Tag Archives: Travel

Monday Listicles ~ 10 Reasons I Am Great!

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Do you like blogging lists?  Click the icon above and come link up and list those items! This week it is all about being GREAT!

10 REASONS I AM GREAT FAIRLY IMPRESSIVE

    1. I am the great procrastinator!  If putting things off until the last possible minute (or longer) were an Olympic sport, I’d hold the gold medal.
    2. When it comes to organizing and cleaning up, I’m your girl.  Just don’t expect it will last long, as my walk in closet can attest at the moment.
    3. I hold the unofficial record for re-heating my coffee in the microwave before I finally get to actually finish a cup.
    4. No one exposes themselves to their allergens quite like me.  Cats? Highly allergic, yet not only are there 3 living here, I snuggle with them then end up a mess of watery eyes and runny nose.
    5. When it comes to hiding things, from myself, to keep them safe? I’m your girl!  Right there, in plain sight! Like my cell phone I’m frantically searching for all the while talking on it.
    6. No one walking can pack the bedroom trash can like I do!  Too lazy to go get a trash bag and empty it, and too forgetful when I am in the kitchen to grab one, I just push the contents down more and more until they are packed in there so tight you need a crow bar to get them out.
    7. I am an over achiever in the menopause symptom department.  I can heat the entire house for hours at a time with a good hot flash.  Memory? Excuse me what were we talking about?
    8. Unintentional workouts – got that covered too.  Go all the way from the top floor to the lowest point in the house, the laundry room, and remember that I forgot something in my room that needs washing.  Come all the way into the house after shopping, and realize that I left shopping bags in the trunk.
    9. I have a knack for picking out/falling in love with the most expensive item in the jewelry store.  It may be the smallest diamond they carry, but if I just have to have it (I never get it just want it), it will be the single most pricey one they carry!
    10. I can control the cloud cover in summer time.  No really, I can.  It can be the most beautiful, cloud free, blue sky day.  If I go out to lay in the sunshine, every cloud in a 500 mile radius descends on the area to block the sun.

Yep, I am pretty darned impressive!

Jealousy Is Indeed A Disease

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Having been on the receiving end of bullying growing up, I have a soft spot for those who must endure other’s senseless ridicule.  What is very sad is when a poor choice in life by someone, not thinking in the long term, becomes fodder for the bullies who just cannot let it go, and that person becomes so upset that they take their own life.  This was the case with a truly beautiful young lady from our area.  She made a poor choice to send a naked photo of herself to a boyfriend.  Before long that photo was everywhere.  I’m not certain of the details as to how the photo(s) made their way around, but if I had to guess I’d say a jealous girlfriend of the boy? Who knows, the point is that to take those photos and circulate them like that, in my opinion, makes the one circulating them partially guilty in her life ending.

My beautiful daughter

It is particularly sad to me because when the story broke, I noticed that the young lady looked a lot like my baby girl.  I’ll let you decide that for yourself.  Similar hair style, color and beautiful smile, just an all around pretty young lady.  Such a tragic loss of a young life because of the black hearted, evil spirited individuals I can only imagine were jealous of her.

My daughter is beautiful, both outside and inside.  She is one of the most giving, kind hearted people I have ever known.  She has such a gentle spirit and would do anything for anyone in need.  My baby girl has had her share of bullying over the years, it happens to pretty people.  Especially those with soft hearts.  Jealousy is one wicked, ugly disease.

What strikes me as even sadder about this situation is that my daughter has been bullied and stalked by a girl who became enraged when my daughter began seeing a guy who told her he was single.  It depends if you listen to him or the girl stalking my daughter, the boy’s ex-girlfriend, as to his attachment status at the time.  The attacks came hard and heavy after it was found out my daughter was seeing him.  And yes sleeping with him.  She is an adult, he is an adult, it was a mutual choice.  The ex even went so far as to make slanderous statements that my daughter was a whore and contracted HPV from the young man, supposedly that he received as a lovely gift from the former girlfriend.  After extensive testing, my daughter’s doctor informed her that no, she herself does not have HPV, nor has she ever had it.  Seems you have antibodies in your system if you did.  For the past year she has endured tests periodically to confirm this.

