Warrior Dash Action Shots

As a successful event coordinator/hostess, I am still dazzled & impressed with the organization of Warrior Dash. Paying attention and thinking through every detail, they receive my admiring bows & congrats!

At several obstacles through the competition photographers were snapping action shots that were just posted today by our competition number pinned to our shirts. *There was a chip tied through our shoe laces that electronically traced our numbers, start/finish times as well as linked our faces to each picture taken through the race. Times that by 14,000 runners!

Anxious to see shots in prime locations, their photographers truly captured the best moments ...

My Mariah leaping over fire.

Crossing the FINISH line.

My girl is #1!

My friend Greg and me fresh out of the mud pit.

What a day!

A Cross Necklace

Mariah is 17 years old and a Junior this year in high school.  Last year she was accepted into a teaching program a another local area high school that will give her a full flavor of life as a teacher over the next two years. She has always wanted to be a teacher and this program is perfect for her.

Her first assignment in front of her class in the program was for each student to bring in a bag of items that best represents them, they are only allowed to talk about two of the items.

My teenager daughter shows and tells her cross necklace and an athletic trophy.

A cross necklace is worn around her neck everyday that represents her faith and that going to church is an important part of her life. The athletic trophy is a symbol of her passion for sports as an athlete.

I asked her how the class responded?  She said she received the loudest applause.

I applaud her, too! I applaud who she is as a teenager in two public school systems that openly and confidently proclaims her faith. My daughter is a leader.

Brooke also wears a cross necklace. Her daddy always wore a cross necklace and recently she insisted on buying her own cross necklace just like him. I smile thankful that she picked up another one of his better qualities.

I'm not sure how I got so lucky to have two really good girls with dynamic personalities, both beautiful with values, morals, faith-based and confident.

I claim grace and mercy.

"Be Careful"

It has been several months now that Mariah has had her drivers license and hops in the car daily to go to school or whatever destination she is off to as a busy teenager.

There is a new mantra that I repeat constantly that is annoying in my own ears, "Be careful."

Be careful as if she wouldn't be careful had I not said it. Be careful as a seed planted in her mind that she is a new driver. Be careful (no loud music, no talking on the phone, no texting ... ever!) because she is my baby and she may forget if I don't say it.

I want to huddle like a coach with her in a team prior to a big game and remind her of driving safety rules, where to park, to watch out for other drivers, and for gosh sake watch your blind spots when lane changing.

"Be careful" also means I love you. I always say I love you, but be careful means I love you, love you.

My sweet girl never seems to mind my constant reminders. "Be careful" said casually as if saying "see you later" is external. In my mind ... I am embracing her, kissing her cheeks, holding her face in my hands looking eye to eye seeing that she really gets the seriousness every day of safety.

10,000 angels protect her!

Warrior Dash Weekend Results

The Warrior Dash weekend results reflect 13,430 competitors both Saturday & Sunday. Times that by $84 per competitor + $20 per vehicle for parking and St. Jude's had one heck of a fund raiser for their cause!

Saturdays results reflect 6,746 competitors.  Our team ranked as follows: my Mariah placed 1,283 at 39:53, Dawn placed 1,965 at 43:34 and I placed 4,918 at 1:01:23.  

Here goes my thought process ... I would rather be the weakest link running with these two athletes then have any other person on our team slow me down. I like to play with the best. I like to work with the best. Keep up or get out of my way is pretty much my approach on most everything.  

My perspective running in the competition is a beautiful one and here is how I think ... At 42 years old, I personally beat both men and women in the following categories in Saturdays competition: 35 in the 14-19, 467 in the 20-29, and 754 in the 30-39 age categories. A grand total of 1,256 men and women younger than me that I beat! It's all in how you look at it.

I expect younger people to perform better. I expect people my age and older that are athletic to perform better. I just started running for the 1st time this summer and am thrilled I simply did it.

Now that we know what this is all about, the heat will be one and the competition high next summer!

Warrior Dash

Warrior Dash has 16,000 competitors this weekend, 8,000 per day, 500 per heat, every half an hour ... what a day!!

