I have a strange love affair.

I love to drive up and down roads, just to see where they go. There needn't be any reason to go down a road other than the fact that I have yet to explore it.

My dream vacation would be to drive up and down all the rural roads in America-- just so that I could see what they looked liked, where they went and how people lived.

I would set a course for the all the great small towns with unusual names. Like Boring Oregon, Slickpoo, Idaho, Cool California, Hoosick New York, Toad Suck Arkansas or Normal Illinois (which is the home town of Jefe).

I know that sounds miserable--but to me it sounds like heaven! I would want a great big R.V. with a car in tow and away we would go. I couldn't imagine a better way to spend my retirement than just driving all over America to see where every single road goes, all the while listening to Prairie Home Companion, Amos Lee, Cameron Rafati, The Watson Twins or Ryan Adams.

Along the way, maybe we could stop at the world's largest ball of twine, the world's largest frying pan or world's largest tree stump!

I tell El Jefe that I am like a dog that way-- I like to stick my head out the window, smell the smells, and see everything.I don't want to miss out on one single thing!

Jefe always teases me when we get to new places, because I ask so many questions.

"How big is this village? What do you think they all do for a living? Do you think they have families?" . . .

He will start to laugh and say: " I don't know how big this village is, or what anyones names are!"

I love the peace of rural America. No one is in a hurry. They are all out on their Sunday drives, except it's Tuesday and its 9:30 in the morning.

I love to see the crops: hay, wheat, corn, soy, apples and it's fun to drive and see all the colors--especially in the fall. Each of the various crops creates such vibrant colors!

I love to see how everyone in America lives, and what their various cultures are like. And the food! Oh my! The Food! I love to see what the food is like in all the little unknown towns. Food speaks volumes to me. It is an unhealthy relationship that I have with food, but food creates memories for me.

Road Trips allow you to see things and places that otherwise go unnoticed.

When I was younger, we used to tease my Dad that when he would drive us around cities, we would inevitably always see the "red light district". But the process of getting lost, and then getting "un-lost" is what, I think, got me hooked on road trips!

Road Trips. I love them.

My Dad loves to Sail. When he was younger, he had a sailboat that my mom and he would take out on the lake and sail in. He often would talk about the freedom he felt as he was sailing.  As a child, I can remember watching the America's Cup with him and actually getting really excited! (about a sail boat race?)  My Dad
always rooted for the boat from the land of Oz. He loves Oz just as much as he loves Sailing.

I remember when this song came out, my mom had the lyrics of this song done in calligraphy for him and framed so he could hang them in his office.  It was his very favorite song and now as an adult, I understand why. The lyrics are beautiful.

I  can remember, as a child, sailing in "other peoples boats" with my Dad.  Why other people's boats if he had his own boat?  Well.  After I was born, he sold his boat. The story goes, if I remember right, that I wouldn't wear my life jacket.  He didn't want risk my life ( i have a rather huge tendency to be a klutz) so my Dad sold his boat. 

My Dad.

He has the most Integrity of anyone I know.  I have never heard him say an unkind thing about anyone.  He is a peacemaker, and does all that he can to maintain peace in a family full of hormonal women.  He is honest.  He serves anyone willingly.  He supported not only me on a mission for our church,  but another boy in our church congregation that could not afford to otherwise go.

He loves The Lord.  Christ is first and foremost in his life. I have watched him and learned what a true Christian is.  He knows the scriptures better than anyone, and because of this knowledge, he is very kind.  He is a very good listener, and is always able to bring about a spiritual message when he listens.  But not only that, he listens without judgment.  That, my friends, is rare gift.

He has such a fun sense of humor and is a giant tease.  Often times, when me or my sisters would be having a "fit" over something, my father would be there, teasing us.  Laughter is a huge part of my memories of my Dad. His laughter is contagious! His teasing and laughing with us diffused many a difficult situation.

To say that I am a Daddy's girl is putting it mildly. 

Oh  how I love my Father!

I worked  for many years in the same building as my Father.  When I lived at home, we would ride to work together and often times I would pass up lunch with the girls so that I could hang out with my Dad. After I got married and Jefe and I would leave after a Sunday visit, I would cry all the way home. All thirty miles of it.  Jefe felt terrible.  He didn't understand why I was crying. I mean, I would see him the next day at work, so why the tears? 

Because I'm a Daddy's Girl.

