe? it’s not a favorite, but it’s the easiest .. the Chicken Chipotle soup  
9. Who or what first inspired you to set up your own blog? Tommie!
10. What object could you not live without? I don’t think there is an object I couldn’t live without .. but if I had to choose .. my laptop probably
11. Where do you see yourself in ten years? I want to get through the next 3 years first .. see what choices my kids make for colleges .. see where I am in my working life … one day at a time, right?
12. Who or what made you into the person you are today? oh .. I believe that the people we meet, may it be for a day, a month or a year .. play a part in which path we choose .. and the same goes for what we experience ..obviously my parents and my sisters have played a role, my ex, my kids …and the influences that are in my life now will play a part in how I choose to grow up!
13. What have your learned from blogging? That I do enjoy writing
14. Knowing what you now now, what knowledge would you pass on to your past self? Stop .. and listen to your gut .. take more pictures .. especially when I was in school. 
15. Sunday roasts - lunchtime or evening meal? How about early supper?
16. What has been your best blogging-related experience so far? Gosh darn..best blogging related experience .. that I won the book that I’m reading through another blogger??

Happy first week of NOVEMBER …. is it really that late in the year?!?

Defeated ..

that’s what my teenager girl said when she saw this couch. Before the summer this couch came out with a sign that said “$400”. As time went on, and summer came and went, we watched the sign change in $100.00 increments. Today, we drove by again, and there the couch sat, with a dusting of snow, with a new sign … “free” …

Friday Fill-In

 It's Friday .. time to play Friday Fill In!

1. While the cat's away _we run around the house and shut off all the faucets_. (Why do the cats like to sit in the sink and drink the water when there's plenty of water bowls??)

2. _A steak dinner with wine and a movie  .... _ fabuloso!

3. Children _don't eat peas _.

4. _Nothing beats a big glass of red wine, cheese and crackers after the heels and panty hose come off _ when I get home from work or shopping or what have you. (well .. okay .. there are some things that are better than the wine ...it's a start!!)

5. This may seem odd, but _burying your head in the sand, and hoping things will go away .. DOESN'T WORK!
6. _One day  Christmas will be spent on a tropical beach, like Aruba .. __ and that seems like a fine idea to me!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _a big glass of wine, making BBQ chicken pizza and just relaxing at home_, tomorrow my plans include _working, finding a moment to go to the gym and a dinner out with good company_ and Sunday, I want to _visit the gym, wonder what the kids will be doing, and earn extra cash_!

Thursday 13 .. Month of October

It’s time for Thursday 13, and being the last Thursday of the month, keeping the tradition, here is the October’s Thursday ..

A photo:

Being a dog is just a rough life … 

Current Scent: I’m finally burning the candle “Fresh Linen” that I’ve had for over a year!

What I am reading: Reading is going slow .. I have another book on the waiting list .. and today I found out three more titles … can I have summer back, so I can lay out on Ariel’s rock and read?

Newest music: Love, love, love the new song from Cee Lo Green .. the non-explicit version is “forget you..”, there are two other versions; use your creative mind on the titles! 

Movie I saw: We went and saw “the Town” .. excellent movie, highly recommended .. not sure if I liked it because it took place in Boston ..or if Ben Affleck has something to do with it ..

Something Yummy: .. I made spring rolls .. those were good ..I’m TRYING to be good . .. but, pumpkin whoopee pies, chocolate chip cookies …. ya .. trying to be good!!

the last place I ate: Fresh Ginger .. Chinese food ...

Something that made me cry: My ex ….when will it end?! I felt reprimanded by him .. the man is millions of miles away..over Instant Messaging …. and I allowed myself to feel like I was wrong ..wth??!

Something that made me laugh: listening to my girl trying to convince me to get another cat, puppy .. baby bunny..a fish .. She wants another pet..she doesn’t even walk HER dog!!

Something I look forward to in November: Thanksgiving..we go down to my sister’s in Massachusetts.. I love seeing my nephews and niece, and my awesome sister. Next to July 4, Thanksgiving is my favorite.

