Bonded by Boobs

Okay...stay with me a minute!

Last year, on 09/12/15 to be exact, I joined a wonderful group of woman who knit for charity.  We knit (and those that can, crochet) breast forms for women who have had a mastectomy(ies) for whatever reason.  The organization is called Awesome Breastforms because... well because they are pretty awesome!  The wonderful group of women who came up with this group and developed patterns have revised the patterns numerous times, only trying to make them better.  They test and evaluate and color check the yarns that are used and only let the very best ones go through!  They have checked fillers and stuffings, and again, only let the very best ones go through.

In this charity group, I am required to knit at least one form every 60 days to remain current.   I am required to purchase only approved yarn and approved filling for the forms.  I am required to pay for postage, including the box and packing materials, on my own.  I buy business cards and print out care instructions which go with every order.  All this is done at my expense.  It may sound like a lot, but really, the rewards of being with such a group far outweigh any expense!

I will get back to the group with information in a minute...but first I wanted to explain "Bonded by Boobs."

In March of this year, I was contacted by one of the administrators of the group to see if I wanted to be a mentor or helper as they call it.  I was thrilled!  I have only been knitting like 5 years and barely feel qualified to knit for family much less mentor much more experienced and way better knitters than I.  I thought about it for like 63 seconds and then said, "YES!!!"  It is hard being a helper sometimes, you have to critique other's work and tell them what needs to be changed or knitting a bit tighter or making the forms a bit rounder...the list goes on and on.   I answer numerous questions about the group and about the forms and about system of obtaining orders and sending orders.  I know..it sounds like a lot, but really it's not!

During this process, I have mentored a few women.  A few have graduated and a few have left and decided to give it another go at a later date.    It is not an easy group to get into and you have to be committed; sometimes that is just a little more for women who have smaller children or full times jobs can do.  No judgement...I get it.  I certainly would not have been able to be a part of this group when my children were home.

In the process of mentoring, there are a LOT of private messaging on Facebook going on!  They ask a question, I answer it.  They send a picture of a measurement, we discuss why or why not this will work.  They send a picture of the finished form and we discuss what needs to be done to make it an Awesome Breastform!  Then it goes to QA who have a say...sometimes they say something is not quite right and it is back to the drawing board.  Sometimes they give two thumbs up and then the real fun begins!

After my helpee has graduated and is accepting offers, they are pretty much on their own.  They certainly don't need me anymore.  I offer to be available for questions or concerns or whatever, but really at this point our relationship as helpee/helper has come to an end.

Or has it?!?  I can honestly say that more often than not, I have become friends with these women!  I mean, like real friends.  One of these women had surgery and I really worried about her and worried about how she was coming along. One (or two!!) of them is a dog lover and we discuss our fur babies.  One of them has a cop in the family...we have chatted about that!   One of them feels like a sista from another mista who only buys cheap yarn and we are only separated by miles!  I can't even begin to express what each of these women mean to me.  I love it when I get a message from them - about boobs or about something else!  I love keeping in contact with them and seeing them in their real lives yet knowing how wonderful each and every one of them is by knitting forms for women who just want their curves back!  We have definitely been bonded by boobs (BTW, stole this from one of my friends) and this swells my heart with such love!

And...I cannot even say enough of the women who run the group.  Taking orders, giving out orders, making sure we have the information on our order, making sure they have been sent out in a timely manner, getting us business cards, sharing information about what is working best, what isn't, answering numerous questions, keeping anonymity of those who order, developing customized forms for those who need it, developing patterns for women who need swim forms, revising patterns to make them better, keeping track of who's who, doing QA on all forms going out, sending everyone in the group birthday wishes on their birthday, starting secret Santa!, doing fun contests, making sample packs for doctors offices/hospitals, keeping up the website, keeping up the groups on Facebook...the list is really endless on what these fine women do! I don't know how they do it all!  Really?!?  I can barely run one household and knit boobs one order at a time.  They are blessed by what they do and by what they have accomplished and those of us in the group are blessed by them!

So..now the important stuff.  If you know someone or are someone in need of Awesome Breastforms (absolutely free of charge!! No shipping charges, nothing!!)  or if you would like to volunteer your time and your wonderful talent to this wonderful group (we will start accepting new recruits again in January, taking time off for the holidays!), please visit their site: http://awesomebreastforms.org/   You too can be part of an awesome group with awesome organizers and awesome helpers (if I do say so myself!) and become awesome friends and give awesome women back their curves and become Bonded by Boobs!

XOXO

PS:  Here are some of my boobs:

Two Things....

I love about my husband's birthday!

Today, my husband is growing another year older!  Happy birthday to my wonderful man!

Yesterday we talked a bit about his birthday and he stated that he hated when his birthday rolled around (I cannot even imagine being that old!!).  I, on the other hand, am very grateful for it.  I honestly think that his last two birthdays have been a gift to me.  Last year, Trenty was sooooooo sick, I wondered if he would even see another birthday.  After being in the hospital, on and off, for 6+ months, being fed through a nasogastric tube which failed and then having to be on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for months, losing 90 pounds, being on constant pain medications, and losing all will to go on another day, he survived.  Today, his 54th birthday, is proof of that.  Frankly, I love this day and I hope I am able to continue to celebrate it with him for years and years to come.  Call me selfish...but I love Trenty's birthday because it means he is here, with me.  It is a gift, for me.

