In the Zone

I'm pretty proud of myself because I created this little beauty tonight. Now, some would say that that was no big deal but I beg to differ. It took forever for me to (1) actually change my color scheme from my favorite reds to girly stuff (2) figure out what to put on a business card and (3) make the decision to make them!

I also made this!

So, I think I'm on a roll! We have flyers made for our special and I'm ready to go.

Bring on those toes of yours! I'm so ready to zone.

What's Good

Okay, I know, two posts in one day. I can't pass this one up because it came to me while I was out hiking this morning.

Robbie, my 15 year old, greets his friends with, "What's good?" instead of "Hey, what's happening?" or "How you doing?". I like it. It invites one to ponder on something positive in their life and spew forth something that's, well, good!

As I often do, I pick up lingo from my children here and there. For the first time, I decided to use his approach when I interacted with someone. I stopped at the strawberry stand on my way home yesterday. There is an asian family that owns the business and their english is a little challenged but they do as well as they can. I walked up to the stand and said, "What's good?" The man smiled at me and handed me one of the biggest, juiciest strawberries I have every experienced. It was just pure decadence.

I had stopped to buy a 6 basket-1/2 flat and ended up buying a 12 basket-full flat. They are just that good!

So there you have it. Using "what's good" opens the door for us to experience the good in everyone we greet. Not a bad way to be.

Thanks Rob! I like it!

Cards

I've never been a big fan of cards. Some people are just gah-gah over the things. Me, I just think it has become way too over rated. Hallmark makes out like a bunch of bandits! I mean, you buy a card that has someone else's ideas on it and you just sign your name to the bottom of it. How much love and thought went into that? Whatever!

Everyone that knows me knows that I just don't buy into the whole thing. When it's a birthday, anniversary or whatever, I usually call or text to send my best wishes. My dad says that he prefers my method and doesn't fret when he doesn't receive a card or anything from me. He knows that sometime during the day he's gonna get a call from me and that means a lot to him. I like that.

Yesterday was our anniversary. We had a fabulous day together. We did everything together - just the two of us and Robbie babysat the twins all day. It was my idea of bliss. I honestly say that I feel closer to that love of mine today because of the quality of time we spent together. No cards, no gifts - just the gift of time and communication.

Now, I challenge you . . . find a way to put THAT into a card and sell it! Can't happen! I'll take my way anyday, thank you very much!

When it's right it's right

There are those times in your life when you just know "it's right." Those are the times that you need to take that big gigantic first step of faith. You will probably not be able to see the whole staircase, but go ahead and take that first step. The rest will fall into place as you go.

I'm grateful for this wisdom and have recognized a lot of joy from going with my gut feeling when it felt right.

Good on me!

My 15-year-old son asked if he could do something yesterday after school. Because of what he wanted, the answer was "no". He didn't like that and launched into a full out attack on me. He swore at me in front of the twins (I asked him to please not use those words - he told me to go somewhere where it's super duper hot!), he threatened me (said he wasn't going to school and that I couldn't make him and that he was going to flunk out cuz he just don't care!) and attempted to ground me from my friends (yeah, like "no more hanging out with Nancy because you two get into too much trouble" - for the record, we are in business together, go to the temple together and exercise together - BIG trouble the two of us are!).

I held my tongue and kept myself calm (my husband always counsels me that "cool heads prevail!). I didn't engage and continued on with my responsibilities of being a mother and all the other things I'm supposed to be doing. We got home and he went into his room, slammed his door and locked himself in. I went in to check on him several hours later (uh, dinner? teenager?) only to find him completely passed out! Ok, that explains a lot!

You see, we were on vacation and got home very early in the morning on Sunday. This child of mine has gone non-stop since with his friends. He has logged in much less sleep than I and I am still struggling to get on top of it!

So this morning I wake him up from his 13 hour slumber only to be faced with my loving, sweet and helpful boy again. No sign of the monster that visited me yesterday. Not even a mention of this horrible creature.

I'm so grateful for parenting classes. Holding your tongue may well be the most difficult exhibit of self-control but the pay-off is HUGE!!!

It's all about perspective

Today I visited my chiropractor. We usually visit and chat and today was no exception. We got on the subject of politics and taxes and all the nasty stuff that goes along with all of that crud. He then told me that his wife informed him that she was going to change his attitude on taxes so that he would quit complaining about spending so much. She then went on to mention the four Oakland police officers that were shot and killed in the line of duty a couple of weeks ago. Their families and friends are forever affected by that tragedy. She then went on to remind him of the little girl that was murdered here recently and all the people affected by THAT tragedy. TAXES ARE NOT A TRAGEDY!!!

