Friday Fill in ..

It's that time again ... to play, click here

1. _Wine, cheese and crackers -- the best food to take on a picnic. Although it's been 30+ yrs since I've picniced!

2. Summer _is here .. Maine standard.. we hit 93 this week!_.

3. _Finally no more__ flip flops.  Oh, that's not what you intended ... hahahhaha!

4. To love someone is  going to take some time ..

5. _This summer I'm going on_ a long hike.

6. When I crave food, it's usually _everything... just kidding .. usuallly its trail mix__.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _chillin' possibly wine __, tomorrow my plans include _kayak excursion and a long run__ and Sunday, I want to _possibly more kayak, and then Monday .. early morning road trip to Boothbay for sunrise pictures___!

I love being back in Maine!!!

Thursday 13 .. Thirteen Things in May ..

Last Thursday of the month, and it's time for T13 ... Click here to play!

A picture of:   I went to the beach for some photo opportunities

Current Scent:  I'm still not smelling good ... hahaha!

What I am reading: Funny story .. I went kayaking and brought a book with me, only to find out that I already read the book. I am so excited to receive the book that I won from A Slice of Life!!

Newest music added to my playlist: It's been a while .. I'm contemplating Bare Naked Ladies ..

Movie I saw: Last week Nelson and I saw Alice in Wonderland ... interesting!


Something yummy: ahhh... i had a bowl of oreo ice cream and a brownie ... yesterday Strawberry pie .. and tonight for the first time .. Chocolate Raspberry Whoopie Pie!


The last place I ate at: Miquel's last week ... wow, I'm getting predictable!


Something that made me cry: tonight someone made the comment "You must miss your dad".... uhhhh....thinking about him always puts a huge lump in my throat .. I was able to control the tears .. truly something that made me cry? ya ... i won't go there!


Something that made me laugh: As much as I grumble about the teenagers .. I love listening to their banter at times .. especially when they have their friends over.. they can just be so funny!


Something that I look forward to in June: I'm nervous for June .. the teenagers are going away for four weeks ... I have never been apart from them for that long .. the longest was 2 weeks ... I hope to do quality "me" time = kayaking! A road trip to Quechee Vermont .. hot air balloon festival .. photo opps!!!


Something I want to remember from this month:  the feel of summer coming!!

Something that I am thankful for: always, always my kids, my job and my health ... and for the month of May ... Julie,who showed me the kayak world 11 years ago!

A photo I took this month: taken with my Iphone!!

This weekend was so great .. the weather was perfect for being out on the water!

Happy  Thursday everyone .. weekend will be here soon!

Thursday 13 … a thought or 13…

So, it’s Wednesday night, and I have been scouring around looking for something to post for Thursday13  .... how about 13 ideas to post for t13 …

1. 13 reasons to keep running
2. 13 reasons to stay in bed and not get up at 4:30 when it’s 37 degrees out, and you can hear the wind ….. (oh… I’m digressing!)
3. 13 random thoughts
4. 13 foods I would like to eat without feeling guilty
5. 13 reasons why Bruce drives me crazy … (the golden)
6. 13 reasons why i am better off without him (d@mn! I’m still thinking of him!)
7. 13 items i would like to buy if money wasn’t an object
8. 13 reasons why I blog
9. 13 life lessons i can pass on to my teenagers ( … i can see them rolling their eyes at me!)
10. <okay.. grasping..> find a recipe with 13 ingredients
11. 13 vacations getaways …
12. 13  secrets
13. 13 people that have been an inspiration or changed your path in life ..

Happy Thursday … the weekend will be here soooooon!!

Sunday best

You know when you get that feeling in your belly, the one you recognize as “yes, this is right..” … that is always what i get when I see my kayak on my truck. So, today was the first kayak trip of 2010 .. I went to our local “pond” … and just enjoyed the paddling. This trip I was gutsy and brought my camera ! (105 pictures later!!..)

What a great day I had today … the weather was great, and the turtles all cooperated!

Thursday 13 .. a new thing..

