2008

happy new year!

2007 can kiss our asses goodbye! hello 2008!

Steel Magnolias

Came home this afternoon to find one of my favorite classics on television. Swallow and I got a good laugh at ole' Ouiser character. We come to find out the Criminole had not only never seen Steel Magnolias but hadn't ever heard of it. After listening to us laugh hysterically, she sat down watched a little of it with us. Here are some of the quotes that made us giggle.

Annelle: We are in the house of the Lord!
Clairee Belcher: A lot she cares. Ousier's never done a religious thing in her life.
Ouiser Boudreaux: Now that is not true. When I was in school, a bunch of my friends and I would dress up as nuns and go bar-hoppin'.

Ouiser Boudreaux: A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Clairee Belcher: The older you get, the sillier you get.
Ouiser Boudreaux: Yeah, well the older you get, the uglier you get.

Clairee Belcher: Well, you know what they say: if you don't have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me!

Ouiser Boudreaux: This is it, I've found it, I'm in hell.

Celebration!

If you ask for something long enough, pray hard enough, and bother enough people you are bound to get what you want. So, yesterday was a particularly interesting day. Whatever could go wrong...did. I got off work and decided I wanted to celebrate the day. Two of my roomies were home when I got home and they were struggling to see what exactly I was celebrating. I enlightened them that I was celebrating the fact that one can choose to have a bad day or to simply make it a good day. You can choose to react to the negative or you can choose to celebrate that the bad is over and embrace the positives. I decided that as bad as the day was, I would make the choice to celebrate the day. Celebrate the fact that the bad was finished and the positives were yet to come. Keep in mind that all of this was done without reacting to the negatives. A few of the people I work with were so surprised to see me with a smile, having witnessed how lovely the day had gone. I embrace only positives and luckily I get the option to embrace each and every positive with all new situations, issues and problems.

I learned this valuable lesson during what I hope is the worst year of my life. 2007 is definitely a year to remember. A year that I am thankful that it happened, a year that made me stand a little taller and smile a little brighter. It was a year that helped me realize how wonderful life is. It wasn't until about half way through 2007 and that I learned that you really should celebrate the day...GOOD OR BAD. It is about the celebration! Yes, its a celebration! Day in and day out its a celebration.

I choose to celebrate yesterday. When the day started to take a turn, I began talking about how much I wanted an Irish Car Bomb (a shot of bailey's and jameson dropped in half glass of gunniess). A shot that I don't even like. I don't know why that was what I wanted...but it was. I talked about all afternoon and when I got home. Swallow, Criminole, and myself all headed to one of our favorite watering holes to celebrate the day. I walked in and was handed a ICB without even batting an eye. Amazing! When you believe, it comes. Criminole and Swallow were amazed. I just smiled and secretly wished my sister was there to see that yet again everything worked out for ME. I took my ICB like a champ and then ordered a jack on the rocks with lime. Life is good! That is the decision I choose to make...a decision I get the pleasure of choosing with each new situation.

The secret is that everything doesn't work out for me, but one would never know because I only acknowledge, celebrate and embrace the positives. The fact is life is fantastic and getting better everyday. Swallow and I talked about the fact that she was enjoyed to witness see my reaction to a bad day. She had never seen anybody celebrate my kind of day with champagne, smiles, and high fives. I might not be perfect, but I must admit that celebrating the day is a lot more fun than dwelling on the negatives.

Little Things...

the little things are important in life...may the coming year help you realize how to appreciate the little things.

20 + inches.

Rather amusing that 2 out of 12 people showed up to work on time today. They happened to be me (the floridian) and another female who just moved here from California. It is pretty comical that the other 10 people have lived in Colorado for at least 3 years. We both found it amusing that the two people that have little to no experience to drive in snow, did so and were able to get to work on time. Maybe it was because we realized that it was going to take a little longer so we left a little earlier. Maybe it was because we didn't realize we were suppose to drive slower. Most likely it was because we are so new we didn't realize that you can use snow as an excuse to either come to work late or perhaps to not come all.

After all the Colorado natives strolled in they decided to give the transplants tips for driving in the snow. They are as follows:

1) If you lose control put your car in neutral and it will straighten out itself.
2) Pump your brakes, that is if you don't have anti-lock brakes. You stand on your brakes if you do have anti-lock brakes.
3) Drive slower than the car in front of you.
4) After you park your car, put your windshield blades up in the air so they don't freeze to your car.
5) Only drive on the roads that have been plowed.

Mylast piece of advice and by far my favorite was:
Get a four wheel drive car and a driver.

Being a transplant and not use to driving in snow. I didn't realize that once you are home you are suppose to stay home and ONLY go out on the roads if you absolutely need to get somewhere. Me and swallow decided that there were things that we needed to get done, so out we went...shopping of course. Of course we went shopping to the places that we really needed...bascially it was like do or die type of shopping. Lukas Liquor which we found out actually delivers, DSW for some shoes, ROSS for some random odds and ends and then to REI. We made it home safely and are in for the rest of the evening. Denver is expected to have at least 2 feet of snow before mid-night...

