Sun Shine Day

"The well of nature is full today. Time to go outside and take a drink."
~Diane Ackerman, poet and naturalist

It's a beautiful Friday. Almost criminal to be indoors on a day like this. I certainly feel punished ;0)

Today is the last day of school for my son...I think when I am done with work I will grab him and we'll go get an Aggie ice cream (our first of the summer!). I'm sure since it's so nice out they will be superbusy, but it we'll be able to enjoy our dips outside on their patio.

Hope you all can take advantage of the great weather this weekend and have some fun out of doors. Enjoy y'all!!!

Am I Blue?

Caught a bad case of the blues....hate being in a funk like this.....gotta claw my way outta "the dark side".....sigh.

Delicate Etiquette

I had a somewhat embarassing situation happen to me yesterday. A guy I don't know came into my office to ask some questions about job openings. When I looked up from my paperwork to help him, I noticed that he had a big ol' boogie hanging from his nose. I tried not to stare, but yet didn't want to seem rude by NOT looking him in the eye. I didn't say anything to him about it and after he left I got to thinking: how do you tactfully tell someone you don't know that they have a booger? Or do you not tell them? The same goes for zippers...if you happen to notice someone with their fly open, what do you say? This is all quite easily solved if the other person happens to be a friend. I have no qualms about mentioning to friends that they are in need of a tissue or that their zipper has come undone. But to say something like that to a stranger is a bit uncomfortable for both parties.

Wednesday....hump day. It feels very much like a Tuesday since I had Monday off. Short week at work - yay! Friday is my son's last day of school for the 07-08 year. He can't wait to sleep in. I think I will play hookey for a couple hours Friday and take him to lunch. Maybe Chinese....or Thai....yummy :0)

Get out there and sieze the day!

Memorial Weekend

Ah, another delightful Memorial Day weekend has come and gone. And it never ceases to amaze me that tons of people insist on spending the 3 day weekend trapped in a camper with the rest of their family while it rains the entire time. Don’t get it. Not my idea of a good time. Why go through all the pain and expense (especially this year with the ridiculous gas prices!) of packing up your fam to head into the great outdoors to sit crammed into a trailer or tent while it rains? Lack of personal space creates lack of patience. Isn’t the point of camping to spend time OUTSIDE?? My train of thought is I can enjoy family time in my house where if we get on each others nerves at least there is more room to spread out and maintain some semblance of sanity. Don’t get me wrong here, I love to camp; I love to be tromping around the forest and fishing. Wish I did more of it. Maybe this summer…… :0)

Hope everyone had a great time over the weekend…I particularly hope that you all took the time to remember WHY we celebrate Memorial Day and thanked a vet for his or her service to this wonderful country of ours. Without their sacrifices, we’d be nothing. So thanks to all the service members, past and present….HOOAH!!!!

Twisters!!!!!

So yesterday a tornado roared thru northeast Colorado and left a large path of devestation, most of which is in Windsor. We’re not talking about the relatively small twisters that they get in this area every so often; no, this was monster….3/4 to a mile wide. Huge storm. Big damage. They’re spectulating at least an F3. (One this size hit my dad’s small hometown in southeast Colorado last March ) The funnel made a direct hit on my company’s headquarters in Greeley. In the last picutre, you can see it....there are 2 buildings on the left side of the picture, which are the State Farm Insurance company buildings…you can see a small corner of our headquarters peeking out from the left side of the funnel. As of yesterday afternoon all we know is that the roof was ripped off. Still waiting for word as to how bad the structural damage actually is. The houses, the cars, the dishes, furniture, clothing…ultimately, they are just material things; they can be replaced. They things that matter most aren’t things at all – they’re our family members and loved ones. And by the grace of God, most everyone escaped death…only one fatality. Events like this sure puts life into perspective for you , doesn’t it.

Friends

"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand,
nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship;
it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when
he discovers that someone else believes in him
and is willing to trust him."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have the best girlfriends in the world. They are all strong, caring, intelligent, wonderful women who inspire me each and every day. I can’t imagine what I would do without their support and encouragement. Through good times and tragedy I know I can count on them. They’re more than just friends, they’re family. Here’s to you, girls! Wishing you all long life, health and happiness.