Impressed beyond belief, challenged with every muscle and fiber in my body, the obstacles were joyously strenuous and I have never been in more mud in my life!

One of my best girlfriends, Dawn, my Mariah and I were Team A.L.S.  With this competition, costumes are encouraged which made us get creative. I made our ALS ribbons and shirts to go with our Warrior Princess look ...

In our tribe, every warrior princess has bling!

Here we are at the START line!

The race was 3.12 miles through the woods. Continuously up and down hills, on paths with rocks and holes that added caution to where one stepped. Several obstacles were swimming and climbing over objects in water when you cannot even touch the bottom (those were the most challenging for all of us). Leaping over walls, climbing high walls with safety at risk, walking over rope platforms, challenging obstacle after obstacle while running up and down hills and through creeks.

Adrenaline stays push hard!

Family and friends could watch from the finish line the last 3 obstacles ... over a wall, leaping over two fire pits, then under barb wire crawling and pulling yourself through thick and sinking mud to the FINISH line.

Here we are ... fresh out of the mud with our finish line Warrior Dash medals on! Our friend Greg who was in the next heat ran with us (Pictured: Greg, me, my Mariah and Dawn).

My warrior princess Mariah ran 3.12 miles through 10 challenging obstacles in 39 minutes!! Dawn ran it in 43 minutes and I did it in 1 hour/1 minute. Dawn who is a runner daily and in tip-top shape was beyond impressed and said my Mariah is an animal and she couldn't keep up with her!! 

My girl is a ROCK STAR!

It was exhilarating pushing myself physically to see what I was made of. Even though I was the weakest link at 1.01 minutes out of the 3 of us ... in the female 40-49 age category, I still beat "hundreds" of men and women in the 20's and 30's age categories by 12 noon yesterday, which means thousands by the end of the day and the whole competition.

For this girl who started running for the 1st time ever in life this summer, I am TOTALLY pleased with my performance.

Next year will be a whole new story!  Dawn's goal is to keep up with Mariah, my goal is to keep up with them both!!  Next year our dad's who cheered us on will join us in the competition as well as my Brooke, my brother and hopefully more friends.

Now that we know what it is all about, next year the heat will be on, the "smack talk" turned up!!

Warrior Dash 2012 truly was the best way to end this summer.

Off To The Beach I Go!

Sunny, mid-80's temperatures, kids in school, the day to myself, off to the beach I go!

Back to my new favorite spot that I have renamed to Headlands Beach. Headlands State Park sounds so Ohio, this beach feel so remote as if I am at a far away destination.

I grab my beach bag, a cooler with bottled water, a funny Chelsea Handler book a friend recommended, hop in my little car, turn up some PitBull and off I go!

Truly, it is an ideal setting. The sand was so hot I had to wear sandals until I set down my beach towel. The sun was hot, but there was a nice breeze off the water. The sound of jet ski's and boats passing by added to this beach atmosphere and I can only lay there in a magical setting bask in its embrace and savor the moment.

I had no intention of swimming until a friend showed up, but the water felt wonderful! Just when I thought my perfect day was ending we walked way down the beach to the lighthouse, crossed what felt like a 1/4 mile of rocks to get to it, then sat on the rocky lighthouse pier and watched the sailboats, speedboats, jet ski's, and kayaks pass by until the sun set.

It was hypnotizing.

A hot sunny day replaced by a warm perfect evening and a sensational sunset over the water.

I simply cannot wait to go again!

Stolen Moments

There is one that is one that haunts my mind and has for a year now.

Professional. Intelligent. Statuesque. Stimulating. Breathtaking & Beautiful.

I glow when I see him. My friends glow when they see him ... every one of my girlfriends openly express their desire. I smile and understand.

Mr.11 package on a 1-10 scale. Like me in personality in so many ways that we handle each other carefully and respectfully.

With my girls back in school I have time. Stolen moments with the one that makes every one of my senses come ALIVE!  A surreal intensity that makes me question everything. My mind, my heart, my thoughts into an almost (Ugh ... dare to go there!) vulnerable place.

