I loved Mainly a Midwife's posting about "Ten Things about me", and I thought I would do a blog in the same fashion. I am pretty much an open book, so I don't know if there is anything to uncover, but here goes:

1. I have a deep fascination about tornadoes. I love to watch anything about them. I was once near one---but it was only a F-zero. (F stands for Fujita, the rating of damage/wind speed a tornado reaches.) I have also seen a funnel cloud in the distance, but again, it was tiny and dissipated quickly. The West Coast doesn't offer much tornado entertainment, which is why I want to go on a real live tornado chase in the midwest one day.

2. My favorite food is Thai. I can't live without it.

3. I have been inside a now-empty missile silo, underground, at night. Probably one of the most interesting and simultaneously dangerous experiences that I have ever done.

4. I love to make up crazy dances for my kids and husband. There is the horse dance, the cat dance and the tick-tock dance, to name a few. They think I am a nut. They are right.

5. My music taste is all over the map. I listen to almost everything. My eclectic music library ranges from John Denver to Lifehouse to Barbra Streisand to AC/DC to some rap. I love music and could talk about it all day long. I love to sing, but unfortunately, I am terrible. This doesn't stop me from doing karaoke, however. Wild horses couldn't stop me from belting out my music in the car, either.
This topic leads me to #6...

6. I fantasize constantly about being a professional singer, and a piano player, oh, and a guitar player, too. Sometimes, I also play the drums, and I am wearing cool sunglasses while I am beating away. I am pretty much a legendary one-man band, in my own mind.

7. Sometimes I watch the trashiest reality TV out there, and my already-struggling I.Q. goes down 10 points every time. I can't stop. The worst one that I ever sat through (and also watched the re-runs!) was "Paradise Hotel." I know, it is complete brain garbage. I might as well stare at a piece of moldy bread all day.

8. I love to travel, but I sometimes get in the mood to visit off-beat places. If you ever want something out-of-the-ordinary to do, contact me. I have a list just for Northern California. One of my favorite places to tell people to travel to is Locke, Ca. I will let you Google it, but it is cool.

9. I hate watching eating contests. They are just plain foul.

10. One of my biggest fears: snakes. Need I say more?

And, now, for one more:

11. I am going to be "crazy cat lady" when I am old. I am a cat lover, and I have already decided that pursuit suits me best. So, when you visit me in my older age, try and ignore the woman in the purple hat talking to her cats. Just remember me when I was sane...oh, wait. I never was.

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!!

It has been 17 days past the first of January, and I am still struggling with what I want to accomplish in 2009. Perhaps this is a sign, a symbol of a year of sluggishness, or relaxation, depending on how you view it.



Here are my intentions:

1. Enjoy every moment as much as possible, and I mean every moment. I need to remember to find meaning in my work, appreciate menial tasks such as washing the dishes, and finding the time to relax more. I already cherish my time with my family, friends and of course, my husband, but I could have a better attitude about cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping. It is going to be a challenge, though, to find something enjoyable and/or meaningful about cleaning up the cat box.

2. Continue my quest to be in shape. Continue to exercise regularly. It makes all the difference on my health and my mental state of mind.

3. Fix what bothers me. Indecision is a spirit killer. If something is irritating me, then I am going to take measures to fix it, and not just talk about how I want it to change. I always feel much better when I make a decision to move forward, rather than agonize about something and then twist in the wind on how I am going to change it, which ultimately keeps me in limbo.

I think that is all for now. If anyone has any resolutions that they would like to share, I would love to hear 'em.

Bye for now!

Happy Birthday, Miss Keri!

I know that I am a day late, and a dollar short, as my grandpa used to say, but you were genuinely in my thoughts this week. I am looking forward to celebrating with you over some margaritas and nachos! You bring so much to everyone: with your ever-warm smile, great disposition and wit. We are all very lucky to know you, and your cakes are just a bonus!