At first I felt bad for the young woman (this is not one I can call a lady by any stretch of the word and you’ll understand why here shortly), to not only have this disease but to have had this young man cheat on her, if that is in fact what he did.  He says no, she says yes. He claimed she was a psycho, and based on her behavior I’d have to say that is the case.  She was supposedly disowned by her own father for a while, because being the victim of bullying herself, she went off the deep end and landed in a pysch ward somewhere.  But I have stopped feeling bad for her because it has been a year since my daughter was with this young man, and this girl just cannot leave her be.  Constant veiled and not so veiled references on twitter, following her and I on Pinterest, and making continued unkind remarks whenever it seems she gets bored.

Recently a nude photo of my daughter, taken in a moment where she  herself lacked clear judgement, has made its way around.  We now know how, as not everyone this young ex-girlfriend turned stalker thinks is her  friend is really such.  In fact they were so appalled that after losing someone to suicide for such an act, that my daughter’s bullying stalker  herself would go and do such a thing.  We’ve learned that texts and images in texts are like anything on the Internet and in cyberspace, they carry digital fingerprints that make them easily traced back to their origins.  We’ve given very serious thought to legal action, as it seems to be the only way to get this person to stop.  Ignoring  her only fuels her fire, as does taking return shots at her.  For a while my daughter even removed herself from Facebook and Twitter, only to have this girl’s friends begin texting and calling her.  My guess is she is still in serious need of psychiatric assistance.

Yes, in case you haven’t figure it out, this girl, the bully, seems she was friends with the young lady from the article.  She  lost a friend because bullies couldn’t leave her alone and then circulated nude photos.  And yet, there she is doing exactly the same thing!  What a horrible way to honor a friend’s memory when their life ended in such tragic means.  I am betting the deceased girl’s parents would be so proud of their daughter’s friend.  Frankly it makes me sick to think she could suffer the loss of someone and have such an evil, black heart as to repeat what took her friend, on someone else.  Oh yes, jealousy IS indeed a disease, it eats the heart and soul.

My daughter will be the first to admit, she is a Christian, but a work in progress.  She has made mistakes, but then haven’t we all?  But she continues to follow the Lord and try hard to be the person she knows she should be.  When we talked tonight while she visited, we talked about how sad it is that this girl could lose a friend that way, then turn around and do the same thing.  That anyone’s soul could be so empty and evil, so full of bitterness and unkindness.  And then my baby girl reminded me that we need to just pray for this young woman, as God has said:

Matthew 5:43-48
[ Love Your Enemies ] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

So, I have agreed with her, that while we are still uncertain about moving forward on pressing  charges, we will indeed pray for this girl.  And certainly I would ask my readers that are believers to also keep her in your prayers.  And from this point forward we won’t mention her again, here or on twitter, no tweets or posts even remotely aimed her way, and we will hope that in time she will move on with her life to better pursuits than attacking others, and that God will change her bitterness to happiness and joy in her life.

Some Of The Little Things That Ice My Cupcake

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Last night my daughter texted me to tell me she was stopping over for a visit.  Nothing makes my heart warm like texts, phone calls, and visits from my now adult children.

We watched the presidential debate, playing along with some LINGO (Bingo) card we found online, along with my sister, mom, both nieces and their boyfriends.  We had a house full and there were a lot of laughs throughout the evening.  I love being around my family.

Once everyone was gone, I spent some time unwinding by getting lost in a great book while curled up in my jammies on my bed, window open even though it was only 55 degrees.

When I finally went to bed, I left the window open and fell asleep to the night sounds of crickets and other critters outside roaming the world at midnight.  God’s soothing music to my soul.

I slept like the dead, not moving much and it was a deep, peaceful, restful sleep.  My beautiful baby, my black cat Pixel, slept curled up against my leg all night.

The alarm on my phone is currently set to play the Muppets singing “Mahna Mahna”, rather than being highly annoyed when the alarm goes off it makes me laugh.  Then I swipe the snooze alarm and snuggle in for 10 more minutes….several times if I am not in a big hurry to get up.

I lay curled up, listening to the morning sounds of birds chirping and the world outside coming alive as the sun starts to creep slowly up over the horizon, a soft glow seeping across the world.

After I stretch on the second snooze alarm, Pixel makes her way up the bed, purring in anticipation of a good morning love fest of getting her head rubbed and chin scratched.  That purr gets rich and deep, until the next snooze alarm, when she knows I’ll be rising and she jumps off the bed and waits at the door for me.

