Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

little girl found

You didn't think I'd leave you hanging did you? 

In this blog, our stories don't end with being irreparably lost.  In this blog, we find the light.  We dig out.  We move forward.  And trust me when I say, I've been there.  I've been where you are.  Whether you're flying high in the clouds and receiving all of life's blessings or down in the pit of despair, I share ALL of those feels with you.  I really really do.  

I've felt the cold ceramic tile of a lonely bathroom floor as my tears puddled underneath my cheek.  I know the challenge of getting off that floor when I'd have rather just sunk into the concrete laid beneath.  I can't tell you that getting up is easy or quick.  Hell, I can't really tell you that the pain will ever end in its entirety but I can tell you that if you don't get off the floor, you'll never know what road that one solitary step will lead you down.  

So here I am, in this strange and wild blogosphere again - just trying to find my voice.  The journey is the reward.  Or that is what I tell myself.  In telling my stories or retelling the stories I hear and have learned from, I hope to continue building up my fortress of peace.  Because we can't do this alone, can we?  And what good is learning and growing if we don't find some way to share that with the world.  My world is smaller now, in a lot of ways.  But I still feel the burn of a voice inside telling me to call out to whoever will listen.  And so I will call out.  I will yell it for anyone who might be ready to hear...and more importantly, to those who aren't there yet.  

Your wounds are not your worth. That's not mine.  I heard it somewhere.  I don't worry about original thought anymore or original content, really.  What matters is the gravity of the message.  So, let me say it again - YOUR WOUNDS ARE NOT YOUR WORTH.  Your battles help create the warrior inside you.  Reach for resilience.  Just try.  And if you are not ready, remember this - today, this morning, and tomorrow when you awake - well, so far, that means you've had a hundred percent success rate at getting to the next day.  And that, friend, is something!

We are not lost - we are on a journey.  It is sometimes not quite clear where we're headed but what is certain is that we can't get there if we just sit still.  

So, that is my message for this website, blog, treatise, whatever.  No journey ever worth taking was paved with a simple sidewalk.  There will be mountains and valleys and sometimes you will go astray.  Sometimes, you will feel like a little girl lost.  But keep breathing...keep waking up every day....keep moving forward, just a little at a time and I promise that little girl lost will someday be found. 

The Little Girl Found, William Blake
All the night in woe
Lyca's parents go
Over valleys deep,
While the deserts weep.

Tired and woe-begone,
Hoarse with making moan,
Arm in arm, seven days
They traced the desert ways.

Seven nights they sleep
Among shadows deep,
And dream they see their child
Starved in desert wild.

Pale through pathless ways
The fancied image strays,
Famished, weeping, weak,
With hollow piteous shriek.

Rising from unrest,
The trembling woman pressed
With feet of weary woe;
She could no further go.

In his arms he bore
Her, armed with sorrow sore;
Till before their way
A couching lion lay.

Turning back was vain:
Soon his heavy mane
Bore them to the ground,
Then he stalked around,

Smelling to his prey;
But their fears allay
When he licks their hands,
And silent by them stands.

They look upon his eyes,
Filled with deep surprise;
And wondering behold
A spirit armed in gold.

On his head a crown,
On his shoulders down
Flowed his golden hair.
Gone was all their care.

'Follow me,' he said;
'Weep not for the maid;
In my palace deep,
Lyca lies asleep.'

Then they followed
Where the vision led,
And saw their sleeping child
Among tigers wild.

To this day they dwell
In a lonely dell,
Nor fear the wolvish howl
Nor the lion's growl.









Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Did I mention it's the LITTLE things that make life so wonderful?

Of COURSE I did.  It's what this blog is all about after all.  Simple pleasures.  Life's little gifts.  Things that make me/you/us smile, laugh, snicker, ponder, wonder, cry, shout, question and just generally appreciate the seemingly diminutive moments and things that make every day worth living. 

So the subject of today's little thing?  Arugula.  