The second thing I love about his birthday.... he is officially six (6) years older than me again!  May through September are rough months!

I love you, Trenty, with my whole heart.  I used to think my heart beats for you, but in fact, my heart beats with you. Without you....I cannot even imagine....

XOXO

Two Things...

...I miss from my childhood.

This post could actually be entitled, "One Hundred and Two things..."  I think as adults we miss most things about our childhoods.  I miss not being responsible for the food on the table or the roof over my head.  I miss not knowing what bills were due.  I miss being footloose and fancy free!

But the two things I was thinking of I just had a dream about.  Weird, I know!!

The first thing I miss is my Tinker Toys!  Man, could I build with those things!  I came up with many different creations.  Things that would swing wide and hang low.  I would make things that were so stationary even the dog could not knock them over!  I would make things to crawl through or specifically not to crawl through!  I made Barbie some wonderful houses and Ken a great condo!  I would make things that would stay up for days and others that would come down right away.  I remember sometimes never having enough to finish the things I would imagine.  I also remember a distinct smell -- probably the lead paint!

The second thing I miss is my Spirograph!  Man, could I draw with that thing!  I, of course, had the "Deluxe" set with different shapes, so not all of my wonderful art on the fridge was just in a circle.  I would use two different size rings and make like the best drawing ever created!  Sometimes I would try to make the same thing twice...I don't think I ever did, I don't think I ever could.  I remember there were some really hard ones, the gears just wouldn't line up perfectly and it was a struggle to get around the frame!  Or...that dreadful -- slip! Yikes, nothing looked worse than that ugly pen mark going all willy nilly through what could have been the next Mona Lisa...if only.

Don't get me wrong...I also loved my Lite Brite and my Barbies and my electric football game and my Easy Bake Oven -- but for today, the two things on my mind are Tinker Toys and Spirograph.

I could have been an amazing architect or a famous artist had I only not given it all up for boys!

XOXO

Two Things...

I love about being a mama to my fur babies!

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They are ALWAYS happy to see me.  It doesn't matter if I left for 5 minutes to get the mail or if I was gone all day -- they have missed me and they are soooo glad mama is home!  I am greeted with warm, wet kisses and happy barks of joy and paws up on my legs.  They maybe weren't sure if I was returning, but I did and man, oh, man that gives them complete joy.  I can't think of anything making me happier when I enter the house to see my babies jumping up and down and excited and grateful that I am back.

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They will protect me.  A few weeks back, someone broke into our house.  Before the house alarm went off, Moose gave one bark, an alarm bark.  Being it was 2:30 in the morning and I was sleeping, I told Moosie that it was okay  and to go back to sleep.  He ignored my request and gave yet another one bark alarm.  Two seconds later, the house alarm went off.

Trent grabbed the gun and immediately headed for downstairs.  Normally Moosie and Maggie would be following Daddy downstairs -- I mean, he might be getting something to eat!  But this time, they absolutely did not leave my side.  In fact, when the police came, my babies were still upstairs protecting their mama.  Nothing was going to happen to me -- Trent was downstairs with the gun and my babies were upstairs just waiting.

A few weeks have passed, Moosie is still in full on protect mode.  He has always been a bit clingy and a little anxious when left alone (I hate to think what his life was like before he moved in with his forever family), but lately, he rarely leaves my side.  He is always in my sight -- unless Daddy goes down for food in the middle of the night - I mean Moosie does have priorities!

I have no doubt that Maggie and Moosie would have torn someone up had they came into my house unwelcomed and unannounced.

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BONUS -- third thing.

They cannot lie to me!  When I come home and they have gone through the trash, I know, immediately who is the culprit.  Or at least, who started it.  I will point to the trash on the floor and ask who did this.  Moosie will instantly look at Maggie who will instantly drop her gaze.  She wont even look at me.  I will ask a few times if Maggie did this, and she will refuse to make eye contact.  Then, I will go to Moosie and ask him if he helped her, he immediately will drop his gaze.

I love those two knuckle heads!

XOXO

Velvet

Two Things...

I miss about my dad -- Everything and ....Everything.

Up until six years ago, August 3rd meant nothing to me.  I can't recall ever giving this date a second thought.  Now, I think about this date all of the time.  I have feelings of dread when it is coming close, I have deep sadness when it arrives, and as it passes, I know that in 365 days it will be here again.  I think about this date in May as my birthday approaches, in November as Thanksgiving approaches, in December as Christmas approaches, and in January as a new year starts and a birthday, not forgotten, is here.   I think about this date when good things happen to me and I think about this date when not so good things happen.  I think about this date randomly for no reason.  I think about my life six years ago and my life now and all the wonderful things that have been missed.  I think about my life six years from now and think about all the wonderful things that will be missed.

