GinasHearts

3-4-2K12

2012-03-04T19:52:00.001-08:00

We Loved This Movie!!! No Matter What Your Age See It, It's A Must!

The Flu

2012-03-03T20:53:00.001-08:00

Nothing will be right in my world till I feel better. Thinking I had the energy I left the house for a bit today and found out pretty quick that the feeling was fleeting and back to the couch I went. It is a nice feeling to be somewhat waited on however, but the fact that my 5 year old has completely destroyed his room in my absence has me filled with dread. Tomorrow we are supposed to go and see the Dr. Suess movie Lorax. Jake has loved Lorax for a few years now and he sleeps with him every night. It is one of our favorite reads so sick or not I will pull it together. Aside from that the thought of Spring break has me anticipating the week ahead coming to an end. 7 days of doing nothing other than working on my tan, sleeping in and watching movies sounds pretty nice about now and believe you me I will be relishing in it. There is still plenty to do around the house as well so yes some chores will have to work there way into the itinerary. Who doesn't love perusing through Pintrest and getting a glimpse into other peoples homes and all the how too's. Who knew all the neat things you can make with those pallets you find behind the grocery stores. it's amazing. One of these days I will set about looking through all of the things I have on my board and actually making something..one of these days. For now I am just going to find my bed, dream a little dream in my feverish state and disappear among the pillows. My 5 year old will probably find his way in there too, which is fine by me as the sound of him breathing as we fall asleep is music to my ears. The lullaby that puts me to sleep every night...

Hiatus

2012-03-01T20:23:00.001-08:00

Here I have found myself on the first day of March with a fever. I cannot remember the last time I experienced this achy funky feeling and for that I am thankful, yet when your body temperature rises sometimes everything starts to look pretty surreal. I suppose I will just go with it and embrace it as there is not much choice in the matter for me this evening. In a way it is somewhat nice to be still for a change. It's not like I have been starving for alone time but my mind is usually caught up in trying to just process everything around me lately. I have mulled this over while driving around this week and have reminded myself time and time again to just take my time on the road and relax a bit. Inevitably I find myself weaving in and out of traffic yet again on a mad dash to get somewhere on time, usually school. I always arrive ahead of schedule yet cannot help but to rush. This has been my work in progress, slowing down.
Today has been somewhat odd. I choked for the first time in my life. Eating dinner apparently I did not chew my food enough and I literally had something blocking my throat that would not go down or out and I could not breath. For those 5 long minutes a lot of thoughts went through my head from of course I have to be alone while this is happening to am I really going out like this? Thank god I didn't meet the same fate as Mama Cass and someone was watching over me, thank god. Not too long after I whacked my head cleaning up Ninjas pretty hard on the newly installed shelf and decided I needed to sit down. As if cleaning up vomit twice today (one in the truck, once on me) and two sick fighting boys hopped up on Predisone wasn't enough...
So here it is March is upon us..the first two months of the year I have been regrouping and buried in 5 classes this semester, but that's commonplace anymore. I have gotten rid of half of my possessions and that in and of itself has been liberating and the new home is starting to feel like home as things become more settled and organized. This is my anniversary month where we will celebrate one year of marriage. Ahhhh marriage is a funny thing you know, the reality of marriage vs. the fantasy of it that many of us hold onto in our youth.My best friend who happens to be 68 years old (and who by all means has it all going for her) and I were laughing the other day over coffee at the mere thought that people can stay married for 25 years. I think things like this just sort of happen if your lucky. So far so good but I already spent 10 years of my life married, I will just be happy if I can add up the two consecutively. I learned long ago that with expectations comes disappointment so I try not to hold onto many of them.
So whats on the menu for March? I for one would like to be able to give up white sugar. I have been trying to do this for some time now to no avail..but hey its good to have dreams..

Escapism

2012-01-19T22:57:00.001-08:00

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others; even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself to others you may become ...vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

...

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of times. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself, especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the council of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture the strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars: you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should!

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you perceive Him to be; and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Desiderata
Max Ehrmann, 1927

Pinapple Upside Down Cake & David Bowie

2012-01-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year..I know I am a little late getting out the gate but the past few weeks have been an readjustment period of sorts. With that came a new home and all the plagues and pleasures that go along with it. I do enjoy however the space around me and the peace and quiet that was impossible to achieve in my retro townhouse. Classes have been reconfigured and I have been focusing my attention on making a home for us here in all its beauty, imperfections and solitude.My husband has been out of town and I am spending yet another night chickin out as I like to call it. Tonight it has involved baking a cake and listening to the Pandora which has been stuck on Art music circa 1980's for the better part of 4 days now, maybe more. During this move I got rid of a lot of stuff, a lot of baggage that I have been carrying around for years and I am in the process of removing more. It feels really good as hard as it was to get in that mode to well simplify. It has been a good few years since I have done this yet this is the first time I have been as proactive about it as I have been in the last few days. I have thought long and hard about the New Year ahead and have a somewhat relaxed approach to what it means, meaning these days I am not apt to find myself trying to figure everything out anymore I just go with the flow. Some days taking it just one day at a time. I have parted the seas and made more room in my life for the good friends I neglect all to often, my studies and spending time with my family and look forward to what I have yet to learn as 2012 gets underway and sharing my journey with you every step of the way....

The World Isn't Likely to End in 2012...

2011-12-27T20:58:00.000-08:00

There is a kind of inexplicable joy involved in spending the day void of the pressures of life, to watch your loved ones smile with amazement as they tear wrapping paper and enjoy good cooking..life somehow seems less than demanding on Christmas..it is as if everything stops and worries take a back seat and you find that happiness, that peaceful place we try all year to reach..in reflection and with just the right amount of gratitude I welcome the new year and all that lies ahead...there is nothing quite like resting your head on your pillow at night knowing you are amongst people that love you..the world is hard enough out there and if anything the holidays have made me fully appreciate what it means to be home..

“Let us toast to animal pleasures, to escapism, to rain on the roof and instant coffee, to unemployment insurance and library cards, to absinthe and good-hearted landlords, to music and warm bodies and contraceptives... and to the "good life", whatever it is and wherever it happens to be.”
― Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman

I have my life back!!

2011-12-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

Its a funny thing college, sometimes I feel like I am in a time warp. In any case the Fall semester is a wrap and I am back to reading and writing about things that I actually find entertaining as opposed to what can be considered obligatory. Not that I didn't enjoy my classes this semester but given the time of year the holiday madness has a way of taking hold of a person and I felt for a split second there so scattered that I didn't know which end was up..whew. Christmas is fast approaching and I am glad we got to take some time out and see The Elves & The Shoemaker Play at The Fountain Hills Theatre and see Santa not once but twice..last weekend I baked no less than 8 dozen cookies and this weekend after throwing an epic celebration for my sons 11th birthday I will be doing cupcakes and finishing up the last of the Christmas shopping..Hoping for a smooth next couple of weeks until we move into our new home. Sometimes its just nice to reflect and and realize that when life gets hectic it is good to be busy sometimes, it is in times like these you find the true meaning of going with the flow..now if I can just sit down and watch a movie in its entirety...

Christmas 2k11

2011-12-10T19:19:00.001-08:00

Happy Christmas!

School is over this coming up Wednesday

Then I will be back <3

Spooked

2011-11-13T20:24:00.001-08:00

The first person to wish me a happy birthday this year was the great Jeremiah Newton it was shortly thereafter that he advised me to get my Ouija bored out of the house. Taking it in jest I found myself up late one night around Halloween watching the real story behind the movie The Exorcist , as it turns out the Ouija bored was to blame ..who knew. Mine is tucked under my TV stand and I have second thoughts about messing around with it anymore. It was just a few weeks back the boys and I were trying to summon our late dog and to think what we may have brought into the house. Speaking of evil spirits I read an article last night about one of the kids who lived in the Amityville home and the proposed hoax behind it all that has hung over his family like a dark cloud since that afternoon they picked up and left that house and all of their belongings behind some 25 years ago, it got me to wonder about the current residents. You would have to either one be a real thrill seeker or two have gotten a pretty good deal to live in that house. I for one wouldn't regardless of the sensationalism surrounding that story something real happened there, just ask the kid he'll tell ya and if all goes right he will be telling everyone else at the Sundance film festival. Maybe we can finally get the real story. Being it was one of the first books I have ever read I would be pretty interested to hear it.

Jeremiah Newton & Candy Darling

Speaking of firsts the year has been full of them and to think that it is drawing to a close brings me into reflective mode. There is no stress associated with the holidays around here, why the Christmas shopping is almost done..almost not quite. The Fall semester is over in just about a month and soon we will be celebrating two more birthdays. I have been immersed in different styles of architecture..always the historian this explains away any future fanatical posts that may come your way. I have also been hugely distracted on my new hobby of couponing and getting things for free.. I know how this sounds and it is in no way due to any outside influence from shows on TV I swear. This is something I have pretty much always have done back and forth through my years raising a family however in the past few months I have kicked it into high gear and it has resulted in quite the stockpile..I find myself longing for an extra room in my home to put shelves in so that I may keep it nicely organized. But for now I have a huge dresser full of various brands of bodywash, lotions, shampoo,makeup, toothpaste, scented candles and you name it.. don't even get me started on the lip gloss my hubs says I could open a store. It is pretty fun actually and I can even keep up with it without leaving the house by snagging some stellar online deals.. I really should share though I doubt anyone comes around here expecting to find a deal.. and besides CentsableShoppin is the go to girl for things like this.. you really should check her out you may just find yourself hitting up 4 stores in one night and coming home with hundreds of dollars in food and product for like 60 bucks.. its true this is what you can find me doing on Tuesday nights.. but enough about that. Tomorrow is Monday and I am really going to try and wake up earlier, fact is I am not much of a morning person anymore...if I can refrain from reading ghost stories tonight I may just be able to..

Outside the Comfort Zone

2011-11-06T22:15:00.000-08:00

Most of the time I tend to roll through life thinking anything is possible if you have the will..lately I find myself going with the flow instead of making things happen and I have begun to feel well somewhat lax..Perhaps it is because there has just been so much going on and despite my effort to slow things down a bit the weeks just seem to fly by..another birthday has just passed, as did Halloween and I am going strong in the day to day that is my life...I find myself longing for the Fall semester to end yet lamenting that it means the Spring semester will come before I know it and the closer I get to graduation the harder and more time consuming the classes are...but its alright no need for complaining afterall I am fortunate to just be able to have the opportunity to finish my degree..spending my Sunday taking test however is all that it takes to put me in a funk..especially when there are sick kiddos who are relentless about playing albums all throughout the day..at least my 5 year old goes to the old Warren Zevon or Linda Rondstat.. The days have turned chilly and I volunteered to run the face painting booth at the school carnival last Friday night, something that had me full of anxiety..but it worked out well despite the downpour..at least we got three good hours where it was just windy...Halloween was a blast the boys and I rode on the back of a mini pickup truck around the neighborhood and did some trick or treating and then we did 2 church festivals in 2 days..the amount of candy that remains in my house should be illegal! Tomorrow is a new day and a good nights rest may allow me to catch up with myself..I will get back to my yoga after a 2 day hiatus ( my body aches tell me its time) I will make a few phone calls to friends and family I haven't had time to catch up with this week..I will take care of my sick little man and give him lots of love and make something comforting for dinner..a glimpse of possibility in the next day of my life that lies ahead..time to get under some heavy covers, watch something on tv that I want to see and call it a night.....

Who Hates Getting His Picture Taken??? Date Night October 2k11

2011-10-25T22:53:00.000-07:00

Steak Dinner @ Saddlebronc Grille...coffee shop & a late night drive....

Getting Back Up To Speed: Nothing Quite Like the Homecoming Celebration During the Wonder Years

2011-10-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

What is the fascination with theaffair known as the High School Homecoming? It is true what they say, when youhave children it allows you to live your childhood out all over again. This isa great experience but being the parent of a teenager can bring back those notso distant memories which often times can be unfavorable ones. During myadolescent years I was swimming in feelings of inadequacy and awkwardness, theexperience of going to a dance and actually dancing or partaking in thefestivity known as the homecoming game would be something that I’d liken aclose second to death. All I knew about homecoming is that it was an openinvite for past students to return to their Alma matter. There was a king andqueen involved who was usually the prettiest girl in school alongside the starathlete, and there was a lot of fuss to be had for finding the perfect dressand the floats while ostentatious were downright humorous. Reliving my teenageyears through my 15 year old I am once again flung into the life and times of asophomore in high school. But this time it is different, this time I amwatching from the sidelines empathetic and in admiration of those bygone years.Notepad in hand I set out to witness the upcoming week in its entire carnivalsplendor. Fall is upon us as the teenage angst has began to brew in anticipation for the biggame and the weeklong celebration that drives kids here in America crazy andhad the whole town center covered in confetti, that which is homecomingFountain Hills 2011.

I got to thinking after the thirdmad dash to the dollar store in a week for cheap noisemakers and fairy wingsthat second only to Halloween Homecoming sure has a way with stimulating theeconomy in the month of October. Not only is there the ever present need to haveto find the perfect dress and the perfect pair of slacks, but the question asto what you do aside from the dance. Is their dinner involved? Apparently thereis much like prom. Is a limousine in order? To some of the girls in thefreshman class it was a no brainer and the limos were in abundance. Were theircorsages or boutonnieres involved? Absolutely not, who knew. Not even the kindyou wear on your wrist, no flowers, anywhere. Boy how times have changed. Itook a center seat on the homecoming festivities and set about to not onlyvolunteer for spirit week rallies and at the school but decided that for thefirst time ever I would be attending the homecoming football game and bepresent at the dance, if just for a little while, before my son and his friendsnoticed and I felt bad about potentially embarrassing him. I set out toexperience the whole package to better understand what the hype was all aboutand to perhaps find that lost piece of teenage wasteland I’d let go of long ago.Before the grand finale known as the game was to occur followed closely by thedance, the week-long celebration began with what they term spirit week. Spiritweek is essentially dressing up to a different theme every day to show pride inyour school. It pretty much is anything goes and the sky is the limit as I soonfound out on just how far these kids will go. The first day was what theycalled a looking cool day or clique day. Back in my time that would surely meana turned up collar, bangs sprayed high and lots of blue eyeliner but lookingcool proved to be a day where kids emerged as a blast from the past, athrowback to an era which feels worlds away from modern times, the 1950’s. Itwas like watching the movie Grease all over again; I think I had Grease songsrunning through my head the better part of the day as a matter of fact. Thanksto the ability to find almost any costume you can imagine online anymore manyof the girls became Pink Ladies, pink satin jacket, poodle skirt, and all. Theguys became the greasers, black leather jackets, white t-shirts, slicked backhair and skinny jeans. Hey skinny jeans were popular in the 1950’s too, whoknew. John Travolta sadly was nowhere to be found. There was a lot of bravadobuilding up throughout the day and I have to say it was nice for a change tosee teenage boys with their shirts tucked in, a rarity nowadays; this is justsomething you do not see much of anymore. There is a lot of pride in this smalltown and throughout the week it was as though the teenagers had a free pass tobecome something other than what they normally are, to become an elaborateanimated version of themselves. Nothing exemplifies this better than the nextspirit day on the list fantasy day. Fantasy day can mean a lot of things andwhen I first heard this I hadn’t a clue what the dress code would entail butafter running to and fro to the Goodwill, the Dollar Store and to Target tofind the perfect skirt for my son I soon found out and took every opportunityto snap blackmail pictures all the while. It looked as if all the guys followedsuit, from class to class there was a parade of neon fairies, it was likeNarnia had gone psychedelic. Hair was sprayed the perfect shade of pink,football players donned tights and glitter and there were tutus and fuzzy earseverywhere you looked and no one was made fun of because of it. As a matter offact given that all these guys were dressed like girls it was hard to tell whowas who. There were the few that decided upon a wizard costume in place of thehose with Vans look but overall it was cross dressing at its finest. The girlshad no particular theme but rather chose Playboy bunny costumes and dressed intheir dads white business shirts complete with a loose tie and knee high socksgiving off a modern day impression of the famous Rebecca Demornay in RiskyBusiness. To my amazement being this was the week of anything goes they wereall able to coexist in class throughout the day dressed in fairyland excess.The next few days that would follow would be color coded with each classchoosing a particular color, there was the freshman all in red, the sophomoressporting a bright yellow, juniors in purple ala Barney the big round dinosaurand seniors who would prove to be the big hit in Green which spread beyondclothing to include green hair and face paint. St. Patrick’s Day in October.During the tail end of this spirit week the Fountain Hills Falcons had their firstcelebration and you would think that the whole town shut down and everyone wasin attendance.