You heard  me right Arugula is the source of my joy today.  Wanna know why?  (Here's another thing that's great about blogs.  You can answer the question above any way you see fit but no matter what you say or think, I'm gonna keep right on typing.  So it's a win/win.  Navigate away or keep reading....we all get what we want.)  

Oh lord - I can tell digression is going to be central to this posting.  It's been WAAAAY to long.  So here's why Arugula keeps making me grin.....

My sister and I (and any number of other family members who shall remain nameless) were recently thrust into a very emotionally tumultuous event.  While tugging on each other's bootstraps in the midst of a number of melt downs and frustrating moments, my sister and I shared not one...but several moments of bliss centered around a humble little edible plant -- arugula -- also known as eruca sativa, rocket plant, rucola, and  rocquette. 

Let me back up just a bit so that I can confess a total lack of knowledge regarding the vast variety of leafy bits that make up our salads.  I eat A LOT of salads and generally speaking, before now, I could really only point out a couple them by name: iceberg, romaine, cabbage, etc.  Every Saturday I go to the market across the street from our condo.  One particular Saturday not too long ago, I picked up some very large leafed (is that even a word?) arugula.  I felt confident I had arugula prior and it looked innocent enough -- but really, who puts a taste value on leaves?  I mean, don't we all judge a good salad by the OTHER things on the salad?  Nuts, chicken, dressing, raisins, eggs, etc?  Well, no more my friends!  Because now I know the greatness of arugula and have started what seems to be a cult....of two.  

I enjoyed my salads so much the week after I picked up the arugula at the market (oh, btw, try arugula in a rice wrap....AH-MAZING!), that when my sister and I were shopping for some groceries for our mom, we bought a HUGE case of baby arugula.  That afternoon, my God-fearing sister became a worshiper of a new God....the God of lettuce everywhere.....ERUCA SATIVA (or to us simpletons...arugula).  Yes, I've gone off the deep end and no, I don't mind if you come with or visit occasionally.   I tell you what though -- I think my sister was way ahead of me in the "gone off the reservation department"....talking about eating it by itself as a snack...and how fabulously nutty it is.  I think she told her poor daughter no less than 17 times how great arugula is and how central to her life it had become in just a few short days.  Preach on sister! My niece? NOT impressed with our new found devotion to the leaf.  We will have to work on specific initiation rituals before she is allowed into our cult.  Perhaps arugula-laced banana shakes???

For my sis' benefit and anyone else who gives a whooey, here are some wunnerful qualities of arugula.  One point of contention though, the below article describes the taste as peppery but I'm with sis on this one....nutty...through and through.

Health Benefits of Arugula

And if you really want to annoy people with your expansive eruca sativa knowledge, take a looky loo at this: 

the language chef - arugula

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Top 20 Memorable Moments from 2013


Welcome to a new year everybody!  It's 2014 - we're in the mid-20-teens, can you believe it?  But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's take a look back over 2013 and try to recall some of the more memorable moments (for good or ill).  If you're like me, you spend the entire first day of the new year watching either marathons of your favorite tv show or best of/worst of countdowns.  I love those shows - you either feel inspired (Malala Yousafzai) or like your life is awesome by comparison (Manti Malietau Louis Teʻo). I couldn't decide whether to focus on the good, bad, or ugly so I opted to go with "memorable" - cause that gives me the liberty to highlight just about anything.  So here we go in no particular order and not necessarily memories shared by millions....

20. The year of the tongue
Miley's tongue made so many appearances that three guys created a website called Miley Cyrus' Infinite Tongue.  Check it out - it goes on forever...literally.

19. NFL Bad Lip Reading: One of the funniest viral videos I've seen in a long time. 

      -"I found Fido.  Hey I found Fido you guys!"
      -"oooh I'm white"
      -"I brought a potion and it's gonna work great cause it's gonna make you run. And you brought your potion right?"


18. "Who am I to judge?" - Pope Francis turns out to have a conscience and the courage to use his voice.  That's not to say Catholicism (and religion in general) don't have a long way to go in terms of tolerance but hey, it's something.

