Showing posts with label A to Z Challenge 2015. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A to Z Challenge 2015. Show all posts

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Z Is For Zeal #AToZChallenge

This has been quite a marathon. The A To Z Challenge is finally at an end, and I'm hoping I went after it with zeal. I have to say, I probably couldn't have done it without Alice from Softball Alice. Thank you, thank you, my friend! Cookies for you tomorrow! They are good, I sampled some!

Zeal is a word that isn't used quite as much as it was years ago, but it is still pertinent. Consider these great quotes from those who knew!

"Just as food eaten without appetite is a tedious nourishment, so does study without zeal damage the memory by not assimilating what it absorbs." --Leonardo da Vinci
 
 It is fascinating that the great artist had this insight. Is he saying that studying is really quite useless unless somewhere in the process you become motivated by what you are studying? Wonderful teachers can instill that kind of zeal in a student if they are experienced in their field. Not only do teachers need to have knowledge of what they are teaching about, they also must have skill in imparting that knowledge so that it is interesting on some level. After that, it is the responsibility of the learner to take that knowledge, become absorbed in it, learn it and then make it a part of you! I believe that those kinds of teachers are rare enough. That is why I believe in rewarding skilled teachers. 
 
"I believe that fitness needs to come from within you. You need to respect your body. Only then will you have the zeal to maintain it. For me, keeping fit is a part of my lifestyle." --Arjun Rampal
 
I believe that Mr. Rampal is saying that you need to respect your body more than you love food. That is hard, because food is so good! I don't think that one has to be a glutton to put on a few extra pounds. I eat a fraction of what I used to eat and I exercise every day. But I would not call myself the epitome of fitness. It's hard to respect a body that doesn't respond to the added nutrition and exercise I give it. Maybe I should try harder. But I love to do so many other things. I'm not sure that I deem it worthwhile to devote hours and hours to physical fitness and nutrition when I could be doing other things I also love to do. I know the hard-bodies of the world would disagree with me strongly. But I say life is more than worshiping my physical body. I also have a mind that I love to develop with zeal!
 
"Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal." --Charles Buxton
All I can say is the Kardashians are the epitome of zeal! More power to them!
 

Monday, April 27, 2015

W Is For Words #AToZChallenge

Once again, Alice from Softball Alice  has stopped by to help me out because A GAL NEEDS...friends who write! Stop by her blog and give her some love!
Words have power. If they didn't, the works of Shakespeare, Hemingway
and Dickinson would mean nothing.

But really, words are power and the written word makes our words
timeless. By writing, we are able to communicate our inner-most
feelings and also leave a piece of us on this planet forever.

That is the biggest reason I write, so that my words and a little
piece of me can stay here forever because I will not stay forever.

What we say can also have lots of power. I don't know how many times
what somebody said about me cut me to the core.  Just a tiny hint of
negativity can make me double guess myself and be filled with doubt.
So many people are broken these days because of what has been
said to them, whether it be about their physical body or about their
personal characteristics.  Sometimes it is easy to point out the fault
in others and forget that we also have faults.

If only we were brave enough to always lift others through our words.
The thing with power is that we have the choice to either impact our
world through positivity or through negativity.

Because of this power, both with written and spoken language, be
careful.  You never know what impact you can have on this world.

V Is For Violin #AToZChallenge

I used to play the violin. It has been years since I've practiced or even played. The callouses that build up on the tips of a violinists fingers have long been gone and it is actually painful to play for any length of time. I wish I had kept up with it. Maybe I could have learned how to dub step and made a career out of it.
(My wishful thinking at play here) Lindsey Stirling is my violin idol. She uses her violin as a cool prop and she dances to her pre-recorded violin music! It's awesome! But you can always google her. Right now, it's all about me and my violin! I'm playing my version of the theme from Ken Burns' Civil War Series aired on PBS some years back. Pardon the mistakes. I didn't have time to do many run throughs at all, so this is truly me, pulling it out after years of non-playing! View at your own risk!
Regardless of whether or not I am good, or whether I have or haven't played in awhile, the fact is that my life has been enriched because of music. I have been cheered up when I was sad, enlivened when I was out of energy, calmed when I was a nervous wreck and inspired when I needed solace. The fact is that music can and does change a person. I feel that listening to good music can influence us for the good!