Now...unfortunately, I need to switch the subject and write about a terribly serious topic. I am wondering where in Benicia can one get the best pedicure. I have since tried four places, and have found pros and cons to each and every one of them. Please let me know your thoughts.
My thoughts:
1. Lucy's Nails: great massage chairs, good paint job, and looooove the massage that the man gives. (I don't know his name.) Cons: Impossible to get in there at times, and reservations don't seem to matter.
2. The nail salon next to Baskin Robbins(I can't remember the name): excellent paint job, and the massage chair is also nice. Not as clean as Lucy's, and their interior space is cramped. I will say that their nail fills are the best, and last forever, but their overall retail space could use a little sprucing up. I also hate parking in that parking lot, but that is not really their fault.
3. Pretty Nails (Next to Rosanna''s Bakery): No massage chair, feet are put in a bath that they dispose of afterwards (it is supposed to be more sanitary, but it felt a bit wasteful to me...), the paint job is good, but overall, I was disappointed. It took forever to pay, and they are clearly understaffed.
4. Sanctuary: Now, to be fair, the last time I was there it was 5-6 years ago. The paint job literally looked like one of my daughters got a hold of me. The ambiance was unique and beautiful, but at the end of the day, I want my polish not to be all over my feet.

I get a pedicure every 6 weeks. I look forward to this like a perfectly made margarita or a sundae with all of the trimmings. I usually do it on a Friday when I am off work or a Sunday. It feels indulgent, and it is one of the few things that seem to calm me down (much like blogging). Anyway, I am in search of the perfect place, because I know that I am not alone in this much needed passtime.

Your thoughts on this pressing issue would be most appreciated.

I had to give it some serious thought on why I blog.

1. Foot in Mouth...no more
It forces me to really think before I speak (or publish!!!) I can take the time to reflect on how I feel about something, weighing the good and the bad, and deciphering what is relevant, and what is not.
2. Pure Reflection
It is obligatory to recall past events, current situations and ponder the mysterious future when I sit down to write. (I suppose personal content is a requisite, unless you are writing a biography or fiction...) Many times, these short moments of reflection introduce a range of thoughts: gratitude, wishes and sometimes, misgivings. While I enjoy recalling all that I am thankful for, I also find it necessary to look at the past day, and take a candid look at what I could have done better and how I should handle the same situation in the future. I also take a problematical look at how I can improve upon current circumstances.
3. Relaxation
My heart rate seems to slow down, and as a Type-A personality (more like AAA), anything that forces me to sit still is good.

Well, as the new year has begun, I am ready for change. I am switching from the buggy interface of myspace, and trying out blogspot. It seems more streamlined, more grown-up, in my humble opinion.

I really enjoyed 2008. It was a great year, despite the cruddy economy, etcetera. In fact, I really learned a lesson that one can not only make the best of a situation---but have an awe inspiring year by ignoring the things we really can't control and focusing on what you can. You can still go to the park and walk among the fresh air and trees. You can still lose yourself in a hug with your kids and tell them that you love them more than anyone else on earth---and feel it back. You can still have friends over for dinner and cook hotdogs, because the point is getting together, not the meal that you serve. You can still be thankful for all that you have, and not focus on what you don't.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel this year. I still get goosebumps when I start to plan an upcoming trip, and being in the various places did not disappoint. We had the time of our lives seeing foreign places as well as cities and towns in the good ole' U.S. of A. We used our entire wad of airline miles in an entire year. We probably won't travel for awhile, but it was worth it.

But more than the travel, it was a great year to spend with our friends and family.

Our daughters bring us an abundance of love and laughter that is indescribable. I have really enjoyed them as they are becoming little people. It is cool---and sometimes a bit disconcerting---when they express themselves in a logical manner that differs from our viewpoint. Yes, they are becoming their own self-expressing entities, little adults, and I suppose that is the goal: eventual self-reliance and independence. Yet, it is scary, too. As a true self-proclaimed control freak, I struggle with this metamorphisis, as well as enjoy it.

Our friends in Benicia are a step above stellar. I can't say enough about the joy that they bring us. I have met the most generous, kind-hearted, funny, intelligent and loyal people on the planet in our little town. There is nothing that I wouldn't do for these people, and I am in wonderment of how the group will rally around to help someone in need, or just to celebrate another birthday. In times of rain or sun, these people are there for you. I don't know many people who get the chance to experience what we have in our little town, and I am extremely grateful for this experience.

I am still wrestling what to "put out to the universe" as my wishes for 2009. Last year, on January 3rd, 2008, I asked for the following on my myspace account:

• good times with kids, family and friend
• staking our business to a new level
• being the best mom, wife and friend that I can be
• helping people in need
• meeting new people
• travelling
• taking any sort of class to help me become a more enlightened person (my brain needs something to think about other than the daily activities)
• becoming more spiritual
• giving back to my community
• attending and enjoying my 20 year high school reunion