a year's worth of reflection

Whoa!  Another year almost gone.

Do you remember when your parents told you, "Just you wait, when you get older time will fly by!"  And you thought they were full of it?  I do.  Why are parents always right?

Anywhoooo that was not the point of this post.  Actually I thought I would make a list of things I learned this past year.  Some are life lessons, some are trivia, some are self revelations, and some are just cause I can.  Ha!

So let the review session begin!

• Even the smallest, teeniest, tiniest bite of KFC chicken will wreak havoc on a large dog's digestive system.  This will require the replacement of rugs.  On our next picnic we will be sure to take dog treats.

• The generalization that car dealerships are only out to screw you and try to fix things that aren't broken and not fix things that are so you have to keep going back are true.  Find a reputable mechanic not associated with a dealership.  You'll be much happier.  Trust me on this.

• Stop signs, stop lights, turn signals, and using the left lane strictly for passing applies only to me.  Everyone else is exempt, including bicycles.  Feel free to read, text, eat, nap, etc. while driving.  I'll do my best to avoid colliding with you, but not as a favor to you.  I just don't want my day jacked up.  Be forewarned, if I buy a "beater" car all bets are off and it'll be demolition derby time.  BOOGIDY BOOGIDY BOOGIDY!

• Even though my daughter is a "grown up" by society's standards, she will always be my "little one" and I will always be in "mom" mode.  Sorry Heather but that's just the way it is.

• A person may occupy a certain position (as in job), but that does not mean they deserve to.

• We need to do more camping and not let the summer get away with us.

• Sometimes you just gotta let it go.  However letting go, isn't the same as forgetting and if negative actions are repeated, it may result in consequences.

• There will always be idiots in Yellowstone National Park begging to be proof of Darwin's theory Survival of the Fittest.  Anyone for cruising through a herd of bison during rut in a small convertible car that makes a low pitched rumbling sound when accelerating?  How about running up to a grizzly sow and her two cubs and sticking a camera in their faces?  Why not go off the boardwalk and stroll up to a thermal feature and lean over and stick your head in for a better look?

• Lindsay Lohan is a drunken reprobate.  Mel Gibson, Paris Hilton, Tiger Woods, and Jesse James aren't much better.

• A town in Colorado has an annual festival celebrating a headless chicken.  Maybe I'll go next year.  I hear they serve fried chicken.  The dogs will be disappointed they won't be offered any.  The carpets will be happy about that.

• Disney's Tower of Terror really isn't fun.  Rockin' Roller Coaster, Space Mountain, Primeval Whirl, and Expedition Everest are fun.

• I should have made better attempts in the past to go to Jimmy Buffett shows.  This will be rectified.

• I would rather have a few close friends than a boatload of superficial friends.

• When renting a car, go for a mid size or larger if you want to get up to highway speeds within an hour of entering the highway.  During a trip to Arizona over the summer, I went cheap and got a "compact" car.  It was basically a roller skate with a gas tank.  While we didn't get anywhere very fast, Heather and I did laugh a lot at how ludicrous it was to even refer to what we rented as a "car."

• It is not necessary, and in fact is very annoying, to use the word "like" and the question "you know?" every other word during the course of a conversation.   Like If I like knew, I wouldn't be like, asking, like you know?

• I really do like my job and my boss.

• Having dogs really does change your lifestyle and habits.  No last minute weekend getaways for me, but that's OK.  I love The Girls and wouldn't change a thing.  Well maybe I'd change the whole chicken/carpet thing.

• Snorting while laughing in public only makes you laugh harder.  And it's exacerbated by the type of food or drink you are consuming at the time.  Snorting carbonated beverages hurts.  A lot.

worldess wednesday

wordless wednesday

i mess with texas

As many of you know I am not a big fan of Texas.  For many reasons.  Many, many reasons. Including but not limited to:

1) Bush 2) His son Shrub 3) My trailer trash ex-step-family


Now, having said that, I realize not all Texans are jerks or bigots or trailer trash or the village idiot or loud with BIG hair and any number of other Texas stereotypes.  I have friends that live in Texas.  I used to live in Texas.  I have even spent precious vacation time and dollars in Texas. 

But for the most part, if the state of Texas decided to secede from the good ol' U.S. of A. it wouldn't hurt my feelings in the least.  If they seriously tried to do this, I might even consider donating $$ to their cause.

For years and years Texas has had a no litter campaign with signs up and down their roads that tell drivers, "Don't Mess With Texas."  I'm not sure how successful a campaign it is, but many Texans take it to another level and it means so much more to them than trying to deter their fellow yahoos from chucking their empty beer cans out their pickup windows as they weave up and down the long, lonely, Texas roads.

After the trailer trash ex-step-family incident, I was inspired to create a bumper sticker and some magnets on the Zazzle website for Heather and myself.

My bumper sticker is proudly displayed just beneath my license plate.  I've passed many Texans while driving but hadn't noticed any reactions one way or the other, which is fine.  It's more for my benefit than theirs.  No reactions that is until this past Monday as I was leaving work.