As I sit here and write this, I am letting myself cry and I am letting myself laugh.  I am thinking about the phone calls asking if we have had an earthquake in Cali.  I am thinking about the times while I was working on the computer and my daddy would send an instant message and I would ignore it because I was too busy.  I am trying to remember how many times I was asked if I had fallen on my head.  I am thinking about missed moments to say I love you.  I am thinking about all the times I did say it.  I am thinking about being tricked because "I can't pinch you without a thumb."  I am remembering explaining to my daddy that sideburns were out and we needed to file them down a bit - hello 1980!  I am remembering our "curfew" banter -- I am remembering my dates looking at me like I was a weirdo with a curfew of 10:23pm.  I am remembering late night pizza runs and root beer floats.  I am remembering Halley's Comet  and all the star gazing in between.  I am remembering the carton of empty "leche" flying across the room.  I am remembering taking off your boots.

Six years is 72 months, 312 weeks, 2190 days, 52560 hours.  I just know, anyway you look at it, it is a long time for a daddy's girl to be without her daddy. Even one day is a long time.

I wish you were here, Daddy.  I wish I had one more day with you.  I love you, Daddy and I miss you with every beat of my heart.  You are loved and thought of often.

XOXO

Daddy's Girl

A Light in my Life

Where do I even begin....

My sweet, baby girl, Natalie.... Wow.

A few years ago, my baby came to me and said she wanted to be a police officer. I replied that she could do whatever she wanted.  I wasn't sure if this would be her path in this life or not, but it really didn't matter, she could do whatever she wanted.  She had talked about joining the Air Force first and getting to her dream down that road.  I hated that idea, but I told her that I would support this if she wanted.

She started taking college classes in criminal justice and thought she might like to obtain the degree first and then go the police academy.  That was okay with me, if it made her happy.

She then looked into the POST Academy and decided this was her fate, this is what she would do.  She started filling out paperwork and getting things together. I watched and wondered if she would continue on with this or if something else might interest her and head her in a different way.  She stayed with it.

There were two ways to get into the academy -- be sponsored by a particular agency and have them put you through or go through as an independent.  She felt her best option would be to just put herself through.  I agreed and told her that we would help her in any way she needed us to.  The problem with going in as an independent is that you were not given first choice; if they filled up with sponsored people first, the class would be closed and you would have to wait until the next session.  There were also two sessions; first was the accelerated session which was 6 months or the extended session which is 9 months (I think). The class schedule for the accelerated session was Saturday through Wednesday, 7am to 4pm.  She, of course, wanted the accelerated session.

She applied but it would not be known until the day that the session started whether or not as an independent she would get in or not.  She got in.  She had to quit her job at Starbucks because this school had now become her full-time job. This school had now become her life.

Through the next 6 months, she did shooting tests and written tests and physical tests and driving tests.  She got up every morning, put on her cadet uniform, pulled her hair into a bun, made a lunch, and went to school.  She had bad days with tears.  She had great days with smiles and laughter.  She had days that she wasn't sure she would make it through and other days when she breezed on by. She had days when she questioned if this was path in life and days when she knew this was it.

All during this time, my heart and my head were in turmoil.  I wanted my daughter to succeed in this because it was what she wanted.  Yet, my heart, my heart didn't want her to be placed in danger.  I was torn in wanting what she wanted yet wanting what I wanted for her.   I wasn't sure what it was that I wanted, but I was pretty sure it didn't involve carrying a gun to work.  It was on the bad days that I encouraged her the most and on the great days when I questioned her the most.  I wanted to support her sooo much, yet, I wanted her to give up this dream and do something where she might wear heels to work.

In the end, I have no doubt that this is my baby's calling.  She was born to serve. She was born to make peace.  She was born to carry a gun.  She is the bravest, strongest, most independent woman I know.  She is also, by far, the most beautiful woman I know.  She holds her head high and she walks into a room and commands respect.  She is often the center of attention and has no clue that she is.  She has a smile that lights up every corner of darkness around her.  She has eyes that cannot lie, that twinkle with happiness and perhaps a little danger.  She has words that are never unkind.  She has attitude that radiates calmness and peace.  She has a light within her that shines, that pulls you in.   I have taught her everything I know and now I learn from her.

She is a brightness in my life.  She brings such joy.  She makes me proud.

Now as I watch my sweet girl starting her new journey, my heart swells with pride and joy and admiration.  My heart still worries but I trust her and her training.

My gosh, my sweet Natalie, I couldn't be more proud of you.  You are my hero, my love.

From this baby girl in blue....

To this woman in blue!

XOXO

Mom

Two Things...

you probably don't know about me!  I am not even sure if my family knows these things or not!!!

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I am a terrific dialer of the phone!!

You know, on the radio, if you are caller 10 (or whatever number) you win the prize?  I am that caller a lot of the time.  I am not going to say that I can get it every time, because even I am not that good!  But I do pretty good!  I have won money and CDs and tickets (lots o' tickets) and entries for big prizes.  Sometimes when I am not the exact number caller, I am just a number or two off.  I can't do it on my cell phone, though, it has to be my land line -- so, if I ever lose that, I may have to concede.  Or learn how to dial more precisely on the cell!

