Old Time Rail

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 “Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.” ~Jenkin Lloyd Jones

This quote was read at a wedding I coordinated.

Wise words for a Sunday...or any day, for that matter!

10-4, Jack

This picture of Jack made me smile when I saw it. Then I looked closer, and it made me laugh out loud. The kids were all fascinated with the walkie-talkies on our summer camping trip. Most of the time they were within ear shot of the person they were speaking with, making the device unnecessary. They still loved it! Look closely in the background. There's Pa talking to Jack on the other walkie-talkie, again, within ear shot! These two ~ thick as thieves, as they say! Pa is always up for putting in the backyard, tossing the football, shooting hoops or building a fort. Proving, once again, that children need our presence more than our presents.
That's a big 10-4, Jack!

So Much

Yes, yes I do!
How about you?

Ragnar

My daughter, she who abhorred exercise her entire life, has become a health nut complete with good eating habits, working out and running regularly. To say I am proud of her is an understatement.
Well, like the person who quits smoking or the drinker who hops on "the wagon", she has decided to plunge into fitness with both feet (no pun intended!) She found this crazy race called Ragnar. It is named after a legendary Norse ruler and hero. The photo above describes the race in a nutshell. Twelve people start out in two different vans, planning on being in those vans and in this race for almost 200 miles and 36 hours!!! Each person is given a "leg" of the relay race. These legs can be from 3 to over 8 miles. Obviously, your strongest runners are given the longer, harder legs. Each runner must complete three legs, in the same exact order. Now, any of you who have run before must realize, that is the tough part. I have never run three times in 36 hours EVER! I know I can complete a half marathon (my 12th is next month!), but, again, running three times in a day and a half is a bit daunting. In between, we will be in a van with the other runners and the driver (Search & Rescue Marko, for our van!). Sleeping, eating, changing, etc will all be under less than ideal conditions.
 Last year, over 700 teams entered the Southern CA race. 700 teams times 12 people means over 8,400 people WANTED to have experience this!! These races are run in cities all over the United States and many people run them year after year. Why would we, or anyone for that matter, do this??? Reasons may vary, but I think it is the challenge and testing yourself in ways you never dreamed. I think it is creating memories and stories that can only come from being with twelve people for 36 hours. I think it is doing something out of the ordinary. I think it is being disciplined enough and dedicated enough to want to give your best to the other eleven people on your team. I think it is being able to look back and say, "Hey, I did that!!"
I am the oldest person on our team. Some people I know well and some I have not met yet. I am related to a couple by blood. I think I will feel related to the rest by the time it is over. My son heard about this adventure and decided to enter a team of his own.
I say, the more the merrier...or is it, misery loves company?!?!?!
Biggsuzi

Where to Shop

 

HA! For many years I have heard these words from my family. "You're so hard to buy for!" With Christmas only 94 days away (yes, check it, I'm not kidding!!), I thought I'd share this funny with you. My shopping has begun, full force. I like to spread it out over time rather than run around like a crazy woman at the very end. I keep an Excel spread sheet of all the people I buy for, all the gifts and what I spend. I have for years. Yes, I know, I am crazy! Hence why the liquor store is always a good place to find my gift!! HA!
Tomorrow it will be 93 days...

A Compliment

I had a doctor's appointment this morning and afterwards they asked if I wanted my flu shot. Thanks, Kaiser, and your "one stop" shopping!! As is my nature, I chat it up with the nurses. Heck, I figure, make friends with anyone holding the needle that's about to go into your arm!
Not sure how the conversation started, but we ending up talking about food and cooking (surprise!) and feeding a family on a budget. Somehow, I ended up telling her about our family tradition at dinner called "high-low", where we all go around the table and tell the best thing that happened to us that day and the worst thing that happened to us that day. She paused and looked at me and said, "What a wonderful idea. I am so glad I met you today!" I can't remember the last time anyone said that to me. I left the office smiling.
And, PS, the shot didn't hurt a bit!

Take What You Need

Saw this...loved its simplicity...food for thought...
So, what would you grab first???

Appreciate

Saw this today and it made me stop. That damn cup and being half full or half empty, sometimes it taps me on the shoulder and sometimes it smacks me in the head. I ask myself, why is gratitude so hard? Why is seeing what isn't, easier than seeing what is? Why do the negative tapes play louder and longer in your head than the positive ones? Am I the only one who suffers from this affliction? Is there a cure?
Right here...right now...in this moment I appreciate all that I have...and I say Thank You!

