Wednesday Wisdom

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."

- Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

I apparently took a temporary leave of my senses yesterday and agreed to run a 5K with Cowgirl.

I better get myself in gear now and hit the pavement.

I don't want to be embarrassed.

Not So Bad..

Turns out I'm not so bad in emergency situations.

I was talking to IT recently and she reminded me of a time that we were in college, when I saved the day!

It was our freshman year. We were living in the dorm, although not roommates yet.

Probably around 2 pm, we had finished our homework (yes we were nerds and did our homework when we got home from class) and were going to go waste a little time and money at the discount card store.

We were headed out the back door of the dorm, where there were about 4 stairs.

It all happened so fast.

One second we were laughing and walking. The next second, IT was on the ground at the bottom of the stairs, blood spilling from her chin.

Thinking quickly, I ran back into the dorm and grabbed what seemed like a roll of paper towels.

I got back to IT in time to find our worthless RA standing there. When I arrived with the paper towels she determined I had things under control and left.

I decided that there was just too much blood and we needed to go to the ER.

Once there, I got IT all checked in and settled.

Then we waited.

For. Ever.

I swear it seemed like days.

So I walked back up to the counter to inform them that my friend was losing a lot of blood and was in extreme pain and could we please be seen.

A few more prodding conversations and they sent us back to see a doctor.

They obviously thought they were smarter than me. 

They were not.

Once we were situated in the room and I found the button that you push to get medical attention, it started again.

Well, first I began using the phone in the room. I called IT's roommate and my suite mate to let them know where we were.

I think I may have called them a few times.

Then I alerted the nurse that my friend was in substantial pain and needed some meds.

However, she hadn't eaten in a while so they probably needed to bring her some food.

So they came in with graham crackers, apple juice, and Tylenol.

I will say that I am surprised they didn't come in and stitch her chin up earlier than they did, I was probably more than a little annoying.

Although maybe they found us entertaining.

I can't remember how long it was before the good-looking doctor came in to take care of the wound.

You see, the ER we went to was at the University hospital, where most of the doctors are young residents. Always a bonus.

(Unless you are there because you don't know what is wrong with you and you are crying and the cute resident thinks it is because you are pregnant and scared. When really it is because you are scared and alone. But that's another story for another day.)

So, cute doctor assess the injury, decides it does, in fact, need stitches and begins the process of sewing IT back together.

While I watched.

Which is so not like me.

I think I was mesmerized by the cute doctor.

Either way, I just wanted to provide everyone with proof that, when needed, I can handle an emergency situation.

Miscellany Monday

[one.] I can't believe we are in the last week of July. Where did the time go??

[two.] Sad news. I did not get to go to Tucson this past weekend. I missed out on a ton of fun and I'm only barely recovering from it. Not to mention the lack of eegee's in my life...

[three.] Last night we took family pictures with PapaBear's side of the family. If my count is correct there were 36 people, ages 1 to 80-ish, in the mix. To say that it was chaotic is an understatment.

[four.] I am working on a new project and would love your support! Please visit Restore Our Border to learn more about it and see how you can help.

New Feature

You'll notice a new feature to the left of the posts now.

I have listed most of the people who have appeared in the blog and who they are in my life.

I left people out who haven't appeared much.

If they decide to be more entertaining they will earn a place on the list.

Character Development

Ok, I'll tell you all a little bit about NG.

Let's start with how this whole thing got started.

Sissy's friend, Cowgirl*, lives in a super small town in southern AZ. She and Sissy went to college together and have been friends ever since.

I traveled a lot for my last job and anytime I was in her part of the world, I would stay with her family.

She is a wonderful person and a total kick in the pants!

Her husband is in farm and ranch realty, so when the market took a dump, Cowgirl got a job at the local restaurant/bar as a bartender to supplement their income.

So a couple of weeks before the Fourth of July, Cowgirl called Sissy up and said, "I have the perfect guy for Airplane."

She actually wanted me to come down that weekend, but I had plans with BiggieSmalls, so I couldn't swing it.

I called up Cowgirl and we decided that the Fourth would be good.

Now, let me stop here to tell you that I was a little leery of this whole thing. But a few things made me go:

1. I don't talk to Cowgirl much at all, so for her to meet someone and think of me, was a little strange.

2. No one has ever said, "I have the perfect person for you." I figured it was worth a shot.

3. If it all went south in the beginning, I knew that I would have fun with Cowgirl no matter what, so there was no downside.

