Gobble, Gobble...

How can I sum up Turkey Day this year…It was definitely a very different Thanksgiving this year.

I can recap the insane part or I can focus on the good things that day. Let’s do option two, shall we? No need to immortalize the crazy….

It was the first Thanksgiving in quite some time that certain people got to relax for a bit.

We were joined by a new face…who got to try out different types of food and drink.

The yummy food was well, yummy!

We had snow!! (which turned to rain and was part of the reason that there was no fire pitting)

And as cheesy as it sounds, I was able to say out loud how thankful I am to my family, TGP and friends for all their support in this past year. Lots of things have changed for the positive and I could not have done it by myself.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am a veteran of the retail world and I understand why fourth quarter sales are important….

I do some of my Christmas shopping early…..

But for some reason this year, I feel like Thanksgiving is getting the short end of the stick….

Maybe I should be running around wearing this hat….



Or maybe this one….

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Whacakadoooooo.....

Oh my goodness the crazies are out with the full moon!!! (that statement includes me!)

For some reason I had major energy….possibly due to the fact that I have a ton of stuff to get done….gifts to buy, things to bake, stuff to get from storage, items to list on Ebay….you get the idea…..so I was bouncing around for a few hours after work yesterday.

I held up the line at CVS because I had to chat with the guy behind me who was wearing Five Fingers…. He and I are probably part of someone else’s “The crazies are out tonight” story.

I was complimented by a cashier for carrying a 30 pack all by myself…..left handed…”Look at you, carrying that!”….well yeah, who else is gonna do it when I am shopping by myself?!?!?

And the favorite game of all pedestrians in the supermarket parking lot - “Don’t run me over!!!” seems to get ramped up a notch when the full moon is out …..

I am sure that there will be more wacky things in the next few days…. keep an eye out!!

14.5 Miles....

I can now say that I have hiked 14.5 miles….30,111 steps….steady pace…

Strangely enough my body feels good for the most part….

I had encouragement and I felt safe – two things needed in order to make sure that I remained convinced that I could handle that hike.

I had started out in my regular hiking shoes but switched to my Five Fingers within the first two miles.....it made such a world of difference! I can't exactly describe it without sounding like a tree hugger.....but I felt more in tune to the ground...I felt it under my feet and was able to travel better...

Also got a new nickname… impossible not to when for the first part of the hike, all you are saying is “That one moves!” So, you can call me "Rock Shifter" if we meet on the trail...

Acorn Tumbler may have been more appropriate though….

A very fun Saturday - complete with great views.....and just a bit of pirateness...

I'm Harry Potter...Harry Harry Potter...

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Recharge...

I wrote this back in January of 2009...tweaked it a bit but it is uncanny how it still holds true...

When I get emotionally and physically exhausted, I reprioritize and get very selfish.

I turn to those that I know will recharge me.

I focus on doing something fun for myself.

Nothing personal - I know that I do not have it in me to be my true self when I get like this. I would rather delay a return phone call than do it and be snippy or not give the friend the attention that they deserve.

When I feel that I have more than enough going on, I have no desire to add to it.

I try to help when I can, but I have to come first.

Blue Sapphire...

I was up early to watch Princess Diana’s Wedding and felt a swell of emotion even though I was really young.

I was up early to watch her funeral as well – after having spent the entire weekend glued to the TV after hearing about the car crash. Yes, I cried.

I did not shed a tear about Prince William’s engagement….until I saw the profile of the ring....I instantly recognized it….no need for me to read the article to confirm the fact that it was his mother's engagement ring. It is such a grand gesture that he made to make sure that his mother shares in his life even though she is gone, a nod to all the people that adored his mother and just a wonderful heirloom to keep in circulation instead of stuffing it in a box to sit and collect dust.



I will be up early again to watch this wedding when it happens next year.

And yes, there will probably be more tears.

Three B’s…

I keep using the phrase that was part of the invite this weekend – beers, BS and possibly a bear sighting…

Lots of laughs this weekend.

Lots of bulldozing this weekend.

And lots of personal realizations that are going to stay private….but they all make me smile….

Mulling....

Funny how some evils rear their heads when everything is good.....(actually better than good)

I had not one, but two friends call me in the space of a week about the same exact topic….life is definitely not fair.

People who do not deserve to be happy/have things/succeed are doing just that. They should be suffering and punished for the way that they lead their lives and for what they have done.

But after indulging the evil thoughts for a bit, you realize that your life is substantially better than theirs.

These others keep up appearances but do not have the same life satisfaction that you do. (and never will!!)

They will never have the feeling of knowing that they are part of something good and solid.

They will never know the satisfaction of doing things for themselves.

They will be very alone when things go from bad to worse.

Distractions help deal with the situation when it's fresh, but ultimately they are, were and always will be – distractions.

I have the good and solid, I have been doing things for myself and once I opened up, I was never alone when things went from bad to worse.

I have my life satisfaction and I never want to trade or compromise that feeling by letting those others get to me.

How’s that for a pep-talk, folks?

Veterans Day…

Veterans Day…

Veterans Day…

Veterans Day…

Veterans Day…

Veterans Day…

Veterans Day…Part 1 of Many…

I had problems choosing just one so there will be a few posts today….

Semper Fidelis…Always Faithful…

They cross the ocean…on foot…chewing on nails and singing......

“On Nov. 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of the Continental Congress deciding to separate the two ways of fighting for war, by water and ground.”

Even the Marines like cake for their birthday!!




Pretty nifty: After the 19th commandant's message, two pieces of cake will be cut. The first piece goes to the oldest Marine present in tribute to the "old breed," tested in battle, keepers of the corps' traditions and upholders of its honor. The next piece is given by that oldest Marine to the youngest, symbolizing the passing of those traditions and responsibilities to the next generation.


Thank you for all that you do...besides looking killer in those uniforms!!

Ah, Shoprite…..

I have had quite a few strange experiences in Shoprite…..

Like the time when I rounded the corner in the cleaning supplies aisle and someone had made a course out of toilet plungers…

Or the time that the person behind me caused the endcap display of Twizzlers to become an avalanche…

Or the time that I saw a hawk fly away with a squirrel hanging from it’s talons….guess everyone goes to Shoprite to get dinner….

Or the time the woman in the pet food aisle spent five minutes telling me how her dog loves certain treats (complete with pictures)…

And I will add last night to the mix…..

I was standing in the Express Lane and my cashier was a very large African-American woman. We were making small talk about earning a free turkey when the young African-American man be me interrupted to ask if we had seen the movie “For Colored Girls Only”.

We both said no and he started very passionately telling how wonderful the movie was and that we should go see it.

In the middle of his emotional plea, the cashier stops him and asks if he has seen the movie. His reply? “No”.

She paused, licked her teeth and then went off on him….asked him where he got the right to tell us to go see a movie that he had not even seen yet…..among other things….

Luckily I had just paid for my things so I was able to leave….

I looked back as I headed towards the door and she was telling him that he is a dang fool for telling women what they want…..

Only at Shoprite…

Francesca O'Clock...

I can't resist....I already adore this breed...this pic brings it to another level....

How could you NOT want your own Frenchie?!?!?!

J-O-B.....

I think that I have found a home away from home....

They are so supportive, so nice, so weloming...

Even though I once again have a job that requires explanation, I do not care...

Support.

Protocal.

Procedures.

Snacks from foreign lands.

The place runs like a well oiled machine....

I know that it is still my honeymoon period with them....but WOW.....I am impressed!!