WHEN GOD SEES AROUND CORNERS......

"Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrong doing. It does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres."
Corinthians 13

Wishing you an awesome week everyone!

I GOT FAT FUMBS

I have never been a fan of texting on cell phones. Not even now that I have a phone with a mini keyboard instead of my old phone where you had to push on the number button that corresponded with the letter you were after multiple times. You see, I have fat fumbs. ;)

Well that is what I used to tell people when they'd ask me to text them sometime. I cannot type as fast as I do on a regular sized keyboard, so by the time I reply with a short sentence, the responder (ie: sister and MG namely) have sent me 3+ messages while waiting for my reply! LOL

Although texting can be convenient with simple yes/no questions, it can also cause a lot of havoc with longer messages. For one, a word maybe missing or misspelled and the entire message has either lost its meaning or caused a misunderstanding. Also, you cannot tell the tone of the message like you can with an actual voice. Is the message sender in a joking mood? Are they upset?

So for all these reasons, I try to keep my texting to a minimum. Other then actual verbal contact I rather stick to email were I can write in proper English grammar with complete though out sentences. I will reply to your text, just don't expect a full fledged conversation.

Which brings me to this bumper sticker seen over the last few months:

"Honk if you love God, Text if you want to see Him right now."

Please don't text n' drive my lovely readers.

Weekend Recap for July 30-Aug 1st 2010

After a particularly difficult week, I was really looking forward to spending the weekend with my boyfriend. I didn't have much planned per say, rather just was looking forward to spending some quality time with each other.

At the last minute Friday night I decided I wanted to spend my gift certificate I received from a teammate for sushi. It was especially toasty that evening as you can see by the sweat on our upper lips in this photo. I thoroughly enjoyed my crunch roll with crab and eel with a side of tuna sushi while MG opted for cooked shrimp n' rice.

Saturday, I did have something little planned. I gave no hints, just told MG to keep his cell phone on. I awoke at 5:45am and quietly washed my face and brushed my teeth. As I crept out the door I grabbed my car keys as he still was sleeping (at least I think he was sleeping?).

Moments later but before I turned my ignition on, I texted him the following: "B dressed and ready in 15 mins....don't 4get ur sunglasses....xoxo". I then left to the nearby McDonald's to pick up some breakfast and orange juice for the two of us.

I returned to my apt to find him nearly ready to head out. When we arrived at the beach, I asked him to take the bag of food and our OJ's while I went to the back of the car to pull out two beach chairs......

As some of you may recall, the sunrise at the beach is one of my favorite things to experience, and on that particular Saturday morning, we shared our first sunrise watching moment together eating hash browns and McMuffins.

Afterwards we took a short walk near the inter coastal waterway. It was a beautiful morning with a slight breeze. MG saw a dolphin swim up very near us but by the time I got my camera out it was long gone. Phoey!

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging low and watching movies because MG tweeked his back by falling in the shower. This was particularly scary because of his recent surgery that placed a rod and pins in his spine, but it seems his surgery site is okay (hopefully) rather he is experiencing horrid muscle spasms. So if any of my readers are prayer people, please send out a message to the big Guy that my man continues to heal and we can share many more awesome walks and sunrises in the future.

Wishing you all a spectacular week!

L3

Pocket Full Of Sunshine

"Giggle, chuckle, snort, smile. Never forget that the best medicine in life is a good laugh. The world can be a very serious place. It is easy to get wrapped up in the drama and lose touch with the lighter side of things. Happiness is a fundamental necessity to a good life. So let it all out and enjoy." ~ unknown

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

GOODNESS

One month ago yesterday my boyfriend was injuried in a motorcycle vs automobile accident (see Open Letter blog entry). Per his surgeon, he is not allowed to go back to work until around Christmas time. To add to the finanical strain & frustation of this situation, his teenage son is about to start a new school year in a new school.