17. The Boston Bombing - like I said, "memorable" does not necessarily mean "good". 

16. Iraq: The story that disappeared from the headlines.  Almost a thousand Iraqis died in December 2013.   Nearly 10000 died the past year (the most since 2008).  What was broken remains broken and the country appears permanently shattered by inter-ethnic persecution and violence.

15. YOLO, Twerk, Cray cray, Poppin tags, Selfies = I'm too old for this shit.

14. "We are the not dead" - Fascinating Gallery of soldiers before, during, and after war

13.  Woman Finds Dog During Interview After Huge Oklahoma Tornado

12.  Liar liar Lance on Fire: Lance turns out to be the DB we all thought he was.  Biggest loser in Armstrong's game of lies?  His Charity organization, Livestrong.  Commercials like this one still give me the heebs:


11. Naked Frisbee Guy: While our husbands were out on their Thai fishing trip, my friend Lorren and I decided to go on a nice peaceful walk on the beach.  When what to our wandering eyes should appear but an elderly naked Frisbee player with his fully dressed Thai female companion -- and their dog. Though the "family" saw us approach from several yards away, he never fully covered up.  He was, however, polite enough to cover his man parts when we were within a few feet....with the Frisbee. 

10.  Justin Bieber's poor judgment is not limited to late night antics.  Unfortunately for all of us, it bleeds over into his wardrobe....
Character from Mario Brothers or a hat?  You decide.

9. Snowden - what ever side you're on, this was/is big news.  There is a lighter side to this story, however, because the world's most famous whistleblower/traitor was formerly the boyfriend of this little chippy.  Hard to be Mr. Serious-holier-than-thou when your best girl uses cupcakes to cover her tee taws..... 



8.  Cassie becomes an extremely well-traveled wiener dog when her humans move to the Philippines


7.  I discover there exists "Asian" food that I don't like - and I'll be surrounded by it for three years:  Filipino Food.  I'm sorry to all my local Filipino friends but adding salt, garlic, or sugar to something does not necessarily make it better.  I had high hopes (despite hearing about the food ahead of time) but sadly, I have yet to experience a good Filipino meal.  Below is one of the staples of Filipino menus, Chicken Adobo (but you can also find pork, beef or seafood adobo - bleh).  Me no likey....

Chicken A-No-No
6. "Playing hide and seek with a cuttlefish sucks."  Just watch it.  Thank us later.


5. And speaking of Cray cray:  The God Particle or What the Hell is Higgs Boson?


4. Russian Meteor aka Go Go Gadget Social Media: How cool was it to see all the different videos and pictures of this asteroid raining down on Russia like a boss!?

3. Mandela brings the world together, one last time.  R.I.P 5 December 2013

2. The L&Z Halloween party comes to Manila - and scares the hell outta people














1. We move our whole life and our pup about a million miles away from most of our family and friends.  In May 2013, Z and I started a brand new adventure and while Manila certainly has had its ups and downs, it's always better to go through a big change like this with someone you love.  As always, one of the most important rules of life remained true in 2013 - home IS where your heart is.  My heart is spread out to many different places but my home? My home is always where Z is and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Thank goodness the feeling is mutual.  Otherwise....awkward.  

Happy 2014 everyone!  Hug the ones you love and send shout outs to those you'll have to hug later.  Much love!  Z, L, and Cassie the wunder wiener.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

"You Oughta Know" where my "Broken Road" leads..."There You Go"

Confused yet? 

A while back, I wrote a post about TV Pick Me Ups.  "Friends" was the one show that could make me laugh when I felt like my little teenage world was turning inside out and upside down.  In that same vein, we all have certain songs (don't lie...you know you do) that hold memories for us (good and bad)...some that got us through hard times and some that just make us snot-swipin' sad.  

I feel like sharing these things is like giving you guys and gals a peek into the junk drawer of my life and you know how I like to over-share so here's my song list of days gone by.  Please share your faves if you have some or, even better, those songs that you love to hate....and don't forget the "why"....that's the best part!!!

