Searching for Serenity

so long...

2006-08-08T18:45:00.000-05:00

"cautiously optimistic"

Due to a major change in our lives, I will no longer be blogging. I would like to say goodbye and thank ALL for supporting my silly manias.
It was fun.
I'll miss you.

-Apryl Dawwn

aaaaaaahhhh!

2006-07-31T21:09:00.000-05:00

elements of a relaxing evening:

sitting on a comfy couch in front of the air conditioner
while
eating a banana split you left in the freezer all afternoon
while
listening to a Badly Drawn Boy cd

...a good end to a crazy day of heat and anxiety...

if only, if only...

2006-07-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

Of course we've been home a few weeks now, but I still have a need to record our Amtrak woes.

Our trip to Texas wasn't too bad. The problem with Amtrak is they rent the tracks from Union Pacific, so they have no right-of-way when a freight train is using the tracks. If Amtrak is on the track, and a freight is coming, Amtrak has to wait for the freight to go by first (sometimes it takes 30 minutes before the freight even shows up).

All this waiting time makes for Amtrak to be notoriously late for pickup/dropoff destinations. After a day and 1/2 on Amtrak, we arrived in San Antonio 5 hours late!

Amtrak also makes everyone riding Coach use the same public restrooms. They are only cleaned at the end of the day. A bathroom labeled "womens lounge" makes it nice to put on makeup and brush teeth, change clothes, etc. It has a little cushioned bench with large mirror, two sinks, and a private bathroom where you can have your children go while you wait, or vice versa. The disgusting part was going down in that area to find urine all over the seat from men who happen to find the "lounge" a place to go. There are 6 other bathrooms in the area meant for both sexes...yet each time we went to the "lounge", I had to try and clean it well enough to let my daughter use it. It was gross. Each bathroom was gross. The whole area stunk.

I promised myself to buy Clorox wipes for the trip back and never realized how much worse it was gonna get!

Being prepared with all the food necessities, toiletries, cleaning wipes, blankets, and pillows we needed was my first thought. I packed extra clothes and our toothbrushes to have for the following morning to feel fresh and clean.

It was all going fine...til we stopped in Austin, TX. We picked up an obnoxious idiot there...and to our horror, found out he was riding ALL THE WAY to Chicago with us!

Sitting in Coach means you are in view of all around you, as well as able to hear all conversations. There are two seats on each side of the train. If you aren't sitting with someone, a stranger will sit with you when we get to a stop. So there is a seat with a man by himself in front of my mother (we find out later this man's name is John; he got on with us in San Antonio)...and he has an empty seat next to him. This is where the "idiot" sits when we stop in Austin. Right away he begins talking endlessly about himself. He talks loud enough that all in the back half of our car can hear him! When he gets up to use the bathroom, John turns around to us and says, "This is gonna be a long ride."

Little did we know.

A few hours down the tracks again, the idiot asks people around him why there is a handle sticking out of the seats in the aisle. No one seems to know, and then he asks me. I am in a seat across from my mother, so I am kitty-corner to the idiot. I say, "it turns the seats around when the train has to go the opposite direction on the tracks...instead of trying to turn the train around."

He laughs at me and says, "You're stupid! I'm an engineer and there's no way these seats move!"

I said,"Fine. Whatever."

Well, my mother gets mad at the idiot for calling me stupid, and tells him to apologize. He tells her to shutup and that he won't apologize. I calm my mother down cause she's about to slug this guy since her nerves are already up from listening to him yak for hours.

He then says to me, "Why don't you ask one of the employees to see if you're right?"

I tell him, "I don't have to ask. If you need to prove me wrong, you ask."

So he does. He stops the woman attendant who is taking care of our car, and she says, "the young lady is 100% correct." So the idiot tells everyone that he still doesn't believe it since he's an engineer. He gets down on his knees in the aisle and looks under the seats..."there's no way these seats move!" he says again. "All women stick together," he claims. "I'm gonna ask a man this time."

So while he waits for a man attendant, he continues to gab to John. It made me think of "Airplane" where the people try to kill themselves when Ted Striker talks to them the whole time.

When the Conductor himself walks thru our car, the idiot stops him and asks about the aisle handle. The Conductor tells him it turns the seats around.

I smile but don't say a thing. So much for Mr. Engineer.

So, the idiot then says, "When I see it, I'll beleive it. There's no way these seats turn around."

By now, he's being obnoxious and in people's faces about everything. He's argued with the lady attendant several times, and even been scolded by the Conductor for putting his feet up on the lunch tray.

Toward evening, the lady attendant comes thru again to check on everyone, and he asks her to show him how the seats turn around. There happens to be an empty seat in front of him, so to shut him up about it, she turns the seats. In 2 minutes, it was done. It takes 15 minutes to do the whole car.

My mother says to the idiot, "You owe my daughter an apology, now."

He tells my mother to "Shut up" and then tells others to shut up who are laughing at him.

We all talk and laugh anyway. So he leaves and sleeps in the observation car.

"Yay!" we all scream when he leaves.

The next morning, clean and fresh, and happy that the idiot is sleeping, we talk with a lady who is now in front of me with her teenage son.

We are not loud, since it's near 9am, but still laughing a bit. The idiot wakes up (apparently the Conductor made him go back to his seat at 6am) and yells at the lady in front of me to "Shut up" cause he's sleeping.

Well, this lady gets up out of her seat and tells him he needs to shut up, since everyone in this car can't stand him, and he can leave.

The idiot gets up out of his seat and says, "Why can't you women talk about intelligent things like your trips to Europe or the 5 languages you can speak? If you can't talk about anything important, then shut up!"

Well, this kid, the lady's teenager, gets up with clenched fist and tells the idiot to watch how he talks to his mother. The mother calms her son down and tells the idiot to back off and "that's enough s*it from you!"

The idiot, still mumbling, sits down and shuts up. Only for the moment. He tries to get other men involved against the women on the train, and the men say "the women aren't bothering us, but you are!"

So this is the endless conversation all the way home.

I can go on and on, but it doesn't change.

When arriving in Chicago, I noticed the idiot being picked up by an elderly man, hunched over, (could be his dad), and another man that looked like him (maybe a brother). The idiot started yelling at the elderly man about not picking him up in the right place, and then he turned to the other man and demanded a, "Chicago pizza". The two family members just cowered before him and walked away, carrying the idiot's luggage for him.

It was sad really.

Yet, it was good to FINALLY be home, and be thankful for our family...who don't seem too bad after all.

me

2006-07-23T23:53:00.000-05:00

You Are 12% Gross

You're not gross, but you tend to think everyone else is. And you're right... they are!
Some people may think you're a neat freak, but at least you'll never die of flesh eating bacteria.

How Gross Are You?

You Are 35% Vain

Okay, so you're slightly vain from time to time, but you're not superficial at all.
You are realistic. You know that looks matter. You just try to make them matter less.

How Vain Are You?

back in the Heartland

2006-07-22T21:25:00.000-05:00

this little rural Iowa town has become a calm for me. everything slows down here. after a month in crazy, fast-paced San Antonio...it feels good to sit back and watch the sunset.

we are back in 70-degree weather (after a terrible humid/heatwave)...and the nights are perfect for sitting on the deck to watch the stars.

this afternoon while getting some groceries, we had a laugh at the local newspaper. its headline read, "SALSA!" with a latin couple dancing on it. the first line of the report said, "Salsa, Meringue....no, they're not Mexican dishes, but the title of a new dance craze."

HA! "a new dance craze" that's been around for decades!

ya gotta love it here!

homeward bound

2006-07-11T14:06:00.000-05:00

we are on our last week of our crazy month-long summer trip to Texas! its been really strange touring my own hometown...but all the swimming and sun and memories will last us thru the winter in Iowa this year.

stay tuned for some AWESOME summer pics and updated flickr moments coming real soon!

a visit back home

2006-06-20T20:00:00.000-05:00

back from Boston and headed to San Antonio!

we had such a lovely trip to the east coast...i would DEFINITELY go again. i also recommend it to everyone....great vacation spot!

so i un-packed everything here in lovely-green-pastures Iowa, did laundry, and re-packed it all, along with Lily's things, to go to Texas tomorrow.

headed out on Amtrak...a day and 1/2 on the tracks...and a 3-week stay with family/friends! why are we going to Texas in the middle of June/July? i have no idea. locals know that it gets to 100 degrees there with humidity in the 90's. insanely hot and muggy! have to do lots and lots of swimming!!!!

being in the Texas heat will make us appreciate the 75-80 degree coolness of our home now; where everything is still lush and green despite the sun's rays.

will catch you up on some highlights and pictures as soon as i can!

Texas

Iowa

afternoon rain

2006-06-15T14:03:00.000-05:00

walking around Boston on a grey day is perfect. not even 70 degrees today and cool breezes at every corner. i found myself on Commonwealth Street marveling at the beautiful homes.

my breakfast in Chinatown, at a cafe called "75", felt like being in someone's kitchen. when you order The Bostonian, you get 6 pieces of french toast, 2 pieces of sausage, 2 pieces of bacon, and 2 eggs with coffee! its insane and delicious and only $6.00!! the owner was speaking thick Bahstonian and offered to make my coffee with cream and sugar.

lunch at "Little Italy" was lovely. raspberry lemonade and 4-cheese ravioli with pesto alfredo sauce. bread and oil and fresh parmesan. sitting on the patio watching Boston alive and bustling was the perfect way to relax. even when it began to drizzle, i didn't want to leave. happy it never came pouring down!

the winds blow and the rain falls steady now as i watch from our hotel window. remnants of Hurricane Alberto cover the Massachusetts coastline. with nothing extreme...only rain, clouds, and wind...i wait to find a patch of blue in the sky.

it promises another day. our last day. tomorrow.