Something that I will remember in October: I’m still missing the freedoms of summer .. I need to move on and discover fall.

Something that I am thankful for: Always thankful for all our health, my job .. my kids … I’m thankful for Red wine.. I love my wine, and red wine moments

A photo i took this month:

reflections .

Exactly a year ago today, I pulled out of my driveway at 5 AM with my kids, a dog and cat .. hauling a 6x12 ft trailer containing items that represented the last 20 years of my life.

It took four days to drive from Texas to Maine .. four days with thoughts running rampant, guilt and slight excitement.

Dr. Phil always talks about "self-defining moments" .. there have been a handful, and pulling out at 5 AM that Monday morning, and driving those miles with just my thoughts .. it's a time I don't want to go back to .. ever, but at the same time, it was something I needed to go through.

Change is good; it brings on a process that we all have to go through. Every process has it's own pace .. and no one can dictate how to set the pace but our own self.  Welcome the moment -  every moment brings a step forward in the process .. the process to which we will find answers that will better ourselves.

Friday Fill -In

It's time for Friday Fill In ... click here to play!


1. One of my strongest beliefs is _that things happen for a reason .. it goes hand in hand with the closed window and open door saying ..We never know why things happen .. but ultimately at the end the outcome is better .. sometimes it takes time! Change is always good__.

2. _That's_ huge!

3. The sky is cloudy with a threat of rain and wind and cold, so _bundle up and get ready for football, Peyton is playing__.

4. _ A gentle touch from a beautiful hand __ is comforting to me.

5. I always thought I'd be _further along____

6. _I grabbed my tripod and camera ____ and then I went outside to look at the full moon, and just fell in awe. I love a full moon.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _a pomgranate martini__, tomorrow my plans include _learning a new job.. cleaning the house and grocery shopping__ and Sunday, I want to _play with my camera looking for fall shots .. perhaps_!

Happiness is …

…A box of chocolates!

I came home today and found a box on my steps .. my sister is just awesome .. every so often a magic box appears.. inside just plain happiness …Trader Joe’s trail mix … “drop” (Dutch licorice)…today -  Maltesers!! All the way from London! I guess I’ll have to start running again!

Monday Mayhem on Wednesday ..

Welcome to Monday Mayhem- the best place to be on the slowest day of the week.
Today we are celebrating the five best pieces of advice. For each prompt, give your best advice. Be sure to have fun and visit the other participants.
1. Someone playing this meme has music playing on their site and it is disrupting what you have playing on your computer while you play this wonderful meme. What's your best advice to people who auto-play music on their site? Please don’t do it .. unless you can anticipate the music I love …(I know, I’m a party poop .. but I always jump when the music starts, because most of the time the volume is up)
2. What is your best advice to someone thinking about getting married? NOOO … don’t do it!!! hahahahah … JUST KIDDING!! REALLY!
I would say, wait and make sure … live a little .. get to know who you really are .. make sure you are ready to share your life ..  recognize it’s a forever change .. make sure you’re best friends first .. that you share the same ambitions and desires, also for each other .. make sure that you’re marrying for partnership and companionship,  not need ..
3. What's your best advice for someone wanting to purchase a new phone? what do you want it to do for you? (that’s a question ..)
4. What's your best advice to offer to the younger generation? Stop being so demanding and self centered (..oh, that’s a demand) …

5. What's your best advice for anyone wanting to buy a car? it’s all about knowing what you need out of the car, and will the car define some of who you are, and who you want to be .. how much function to you want to give the car? (oh, and then costs of course ..) 

6.What's the best advice to give to everyone?
take every opportunity to live life …laugh often …love passionately

Sunday Stealing .. on Sunday night

Once again it is time to play Sunday Stealing ... click here to play ..

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? does he have a hair dryer?

2. How much cash do you have on you? hah .. i never have cash .. it's called a debit card

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR? floor

4. Favorite planet? Jupiter

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? My son

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone? Strum on my Iphone .. I've been looking for actual ringtones .. but I can't decided which songs for who!

