Category Archives: Uncategorized

Note to self: Shut your mouth.

mouthSo, my sixteen year old son got his first speeding ticket.

Before you judge, know that he was reprimanded sufficiently and that he will be paying the fine.  And that the ticket was reduced to a defective vehicle violation.

He also beat himself up about it more than sufficiently, as he was clearly upset and remorseful. Days later, as his remorse continued, I decided that the best way to make him feel better about the whole thing would be to begin recounting my litany of violations and mistakes with regard to automobiles when I was young.  I was on a roll and my stories kept getting better and better.

As the words rushed out of my mouth at full speed, MacGyver looked at me puzzled, as if wondering why I thought this was a good idea. But I didn’t get the hint.

Then at some point, thank goodness, I realized that I needed to shut my mouth.  But … as it is on many occasions … it was too late.  I have only my lack of caffeine that morning to blame for this lapse in judgement.  Duh.

Ever realized you needed to shut your mouth when it was too late?

Really, it’s not you, it’s me…

snowYes snow, you’re beautiful …  and the way you fall quietly sometimes calms me like no other …  but I’m over you.

These pics are from the last two days, then we got a reprieve most of yesterday, and now it has started again.  And it’s coming down aplenty outside my window right now.

Meanwhile my friends elsewhere are posting wonderful pics of their beautiful Redbud trees and colorful flowers on Facebook which reminds me of how fresh and new Spring  is going to feel.  And even though I think I have really become a Colorado girl at heart,  I’m ready to end this relationship, or at least take a break.

However … if this is my biggest problem today (which is sort of, kind of is … depending on how you look at it) … then I’m doing pretty good.

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Who’s making you crazy today?

openheartI urge you to let it go.

And you should urge me to do the same.  Because sometimes I’m great at giving advice, but horrible at listening to it for myself.

This is something that I’m working on. And it’s a tough one for me.

When people disappoint me, I have to remind myself that:

a) it’s rarely ever personal and who knows what  is going on in the other person’s life that I may not know about,

b) it does no good to waste my energy being disappointed,

c) negative thoughts just attract more negative energy,

d) it takes away from me being present and in the moment, and finally …

e) there is probably something I could learn from it.

So there you have it.

What disappointment or frustration are you going to let go of right now?

Can YOUR dog empty the dishwasher in 5 seconds flat?

monkeydogfeatIt was a usual exciting Saturday morning and I was upstairs folding laundry as I drank my coffee.  Suddenly I heard a commotion so loud that I was sure that all of my kitchen cabinets had fallen from our kitchen walls.

Apparently I left the dishwasher door open while I was upstairs. And Monkey Dog was hungry.

Based on the evidence shown here in Exhibit A, I’m speculating that Monkey Dog decided to crawl into the dishwasher with the dirty dishes (I promise we do feed her).  From there, all I can hypothesize (based on the aftermath) is that perhaps her collar became hooked on a rack which startled her, prompting her to jump back and create enough momentum to launch the wheeled dish rack across the kitchen?

As you can see, the lower dishwasher rack  ended up several feet away from the dishwasher, at an angle no less.

Amazingly, only three plates were broken and I was able to repair the dishwasher rack, since the wheels literally came off. And Monkey Dog was unharmed.

Let the records show that Monkey Dog is not a Great Dane, but rather a “mini” Golden Doodle, weighing just 25 pounds. And, as I’ve written about before, she keeps her retractable, opposable thumbs hidden until we leave her in the kitchen alone. (Which is why we’ve decided it’s time to install a 24/7 Monkey Dog Kitchen Cam.)Piper

Not surprisingly, she was afraid to go near the dishwasher for the rest of the day.

Can your dog unload the dishwasher that fast?

Related posts:

https://lifeonwry.com/2013/01/28/monkey-dog-does-the-bacon-boogie/

https://lifeonwry.com/2012/08/27/iron-stomach-part-352-gratitude-experiment-continues-day-14/

Painting my way to the center.

paint 3

I knew once I started noticing the birds outside the window and doing a mental inventory of my art teacher’s studio that I had learned about as  much painting technique as my limited attention span could handle. My instructor taught me how to paint with acrylics last spring (because it was on my 2012 bucket list).  She was wonderful and made me realize that there is no such thing as a bad painting and you can always paint over anything you think is a ‘mistake.’

