THE SHOES

I took the "Bride to Be" shoe shopping yesterday.

We laughed at all the ugly shoes we saw,

at all the unbelievable prices they were asking,

and the shear lack of lovely choices.

What ever happened to just pretty dress heals?

 It was funny how not only do the two of us know

 just what to pick out to gross out the other one

but we also can pick out just what

the other one would love.

Each time I went to show my darling daughter

 a shoe I thought she would like,

 she was holding the very same shoe.

When it came down to the last two choices,

we had chosen matching heals again,

one in patent leather one in matte. 

She chose matte.

She loves the shoes, so do I

IF YOU READ IT....IT MUST BE TRUE

Mark  "A SPECK OF DUST IS HALF THE SIZE BETWEEN  AN ATOM AND THE EARTH."

Mom "Where did you hear that?"

Mark  "I read it on the internet......DON'T JUDGE ME!"

CHER

VINYL SIDING

Not knowing a thing about vinyl siding, I did a bit of homework on it this evening. And I found that the most popular colors are Glacier White, Natural Linen, Antique Parchment, Platinum Gray and Silver Moss. I must confess that these colors where no more appealing to me than Brown. So I looked into the matter a little bit more, and found that most sheds/work shops that are covered in vinyl are covered in drab colors. I for one was highly disappointed. I thought for sure there would be an out numbering amount of charming Red sheds/workshops. But I can tell you I was incorrect. And that drab, is popular. I would hope that in a fine workshop/shed there would be a tasteful splash of red paint somewhere, just to keep the sparkle in the city girls smile!!!

JUST SAYING

Doin' What She Likes

PLAY IT AGAIN

IRONY WITH SPEED

Back in November I had a fender bender, and I waited until now to get it repaired. My insurance company gave me a rental car while they took care of my Tahoe. The IRONY is that they gave me the same make and model I rear ended. So so Wrong. However.....I had NO idea that the Chevy Impala was such a great car.

It has so many bells and whistles that I can honestly say the perks are a distraction to the driver. When I tell you that it can go from 0 to Gone in no time flat and it handles like a dream....well it is Amazing! I was driving to work the other morning and I had a clear shot, no one in front of me, so I took the opportunity to test out the um... capabilities. It wasn't until I got to the next light and slowed down to make the left hand turn that I noticed the white Maserati at my side. I wasn't trying to race. I just wanted to see what I could let this car do. When we came to the stop I inwardly laughed, whoever was in the real hot rod must of had no idea who he thought he was racing at 5:50am, he took off like lightning and I turned into work. Silly boy. 

At my break, later that day, Ronny gave me a little tour of all the nifty gadgets in my car. Then he very kindly turned off most of the lights and alarms for me. I swear, I just about had a heart attack each time any other car would get too close to me, because of all the safety devices that would go off. Don't get me wrong, the car is really cool, but I just don't need all those fancy lights and alarms all the time. (I do like the reverse camera and the amazing A/C system. However, there are way too many radio options, and what is that button for that 'bigger than a bread box' hidden space in the dash?)

The insurance guy called me again the other day and said that they where having a tough time getting a part shipped for the Tahoe, and it will be a couple more weeks. So I told him I would try to endure this Impala for the duration. Way better gas mileage and super fun to drive. OKAY!!

As I was out and about today, I entered the free way, at a bit faster than I think was legal. It was faster than I have ever driven before. But I do have to say, in this car, it does not feel that fast. It just feels smooth and GONE!

THE SAVIOUR Of HER STORY

At lunch today I was chatting with girlfriends, about life, about what is wanted, and needed and knowing when to say when the right time is for each, about the hard parts of life and love. 

A good friend was speaking of a love from her past that is once more in the picture. And she is not sure how things will, if at all, come together. As we shared thoughts someone said that my dear friend was strong, and someone else said that the man in question is not the savior of the story………… And my good friend looked at me and quietly said “But he was.” 

We all felt what she did for that split second I think. And just like her, I think we all wanted more.

I smiled at her and said, “Oh I would be revisiting that love story I think!”

Silently she shook her head yes. 

I can’t wait to hear the rest of the story!

THE ROAD HOME

I love this stretch of road....
the one that stretches from
one end of Kentucky to the other!

URBAN COWBOY

The man driving the truck wears a Stetson
But I LOVED
the dusty cowboy boots and rope in the back.
I love a boy with a hobby,
 especially one that makes him a MAN!