7. What shirt are you wearing? A mauve long sleeve t-shirt .. it's old!

8. Do you label yourself? Do I label myself??!? What kind of question is that ... I've been labeled 'crunchy ..'  'plain' ... certainly don't think I'm crunchy, nor plain ... but then again .. who knows! You've got to know me to love me ... hahaha!!! 

9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing? Asics all the way ...my dress shoes .. Anne Klein .. I love Franco Sarto and Etienne Aigner ... and boots .. I love boots!!

10. Bright or Dark Room? I love a bright room after I have gotten up in the morning .. but I love a dark room, with a little bit of light when I go to sleep .....

11. Did you do anything to celebrate John Lennon's 70th yesterday? No ...I just imagined ...

12. What does your watch look like? My movado is my favorite .. pick face.. simple


13. What were you doing at midnight last night? at midnight? ... hmm I'm not sure if I was asleep yet .. time escaped me!


14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? "Ouch"  .....(in response to "$700 for four new tires!")

15. Where is your nearest 7-11? I really don't know ... I don't make it a habit to look for 7-11


16. What’s a word that you say a lot? I say "interesting" all the time
17. Who told you he/she loved you last? hmm.. my honey .. he just called me to say good night

18. Last furry thing you touched? muhahahhaa ... I could have so much fun with this! ..but I'll behave, Bruce the Golden is laying beside me ....

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days? does the wine drug count ... or the M&M drug ... how about the love drug ... ?? I took Ibuprofin yesterday ...

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed? None!! It's called digital!

21. Favorite age you have been so far? I would say 40 ... It was probably my most life changing period. I remember I had discovered Michael Buble .. so I loved playing his music .. My favorite song was "You don't know me" .. I used to play it every morning as I headed into work ..



22. Your worst enemy? I'm not aware of any ..



23. What is your current desktop picture (extra points if you post it.)? It's currently my favorite fall picture .. not taken by me .. by Glenn

24. What was the last thing you said to someone? Good night ..

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be? hmmm, i hate to be greedy ..  but a million bucks sounds good.

Thursday 13 – Month of September

Time for Thursday 13 .. click here to play!

Current Scent: Boy .. I am so boring.. I need to get a scent, so I can blog about it!

What I am reading: I’m finally reading the book that I received this summer ..The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder

Newest music: nothing new in downloads .. I’ve been enjoying old tunes while I am making yummy foods

Movie I saw: Cyn and I saw Julia Robert’s new movie, Eat, Love and Pray .. loved it. “sometimes losing balance for love is part of balance in life” great quote.

Something Yummy: .. I just made black bean hummus .. yummy! Full of garlic! Don’t plan on being kissed when you’ve eaten that!

the last place I ate: The Black Frog in Greenville ..

Something that made me cry: Oh my, driving to the gym: Kenny Rogers “lady” … why did I cry??

Something that made me laugh: playing family feud with my teenage girl.. she’s so much fun 

Something I look forward to in October: Learning to appreciate Fall ..

Something that I will remember in September: how things have changed

Something that I am thankful for: always thankful for being able to (somewhat) provide for my teenagers

A photo i took this month:

 

Confession time ..

I have to do a little bit of bragging ...
Today is day 4 of not having any chocolate .. DAY 4 people!! It's been a very, very long time since I have made a conscious effort to keep chocolate away from me.
Just a little confession: yesterday Cyn and I went cruising for fall colors (yes . .. we have no life.. looking for foliage colors to add to the photo library ...! what absolute geeks we are!) ... so after we grabbed a bowl of the most outstanding Onion Soup from the Black Frog in Greenville, we crossed the road to buy the most fabulous fudge ... I bought for my girl, chocolate fudge.. and for Cyn and I the white fudge, with caramel and nuts ... really, I didn't count that as chocolate .. it wasn't chocolate colored .. it didn't taste like chocolate ..it wasn't called chocolate ... so ..."fudge" is not "chocolate"!
I feel better now that I have confessed and reasoned! (is that a word?)
Maybe I'll have to start a "confession meme" ..
Do you have a Weekend confession?