Earlier last week, I sent out a memo to the staff of my office asking if anyone wanted to help me raise moneys to put towards the purchases of some school supplies and clothes the upcoming school year. I was hopeing for enough to purchase his supplies and a pair of pants and a couple shirts.......

I was blown away by the generosity of these folks as not only did they make sure VG had all his supplies, including a hundred dollar calculator required for his math classes for the next three years, but at least a weeks worth of new clothes and a pair of sneakers!

Watching VG pick out his new threads at the store made my heart swell with gratitude for the people God has put in my life. Not only for the people who made the shopping spree possible, but for MG and VG as they surely have brightened my life.

Goodness. May you all experience it.

Opportunity

‎"All too often we are living in the past, preoccupied with something that has happened to us; or we are living in the future, waiting for a time when life will treat us magnificently and we will be happy; or worrying about what lies ahead and how we will cope....But every day of our lives brings the opportunity for a new beginning, and there was never a better time to be."

~ Eileen Campbell

OPEN LETTER

Dear Jeep Driver:

On Friday, June 18th 2010 you may have over slept, or maybe you are a person who always waits until the last minute to leave for an appointment making you to speed and weave through traffic to arrive on time, or maybe you were talking on your cell phone with a friend about weekend plans. All these things ran through my mind when I heard you plowed into someone who means a great deal to me who was stopped at a red light.

It's bad enough your careless driving caused an accident, what made it ten times worse is your complete disregard of a human life by trying to leave the scene. So let me tell you a little about the person your actions left lying on the ground with multiple broken bones and blood gushing out of his head.

He is a son, brother, father, uncle, cousin, nephew, friend, and lover. He is one of the kindest souls you will ever meet. He loves motorcycles and working on cars. He has an amazing work ethic and has dreams of traveling the world one day. He has the most awesome laugh and he is very protective of his loved ones.

He was supposed to have his son with him that day. Thank GOD he changed his mind at the last minute because you would have had manslaughter added to the long list of charges you are already facing.

I want to hate you. I want to look you in the face and tell you how despicable I think you are. But I won't because hating you takes too much energy that needs to be put to better use like help him get better. I can only hope that something good can come from this. That you may just have a sliver of conscience somewhere in that head of yours and you will turn your life around. If not, I got one word for you: Karma.

TODAY

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had, if today was your last day?
What if, what if, if today was your last day?

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are

So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
'Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?

And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?


If Today Was Your Last Day lyrics
Songwriters: Kroeger; Chad

Live them.

TUNE IN TOKYO

Some of you may recall that I have mentioned in the past that I am not good at asking for help, instead I'll just figure out a way to do it myself rather to bother someone else. My only explanation is it is a learned behavior that is both a blessing and a curse.

So tonight is no exception. I turned off my basic cable because I came to the conclusion I rarely watch TV; and when I do it's always one of the major four networks that come free without cable anyways, so I figured I was throwing the $22.00 ($250.oo+/yr) over my shoulder when I could use it for way more fun things like (but not limited too):

shoes & handbags

vintage items of sorts

road trips

bicycle equipment

camera equipment

My Zinwell analog converter box and Tivax antenna arrived in the mail (cheaper + no shipping on amazon.com then to purchase either locally....sad but true.) to which I read the manual and started to piece them together via the instructions on the "quick set-up guide". HA!

Two hours later I am still looking at a black n' white fuzzy screen sucking on a Edy's pomegranate flavored popsicle with a pounding headache. I am starting to vaguely recall that when I moved here and spent the first week w/out cable I couldn't get any channels on my rabbit years.

Hmmmmmm........

I haven't completely given up hope, however, I could unhook my mess and try it on my smaller TV in the bedroom to see if it is just the way I have it connected to the flat screen with all it's multiple inputs and outputs, yet I rather paint my toenails. Or I may just need end up having to ask around for help to figure out my electronic induced confusion.

Balls.

Stay tuned........

