frustrated

Okay fellow bloggers.....why is doing my blog so hard. Wehn I add pictures they always go to the top ani just want my blog to be less frustrating because I d then I have to move the pictures around with my explanation going haywire. Then I ended up with like an entire page of blank in between. I am obviously not getting it.. Anyone have any advice on how to make this work better. I look at other blogs and they are so beautiful then there is mine which is really unexplainable. Forexample I wrote two blogs and yet there is a mile of white page between then so I know most people will not even see it. I need a blogger lesson from anyone that want to help me.

My email: Lupita777@frontiernet.net

Or just comment from this blog.

I just need help because I've noticed I get frustrated and then I stat putting it off but I have so much to say!@!!!

"True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realized."
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

My Mother's Birthday Party at the Peace Tree

Even though her birthday was technically on Tuesday but we had it on Wednesday to make sure friends could all come. Now that my mom is more or less house bound I figured just visiting with friends would mean more to her than anything.




That morning my sweetie Morgan and I got decorations and we set up the Peace Tree with bright and happy colors.

Here she is with her iced latte that I made for her and she already was digging into the presents....no one loves presents more than my mother

Here is my boss and dear friend Karen (owner of all The Peace Trees) and my moms friend Marie who is an angel and is a great help to my parents




























Here is my mother with a few of her friends. I made wraps and smoothies and everyone had a great time!! Her friends include from left hand side of mom...Marie, Dale and Sherri Shumway then Donna Jones...my cousin

And finally me who is showing signs the day is beginning to catch up to me.



It was a great day that she deserved. I truly wish I could make everyday special for my mother. She deserves so much that I can't do right now. But the main thing is she knows I love her and that everyone in this little tiny town love
I hope she had a fun day and that she knows she is so loved by so many people because she truly is an angel on earth

"The more we focus on others, the more we have a concern for others, it seems to bring an inner strength."

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

May is my Mother's Month

My mother's month is May. Lets see.....her last name is May, her anniversary is May 4th, her birthday is May 12th and of course Mothers Day that fell on the 10th this year but many times her birthday falls on Mothers Day. She really deserves it because December is her worst nightmare....Christmas, My dad's birthday is Dec. 1, my husband David's is on the 5th of Dec. and mine is the 12th. So knowing all this I pamper her the entire month of May. At least I try.

This year is especially difficult for her especially. My father is not doing well and its scary. Then the day before Mothers Day we had to put her sweet Molly (her 14 year old McNabb...a dog) down. She finally decided she was too old and too tired to do another day. She went peacefully but my mother was heart broken.

So I decided we were going to make a garden where she lived outside my moms bedroom near the porch.

I take mom in my mustang and off we go to the greenhouse. Well we went crazy. She bought a bunch of flowers for me and I bought a ton her. After we paid for all of this I realized I have a Mustang. So....I crammed my mother and flowers in every nook and crannie and we prayed we'd make it home which is over a mountain and is about a 30 min drive

now you see how many plants we crammed into my tiny car with my mother. I put her in the car and then wedged plants all around her and the trunk. But what I love about all of this is that smile on her face. I managed to make her smile after she said good bye to her dear friend Molly that very morning.

"Genuine peace between between nations will come from mutual respect, not from weapons or force."

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Lots to say

Hey Everyone...I am so sorry its been so long but as I mentioned before I spilled wine on my computer and fried the mother board. I have learned my lesson...I keep my wine on another table now.
I have so much to tell everyone. These past weeks or days or whatever have been filled with my little life events that some might say bordered on drudgery but its my drudgery. And because you seem to care enough to tune in and read my ramblings it now becomes your drudgery as well.
Actually my life is great. I have come so far from where I was this time last year...by September I was borderline suicidal and now I am just as happy as I can be with my life...sure we all wish some things were a little different but all in all I am very satisfied with my life.
So onto my new Dell....Its like a gift from the angels. I have never had a computer custom made for me but this one is. I call him Kermit because every time I see the beautiful green cover I start to sing Kermit's song....I think its something like...Its not easy being green....
Oh well enough of that. This piece of technology has made me smile. Its fully loaded and has extra stuff for my photography and my Internet (of course)...(my window to the world which has been one thing that has improved my mood.
I also quit smoking. I still am not completely out of the woods but it seems so doable for me now. Every now and then I will take a drag or two when I'm ready to have a nervous break down but otherwise I've pretty much beat this thing.

Today is Thursday which is like my Friday so TGIT EVERYONE!!!! Okay so basically what I am saying is after work I nap then tan with a friend then I will write about one of many many topics I have thought of this last week or so.

My mother was a trooper by allowing me joint custody but I know it was not completely fair because sometimes I would hog it. Its the only thing that works when I am fighting a nicotine craving so if it seems like I'm online a bit (for the facebook users that know me) just know I am just tyring to get through this. It keeps my mind and hands busy and Mike and Ikes take care of my oral fixation for now (Dave has other ideas but that's for another topic).

I have pictures, news, ideas, thoughts and opinions to share with all of you whether you wanted any of these things or not. So make sure to tune in the next few days at my two blogs. This one and my less PC one:

www.lisaunleashed.blogspot.com

"Every person has the same potential for inner tranquility, but negative forces such as fear, suspicion, selfishness and self-hatred can destroy inner peace"

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Now I am going to say what you just read is so true. I have been the one putting up all these road blocks to my own happiness and though Rome wasn't built in a day I think I am definitely heading in the right direction.

Dude...you're getting a Dell...!