The Homecoming Parade takes placein the center of town in what is considered the downtown area. Like many smalltowns the downtown area is nothing like what you see in big cities and ofteninvolves a main street or drag lined with businesses and restaurants keyed toattract visitors and locals alike. Typically you will find kitschy shops and itis a place where decorations abound to commemorate the seasons and FountainHills is no different. The Avenue of the Fountains runs directly across themain attraction in town, the Fountain, located at Fountain Park it used to bethe worlds largest and was the center point from which the town was builtaround. In closing off the surrounding streets this proved to be a great placefor people to gather and in the crown you found students, teachers, parents andpeople from all ages anticipating the spectacle that was about to begin. The kidswaited along the roadside in anticipation for candy and eagerly danced as theFountain Hills Falcons marching band started their path to the anxiousonlookers. Watching the local marching band play gives you a real home townfeeling whether you live in a big city or a small time there is something aboutit that just grounds you and gives you a sense of place. As they belted outvarious tunes such as When the Saints Come Marching In and The Star SpangledBanner there were older students spinning batons in all their blue and silverglory along with a group of girls who looked as though they ranged between fiveand ten years of age shaking their pom poms and dancing down the road. Some ofthem looked sleepy and some of them were excited but either way it was a longwalk for some and those little legs looked like they might give out at anytimeadding a little character to the whole show. What followed was an elaboratedisplay of homemade floats. When I say homemade it was not like I remember themto be where someone donates a trailer and some makeshift cardboard and paintare used to create something that leaves you wondering what the hell that was?No in this day and time there appears to be a great deal of money ,time, andeffort put into this huge display of Falcon pride with each class getting achance to show their talent and skill in its best form, or rather their parents,it is hard to tell. The floats were built in the back of small semi truck bedsor as in one case a large rig with a huge trailer. Beyond the cardboard andpaint there were banners and music and lights and dancing, it was quite theshow. One float would take you to the tropics with a Hawaiian theme while theother was a scene right out of Nightmare Before Christmas complete with spiders,costumes and the beloved Jack. The senior float proved to be a big hit as theVarsity football team would have their place riding on it and if you have evervisited a small town or live in one you’d know that the high school football teamis all the rage. People get crazy here over about high school football. It isingrained in the popular culture of America. It is serious business and notsomething to be taken lightly. Every float handed or rather threw large amountof candy into the crown as the children ran back and forth as though they werehungry dogs in a mad race to see who could gather the most. To a child a paradeisn’t about the fancy cars rolling down or the fire departments tooting theirhorn so much as it is about the candy and with Halloween fast approaching therewas plenty of good stuff. Tootsie roll pops and Twix bars seemed to be thepopular favorite. Speaking of fancy cars there were plenty of them as themembers of AMVETS and Kiwanis clubs along with our local politicians rode andwaved to the less than thrilled onlookers who were were waiting for the realfun to begin. That being the end of the road where there would be a stageawaiting the arrival of those Varsity football players. Around the stage thecheerleaders danced and flung around singing the song of Falcon Power as thecrowd clapped and hollered the team took the stage and everyone gathered in acircle around them. Last names were yelled out as the townspeople cheered loudlyin an effort to build momentum for what was about to occur in less than twentyfour hours, the big game.

Let me first say I am not a fan offootball that is not to say that football isn’t watched in my house. With 4boys here it controls our Sundays and Monday nights for the better part of falland winter, I have grown accustomed to this mind you but it doesn’t mean I haveto like it. I was apprehensive about going to the homecoming game at first. Afterall I don’t think I even went to one of my own high school football games. Butin order to get the full experience I found it necessary and even though Ipromised my 15 year old son I wouldn’t sit by him and his friends I’d like tothink that him just knowing that I went was a good thing. The kids were alljazzed up still from the goings on that occurred earlier in the day. The Peprally as it has come to be known here in America hasn’t changed much since Iwas in high school, well minus the Salt and Peppa music and the reminder as towhy I would not dance if my life depended on it. There were football playersdressed up in their respective colors pretending to be cheerleaders, there werecheerleaders who were trying to get a rise out of the crowd which wascompromised of those students who actually think the pep rally is fun and thosestudents who are glad to just have gotten out of class for the afternoon andcracked jokes at the expense of them. Nevertheless it created energy and youcould feel it in the air as it spilled over into the night as the bleachersbegan to fill. One student actually complained that the pep rally wasn’t as funas it was in recent years being that there was no disc jockey. This wassomething new, we never had disc jockeys. I began to wonder if they would haveone at the dance.

The football field is located kitty-cornerto Fountain Hills High School and proudly boasts home of the Falcons. Thisepicenter of Falcon Pride can be found in a most unassuming neighborhood andsomething tells me the neighbors more than likely aren’t making any noisecomplaints. After the opposing team and their egos arrived on the field therewas a sense that all hell was about to break loose coupled with the smell offreshly popped popcorn in the air. The feeling of competition weighed heavy onthese players and you could tell this wasn’t a show, this wasn’t a spectacle,this was a game and one in which they intended on winning. After a briefappearance by the home coming king and queen along with their undergraduatewannabes it was time to play ball. That being said the homecoming queen does appearto still be the prettiest and most popular girl, and the king had the kind oftoothy grin and sense of entitlement that only a star athlete can possess. We were playing Estrella Foothills High andthe adapted motto found everywhere from posters to banners to t-shirts was“Attack the Pack”. It must be rough to be the away team on homecoming night. Butattack them we did. The crowd was wild. There was a lot of cheering and hotdogs and yelling over the band. The cheerleaders did their best to keep everyone’sspirits up, but we were doing great. The Falcon spirit was high intensity and Iwas just glad that I could be there to witness the vibe first hand. The teamtook a take no prisoners approach and the end result was an astounding win bythirty points. There is a reason why high school football tends to be so popularin cities and towns throughout America and that is that it generates a sense ofcamaraderie and defeat, it turns up the volume on this thing called life. Thisis a good thing as there is nothing that can quite compare to the feeling ofbeing a winner and for these boys having the whole town cheer them on to victorymade them proud. They would not let us down.

The icing on the cake in this weeklong series of events was the homecoming dance. The theme for this year wouldbe “A Night in Times Square”. When you are out on the town in New York youdress up and for the homecoming dance the kids would be dressed to the nines. Limousinesbegan to drop off groups of giddy girls excited for what the night may hold.The boys waited anxiously in groups perhaps wondering if slow dancing isrequired and if they’d be brave enough to ask someone to dance alongside themakeshift neon signs of Times Square. Then there were the couples who arrived handin hand among the parade of parents cars that lined the parking lot. I putthought into what it would be like if I had a girl going to homecoming insteadof my son, I could only imagine what must go into picking the dress that wasjust right for the big affair. Just getting my son ready would prove to be quitethe task which involved a haircut more expensive than my own and slacks thathad to be tailored just so. I wasn’t privy to what happened behind closeddoors, no one wants their parent hanging around at the high school dance, wejust aren’t welcome. Two hours before the dance was to begin the girl that myson had asked to go with him told him she would be going with friends. As myheart sank in hearing this news I suddenly felt like not much has changed.Those teenage years are still filled with broken hearts, feelings ofawkwardness, apprehension and hope. And for a tiny slice of your life you gettogether with everyone else regardless of their status in school and celebratesomething that is traditional, that reinforces the feeling of being a part ofsomething and is special to the community and to the school. You make memoriesthat you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life, good and bad. Based uponthe fact I picked my son up with another young lady I am thinking they werepretty good.

On Turning 38

2011-10-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

I am only going to be 37 for another couple of days and it got me to thinking..I look better and I feel better than I did at 27..Hell I am in the best shape of my life so far..I have more compassion & have let go of the nonsense..whoever says getting older sucks I beg to differ for this is where its at!
I am not one of those women who loves being pregnant. I enjoyed feeling the baby kick and being able to check out and give myself TLC at free will but the reality of it is having my body all tweaked out then having rough deliveries 2 out of 3 times one of the things that I am newly awakened to is that I never have to go through it again and yes as dire as it sounds this for me is cause for celebration. I embraced motherhood like second nature and live for my kids but there comes a time and place in your life where you look back and realize that you will no longer be changing diapers or potty training or breastfeeding or waking up endlessly through the night and you find that your okay with it. For the first time in 15 years I have all of my children in school and I am just beginning to settle into it giving attention where attention is needed to my three sons who are 15, 10, and 5..the only difficulty arises from the fact that due to their age differences they don't always enjoy doing the same things so giving individual attention with respect to their their ages is important.
Looking back I am also amazed at how far I have come in the way of relationships. I was married for ten years to someone who I was in a relationship with for a total of 18. While he still remains my best friend I am a different person now that we are no longer married and I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that he is not in my life on a daily basis anymore. Getting over the divorce was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, I literally became my own worst enemy. However once the dust settled I began to realize something..I was no longer the stressed out materialistic person I once was, the person who sat there always wondering what life was like on the other side. The beauty of embracing the life you never planned on is being thrown into situations where you are forced to deal and adjust, these are the things that build character.As I was thrown into the dating world ( which could be the subject of an entire book in and of itself) and forced to have to support myself and three children with little to no financial support from anyone some wonderful things happened along the way. I began to realize that there is truth in the statement that meeting the wrong types of people just prepare you for the right person when they come along..meaning you tend to appreciate someone more when you have experienced the wrong type of man one too many times. You also figure out what it is that YOU want as opposed to what you have been programmed to want and you cannot put a price on this, getting this figured out is life changing stuff. On the rare occasion I open up to someone and we speak about divorce one of the things that consistently comes out of my mouth is that for whatever the reason it needed to happen for no other reason than I needed to be humbled. The last years of my marriage we were a young couple who saw our hard work pay off and by all means became very wealthy. Never having a real appreciation for the value of money we spent through hundreds of thousands of dollars on fancy cars, extravagant trips and you name it. The lifestyle that I was used to came to an abrupt halt and one day I literally woke up with nothing. Through this a strange thing happened I learned that I could count on myself no matter what the situation, when others in my boat would likely move back in with their parents or seek solace in enacting revenge I pulled up my big girl panties, swallowed my pride and went back to work as a waitress because the need for daily cash was reality, eventually getting back on track with my career in my chosen professions and through it all was able to maintain a nice house for my children and myself, we may not have been able to go out to eat every week or afford luxuries but we lived pretty good within the middle class.This is how its been up until I got remarried. This is how and why things became real to me and the nonsense was forced to take a back seat and I am a better person for it living with full realization of what matters and what doesn't and yes this applies to people as well.
The whole process of picking yourself back up when you fall I liken to complete enlightenment, everyone should have to learn how to do this at least once or twice in their lives.It is the breeding ground for compassion and empathy which are important qualities few too many people posses. Judgment & caring about what others think goes out the window.
I am looking forward to these late 30's ahead, a few health scares have only made me treat myself and my body more kindly. I went back to college to pursue my PhD and am a student but more importantly I am a student of life..everyone in life encounters problems it is how you deal with them and what you learn from your experiences that makes all the difference. Life is full of possibility nothing is ever set in stone and anything is possible if you have the will. Love and hold on to the people that treat you right and let go of the rest, make sure the people in your life are your fan club..I have come to realize that I deserve nothing but the best and that best has nothing to do with material things or status but with knowing that I lead a life worth living and knowing the value of the things that make up that life.

Flashback to 2010..I'm not sure what I was doing this time last year but I know that I wasn't having as much fun as I am this year and that I was a lot wealthier...

2011-10-25T01:06:00.000-07:00

Madness

2011-10-25T00:56:00.000-07:00

I feel like I have entered the school of life yet I have always been here. Perhaps my eyes were closed my senses numb, so excuse my absence as I have found it wildly entertaining! Los Angeles is full of smog, whatever fascination I once had with the place went out the back door after this last weekend..it is worth mentioning that there are barely any white people there either.
I have been studying Eastern Religions..American Historicism..and tip toeing through Philosophy class..I might even publish something tomorrow but for now it is late, my bodyclock has me up till 1...I'll be back after a good nights rest!! And Yes the new layout is madness isn't it though? It reminds me of an insane collage..I am going to look at it for a few days so if you are finding it hard to navigate know that it is only temporary and I will be done fooling around in no time..

10/4/2k11

2011-10-04T23:23:00.000-07:00

2011-10-04T13:36:00.001-07:00

The things I love about October..1st it is my birthday month..2ND Halloween..which is always a blast when you have kids..There is always too much candy and enough sweet stuff to go around..the best thing about this Halloween is that my best friend is not having his annual Halloween party, while it is always a blast this year I won't be under pressure to find the coolest costume which has brought me to near panic in previous years..it will be smooth sailing. I will be heading out to LA later on this month as well to view the opening of Romanza: A Frank Lloyd Wright documentary , attend a huge Taekwondo competition in Torrence and watch my son compete (and hopefully kick some serious tail), and do my second photo assignment at the Salton Sea. This is one of the most magical places to me and I am beyond excited to visit this old friend. If all goes right I may just leave early and indulge in a little Palm Springs for a day or 2, one of my favorite places to be. So it will be a busy month..school and work and family are all full of activity and I am just trying to keep up with it all, isn't that always the case. I am always making something but when Fall rolls around it is time for some serious cooking in my house. I have always cooked according to the seasons and this time of year I have started off with 2 new chilli's and the crock pot will pretty much have a permanent home on the counter for the next few months. Especially thanks to The Crock Pot Girls , their recipes rock! Pumpkin cakes and breads start making an appearance as does apple cobblers. My son is requesting caramel apples this year and here's hoping that no one loses a tooth, I haven't made these in years so this should be interesting. Don't you just love these cupcakes!"Eyeball" Cupcakes recipe.. pretty awesome if you ask me!

Edgar Lee Masters: The Hotel Chelsea

2011-10-03T23:58:00.001-07:00

The Hotel Chelsea

Edgar Lee Masters

Anita! Soon this Chelsea Hotel
Will vanish before the city’s merchant greed,

Wreckers will wreck it, and in its stead

More lofty walls will swell

This old street’s populace. Then who will know

About its ancient grandeur, marble stairs,

Its paintings, onyx-mantels, courts, the heirs

Of a time now long ago?

Who will then know that Mark Twain used to stroll

In the gorgeous dining-room, that princesses,

Poets and celebrated actresses

Lived here and made its soul;

In after years, so often made and unmade

By the changing generations, until today

It stands a tomb of happiness passed away,

Of an era long overlaid?

What loves were lived here, what despairs endured,

What children born here, and what mourners went

Out of its doors, what peace and what lament

These rooms knew, long obscured

Will be more lost when fifty years from hence

The place thereof will have no memory,

When men must hunt its picture, so to see

What it looked like amid this turbulence!

Few now remember even the noted names

That loved its hospitality in past years.

Who will remember me when wrecking shears

Clip like a leaf this room of troubled aims,

And make this window one with the sky’s space,

By which I sat looking into the court?

This table that I write on will not report

My dreams, gone by without a trace.

There will not be a seat for any ghost,

No room left for a musing ghost to smile

On kisses, vows, regrets, that for a while

Made life, and then were lost.

The blue-eyed woman who went out and in

The entrance door, time and the tooth thereof

Will take her, take the man who gave her love,

Both will be lost ere twenty years begin.

With purest love this woman was beloved;

With pain her lover looked upon her grief,

Her past, and strove to give her heart relief,

Himself by Life so moved.

All this will be but currents of the air

Veering and lost. Tell me how souls can be

Such flames of suffering and of ecstasy,

Then fare as the winds fare?

Tell me how love that fills the human heart

With a sense of things eternal must submit

To what is eyeless, and is infinite,

And hears so soon the word ‘depart/”

Anita! You can perpetuate by thought

What we have lived, when this hotel is gone.

Passing its site remember I was one

Who sought for peace and found it not.

Remember that I loved you, scarce could bear

My helplessness to give your spirit thrift –

Remember this as with the tide you drift,

Others will not remember, nor even care

The Chelsea is no longer taking reservations or renting.....

2011-10-03T23:20:00.001-07:00

A few years back I set about making a reservation at the Chelsea where I planned on staying for a period of 1 year. I was going to learn to play a little piano and make some new acquaintances..instead I chose to lose myself in the decadence of South Beach,Miami.. a decision I now regret after hearing this somber news..It has me now going over and over in my head all of the things I have ever really wanted to do..to accomplish yet haven't made happen..this overwhelming feeling like I am running out of time. Suddenly while on the way to work this morning I am mapping out the next couple of years until I hit the big 4-0. As if this is some kind of doomsday and here I am swimming in the land of missed opportunity. I reasoned with myself throughout the day that I have made sacrifices to my family and to raise my children..hence I haven't been able to travel as much as I would have liked to and grow in ways I may have wanted to..it's all about the sacrifice. And you know it has been worth it as far as my children are concerned thus far we have had a stable home life in a safe small town which feels worlds away from places like New York City..but I feel as though I am wasting a part of myself holed up here and as the wanderlust continues to burn on it will be no surprise if I decide to escape one day here soon..just to look at something different if just for a while.