Beantown

2006-06-14T20:38:00.000-05:00

home of Paul Revere, Beacon Hill, baked beans and Cheers...Boston is quite a handful of sites! everything is within walking distance, or if you need to be there within minutes, the T will get you there; that's the subway by the way...

the details in architecture are breathtaking; the bookshops have an air of Hemingway and Thoreau upon their dusty shelves; pubs and colonial brownstones line the streets...only when a taxi drives by are you pulled back into the present.

Having a beer at Cheers, strolling The Boston Common, and riding a Swan Boat has been a blast. The best of it all was eating in a local pizzeria known for world famous pizza - Regina's Pizzeria! Just being here makes me wish I was from "Bahstun"!

Two more days to go...

east coast

2006-06-10T20:44:00.000-05:00

can't wait to update you on our trip to Boston!

pics and stories will be coming up soon....

love ya!

2006-06-10T20:38:00.000-05:00

...there's nothing like having a friend

who will send you a canister FULL

of biscotti in the mail so you can dip

one in your coffee along with her

over the telephone...

thank you

2006-06-09T22:41:00.000-05:00

...there's nothing like having a friend who will
run barefoot thru pine cones to hug you goodbye...

congratulations!

2006-06-07T22:48:00.000-05:00

Happy 13th Anniversary
Claudia & Eddie!

(we love you!)

"Breakfast"

2006-06-06T22:38:00.000-05:00

answers to Mad Libs # 4:

"Every person should start off his or her day with a small breakfast. Have 1.6 trillion eggs and 31 slices of bacon and some toast spread with melted monkeys. Then have a cup of delicious hot tropical punch with a spoonful of guacamole & tortilla chips in it. Enjoy and have a rough day!"

(thanx to all for their input! until next time...)

message to Ripped Tude

2006-06-06T22:22:00.000-05:00

CRYSTAL...

...are you coming home?

Its horrible without you!

Hurry up!

We miss you....

love you guys!

2006-06-02T15:02:00.000-05:00

we visited our friends in Minnesota during Memorial weekend; hitting a record high of 90 degrees in the northern states, so it was refreshing to lounge at the pool with them for a couple of days.

one morning while we had biscotti and coffee, their son came running up with chocolate all over his face (he's almost 2) and he was crying. my friend, his mother, picked him up in her arms and said,"oh sweetie! did Abby take your biscotti?"

i couldn't help but laugh. Abby is their black lab, and to think that their 2-yr-old son was enjoying biscotti along with us, then fighting the dog from getting it, was really cool.

nowadays, the kids (as well as the dogs in this particular instance) are up with the latest thing to eat for breakfast! no more Cheerios for this toddler! hehehe

having friends where you don't have to do a thing and enjoy just hanging out together is quite a gem!

looking forward to the next time of doin nuthin....

....cause doin nuthin with them is fun!

Mad Libs # 4

2006-06-02T14:44:00.000-05:00

i need:

an adjective

a number

another number

a plural noun

a type of liquid

a type of food

and another adjective

HAVE FUN!

field trip

2006-05-24T21:42:00.000-05:00

"This place is crackalacking. Oh, I could hang here. I could hang here."

a visit to the zoo is the perfect way to say goodbye to 3rd grade! with 3 days left of school, we headed out on a fun safari...

an Australian walkabout with wallabies free to roam...

a conservatory full of flowers, trees, and birds flying...

a koi pond so full of fish, they clammered atop each other to get a morsel of food...

a sea lion pool and feeding show; it made us envy the cool water they were dipping in...

a tortoise we could touch and love up close; marvelous!

from up high in a tree top gazebo, we looked down on giraffes eating their lunch...

the penguins made us giggle as they all stood together in their little b/w suits...

the tiger paced his area; the snow leopard slept in his log; the monkey's beauty show (picking each others hair while sitting on a tree branch) made us all giggle again.

it was a lovely day with a cool breeze and lots of sunshine!

cool

2006-05-13T12:01:00.000-05:00

Girlz Nite Out II

a walk in the friday nite rain after dinner at Montage.

don't ya love how the girlz are all carrying their purses on their right shoulders...

awesome pic, i know. thank you.

more to follow....

am i the only one?

2006-05-12T08:12:00.000-05:00

i use my cell phone to find out where my husband
is in the house instead of going to look for him

sometimes i wish he wouldn't answer the phone

today

2006-05-11T13:31:00.000-05:00

a cold front has blown in making our May a bit chilly...feels like its in the 40's.

as i drive around town, i can see the adjustment to the winds made by the locals wearing the "thrown-on-hooded-sweatshirt". its not abnormal; in fact, its quite accepted to have a wintry day smack dab in the middle of Spring.

the tulips and the lilacs don't seem to mind. down by the river, Mr. and Mrs. Goose have a swim with their 3 little goslings (which i named eeny, meeny, and miney) in the, i presume, chilly-cold water. they snack for a bit among the grass, nipping up bugs and worms. not a care at all for the strong winds rustling their feathers.

frustrated, the wind tries to find another to taunt. across the river, a backyard tent looks easy enough, as the wind strong-arms it into submission. the tent falls within minutes...rumpling to the ground. defeat.

i laugh at the tent's demise. how silly that a weak, man-made structure think it can withstand the power of the wind. the geese laugh into the wind. nature vs. nature. they are equal. while man's creation, a slap from the wind can tumble.

the ripples of the river flow faster with the wind...hurrying along eastward to meet up with friends. in my car, as i watch, i am alien; sitting in plastic and metal. the wind will carry me too, if i let it.

instead, i watch. i learn. i let tears fall.

when will we be part of this earth, instead of just a bystander?

this place, where i have lunch, is the bit of serenity i search for each day. it is enough to sustain me.

i turn the car around...back to the routine...with a sigh and a new smile.

three-fold friendship

2006-05-08T22:37:00.000-05:00

True friends stab you in the front

building friendships is always difficult.
we step on solid ground only AFTER being hurt
and confronting each other with truth.

we need to be stabbed in the front
and feel loved,
instead of being stabbed in the back
and hated.

hmmmmm...

2006-05-03T20:31:00.000-05:00

i've decided from now on i shall wash my face like our cat does.

lick my hand and rub my face.

over and over til clean.

i wanna be a cat.

they do cool stuff.

just stuff

2006-05-01T12:50:00.000-05:00

* i waited two weeks for the first of May so that i could upload some pictures (since i used up all my % for the month of April). now, its May 1st, and all my % for May is now gone! how can i live a WHOLE month without uploading pictures on Flickr? aaaaagggghhhhhh!

* who really eats bananas after they turn black and mushy? gross.

* substituting for 1st grade last week was cool - until we had music class. the music teacher somehow got onto the subject of the 70's Scooby-Doo cartoon. i listened in as he tried to describe an episode about a Miner 49er (since he was teaching the class the song, "My Darlin Clementine"). the kids kinda looked at him with blank stares. then he said, "Scooby-Doo was pretty cool to watch in my day....until they brought in Scrappy-Doo and it ruined it for me." i shook my head in agreement with a bit of laughter while you could've heard a pin drop from the kids. with puzzled faces, they looked between the music teacher and I as if we were from outer space. come on people! who REALLY liked that annoying little Scrappy-Doo???!!!

* playing some Nancy Drew games on the laptop has made my right and left index fingers a dynamic duo.

* Disney's "The Wild" doesn't even come close to the comedy of "Ice Age 2". a new feature,"Cars", is on its way into the theaters. guess people are tired of animals.

* one month of school left!

* why do McDonald's employees act like they own the establishment? i only asked for a couple dipping sauces for my nuggets, and she acted as if i were asking her to wash my car! just give me my Honey Mustard!

* 55 degrees. rainy. cold. perfect.

she wakes up for them

2006-04-27T09:47:00.000-05:00

Mimi and I take photos together.
I'm sure I have dozens of these already.

fleeting time

2006-04-25T08:55:00.000-05:00

sitting here eating Spongebob Pop-Tarts with a banana and some coffee and wondering how the 36 years of my life went by so fast?

when i was 3 yrs, i welcomed my baby brother home. one of my favorite days.

at 5, i was in love with school and thinking Mrs. Smith was the BEST teacher in the world.

at 9, i wanted to be a teacher and a veterinarian. i LOVED reading & writing & horses.

at 11, i was angry with my father cause he busted my banana board (skateboard) by letting it fly into the street cause he couldn't balance on it and a car ran over it. i can still see the wheels and bolts flying.

at 13, i would lay in my bed and imagine being married. trying to figure out if it was someone i already knew or someone i was going to meet in the future.

at 16, i remember loving this guy (who said he loved me too)...then he didn't call me the whole weekend, so i questioned myself instead of him. funny that.

at 18, i thought i knew it all and dared anyone to try and convince me otherwise.

at 21, i learned early that i knew nothing and paid the consequences.

at 25, with several years of sharpened awareness of myself and life, i married Michael. another favorite day.

at 27, i had my baby girl, and my life took on a new meaning. my favoritest day.

at 30, i wouldn't face the day. i cried about being old...then my 3-yr-old smiled at me, and we played outside on the swings.

at 33, we moved away from home and started a new adventure in the middle of corn fields.

at 35, we celebrated 10 years of marriage.

at 36, tomorrow, i will hug our cat "good morning", kiss my husband and daughter before taking them to work/school, then begin a new day. hopefully without Pop-Tarts for breakfast.

since i have four more years before i'm 40, i better start coming up with some plans.