Manic Monday .. it's been awhile

Click here to play!
Imagine you can only keep 5 things that you have (people not included).
What 5 things would you keep?
1.  running shoes
2.  support for my girls
3.  shuffle
4.  toothbrush
5. deodorant
What's the hardest thing you've ever had to learn?
That life isn't what you always plan it to be .. and to appreciate what is given to you, because ultimately the change is for the better.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I'm going to...
 Be the kind of woman that when my feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says “oh crap, She’s up!"

Sunday Stealing ..

This is where guys steal questions from other blogs, and find out that they were originally stolen from other blogs …. so the tradition continues! Welcome to Sunday Stealing! 

1. Where are you from? hmm, it’s complicated! A Dutch girl, born in Iran, living in the great state of Maine!
2. If you could live any place in the world, where would you live? oh, I think that’s too soon to say .. I still need to travel a little more to find out!
3. What's your favorite blog? I thoroughly enjoy **April** and Tommie’s, but she has taken a bit of a break!
4. What is your biggest blogging pet peeve? I don’t know if I have a blogging pet peeve .. it’s the beauty of blogging .. if you don’t like it, you move on…
5. What's your favorite TV show this season? Football .. does that count?
6. What's your favorite 'down' time {nothing computer related}? sharing the couch, drinking wine, eating cheese and crackers .. and just enjoying..
7. Are you a parent? If so, what's your favorite thing to do with your children?  With Teenage Girl..just hanging out with her, With teenage boy, watching a movie .. or having conversation moments ..
8. What about your blog, have you considered changing? The template 
9. What do you do for a living (if you work outside the home or if you work at home)? out of retirement optician!
10. What is your favorite song at the moment? What is your favorite song ever? My favorite song at this moment .. Paramore’s The Only Exception and my forever favorite .. Lionel Ritchie’s Wandering Stranger
11. What is your favorite niche TV channel to watch? niche TV? what’s my mood?
12. If you could have any career, what would it be and why? well, any career .. my teenagers need to be a little older .. I would like to do something that requires me to be in a tropical place, on the water all the time. Is there really a ‘career’ in that world?? How about a outdoor therapist .. haha!
13. What is your favorite outfit? hmm, when? My kayak outfit .. shorts and a tank top!
14. If you could tell your teenage self something, what would you say? “pay attention!!”
15. What is your favorite recipe? So many, too many choices! 
16. What is the funniest joke you've ever heard? i just heard “if i wanted to hear from an ass, I’d fart ..”
17. What is your favorite vacation spot and why? I haven’t experienced a ‘favorite vacation spot’ .. I would think it’s Aruba!
18. What are you most excited about with fall here? It’s a struggle, that excitement … I love the colors of fall .. I will miss the warmth!
19. Did you envision yourself to be where you are today ten years ago? If not, what did you envision? no, I never  thought I would be here.. but then again, I’m not sure what I envisioned either ..
20. If money were no object, what would your dream house look like? Not too big, not too small, lots of windows, simple, stainless, ceramic and tile .. with a wrap around porch on one side, on the water, walking distance into the city ..  
21. What is your all-time favorite Disney movie? when i was little I loved Jungle Book …
”And don't spend your time lookin' around For something you want that can't be found When you find out you can live without it And go along not thinkin' about it I'll tell you something true The bare necessities of life will come to you”

Words, words, Words .. Talk, talk, TALK!