Ok, fast forward to the weekend. Originally, I wasn't supposed to meet NG until Saturday afternoon, but when I got to her house, Cowgirl informed me that we were meeting a couple of her friends at the bar where she works and that he would be meeting us there.

I was a little nervous, I hadn't really prepared to meet him quite yet.

I'll tell you what I knew about him at this point: He is a federal agent. His mom lives in rural New York. He is about 5'11. He is hilarious.

He got there quite a bit after we did and we were in the back room of the bar with a group of people when he arrived. He and I didn't get a chance to talk much, but I was able to watch him interact with other people. I thought he was nice and funny. There were a few things about him that I didn't love.

One being that he smokes. Although Cowgirl informed me that he was trying to quit.

I learned that he is law enforcement for a federal agency and has a police dog for that job. He has two nephews, who live in another state (Michigan, I think). He thinks they are holy terrors. He knows most of the people in this small town and they all like talking to him.

As I mentioned previously, we were supposed to see him on Saturday, but a lot of issues prevented that from happening until the end of the night when we were headed home.

So it was Sunday at the BBQ when I got to learn  a lot more about him. 

I learned that he has two sisters (and maybe a brother - I can't believe that I can't remember). He enjoys his job and he loves guns! He is, in fact, trying to quit smoking. And he is very nice.

I really enjoyed meeting him. And I wouldn't mind hanging out with him again in the future.

The problem is that he lives three hours away. And my job is crazy busy right now, and likely will be through November 3.

So, you may hear more about him some time in the future. I can't be sure.

Number 200

This is my 200th post on this blog.

How did that happen?

Who knew I would have so many stories to tell.

I guess anyone who knows me would know that.

It is no secret that I LOVE to talk.

When I was in college a friend once said to me, "I think there are so many words inside of you that if you stopped talking you would actually explode."

That still makes me smile.

Maybe I should have been offended.

I wasn't.

I thought about giving something away in honor of this milestone, but what do I have that you want? 

I don't really make crafty things.

And if I did - trust me, you wouldn't want them.

I'm not really good at that.

I could send you a Mary Kay lip gloss, but Banana already did that, and I hate to be a copycat.

I have some jars of jalapeño jam that Match, BFL, and I made. They are DELISH!

If you want one of those, leave a comment and maybe I'll send you one.

I just thought about it and if I actually posted a blog every day, I would be well above the 200 mark.

I'm sorry.

I try to do better. Really I do.

 Either way - thank you to all of my loyal readers.

I hope that you find as much entertainment in reading the blogs as I do in writing them.

I hope to see you for the next 200.

(And hopefully they will come a lot faster...)

A Handful?

I just finished a meeting with one of my clients.

I adore this woman!

She is the reason that I am still at my job.

(Well her and the fact that I get to see O'Dub everyday.)

Either way, I was walking her out and we got on the subject of my love life (HA!) and do you know what she said?!?!

She said that she knew love was in my future, but it was going to take a pretty self-assured  man because I am a handful.

Me?

A handful? 

I don't even believe it...

:)

Wednesday Wisdom

“Life is all about timing...the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable...attainable. Have the patience, wait it out.”

― Stacey Charter Patience is one thing that I struggle with every day. Match has been telling me all my life that "patience is a virtue." But I'll tell you - it is one that I do not have. If you think about it in your daily lives - throw a prayer in that I learn patience.

In Love

Holy mother of all that is good and holy.

I am IN LOVE!

And I don't care who knows it.

Way back around 1990, PapaBear took Bunner, Sissy, and me to a Phoenix Suns game. Back when they still played in the "Madhouse on McDowell." Our seats were totally in the nosebleed section, but it was great fun!

PapaBear bought us a Phoenix Suns pennant and a Dan Majerle poster.

That poster changed my life forever!

It had a black background, with a black and white picture of Thunder Dan. He was shirtless and was flexing his biceps. Between the palm of one hand the bicep on the same arm he held a basketball. At the bottom, in small white font it said, The measure of man is what he does with power. - Pittacus

I fell in love. Dan Majerle made life worth living.

I laminated the poster and hung it up in my room.

In 1995, the Suns traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers for John "Hot Rod" Williams. I was devastated. I boycotted the Suns. My heart was broken!

I was a freshman in high school and PapaBear got me tickets to the game when the Cavaliers came to Phoenix, so I could watch Dan play again. He had a great game! And "Hot Rod" was injured and couldn't play.