Just a quick note to let the world know that apparently the wine incident was a bit more severe than I had originally thought. Basically I fried (or soaked) the mother board. As some of you know my mother and I have been sharing her computer or as Beth put it, joint custody. I get it from 4pm to 8 am and my mother gets it from 8am to 4 pm. It just so happens this is when I choose to quit smoking (oh lets face it...there is never going to be a perfect time). The computer and Facebook, My Space, email and all my apps keep my hands and brain busy. It lets me focus on something other than the need for a cig. But I'm worried I've been a bit piggy. So I'm trying to help my mother a little bit extra (my way of saying little squirrel knows and appreciates it). Guilt is eating me alive though. Not only have I taken over the computer but I "ignore" David. Now don't get me wrong...he has been BEYOND patient and keeps saying "if it makes you happy then it makes me happy"...I know I'm lucky. So I have quite a dilemma. I've been told by professionals and friends recently that I need to put myself first in order to take care of everyone else but they also say "don't be selfish...just take care of yourself" so I wonder where is that line between selfish and taking care of myself? I have always battled with this very question but I suppose all neurotic people do...I don't know.
So people I may be offline for a bit more until May 13th. Don't get me wrong...I can't stay away long but maybe I can try to find that "sweet spot" for self care and selfish. I am going to try to leave the computer alone tonight. Lets see if I can do it. I have basically switched one addiction for another and its got me all wacky until I can finally be okay without a cig. Off and on since I was 15 smoking has been my coping mechanism. If I was uncomfortable (which is a lot) I light up. If I was bored, nervous, sad, etc... I'd light up. Well I still have all these emotional hazards without the coping mechanism...no that's not right...I'm in the process of finding new and healthy coping mechanisms. I just want my family to know that I am trying very hard to sort all of this out. Tonight for instance I will plant two trees, tan, go to a meeting, do my mothers laundry and spend time with my husband. I'm actually okay with that...its the wee hours of the morning. If I watch TV I will want to smoke. I won't have anything to do until work...that's going to be the tough hours. All in all though I am doing well. I have never thrown a temper tantrum and have burst into tears just once or twice.
Okay onto more pleasant talk....my new Dell!!!! YAAAAYYYY!!!!

Its green, vista (I've gotten use to it), photography savvy, all programs, fully loaded. I am beyond excited. I told you when that hp tech support guy blew me off that was it...hp was dead to me.
For my mothers birthday she gets a new Dell and gives her hp to Dave who just likes to get to Amazon, golf stuff, email, bank and my blogs. Then I will have a computer all to myself...and then I am going wireless so I can spend time with my husband and my Big Girl AND play with my new toy such as photo editing etc....

Okay that was really long winded in order to apologize to family and to explain why I may not be around as much (its temporary...believe me) and about my new Dell.

I am thankful for my new Dell
I am thankful my mother is such a giving and patient woman
I am thankful my husband "gets it"
I am thankful I am not smoking

I think hp tech support sucks
Addiction of any kind sucks...I should know
watching my dad struggle with every breath sucks

Blue Light Special

This has been a difficult morning for me. I accidently spilled wine on my computer last night. I didn't think it was much. I immediately wiped it down and shut it down and went to bed. I prayed all through the night that all would be okay in the morning. So I got up at 3:30 am knowing I would have my computer to get me through until the house woke up. I turned it on and it was working!!! It was beautiful. Everything worked great so I clicked on my favorites, found my facebook page, clicked on the user and pass area and started typing all the relevent information. However, the keyboard was not responding. So for two hours I tried everything. I even called my hp support number. The man was very nice until he noticed I hadn't renewed my warranty. I didn't know I had to. And then he proceeds to tell me in a very condenscending tone....."I'm sorry but no warranty no help". I was stunned....I asked him if I could buy something on line that would help him to help me. He told me to buy a new computer and hung up. There was this horrible black smoke that began pouring out of my ears. I, at that moment, remembered my friend Trudy in Virginia saying as she showed off her new Dells that the tech support was off the charts so I mumbled into the silent phone..."I will fucker....a DELL!!!!!"

The rest of that story can be read on my other blog http://www.lisaunleashed.blogspot.com/

So I resigned myself to the unimagineable fate of no computer and decided to use my perfectly working mouse and read my friends blogs. I got to Beth's Run With Me Blog and read how she did at the horsetooth half marathon. I will let you read the story for yourself

http://www.twentysixpointtwoormore.blogspot.com/

She told a story that had me on the floor laughing so hard I nearly threw up. It was about when your lower digestive track decides to do a mass evacuation at the most inopportune time. She was a trooper. Under those circumstances I probably would have just run off the side of those beautiful mountains sparing myself the unimagineable ribbing I would get from my better half and my offspring. That would be a fate worse than death.
Anyhoo....this type of phenomenon is known in my family as the "Blue Light Special". Do not ask me how this term came to be but its one we use frequently. Usually this type of thing happens in the car on my way home from a wonderful meal and I've never had an accident because we imagine Dave putting a blue siren on top the car and he gets me home just in the knick of time.

I will tell you a story about one of my Blue Light Specials that was pretty messed up. November 6th 2004 David and I took Jess to Olive Garden for her birthday dinner. We needed this because we had just survived Hurricane Isabel and just got our power back on and things were beginning to go back to normal. We had a great dinner with much laughing and enjoyment. We then decided to go home and watch the new movie Jess got called "Finding Nemo"....a classic already.
We get into the car and my lower "bowel area" began to make a strange sound...not like one any of us had ever heard before...it was quite ominous sounding. Then I burst into the cold sweats. I couldn't decide if I was going to spontaneously combust right then and there or what the hell was going on. Then I knew....this was going to be the Mother of all Blue Light Specials. My wonderful family knew instantly by the look of horror in my eyes and the profuse sweating and those ominous sounds coming from my stomach.
Now we were literally less than 2 miles from my house and there was a very small powder room right when you got in the door. I began using visualization exercises ...I could see my driveway, I could see the front door, I could see that wonderful little tiny powder room...I could see the toilet...about this time my husband was pulling out of the parking lot. Across the street I saw a Dunkin Donuts rising before me like a Phoenix rising up to call mama home. I just pointed urgently to the Dunkin Donuts.....we hung on for dear life as he did a bat turn (illegal) to do a u-turn into the donut parking lot.
It was fairly late by this time...I guess not a high traffic time for donut stores. I flew past this little teenager boy just trying to do his job and found the bathroom....I didn't lock...I just danced around crying as I tried to calmly pull down my pants but it was like those horror movies where the pretty girl finally makes it to the car but it won't start as the monster bears down on her. It was much like that. I MADE IT with a big sigh of relief and relaxed and OMG!!!!! WTF?????? It was like nothing I had ever experienced before. For a minute I thought I was spontaneously combusting...then I realized "no...I will have to walk out with as much dignity I can muster because there is no way in hell that sweet child out there isn't hearing this and is probably wondering if he should call 911. "
Fuck it...I washed my hands, adjusted my clothes, fluffed up my hair and walked out as if I was Queen Elizabeth, smiled at the boy and said goodbye...NO>>>I DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING!!!!! If I was wondering if I could've escaped notice by the boy but one glance at the look on his face and I knew I was soooo busted. I ran out to the car and told Dave to step on it before I even closed the door. Everyone was all nosey and wanted details which I refused to provide and those two laughed all the way home...still the longest two miles of my life.
To move on with the festivities I got the DVD and turned everything on and BAM our power was out again. I wanted to scream. Because we had just recovered from Hurricane Isabel we still had out generator outside the door ready to go. So we plugged in the TV and microwave. We watched Finding Nemo by candlelight eating popcorn and watching the movie to the background noise of a leer jet landing. The only thing that made the night even better was knowing my grumpy neighbor next door (I called him Mr. Wilson) hated the sound of our generator.