But yeah...I am a good dialer!

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I was the voice of the Movie Hotline!

That is correct.  If you called the Movie Hotline in Farmington, NM say in the years 1985 to 1988 - it was me!

Back in those olden times, we used a cassette tape and I think I had like 30 seconds (probably more, but man whatever it was went really fast!!) to tell you what was playing at the theaters and the times!  I would get almost to the end and run out of tape...and start all over again!  I had to wait until like almost midnight on Thursday night to change it for the new week and then I had to change the times for the weekends because there were more showings!  I think the weekend tape was a little longer!

So, if you lived in Farmington, NM in the late 80s and ever called the Movie Hotline 'twas me saying, "Showing at the Cameo Rocking Chair Theater is..."

You are welcome!

XOXO

Two Things...

...I love about my husband!

Being we are celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary today (05/27), I thought I would dedicate this two thing blog post to him. Of course, this is MY blog, therefore, even if it is about him, it is really still about me!

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He really spoils me.

He says flowers are stupid and expensive and die.  Yet, I get flowers for Valentine's Day and special occasions.  I love flowers!  I was going to say it is not about the flower itself, but more about the thought...but it really is about the flower!  I can't grow crap (darn it, I shoulda remembered that for things I suck at!!) so when my flowers die, it's okay because they are supposed to die.

He says jewelry is stupid and expensive and you can never get out of it what you have in it.  No..wrong.   Jewelry is great!  I love my diamond necklaces and my diamond earrings and my earrings from Tiffany's (still have that blue box, too!!) and my diamond tennis bracelet and my first wedding rings and my second wedding rings (happy 25th to me!!) and my pearls and my emeralds (it's my birth stone, gotta have those!) and all the other stuff I crammed into my armoire!  I love every piece, the expensive pieces and the pieces that we just picked up at a gift shop.  No, I can't wear everything at once, but it doesn't matter, I can wear everything.

He does the laundry.  'Nuff said there.

Last year when he was sick, I had to mow the lawn.  He felt terrible that I had to strain myself and do this.  So, even though he was deathly ill (he really was), he would go outside and stand there whilst I mowed and apologize every time I came around.  I would say that it wasn't all that bad, but I don't want to do it anymore, so....

He washes my car and makes sure I have gas.

He is really super duper honest about my clothing.  I take him shopping me because I know he will tell me the truth about my butt looking fat in something. Of course, he would NEVER say my butt looks fat, but what he does say is that he is not fond of that particular article, it's not the right color or cut or whatever. When I LOVE something and can't live without out, even if he hates it, we get it.

My birthday and Mother's Day and our anniversary are all in the same month, just weeks apart.  Every year he tells me that he is going to get me one gift for all three occasions and I am going to like it!  He has never done this.

When I cry, he wants to fix it.  Sometimes it can't be fixed, but he will do whatever he can to do so.

When we go home to New Mexico and I want to spend all the time with my family, he does this.  There is a compromise, and I don't mind spending time with his family, I love them.  I just really love my family and miss them.  He understands.  We live 1000 miles away and get home so seldom, I just want to sit and be with my brother and mother and sister and aunt and uncle for a while.  He understands.  We do pop in and see his family, but it's okay if the majority of the time we are with my family.  That's a good guy right there!

I am thinking about some life changes and he is totally behind me!  He is making plans and setting things up so I can change some things!  He asks all the right questions and has all the right answers.

At night, whilst lying in bed almost asleep, he reaches for my hand.  He likes to hold my hand at night.  I like him to as well.

He will do things he really doesn't want to do because I want to do it.  Every time we go to the beach, he goes - he hates it - but he goes with me.  He will see chick flicks with me and superhero movies with me - he hates it - but he goes!  I wanted a second dog because Maggie was so alone, he said no.  I told him we really needed it.  He said okay, but not another Labrador.  We got Moosie, another lab!  I would say that he hates it, but he LOVES Moosie!!  He takes me to the ballet and to plays - he hates it - but he goes with me.

He gave me two wonderful children!  I don't know where I would be without my favorite son, Garricky, and my sweet baby girl, Nattie Jo.  They are pains in the ass at times, but I love them!

Ooopppsss...sorry, there are way more things than two...I just couldn't stop myself!

I know I am not always a great wife.  I know I can be hard to live with at times (you do know my mother, right?!?!), but you are always there for me.  We argue about stupid crap, but we never really fight.  We don't always see eye to eye, but always find a nice compromise.  You are my eternal companion, for this life and for the next.  We lasted 28 years when people said we wouldn't make it 2 (hahaha). I can't wait to see what the next 28 years have in store for us!   I am ready to cross the oceans and see the world with you.  I am ready to take your hand and see where this road is going next! Thanks for offering to tutor me in College Algebra way back in 1987 and then ask me out and then eventually asking me to marry you! Thanks, my Trenty, for everything.  You really are the best part of me.

XOXO

Two Things....

I suck at!!