When I moved 1500 miles away, I was the most upset because I saw my Dad cry. I found out later that he followed us for quite a while up the canyon until my Mom made him turn around and go home.  That sort of broke my heart. 

I just love my Dad.  He is an amazing man who has taught me about life, the world and how to BE.  He has been my sounding board, my muse, my guide, my biggest cheerleader, and my friend.

So, today's Soundtrack Sunday is dedicated to my Father.

He may have given up his "Sailing Career", but my life has benefited from this act.

He has been the wind that has helped me to sail.

From being there when my first boyfriend broke my heart with a dozen roses in hand, to celebrating with me on landing  my first "real job", to kissing the heads of my new born babies-- He has been that "wind" in my life gently pushing me in the right direction.

Without his presence and guidance, I wonder what I would have become.

Thank you Dad.  I love you.

*pulled from the archives - originally posted 6/08*

I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it.  - Jack Handy

The kids think I am the meanest Mom on the whole face of the planet. because I make them practice their instruments for 20 minutes four times a week.

As punishment to me, they are all practicing at the same time. The boy is pounding his drums as loudly as is humanly possible-- which come to find out is VERY loud-- and the daughter is practicing the piano.

Turns out Green Day and Star Wars do not make a very pretty duet.

*****
We are half way through June and we haven't even hit 85 yet. 

Me likey.

*****
Did you see that there is a pretty sweet little giveaway going on over on MMB this week? It closes out on Sunday, June 20th.  You know you want to go enter, so head on over and get entering.

You won't regret it.

We have Cameron Rafati, Vintage Pearl, Moxy Camera Straps, Basa Body... its all the great stuff from the 3 different kinds of swag bags we had at the CBC. 

So much awesomeness in one place! 

*****
Thing 1 has been at girls camp all week and I feel two sets of emotions. 

The first being slightly jealous because I love Girls Camp. I loved it as a teen and I love it as an adult. Jefe asked me if I wished I were attending G/C as an adult or as a teen.  I had to really think about that one and then I responded: Both.

Then, I feel slightly guilty. Mostly because I am in my awesomely warm house and she is stuck up in the mountains where it has been in the thirty's in the mornings. 

Yes. Three-Zero.

30.

I am warm here under my electric blanket and down comforter, and she has had SNOW.

In June. 

That blows. 

I bet she's glad, however, that I insisted that she at least take her coat.

You're welcome, Thing 1.

*****
Jefe has started a new hobby.  He is the man of many hobbies and it makes me happy to see him doing so many things! Some women don't like their husbands to be out doing "hobbies" but I do.  It relaxes him and he comes home happy.

His new hobby is fly fishing and I find it majorly sexy. 

I have always thought fly fishing was a beautiful and artistic sport.

I would love to have my life be like "A River Runs Through It"-- the modern version.

Sans the drama. And, the murder.

*****
My life has been non-stop crazy busy for the last year and suddenly I am finding myself feeling bored.

Jefe commented that our house is super clean and the meals I have been making are "like what life was like before you started all this blogging stuff". 

If that's not food for thought, I don't know what is. 

While I am incredibly bored, I do realize that there is balance in all things. You can get consumed with any hobby-- bird watching, genealogy, or blogging. 

Someone told me recently that they think it is a huge waste of time and a drama magnet, this blogging hobby.

I asked them what their hobby was and when I told them that I thought THAT was a huge waste of time and stupid, I think they saw my point. I hope anyway. 

We all have hobbies that we like to do-- cooking, gardening, music, writing, photography, scrapbooking or bug collecting. Who am I to tell you that your chosen hobby is stupid and a time waster?  It might seem that way to me, but if it makes you happy, who am I to judge?

I love my chosen hobby. It gives my crazy thoughts a voice--it gives ME a voice. I have always been, from the time I was young, writing stuff in my head.  Always writing something. I have even written my Obituary. Isn't that sick? I wanted to make sure it said what I wanted it to say-- and that it didn't leave anything or anyone out.

I can see how it would be easy to get caught up in writing about life that one could forget to actually LIVE life.That's where that tricky word BALANCE comes into play.

I think there has be to balance in everything we do. Whether its blogging, church callings, watching sports, photography, music or bug collecting. We have to maintain balance.

It's also no one's place to decide if what you or I have chosen to love is "worthwhile". 

Live and let live, I always say.

*****

Don't forget to salute the Men in your life this weekend, what with that made up holiday about Dad's happening this weekend.