Little Squirrel

I know many of you watch Seinfeld. I know I did and still do. I have so many "Seinfeld" moments in my life its not even funny. There is one episode that we live with every day here. That is the Little Squirrel episode. For those of you who don't know or can't remember Little Squirrel was the episode where Elaine was dating the saxophone player. She really liked him but there was one little thing he wouldn't do for her in bed and that was the one thing she really wanted. Then Jerry mentions to friends that Elaine and this saxophone player were really getting "hot and heavy". When Elaine found out she freaked. HOT and HEAVY????!!!! she yells. She explains to Jerry that this saxophone player is like a little squirrel. You don't go up to a little squirrel and and make a bunch of noise as she waves her arms wildly about. You need to be gentle and soothing and quiet so you don't scare the little squirrel away.
I finally had to explain to Dave that I'm the little squirrel. I've had so much drama and violence and pain and yelling in my life I just can't bear it anymore. He finally got it and he has been so good ever since.
For example...Dave is the Great Lecturer. No body...I mean nobody can give a lecture like Dave on absolutely everything. Just ask Jess. He would wait until she was locked in the car on their way to court (AGAIN) and that's when he'd spring the lecture. There was no escape. One time when he wouldn't let her out on the side of the interstate in North Carolina on their way back from court (again) screaming at the top of her lungs as he continued with the lecture from hell. She was so pissed she crawled into the very back of our Jeep Cherokee (as far from him as was humanly possible) and that is where she stayed.
But Jess isn't the only one. I got lectures to. I finally was getting like Jess....I couldn't take it. Every time I would screw up (which is a lot...but not on purpose...I'm a lot like Lucy Ricardo.....LUCY..you got some s'plaining to do!!!!) I knew that lecture was coming. Of course he was usually right and he lectured out of love but there are sometimes you just can't take it. You can't!! The last time I screwed up which was a few weeks ago I had to explain my dilemma to Dave and before he could puff up his chest and begin the arduous task of lecturing me I told him "look....little squirrel knows...she doesn't need a lecture because she already knows" That stopped him dead in his tracks and he cracked up. So he is watching his lecturing...he tries to limit it to really important or dangerous type situations. My mother gets the lectures too but shes such a good sport she just waves her arm and lets it go in one ear and out the other.

I am going to label this as Seinfeld Moments because I have a feeling I will be writing about a lot of them.

Happy Easter everyone
Lisa


"Although man's intelligence can sometimes make him a trouble maker, I believe that because of our intelligence we human beings are also capable of developing infinite altruism."
_His Holiness the Dalai Lama

P.S. If some of you are asking "what was the one thing he wouldn't do for Elaine in bed?" Well I will tell you. He finally did this great thing for Elaine but it still wasn't getting her to the promise land. This guy tried and tried until he could try no more. It just so happens that night a talent scout or whatever was watching this guy play. Unfortunately while he tried all day to get Elaine to the promise land his lips became numb. So that night he picks up his saxophone and he can't play!! His lips won't work!! It was awful and I know Elaine felt terrible as she slinked out of the night club. That my friends was the end of Little Squirrel!

Beth's questionaire

I decided to give Beth's uestionaire a try. I LOVE questionaires. For some reason I have always felt so invisible my whole life. I am realizing I wasn't as invisible as I thought as I run into friends on Facebook that I haven't seen since I was 15 and yet they ALL remembered me!! I'm shocked and delighted. Also I have been doing these goofy quizzes on Facebook that are hilarious. For example of all the TV moms out there apparently I'm most like Sharon Osbourne (frightening) or if I was an 80's rock band who would I be...KISS. Terrific...what does all this say about me? If I was one of Jesus's disciples I am most like Matthew. Also if I had a pirate name it would be Captain Pretty and the Scurvy Eunuchs or if I was a stripper I would be called Passion Velvet Toes. You get my point. They are silly but so much fun. So now its time for Beth's questions:

1) What are current obsessions? Thats easy....Facebook on the computer. But I stay super obsessed about something for about a month then I move onto my next obsession. They rotate around from quilting, writing, reading, cross stitch or watching a complete TV series on DVD. But right now its the computer and I don't see this losing its appeal anytime soon.

2) Which item from your closet are you wearing the most? My crazy Peace T-shirts. I love them...they are crazy wild but its okay becasue I work at the hippie joint in town.

3) Whats the last thing you bought for yourself? Well my story couldn't possibly more entertaining than Beths (I'm still chuckling over the mental picture in my head of Beth "demonstrating" the tampon for the poor Mexican that must have been so confused at her request). The last thing I bought for myself was a new haircut, tanning sessions and my new program I'm doing with my Chiropractor called NAET. In fact google that....its the most amazing thing and it works!!

4) Whats for dinner? Every man for himself at my house. I have no children at home and I cook for a living so my poor David is on his own but I promise to make it up to him one day.

5) Say something to the person who tagged you: I don't think I've ever been tagged but to be quite frank I'm not sure what that even means...I'm so clueless with the new computer lingo.

6)What is the one item you could not live without? Well I agree with Beth....my husband, daughter, parents, animals and friends and family are the things I would die without but if I had to pick one item I guess it would have to be my computer.

7)Vacation spots you must visit before you die: Greece again and again. But I also want to see southern France, Spain, Scotland, India (for a retreat), Galapagos Islands, Mexico City again in honor of my grandfather, Oregon, Washington, the rain forest in Canada and the northern US, the Brazillian rainforest, Yellowstone to commune with the wolves there, Alaska, Italy again, and England (specifically Liverpool for the Beatles and Sheffield for Def Leppard.
There are more but we'll start there.

8) Three things to do before you die: Barrel Race my Elliot, publish a book and publish my photographs (and I know we said just three but I really want to meet the Dalai Lama.

9) What is your guilty pleasure? If I feel guilty about it then its best I keep it to myself

10) What is your favorite smell? This usually confuses people but my favorite smells all revolve around my horses...horse manure, sweaty leather, sweaty horses or just regular horses and hay. Anything from my barn.

11) Best thing you ate or drank lately: I work with a girl named Morgan who makes me the best paninis and smoothies

12) Care to share wisdom: What Sheryl Crow sang.."Its not having what you want but wanting what you have" In other words you may think the grass is greener but once you get there it usually isn't.