Close your eyes and imagine your ideal man, times that by it will most likely never happen, then place him in front of you. Stolen moments that take your breath away and time is cruel to not slow down.

What happens as he starts talking about ... questionably something maybe more?  Stress happens! Everything that I believe in and accept in life is unraveling in my mind! Danger! Warning! Risk! Stress knots between my shoulder blades, fatigue and my eyes are dry & scratchy.

What if I shut down emotionally and let him pass by?  What if I feign emotionally clingy to intentionally scare him first and avoid future life unraveling heartbreak?

Today I kissed him and lost myself in a euphoric stolen moment. Today I laughed and talked with him unrushed by time.

Just when I think life will stay one way forever, blindsiding moments happen.

1st Day Success

All the preparation for school pays off when both my girls come home with 1st day of school success stories.

Mariah reconnected with best girlfriends from her middle school years in classes that she hasn't had with them for years. A group picture was taken just like they did in 6th grade.

Brooke made a new friend, then was a friend. Brooke said she sitting in the cafeteria having lunch with the popular kids when she saw a girl who doesn't have many friends sitting at a lunch table by herself.  So she grabbed her lunch went and sat down beside her so she wasn't alone and asked the girl how her summer was.

My success for my daughter's isn't in their academic successes, rather their character and integrity. They each have their own unique strengths in life, but they are equals when it comes to being kind to others.

1st Day of School

Much preparation goes into the 1st day of school. Expensive school supplies and new clothes, two anxious girls who cannot fall asleep the night before, the same two who have to figure out the bathroom routine in the morning all over again, fresh new outfits, hair done to be perfect, lunches packed, 1st day of school pictures, nerves making their every comment a bit snippy ... me just wanting to get them out the door!

Good grief, what a production! Summer is officially over for my girls.

Ahhhhh ... *the sigh of relief* ... freedom, my days to myself!

I believe I will go for a run. I will clean my house and scrub floors, because that puts the planets back into alignment. I will take a shower and pick out a fun outfit for a lunch date. I'm thinking sequins!

Today at 12 noon, one of my besties and I are meeting for a back-to-school celebration lunch!  This type of a celebration lunch has two requirements:  an outdoor patio & a drink to toast with as we sing our annual tradition ...

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

Her 17th Birthday

Breathtaking & beautiful, I love your always sweet, funny and happy disposition.

I love your unshakeable faith, purity and your willingness to run to the battle line in life for what you believe in.

I love the fact that you rock as an athlete and health & fitness is a lifestyle you embrace.

I admire your ambition, direction and determination in life to make your dreams/goals happen one day at a time.

Passionate & compassionate, loving & logical, you are one incredible young woman and I am so proud you are mine. 

Happy 17^th birthday my 1^st unconditional love, 

Mommy

What A Summer!

What a summer it has been! As this summer comes to a rock star end, I wonder (not to be confused with worry) what comes next?

I reflect over a summer that I came into carefully, thankful to have a small window of time to enjoy and savor summer, uncertain if a job opportunity would come that I couldn’t/wouldn’t pass up or classes I signed up to start in July (because I should be doing something productive, right?) that had me go through a financial aid process for the 1^st time in my life and sailed me right through summer with a start date of September 3^rd.  Timing, perfect!

This summer far exceeded my expectations, so much more than I ever hoped for. This summer was free of work, free of school. This summer was full of happiness, laughter, music, sunshine, parks, water, health, fitness, challenge, family, friends & love.

Blessed beyond measure, nostalgia says look back at everything I enjoy and love most in life was accomplished! Every i was dotted and every t was crossed when it came to basking in every pleasure I love to lose myself and indulge in. Every need was met in full, every want was presented in opportunities of amazing packages.  

I embrace endless pleasures.

Having an amazing zest for life, I laugh heartily, love deeply, experience new foods, new places and keep my mind & heart open to what crosses my path in life.

Many times God has wrestled with my sinner’s heart. Many times I dance and twirl on temptations waters. Many times I have been Eve in the garden tasting forbidden fruit, hiding from God in a sense of distancing myself in conversation so He wouldn’t/couldn’t interfere.