GRANDPA

Grandpa
Tell me about the good ol days
Sometimes it feels like
This worlds gone crazy
Grandpa
Take me back to yesterday
When the line between right and wrong
Didn't seem so hazy
(chorus)
Did lovers really fall in love to stay
And stand beside eachother come what may
Was a promise really something people kept
Not just something they would say
Did families really bow their heads to pray
Did daddy's really never go away
But whoa whoa grandpa
Tell me bout the good ol days
---
Grandpa
Everything is changing fast
We call it progress
But I just don't know
And Grandpa
Let's wander back into the passed
And paint me the picture
Of long ago
(chorus)
Did lovers really fall in love to stay
And stand beside eachother come what may
Was a promise something people kept
Not just something they would say
And then forget
Did families really bow their heads to pray
Did daddys really never go away
But whoa whoa grandpa
Tell me bout the good ol days
Whoa whoa Grandpa
Tell me bout the good ol days ....

~ Lyrics by The Judds

My aunt sent me this photo inside my birthday card. My granddaddy died from cancer when I was just a babe, but I have imagined questions I would have asked if he was still around.

BIRTHDAY WEEK 2010

Well I made it - hello thirty-five glad to meet ya!

The big day started off with me arriving to work and being instructed to wear a tiara and "Birthday Princess" sash the entire day. The office manager has now decided that all the employees must wear this getup on their birthdays from here on out. All I can say is I hope they appreciate my big head because I still am sporting indentations from the plastic tiara on the sides of my skull....two days later. ;)

Things I got for my birthday:

dinner and a movie (Sex & The City II)
gift certificate to a local sushi restaurant
money
car jack w/stands
many wonderful cards
I treated myself to a new retro top and cherry umbrella for my upcoming Vegas gig.

Glad birthdays only come once a year because being up past midnight two nights in a row really kicked my butt.

Good times.

Happy birthday to all my fellow Gemini's out there!

JUST PRESS PLAY

"Sometimes we need to stop analyzing the past, stop planning the future, stop figuring out precisely how we feel, stop deciding exactly what we want, and just see what happens." ~ C. Bradshaw

Barracuda

You Can Sleep While I Drive (lyrics)

Come on baby let's get out of this town
I got a full tank of gas with the top rolled down
There's a chill in my bones
I don't want to be left alone
So baby you can sleep while I drive
I'll pack my bag and load up my guitar
In my pocket I'll carry my harp
I got some money I saved
Enough to get underway
And baby you can sleep while I drive

We'll go thorough Tucson up to Santa Fe
And Barbara in Nashville says we're welcome to stay
I'll buy you glasses in Texas a hat from New Orleans
And in the morning you can tell me your dreams

You know I've seen it before
This mist that covers your eyes
You've been looking for something
That's not in your life
My intentions are true
Won't you take me with you
And baby you can sleep while I drive

Oh is it other arms you want to
Hold you the stranger
The lover you're free
Can't you get that with me

Come on baby let's get out of this town
I got a full tank of gas with the top rolled down
If you won't take me with you
I'll go before night is through
And baby you can sleep while I drive

For the days when you just really want to forget the rules & responsibilities and go.......

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday weekend! :)

Pictured: Plymouth Barracuda

CARPE DIEM

I am covered in sea salt. If you splashed some tequila and slathered crushed fruit on me, I'd be a human Margarita. Tis is what happens when you walk at the beach. You leave with some crazy hair, sand stuck to your feet/legs, and a layer of salt covering your body....but it's made all worth while as your mind is clear and at peace.