Okay, so I've been reading this blogspot on Brandilyn's list of blogs she follows called the Nie Nie Dialogues. Now, that is a tough deal that poor woman is going through. Check it out: http://www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/. She was in a near fatal plan crash and has burned a very large percentage of her body. Don't know the details but reading how she is slowly trying to figure out how to put her life together and raise her four little children (oh, and the children are afraid of her because they don't recognize her because of all her scars), go through all the painful rehabilitation and treatment and still somehow manage to maintain an upbeat attitude. Now that is a tough trial.

No, my life is pretty sweet. I am grateful every day for my little set of trials that I get to experience and, no thank you, I don't want yours!

Bed Time

What is it about bed time? Kids are always fighting us about going to bed. They constantly complain that they aren't tired when clearly they are. Besides, we need some down time and can't get it when they are awake, right?

Then there is, well, me. I put the kids to bed. I can hardly keep my eyes open but often feel that I need to stay up and do things because I'm having my "down time". Shouldn't down time be spent lying down?

I guess maybe I've just never grown up. "I don't want to go to bed. I'm not tired. (Yawn)." Well, tonight I'm breaking the cycle. I'm shutting this computer down and going to bed . . . just as soon as I check my Facebook and my email and, oh, change my Twitter status and read Brandilyn's daily blog and . . .

Money, money, money

Money seems to be the topic of the week, for our family. We are in Cabo San Lucas where everywhere you turn someone has their hand out for money. We go into a shop to admire something and they are in your face to make a deal with you. You walk down the street and someone is approaching you to get money from you. You go out on the beach to sit and watch your children play in the water and are approached numerous times to buy something or another. I am amazed at the variety of ways these people can find to turn a buck.

Then there is the challenge on the homefront. We left Brian home with his brother, Cory, for the week. Brian, being 18 years old, we felt was somewhat responsible, or at least should be somewhat responsible. We gave him $265 on Friday to cover incidentals and gas for the week while we were out of town. To any teenager that would seem like a cool amount of cash. Sunday, I get a desperate text message indicating that he has run out of funds (48 hours). I didn't have the opportunity to log onto the internet until this morning (Thursday) only to find out that he is now $250 overdrawn on his account! The kid has blown through over $500 in less than a week! Unbelieveable!

So as I view these impoverished people down here in Mexico and compare them to my out-of-control, spoiled brat teenager, I am sick to my stomach. It would definitely do my boy some good to be thrown into this culture and learn to fend for himself. What are we doing to our kids? Are we so out of touch that this is what they have come to? It sure does leave one to think.

Jillian

Today Jillian Watterson is getting married. Since she was two years old, I have been a part of her life. Sometimes (often) more than others. Her mom is the bestest friend I have ever had in the world and Jillian always used to be bestest friends with Brandilyn. They have drifted in different directions in the last couple of years but they still love each other.

I am happy for Jillian. Yeah, I AM happy for her. It has taken some adjusting, but I'm glad that she's found someone who she feels will be the perfect partner for this lifetime. You never really adjust to your little girl finding someone else and leaving you, but you learn to accept the twist and turns that life sends your way. Jillian has been like a daughter to me. I have tried to be "there" for her whenever she needed a mom kind of person in her life - and going through her teen years that was a lot.

So, this morning I will pull myself together, and head to the church. My assignment for her wedding is to assemble and serve food. I so wanted to be part of helping her plan and plot her special day but she had plenty of help from others, I guess. I will do as I did at Brandilyn's wedding and put a smile on my faceand save the tears for when she has driven away. No point making today more emotional than it already is - weddings are funny that way.

So, Jillian, I love you and wish you the best. You know where I am when you need to have some of that infamous "girl talk" that we have had over the years. Marriage is wonderful but, oh, it is such hard work just the same. Lots of give and a little take.

It's all about self-esteem, right?

"I wanna be just like you, Mom, cept smart." Yeah, that one came out of Courtney's (11 years old) mouth this afternoon.

Fast forward about three hours. I'm at home, in my dressing area, trying on a swimsuit that I just purchased for our Mexico trip. "That looks pretty on you, Mommy, cept you need a lot bigger size." Are you kidding me? Am I missing something here?

It's a dog gone good thing I have a pretty high opinion of myself lest I would find myself in a corner, fetal position, sucking my thumb, rocking back and forth and mumbling something unintelligible!!!

I'm returning the suit tomorrow and signing up for classes when we return from vacation . . .NOT!!!!! (cept the swimsuit thing, of course)

Interrupted

There is a really frustrating part of my life that I can't seem to figure out. Every single time I get a call or make a call to the princess, we get interrupted. I either have to deal with my children, I receive another phone call from, like say my husband (who gets very agitated it I don't pick up immediately), she's arriving at work or I am in a position where I have to interact with another person at the moment.