Jefe & I think Mothers and Fathers Day are made up holidays used by "the man" to cause people to spend money on stuff they don't need. I get that its NOT about me or Jefe but a holiday for the children to learn to "appreciate" us.  However, I would much rather be randomly appreciated on a Tuesday afternoon in July than on a "mandatory" Sunday.

But, that's just me.

Have a great weekend! 


1.  Somebody Told Me  -  The Killers
2.  October - Rocky Votolato
3.  Chasing Pirates  -  Norah Jones
4.  Pride (In the Name of Love)  -  U2
5.  Shout Out Loud - Amos Lee
6.  Outside Villanova  -  Eric Hutchinson
7.  Is She Really Going Out With Him (Acoustic) - Joe Jackson
8. Baby's Got Sauce  -  G. Love and Special Sauce
9.  Charley Patton Songs - Gomez
10. Truly, Madly Deeply  - Ray LaMontagne

Bonus: Pieces  -  Rascal Flatts

Dear Lady in the Grocery Store Parking Lot:

When you started belittling me in front of my baby, I was totally shocked. Who does that? And further, who does that to a complete stranger?

Apparently you do and you do it quite well. You must have had a lot of practice.

Contrary to what you-- a complete stranger thinks-- I do take good care of my children and I love them very much! I feed them hot meals pretty much every morning before they go to school. I wash their clothes, I comfort them when they are sad and I guard them with my life. I play with them, and I teach them how to be kind to others.

When you found me walking "selfishly out of the store with my stupid soda", I had not done what it was you were accusing me of doing.

You stood by my car with a stern look on your face, arms crossed and tapping your mad, pointy foot.

I walked back to my car, and you started scolding me about the dangers of leaving my child alone in the car. How could I be so selfish to do that? To leave my baby in the car while I went and got a "stupid soda"?

Honestly?

I was floored and completely speechless.

I had done no such thing.

In fact, I actually had done the complete opposite. I had taken my baby into the store with me, to get my "selfish, stupid soda" and I also got her a doughnut. Well, really I got a doughnut for all the kids that were at home still sleeping (the oldest is fifteen and perfectly capable of tending).

I came out of the store, and put the baby back into her seat, and carefully buckled her up. I then gave her a kiss and she started singing at the top of her lungs "twinkle star".

This is where you came onto the scene.

You did not see what I was doing, and yet you were sure quick to determine that I was a waste of human space, and you articulated that very well.

You took great care to rip me to shreds, all while your Daughter buckled your Grand Baby into his car seat.

Seriously?

All I was doing was returning the shopping cart to the cart return.

Oh the horrors of being a responsible shopper!

So, Ms. Judgy-McJudger Pants, the next time you decide to go off on a complete stranger? Maybe you should check around to see if there are any women in the parking lot pushing an empty shopping cart back to the cart return. It's probably the mother of the "baby screaming" in the car. Who, by the way, actually wasn't screaming but singing.

Next time I'll FOR SURE leave the cart in the middle of the isle and let it ding your car door.

You big Jerk Face.

Thanks for nothing,

I have posted several times about the fact that I live my life in a musical. I am  constantly thinking-- if I were in a musical I would SO put this song or that song right here and then do a big ole' chorus dance number.

Well.

That is the purpose of Soundtrack Sunday. I used to do a little meme called Soundtrack Sunday that I've decided to resurrect. It's a great way to capture those moments and sear them to your memory.

We all have those moments in our lives -- I like to call them Kodak Moments-- that when they are happening, you know they will be epic. Especially if there was music.

That's what Soundtrack Sunday is all about.  Take a story from your life, a memory, and find the perfect song to punctuate it with-- making your very own personal Soundtrack for your life.
---
My sisters, my Mom and I went to San Diego several years ago for Mother's Day.  It was a total blast.  My sister and I were sitting in Balboa Park  listening to her Ipod, and we were both just singing away.  She looked over at me and said: "This is where if my life were a musical we would all break out in song and dance."

I got all excited, because HELLO! You do that too?

We both smiled that evil knowing grin and started dancing, and singing.

I don't remember what the song was that we were singing along with, but it was so fun to have that little moment with my sister. I'm sure it was bizarre to see a 35+ year old woman singing and dancing with a beautiful little 20 something girl,  but it was a fantastic moment for me.

When I saw Enchanted for the first time, and they had their big "cast" number, I was stunned.