13) What do you do to avoid doing the things you should be doing? Begging David in my most sweet and manipulative way or play on the computer.

14) Talk about one regret in your life: One?? There are so many. However one thing comes to mind and I am taking that with me to my grave.

15) What do you have an addiction to? I am slowly weeding out my little addictions. The big one I have to overcome now is to quit smoking. I am on my last carton now and then its Nicoderm patch time. What fun blog posts those will be...but I need to do thins and I need all the encouragement I can get.

16) My own question I added: Do you have any four footed children and if so what are they and what are their names? My little brood has shrunk a bit with the deaths of four of my babies but right now I have a Rottweiler named Alexandra the Greatest Big Girl Moore. I have two cats. The long haired is Little Girl and my little shorthaired Tortie kitty is Catalina or Catty for short.
Then my three horses: My gelding named Elliots Paper Sun or El or Big E, my mare named Dear Prudence and my baby filly named Penny Lane of course.

So in my continued effort to not be invisible (though I'm assured I am not) I love filling these out and doing my blog because its a way for people to know me. Even my husband has said he's learned so much about me from my blog.

Enjoy and let me know if you do this questionaire so I can go and read it.

David

It is so easy to take your spouse for granted. We've all done it and we have all had it done to us. That's okay....its one of the perks of being married to your soul mate, just as long as you do take the time to see your spouse for who he/she is and all the many ways they show you they love you. I couldn't sleep tonight and as I lay there trying to go back to sleep I began thinking of all the ways David has shown he loves me. I know I have thanked him so many times but again...have I really told him. That's what I am doing today.
David and I met and I had 3 large dogs, a cat, a psycho ex husband and the all time worst problem child. My daughter had been through a lot so when she acted out she went for broke. She made it very clear she didn't want Dave around and even circled places for rent in the classifieds that she told him he should see about. How I actually made it to a wedding much less my own was a miracle. He married me anyway and loved Jessie anyway. He gave her space so she could have her mom all to herself. He decided that Jessie really needed me and his time would eventually come. Once we settled in as a family Jessie hit her teens and boy were they fun. But the person she would go to 9 times out of 10 was David and he was there for her. I cannot tell you how many times he took her to court and sat by her side as support...never judging her but secretly praying she wouldn't make the same mistakes he and I did. She did and then a whole lot more but none the less he was there for her. Sometimes his support was in the form of a lecture which she really didn't like but somehow that stuff sank in. He had planted many seeds that are beginning to sprout right now.
He was always there for "our" animals too and let me tell you they were a pain in the ass. I don't know how many times he would search for our Houdini dogs. He'd always find them.....grumbling the whole time. However he was there holding them every time we had to put one down and his tears were genuine.
So just when it looked like we survived old dogs and their problems and Jess and her problems we came for a visit to Blanding Utah to visit my parents. Now I am an only child and for most of my life I have been separated from my family because life just worked out that way. So when we got off the plane and I saw my dad with his oxygen tank and my mother who could barely walk imagine my overwhelming concern. During that visit David and I decided there was nothing left to do but move out to help take care of them.
There are some things you should know about him. He loathes change. He was born and raised in Denbigh Va and there he was going to be buried. He had a business that he ran for 18 years. He was in a band as a lead guitarist and all his family and friends....everything that he knew and loved...was in Denbigh. I quit the job I loved at The College of William and Mary and we sold our house and prepared to move. I'm not going to say those 6 months were easy or even good and there was a lot of freaking out going on but eventually I kissed my daughter goodbye, we loaded up all the cats and dogs in a mini van and a mustang and off we went across the country to our new home. We traveled 5 days and kept each other company with our walkie talkies. We survived a tornado in Tenn. and fatigue by the time we hit Albuquerque. The next day we rolled into Blanding. It was desolate and all we saw was a huge tumbleweed roll across the road. At that point David said into his walkie talkie "we're not in Kansas anymore".
The first year was very difficult. My dad didn't want to admit they needed help and my mother was in denial about her walking situation. David was homesick and getting a bit angry about it but over time he joined the golf course here, made friends and started a very successful business in a town of 3600. 6 months into our new life here in Utah Jessie called and my mother and I decided she needed rescuing and told her to move here in Utah. Dave was devastated because that was the one perk to moving to BFE...no Jessie and all that went with her. But out she came and in time he admitted it was the best thing she could've done.
David would do anything to make me happy. He knew my whole life I dreamed of owning a horse. He was thinking 500 dollars for a sweet old gelding. But when I saw him....my magnificent buckskin beauty I had to have him. I burst into tears. I have never manipulated my husband to buy me something with tears but this was serious. I was going to die if I didn't get that horse. The horse that was a 2 year old stallion that cost us 5000 dollars. A few weeks later I announced I bought his pregnant full blooded sister for 4000 dollars. 8 months later we had Penny Lane, a filly every bit as bad as my daughter was. Everyday Penny would literally chew down the fence and everyday Dave would rebuild it. He cussed a blue mile as he did it but did it he did (is that a sentence??)
I had some tough times here with my teaching job and ended up getting very sick. I eventually had to take a medical leave of absence so now the weight of us and all that we are now rested solely on his shoulders. Then I got depressed. So bad that I was scared and so was he. After trying to manage on my own I finally broke down and he jumped up and made sure I had all the emotional and physical help I needed. He even let me go to Oregon and California with Jessie driving on our own. Its not like he has to give me permission...but I am his life and he worries but he knew I had to do this. When I got back I didn't even want to be here. I was useless to my parents and him. He eventually took over most of the care of my parents and took over the horse care completely while he waited for me to snap out of this fog I was in. I eventually did get over it. Its a daily fight but I am doing so much better. I got a job that doesn't pay much but it allowed me to have a reason to get out of bed in the morning and I made a bunch of new friends.
I am back but he still helps me out all the time. His responsibilities grow as my parents continue to decline. In fact my dad is really scaring all of us and we can't help but feel every day we have with him is precious.
But David was finally benefiting. I was his wife again and to be frank I can't remember the last time we were doing this good in our relationship. But we are not done. Jessie moved to North Salt Lake to go to school. She lives with her boyfriend. She did all the paperwork and got all the funds she could manage but she was still 60,000 dollars short. The only way she could go was if we got a parent student loan. Now David nearly had a stroke when we bought our house and this type of stuff makes him very nervous. With the recession we are watching our pennies and our vehicles are getting older and we are paying on some back bills right now so we are very strapped. But David filled out the paperwork and voila....she was in school. She starts next Tuesday. I was thinking this had been her dream for ong now and who made it happen? Not me and not her real father but her stepfather David. They have become so close since she moved out here. Then I was thinking he made my dreams come true by moving me out here and buying and caring for 3 horses. Then he made Jessie's dreams come true.
That's what I was thinking about as I tried to sleep and decided I needed to write about it. Its good for me to see and remember how much he has done for me...how much he sacrificed and gave up for me. If that doesn't tell me he loves me and all that is mine then nothing will. But I see, I know and I am so grateful to have a man I love and admire with me. All of us should look at our spouses every now and then and step back to see the person that you fell in love with. I have fallen in love with David all over again. He is my white Knight in shining armour. Its only been 13 years....what could he possibly do to top any of the things he has already done but mark my words he will continue to rise to the occasion putting everyone around him first. I am blessed and I know that!!

