Excuse Me, I Have a Question......

This has become a catch phrase in our family.  About four years ago I had the opportunity to stay with Richard and Stacy's five kids (and one friend of Mitchell's) while they went to Mexico for a week. So that was six kids, one dog, and one cat. I knew I would need re-enforcements so I asked Ashley if she would come along and be my helper inasmuch as it had been a few (just a few) years since ......... since I had lived with that much energy.  So while we were there we took the kids to the beach........this was in the days before Garmins and yes we got a bit turned around, aka lost.  So there we were at a red light wondering which way to go and Ashley rolls down the window and ever so politely says to the car next to us, "excuse me, I have a question?"  The question being which way to the beach.  The driver looked at us and shook his head in a "I don't know fashion".........the light changed and off he sped leaving us still a bit turned around.  Next time Ashley ask someone from California.........the guy was from out of state.......or at least his plates were!

I love that memory and even more I love that to this day when a question needs to be asked we still say, "Excuse me, I have a question?"

Sometimes....

Sometimes we see eye to eye.....

Sometimes we don't.....

And sometimes we just have to walk away.....

Go Green

I love what happens just days after the first rains!  It's like the hills have just been waiting to get that first drink so they too can go green.  It happens every year.

And then this little trooper; the California Poppy.  Popping up in the most unlikely place and thriving! Talk about bloomin' where you are planted!  I love it!

Hey this is my 100th post; sounds habit forming.

Ideas

1.   I saw an idea;
2.   I loved it;
3.   Sold it to Mr. Man in a round about way;
4.   I saw another idea which greatly improved first idea;
5.   I was given more ideas to add to the idea;
6.   Now where to put the idea;
7.   Conflicted on how to make the idea happen;
8.   The first idea was simple but change orders have changed all that;
9.   Now I'm overwhelmed with the idea;
10. Alas, I'm losing sleep over the idea!

This is the hardest part - I see something, I want to own it/do it, but something always seems to happen between the beginning and the end.  I like simple but I can't seem to do simple.  It is the change orders - they mess me up every time!

Labels

Today I’ve been thinking about labels; the adjective kind not the sticker kind. I don’t know why these thoughts came to me today but they just did. So what about labels? The world is full of them. Rich, poor, loser, winner, conservative, happy, good, bad, ugly, beautiful, sweet, smart, cranky, lazy, energetic, positive, negative, liberal, funny, dull, you get the idea. It seems for every “good” label there is usually an opposite label that is not so flattering.

One label in particular that crossed my mind is the idea of being perfect. Being perfect is certainly a lofty goal but for most of us perfection is not something we will attain in this life. Perfection is something we can and should strive for and work toward. But regrettably our humanness can get in the way. I think about the words in the Primary Song, “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus.” The words, “I’m trying to be like Jesus; I’m following in his way. I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say. At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice, but I try to listen as the still small voice whispers, “love one another as Jesus loves you. Try to show kindness in all that you do. Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought, for these are the things Jesus taught.”

I read once, “You can’t always be perfect, but you can have a life that’s about being something.”

The life of Christ is my perfect example. But there are others who motivate me to want have perfection in my life and that is my grandchildren. They are perfect to me. And because of them I strive toward that perfect label.

How do you know

It is so hard to know what is good to eat anymore.  Good for you I should say!  I know what is good to eat!  I don't have a problem with that.  I know that I can no longer eat candy after nine; no hiding candy bars to snack on in bed!  I watched an episode of Bonnie Hunt the other day and she had on Author David Zinczenko, he wrote the book"Eat This Not That" scary..........this isn't a diet it is just knowledge of what is good/ok to eat and what we should avoid!  Take this quiz.........you might be surprised and what you learn Eat This Not That Quiz.  I think I just might need to check out this book..........

Today

So today, well not today but 38 years old today my mother was painting the eves of the new home our parents had built and we were going to be moving into in December. A ladder was being used that's important to remember.  Thirty-eight years ago November 6th was actually on a Saturday.  The next day, November 7th my brother was born.  Did you catch that......painting up on a ladder one day had a baby the next!  Wow, who does that..........our mother - she was a trooper! 

So an interesting fact about my brother's birthday; he was born on our grandmother's birthday. He was mom's last baby.  Our grandmother's last baby also a boy was born on her mother's birthday. Did I say that right? 

Happy Birthday Bro!

A Habit

A habit is by definition an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary; like the habit of looking both ways before crossing the street. So how long does it take to form a habit? I've read that simple repetitive tasks require a timeframe of approximately 21 days to condition. I've also read around 30-40 repetitions for most people. So I've been thinking about this idea of forming a habit, having just come off a month (31 days) of 31 for 21. I should be right on the brink of a habit that is formed. But last year after 31 for 21 the forming of a habit didn't take. I blogged 5 times in November, skipped December, twice in January, once in February; not much of a habit there. This year I hope to do better, that is my desire. But then again a habit by definition can be defined as something you wear........I could be in trouble!

Carpool Lanes

The carpool lane is a new way to make the freeway operate better. The lane is provided by allowing high-occupancy vehicles their own lane during peak commuter hours; in our area between 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and in the afternoon from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. It doesn't take much to be considered high-occupancy; in our case just two people! We fit the bill perfectly. It is interesting to me that not only are signs posted regarding the qualifications to be in said lane but also the fine attached to it if you are there and don't have that extra person with you.  Currently that fine is $281.00; not sure what they are going to do with that extra dollar but apparently the state has some use for it.  Maybe they should post the fine for speeding; would that make people slow down?

Now that the time has changed our commute takes place both coming and going in the dark. As we are "buzzin'" by we see a lot of red lights!  Sometimes it can be a little un-nerving because we are moving and the other two lanes are just crawling along.  It is crazy to think that all they need is just one more person in their car and then they too could enjoy the ride!

What Do You Gotta Do.........

to get a drink around here??

Anatomy of a Near Miss

Driving in the left-hand lane on Hwy 101 near King City, CA
Pickup truck rapidly approaching in our lane
Quickly move to the right-hand lane and slow down
Pickup truck passes
Pickup truck then cuts in front of us and drives onto the shoulder
Rocks and dirt are flying
Pickup truck driver (PTD) wakes up
Pickup truck shoots back across both lanes to median (PTD still waking up)
Pickup truck takes a wild ride down the median
"Hold on," I shout………"hold on"; it was like watching a PBR event
PTD gains control and avoids rolling over
PTD gets back on the highway
PTD takes the next off ramp
We let out a collective sigh of relief
We collect our thoughts and thank the angels who were riding with us and the PTD