They totally got it right.  That is how I see my life-- one giant musical cast number.

Me singing away with people dancing and following along behind me.

At least I wish that's how it could be.

I did the rinse and repeat cycle on that particular scene in Enchanted over and over again. It was fabulous!  Enchanted nailed how I see my life... my very own personal soundtrack.

I mean, really.

Don't you wish there could be that scary music to warn you of stuff?   Maybe we'd be less likely to make some of the stupid choices we make.

Living in a Vacuum Sucks.  - Adrienne E. Gusoff

My strong desire to maintain some sort of schedule lasted two days. TWO WHOLE DAYS. Then the kids were sleeping in until eleven and we were eating cake for breakfast.

I justify the cake because there are eggs, milk and flour in that cake. So, it's healthy and stuff. More healthy than a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Last night we all stayed up watching stupid TV.  At 10pm when I told the kids it was time to go to bed they all, including Moxie, declined. Strongly. "It's summer vacation, Mom. It's not like we have anywhere we have to be in the morning." Which is sad but true.

Let the lazy days of summer begin.

*****

I'm sort of loving this chilly weather. I could really get into a rainstorm a day.  I remember that we would have a storm a day in Illinois-- but it was just because of the humidity.  And, those rainstorms were sticky.

A nice warm meal , a good book and rain storm. That has the makings of a good summer.



*****
The hospital bills from Jefe's accident are starting to roll in. HOLY COW! I am so glad that I have such good  insurance and further, I can totally see how people could loose everything they own because of medical problems.

People.

Unreal and completely 100% outrageously, absurdly, out-of-this-world expensive.

*****
I went to Old Navy this week to get Thing 2 some clothes and the craziest thing happened.

I was recognized because of my blog (and the blog conference). 

I would be lying if I said it didn't thrill me. Because it did.

Here's to you, Nicole, and I hope you had a good surgery yesterday!

*****
It's time for a little linky love:

Go visit my friend, Gayle,  who has a son that is very ill. She is a gifted writer and tells a poignant story.  She could use some love, prayers and comment love.

Jennifer is a fantastic writer! I found her blog recently and spent the morning reading the entire blog. Make sure you bring a diet coke with you when you visit her, you'll be there for a while.

I met Charlotte at  the CBC and she is fantastic! Her parents were in a serious motorcycle accident--the same day that Jefe was in his accident.  I saw her tweets about her parents while I was in the hospital with Jefe and I felt an immediate connection to her. Go read her blog-- she's fabulous!

*****
That's all folks. I'm hunkering down today. I got two new books for my birthday that I am planning on devouring. I've got a bunch of stuff gathered up to do a little birthday giveaway too.  I'll be putting that up later so watch out for it.  It may or may not have a Cameron Rafati CD, a necklace and chocolate. You'll want to enter FOR SURE!

Catch ya on the flip side!

1.   Speck Out of the Blue  -  Cameron Rafati
2.  Valley of the Low Sun - Jakob Dylan
3.  Coconut Skins - Damien Rice
4.  Move By Yourself - Donavon Frankenreiter
5.  Wedding Dress - Matt Nathanson
6.  Somebody to Love - Glee Cast
7.  Free of Me  -  Joshua Radin
8.  If You Could See - Vaughn Penn
9.  I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For  - U2
10. Morning Light - Chantal Kreviazuk

Bonus: Just Like Heaven - The Watson Twins

There were phrases that my parents would say when I was a kid that would cause my eyes to involuntarily roll into the back of my head. I couldn't help it, and when they would start to roll, it would infuriate my parents even more.

I have noticed a trend at my house recently. I will find myself talking to my teenagers, and their eyes start glazing over and ROLL! How rude! They roll their eyes at me and then add that superfluous punctuation "whatever".

I hate despise loathe that word.


I've done the one thing I swore as a child I would NEVER do: I've turned into my parents.

I am saying some of the Exact. Same. Phrases. that my parents used to say to me that would prompt the involuntary eye roll. When I finally realized what I was doing, it was mind blowing. Although, I have noticed that whenever I say these phrases around my parents they laugh.

They laugh at me.

Totally rude.

If you find yourself saying any of these phrases, you've turned into your parents. Feel free to add to it if I've forgotten any.