That Which Is Wilde

2011-09-20T00:13:00.001-07:00

If a modern sculptor were to come and say, 'Very well, but where can one find subjects for sculpture out of men who wear frock-coats and chimney-pot hats?' I would tell him to go to the docks of a great city and watch the men loading or unloading the stately ships, working at wheel or windlass, hauling at rope or gangway. I have never watched a man do anything useful who has not been graceful at some moment of his labour: it is only the loafer and the idle saunterer who is as useless and uninteresting to the artist as he is to himself. I would ask the sculptor to go with me to any of your schools or universities, to the running ground and gymnasium, to watch the young men start for a race, hurling quoit or club, kneeling to tie their shoes before leaping, stepping from the boat or bending to the oar, and to carve them; and when he was weary of cities I would ask him to come to your fields and meadows to watch the reaper with his sickle and the cattle-driver with lifted lasso. For if a man cannot find the noblest motives for his art in such simple daily things as a woman drawing water from the well or a man leaning with his scythe, he will not find them anywhere at all. Gods and goddesses the Greek carved because he loved them; saint and king the Goth because he believed in them. But you, you do not care much for Greek gods and goddesses, and you are perfectly and entirely right; and you do not think much of kings either, and you are quite right. But what you do love are your own men and women, your own flowers and fields, your own hills and mountains, and these are what your art should represent to you.

For the Love of the OG Artists Movement

2011-09-20T00:07:00.001-07:00

2011-09-17T23:35:00.001-07:00

“Art arises from loss. I wish this weren't the case. I wish that every time I met a new woman and she rocked my world, I was inspired to write my ass off. But that is not what happens. What happens is we lie around in bed eating chocolate and screwing. Art is what happens when things don't work out, when you're licking your wounds. Art is, to a larger extent than people would like to think, a productive licking of the wounds.”
― Steve Almond, Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America

Looking Out My Bedroom Window This Morning

2011-09-17T22:32:00.001-07:00

In The Land of Wine and Roses...

2011-09-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

I have been moving through the last week of life with a hop skip and a jump..Apparently the big news story of the day is that plane crash in Nevada but I have been lost in the Bermuda Triangle for longer than I would like to admit today. As of late things are moving along at a fast pace but to summarize what I have been doing in the last week besides blogging ...

Playing Nurse: Why does time seem to stand still when a child is sick? For two days I too layed in bed and watching Sesame Street , reading stories, playing with stuffed animals and making huge amounts of chicken soup. When Jake was ready to return to school I returned to reality batteries recharged..

Coffee Shop: This is where you can find me on most weekday mornings lingering and making conversation about anything from any number of topics while getting hopped up on insane amounts of iced coffee with soy and splendas.. Being that the weather has taken a turn for the better and the days have been nice I have taken to lingering in the afternoons too reading chapters on indigenous religions...

The Ever Present School: The Fall semster is in full swing and talk about fast pace. My classes this semster are all unique in the way they are taught for instance my upper level world religions course is a free learning honors class where I can choose from like 250 things to do for points per week.. as compared to my Sports and Society class where I have 4 assignments all semster and the other 3 that are a daily event I find myself in a lot of directions..not that anyone cares but siffice to say it takes up a lot of my time man..

And Then Theres The Other Stuff: Like work a couple days a week, managing time for yoga,mourning the fact that the Missoni collection sold out of Target in minutes and I wasn't wise enough to pick up a bike or 4 at $399 (they are selling for over $1300 on Ebay) I would have been happy with a cute knit dress..toting kiddos to and fro between school, practices, classes, events, football games it is never ending. At least someone has a social life around here..

With that being said what is in the forcast for the rest of the year for you? I am thinking ahead to the next few months and am pretty psyched about Halloween, mainly because I won;t be pressured into going to a Halloween party this year like I have been the past three and dressing up. I have started to decorate and am picking up some new scary stuff here and there. I am heading to LA in October and will be doing another photo shoot at the Salton Sea on the way back. I am going to lighten my load as well and get rid of some major posessions via a yard sale in Oct. Other than making the holidays memorable I am thinking now of what I will be giving up this year. Every year I try to give up something, to let go of it..last year it was drinking. I had my last sip of wine shortly before New Years last year..next year I am thinking white sugar..or meat..I can do vegan but only have made it a few mos at a time..I think I will try the white sugar thing for a month and see where it goes..which means I should start weening myself off of it now and quit eating my cinnamon toast crunch breakfast every night before I fall asleep... plain cheerios just don't do it for me..

Until The End of the World

2011-09-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

I was listening to this song tonight weaving in and out through the mountains by my house high u on the ridge watching the lightening crack in the sky..it makes for a beautiful poem..Haven't seen you FOR quite a whileI was down the HOLE just passing timeLast time we met was a low-lit roomWe were as close together as a bride and groomWe ate the food, we drank the wineEverybody having a good timeExcept youYou were talking about the end of the worldI took the moneyI spiked your drinkYou miss too much these days if you stop to thinkYou lead me on with those innocent eyesYou know I love the element of surpriseIn the garden I was playing the tartI kissed your lips and broke your heartYouYou were acting like it was the end of the worldLove...love...love...love...love...love...Love...love...love...love...love...love...Love...love...love...love...In my dream I was drowning my sorrowsBut my sorrows, they learned to swimSurrounding me, going down on meSpilling over the brimWaves of regret, waves of joyI reached out for the one I tried to destroyYou, you said you'd wait till the end of the world.-U2 Achtung Baby

2011-09-10T19:56:00.001-07:00

2011-09-10T19:51:00.000-07:00

Strange days..strange moods..the week has been full of opportunities and new experiences..which has me between jaded excited and exhausted all at the same time..life has been busy to say the least..I am not permitted to talk about the work that I will be doing in the coming months other than to say that next week I get to take a polygraph exam..ya kind of freaked out about that..I wasn't always an angel:) Low key weekend and just as well..playing catch up on school work is never ending. You name it I am learning it or so it feels:) Thanks for being patient the few of you that stop in once in a while..things will cool down as of next week and return to normal..and some things may be heating up..more on that to come.. but for now just know

Heart, 1984 ( I Love You) Andy Warhol

2011-09-05T22:16:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while you stumble across a blog or a website that inspires and makes you take notice and think in a new direction or look at things a little different. If even just for a while. Through reading a friends blog I came across these fine women over at Brave Girls Club and I have to say the work they are doing is that of sheer beauty. To say that you will come away from viewing this site feeling good and a little more on your toes is an understatement. I hope that you will check them out...I love these images found on their Facebook page, like them and you will be so blessed as to receive their daily doses of inspirational messages called A Little Bird Told Me...their motto being Love the Life Your In..I encourage sharing this special little place with your daughters, sisters and all important women in your life, it is places like this that fuel human connection and help to make us the extraordinary and strong women that we are..

Paradise Labor Day Weekend 2k11

2011-09-05T21:37:00.000-07:00

2011-09-02T23:35:00.000-07:00

If I was one of those people who say liked to write down self affirmations on sticky notes and post them on my mirrors so that I can look at them in the morning while I brush my teeth and give myself a mental marathon before I start the day I would make it a point to remind myself of a few key things ..

BE THE BEST YOU YOU CAN BE!!

This would help me to curb my sarcasm and remind myself that sometimes I just need to put a sock in it. It may perhaps help me to keep my commitments and even be timely. Miraculous!

KEEP IT REAL

Okay so the REAL reason I have no interest in attending my 20 yr. high school reunion other than I thought high school was a complete drag is that I have no ex boyfriends who will be there to show off in front of because they were all older..in some cases much older and therefore it doesn't sound like much fun and why would I want to pay $200 to go mingle with people that couldn't care less if I ever saw again... The REAL reason I hardly ever eat out is because service is a joke in most places and paying a pretty penny for mediocre food just irks me and unfortunately poor service and okay food seems to be the norm nowadays..I have spent $300 on a dinner for 2 and $30 on a dinner for 5 and yet 90% of the time the experience just sucks so I stay home and save myself the aggravation.

YOU WILL FIND THAT YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING ..WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU JUST KEEP DOING SOMETHING..

I am never going to save the world but I can help a select few in my life and do my best to raise decent human beings. I may not be a rockstar wife but I can keep doing the little things that make up the foundation of our relationship so that we have room to grow. I may not have the time or will to complete nor to follow through with the hundreds of good ideas or places I want to go or things I want to incorporate into my life but even if I just accomplish a few its okay. In 20 years the last thing I will remember are the dishes left in the sink or the workout I didn't get in today, it will be the moments in between that I spent with the people I loved.

LOOK ALIVE!

No matter what you do for a living whether you manage a huge company or look after wild children you will always feel better and deal better when you look good. Take care of the inside, the outside and everything in between doing only what makes sense. It truly does affect everything.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU TELL THE PEOPLE THAT MEAN EVERYTHING TO YOU THAT YOU LOVE THEM EVERY DAY!

There is nothing more heartbreaking than loosing someone who is dear to you due to the unexpected and realizing that you never said it that last time or that you didn't say it enough.This rule applies to the people that you have told a thousand times and the ones that haven't a clue..

Life is a precious gift and noone really knows what happens when we leave here..

Now it's time to get out the sharpie and postits and drive my husband mad..

Maybe I can use them to remind him to take out the garbage and finish the painting he started 2 mos ago?

2011-09-02T22:21:00.000-07:00

JT: What has sobriety meant for you personally?
AK: Drugs and alcohol were an exciting shortcut to a false sense of well-being. They were like medicine to my spiritually deficient existence that stopped working and left me with an even bigger void. So, basically I loved them, but they didn’t love me back. Most people can’t relate to being powerless over mind-altering substances, so even some close friends give me the blank stare when I explain that I don’t drink or use at all. I totally understand that reaction because I can’t relate to what it might feel like to be schizophrenic or have manic depression. As for being in the stride of change, I love the recovery path. We all have a path and this one just happened to speak to me.

One of the greatest answers to a very personal question by the enigmatic Anthony Kiedis..by the way have you had a listen to the new Red Hots album yet..frickin brilliant to say the least but I really didn't expect anything less.

2011-09-01T22:59:00.000-07:00

I have spent the week spinning my wheels..trying to get into a groove when truth is sometimes it feels as though the days go by so so fast. I hope to spend a full day in the pool this weekend and am looking forward to doing a photo project at Taliesin West on Monday with my oldest son..What is capturing my attention this week..The Crock Pot Girls, these gals now have almost a million likes on Facebook..a MILLION! They are 3 stay at home moms who started a little page to exchange crock pot recipes and not like they were the first to have this idea and throw up a fan page but for whatever reason it took off like crazy and their likes continue to go through the roof..and get this they didn't even have a website or a blog yet..they are frantically trying to pull one together. Kudos ladies!!It doesn't look like their server is handling the amount of traffic very well yet but when they get it all together I will surely be stalking to not only check out these great recipes (choc. lava cake anyone) but to watch these rising stars.
I have spent the week with my nose in the books..studying about PreSocratic philosophers ..appreciating Socrates ever so much more..pouring over maps, comparing population figures...writing about popular vs folk culture as well as adaptive reuse. My architecture class is a blast so far..it is like my dessert. We are going over the Chicago Worlds Fair and how the Industrial Revolution impacted building, city planning and design in the years that would follow.I am not a big fan of my sport in society class which is a prerequisite for my degree. I am trying to look at the positives but 4 pages on why children in New Guinea prefer to play street hockey really? Guess what I will be doing Sunday night? But that's enough about school..I have been making time for relaxation and family as well and have been enjoying helping out at my sons school and reading to the boys just about every night. It is so important to read to your children, even if it is just for a half hour and of course if they are able have them read to you. We have been reading lots of Dr Seuss as my youngest son has been making these choices from his school library..tonight we read one of our William Wegman books, the kids just love the photos and I am looking for a poster to have framed for my middle son. We have been fascinated with monster fish, alien fish and finger monkeys..and we have been playing Chinese checkers like crazy and building card houses. It's hard to think of Halloween and all of the excitement that Fall brings when it is 115 degrees outside. It has been so darn hot we have been spending all our time inside, heck the schools aren't even having recess outside right now. We celebrated my husbands birthday Monday..he hates his birthdays something which I just cannot understand for the life of me. He is overworked and when he isn't working he is sleeping which has been the norm for some time now I only hope there is a light at the end of this tunnel for him.
Heading to the resort this weekend will be a welcome treat even if just for 2 days being inside all the time gives me a case of cabin fever and severe wanderlust..but I have been having fun at the theatre..this is the first season I have season tickets and have been taking the boys..we saw Beauty & the Beast last weekend and they loved it and I enrolled my middle son in an after school workshop..I am so looking forward to the upcoming shows especially at Christmastime...enough about me its time for something beautiful..the day just calls for it..

The Crystal Palace designed by Joseph Paxton. Considered to be the first modern building it was the inspiration behind the designs of Walt Disney (his father worked on the project) as well as the magical land of OZ. Destroyed by fire in the 1930's after years of being in ruin this is how I prefer to remember it, in all of it's glory.

Flashback

2011-08-28T22:59:00.001-07:00

Summer Circa 2009

Artist Spotlight: Keith Haring

2011-08-28T22:26:00.000-07:00

Haring Mural which used to reside in downtown Phoenix

We've teamed up with Phoenix's newest independent theatre, FilmBar, to bring you a monthly film and mixer meetup on the last Monday of the month. We will be showing a variety of films that range from fine art to street art, architecture, industrial design, and, naturally, graphic design.

Tickets are only $5 (at the door). No advanced tickets will be sold. The FilmBar offers a number of libations and appetizers prior to the film showing. Get there before 7pm to take advantage of happy hour. The film plays at 8pm.

Film Synopsis:

THE UNIVERSE OF KEITH HARING is an intimate portrait of world-renowned artist Keith Haring whose mantra was that "Art is for everyone!" The film is a thorough and intimate exploration of the background and career of one of the most popular and significant artists of the 20th century.

The film features interviews and archival footage of Fab 5 Freddy, Jeffrey Deitch, Kim Hastreiter, Grace Jones, Madonna, Yoko Ono, David LaChapelle, Kenny Scharf, Carlo McCormick, Andy Warhol, Ann Magnuson, Tony Shafrazi, and Junior Vasquez, among many others. Audio excerpts from original interviews with Keith Haring, were conducted by Haring's biographer John Gruen (Keith Haring: the Authorized Biography).

Trailer:
http://youtu.be/m3nbbGFEG2s

Directed by Christine Clausen and edited by Silvia Giulietti. The film's theme song is by the famed DJ and record producer, Junior Vasquez, with an original soundtrack by Angelo Talocci.Monday night, Aug 29, ***Marshall Shore will be presenting about Phoenix's own Keith Haring Mural located Downtown Phoenix, before the film***

FilmBar

815 N. 2nd Street

Phoenix, AZ

Keith Haring visits Phoenix circa 1990

The New Fiat 500

2011-08-25T23:48:00.000-07:00

What do you think of this swanky little guy? The Sweet Valley High twins rode around in a Fiat..this was the car a few of your friends could pick up and relocate if they wanted to pay a trick on you .Clearly Fiat is evolving...not a huge fan of the aesthetics but I think it is sure to give Mini and VW a run for their money..I think people are going to be definitely showing the love to this once little retro car company..

Andre Leon Talley & Bill Cunningham circa 1984

2011-08-25T23:42:00.000-07:00

Did I mention Vogues celebrated Fall issue arrived in my mailbox this week and that last night I read it cover to cover? All 780 pages...If you haven't seen it yet here's a sneak peek..red leather shoes and bags are where it's at for Fall..a far cry from the monotone beige and tan pumps and sandals for spring and summer that had the added benefit of elongating legs.. there are some rich reds making an appearance and that makes me glad I didn't toss the one red bag I kept from 5 yrs ago..remorseful I gave away the other one and wondering where in the garage are the red open toed pumps from 4 summers ago.. but in any case guess what else is rearing its head Plaid! Yes Plaid! And I don't mean the menswear shirts that came and went two winters ago or the baby doll numbers in "Buffalo" plaid but real old school plaid skirts, vests, leggings and you name it..anything goes but color will be key to this trend..the most popular styles will be in yup you guessed it red! I don't know about you but the first skinny plaid pants and skirt I come across will be mine..plaid can be so schoolgirl yet so punk rock at the same time..I am going to have fun with this. The Gap is bringing back their circa 1969 skinny bell bottoms and they are super cute, plan to see them in dark rinses...these will be meant to fit skin tight so by all means go with a smaller size and suck it in. And lastly something that I am beyond excited about is that Missoni is bringing a huge collection of fashion and housewares to Target yes Targay! Affordable! Their geometric knitwear essentials have long been a favorite since they hit the scene within Milan in the 1960's in psychedelic colors..not much has changed pattern wise but plan on seeing a lot of rich purples, greens and browns mixed together for Fall and don't even get me started on the blues..magnificent. I am eager to see what the housewares line has to offer as the matriarch behind one of Italy's oldest and most celebrated clothing lines is still at the helm heading up Missoni home.. I think you will find us in some pretty wild blankets this winter.