Saturday, April 25, 2015

U Is for Umbrage #AToZChallenge

I take umbrage to the following things:
  • When my shows get erased on T.V. before I watch them. I have a few select shows that I wait for the perfect time to settle in and just watch! I only watch t.v. certain times of the week. I get my drink, my food, my cuddle blanket and am entertained for an hour or so. It's the best! It's such a let-down when my shows come up missing because they've been erased either accidentally or because they haven't been deemed important.
  • Jackasses driving jacked-up pick-up trucks. They're just plain rude! On two different occasions I've taken severe and direct umbrage with them. One of them rammed into my car and took off, thinking he was going to get away with it. (I chased him down and he paid for my next car). Another time, one thought he was so cool, cutting me off in the fast lane, blowing black smoke in my face and throwing up a rock into my windshield making a giant crack. I didn't get that one paid for because it wasn't worth chasing him down! I'd rather not have an accident, when all is said and done!
  • People who throw me under the bus for doing them favors. There is nothing sadder than someone who you think is your friend, and then you find out that they don't give a rip about you. As a matter of fact they think nothing of any goodwill you have done for them and will instead use the old "I'll make myself look better by making her look as bad as possible" trick.  Enough said.
  • People who use dog poop bags incorrectly. Dog poop bags are to be thrown away in a trash receptacle once they have been used. You don't fill them up with your dog's excrement and just throw them on the ground. That makes it worse than if you did nothing at all.  At least dog poop is biodegradable!
  • And finally, have you seen the video about the guy dressed up as a pan handler in the streets of  L.A.? Instead of trying to get money, he was trying to give it away. People were taking umbrage to the idea that a beggar was trying to give them money. It made them so insanely mad. They cussed at him, they told him they could buy him, they told him he needed to work to get where they were. Fortunately, there were a couple of people who got his message and acted accordingly.
Everyday we have plenty of things to get angry, offended, stressed, or take umbrage to. But doing so only contributes to our own unhappiness. We (myself included) should choose not to let the little things get us down. Hopefully we can learn to laugh at the little disappointments and insults that inevitably come our way and instead do more to help others. I know I'm not perfect yet, but I'm working on it. What about you? What do you take umbrage to?

Thursday, April 23, 2015

T Is For Take Me Out To The Ballgame #AtoZChallenge

Today I am so excited to introduce Alice from Softball Alice. She is a full-time P.E. teacher at the school where I work and a writer as well! She will be doing my T post today!  Stop by her blog and give her some love!
I often find the words of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" running through my mind. 

If you are a baseball fan, you probably get this, if not, I feel you may be missing out. 

 This song is sung at every baseball game played anywhere.  It is as much of a part of the game as the ceremonial first pitch or singing of the National Anthem. 

This tradition, referred to as The Seventh Inning Stretch, has gone on for about a hundred years.  Between the top and bottom of the seventh inning, everybody stops, stretches to loosen up from a few hours of sitting and then sings these famous words: 

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Just buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."



Take me out to the ball game.
Seriously, in my single days, I would have said yes to any man who offered this as a place to take me out.  In fact, that is originally what this song was about.  Katie Casey was a woman who didn't really want to go to a show and she denies a suitor by saying:  "No, I'll tell you want you can do, take me out to the ball game."  The original first and third verse, which were all about this woman who was obsessed with baseball were dropped to the one verse we now sing at games. I love the history of the song, because you could replace Katie Casey with my name!  

Take me out to the Crowd
I am not a fan of crowds, but there is really something special about sitting with a bunch of baseball fans.  We get the passion and love of the game and for a few hours, we become family.

Just buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack
So, I can't eat either of these treats anymore because of an allergy, but seriously, if you haven't enjoyed a Dodger Dog or any hot dog at a ball park, you are missing out.

I don't care if I never get back
Going to a baseball game for me is like a three hour vacation.  All worries and all cares just escape me.  The green grass and manicured field are relaxing to me.  The sun on my skin while sipping a Diet Coke, takes me away to a far off beach.  It's a vacation and I really don't have to even leave the city.  And I could care less if I ever get back to those cares and worries of everyday life.

Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don't win, it's a shame.