So .. yeah … T13, always my favorite meme .. crazy, perhaps… but during my runs, I always think about T13 and what the list should be about … there is some cheating going on .. I noticed that on the last page of the People magazine, (not that I am a subscriber, but it is the one magazine I will choose to read if I’m stuck in a doctor’s /orthodontist/dentist office … gotta keep up with the celebrity scoop!) there will always be 5 random questions .. so I compiled and copied 13 of them…. (yes, this took three weeks to do) so … feel free to copy and go! and make sure to link back to T13 and sign up!

Here we go:

1. Hidden Talent:  haha! none! okay, I’ve spoken about this in my old blog (wait4thenews.blogspot.com) .. I have monkey toes that can grab things!
2. Celebrity Crush:  mmm can i pick more than one? Kevin Costner .. Clint Eastwood .. Gerard Butler .. Mel Gibson … okay, okay … I’ll stop
3. Addicted to:  the feel good after a strong and long run
4. Makes you cringe:  Witnessing poor customer service
5. Favorite chore:  Folding laundry (hey, don’t knock it, it’s relaxing … and you can see progress)
6. Favorite Fast Food:  do 12 grain bagels from Tim Horton’s count? okay, I had a small fries from McD’s tonight … (ready to run tomorrow morning!!!) Seriously, popcorn chicken … KFC
7. I will never…… : “love again, oh boy you left me speechless” (Lady Gaga) .. oops, I said I wouldn’t wine whine about him …
8. Weirdest Habit:  hmm .. I don’t think I have weird habits .. haha … perhaps I try and arrange my grocery list in accordance to the order of the aisle?
9. Someone who makes me laugh:  laugh like “ha-ha” … or the “ha-ha-you’re kidding-right??” One of my best friends in NC .. .she’s always threatening to come back to Maine to kick my @ss because I’m not a good listener … think I’m purposely not listening so perhaps she’ll move back???
10. Always bring my:  my baby, my Canon Rebel … (can’t wait … I’m kayaking on Saturday to get turtle pictures!!! woohoo!)
11. Favorite vacation spot:  I love Abol Bridge Camp ground .. the mountains.. the river … beautiful. Years and years ago, we would go to the beach … I love the beach.. for me vacation is water and sun, a good book ..
12. Pet Peeve:  coming home to a messy kitchen … for crying out loud: clean up after yourself! and then to top it off … I have ‘special’ foods that I buy for me … and friends of teenagers eat them …. grrrrr
13. Travel Essential: laptop and carry on only (does that count?)

Happy Thursday everyone …. weekend is almost here!!

Words from the teenager …

“Mom, you’re crazy .. you want a relationship with a man who doesn’t want a relationship with you …”  Spoken straight from the mouth of a babe! I have always known my girl to be a little older than her true age … but she blew me away when she made that comment to me a couple of weeks ago. It truly made me stop and think about where “that relationship” was going … and then I started wondering what she saw, since obviously she didn’t know all the true in’s and out’s of my relationship …… or did she??? Her perception of life is really pure .. in that, I mean she looks at things without adding outside thoughts to it … almost a black and white, with no gray. When did we start putting gray into things? I love her observations .. I can always trust to get the obvious truth from her .. whether it is about her, or about what she feels.  Trust me, when those true stories come out .. hold on! She’s a power house when it comes to opinion, she has no qualms telling you how she feels. One of her many talents is her creative thought .. she will randomly write little quotes .. here are a few:

“I don’t want to fall; because I don’t want to land.  I don’t want to spend; because I don’t want to waste. I don’t want to love; because I don’t want to lose. But I don’t want to land because I never fell.  I don’t want to waste because I never spend. I don’t want to lose because I never loved.”

'”As the love dies another hate grows, to consume the life you used to know. Just say goodbye to what used to be, and say hello to what you can now see.”

This was taken a year ago … what a difference a year makes!

Happy Mother's Day!

Every night, before I retire fully, I go through and read the different blogs. There is one that I love to go to .. she doesn't write frequently, but when she does ... it is so beautiful .. here is a taste:

"There’s no footworn path. No You Are Here red arrow. There is only before, and now, and next. No moment that feels closer to the end than the beginning. Just each moment that is what it is.



Just this bit of ground under my feet that could be any random point between two vanishing horizons, but seems meant, somehow, for making a stand."       Well written by jennifer at  Thursday Drive ... go take a peek, you won't be sorry!

