K I S S

The first time I heard the expression "K I S S", I was a bit confused. I heard it again today.
A total stranger said it to me. I was at work, we were on the phone together. I laughed... suddenly it all made scene.
As we chatted I realized that "KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID", is really about keeping it all to the basics. Its not that we don't want the interaction, the life experiences, the challenges. We just don't want the negative, the stuff that brings us down...
So my confusion is clear now. Keeping it simple is not about hiding from life and ALL that it brings, its about enjoying the basics that we all want from life.
I have arrived at a spot in my journey today where, I can truly say...
my preferred form of KISS is Hot, Sweet and Lingering!
I don't want simple if simple means doing without!!!
Basics Baby Basics!!!

Mommy can't make it all better..

No matter what yuck you go through in life, no matter the amount of pain and heart ache you endure; watching your children experience pain and heart ache is a million times more horrific. I love my children, they are my world, they are my heart and my life. There is nothing I would not endure for them, nothing I would not give for them. I know that the experiences they go through, good or awful will help make them into the people they will be. But my heart breaks when they are in pain; I know I can't fix it all. But I so want to make it all better.

The Alone Part

I hate the feeling alone part of being alone. The not having anyone to share with. I am blessed to have my kids, even when they are not at my home they are still here. But I would really like that grown up sharing. Even if it was just about the every day stuff, it would still be so nice. Don't get me wrong, I still prefer being lonely and alone to being lonely and with someone. I just feel like I have already had my share of lonely!

Sifting Through My Stuff

Since I moved into my new home, in November, I have been putting off the chore of going through the boxes in my garage. I hate not remembering what is out there, but sometimes remembering is harder. But, this weekend I tackled my sewing and crafting totes. I had six huge totes crammed full of the most wonderful treasures, that I have been collecting for years and years. Oh the fun I had pulling it all out, organizing it, falling in love with each thing all over again! When I came up for air after emptying all the totes, it looked like my tiny house had thrown up all over its self. It was very scary! I tossed quite a bit and donated quite a bit also. In the end, my 'current' project basket is over flowing, but my totes now number only three! And I know where all my lovely sewing and craft things are!!! The rest of the garage will have to wait for another weekend!

Mrs. Farington

When I was a very little girl, we lived across the street from Mrs. Farington.

Her children where grown and gone. And she had the most wonderful garden!

My older brother and I would go to her house and help in her garden. I'm sure we were more trouble than help, but she always made us feel welcome and at home.

When we were finished she would have us wash our hands and she would make us the most wonderful snack.

I have always toyed with the thought of opening a small cafe and serving Mrs. Faringtons snack as the "House Special". To this day, I still love having Cream Cheese Frosting between Graham Crackers with lemon aid.

And I know that somewhere in Heaven Mrs. Farington is tending the most delightful garden, and serving a special snack!

Three is the Charm? Four will just about KILL you!

1.The ex tells my little one, she cant go to a birthday party she
RSVPed for over a month ago, to the Circus, because its his weekend.
And her brother cant go to baptisms Saturday either. Not on his weekend!
2. Blew a fuse or something in my bathroom, causing both bathrooms outlets
and the fridge in the garage to not work.
3.While getting gas at CostCo, the one from outer darkness, my battery died.
I had to get a jump start from a sweet elderly couple.
4. My oldest called to tell me about her first doctors visit with Baby #2.
And ended up informing me that my choice to divorce was me giving up on my
marriage, it was all my fault and my failure. That it was all my wrong doing
and that I was unfaithful the entire 23 years.


Ok, so if bad things come in threes, ok three is the Charm.
Then it gets better, right?!!
But when the fourth hits you from left field and totally blind sides you,
well, that my dear reader, may just kill me.


1. Not at all sure what will happen Saturday, birthday, circus, baptisms...?
2.I bought the part to fix the outlet, but alas, I am no Handy Man. Still not fixed.
3.I think I will need to get a new battery, but not till the next pay check, so I will pray daily.
4.Darling Oldest Daughter... I lived with her for 20 year, I adore her.
She was always one of my very best friends.
Yet by 5pm today I truly feel she turned to knife in my heart.
If her goal was to crush me, then she was successful.

MUCHNESS

In "Alice In Wonderland" it is said that Alice has lost her "Muchness". I think from time to time we all loose our mutchness. And we need to take that step outside of what we think we are capable of, outside our comfort zone, outside our perception of simple, and become great in who we are. I think it may be a very good thing to find the "Champion" within ourselves.

*Note Dear Reader.....I like Johnny Depp with just plain eye liner best. But I do Love a man in a kilt!!!

ALFREDO

Tonight, I made Mary Riffle's Alfredo,

over penne with fresh meatballs and garlic bread!

"AND THE ANGELS WEPT WITH SHEER DELIGHT!"

It was the first time I have made it from scratch!

And may I just say I have never had better!

It was by far the very best Alfredo I have ever had!

I am and will ever be grateful to the

GODDESS Mary Riffle!!!

Sunday In The Park

We went to a 'Concert at McCorick Ranch Park' tonight. "Rock Lobster" preformed for a huge crowd. They were great!! Everyone sang along to songs from classic 80's, all the way to Lady Gaga. The kids got to ride the train and play at the playground.