What Day Is It?

2011-08-25T23:27:00.000-07:00

I have decided that starting tomorrow I am going to set my alarm for 5 instead of 6:30..I never have relied on an alarm to wake up in the morning until recently when I find myself waking up slow and lingering in bed until 6:30. You would think since I have cut almost 40 hrs off of my work schedule per week I would have all the time in the world and then some but the funny thing is I am just as busy, not that I am complaining but I do find it somewhat amusing. My days are now filled with volunteer work, my classes, keeping up with everything the kids have going on which considering they are now all involved in at least two activities aside from school I rely on my little day planner to dictate whats next. This is all good stuff, I still may not have time to tackle the house in its entirety before the weekend rolls around or be so lucky as to not spend my evenings doing homework but it is better, things are starting to flow and I like that..it does make me wonder how I did it all before. So yes tomorrow is Friday and it will be a busy one and I will start it with some yoga to recenter myself. I am so enjoying reading time with the boys at night I am bringing out some books that haven't made an appearance for a while and trying to turn them onto to whimsical poetry. Lately I am also taking into consideration how my time is spent being careful not to waste it away on things like oh say bad company, facebook, television... instead I am writing philosophical questions, opening my mind to new forms of architecture and learning everything you'd ever want to know about maps which has me bringing out all the maps from within my huge National Geographic collection and hanging them..what ever happened to that globe anyways? I am looking forward to spending time with my husband this weekend..his days are long and he works so hard weekday nights he needs to regroup and recharge his batteries..his birthday is coming up in 3 days even though he isn't excited for it I sure am and I will be making his favorite carrot banana cake and trying out some massage techniques that could potentially backfire but hopefully relieve some tension...no wine required.

E! spent $20,000,0000 on KIM KARDASHIAN'S WEDDING / And on the other side of the world...

2011-08-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful world this could be...

2011-08-22T22:43:00.000-07:00

Do you ever just have one of those days where you just seem to find yourself in some sort of a funk? Caught between not feeling like doing anything particular at all and being bored out of your mind at the same time? Saturday was one of those days for me..maybe it was because my husband spent the weekend golfing or that the sweltering weather kept us inside late in the afternoon..or perhaps I was just pooped out from spending the morning at a soccer skills assessment which took me through 4 long lines in triple digit weather as my back dripped and I fantasized about jumping in a pool. This restless bliss kept up until I announced somewhat last minute that we were going out to eat Chinese, I mean if a flaming PuPu platter and Chinese horoscopes over hot tea doesn't cheer you up nothing will right?So there I was sitting with the kids, a window seat might I add in the same old red glitter boothes within the towns only Chinese restaurant reminding myself once again to never marry the goat while reading my place mat when it hit me. We are not only the only people in here, except for the owners family enjoying their dinner on a back table across the room..but is that ..nah..wait a minute it is..the theme from Animal House playing via oriental instrumental. I instantly snapped out of my blaze mood and began to picture the family in the Christmas Story enjoying their Chinese Christmas dinner and suddenly it dawned on me hey this life of mine is pretty good duh...The past few days I have been checked out I have been enjoying birthday parties in the park..spending time with the boys and embracing the first day of school. I have been looking into nonprofits and museums in my down time...eating sweets..and making peace. If anyone has happened to notice I changed my URL to a big time Dot com I named my blog after an art magazine a dear old friend used to have, in fact its an homage to him, which showcased controversial works of art and literature in an uncensored fashion. It catered to the local punk scene and every time you opened up a new issue you just never knew what you'd find within those pages, but whatever it was it was something you would find yourself thinking about later.

Happenings

2011-08-20T15:10:00.000-07:00

This is an outstanding foundation! Learn more at teoe.org

08/15/2k11 A Week of Full Moons

2011-08-15T22:32:00.000-07:00

Journal Circa 2005

2011-08-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

I have always been pretty good about keeping a journal since my teenage years..often times they were started with great zeal and left half empty..I went through stages with writing things down and although months would sometimes pass in between entries I would always go back to them someday. I have many beautiful journals among my bookshelves that reflect the days of my life long ago full of empty pages waiting to be re-discovered. I suppose since starting this blog a few years back that this has almost become my journal, except everyone can see it that chooses to and that in and of itself is kinda of strange I must admit. Whenever I happen upon one of these old journals I can't help but flip through a few pages and roll down memory lane, the good and the bad and reflect on what place I was in my life. 2005 was a significant year for me in that life as I had known it would never be the same. It was a huge time of personal growth for me and I was coming to terms with admitting to myself that I was not existing in a happy marriage, I ended that year pregnant with my third son and things had changed so much within the course of that year I had no idea where life would take me all I knew is that change was on the horizon. The following year I found myself in a completely different place living a completely different life and went through personal changes beyond anything I could have imagined at the time. If I have learned anything from that transition, the change..what I gained from it is that I once again became a humble person. Looking back I needed to be humbled and more importantly I needed to know that for the first time in my life I could take care of myself and my children and fly solo..which reaffirmed that no matter what happens to me I will be okay because I can trust myself and my abilities and I will make it so. I walked away from a beautiful home, money, a house full of things taking only what I needed and bid farewell life as I knew it..it was a hard couple of years, I often times walked around feeling as though someone blew out the light inside of me, that I had lost my spirit but I wouldn't change a thing...Six years later I find myself a person who knows with utmost certainly that I deserve to be happy and fully embrace this unplanned life of mine... I look back to the words I wrote during the calm before the storm..and sometimes I feel as though I almost knew then that one day it would all be worth it...

Random Entries 2005

~Home is what catches you when you fall, and we all fall

~Don't scribble just adjust & try to understand..embrace confusion

~Practice random acts of kindness,music is the language of the soul, today I vow to forgo what drains me, to cling to only what is inspiring,try to only surround myself with people who inspire me and make time to enjoy their company, To not be so opinionated and quiet my mind. The love of my life..keeper of my heart..time to let go and continue on this path.

Get myself healthy again and take great care in doing so, read instead of watch TV..don't let money get me down be smart with all costs. Know that there is a bigger plan for me..

~Compassion is the best healer

~Life is too short for bad company

~Faith is the basis of the path..the mother of virtue it nourishes all roots of goodness

~the Gardens of Heilbrunn, Austria..Home to the Gazebo of "Sixteen Going On Seventeen"

~Keep on the straight & narrow

~I can do everything through him who gives me faith-Philippians 4:13

~Whatever is not yours abandon it-when you have abandoned it, that will lead to your welfare and happiness.

~Hell is empty, all the devils are here-William Shakespeare

~Let us not talk of karma, but simply of responsibility toward the whole world

~Crabby people will find reasons to be crabby about the weather, whatever the day is like. It will be too hot or too cold, and if one day is perfect, it will only get worse tomorrow. They complain not because of what the day is like but because of what they are like. By contrast, grateful people are grateful for the weather whatever it may be, remembering that April showers bring May flowers...

~Do things that rewuire creative thinking, add spice to life, read newspapers that aren;t local,play make believe,see the world through rose colored glasses,dance,do something my mom would never do, read about women from different eras,fins a secret getaway,live in the moment,,,gratitude is where religion begins in the human heart..life is a gift

~You have to prepare for the life you want

~May all be free from sorrow and the causes of sorrow..may all never be sperated from the sacred happiness which is sorrowless

~Work hard..play hard..falling in love with me yet feeling like I am trying to save someone who is drowning..

~I will be happy forever, nothing will hinder me, I walk with beauty before me, I walk with beauty behind me,I walk with beauty above me, I walk with beauty around me, my words will be beautiful.

~In the first minutes of the morning: be grateful I am alive..that my body works..that I have food to eat and clothes to wear,,that I have things to do today that will demonstrate my humanity and that I have friends to share the day with..Thank everyone in my life, be humbly grateful there is someone in the world to love me. Live a parallel life in the garden. Grow in knowledge of one another.

~A very special day indeed, never did know the pwer of Linda Rondstat..came at the right time, very unexpected..in any case matters of the heart still rule and boy is my intuition right on. I am secure and happy..I need to work on me again..so strange how as the years go by you sort of morph into these different people..wonderful when you can suprise yourself.

~Givernay (Zhay-vair-nuy) home to Monet and gardens 40 miles outside of Paris..

~I won't taint you with my words anymore, no more just fiction is needed at the expense of you-I am done now moving on and happy- I am at peace.

~When is it that one becomes "Between the Second Act & the Final Curtain"?

~The rules of the world do not apply to me

~As rain penetrates the roof passion overwhelms a confused mind...

All of these snippets of life thrown in with menus for summer BBQ & margarita parties.. what I bought for who on their birthdays..a master list of important dates..what I cooked for Thanksgiving...and then it ends 35 pages in....I am left hanging...I have to smile and chuckle a bit it is almost as if I am reading a bunch of self affirmations off of post its..no matter how silly or mundane it may seem..no matter what it is important to just keep writing it down.

Giverny

Shawn Vidmar 2001-The Gazebo of "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" Made famous in the film The Sound of Music is said to be a haunting place

08/13/2k11

2011-08-13T23:30:00.000-07:00

Isaac The Camel at 5 yrs old.. he weighs approx. 1500 lbs likes to sleep in the cool dirt and god bless him walks children around in circles multiple times a day...

Daybook Aug 2k11

2011-08-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

Outside My Window:Even though the air is heavy and the humidity has set in due to last nights rain, it was a beautiful morning for a long walk and we enjoyed it at the Fountain Park before the afternoon heat

I Am Thinking Of: How the pace of life has slowed down a bit since I cut my work schedule down to part time and how this has allowed for me to spend more quality time with the ones I love...I am relishing in it.

I Am Thankful For:Having a supportive husband and family and for the ability to embrace living with less and letting things go..inside and out.

From The Kitchen: The meals have been easy and simple these past few weeks. I am taking a hiatus from making recipes every single day and have just been winging it..

I Am Creating: Books of photography for the kids as keepsakes

I Am Going: To the Phoenix Zoo tonight for their afterhours party lots of fun in the water, radio Disney, games, giraffes, camel rides... I registered for my first walk and 5k run the Aids Walk Phoenix

I Am Reading: About Irving Gill..Alexander McQueen and Missoni...so excited for their homewares to hit Target this September...high fashion & design for the masses..just love it..

I Am Hearing: the History channel although I am not paying attention

From The Teaching Rooms: I will soon start my training to become a child advocate with the Superior court system..and school starts back up in 10 days..looking forward to killing 18 credits this semester..

Around The House: My yoga mat waits patiently for me on the floor..it is ready for action but I am not quite there yet

One Of My Favorite Things: Reading to my boys at night..last night we read about rainforests..Africa..and Green Eggs & Ham..all of these books take me back to my childhood and make me feel like a kid again..

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: A visit to the hair salon.. a couple days of office work...back to school nights..plenty of yoga and down time

Here Are A Few Pictures From The Week To Share

Andy Warhol - Robert Mapplethorpe 1986

Life Lessons

2011-08-11T21:56:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I can't help but feel like this guy....

08/11/2k11

2011-08-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

Annabel Lee - Edgar Allan Poe

2011-08-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me. I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.
And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.
The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me
Yes! that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.
But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we
Of many far wiser than we
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.
For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling - my darling - my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Exploration

2011-08-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

Darwin attempted to answer the question as to not only why we are here but how did we come to “be”. Since the dawn of time human beings have wanted answers to these questions and religion has attempted to answer them. The difference between religion and the theories brought forth by Charles Darwin is that he took a more scientific approach to explaining our evolution. One of the most important ways that Darwin’s ideas impacted society is that they caused people to question them. By questioning them they not only challenged existing ideas brought forth by religion but also each other which led to his teachings becoming so controversial. From a scientific standpoint it also challenged the scientific community to prove these theories to be wrong, something that scientists continue to try and do even in modern times. These ideas and concepts led to new means of scientific explanation and exploration. During his time many of his theories were not accepted, in particular his Theory of Natural Selection but even so they led people to look at the relationship between man and animals and it were these theories that were responsible for research into these directions as man and animals were considered unrelated before. Many religions such as Christianity would down play the ideas set forth by Darwin in that they did not go along with their systems of beliefs which stated that human beings were created by a divine source which was God. The fact that Darwin puts out there that God did not create human beings had an impact because it challenged religion and this was one of the main controversial subjects of his set of ideas. There are a lot of people in the scientific community who believe Darwin’s theories and they continue to give people a different and new view on life itself and are the basis for all types of scientific research that would have never had occurred had he not developed these ideas and concepts. His ideas will continue to impact society well into the future because for some people it answers the question where human beings came from and for some they will continue to challenge them and try to prove his theories right or wrong.

First Day Of School Aug2k11

2011-08-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

Sunset Strip Circa 1940's

2011-08-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

NOPHO

2011-08-10T11:50:00.000-07:00

As if my pending 20 year high school reunion was not enough action to stir up the awkward memories of my teenage years apparently all the rage on Facebook right now is these groups titled You know your from ________ when" or "Growing up in ____" I was so lucky to get added to the North Phoenix Group..or as they call it nowadays NOPHO. A forum where thousands of random people are posting their memories of growing up in da hood, most of which circulate around teachers we hated, where we went to party, the local bars, and who got in a fight with who. While mildly entertaining this is a period in my life I'd much rather forget, in fact I have pretty much closed the book on it. I hated High School. My parents at the time were total dicks I think I was grounded for pretty much 80 % of it because my grades weren't up to par. I left home and high school at the ripe old age of 16 to go it alone and have never looked back. This trip down memory lane has me thinking of when North Phoenix was the edge of town and how the "desert parties" were only a ten minute drive away. It reminds me of all the reasons also of why I left that neighborhood when my oldest son was 2 yrs old and we were awakened on a regular basis by gunshots. North Phoenix, the area I grew up in is now termed "The Square" which refers to an area riddled with drugs, crime, and illegals. My parents live a hop skip and a jump from it still, as do apparently quite a few people I went to school with. You can keep North Phoenix, I'll take my small town any day over 24 hour grocery stores full of tweekers where English is a second language and where its a pain to drive anywhere because of the traffic. Somehow I still find myself down there on occasion however and for nostalgia sake it still oddly feels a bit like home to me.

Imperfection

2011-08-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

Wasn't it Marilyn Monroe who said "Imperfection is beautiful madness is genius and I would rather be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring?" I probably twisted that.. Jesus Obama just needs to put a sock in it, seriously Fox news is plastered with excuses and lack of accountability. Eating pull apart sticky buns in the kitchen sounds like a much more pleasant idea. The pickup and drop off at 3 separate schools is madness and if I wasn't a better person I'd be mixing my OJ with vodka just to deal..there are hundreds of cars like a parking lot backed up in all directions as all 4 grades have their own lines and the lines they arent movin fast, the 15 minute window between bells seems less like a cushion and more like a race, 2 days in I am speeding up and down side streets at lightening speed making u turns and heart racing cursing the 15mph school zones have managed to get everyone to their respective drop off zones on time however we have 2 schools on one campus each with separate start and end times and somehow along the way I screwed up and got the two schools mixed up..hence I was 15 and 20 min late picking 2 of my boys up today which sucked big time..I felt like such an A-Hole , today I became "that mom" the one who's child is left behind and walked to the office who's mother didn't show up on time...I swear the crossing guard was leering at me from across the room, I went over and over in my head how could I have made this mistake? Never mind 2 of the schools are new schools and the times all changed from last year and they weren't updated on the website last week, I don't make mistakes like this..I still feel consumed with guilt..but they forgave me and I am not perfect got to let it go, won't make that mistake again but still being late to pick up your kids mistake or not just sucks. My little man proceeded to yell at me and kick me in the leg while I was holding a hot pizza in my hands shortly thereafter because I wouldn't give him change for the Chinese junk in the machines sitting there in all its leaded glory. As I was about to escape out of the grocery store with hot pizzas a full cart and an angry 5 yr old trying to block my path I realized I was charged for 36 boxes of frikin Gogurts. Seriously? I thought about saying F*ck it but the 24 boxes I was overcharged for equaled out to be $71.00 so there I was at the dreaded customer service trying to explain hey I only bought 12 boxes not 36 which I had to do like 4 times before they would issue a credit. In cases like this they always act as though it is your fault, many people in "customer service" anymore just act like they are doing you a favor and keep you wondering about your probable neurosis. Good times. I love the fact that Al Gore isn't afraid to call bullshit, I for one do believe in global warming much to my husbands dismay. The quitting smoking thing is really touch and go, my anxiety is bad anyways sometimes but this afternoon can you say through the roof.. The day it winded down and things are settled now. The little man is happy again, I apparently needed to be reminded that I am not perfect and life goes on....now to totally change the subject this is what we see on the sidewalk in AZ when we take our evening walks...jealous?