However I started to notice toward the end of our time together that my teacher closely followed her own set of painting rules.  I’m not big on rules, and especially letting layers of paint dry which most artists do.  So by the end of our time together I couldn’t help but think about how many paintings I could crank out  in one third the time we were taking to do one in class.  Clearly I’m not big on details and patience is far from a virtue of mine, so it was time to fly the coop.  I now create paintings whenever I need a mental break or need to procrastinate.

As I paint sometimes I like to take progress photos.  With this large, 4′ x 2′ painting, my goal was to create my own interpretation of another painting (see bottom pic and photos of the three phases of its life).

It may be because my head cold is making me delirious and more reflective than usual, but some life lessons which were at work as I did this painting have come to mind:

-In the beginning I had no idea how to start but threw some paint on the canvas and started anyway without over thinking it.  (Over-analysis leads to paralysis. Just do it.)

-I had doubts during the  first phase, but powered on. I could always reuse the canvas.  (Gag the self-doubt gremlins and keep on keepin’ on.)

-I had to  level-set my expectations for the final result (it was going to be my version of the other painting, it didn’t have to look just like the inspiration painting).

-I’m pretty sure I was 95 percent relaxed while I did this painting (even though I was most suredly procrastinating something else like touring nursing facilities for my mother).  But for the most part, I set everything else aside once I got going. (I got out of my head and relaxed and breathed.)

-I could have easily said ‘I don’t have time’ to paint that day.  (But I made time because I was feeling out of balance … whether I realized it on a conscious level or not.)

The end result is a cool painting that is somewhat similar to the inspiration piece but I actually like mine better.

And you know that theory about finding a creative outlet to relieve stress?  It works.

In fact, the benefits of any kind of focused artistic creation (painting, collaging, gardening, photography, writing, you  name it) are said to include distraction, flow (getting completely engaged in something to the point of almost meditating) and  balance.

All of these things help you become more centered which really feels good.  Pretty cool concept.  I’m grateful that I’ve learned this.

What have you created lately?

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Phase 1

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Phase 2

paint 3

My final painting.

patricia-quintero

Inspiration piece.

Because sometimes you need to make a wrong turn.

berthoud pass

This is one side of the pass. And this pic was taken while it was dry. During the white-out that I drove in, you wouldn’t be able to see the road from this vantage point because of the blowing snow.

I sat up in my seat as straight as I could, like there was an ironing board strapped to my back.  I barely spoke a word as my friend tried to ease the tension with idle conversation.  My eyes were peeled as wide open as I could get them and staring straight ahead as my hands gripped that steering wheel for life. The snow was blowing so hard that I could barely see the car in front of me as we traversed hair pin turn after hair pin turn.  I knew I had to keep up with that white suburban in front of me because his tail lights were helping me see where the road was.

This treacherous trek was the result of my friend and I missing a turn during the four hour trip home from the horse clinic in the mountains a couple weeks ago (What I learned from Babe).  We got to talking so much that once we realized that we missed the turn, we were far enough into the other route home that the gal at the convenience store said we should stay on course and probably end up saving time taking this route home from Steamboat anyway.

I knew this route home involved Berthoud Pass which terrifies me in snowy conditions and I usually let my husband drive it while I close my eyes and breathe deeply or look at my phone to distract myself until we get through it. I’m convinced the reason that mountain real estate is cheaper on the other side of Berthoud is because so many people like me dread this pass in the snow.

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Photo from The Colorado Highways Site.

But it was bright, sunny and warm as I got back into the car after asking the store clerk. If I had known about the snow storm that would be hitting just as we climbed the pass – just over 30 minutes ahead – I would have turned my car around at the convenience store lickety-split and paid no mind to the time we would lose in doing so.

Needless to say, it was a white- knuckle drive all the way up and back down this pass that terrifies me (all 24 miles of it).  Once we began our upward climb and the snow started to make it hard to see, there was no turning back.  We were committed.  All I could hear in my mind over and over was ‘just keep swimming, just keep swimming.’  (This seems to be my latest life motto.)

And we did it.  MacGyver gave me a huge high-five upon my return home because he knew what an accomplishment it was for me to get over my fears and JUST DO IT on that damn pass, and in a white-out no less.  Now when I drive it this summer I won’t even think twice about being afraid of it.  And that, my friends, ROCKS.

Once again — just as the trusty universe knows exactly when I need to take The Long Way Home — the universe  knew that I needed to make that wrong turn.  And for that I am grateful.

What’s the best wrong turn you’ve ever taken?

On mortality.

chinese proverb

A high school friend of mine died yesterday.  He was 43. Cancer won the battle with his body.