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I really suck at picking a container to put leftovers in.  I either get it too big or too small - never just the right size.  If I get the container too big, it is really not that big of a deal.  I seal it up and put it in the fridge and wait a week and throw it away.  However, if I pick a container too small, I have to make a decision:  Either I have to decide that I have saved enough and am willing to throw what didn't fit away, or I have to decide to put it in a bigger container and have yet one more dish to wash.  I bet you can't guess which way that decision usually goes, can you?!?!?

It is all really a moot point anyway.  I never eat leftovers -- thank you, Daddy, for teaching me that leftovers suck!  Trent will eat them, occasionally, but not that often.  Natalie will sometimes take them to school the next day, sometimes not. Most of the time, the leftovers sit in the fridge until  I can't even remember what is in the container, open it up and still, really, have no idea what the hell is in there!  Then - I have yet another decision to make:  Throw the hold container out because ... GROSS... or be brave and throw the food out and save the container.  I bet you can't guess which way that decision usually goes, can you?!?!?

BTW -- I need new leftover containers!!!  LOL

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Okay, as I was contemplating writing this post, I could not, for the life of me, think of another thing I sucked at!  I know, right?!?  I asked Trenty and, of course, because he is the best husband in the whole, wide world, said I didn't really suck at anything.  Such a liar -- however, we haven't been married for nearly 28 years because he tells the truth!!  I then asked Natalie...she had a few things!

Another thing I such at is playing catch (of course, my tomboy daughter who is in the Police Academy would say this!).  This is true.  But, since I thought about it, I really hate anything that has a potential to hit me in the face.  For instance, occasionally at kickboxing class, we have to have a partner.  I will hold two paddles and my partner will throw punches/kicks at the paddles.  I flinch, every, single time.   This, pretty much, makes me the worst kickboxing partner ever.  I used to be able to play catch pretty well, but something about that hard baseball/softball coming at my face scares me!  Same thing with fists and feet!  I don't want my face to be hurt!  I am old now, I know hurt and I don't want hurt!

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BONUS third thing I suck at --  Waiting.

I am not the most patient person in the world.  In fact, I am probably closer to the most impatient person than to the most patient person.  If you say you are going to be somewhere at a certain time, be there.  If you give me a time for an appointment,  I will be there at said time, how long will you make me wait? Before I had an electronic reader (NOOK), I used to read the last few chapters of the book because I could not wait to find out what happened!  Did the character die or make it?  I need to know....RIGHT NOW!!  I read spoilers for my favorite shows - can't can't wait!  I binge watch Netflix because I can't wait!

The DVR and Pandora and Netflix have completely spoiled me!  When in the car and listening to the radio -- oh my gosh, who knew there were sooooo many interruptions in the songs!  When watching a baseball game live on TV (not live as in the park - I never want those games to end), I often tell the pitcher to throw the stupid ball.  No need to check the runner on first, I will let you know if he is going, just throw the pitch already!  I would rather wait (which, obviously is very hard for me!) an hour to watch any show that has recorded on my DVR to avoid stupid commercials than to have to wait those 2 minutes!  I just can't wait!!

XOXO

Two Things....

about my mother.

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My mom didn't grow up with much.  She remembers one December when she was turning 16 (her birthday is in December) and she was told she could only have one gift --- for both occasions.  She wanted a typewriter and a watch, but was asked to pick just one.  Because of this, mom is very generous.  I believe she would literally give her shirt off her back, especially for her family.

When I was growing up, I didn't really realize how much we as a family probably struggled.  Both of my parents worked outside of the home, and they worked hard.  Always 40+ hours a week.  She expected a lot from me being the only daughter.  I had to start dinner and help with the dishes.  I helped with the laundry.  I helped clean the house and take care of the yard.  But, all I had to do was ask for something and generally I would get it.  I wanted new Nike shoes, I got new Nike shoes.  I wanted the most expensive of sweaters, I got these.  I wanted the popular jeans, which I got.  I wanted a dress and I HAD to have those matching shoes, which I got.  I got a car when I turned 15.  Even though we probably really couldn't afford everything, she found a way to get it for me.  I hate to think of all those things she went without - yet again - because she was taking care of me.

You can say a lot of things about my mother, but you could never say that she is not generous.  Go ahead, ask her for something.

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So, you know how I am kinda (?) vain and I care (a little bit, anyway) about what people think of me or what they may be saying about me.  Yeah...my mom, no way.  She does not give one crap about what you think about her.  She will go out of the house without putting a brush through her hair (which, by the way, would KILL me), but she runs into any one - who cares.  Let them talk.  She will tell you her age at any given minute - who cares, she is what she is.  She doesn't buy the most expensive beauty products - who cares, this will do.  I can't think she has ever worn the latest fashion, she just doesn't care.  She has wrinkles around her eyes -- yeah, she would say, I am old, I deserve these, I earned these!  Same with those gray hairs!  She has a potty mouth (what? someone in this family has a potty mouth?!?!), if you don't like it, don't listen.

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BONUS - third thing!!!

DO NOT PISS HER OFF.

That is all I have to say about that!!!


Happy Mother's Day, Mama!  I love you and miss you tons.

Two Things...

As I was driving in the car with my daughter, I had these two conversations with her and she said, "And you claim you have nothing to blog about!"