Rewind:

Somehow I decided to not only wake up at 6am (without an alarm) but to get dressed, eat, and be at the beach by the 6:47am sunrise. This is a small feat because I am usually a slow mover in the morning. It was breathtaking as usual. If you don't live near an ocean, no worries, look up the sunrise time for the day on the Internet then plop your butt outside and look east. You can't miss it as long as rain isn't in the forecast. Everyone should take in a sunrise at least once in their life time (coming home at sunrise from an all-nighter doesn't really count. ;))

I took a few photos with my cell phone then started on my walk. The thing about walking on the beach is, you usually forget how long you have walked until you have to pee. As I hurried made my way back to the park where my car was parked, I passed many fishermen, birds plucking at the sand, and other walkers/joggers. I was trying to stay focused because the urge to run into the ocean and just pee there was getting stronger. This is when I came upon a middle aged man. In his speedo.

Have you ever heard of Carrie Bradshaw's (Sex & The City) squeal she makes when she is surprised/startled? Look up on Youtube. That is the exact sound I made then promptly clutched my belly as my bladder went straight into spasms. Fellas. There are very few reasons to wear a speedo and none of them make them look "hot". Swim meets/Olympic trials would be one situation where a speedo is called for. The other? Well there really isn't one. Not even in the privacy of your backyard and certainly not at a public beach.

Women do not find these sexy. At. All.

Kindly take note.

This public announcement was brought to you by:

NEW SHOES

Summary of my week:

1. I was released from my (second) jury summons


2. I found thirty bucks on the ground while walking


3. I found these snazzy red shoes at the store in the clearance isle. After internally arguing with myself if I really *needed* them (like OF COARSE I do!) and what I'd wear them (playing pinup dress up etc...) for, I walked up to the cashier ready to pay the 50% off price ($25.00) but to my surprise they rang up for $4.00!!

I mean could my week be even any awesom-er? I think not! Ever since I skipped out of the store with my new shoes, I couldn't help but think of the Paolo Nutini song "New Shoes":

"Hey, I put some new shoes on

And suddenly everything is right

I said, Hey, I put some new shoes on

And everybody's smiling, it's so inviting...."

G'night everyone. :O)

You Just Gotta Roll With It

Nearly two weeks ago I was informed that my second job was no longer because the bulk of the work was going to be completed through a distribution company in Las Vegas. I will still work on a small account that is owned by job #2 and there is 1 to 2 possibilities of a traveling assignment(s) through the rest of this year, however, other then that it is done. I'd dealt with the shock & loss the best way I could (I had high hopes for the work I was doing for them plus I am out a chunk of change each month) and just laid the rest up to fate. He apparently has something bigger and better in store for me right?

The majority of my work was done for this job on the Saturday mornings I did not work my "real job" (the one that pays the bills and the one I went to college for...twice and of coarse the one I love just as much doing) which I rotate with my teammates, but I also would find myself logging on and working about an hour a day as well, so what to do with all my new found time??

For starters, my apartment has been cleaner then it has been in the last two years! But I also found myself saying "yes" to activities that I could not before due to time restrictions. Then last Saturday I went for a bike ride on the sand trails (which my knees swelled up for three days afterwards but it was still fun!) which I hadn't done in a really long time, and today I walked over the causeway for the first time in the four years I have lived here.

one of the many causeways leading to beach side

I have heard people talk about walking, jogging, running, or biking over the causeway through work and it sounded fun, especially when I heard if the water is calm below you can see dolphins playing. (Next to sea turtles, dolphins are my favorite) Since our mornings are still pretty mild (afternoons are another story!) with the heat/humidity index I decided to go for it this morning.

The start of the way up the causeway at 7am this morning

Now I am a moderately active person. I mean I am a trainer for goodness sake! However I found myself kinda pooped at the end. Maybe it was all the fresh air? Yeah. I'll go with that! I didn't wear my iPod because I am also trying to be more "in the now" and enjoy the sounds of my surroundings.... I enjoyed listening to the birds chirp and the laughter of other patrons on the causeway, but I also heard splashing from below and that is when I saw the dolphins.