Tarantula

What Rings True

2011-08-07T22:29:00.000-07:00

It is a beautiful evening and I have been lost in the weekend. The wind is blowing a nice cool breeze and another monsoon storm is pending..The backpacks are packed and lunch box is ready..the school supplies for the most part have been bought and distributed..and three boys are tucked away in bed getting ready for tomorrow..for one it is his first day at kindergarten. We met the teachers, went over all of the details and I pretended to be Olivia Newton John in Grease and sang them Summer Nights. I actually sat through 3 movies this weekend, it would have been 4 had I not fell asleep. This is huge, I never sit through an entire movie, I am thinking that it was a good thing I have lightened my load so to say. I will only be working 2 days this week during the hours that the boys are in school, a far cry from the 45 I usually pull down. This weekend was the first one in a long time where I didn't feel rushed to get a ton of things done and it felt very very nice. Heck I didn't even do a rigid schedule of yoga..we relaxed into it and I soaked up family time and all the excitement that came with preparing for their first day of school. The meals were easy and we even went out for Sunday dinner..to a salad bar restaurant nonetheless that I picked. But Jake ate his broccoli and there was frozen yogurt and everyone had potato soup.I quietly celebrated Andy Warhols birthday. There is a lot in the works in the coming weeks..before I know it school will be starting again soon. I moved my circa 1920's Frank Lloyd Wright designed desk downstairs, a piece designed and produced by the master himself for the Arizona Biltmore hotel. It was the same desk I used as a child and through all of my school days. If you look at it in the right light you can still see the early penmanship I practiced that superimposed on the finish, much like my dining room table which my Dad made when I was very young. This desk is very special to me and once again has become a place where I will set about making things happen. I am looking forward to the week, to a lot of things but for tonight I am going to rest and continue to take it all in something that had become sort of a lost art for me...focusing in the coming week of letting something go every day.. think about it...theres a lot to be said for self liberation..

So begins the 2k11/2k12 School Year

I have spent in between moments of the day wrapped up in Warhols Stars...

2011-08-04T22:36:00.000-07:00

paristocrats.blogspot.com

Nico circa 1960

Candy Darling Circa 1970

The Big 2.0

2011-08-02T23:14:00.000-07:00

20 Positive Things That Happened Today

1. I did numerous lunges before 7 am

2.I splurged on fancy coffee just for me

3. While walking up the stairs with 2 pieces of carrot cake I decided to take a bite of one mid flight and ended up getting a mouth full of cream cheese frosting

4. I was still getting compliments on that green dress I wore yesterday from the girls at Starbucks this morning, apparently it was flattering in all the right places, maybe I will live in it?

5. When telling someone about the acceptance of my final project on Recovery they asked me "Are you in recovery?" To which I answered well yes I don't drink and for good reason...think I handled it okay

6.I got my son to believe that if he doesn't do what I say I can wiggle my nose and turn into any animal in particular a rabid dog who will chase him down the stairs.. and he believed me..

7. I got to see my coffee shop friends and a few new ones this morning.

8.I was really able to relax during yoga tonight

9.Saved $57.00 at the grocery store.

10. Spent $9.99 on a pack of cigs .. my last pack

11. I have feet full of Peppermint Burt's Bees Lotion

12. Half Price Pizza Day

13. I had a good conversation with someone for whom I care for very much

14. I smoothed waters

15. I was able to look at my decision to move forward from my job knowing that this is for my own good

16. I studied Warhol & deKooning in my down time today

17. Decided I no longer need a $100 dollar an hour hair stylist

18. Was able to cheer my teenager up

17. Was able to pick a little man up that fell out of bed and hold him till he fell back asleep

18.Was able to reassure the middle man about his apprehension starting 5th grade at a new school

19. Theres fancy Italian ice cream in the freezer

20. Staying focused on peace...

How about you, what happened in your life today?

Tell me something good...

08/02/2k11

2011-08-02T09:59:00.001-07:00

French Vogue August 2k11

Dodge House 1916 (1965)

2011-08-01T22:42:00.003-07:00

Haunting video of the Dodge House, designed by architect Irving Gill which acts as a complete photo essay of this beautiful home taken 5 years before preservation efforts failed and the home was demolished to make room for condos in 1970... watching this movie and the simplistic repetition in his design brings tears to my eyes to know that it is gone forever.

Mondays "Whats Happenin"

2011-08-01T22:37:00.000-07:00

I don't know who turned this show on but for the last hour while my husband sleeps the TV has been on OWN ( Oprah Winfrey Network) & whatever show this is there are a whole gaggle of overweight women in their undies on TV for the world to see..oh the humility. I think it is some kinda of weight loss challenge but in front of thousands of people in your undies..when thinks look well pretty bad..really who does that? I had a very relaxing weekend ...with my husband working all weekend and my older boys with their dad I flew solo though it and decided to postpone said Xmas in July as my 5 year old just wouldn't appreciate the fake vomit and prime rib, there will be another time for that tomfoolery..After months of agonizing over making this decision I have decided that I will be taking a sabbatical..I have decided to give myself an unspecified amount of time to grow, learn, focus on school..family..spirituality..and go wherever the road takes me. This wasn't an easy decision to come by, I am part of a successful business but the reality of it is it isn't mine anymore, I lost it in the divorce. Although it has been a joy to be a part of the last 15 years and what I have learned has been immeasurable I think the only reason I am there every day still working morning to night is because I enjoy being with my ex husband as much as that allows, after all 18 years together is a long time but I am married again now to a wonderful man, as much as it pains me to do so I have to let it go..and I have a PhD to complete, internships to get involved with, a family that needs me here more..it just doesn't fit into my life now. This is going to pain me for some time but I know I have made the right decision... On a lighter note school starts next week and I have some upcoming postings about fun stuff for the school year. I know some people have food blogs, some have humour or fashion or just family stuff..it may seem like mine is all over the place sometimes..but that's just me I may go off on a rant one day about the economy in China, share a painting that moves me yet tell you what I cooked for dinner and share a photo here and there but I always keep it real, life isn't perfect and that's the beauty of it... and besides I never really did fit in anyways.

Happy 30th Birthday MTV ( I Wish You Didn't Lose Your Cool)

2011-08-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate to be home one summer day surfing the newly installed cable TV channels for something to watch back in 1981. I watched the first music video ever played “Video Killed the Radio Star” in great amazement. As a matter of fact I think I spent the rest of the Summer watching MTV. Early on it was apparent that the music industry would be forever changed by it. Image was everything. It wasn’t long before I tried to start braiding my hair like Annabella Lwin after watching Bow Wow Wow’s “I Want Candy” and got into the Madonna phase I’d just assume forget. There was a lot of controversy surrounding MTV’s refusal to play Michael Jackson videos. When they did start allowing them to be shown, lots of kids at school wore wannabe jackets, along with the infamous one glove. I never fell into the Jackson hype rather I would wait patiently for the Duran Duran videos to come on as I had a thing at the time for Simon Le Bon. MTV enabled a lot of artists to expand their creative means by incorporating visual stimulation along with audio. It also opened the doors for many to also gain their 15 min of fame not so much on their musical talent but more so from their good looks or downright oddness. Boy George is a prime example of this. MTV played a huge part in my formative years, their best show and the one I would stay up way past my bedtime to watch would be 120 Min.
Hair bands consisted of guys who dressed borderline in drag. The music was ostentatious as were the fashions & the lifestyle many of the musicians led. Thank god most of them burnt out going into the 90’s because the music wasn’t all that memorable. It reflected the party lifestyle and what was currently going down in and around Los Angels, in particular the Sunset Strip, the epicenter of it all.
For the younger generation who is coming of age the types of music they are listening to is influenced by visual and social stimulation mainly because they are growing up in an era where this is commonplace. No longer do they need to rely on MTV ,their listening devices are full of videos as well thanks to the Internet. It is the whole package now not just a song you hear on the radio. It is hearing that song downloading it, downloading the video, becoming the artists friend on Facebook, then following them on Twitter. I wouldn’t say that the auditory appreciation is music is lost through this process entirely. I for one still buy & throw on albums as nostalgic as it may seem although I have been know to watch my Leonard Cohen movie “I’m Your Man” too many times to count because the Movie just enhances the album as anything visual enhances a song.

Christmas In July

2011-07-30T11:09:00.000-07:00

It is the last weekend of the month and I have declared Christmas In July..but this my friends is not like your traditional celebration.. Stringing lights may take place..but only if they are neon colors and some palm trees thrown in for good measure.. Cookies abound as do pies and gingerbread.. and a Christmas dinner getting set to go in the oven..Prime Rib...Scalloped Potatoes..Fresh Corn Casserole & a 12 Layer Salad...After dinner we will be opening up a bunch of small gifts, gag gifts ( think fake vomit and whoopee cushions)...we may even sing...but only if it's Elvis...What are you doing this weekend??

Deal With the Devil

2011-07-30T00:13:00.000-07:00

She was listed as an "endangered/abused child" in Utah , but apparently we lack a nationwide database in this country which allows for states to communicate between them when a child's family has been under investigation for suspected abuse. It seems her family moved around a lot and had recently settled in South Phoenix, which is no surprise given the fact that there were 12 children and 4 adults living in the home, many more lived among the backyard in tents. The neighbors thought they were strange given the fact that babies could be seen wearing next to nothing, sometimes without diapers, being fed in their high chairs in the front yard...at 1 am.The children were home schooled which is no surprise either although I doubt highly there was much schooling going on in their small home which investigators would later note was overcome by trash and debris. On a sweltering hot Phoenix morning police would be called to the home and there they would be told an elaborate tale.That 10 year old Ame Deal, who by all accounts of everyone living in the home liked to play hide and seek had found her final resting place while playing a game with her sister. She must have fallen asleep in the box, they said. They would tell officers that it was amazing how she could fit into some of the hiding places she would get into. That when the family went to bed at 1 am they assumed she was already asleep. The officers found her in a footlocker, she would have had to be quite a contortionist to fit in there.What they didn't know at the time was she was forced into it and a padlock was placed to make sure she couldn't escape. I wonder if they heard her cries or gave it a second thought when they stopped, what did they expect to find in the morning. Ame was found in dirty soiled clothing, she had wet herself much like she did on any given night..that is why she was forced to sleep in a shower stall and forbidden from having a bed to rest on. Who would do this incomprehensible act, who would stand by and allow for it to happen..what could she possibly have done to warrant such an evil act that cost her her life? She took a Popsicle out of the refrigerator on a hot summer day, a day where the temperature was well over 100 degrees.. It was on that hot day she was made to do back bends one after the other as she would be kicked every time her back got tired, then she had to run outside to the point of exhaustion. Kind of like the time she had to walk back and forth down the street barefooted while neighbors watched as punishment on a day that reached 118 degrees. Watched and said nothing, to no one. This is what happened before she was forced in the footlocker, and the padlock was placed on it. What we do know now is that investigators didn't buy their story and that this little girl had been enduring years of abuse which involved having been forced to consume dog feces, having it rubbed on her face, she had been beaten by a board and hot sauce was poured in her mouth. This is probably nothing compared to what really went on behind closed doors. This is not your typical case of child abuse where you may have one person in the home who is the abuser, usually a boyfriend of the mother or a step dad and another, often times the mother who doesn't stop it. No in this case the abuse was committed not only by her Grandmother but both of her Aunts, her Aunts husband and more than likely her father who lived in the home. Although he hasn't been arrested yet he was aware of the abuse and did nothing, said nothing to stop it. This wasn't her first time in the footlocker, the people saw her in it before, the ones in the backyard...they witnessed it being kicked, spun around, flipped over and over on many occassions..with Ame inside. They didn't think to say anything, or do anything to stop it... 4 people have been arrested so far...it looks as though none of them have teeth..her biological mother who gave her up 4 years ago because she was living on the streets sure doesn't.. you know what this says to me? Meth addicts...that much is apparent. You hear stories like this and you think how could anyone do something like this..for many of us it is incomprehensible... We are not born as evil human beings what has to happen that causes an entire family that was supposed to have loved and cared for this child to abuse her, all of them and leave her to die. How could people have been aware of the abuse and witness these horrific acts yet closed their curtains, turned there heads and said nothing at all? Stories like this weigh heavy on me because I have to look at the people and consider the influence of the substances they took and how it affected their decisions and behavior. ..But I think the answer to this is simple..there are two kinds of people on this earth and the devil is alive and well and living on it.

Star Crossed Lovers

2011-07-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

In retrospect I should have known when on our first date I asked for his birthday & looked up which Chinese sign he was on the paper place mat at Ha Ha China, He was a Sheep.. it said to marry a snake or a rat but never ever the Ox... I was the Ox who's sign read to never marry the Sheep....Good thing we didn't get married but what a year that was.

Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Alfred Stieglitz attached this photograph to a letter for Georgia O'Keeffe, dated July 10, 1929. Below the photograph he wrote, "I have destroyed 300 prints to-day. And much more literature. I haven't the heart to destroy this..."

Daybook 7-28-2k11

2011-07-28T22:44:00.000-07:00

Outside My Window: There is a rouge rattlesnake somewhere behind my house and the open field behind it.. and bats..lots of bats..

I Am Thinking Of: Modern Architecture (can you tell) I have been all wrapped up in the preservation efforts of the Kronish home in Beverly Hills this week and getting lost in Curbed LA. I have been researching internships and thinking about the rest of the year. I have been all over the place in my mind.

I Am Thankful For: The opportunity to study with a great group of people at the Clear Light Buddhist Center, last Sunday we talked about being a person who acts instead of reacts, how to reel in the mind and counteract laziness.. these things take practice and in small ways the messages are making an appearance in the day to day throughout the week.

From The Kitchen: A big pot of homemade spaghetti, cheesy garlic bread and a tossed salad. Perfect TLC food for me and these cranky boys this evening.

I Am Creating: strong muscles...memories..perfect poinsettias

I Am Going: To lay low this weekend, have a few things on the agenda to do but not certain I will do anything at all that involves leaving the house..I plan on cleaning the palace, reading and spending time with my little man...the older boys are going to be in San Diego so it will be a good time for some one on one time with my baby..

I Am Reading: Newspapers.. blogs...Vouge Magazine..Leo Buscaglia Loving Each other

I Am Hearing: Hoarders

From The Teaching Rooms: My month of free learning so far I have been consumed with architecture and historians.

Around The House: Neat Orderly & Clean but needs my attention....

One Of My Favorite Things: Potato Chips...I go crazy if they are not around, I don't eat a lot of them but I have to eat some almost every day.. they make me happy (especially the jalapeno ones)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: A busy day of running around and work tomorrow..hopefully a quiet weekend... hows making it a point to rise between 4 and 5 am for the rest of the week sound..

Here Are A Few Pictures From The Week To Share

This is what I see from my bed when I wake up every morning, I will never get sick of this view..

What is the matter with people?

2011-07-28T10:11:00.000-07:00

If I was to ask you that question what would your answer be? Richard Rotenberg lied his way into buying the famous Maslon House from the family of the late Samuel and Louella Maslon. Their children put the house on the market with the intention of selling only to a buyer who would preserve the integrity of the home designed by the late, great Richard Neutra, one of only a few properties designed by Neutra in the Palm Springs area. Within 30 days the house was torn down, he destroyed it..he even had audacity to leave the furniture and curtains. This was a home featured throughout many publications namely Architectural Digest and through the years housed one of the most elaborate collections of modern art, something the Maslons were passionate about. What he built in it's place was a joke, another stucco eye sore with no character, ordinary..disgusting. Who does something like that, Richard Rotenberg thats who. He could have bought any home but chose to destroy this timeless masterpiece, it is places like this that help to make Palm Springs distinguishable, however for $45.00 they issued a permit, no questions asked for it's demolition. Somebody screwed up. I know that "if a man wants to burn a Picasso, he can burn his Picasso" but there is a greater responsibility here. Richard Rotenberg succeeded in only one thing and one thing only he will go down in history as the man that made everyone sick...