1. How do you know her eyes were open during the prayer?

2. Turn that music down! People in China don't want to hear that crap!

3. If I have to ask you one more time to clean your room I am throwing everything away and you can go to school naked!

4. We get undressed IN our rooms, not ON THE WAY to our rooms.

5. NO EATING FOOD IN THE LIVING ROOM.

6. Your curfew is 10:30. [pause] Well, that means you have to leave BEFORE 10:30 so you can be walking through my door at TEN THIRTY.[pause] No. Leaving your friends house AT 10:30 does not mean you kept your curfew. {boy howdy does this one bring back memories!}

7. Who's doing that? Who is tapping? Stop tapping! I can't take the tapping anymore!

8. You have to practice the piano BEFORE you can play, read, talk, eat or hang out with your friends.

9. TURN OFF THE LIGHTS WHEN YOU LEAVE A ROOM!

10. You eat what I make for dinner or go without. I am NOT a short order cook.

11. If everyone else was jumping off a cliff, would YOU jump off a cliff?

12.PEOPLE! Flush the toilet already!

13. For the love all that's holy, Quit Teasing Your Siblings!

14. The next person that tattles on someone is the one that is getting the beating.

15. Moving your crap from one room to another is NOT considered putting it away. Put it away where it belongs.

16. Only boring people get bored.

17. This radio station is now Banned! It's not even music anyway. [pause] I don't care if it's the cool radio station. Start a trend. Tell people Classical music is the new IT music.

18. Why yes I AM trying to ruin your life by not letting you wear that immodest shirt. Take it off now.

19. You have to use cleaner to get a bathroom clean. NOT water.

20. I love you more than anyone and will always be here for you.

“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting” - Jack Handy


The past two weeks have been surreal for me.

I met Caroline for the first time. It was like we had always known what each other looked all up close and personal like, but we didn't.

I actually had to call her on the phone, when I went to the airport to pick her up because I drove around twice before I realized "Maybe I don't really know what she looks like". She talked me to her like a lost little puppy dog coaxed back home. We looked at each other, gave each other a quick hug and then it was back to business as usual.

I also got to see my best friend for the first time in four years. Four very long years. She is the yin to my yang and helps me see the humorous things in life. Like when we HAD to go bra shopping and the only time I had to do it was at 3am. She cracks me up and keeps me grounded.

Then there was that little conference thingamabob last weekend. I am thrilled with how well it went, and that it's over. Not that I didn't like dreaming about the conference and the various names I had seen come through registration.

I have finally stopped having conference dreams and my psyche thanks you.
*****
School ends for the kids today.

I feel a little conflicted because while I am excited that we have absolutely NOTHING to do all summer long but veg, WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO ALL SUMMER LONG.

I am a creature of habit. I do the same thing everything every day and having my kids home means that my schedule and order gets tossed out the window because they're around. I vow every single year that I am going to make a schedule that we all stick to-- that doesn't include sleeping until 10am and staying in our PJ's until 4:30.

Let's hope this year I actually make it stick longer than three days.
*****
Jefe wrecked his motorcycle on Memorial Day. I am trying to bury this into the middle of the post because he hates it when I write about him. He is the kind of man that likes to be behind the scenes and not draw attention to himself. Which truthfully, sucks for him because I'm all about getting people to notice me. I am sort of a loud mouth-- so we balance each other out nicely.

Anyway, he wrecked his bike pretty good and scared the living day-lights out of me. There are certain kinds of phone calls a Wife should never have to answer.

Like the "Hello, this is the police department your husband is in jail" kind of call; Or the "Hey honey, I just took a vacation to the Bahama's --without you" and the "Hello, this is the Paramedics and we have your husband and we're on our way to the hospital."

That last one is definitely one you don't ever want to get.

It jerked me back into reality faster than a stealth plane could fly and I realized that while the conference was fabulous and all that-- I almost lost what was most important of all-- My Husband.

Dude.

You can totally fix a crushed hand, but you can't fix dead.

I'll take the hand any day.

*****

I have been in mourning yesterday and today because I was supposed to be at the U2 concert. But, stupid lovely Bono had to go and get back surgery and Jefe was in surgery all day yesterday too. I guess it was a good thing Bono's back was jacked up because I wouldn't have been able to go and that would have pissed me off more.

I will patiently wait for the reschedule date.

NEXT YEAR.

Humph.

