Can't please them all

This is going to be a bit of a rant. This is the only place to do it because some of my family members are on Facebook so I can't rant there :)
Any one else struggle to make EVERYONE happy for Christmas? To contort yourself in a box to make others happy or satisfy some one else? Come on, raise your hand..You know you want to!

Over the last several years, we have had our whole family Christmas celebration (4 brothers wives kids etc) a week before Christmas to accommodate one family my youngest brothers family. They have the only small kids left in the family so a few years ago my sister in law said she did not want to take the kids two places so they would not be joining us on Christmas eve or Christmas day. Now I understand wanting to create your own traditions with your kids and have family time. It is super important. But she will not concede any time for us over time with her family.  And apparently, she wears the pants in her family.
So, I changed the date for the family gig from the 19th to Christmas eve to better suit the majority of the family. We extended an invite but they declined because the kids are in a Christmas play at church in the evening and it would be too much for them to spend the morning with us and church at night. (Don't get me started on having Christmas programs on Christmas eve at church) My sister in law's comment was, do what you need to do, our feelings won't be hurt. What she fails to realize is it hurts our feelings she does not seem to want to be with us. And my brother really needs to grow a pair, seriously.
 I can no longer extend and change and contort our entire family's Christmas for the sake of one who will not bend or come our way at all.
So, you can't make them all happy and I have be ok with that and quit trying.

That's all

In the Christmas swing

I cannot believe it is the 8th of December already! I am just getting into the Christmas swing. I have done a little cookie baking with a boatload more to do. My cookie gift list has grown this year so I hope I can get it all done.

I have no desire to wrap presents or send out Christmas cards this year. I am not sure why on the cards either because this is the first year we took a photo and put it on Christmas cards. I think it is because I hate the picture of me. The hubs is soooo excited about it though so I had better get with it.

I am hosting our family Christmas on the 18th and am so not prepared. Don't have a meal plan or time. The hubs wants to go duck hunting that day so I am trying to find a compromise for a situation one is not likely. I am guessing I will do the cooking and he will be home in time to eat with us. I don't know.

I hope everyone else is enjoying the Christmas season and faring better than me. I am getting in the swing but it has been a slow process so far.

That's all

Christmas Songs

I visited a blog yesterday that the topic was Christmas songs you can't live without this year. I love Christmas music and have been known to start listening to it in October. I did not do that this year though, I started my Christmas music listening  December 1st.
She listed her top 11, not sure why 11 is the number but I am game.:)  Here is mine.

Boots, The Killers. This is a pretty cool song and I love the Killers.  
      

Linus and Lucy, Vincent Guaradli Trio. This song makes me feel happy and is such a classic.


Blue Christmas, Elvis. 


Silver Bells, Reliant K. I like this band's version.


Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt.  NO Madonna version for me, Eartha Kitt does it best.


Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent, Red Mountain Church.


Oh Holy Night, Il Divo. These men do this song right.

 A Cradle in Bethlehem, Nat King Cole. What a smooth voice this man had.


Frosty the Snowman, The Ronettes


Go Tell it on the Mountain, Need to Breathe


I'm Gett'n Nuthin for Christmas, Reliant K...LOVE THIS SONG

I really could go on and on. I have a huge range of songs and taste when it comes to music in general so Christmas music is no different.

Hope you check them out if you have not heard them.  I would love to know what your favorites are this year.

That's all

Changing directions

I think I started this blog about a year ago or more. I started it for me as an outlet and off shoot after another blog blew up. So much drama there I named my blog life with out the drama. But I am ready to head a different direction. Because really, there is some drama in every life including mine. None lately really but it is there. So I hope to blog more just tidbits and ramblings and things that make me go hmmmm..

So, for my first useless fact I give you this: Honey is the only food that does not spoil. Archaeologists have found honey in tombs of ancient Egyptians, has been tasted and found to be edible. (From the website 50 amazing but useless facts)
Probably equally as useless I love honey. I prefer orange blossom honey. Seedless Mandarin orange growers in California have been in a battle with beekeepers over bees in their orange groves. The reason? The fear of cross pollination with seedless and seeded varieties of oranges. I would hate to see the bees not be able to pollinate the orange trees because then where would I get my orange blossom honey? Florida. I guess.