Thunder Down Under

Las Vegas is a marvolous place. Its so true...what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. The last time I went was 2 years ago. We drove down the day I bought my sweet gelding Elliot. We had tickets to see my all time favorite band Def Leppard. Anybody that knows me knows I am OBSESSED with Joe Elliott and Def Leppard. Go to my My Space page and you will see I am not playing with you when I say I take my Def Leppard and all things Joe very seriously. In fact I'm a member of the Def Leppard fan club. Now...I am waaaayyyy too cool for Fan Clubs but when it comes to Def Leppard I have no pride.

www.myspace.com/elliotspapersun

Okay so I have my special Def Leppard fan club shirt on and off we go to see the concert. We stayed at the Excaliber which was AWESOME!! We checked in and decided to go bar hopping until we had to go to the concert. I wanted to try an Apple Martini so at the first bar I had my appletini and then David decides we just have to go to the ESPN Zone bar next door so off we go. I slammed down my appletini and off we went. We oooohhhhed and aaahhhed at the cool vegas strip and wandered into ESPN. I order another appletini because come to find out they are quite delicious. The bartender hands me this punch bowl of a glass filled to the brim with the wonderful elixir called Appletini. Dave chugged his beer and I attempted to chug down mine. And I chugged and I chugged. We walk outside and I have no idea what happened but it was like I was hit by a mack truck. My tongue muscle lost its ability to form words. My feet lost their ability to operate with any kind of syncronicity. In fact my ankles decided to take a nap and I'm crumpling to my knees. David was like "Jesus Hon...what the hell happened?" I giggled and tried to say "I don't know....help me....My eyes are crossing". So off we go back to the Excaliber as David dragged me in as my arms waved helplessly around and my eyes rolled into the back of my head. This was bad. I needed to sober up for my boys but we had our work cut out for us. Luckily I get what I call the "beer munchies". If I drink and I get snockered I all of a sudden must eat much like the pot heads we all know and love. I ate pizza, drank 5 gallons of coffee and showered and you know...I was okay. I was going to be okay. Then something amazing happened..........

THUNDER DOWN UNDER!!!!!!!!

As we walked through the lobby we noticed the Thunder boys were there posing for pictures. David suggested for shits and giggles having pose with them. So I said "okay...for you I guess I can do this" I mean standing next to male strippers is a sacrifice but what can I say...I'm a good wife.

Picture one....I'm a little self conscious but I do it. Now mind you there should be 4 pictures in this series. But here I am..semi sober and being a lady I posed sweetly. Dave smiled and I smiled and click...here is the picture but then they say we have three more to take. I was like...okay. Bring it!!

As you can see I'm feeling alittle more comfortable and to be quite frank I was still buzzing a bit and I was finding my cocky, sassy Lisa began to emerge. I smiled at David and he sort of smiled back but with a furrowed brow.

You just gotta love the guy that is shushing. Hilarious and oh what fun. So on to the third picture and then the fourth.

Okay so picture three I am definatley getting my groove on...look at me!! I look like I am Diana Ross busting on to the stage. Yes my friends I was feeling it. I smiled and looked at my sweet David who is in a full blown scowl by now. When it was suggested we move on to picture 4 David said "Alright...thats enough" A cock block if there ever was one. But what fun. In fact the next time I go I think I will watch their show and maybe...just maybe I will be sporting a Thunder Down Under Fan Club T-shirt. We shall see.

So off we go to the concert. It was everything I thought it would be and more...yes...I know I've seen them 6 times but I always catch something new. A true fan never gets over it.

About 3/4ths of the way through the concert David had a brillant idea. I could drink Red Bull and Vodka and that way I'd have fun drinking but I'd be awake.

I don't believe I have EVER been so annilated in my life. The unfortunate part is MGM (where the concert was) is ginormous. I know David literally held me up and dragged me to the what? The tram??? Oh my hell....I can no longer hold my head up and I'm basically just a passed out person that had her eyes sort of opened.

Dave unfortunately saw that fun window of drunk Lisa sex was closing by the minute. I barely made it to the room, I fell on the bed sideways and in the morning I woke laying in my own regurgitation. Hell of a night...just one hell of a night.

So for those of you that don't know me...my nickname is Tequila Lisa and she is my bizarro Lisa. For those of you that do know me...well it was typical. But fun!! Yes you would've been proud. So even though I never got that fourth picture the memories will last a lifetime.

My first published photo

Remember I said I am trying to get my photos published one day. Well here is my first published photo.

Voila!!! Yes everyone... I am officially published. No money changed hands but is that what its about...Heck NO!!! Its about the love of the photos!!!

So with each picture I publish I promise to share it with you you lucky people.

Now getting published here is probably not hard to do....due to the sheer lack of people my chances skyrocket. One day my grandfather asked me "would you rather be the head of a mouse or the tail of a lion?" In other words would you rather be the big man on campus on something insignificant or would you rather be at the very bottom of something great. Well in most cases I have felt being the tail of the lion was much better. However , in this case I will happily sport around at the head of a mouse....too many people...too many lost or overlooked chances. A person has to start somewhere and I'm starting here!!

I am mindful that my chances of "making it" are better here because I am surrounded by those that care.

"Developing a kind heart does not involve any of the sentimental religiosity normally associated with it. It is for everyone, irrespective of race, religion or political affiliation. It is for anybody who considers themself a member of the human family."