*****
Moxie has taken to the word NEED. She needs stuff and lots of stuff, too.




1. Breakdown - Jack Johnson
2. Street Corner Preacher - Amos Lee
3. When It's Over - Sugar Ray
4. Tripping Billies - Dave Matthews Band
5. Wake Me Up - Norah Jones
6. Thank You - Dido
7. Be That Easy - Sade

9. Dirty Conversation - Cameron Rafati
10. Our Love - Donavon Frankenreiter


Bonus: No Stopping Us (Live) - Jason Mraz

It's finally over. That little thing I've been killing myself over for the last seven months. It's finally over and it totally exceeded my expectations.

It was awesome to watch everything unfold and see people meeting each other for the first time. I heard lots of squealing in delight and it warmed my heart.

When I plugged my camera into the computer to upload the photos from the event, I had a horrifying realization: I never even took my camera out of my camera bag.

I had forgotten my camera so after I picked Caroline up from the airport, I drug her ALL THE WAY BACK TO MY HOUSE so I could bring my camera.

Only to then leave it in the hotel room the entire time.

That means I can't show you a photo of me telling the venue lady that I wanted to make out with her because she saved us over $1,000.

Nor can I show you the photo of Fernando, the AV guy, when I told him to quit going to his office and just stick to me like glue. Actually what I said was: "You and me are going to be intimately acquainted by the end of this event, so quit going to your office. AND I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!"

I also can't show you a photo of me yelling at my uterus because the GPS located inside it failed me. Twice.

I can't show you photos of us when we were putting together the gift bags at 2:30 in the morning.

I can't show you a photo of me banging my head against the wall as the lights simultaneously went on and off and on and off during one entire presentation. I speed dialed Fernando faster than Lindsay Lohan drove Herbie all the while keeping my thumb firmly pressed to the ON switch.

What I can show you is this:


This is me being a total 15 year old girl. I flippen LOVE Cameron and was a giggling mess when I saw him walk in. I had invited Jefe and the kids to come to the concert with me, but they decided they wanted to stay home. I felt slightly guilty for being glad because then I could scream and be completely silly (and swoon) during the concert.

I listen to Cameron ALL. THE. TIME. And when I was able to get my photo taken with him I about melted.

Seriously.

I could be his groupie. If he thought having a married, 39 year old mother of 4 for a groupie was hot. Which it's not.

"A reporter from a newspaper here in Utah asked me if it was worth the trip, to travel all the way from NC for the conference. I answered without hesitation that it was. I'm not sure anybody but a blogger can understand why it's worth it. But these women? They get me. They validate my efforts, they support, they uplift. They make me feel valuable."

That's why you go to blogging conferences. Yeah, it's great to learn how to make money or take great photos or even write the next American Novel. But the truth is you go so that you can turn those imaginary people who live inside your computer into real life friends that are a part of your life.

I'm glad I did it. I'm glad it didn't fail and I'm glad you all came.

Thank you.

*A Gigantic THANK YOU to Shelle from Shelle Bloks Thoughts for being our conference photographer. She did an outstanding job and if you want to see all the crazy wonderful photos she took, go check out them out HERE. *

"Success is not the key to Happiness. Happiness is the key to Success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." - Herman Cain


Well. The time is almost here for "the event". I have been working non-stop for over the last seven months. We have crossed and dotted all the proverbial T's and I's.

My spare bedroom is bursting at the seams with swag and door prizes.

My cell phone bill is astronomical.

The name tags are being made and the media kits are being put together.

The sponsors have all be obtained and the bills have all been paid.

WE DID IT!

Doors have opened for me that otherwise would have remained closed.

It's here and I am so excited I can't wait! It's going to be absolutely amazing! The whole dang thing!

The GNO party is being sponsored by Basa Body and they are bringing gift bags for everyone! I LOVE their product and working with their Rep has been simply DREAMY!

The entire conference is being sponsored by 300dpi and let me tell you one simple thing: That website is totally COOL!

There are so many other exceptional sponsors that I can't even begin to list them all... you should just check out the sponsor page. Or better yet sign up for the CBC newsletter, because there are SWEET sweet deals being released. Right. As. We. Speak.

I have made some incredible friends because of this crazy venture and I am so glad that I allowed myself to be talked into this thing.

I have learned a TON about myself and even more about people in general.

Some good. Some not so much.

Once it's over, I plan to be in a coma for a month. Minimum.

*****
My best friend is coming into town for the conference, and I CAN'T WAIT! I haven't seen her in four years. Four VERY long years.