On the way to the kitchen I check my phone to see if I have any texts to warm my heart or make me laugh.

Then it is the amazing smell of fresh coffee brewing while I go around opening blinds and curtains in the house, sometimes seeing deer in the backyard in the early light of dawn as they roam through the neighborhood.

I get comfy with my laptop at the kitchen table, and that first cup of coffee, and while I look out on the deck from my seat at the kitchen table, listening to the rest of the household starting to rise, I never fail to think how much I just love my family.

Looking around the inside of our large kitchen, and the various rooms visible from this vantage point in this very large house, I never fail to think how much I LOVE this house that is my home, and thank God for the blessing it is to be here.

My cupcake of life is sweetly iced and loaded down with sprinkles of joy.

The Elf On The Where?

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I love the holiday season.  For me it starts Monday, October 1st and runs through New Years Day.  Halloween and all things spooky kick it off and it rolls through 3 months, 1 full quarter of the year.  Seems appropriate that deep winter follows, good time to hibernate after all of the activity.  I even coordinate my cell phone wallpaper and texting theme (I use GO SMS Pro) to the various holidays.

As  far as Halloween goes, I’m not into haunted houses unless it is the real deal, like Waverly Hills Sanitorium or some such truly haunted place.  I do not like masks on people, I need to be able to see their eyes to be comfortable. And I am no fan of anything or anyone jumping out at me or touching me.  In other words I am not one that likes being scared by pranks and stage makeup, but I am into paranormal type frights because I’m not scared by that, just fascinated.  I do enjoy the fun side of Halloween, like carving pumpkins and cute witches  and goblins that come ringing my doorbell, fun foods for parties and even a good costume party if folks dress creatively.

Thanksgiving is like intermission with food.  I enjoy food.  REALLY enjoy food, goes with being a Taurus, there is an ongoing love affair with all things delicious and edible, and a bittersweet relationship with the scale as a result.  Thanksgiving day is just for loading up on calories for energy for Black Friday shopping, and a great excuse to bring the family together.  Hopefully you don’t  wait for such occasions to have your family come by for dinner.  Around the Diva Den all it takes is a phone call in the afternoon and some creative combining of resources to produce a family dinner.

My all time favorite holiday is Christmas.  So much so that thanks to living in this very big house, we can have 2 trees, which is my dream.  I love decorating trees, and would have one in every single room!  Even my bedroom has a tree, a Charlie Brown tree :)  because it  is such a great Christmas show.  I love the decorations, smells, sounds…everything about this holiday rocks!  We have a tradition of watching “It’s A  Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve after all the festivities are done and we’re in our jammies.

I want  to start a new tradition this year.  I get that in this house everyone is an adult, and while we believe in the spirit of Santa, we’ve gone beyond truly believing in the person.  However, traditions can be fun for adults even if they are mostly for kids.  Last year I stumbled on the whole Elf On The Shelf craze just after the holidays.  I think the entire thing is just adorable and my hat is off to the authors of the book, who have created a very special tradition in so many families around the globe.  Even though we are adults, I want to ‘adopt’ an elf and begin the tradition.  I’m checking out the local adoption centers, you can find your local centers on the website, Elf On The Shelf so you can adopt your own family elf.  For those parents looking for creative ideas for their elf to be found each day, I found this cute blog of 100 Mischievous Elf Ideas, they are great!

It is never too early or too late for that matter, to start thinking of ways to make holidays more fun and enjoyable for children young and old alike!

Wine & Cheese ~ 54th Serving

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Welcome to Wine & Cheese, my weekly, Wednesday whine session.

**SPOILER ALERT** – If you watch Sons Of Anarchy and have not yet seen episode 3 of season 5, don’t read the WINE!

Many weeks on Wednesday I devote a blog to whining. Despite being a really happy, positive person, I do have things that annoy me at times.

I never let anything grate on my nerves for long but thought it would be fun to vent them periodically in my blogs.

I also feel that good things, the cheese in life, should be acknowledged as well.

I’m even going to throw in a bit of dessert, a piece of virtual chocolate, something that made me laugh or smile just a bit more than normal.

If you’d like to read the past editions of Wine & Cheese just click HERE for all of the past postings.