"Perhaps our eyes need to be
washed by our tears once in a while,
so that we can see life with a clearer view again."

tacos

2006-04-20T08:26:00.000-05:00

which would you rather eat?

a commercial for our local Mexican fast food restaurant, Taco John's, is so identifiable for the area.

their jingle is "a whole lotta Mexican goin on"....

what does that mean exactly?

are there Mexicans eating there? NO!

are there Mexicans making the food? NO!

so if you eat the tacos, you're Mexican? NO!

its tacos and burritos, so its Mexican? HA!

then in the commercial, there is this guy who says "if yor hankerin for a good taco, this is where you should be"

hankerin?

wow. now that's a whole lotta Mexican. *sarcasm*

i miss Texas. where there are REAL mexicans making food that doesn't taste like it was spooned out of a can.

oh, Mr. Fajita with guacamole, please stop haunting me.....

blah

2006-04-17T22:02:00.000-05:00

its 10 o'clock

listening to Mazzy Star

Before I Sleep

mellow & melancholy sit on either side of me

bittersweet

surrounded by people

and still alone

le chat

2006-04-17T00:22:00.000-05:00

oh, to be a cat
that i may lay my head
upon a pillow
and sleep the day thru

waaaaaaaah!

2006-04-13T00:36:00.000-05:00

i missed my Blogiversary date on April 6th!

life is just moving too fast in corn country Iowa! *sarcasm*

i wanted to do something spectacular to celebrate the 1-year anniversary of my being a blogger...and i forgot.

now its the 12th...actually the 13th since its after midnight...and i need to document it before the month of April gets away from me.

what to say on this special Blogiversary month? ummmmm....what is that called when a writer can't think of what to write? ummmmmm....oh yeah, "writer's block". i guess i have that.

i suppose i'd like to take a moment and thank Roberto for introducing the Blog World to me. also like to thank Ruben for being the first to comment on my posts besides family members! that's a big deal, you know. would like to thank Michael for being my trainer... for uploading and linking and HTML stuff. BIG shout out to Roberto and Michael again for creating my Serenity Blog.

also would like to thank all who have become part of my ritual. thanks for the laughs and encouraging words. the inspiration and the support.

its been a fun year. i look forward to the next.

(mmmmmmmm....shrimp!)

gosh, Batman, you're right!

2006-04-11T09:24:00.000-05:00

while driving Michael to work today, my cell phone rings.

"Why are you calling me?" I ask.

"What?" he answers increduously.

Sitting in the passenger seat, he digs at his side to feel for his cell phone.

"Ha!" he laughs. "I did call you. Weird. My keys were locked so I have no idea how it did that."

Hmmmmmm....

Strange do me how a technologically-advanced gadget man can be dumbfounded by a cell phone.

"It's like I'm Batman with too many gadgets on my belt," he says out of the blue.

there's a chuckle ... then silence

"Wish I had the retractable claw though," he finishes.

gotta love the guy!

our mornings are never dull and routine.

between Lily and Michael, I am always entertained!

i love you

2006-04-10T22:11:00.000-05:00

Me and you
And you and me
No matter how they tossed the dice
It had to be
The only one for me is you
And you for me
So happy together

"Our Planet"

2006-04-08T08:20:00.000-05:00

here are the answers to Mad Libs # 3

Our planet, which we call Mickey Mouse, circles around our studious sun
13 times every year. There are eight other planets in our solar system.
They are named Jupiter, Sting, Abraham, Mars, Engelbert, Michael, Johnny, and Pluto.

(this one took awhile...
but thanx to Roberto, Mike,
Lily, Kathy, Lisa, Tommy, Daniel and Steph)

uugghhhh!

2006-04-07T23:26:00.000-05:00

its a bit annoying to see everything going to acronyms in the entertainment world...

** a commercial for an extra-large pizza from Domino's
is now on commercial ordered as an "XLP"

** the new game show Deal or No Deal is called "D O N D"
(should actually be "Dumb or Not Dumb" since it takes no
brain power whatsoever to win the game. its all chance.)

** Kentucky Fried Chicken officially changed their name
to the initials "KFC" long ago. In fact, you rarely hear
anyone mention it by its original name nowadays

** Jennifer Lopez is now "J-Lo"

this doesn't even include the ENDLESS acronyms used online and in text messaging...

BTW - "by the way"
MYOB - "mind your own business"
B4N - "bye for now"
SIT - "stay in touch"

the English language is getting shorter and shorter; just as cell phones are getting thinner and thinner .... from a Razor to the Sliver to Motorola's new Scalpel.

its hard to keep up with everything. technology keeps this 'ol fashioned gal 10 steps behind ... back in the world where words were spelled correctly and had no reason to be shortened for the sake of conversation.

soon ... i will be assimilated...

Mad Libs # 3

2006-04-05T12:43:00.000-05:00

i need a FIRST NAME
an ADJECTIVE
a NUMBER
ANOTHER FIRST NAME
ANOTHER FIRST NAME
ANOTHER FIRST NAME
ANOTHER FIRST NAME
and ANOTHER FIRST NAME

(yes...it calls for 6 "first names"...
which can be yours, a famous person's,
or whatever you prefer)

HAVE FUN!

between the miles

2006-04-04T20:33:00.000-05:00

"We will be friends until forever,
just you wait and see."
- Pooh Bear

a short story

2006-04-04T20:12:00.000-05:00

....so she's sitting on my couch telling me this story, and i have to share....

her father owns this pond and wanted to stock it full of bass for fishing.

he did just that. only it was still cold weather....nights in the 20s.

yep. frozen fishies. a pond full of them.

now, since the weather is in the 50s and 60s, the pond is thawing enough to let the dead fishies float to the top of the water.

that's easy fishing for sure!

at long last

2006-04-03T21:44:00.000-05:00

its the month of April

flowers are blooming and bluejays are making their morning rounds

we have thunderstorms and rain

breezy, sweater days and a warm sun

green grass is finally sprouting

color and life anew

welcome, o' month of mine

i've missed you

in case it interests you

2006-03-31T19:56:00.000-06:00

reading thru my blog of late makes me think i've lost the nerve to be real. do readers who are complete strangers want to hear about your life? do they want to know hardships and struggles? or is there so much CRAP going on out there, that a reader would rather dive into humor then hearing anymore of it?

maybe reading about other people's problems lessens our own. or we find that the another person's perspective may help us see our life and the daily decisions we make in a more trivialized way instead of the mountains we make them out to be.

(a lesson on perspective taught to me by my friend, Yano)

i've always wanted to write about my life. who hasn't? there are so many out there with lives centered around incredulity...and still they remain sane. being human teaches us to find a way to survive.

my life isn't really anything spectacular to share; its just full of lessons and experiences that have made me....me.

i :

* love to laugh
* am more open-minded
* tread carefully when learning to trust someone new
* am strong when things are terribly bad
* am weak by letting 'little things' get to me
* have only a couple friends with which i open up to completely
* never give up
* am always the first to be there when someone needs me
* tend to give more than take for myself
* believe in strong families and praying together
* contend with being a 'perfectionist'
* have a hard time accepting things out of my control
* will die to protect those i love
* choose life even in my darkest moments
* have learned to be more patient
* can stay calm in a room full of screaming kids
* will not bring up the past
* do not like fake smiles
* cannot judge someone and feel right about it
* do whats expected of me
* no longer take guilt-trips
* have compassion for people
* feel pain when someone is hurting
* forgive easily
* don't forgive myself easily
* am happy
* fester on things
* am truthful about my flaws
* hate admitting when i am wrong
* lose myself in the hullaballoo of routine
* enjoy moments to sit and write
* do not regret
* teach
* hug
* love

whatever it is that you do in your life, whatever hardship you go through, make the days meaningful by showing love and feeling love. to yourself and others.

life is pointless without it.

"Good Excuses"

2006-03-28T09:50:00.000-06:00

here are the answers to Mad Libs #2

Dear Principal,

My congealed son, the Fonz, will be unable to attend your
sorrowful school this week, as he has caught a case of the tarantula pox. The smelly doctor says that it will be 33 weeks before he is healthy and back on his teeth again.

