Astrology

Kendall

Me

Mason

Josh

Found here

Regrets

A little over 8 years ago, as I was preparing to get married, my girlfriends threw me a backyard barbeque bachelorette fiesta.  They went around the table and offered up advice for marriage and weddings.  One of the things that was spoken still repeats in my brain often and so I am here today to share.  One of the gals, it was her wedding day, everything went swimmingly, all the details worked out, everyone had a blast and then late that night as she was heading to bed she remembered.  She had forgotten to thank her parents during the reception.  They had paid for the whole wedding.  They had been very helpful and generous and like nothing, she had failed to publicly thank them at the moment when you typically do that.  She had such regrets about not having done that because she had remembered to thank several other people, but just not them.  So she turned to be me at the bbq and she said, "Just make sure you have NO REGRETS when it comes to your wedding and when it comes to life." 

Do you live your life with no regrets?  When this life comes to a close and you are reflecting back on the time that was given to you to live it, will you have any regrets?  Do you wish you had done things differently? Or do you wish you had spent more time with people that you enjoying spending time with?  What would you trade a few hours of t.v or internet time for? 

It is never too late. You can start now.  I say this because at the age of 37 (almost 38), I find people laugh when I tell them that I am saving for trips that are 2-3 years out.  But who cares because here is what I know about my life....I want to breath in the scent of my babes until they won't let  me do it anymore. I want to travel to places that are amazing.  I want to bring my children to those same places so they see the beauty of this world.  I want to spend time with genuinely good people that are loving and interesting and genuine. 

Sit there and think about it.  What do you want to do in this lifetime?  What are you wishing you had done by now and haven't done?  What is getting in your way?  WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?  All I know is that life is short and I just don't want to think I somehow failed it. 

And this is what I know....

1)I am grateful for my health, my children, my family and my dear husband.
2)It is amazing what one small thing can do to change a person's life.  Mine and others.


So wow, two months since my last post....hum...how did that happen?  Well, there was the Blue Ribbon Pepfest at school that I was the chair of, there was the cocktail party, Thanksgiving, 6 Seniors that needed pictures, Christmas prep, a work trip to San Francisco and well, playing in the snow, snuggling, and fun times with friends and fam. 

So one of the seniors I took photos of said I could use them on my blog/website.  Name withheld, this gal was so spirited, so good with her body and her poses, such a blast to work with.

And then there are just the random everyday adventures we partake in...you know things like rock climbing, fossil hunting, alligator petting, snowball fights,"Star of the Week", piano recitals....the good stuff.

Wishing you the best in 2013.  The blog may go to the wayside because I have lots of things keeping me busy these days. 

Did I mention.....

I have a thing for Willie Nelson?  Seriously.

This week has just been extraordinary.  Just trying to keep a level head, breathe, plow through, raise money for MDA, be glad I have healthy children and an understanding husband and thankful I have found a hobby that might actually do some good.   It is amazing what you can see from behind a camera lens.  Albeit I hold back tears a lot and sometimes they don't stay in very well.  

Sunday I spent the day photographing five high school seniors that couldn't afford to have pictures done.  It was my idea. I talked to someone at the high school and within in two days, I had five appointments booked.  (I kind of want this idea to explode....like big time.)  One girl's mom came with us and I begged her to get in to a photo.  She told me she had never had her photo taken before.  Really.  She is in immigrant working in the US, the night shift, her daughter is at home every night by herself. Living in low income housing.  This is America.  She was so shy in front of the camera but her love for her daughter was so immense, you could see it the way she looked at her.  That is beauty. 

Two of the other seniors, were twins, they had just moved here from the middle east and told me about the struggles of dealing with the kids at the school not being nice to them. They were just grateful they had their twin to hang out with.   When I showed them some of the photos, they literally squealled with excitement. 

Then Tuesday, in a very very last minute proposition, the MDA asked me to help out with photography at their Muscle event.  Again, really, how can you say no?  These kids, all wheelchair bound, so excited to meet their favorite sports stars and their parents looking only at "victories" not the "problems", it sure puts things in perspective for you.  Enjoy this great song.  Breathe.  Be grateful. 

Today:

“Be yourself, don’t take anyone’s shit, and never let them take you alive.” 

Why yes I do like rap music!

I have been watching this(it might partially be due to my love for thrift stores)...but Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are awesome.  It was like two years ago, they played a small bar in Minnesota.  A few months later, they sold out First Avenue.  November 2012, they have two sold out shows at First Avenue.  Oh and did I mention they support Gay Marriage (how cool are they??)

Update

*alert. new photos on the sugar jets blog*

Just blurting this out

Nothing is sacred anymore, is it?  We have to go in, tear up, destroy, make new, plasticize, disintegrate and THINK LATER.  Everyday I get a notice about all of the FDA food recalls and let me tell, there are sometimes 3 per day. (Should you like to get on that list, it can be found here.  Since 9/24, there have been 10 recalls, in 3 days.)  Yes, we need to eat but what are we doing???  We are making food faster, with more weird stuff, making people sicker, not monitoring as carefully, all the while spurning farmers, and raw milk providers and organic farms.  Where are priorities?

We are using reclaimed sewage water to ski on.  So we can SKI!  God forbid that a huge infection breaks out or that people get seriously ill (possibly die), just as long as we can pipe in our shitty water and ski (all the while tearing up a beautiful mountain), that is all that matters.  Again, nothing is sacred. 

We don't need that oil on that untouched land....we need that land. 

We don't need all those weird Barbie doll creatures....we just need kids to play.

I guess I am just getting more old-fashioned as I get older.  And no, I am not perfect, but I just long for a time when things were simpler.

For Birdie

Aren't these amazing????  Lettered birdhouses.

 They can be found here.

Pinterest.HA!