ON HIS MIND.... ON HIS WAY TO WORK

He knows those back roads like he knows her heart. He has driven past that shed every day on his way to and from work for as long as he can remember. He thinks of her every time. He knows she would love the old truck that's just sleeping in that little red barn. He tells her, in the summer you can't even see it hiding in there through the green from all the trees.

He knows he has her right where he wants her. He has said all the things that drive her wild, push her somewhere between fantasy and lust. Some would say it's just an old truck forgotten in a shed. But he knew this was just the key to let her know that she was important, that she was thought of constantly, that she is truly loved and always wanted.

5th PHONE in 6 MONTHS

Jose's Latest Cell Phone

Yes he has an issue. 
No he is not getting therapy for it. 
Yes the new phone has been ordered.  

DODGE

The photo does not do this bad boy justice. I have to say he had me so totally drooling as I drove down Bell Road this afternoon. I have no idea what year this Dodge is but it was so great I followed him for two miles just to keep my eyes on him!!!

ANGELA MIA

At 8:30 am this morning there was a very charming 
older man singing this song to me. He said it had 
been his favorite song when he was younger. He told 
me that my name means "MY ANGEL" in Italian. He was 
delightful and he totally made my day!

LOOK INSIDE

First Day of Spring 2014: Vernal Equinox

In 2014, spring begins with the vernal equinox on March 20 at 12:57 P.M. EDT. Here’s more information about the equinox.

The Vernal Equinox

Ah, spring! This season brings increasing daylight, warming temperatures, and the rebirth of flora and fauna.

The word equinox is derived from the Latin words meaning “equal night.” Days and nights are approximately equal everywhere and the Sun rises and sets due east and west.

At the equinoxes, the tilt of Earth relative to the Sun is zero, which means that Earth’s axis neither points toward nor away from the Sun. (However, the tilt of Earth relative to its plane of orbit, called the ecliptic plane, is always about 23.5 degrees.)

Vernal Equinox Questions and Answers

Question: Why doesn’t the vernal equinox (equal night) on March 20 have the same number of hours for day and night?

Answer: Our former astronomer, George Greenstein, had this to say: "There are two reasons. First, light rays from the Sun are bent by the Earth's atmosphere. (This is why the Sun appears squashed when it sets.) They are bent in such a way that we are actually able to see the Sun before it rises and after it sets. The second reason is that daytime begins the moment any part of the Sun is over the horizon, and it is not over until the last part of the Sun has set. If the Sun were to shrink to a starlike point and we lived in a world without air, the spring and fall equinoxes would truly have ‘equal nights.’”

HER LETTER FROM HIM

I am sorry for not being there when you needed me.

I am sorry for not meeting the expectations a man should.

I am sorry for taking advantage of you at your weakest moments.

I am sorry for not showing you the love you have always given to me.

I am sorry for being the person I have become.

I am sorry I was weak when you needed me to be strong.

I am sorry for not taking the time to show you how much I really care.

I am sorry for not saying sweet things in your ear.

I am sorry for letting you sleep with your back turned to me every night.

I am sorry for destroying our anniversary.

I am sorry for not going where you are.

I am sorry for scarring you when you were scared.

I am sorry for not making you laugh.

I am sorry for making you cry.

I am sorry for making you feel pain, over and over again.

I am sorry that I did not pay enough attention when all you wanted was me.

I AM SORRY

I LOVE YOU BABY!!!!!! 

(She let me read the letter he wrote her, and she watched me cry. 

I looked at her and told her I had never had a letter like that from anyone. 

With tears in her eyes, she said she had never had one before either. 

I told her I hope this is a turning point, a new beginning for her. 

She said she hopes that someday there is a letter, from the heart for me too.)

HE DELIGHTS ME....

He sends me pictures of things he knows I would love,
He asks me if I saw the moon last night,
He reminded me that tomorrow is the first day of spring.
He delights me.....
I love him.

CUPCAKE OF MY HEART

My sweet daughter is not, 

as the norm, a party girl. 

But may I say, she is amazing 

at party planning! 

The girl has the excel party 

planning skills of a goddess. 

Once she set her mind to 
this party thing, 

she got the job done! 

She even picked the most delightful 

cupcake to have served! 

MAPLE/BACON!! 