My mind often wanders back to my favorite women of the Bible with restless natures that God used in significant roles throughout history. A knowing God.

How many times I have thanked a lavishly loving holy God for grace and blessings that cover me in my often “my motives are pure, but my methods are questionable” nature.

Oh, what a summer it has been!  

Not by my own doings, but in knowing who to thank. A leap of faith showered in blessings.

Unending love.

Amazing grace.

Hidden Treasures

This past week has been the last week of summer break for my girls, with that we have gone on a couple of day trips that landed us in one hidden treasure.

Geneva on the Lake is one summer destination that I didn't make it to this summer, but with a few days left I woke my babies up and said we are going on an adventure. Kind of like the pilgrims, but with GPS and restaurants on the way!

Geneva on the Lake is a quaint lakefront town on Lake Erie a couple of hours from home. We stopped at Geneva State Park, walked through the shops in town and enjoyed lunch at a fun diner Brooke had been to before with her dad.

The next stop was the Headlands State Park, my best new find of the whole summer and a new favorite hidden treasure.

The Headlands State Park is the only natural sandy beach along Lake Erie all-inclusive with sand dunes. After my lengthy online research for the best possible beach along Lake Erie, I still wasn't prepared for the very beautiful Headlands State Park which I believe is so much nicer than many of the dark beaches along the Atlantic Ocean.

Here is Brooke and Mariah as we enter our new treasure ...

Who knew the park would be so big with so much sand ...

Sand dunes in Ohio?  I didn't know it was possible, but it stole my heart ...

Another surprise was as soon as we entered the water we were instantly on smooth pebbles and stones ...

and to think for years I have traveled at least 8 hours east to simply lay on a beach.

This summer has been blessed beyond measure in fun & wondrous moments. Finding a hidden treasure beach destination so close to home fills me with fireworks inside.

Bee's

The oddest thing happened yesterday...

My dad & mom came over to help me with another project when we noticed a couple of bee's going into a small crack in the concrete foundation of my house.

I told my dad that I would get my Wasp spray so he doesn't get stung. He said, "No, grab your power vacuum." 

We had been told, but had not witnessed what happens when you place a power vacuum by a beehive. The loudness of the suction draws them out with curiosity, the suction power sucks them up. The larger ones who were stronger and lucky to fly away all flew back out of either more curiosity or to protect their home. They eventually were sucked up, too.

This wasn't just a couple of bee's we initially saw, it ended up being we guess around 1,000!!!

Hypnotized, we sat for one hour watching easily around 20 some per minute fly in from we don't know where or out of the crack and fly into the tunnel of the vacuum.  Honestly, I hardly ever see a bee when I am in my back yard and I am out there all the time.

Where they came from, we don't know, but they never stopped.

After an hour, we had enough and shut down the power vac.  We have heard of using a power vacuum over spray from a family friend who one day ran his for 3-days straight!

So friends, when you think you see a couple bee's, know there are hundreds, possibly thousands.  Get out your power vac, set it up about 1-1/2 inches from the bee hive opening, stand back and watch the amazing numbers of bee's fly in from everywhere.

And you thought you only saw a couple!

Heartbeat

The hummm of a fan with its cool breeze blowing our way, snuggled on the couch, watching the very funny movie Bridesmaids, my head was on his chest and I could hear it ... his heartbeat.

For a moment the movie faded for me as I listened to the rhythmic beat of his heart. Strong. Healthy. Very much alive.

Thank you, God.

Thank you for keeping him safe in a profession that jeapardizes him every day. Thank you for his strong and healthy heart. Thank you for this very moment. Thank you for the peace of knowing there is no where else I want to be, but listening to this simple beat of a heart.

The first sign of life is determined while in the womb by a babies heartbeat. The last sign of life is determined listening for a heartbeat. Every moment in between is life.

I don't hear a heartbeat unless I love. It's the oddest dynamic over the decades with only a couple times that I distinctly remember the private moment of my own awareness that "I hear his heartbeat." My internal trigger that my own heart is in a very good place.