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

oops

So sorry guys. This has been a very busy week. On Facebook I have run into so many friends I haven't seen since I was a teenager so I've been cahtting it up with these people.
Well Ihave two new blogs in mind but I have to scan pictures then write. It will take a wee bit of time so I will tackle it tomoorw. Today I am getting beautified. I am getting a new do!! I am terrified but what the hell...you only live once supposedly. Tomorrow I will have time inbetween teaching my mother how to navigate Facebook. She gets so frustrated so hopefully I can get her to relax and just enjoy the adventure of navigating a web site you are clueless about. We've all been there...right? Oh.... I just thought of another blog. I may have to write about an old boyfriend I just ran into online. He was quite possibly the strangest individual out there but I will let you be the judge. In the meantime you WILL crack up because you won't be able to believe this is a true story...his name was Derek Kendall. Honestly this has been such a strange week.
So toodles for now and look for me and more fascinating stories in the days to come. I have so many.......

Lazy Sunday

I had a wonderful Sunday that I spent mostly online. I also was monitoring March Madness and my brackets. Every year my father, mother, husband and friends all take part in the "bracketology" of the NCAA Championship. I was last until yesterday when I rose to second place right behind my Dad. I picked UCONN to go all the way. Dare I hope they will make it??
My friend Trudy is on Facebook and she got me started on all these games that we play and chat at the same time. I was great!! I also made a Gizmoz. If you have no idea what that is check out my Facebook page and you will see. It is absolutely hilarious and so much fun. David and I were rolling!! I now have to make one of my parents and one of Jessie of course.
Speaking of Jessie....well we are frantically trying to get her ready for school in a week. I have had to fax GEDs and student loan applications etc....She is BEYOND nervous and now on top of all of this its snowing in SLC....has been for a few days.....and Tyler and her got his son who is 7. First time Jessie and the boy met and its not good. She is a person that has decided children are not for her. And now she has to be a parent (the irony has not escaped David) and she is PISSED!!!! The kid has a real attitude thing with Jess and he will be there 3 weeks while she is beginning school for the first time. I love all the texts I get from her. She has had me in stitches all weekend.

So if there are people who are out there and are not on Facebook...welll....change that. Get on it. I run into more and more friends everyday!! I have gotten in touch with people that I didn't think wanted to talk to me again...but so much time has passed and we all miss each other. It reminds me not to take a single friendship for granted. I miss all the people I love that I have seen in YEARS!! Also lets all wish Beth the best Mexico vacation ever. If anyone has earned it its Beth.

"Your enlightenment rests on your own shoulders".
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

The Peace Tree

Sorry I have been out of touch for a couple of days. I have been very busy. I got my My Space account set up then I had to do a Facebook account and I've been busy bumping into old friends online. It actually has been so much fun. Its wonderful knowing people have thought of you like you have thought of them. I wasn't forgotten. Its funny....I thought of myself as such a geek. Hardly noticeable, flying below the radar, etc... and come to find out I wasn't invisible. It has been a big help at this time in my life. I don't know why talking to people that I grew up is so healing but these people are my age and yet when I talk to them its as if we are timeless.....age doesn't matter. We all look good, those wonderful faces I have thought of with just a few more character lines that hints at their life story. The unexpected happened though. I ran into old friends from my years in Greece but I reconnected with alot of people I have missed dearly in Virginia. I am in this little tiny town in the middle of NO WHERE and yet I feel less isolated than I have in years. How isolated you ask?? Isolated!!!! The nearest Walmart is and hour and a half away. So we drive to Cortez, Co once every few weeks to do big shopping trips. To get there you drive or fly then drive along ways. From Virginia I would fly to Denver, CO. then get on one of those little puddle hopper to fly to either Durango, Co. or Farmington, NM. Now both flights have to fly (rather low) over the Rockies. No matter what the whole world is doing there is always turbulence. White knuckle turbulence. Good times!! Usually we see some kind of important looking fluid streaming from one wing or the other but so far we have always gotten there. But are you there? Really? No...from Farmington, NM its is two and a half hours to home through Rez country or if we land in Durange its almost three hours home but Durango is beautiful and the drive home is gorgeous.

You see...I literally live 30 mins. from Four Corners so you start thinking NM, AZ and CO are just part of your home territory but laws vary so it makes it interesting.

Okay so for The Peace Tree. We have a website:

http://peacetreecafe.com/

We are a three store chain. The first was built in Moab by my friend Karen Whipple. Here I am with her right now. Would you look at these italics....? I mustive pushed a button and darn if I can get thit to stop. I assure you I have invested some considerable time trying to get things back to normal but I digress......

Okay so the Moab store 10 years ago. Seven years she built her second store in Monticello and last May she opened her store in Blanding. You have to understand....this is ranch and cattle country...meat and potatos. And lets not forget there are mostly Mormons around here. Suck things like coffee and other such nonsense is not really accepted. Her juice cafe is an expresso bar.

But she has kicked butt!! All her food is organic, fresh carrot juice with wheatgrass and ginger....mmmmm....sounds good...yes...we have tofu, hummus, blue corn chips, organic fruit smoothies, the most delicious hot chocolate from the Aztecs in Mexico made with chilis!!

Karen takes on the downtrodden, societies outcasts and always gives everyopne second, third chances. Shes been there done that so you won't find any judgement coming from her.

This is my sweetie Morgan. She is absolutely precious and a sweet heart and the hardest working girl I know. She just finished her GED and in October she is off to college to become a Vet Tech. I am so proud of her and I know she will be perfect for that job.

And here is my precious Kenzie. A pistol and reminds me of Jessie so much but I just love her.

She was actually one of my students then she moved to England for 2 and a half years. She just moved back a few months ago.

Here is Morgan making one of her famous wraps or paninis

This is me and Ruby. Ruby is our juicer and shes a monster, tempermental and we all love her.

And her are a few pictures of Dawnan another girl that I work with and some other fun pics.

Dawnan

The gruesome twosome, smokin sisters, Kenzi and Morgan

"If you contribute to other people's happiness you will find the true meaning of life. The key point is to have a genuine sense of universal responsibility".