-written by Lisa/Tom/Kathy/Mike/Steph

cool

2006-03-27T09:35:00.000-06:00

Choose a band/artist and answer ONLY in titles of their songs: The Police

1. Are you male or female? Roxanne

2. Describe yourself: De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

3. How do some people feel about you: Every Little Thing She Does is Magic

4. How do you feel about yourself: Synchronicity

5. Describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend: King of Pain

6. Describe your current significant other: Every Breath You Take

7. Describe where you want to be: Walking on the Moon

8. Describe how you live: Wrapped Around Your Finger

9. Describe how you love: Can't Stand Losing You

10. What would you ask for if you had just one wish: Tea in the Sahara

11. Share a few words of wisdom: Message in a Bottle

12. Now say goodbye: Don't Stand So Close to Me

this was fun....thanx Dave2!

Mad Libs # 2

2006-03-24T22:57:00.000-06:00

give me an ADJECTIVE

a PERSON

an ADJECTIVE

an ANIMAL

an ADJECTIVE

a NUMBER

a PART OF THE BODY

i will post the answers as soon as i get them

(Please [paploklkio,llk,l - Kevin messed me up! that's him above!)

again ... please comment with one answer...so everyone can have a try!

ipso facto

2006-03-21T22:50:00.000-06:00

can't get the words outta my head. after watching "About A Boy" again ... one of my favorite Hugh Grant movies since it gives him some depth of character... i can't seem to get those catchy Badly Drawn Boy tunes outta my mind.

wish there were more comedies/drama like this. maybe cause its British actors with British humor that makes it attractive. i've always loved Monty Python and Benny Hill. i think i'm the only one in the family who understands British humor. its very dark and sarcastic. off the deep end at times.

perfect really.

tisn't difficult to get it. makes me wish i was bloody English instead of average American.

maybe since they are all a bit barmy it makes being British alluring.

being crazy in this nation gets you institutionalized. being barmy in Britain gets you a laugh.

if you haven't seen "About A Boy" - watch it. its not just a guy movie as some may think. its really moving. one of my favorites.

just thinking

2006-03-21T18:38:00.000-06:00

does anyone else out there find it funny to watch previews of TV shows where the tough cops are shown walking across the street in a slow-mo fashion? i suppose it makes them look cooler? tough and mean maybe? i was wondering how funny it would be to see them cross the street in normal motion. hehehe

anyway... i laugh when i see that stuff. maybe that's what we need when doing normal things like walking along the sidewalk or checking our mail. maybe if people saw us in slow-mo, we wouldn't be messed with.

_________________________________

also found it hilarious while watching local news tonight. the first 30 minutes was given to the fact that the Iowa State Cyclones has a new head coach. apparently, there wasn't anything else to talk about; except there was snow this morning.

wow. living in Iowa is something.

"Show & Tell"

2006-03-19T19:33:00.000-06:00

here are the Mad Lib answers you've all been waiting for:

My name is Robbie, and this is a nerd cat from my mother's kitchen. She uses it every morning to fix my Nathan's Hot Dog. It's also useful if you are into running or if you want to slice up some car seats.

-written by Michael

stay tuned for Mad Libs # 2 ....

Mad Lib # 1

2006-03-19T19:27:00.000-06:00

give me a PERSON

an ADJECTIVE

a NOUN

a TYPE OF FOOD

a VERB ENDING IN "ING"

a PLURAL NOUN

***** one answer per commenter, please*****

i will post the Mad Lib after all answers are given

let's have some silly fun!

news isn't news

2006-03-16T19:07:00.000-06:00

***note: click on colored words for a link to the story***

at 15, i wasn't doing this
i only know Pi at 3.14 - not bad, huh?

VS.

not having electricity in poor towns
help with that problem first, don't ya think? i'm sure laptops are furthest from necessity.

a new JR Ewing
can Hollywood pick anything more ridiculous then the old Dallas show to make a movie out of? wow. unreal. John Travolta as JR? J-lo as Sue Ellen? we definitely need some new screenplays out there!

Indiana Jones 4
hopefully out this year! who isn't ready to see Mr. Ford with his whip on a new adventure?

my brain is mush

2006-03-16T07:13:00.000-06:00

When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was behind you? a towel rack with no towel
How much cash did you spend yesterday? none
What's a word that rhymes with mist? cyst
Favorite planet, which you would live on, if you could? The [Q] Continuum
Who is the LAST person you kissed? my daughter goodbye as she went to school
What is your favorite ring on your phone? its called "Happy Cricket"
What is the last band shirt you wore? my own, "The Peach Blossoms"
What do you think of yourself? i'm able to leap tall buildings in a single bound and laugh at myself
Name the brand of your shoes you're currently wearing? nike
Night light or pitch black? night light
What do you think about the (previous) person who took this? he has an interesting way of living in this world
What were you doing at midnight last night? trying to sleep
What did your last text message say that you received? "my pleasure" with a smiley face
Where is the nearest Valero? somewhere south of Des Moines i think
What's something that you say a lot? "jeez!"
Who told you they loved you last? michael
Last furry thing you touched? the cat
How Many Drugs Have You Done In The Past three Days? lotsa them...to get over that flu bug; otherwise, i never touch drugs
Favorite age you have been so far? 23, 27, 30
Your worst enemy? myself
What is your current desktop picture? our 2006 family picture (with fake teeth and crossed eyes)
What was the last thing you said to someone? "i love you"
How do you like your eggs? over easy
Do you like someone? yes...lotsa someones
The last song you listened to? "secret sun" from the Dear Frankie movie. awesome song!

****stolen from Dave2****

quote for the day

2006-03-15T21:39:00.000-06:00

"what lies before us and what lies beyond us are tiny compared to what lies within us"
-Thoreau

small town mania

2006-03-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

after living here in Smalltown USA, IOWA, you'd think i'd be used to the uneventful nights. it is a rare moment you hear a police siren, an ambulance, or a fire engine. you NEVER hear a police helicopter flying around the neighborhoods at night looking for fleeing criminals. the only loud explosions come from cars' exhaust pipes....never gun shots.

here in Smalltown USA, IOWA, you can leave your keys in the car, engine running, to run into the Post Office or convenience store. people think those of us who lock their doors during the day while at home are strange. windows are left open and unlocked. doors wide open for any neighbor to just waltz in...

life is simple here.

BUT THEN.....

when you read the police and sheriff's log for the town, we hear about the horrible things happening right under our noses. hidden crimes. shocking crimes. little did we know...

(typed verbatim from the newspaper):

POLICE LOG
Feb. 28th

8:09 am - A man requested assistance with a sick raccoon

10:51 am - OnStar reported an emergency button was activated on a vehicle in the area. Upon checking, the car was being worked on; no emergency

11:22 am - A man reported losing his keys

4:21 pm - A man reported malfunctioning railroad crossing equipment

8:06 pm - Received a request for ambulance assistance with a transfer for the next day

March 1st

6:00 am - Received a reminder call about previously requested ambulance transfer

6:24 am - Received a report from the elementary school of a computer monitor in the grass

8:04 am - Received an RUOK alarm. Upon checking, everything was OK

12:18 pm - Received a report of dogs running loose

4:20 pm - Received a report of a sick raccoon

4:49 pm - A controlled burn was reported

5:42 pm - A woman reported a smoky haze near the Superwash

6:35 pm - A man reported losing his checkbook

March 2nd

6:05 am - An employee from Dollar General reported their truck would be temporarily blocking the street

7:19 am - A man reported a theft from a vehicle

10:06 am - A woman from a school reported getting SPAM e-mail that was inappropriate

8:34 pm - A woman requested to speak to an officer about her daughter

9:23 pm - Received a report of an accident on Washington Street

9:35 pm - Received a report of someone throwing tobacco juice on a vehicle

The Sheriff's log isn't any different. From a woman reporting that "a dog was growling at people who were attempting to pump gas at a station" to a report of an "erratic driver" and a woman reporting "finding several gas cans in a ditch", this town is definitely from another Universe.

if this is crime, i'd hate to see how the locals would survive in a true Metropolis....

as warm as chicken noodle soup

2006-03-14T22:39:00.000-06:00

it's a wonderful feeling knowing that people love you when you are terribly ill and feeling yucky!

i've been blessed with lovely friends and a loving family.

from ecards to an actual card in the mail ... and a surprise of "Get Well" balloons tied up with a basket of soup, crackers, and tea ...

... you've all made me very happy.

putting a smile on my horribly wretched pale face

(actually this little guy looks better than me....so cute!)

here's to Good Health!

(please come back soon wherever you are)

influenza

2006-03-12T14:02:00.000-06:00

who knows what strain it is. since there are so many out there affecting different people and different parts of your body, you never know which strain made a home in your blood stream...making your immune system go haywire.

all i know is the one i have isn't too severe considering all the horror stories i've heard lately of friends vomiting their whole insides out and heads caving in.

this one started with a severe headache and terribly sore/dry throat. it escalated to a fever and body aches. then drainage and a phlegmy cough; the kind of cough that rips your chest apart with pain each time.

i went thru two anti-viral Kleenex boxes this morning alone.

my head feels like its underwater and my chest like a stage for a RiverDance performance. i never knew my body could drain so much fluid thru my nose. pretty sick.

soup is my only meal and it tastes so wonderful. i really believe soup was created for the sole purpose of healing. a warmth to the bones.

with the rain and 30 degrees outside today, there's no better time being under blankets sipping hot tea, drinking lotsa water, and munching on Vitamin C's.

we really don't appreciate our simple, daily lives until we're stuck in bed sick. what i wouldn't give for a bowl of pasta and some wine right now.

soon i will reward myself....after my body heals and my nose stops running.

flashback

2006-03-08T20:07:00.000-06:00

i couldn't help but turn the radio up loud

while driving in the rain at night

to listen to Prince

lyrics written before he was

The Artist, that symbol thing, and Prince again

a musical genius

"When Doves Cry"

farce

2006-03-06T14:13:00.000-06:00

our Des Moines IMAX theatre is presenting a new movie about BUGS! cool!

