Happy Birthday Scott!

Did I Ever Tell You About How Scott & I Met?

I had this awesome roommate once. We were undergrads, young, and beyond fun. Really- the sun just rose and set on us. I know that this is hard to imagine, BUT I once lived on the wild side. & I shared housing with a friend who lived on the WILDER side. & together... we were a terrific mess.

So, this roommate- "Marie" and I went to school together, lived together, and worked together. How does Scott play into this? Marie was the reason that I met Scott. She had an ex-boyfriend who was life guarding at the local Air Force Base pool. She would spend her off-time on base, sunning and swimming (obviously, pre 9/11). One day, she called me- very excited- insisting that I come to the pool "TODAY!" because "They shipped in 500 Marines...with NO OFF-BASE privileges!"

Uh ladies....this means a serious lack of competition. I quickly donned the purple bikini and got on base-. I met Marie poolside. Wow. We both sat there scanning our options. Don't judge. When simultaneously our eyes landed on a marine wearing red trunks. "Dibs"- We said it in unison. I cringed. "Let's scissor, paper, rock for him," I suggested. We did and I won.

Scott, his friend Matt, Marie, and I spent a lot of time together that Summer and had the best time of my single life. Hands down. The best.

Towards the end of that Summer...Marie's joints started swelling and bruising..she was feeling fatigued. She went to our doctor who quickly diagnosed her with "Lupus"...and so Marie's battle began.

With our move to Florida- I lost touch with Marie- had been trying to find her via FB- to no avail. Now, that we are back- I tried again and found that she had gone on to meet her maker in July.

So, this, in Memory of "Marie"-

She is the most free spirit that I have ever known

She is the instrument that brought Scott to me and me to Scott

She is a part of some of the best times and memories of my life

With her went some of the funniest inside jokes EVER.

I will always love her and the impact that she made.

To Marie- May God Be With You Always.

I Like Big Butts...

I like Scott and Chandelier too. Although, they are NOT butts - Chandelier IS trying to hide from the camera lens.
But, I DO like big butts and I can not lie. These cute butts belong to the horses at the recent tree lighting and luminaria lighting in Old Town New Mexico.
& there is the pretty face to go with the rear....
& the big tree
They like big butts too.

The Peeper

This week, our next door neighbor informed Scott that basically her husband had been peeping through our bedroom window. She asked him if we could get the window covered. The window is a high window. You would have to want to peep to peep.

He assured her that we had ordered new coverings for all of the windows- we are just waiting for delivery and installation.
Meanwhile, I used some of Chandler's wrestling mats to block the view of any prying eyes. They actually are so black, that they make the window a mirror. You can see the reflection of the neighbors swamp cooler & their blinds.
Anywho, we have had a problem with a nosy neighbor before...& Scott usually nipped it in the bud by performing a special commando dance for her. Maybe he learned it in the Marines. But, the performance is ...noteworthy and hilarious.
I left a tip jar out for him- in case he feels the need to do it again.

The [Serendipitous] Gift of Fear

One semester, in college, I needed a couple of extra credits to fulfill financial aid requirements. The class could be in any area, so I choose a Woman's Self Defense course. The class, instructors, and fellow students made this one of my favorite college courses.

The instructor strongly suggested that we read Gavin de Becker's book entitled, "The Gift of Fear." If you have not read this book...go thee and read it immediately. The author is a three-time presidential appointee who has pioneered changes regarding governmental evaluation of threats.

On a personal level, the book gave me permission to listen to my "sixth" sense and to accept fear as a gift that allows me to quickly react to keep safe. The book explained the "science" of fear and summarizes how our subconscious quickly observes and notices danger long before our conscious brain is able to make sense of the same.

Why bring up this book now? Because, since I have read the book- back a hundred years ago- I have used it to help me make decisions for not just myself, but my family. Chan-man made plans for this weekend. I didn't like the plan-basically- that uncomfortable feeling kept nagging. So, I had to let him know that I wasn't comfortable and he had to cancel.

As many of you know, this was going to stink for both of us. Him, because of his disappointment. Me, because I was going to have to live with him.
But, something awesome happened...and he put aside his...shall we say, "strong feelings on the matter..." and agreed to go hiking. Just the two of us.
No cell phone coverage. Just mountains, trees, birds, and my sweet baby.
The day truly was a God-gift. Thanks & Amen!

Play that funky music white boy....

I, for one, am happy to see Vanilla Ice on DIY Network. The show is good- & I never understood all that hating- I have some of his songs on my IPod...twice.But, I have only have two friends who continue to share and appreciate my taste in music. You know who you are.

Yo man -- Let's get out of here! Word to your mother!

Are Kato & Cody Cousins?