So … I’m brain cramped .. blog brained .. or is it that my lap top crashed two weeks ago.. I lost all my 3000+ pictures .. I have no one to blame but me .. this is the second time in less than two years that all my pictures are gone ..except last time it was memories.. Disney, Texas .. Amsterdam .. this time it was mostly flowers and snow, water and the dog .. (ya.. a little sick ..  3000 of all that! It must be a disease!) Here is the link to my old blog http://wait4thenews.blogspot.com/2009/02/thursday-13-13-thoughts-while-i-miss-my.html   Interesting to see that the list of thirteen isn’t much different to now!
So, I move on… I have Windows 7 now instead of Vista .. I have
Microsoft 2010 now instead of 2007 .. everything has an up side right?
Okay .. I love this You Tube Clip:

Who doesn’t love Bob … “I’m sick of these words, words, words .. talk, talk, talk ..shut the *&%#! up! Just do it!! Stop the words, and just do it!  ...”  I’d like to keep that clip open at work and play it once in a while .. haha!
So I did mention I don’t have any pictures? Wait, I lied .. my teenager insisted on applying make up on me and taking a picture .. here it is:

REALLY can’t tell she made up my eyes with black eyeliner  .. love those wrinkles .. life learning lines ..my mom would be proud! oh, and I have another picture

Taken with my I phone .. Totally bummed .. my pictures … words, words words .. enough of this nonsense! More flowers …sick, sick, sick!
It’s time to get serious again .. haha .. time to seriously run … time to seriously eat healthy again .. time to seriously get involved with photo taking  . time to seriously blog again .. BUT .. we’re not committing!!! haha .. i crack myself up!
This season transition has me really in for a spin … I really was never ready for summer to end ..this past Sunday was a sign of things to come: I took the kayak j-bars off my roof rack .. no more kayaking .. then to add to it .. i went to the gym ..ya! The GYM!! Very, very difficult transitioning time! Of course my alarm went off at 4:15 this morning .. and I just couldn’t get myself up .. (having a cup of coffee before going to bed didn’t help the sleeping pattern..)but the time is here .. I want to be healthy .. I want to be strong .. I want to run four days a week . words, words, words … talk, talk talk … what’s that you said Bob???!? Enough of the words …Just do it? Yes, okay .. I get it … I’ll just do it.

Sunday Stealing

It's time to play Sunday Stealing ... play along .. click here
41. What are your plans for this weekend?  I had so many plans this weekend .. I wanted to take the kids camping, then to Schoodic .. but then the teenagers wanted their boy/girl friends to go .. on this day, she couldn't go .. on this day, he had to work ... well, guess what guys .. we're not going to go .. I'm happy to stay home and just do solo kayak day trips.. or just go to the movies with my best friend ..
42. Do you think someone might be thinking poorly about you? Why might that be? I am sure someone, somewhere is thinking poorly of me .. I couldn't imagine why .. I am such a nice, sweet person .. haha! If I had to point and shoot, I would think my ex ..
42. What features don't you have that you would like on your cell? hmm..my iphone is pretty cool ..don't think I have any complaints
43. How many people can comfortably sleep in your bed? so... is that with me in it?!?! oh wait, the size of my bed?? It's a full .. two CAN sleep in it ..but it gets pretty crowded .. so .. to answer the question .. one can sleep comfortably ..two can sleep in it when it isn't 90 degrees, and there's no touching!
44. What are you hoping happens by the end of 2010? well, one thing I have learnt about 2010 .. nothing has gone the way I planned .. so I am just going to let 2010 run it's course .. it's about 'going with the flow' ...  
45. What was the last video you watched on YouTube? that would be the "swagger wagon" on April's site.
46. Would you ever agree to an open relationship with someone? open as in .. let's have it the way we want it with whom ever? .. not just 'no' ... but H3LL to the NO!
47. Is there something that you could never give up? hmm .. I'm deciding whether it's chocolate or red wine .. I think it's the red wine ..
48. Would you, (or did you) prefer a small, intimate wedding reception, or a big-scale, over-the-top reception? small and intimate
49. What’s bothering you right now? the fact that I can't seem to get out of my chocolate craving .. all I can think about at this moment is chocolate no bakes .. I made a batch on Friday night .. consumed some .. then thank goodness Teenager girl ate them all .. I want brownies and ice cream .. I want M&M with pretzel centers .. It's driving me crazy that this is all I can think of. (oh dear, you know what they say about substitute and chocolate .. maybe I'm lacking something good and sweet!)
50. Do you hate anyone? No .. I'm not a hater ..
51. What were you doing at 12 am last night? sleeping in my full size bed
52. Was this summer a good one? How warm was it where you live? YES >> this summer was awesome .. the weather was f.a.b.u.l.o.u.s .. I don't want to let it go
52. Is the last person you kissed before your current situation mad at you? I'm not sure if he is mad at me .. I'm sure I am not on his favorite people person list
53. Can a man and woman be friends without having feelings for each other? ohhh .. I say yes .. just don't get ever explore the possibilities in your mind .. I think there are several factors to a relationship  .. there's the physical attraction, the personality compatibility, where the morals and values are similar, and the basic "i really like being with this person" ... I think all three (four) have to have a strong presence in order for it to go beyond the friendship. (plus the moons need to be in alignment at the same time .. and Pluto needs to ride with Venus for it all to really work!)
54. Do you think long distance relationships work? If you’ve had one, tell us about it. That's tough .. I think it's a way to build a strong bond, as long as there is honesty .. and the expectations are kept real. I always swore that long distance relationships couldn't work just because I had a broken one in my senior year, many moons ago .. but now with the age of instant technology ...I think the communication piece is better ... sooooooooo ... maybe?! 
55. Do you know why it’s called “Random Boredom“? What is called "Random Boredom"?
56. Do you thing that it’s always the man’s responsibility to initiate sex? I have never thought it was the man's responsibility to initiate sex .. I just need to get over the fear of rejection factor!
57. Have you ever made love while you were in the same room with another couple? uhhhh ...humm... room ... no?! Wait, is this a trick question?
58. Tell us the best thing about your current or most recent S/O. My S/O? does that stand for special other/significant other/someone other [than]..(is that what we call it now??) ..sounded like "special order" or something .. i haven't placed a special order recently!  haha!
59. Tell us the worst thing about your current or most recent S/O.  I am sure the question is more about personality of a person (rather than the special order!) .. but if there was a "worst thing" then it wouldn't be part of the personality traits that make someone so attractive .. we all have our positives and negatives .. it's what makes the person .. it's about making sure that we can balance the good with the bad.

