Last Thursday of the Month - May

It's literally been years since I played this game; here we go:

Current Scent: There's a honeysuckle candle burning in the other room. It reminds me of my sister, she used to wear that perfume years and years ago!
What I am reading: Richard Russo's Empire Falls. It takes place in Maine.
Newest Music: I've been mixing and matching, and my favorite song right now is Annie Lennox's version of I've Got A Spell On You
Movie I saw: .. this is embarrassing .. I don't remember the name! Something old on cable!
Something Yummy: Have you had shredded unsweetened coconut? Great snack!
The Last Place I ate: I had to admit this .. Ground Round for lunch
Something that made me cry: Last week, a conversation that made my insecurities come screeching out
Something that made me laugh: It must have been this past weekend when we were camping
Something I look forward to in June: I am hoping for summer weather, warmth and sunshine
Something I want to remember from May: Bruce turned 10. It's been a year since I've seen my girl
Something I am thankful for: Always aside from the health of my kids .. I am thankful for my job
A photo I took last month:

On the Nine - April

It's the ninth of the month:

Shamelessly stolen from ****April**** , even though she hasn't done one, in a while .. perhaps this is her challenge ... haha!!

I miss Listening to his voice .. calming; it's been a long time since I have heard that.
Loving -  that I may actually be finding the beginnings of my balance. I'm figuring out my job, physically I am getting stronger (my running feels so good!), I feel like I am more present at home
Thinking - I should be opening my work laptop and get some work done before I watch another Mad Men episode ... decision, decisions!
Wanting - summer to be here. I want to be basking in the sunshine and warm weather .. I am so finished with cloudy, rain and cold
Needing - to learn more, I'm hungry and the knowledge can't come quick enough

Manic Monday

So here is an old theme that was fun to do. To find it click here .. and go back into the archives!

 If you could go back in time what would your current day self tell your 18-year-old self?
Self, stay true to yourself. Stay focused on what you want, grow yourself and stay in college. 

Name one thing you could do to improve any important relationship in your life. 

Stay true to myself (there is a theme here!). I am learning that when I am in a relationship, I tend to want to please to a point where I stop being who I am. Do that long enough and resentment grows!

If you were guaranteed honest responses to any three questions, whom would you question, and what would you ask?

Bruce: Why are you so crazy? What can I do for you so that you can be a regular dog? Wouldn't you rather live on a farm where you can chase cows?

Thursday 13 for March

Last Thursday of March .. here we go! Click here to play:

A picture of me: 

Current Scent:  Cherry Blossom

What I am reading:  I'm back to Cooking Light again.. unless you want to count my endless Iphone conversations!!!

Newest Music:  Lou Rawls - You'll never find, another love like mine

Movie I saw: I've gotten hooked on Mad Men.. Netflix is awesome!

Something Yummy:  My hottie Doctor .. absolutely YUMMY .. finally got to spend some time with him! 

(okay, okay .. so he was poking me .. I still enjoyed it! hahaha!)

The last place I ate:  Miguel's 

Something that made me cry:  listening to my honey Peyton say goodbye to the Colts

Something that made me laugh:  "I'm going to take you out, ol' Yellah style" -said  my teenage girl to me when she felt I had said too much!

Something that I look forward to in April:  warmer weather .. Kayak?

Something that I want to remember from March:  My kayak hit the water on March18!!! 

Something I am thankful for:  Always my teenagers - I am having so much fun with them

A photo I took this month:  

Happy Thursday!

The little moments ..

Where has the time gone?
 So, another birthday has come and gone, and once again I am reminded how lucky I am.
2012 came with so much change, and often times I am caught in the superficial drama of life.. but when we stop and just look at what matters most, I quickly realize who and what matters most to me.
My teenagers surprised me on my birthday by taking me on a sunset picnic dinner at Schoodic Point. It was by far one of the best birthdays ever!
We took over 500 pictures .. teenage girl has taken over my camera. I didn't realize she was taking these pictures, and had a great chuckle when I started previewing the pictures the next day.