Last night I listened to its beat. I savored the moment secretly to myself and thanked a holy God just for being in that very moment in life.

Keep him safe.

Bridges of Madison County

I love the deeply moving love story Bridges of Madison County.  My heart aches for Francesca, the married but lonely Italian woman who meets Robert, a National Geographic photographer, visiting Madison County for a story on covered bridges.

The two meet, fall in love, and Francesca is forced to make a decision to stay in a life that while it is on the surface okay it has deadened her inside, or to leave with Robert with whom she has found passion and the idea of love. The passionate climax of the movie is when Francesca is at the final decision making moment and does not open the door of her husband's truck and run to Robert.

I want her to choose to feel alive and love.  I choose to feel alive and love.

The movie is exactly what I don't want to happen in my life. I have had and have options to have a normal life with good ordinary men, but I know I would be bored to tears and resent such a life.  I think of Francesca.

Trapped. Passionless. Dead inside.

Francesca chose her path to stay with her family, but in death her story unfolds as her adult children read her diaries of how she lived longing for a lost love.

This was a movie. My life is real life. Sometimes I wonder why status quo is not good enough for me? Why a normal life seems suffocating? Why I choose to hold out for passion package complete? 

Because when that one person who walks into my life, takes my breath away and makes all of my senses come to life, I don't want to be tied down to the wrong guy. 

Maybe my Mr. Passion Package Complete is just around the corner. Maybe I know him now and all the waiting has been worth it. What if I trust my instincts and embrace that fact that God made me unique knowing I need a bit more in life.

I would rather live alone than longing for a lost love or a life I didn't have the patience to wait for.

"This kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime."
                                                               - Robert to Francesca  

Team Outfit for Warrior Dash

The Warrior Dash competition is also a costume/outfit contest, knowing whatever is chosen will be completely ruined by the mud.

There are three of us on our team, one of my best girlfriends Dawn, my Mariah and me.  It will be perfect.  A. L. S.

I am going to make our competition shirts.

One of the deciding factors of spending this summer pushing myself in kickboxing, running the Monument steps, and playing outdoors constantly is because I can.  Mariah's dad can't.

His quality of life has been stolen away and he is stuck with a 44 year old young mind in a body that will no longer function. He cannot walk, feed himself, grasp anything, tend to any bodily needs or take care of himself in any capacity. His speech is effected and he coughs a lot with this disease attacking his lungs.

I have to stay healthy and I have to stay strong. For my daughters and simply because I am alive.

I am competing in Warrior Dash 2012 not because I think I am going to win, but because I am able to compete.

The three of us will be Team A.L.S.

A Widowers 1st Date

Over a week ago, I met a guy at a club that was there to meet a former colleague of mine. She was busy in a clash of worlds with other guys, so he and I spent the evening together. We have gotten together in groups of friends since then, but last night was our 1st official date.

He remembered a conversation we had about the restaurant Bonefish that I've been wanting to go there and made reservations for last night. Excellent choice and bonus points for paying attention!

I chose to meet him there and when I saw him, he had a beautiful bouquet of flowers in his arms and a kiss for me.

A very endearing and old-fashioned move on is part and I thought it was so sweet! Dinner was so delicious and conversation lasted 3 hours.

This is the one that I am handling very carefully. He is a widower and lost his wife only 3-1/2 months ago.  At first I questioned (to myself) how could he be out so fast?  I've ended relationships where I needed much more time than that to heal.  His wife had been sick for years. For years he fulfilled his duties as a husband.

He was telling me he ordered a smaller bouquet of fresh flowers for me, but when he walked into the florist, the owner insisted on a much more grand bouquet because it was him.  He told me about his colleagues and his wife's best friend who are so excited for him on this date tonight and I had to ask the inevitable ...

"Is this your 1st date?"  Yes. 

While I was driving to this date tonight I talked to God that my heart was not in the right place for this date (for the record, I loathe initial dates and prefer the comforts of an established relationship). Typically, I grumble and toss the idea back and forth if I should even go, which usually ends up with me calling a girlfriend to express my desire that I would rather stay home. I knew this one is in a very fragile place in life, is way to excited about the idea of me, and I don't want to hurt him in my unsettled place in life.