I love Brandilyn and miss her terribly. She married Dave and he whisked her away to Idaho and locked her up in that apartment of their's and makes her tend that crazy store they have. I'm still mad at him!!! (Kidding, Dave, I love you to pieces and you know it but I'm making a point here). Brandilyn and I have always had a great connection but of late that connection seems to be very fuzzy and interrupted.

I'm pretty dog gone excited that we get to spend a week in Mexico with those two (maybe Dave and Skip will let her and I have some girl time together). I am really looking forward to having a conversation with my BFF and daughter without an interruption. I can already hear it now:

Brandilyn and Mom: Yak, yak, yak, yak, yak, yak
Someone interrupting: Mom, mom, (or) Babe, babe
Brandilyn and Mom: (In unison with LOTS of volume and with angry faces) GO AWAY AND LEAVE US ALONE!!!

So, people, PLEASE! When we are on the phone together, just let us talk, already!

The Butt Kicking!

Some things I'm really grateful for this evening:

• Being home with low maintenance children tonight - I'm pretty tired
• My jammies - they have never felt more comfortable
• All the police that were so awesome on my ride today - they totally controlled traffic so we could RIDE without interruption
• My hot tub - oh how I needed that little beauty
• A healthy body and a dependable bicycle

I rode in the Cinderella Classic bike tour today. It was 65 miles - usually no big deal for me. However, the wind was obnoxious for a lot of the ride and the hills just seemed a little tougher than I remember. Backing up, I guess I should add that I have not ridden my bike AT ALL in 3+ months. Needless to say, I was a wreck by the end. I did do the whole thing and finished (because I texted Brandilyn whining about wanting to quit and she gave me a firm "texting to" and told me I COULD do it).

So will I enter in the Classic next year? You bet your bippy I will! Will I spend a little more quality time on my bike prior to the ride! Oh yeah, no doubt about it! For now though, I'm off to bed (7:00 p.m.).

Vacation will be vacation!!!

It's funny how we plan to go on vacation and get really, really, really excited about leaving. Leaving what? We are SUPPOSED to be leaving all of our stresses, worries and responsibilities behind. Right? NOT!!!

It seems that we (I) spend so much effort and time into preparing for any said trip that we work ourseslves into such a mess! By the time I get to my destination, I am worthless! Worthless, I tell you!! It's just not stinking fair.

We are leaving for Mexico on Saturday and it just has my stomach in knots. There is more than enough to do. What's even more of a stressor is that my friend is getting married the day before we leave! IN UTAH!!! Ahhhhhhhh.

There is:

• Getting bills paid
• Packing kids
• Doing laundry
• Going over the animal care instructions with my house sitter
• Packing extra stuff for the wedding in addition to my Mexico wear

What's a girl to do? Well, I have the solution. Just wing it! Yup, that's right. I'm just gonna wing it. I figure that I will do what I can do and the rest will, um, it will, uh, heck who cares??? I'll be in Mexico sitting by the pool sipping virgin pina coladas, soaking up the sun and munching on quesadillas with yummy guacamole!!! What could be better???

Saving the Day

Yesterday I went out for my lesson on Black Horse. It wasn't a typical lesson. The bull at the ranch had gotten out and my trainer, Irene, and the ranch owner, Jeanine, were trying to round the rascal up. Irene shouted, "Jody, get on that black horse of yours and help us out!" Oh yeah, I sprang into action.

One thing about my horse riding experience is that I grew up in a Western saddle. I have only dabbled in the English hunter/jumper world as of the last 8 or 9 years. I love it, but it's not where my comfort zone is by any means. So, here am I in my English saddle trotting out on Black Horse to "help out".

The bull broke through the gate and took off way the heck and gone and took the cows and calves with him. Darn booger! Black Horse was up for task - even if his rider wasn't. He was fired up! (He NEVER is fired up so this was something new for me). While Irene, Jeanine and Jen (my friend that rides on Tuesdays with me) kind of stayed back Black Horse charged on and we took off across all the fields until we came upon the herd. Like a champ, Black Horse wasn't even the slightest bit nervous about the cattle. He just trotted along behind them. I was a proud mama.

We even went straight (and I mean STRAIGHT) down in a gulley and up the other side (yes, in the English saddle, no less). We were dodging ground squirrel holes and all. He even dropped his front leg in one and plowed through it. I had to admit I was a bit nervous at first but was able to settle in and enjoy the experience.

When I got to my yoga class a bit later, I announed that I had had an "out of body experience". When I replayed my adventure my yoga instructor corrected me and said that I had had an "awesome in body experience" and that my energy was pretty amped up.

Whatever you want to call it, I don't care. It was one of the best lessons I have ever had! Black Horse, YOU ROCK!!!