I couldn't resist ... end of summer is so inevitable .. the flowers are losing their luster.. but then I looked again ..


The colors are just going to be different .. still pretty.

*this was the last blog I tried to post right before my laptop crashed ... **

Friday Fill-Ins

 

It's Friday again ... click here to play ..

1. You do your thing; I do mine and sometimes _we'll meet____.
2. _the fact that it's Friday, and I want to go home__ is what's been on my mind on and off all day.
3. "Remember when _old ones died, and new were born, and life was changed, disassembled, rearranged .We came together, fell apart, and broke each other's hearts .. remember when"_.
4. _Melted M&M's, a warm brownie with  oreo cookie ice cream and passionate kisses___ are three of my favorite obsessions :-)
5. During the last year _we have lived in three different houses,  and the kids have been in two different schools,  we have seen so much change._
6. _Deep fried ice cream_ puts a smile on my face.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _wine and pizza, and perhaps a sunset kayak_, tomorrow my plans include _kayaking, maybe a run, and  groceries____ and Sunday, I want to _finally have breakfast with Cyn,  and some form of body moving..ya.. exercise_!

 

Happy weekend!

Thursday 13 - Month of August

So it's that time again .. time for Thursday13 .. click here to play! Happy Thursday ... it's close to the weekend!
A photo of:
a dragon lady!