I am his 1st date since he lost his wife he was married to for 13 years. No pressure there!

A widowers 1st date. That was a first.

FRAGILE: Handle with care.

Back-To-School Shopping w/Brooke

Today was the dreaded back-to-school shopping with Brooke.

Brooke is like me, we both loathe shopping. Add the high co$ts of school supplies & new school clothes and I can't stand it even more.  Cha-ching!

As we are walking out of the house, Brooke grabs her new wallet that is filled with what looks like credit cards. They are actually iTunes cards and a Starbucks card that I was informed needs money put on to the account.

Also, she said she needed some cash so I played along nicely (keeping peace & her in a good shopping mood) and said I would swing by the bank and grab her $20, when I pull up she asks for $40. Fine, its her money.

Then she states before we go shopping she would really like to stop and get lunch first, but somewhere nice where we can sit down and relax. Olive Garden is her favorite. I think its really because of their breadsticks.

Relaxed, because it took forever, we enjoyed lunch when she insists on paying for her meal or at least the tip. Really? Brooke is only 12 years old. The bill was less then $20 so she insisted on picking up the whole tab, her treat. Brooke is very generous and likes to contribute so I allow her to treat lunch this one time.

Leaving Olive Garden she is holding the door for several sets of really old couples that cannot seem to pick their pace up. Patiently Brooke waits for them. The last little older lady smiles at me and says, "She was raised well."

This mom beams with pride. What a good little girl my Brooke is.

Two stops in two hours, we accomplished both school supplies & clothing.  Brooke and I were on a mission and accomplished.

Back-to-school shopping is officially done!

Non-Judgemental

My Mariah was at her dad's house this morning when she text me that she needs to come home and talk to me. In less than 10 minutes she was in our driveway walking through the door in tears and in my arms.

I am her confidante, her most trusted friend and the voice of reason she turns to first. Thank you, God!

She asks me to not say anything until she is done with her whole story, I nod in agreement. My beautiful almost 17 year old cries and tells me the unfairness of a situation with the new boy she likes and like almost every day I am given the golden opportunity to listen to her heart, her hopes and her thoughts.

I listen carefully and chose my words to calm her. She has such a world ahead of her, but at this tender age everything is a mountain.

She trusts me. She listens to my perspective and runs in my arms saying, "Thank you for always being non-judgmental." I embrace her, kiss her cheeks and tell her everything will be okay.

So many stand on their cross platforms harshly judging others and momentarily feel empowered to take a righteous stance. Those are the very ones that are quickly removed from the circle of trust. Their own shortcomings quickly shine like a beacon in the night and they are immediately shut out of my daughters future conversations.

Motherhood is a delicate balance of being a best friend, a mom, a confidante and the very one my girls want to share their hearts with.

The storm is calmed.

Later today, she sends me a funny picture she took at WalMart and wanted to see if it was appropriate to post to Facebook.  She got an, "Absolutely not!"  Then I thanked her for asking first and all is well in the world of being a 16 year old girl again.

"Be as good to my grandbabies as I am to you and choose your battles wisely." - Dawn

My Kryptonite

I play with players, I am careful with the hearts of the really nice ones, but there is another.

It's been a while since we have seen each other and we agreed I would stop by after a birthday celebration for a friend.  My girlfriend understanding this dynamic was concerned and asked me if I was okay with going over there.

Translation: I know you want to see him, I know you love him, can you handle it emotionally?

I feel good, I feel strong and I can't wait to see him and spend some time with him.

It will be five years this November that he has been in my life. When I walk in the door, we slide into our comfortable routine and tonight was no different.

Happy. Playful. So happy to see him.

Cuddled up in his arms on the couch we catch up on each others lives. His voice, his humor, his mannerisms, his scent, did I say his voice, rich and deep?  He is talking, being playful with his lips against my forehead and kissing me when a wave of emotion washes over me and I could feel tears fill my eyes exposing my heart.