So, here are the two things I discussed in the car:

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I have a bruise on my arm.  Kind of a big bruise.  When I touch said bruise, it hurts. However, I have no idea how I got the bruise.

So, here was my thought ... if the bruise hurts this much (which is really a lot!), you'd think I would remember what I did to cause the bruise. No idea.  Obviously it had to have hurt, right?  I mean, I got a bruise from it! No idea what caused the bruise, but I can hardly believe that the bruise hurts worse than the initial impact upon my arm.  I mean, it caused a bruise!  It had to have hurt!

No idea what caused the bruise.

I also a few bruises on my legs....yeah, no idea how those got there either...


*
Taco Bell.

Do I like Taco Bell?  Yes, I do.  Do I at times even crave Taco Bell?  Why, yes, I do.  Is Taco Bell even good for me?  Well...that, my friends, is a topic for another day!!

Here is the question... What do I like to get at Taco Bell?

Here is my thought... Does it really matter?  Everything tastes exactly the same at Taco Bell.  Everything.  The Taco Supreme tastes very much like the Burrito Supreme which very much tastes like the Chalupa which very much tastes like the Grilled Stuff Burrito which very much tastes like the Soft Taco which very much tastes like the Nacho Bell Grande which very much tastes like.... well you get it right?  Even the very plain bean burrito, which I really kinda like, tastes like every thing else.

One could make the argument that this is the case every where.  But this is so not true... Case in point:  McDonald's.  You have the Big Mac which has two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun (thank you 1980s (70s?) promotional sound track) while the Quarter Pounder has 1/4 pound of an all beef patty, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mustard.   See...totally different.  McDonald's also offers a McFish McFillet as well as McChicken McNuggets neither of which taste like the Big Mac.  There is also the McRib McSandwich which whatever processed crap it is made of does not taste like the McBig McMac.  I think I have sufficiently made my McPoint. Please excuse my overuse the "Mc"s in this paragraph...I just McCaught up in it all!

So,  "¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!"  (thank you 1990s (?) promotion).  But frankly, just pick me up whatever there...it all tastes the same.    

XOXOXO

Two Things....

*

Dear Fitbit:

I think I deserve extra credit when walking miles in these shoes.  Please update your app to reflect my current exercise regimen.  

Mucho Lovo,

Vels

*

So, I went to the eye doctor last week (two weeks ago? who can remember?) and whilst he was looking deep into my eyes through my black soul, he mentioned that there were "pretty sparkles" on my contact.  I took this as a compliment, you know, my pretty, sparkly eye shadow must have somehow gotten into my eyes. He said this might account for my eyes being dry and the reason for trouble focusing long distances. So?  Not a compliment?!?   He asked the order of my routine in which I replied contacts first then makeup.  He suggested the other way around!! HAHAHAHAHA....yeah, like I am going to ruin my makeup?!? Crazy doctor!  He also suggested glasses as an alternative.  Does he not understand how vain I am?  Does he really need me to spell this out to him?

At the end of the appointment it was decided to change my prescription a bit (less than previously, thank you very much).  We discussed the need for reading glasses (bite me, 48!).  He suggested perhaps trying glasses to see if this would help.  THEN...he said the B-word.  Not the usual B-word I am used to hearing, by the way, but the other one.

And so...these are what my glasses look like:  

Damn...when did I get old?  I mean, just the other day I was in high school and  yesterday I was a young mother of two babies.  Now?  A mother of two 20-somethings and bifo...I can't even say the word.  I can't decide what makes me older -- wearing contacts and taking off/on my reading glasses or wearing ^^ those!

I would have took a picture of me wearing those glasses -- but today is a no makeup-hair not done-sweat wearing-but at least I got out of bed and showered Tuesday.  Sorry.

PS - AARP ..yeah, not quite 50 yet, stop sending me crap!  I still have over 2 years...let me bask in my under 50 joy.  Just because I wear those glasses does not give you the right to just assume... Thank you!

**

The End.

XOXOXO 

Two Things...

*
So, Trenty and I had a little mini vacay and we went camping for like 11 days!  It was sooooo great!  Even though I had to work a bit every day whilst there, it was so relaxing and so rewarding and sooooo needed!

So, while there we had our Maggie and Moosie with us.  Very, very closely, I may add, in such limited space!  But I love those three, so there was no problem with the closeness.  However, I talk to my M&Ms like I would talk to a person. I ask them questions and I bless them after they sneeze and I tell them secrets!  I had told Maggie something one morning and I started to laugh because I was thinking if someone was walking by, they would probably wonder why I was telling my child this!  So, here is a list of things I would say to my M&Ms but not my children:

• I am not going to give you a bath this week, you can wait until next week.
• I will take you home and you will stay by yourself all week if you don't behave! 
• Maggie/Moosie -- mom dropped crap on the floor, come and eat it! 
• Let's chain them up outside and go the marina for ice cream!
• If you get in the lake again, you will sleep outside!  
• I don't care if it is raining, go outside and potty!
• DO NOT EAT THAT THROW UP!
• Do I need to rub your nose in it?
• Get your wet nose off my foot!
• Maggie, stop licking his ear!
• Get away from my heater!!
• Moose, get out of her butt!
• Mama's afraid, protect me!
• Get out of my bed! 