That's all.

High Tea

My friend sponsored a table for a high tea to raise money for the local pregnancy care center. She has done this for years and every year, her tables are the best. This year she went with a pink and blue theme. After all, it is all about babies and her daughter is expecting her first.
So, she and I went to a place here in town called color me mine. We spent 6 hours (yes 6 hours) last Saturday painting the dishes, cups and tea pots. Here a few photos. The round dishes were pink polka dot, the square plates blue polka dot. The last photo is of our finished table. It was fun and funky. A bunch of the tables were decked out for Christmas and way too fancy for my taste. I think if they gave a prize for the best table, it would have been ours. :)
It was a great cause and neat to hear how the pregnancy care center helps women from all walks of life and age.

Thank you.

Today is Veterans Day. They one day specifically set aside to remember those who have fought for our country.

I live with a veteran. My husband was in Viet Nam. I can not imagine what it must have been like for an 18 year old to be drafted; to do what he did, see what he saw. He was honorably discharged after his tour was up took all his stuff including 2 purple hearts and threw them in the trash dumpster and never looked back. He rarely talks about his experiences and I don't push. I mean how could I really understand anyway the hell and horrors of war?

So today all I can say is thank you to my husband and to all the veterans who have served our country in various places and too many wars. May we never forget them.

Wordless Wednesday Glacier Bay

Halloween 2010

Here are my boys dressed for Halloween. Pete HATES it when I put anything on him so this is his pissed off I am going to kill you look. Sparky does not mind too much. They stayed dressed up for as long as it took to take the photos. then off with the bandannas!!

My little man is sick. I am heart sick. We found out last week he has lymphoma a fairly common cancer in mini schnauzers. The vet said his survival is likely 4-6 weeks with out chemo. We are not going to do chemo because lets face it, he is still just an animal. And who can afford doggie chemo anyway? He has been a good friend to me and we won't let him suffer. He is ok today and I guess that is good enough.
But my heart? it hurts.

Weirdo Wednesday.

This is my little weirdo Pete. He likes to lay on his back with a smile on his face. This is the first time he was laying on his back against the couch though and I thought it was funny.
He is a strange one, but then so am I!

Autumn begins

Today is considered according to the calender, the first day of Autumn. I say "considered by the calender" because we are expecting a warm up this weekend with the predicted temperature 97 for Saturday, Sunday and Monday..nice. We will probably endure another 30 days of pretty warm weather.

So I will think happy thoughts for cooler weather as we enter my favorite time of year. Here are a few things I enjoy about fall.

Cooler Weather...eventually :) Rain and stormy weather means a fire in the fireplace which I love.

The return of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice lattes and all the fall and Christmas flavors.

Decorating my house for fall. I don't decorate for halloween but love to put up my fall decorations. I love the colors of fall I guess that is why.

Going back to Standard time instead of Daylight savings. I am not a fan of daylight savings, it goes on too long.

College football on Saturday. I am a college football junkie. I will watch every game televised if I get the chance.

Those are a few things about fall and autumn I am looking forward to, what about you?

Wordless Wednesday

A view from above

More Alaska!

it has been a little over three months since our trip to Alaska. I still can not get over how incredibly blessed we were to take this trip. I look at my photos and remember what we did and I smile.

These photos are from the really fun and most memorable event on our trip. We took an airplane ride to the Ruth Glacier and the base of Denali. The plane pictured above, is a 1964 deHavilland Beaver. Which is a fairly rare float type plane used for glacier landing and getting hunters and fishermen to out of the way places. It was a 90 minute plane ride from Talkeetna to the glacier. The ride was a bit like a rollercoaster and the flight deck was 8 thousand and we climbed to 13,000 feet to escape the turbulence.
The views were spectacular from the plane! These two are just a couple from the air, but I will post more. It was the most incredible thing I have done or seen. The views made my heart ache from the sheer beauty of what I was seeing. The one photo is of Denali, the other was a another peak whose name I can not remember. The plane photo is on the glacier itself and the shadow is our plane descending to land on the glacier.

Truly, an experience of a life time.

Lost

Lost: Motivation. If found please return in good condition with a dose of inspiration too. K? Thanks.

