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

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)

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!

Questions and Answer A Day

So teenage girl and I decided to each buy a book called "Q & A a Day" .. basically one question a day, and you do it for five years .. very cool idea. Buy it here!
I'm going to try and post one question per day to get motivated to write again .. for tonight I will post all eight questions to catch up for the new year. Here it goes:

January 1 : What is your mission?  To have a successful year .. new career - I want to be financially strong. I hope to start a new job this week .. if I succeed, I can do well for me and the teenagers .. if I fail, then all i can do is get out and look for something else, but at least I am in the field. 
January 2 : Can people change?  I don't think people can change .. I think people can grow and have new perspective on life and living, but their core doesn't change. For some it means that they need to work at their change, and it will be a battle forever.
January 3 : What are you reading right now?  I had started a Nicholas Sparks book in the summer .. think I need to start over since I don't remember it. Now that I am single again, I may have plenty of time again!
January 4 : The best part of today?  I was able to get into a tanning bed without any appointments .. not planned .. had 20 minutes to kill .. it was heaven! (i know.. not healthy.. but i wanted the sunshine feeling!)
January 5 : What was the last restaurant you went to?  of course Miguel's .. they only have the best deep fried ice cream!
January 6 : Today was tough because __We're back with relationship issues .. AND I am without income. I hope both will be considered temporarily .. only time will tell!____
January 7 : You are lucky; how so or not?  I am lucky.. i have two beautiful and healthy teenagers, and I am healthy and able to move around.
January 8 : What song is stuck in your head?  for the first time I don't have a song stuck in my head! If i had to choose one, I think it would be "Wandering Stranger" by Lionel Ritchie. It always seems to be a comfort song for when I am feeling a little blah.

One of those moments ..

I miss my family .. this weekend I went over to Rob's sister's and met most of the family .. his sister's, cousins .. little babies. I got to watch new grandparents, and great grand parents all interact. It was pretty cool. In my married life we would go to the in-laws every Thanksgiving and see Grammy and Grampy .. all the uncles and aunts and cousins. They were nice, very down to earth ..I find myself always wishing I had my sisters and their families close by. Now that I'm divorced, the teenagers and I go to my sister's house in Massachusetts. I love it there .. my nephews and niece are so fun. Hard to believe I changed their diapers 25 years ago!!! My other sister lives in the Philippines .. we're lucky if we see each other every other year. I haven't seen her girls since 2003!
My other sister lives in Amsterdam .. usually we'll see her family every other year. My mom lives in the Hague ..every other year is just too little. My mom is getting older, and traveling for her is getting more difficult .. I don't like the thought that we'll never have those family gatherings.. watching my nephews have babies, seeing my sisters become grandparents ... large family dinners and lots of conversations going in all directions... complete chaos .. but family chaos.
Right now the best I get is daily Yahoo Instant Messaging with the Manila sister .. a weekly call to my mom .. and maybe every other month to Amsterdam sister. I talk to my Massachusetts sister probably every other day ... I should be grateful that we have that .. but on gatherings like this weekend, I begin to realize how much I miss my family.

My uncle and aunt, my sisters and me in 2009.

Friday Fill Ins

 

It's Friday .. time to play Friday Fill Ins .. click here to play:

And...here we go!

1. Hey! _I love you soo, I want you to know. That I'm going to miss your love the minute you walk out that door .... Please don't go__.

2. _Why is it_" kernel of truth."?   is there so little truth?

3. Eat _to run, run to eat .. Pretzel M&M's doesn't provide any form of nourishment other than instant gratification soul nourishment__.

4. _Stuck _ in the middle., with you ..

5. First thing to note: _never wake a sleeping teenager before 10 am on the weekend__.

6.  _I miss moments of  distraction.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _being with my teenagers (but then again, their plans change pretty quick!)_, tomorrow my plans include _a bit of sleeping in, gym time and then we are on the way to Southern Maine __ and Sunday, I want to _enjoy the Red Sox, and hopefully get that picture I have been wanting to take__!

Happy Weekend!

Shaking My Head ..

So I am proudly copying a title post from April ..
Teenagers
Life with teenagers can be so mystifying .. today I had to have a conversation with my 17 year old son and explain to him why I was not comfortable with having him spend the night at his girlfriend (of 2 weeks). About an hour later I received a text from the girlfriend's mother explaining to me that she bought a blow up mattress, and that she and her 11 year old son would be home ...
Okay, call me a hypocrite .. I had to have the same conversation with my 15 year old daughter several months ago when she asked me the same question and I allowed it. It made me feel so anxious inside, so after two sleepovers, I told her no more. (btw, she slept in the bed with me while he slept downstairs on the couch)
I didn't want to deal with it again, so I called the mom of my son's girlfriend, and explained to her that I wasn't comfortable having my 17 year old son spend the night at her 15 year old daughter's house... then I felt the need to explain why ...
Work
I have never worked for such a dysfunctional company .. everyday something is said, or something happens ..
Ex's
My son explained to me that the reason his dad didn't give him any cash while he was flying from Texas (where dad lives) to Maine, by himself is because dad and wife bought a kitten ... and my son thought this was a reasonable  ...

Friday Fill In

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

1. My friend believes,We are on this earth because _we have to live our experiences before we can meet our soul mates in the next world__.
2. _One day I will_ experience _extreme happiness__.
3. One of the hardest things for me to learn _is that I can't have everything all of the time__.
4. _With all these electronic devices we are always_ connected.
5. I remember _being a junior in high school, like it was yesterday__.
6. _SOMETIMES the chaos____ is one of the best parts of my life, because it's my chaos.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _dinner with Nicole's parents__, tomorrow my plans include _photo time,gym time, possible shopping with Teenage girl, and hopefully a moment with my honey__ and Sunday, I want to _watch Super Bowl, even the Colts and Pats are playing__!
 
Happy Friday!

Thursday 13 and NaBloPoMo combined!

Thursday 13 is one of my favorite memes .. and before I stole some ideas from People magazine ..now I'm stealing from Runner's World .. same idea, interviewing someone by starting a phrase, and finish the paragraph (or sentence):
Here we go:
this is part of the Character for NaBloPoMo .. !!

I ran .. my first (and only!) half marathon October 1991
In 1984 .. I graduated high school
My current goal .. is to have a bikini body
My inspiration .. MOST of the times.. the Teenagers! haha
The teenagers and I .. have done well in our new little life!
I keep wondering .. what life is going to be like in two years.. big changes are coming .. graduations..
Back and hip pains .. have hindered my running, but I think I may be getting back on track
I travel with .. as little as possible.. but I think that is going to be changing soon
For the last month, .. I have been counting down the days until spring (46)
On my long-run days, .. I would step out of the house, and just run .. I miss those days 
I work with .. the most interesting group of people .. culture is lacking in this company, very sad.
I listen to ..all kinds of music when I run .. I love that moment of getting lost in the music
One day .. I hope to be completely relaxed

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!)

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!

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?!?

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:

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 ... **