Before & After Demolition
"There reaches a point, when not enough of something has been preserved, or in the absence of proximity, as new growth moves in with new or older forms, you begin to lose identity and the character that makes a place unique or remarkable."
-Eric Wills, Preservation Magazine

the Maslon Home
"Neutra was also known for catering sensitively to the needs of his clients, so that their houses would be not only functional but would also nurture their owners psychologically." The New York Times

Richard J.Neutra, Kronish House, 1953, pastel on paper,
courtesy Palm Springs Art Museum.

God forbid something like this was to happen again, and unfortunately another Neutra designed home in Beverly Hills is in danger of meeting the same fate. The Kronish house built in 1955 is heading for demolition unless the buyers will consider allowing for the property to be moved or the city of Beverly Hills takes action. It is the only Neutra designed home in Beverly Hills that remains original, the other two homes were demolished and severely altered. Check out the real estate listing that includes some recent photos here. It is being listed at nearly 14 million dollars, a pretty penny above the 5.8 million dollars the owners paid for it last January when they bought it out of foreclosure. The property on Sunset Blvd. is a private oasis, not visible from the street. Richard Neutra's son Dion has been working tirelessly to not only protect his late fathers legacy but to save these treasured residences.

How You Can Help

Please contact the office of the Mayor and City Council by Thursday, July 28, and have your friends and colleagues do the same.

Please convey the following points, in your own words as much as possible:

You are aware of the potential demolition of the Kronish (pronounced CROW-nish) House by Richard Neutra.

The house is a significant work by a master architect and an important piece of Beverly Hills history.

The Kronish House is one of only three Neutra designs ever built in Beverly Hills, and it is the only one that remains intact.

The City of Beverly Hills has no protections for its historic structures -- there isn't even a process to review the planned demolition.

Urge the Mayor and the City Council to do whatever they can to at least delay the demolition until other options can be adequately considered, including relocation or finding another buyer.

If you live or work in Beverly Hills, please identify yourself as a constituent and include your address.

E-mail: mayorandcitycouncil@beverlyhills.org, copy mvavala@laconservancy.org

Phone: (310) 285-1013

Many thanks to everyone who has already called or e-mailed -- it makes a real difference.

Thank you!

Scottsdale Has Vegas Syndrome

2011-07-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

Old Town Scottsdale recently turned 60, in it's history Old Town as we like to call it here has evolved into something of a nemesis from what it once was. Of course it depends on who you ask, I think the majority of long time residents, the ones who live here pay their taxes and are concerned about the integrity of the community would agree.It was and still remains for the most part a hub for tourists with it's kitchy shops and well heeled eateries. It is a shopping mecca with the advent of places like Fashion Square and the Canal shops and a trendy paradise of silicone where everything is bejeweled and ignorance is bliss. Having owned a business in Old Town for the past 15 years and as a past resident I have saw first hand these changes taking place. The high rises don't bother me, I think they did a beautiful job on Scottsdale Rd. & Camelback as a whole, and the canal shops married together with the Soleri bridge makes for a real destination place with plenty of good places to eat and spend. As a matter of fact Old Town is full of good spots to eat, the Italian Grotto, Olive & Ivy, Eddie's House, Cowboy Ciao among others all help to make Old Town a real destination spot for fine dining as more and more up and coming chefs moved into the neighborhood offering up every type of cuisine one can think of. Then theres the seedy side, the side you see as the sun goes down and it becomes like hedonism two. It wasn't always this way, Old Town has for years been a place where galleries flourish and the art walks certainly have their own fan club, as a matter of fact the downtown arts scene is vibrant and alive and Scottsdale Public Art has been successful in making things happen, of course the crowning achievement being the Soleri Bridge and the Scottsdale Museum of Modern Art, this coupled with the civic center helps breath life into the city and it is this art scene that brings out its uniqueness. If they would have only saved the Safari Hotel... The last time I took my kids down there for pizza I decided that coming down here at night was no longer a place for families,while walking to Oreganos we witnessed a group of college kids picking a fight with a guy(who was with his family) because they made asinine comments about the guys car... The downfall of Old Town has been the countless bars and clubs that have opened up in close proximity to one another that have taken over like gangbusters much to the dismay of residents living in or around the center of it all, in particular South of Camelback Rd. from Stetson to Scottsdale Rd. Take a trip down here at night you will find scores of drunk people, many of whom get behind the wheel as DUI enforcement is a joke in this neck of the woods, neighborhoods filled with trash as the overflow of cars line the streets in and throughout the residential neighborhoods because simply there is no where to park. And now we hear of the monstrosity that will be the new beach club, built right on Scottsdale Rd in the heart of the joke they like to call the "entertainment district" which in reality is just a bunch of overpriced bars and clubs full of 21 yr olds looking to either pick a fight, score a line or get lucky. The have Mill for that don't they? The beach club is a 2 acre 60 million dollar development with a total of 60 parking places. This is a far cry from the "Beverly Hills of Arizona" it's shitty, it's dirty, it's fake, and unfortunately what we see happening is Old Town has just become a place to come to get screwed up, loose your pants, and maybe ride a mechanical bull while you are at it. It could have been so much more..

End of Summer Deals & Steals

2011-07-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

Pretty soon the dog days of summer will be drawing to a close and like the post holiday sales this is a great time to indulge in some items to perk things up outside at a fantastic savings. Patio furniture, decorative items, gardening needs and even grills can often be found at a huge savings.Bistro sets abound at an average of 50-70% off as does funky outdoor serving pieces. I think the best way to jazz up an existing set or add a little magic to your patio area can be as simple as doing just a few things to give the area a new look. Often times these things can be taken into fall when the weather is cooler as there will still be ample time to grill and enjoy the outdoors. The trend this season is bright colors and funky patterns. The crazier the better. This can even involve giving your neutral toned patio furniture and wicker a bright coat of paint, I like tangerine orange and seashell blues. I have been poking around getting a plan in mind so when these sales hit I can swoop in and give my sitting areas a whole new vibe. This is what I have in my sights to do.....
String Lights, I loooooove string lights, there are so many cute designs from dragonflies to colored bulbs to lights with little wicker shades...and they are a fun way to change the look season to season..I am also thinking of a fun garden stool and new table wear that will continue to bring the outdoors in even after the cold sets in. As far as pillows are concerned who says they have to be purchased in the outdoor department, many finds can be found in the bedding and linens sections of stores where typically you may find one or two lone pillows marked down considerably, the object here is not to match but to be creative....If I had the space I would also be considering a small mattress on a frame with wheels full of pillows which beckons one for an outdoor nap or a good place to curl up with the kids and read a book....

These bamboo shaded lights which I have already picked up 4 sets of at Safeway at 75% off will be adding a rustic feel to the ficus trees and pillars lending a sense of warmth.

These brightly colored ceramic garden stools have got my attention and would be cute to use as a place to set cold drinks or to hold an unruly fern..

The hanging bamboo chair, they have come a long way from the 1960's & 1970's when they surged in popularity in large part due to the design houses in Great Britain. I would love to find a vintage one in good condition in a thrift store but there are plenty of modern day versions appearing on the market today, most are more durable than yesterdays and have a hefty price tag to go along with them, these are definitely something to watch the sales for...

These little outdoor tray tables at $39.99 a piece from Remodalista are a bargain at the given price and have so many uses outdoors. They are best used as an individual serving space, draped with a pretty linen napkin with nothing more than a small mason jar with a tea light as decoration.

This popular Mid Century design patio furniture can be taken from drab to fab with colorful cushions or better yet a new coat of paint... electric blue perhaps?

Instead of running these small white bulbs along the perimeter stringing them from side to side makes for a more intimate feel and gives a sense of European Flair.

What is inspiring you this summer?

A Haver in the Rough

2011-07-25T23:10:00.000-07:00

My love affair with mid-century modern architecture began about 4 years ago when I was considering doing a project showcasing the old motels on Van Buren Rd here in Phoenix. In retrospect it was a project I should have taken on as a few of these lovelies have fallen into wreckage in the years since, as a matter of fact they are now few and far between. I happened upon this wonderful site which I have spent countless hours pouring over called Modern Phoenix. I was delighted when I won tickets to attend their home tour 2011 in Sunnyslope a few months back. Although I am drawn to Palm Springs and architecture throughout Southern California for good reason I tend to sympathize with what is happening in the local scene and often times drool over an Al Beadle or Fred Guirey home when it comes up for sale. Ralph Haver has always been and still remains one of the architects who's work I can tend to get lost in, the simplicity so well defined in his homes has led to many a day dream about perhaps owning one myself some day as his homes, for the most part are attainable to me. Living in phoenix has been bittersweet, it is well known that we are a state that lacks in our preservation and conservation and for the most part we have no real rhyme or reason to our neighborhoods or design. It has become in large part a sea of stucco jungles, tract homes and plazas on every corner, most of which sit empty. Fortunately we also have those pocket areas which are up and coming and show real character and promise. We are home to the late great Frank Lloyd Wright school at Taliesin and the enigmatic Arcosanti which whether you love or hate the new Soleri bridge in Old Town Scottsdale you cannot dismiss the value of Soleris body of work. It is pure and original, like nothing else. I am not much for newer homes, I am of the mind set that older homes are full of character waiting for life to be breathed into them by a family. I am always looking at homes, many a night I fall asleep fantasizing re-models in my head room by room..I have had projects in my head that have lasted for years. I have been doing this for as long as I can remember. I can look beyond the plight others have created for instance and see nothing but possibility. This past weekend I noticed a little snippet my mother clipped out of the paper for me of a Haver home for sale in Phoenix within my price range and immediately I lit up. I spoke to a realtor today who told me that it is a one owner home, the same family has lived there since 1956. The downfall they have done two additions which seems to have compromised the integrity of the design somewhat. The yard doesn't look as though it is very big, as a matter of fact it looks very narrow in the rear of the property. In looking at these photos these are the things that stand out to me...artist studio above the carport..slump block pillars inside the home, those fantastic windows, the cabinets, the wide back door, the pitched ceilings, the wood shelving and paneling, the huge front yard, the tile and wallpaper in the bathroom.. the home sits on a main drag however while it is a well traveled street I wouldn't call it a major thoroughfare.Lord knows there are nicer Haver homes in the valley. The neighborhood seems like a foreign country compared to where I have lived for the last 15 years tucked away in the mountains in my own little safety zone up here where I deal with little to no traffic, can't go anywhere with out running into some one I know and everyone at the coffee shop knows me by name and has my drink ready before I set foot in the door. I sometimes think change would be good for me, after all I grew up in the city for the most part and it does have its advantages to as good places to eat are few and far between up here and as it stands right now I drive almost an hr each way now on Sundays to get to the Buddhist center. I know it may seem lame to some but I really don't know if I can step out of my comfort zone and into city living again but in any case I am testing the waters and will be going to take a tour of This Home on Friday. I am a person who is of the belief system that sometimes you don't have to look for things as if they are meant to be they tend to find you..what is meant to be will be. I have peace in my mentality in that I truly feel everything in our lives happen for a reason and I have a good feeling about this place.I think I want this home.So we'll see what happens and where it goes if anywhere at all, the beauty and tragedy that is life is that sometimes things flip, they change and next thing you know life is never the same. I don't know if this will be my peaceful place to live out the next half of my life but I am keeping my eyes and heart open to it wherever it may lead me.

A Single Moment

2011-07-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

Lake Arrowhead, CA July 2k11
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Amanda Soule

The Museum Of Modern Art

2011-07-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

New York 19                        11 West 53rd Street
The Museum Collections      Telephone: Circle 5-8900 Cables: Modernart, New.York

October 16, 1956

Dear Mr. Warhol,

   Last week our Committee on the Museum Collections held its first meeting of the fall season and had a chance to study your drawing entitled Shoe which you so generously offered as a gift to the Museum.

   I regret that I must report to you that the Committee decided, after careful consideration, that they ought not to accept it for our Collection

   Let me explain that because of our severely limited gallery and storage space we must turn down many gifts offered, since we feel it is not fair to accept as a gift a work which may be shown only infrequently.

   Nevertheless, the Committee has asked me to pass on to you their thanks for your generous expression of interest in our Collection.

Sincerely,
Alfred H. Harr, Jr.
Director of the Museums Collections

Mr. Andy Warhol
242 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York

P.S.The drawing may be picked up from the Museum at your convenience.

5 Things On Friday

2011-07-22T22:39:00.000-07:00

I will cut to the chase because this has been a superb Friday that does not necessitate any buildup...

1. Turns out I got straight A's in all of my summer classes yet my Sociology professor gave me perhaps one of the biggest compliments ever when he said that for the first time he gave a student over the maximum points allowed because he was so impressed and moved by my interview and presentation and asked for my permission to use it for future classes and publications.. I am speechless..so very happy this made my day!

2. I celebrated by going to get a dermal anchor, a tiny diamond high up on my cheekbone..and it hardly hurt at all.

3. My husband insisted on ordering food tonight as he was in a pizza mood...Oh darn..

4. Oh how in love with the weekend can one girl be...

5. You are only as old as you feel...age is just a number..

Live and Love Life...have a Fabulous Weekend..

July 21st 2k11

2011-07-21T21:43:00.000-07:00

A Throwback To Last Summer, Late

Chip & Ruby's 2010

Daybook 7-21-2011

2011-07-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

Outside My Window: Monsoon season is still rolling along with not much rain to speak of, just enough to get a muddy film on the car on a daily basis...There is new patio furniture making my back area look gorgeous however, will be a be a good place for a little R&R once the weather cools down.

I Am Thinking Of: How much I love Adam Sandler, powdered donuts, weekends, t-shirt dresses from American Apparel, cuddling, long talks with my son, looking into my husbands eyes,taking a bath, cooler weather, balancing....

I Am Thankful For: My health and the physical ability that I have that allows for me to train every day slowly getting more flexible and balanced and centered. If I knew then what I know now I would have started Yoga years ago, which is why I am getting my kids on board with it..

From The Kitchen: My son made me Alaskan Wild Salmon poached in a brown sugar glaze with a fresh peach and basil salsa..we are grilling steaks and eating light in these dog days of summer..

I Am Creating: Magic in the everyday

I Am Going: To attend my first meditation session this Sunday at The Clear Light Buddhist Center and my son will be going to their children's class, I am also doing three retreats next month..this I am very excited about.

I Am Reading: School has officially ended for summer as of last night so I will be doing some free learning in the next month which will be focusing mainly on the works of Carl Jung.

I Am Hearing: The A/C blasting

From The Teaching Rooms: Other than Carl Jung I plan to incorporate my religious studies into my month of free learning in preparation for the Fall session.

Around The House: It has been a busy week finishing up classes but now I will have more attention to give to the nooks and crannies that beckon it..I have replanted my Poinsettias from last Christmas and am making it my mission to learn and continue to grow very methodically the perfect Poinsettia.

One Of My Favorite Things: Being able to turn the world off and focus on watching a movie in its entirety or take a hot bath

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Finishing up the work week and being a homebody this weekend with some time for spirituality on Sunday. Catching up on sleep and couple time.

Here Are A Few Pictures From The Week To Share

Orange is a fantabulous color for summertime. I felt like I was going to dancing with the stars when I wore this yesterday. My phone cam is the worst sometimes..and the only pics I have from this week are ones taken on it..

Peaceful

Wisdom on Wednesday... Do I Have Any Left?