Sunday Project

 The hubs was not feeling good this weekend and we didn't have much going on, so I decided to create a little project. Wood frames, usually a buck at Michaels, were on sale for 75 cents. Good start!!

 I painted it a lime, Halloween green.

 I glued on googly eyes of various sizes. I LOVE googly eyes! They just make me smile for some reason!

 I added a black ribbon and foam letters that spelled "EEK".

I plan to add a photo of my darling grandkids in their costumes this year, but you could just make it a sign that says," Happy Halloween".
A silly, Sunday project that occupied some of my time and made me happy.
Stay crafty, my friends!!

Workout

I slept terribly last night, tossing and turning, constantly waking up. Each time I woke up, I remembered the alarm was set for 6:05am so I could go for a long run before it got too hot. I started to make a mental list of excuses for not going. It was easy to find reasons for not lacing up the shoes this morning and yet I did.
I was rewarded with a cool breeze and loads of other walkers/runners/dog walkers along my route. I love that little nod you give each other acknowledging, "Hey, you're out here too. Good for you!"
Any pace...any reason...just keep putting one foot in front of the other. You will be rewarded with a feeling of well being and peace. It's amazing the solutions to problems I come up with on a run.
Happy Saturday!

Good Day

"Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day."
No, I am not turning into Pollyanna! I am just actively, consciously trying to work on finding some good in the day. I want to be that person who can see beyond the tangled mess of the moment and see the good that still exists. Cup half full...cup half empty...either way, I want to see that the cup is actually a pretty glass with no cracks! I do not preach this from the mountain top of righteousness. Rather, I put it out there for the people in my life to help me see the good. We help each other. We all win.
Sounds like a good day!

A Beautiful Mess

One of my favorite lines is from the movie, "Parenthood" with Steve Martin & Mary Steenburgen. The husband & wife are having a fight about their lives and she yells, "Yes, life is messy and I wouldn't have it any other way!" Truth is, it is messy. Roofs leak, people get sick, payments are due, kids forget homework, the laundry piles up, and on and on and on.
The trick is remembering the second part of the message ~ and it is also "oh so beautiful". At times, for me, seeing the beautiful in the mess is nearly impossible. I see the dishes in the sink, not the delicious meal we ate on them. I see when people have hurt and disappointed me and forget to notice when they delight me.
I need to remember this beautiful mess of my life and be grateful for it! Work in  progress...

Grammar Nazi

OK, I admit it, I am a Grammar Nazi. It takes every ounce of my energy not to correct people's English! When my kids were growing up, we were driving in the car once and my son said to a friend, "You'll have to excuse my mom. She corrects everyone's grammar." And I did!! The result is, my kids have excellent grammar. They speak well (not "good"). It does matter! I have met many high level executives who spoke so poorly (not poor, it's an adverb!!) that it takes away from what they are trying to say.
What has happened to our schools that they cannot teach proper English? I get crazy seeing people use the apostrophe incorrectly. Often they mean plural, not possessive. "Wacky Mom's"....Wacky Mom's WHAT?!?! You meant to say, Wacky Moms (plural)! Some things cannot be corrected by a computer. You actually have to know what you are trying to say to get it right.
Another pet peeve ~ "Where's it at???" "Where is it?" is the correct way to say it. Don't leave that preposition hanging at the end!!!
Small things with big impact! We cannot change the world by changing the adults. We change the world by changing our children. Don't forget to correct their (not there or they're) English. I promise it won't ruin their fragile self esteem. It just might make them better people!
Soapbox now put away...thanks for listening to the tirade!!

Gettin' Crafty

 We haven't put water in this fountain out front for over a decade. I put bird seed in it for a while til my husband said, "No more!! There is bird poop all over and it is making tons of weeds!" There was also a cat that was stalking the birds who tried to feed there. Not a pretty ending for one, let me tell you! Then I saw a photo of an old bird bath filled with succulents and I KNEW I had to duplicate it. I love the result and it didn't cost me a penny! That's the beauty of succulents. You can break off and borrow from plants you already have to make new arrangements. Reduce, renew, recycle! It is right outside the dining room window and I get to look out each morning and appreciate its beauty.

I am happiest when I am busy and being creative.

I Love What I Do

 I was privileged last night to coordinate a 50th wedding anniversary party at the beautiful venue called "The Villa". Here is the entrance to this amazing courtyard and house.