Current Scent:  I had to give in and buy a plug in Glade thing for the downstairs bathroom because I can't stand the smell of the litter box .. ugh! so now I walk into a house that smells of "rain water" and litter box .. overwhelming!
What I am reading: One of my patients dropped off a book about Running .. and how to run the right way! I love it!
Newest Music added to my play list: Don't Fight It by Kenny Loggins and Steve Perry - yes another old running song .. I just need to run again
Movie I saw: This is terrible .. the last movie was in June with Nelson .. how sad. I want to go see the new Julia Roberts movie "Eat, Pray, Love"
Something yummy:  ohhhh .. something .. more like all the time .. Pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips and butterscotch chips tonight .. Chocolate covered strawberries this past week TWICE!! .. no wonder I feel fat!
The last place I ate:  the last restaurant was Massimo's .. nice Italian restaurant .. I had delectable tuna and tiramisu .. yum!
Something that made me cry: I don't think I cried hard this month .. just a very angry moment this week ..
Something that made me laugh: At dinner tonight, listening to my Teenager banter with his girlfriend.
Something I look forward to in September: This is really tough .. I'm so sad to see the summer end .. just not ready for it. In September the teenagers start school. I'm excited for them .. I can't believe Teenager One will be a junior!!!
Something I want to remember from August: Hmm .. let me look at my calendar.. August flew by>> I want to remember the great road race: Beach2Beacon ..
Something I am thankful for: I'm always thankful for my kids, my job and my health ... 
A photo I took this month:
Another kayak moment ..

Sunday Stealing

Cheers to all of us thieves! This is where I go to Sunday Stealing to have some fun for the end of the weekend ... Click here to play.. 
1. Are you happier now than you were five months ago? hmm, that would have been March .. let me think ...  I think I am
2. Have you ever slept in the same bed with anyone that you shouldn't have? Yes .. most definitely ..and I would do it again! (hah!)
3. Can you sleep in total darkness? I can, but I don't like to
4. Your phone is ringing. It’s the person you fell hardest for, the one who got away, what do you say? I think I would be speechless ..
5. What do you think about the weather this summer? it was the best weather Maine has seen in quite a while
6. How many people do you trust with everything? just a few .. it's how honest they are with me that scares me!!!!
7. What was the last thing you drank? Red Wine .... silly question
8. Is there anyone you want to come see you? What a self serving question ....
9. Name one thing you love about winter?  I love the sound of the air when the snow has stopped falling ..
10. Have you ever dated a Goth? the answer would be no ..
11. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?  it's Monday ... another day I can hug my kids? oh, wait .. they are teenagers now, they don't like to be hugged ..haha .. I crack myself up sometimes
12. Name something you dislike about the day you’re having?  hmm, dislike the day I'm having .. I had a good day.. I need to take teenager's boyfriend home .. I dislike that
13. What's the longest that you have committed to one person and one person only? that would be the marriage I had ..
14. What’s the first thing you did when you opened your eyes today?  jumped .. there was a handsome man in my bed! (ohhh.. now I'm really rolling on the floor laughing!)
15. Has anyone ever told you they never want to ever lose you?  actually yes .. it was my ex ... action speaks louder than words
16. Is there anybody that you wish you could fix your relationship with?  yes .. I don't like leaving relationships unresolved ..
17. Could you go out in public, looking like you do now?  yes .. t-shirt and shorts ..
18. Do you think things will change in the next 3 months? How?  I think there are a lot of things that will change in three months .. We'll be in November .. GULP ... cold air .. holiday season .. I can feel the stress already ... I don't like Christmas (yes, **April**!!) ... can we skip and go straight to Spring in three months?
19. Do you believe that you never know what you got until you lose it?  Yes ... isn't that the same as Hindsight 20/20? That's why I try live for the now moment .. and try and maximize every moment ... wait, was this question referring to material things?? I forgot my cooling racks in Texas .. and a lot of other things .. that big mirror that was in the hall way .. all that furniture that I could have used in this house .. but I knew I had that ..  oh dear, now I'm confused ..  
20. Do you have a friend of the opposite sex you can talk to?  Yes ..... actually I have several .. I like my men friendships ..

Another kayak moment ....

Say It Isn't So ...

 

I went kayaking today .. I tried to ignore it .. tell me it's not so ...

I'm just not ready .. I won't give in!!

I won't welcome fall .. with the cool crisp air .. I won't do it!  ... not yet!

Happy Children's Day!

        

Another race day! This was a quick, fun race .. the start up of the town's Children's Day.

After the race we had a big parade .. who doesn't love a parade? I think it is so American .. never having been raised this way .. parades down main street was just something we saw in the movies ... just like the yellow school buses ..