2011-07-21T00:23:00.000-07:00

I am officially on summer break, I just finished up the last of my Sociology section on drugs and society and now have 31 days before I have to get back on the train. I celebrated with a cup of milk and 3 pecan sandies. Hoping for the best as this was a particularly hard section due to my lack of zeal for public speaking. It was a a day full of humidity and heat ..and Thai food..and Starbucks..and kids going for Cheetos knowing I was chained to the computer taking finals... Many of my "friends" on Facebook seem to be pretty excited about the fact that Florida will now be drug testing applicants for welfare and that it will be used as a condition for their approval of benefits. Yes on the surface when you think about a program such as this it sounds like a good idea, after all they drug test many people who are employed in corporate jobs don't they? I think that the after effects of a bill like this are going to have many detrimental consequences on families for 2 very important reasons.Many of the men and women who are seeking family assistance are not occasional users but rather they are addicts, and if you believe in the medical model like I do then you will look at these people as being sick and in need of treatment. There has been no definitive research showing that these addicts are selling their food stamps for drug money, the fact is most addicts who are either low income or who are within poverty level don't buy their drugs in the first place. They steal them, work within the drug trade for them or are given them..this we know with a fair amount of certainty. Nowhere is it recognized that these people need not only assistance but they need help. Recovery and treatment should be a condition of receiving benefits, a tandem program, if someone were to test positive they should be enrolled in a mandatory treatment program plain and simple to continue to be on welfare. This benefits these families as a whole and it also benefits society. By denying them benefits we not only hurt the innocent children by taking food out of their mouths but we also deny the addict assistance and these people will be even more likely to turn to crime, drug dealing and prostitution..the other American economy ..just to survive.What states spend on drug treatment programs is far less than what they save, and this is true all across the board.If programs like this were to be decentralized, they can potentially do untold harm on Society. Secondly those who are not addicts can be considered to be occasional users. You may find it surprising to learn that 75% of people that use heroin for instance are not physically addicted to it.Are we going to take food out of the mouths of their children too? I agree their should be stipulations on welfare, fact is I can go on all night about this but what are we achieving by doing this other than to stroke the conservative ego after all alcohol is more deadly than marijuana and cocaine for that matter and is responsible for drunk driving accidents that kill people in the thousands every year and rips lives a part on a much larger scale and by and large more people in America today are alcoholics than they are drug addicts but that's okay..and why should we allow benefits to them and not the marijuana user when the simple fact is marijuana should be legal and the only reason that it isn't is that the government stands to loose a considerable amount of money if it ever were to be decriminalized and the majority of people in America aren't educated or know enough about it in the first place to have valid ideals about it? So what do I say to the people that support this bill? Nice try, go back to the drawing board and come again. That's it for tonight..I am going to turn on The World According To Paris and turn my light switch off for a while...

20 Things On Tuesday

2011-07-20T00:04:00.000-07:00

I read all the time, in fact I read more than I write, and I write a lot. I thought it would be appropriate that I pay recognition to some of the fantastic writers out there who are capturing my attention this week. Inspiring me, enlightening me, and sparking new ideas, thought patterns and feelings.. I hope that you may find something within this post that gets your attention too..
1. Patience
2. Happiness Is Bliss
3. 75 Reminders For Tough Times
4. 7 Steps To Becoming An Art Collector
5. Groceries Expense or Investment?
6. Bits Of Sunshine
7. The Farm Chicks
8. Food For Our Spirituality
9.The Red Dress Club Writers Workshop
10.20 Minutes A Day Naked
11.Whiskey & Porn
12.Sweet Summer Nights
13.Strawberry Jam
14.Views On Buddhism
15.Grandmas Guide To Life
16.Whats For Dinner
17.Buddhist Bugs
18.Summer Pudding
19.Happy Together
20.Stringing Pompoms

Happy Reading!!

Me On Monday

2011-07-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

Mondays are a drag, lets face it and get that out of the way now. I am a day late in writing about the "doomsday" as I like to call it if that tells you anything. Could things possibly be any busier? Probably not. Is there much time aside from work, the kids, and school for much of anything? Not really. But funny thing is I couldn't be happier to embrace a Monday or any day for that matter for as busy as life gets and as hectic as things may seem sometime I am staying the course,better off than 75% of the people in the world who are fighting poverty, disease and social crisis. We have our health and by all means our sanity too. No matter how crazy life can be sometimes someone out there always has it worse. It is good to be busy, good to be productive and proactive in your life. I would rather be making a difference in the lives of others every day than sitting stagnant.This is what life is all about..

5 Random Things Which Describe My Day

1. The bathroom the boys share can be transformed into a land of wet towels, toothpaste mishaps and a hamper in a matter of minutes and don't even get me started on the toilet. How is it that they can succeed in missing the water as often as they do is beyond me is it laziness or misjudgement or are they just plain distracted, I will never get it. One 10 year old will soon be in the doghouse when he gets home and I am thinking putting a key lock on my bathroom is something I should have done long ago!

2. It is a good day when I can have almost everyone cooked for, fed, and most of the dishes cleaned up before 7pm..anything beyond this its madness.

3. My 20 year high school reunion is coming up and when it comes down to it I really don't see any reason to go.. Is this abnormal?

4. Instead of staying up till the we hours of the morning half assing a huge presentation because I am too sleepy to work through it to the best of my ability I recognized and knew when to turn the lights off and as a result another good nights sleep and a presentation that is 90% done.

5. No one despite my begging and pleading to eat their greens will touch the spinach on their plate, why I still continue to throw this next to say Chicken Fried Steak like I did tonight is beyond me...

Looking forward to a fun but chaotic week...

While doing this pose today termed "The Screaming Pigeon" my husband was watching and feeling a little over zealous I held in place for almost ten minutes something which I have never done for this long. Now my left hip is out of wack. Lesson learned if husband is watching yoga moves try and only do ones that come easy but only look impressive..

Slow Hot Weekends

2011-07-17T22:16:00.000-07:00

It's too hot to ride bikes, it was in the plan but the reality is that humidity is rearing its ugly head once again in tandem with this 110 degree weather and most of our weekend was spent inside. If only it would rain..I cleaned our palace and had some good yoga time this weekend, having done an hour of restorative today it was like getting a full body massage. They say that doing one hour of restorative yoga is the equivalent to 8 hrs of good sleep. Last night I slept so good, better than I have in a week. Jake and I set out to pick out some gifts with his birthday money and get slurpees. He decided on Starwars motor bikes and action figures..another Anakin and a whole slew of battle droids & clone troopers. I haven't had to cook in a whole three days, amazing. At least not anything substantial.We did pizzas last night from the local deli and tonight the boys brought home Chicago style hot dogs and fresh cut fries. While this has lightened my load considerably this weekend I always feel yucko if I eat out too much. That's it for take out for a while! My parents brought over and helped us put together my new outdoor patio set. It really makes the back patio into a beautiful and comfortable space. All I have left to do is add some string lights and potted cacti...I would love to do ficus trees if it wasn't for the javelina that eat anything and everything they can get too. School starts in just a few short weeks and I started getting together the lost list of supplies..1 new backpack 2 more too go, still need to head out for school clothes for the little man and get every ones hair cut. I am looking forward to being home more this week..Like many moms who work full time I felt like I was always missing out on things when I couldn't be the one to go on field trips or attend lunches in the middle of the day.My oldest so will be getting his learners permit this week, I just can't fathom this still. I can't help but look at him and think of him at 5 yrs old, the little man who went with me everywhere and did everything with me, my shadow. This will be a good week. It will be busy finishing up my last sociology session for the summer but by next weekend it will be done and over and this busy mommy will be on break for a whole 40 days from school. Looking forward to going to The Clear Light Buddhist Center next Sunday, the start of my meditation classes and my middle son will be attending their children's meditation program. I also have a few retreats here coming up that I am excited to attend, I have been slowly bringing more spirituality into my life and I think this will enable me to continue to do so. This is what speaks to me in this chapter in my life so I am going with it..I am also entertaining the idea of Unplugged Sundays, more on this to come.. Hope you all have had a blessed weekend..

Hard To Pick Just One

My Mid Life Crisis Shoes

2011-07-15T23:23:00.000-07:00

I like to call them my “Mid Life Crisis” shoes. We all have a pair of completely irresponsible shoes in our closets. These are a back ache waiting to happen. After perusing fashion magazines I started to take a liking to what my husband calls “Gladiator Sandals”. He hates these shoes. I chose this patent leather pair last New Years Eve as I was looking for something to go with a black dress and thought these screamed sexy, like I am 20 and sexy...like I never take off these shoes and when I do I unzip them sexy. Yes you read that right they zip up, how risqué I thought. I didn’t hesitate to bring them home and debut them on the first New Years I headed out of the house in like ten years. These would go perfect with a whip of some sort, oh the possibilities. They held up on the dance floor for the first hour then into the second and third. By that time they were sort of digging into my toes but when a stranger came up to say “love the shoes” I quit caring. When I tumbled down three steps leaving the festivities I brushed it off and regained my composure. Me and those shoes, we had quite a night. The next morning I started to make my way down the stairs when I my legs said otherwise. If you have even had shin splints this is as close as I can come to describing the pain in the front of my legs. My toes were a whole other story. The patent leather had cut into the front of every single one of them, and when I was bandaging them up I noticed my toenail was hanging there half way off. I finally made a game time decision to remove it completely, it wasn’t pretty. Apparently that tumble did a little more damage than I had thought. I set those dirty shoes on the top shelf of my closet and it was a good couple of months till I would pay them a visit. This time I decided to throw them on for work. They didn’t look as racy when paired with slacks and like a lover scorned I had gotten over and forgotten about all the pain and hurt they caused. While sitting at my desk I happened to notice that the little rubber pads at the end of the heels had worn themselves off and all that was left were little metal spikes where the leather was scraped off. From just one wear. The stitching was starting to fray between the slats. Later on that evening I stopped by the grocery store and you could hear me coming from 5 isles away, click clack click clack and for some odd reason my feet were sliding around in them as my toes took a beating. I can’t bear the thought of giving these off to the Goodwill for some poor unsuspecting soul to pick up and repair. What a cruel joke that would be, so there they are back on their resident shelf peeking out at me. From time to time I consider throwing them on and yet I don’t. They rest quietly beside the blue moccasins I begged my husband to buy for me on Mothers Day three years ago and wore once. To the left are the Keds I purchased this spring when retro Keds became cool again and I thought maybe I’d wear them, a throwback style to my middle school days , I put them on once and thought.. yuck. Under them are 2 pairs of Converse, one with sequins that slip on that I wore downstairs and back up to the bedroom, and a pair of K Swiss’ with the laces removed, because that’s how the guys in Run DMC used to wear them..And yet I can’t bring myself to toss them out as if I am afraid to crossover to that person that wears only comfortable shoes. But just like the hoop earrings in the shape of hearts, the hats that never got worn or the numerous pashminas that lurk in the corners these are memories of little snippets of my life buried behind closed doors waiting to be rediscovered someday by a granddaughter who wants to play dress up or a son who thinks it’s funny to walk around in his mothers shoes much to her dismay or the woman who too often forgets that comfort and practicality don’t apply when it comes to looking good and feeling young and takes them out for once last dance.

5 Things On Friday

2011-07-15T22:47:00.000-07:00

The night is young, or so it seems. Love is life and life is love. I am in that euphoric trance that happens after a vigorous yoga session, energy in balance muscles squeezed out. However cliche it may be to say thankful that it is Friday which for me means having the bed all to myself with my Sociology homework and the BYU channel. It has been a good week and as it draws to a close I am reminded of the truth in you get what you give, what you put out into the universe you shall receive. I saw my Dad had posted this quote today, it is a good reflection to end the week:

When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always.
Mahatma Gandhi

The 5 Random Things Which Describe My Day
1. Whenever the super happy lady behind the counter at Starbucks offers to give you a free cake pop because everyone is getting a treat but you and gets real pushy about it so you take it and eat it out of obligation BEWARE the reason she is offing these cake pops for free is that she knows that in a couple of hours they will all be hitting the trash can because they are on their last legs.Just trust me on this one.
2. My husband and middle son not only picked up a big dinner which meant no cooking for me for 2 whole nights this week but they brought me home a balloon which said you're the best along with a stuffed pug and a card that read Thank You for cooking and cleaning all day every day for us we love you with all of our heart.. then my little man picked me a flower..God I am so lucky to have them in my life.
3. My Psychology teacher gave me the A even though I was only a few points away. This was by far the most difficult class I have ever taken and I am elated beyond words.
4. Anyone who bakes cookies and gives them away to people they barely know probably has ulterior motives.
5.What does it mean when somebody says they want a bite of your cookie?Just wondering?

For Me

Daybook 7-14-2011

2011-07-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

Outside My Window: There is a thin layer of dust still covering everything from last weeks storms, the sky is clear and blue, I am hoping we still have more of a monsoon season ahead, love that rain!

I Am Thinking: Of ways I can continue to keep my body healthy and reduce toxins..of whether or not I should stay at home and finish my PhD's and be home more for my family or try to continue to work full time and do both, I wish the big decisions came easy for me but unfortunately they do not.

I Am Thankful For: The low key drama free life that I lead, hearing other peoples stories sometimes (mainly my coworkers) makes me even more thankful for living a simple and gentle life.

From The Kitchen: This week we are doing some cheese steak sandwiches among other things and a Milky Way cake that contains no less than 10 Milky Way bars in the recipe..yikes!

I Am Creating: Nothing in particular hands on..I have been too busy with homework! I am creating a life of service and purpose however..

I Am Going: To try and make something special for my Parakeet this weekend so she has something new to play with and new treats to try..I often times think she must be pretty bored in that cage all day..

I Am Reading: Nothing but schoolbooks this week, aside from the Wall Street Journal every morning, I am also nursing Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck..
I Am Hoping:Everything goes well on my PowerPoint presentation and interviews I will be submitting for my last leg of the Summer Sociology session next week. They are worth almost 1/2 my grade... (my heart rate is rising just by typing that)

I Am Hearing: Pandora Reggae Mixes

From The Teaching Rooms: This week has been all about studying various propositions for eliminating the drug problem in America, which in my opinion is impossible its all about common sense and reduction. I am reviewing the Regan Era and "The War on Drugs".. evaluating prohibition and its effects on the US population , comparing various means of legalization and hypothesizing what the effects on Society and Government would be.Paying close attention to drug treatment programs in Switzerland and Great Britain and evaluating statistics.

Around The House: It has been a quiet week and I am enjoying spending time with my little man and lots of cuddle time.

One Of My Favorite Things: Doing yoga with my 5 year old and seeing him do his downward dogs and A & B sequences.. Loving the fact that he wants to do them right along with me.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Two more days of work then it's off to the weekend..I am thinking movies, good food, and time for fun.

Here Are A Few Pictures From The Week To Share

Gotta love a kid who asks for spiky hair!!

Not the best lighting but Jakes "Downward Dogs" are still cute nonetheless!

My beautiful family at our reunion last week in Nebraska City, NE

Wordless Wednesday- Eyes

2011-07-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

Wednesdays Words of Wisdom

2011-07-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."

"When it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them."

"This life is what you make it. Not matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, somg go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And babe, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up becuase if you give up, you'll never find your soul mate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about."

20 Things On Tuesday

2011-07-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

This Weeks Topic My Favorite Tweets of the Day!
Lets Get Going Shall We...

1. Making a thousand friends is not a miracle. A miracle is making one friend who will stand by your side when thousands are against you.
2. Stalker's suck
3.Remember that a simple Thank You goes a long way, Embrace Gratitude!
4.To keep the body in good health is a duty – otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. Buddha
5.Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens. Carl Jung
6. Marriage is like a tense, unfunny version of Everybody Loves Raymond
7.Happy are they whose God is the Lord -Psalm 144:15
8.space is the breath of art. -frank lloyd wright
9.God = (G)ood (O)rderly (D)irection. Stay on course
10.Follow your heart, but don’t forget to take your brain with you.
11.2 ways 2 live life.. Like nothings a miracle and like everythings a miracle
12.You have enemies? Good! That means you've stood up for something!
13.Believe there are no limits but the sky. Cervantes
14.The only real nation is humanity.- Paul Farmer
15.Daily #OneGoodThingToday for a Monday at work: Say 'Good Morning' to someone.
16.Rise & Grind
17.Fellas:: u'll never FULLY understand ur lady.. That's ok though! ur real duty is to jus care for & love them
18.Beauty gets the attention but personality gets the heart.
19.There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.- Edith Wharton
20.Nonviolence is a weapon of the strong.- Mohandas K. Gandhi

Hope you have enjoyed Twitter Life Coaching for today! Until Next Time...