Happy Mother's Day!! My day was great ..  my teenager son made a strawberry pie for me!Everything from scratch, including the crust! I should've taken a picture ... because it'll probably be the only strawberry pie he'll ever make! It was delicous.
Hope everyone had a great day!

Friday Fill In

 

It’s time for Friday Fill In …

1. Salsa and _chips from Miquel’s___.
2. _fresh baked pretzels___ and you've even got mustard.
3. By the time I get home _I will have fed most of the teenager’s friends, since they all descent at my house after school. The proof is in the mess that is left behind on the kitchen counters__.
4. _While in Texas, getting fresh, made to order sushi from the sushi place in the commissary__ is what I look forward to most when grocery shopping.
5. And I was dreaming _until Tyson woke me up with his constant chatter … I swear it sounds like he is saying “hello”_.
6. _Deep fried ice cream from Miquels_...is there anything else better?!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to taking the teenagers to … Miquel’s_, tomorrow my plans include work and cleaning_ and Sunday, I want to _make a nice breakfast for my Ex-MIL, and have a quick coffee with Cyn, possibly run ….. oh, and hopefully get to enjoy a strawberry pie made by teenager son_!

Happy Mother’s Day and happy weekend!

Meet Tyson ..

What do you mean …. ? Really? I’m a cat?

Thursday 13 ..lyrics

So here is Thursday .. and in accordance to how my week has been, I am allowing myself one more post to feel some self-pity from a sad heart ... but after this >> I'm done! No man should be allowed this much energy! My running is back on par .. doing well .. I love my shuffle! During one of my runs, I decided that for T13 I should post 13 lyrics from break up songs! HAH ... very high school-ish  ... so name that tune ... and I promise, this is the last of the whining ...I'M OVER IT! Happy Thursday .. weekend is nearing!
To play ... click here!

1. Guess I'd rather hurt than feeling nothing at all ... (I so totally disagree with this line)
2. Unbreak my heart
3. I'll never talk again, oh boy you've left me speechless ..
4. Holding on, the days drag on, stupid girl, I should have known
5. They say, time heals everything but I'm still waiting
6. I'm still alive, but I'm bearly breathing
7. Nobody wins, when everyone is losing
8. There is one thing you should know, I don't have to live this way
9. You visit me in my sleep, my darling, who knew
10. The story ends, as stories do .. reality steps into view
11. Well you couldn't be that man that I adored
12. Now it's too late for you and your white horse to come around

My version of the bleeding heart:

Not just another race ..

 

Saturday was another race day … just what I needed to get back a little bit of that ‘feeling’. I’ve been in a funk lately, not really wanting to get up in the morning to go running. I’m not sure if it’s the late night blogging, treadmill burnout .. or just life. I was in an “undetermined-to-what-type-of” relationship, and a couple of weeks ago it ended completely. Sad doesn’t quite cover the range of emotions I am going through .. so trying to get back into my normal groove has been difficult. I’m frustrated with myself .. normally I am stronger than this. All my girlfriends have told me to move on and  move forward .. I’m struggling!! I think the Dixie Chicks sang it best when they said “somebody tell my head to try to tell my heart, that I’m better off …” .. I realized yesterday that I feel lost! I’ve never felt lost before … how is that possible? I think I have always held him at a distance, not wanting him to come in too much. .. but perhaps I fooled myself. Damn, don’t you just hate it when your self gets the better of you?

oh, I digress .. yes, yesterday was race day .. it felt good to run again.. I’m looking to find my focus again .. I’m hoping this is it.. the next race is a 15k race in Sugarloaf .. it’s a long ride  .. a couple of my friends are going .. and so now I am debating it too.

Yesterday’s race put some of my running into perspective .. there were over 70 yr old women running, and the 1st place runner (in the over 70 group), beat my time by a lot!!!! That’s what I want to be like .. in 30 years!! Now I just need to tell my hips to cooperate .. !

Friday Fill in ..

It's Friday again ... click here to play along! And...here we go!


1. I was _thinking maybe later on, we could get together for awhile .. it's been such a long, time and I really do miss your smile ...___. (name that tune!!)