That poster moved with me to our new house my junior year of high school where it hung on the inside of our closet door.

Until Sissy took it down a couple of years later and threw it away.

Heart broken again!

So, here I am at the age of 29, thinking that my childhood crush had dissipated.

Not the case.

I was at a business breakfast this morning when I noticed a tall guy walking by the window, I looked up to find none other than Dan Majerle!

It is safe to say that I freaked out. I blushed and started giggling, and I couldn't stop.

I'm still as in love as I was 20 years ago.

He is so SMOKIN' HOT!

Just trying to find a picture to post was difficult because I loved them all!

And now, I will begin my search for a copy of that poster with renewed vigor.

I NEED that poster!

Miscellany Monday

{A.} Since returning from the tropics I've had an obsession with coconut. I think it is my way of trying to hold on to vacation, but thankfully, Sissy had Coconut Cream Coffeemate this morning to keep the feeling alive!

{B.} Last week I got a coconut cream Italian soda at the coffee shop and when O'Dub tasted it he said it felt like he was drinking sunscreen. 

{C.} As a "welcome back from vacation" gift, my boxing coach decided that I would start sparring last week. On Wednesday, I sparred with him and on Thursday with a woman. It didn't go as well as I would have liked.

{D.} I have a dream of spending one whole day cooking. Really doing nothing but making a bunch of recipes that are piling up in my "need to try" box. Does anyone want to take bets on whether or not that will happen in this lifetime?

{E.} Is it Friday yet? At the end of this week I will head down to Tucson for the night to partake in a little dancing and drinking with the Arizona Cattle Growers Association. I am so EXCITED!! (and I'm sure there will be at least one stop at eegee's!)

The Devil is in the Details

Ok, I have a million things to get done and I'm sitting at the computer blogging and talking to CageFighter. Someone please stop me!

We'll start off with CageFighter...

For those of you who don't know, CageFighter and I went to high school together. He was a little younger than me, but he was on the basketball team and I was the stat girl for the team. When we would go on road trips, I would sit at the front of the bus with the coaches and the other stat girl (who happened to be my BFF at the time). CageFighter would typically sit in the seat right behind me and talk nonstop. Usually saying something silly and telling me he loved me. The coaches would get tired of hearing him talk and would tell him to shut up or go to the back of the bus. So he would head to the back of the bus.

I should break now to tell you that he was on the JV team and he was a pretty scrawny kid. Although he always had really well-defined biceps. (Weird that I remember that.)

So, he would head to the back of the bus, where the older (and much bigger) guys would inevitably beat him up. Then he would come back to the front and sit as quietly as he could for a while.

Even back then, I was always in his corner. I wanted him to win. To be the star of the game. It never happened.

After he graduated he began training in MMA while also going to college. The next time I saw him was probably about two years after he had started training and I just smiled. He could totally kick the ass of any of the guys who beat him up on the basketball bus.

Somewhere around 2006/2007, CageFighter suffered a broken leg during a fight. The injury really set him back and he needed to do some rehab and get back into the sport mentally. So in 2007, he moved to Phuket, Thailand to train out of Tiger Muay Thai. He is the head MMA instructor there, and he also trains for fights.

His ultimate goal is to fight in the UFC and he has to log a couple of Ws in Asia in order to make that happen.

So fast forward to this week. For the last couple of months, he has been training to fight in Martial Combat 6 on ESPNStar.

And he won!!

I'm so proud of him! If you choose to watch the fight video, you will see that he was in great shape (much better than his opponent) and was ready for an all-out war. Unfortunately, I don't think that his opponent took the fight seriously and it ended quickly.

Either way, it was a win, and he's one step closer to fighting in the UFC and me watching from the front row!

If you want to watch the fight, you can do that here. Search "Ray Elbe" and you are looking for the fight versus Alan Fernandes.

While I was searching for the fight (yes, I think I have become a groupie), I found the promotional video for it and I couldn't stop smiling when I watched it. Hearing him talk about fighting makes me happy. His love for the sport and his job is exciting.

Adorable!

An Island Vacation

Ughh - I'm having serious technical issues!

My computer doesn't want to load pictures. I can't even put them on Facebook.

I don't want to be back in Arizona...

I'm going to do my best to give you the recap on the Bahamas now, without crying that I'm not there.

I got to Glinda's house late Thursday night so that we could put our liquids in one bag and head to the airport early the next morning.