I have been highly unmotivated in nearly all aspects of my life right now. I have 6 weeks until the half marathon and have run once in 2 weeks.

I have not put a new post up here in almost a month.

I don't want to cook or clean or work.

I blame it on the heat. I am worn out by the hot weather and it has completely zapped my motivation to do anything.

So if you find my motivation, please, for the love of God....send it back!!!

The Beach

Here are a few photos of my beach excursion this weekend. The first one is from our hotel room looking out on the wharf towards Monterey. This particular hotel has been here for ages and is the only one actually right on the beach. We slept with sliding door open so we could hear the ocean, it was awesome.

The second and third are night shots and day shots of the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk. It was pretty packed with people during our visit but it was not "Disneyland" packed where you could not move at all. I think this place is not as popular because it does have less to do there and is smaller. But I don't care, this town, this place is going home for me so it was definitely a walk down memory lane for me.

I did not do as well in the race we ran as I had hoped. There were 15,000 participants! It is customary for walkers or slower runner to be in the back. This was not the case and it was basically a free for all. It is really hard to pass people sometimes and I wore myself out just trying to get free of all the people and get a pace and rhythm. The cool thing though there we about 40 different bands playing all different kinds of music on the course. Punk rock, bagpipers, reggae, beach boy music, you name it someone probably was playing it.

Overall the weekend was a blast. It was fun to go to my home town again. I am doing my best not to let my disappointment in my race finish color the entire weekend. Looking at these pictures, makes me want to go back...soon.

Water

Water, water every where in all different looks and forms!





I have been looking over my Alaska photos and there is one common thing that runs through most of the photos, I seem to be obsessed with water. Of course there is water in some form every where you turn so it is not hard to have water be your subjected.

Here are four different water photos for your viewing pleasure! The first photo is of Emerald Lake (big surprise on the name) and it is actually in the Yukon Territory in Canada. The lake was perfectly still while we were there and I loved the clouds and trees reflected in it. Some mineral(the names escapes me) causes the water to look so green.

The second photo is of ice. Breakup had not occurred in many areas so there were quiet a few lakes and streams still covered or partially covered in ice.

The third photo is just of a random body of water but I liked how it looked with the trees and clumps of grass.

The fourth? I think that it is the Susitna river. A river in Alaska that is pretty well known for the fact that all 5 species of salmon run the river. There were places the river was huge, but this is a small fork of it.

So you can see, I am fascinated with water in all its various forms.

I apologize if the formatting is off or weird..I really don't know what the heck I am doing, I just wing it you know?

What is it?

Well, since you asked, I will tell you. This is an aerial view of what is called a braided river. On our Alaska trip, we took a small plane ride. (saving those details for another post). I was intrigued by the river viewed from up high. This is a glacier fed river that is currently frozen. Glacier fed rivers not only bring down water from the glacier but rocks and sediment. When a finger of the river fills with so much sediment and rock that the water can not pass, it creates another channel for the water. So it is a random braided sequence of the water and rocks coming down the mountain and quiet beautiful in its own way. And you can not really see the beauty of it unless you see it from above.
To me some how this is what life is like. Certain parts and places of our lives get choked off with frustrations, anger, just stuff. You thing your life is going one way and it is a dead end then you have to navigate new waters. You have to find the way to push through, let go and create a new channel so that life flows again.
All the twists, turns and changes and decisions we make may not seem like much when we are in the midst of them. But from above them they are a beautiful maze, each one different from the other making us who and what we are.

Wordless Wednesday...Denali aka Mount McKinley

Ok, so not so wordless after all. Denali or Mount McKinley is only visible about 20% of the time. At 20,300 feet give or take, the mountain creates its own weather so it is usually shrouded in clouds. We were lucky, we had a clear and pristine view of the mountain our entire trip....Which, by the way was a trip of a lifetime. Will share more later but for now, here is Mount Denali in all her glory and splendor.

that's all.

Mother's Day

I am surrounded with some quality women in my life. I have some great friends and sister in laws. And I have also met some really awesome bloggy women too. These women are stay at home moms, retired ladies, full time working moms, students, so many types of women. Each one has wonderful gifts, talents and are beautifully unique. And to top it off, they are great mothers.