2. _Okay, blogging has taken up my free time___ and I left my book _in the box, unread__.

3. Why _do birds, suddenly appear.. everytime you are near? Just like me, they long to be, close to you ..__.

4. __hmmm, could it be that Robbie_ was in my thoughts today. ?

5. One of my father's favorite sayings was _the sun will rise again tomorrow____.

6. _Have that pit in your stomach?___--I know that feeling!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _a glass of wine, possibly with an old friend___, tomorrow my plans include _a possible 10k race, and a movie____ and Sunday, I want to _take pictures and play with my camera____!

Thursday 13 .. 13 things in April

We are on the last Thursday for the month of April ... so here are 13 things that happened in April. (To join Thursday13, click here..)

1. A picture  of:       I love the dandelion .. as if it  snuck into the picture!                                                                                                                                                                                                             
2. Current Scent: I started using Honeysuckle .. it reminds me of my sister Sa
3. What I am reading: I'm still not reading anything in book form.. since this new blog, I have many more comments on the blogs, so I go back and read other blogs..
4. Newest music added to my playlist: I added a few, but my favorite is Adam Lambert's What Do You Want From Me?
5. Movie I saw: Nelson and I saw Date Night on Saturday night ... cute and funny.
6. Something yummy: this week my crave is Trail Mix .. who knew WM's trail mix has real M&M's?! My favorite trail mix is from Trader Joe's .... yummmmmmmy (but very fibrous!)
7. The last place I ate at: I think it was Miquel's (best place for Deep Fried Ice cream!) ..I ate lunch there with an old co-worker
8. Something that made me cry: ahh .. funny, I look back at last year's post (www.wait4thenews.blogspot.com) and it is interesting that I was crying at times for the same reason ...I wish I could be stronger when it comes to "that man". For as strong as I believe I am, I am mush when it comes to him... it needs to stop!!
9. Something that made me laugh: Moments in my photography class .. it seems that being in there with Cyn and Dory can be dangerous!
10. Something that I look forward to in May: warmer weather .. we were teased, and now I am ready for warmth.
11. Something I want to remember  from this month: hmmmm...I want to remember that I ran my first race in almost 2 years .. one of the things on my list, accomplished!
12. Something that I am thankful for: (always my kids..) I am thankful for my job... so thankful!
13. A photo I took this month:

Manic Monday #2 (a little late ..)

Another late Manic Monday ... click here to play!

If you could write your own bill of rights, what would you include? OH ..so much fun ..I would make so that I have the right to change my mind when I want ...  

What is going on in the world today that affects you the most? Unfortunately there is a small rift between my sisters since the election. My sister, the Obama fan, can not understand how we can be so world'sapart with the opinions in the political arena of the US, especially since we are  from the same family!

What do you think is the secret to a good life? Being at peace with yourself, accepting that you can not control everything, ... take a chance, and dance! ...... and of course end the evening with a glass of red wine!

Weekend Recap

Saturday was race day! I ran my first trail race .. what a blast! 

I will definitely run trails again!

This was the view of the hill as we neared the finish. We had to run up this killer hill. The bottom picture is from the top of the hill (yes, those three specs on top are people, and they are standing in the same spot when I took the bottom picture!!!)

 

The weather was gorgeous on Saturday … picture taking time! Sunday I did get to have breakfast with Cyn .. and in the afternoon, a good walk. All in all a good weekend was had ..

More photo opportunities! I love Spring!!

Friday fill in ..

Time for Friday Fill in! Click here to play!

1. Where are my _cooling racks? Did i leave them in Tx along side my food chopper_?

2. If wishes were horses, my horse barn would be full ____.

3. I'd like to see _some of my wishes come to fruition_.

4. When I was a teen, I thought _that 'having a step-mom' was truly a horrible thing. I believed stepmoms were evil like from the Fairy Tales!__.

5. One of my mother's favorite sayings was _I did it my way!(Frank Sinatra way)__.

6. I'd have a hard time doing without my _music when i run__.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _just relaxing with wine__, tomorrow my plans include _my first trail race, _and maybe some photo opps___ and Sunday, I want to _make sure I have breakfast with Cyn ... and I may actually have a long walk and talk with the man I call my friend (...)!