She already has my heart...

but once again 

she has delighted me as well!!!! 

Brava Bambina!

MEXICAN BLANKETS

I remember going places in my grandparents camper. It was one of those campers that fit on the bed of their truck. It was a very nice camper. My brother and I loved it. I only remember one or two of the places we went, but I think we must have done quite a bit of traveling in that camper. I remember how the table dropped down into a bed, and how the best place to be was up in the loft. I remember grandma had these huge roll pillows. Us kids loved them. They were over sized and not really good for anything but they were fun. I still hope to make one or two someday, just to have. Grandma also had Mexican blankets in the camper. I only remember using them there, probably due to living in Phoenix and not needing something so warm most of the time. But I remember they were brightly colored, scratchy and warm. I loved them. 

I know I went to Mexico as a child, but I have never been as an adult, just never gotten around to it I guess. But I have a little shopping list, that I have carried around for the past 20 some years, for when I do make it there: Mexican blankets and Vanilla. (I think Mexican Jumping Beans were on the list prior to that, but I outgrew that request.) 

This past week I was in Prescott with a friend, and as we did a little window shopping I stumbled upon Mexican blankets. To my surprise they weren't scratchy. My friend asked why I would want those. I told how they have been on my list for forever and I just had to have one. But being a good friend, I was talked out of making the purchase for $18.95. It wasn't wool, it was cotton, it was small....and why would you want something that looked like that anyway? They don't go with anything I own. This was all true, and I left without buying anything.

As the day past, we did more window shopping in Old Town Prescott, I found another shop that had Mexican blankets! They were still smaller than I had hoped, made of cotton, not wool, but this time they were $10.00 each or 3/$25.00!!!! I selected my favorite three and happily marched to the counter. My dear friend was sure I had lost my mind, but I was a Very Happy Girl!!!
I brought them home, ran them through the wash with plenty of those Downy Unstopables and they are still sitting folded on my couch. I just like seeing them there. Almost like a right of passage. I think grandma would in a silly way be proud. 

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

FOOTSTEPS

THE 18 WHEELER THAT WASN'T

The kids and I were heading home on loop 101 after spending some time this evening at Jessette and Cole's place. We love spending time with them, they are delightfully humorous. Traffic was pretty steady as we chit chatted about upcoming events. As we neared Northern Avenue, I couldn't quite make out the lights off to the side of the highway. (It was an 18 wheeler that had pulled over, but not all of its lights were working, all I saw at a glance was a large triangle of lights.) So, I asked "What is that?" to which Cookie replied 

"It's a Bamboon."

Mark, Cookie and I all hesitated for about a second, before totally cracking up. We all knew she had meant to say, to my stupid question, "It's a Baboon!" But when her mouth didn't work correctly, it was the funniest thing ever. The rest of the way home Mark took every opportunity to make fun and tease about the Bamboon. I don't remember the last time the three of us laughed that hard. It was so funny!!!!

The Frosting

You are the frosting 

on my cupcake!!

yum

GIRLS DAY OUT

I spent the better part of today 

with my daughters!

We had a wonderful time! 

We hit three 'My Sisters Closet' locations. 

Found Cookie a darling little black, 

silk dress for an amazing bargain! 

We did lunch at one of our 

favorite 'girl date' lunch spots! 

We went to the craft store for inspiration! 

We went to the 'Bling' store for cute 

hair treats for the 'Bride to Be'!

We went to Costco for paper goods 

for the 'Dinner Party'! 

I enjoy my girls so much,

they are so fun to be around! 

I love watching them interact. 

We have a lot to do in the next little bit, 

I am tickled that we get to do it together! 

It was a wonderful day!!!

RECEPTION

I went to a wedding reception last night. 

The weather was perfect, the Bride was lovely, 

the Groom was smitten, the party was enchanting! 

The Newly Weds read love letters to each other 

and he sang her a song he wrote for just for her. 

It was charming!

Reading Love Letters

THOUGHT of THE DAY

"LIVE THE FULL LIFE OF THE MIND,
EXHILARATED BY NEW IDEAS,
INTOXICATED BY THE ROMANCE OF THE UNUSUAL."
Ernest Hemingway

THAT'S ITALIAN

My son and I went out for dinner at Buca di Beppo. We not only were surprised that the food was great, but the atmosphere was wonderful and so was the service! 