I am sure there are many others, but these are just a few that were mentioned in the last few weeks!  

*

and....I lied.  I only have one thing this time!  Sorry!  I've said it a million times, I would blog every, single day if I only had stuff to say!  

XOXO

Two Things....

Oh my gosh, I have had such writer's block!!  I love blogging, but some days, I just got nothing to say!!  I still don't, truth be told, but I pulled some crap out of no where!

* My side of the electric blanket has like two settings:  Oh my gosh, that's too hot and is this thing even on?

When I first go upstairs to night night, I plug my phone in and put my water on my nightstand and turn my electric blanket on.  I then go and take my contacts off and wash my face and brush my hair 100 times (JK - I am lucky if I remember one sweep of the brush) and by the time I climb into bed, especially if the M&Ms were laying on my bed (and they usually are), it is rather warm or at least warming up.  I take my Nook from my nightstand and prop up a second pillow and prop the Nook onto the pillow, roll over and read for a while.  As soon as I have read enough (usually indicated by falling asleep and the Nook timing out and me startling awake, turning the Nook back on trying to read to the next break, but finally just letting it time out and putting it back up!), I put my Nook up and turn my blanket down.  I can't sleep if it is at a 10 - I used to, but I just can't anymore.  The night before last night I turned it to 6.  The next morning as I woke, I was cold!  My blanket didn't feel like it on.  I looked over to see if it had unplugged or turned off or whatever, but no.

Last night, after it was heated up sufficiently, I decided to turn it to a 7 -- obviously a 6 was not going to cut if for me.  I didn't even make it to the alarm, I was burning up!

It was decided, that I need a 6.5!  That should be juuuuuust right.

*  Speaking of reading...here is a little pet peeve of mine.  Super duper long chapters in books.  I think it is really hard for a thought to continue for 65 pages. Sorry. I think that somewhere in the midst of those pages, the author could have found a nice place to just call it quits and start on with the next chapter.

As noted above, I read at night.  I try to get to the next chapter, but if a chapter is too long, I can't.  I have to stop in the middle of a chapter and then the next night I find myself paging back a few pages to remember exactly where I was in the chapter.  I mean, I HAVE slept since then!  Sometimes in the middle of a chapter, the author will put a little break in there -- a new thought.  Really, shouldn't that just be a new chapter?  I wonder if publishers like tell them, "Okay, you can write a book, a short one; make it like no more than 7 chapters."  The book is 695 pages long, but 7 chapters!

I don't know how long a chapter should be.  I guess if your thought and the flow can continue for 65 pages, go for it.  But if it can't, there is nothing wrong with say a 15-page chapter.  On the other hand, one author I read writes like 2-page chapters.  Really?  You can't come up with a little more than that?

Okay -- the moral of the story(ies) -- I am obviously never happy!

* BONUS THING!!
Because my things are stupid and really have no contribution with day-to-day life, I thought I throw another senseless thing into the mix.

I have recently found out something new about myself.  I mean, it's not new, but it just finally put it all together.  I don't like meat with bones in them.

I love chicken.  If it is a boneless, skinless breast.  Don't feed me a leg ... gross, that has a bone in it!

I don't eat ribs.  I know, sad. It's not that I don't like them, I just don't like the bone in them.

Trent and I tried a new recipe last week.  The recipe called for bone-in (specifically) pork chops.  I, myself, would have purchased  pork chops sans bone. Trent did the shopping (as he really does a lot!! I know -- best husband ever!!) that week and bought the ingredients as the recipe indicated.  The chops cooked in the crock all day, smelled yummy and were actually good -- ish.  I could not get over the fact that they had a bone in them.  Even though, technically after cooking all day in the crock pot, the meat had fallen off the bone, in my head, they were still bone-in pork chops.

I love wings!  But -- you got it -- boneless ones!

When I cook a turkey or a ham with bones -- I take the meat that is furthest from the bone.

I don't know really when this all started.  But when I brought it up to Trent and Natalie the other day as I was thinking about it, they both agreed.  They know that I don't like meat with bones in them.  They had really never really noticed, but when I brought it up, it was clear to them that I was right (duh).

I have given this a little (really, very little!) thought.  I decided I don't like the crap that is around the bone.  Cartilage?  Tendons?  Joint fluid?  Bone marrow pigment?  The gross juice?  Extra fat?  And...are those veins?

I bet you never look at meat on the bone the same way again.  You.  Are. Welcome!

So....there you have my very bottom-of-the-barrel two (bonus -- THREE) things for this post!  Hopefully I will come out of this writer's block - but as far I can tell, don't hold your breath.  It's gonna be a lean blog year.  Hey --  we wonderful authors (LOL) can't be on our game all of the time!  Sorry...

XOXO

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings.
These are a few of my favorite things."