Blustery Day

It's a wet, windy blustery day out today. Guess I better get used to it...it's gonna be here a while (at least 'til Tuesday, according to the weathermen). Good weather for chili for dinner :0)

So the weekend didn't quite go as planned...due to a communication gap my youngest daughter, Ciera, ended up not coming on Saturday. We had a nice time anyway, but I was very much looking forward to having her come. Sunday was SOOOO stinking hot! WoW! Going from 60's and 70's to mid-90's in 2 days is hard on the system. Whew!!

Last night (Tuesday), we all went to Ciera's graduation. It was a nice ceremony and had a really great speaker (Mr. Scott Berger, one of the science teachers. I had a hard time keeping my tears in check....I'm so proud of her!! Way to go honey!! Onward and upward.

You all have a great day and try to keep your powder dry.

TGIF!!!

Let's hear it for Friday everyone...YAY!!!!!!! And I get a special treat...not only is it Friday, it's payday, it fabulous weather outside AND we're only working 1/2 day today - yee haw! Being as how I am in desperate need of flowers in my flower beds (and really wanting to plant some strawberries this year) I am heading to the nursery as soon as I am finished with work. I've been dying to plant something for weeks but the weather has just not cooperated...too rainy and too cold.

I need to give a big shout out to my friend Darla....she's working on a personal goal of running 2 miles today. She has been working soooo hard to get there and I know she can do it. You go girlfriend! I know you can hit the 2 mile mark!!!!

Going out for a belated birthday dinner for my hubby with a bunch of friends. I'm not too crazy about the resturant that was chosen as I have not heard very good things about their food or the service. Comments like "you just have to know what to order" don't exactly inspire confidence in their menu. If I'm going out to eat I'd like to know that pretty much everything on the menu is good. I don't know...we'll see.

My dad-in-law, oldest dauther and her hubby and hopefully my youngest daughter are all coming tomorrow for a family day. I'm excited to see them and spend time hanging out. Maybe we can go play laser tag or rock climb while they're here.

You all have a great weekend and make every minute count!

Birthday Boy

Celebrating a birthday today…..the love of my life, my best friend and hero, my husband Steve. I know last year he said he’d be going backward until he hit 21 again, so I guess we’re the same age now (lol). He’s still the “grown-up” in the relationship, though…I act like I am still 12 a lot (you’re never too old for Play-doh and Scooby Doo), so it’s good that he can get me to act my age and I can get him to be a kid sometimes. We balance each other out, I think….kind of that whole “yin and yang” thing. We’ve been married almost 16 years and he still makes my liver quiver. I am very blessed to have such a wonderful man to share my life with. Love you much honey XOXOXO

Just enjoy

I am truely blessed to live where I do - I have the awesome beauty of the Rocky Mountains within walking distance. My favorite short walk is the 1/2 mile to the mouth of the canyon where the river flows out and down into the valley. If I look carefully while I'm on the bridge, I can spot a few rainbow trout swimming by. As I ran the MC yesterday, I jogged the trail that runs north and south along the middle of the mountain, which I've never done before. I'm not sure how far I jogged each way, but I went as far south as the trail went before being gated off for private farmland...I'm guessing that it was a good 1/2 mile at least. Then I turned around and jogged back as far north as the trail went and I found myself at the edge of the mountainside looking down into the canyon entrance with the river far below. It was breathtaking. I think I will take the camera along with me next time and get some pics. If I go late enough, by the time I get up there it will be close to sunset..that will make some fabulous pics (if I don't screw them up!)

All you Idol watchers will probably agree with me that Syesha was brilliant last night. And yet the judges continue to slam her. I don't get it. I think tonight will come down to Syesha and David Cook. As much as I like Archuletta, I don't think he's as talented as the other two. We'll see how America called that 3-man race.

Tonight is Game 5 between the Jazz and the Lakers. At LA....yuck. That's gonna be tough for our guys to pull out a win in LA, but they've done it in the regular season so at least we know we can do it. Boozer needs to step up his game....alot. He's stuggled with shooting in the post season but tonight he needs to bring it in a big way. And did anyone catch the Spurs game last night?! Good lawzy...the Hornets sure had it out for Tony Parker...wow! He took a beating - literlly - all night and the refs seemed not to care. He hit the floor more times last night than I can count. I know the home team ususally gets the calls but come on...seriously. The next game in that series could get real ugly.