Sit back and join me now for the 54th  serving of some wine and cheese!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

WINE

:(  People who get to the counter at a fast food place, then decide what they want.  And they take FOREVER to make a choice.  Stop talking while in line and figure it out. OR don’t get in line until you do.  The rest of us have somewhere to be too, and that is why we are opting for the fast food option.  You are making it not so fast.

:(  Bullies, of any type!  Especially those in the high school in West Branch who pulled this very mean prank on one of the girls there.  Bullies and stalker types need to get a life.  I even know of one who ended up in psychiatric care, suicidal, and now bullies others!   With any luck the zombies will get them first!  Bunch of jealous, narcissistic psychos. Embrace your awesome, cool self, Whitney Kropp, being unique is what makes you special!

:(  Shame on you, Sons Of Anarchy and writer/producer Kurt Sutter!  I am still in shock after last night’s episode 3 of season 5.  ARGH!!! No No No! Not Opie!!!  Okay it was a fantastic episode, and to be a really great show you sometimes have to kill off a beloved, main character, but wow.  That on the heels of the 1st episode of the season, just WOW.  RIP Opie.

CHEESE

:)  NCIS is back!!!  Drooling over Gibbs (Mark Harmon) is my favorite Tuesday night activity.  That and drooling over Jax (Charlie Hunnam) on Sons Of Anarchy.  YUM!

:)  Autumn is here and I am loving it.  It will be better when the trees change but they are starting too, and it is getting to be fire place season again.

:)  Which brings me to holiday season!  Monday is October 1st, Halloween is headed our way.  Then Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I love this time of year.

:)  ERMAHGERD!!! – because that ‘word’ makes me laugh.

DESSERT

A double helping today because….well because life is too short not to double up on dessert!

Post It Note Tuesday ~ TV Style

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I LOVE this meme/hop!  It had vanished for a while, but I see that it is B-A-C-K!

If you want to join in and link up, just google for a sticky or post-it note generator, make your notes and then link up by clicking the yellow note at the end of this post to get to the hostess,

Only Parent Chronicles.

Let the PINT being!

~*~

Click this note below to join in!

Only Parent Chronicles

10 Things On The Floor Throughout The House

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I suppose I should mention that these 10 things on the floor throughout the house are not necessarily out of place, just things I noticed on the floor as I toured about in order to join in today’s Monday Listicles because I’m in the mood to write.  Well okay perhaps they are out of place and this will serve as a list of things for me to put away.  There is a novel idea!

10 Things On The Floor

1.  Backpack from the little girl I watch before and after school.  It is in the living room on the floor where she unpacked her homework.  She’ll be taking it with her when she goes, nothing for me to do here.

2.  3 catnip pouches are visible, one right next to my foot here in the kitchen, under the table.  Our cats are little nip-heads and love to lay around the house getting high.  Hmm, nothing to mess with here, it keeps them happy and they know  when we move their things.  It upsets them. They are OCD.  We just learn to live with it.

3.  A large krinkle ball that is another cat favorite, and since they are not ones to put their toys away it is down on the family room floor.

4.  A crochet bag is on the floor in front of the love seat.  My sister is working on a gorgeous blanket for my grandson so it is sitting nearby her at all times.  Not really out of place to be honest, as that is the place she will camp and work on it later.

5.  3 Avon boxes are currently sitting on the living room floor because I’ve been a bit lazy in getting them down to the office.  I have no excuse to offer, just lazy.

6.  Pillows from the other love seat in the living room, because it is hard to sit on it when the decorative pillows are on board.  I can use the excuse that well, someone might want to sit down later…right?

7.  Hello Kitty slippers are on the floor in my bedroom.  I rarely don’t have them on my feet so no point in putting them in the closet, as I’ll just pull them back out again in no time.  That is my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

8.  A stray tissue that hadn’t made the trash can in the bathroom off the family room, because someone missed their 3 point throw.  That has been fixed!

9.  Froggie rug in the bathroom at the top of the stairs.  But he belongs there and on mornings that it is cold out he is a welcome covering to the tiles to keep bare feet from the shower from getting chilled.  He can stay put!

10. A glass tomato that is a paper weight but is currently doing duty as a door stop in front of my bedroom door, lest the breeze slam the door shut on one of the cats,  or trap one in my room and they not be able to get to their litter box, which would be a crisis.