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

I survived

I'm back. I saw my doctor today and got squared away so right now I am relaxing, listening to music and I just "pimped up" my My Space page. If you haven't seen it please look at it and let me know what you think. I started my blog because my friend Beth started it and I loved her blog so much I had to do it and so that answers why I am here. Then I thought my best friend Trudy back in Virginia was on My Space and my friend Morgan (whom I work with) got me started on My Space. So I was so proud and I am learning so much. So I emailed my friend Trudy and she informed me she is on Facebook so I guess I have to start a Facebook page. I have discovered I really like doing this. I can explore my creative side and I am making it just like I want it so its like a secret clubhouse just for me.
So I talked to my father in California and I got so bummed after talking to him. I miss him and my brother so much. I've gotten into that a bit more on my other blog. So as soon as I get my car fixed (brakes are shot again......I'm rough on brakes) I will drive to Santa Rosa and spend a few days there. I really feel like I need to do this.
So again if you haven't seen my My Space page please go and check it out and let me know what you think. I guess I will research Facebook now. Why not? I feel like I am staying in touch with the people I love and I guess its kind of nice that people can learn about me. I sort of fly under the radar. I'm fairly secretive about all aspects of my life so this is a way to espress myself while I write and writing is what I love to do. I just need to get my scattered thoughts together so I can actually form a thought that makes sense.

www.myspace.com/elliotspapersun

Love to all and I will leave these words from the Dalai Lama

"Peaceful living is about trusting those on whom we depend and caring for those who depend on us"
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

new My Space url

Here is my new url instead of the number

http://www.myspace.com/elliotspapersun

The Dalai Lama

I can't believe but in my excitement of the storm chasing etc. I have forgotten to leave you with wirds of wisdom from the Dalai Lama and I don'y know about you but I hate starting a day unless I have read something he said so here are two quotes:

"To minimize hatred is internal disarmament"

"Compassion, forgiveness, these are real, ultimate sources of power for peace and success in life".

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

My friend Beth does something really cool in her blog and she write what she is thankful for that day. I like that but I think for now I will list what I am mindful of each day.

I am mindful: of the muscians who give me such great music.
I am mindful: that my mother needs me everyday but she may not ask.
I am mindful: that my body hurts so I need to take care of myself until I get my refills.
I am mindful: my friend Morgan is counting on me being at work for her shift so she can be a blonde again.
I am mindful: my husband loves me more than anything on this earth and he would do anything to make me happy.

A New Look

I have been having problems with my old layout so I am hoping this will be better. I would line it all up, check it and tweak it and get everything just right going back and forth from edit and post. Everyone elses Blog looks so good and mine is crap. Whenever i publish things happen that don't look anything like what I just typed up with the huge spaces etc. So I'm trying something new. Let me know what you think. Ok so as I ramble on I am sharing some of my nature photos I've taken. This is a Black and White of dead windswept aspen (shows you how bad the winds can get here).

Okay so I've added some new elements. I've included a link to two of the blogs I am following, then I put a horse slide show in but I think I'm going to just put a slideshow of my pictures there. So I got up at 1:30 this morning, yesterdday @ 2:30 and the day before that @ 3:30 so I figure maybe I should just skip sleeping all together tonight. Luckily I have another Drs. appt on Tuesday. I am still learning how to do everything. I really wanted to be able to post sports scores for my husband.

Here is a picture of my favorite stream on the mountain.

Every year my family bets 10 bucks on our NCAA pics...you know bracketology. Yeah...well I'm not super knowledgeable when it comes to sports but I know so much more since I met David. His TV stations are all ESPNs, The Golf Channel (of course....we can't miss Grey Goose Weds.) and of course all the major networks when they have important stuff on. I usually do pretty well with my picks for my brackets but this year I suck like I did with NFL football. Every week my dad and I bet on the Monday Night Game. I always kick his butt every year but this year I started so strong winning the first 6 0r 7 games and then I just fizzled out to nothing. My dad had an excellent year however. And now College Hoops I suck at too.

The above picture is of a bee feasting on utah thistle.

So on my My Space page I was able to download all this music I LOVE and am creating playlists. The playlist titled Lisa's Special Songs are all songs that fit my personality or is a memory of mine. I have a long way to go and will need to do some major tweaking but I have a great start. This is wildflowers I'm not sure of species but they are growing up through the desert sage.

I will be back later...I'm going to try to take a morning nap.

Windstorm in Blanding

Well today started as a nice sunny day that quickly became a storm with hurricane force winds.







The winds were approximately 30-40 mph with gusts that reached upwards towards 60 mph. Here is a view I have down my street.



















This man is Neil Joslin who runs our little weekly paper here called The Panorama. Our one traffic light here lost one of its wires. Max, my next door neighbors dog, went over to peruse with the police officer and this type of catastrophic type damage in town brought the big guns of The Panorama.











As you can see here we have quite a problem which has brought all the important townsmen to discuss the best course of action. I was the only other camera out there though so I'm hoping this is my big break. Anyhoo....David and I thought it would be fun to storm chase. I remember the crazies in Tidewater VA that storm chased. Well this was on a much smaller scale but every bit as intense. As I took the all important shots my sidekick helped by taking shots of me.

Here is my crew David who is my driver and all other such matters. What a trooper....always ready to find the excitement and to get me there first!!

Me having a wee bit of fun. I am standing on main street in front of our ONE eye doctor, Dr. Kirk, who is also a Bishop. He is probably one of the nicest men in town. I know I have dropped a ton of weight and I LOVE it. Just have to go buy some clothes that fit me again.

Me taking pictures of Recapture Canyon and Recapture Lake. One day I will tell you the story about Recapture but I will wait till I can get a beautiful picture of the lake and the Blue Mountain (also called The Abajo....Navajo for Blue).

As you can see it was so freaking windy. I thought I was going to get swept away. It seemed almost as bad as the winds from Hurricane Isabel that robbed me of my power for 8 days!!

I have to say this is one of my favorite pictures of myself I have ever seen. It helps you can't see my face but that's not it. Its a picture of me doing something I love. I hope I can get good enough to be published someday. This is my start.

And this is literally all I have done today. I found out on My Space page I can download all the music I love and I have been going crazy. So this is exactly what I look like right at this moment.

Goddesses of the Zodiac

As promised I am here to report what I learned last night. First things first, it was a lecture per se on the 4 goddesses of the zodiac. The woman who lectured was from Cortez CO. where she is an astrologist and does readings and things. For this post to make any sense, you must know I know NOTHING about this stuff and the majority of what this woman (Cassandra) said was greek to me. However as I was sitting there listening to her talk it reminded me of what it must have been like when the oral traditions were the only way people learned. Before books and even primitive writing there were the villages and each village had a wise one that was entrusted to pass down all the stories, legends, etc. to the next generation.

Cassandra lit a candle and talked about the 4 goddesses. The other thing I found fun was each goddess story reminded me of all the greek mythology I had to learn in school as a child and I always loved studying the myths.

The lady in the center is Cassandra.

The woman to the far left in a black top is my boss Karen Whipple who owns all The Peace Tree Cafes. More than that though is she has become a dear friend.