"A Rainforest Adventure: Bugs"

Take an insects eye view and discover a marvelous miniature world in Bugs! Filmed from a bug's perspective, this film tells the story of a praying mantis and a butterfly and captures the big excitement of being a little bug.

the strange thing about their commercial is at the end, a line reads "sponsored by Terminix"

i laughed out loud.

does anyone else find it funny that the company known for killing BUGS is sponsoring an educational movie about how neat BUGS are?

it would be like watching Roots sponsored by the KKK

or Bambi sponsored by the National Rifle Association

come on people...

...this is ridiculous!

our precious

2006-03-04T21:10:00.000-06:00

Mimi the Cat
(in her Spring best)

from Michael:

Lion-like kitten
Without the ferocious roar
I still love her purrs

from Lily:

she's cute
espeshully in this picther
and every day in the morning
she snuggles with me and
gives me morning hugs

from Me:

the ideal of calm exists in a sitting cat

bye

2006-03-01T08:46:00.000-06:00

i will be offline for awhile

no new posts

will be back soon

is it me?

2006-02-25T22:26:00.000-06:00

**** i don't mean to take Blogography's ideas, but this website he posted is fun! i had to share my findings and wish to hear about yours! ****

have you always wondered if you resemble someone famous?

wonder no more!

here are the results of my lovely "famous" face:

totally awesome! i'm more flattered by the Ava and Vivien likenesses! where Heath comes into play, i have no idea. its also cool to be likened to the Matrix actress and Cameron Diaz!

if you wanna play, click on this cool site...MyHeritage

you have to upload a picture of yourself to have it work for you. click on the celebrity link and see what the computer comes up with!

horribly sucky

2006-02-24T22:57:00.000-06:00

Sucky Movie Friday was one of the worst tonite. which is good, really, since that is the whole purpose.

CRG picked this one. she's good at it! (Roberto joined us for this one too!)

the plot centers around a man from Italy who tries to kill himself and fails miserably until he is needed to save his Italian/American family (Bazzini) in New Jersey from losing their fireworks corporation to a mean Italian/American family rival (Zito) after a Bazzini son dies while making love in a shed of fireworks. sparks from his passion ignite and there is an explosion...killing him and his lover! those first 5 minutes were the best. after that, it went downhill fast.

we gave it a 9
(10 = suckiest 1= not sucky at all)

Mr. Depp

2006-02-22T19:43:00.000-06:00

when i first fell for him, i was watching this movie with Michael and some friends in California. believe it or not, i started dating Michael cause he looked a bit like Depp in the movie...and certainly acted like him!

i realize i haven't seen all his movies...he's made tons of them...especially independent films and Cannes Festival type.

i loved how saddened yet alive Depp's character was in Edward Scissorhands and can see that he created a bond with Tim Burton since then. who didn't fall in love with Edward?

i think his character in Chocolat was my favorite. he was absolutely gorgeous...and played guitar!
hubba hubba!

Pirates of the Caribbean's Jack Sparrow made him adorable....yet funky. his "drunken" speech was fun to watch. playful; comical.

Finding Neverland is the ultimate best so far. i love it. it brings me to tears every time.

love

2006-02-21T22:56:00.000-06:00

i read Blogography's 10 favorite lovesongs....and had to do a meme of my own

since my love has morphed over the years, the woman i am now ... and the favorite lovesongs which created me ... are forever. even if revealing them makes me a nerd; here they are:

Wildfire - Michael Martin Murphy

the song that captured me while i was in 3rd grade. i loved horses and would cry and cry when i heard it. my mother bought me the 45 record, and i took it to school. we all gathered round while my teacher played it for me (a kind of show & tell thing). after class, little blonde curls, James Killen, kissed me. life couldn't have gotten better.

Meant To Be - Squirrel Nut Zippers

when i hear it, its our wedding anniversary. this year will be our 11th, and each time we celebrate, we dance to this song. in the kitchen. sometimes the living room. at the bed & breakfasts he takes me to. finding Michael was meant to be.

"All the time I'm finding ways to make things fall in line. I know how tricky things can be. But I really do believe that you are mine and all the stars are there before us. Listen here some things are meant to be."

Grow Old With You - Adam Sandler

i know its a bit campy, but Adam couldn't have come up with better words to describe loving someone. its short and sweet. comical and true. its what we love in a man. strength and compassion. i adored Adam's character in Spanglish....a man easy to love.

To Make You Feel My Love - Garth Brooks

let's first get this straight. i don't like Garth Brooks; he irritates me. this song has been sung by many a performer, but scenes in a movie make the words powerful to me. Sandra Bullock walking in the rain (Hope Floats) after being rejected by her daughter. she ends up going to see her father who has alzheimer's and doesn't remember her. its hurtful being considered less than nothing by a daughter .... and lost in a web of wanting love again. the words are what we wish for in love.

When I Fall In Love - Julio Iglesias

i first heard this song when my cousin got married in 1986. i know its been recorded by many, but this version by Julio is the one she played at her wedding. i use it also when we have anniversary parties. its a beautiful song...and promises love is forever. hearing it in Julio's voice gives me a piece of who we are....proud, lovely latinas! (congratulations, Lisa, on 20 years of marriage this year!)

Hopelessly Devoted To You - Olivia Newton John

the only reason i name this song as one of my favorites is because it always brings a smile to my face. this is the ONLY song (sung by a female) i have ever had a boyfriend lip sync to me. seeing him being dramatic with Olivia's voice - saying he loved me - has always been a great memory. comical genius.

The Very Thought Of You - Nat King Cole

actually all that Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday have to offer as lovesongs are beautiful. timeless and forever endearing. you will never go wrong with a song from this era. they really knew how to write about love and sing it as though the ancients were breathing again.

In My Life - The Beatles

it is hard to pick my favorite lovesong from the Fab Four, but when i hear In My Life, i stop what i'm doing. i soak up all the words and float on its thought. i read once that Lennon wrote it while looking back fondly on places, people and times now gone before assuring his love that he is of course happiest in the present, by her side. beautiful.

No One Said It Would Be Easy - Sheryl Crowe

love this song. it is what love and a relationship is. hard. her words make it plain. she can't cook. he can't fold his laundry. but they still love each other. that's reality.

"You can't seem to ever fold up a shirt. I bring it up and you think I'm a jerk. But I think we're here to stay. I can't imagine it any other way."

Watch The Wind Blow By - Tim McGraw

love, love, love this song. it makes me feel good. thinking about laying back in the grass with the one you love ... doing nothing but watching the wind blow by. nothing else in life is important. sometimes we just have to go back to being human ... feeling every moment ... while grass tickles your bare feet and clouds float above you in a clear, blue sky.

"All I wanna do is let it be and be with you and watch the wind blow by. And all I wanna see is you and me go on forever like the clear blue sky. Slowly, there's only you and I. And all I want to do is watch the wind blow by."

**** this was fun, yet hard to pick. with so many awesome lovesongs out there, your list can never go wrong. look forward to hearing about your favorites!

epitome

2006-02-21T10:09:00.000-06:00

a poet looks at the world

as a man does a woman

bored

2006-02-19T23:03:00.000-06:00

have u ever been on the phone for hours listening to what the other person is watching on tv? or being online together...hearing the other breathing?

"what's a yal - eee?"
"how's it spelled?"
"i don't know"

that's our conversations.

cool huh?

"oh my gosh! the snake bit the owner!"
"what are you watching?"
"hold on! oh my gosh! its a show called Max X"
"sounds freaky"
"it is kinda freaky...(to her brother 'why is he hitting it with a stick?') "

*silence*

"i'm writing another post"
"are you okay? are you feeling alright? how many posts have you made today?"
"like 8"

*giggle-snort*

"are you gonna go to bed?"
"probably not. i think i'm gonna stay up. how bout you?"
"i guess i'll finish this post"
"haha! you guess?"

*sigh*

"anything else to say?"
"its called Maximum Exposure...but they nickname it Max X"

great. now i can sleep.

mmmmm mmmmmm

2006-02-19T22:02:00.000-06:00

Your Icecream Flavour is...Neopolitan!

You aren't satisfied with just one flavor. They say variety is the spice of life and this shines through in your Ice cream of choice! Just don't eat all the chocolate and leave the strawberry and vanilla behind!

What is your Icecream Flavour?

its true

2006-02-19T21:49:00.000-06:00

A	Amorous
P	Pretty
R	Realistic
Y	Yum
L	Loving

D	Delicious
A	Accurate
W	Wonderful
W	Whimsical
N	Neglected

staring at your photograph

2006-02-19T20:56:00.000-06:00

the ultimate 80's Spring Break tunes!

i found an old tape at a yard sale for $1.00, and although the price was a bit high for a stinkin tape in a CD world, for The Outfield i'd pay anything!

this was my cruisin-the-streets-along-the-beach music. we'd crank it up and sing loud.

my best friend/boyfriend will always be in those Outfield memories when i was 15.