A White Christmas

Santa knew just how to give me a great smile this morning. Of course, not everyone in the house was thrilled with the unexpected snow storm. We did expect that this morning would be full of hustle and bustle. After all, we had to get my parents up, packed and to the airport with plenty of time to get through security. What I didn't expect was for mother nature to give me another obstacle...an obstacle that brought a smile to my face.

I was awoken, to find about 4 inches of snow that had already fallen...an instant smile. I am not absolutely sure that it will always bring a smile to my face, but so far every time I see snow I get a huge grin from ear to ear. My mother on the other hand was concerned about the amount of snow and how it would effect their travel plans. They flew out this morning to spend christmas dinner with my sister and her husband. On the way to the airport, I took my sweet time driving extremely slowly in my front wheel drive car to the airport. On the way we saw at least 2 accidents. The first was just a slight bump against the guardrail, the other much more severe ended up being a three car - telephone pole crash that got everyone's attention. It didn't appear that anyone was seriously injured but it was amazing to see how easily something like that could happen with snowy conditions on the road. Not one car stopped to help (me included), I actually drove off the road to go around the the pole that was blocking the road. Again not the smartest idea in a front wheel drive car. What part of off roading in snowy conditions with my mom in the car, seemed like a good idea? Well the part, that makes me look back and giggle about it now is that I didn't even think twice about it, until after I was back on the road. I did what most other people would do, I played follow the leader with the three cars that were in front of me.

The accidents did trigger an interesting conversation, about how I need to change my emergency car supplies away from the Florida style (bikini) to a Colorado style that would include warming blanket and some energy bars in case I am stuck on the side of the road somewhere. I will be adding to my emergency supplies, but I don't think I get rid of the bikini just yet. You never know when you are going to need to swimming...skinny dipping isn't always an option.

Although, not all of you get the pleasure of enjoying a white christmas...I hope you are all enjoying whatever it is that brings a smile to your face on this particular day. Have a great one.

Barefoot.

Growing up in the south, you were able to be barefoot almost 100% of time...grantite you did have to wear shoes to school, church, organized functions, etc...but if at all possible, barefoot was the way to go.

I was given one particular gift this year, that took me by surprise. It was the gift of being able to go barefoot, but not really. A company called Vibram has come up with what might be the only shoe I wear for quite sometime. This is the answer to everything, well at least shoe related. It could easily be the most versatile shoe on the market, it ranges from bouldering (rock climbing for you outdoorsy challenged) to windsurfing. I realize that those of you who know me, know that fashion is definitely not my top priority. These shoes are definitely the fashionably challenged, but I enjoy that about them. Hell, if I could wear crocs every day I'd be a happy camper. Here is a picture of the different styles Vibram has come out with.


I have the style on the far left (with the one strap across the top). Although, I just got them today, I am anxious to test them out in all situations. Climbing, Hiking, Running, Swimming, Walking. Heck if they had clip-ins on the bottom, I would even use them for biking, but I am not that lucky. Putting on these shoes felt as if I was putting on a glove for my feet. It was as if I was back in my childhood days of running around without any shoes. Ahhhhhhh the good times.

As I can imagine, these shoes are not for everyone, but they will definitely be added to my I can't go anywhere without pile that I keep in my car (flashlight, screw driver, bathing suit, t-shirt, shorts, rubber band, and deodorant)...that is when I am not wearing them. I'll keep you posted on how they handle all the tests they have in front of them.

Enjoy your holidays everyone. Hope you all get to enjoy the blue skies, the peaceful sounds of mother nature, and all the little things that bring a smile to our faces. Its about the little things...

Snow!

Snow....Being as close to a Floridian as anyone is going to find, I get so excited about seeing snow. As does the rest of the family. My parents are visiting from Naples for the Christmas holiday. The average temperature in Naples this week is roughly 77 and the high in Colorado on the warmest day will be 41. With many of the lows in the single digits. Unfortunately, that doesn't include the wind chill factor.

Since I am having Florida visitors, I did what every good host does...I took them skiing so they could experience the things they will never get in Florida. We rented a great little condo in Keystone with all the amenities one could ask for...A deck with a view for outside living, a fully stocked kitchen, a fireplace, and a king size bed. My mother was extremely happy, and we all know when she is happy everyone else is happy too! I spent the last few days skiing in Summit County. My father and I skied Keystone the first day and Breckenridge the second. I was suppose to ski the third day at A-Basin, but after a nasty tumble I ended up with a fractured rib. Luckily for me, it only hurts when I breath. With that being said, I am planning on taking it easy for the next few weeks. One of the roomies came up and skied the last day with my dad. I was ever so grateful that the roomie took time off of work to come up to the mountains and spend time with some of the most important people in my life.

I have really been so blessed. Since the move to Colorado, I have gotten involved with some of the most amazing individuals. Something I truly love is that they all bring something different to the table. Our backgrounds are very different but we have blended very well together. Our home is a happy home, or at least I think it is. They have made my transition absolutely fantastic. You guys know who you are, so thank you very much for being my family away from my family.

Finally a Blogger......grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

After tossing the idea around to be a blogger, I have given in and decided to take the leap. After reading numerous blogs, I have found a few things I really like about them and a few things that make me wonder if the person writing the blog even has a brain.

Hopefully you will all enjoy this, feel free to give any and all advice.