At an intersection leaving campus I was stopped at a red light when a Chevy Suburban pulled up behind me and parked itself practically in my back seat.  In the rear view mirror I could see it was some college aged kid and chalked it up to "not being an experienced enough driver to know to stop further back."  The light changed to green and I pulled out into the intersection.  At this point the kid behind me whips out from behind me and pulls alongside me and flips me the bird.  I quickly mentally go through the drive from my parking lot to that particular intersection and can't come up with anything that could have provoked such a display.  In fact, I hadn't seen this particular car at all before the driver decided to kiss the ass of my car with his.

I gave the universal "WTF did I do?!" arm gesture as he roared past me, his bird still flying high and proud.  Then I noticed the kid's license plate.

Texas.

I laughed out loud.

As I got to the next intersection the light changed to red and I saw the Texas Birdman in the left hand turn lane.  He had his passenger window down so I pulled up alongside of him, gave him my biggest smile and said, "And you, Bubba, are a prime example of why I do what I do."

Wordless Wednesday - Corona Kitteh

small world

Isn't it amazing how the internet makes the world so much smaller?

A bit of history on moi.

Born in Ruidoso, NM which is ~20 miles from where I
Lived in Mescalero, NM which is ~40 miles from where I
Shopped, hung out, and cruised frequently in Alamogordo, NM which is~580 miles from where I
Ended up in Longmont, CO

So...

Today I was reading "The Meanest Mom" blog about the reason they were "stuck" in Philadelphia.  (Have a box of tissues handy if you decide to read yesterday's post.)

Reading the comments, a woman commented that she was, "feeling very stuck in Alamogordo, New Mexico..."  Because she was from my "home" area and I'm the curious type, I clicked on her link and was taken to Darcey's blog.  (She creates some really cool cookies!)

Scrolling through her blog I found a link for "additional pictures" which took me to her Facebook page with photos of her creations; I especially like the sad faced Gingerbread Man with the missing foot.

Remember I'm curious?  I clicked on her profile link to see more about her and saw that her hometown is Longmont, CO.

Through the power of the internet, I discovered a woman who grew up in the town where I now live who is living in the town where I used to play.  Pretty cool huh?

Chin up Darcey, Alamogordo, NM is not the worst place to be, and the reason you're there may be to make people like me smile on how we may think the world is huge and vast and there are no connections, when in fact there are.  I don't know you personally, but I want you to know you made me smile. 

there goes the neighborhood

Today is my birthday.  Happy birthday to me!  Happy birthday to me!  Happy birrrrthdaaaay to meeeee!  Happy birthday to me!

And in honor of my birthday we will be hosting a little thingy at my house on the 31st.  Due to a total lack of caring about (or understanding of) Christian rock festivals it didn't occur to me that on the very same day, "Heaven Fest" will be taking place.

Across the street from my neighborhood.

Right across the street.


View Directions to Peregrine Cir, Longmont, CO 80504 in a larger map

It leads one to think the City of Longmont is in dire need of money, so they rented out Union Reservoir for a one day Christian Music Festival.

Thank you City of Longmont.  I'm so looking forward to this.  I just hope I get to see eleven long-haired friends of Jesus in a chartreuse micro-bus.  (let's see if anyone can tell me where that line came from withOUT using google.)

Now mind you, it's not that it's a Christian Music Festival that I'm so peeved about.  If it was a rap festival or hip hop or classical, I still wouldn't be jumping cartwheels over it.  Granted I've never been able to perform a decent cartwheel in my life, so maybe that metaphor doesn't quite work.

Anyway...  my point is, having "Thousands and Thousands of people from all over Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah, Nebraska and Kansas" descending on my neighborhood does not tickle me pink.

According to the City of Longmont they will have law enforcement out to direct people away from our neighborhood and the streets to our neighborhood will be blocked off.

 This makes me wonder... Am I going to be held hostage in my neighborhood?!  Will my guests be able to get in?!

In trying to gather as much defensive information as I could I visited the "Heaven Fest" website.  Wow.  It's almost as if the people attending the festival need constant monitoring.

It's a music festival.  Outside.  In July.  When it's hot.  Next to a large body of water.

What do you suppose the folks attending would be wearing?  Swimsuits perhaps?

Do you know they have a dress code for the festival? 

From the "Heaven Fest" website, and I quote,
"DRESS CODE

MODESTY is the key word. While the style and fashion these days seems to be "less is best," we do not want to be guilty of causing another person to stumble. Girls: Bathing suits are NOT permitted except in the swimming area, and must not be a bikini. Tank tops are fine but bellies must be covered (even though the fashion now is to show it off). Shorts and/or skirts need to be long enough and shirts big enough. SHIRTS and shoes MUST be worn by all at all times."

Heather asked me, "Does it have a dress code for guys, or is it aimed only at women?"  Good question Heather.  I'm thinking it's aimed at women.  Men only have to show up in shirts and shoes.  No pants/shorts/swim trunks necessary.  Just let it alllll hang out boys.

Do you see why I don't go to these things?  I would be asked to leave shortly after entering the venue.

I've got my fingers crossed that the music won't make it to my house.  Just in case I'm going to stock up on copious amounts of alcoholic beverages.  Maybe Heather, Ted, my friends, and I will sit outside in our swimsuits  – the "less is best" style of course.

Enjoy your weekend!