Even with it's twists n' turns isn't life grand? :O)

LEAPING LIZARDS

Miss B

Living in the south you will usually find yourself chasing after a little lizard (gecko, chameleon, etc) through your home or work from time to time. It is just the way it is. This is one of the reasons why I chose to live on the second floor of an apartment complex, however, I still occasionally will find the miniature reptiles in my space.

Yes, they are harmless, however, they are icky and obviously I don't want them making themselves cozy in my air conditioned casa. The first lizard I chased was a chameleon. He had made it all the way to my bathroom and scared the bejesus out of me when I stepped out of the shower. I attempted to catch him with the help of a small garbage can. My intention was to get him in the can and toss him back out to his space outside, but unfortunately in my panic I squashed him dead with the lip of the can. RIP little fella.

The next assassination, I mean attempted rescue, was when I turned on the kitchen light and saw a gecko stuck to one of my dinner plates sitting on the dish rack. I carefully took the plate and placed a jelly jar over him then walked to the front door. Since I needed a hand to open the door I tried to balance the plate & jar to the wall when the plate crashed to the floor breaking and the gecko scurried under a cabinet. Stumped on how to get him out from under there, I thought I could use my vacuum cleaner (since is bag less) to suck him up and put him back outside. He was still alive when I took the canister off the vacuum, however, when I tossed him out on the foyer, I apparently used too much gusto and he tumbled over the top of the stair case and fell 12 feet to his death. Sorry buddy.

So today when a fellow teammate at work casually asked: "is somebody going to catch the lizard running across the floor?" I did not raise my hand. I didn't have a jar to help in the capture and I certainly was not going to use my bare hands, so I stood silent in a dramatic pause hoping someone else was up for the challenge. It was Miss B who stepped up to the plate and captured the unwelcomed guest and helped him back outside.

May you live a long and healthy life kid, but if you make you way back into the office, I make no guarantees you'll be so lucky next time.

STALKARAZZING YOURSELF

I recently noticed a friend on Facebook joined a "Self Shot Pics" fan page. Remember back when taking a photo of yourself was considered conceited, strange, or just plain lame? Now it's such a craze that this particular FB page has over 690 "fans" and not only that but even celebrities are taking self shots of themselves and loading them to their Twitter & other social media pages. Whether it be a photo of yourself and your dazzling new hair-do or because you just plain felt like being silly, you know 99% of us have all done it. Blog about your own "self shot". In the honor of this blog entry, I'll head it with this one. Here I am with my teammate Miss B. We were on break from shooting a tv commercial at work.

LIFE

Have a wonderful week everyone! Make it count!

Sundays: simple moments of joy

The photo heading this blog was taken by my sister. She has an incredible talent of catching spectacular moments of emotion, especially with children. This is one of my current favorites. It reminds me of innocent childhoods filled with simple moments of joy.

Since today is Sunday (for most folks reading this), I thought I'd share what my Sundays that brought me simple moments of joy as a child growing up were:

• Tim would drop my sister and I off back at my mother's before 8am so we could get ready for Sunday School followed by church. While procrastinating I'd lay in the sun rays entering in from the open front door with our cat, Motormouth.


• Every once in a while my mother would pass us a note during church service saying: Cheese attack at Paradiso? (A local Mexican restaurant were we'd overload on cheese such as: nachos and main dishes.) Which would instantly put smiles on our faces.


• Wiggling in my seat & flapping my arms listening to the Chicken Dance on the AM Radio while traveling to gma's for our weekly visit.


• Making homemade Play-Doh with gma.


• Collecting Lilacs from outside and putting them in water filled mason jars.


• Swinging on the swings at a park nearby gma's or sliding down the metal slide (that would usually burn our butts on a hot summer day).


• Playing a game of UNO or Trouble after dinner with my sister & mother.

Now my Sunday simple moments of joy consist of sleeping in and allowing myself to be lazy enough to re energize for the upcoming week. I hope however you wish to spend your Sunday is bringing you some simple moments of joy as well. :)