And of course we needed to get a family portrait using the self timer , first the set up of balancing the camera..

then the quick jaunt to sit in the designated spot, not realizing what 'they' were doing ..

Finally a picture worth framing!

and of course A Schoodic Point sunset!

At the end of the day, I realized how lucky I truly am to have these moments with my teenagers. It's hard to believe that in less than 15 months, both my babies will be on their "own" ... well, somewhat!

Growing Old on T-13

It's time again for T-13 .. so I was a little confused last week, and thought that was the last Thursday in February .. so this one is shamelessly stolen from Just a hippie gypsy:

13 Indications that you are growing old:


 1.  Realizing that the age gap of 12 years is just too big when you're going to be 46, and he 34
      and knowing he's 54 and you're 46 is not so bad! (OMG~ that's a 20 yr gap!)
 2.  Pandora music selection is always on 60's, 70's and 80's
 3.  OMG .. I'm the youngest of four, and I'm going to be 46
 4.  Recuperating from long runs take so much longer now
 5.  PAIN in the hips .. consistently
 6.  Better empty that bladder before any type of cardio workout!
 7.  Be mindful of what you eat ... or else you'll be making noise when you walk!
 8.  Gray hairs .. not always on your head?????????
 9.  Your teenager says "Mom, stop talking, I'm going to put you in a home"
10.  Love talking to my mom .. and she is going to be 77!
11.  Seeing your hairdresser for color every four weeks .. because those damn grays are popping up more
12.  Wrinkles and parentheses ... I'm not talking about ironing or English grammar
13.  lastly, always driving the speed limit

Happy Thurday!

T13 for the Month of February

It's the last Thursday of the Month .. so It's time for a different T-13 .. click here to play:


Current Scent:  I was in one of the hotels, and those little bottles .. they had a lemon-ginger body lotion, shampoo and conditioner set ... note to self: look for it!

What I am reading: next to my bed :Mortgages: what you need to know

Newest Music:  I downloaded about 15 songs in one morning .. old and new .. of course A Little Bit Stronger seemed to be the theme for the month ..:
...I know my heart will never be the same, but I'm telling myself I'll be okay. Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger ..
Movie I saw:  I watched Bridesmaid for the second time .. quite hilarious

Something Yummy: hot chocolate with a scoop of instant coffee and Chocolate Raspberry creamer

The last place I ate: Slates in Hallowell with Karen

Something that made me cry: the e-card that came on Valentine's day ... he lasted a little over five weeks without communications .. he seems to know when I am starting to move along, and he reaches out

Something that made me laugh: early, early this morning laying beside that man, comparing dating stories 

Something I look forward to in March:  One word .. 6 letters ... starts with S and ends in G .. hint: after Winter comes ......

Something I want to remember from February:  being in Massachusetts twice .. I think I like Boston, maybe it's time to return to Boston

Something I am thankful for:  always my teenagers .. and always the ability to earn my money.. my job continues to challenge me 

A photo I took this month:   the original seats at Fenway Park

Wordless Wednesday

Sunday Stealing for Today

For Sunday, we'll play Sunday Stealing .. where we use stolen blogs ..

In your opinion, what makes a great relationship? Trust and Love brings Passion. I think they all have to be there to keep the relationship great.

How did/could someone win your heart? Love and kindness could win my heart, but at this moment my heart has been shaken ... so I'm getting a little protective, and really not sure if it can be won anymore

In your world, what brings on more creativity? If I knew this answer, I would pursue it! My creative photography juices have disappeared ..

What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far? My recent job change? I think it's too soon to tell ... leaving my marriage? I have more happy moments now than I realized ..  allowing my heart to be stolen? I have never loved so deeply!