Happy Weekend!

Thursday 13 - Something different ..

So for Thursday 13, I cheated a little and combined two things .. I saw this meme from one of my favorite bloggers, thank you Susie! Luckily she had 13 items …  and since it was 13, it would be good enough for T13. Click here if you want to play!

Outside My Window..  is the main road, and all sorts of traffic drives by. At 4:15am I also try and look through the blinds to see if the sun has risen so that I can run outside instead of going to the gym. (note to self: the sun doesn’t rise at 4:15!!)

I am thankful for… so much.. always the basics.. my health..my teenagers.. my job .. my girlie friends .. and right now, I am ever so grateful for chaos to help quiet my sad heart.

From the kitchen… I have my coffee ready for brewing in the morning …. 3 large onions chopped, spices mixed .. all we need to do is open the cans of crushed tomatoes to make a great marinara sauce.

I am wearing…gray striped socks. gap jeans, my old faithful pink long sleeved old navy t-shirt .. detailed enough?

I am creating... a new sense of life… in the last year so much has changed ..(h*ll, in the last four years everything has changed…) I am looking for a purpose .. life shouldn’t just be about getting up in the morning, going to work and coming home ..

I am going… to run a trail race on Saturday .. my first one ever! Then hopefully next Saturday will be a 10k road race …

I am reading… cooking light! I want to eat healthier and more exciting.

I am hoping... that the stupid 6 pounds I have gained in the last month will soon disappear. Yes … SIX pounds!! SIX! I am being very behaved right now and not telling you what I yelled said at to the scale in the gym.

I am hearing…the loud purring from Tyson ..

Around the house… things are looking bare! I have most of my boxes unpacked .. but I lack furniture, so the house still looks empty.

One of my favorite things… My Canon Rebel .. I am so ready to take classes again, and take time for photo opportunities.. weekends away ..

Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… just staying busy .. get ready for the trail run.. have meals ready .. you know, the usual “mom” things!

Here is picture thought I am sharing

My girl is so fun! Happy Thursday!

Tyson ..

Here is the newest member .. this was taken last week .. he had been hiding on top of the kitchen cabinets. Seven days later he has adapted quite well ..

Manic Monday #1

So I haven’t played Manic Monday in quite a while … in efforts to be more faithful to blogging; here we go! If you would like to play, click here …. and join the Manic Monday-ers!

How has your life been different than you imagined?  Well .. when did the imagination start? I was never one to imagine myself a sparkling bride, living in a house with a white picket fence .. lots of kids .. etc.  Maybe it’s different to what I imagined it to be when I got married … I think now I am starting to imagine what I want it to look like 20 years from now! So, ask me in 20 years!

What lessons have you learned from your relationships? Ha..ha!  I laugh because the recent turn of events of someone so meaningful to me .. another story, different day ..(although check out my old blog www.wait4thenews.blogspot.com) .. so what have I learnt from relationships .. in my men relationships, I have learned that I am a slow learner, and that I need to stay away from men for a while. From my teenagers relationships .. I learn to pick my battles, and recognize that in three  years this stage is over, so try and enjoy it now. From my sister relationships .. I value the little time I get with them, and regret that we don’t live closer to each other because I miss them tremendously, and from my best girlie relationships .. (I have the best girl friends) .. they are like my other sisters .. they have taught me to be honest with myself … and lessons from my mom .. to have faith!

If you had to move to a city besides the one you currently live in, where would you move? hahaha!! I worked hard to return to this little town where I finally registered myself not even a week ago!! But to answer the question, I am now toying with doing an extending visit (not living) to Sydney Australia once the kids are in college. Honestly with all the different cities I have lived in, I have felt the most comfortable right here in Maine, and that’s why I moved back here. But if I had to pick a city …. Boston probably .. it’s familiar

 

Be ready for lots of flower pictures .. something I am learning about myself is that I love taking pictures of flowers… there is something so fresh, beautiful and peaceful about them.

Spring is here!!!!!!

True signs of Spring! I am so excited … next week we start our photography class .. plans our being made for more photo opportunity weekends!! I can’t wait!!! YEAH!