"i don't wanna lose your love tonight..."

Play Deep -The Outfield - 1985

killing a teacher

2006-02-18T19:03:00.000-06:00

how many times do you hear the phrase:

"what's an adverb again?"

i've heard it a thousand times over

each time i simplify it with the answer "a word that ends in ly"

at what point do you think they will remember what an adverb is?

these Mad Libs are maddening me!

fun with pigs

2006-02-18T18:32:00.000-06:00

silly song

2006-02-18T15:50:00.000-06:00

"good morning starshine, the earth says hello"

Gliddy glub gloopy; Nibby nabby noopy
La la la lo lo...
Sabba sibby sabba; Nooby abba nabba
Le le lo lo...
Tooby ooby walla; Nooby abba nabba
Early morning singin' song

-Oliver

u know who u are

2006-02-16T00:25:00.000-06:00

lost

don't know truth from lies anymore

doubt has crept in

being played is a hard game

if it doesn't stop...

somebody is gonna get hurt

for CRG

2006-02-12T21:21:00.000-06:00

i gave her the choice of my writing about Narnia or how i do laundry.

she chose laundry.

so here goes....

i just throw everything in. i use All-Free Liquid and rarely separate colors from whites.

or delicates from jeans.

everything gets washed in cold and rinsed in cold. when its warm out, the clothes dry on the line. heavy clothes really....like the towels, blankets, jeans. i never put undies out on the line. who wants to see old people undies anyway?

all shirts are hung up right after the dryer...to keep from wrinkling. all line-dried clothes are put in dryer for 10 minutes to soften with a Bounce fabric sheet. i mean, have you ever tried to used a line-dried towel? it'll rub your skin off, its so hard!

i remember being a kid living in Rio Grande area (south Texas) and my grandmother line-drying EVERYTHING! it was stiff jeans for school and rock-hard towels to bathe with.

that was the life.

when will it end?

2006-02-11T22:59:00.000-06:00

all night long

all day long

every other week

it never stops

its deafening

its annoying

at 2am, its loud

yes ...

i'll make this short

2006-02-11T22:25:00.000-06:00

Sucky Movie Friday this week....was pretty bad.

CRG and I gave "Finding Home".... a 7.

We were interested in the idea of something in her past which she couldn't confront cause it scared her...but with the bad acting and the fact that all the actors' lips weren't dubbed right with the sound, it was hard to take the film seriously. All the "emotional" parts were like watching people read cue cards. Main character, played by Lisa Brenner, (who the heck is she anyway?) went back in forth from past to the present with every step through her grandmother's house. After the first 15 minutes back "home" and her brain flipping backward and forward, it got corny. Black and white...then color. Black and white...then color.

AUUGGHHHHH!

We had a good laugh though.

empty nights

2006-02-08T22:14:00.000-06:00

GAME OVER

now that and then there were none is solved and the murderer found....there isn't much to live for these long cold evenings.

we were right all along (my team of sleuths). we figured it out.

it was cool.

okay...yes. i admit...i was addicted. it was such an awesome game!

CRG and Lily were addicted too. so much so that i couldn't play it unless they were at my side helping with the clues. i was sworn not to touch it unless they were with me. just once did i touch it without CRG, and i had her wrath for hours.

WITH:

underground tunnels to explore

safes to unlock

combining clues to create pieces needed to search for more clues

secret writing behind the
movie projector screen

explosive bonfires

fake deaths

fake identities

doubt & suspicion

(i was even poisoned and had to find the anticdote before i died)

it was truly a fun game. it was hard to put it down. as the levels got closer to the end and the revealing of the murderer, the...

...intensity was there. we had to save the game many times, to re-think and re-organize what we already knew. we held our breath as lights went out and screams were heard! another person... gone!

leaving us...with a few people on the island.

is it the one barricading his/herself in his/her room? or the one starting a bonfire on the cliff? or the one who faked his/her death?

play the game. be intrigued.

who doesn't love a good mystery?

Agatha Christie is a good mystery

friday movie ended on saturday

2006-02-06T14:09:00.000-06:00

CRG and I scored our "Sucky Movie Friday" entry at 6 this week. The movie "Melinda and Melinda" started out pretty sucky...but by the middle of the movie, we were hooked.

The story line centers on two ways of telling the same story. One way tragic. The other way comedic. With the same set of characters on each side and different actors setting the stage, it became a tango between the two worlds. The only central figure in it all was Melinda. She had the same situation of problems in both worlds, except her perspective on the problems made the difference.

CRG and I found ourselves laughing at Will Ferrell's performance more than anything. The acting was perfectly sucky...but we loved the idea the movie was based on. It wasn't as bad as our first sucky movie....the one that started it all..."Before Sunset".

Now with three movies under our belt, we decided on a critic's numbering system!

10 means completely sucky. the worst movie ever.
1 means it was too good. nothing sucky about it.

Before Sunset = 10
Dear Frankie = 2
Melinda and Melinda = 6

(stay tuned here at Searching for Serenity or Dazed and Confused but not Drugged for updates!)

a fan

2006-02-06T13:09:00.000-06:00

Lisa, my cousin, had tickets to see Keith Urban in San Antonio at the 2006 Stockshow and Rodeo. Living in San Antonio makes it possible to dress in jeans and boots and get dusty with livestock within hours; while living here in Iowa makes that possibility a miracle.

Knowing i love Keith, she attempted to find me a weekend flight home to see him. My call after her thorough searching went something like this:

"so, Leez, what did you find?" i ask

"well, i just want you to know that i don't love you THAT much," she responds

"not good then, huh?"

"the cheapest flight out friday and returning sunday is $750.00!" she exclaims

"oh. okay. yeah. i don't blame you!"

geez! where do airlines come up with such OUTRAGEOUS prices??!!! what if it was an emergency? although i have to say...seeing Keith was a sort of emergency for me.

alas, i missed the concert. a concert to see the Entertainer of the Year at $15.00/ticket.

life is horribly mean.

so...Saturday rolls around...and i try to busy myself with ordinary things to keep my mind off the fact i'm not there drooling over Mr. Urban with Lisa.

my cell phone rings.

"April!" i hear Lisa screaming from Texas

"hey Leez," i say...feeling less exuberant

"we're at the concert! the people are crazy. we're waiting for Keith to come on stage!" she yells into the phone with an extreme amount of background noise...audibly womens' screams.

she talks about how her husband is sitting there bored, not screaming, and she had to call me to get a partner who will be involved in the Urban thrill. although, if Tommy did start screaming hysterically for Keith, i'd begin to worry.

"there's a truck driving out onto the stage..." she starts to say

"can you see him? is it Keith?" i ask excited

i can hear the noise of the crowd go up a decibel....while Lisa tells me Keith is getting out of the Chevy truck and waving!

i start screaming in the cell phone as Lisa is screaming....

....and i hear the music for "Days Go By" begin.

Lisa lets me hear the first part of the song, and as i sing along, i imagine the crowd and Keith and feel like i'm there.

it was awesome!

my after-the-concert update was hearing what he wore, the songs he sang, and Lisa telling me they forgot their camera! hello??!!! how can you forget a camera? insanity!!!

i have to say....that was one of the nicest things to do for me, Leez.
you made my afternoon perfect!

i love Keith Urban. one day, i shall see him in person.

torn jeans. old tshirt. guitar.

gorgeous!

(and i usually don't like blondes)

and then there were none

2006-02-01T17:48:00.000-06:00

the guests arrive

Agatha Christie's acclaimed mystery novel is now a perfect little package...CD ROM! I can roam my little detective thru guests' rooms, picking up clues and asking questions.

Michael knows I'm not a game addict, so he gets me a game he knows I'll LOVE!

A mystery is always the key to my heart.

The graphics are pretty cool too!

dinner discussion

My detective listens in to find clues for solving each guests' murder.

in the library

He searches the house for physical clues to keep in his bag for evidence.

bathroom graphics

Loving the detail in the bathrooms. Each bedroom has its own bathroom and its own bit o' clues.

he is a detective/theif

My detective can pick up any item. He walks. Runs (when i double click). Climbs. Looks good!

Overall...its totally cool! I'm not addicted yet. Michael wants me to be...so I'll quit getting after him when he's playing in the basement!

HA! Like that'll ever happen!

in case u need to know more

2006-02-01T08:12:00.000-06:00

X means "me"

*this meme borrowed from Dweeb*

[ ] I've run away from home
[ ] I listen to political music
[ ] I collect comic books.
[ ] I shut others out when I'm sad
[ ] I open up to others easily
[ ] I am keeping a secret from the world
[ ] I watch the news
[ ] I own over 5 rap Cds

(wow...i'm not even the first 8...is that good?)