Why did you break up with your last ex? Truth be told, he did the breaking, but I was at the door .. I found myself having lost the trust, and felt I was no longer important enough to him.

What is your favorite word? Ha, ha ..who am I talking to?? I like to say "why"

What would you want to be written on your tombstone? I hope I don't have a tombstone .. just "sink me in the river, at dawn, send me away with the words of a love song" 

Give me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word: delusional Bruce my dog

What is a saying you use a lot? "do you know what i mean?"

What is your current desktop picture?

My Iphone

What would be a question where you'd not tell the truth? Did you eat that whole bag of Trader Joe's Trail Mix .. all 1500 calories worth in one day??

You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what's even better is that they endow you with super powers of your choice. What is that power? To grow that money tree that teenagers seem to think I have (yes, that too is a super power!)

You can re-live any point of time in your life. The time-span can only be a half-hour, what half-hour experience would you relive? That evening we sat on the floor, ate take out, and allowed our toes to touch

Erase any a horrible experience from your past, what will it be? Standing next to my dad's hearse ..  and silently not wanting to accept that we were going to his memorial service

You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now.. where would you go? Can I bring a 'friend' ??? All exclusive beach resort ... what I would do to be back on a beach!!


Happy start of a new week!

A February Thursday 13

It's time for Thursday 13 again! To play, visit here!

This is by far my favorite meme ... and today I stole the random questions that People magazine ask their celebrity of the week:
It's all about the Last ..

... Thing I cooked - Stuffed salmon and grilled red peppers and asparagus ... YUM!
... Work out - was super intense, I'm seeing muscles in places I didn't know existed!
... Person I kissed - well.. honestly .. last person I kissed? I didn't do the kissing.. he tried, 3 weeks ago
... Hangover - I think it was early December after a Christmas party .. not a good night!
... time I cried - again with the cry question ... tonight .. talking about ..my dad, she asked "do you miss him?" and then she looked up from her paper ... I don't know, what do you think?
... Item bought for my house - FINALLY a new sofa set ... yay!!!
... I stole - a glimpse of that man , yesterday (I wasn't stalking, he was parked next to my house)
... I cursed- hah! Probably today .. more like WTF?! as I was texting ( I only use those bad words when I am mad!)
... thing I returned - a red box movie that was never watched
... Song I sang - "I heard you've been asking about me, from some of my friends .. well, you better believe I'm not going through that again .. (name that tune!)
... Time I laughed - Yesterday ... I was at Fenway Park ... AWESOME!!!!!
... Gift I received - several bags of trader joe's trail mix .. my sister is so cool
... Text I sent - "this is the man I am looking for - but only if he is whole and ready to be the man I know he can be" 

Happy Thursday ... Spring is around the corner!!!

What I should be doing!

So,  punching buttons at work on my handy dandy calculator I was expecting to see numbers .. but instead it gave me this message! Maybe my fingers were moving too fast for it its handy dandy brain to keep up! It certainly told me what to do!!! How funny!!

Thursday 13 - month of January

So it's the last Thursday of the month .. here we go! Click here to play T13:

Current Scent:  I play between honeysuckle and china blossom .. out looking again

What I am reading: next to my bed :Takin' Care of Business

Newest Music:  I just heard "shameless" by Garth Brooks .. what memories

Movie I saw:  Does watching a whole season of a mini series count? Downton Abbey; great one liners - "I'm a woman, I can be as contrary as I choose"

Something Yummy: massimo's chocolate biscottis

The last place I ate: Texas Roadhouse 

Something that made me cry: Always that crying question .. my teenage girl and her behavior

Something that made me laugh: Listening to my son justifying to his girlfriend why had said he almost flat-lined .. (he never did) and yet she believed him

Something I look forward to in February:  growing in my new job .. two trips to Boston, including Fenway!

Something I want to remember from January: certainly a new start in so many ways, and specifically the weekend in Boston for Frozen Fenway .. by far one of the most fun weekends! Imagine a ice hockey game at Fenway park! Too cool!