Embarrassment

2011-07-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

Ah my most embarrassing moment, it is hard to pick just one. When I look back to some of the most humiliating times in my life, aside from the epic slip in the mall circa 1985 which almost sent my girlfriend into convulsions from laughing so hard, I find that my most embarrassing times have something to do with my panties. I have never been a jeans and sneakers kind of gal and have lived most of my life in sundresses and skirts which may account for the fact that out of three boys each one has had a fascination at one time or the other with lifting up my dress and watching me shriek in horror. My oldest son in particular around the age of 5 went through this stage. It happened first at a family gathering in a room full of people then at a Macys. I learned to pick up on his cues, he would usually circle around me once or twice with a coy look on his face, that’s how I knew it was coming. He would reach for the hem with faster than lightening speed and before I knew it I was standing there red faced in a panic afraid to look down for fear of what I was wearing down below.. (please god let this not be a spanx day). I learned pretty quick how to block these random attacks with the precision and skill of a taekwondo expert and eventually he cooled it, that is until the day I realized he was just sitting, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. His brother was just born three days prior. Like many moms straight out of the hospital I was operating in a state of virtual unconsciousness, a creature of the night at the mercy of a newborn who wanted to eat every three hours. My attire consisted of nursing bras and whatever nightgowns I could throw over my head which would likely be ruined less than 24 hrs later. I was enjoying a relaxing moment, sleeping newborn in my arms watching the Young & The Restless (those were the days) when the door bell rings. I adjust the baby in my arms and shuffle off to answer to the UPS man standing there with a package he needs to have signed for. Then HE appears running excitedly for the door, a grin from ear to ear hiding his little devil horns behind a weft of golden hair. As I am pulling the balancing act of holding an infant and trying to sign my name with two fingers that’s when it happens. He looks at me I look at him our eyes meet for a second and then it is all in slow motion from there. He lifts up my nightgown and not a little lift either, more like a yank. One last hurrah for the kid who finally wants to make it known, he got the last word ..he got me. My response time was delayed I don’t notice the nightgown up until I look up at the red faced delivery driver, then I hear wild laughter, that’s when I look down. I have no free hands I wiggle back and forth try to kick him out of the way as he’s still holding my dress up. I spin around finally free from his grasp I mumble an apology to the UPS guy and begin to consider torture as an acceptable means of punishment for a 5 year old. This must have been the jewel in his crown, catching me off guard fresh from having a baby, muscles lax, granny panties because that’s all that would fit. Needless to say I was mortified and he took off running for his life. The poor old UPS driver, I think he may have been even more embarrassed than I. Thank god my oldest who was the worst offender grew out of this stage, I am sure he was just vying for my attention or thought it funny to see my reaction. At least I was able to see it coming, much unlike my youngest son who is 5 who apparently likes to get behind me and lift up my dress from behind and cover his face, on a busy playground while I unsuspectingly talk to his teacher for god knows how long before I notice I am mooning the other children and their parents.

07-12-2k11

2011-07-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

View From My Bedroom

Me On Monday

2011-07-11T23:44:00.000-07:00

Sunday came and went and I really need to get over this obsession I have had the last few months with making out menus every week and diligently cooking everything regardless if everyone is hungry or not..I felt like I was chained to the stove all day, not that it was a bad thing after all the blackberry french toast I made for brunch was divine however I got burnt out mid afternoon and burnt the cheese on the nachos and no one appreciated my jalapeno cilantro cole slaw on the pulled pork sandwiches..Today was my first day back after my little vacation and I actually got a little anxiety on the way to work this morning coupled with feelings of a complete and utter dragass syndrome come 2pm as this was my token nap hour over the last week. I made it through however and with that 10 random things which describe my Monday...
1. I have spent the evening studying the heroin epidemic (or lack thereof clearly it depends on who you ask).. as I finish up my last Sociology class for the Summer..apparently I still don't understand fully the effects of its chronic use on the kidneys..
2. My boss (if you can call him that) did not find my office very user friendly in my absence last week...I run my office much like my kitchen in that I am typically the only one who knows where everything is and I think I am too set in my ways to change this late in the game.
3. The thought of my oldest son getting his learners permit this week has me increasingly worried. If he says one more time that he plans on getting a motorcycle license in the future I think I might just have a heart attack.
4. We ordered pizza tonight at my husbands request
5. The same husband I kicked out of the room when I was taking an exam and he plopped down next to me turned off my singers & songwriters on satellite radio and cranked up survivor man..I was like really? He didn't take it to heart.
6. I am still torn up about having my hair whacked off in March..I wish there was a magic hair growth pill or potion to speed up the process..
7. My little man had his first day back at summer camp today which means he was in bed by 8:30..and then I missed him
8. I have some really great neighbors who are opening my mind to the whole concept of sense of community
9. I declined an invitation to attend my ex husbands wedding
10. I can't seem to fall asleep very good lately.. I hope tonight is different as I have a sneaking suspicion there might be a pending sickness entering the house and with every cough coming from the boys room I am wide eyed..

Saturday Night Fever

2011-07-09T22:20:00.000-07:00

So excited to see each other!

My little man has been gone for almost 2 weeks where he has been camping on the beach in So Cal with his Dad, enjoying the festivities in Lake Arrowhead for the 4th and having all kinds of fun. 2 weeks is a long time, I am so happy to have him home..We made the couple three hour drive to meet Dad, Dads girlfriend and pick him up today, I don't know what it is about car rides..the first half of the trip I am usually hopped up on caffeine and the second half I can barely keep my eyes open. It doesn't help much that my passengers seat may very well be the most uncomfortable passenger seat in the world..it has the twisted locked up seat syndrome most BMW's catch. It's kind of surreal seeing the father of your child like for five minutes every few months..this was a person who used to live with me for a long period of time, for whom I was engaged to, danced with laughed with,talked all day and night with, took trips with,loved with..and now it's like we are strangers as if he never knew me and I never knew him. It's strange how that happens..but people I guess they just come and go. I never gained my consciousness fully today after only getting maybe 4 1/2 hrs of sleep..hell I should be sleeping right now but for some strange reason I get a second wind around ten..getting back into the swing of things this coming up work week will be fun times. I was woken up probably 4 times last night to the sound of my neighbors arguing..they are a sweet couple and hope they can pull through whatever problems they are facing...nothing good to say about staying up all night fighting with someone.I did manage to do a half hour of yoga today..even if they were just mainly seated positions and make an awesome dinner bacon wrapped fillets, spicy pasta salad with smoked Gouda and tomatoes, corn casserole, and raspberry cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream...thanks Pioneer Woman. That was about all I was good for today..speaking of work next week can you say "pending doom"? Well tomorrow is Sunday thankfully and hopefully after a good night rest will have one more day to enjoy the these great boys and have a little downtime before the circus begins.. if there is any hope of that happening it may be a good idea to put down the coffee..like now.

5 Things On Friday

2011-07-08T23:35:00.000-07:00

Class Ended Thurs.. and I was 4 pts Away From an A

This Weeks Guilty Pleasure

Weekly Hairdo

The wacky Wailana Yoga I do in the afternoons

My new favorite TV show

Betty Ford Dies At Age 93

2011-07-08T23:17:00.000-07:00

"She started dialogues that changed America".

Elizabeth Bloomer "Betty" Ford circa 1975. Most admired first lady, mother to 4 children, professional dancer, wife, model...changed the attitudes in America about addiction. Started the Betty Ford Center, a woman who would once be quoted as saying it was "time to bring abortion out of the backwoods and into the hospitals where it belonged". She was a den mother, a soccer mom, a breast cancer survivor, something that would motivate thousands of woman to have mammograms.While living in the White House she would tell McCalls magazine that her and her husband the late Gerald Ford would "have sex as often as possible." She acknowledged premarital sex as being normal, advocated for more governments money for the arts and supported equal rights and aid for sick and abused children. She and her family were residents of Palm Springs, one of my favorite places to be where she became quite the socialite devoting her time to raising money for causes for which she believed in.
She was addicted to pain killers and alcohol and after her families intervention on April Fools Day 1978 she admitted herself to rehab at the Naval Hospital.
She reinvented herself and brought the drug and alcohol rehabilitation she received to the people of California.
She realized alcohol was a bigger problem for many women because "expectations of virtue are higher for women." She shared her story and those of other brave and courageous women through a series of books.
She pioneered the idea that women can be treated for alcoholism as well as men.
She was a role model for women and should and will be an inspiration for us all.

Because This Album Cover Just Makes Me Smile...

2011-07-07T23:13:00.001-07:00

My Fav Band Circa 1983

Vacation

2011-07-07T23:08:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying my down time..the first whole week off I have had in almost 5 years..somewhere in the midst of it I can't help but think..Hmmm I could get used to this. I have never had the privilege of being a stay at home mom, at least not for any significant period of time..with all three children I went back to work rather quickly and now with my youngest entering kindergarten in the Fall coupled with a full schedule of college classes yet again I am reevaluating my balance between work and home. Quitting my job and staying home is proving to be a hard decision to make and one that I have been pondering for well over a month now. What I do know is that I have enjoyed the time I have spent at home with my boys this week so much..I start the days with doing an hr of Yoga..make breakfast..watch the today show & Regis & Kelly..do 2 to 3 hrs of schoolwork..make lunch..do another half hr of Yoga..have learning time with my boys which lately has involved watching documentaries as it is so blazing hot and humid outside ..nap time..maybe a cooking show or time to run errands then its time to make dinner and settle into the evening whether it involves movies, another yoga session or more schoolwork the schedule isn't rushed, it flows...Today we got out of the house and visited the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art or SMOCA as it is known. We set about to see "The Masters of Collective Reality" exhibit featuring some of the major comic book artists from around the world. Among the exhibit were stencils and sharp colored pencils and artists renderings where the kids could draw their own comic book strip. This proved to be the funnest part of the afternoon and I am continuously impressed by the artistic talent of my 10 yr old. One of the reasons we go to art museums is that I hope he sees other works of art and expands his knowledge which I hope will help motivate him to continue creating and drawing...SMOCA is a fairly small museum and in the summer time they tend to use less than the available space however it really is a neat museum in that they do things like family night and programs keyed for kids and adults that are based on creating and learning. Thursdays are always free and the museum is open from 10 to 8 and provides a cool space on a hot summer day. We stopped by the kitchy museum shop where we scored a cool projector key chain and for me an Andy Warhol matted print at 60% off. I am looking forward to the fall exhibits and getting the boys more involved with the upcoming education programs. Also on the menu for the month the ASU exhibit of Warhol's inspiring photographs and the Phoenix Art Museum... Needless to say I am enjoying being home...I want to be able to pick my boys up from school instead of having them go to an aftercare program..I want to be there to go on field trips..make breakfast in the mornings..devote the necessary time involved in graduating with my PhD instead of winging it..not be a tired zombie in the evenings..to be more involved with my church and living a life of service..there are a lot of positives...as you can tell it seems like I may be talking myself into this..I wanted to share a link to a documentary I watched the other day called The Human Experience, I was touched and very moved by the wisdom in this film, at times almost to the point of tears. If you haven't seen it please do, it really makes you open your eyes to the rest of the world.One more day of my weekday vacation left tomorrow..among the artists whose work I saw today was Rory Hayes..I found him to be in your face...at times repulsive yet utterly brilliant at the same time ..It is true in a lot of ways that instead of fighting the crowds, spending a small fortune and doing a chaotic adventure some of the best vacations are the ones taken at home..

Rory Hayes

It is Officialy Monsoon Season

2011-07-05T22:45:00.000-07:00

July 5 2k11

Looks Like the End of Days
The newspapers have nicknamed our dust storm
"Haboob" not even sure why...:)

Arizona Skies Over Phoenix

4th of July Happenings 2k11

2011-07-05T22:12:00.000-07:00

Sparklers

Firecrackers

Good Eats

Munchies

Super Soaker Fights

Happy Children

Berry Cake

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July celebration!
We spent the weekend with each other..good food..good friends..family and fireworks.
God Bless America

Weekly Inspirations & Beautiful Lake Powell

2011-06-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

This past week the father of my oldest son Logan took him to Lake Powell for their annual trip with his grandparents, I used to go to Lake Powell every year as well and the memories I have of going on those trips are some of my most fondest. It truly is a magical place.

Don't give room for temporary depressions. Things come and go. Nothing is permanent in this world. Even our bodies come and go. You once had a young body; now you have an adult body. Someday you will have an old body, and one day you will even have a dead body. But still, you have a body. It's the body that goes through all these changes. You are immortal. Identify with that real you, the real "I."

When you play soccer, you kick the ball around. The ball goes through all the motions, but you are doing the playing. You enjoy the movements of the ball. Likewise, let your mind be your soccer ball. Wherever it goes, just enjoy it.

Even to enjoy nice, beautiful writing on a board, the board should be black because the chalk is white. You enjoy the white writing because there is a black board behind it. Don't forget that. You enjoy the pain because there is pleasure behind it.

We are the knowers, we are the seers. Remember that truth always. Apply this whenever you are in a depressed state. Jump up, shake it off and say, "Hey, l am a lion! This is all just temporary. I have come across this before and l know it will go away." You can heal yourself. There is a beautiful part of the mind, a powerful part of the mind, that can always get you out of any problem. Use that part, the brilliant part, the bright part. Don't succumb to the other side of the mind.

Daybook 6-30-2011

2011-06-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

Outside My Window: There is a heat advisory & the temps have hit 115..sprinkles here and there but really..it is a dry heat. Is it just me or does Arizona get a little hotter every summer?

I Am Thinking: I have got the weekend on my mind, fireworks, 4th of July food, a trip to the casino, the Ohio Players live in concert..it can't come soon enough!

I Am Thankful For: The work that I do, the learning experiences I am having, the people that love me and this season in my life

From The Kitchen: Summertime around here is all about the grilling, the corn on the cob, fresh fruits and of course ice cream!

I Am Creating: Inner peace & peace around me slowly but surely in every nook and cranny

I Am Going: To enjoy my vacation next week, my first week on in over 5 years..focusing on finishing up my classes and spending time with my favorite guys

I Am Reading: WSJ (Wall Street Journal) Magazine & Food & Wine Magazine

I Am Hoping: To spend some down time touring the local museums with my 10 yr old next week

I Am Hearing: The hum of the fans..a familiar sound this time of year

From The Teaching Rooms: Learning about the inner workings of the brain and the unconscious mind, studying the theories set forth by Sigmund Freud and psychoactive substances. Researching the effects of multinational companies operating in poor nations, environmental & social.

Around The House: We have been spending lots of inside time on these dog days of summer..projects planned for the weekend..beauty everywhere I see.

One Of My Favorite Things: Doing yoga with my 10 year old and seeing him get excited and actually ask to do it along with me..seeing his body and resistance get stronger

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Finishing up the last 2 days of work and learning then enjoying a long weekend with a plan to visit my sister and enjoy couple time for the 4th

Here Are A Few Pictures From The Week To Share

Jake's 5th Birthday Party!!

Workin Up a Sweat!

Can I Have My Birthday Party Here Too??

Jake & His Best Bud Choo Choo

Held at Pump It Up in North Scottsdale 6-18-11

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." Albert Schweitzer

2011-06-24T23:09:00.001-07:00

06-24-2k11 Logan on Lake Powell

2011-06-24T23:04:00.001-07:00

Wishing I was Poolside At

2011-06-24T23:03:00.001-07:00

I Am Still Alive...

2011-06-24T23:02:00.000-07:00

Excuse the short sabbatical of sorts...whos idea it was to engage in summer school must have fell and bumped their head.. oh wait yes I am the one to blame and it is sort of a drag that my summer so far has been spent studying peoples brains but hey its like 120 outside, it is no mans land out there and time is best spent indoors when AZ becomes this inferno..I was driving through Old Town Scottsdale today looking at all the poor touristas rambling around with their water bottles and sunburns thinking to myself my god not even the locals are out braving this heat, should be some sort of indication to stay indoors...But work is done for the week..the online classroom is down for tomorrow (oh darn) and I will be indulging in a little me time and movies..but before I get that on I do declare the best happenings of the day as it is time for 5 Things On Friday...

1. My son Jake turned 5 Years Old Today!!
2. It has been 5 years almost since my divorce and thank god I am finally over myself! ( somewhat:)
3. 5 hrs to do a job that normally takes 2.. Murphy's law of a Friday afternoon work day
4. 5 episodes of What Not To Wear in the DVR for my viewing entertainment this weekend
5. Yes 5 the number of ice cream sandwiches collectively consumed in my house on any given day

What do you think about...

2011-06-09T14:32:00.000-07:00

Greenpeace International's New Ad Campaign which aims to send a message to Mattel to stop destroying rain forests for their packaging???

I don't know about you but I want a t-shirt...

United Colors of Benetton

2011-06-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

Anyone remember United Colors of Benetton?

I used to love their ads...and still do..they captured current events, spurred controversy and all in the name of selling sweaters.

Speaking of sweaters I would have given my right arm to have owned one of their colorful cable knits circa 1989, no matter the color I just wanted one bad.

Here are some of my favorites over the years.

I will start with a glimpse into the Aids epidemic 20 years ago

The picture of a young man David Kirby in his dying hours,as photographed by Therese Frare was ran by United Colors of Benetton as part of an add campaign in 1992 and became as you can imagine incredibly controversial.. The add was run with the consent of his loving parents to bring awareness to the devastation of Aids which had taken his life. The Catholic church would denounce this photograph and foundations would call for the boycott of Benetton as a result.

In the words of the great Oliviero Toscani the man behind these infamous ads:

Our prints does not tell people to buy our clothes, they are not even hint at it. All of our increasing aim at creating disputes over those items that are usually true, but that we believe should be widely discussed.