So to each one I want to say, I am glad you are in my life, you have made an impact on me through your friendships and by the way you love your kids, sacrifice for them, and some days, not beat them within an inch of there lives..lol .

You each have my deep respect and I honor each of you today.

Happy Mother's day to you all. Maybe you be esteemed, loved and honored by your families today..you are the heartbeat of your homes. ♥

Monday

I know I have ignored this blog way to long. But hopefully I am back! It has been a busy last month getting my besties daughter's wedding ready to go. And it went off with out a hitch on Saturday. The weather was perfect, the bride the most beautiful I have ever seen and nothing but perfection was achieved. It was so much hard work leading up to it, especially for my friend. But the payoff was Saturday evening and I know it was well worth the work.
Looking forward to some other things in the offing for me and the hubs and maybe some weekends that are not so busy. Of course now, training begins.....

That's all

Suz

Wordless Wednesday

I will be here.. on Friday and Saturday. Can't.wait.

Baseball season

This photo is of Candlestick park aka: At&t park aka:?? I don't even know what they call it anymore but the San Francisco Giants play here. This is obviously taken from the water. I used to be a rabid baseball fan. Watched and followed the Giants and A's. I kind of lost interest with the Barry Bonds thing. I have never been to a pro game but I hope to visit this stadium this year. It really is something else to see.

So come on spring and go Giants!

Almost wordless Wednesday

I know this is pretty much a lousy picture. But I am so excited my hydrangeas are growing. They are one of my favorite flowers and my plant growth looks good this year.

R.S.V.P. & Thank you

R.S.V.P.
In planning this wedding shower for my besties daughter, I realize that good manners are not easily come by. When asked to respond by a specific date for the shower in which 40 were invited, 10 responded to me. 18 responded to the brides mother via text, facebook personal contact etc. The rest? Nothing at all. I am amazed at people's lack of courtesy in replying a timely manner for what is a catered tea and a firm number is needed. Second, responding to the brides mom rather than the person on the invitation. My bestie ended up calling some of these guests which defeats the purpose. I guess I will be sure next time I am invited to an event I take the time to respond appropriately.

THANK YOU
Another lost art in my opinion, is a thank you card for a gift given. Last Christmas we sent my nephew a camp stove. Not a cheap gift by any means, cost us $120.00! We never heard from he or his wife if they liked it or not. It really hurt our feelings as we spent more on him than anyone else and knew it was something they wanted for camping. Still, to this day since Christmas 08, not a word. So guess what? No gift this last Christmas for them we just sent a card. I love to invest in my nieces and nephews, but I will not continue to if I am not given at least a simple thank you.

So tell me, am I taking an unreasonable stance or do I have a leg to stand on here?

The Mountains

This was my view on the drive home from work yesterday. Not my exact view as I did not take this photo, but you get the general idea. Most days, the Sierra's are clouded over and you can't see them, forget they are there. In the summer when it is smoggy and hot, you never see them. But when it is a clear day they are so beautiful and majestic. Spring days are the best, the air is clear and they stand so tall and unimaginably beautiful and they beckon me.

I am a mountain girl. not necessarily a snow person but I love the mountains. The serenity and quiet in the hills just brings me peace and making me happy. I miss living in the mountains among all the wild things. I hate having neighbors so close you can practically hear everything that goes on in their homes and yards.

The central Sierra's are about a 45 minute drive from my home and I don't go up nearly enough. I have not been to Yosemite in many many years. Time to change that and get back to places that I love. All the little back roads, creeks and hidden places I have not seen in a long time. While I can not live up in the mountains right now, a visit is definitely in order.

that's all

Wordless Wednesday..with the words

Ok, I have not done a wordless Wednesday before, not sure I will do one again, who knows. But we had this conversation at Fellowship awhile ago and I got online and bought some Chicago style pizzas! The UPS dude thought I was kind of weird having pizza delivered but so what, I am weird so there you go!
If I can not go to Chicago, it is going to have to come to me.lol. I have found this to be pretty good but probably not as good as at the pizza place or delivered.

Beef...it is not for dinner Lou Malnati's is! lol

That's all

American..Hero??