I have been to a lot of ball fields.  Each team has it's own traditions and culture and to me that is awesome.  I will usually cheer for the home team because I respect those home traditions and culture but if the Dodgers are the visitor, sorry I'll be cheering for them. (Sorry to the Arizona Diamondbacks two years ago!)

For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out, at the old ball game.
The game has not changed since its beginnings in the 1800s.  The history is what makes this game great.  So, don't strike out; get out and enjoy at least one baseball game this year.  You won't regret it.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

S Is For Sweet Treats #AToZChallenge


Today I paid a visit to my friend, Simone. She is from Brazil. and is the best cook ever! Everytime I go to her house she gives me something she has made. So as you can imagine, I go and visit as often as I can! Today was no different. She is getting ready for her daughter's baptism. It is a very special occasion in the LDS church. It is 10 days prior to the event and already she is preparing the food, with some help from her friend, also from Brazil.
Brazilian Sweets Are Delicious!

The children love to help!
Vanilla ready to be rolled in coconut

Yum, tastes like chocolate truffles!

Rolling the balls in organic coconut



Vanilla encased in plum shell
In Brazil they make little balls of sweetness, rolled in coconut. They are delicious! She was kind enough to give me some samples of each kind! She was also kind enough to allow me to take some pictures of the process. Enjoy! Wish I could give you some samples of these wonderful morsels, to pop into your mouth! My favorites? The chocolate ones of course. They resemble truffles!

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

R Is For Rock Star #AToZChallenge

Today I am so excited to introduce Alice from Softball Alice. She is a full-time P.E. teacher at the school where I work and a writer as well! She will be doing my R post today!

I rock. I am a rock star. No, I do not play the guitar, drums or even sing. In fact, I can rarely keep in the same key when I do sing, but I do one thing extremely well: Rock my one-year old to sleep. 

This is a daily occurrence sometime between 8 and 10pm. I am not one of those parents that has a spot on consistent routine. Sometimes, we are just too busy living so bedtime is later. Sometimes, we are exhausted because of all the living so bedtime is earlier. 

It may not be a constant time everyday but there is a definite routine to prepare for rocking. 

I parent a little boy. Boys are filthy. They see mud and think: "I need to be one with that."  There must be some sort of force field that pulls them toward the dirt and grime. Because of this strong force field, our routine starts with a bath. 

Once the filth is removed, it is time for some light reading. This allows time for the boy to dry and to begin winding down (Boys seem to never stop moving. They are like little wind up toys. They go and go and go until they can't go anymore.)  

Next, we get dressed for bed. Because of my kid's wind up toy ways, I let him watch videos of trains on my phone while I dress him. I first get him diapered (hopefully before any urine has escaped onto me or the furniture), and clothed (it's always footie pajamas because every kid looks cute in footies, and then his feet don't freeze.)

He then watches videos while I get his bottle prepared (Yes, he is close to two and still takes a bottle to sleep. I baby him and that is completely fine with me.)

Eventually, he comes and finds me to request his bottle. This is where I become a rock star. 

This gig doesn't pay much but I think it is worth much more than mosh pit making sounds. I don't get notoriety for this gig either, but I am important to one little person and that is all the fame I need. 

He slowly drifts into complete relaxation and then to sleep.  Sometimes it takes twenty minutes, sometimes only two.  I sit and ignore him until he closes those little eyes, but as soon as he does, I stare and stare.  
Soon, he will be too big for this.  Soon, I won't get these moments.  So for now, I will stare with complete love and adoration.  For now, this is the best gig in the world.   

Monday, April 20, 2015

Q Is For Quiet #AToZChallenge


When was the last time you spent a quiet moment, doing nothing but sitting and looking out the window at children playing, the wind blowing in the trees, or watching the waves in the sea?

I love peace and quiet. I love the house when it is quiet, when I don't hear noises like keyboards tapping, music playing, people talking, water running, footsteps on the floor, washing machines going, etc. As you can imagine that is a very rare occasion. I might get that at 4 a.m. in the morning. But then I also love my sleep, so very limited indeed.

Quiet is a rare commodity anywhere in the civilized world. I specifically remember a post on a blog, where the writer traveled to the Middle East and from there took a two-day camel journey. He warned of the difficulties of camel riding, which is extremely hard and leaves you aching in remote places. But he also said that the nights were so silent, the stars were bright and that it was good for the soul. I can believe it!
The map above shows both the noisiest and quietest places in the United States.
 Some other quiet places in the world are the Hoh Valley in Washington State, Kronostky Nature Reserve in Russia, The Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa, The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, and the Sinharaja Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka.