As always, judge away....you can't hurt me ;-).  

Forever and Ever Amen - Randy Travis, 1987: Summer at Granny's house on a porch swing with my tape deck. 

You Oughta Know - Alanis don't-piss-me-off-or-I'll-chop-off-your-wee-wee Morisette, 1995: A girl, a boy, another girl - 'nuff said.

Tie: I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl/Do What You Gotta Do - Nina Simone, original recordings vary but in this case, the year in question is circa 1998: Sophomore year in college on a grassy green knoll in Denton, Texas with a certain red headed older boy who fancied himself,well....a bit of an artsy drunk.  There was flavored beer and sunshine - classes were skipped, time was wasted.  Ah but wasted isn't the right word...I have him to thank for the introduction of Nina to my music repertoire and while I don't always think of that grassy knoll or that red headed boy when I hear her voice, I feel like music is better because she existed.  I don't believe it's possible to drive around in an old Cadillac convertible without Nina on the radio ---- it should be illegal.

There You Go - P!nk, 2000 - On the way to some gay dance club in Dallas with a girlfriend (not THAT kind of girlfriend).  Feeling empowered and strong and like I could very possibly stop driveling over this stupid guy I was in love with.  Turned out it was a momentary lapse of sanity -- I stayed with said stupid boy for 5 loooong years.  Still....at least P!nk made me think about dropping him like a bad habit.

26 Cents - The Wilkinsons, released in 1998 but true impact felt in January 2004: A penny for your thoughts, a quarter for the call, and all of your momma's love.  What more do you need in a song to help keep you wrapped in love when you've just set out across the country to start your life....away from all of your family (especially momma)?  There's a lot to this story but, my fair blogstalkers, I'm keeping this one locked up a bit....it's that special.

Broken Road - Rascal Flatts, 2005: Yeah, I know it's overrated as a love song and certainly as a wedding song but guess what?  My way WAS narrow and the road?  Broke as all get out.  But everything, and I mean everything, I endured led me straight to this man that I love and while fate can be a hard thing to believe in, if you knew our story, you'd be hard pressed not to believe in true love.  He's it for me and dammit...I earned it. 

The House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert, 2010: I miss you Granny.

Man...I could go on forever. 


But I want to hear YOUR playlist.  C'mon...gimme somethin....


Thursday, August 8, 2013

I can't wear pointy shoes anymore...and 35 other ways my mid-30s differ greatly from my mid-20s..

1. My flats now officially outnumber my heels.

2. My freckles are combining to form one, large superfreckle.

3. I will never experiment with dark hair colors - gray is only well concealed by blonde.  Sorry my brunette friends.  It's a fact.

4. Vodka is (still) not my friend and more importantly, I am finally realizing she never really was.  Bitch.   

5. I rarely stay up past 11 or sleep in later than 7. 

6. I floss....more than once a day and without anyone telling me to. 

7. I unashamedly buy prunes at the grocery store and actually like the way they taste. 
If you buy this bag, you can trick yourself into thinking you're eating "plums" and not prunes.  Let's not get all attentiony to detailsy ok?  I know they're the same.


8.  My idea of a fun birthday is going to a midget restaurant and going to bed early enough that I can still make the Saturday morning market at 0730. (Seriously, that's what we're doing tonight.  Going to the "Hobbit House" - please try to tell me you're not jealous.  LIAR!)

9. My coffee maker cost more than most people's yearly salary in the Philippines. 

10. I still spend hours at the gym but I have realized life is too short not to have a piece of cake every once in a while. 

11. On the rare occasion I am spotted at "the club", I am usually trying to locate an empty barstool because...#12.

12.  I can't wear pointy shoes anymore....or let's be honest, ANY heels for more than 2 hours.  Screw you heredity and bad decisions!! Screw you!  