Yep that about covers it.

Not Welcome Here!

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I think at some point in life we all dream of having wealth and fame.  To be a household name, with enough money to do whatever we desire on our bucket lists without worrying about how we’re going to pay the electric bill when we are done with our latest adventure.  Pulling up in front of a hotel in our limo, crowds going wild over our appearance when the door opens and our feet, wrapped in only the best designer shoes, hit the red carpet as we are quickly escorted by our security staff through the crowd.  I have no idea what I’d want to be famous for, mind you.  I cannot sing and I’m not one that enjoys being center stage so not sure that kind of fame would do it for me.  And I cannot act either so being a famous movie star isn’t likely to be my ticket to stardom either.  But I sure would not mind all the money and the special treatment that goes with having your name in lights.

Regardless of what would make us famous celebrities, we can dream of that kind of fame.  But what about the responsibility that goes with that well-known name and star on the Hollywood walk of fame?  I’m not talking about being a role model, because sooner or later a sports hero or singer is going to do something we do not want our children to emulate.  I’m thinking more in terms of the idea that having money and notoriety not being a free pass to act irresponsibly or even cross the line into criminal behavior.

In an article I was reading the other day, Top Celebs Banned by Hotels, I was a bit disappointed by the behavior of some, and not at all shocked by the behavior of other well known names of fame.  The  behavior of some of these  people is just juvenile and in many cases would land the average person in jail.  Do these celebrities think that their fame and money makes it acceptable for them to behave this way?  And when are we as ‘fans’  going to start demanding more from those we are making wealthy by attending their concerts and movies?  I don’t mean more as in above average, I’m just thinking in terms of responsible, adult behavior!

One example being John Travolta.  According the article it would seem he has a little trouble keeping his hands to himself when getting a massage in some hotels.  Never mind that the advances are on male employees, the mere fact that he would do this to anyone turns my stomach!  I wonder how long it would take a hotel to show a guest lacking fame and wealth the exit door for such behavior?  And Lil Wayne, he must have quite the reputation if he cannot even check IN to the Wynn, his reputation having preceded his arrival.  And then there is Britney Spears, behaving in a way publicly that no parent would permit from a toddler during dinner.  Some on the rest of the list were a bit of a surprise, others not so much.

What makes these people think that they are some how exempt from acting with some maturity?  Or is it just me?  Read the article and let me know what you think!

God’s Amazing Timing

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For weeks I’ve felt a tug at this prodigal heart to return to church.  And not just any church but the church family I knew and loved in the past. The one that has prayed for me and my ex husband since we walked away years ago. The same loving faith family that welcomed me back almost 2 years ago, before I ran away again.  That same family that once again welcomes me with open arms and tears, and prayers.  Oh how they have been praying and waiting for God to bring me back on track.  Thankfully they never seem to give up.

I had started a Kay Arthur study a few weeks back, Lord, Only You Can Change Me, and also started reading again the book Dan gave me last time, The Way Back To God, Psalm 51 by Clarence Sexton.  Awesome stuff, both of them.  I actually considered working through 3 of Kay’s studies, the other two are Lord, Heal My Hurts and Lord, Give Me A Heart For You but I’m one  woman with a limited amount of hours in a day.  24, just like you.  So I figured it best to stick to those and get in them in depth and take my time chewing on each lesson.  I’m so glad I did, it’s been life changing stuff all over again. These helped me to open my heart again to focus on my faith.

Wednesday evening I went to the midweek service, which was the home groups that meet once a month.  They are starting a new book, Walking Like Jesus Did; Studies In The Character Of Christ.  I also attended the  women’s bible study Friday, and they are just kicking off, this time in Unit 3 of a great study called Gospel Transformation.  

Interesting to me how many new things are starting just as I return.  And all are things I NEED more than I ever realized.  God’s timing is so perfect.

During the past few weeks I’ve really struggled with ME.  My “it’s all about ME” attitude, the idea that my world revolves around me and “if you don’t like it take a hike” line of thinking.  PRIDE much? Yes, I know.  And then my prayer of late, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief”.  I heard that many times over in bible  study Friday, and it is nice to know that while I was away from being fed, my sisters in Christ all struggle daily with many of the same things I do.  When the ladies were doing a quick  review of the last unit and what had touched them in it and unit 1, something stuck out to me regarding the whole “ME” complex I have had.  Idolatry.