 We worked with a gold theme for the 50th and carried it throughout including the gold chargers and the gold manzanita trees sprinkled with orchids for centerpieces.

 To me, what really makes a party memorable is to bring in special touches that reflect the couple, the event, the theme, etc. We decorated each room of the house with family photos, chalkboards with sayings about marriage, and even the couple's own golf clubs in the living room.

 Their first date was at a soda fountain for a Coke, so we greeted guests with a vintage Coke cooler filled with old fashioned bottled Coke. Did you know you know you can buy these little bottles at Target? Thanks for the tip, EB!

Additions to the bathroom included black & white photos of the couple, monogrammed hand towels, moss covered initials hanging from hooks and floating candles.
There were many other special touches, like photo pillows on the outside benches, over 100 votive candles throughout the house, chocolate "50" suckers for guests as their take-home treat and a huge chalkboard with "fun facts" about the couple ~ how they met, first date, etc.
It was a lot of work. I was on my feet for 10.5 hours yesterday. I feel so lucky to be creative, make people smile AND get paid for it!!

All Black

This may not bring a smile to your face, but it did to mine! The heat is killing me and my running routine. I pray for cooler days, or at least cooler mornings or evenings so I can get the shoes on the pavement. More miles = less crabby. It's just that simple!

Ashes to Ashes, but Where??

Recently, the conversation turned to where we would like our ashes scattered. At first, I said, "Nordstrom dressing room #2." Actually, that is the me I used to be, not the me I am today. I rarely shop anymore and only if it is for something specific, not sport. Age has finally shown me that buying, especially OVER buying, is useless and not fulfilling.
 It has given me pause to consider this. I know I do not want to be buried in the ground with the hopes that people will come and "see" me. So, where do I want my ashes scattered? I think I'd like to be divided up among a few places. I enjoy the beach, so a little out there would be nice. I have loved family camping at Convict Lake, so some of me can be tossed there, either the lake or space #43. So much entertaining has gone on at our house for the last 28+ years, a little of me should remain in the dirt in the yard. But, where else? Maybe each person who is still here can take a part of me and scatter it where they love. That way, they will think of me when they visit their favorite spot. What could be better?
They say we truly cease to exist when the last person who knew us or knew of us, no longer says our name. As long as there is someone who still talks about us, remembers us or ponders our life, we remain, somehow, a part of this world.
So, where would you like to be scattered? Interesting question...
Biggsuzi

Please Tip Your Waitress

One of my favorite things is to go out for breakfast. I think it is a messy meal to prepare at home and everything has to finish at the exact same time. Bleech!! Too much work, even for a happy cook like me. Today found us at one of our favorite breakfast spots, Ruby's. Generally, Ruby's waitresses are pretty young girls. Ours was not. She was probably in her early 40s. I could tell when she first came up, apologizing for the wait, that she was harried. We ordered and relaxed. Suddenly, I could tell my husband was honing in on the conversation behind us. I kept asking what was going on and he told me to wait as they were about to leave.
Apparently, this man was upset because the menu stated a "3 egg" omelet and he was convinced it was a 4 egg omelet. It was false advertising he told the waitress. We Americans eat too much and are way too fat, he told her. The manager even came over and offered to comp the meal. He said no, he just wanted her to know the menu was wrong. Mind you, he was not cheated out of food, but given MORE than he anticipated and this, somehow, made him angry! Couldn't he just eat part of the omelet and leave the rest? No, he had to make a big stink about it. He later recalled the manager over and told her, yes, he did want her to comp the meal! The poor waitress stood by silently watching her tip shrink for something that was totally beyond her control.
Then, there was a gentleman standing next to our booth. Our same waitress came up to him and apologized as she handed him the check. She said she didn't know what happened and was so sorry. He had been a solo diner, left to go to the bathroom, and when he returned, they had cleared away his remaining food and seated other people in his booth! He had not even paid for his meal! Again, the waitress could feel her tip disappear!
When she brought out our food, I said, "Boy, you are having quite a tough morning!" She stopped, looked at me and almost started to cry. She said some days are just that way. I said dealing with the general public can be rough. People are often rude and demanding (moi included!) but she should hang in there!
After we were finished eating, she came by and said, "Thank you for noticing and saying something to me. It made me feel better." She brought me a "to go" iced tea in the largest cup they had!
I left a BIG tip!!!
Be nice...it matters!!! And sometimes, you don't know just how much it does matter.

More Camping

 And we did...