13. People are FINALLY doing the math.  She's 35?  Yeah...maybe she's really NOT having kids.  


14.  I think I'm in a different census bracket.  

15. My oldest nephew is in college....and has been for a while now.  This must hurt my sister worse than it does me. BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!  

16.  The outside of the card that my husband gave me this morning says, "To the 35 year old woman who lives with me." WTF?!?!  I shudder to think what it says on the inside.  Then again, it's atop a Hermes bag so how bad could it be??

17. OMG 17! I don't even remember you anymore!

18. I no longer tight roll my jeans although I did give into the skinny jeans trend some time ago.  I am ashamed....(yes, I know that tight rolling was not a 2003 kinda thing but a 35-item-long list is tough ok??)

19. My toes are perpetually polished....and almost always by someone else!  BAM!  I found a 35 year old perk. 

20. I cook.  Like....a lot.  Real meals and shit. 

21. I barely remember what it's like to live in Texas but I will never stop being a Texan!


22. I haven't cried at the sound of a Matchbox Twenty song in over 10 years but I still sing along (er...yell) with P!nk.  That bitch speaks the truf!

23. I no longer consider tight jeans and a halfsy top wardrobe staples.  That is HALF true.  

24. I am a responsible and dedicated pet owner.  Consider this an open apology to Harley, Chevy and Rufus - who I loved but didn't really know how to take care of. 

25. There it is - 25.  TEN EFFING YEARS AGO?!?!  What the hell happened? Well, everything, thank god. 

26. In six months, I will have been away from "home" for 10 years. 

27. I looooooooove grocery shopping.  I liked it in my mid-20s but I couldn't afford anything so, as you can imagine, not so fun.  Now I could (happily) spend a whole day at Wegmans or Harris Teeter or Kroger or Target Superstore.  Sigh...I miss 'Murrica. 

28. I am a wife...and a pretty good one most days. 

29. I regularly plan for retirement and can visualize the library I will build in our dream home....on a lake...surrounded by animals...and family...and....you get the idea. 
 
That picture is like porn to me.

30. I don't thoughtlessly destroy furniture on creative whims.  Hello decoupage!

31. I covet...and can actually afford a full set of Le Creuset cookware.  

32. I have transitioned into quality vs. quantity.  At least, in my mind I have.  Hard.to.let.go.

33. I am pretty good at keeping plants alive.  When I first started dating Z, he had me watch his cactus "Clint" when he went out of town.  I left Clint on the patio - in the winter - in Virginia.  Whoops.
 
RIP Clint

34. I realize I still have a lot of growing up to do but I try to be a better person every day because even though I hope I have a lot of livin' to do, you just never know. 

35. I am happy.  For real....really happy.

How has your life changed in the last 10 years?  Hey FB friends and family...feel free to respond on my actual blog.  I can ask you to do this because, dammit, it's my birthday! :)

Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Grumpus Under The Rug

I have a sickness.  I don't think it's yet been identified in the DSM-IV (do they even call it that anymore?) but I'm fairly certain it's incurable.  I love to unpack.  Like really really really love to unpack.  Suitcases, groceries, shopping bags, mail orders....

But mostly, I love unpacking boxes after a move.  It's like Christmas but with stuff you've had for years yet forgotten about.  Then, just when I think the fun is over, I remember I get to organize it all.  WAHOO! See?  I am sick.  Who likes this stuff? 

There's something even more satisfying about unpacking when you only have some of your stuff.  Back in May, we went to our storage unit in the States to pick out the stuff we wanted shipped to Manila.  Needless to say, it was a hurried and frantic process and we left the facility having no clue what we actually put in the Manila "pile".  Fast forward to July and you'd be right if you guessed that we had 100% forgotten what we had shipped out here. 

As you can imagine, this temporary amnesia has both an upside and a downside.  Downside?  LOTS of forgotten essentials.  Curtains but no rods.  Iron but no board.  Vacuum but no bag.  You get the idea.  The upside?  Random shit that I love but haven't seen in years.  I have NO idea how some of this stuff got here but I couldn't be happier.  For instance, Earl Wyatt Armedadillo (a story for another post) made it.  As did The Grumpus Under the Rug, my favorite book as a child. 