The quietest place on earth is a lab in Minnesota where quiet is artificially induced. All sound is blocked out. People visiting the lab are actually better off sitting down because sounds made when moving are blocked out, thus making balance difficult. One can hear their own heartbeat, stomach gurgling, even the lungs make noises heard only in complete and utter quiet! The longest anyone has been able to stay in that anechoic chamber is 45 minutes! It goes to show that too much quiet is unnerving.

Some people get unnerved at any kind of quiet at all. And why would that be? I'm not sure, because I'm a lover of the quiet. Maybe it has to do with being an introvert vs. an extrovert. I imagine Lady Gaga to be an extrovert. She once said, "I was very depressed when I was 19...I would go back to my apartment every day and I would just sit there. It was quiet and it was lonely. It was still. It was just my piano and myself. I had a television and I would leave it on all the time just to feel like somebody was hanging out with me."

What do you think? Is quiet something you love? Or do you need some noise to help you feel comfortable?

Saturday, April 18, 2015

P Is For Piano #AToZChallenge


One of the things I love to do is play the piano. I started playing when I was young and played off and on through college. Here is a piece called 'The Heart Seeks Pleasure First' by Michael Nyman. Hope you enjoy it!


O Is For Overwhelmed #AToZChallenge


Today I am posting late because I have been overwhelmed with work, life, family, and menial housework. Thank goodness it's the weekend! But that brings into play something that has crossed my mind lately. How do moms do it? I mean, seriously? 

It's been awhile since I have had little ones hovering around me, waiting for me to get out of the shower, and playing with pots and pans in my kitchen. I miss it so much, but more and more, I find that I'm OK with not having to interact with little ones on a daily basis. Frankly, I don't think I have the energy! I'm not anticipating on being a grandma anytime soon, so I truly have some time off.

Today I went to the movies with my sister and her 3 boys to see the new movie 'Home' by Dreamworks. Very good, by the way! It has Rhianna and Jennifer Lopez in it! Before we got in the theater we had some drama and some loud noise and some hitting others in the car. It kind of stressed me out, but my poor sister was mortified. She did well and kept her cool but wow, I wondered how she does it day in and day out. I'm sure it is her love of her kids that keeps her and most moms going!

I was also talking to my friend at work, who is both a full-time teacher and a mom of a toddler. When the baby was born, she took the allotted time off and came back when she was still breastfeeding her son. She would come to school and teach, and during lunch and some of her prep time, she would pump. She found it was so overwhelmingly difficult to do this, the hardest thing she's ever done. But she did it, knowing that if she could get through it, things would eventually calm down and she could always say that she did the best she could possibly do for her son, while working. I give her all the props in the world to have done this. One thing she did say is that she had to sacrifice some things. She wanted to be, first and foremost, a great mom. But she had to sacrifice being a great teacher. She had to be satisfied with being an OK teacher.  I think that is the key to surviving during overwhelming times. She is now back to being an excellent teacher, and a great mom!

We are only physically capable of doing so much. There are only so many hours in the day and only so many units of energy that we can put out. After that, we have to concede that the wall is looming and that we will hit it.

Something that you can do if you're feeling the pressures of motherhood is to realize that these difficult stages, such as the one my sister is going through and the double duty my friend had to go through, are only temporary. They might last only a few months or as long as a year or in extreme cases two, but usually these stages will pass. Take some time to laugh and find the humor in it. If you can hold on, you'll look back and wonder how in the heck you did it! And you will feel happiness and contentment that you persevered! You will be a super mom!

Whoever said that you should enjoy every minute of motherhood was probably not a mom to my kids! I didn't enjoy all of the aspects of being a mom. But I loved many parts of it and still do! Don't feel bad that some of the stages aren't enjoyable for you. Just live through it as gracefully and responsibly as you can. Know that it WILL get better. Some moms love the routine more than others, some moms have been given less temperamental children than others, some moms are more naturally given to being maternal than others. We shouldn't judge each other because each of our circumstances is different!