Something I am thankful for:  my new job

A photo I took this month:

Roasted vegetables .. yum!! (back on track)

eating again!

help me .. I'm gross!

I haven't stopped eating today and now I feel just plain gross.
Tomorrow I must go back to clean eating .. okay, not 'clean' eating .. but healthy eating.
So help me again .. I stopped at Massimo's and bought fresh cinnamon bread .. he bakes the best bread EVAH! ... really, he actually makes the best Italian food .. his bread dipped in his spicy marinara sauce ..  ohhh.... I also bought some of his chocolate biscottis ... ahhh! I know the calories in the ones I bake with whole wheat flour and healthy stuff ... I can only imagine the calories in his!
Then coconut shrimp at lunch ...  seriously? .. deep fried coconut soaked yumminess!
No stopping now .. chocolate animal crackers ... who thought of that?  ... let's keep rolling (something I should be doing any time now..)
Dinner: delicious bread with cinnamon butter from Texas Roadhouse .. and baked sweet potato.. with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon ..hey.. the intentions were there.
The grand finale .. coffee ice cream with oreo cookies ...  this girl doesn't do milk or excessive dairy because of lactose reaction ...

help me! I'm gross!

Sunday's Questions

More catch up with Q and A a day .. click here for the book!

Jan. 18 - What was peaceful about today? The conversations with my manager .. she is awesome.

Jan. 19 - List three foods you ate today. I think I should invest in Kellogg Special K .. plus roasted veggies.

Jan. 20 - Are you holding a grudge? About?  This is a trick questions .. I believe that holding a grudge is energy that is being wasted, like feeling regret. If you hold a grudge, do something about it.. what was your accountability factor? How much are you letting it stay a grudge, and why is it a grudge?

Jan. 21 - What are you looking forward to? pull up a chair ..the list is long .. I look forward to the day when I can look my ex in the eye and tell him to shove a stick up his self-righteous @ss. (ohhh am I holding a grudge? hmm) 
I look forward to being making the money my manager seems to think I'll be making by the end of the year.
I look forward to meeting the man who will be whole, content and happy.


Jan. 22 - Are you seeking security or adventure?  With the all the changes that have occurred in 2012, I almost believe that I am seeking security through my adventures with my new job and new goals!

Is it Monday yet?

What a weekend! Traditionally I start the weekend with the meme Friday Fill-Ins and usually 'forecast' my weekend. I certainly didn't plan this weekend, and wasn't prepared for what was in store...
Let's just say, never a dull moment when you live with teenagers .. especially the female kind. I won't go into the details, but I'll give you tantalizing tid-bits : police, a sleepless night and being called a 'hoe' and  of course, told I'm crazy (NOT by the teenage girl!).

Thank goodness for:

Long runs and loud music
Netflix and Downton Abbey
Football!

Survival happened without chocolate and very little wine ... Silly me! I must be getting old!


 

Thursday 13 - 13 Things I don't want to live without

  So for T13  .. I shameless stole from restlessvagabond and decided to do
13 Things I can't don't want to live without ..

 1.  My first cup of coffee of the morning - preferably in bed!
 2.  Concealer for the dark circles under my eyes .. i don't think it really works, but hey, I'll keep trying!
 3.  My 2006 Chevy Avalanche truck
 4.  My kayak - as it sits in a quiet garage
 5.  Although you would not know this .. my Canon rebel .. let me blow off the dust
 6.  My running gear - this includes my running shoes and ipod
 7.  My gym membership  only because it's so d@mn cold outside!
 8.  Poland Spring water in the sport bottle with a half packet of grape flavor - 3 bottles a day, keeps the skin looking young .. right??
 9.  Pizza stone - for baking cookies to roasting vegetables
10. Believing
11. my tremendous teenagers
12. my heels
13. my toothbrush

More Questions of the Day ..