Gonna be another awesome day...full of sun so everyone enjoy to the max!!!
And GO JAZZ!!

It's Tuesday

It's looking very much like a good day to hit the MC. That is if my knee will cooperate....after my 1.5 mile run this morning it ended up with IcyHot on it (hate that smell!!)and wrapped up. I'm sure my office already smells like it and the odor will trail me everywhere I go today....why keep that lovely aroma to myself?? (haha)

I can't believe that school will be out for the summer in a matter of weeks. Boy did that go fast! I hope to spend more time in the mountains doing some hiking this year, maybe spend a couple days in Yellowstone, definately hang out at the lake with the fam...I need to be cloned so one of me can go to work and the other can stay home and enjoy the summer.

I asked around at work about the little blue birds that have popped up in my yard the last few days...no one seems to know what they are either, but they have seen them as well. I'll have to contact the bird people at the nature center and see if they have an idea. They're sure cute.

Okay, pics....at the bottom is the MC and the road I run up to it, then my little blue friends, and I'm throwing in a pic of the blooms on my son's peach tree, which is LOADED with blossoms....I have a sneaking suspicion that we're going to have peaches out our ears this fall :0)

Make it a good day y'all!!!

Did I mention?

You know, I don't think I mentioned that I passed my final exam in my Anatomy and Physiology class...with a "B". AND I also ended up with a big ol' fat "B" for my final grade. Not bad for an old lady who hasn't been in a classroom since high school. Woo hoo!! Doin' the happy dance!!! Up next on the education plan....phlebotomy and CNA classes.

Nice weekend. Ate WAYYYYY too much yesterday. I figure one day of "pigging out" won't kill me, although I certainly notice my pants are a smidge tighter today. Better kick up the jogging a bit...I'll be tacking the MC a couple times this week, as long as the weather cooperates. Last week the road was okay, but there were a couple puddles you could have lost a '72 Buick in.

Noticed a couple new birds in our trees this morning...they're sooo pretty! They are small like Finches, but they are blue with kind of a peachy-pink chest. There were about 8 of them in the plum tree eating the seed bell I put out. I mangaged a couple pics of them, which I will put up later. Along with the MC pic, and the booster rocket pics....procrastinating a bit on the camera dump. Sorry.

Make good choices and have a wonderful afternoon!

Splish Splash

Still raining....I think I must have been transported to Seattle in my sleep because it just won't quit raining!!! My lawn is going to be sooo dang long I will need a swather to cut it with!! I'll bale it up and sell it...make some extra money (ha ha ha).

I ran 2 miles yesterday...woo hoo! The down side is that it was on my treadmill instead of outdoors. It's harder to use the treadmill once you start walking/running outdoors...you have things to look at while you walk outside that helps the distance go faster. And the sun, the fresh air is wonderful for the soul after a LONG winter.

My Jazz are playing the evil Lakers at home tonight. The Delta Center will be packed to the rafters with rabid fans cheering their team on to victory (hopefully!) I was really excited to hear that American Idol contestant David Archuletta was invited to sing our national anthem tonight during the pregame...more reason to watch. But my bubble has been burst on that front...it seems that Idol told ESPN, who is showing tonight's game, that while young David could in fact sing, they COULD NOT TELEVISE IT. David is their "property" and it would give him an unfair advantage in the contest to have that kind of exposure. So we'll have to wait for the snippett they'll show next week on Idol. Oh well. GO JAZZ!!!!!

Have a great weekend and a wonderful mom's day y'all!!

Rain Rain

It rained most of the day yesterday so no outdoor run for me :0( Where I usually run is 95% dirt and gravel road, which promptly turned into a muddy mess. I was really looking forward to tackling the MC again but alas it was not to be. Maybe tomorrow the road will be dried out enough to run.

I guess that it was just as well that I couldn’t go running, though. Work completely kicked my rear; by the time I was done there I was drained. I treated myself to a nice quiet lounge in the tanning beds and then a nap when I got home from there. Sigh.