Be on the lookout for those special moments--that special hug, the words that come out of a child's mouth that can be so insightful, funny or just cute, the antics that enchant you and give you glimpses of a special ability or talent. These are what makes motherhood so special. Don't miss them because you are too bogged down by the routine.

So you're overwhelmed today. Don't be too hard on yourself and live through today, the next day and the next day, being kind to yourself and to your children. You may not be perfect at everything, but you're wonderful at loving your kids!

Thursday, April 16, 2015

N Is For Nap! #AToZChallenge


Naps - Needed rejuvenation, horizontal refreshment, brain energy restoration, physical regeneration, children resist them, parents insist on them!

I've been a napper ever since I can remember. My mother was a nap gestapo and as a child I remember sneaking out of my crib when my grandma was baby-sitting me. She might have let me get away with it, but not so with mommy dearest! I was firmly expected to take a nap.

Here is an expert napper!
Sometimes one might feel a little embarrassed to admit that he or she loves to take naps. I think western society, as a whole, is so non-stop and productivity oriented, that a nap is seen as an inefficient use of the day. It may even be regarded as indolent and self-indulgent. (See my post on L is For Lazy) My circadian rhythms demand that I nap. I, like most people I know, go to bed way too late. I usually get 6 hours at night. But sometime during the day, my brain gets a bit foggy, my energy level drops and unless I want to resemble a zombie in an episode of 'Walking Dead', I nap. I must say that I don't drink caffeine of any kind, which is why I have the kind of schedule I do. My natural rhythms kick in easily. Once in awhile I'll drink one of those natural energy shots, if I need to push through something without a nap, which is rare!

Taking a nap increases the alertness of your brain. In fact, I find dividing my day in half, based on my nap time, will make the second half of my day as alert and energetic as the first half!

Taking a nap increases memory retention and decreases burn-out! Instead of feeling like taking a nap is unproductive, know that it's the exact opposite.
Perfect napping corner!
It's a scarey list of consequences for those who deprive themselves of sleep. Cortisol, a stress hormone is released. Too much cortisol contributes to all kind of horrible conditions such as weight gain and specifically abdominal fat, glucose intolerance, weakened immune and muscle systems, it hampers memory and creativity, and limits production of growth hormone and testosterone in the body.
On the contrary, napping will give your body a chance to heal and your brain a chance to rest! 

So pardon me, if you see me slipping away to an unspecified resting place during the middle part of my day. I want to get as much out of my conscious, awake time as I possibly can. And as far as I can tell, one of the best things I can do is nap!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

M Is For Money #AToZChallenge


The coins spill out over the table, they clink loudly, glinting under the fluorescent lights in the classroom. The boy knows the drill. Separate the quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies into groups. Start with the largest, working down to the pennies. This time it's different though. I walk away. No help will be given today. He has been working practically all school year to be able to do this. 


Some days have been better than others. Shifting from dimes to nickels seems to be particularly hard. He just can't seem to get it. But each day we work on it, each day using the same coins, that together total about $6.50. Sometimes he says, "I'm sorry, I'm such an idiot." I tell him, "No you're not! Don't apologize.You're going to get this!" And we start again.
The boy is 18, and has been with us for 3 school years. I have come to be so fond of him. I want the best for him. Last year it seemed as if he was never going to have the money-counting skill. It was very frustrating for most of the people who worked with him. They just didn't have the patience or time to go over and over and over a skill or format, so that he would finally understand something. 

This year has been different. Maybe it's because he is maturing and has more patience at working on things. Maybe it's because I was determined that yes, we could work with money all year. We were given this time, and it would be used well. 
So the coins cascade out again and I walk away. When I come back, he has written an amount on some paper. I count the coins, wondering if it will be right this time. My eyes widen with delight. It's correct! Is this a fluke? Let's do it again. I put more coins on the table. This time the amount will be bigger. I leave again. 10 minutes later, he has written another total on the paper. Again, I am pleased to see the total is correct! "Good job! Let's do this again." So more coins are put on the table, and I mix up the coins that have already been organized. He willingly starts his task. Once again he is right! I am so ecstatic! 

If the boy learns how to count money, without help from anyone, he will have a skill set that he can use throughout his life. It will give him the self-confidence to help him know that he's not the idiot that he thought he was.