I just read that Scott Roeder was found guilty of first degree murder in the killing of abortion doctor George Tiller. I also read in News Week there are some in the pro life community that hail Scott Roeder as an American Hero. Really? I Don't think so.

This is what I wonder, how can you justify a life for a life? He took a life in order to save a life, how is that morally ok? Who is gets to decide one life is worth more than another? He thinks Tiller is a murderer, what does that make him? Explain that to his wife and children that his life is worth less? And the woman who Dr. Tiller would be treating, will just have to travel farther, pay more but in the end, the will have their abortion so did Mr. Roeder really do anything other than kill a man in the name of murder.

Incidentally, I am pro life. As an adopted child from the late 60's I am thankful my birth mom chose to give me life and let me go. I do not judge nor have I ever been in a position where I had a decision to make about the fate of an unborn child. It has to be an excruciating choice.

Please, don't hate. This is just my little corner to say my thing. And I think there is a place to agree to disagree. But make no mistake, Scott Roeder is NO American hero, he is a murderer.

That's all

Stepping out

It could be fair to say I am not a great friend. I have a hard time maintaining relationships with women. Partly because I don't have kids, I lack that one big relational thing that 99% of women do. Now don't get me wrong, I love my friends kids. I ask about them, we talk about them I am invested in many of their lives. Yet that particular connection of pregnancy, child rearing etc. is not there. Most of the time women wear me out. Or should I say women who use me as a dumping ground for their stuff wear me out. I can no longer do it and I avoid those friends who are dumpers. A vent now and again, hey I do that too but dumpers... no thanks! And a big group of women gives me the hebejebes. All chatty and..whatever. I feel like I just don't fit, so I don't. I have even gone to church retreats and thought, what am I doing here with all these ladies..hmm.

So Imagine my surprise when I felt led to host a bridal shower for my dearest friends daughter! It will be most likely a large affair, and hopefully I can pull it off. I can organize pretty well, my friend and the bride will have a tremendous amount of input. But I can't believe I did it, this is WAY outside my comfort zone and I will have all these ladies to deal with...Yikes. Just not my cup of tea. But for my friend it will be worth it. She has been the best, easiest, least work of any friendship I have had in all my years. She is loyal and true and so is her daughter. So I am going to suck it up for two of the most awesome ladies I have ever met. I am sure I will learn something about myself it the process. And maybe I will find some new way to relate to and enjoy the company of women.

Wish me luck..

That's all.

Sweet Lemonade Award

Ok, So Sandy at Say What and Tracy at COFB both nice enough to pass along my first award to me..Does it count as two? lol. Thanks ladies, very sweet of you♥

1. I remember birth dates, anniversaries, kids birthdays of nearly everyone I know even kids from elementary school.

2. The best job I have ever had was teaching swimming lessons when I was a teenager. Only had 1 kid out of easily 100's of kids I taught that I could never get to pick it up.

3. I drive a forklift at work very regularly and stun most of the male truck drivers. Chauvinists!

4. Part of me wishes we had never returned to California from Oregon. I miss the river fishing and hunting with my husband.

5. I am still learning that I need to think before I speak. And sometimes, to not say anything at all is really is the best answer.

5.1 It took me 30 minutes to figure out how the bloody hell add the photo at the top of the post. Yeah I am a little slow at this blog stuff.

5.2 Because no one IRL knows that I have a blog, I think everyone I know at fellowship has been tagged for this, but here is two that I did not see. So with that, I pass this award on to these two lovelies!

Shana at Serendipity

Jeannette at And on today

Sparky

My youngest fur kid is 5 today. Sparky, he is the salt and pepper one on the left. I thought he would not make it past one! He chewed and chewed and destroyed to the point I could have killed him! I would say he is in to me 10,000 dollars in damage between the carpet, the chairs and the furniture! Boy that was a hard first year! He has turned out to be such a good boy.
He is definitely the breed standard. Playful, smart, loud and has his own yodel language to greet me when I come home. He is always happy see me. He knows the names of his toys and goes and gets them if you call them by name. His favorite is Bob, a wiener dog toy that squeaks. He loves to be in my lap at all times. He is mama's boy for sure!
I know pets are not people, but this little pet has been a joy and a fun part of my life. So happy birthday little buddy, there will be presents and ice tonight after diner! lol...