No luck beating the Lakers last night. The Jazz lost by 10. They’re heading home, thank goodness. We have the best home record in the NBA. But they’ve lost to the Lakers at home once this year….here’s hoping they don’t repeat that tomorrow or Sunday.

All right…carpe diem, folks! Make it count!

GO HOME!!!!!

I don't know how many of you are "Idol" watchers, and those of you who are I'm sure will understand what I'm about to say: Jason has long overstayed his welcome. Not only is he the least talented contestant of the top 4, he's the least talented one out of the top 16! Why he is still on the show while people with more talent in one eyelash than Jason has in his whole body (hello! Carly Smithson and Michael Johns!) are watching at home is a complete mystery to me. I don't get it. This is supposed to be a TALENT show. Get with it, America!!!! Stop the madness and send Jason Castro home this week....I'm begging you, for the sake of my sanity.....please send him home. I can't take another week of his dippy, clueless mug on my tv.

On the home front, my hubby and son went to see "Iron Man" last night. From the reviews I've read from the critics and judging by the ravings of my men, it's quite a good show. And my husband loathes Robert Downey, Jr. (think "Less Than Zero") so that really tells me something about how good it is. I will admit that the movie does look good, but it's just not something I'd shell out $7.50 to see at the theater...I'll probably end up going to a matinee with the hubby and son when they go again (and I know they will).

So while the men-folk were enjoying their cinematic experience, I went to Borders and spent a good 2 hours browsing the books and music. I could easily spend a paycheck in that store :0) My problem is that there are sooo many books I want to read (just finished "The Heroin Diaries" by Nikki Sixx and almost thru with "A Dirty Job" by Christopher Moore) and not enough time to read them all!!!

Make it a great day, everyone!!!!

Huffing and puffing....

So after work yesterday I got ambitious and decided to walk to the "MC" and back. In the picture above (taken a few years ago), you can see the housing addition I live in, and up on the mountain on the right side of the pic you can see the "MC" painted on the hillside (I'll take a couple pics that show it better and show the incline). I usually walk/run the dirt road going to the base of the hill during the warm weather, but have just never thought about taking the trip up there. And so I went. Up. And up some more. Instead of taking the fork in the road that has the smaller incline, I opted instead to take the road that goes almost straight up. What a workout! By the time I reached the top I thought I'd never catch my breath and I'd have to call Search and Rescue to get me back down....my energy level was zilch at that point (they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger). But I made it. The whole 2 mile trip in about an hour. Exhiliration and elation closed over my brain like a warm blanket on the way home...what a great feeling to accomplish my goal!! As an added bonus on the way back home, I spotted a cow elk in the alfalfa field across the road from my house, munching and lifting her head to quietly assess my intentions as I passed by. Picture perfect way to end my excursion.

Chunk

Maybe it’s just me, but being skinny in the winter and chunky in the spring seems kind of backwards, doesn’t it??? All winter I was thin but unable to enjoy my shape in public because, well, it’s winter….sweatshirts, sweaters, layers of clothing…you know, looking a lot like Nanook of the North. Now that it’s warmer weather and time to put on the capri’s, the tank tops, skirts and the short-sleeved shirts I’m sporting a serious case of muffin-top and my thighs haven’t been this big since I was pregnant. I’m angry and frankly quite depressed. So much for trying to be nice to myself and letting my metabolism “reset” – ha! You’d think all I do is sit around and pig out, which is sooo far from the truth. Back to the calorie restriction and increased walking time (now that I’m done with school for the semester and have free time again), with some serious weights, some tae kwon do and maybe some boxing thrown in for good measure. I need to get back in shape and into my size 8’s……… soon.

Houston, we have lift off

Wow. That's really about all I can say after watching a test-fire of one of the space shuttle booster rockets yesterday....maybe "awesome"....but "wow" pretty much sums it up. I took pics but I haven't had time to dump them yet. If you ever have the opportunity to see one of these, I highly recommend it.

Global Warming

I think this picture pretty much sums up how "warm" it is at my house this morning....ugh!!!

:0(

Not much to report aside from the stinking snow....I am taking Chris over to watch Thiokol do a test launch of one of the space shuttle booster rockets this afternoon (snow should be done by 10 or so)...never seen one go up so it should be pretty neat. Taking the camera so I hope to have a decent pic to share. Have a great day, everyone!