The 4th try didn't go so well. He was off by a dollar and some cents. But by that time the piles of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies had grown significantly. Today was a major milestone for money. We will have several more weeks before school is done to work on his skill. Then he will move on to another placement. Maybe a job training site, or a group work experience. But whatever he does, he will always be able to count money!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

L Is For Lazy #AToZChallenge


 We all have different energy levels based on heredity, diet and core belief systems. But deep down, you know ya'll lazy!

This post wasn't a stretch for me to think of. Why? Because I too am a Slaktavist! Yes, I admit, sometimes I am lazy. But lazy compared to what? My lazy could be someone else's Type A mode. My Type A Mode is someone else's snooze button.

Being lazy and admitting it can be a good thing. It can cause you to use creativity to make sure that your laziness is preserved.  Bill Gates said, "I choose a lazy person to do a hard job because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it!" 

One of the smartest men I have known and despised was an expert at laziness. He combined laziness with being cheap. He was a chiropractor, but he was too lazy and cheap to rent out an office. He operated out of his home so he wouldn't have to get up any earlier than necessary. He was fairly good-looking and knew how to schmooze. He charmed quite a few ladies by taking them out to a dinner that he paid half price for, because he always used coupons. If the date went well, he asked them to come to his home afterwards. When they came, he had them do him favors like do his books, his laundry, or his cleaning, etc. He had them bring him food, cook for him, and even had them use their cars to take him places. It was amazing. When the women found out they were being used to do things he simply didn't want to do, they would usually leave in disgust. That was OK with him, he had a few on the string, waiting in the wings. I had to sit back and admire it on one level. It really was efficient to use as little work as possible to get all your menial chores done, using as little money as possible. On another level, it was funny to see him work it, knowing his end goal, and on yet another level, it was pretty sick! I pity the poor woman who ended up with him. Or maybe he never made it that far! I thought I saw him the other day. He was alone.



Check out these 10 laws of Lazy!
Even Ronald Reagan had this to say: "It's true that hard work never killed anyone, but I figure, why take the chance?"

What say ye? Is laziness something that you aspire to? Or is it already an achievement?

Monday, April 13, 2015

K Is For Kale, Kiwi, Kiefer---Anything But Cuties!


Today was the first day back to work after a wonderful Spring Break. During that time I must have hiked about 20 miles with my dog, blogged about 30 more hours, watched catch-up TV for 10 hours, had a wonderful Easter Dinner and generally had a great time! (I'm a lover of simple things)

Today the life-after-break avalanche that was waiting to happen let loose. I got buried by it . I left home at 7 am and returned 11 hours later, after work having done errands with son J, including getting his driving permit, shopping, and battling commute traffic back home. Just the everyday grind. But I love doing mom things, so this wasn't a bad thing.
Except for one item---my food choices.  I didn't plan well. I went too light in the early part of the day because I was rushed and didn't bring enough nutritious food. I skipped the vending machines because I was trying to be good. But 3 o'clock rolled around and I was a little starved (OK, a lot starved). When we went into the grocery store, I wigged out. If I had been smart I would have stuck with some great foods like:
Smoothie Made With Kiefer
Maybe a Kale & Kidney Bean Salad
Perhaps a few Kiwi's 

I would have been in great form having any of these great choices. And if I had planned right, I could have.  But by the time I got to the store, I was pretty ravenous. The thing that caught my eye was this box in the freezer section.

Cuties
Yeah, of all the things I could have picked, it was this. Notice that there are 8 per package. Each has 130 calories and 16 grams of sugar. Guess how many I ate? Just 7. That's all, just 7. Epic Fail for sure! Any of the K foods would have been so much better and better tasting too! But a person who is too hungry doesn't think reasonably. How silly of me! Cuties doesn't even start with K!

Lesson learned. It's one I've had to learn and re-learn many many times. When will it end? 

What is a crazy food choice you've made when you've been super hungry?


Saturday, April 11, 2015

J is For Jenner #AToZChallenge


I am sad to say that oftimes I am late to post. I get distracted by all of the offerings out there, including participating A To Z Challenge blogs like Brits In The USA, Shells Tales & Sails and Albom Adventures. Today I was thoroughly distracted by different snippets of video. One of those was a sneak peak of  an upcoming event. It seems that Bruce Jenner is going to do an in-depth interview with a major news organization on April 24th about this and that. But it's apparent that he's going to talk about his on-going sex change.