"Are you getting sentimental?" he asks me softly. He never misses a beat, he never has. He is the only one that doesn't let me get away with anything. He is such a man. He is a cop. He is vice. He is a trained professional. He is by nature aware of every blink, sigh and heartbeat in his presence.

I am undone. In all my bravado, this one is my kryptonite.

I can't breathe and I want to run out the door. So frustrated with my tears. So frustrated that I lost my stoic front.

He knows why. I know why. I love him.

He is my rock and I trust him with everything important in life. I deeply admire & respect the man he is.

I feed fun into my life with busyness, activity and dating a plethora of men, but at the end of all that there is a hollowness in my heart that only love can fill.

An evening with Bobby.

He has my heart, he is my kryptonite.

"Ma'am, I have to go potty"

Brooke was looking forward to her day with Debbie at an event near Pennsylvania. Amish-style food, 4-wheeling and activities.

She called 4 hours into her day to say she was ready to be picked up, I wasn't surprised.  Deb gets on the phone and states that the sun has gotten to Brooke, but that she had her laying down inside in front of a fan with an ice pack on her neck, cool rags, and lots of fluids to stay hydrated.  Deb is trying to let me know that she is taking very good care of Brooke and I give her rest asurrance in return ... "Debbie, it doesn't surprise me in the least. She is fine."

Brooke prefers to lay in the nurses lounge during Sports Day at school. Brooke doesn't like to be in the sun much and with feign being over-heated in order to lay down and relax. She likes to relax. I later found out that Brooke was not pleased at all that she was on the set-up crew of this event where she helped set up tables, chairs, etc. This is the perfect storm for Brooke and I usually anticipate a phone call.

I offer to come pick her up so everyone else can enjoy their day, but being 80 miles away they were going to head back home in a couple of hours anyway. Certain Brooke was in shock that I didn't jump to her rescue, I believe it is a good teaching tool that she can endure a day she chose to participate in.

As she is laying in the house, a 5-year old little boy walks in and takes his pants off.  My mortified Brooke looks away, when the naked little boy walks up to her and says, "Ma'am, I have to go potty."

She points to the bathroom, but he claims he needs help. Brooke is not about to help this little boy, she can't even look at him. He said he can't find his mom so she said try to do it by yourself and that she would give him a cookie afterwards. That's exactly what she did so she could lay down in peace.

I laughed hearing he called her "Ma'am" and I could only imagine her mortification of this little boy being carefree and comfortable buck naked in front of my daughter!

Annoyed she was put to work, Brooke was relieved to be home that evening and has made it clear she needs a few day to herself to relax.

That is what she does best ... relaxes.

Shifting

My whole life I have wanted to be married. There was never a question in my mind it was not only the right thing to do, but it is what I desperately wanted forever.

Being single is a lifestyle trap. I understand how a person abuses drugs (For the record, I have NEVER done drugs in my life!) for a temporary high. Dating is filled with endless moments of temporary highs.  What happens when you are stuck in the confines of a marriage that becomes stale and gone is the hope of euphoric moments?  It all sounds extremely suffocating to me.

My whole life I wanted to be married. They were dreams and hopes; they're shifting.

I'm not really certain anymore that I believe there is one man out there that I could love so desperately that I would want to make a covenant in front of a holy God to love and cherish as long as I live. There has been only one that I would, but fate doesn't allow.

Singlehood is a selfish trap. I am just at the point where my own daughters are at a good age, raised without the help of a man, and my freedom is back to just give it up for one person.  He would have to be one heck of a guy with a bzillion qualities ... that changes with time, too. It's the change that hits and everything you believe in unravels, again.

At breakfast this morning with a girlfriend, she was saying how she loves married life. I don't think about it anymore. It is no longer a dream or a goal. It's more like the opposite.

The shifting for me happened within the last 6 months. I like the thrill of hope. I like options. I like not feeling suffocated in status quo.

Sometimes I feel badly gone are my childish dreams.

I live in a modern day world.

Sometimes I hope I am not too far gone.