[ ] I own something from Hot Topic
[X] I love Disney movies
[X] I am a sucker for hair/eyes
[ ] I don't kill bugs
[ ] I curse regularly
[ ] I have "x"s in my screen name.
[X] I've slipped out a "lol" in a real conversation
[ ] I love Spam
[ ] I bake well
[X] I have a job
[ ] I love Martha Stewart.
[X] I am in love/like with someone.
[ ] I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS
[X] I am self conscious.
[X] I like to laugh.
[ ] I smoke a pack a day.
[X] I loved Pee Wee Herman .
[ ] I have cough drops when I'm not sick.
[ ] I can't swallow pills.
[ ] I have many scars
[X] I've been out of this country
[X] I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room
[X] I am really ticklish
[X] I love chocolate!!
[X] I bite my nails
[X] I am comfortable with being me.
[ ] I play computer games/video games when I'm bored
[X] Gotten lost in the city
[ ] Saw a shooting star.
[X] I had Surgery.
[X] Gone out in public in your pajamas
[X] I have kissed a stranger.
[X] Hugged a stranger.
[X] Been in a fist fight with the same sex.
[X] Laughed and had milk/soda come out of your nose
[X] Pushed all the buttons on an elevator
[ ] Made out in an elevator
[ ] Swore at your parents.
[ ] Kicked a guy where it hurts.
[ ] Been skydiving.
[ ] Been bungee jumping.
[X] Broken a bone. (just my toe)
[X] Played spin the bottle.
[ ] Gotten stitches
[ ] Drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
[X] Bitten someone.
[ ] Been to Niagara Falls.
[X] Gotten the chicken pox.
[X] Crashed into a car
[ ] Been to Japan
[X] Ridden in a taxi.
[ ] Shoplifted.
[ ] Been fired.
[X] Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.
[ ] Stole something from your job.
[ ] Gone on a blind date.
[ ] Had a crush on a teacher/coach.
[ ] Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
[ ] Been to Europe.
[X] Saw someone/something dying.
[X] Driven over 400 miles in one day.
[ ] Been to Canada.
[X] Been on a plane.
[ ] Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
[ ] Thrown up in a bar.
[X] Eaten Sushi.
[ ] Been snowboarding.
[ ] Been skiing.
[X] Been ice skating.
[X] Met someone in person from the internet
[ ] Been to a motocross show.
[X] Going to or have gone to college.
[ ] Done drugs.
[X] Hated yourself.
[X] Loved yourself.
[X] Taken painkillers.
[X] Hugged a tree.

it sure is interesting to see i'm not very interesting.

my Nobel-prize-type writing

2006-01-31T22:11:00.001-06:00

some snow fell again
a small amount of flakes

nothing to really cheer about
just enough to accumulate

the days are too warm
the cold in the 40's

time to pack away the sweaters
and wear some short-shorties

i drink some red wine tonight
and happy to find...

....we are not in a tornado's way

come springtime!

(YIKES)
(okay...maybe we are...barely)

*(lame post i know...but freedom of speech also includes lameness)*

my friend

2006-01-28T22:21:00.000-06:00

"I believe we take turns
being each others Cypress Trees,
breaking those hard blows with our strong friendship,
when we feel empty."

i miss you, Claudia

remembering in the rain

2006-01-28T20:59:00.000-06:00

overcast and grey. 40 degrees with fog and rain.

"today is a california coast day, mom," says Lily

she's right. my favorite type of day.

you can take excellent pictures on an overcast day... no sun to mess with.

you can follow the drops of rain racing along the window as you ride in the car.

which raindrop will win? i pick the top racer, you pick the bottom one; and almost always, the bottom wins!

at night, the rain and fog seem to glow in the headlights; making visibility dim. light reflecting off water ... in the air. its very cool to see; but dangerous to drive in.

the radio belts out a good 'ol 80s tune, and i sing along out loud. michael churns. yes, its a corny tune, but very difficult to hear and not sing.

bonnie tyler's, total eclipse of the heart
"turn around, every now and then i get a little bit lonely and you're never comin round"

its a fun song. who can keep themselves from singing along when hearing that first verse? come on, people! the first two words, "turn around" get you to start singing, don't they?

... then, as if things couldn't get any coooler, the radio played some andy gibb!

"i just wanna be your everything..."

that brought back some good skating rink memories. would've loved to hear "shadow dancing".
i was 18 when andy died at age 30. i hadn't graduated from high school yet; a fews months shy of crossing the stage for my diploma.

i love rainy, puddle-splashing days. i even named my daughter after the rain.

i love the cleansing feeling of rain. it washes away the boredom and tears of routine.

its refreshing drops of love.

(except when it floods!)

pajamas aren't just for sleeping

2006-01-26T08:39:00.000-06:00

Today is the 100th day of school and Pajama Day!

Lily was excited getting ready this morning...since she didn't have to!

With camera in hand, she ventured out in her Princess pajamas and purple slippers. Since we are still in 30 degree weather, she wore her coat, gloves, and hat too.

It really looked like fun! She met up outside the school with some friends dressed in sleepwear and hugging pillows. Made me think again how adults just don't know how to be silly anymore.

*sigh*

I propose that the 100th time for anything should be celebrated by wearing pajamas...all day!

Writing my 100th post, i should've worn pajamas all day.

The 100th time we fill up at the local gas station, we should wear pajamas all day.

Our 100th WalMart visit, let's wear pajamas all day.

When we get the 100th solicitor's phone call, wearing pajamas all day will be fun.
("yeah, you're the 100th person who wants me to buy something! i get to wear pajamas all day!")

The 100th time you've had to park so far from the front of a store, make sure you have a pair of pajamas handy!

Let's have some fun once in awhile. We should reward ourselves for effort well done; like the kids who get to wear their pajamas to school on this 100th day of homework and bullies.

Disclaimer: those who never dress in the mornings & wear pajamas
all day everyday are excluded from 100th pajama day fun.

from Iowan to Minnetonkite

2006-01-23T22:05:00.000-06:00

Minnetonka, Minnesota

Michael wants to move us to Minnetonka where he can get a job that pays $65,000 a year. I Googled it since we have friends in the Apple Valley area of Minnesota. We would be about 20 minutes from them...right outside of Minneapolis. With a population of 51,000+ it would be a bit bigger than the, lets say generously 5,000+, here in small-town Iowa. Moving here, almost 3 years ago, from a Texas city as big as a million+, Minnetonka would still be small to us. US!

"Minnetonka" comes from Dakotah Indian, meaning "water-great"; and Lake Minnetonka looks great to me...

...so does Minnehaha Falls!* ("mi-ni" means water)

*When Longfellow wrote his 1855 poem, "Song of Hiawatha", he was referring to Minnehaha Falls

Minnetonka is also famous for its moccasin footwear. Before today, I've never heard of it. Wonder if JcPenney's carries the line?

The Minnetonka hats are cool, yet look a bit o' Australian to me (the last hat Canadian maybe).

So who knows where we will be going next. For some reason, Michael keeps climbing north. Are we trying to get away from something? It definitely ISN'T the cold, that's for sure.

Maybe soon we WILL be in Canada-eh? (Then I will have to get the bomber Minnetonka hat)

Hey, North Pole! Here we come!

maybe tomorrow

2006-01-20T12:25:00.000-06:00

The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon,
but that we wait so long to begin it.

in case you didn't know

2006-01-17T20:57:00.000-06:00

i like to send cards.

its an old-fashioned sentiment, i know. yet, i have tins full of cards. remember those old 3-fold kind? the stationery where you write on a whole page then fold it in front and back and turn it over to put a stamp right on it? no envelope of course. yeah, i even have some of those. i think i was 12 when i got them; they have prints of butterflies and flowers. i'm such a nerd, i know.

the handwritten note means more to me. its effort and time. sending an actual card means you had to go to a store and pick out the perfect one, pay for it with money from your pocket, take time to write it, buy a stamp, and send it in the mail.

the sentiments written in a card seem more truthful than any sentiment without. it is a way to express what you cannot find the words to say. or a silly note to remind someone to smile and they are being thought of. a cheering up note when they're sick. a note of thanx when they're generous. a card to celebrate a momentous event. a card to share sorrow when they lose a loved one.

don't get me wrong, i'm not a Hallmark addict. i will create and write my own at times. i think, most of all, i send cards because i love receiving them. a card in the mail is a treasure i search for beneath the myriads of bills from the week. i get one from the pile, smiling with delight, as if i have found the last Golden Ticket.

i don't dress fashionably.

its not to say i don't like dressing up. i do. i just don't have the need to keep up with the yearly fashions; the do's and don'ts if you will. i do know what's "out"... and know what not to wear in public.

when in my 20's, i created my own fashion based on a lot of bohemian interests. sandals and broom skirts; beads and ankle bracelets; long kinked hair parted in the middle; big earrings and no makeup. youthful and simple was what i was called. a natural beauty.

now, i'm a mother in my mid-30's. i've contemporized and tried to "act my age" thru clothing. the thing i need to remember is not to conform to how people expect me to look. i dress how i feel. it doesn't always look right, but it feels good. my big funky shoes (which my father hates); my old jeans; a tshirt with a long-sleeved thermal underneath; my hair down (or in a ponytail); no makeup; big earrings. okay, so some of my twenty-something days are still with me.

some of my ways needed help though. i had stopped carrying a purse for years and carried a honkin big wallet around instead. i got some help last year (thru a drunken woman's comments & a friend's desire to help me not look quite so old fartish), and the accessory fits. its black and its me.

i also needed a pair of sunglasses while visiting Texas this past December. i opted for a conservative pair with brown metal frames, small lightly tinted lenses, and the like. i gave the model, pouty-lipped look into the mirror to see my reflection.