Yikes! Five days without the Question of Day ... let's catch up! Click here if you want to order the book.

Jan.13 - Where do you want to travel next?  I'd like to go to a tropical island with a beautiful beach and a cabana boy! Which reminds me .. I wouldn't mind becoming an employee for Kenny Chesney .. he owns a big boat with an island .. (or is that an island with a big boat?). He tours six months and then goes to his island for the other six months ..  I could get used to that life.
Jan. 14 - Are you a leader or a follower?  I think I'm a follower .. it's part of the server character. ... I think! 
Although I'm not afraid to try something new .. I will speak up, eventually! ... hmm, maybe I need some time with this question!
Jan. 15 -  On a scale of one to ten, how was your lunch today? We had brunch.. quicheless quiche, and pumpkin muffins .. my bestest friend joined us!
Jan. 16 -  Do you owe someone money? Does someone owe you? I owe, I owe ... off to work I go! Then I have an ex who owes me a whole lot of STUFF!
Jan. 17 - What's the oldest thing you're wearing today?   My work clothes are new .. but my running stuff .. I would think that the running skirt is four and a half years old .. wow! where did the time go?!

Mexico Moments ...

Friday Fill - Ins

And...here we go!

1. When I looked out the window this morning _i let out a big sigh, it's below freezing, there's white stuff on the ground .. I want to go away and lay on the beach with a good book, and a big glass of adult beverage and a cabana boy to be ready for my every need!____.
2. _Love__ doesn't make sense to me.
3. Remind me _again why things happen for a reason__.
4. _Kayaking_ is something I love to do!
5. TP is _what I use as abbreviation for toilet paper on my grocery list__.
6. I cleaned the refrigerator recently and I found _fresh rosemary I had bought to mix in with my sweet potatoes__.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _a big glass of red wine__, tomorrow my plans include _a long run at the gym, a transfer run, and looking at Financial Aid stuff for college bound teenage son__ and Sunday, I want to _relax, clean and probably go to the runner's banquet event__!

Game night!

The Question of the day brought to you by Q & A a day:
What is your favorite accessory?
No doubt my shoes! But I have to choose one pair of shoes .. I would have to pick my red shoes.. or maybe my cougar shoes ..  Ohh… too much pressure! I haven’t taken a picture yet .. but I will!

What a great evening … came home from work, cooked dinner .. then played games with my kids .. imagine that! My teenagers wanted to hang around and play Mexican Train and Seven of Diamonds … Lots of M&M’s, and for me some wine … what fun!

Thursday 13

By far my most favorite meme .. it's been a long time. Come here to play!
So today I'll make a list of the top 13 songs I am playing on my ipod when I am at the gym. I go through more than 13 songs .. but these are the ones that I make sure I listen to at least once .. and not necessarily in this order:

 1.  Lady - Kenny Rogers "In my eyes I see no one else but you"
 2.  Waiting Outside the Lines - Greyson Chance "you'll never enjoy the show, living inside the box"
 3.  Fool in the Rain - O.A.R - "I'll run in the rain till I'm breathless"
 4.  Ants Marching - Dave Matthews
 5.  Give Me Everything - Pittbull "Grab somebody sexy, tell them 'hey..' "
 6.  Baggage Claim - Miranda Lambert "I've been draggin' around your sensitive ego .."
 7.  I'm Your Man - Wham! "If you want to do it, do it right"
 8.  Medley - Stars on 45 "Listen, do you want to know a secret?"
 9.  Vox Humana - Kenny Loggins
10.  If I Die Young - The Band Perry "send me away with the words of a love song"
11.  Rolling In the Deep - Adele "We could have had it all"
12.  Broken - Seether "I wanted you to know I love the way you laugh"
13.  Love on Top - Beyonce "Every time you touch me, I just melt away"

Wow .. just read my list .. I think I need to start over with my music .. sounds too much like a theme!!
Happy Thursday!