"Someone keeps moving my chair" -TMBG

A must see.



Warning:  a little deeper than normal.  no, worries, if you back out now.  The video was the good part.

I distinctly remember sitting in my biology class my junior year in high school. I got to first period early, as was usually the case, when I drove EF to school with me. The girl, she liked had to be EARLY. I was wearing a striped Ralph Lauren "polo" shirt with a pair of 501 denim Levi's. That morning. changed. my. life. A conversation over-heard by my [awesome] biology teacher between EF & I. If only I could find his address or phone number. I'm sure he is on Facebook. ;) I would call and thank him.


He begged me to trust him and open up to him and his wife [who was a councilor in the downstairs office]. Which was no small task, given the circumstances.

Life. changing. defining. moment.

Never shared 100% of what actually happened [with anyone]. I'm fine and happy with that. I, for the most part, talk too much. Way too much. I like knowing. I have a "thing". A "thing" between me and my Father in Heaven. Just us.

Make no mistake . . . .

Home was the one place where I was safe. But my fear [of dealing] still consumed me at home.

I was so afraid that by talking about certain things with my mom and dad, home would no longer be a place where I could forget about what I was trying to hide.

There were/have been a few times where I honestly thought life was too hard, too painful to survive. I'll call this young [or not-so young] and stupid of me. Thankfully, my parents told me that, no matter what burdens life dished out, there's nothing - nothing - that's too difficult to survive.

I still have those fleeting moments where I cling to those words.

The "pain" of my early years has actually done a few wonderful things for me. It's made me incredibly resilient where hearsay is concerned. These days, I can give a flying fish what others [99.4% of them anyway] say or think about me. It may has made me quite confrontational but I'm fine with that.  I've "got my [own] back", if needed.

It has made me extremely compassionate and supportive of certain communities/causes.

I often say, "I am grateful for everything I've experienced." It's a true statement. And what I've gone through . . . . it probably looks like a spring day in May, skipping in fresh, just mowed grass, while picking tulips ...... to others. ;)

I am grateful I weathered an extremely trying situation that cemented my confidence and gave me steel-like resilience, at least 344 days of the year. What? ........ I am human. I have "poor me" days. "This sucks" days. And "I suck" days. Days, I wish someone would STOP "moving my chair".

No matter your challenge in life - [and we all have them . . . . each and every one of us] whether it be loss, harassment, grief, heartbreak or another trying time.

I promise this - - - - it will get better.

Because. each of us. we are the ones who can make it better. And me . . . . . apparently, I like a challenge.

Now if I can just go find my *&%#@$# chair.

Happy Wednesday to ALL!!

Cry - Faith Hill

So what if I still tear up when I see this.

Bring on the JJ 100 RL!



Yes, I really said, "is that it?".  hilarious.

Super Bon Bon -SC

Love Soul Coughing - great running music.

Me = E.T.  . . . . is . . . .

Registered for the

Tucson Marathon.

12/12/10.

My [$49 purchased] profile picture was taken at this very marathon last year.

I really was THAT happy at 25.2.

How can I say "no"?!

What?!  You're running it too!?

"Nothing Compares" -S. O'Connor

The best anniversary gift, I received over the weekend.

The "free" ones always are   the   best   ones.

I love my Peanut.

Thanks for all the amazing comments on Friday.  Happy Me.  The weekend was wonderful . . . and so is today.

Happy Monday.

"One dozen" - TMBG

Twelve.

1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1 = 12

[Tomorrow] It'll be one dozen.

Maybe . . .

one dozen bagels
one dozen donuts [buttermilk, please]
one dozen eggs
one dozen flowers ---- oh, yes, I like that.

One dozen years ago I married the Pita.  After knowing him for 97 days. 
[I met his Mom & sister one day before the wedding.]

It was my fairy tale wedding.  The one I had dreamt of for 21 years.

Here are a few of my favorite photos.

First dance.

Me with My Dad.

Me.  Being.  Me.

The Pita with the women.

Me bawling after a comment from "happy".

Me with the boys men.

And my Pita, not letting any of my leg show.

One [awesome] thing my mom did was to write down things people said at/about our wedding.

Ya, so ex-boyfriends aren't allowed to make "official" comments and probably shouldn't have been on the "invitee" list, says the Pita. [see white bar below].