Which brings me to what was SUPPOSED to be the original subject of this post.  But first, since I have go so far afield, if you were packing up all of your worldly belongings but could only bring certain things to your new home, what could you absolutely not do without??  For me, it's at least one photo album/scrapbook with pictures of everyone I love, my favorite shoes/purses/scarves, and legit bath products. 

Now, back to the task at hand.  What was YOUR favorite book as a child? What did you always force your poor parents to read or what did you read yourself so many times that you wore the edges off and the ink was so faded, you had to "read" from memory?  Mine was The Grumpus Under the Rug.  I vividly remember my mom reading that to me as a kid and if she didn't do it with enough enthusiasm (which was rare, given she was an elementary school librarian.  she wouldn't have been worth her salt if her own daughter was bored.), I would make her read it again.  Later, of course, we read it together and then I'd read it by myself when I missed her.  I've held on to that book all these years and every time we move, I am always overjoyed to rediscover it.  We didn't bring many books here to the Philippines.  Kindles and ipads and weight limitations precluded that.   But some gems did make it and Grumpus is one.  I'd love to hear your bedtime story....stories.  What did mom and/or dad read to you?

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Sorry Honey - I have fallen in love with someone else

....and her name is Nieva.  She is our housekeeper here in the Philippines but "housekeeper" doesn't COME CLOSE to describing what an asset she is already becoming to us.  She is quickly becoming a part of our little family.  Cassie adores her, Zach is beside himself that she makes him two sandwiches a day.  You know, in case he gets hungry later in the day.  "You're a growing boy Mr. Zach." :)

But you know how I knew right away that she was "the one" and that my love for her would quickly outshine my love for my dear husband?  She did this to my sock drawer: 

Please note, those are folded neatly AND arranged by type.  

And she did this to my t-shirts: 
I'd show you my underwear drawer because it's equally spectacular but that's a little personal even for how much I tend to overshare.


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

So what if I'm biased!

I'm still allowed to brag!

My mom is a published author...several times over.  Although, unless you were into historical romances in the 80s, you probably wouldn't have read her books.  I have no doubt that she would have continued in her success as a writer if life...and us kiddos hadn't interfered.  Now, finally, after some fierce prodding and miraculously getting her to retire, she's back at it and I couldn't be happier....or more proud.  

Before you harumph at the historical romances, let me tell YOU something.  First of all, she has so much more depth than steamy sex scenes.  Second, who needs depth when you have the 50 Shades chart toppers. Third of all (in my head, that reads perfectly), she's not really writing historical romances anymore.   She has dabbled in different genres and I think she's always wanted to write a mystery or thriller because really, that's what she likes to read most.  

Long story short, she has been sending me snippits of one of her older novels that she's sorta re-writing and I'm just blown away at how beautiful the imagery and descriptions are.  So much so that I felt like I should share just a couple.  

[Caveat: But first, you should know that just because what you're about to read will knock your socks off, does not mean you should go stealing it and using it in your own amateur writing endeavors.  This shit was born in the noggin' of my creative and intelligent mama and will belong in HER novel once published.  Any thievery is verboten!  I will not hesitate to send my vicious wiener dog after you.  Your ankles will never be the same. This may all sound silly but it's been done before...you can never be too careful.  Well, maybe the wiener dog part hasn't happened before but there's a first time for everything!]

Gasp and/or sigh as appropriate: 

"The rustling cadence of the breeze through the tops of the tall trees had stilled, as had the near-constant noises of birds and small animals in the forest around her. It was utterly still and completely quiet. The total lack of sound was unnatural."  

"This odd assortment of primitive structures kept its secrets well, he thought."  - in reference to Mayan ruins.

 "It was an unease without a definable source, the leading edge of nervousness, of panic."    