                       GRANDMA WOULD 

HAVE LOVED MY BOY!!!

GOOGLE EARTH

I love that Google Earth not only updates the imagery 

but also gives the dates for all photos posted.

I think that Google Earth is one of my favorite 

date activities with my best friend. 

No matter where we are, together or apart, 

we can both see the same thing, pin point any spot. 

Before I took my big trip last year, 

we had gone through it on Google Earth. 

I knew where I was going, landmarks to look for. 

It made the trip so much more comfortable and fun. 

I love love love Google Earth!!!

My Favorite Place on Google Earth!!!

BY A THIRD

I have had my braces on for almost 3 years now and I am scheduled to get them off in less than a month. Today I had an appointment with my dentist to get the rest of my work started. We talked about specifics, about time frames and even about whitening (I never thought about that before, too many other issues to think about I guess). Then the darling girl office assistant came in with the total amount. And to my delight, all the additional work is far less than I was anticipating, by a third! I just about hugged her!!! 

CATCHING UP WITH KRISTAN

I met Kristan for lunch today. It's a simple thing, yet we rarely find the time to do it. Today we were both on the same. It was a page we did not like, and after accomplishing it, we both felt as though the morning had been a waste. But it did give us the opportunity to do lunch. We sat there for three hours catching up on all of our kids.(Well I think I missed the update on her 5th, I will have to ask how he is doing!) I have known Kristan for 30 years, and it's always nice to spend time sharing the latest bit of news and views with her!!

See us, we were right there on the patio!

My favorite!

TOUCHING HER HAIR

I was out and about today, running errands, making appointments, seeing people. As I was at a stop light, I was watching a young couple waiting to cross at the cross walk. They were having a conversation, well, she was, he just seemed very interested in her long brown hair. She kept talking and he was just mesmerized by her hair, he had to keep touching it. It totally made me smile! 

THANK YOU

A "HUGE" Thank You to my 

spiritual counselor and my legal advisory. 

They are both so very good to me. 

I am beyond indebted to each of them. 

They are both there to let me know that 

they support me and that they are 

with me when the going gets rough. 

And when I feel all alone, I know they are. 

Thank you D.L and B.W. 

THINK OF IT AS A GIFT

Twice now I have seen my ex husband in court in the past two months. Both times he had my old journal with him. I am not sure why he would still have my journal, why he would not give such a personal item back. But, like so many other things that were left in our house when I moved out and I was not permitted to retrieve any of my belongings; I say they burned in the "Divorce Fire"! 
Today when I asked him if I could have my journal back, and he told me NO, I decided that that was fine. 
I see that he is having a hard time letting go. If he wishes to hold onto my thoughts and feelings from decades past, he is free to them. I gift them to him. They are no longer of any use to me. The woman I was then, the woman who wrote the things in that book, was sad and trapped in a marriage that was devastating. I have moved on. I have found happiness and love. I wish the same for him. But he wont find it rereading my old journals.  

I KNOW IT'S MONDAY MORNING BUT I WANT TO BE YOUR

FRIDAY NIGHT

CABELA'S

I went to Cabela's for the first time. 

It was really neat!

 Made me totally miss Kentucky!

THE ONLY ANIMALS ON DISPLAY THAT WERE NOT REAL ARE THE BALD EAGLE AND THE RHINOCEROS!

FIREDPIE

MRS WOODS

I spoke to Mrs. Woods a couple of weeks ago, she was charming. She called me to talk about her money. She had been saving it way for many years, letting it grow and the other day she had given it away. So she needed to make sure I could move it for her. 
I love the human aspect of my job. I love that each person has a story. I love Mrs. Woods' story. 
Mr. Woods takes very good care of the finances and Mrs. Woods will need for nothing I am sure. They are frugal and wise. But many years ago Mrs. Woods got a job, and she saved her money away. The Woods have a son, and he did real well for himself. I am sure his parents are proud of their boy. Their son had one child, a granddaughter. And she is just perfect in her grandmothers eyes! A good girl, a delight and a treasure. This young woman got good grades, made good use of work study programs and put herself through college. Upon graduation, her grandmother gave her a very large check, enough to buy a very nice home. Her granddaughter was not expecting this, she had no idea it was coming. It was a gift of love from grandmother to granddaughter. 
I was happy to help Mrs. Woods that day. I was happy to hear her story.