Things I remember:

* running 13 miles, that morning.  Yes, I was crazy way back then too.
* going to see "Robert" to get my hair/make-up done.
* family rules, as in "rocks"
* dancing.  a lot of dancing.  But "happy" dancing the most.
* I wore a necklace [gasp]
* I got the ring I had been eyeing at work for the last two years [worked at jewelry store]
* loving that my dad was walked me down the isle.
* my mom & girlfriends helping me get ready.
* never getting cold feet.
* never thinking 97 days was too soon. Met AND married within 97 days.
* I loved my dress. It was the first dress I tried on.
* I only tried on one dress.  no joke.  one. and I bought it. that. day.
* That the Pita said he was glad we picked the 23rd, being that he could never forget it since #23 was on 90% of the shoes he owns.
* I remember getting to the hotel room.  He carried me through the door and we both dropped to the floor and [finally] ate.  with our fingers.  out of zip-lock bags.
* The happiness of that day. 
* Not a care in the world.  Not one.

Happy Dozen My PITA!

Oh What A Night - Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons

Life as a child.


Everyone can remember at least a few [great] things about childhood.

Maybe it was sitting outside on Turkey Day Eve waiting for the big moment when your dad was going to put the Turkey in the backyard under ground pit.

Maybe it was playing Barbie’s and dreaming of meeting Michael Jackson.

Or maybe it was watching football and WWF on Sunday nights from inside a fort in the family room.

It might even be running at lightening speed (it seemed) in your new pair of shoes.

Or it could be as simple as the saying your sister said every night before bed.

Or

. . . . the way your dad called you a “rat” and it made you giggle.

. . . . maybe it’s squirting pudding through the gaps in your teeth.

. . . . milk out your nose.

. . . . cupcakes.

. . . . a birthday cake [in the face].

. . . . just birthday's all together.

. . . . Being able to yell for your mom at 1,3 or 4am knowing she‘d be right by your side within seconds.

Or maybe not.

Maybe you can't remember many of those things about being a child.

Maybe all you can remember is the feeling.

Freedom. Carelessness. Adventure.

Imagination.

Playing so hard that you were exhausted by dinner time.

Forgiving so e a s i l y.

Loving so much.

Think back.

Don't look at your cell phone.

Wait to respond to that email. 
And think. Yes, I know it’s hard. Thanks to Kelly. I tried it Friday night to Saturday night. [going “unplugged"] Yep, I failed. But I will attempt again. If it’s only one day a week “unplugged”. It’ll be worth it.

[Anyone see modern family last night? Bar soap -- cell phone anyone?]

I Remember.

I Cherish.

I want nothing more than Peanut to have the same feelings about her childhood that I have of mine. And I don’t recall my mom/dad being on the phone, emailing, texting, putting any “work” over/before family.

WELLLLLLLLLLLLL, the one time my mom did, I cried and she ate the chicken I made her for dinner.   Right.   Then. ;) [remember that Mom?!]

I want that feeling more often.

When someone did something you didn't like, you reacted.
But you forgave. You said you were sorry and it was over. Like over - over.
You laughed as long, hard and as loud as you wanted. Because it was funny. It was that funny. It didn’t matter if anyone else thought it was. You laughed until your stomach hurt and you didn't even think it being a great abs workout.

When it hurt. You cried. Because it hurt. Because you were sad. And you let everyone see. Because it was okay to be sad sometimes.

And you said "I love you" as often as you blinked.

Because you were a kid. And that is just what kid's do.

Then, we grew up. All most of us did. And we don't show those feelings like we used to. We don't forgive as quickly, or love as often.

The world got bigger. And we may not look like a kid, or live like a kid. But that doesn't mean we can't still feel like a kid.

So last night I had a dance party with Peanut. And one very cool jukebox.  The timing was bad.  It was late.  I wasn't in the best of mood from the evening events leading to 7:30pm. 

Until. . . we began dancing.

And laughed . . Like kids.

And danced . . Like kids.

And acted . . Like kids.

And it was wonderful.

Because it was fun & also very funny.

And it‘s great being a grown-up kid.
 
[This was the song that started all the fun last night]
 
enjoy.

"Wonderful" - Gary Go

So today I woke up to this:

Which to this AZ girl is as close to heaven on earth as it gets.

I hurried and got my required training run done on my "ed" [treadmill]. Then I went and got my favorite neutered man, in my life.

And we went for a 2 mile run.

Well, actually he went for a 1 mile run and a 1 mile drag.   I went for a 1 mile run followed by a 1 mile bicep pull/jog.  Had a lady who was a passenger in a car role down her window and say, "well........this is the first time I've seen an owner run faster than their dog.  Way to go."  Ya.  awesome.

We arrive back at home and within 30 seconds, I see this.

Really Mase?  An ice cold bath after 2 miles?!  AZ dogs.

Lazy butt.

What I'm listening to . . . . I love this song.




Happy Hump Day!