The book says, “An idol is anything we believe we need, apart from Jesus, to make us happy, satisfied, or fulfilled.  An idol arises when we desire something more than we desire Jesus; when we fear things rather than God; when we worship ourselves rather than Christ; when we put our trust in anything other than God; when we serve anything other than Jesus.”  The book provides some areas of fear, trust and desire that may be idols to us.  All I can say is wow.  SO many areas that I could check off either in a direct or indirect way.  It is suffice to say that ME has to get bumped aside.  I  know this, knew it weeks ago, and I have to do away with my self centered thinking.  But first comes the root of this ME idol.  That root would be pain.  The pain I still carry around and even cling too, of my divorce.  I am not so sure that I wanted to hurt, as that it is just familiar, like my teddy bear, so I can hold it.  Do I still feel I was wronged? Certainly. But what does it matter? It is done, over and I needed to let it go.  Forgiveness didn’t come easy, but in the past few weeks I truly was able to just let it go and accept the healing that comes from God and not anything of myself.

Before I made the journey back last week, I knew it was not about me anymore. It was about Christ and my walk with Him.  This time when I went it didn’t just feel like ‘home’, this time it felt like I had never left.  I realized at one point that I had to remind myself I had been away a long time, because it felt as if I had never left there and had just been there last week.  And while  kids have grown up and there are been changes to people, so much still felt the same, as if there had been no absence for me.  That was when I realized that I am right where I belong.  And as I sat there, taking it all in, wearing my Harley Davidson long sleeved, v-neck shirt and jeans, with my wild, bleached blond hair, I knew that I can still be me, who I am.  I don’t need to lose the person God created, that Marti is who she is because she was fearfully and wonderfully made.  God doesn’t want me to not be an individual, He wants me to be HIS individual.

Turning Back The Hands Of Time – Pro Line Eraser Product Review

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Okay ladies, and gents – because men want to retain youthfulness too, I feel like I’ve discovered the fountain of youth.  Best part? I work for myself selling the product, it has just been released here in the USA and it is the beauty breakthrough of the century, maybe even better.

What if I told you that this product is SO good that women that were going to undergo cosmetic surgery to minimize their wrinkles actually canceled surgery after using it?

If you knew this product was a fantastic alternative to Botox and other treatments that are similar, PER a dermatologist, would you be impressed?

And suppose I told you that fully 100% of the women who have used this product in clinical studies saw noticeable improvements to their skin?

I could also tell you that this is a bigger break through in skin care treatment than alpha hydroxyl acids and Retinol were.

If I also told you that you could see results, noticeable ones, in as few as 2 weeks of using the product in the morning and evening after using facial cleanser, would you want it?

Okay now what if I mentioned, that this product will sell for $39.99 for the full size, 1 ounce product, but currently it is on sale for $34.99 as an introductory price?

Are you hooked yet?  You should be!

YES it is an Avon product.

Anew Clinical Pro Line Eraser Treatment.

And you can purchase it right  now, online, through my Avon site and shipping is free.

Men and women will love this item.  I’ve started using it myself along with my regular regimen, I LOVE it.

I will give you numerous links to check out reviews:
Will Avon’s $40 wrinkle cream wipe out need for cosmetic surgery?

2012 Beauty Breakthroughs

PSP Plastic Surgery Practice

Dust Bunnies From Under The Couch

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Last week while mom was in the hospital, my sister and I cleaned the house.  Oh I mean we REALLY cleaned the house.  As in moved the furniture and vacuumed, dusted, purged (read: threw out all the crap).  If you know anything of my sister-in-law from over at Martinis Needed, you know that her sweet, OCD self must have everything “Mr. Spiffy” clean.  For those not familiar with Mr. Spiffy, I recommend you watch the Backyardigan’s episode, “What’s Bugging You”.   We jokingly say it ain’t clean if it ain’t Angie clean.  Mr. Spiffy would likely fall short of her standards.  We were shooting for Angie Clean.  We came close!