The Railroad Park has been my very favorite, since I was a kid. And even though it is not in my neighborhood, we make it over there a few times a year.

The concert series lasts for only two more weekends; Sunday night from 7:30-9pm. If you go, get there early (even though we did, we still had to park across the street, no big deal). There was plenty of great grass seating, we took a big blanket and camp chairs. We also took a picnic and the weather wonderful, making it a super night.

It was the perfect end to a Perfect Weekend!

[Great Marketing Moment: As we entered the park, there were these guys handing out samples of a new brand of bottled water. It is called MetroMint. It comes in peppermint, spearmint and chocolate mint! No carbs and no sodium. I loved it, the kids...not so much. (But that just means I don't have to share!) You can get it as Sprouts. View it at www.metromint.com]

A Super Saturday

I love days that are busy with Fun! We started the day by breaking the chores into sections and we each worked on our section for 15 minutes. Nice to have everything clean and tidy! Then the kids and I took on Verizon, the Mall and CostCo, all before lunch! We laughed and did goofy stuff all day. Its the simple things that truly make me happy; like listening to my son impersonate King Julian! Or like getting a new crockpot! (I have truly found that not having one is not at all conducive to being a happy cook! I came home and put it right to work. It is oh so nice to have dinner waiting for you when you come home!)Ended a great day by viewed some Ball Room Dancing, learning the 'Cotton Eye Jo', and trying out a new favorite yogurt spot!!! Its called Yogurt Builderz! Its way yummy, give it a try!!! yogurtbuilderz.com

All my peeps are now tucked in, and I am enjoying the quiet, reflecting on a Super Saturday!

Standing In A Circle

When I went to Outdoor Ed with Cookie last fall, we had the girls in our cabin hold hands in a circle while one girl at a time, told each of her friends what she liked about each of them.

It was Wonderful!
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to let those around us see themselves; their qualities, the well developed talents they exhibit, the good in them. The way we see them. I am blessed to be surrounded by the most wonderful people. I wish we could all stand in that circle and share what we see!

Being Thankful For Someone Else's Pain!

Some of my friends I have known forever and some not so long.

But I have been given friends that I truly do love!

They are there to support me through thick and thin,

to encourage and educate me when I am in need.

I am grateful for all they do for me!

(And I can be so needy sometimes!)

But I am also very very grateful that they share their needs as well.

My life never looks so bad when I am listening to a friends struggles.

I can feel for my friend and give support and love, and somehow that helps lessen my load.

I may or may not ever go through what they are enduring but I am learning.

I feel so badly for what others have to wade through. It may or may not be bigger or more traumatic than my Drama, but knowing that someone that I care about is dealing with something, helps me through my own.

I am grateful that I have friends who know I love them and I will support them all the time. I am grateful for the pain and Drama in others lives.

And I am so glad that we are all needy sometimes!!!

Let It Go...Give It Up

Somethings in life are better given up. Take ANGER for instance. Anger is an emotion that if left to fester will cause illness (both physical and mental). Nothing positive comes from being angry, yet so many of us dwell, on some level, with anger quite often. I have learned in the past year that when faced with a situation that makes me angry, I am better off to let the anger go. If that means making some changes, so be it. Make the changes, let go of the anger and move on. You will be healthier for it!!!

TODAY IS: National Fresh Fruit and Veggie Day & National FUDGE day!

Sprinkler....

I am determined to grow grass in my little back yard. I think its more to prove to myself that I can than for any other reward it will bring. So I purchased a new sprinkler. Cookie loves it, the dog hates it and as I was outside this evening pulling some of the very healthy weeds that are flourishing out there, I rediscovered just how GLORIOUS playing in the sprinkler can be.

I hadn't pulled nearly as many weeds as I was hoping to, but I got totally drenched. I had forgotten how very nice early evening can be with a nice breeze and your clothes dripping wet!

Today is the first day of 'Monsoon Season' !! That brings a bit of a thrill to my heart! The on-set of storms and 'Suitably Wicked' weather is such an awesome thing to look forward to!!!

LIFE is a Journey!

One with Rocky Paths, Rough Terrain and Forks in the Road. But also with Greener Grass on This Side of the Fence, and spots of Smooth Sailing!

We all take this expedition, yet everyones journey is different. We go at our own pace, even though we all have the same amount of hours in our day. We each seek for what is uniquely our own, even though, I believe we all want pretty much the same things. We are all blessed with DRAMA along the way, we each just choose to deal with it differently. I believe That is what makes us WHO we are!

I took a new fork in the road recently, and its all new territory for me.

Fascinating and frightening all at the same time! I am rediscovering who I am and what I want out of my life. And I am loving the new view!!!

So... one of my new tools is to blog my Daily Journey! To capture the wisdom and the mundane! To record the moments and share the memories!

Chocolate Serendipity?.......serendipity is the act of finding something delightful

along the way...chocolate, well... it comes in so many wonderful forms.....

and it makes the journey so much more lovely!!!!!

When I put the two together it was like putting on that right pair of new shoes! It just fit!