I talk to her on the phone pretty much every week... we text and chat on facebook all the time. How did long distance friendships last without the invention of technology? It seems like I just saw her yesterday because of all this awesome technology we have.

Our children text message and facebook each other daily. We are hoping they get married so that we can be in laws. Wouldn't that be so fun to have your best friend as your child's mother-in-law? I mean, taking care of those grand babies would be a BLAST! Just one big, giant baby smoochin' party!

{Thing 1 is now horrified that I put that out there. Let me reiterate that they are JUST FRIENDS!}

*****
We hired our yard work out.

They came last week, and our yard looked AWESOME.

They ditched us this week.

I'm afraid we found a dud and it, to quote my friend Dionna, "HONK'S ME OFF".

*****
I wrote an article for MMB this week. Did you see it? You should go read it. Not that I'm biased or anything, but I think it's pretty good.

*****
Thing 2 takes drum lessons.

You're jealous, aren't you? You should be. He has a favorite rhythm that he likes to bang out. You can hear it outside it's so loud. I don't really know how to tell, but it seems like he's pretty good.

He's learning how to play Green Day's Boulevard of Broken Dreams

I actually don't mind the drums. Except when Moxie decides she's done sleeping and gets up at the crack of dawn and wanders into his room and starts banging away.

THEN I mind.

*****

I have a ba-jillion and a half things I need to get done now. I can't wait to see you at the CBC. If you weren't able to get a ticket, we still have some Mocktail party tickets available. We are having two concerts at the Mocktail and giving away some SWEET door prizes.

Think BIG. As in SEVERAL hundred dollars per item BIG. Come play with us if you want! It's going to be a BLAST!


1. Die Alone - Ingrid Michaelson
2. Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger - Daft Punk
3. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want - The Smiths
4. Not Fair - Lily Allen
5. Sing A Song - Donavon Frankenreiter
6. Breathe Me - Sia
7. Heartbreak Warfare - John Mayer
8. Lonely and Gone - Montgomery Gentry
9. Southern Girl - Amos Lee
10. Walk On The Water - Britt Nicole

Bonus: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend

I can always tell when I am getting ready to start my comma (as Jefe loves to call it). My head spins over virtually nothing and I cry at the drop of a hat. It's rather embarrassing, really.

For example, take this morning.

Thing 1 broke my laptop. Again.

We won't go into specifics, but it involved serious amounts of yelling, head spinning and possibly some green spray. I really can't remember because I was possessed by Linda Blair.

Later I take the broken laptop to the local UPS store to ship and I'm chatting with the worker boy. I have a tendency to be a chatty-patty. I will talk to pretty much anyone, about anything. I need to get the filter on my mouth fixed, because it's broken.

I was telling the cute worker boy what had happened and we were commiserating together about the woes of children and how the ruin your stuff.

Not that HE would know. He's single. And Pure.

While he was packing up my precious, I noticed a flier for "Same Day MTC Delivery Service".

What does that mean?

Well, when boys reach the age of nineteen in my church they can volunteer to serve the church for two years. The church will pick where their assignment will be--we have NO say in where they go. It takes a lot of faith to send your child out into the Lone and Dreary world like that.

The missionaries pay their own way and the only communication they have with their family is via one weekly email. (or when Jefe and I served ONE weekly letter)

Jefe went to Spain and spent the majority of his time living exotically.

I went to Spokane, Washington but spent the majority of my time in Idaho.

Shut up.

Anyway, the flier.

I looked at that flier with the cute little cartoon missionary and the tears turned on like Niagara Falls. The worker boy stopped and followed my line of sight and then he smiled and said "Ohhh. Where's your missionary?"

I wiped my eyes and said "In the car."

He looked at me puzzled and then looked in the car and could clearly see Thing 2 happily playing my dashboard with his drumsticks.

He then looked at me again, very puzzled and ever so slightly shook his head as if to say "Man! Women. They NEVER stop being weird."

It's true.

I got all weepy in the UPS store because my son is GOING to be a missionary.

In seven years.

Jefe told me this morning that there is only one thing he loves about my blog and I have not been doing it lately. Posting pictures of his cute kids. So pardon me while I indulge Jefe and give him some eye candy.

Love you babe. We make beautiful kids together!

I have a ba-jillion and a half things I need to do and yet here I sit on the computer, listening to music.

When I get really stressed, the thing I use to soothe myself is music. For some reason, it brings me back to my core... It centers me.