It is always an adventure to move anything around here and look under it.  Assorted dust bunnies are a given, but with 3 cats also in residence, you will find secret stashes of their various stolen treasures.  One of the cats used to swipe coins from around the house and hide them under the rug in the kitchen.   That came to a halt when we discovered it a few too many times, and we’ve yet to locate her new hiding place.  Not sure if she was saving up for a bus trip to escape but she always had at least a few dollars in random change.  This time, we found not only cat treasures, but enough plastic food to stock a small, toddler grocery store.  Seems when I was in the childcare business here, the little people were shoving it under furniture.

Me and my granddaughter, Little Red, this past Monday.

Memories can be a lot like those dust bunnies, until you actually go looking for them or the couch of life is moved, you don’t know they are there.  My son, his wife, and my adorable granddaughter stopped over Monday for a visit.  HIJACKING: I absolutely LOVE being a grandma, best role in life EVER!!!  One reason being in order to be a grandparent you had to have been a parent, and I have the best kids.  *Return to Blog*  Somewhere the topic came up of our blood types and I mentioned I knew my son’s because it was on his crib card in the hospital.   He asked if I still had that so I went up and brought  down my memory box.  It is a wood box with a hinged lid that my brother, Yatz, made for me in high school.  I have special, “in case of fire” items in there.  I had to explain that means in case of fire in the house grab that box while exiting.  I have in there the outfits my kids came home from the hospital wearing, their crib cards, their bracelets, and countless other items.  My granddaughter had a lot of laughs looking at old photos of not only her daddy, but her uncles, aunt and grandma too.  It was a lot of fun going through that box again, and if your past photos popped up on Facebook, blame my son. :)

The winds of time blew the Long Beach dust bunny out from under the couch of life.  I know, very interesting timing.  Right in the middle of writing my post the other day about the Biker and I going our separate ways, I  received a text from him.   I didn’t even have his phone number anymore, was clueless at first who was messaging me.  Last time I had heard from him he was vowing to change my mind about all men being pigs, contrary to what the ex-husband told me, and I was dumping live piranhas in the mote and pulling up the drawbridge to this princess’s castle!  He had NOT changed my mind, by the way.   He tells me he is coming this way in a few weeks or so, to take me to dinner.  I will believe this when the food and the drink land in front of me on the table while I’m listening to him tell me about himself in his delightful, Irish accent.  If by some miracle this actually happens, I assure you there  will be a photo to prove it. (don’t hold your breath, dear readers, I’m certainly not!)

Another dust bunny was found beneath the couch of life today.  A former neighbor growing up (we’re talking when I was very young), found and commented on a blog post of mine. Pat is his name.  He used to live next  door and after hearing about the health of another former neighbor, dear sweet Annie, decided to look up our family and track us down to say hello.   A few shared remembrances there, very pleasant ride down memory lane again.

And here I thought I’d have nothing to write about today!

Day 07 → Someone Who Has Made My Life Worth Living For

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30 Days Of Truths

Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for

I have been pondering this particular topic for days, trying to think who the one person in my life is that makes it worth living for, and this has been a difficult process.  The options are endless from my parents, siblings, kids, friends, even the ex husband.   Everyone that comes across my path in my life makes it worth living.

We are each a unique vessel sailing the sea of life.  Every ship we pass as we navigate impacts us in some way.  Some pull up along side and dock with us at various islands of experience, and others simply pass us in the water.  Some are beautiful sailing vessels, or yachts, bringing good to us.  Others are like pirate ships  with ill intent and bring pain and darkness to our journey, temporarily robbing us of our happiness.  But each ship offers something, shaping who we are today.  We have no way to measure the good in life without the bad, until we have been to the bottom of the barrel we have no clue how really high and wonderful the top can be.

There is only so much we have control over in life, and mostly that is how we react to each and every situation.  We determine how we will respond to everything, sometimes consciously and other times through conditioning, but ultimately the choice of response and what we will take away or leave behind is our own.

So, the one person that makes my life worth living for….is ME!!!  No one else, regardless of how wonderful or awful, can make the determination that life is awesome, or no longer worth living, but me, myself and I.  While many of the storms that blow up on the seas I sail are out of control, as are the beautiful sunrises and sunsets,  I can control how I will face and deal with each event.   Everything is a learning experience, sometimes I will hurt and cry, other times smile or laugh, and how I determine to see my life determines that value or worth of every person, place and thing that I encounter.

I make my life worth living for!

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