We didn’t stay in touch really other than Facebook and barely at that. And we talked at our last reunion.

But I can see his face.  And I can’t quit thinking about him, his family, and our own mortality.

He was one of the class hunks in high school, with a heart of gold. He will be missed by many.

I see death as a reminder to live, and to do so with honesty, intention and abandon that is even reckless, at least a few times.

How do you see it?

Photo from http://shop.holstee.com/

Photo from http://shop.holstee.com/.
This is framed on my kitchen wall.

Level-setting expectations is half the battle.

lionquote
MacGyver often reminds me that not everyone lacks any type of duplicitous bone in their body.  And that my life would be much simpler if I wasn’t so completely lacking in this area (although he appreciates this quality in me).  And that not everyone is completely honest and upfront with their feelings, quite the contrary actually.   And that most suredly everyone’s priorities are quite different for various reasons, even if this is sometimes hard to understand.

That’s why I had to share this quote posted by a friend today.

So very true and such a great reminder…

Any expectations you need to fine-tune today?

Happy Hump day!

A big slice of gratitude with a side of nature.

horsenose

very inspiringversatile_blogger_award

I’m feeling quite lucky to have so many reasons to be grateful today.

I just realized that not too long ago my little ol’ blog reached over 10,000 views!  Thank you dear followers for being with me on this journey as I figure out life (Do we ever really figure it out?).  You are the reason for this blog’s success.

I’m also truly grateful to have had the opportunity to experience one of the most beautiful places on earth over the weekend at a guest horse ranch in the mountains.  Nothing like nature and animals, along with a lack of cell service, email and television to help you recharge.

I’ve also been remiss in formally thanking some wonderful  fellow bloggers out there who have nominated me for two awards. I am always honored and humbled to be celebrated by fellow writers out there.

Special thanks to Food Flavor Fascination for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blog Award and Glad to Be Alive  and Dressed to Quill  for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award.  I’m nominating them today for whichever of these awards they don’t already have. These are all great blogs you should check out, by the way.

Here are the rules: 1.  Copy and place the award in your post.  2.  Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.  3.  Tell 7 things about yourself. 4.  Nominate 15 fellow bloggers and let them know.

redrhonebaby

Now for seven things about myself which you don’t already know (I’m afraid there may not be much left to tell since my blog is quite often a large window into a chunk of my soul, so forgive me if I repeat myself.)

1.  I really can’t stand the overuse of exclamation marks.  More than one at any time seems way too overboard to be sincere.

2. I have almost completely quit drinking diet coke.  This is huge for me.

3. I will probably never quit drinking coffee or martinis.  If I owned two horses I would name them Folgers and Hendricks.

4. The smell of horses and even what they leave behind (pun sort of intended) soothes my soul, as does the gentle sway of their walk with me in the saddle and way my heart  skips in a canter.

5. The velvety soft tip of a horse’s nose is one of my favorite things to feel.  I had a few nibble on my hands this weekend when they were looking for treats as I did this.

6. I am quite possibly more saddle sore today than I have ever been.  Age is a funny thing.alhorses

7.  I am grateful as all-get-out (Okie term) to be this saddle sore and for the fact that MacGyver rode horses with me and now just might be a convert.

Next, there are so many blogs that I enjoy, but I have to narrow it down to 15 bloggers to nominate for these awards (choose which award you would like because you all inspire me and your blog is versatile or I wouldn’t be following it).   Forgive me if you have already received these awards.  There are also many blogs not listed here that I love to follow but may have already given a shout-out too.

Each of these blogs, and many others, inspires me, refreshes me or makes me laugh so hard that I spit out my Folgers. And often they give me a necessary kick-in-the- pants perspective-check right when I need it.

Lifestyle Tea

Fresh Hues

Cancer Killing Recipe

Amy Unjaded

Alzheimer’s Speaks

Enchanted Seashells – Confessions from a Tugboat Captain’s Wife

The Savvy Senorita

Lady Romp

Cresting the Words

Susie Lindau’s Wold Ride

Food Flavor Fascination

Glad to Be Alive 

Dressed to Quill

Diane Gray author

Keeping the Glass Half Full

Thank you for reading.  What are you grateful for right now?  Gratitude truly rocks, but it often requires awareness, practice, and sometimes a sore bum.

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Y.O.L.O

My kids make fun of me because I learn what these abbreviations mean right about the time they are passé.

Thought I would share this one… Thanks Savvy Senorita!