my best friend was supportive, but she put a plastic frame of white on my face instead. shaped in a slight cat-eye with a light blue tint to the lens, the sunglasses she picked made me feel fun and silly. i gave the crazy smile look into the mirror to see my reflection.

after a good laugh, i put them down, and picked up the brown pair. my friend frowned but said she'd buy me the brown frames as a gift. i realized then how much i had changed. the little, silly things i let go of. the small happinesses i used to have. she taught me to love that side again. i bought the white pair to remind me. she bought the brown pair to let me blend in. to let me be "assimilated" (my favorite Borg word) when i'm not brave enough to stand out.

i dress to feel comfortable. i dress to feel beautiful. i dress to be silly too. i love black clothes.

so sue me.

uncontrollable laughter

2006-01-16T11:41:00.000-06:00

"It is a curious thought, that it is only when
you see people looking ridiculous,
you realize just how much you love them"

-Agatha Christie

again & again & again

2006-01-12T16:44:00.000-06:00

if those i loved were lost
i'd cry
the breeze would sigh
a butterfly
upon its wings would try
to bring me life
instead of die

forgiveness & healing

2006-01-10T21:50:00.000-06:00

the heart grows weary
overflowing with tears
an unshakable weakness
full of fears

we try to make a change
for the better
for the good
to fill our hearts with positive
because we know we should

it takes some guts to do it
we pray we can go thru it
the strength we need
to succeed
is there if we choose it

time will heal
and reveal
a true heart

you'll be okay

2006-01-09T17:10:00.000-06:00

when put in perspective....

...at least these weren't you

these are days to remember

2006-01-09T12:17:00.000-06:00

beauty
love
fun
smiling
friends
laughter
tears
joy
bliss
togetherness
natural
reality
truth
patience
forgiveness
forever
memories
comfy
hugs

that is what makes...family

it should never be taken for granted
and always treasured

living
feel every moment of it

(Congratulations on 6 years!)

carrot cake of love

2006-01-04T22:47:00.000-06:00

Happy 37th !!!

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

We Love You!

almost 16

2006-01-03T13:14:00.000-06:00

a beautiful day on the river
soaking up the sun
"climb up on that rock," i say,
"that big white one"

she sits and smiles
a pose of glee
the moment is caught
as she thinks
"wouldn't you like to be me?"

yada yada yada blah blah blah

2006-01-01T21:26:00.000-06:00

1) Was 2005 a good year for you?
sure. celebrated 10 years of marriage and moved into a cool house. visited friends/family in Texas. had my cousin move in and add some flava to the house. sure...it was good.

2) What was your favorite moment of the year?
my brother & family, Lisa/Tommy, and grandparents visiting us

3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
saying goodbye to San Antonio

4) Where were you when 2005 began?
eating chinese food and watching the apple drop. not the NY one...the one from the table.

5) Who were you with?
family

6) Where will you be when 2005 ends?
in bed with Michael

7) Who will you be with when 2005 ends?
my husband snoring; my daughter next door sleeping; my cousin upstairs dreaming

8) Did u fall in love in 2005?
still in love with the same handsome man

9) Do you regret it?
ye...i mean no

10) Did you breakup with anyone in 2005?
lost a friendship...

11) Did you make any new friends in 2005?
two

12) Who are your favorite new friends?
Jane

13) What was your favorite month of 2005?
September.....our 10 year anniversary party with friends/family

14) Did you travel outside of the US in 2005?
no

15) How many different states did you travel to in 2005?
Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas

16) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2005?
a friend left me

17) Did you miss anybody in the past year?
Claudia. i got to see her before the year was over...

18) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2005?
Memoirs of a Geisha

19) What was your favorite song from 2005?
"Cool" - Gwen Stefani

20) What was your favorite record from 2005?
Coldplay's "X&Y"

21) How many concerts did you see in 2005?
i got to see Joe Nichols with my mother and daughter! fun time!

22) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2005?
some wine...some Baileys...some shots...some margaritas

23) Did you do a lot of drugs in 2005?
liquid Advil...yummy!

24) Do you regret anything you've done this year?
no regrets....life is good

25) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
not being the mother i wanna be

26) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2005?
she gave me a fake hug and a pretend smile

27) Did you treat somebody badly in 2005?
yes

28) Did anyone treat you badly in 2005?
yes

29) How much money did you spend in 2005?
all of it

30) What was your proudest moment of 2005?
my daughter excelling despite a move away from the familiar and friends

31) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2005?
calling a gyro, " jai-ro "

32) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2005 and change something, what would it be? have our anniversary party in Texas

33) What are your plans for 2006?
happiness, laughter, more time for service, more moments of free falling fun with Lily, love unconditionally

a healing to the bones

2005-12-31T21:03:00.000-06:00

choked up and tearful, i call my friend...wanting to let it all go on a kind shoulder. she answers her cell phone with "hello....San Antonio Police? yes. my son wants to talk to you."

huh?

"this is the San Antonio police, right?" she asks again

"uh sure. i guess," i tell her

"here's my son, Officer," she repeats

i hurry and conjure up an officer's voice when i hear her 10 yr old son take the phone.

"yes, uh, this is Officer Jensen with the San Antonio Police force. we understand that you've been disrespecting your mother, and that's a capital offense here in the State of Texas," i say with a fake deep voice

"ummmm," her son replies. "sir, i don't understand."

"it seems your mother has been calling in with complaints on how disrespectful you are, son, and we're gonna need some fingerprints and mug shots. you're gonna need to come down to the station," i muster - trying not to laugh.

"is this Aunt Martha?" he asks hysterically

"hahahahahaha," i can't stop giggling; at which he recognizes my laugh, and screams...

"its APRIL! its APRIL!"

the jig was up. he caught me. i had no idea what my friend wanted me to say, or why i had to be a police officer. i could hear her laughing in the background and having a great time at fooling her son.

all i know is....my friend, unbeknownst to her, gave me laughter when i was on the brink of sadness.

i love her for that.

a tourist in my own hometown

2005-12-30T17:14:00.000-06:00

its strange going back home and seeing it thru the eyes of a tourist. i found myself taking pictures of everything i had seen for years. i've always loved San Antonio's beauty; reminding me of my own little Venice.

the 80 degrees of sunshine soaked into my skin as we walked along the river. warm and lovely.

i bought Spurs memorabilia and Mexican pottery. i savored the taste of true salsa and sopapillas. i enhaled fajitas smothered in guacamole and drank margaritas full of tequila.

i love San Antonio and find that i appreciate it more than ever before (especially after these cold wintry nights in Iowa), since living these 2 1/2 years away from it all.

I'm proud to be a Texan
and happy to become Iowan
and remember what it was to be Californian

The 3 are me

MMmmmm

2005-12-30T17:11:00.000-06:00

is there anything more delightful than a
mocha frappuccino?

i think not.

looking out the window

2005-12-30T16:47:00.000-06:00

i've always been a good friend; going above and beyond at times to make the friendship continue to thrive.

i've held my tongue when i had to. told the truth when they asked for it. been loyal and giving.

i try to stay positive and offer strength. i hug and i comfort.

there were times when i was wrong and apologized to save it.

friendships never come easy. they are work. they need both sides to value it; to cherish it.

the fastest way to kill one is not communicating and assuming things of the other.

it will begin to destruct when doubts arise, or when gossip comes between truth.

i can only count on one hand a few friends i am close to and can completely trust.

i know i'm counted on theirs...

eyes of water

2005-12-29T22:57:00.000-06:00

beautiful movie
sorrowful and mesmerizing

see it with your best friend, Claudia.
i did.

big words

2005-12-18T20:34:00.000-06:00

We picked up some lunch at Subway today.
Lily and I both grabbed a bag of Cheetos with our meals.
Sitting at the table, we tore into our bags...munching away.

"Mom, these Cheetos are sterile!" she exclaims.

(she meant "stale")

you are 16 going on 17

2005-12-17T20:03:00.000-06:00

watching The Sound of Music with my daughter...is like watching it for the first time. she recognizes Maria as Mary Poppins and the Queen from Princess Diaries. she laughs and sings when the Von Trapp children get scared during the storm and run into Maria's room...

"raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
brown paper packages tied up with strings
these are a few of my favorite things

girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
silver white winters that melt into springs
these are a few of my favorite things"

i love that she enjoys musicals along with me. (michael grits his teeth and has a hard time watching them. he says its not normal to break out into song about everything).

recently, i watched Oklahoma (my friend's favorite). i think the musicals we saw as children made an impression on us...because i enjoyed watching Oklahoma, but did not love it as i do The Sound of Music.

now, with The Sound of Music and Lily's having seen Heidi, The Music Man, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Phantom of the Opera, Grease, and Mary Poppins; i need her to see West Side Story, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, and My Fair Lady.

simply smashing!

i wish i were a cat

2005-12-15T22:54:00.000-06:00

sleep all day

play all night

head scratches

cuddles

loved & spoiled

ability to bite and claw

without getting anyone angry

make people laugh

while i fight with a string

bathe in bed with my tongue

curl up in spine bending positions

jump with incredible height in mere seconds

walk along the back of the couch

meow when i want something

feline happy