Filer or Piler

Are you a filer or a piler? I am most definitely a filer! I have a very organized filing system, I keep an agenda book, and I do online calendaring, checkbooks and bill pay. Unfortunately, I live with four pilers, so my system is a mess. It is frustrating and discouraging! Hence my need for Lexapro. Four people certainly out weigh the one, so I am constantly trying to dig out the piles. I get occasional help in the house, but it usually includes piling which I have to dig out later. Yesterday I was digging out a pile and found an over due bill.

CRAP!!!

Are you a filer or a piler?

WOWW

"The better part of valor is discretion."

~Shakespeare~

Disneyland or Bust!

In the near future we will be piling three kids into the back of our Honda for a 14 hour car trip to Disneyland. It's all about the gas mileage and not about the comfort. (If our long legged teenagers complain, well, we can just saw a few inches off...) We see this as a last chance of sorts. One last trip before I head back to work, one last trip with TJ as our child. Next summer he'll be 18, holding a full time job, possibly taking some college courses, preparing for a mission...This is a last. I tear slips down my cheek, I wipe it away and scream into the air, "DISNEYLAND OR BUST!!!" It may just "bust" the bank, but you only live once, right? I'll never get too old for this place . It might just seem Mickey Mouse to some, but my whole family concurs, it truly is the happiest place on earth...

Life through Polarized Lenses

I've decided to look at life through polarized lenses. Who would have known that I had a lesson to learn from my $14.99 Target sunglasses. Truly they are an object lesson in the making. Polarized lenses cut the sun's glare making it easier and clearer to see. When looking at life through polarized lenses, difficult times may become more clear as the blinding glare of adversity is reduced. I've also noticed that on cloudy days my polarized lenses brighten the world around me. It makes things look sunnier where they are not.

This outlook has truly helped me recently. I injured my back, don't ask me how...I have no idea. There was pain with every twist, turn or step I took. I was no more comfortable sitting, lying down or standing. Sleep was elusive...I tried to think positively, and felt grateful for the times when I never have an ache or pain. I live a relatively pain free life...

Even in life if we are using our figurative lenses, we can find the bright side to almost any situation. From here on out, every time I slip on my $14.99 Target glasses I will be reminded of this parallel and re-examine my life through polarized lenses.

Amazing

WOWW

"The greates prayer is patience."

~Buddha~

Baby Z

I am now the proud Auntie for the 5th time. Baby Z was born today at 2:35 pm. I am so excited to be an active participant in her life. My closest other nieces and nephews are over 1,600 miles away. Congratulations little brother!!! You done good!

What a gratifying experience. It is so different when you aren't the one in labor. I think I wouldn't mind being a labor nurse of a midwife. But that would be a different life time, I think. We were banished in the final stages from the room which was to be expected. The final product is beautiful. Welcome to the world Baby Z!

A Threesome

Shocking yes, but true! I NEED a threesome. Now don't get all holier than thou on me, get your mind out of the gutter, pick your jaw up off of the floor, I am not talking in a sexual sense. **I heard you just heave that big sigh of relief....** I can't seem to fall asleep at night without my left leg and arm draped across KT. This is SOOOO comfortable to me. He is such a good sport laying there on his back so that I can drape. But, after a while, he quietly says, "Can you move? You're squishing me." NICE!!! That's something every woman wants to hear!!! I am henceforth on a quest for the perfect bedfellow. He'll look like this:

 

Oops, I mean this!

Move over, KT, you are being replaced! Look on the bright side, at least I won't squish you anymore.

AS IF!

Summer Mornings

Ladybug and I enjoy a bike ride on cool summer mornings before the oppressive heat takes over. We enjoy the cool breezes on our skin as we race through the neighborhoods to our favorite little greenbelt. I would love to live off of this greenbelt. It is so peaceful and shady. I used to live off of a greenbelt. I could ride my bike all around and even to the beach. But, I didn't have ladybug to ride around with me. I wouldn't trade that for the world!

WOWW

"The merciful man doeth good to his own soul."

~The Bible~

**There's our permission to do good things for ourselves. Pamper yourself! Although I think it means more along the lines of a spiritual nature.**

Low-fat Living 7

Here is another smoothie idea that tastes similar to an Orange Julius. (I use my blender a lot!) 1 cup orange juice (not from concentrate) I'm thinking of trying the Trop 50. (50% less sugar) 1 cup ice cubes protein powder Blend to your preferred consistency. Enjoy!

What do you do in the summertime?

What do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?

Do you swim in a pool to keep yourself cool

or swing in a tree up high?

Is that what you do? So do I!

20 years down!

Happy Anniversary, KT!

I can't believe 20 years have gone by since we were married. I love him more now than I did then. I appreciate everything he does for our family as a provider, husband and father. Inside, I still feel like that young 20 year old bride, but my crows feet tell me otherwise.

Love you!

(Photo #2 courtesy of Angie Batis Photography)

Happy Birthday KT

Born July 7, 1967 (Yeah, he's 42!)

If he were a gambler, his lucky number would be 7.

7-7-67

When he was a baby they called him moose. I guess he was chubby!

As he got older, he thought he was all that!

Then he joined the Marines, and they taught him otherwise.

(He's the furthest on the right.)

Then, after we had kids, he gained his "moose" weight back!! He blamed it on my cooking, I blame it on the Ultimate Cheeseburgers.

Happy Birthday, KT! Love you!

A Trip Report

KT and I recently went to Vegas. My report in one word would be "INTERESTING." Where else can you go to have free pornography handed out on the street and the cops can't do anything about it, but they chase away the people selling water bottles for $1.00 because they don't have a selling permit. Something is a little off there, don't you think? It was a little too crowded for me and my social anxieties. But we still had a great time being together. The hotel Paris upgraded our room for free which was so awesome. The other hotels were so interesting to look at and walk through. We did a little sight seeing, a TON of walking, and a lot of eating. We made it to one show called "Defending the Caveman" which was a stand up comic addressing the differences between men and women. Very funny!!

We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower a 1/2 size replica of the real thing. The lights were phenomenal!

We drove to Cali one day to visit my grandma in a nursing home. It was a little scary when I first walked in to see her and she didn't recognize me. It has only been 1 1/2 years since I had seen her...Here is a picture with my grandma and my great Aunt Lois.

Then we came home two days early to help my parents move. Yeah, I felt guilty about being gone and not helping.

I was Tagged

I was tagged by my friend Anjenny at Ramblings of an Islander. I'm supposed to list 7 little known facts about myself. Since I recently did something similar here and here, I will try to come up with 7 more little gems. I won't tag anyone, but jump in and do one if you want, and please link back to me. (I'm always after a few more followers. It's a good boost to my self esteem.) 1. I met my husband in a dance club. (We both like to boogey) 2. The smell of Petunias remind me of Disneyland. 3. It is a rare day when my nose isn't stuck in a book. 4. I love old things. "Vintage" 5. I think number 4 is because I love history. I always wonder who lived in that old house, or who used this cute old trunk and what for... 6. I have a brown thumb. I usually end up killing all living plant matter in the house and some outside of the house. 7. I am a movie junkie. I love going to the movies and getting that expensive coke & popcorn. Sitting in the dark, airconditioned movie theater is awesome!

Okay, your turn!

WOWW

"No one gossips about other people's secret virtues."

~Bertrand Russell~