We had a great plan to avoid paying too much in baggage fees. We would all pack our carry-ons with our clothes, bathing suits, and shoes; then we would put all liquids in one bag and check just that bag. (There was some small concern that we would get searched for checking one small duffel bag, but we didn't.)

Before we left Glinda's house on Friday morning, we had a very small breakfast. We landed early in Miami, but for some reason the idiots at the Miami airport couldn't figure out how to get us into a gate so we sat on the tarmac while all chances of grabbing a quick bite to eat vanished before our eyes.


But when we arrived in our room, everything was all of the sudden better.

So we headed downstairs for over-priced pizza and a night swim.


Saturday we spent the morning on the beach and then decided that we needed an adventure. We tried to find the daiquiri place that someone told us about the night before, but we had no luck. 


So we loaded up on the local bus and headed for the market. At our first stop, we had to wait a minute while the driver tweaked the muffler.

One of my favorite things about the Bahamas was that everyone just brings their family and friends to work with them. You have to drive the bus today? No need for a babysitter, just bring the kids along. I think it makes for a very happy workforce. (Unless you don't like your family...)


The market was pretty uneventful, but we stopped by the liquor store as well to pick up a bottle of local coconut rum.


I would say that those two stops (purchases) were probably our best ideas of the trip!


Back at the hotel, we made some sandwiches and headed back to the beach.


That night was when we discovered the Daunte Culpepper was the nice man on the balcony below us and to the right. While we were people watching in the lobby, we noticed a bunch of white guys asking another guy if they could get their picture with him. 


Despite a foolproof plan, Vegas* and I couldn't get Fiero* to go ask for his picture so we had to stop another guy and ask who the famous dude was. 


It wasn't until the next morning that we realized they were the same guy.


Sunday's adventure was a bus trip downtown. Armed with some tips from our friend Connie, we went downtown in search of good local food, $8 rum, and a rickety water taxi.


We found all three!

I mentioned on Monday that we were there for the Independence Day celebrations. I was so excited! (And how awesome are their flag colors?!?)


After a little shopping and a jaunt over to Paradise Island, we decided to go find some lunch at the Fish Fry.


Connie had already warned us that they would try to lure us into Twin Brothers, but that we should avoid it because it was overpriced and touristy.


She had heard from a local that Remelda's Kitchen was the place to go.


Connie hadn't led us astray yet, so we found Remelda's and settled in for a DELICIOUS meal!

(I will post about the food over on Airplane Food in the next day or so.)


We boarded the bus back to the hotel and decided to get off at the stop with the Tricky Daq Shack.

This was not a mistake!!


That sexy man in the background will mix you up a fresh fruit daiquiri and pour it into a plastic cup with a good two and a half shots of rum in it.


For $6.


It was a SMOKIN' deal!


Monday was our last full day in the Bahamas and we decided that we should spend it on the beach all day.


And that is exactly what we did. 


Fiero and I are a little on the pasty white side, and no matter what SPF sunscreen we use, or how often we reapply, we still can't spend much time in the direct sunlight, so we set up camp under a palm-frond shade and settled in for a day of reading, drinking, and relaxing.


I decided that my favorite time of day in the Bahamas is right when the sun starts going down. It cools off quite a bit, the beach gets really quite (read: all of the screaming children head to dinner), but there is still enough light to read.

That night we had a pizza party on the beach and then disrupted some filming of MTV Canada until we got too tired to do anything else.


The trip home was pretty uneventful.


The vacation was well worth it!


It was more than I could have imagined!

Wednesday Wisdom

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

― Howard Thurman I struggle with this every day of my life! But what a great thought! Tell me: What makes you come alive? ps. Bahamian post w/ pictures coming soon. I promise!

Miscellany Monday

one. I am writing this blog from the lobby of my hotel in the Bahamas!!

two. The Bahamas celebrated 37 years of independence on Saturday, July 10. I was here for the celebration, which seemed like more than a coincidence for me.

three. I have lots of plans for blog posts when I return from vacay, I'm hoping that I can deliver.

four. Daunte Culpepper is staying at our hotel. We can actually see his room from our balcony. We spoke to him from our balcony before we realized who he was. He is a very nice guy. (I would include a link to his NFL profile, but I'm in the lobby and I'm afraid he (or one of his hundreds of children) will walk by and see it on the screen.)

five. I miss my nephews more than I thought was physically possible!!

six. Today is O'Dub's birthday! If you get a chance, wish him a happy day. (He's real sad that he doesn't get to spend the day with me...)

seven. I'll be travelling most of tomorrow so it will likely be Wednesday before I post again. Cheyenne, I'll post more details of people. I promise.