I think that last one is my favorite.  "...the leading edge of nervousness..." Wha??!  I mean...I know exactly what she's talking about but I never would have come up with such a beautiful way to describe it.  You'd buy that on amazon or at Barnes and Noble in a heartbeat, right?  Right! me too :) 

Monday, July 1, 2013

Care package!

WAHOOO!

So excited we got a bunch of Amurrrica goodies from Z's mom.  We've already demolished almost an entire 56 ounce bag of Kirkland's fruit and nut mix.  Thank goodness I had ordered one online and I think we bought one to put in our UAB too so hopefully we won't go through too much withdrawal when this one runs out.  But my favorite thing about the contents might have been the meds.  Normal drugs (Nyquil PM, Tylenol PM, Excedrin, etc) are hard to find here in the Philippines and some aren't sold at all.  There are pharmacies on practically every street corner but they just don't sell what we're used to buying over the counter at the grocery store.  If they do sell what you're looking for, you can only purchase the item in certain amounts.  There are no bottles of ibuprofen to be found (not unless you want the children's version) of anything.  If you want 24 tabs of cold medicine, you buy 6 tin foil sheets of 4.  It's maddening.  Point is, the med-type goodies (and everything else) were much appreciated!  Thanks Shirley!


P.S. We are FINALLY getting to move into our permanent housing here in Manila but internet connectivity is TBD.  Fingers crossed I'll be back soon!

Peace and crackers for now!!

Friday, June 21, 2013

Road Trippin and the Tinkertown Museum

Last year was a VERY busy year for us so you'll, I hope, forgive that I am just getting around to posting some 2012 tidbits.  Some things I'm sure I'll never get around to but there's at least one thing that I have to spread the word about or I won't be able to live with myself.  See, last May, husbear and I rented an RV (we'll call her "Bessie") and drove a sorta upside down horseshoe through Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico then through Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee to get back to Northern Virginia.  It was a fantastic trip and I'm so so glad we did it.  I hope to share more of our adventures in the NO SHIT wild wild west but first and foremost, I need to let you in on a little secret.

Should you ever be in the neighborhood (and trust me, you won't ever be....so just drive there on purpose ok?), you should stop by this little museum/curio/roadside attraction/junkyard/all around awesome venue: THE TINKERTOWN MUSEUM.  It was the ONE damn thing I really wanted to do on this roadtrip that didn't involve majestic scenery, hiking until we were purple in the face, or eating BBQ (we did all that too and yes....it was equally awesome).  Er...maybe not equally.  Because if you're me, the Tinkertown Museum pretty much epitomizes everything that is right and good in the world of road trips.
A sign found in Tinkertown that puts into words why RVing is still so popular and why we did this instead of a European vacation.

My husband had a moment's hesitation where he almost insisted we keep driving because we we needed to "start covering some ground" but a quick look at my face and I think he knew it was a fight he ever had a chance of winning.  In any case, he did right by me and indulged my inner child (thank you dear) by stopping at this relic.

There have been many articles written and interviews given about this place so I won't bore you with the history.  If you want to know more, you can do so by clicking here, here, or here

And here's a video of Tinkertown with possibly the worst flute music I've ever heard:



What I will say is that almost everything in Tinkertown was MADE BY HAND over a 40 year period by one guy, Ross Ward (the dearly departed).

I think, in my case, I'll just let the pictures tell the story.  Here are just a few snapshots from the museum that was made "while you were watching TV"....

I can't remember how much we paid to get into the museum but it was worth every damn penny so cough that shit up if you find yourself in Sandia, NM.



Wish this picture did justice to the scale of the place and the work that went in.  I mean, one guy carved ALL that stuff!  Sorry, I know it's a crap picture - I was TOO excited!
Even Mary Poppins makes a visit.  How very superkalifragilisticexpialidocious!
PBR me ASAP
This was one of my favorites though I can't say I understand it.  The Rusty Wyer Band is jamming out (you can see the whole band here) but what's that scary little ol' lady doin?  I don't know but it makes a great photo op.
Seriously?  How freakin' cool is that?? Who needs to drive all the way to Tombstone when you can have THIS experience at Tinkertown?  Um...no one.