So, in honor of my avoidance, I present to you my latest finds in music.

Hunter Langston. He is reminiscent of Matt Nathanson, John Mayer and Joshua Radin. He's a singer/songwriter and I really DIG his tunes. I found him today when I was wasting time on Facebook.

Cameron Rafati. Boy Howdy. I know that I've written about him before, but I seriously love this guys music. He is going to be HUGE and if you don't know who he is, you need to check him out. I love every single one of his songs, but if I had to pick my favorite, it would probably be Battles or Speck Out In the Blue. Check it: He's performing at the CBC on Friday night, if you're interested.

Jakob Dylan. He used to be the lead singer of The Wallflowers and he's the son of Bob Dylan. His solo stuff is awesome and I absolutely love his song Something Good This Way Comes. Besides all that, he is easy on the eyes!

Lastly, check out Meet the Passionista! Every month she puts up a new playlist of songs. She has impeccable taste in music and I absolutely LOVE her playlists. All of my new favorite artists are from her playlists.

Is it totally creepy that I never comment on her blog? I just go to listen to the music she picks out. I get giddy at the beginning of each month in anticipation of that months mix.

That's stalking at it's finest, folks.

Recently my kids and Jefe were watching Planet of the Apes. I abhor despise loath really hate that show. It's just plain creepy. Talking monkeys? Yikes.

I don't mind so much the new movie version with Marky-Mark and the funky bunch. I have seen it several times... and I actually like it. It helps that Marky-Mark is in it... seriously. He's just plain yummy! But the old version? It completely creeps me out.

I have to remove myself from the room every single time someone is taking in the monkeys. I think its PTSD. Really I do. I have PTSD with regards to Planet of the Apes.

Here's why.

One time, when my Mom was off to some sort of church meeting, my Dad was left in charge of my sister and I. He was in the basement watching Planet of the Apes and my sister & I were upstairs essentially hiding from the Ape monsters that could talk.

I remember that I was standing on our kitchen counter and we had a chair pulled up to that counter. Steph was standing on the chair, and we were foraging in the cupboards for something to eat.

There must have been a commercial on, because the next thing I knew I could hear a monkey sounding monster coming up our stairs and I FREAKED out. I screamed bloody murder and tried to not only jump over the chair, but my sister too... but I didn't quite make it. My sister hit her head on something and cut it open really bad and had to get stitches.

As the story is told (which has gotten better over the years) the Doctors didn't believe how she had cut her head open. They made her retell the story over and over again. To different Doctors. Because really, who tries to jump over someone because they hear a monkey sound?

{{raising my hand}}

Umm. Me.

I felt really bad. However, my Dad felt worse. He was just teasing us, but ended up scaring the living be-jeebers out of us, causing Monkey induced PTSD and scarring me for life. I think I need therapy now.

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to participate in the Utah Valley Women's Expo to promote MMB and CBC.

When they asked me to come to the Expo, they said I would be on "bloggers row" and we would be speaking on a panel in front of the entire Expo. With famous people like Cjane. And Vanessa. And Tech4Mommies.

Nothing TOO terribly intimidating.

{cough}



When it came time for the panel, we had literally ten people in the audience. One was Vanessa's mom, three were blogging friends and their kids that came to listen and give us moral support.

And some random dude that was eating his lunch.

Good times.

I am, however, going to let you in on a little secret.

{looks around, making sure Jefe isn't listening}

I was sort of in my element. It's true. I was. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the random people walking by. I really enjoyed chatting with everyone that was on "Bloggers Row" and it was even more enjoyable when all my girlfriends showed up to hang out with me.

How can you argue spending an afternoon visiting with people and hanging with your girlfriends?

The best part of the whole thing was when Annie and I came up with a new blog idea: People of the Expo. Sort of like People of Walmart. Only better.

We actually took photos of people that were "interesting" but I'm afraid to post them. I mean what if that Barbie looking girl with the jumbo furry pink boots reads my blog?

She could, you know. Stranger things have happened.

Like seeing that lady that looked like she had a large Dog in her hair.

That was strange.

But seriously, the best part of the Expo was when my friends decided that I had - had enough and that I should go home.

Within a ten minute period they had my booth taken apart and were heading to my car, all while I stood there watching in utter disbelief.

That's how you know you have good friends... When they step in and tell you enough is enough-- Go home already.

But first you have to go eat at Outback and mock the Douche Lord.