Girlfriend Code

There is such a thing called "Girlfriend Code" like a law that should have been the 11th Commandment, "Thall shalt not date or show any interest in a man that a best friend has dated, liked, claims dibs on or been with."

This is a code of honor that I have lived by which has resulted in phone calls both ways between friends for decades that goes something like this, "I met a guy from ______ ... looks like your type, do you know him?"  Translate the 11th Commandment from above.

It is a small world and last night the world seemed small again.

I met and have been talking to a new guy for about 2 weeks.  Super funny & witty, which I really like for mental stimulation. A good career, passionate interests, and a very sexy fitness trainer. I smile when opening his messages because he is quite challenging mentally and so funny.

In conversation with him yesterday a few things he said triggered some familiarity and it hit me like a brick wall on my way to meeting my girlfriends out.

I ask one of my best girlfriends, Dawn, if possibly-maybe-hopefully she didn't know him. She dated him for 6 months, 7 years ago.  CRAAAAAAP!  As any good friend would do, she assured me she didn't care. 

Ladies, no man is worth a best girlfriend!

There are laws, rules and codes of conduct to obey in life.

A best friend will be there before & after all the Mr. Right Now's. No wedge in friendship is worth him so today I quickly pointed out what a small world it is to Mr. Fitness Extraordinaire.  He didn't care. Guys just don't.  But, I do.

As I am out with friends last night, a former colleague (not a close friend) had her small worlds collide with two guys showing up that she is in communications with.  The better looking one and I started talking when I was encouraging him to join her on the patio dance floor.  Our conversation turned into the four of us, the other guy and my friend, hanging out for the night. An unlikely situation turned fun.

He asked me out for tonight and tomorrow night.  So the four of us are getting together again! 

Girlfriend codes only apply to best friends.

Warrior Dash 2012

My girlfriend, Dawn, called me yesterday and excitedly asked if I would do the Warrior Dash 2012 at the end of August with her.

I'm kinda familiar with Warrior Dash, I have a friend who posts crazy Warrior Dash pic's where he looks like a mud-covered Rambo on his Facebook page the last couple of years. My Mariah has been talking about this physically challenging competition for a while now and I have just spent the whole summer pushing myself physically. 

"Yes, I'm in!"

Warrior Dash is an obstacle competition race through a 3.12 mile course where you run, climb over rope walls, hurdle over barricades and crawl under barb-wire through the mud, run through murky waters, make your way through tangled ropes, a rubber jungle, climb cargo nets, crawl through dark trenches, and leap over fire at the FINISH LINE.

I can't think of a better way to end this summer!

I love competition and challenge.

23 days.

Red Hibiscus

I make plans for each day on what I want to accomplish, a thought enters my mind and my day gets fuller than I intend. Here is a perfect example ...

I have loved the red tropical flowers of hibiscus for years now.

Yesterday I decided to get myself one and plant it. A small project.

Until, I get to Lowe's and saw large potted perrenials on clearance for $3.00 each!  The same plants that would sell for $15.00 and up early in the season.  I load my car with 9 new plants and large bags of garden soil.

At home in my yard I spend a great deal of time figuring out what will go where.  Thunderstorms are supposed to come in the afternoon so I figured I would wait until today to plant when the dry and hard ground was a bit softer.

The sun is out still, maybe I should go to the lake, float on a raft and enjoy nature while getting some sun rays.

There is something that just states summer lying on a raft in the sunshine with fingertips lazily dipped in cool and fresh water. The fish stay close and watch me and I tell them I like their ecosystem, too!

Splash. Sun. Write in the sand.

Still no clouds, so I think to myself I will get out all my gardening materials out of the shed. Maybe I will just plant two of my new plants over here. Well, I will just get this one in the ground. 

I'm really dirty at this point, maybe I will pull up all the grass and create the shape of a flower bed at the end of my patio. Where are those thunderstorm clouds?

Intense heat and sun, just finish the job!

I transplant plants, plant new ones, tear up the earth, dig holes, fill with fresh garden soil, water everything with fresh rain water I've recently collected and clean up.

It is hours later, my hibiscus is planted, so is a flower garden.

Today my whole body hurts!