A Small Town Fourth of July

As I mentioned last week, I was going to head down to Southern Arizona for the weekend of the Fourth of July.

A friend of mine lives down there with her husband and four children and it is at least ten degrees cooler than home. Plus, she had a nice gentleman that she wanted me to meet. So, I packed up my bags (you could say I over packed) and headed south on Friday after work.

A quick stop at eegee's for a strawberry/pina colada eegee and then it was down to Patagonia.

Contrary to O'Dub's belief, there is no time travel required to get there. Just about three hours and one Border Patrol checkpoint.

When I got to the house, all four children attacked me! Maybe not attack, but they followed me into my room and asked me a million questions.

I had to laugh when the younger daughter asked me, Do you have a boyfriend? When I told her that I did not, she replied, You should get one.

If only it were that easy. 

Or men were more reasonable.

We left the kids at home with her hubby and headed to the local watering hole for a few drinks and to meet the nice gentleman. It was a typical small town bar and NG was cute and funny.

On Saturday we took the kids swimming and then hung out until we had to go watch the hubby rope.

NG was supposed to meet us at the fairgrounds, but there were some timing, communication, and kid issues, so we ended up only seeing him on our way back to the house around 10 pm.

Sunday was a big day - we had to go to the parade, street fair, host a bbq, and then watch fireworks.

For some reason that I will never understand, they scheduled the parade to start at 11 am. I mentioned that it is typically at least 10 degrees cooler down south, but it was every bit of 90 degrees when the parade started and that is hot to just be sitting in the sun.

NG had to drive his work truck in the parade and the kiddos wanted to get candy, so he waved as he drove by and then came and found us when his parade route was over. 

Sidenote: O'Dub has never been to a parade where they threw candy. WHAT? I'm sad for him.

We all headed down to the street fair for some lunch and sno-cones. After about 10 minutes, NG (I'm pretty sure realizing that he was going to need some alcohol to deal with the madness) decided to run home to change out of his uniform. We took the kids to the jumping castle, got our snacks, and headed out of there before I started disciplining other people's children.

We missed NG's return and the kids needed naps so we went home to begin preparing for our BBQ later in the evening. When hubby got home, we ran to town for a few last minute supplies and a cold beer.

The BBQ was a HIT and we made some delicious food that I will post about on Airplane Food sometime next week. Although I will warn you right now that it wasn't even a little bit healthy.

NG came to the party and we enjoyed a nice conversation before we rode to the fireworks together. The fireworks show was AMAZING! I absolutely LOVE fireworks - they are in my top 10 favorite things of all time! And I was super impressed by this small town production.

After fireworks were over, we headed back to the house and NG and I chatted while the kids ran around the yard with sparklers.

It was really a great Independence Day weekend!

(And I got another eegee on the way home!!)

Wednesday Wisdom

"In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive." - Lee Iacocca Wow - where in the world have I been? I get daily quotes in my email and this was today's. It happened to be quite perfect for my life. Work has been crazy lately. We are working on some pretty tight deadlines and some portions of the work are out of my control. (You can imagine how crazy that makes me...) I will try to get a recap of my small town Fourth up soon.

Just a Quick Update

A real quick update on a few things.

First, I had the follow-up from my skin cancer screening biopsies on Tuesday. And while there is no cause for immediate concern, one of them did come back as precancerous. 

Typically, I am the kind of person who asks a lot of questions. For some reason, (perhaps I was kind of in shock) I didn't ask the doctor one question after he told me that.

What I gathered from what he did say was that it basically means that I am at a higher risk for skin cancer than the normal person. And I'll have to get screened annually. NBD, right?

I'm going to have to up the SPF on my sunscreen to be safe!

Moving on...I was in Target yesterday. That store is so very dangerous for me!

Either way, I was walking past the make-up section and you'll never guess what they had:

Caboodles!!

I am not kidding! I thought they quit making those when I was in junior high. You have no idea how important caboodles were to Sissy, BFL, and me during our formative years!

I didn't get one, but I can't promise that I won't go back.

The only problem is that they don't really travel well - they take up A LOT of space.

Oh well.

Superfan brought me flowers today! She is such a great sister!

I think that does it for now.

If I don't see you before, please have a safe holiday weekend and enjoy celebrating your independence!