The Savvy Senorita's avatarThe Savvy Senorita

“You only live once” – a reference used to provide a green light for, or excuse something someone wishes to do that perhaps others may frown upon.

If it is true – and I am not debating reincarnation, afterlife, or any other religious belief here really, I am just acting on the assumption that life will only occur once for all of us who inhabit the planet.
So once again, IF IT IS TRUE, IF WE ONLY LIVE ONCE then we ought to be a bunch of selfish, self centred, self serving, egotistical meat heads?????????????????? Shouldn’t we????????

Why concern ourselves with politics, law, money and love??? Why abide by the rules, accumulate as much material wealth as possible, fixate on our health and diets???

We are only ever going to get one chance to live, therefore why weren’t we all born with ‘rockets’ attached to bottoms, which would spur us on from the…

View original post 334 more words

Making a Splash of a Different Kind. PS: I take back every blonde joke I ever wanted to make about Daryl Hannah.

Daryl Hannah TransamAs MacGyver tells me when I get riled up about how unrealistic movies can be, “Honey, it’s only a movie,” I should know better. But back in the day, most movies I saw Daryl Hannah in depicted her in a way that did not make me think of her as a potentially intelligent and interesting person. I fell for her movie typecast, and she in turn raked in some paychecks with that role she was so good at playing.

Today I heard her in an interview on XM radio discussing her new movie project, “Greedy Lying Bastards,” which she produced.  I haven’t seen it yet, so I’m not promoting it.  But I liked listening to her and I was pleasantly surprised. (For those of you who want to quit reading now, you can skip to the best part of this post at the end – look for the asterisks.)

But before you quit reading, know that I am not an over the top liberal.  But I am open minded and I do believe that every action has a reaction.  And there is no way that we can keep increasing our pollution and not expect any consequences. (I did recently trade in my beast of an SUV for a smarter version with much better gas mileage  –  but that’s for selfish reasons to boot.)

I know some of you will automatically be offended by the name of this movie alone and therefore never see it, which makes me question the naming because it would seem to defeat the purpose of getting people to open their minds to at least learning other views of what’s going on with our environment. And to consider why it might seem logical that efforts to change how we consume energy might be thwarted by those whose pocket book would be affected negatively by such change.  To me that makes sense, as does having an open mind to this concept – and to opposing concepts, quite frankly.

(The rest of you who have no problem with the name and are instead checking to see when it comes out and where — it opens nationally March 8.)

Lest I get all political, let me just wrap up by saying  that the best part of listening to that interview was to learn that Daryl practices what she preaches, she makes good practical sense and is she is realistic when she discusses the need to be aware of simply taking care of the world we live in a little better.

*******But the best of all….. I learned that Daryl Hannah owns and drives that TransAm she drove in Kill Bill.  She’s had it converted so that it runs on pure ethanol.  I wonder if she keeps her eye patch in the glove box?

Green Eggs, Some Ham and a Side of Life.

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“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”

― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

A fellow blogger reminded me of the sheer genius of Dr. Seuss and his books —  joyfully rhythmic and seemingly silly, yet all the while spinning wonderful life lessons about the challenges of life and what we can achieve if we set our minds to it.

My boys’ favorite Seuss book was “If I ran the circus” which was originally my husband’s book when he was a child.  I so vividly remember reading it to them and how we would all recite certain parts in unison upon each reading.  Those days went by so very quickly and I had no idea just how quickly the months and years would pass.

Lucky for me, they have turned out to be quite wonderful young men.  And I must give Dr. Seuss partial credit. 🙂

Theodor Seuss Geisel surrounded by his literary works. He holds one of his most popular, The Cat in the Hat.

Theodor Seuss Geisel surrounded by his literary works. He holds one of his most popular, The Cat in the Hat.

About Dr. Seuss

Born March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts, Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer, poet, and cartoonist most widely known for his children’s books written under the pen names Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSieg and, in one case, Rosetta Stone.  He died in 1991 in La Jolla, California, one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.

He sold over two million books including some of his most popular: “The Cat In The Hat,” “The Sneetches,” “Green Eggs & Ham,” “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” and “How The Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Yet, even Dr. Seuss was rejected.

His first book, “And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street” was rejected 27 times before he finally got a yes. 

One of his most famous rejection letter excerpts read, “This is too different from other juveniles on the market to warrant its selling.”  Wikipedia

Good for Seuss for not giving up. And good for us, indeed.

Related p0st:  http://samanthamcgarry.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/a-letter-to-dr-seuss/