This is one of the many "automated" displays.  There's a little switch you can turn that makes the chicken run away from the chef.  If you look close, you can see the chicken there....and the chef running after him with a meat cleaver.  Can you imagine?  The chicken alone must have taken him a full day to carve.  Crazy when you think about it!

This one makes me think he may have had a wee carving....problem/addiction.
Forgive the poor picture quality but this was pretty neat too.  He did a scaled Big Top circus and up top were real photos of circus performers.
The deets:  Tinkertown is open from April 1st through October 31st, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week -- last admission sold at 5:30 pm

ADULTS: $3.50
GEEZERS (62+): $3.00
KIDS 4-16: $1.00
KIDS Under 4: Free

121 Sandia Crest Rd  Sandia Park, NM 87047


And one more thing, I think I have to thank my parents for instilling in me the ability to appreciate things like this.  This place truly is a simple pleasure in a complex world and I'm glad we went just a little bit out of our way to visit.  The dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point in Utah was another great example of this but I guess that's a story for another day.  Anyway, thanks to mom and dad for all the quirky road trips - makes you appreciate the little things. 

Friday, October 7, 2011

Simple Pleasures....new places

My new coaster :)
 Just a few little things that have made me smile lately....

Goodies from Mom!  FUN!  She knows me too well - Halloween decorations, colorful bathroom stuff, and games!!!!!

I actually bought this at our version of "walgreens" - wahoo!  XBOX in the desert!

Now this was truly like Christmas!!!  My jeans were inside wootwoot!! 

Including a bunch of other clothes and goodies.  Even in the desert, a girl has got to kick it with some degree of style.


Lots of goodies and lots of hidden pictures of Cassie hidden throughout. :)


tee hee - she looks deep in thought in this one.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Poor Man's Margarita

"The Bullfrog"

This is an old family recipe.  I can remember my grandparents, great aunts and uncles, mom, dad, and the rest of the family huddled over a game of dominoes drinking round after round of Bullfrogs.  I always thought they looked so delicious, especially in the heat of summer.  I never could understand why they wouldn't let me have one.  Now I do.  Mixed right, this is one potent little beverage but you'd never know it because the limeade overpowers ANY alcohol taste. 

 If any of you are like me, you are desperately clinging to what's left of summer (even though, technically, I guess it's over).  Either way, there's still time to drown your sorrows in a glass of the soon-to-be world famous...BULLFROG!

 

 1 can frozen Minute Maid Limeade
 Vodka
 Ice

Pour Limeade into blender (you can let it sit out for a few minutes to soften if you like).  Fill empty Minute Made can with Vodka and pour on top of limeade.  Fill the remaining space in the blender with ice.  Blend.  Serve in cheesy red Solo cups.  If you want to get super fancy, you can salt the rim.  I wouldn't recommend getting too fancy though...sorta defeats the purpose.



Thursday, September 1, 2011

Sunday crappy Sunday!!!! (Part one) AKA We're moving overseas for a year...oh wait...no we're not!

Starting the day off right with a bottle of champagne that we've had since we got married.

 The Richmond DeBords drove down and met us for lunch at Eggspectation.  We ran some errands and just generally had a nice day.  We were a little afraid our looming overseas relocation would paint the day with a shade of blue but it was really quite nice to spend the time with everyone.
Zach's mom and sister made us this wonderful collage.  Cassie figured prominently but pretty much everyone in the family was represented.  A very thoughtful gift that is traveling in my suitcase for sure!

I'm tellin' ya...she was on to us.  Look at those eyes.

My little girl and me...a few hours before our company arrived (to steal her!) ;-)

Ok ok...perhaps she isn't quite as smart as I think.  Clearly there are boxes packed and mom and dad are leaving me...but what the hell, there's this cool toy and dammit, I'm playin'!


Aren't we a cute family?!?!  This was about 4 minutes before the waterworks started.