Photo taking is such a must during a parade .. 

 

It was a great day for a parade ....

Friday Fill Ins

Time to play again .. it's Friday!! Click here to play!

1. Laughter _is good for the soul___.

2. _I would like____ are the three words that started off the last email I sent.

3. What I'm most looking forward to today is _5:00pm .. I'm ready for the weekend again____.


4. _Feeling that motion, when the kayak slides from being on the beach to actually floating,__ puts a smile on my face.  (who are we kidding, it puts a huge grin on my face!)


5. Where in the world _"is Matt Lauer" came from the google search when I couldn't complete the sentence!__

6. _Coming home late last night, and enjoying freshly made chocolate covered strawberries that teenage girl had made was__ just what I needed!


7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _grilling some steak, then watching teenage son's girlfriend play soccer__, tomorrow my plans include _an attempt to run a 5K, probably some furniture moving, a possible dinner__ and Sunday, I want to _ go kayaking?____!

Thursday Thirteen

So, back in May I did a T13 with random questions from People magazine .. there are enough doctor/orthodontist/dentist visits .. so more questions were collected! Feel free to copy and paste .. go ahead.. take advantage of my hard work ..!! Make sure to sign in at T13 to say you played!

Generally when I play these questionnaire things I try to answer with the first thing that comes to mind .. kind of like when you take a multiple choice test. Of course, it can get you into serious trouble at times ... and other times you realize you could have been much more PC .. but what fun is that?! Kind of like the whole truth serum thing ... drink a little too much .. and oops! WATCH OUT ...those words come flowing out!!

 

Guilty Pleasure: Can I say I don't have one? Oh .. okay .. I have many .. my favorite, in the summer .. a long day on the water in my kayak

 

Drives Me Crazy: Bruce ...yes, my dog .. not the man (Bruce Willis) ... although men ...

 

Wish I Had: A money tree .. don't misunderstand me, I'm not materialistic .. I want to provide better for my kids ..

 

Could Really Use: More days off .. paid of course! I believe we should adopt Holland's policy and have six weeks paid vacation ..

 

Deserted Island Must Have: Silly, silly ... kayak and paddle ... sun tan oil #4 .... okay,  a stud muffin to apply the oil ... one of those canopy beds on the beach .. was this one of those 'only one item' things?! oops!

 

One of the Hobbies: I would like to perfect is my photo style .. sometimes I feel like I'm all over the place ..

 

Secret Obsession: this is a trick .. once on blog, it is no longer a "secret" obsession .. haha! Do I even have an obsession? I guess that's a question for my girlfriends .. okay .. sometimes it's the quest for the perfect picture .. I don't think I obsess a lot .. maybe in phases .. haha! :next question!

 

Personal Play list: Like as in music? Right now I have a few songs, House That Built Me, The Only Exception .. I'm in the reflective mode right now

 

Place to Go Back to: Repulse Bay, Hong Kong. That is what first came to mind .. not sure why, I think because during my junior year I went there often during school .. and if I pondered long enough, then I would like to go back to Penang, beach ..Bali, beach ... Hawaii, beach ..... hmmmmmm, oh my! I think I just created a pattern!

 

Favorite Chore: so, I like to fold laundry .. 

 

Role Model: ugh .. that's tough .. I used to have a role model about 15 years ago .. a co-worker who seemed so balanced in life.. I don't know if I have a role model anymore .. maybe that is why I lack direction .. haha! I think there are basic rules, and we don't need role models : I just realized, I think I'm too afraid to be disappointed if I made someone my role model and they faltered .. hmmm, what does that mean?

 

Want to Meet/Reunite: I would love to see Paul again ... not for anything but to just say 'hi', and find out how life has treated him.

 

Preferred Greeting: Okay, immediate response: uhhh?? greeting? Like Ms Brandt?! .. or greeting like when you get my voicemail? ... or ... like "hey buddy!" okay, okay .. preferred greeting: always positive and cheerful whether to me or from me

Weekend is almost here!!! Happy Thursday!