 
In 1976, he was "twirling the nation like a baton, so high up on a pedestal that it would take a crane to get him down," said Tony Kornheiser. He had just won the Olympic Gold Medal in the decathlon and done it in rousing fashion, breaking his own world record! He was mega-famous, even making it on the elusive Wheaties Box!
photo credit
But sadly, we may be saying good-bye to him forever. He's changing into a woman. I'm sure it will be a huge event, this interview. What will he say? What will he reveal? 

Of course, he will be changing his name at some point. So no longer will we have a Bruce Jenner, who is male. We will have a female. 

There are many people who are wondering what her name will be. I have a suggestion--what about Brunehilde!
It's really close to Bruce, the closest I have seen. And the story behind the name I imagine to be quite fitting! Legend has it that Brunehilde was a beautiful Amazon-like princess and vows to marry only a man of the most outstanding qualities and one that can surpass her in strength. One problem, she always had to wear a viking hat, pretty much mandatory if you have the name Brunehilde!

I can imagine Bruce Jenner's female self to be like this Brunehilde. She can't just end up with anyone. Naturally, she would only be happy with someone who has the same outstanding athletic qualities and the same noteriety and fame. But maybe that is the tragedy. Maybe there is no one that can ever make this legend truly happy...and so this is why the search is continuing, just in different form.



Friday, April 10, 2015

I Is For Insightful and Inciteful #AToZChallenge


Insightful - To show deep understanding and thoughtfulness of something
Inciteful - To instigate or rouse anger, provoke action.

When I think of the word insightful, I think of the great early heads of state and national government - men like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Thomas Paine, Ben Franklin, and the great John Adams. I think of them laboring for days, trying to craft a document that would stand through the ages. The Constitution has done just that, with our nation coming up on 240 years of independence under that document! They were not thinking of their own immediate futures, but of the distant future of a nation. 
Photo credit - Wikipedia
When I think of the word inciteful I think of the Ferguson protestors. They were angry because of a verdict that was handed down by a Court of Law. They burned buildings, they robbed stores, talked hatred, and eventually shot an officer. In the end, it only exacerbated an already tense situation. A lot of people actually changed their opinions of the verdict because of the crazy and irresponsible behavior of the protesters.
 
Being insightful is a rare and great character trait. Too many people only think of the here and now, not looking into the future and the outcome of actions done today.

Being inciteful is usually done out of frustration and anger. Those who are inciteful are usually very impulsive.  Sometimes the consequences can be disastrous. It is rare when a good outcome is realized. 

What are some examples of insightful and inciteful that you can think of?

Thursday, April 9, 2015

H Is For Having Fun! Disc Golf Style #AToZChallenge


Today was the first time I've been out disc golfing this year. It was a gorgeous day! Our usual course is 'Creekside' Park in Holladay, UT. When we travel, we like to golf wherever we go. I can tell you right now that I could never be a pro. I do it because my husband loves it, and it's fun to get out and do something besides "work out." Just enjoying the outdoors and seeing the sights is enough for me. Basically you take a disc similar to a frisbee and throw it in order to land it in a basket. It is scored like golf--with terms like ace, birdee, and par. Below is a shot of a teepad, where you launch your initial drive.

If you are at an official course, there are teepad signs that give you the distance you are throwing, the location of the basket or hole and other pertinent info!
 The baskets are usually waist height, but occasionally you'll run across a taller basket, just to give it some variety! Or maybe I'm just really short...you decide!


Sometimes there are mandatory routes, "mandys", that your disc needs to go through. It makes it a little interesting at times! And there are always those darned trees obstructing the way! But ask any veteran of the game and they'll say they'd rather have a more technical course with obstacles to deal with rather than a wide open field to play.

Many times you have gorgeous views and vistas to, from and on the teepads. Oops, my bad, I happened to get in the way of this view!
 By the time we walked the course and had done the 20 holes, we had walked about 2.5 miles. Pretty good little outing, if I do say so myself! Once in awhile, though, it's nice to have a seat and take a breather!
 Thanks for coming along with us as we played some great disc golf on an absolutely beautiful day!