Must Be A Mom Thing

I’ve been pondering the meaning of life.. ahem I mean these stickers I’m seeing everywhere on people’s vehicles.  Well let’s be honest they are found on mom vans & SUV’s everywhere!  You have to know what I’m talking about… you know, the stick figure family stickers? 

Maybe its just me but I don’t get them. I mean yes they can be cute but what is the point?  Do you need to justify to the world why you are driving a big ass car sucking up all that so expensive gas you are always complaining about?  Or maybe its to prove to the other drivers on the road why you deserve to drive like an idiot while racing to soccer practice or ballet?  More likely it’s just an odd status symbol of sorts among the mom crowd and to be in, you NEED these.  

I repeat, I just don’t get them.

To me they are like a big shiny beacon saying “Follow me home!  I have 2 kids you can prey on!” 

Yes, I am the cynic. I can’t help it… I’ve actually had someone stalk me, leave notes on my car {when I hadn’t been aware they even knew which car I drove} and live in fear that they had followed me home without me ever knowing.  Literally.  I know these are just pictures but some go so far as to include the family names… seriously people?! Do you not watch Criminal Minds??

My apologies to those of you out there in mommy-land who indeed own these adorable sticker thingies.  I still love you!  I’m just calling it like I see it… and being I’m in the non-mommy phase in life I see these as a crazy overboard soccer mom status thing.  I do, however, find the particular set of stickers on the left hilarious for all of you single mommies out there!

For Your Consideration

I’ve been considering making my blog private for a while now.  There are several reasons why that may be a good idea, one of which is the obvious fact that anyone can read this and sometimes there are things that are a part of life that you don’t want certain people knowing.  It’s all very mysterious, I know... But the reason for not wanting certain people to know certain things is simply to avoid the drama that could {and probably would} ensue.  Of course there is also the drama of those whom you don’t include on the exclusive “allowed readers” list.

Some of you may be thinking – why blog about it at all then?

Good question.

For some of you out there, your thoughts spill out into the the very private pages of a diary – or journal as is the trendy way of saying it these days. I tend to blog about mine.  I’ve never been good at keeping a journal but for some reason I can blog on a semi-regular basis.

I used this blog as a communication tool during the doctor appointments and surgeries and treatment course of my cancer journey... but it became more than that.  It was my coping mechanism.  A place where I could express the many emotions that come with dealing with a serious illness.  I was completely open through it all and I’ve had other cancer survivors tell me they appreciated that level of honesty.  It was good. Raw. Me.

So why am I feeling like I need to be guarded now? 

Real American Idol

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Hey There Cupcake

My mom, aunt and cousin were down visiting for the weekend and it was non-stop action from the moment they arrived.  We hit the town - or should I say the mountains - and I gained a few nuggets of knowledge along the way…

1. You are never too young to own a gun…
2. An extra quart of oil won’t hurt… but 2?  That just might require some extra attention.
3. ASAP stands for “As Southern As Possible” and..
4. “The South” is the place where tea is sweet and accents are sweeter, summer starts in April, Mac & Cheese is a vegetable, front porches are wide and words are long, pecan pie is a staple, y’all is the only proper noun, chicken is fried and biscuits come with gravy, everything is darlin’, and someone’s heart is always being blessed.
5. Bad Southern accents with a hint of Canadian/Minnesotan are very quickly acquired by my family members.  I’m curious to know if the accents left as quickly as they came on?
6. Shopping is always more fun with a group, however, the Wal-Mart chip aisle can be dangerous
7. The Crazy Cupcake Peanut Butter Dream cupcakes require a “moment.”  Seriously. They are omgtodieforscrumptious!
8. Even I can hike the AT {Appalachian Trail for those not local} although it may have only been a quarter of a mile stretch up the mountain.
9. You never lose the ability to squeeze into a tiny kitchen to make breakfast for the bunch!  And.. to fry an egg without mastering the art of flipping it, just push the bacon grease over the top. It works just mahvelous dahling!
10. That sometimes the only ones who can understand are family and they can make you laugh like no one else can.  Love you ladies!

Awesomesauce

Moments in SLC

About 2 weeks ago I was in Salt Lake City, Utah for a work conference but managed to sneak away for a few photos while I was there!  Here are a few of my favorite shots…

The Mormon Temple	From the bus at the entry to La Caille
In Big Cottonwood Canyon	The Rockies
The 700+ inches of snow were very melty!	University of Utah Botanical Gardens

What Are You Waiting For?

It's in my nature that I lack a bit of patience. I don't think that is too big a secret from those who know me best? It is, however, something that I think I'm good at internalizing to a good degree.  It causes sleepless nights, knots in my stomach, and many, many overly melodramatic thoughts in my brain.  I'm super good at playing through the possible outcomes in my head.

I think the one thing that brings the most anxiety is a factor beyond my control... the other person.

Nearly all waiting situations involve a second party do they not? Waiting for your doctors appointment, waiting for a coworkers call, waiting on your friend to reply to your email... you realize very quickly that you can influence but can't control the outcome.

So you wait... and wait... and wait!  And maybe one day soon you will get the answer.

Mobile Blogging

Well my phone finally has an app for Blogger! Readers be warned I can now blog on whim instead of waiting until I'm home and/or plugged in somewhere to publish my thoughts.  It's a dangerous situation to be sure!

Thought for the day... I'm super excited that my birthday presents have begun to arrive! I received $70 in Barnes & Noble giftys and I put those to good use.  I have 14 books coming my way over the next few days (mostly fluffy summer reading type stuff) AND super smart me is also getting 4 frequent flier miles per $1 spent!  After one trip home, a trip to Florida, and last weeks trip to Utah... Looks like a free trip to somewhere isn't too far off on the horizion!

Love Notes

I never thought I would see the day when I would say that I just didn’t want to be in a relationship... Apparently today is that fateful day.  Perhaps I should give you some background on that decision…

I’ve always been the relationship type.  A serial monogamist if you will.  I’m not good at dating multiple people at once and consider it to be a waste of time.  How can you make a deeper connection with one person when you can’t even remember who you told which story?  Maybe I should have looked at it as limiting my options instead? 

Whatever the rhyme or reason those relationships didn’t work out and here I am.  Alone.  But apparently not lonely… at least not today.

Today I was a little surprised when I realized it wasn’t even a thought in my mind.  That contact from a certain potential guy was actually a little bothersome.  Was it that I’m just not that into him or am I just not into being in a relationship right now?  I guess you could make a case for either or both.  In truth its probably both.

There are so many things I am focused on right now it it leaves no bit of energy, emotion or time for someone else.  Heck, I barely have time to really read my personal emails as they flash by on my phone.  I owe a million people messages or emails or calls but at the end of the day, my battery is exhausted and I’m just trying to find a few quiet moments to recharge. {hence the bloggy hiatus}

Some may call it selfish and I guess I am in a kind of “its all about me” phase right now.  I’m trying to sort things out and make changes in a few areas and I’m just content to just be without worrying about the expectations of someone else.

Of course that is today… there is always tomorrow.  And “After all… Tomorrow is another day!”