I don't know about raindrops on roses, but these are a few of MY favorite things:

• When I wake up in the middle of the night and look at the clock and I still have hours left to sleep.  
• When I walk into the house and the M&Ms have not torn up the place. 
• When I finish a good book. 
• When I step on the bathroom scale and it has moved down a few pounds (or at least stayed the same).
• Climbing into bed with fresh, clean sheets that are all tucked in nice and tight. 
• When Trenty reaches for me at night while sleeping just to touch my hand. 
• Waking up and thinking it is Wednesday and finding out it is actually Thursday.
• Hearing a song on the radio that has some great memories attached to it. 
• Deja vu -- knowing I am on the right path. 
• Climbing into bed when my electric blanket has warmed it up for me. 
• Having a dream of someone I love and miss. 
• Bad weather outside, being inside all warm and tucked in. 
• Finding a great book just by chance. 
• Turning on the television and actually finding something good. 
• Waking up and not wanting to get up and start my day, but then getting up and doing a work out and knowing that was the right choice and the best choice, even though staying in bed for an extra 30 minutes would have felt so good. 
• Knitting something for someone who genuinely appreciates it and loves it. 
• Accomplishing a bucket list item. 
• Making plans that actually go through and work out. 
• A spontaneous thought that turns into a great day. 
• Getting goosies and knowing something amazing is taking place. 
• Looking into the eyes of those I love and seeing that same love returned. 
• Remembering  a song lyric after not hearing that song for a long time. 
• An unexpected text just letting me know I am loved and missed. 
• Seeing my children be happy and being the best they can be. 
• Returning home from the grocery store after really not wanting to go. 
• Clothes fresh from the dyer. 
• Thunderstorms. 
• A package in the mail. 
• New shoes. 
• Sunflowers. 
• A great song on the radio which compels me to get up and just dance. 
• Making a hard decision and going through with it. 
• My mom's tacos. 
• An unexpected call from my children, without bad news. 
• My sports team coming from behind for a great win.  

As I started this list, I thought maybe I could come up with like ten things if I tried really, really hard.  Then, things just starting coming to me.  Things that made me smile as I typed them.  I realized this list, though not infinite, could go on and on and on for a while.  The more I typed, the more I thought of.  One thought would lead to another which would lead to yet another.  

Though a few more than just a few things, these are some of my favorite things that make me happy.  

XOXO 

New Year, New You!!

Happy 2016!

I wonder how long I will be writing 2015 before it finally kicks in?

I hate the expression "New Year, New You."  Hate it!  Natalie and I joke about it around this time of year.  We will see people at Target buying sports equipment or new people at our gym or new people running with us and we look at each other, laugh, say the phrase, and laugh again.  A new year is a new beginning, in a way, I guess.  But, I don't think you should wait until the new year to do something.  If you want to lose 15 pounds, start today.  If you want to change your attitude, start today.  If you want to....whatthehellever, start today.  It is like resolutions, really...how long before you break them?  The ONLY resolution I ever kept was a few years back when I resolved to buying a new pair of shoes every month.  I LOVED that resolution and I kept it, all through the year.  Maybe it is purely my selfish nature, but maybe I kept this resolution because I got something physical out of it.  Twelve new pair of shoes...yes, please!!  This, however, hardly made me a better person or a thinner person ...maybe a happier person!!  All the other ones...eat better, be nicer, be more positive, don't be such a bitch, laugh more....blah, blah, blah...in a week I'll be yelling at someone for something minor making a big scene while eating a Snicker bar!!!!

I have learned a lot in the past year.  I have been through a lot in the past year.  I have faced things that I never thought I would.  I have grown as a person, as a mother, as a wife.  None of these things started with a resolution nor did they start with the new year.  Things were thrust upon me and I either let them get me down or I fought until it was good or I continue to fight for what I believe is right.

I am so thankful my family made it through the year with little loss and little heartache.  We lost my grandmother almost a year ago, but in reality, that was more a celebration of life than a loss.  We made it over the some hard bumps.  I am grateful to have the friends, who I have picked to be in my life, and the family, who, though not picked personally, belong in my life.  I am grateful to those I know I can count on and, though sorry for the loss, grateful to those who have walked out or been cast out of my life.  Everything happens for a reason.

I wish I could give credit where credit is due, but I cannot remember who said this.  I belong to a secret, private group on Facebook of Mormon Mothers with LGBTQ children.  Someone said this recently and I cried when I read it because it is me today.  It is how I live my life now.  And it is indeed regret for not living my life like this always.  This is my new motto.  This is my new outlook on life. This is who I am today and who I want to be always.  One of my Mama Dragon friends said:

I used to see things in black and white, now I see things in rainbows.  

I love that.  I love feeling like that.  It has little to do with having an LGBTQ child and everything to do with the kind of person I want to be.  I want to be a ray of sunshine, not a cloud of doom.  I want to shine bright, not be dulled and left behind.  I want to smile and have you smile back.  I want to make a difference in any way I can; whether it be letting the last piece of chocolate go or taking money from my pocket and handing it to you.  I want to support things that are important to me.  I want to wear my rainbow glasses and see the world as it was meant to be seen!

Happy New Year!

Remember -- New Year -- NEW YOU!!!!

XOXO