And this person is Kathy who has also become a very dear friend. She has worked for Karen for a year. She was originally from Albuquerque.

Okay so for the goddesses:

First goddess is Black Moon Lilith. She is our wild woman. She is in all of us. Astrologically she is a moving focal point in the moon's orbit with a 9 year cycle, spending 9 months in each sign. She is currently at 3 degrees Capricorn. What does this all mean? I have absolutely no idea but what I did love is hearing the myths around Lilith. She was before Eve but she wasn't subservient to Adam and finally took off and God felt bad for Adam so he made Eve from Adams side and she was sweet and docile and gave up the nookie whenever he wanted until one day a snake approaches her and convinces her to eat the apple. Lilith is the snake and both Lilith and Eve represent two sides of every woman. But I like Lilith way more. She doesn't care what people think. She is always true to herself. But everytime she is she pays a horrible price.

Second goddess is Ceres. She is the smallest dwarf planet and largest object in the astroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. She is beautiful, pearly white and nearly perfectly round. Her orbit takes 4.6 years, discovered in 1871, currently at 2 degrees of Virgo (again....I don't know). Her myth was really cool that explained the seasons. She I remember from greek mythology but she went by a different name. Anyhoo...she is agriculture and the seasons. Winter is when her daughter has to go back to the underworld to hang out with Hades and do what he says. She is nuturing but unleashes a fury if her child is threatened but she is the resurrection of our own intuition. She is also the chaos that Pandoras box sprang forth.

Third goddess is Eris. She is a dwarf planet first known as Xena, she orbits the sun from the Kuyper Belt far beyond Pluto. her orbit is 560 years (Plutos is 280 years) so shes the outcast woman like so many have been if they stay true to themselves. She was discovered in 2005 and is currently at 20 Aries (?????). She represents Strife but she also respresent Striving. As Strife she is talked about in the Sleeping Beauty Tale. She was the fairy that was not invited and she got super heavy duty PISSED and she did all sorts of horrible things. Also known as Discordia.

And the fourth goddess is my favorite Sedna. She lives at the bottom of the sea. She is actually a "minor planet" in the outer edge of the Kuyper Belt or the inner "Oort Cloud". TRhis cloud is a source of comets and other frozen bodies and she is halfway to Alpha Centaurus which is the next closest star to us. She is 1000 miles in diameter and she is solid ice but glows red like Mars. She was discovered in 2003 and is currently at 20 degrees Taurus. I can't remeber the whole myth but the inuit people if too old will go out on their own to die. The girls get married off early because families cannot support them. Well Sedna didn't like the guy that picked for her so her father took out to the freezing sea and threw her over board ( I know .....I thought that was a wee bit harsh but until you've walked a mile in my shoes yada yada yada). Sedna was hanging onto the boat to save herself and her father cut off her fingers so thats why she glows red.

Anyway...she is the guardian of the earth and sea. She is warning us humans to take care of the earth or bad things will happen. They've happened before like with the dinosauer extinction, the many ice ages, floods, etc.

As I write all this down in fun I realize how much I miss college and for a while now I have wanted to go back to get my bachelors in Theology. I find it fascinating.

I also have started a My Space page for my friends. Its still very new but her is the link:http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=460940699

"If you are showing love to your fellow human being, you are showing love to your God."

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Update

Good morning everyone. Well I recovering from my 4th bought with bronchitis and to be quite frank I am as over being sick as a person can be. Today will be my first day back at work since Monday. I slept, ate Easter candy and watched movies, while knitting a hat and cross stitching a mothers day gift to my wonderful mother in law.

Tonight after work however I have someplace to that should make for a great post tomorrow. I'm going to a lecture in our sister town Monticello titled Goddesses of the Zodiac. This woman is a healer.

Right now I am on hold for the third time to my Internet company because my mail is acting weird and I want a new address to stop the ginormous amount of junk mail on such things as male enhancement ( a extremely important medical epidemic I guess) and luscious twins ready to do all sorts of naughty things to me.

So I watched Juno which I loved and Smart People which I really loved. I've seen Hancock...not as good as I thought it was going to be. For Christmas I got my mother a membership to Netflix. But they get delivered to my house so I get to watch them first. I got to see Get Smart and Nights of Rodanthe...a typical Nicholas Sparks tear jerker.

Speaking of Christmas David and I drove to Salt Lake to see Jessica and the Christmas lights all throughout the Temple Square. This was a trip in honor of Davids Birthday. It just so happens a BYU game was playing at the Energy Solutions Arena where the Jazz play. Now unless you live here and see the frenzied devotion of all Utah sports fans but there are truly no better fans on earth than the BYU fans. So Jessie and her boyfriend Tyler went in their truck and David and I followed in the mustang. Well David and I were high on life man....high on life....however Jessie was becoming more frustrated as the exodus to Temple Square. They pulled into a parking garage but Dave and I were immersed in the beauty of the city. Well we found another entrance to the parking garage but the is a HUGE parking garage full of BYU fans. Jess would text me and I would text her. They finally found a place to park but now they realized the money had been left at home. By this time Dave and I parked and were happily watching the horse drawn carriages jam up the overwhelming traffic just that much more. I smile as I sipped my hot chocolate with my handsome husband and I was rejoicing in my Christmas spirit....the beauty and wonder of it all. At this moment Jess texts me with an "ABORT!!!!!!@!! FUCK CHRISTMAS!! That's when I knew my Christmas would be a special one and the reasons for celebrating is for family and universal love. Jessie....my sweet little princess was not feeling the Christmas spirit. So they drive by us as Dave threw some money in the moving vehicle. I was "jazzed" because I knew it would be nothing but fun and wonder from here on out. We texted them the exact location (which was the north gate of Temple Square. Now mind you there is only 4 entrances and only one of these were called North. David and I waited and waited and waited. I get frantic texts that she is ready to punch out some guy playing the bagpipes. We finally see her and I embrace her with all the love in my heart and told to watch the beautiful horses. That's when she said "Fuck the horses" and off we went into the wonderland of lights. At the end of our time there David, Jessie and I posed for a picture that captures the memories of that wondrous night.

Here are some more fun pictures at Christmas:

My mother...who is the most adorable thing to see Christmas morning.

And my own special Grinch:

And finally just me and David. We had a nice quiet Christmas. And now its SPRING!!!!!!

"If an individual has a clam state of mind, that person's attitudes and views will be calm and tranquil even in the presence of great agitation"

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama