Things that make you go hmmm...

Must have been a slow day yesterday ... LOL!  

So I should reassure my friends I won't disappear? 

Be real. I'm not going anywhere. 

There are cheeseburgers and spinach to be had!

(And pizza. Let's not forget pizza.)

Bats!

Some things just make me laugh...Poor Steven.

The Sea Cadet and His Mom

Shining Through

I love how the sun shines through the clouds

Surrounded by Morning People

This has got to be one of my favorite pictures. My poor brother. Surrounded by the abomination of nature called Morning People.

Salt Lake Snow

We visited the Bonneville Salt Flats near Salt Lake City, Utah. I was astounded by the landscape - I had never before seen land so flat for so far. Amazing.

At the Salt Flats, we stopped to see a vehicle that was being built and tested by a university. We didn't get to see the car run, but Ian and I did have a photo op. Amazing how the salt looked, and felt, just like snow in 30 degree temperatures. It was somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 degrees when this photo was taken.

We had to taste the salt. Had to. You know what? It tasted just like salt!

Ian and I beside the rental car at the Bonneville Salt Flats

His Sense of Humor

I do love that boy!

Graduation

Graduation. The culmination of years of hard work, exhaustion, and a fair amount of tears. I did it. I earned my Masters degree in Mathematics Education.

But I didn't do it alone.

My brother Michael was a constant source of unwavering encouragement and support. Even though he lives on the other side of the country, I could not have done it without him. I've looked up to him since childhood; I have immense respect for him as an adult. When things go horribly wrong, Michael boosts me back up and offers objective advice to calm my emotional hailstorm. And when I've done something I think is stupid and I feel like I should turn in my Mensa membership card and tell them there's been a terrible mistake, Michael would probably tell me I'm right, which makes me laugh to recovery. Somehow he just instinctively knows what I need when I need it.  I love him, and when I grow up, I want to be just like him. But a female version with no chest hair. I cannot thank him enough. Worshiping him from afar will just have to do.

My son Ian was such a good kid through it all. When Mommy did her homework, Ian did his homework. And as he began evolving into a young man, he helped with chores to lighten my load. He's a better cook than I am. I love him as well. He changed my life for the better, although he'll never know how much until he has a child of his own. Just. Like. Him.

My mentors Karla and Annie were amazing during my time at WGU. They heard me laugh with joy and cry with frustration, kept me on track, and cut me slack when I needed it. They helped me when I struggled, and rejoiced in my successes. I got to meet them at my graduation. Their kindness, confidence and strength shines, and I am richer for having them in my life.

Wait to see what I can do as a middle school math teacher. Look out world!

Happy Valentine's Day to Me!

I do love fresh flowers. The smell is wonderful, the colors vibrant, and they just brighten my whole day.  I wish I was a better photographer, so I could do them justice.

They are happiness in a glass, and I can't help but smile every time I look at them. 

Thank you, Steven. 

I'm not sure what I did to deserve you, but it must have been something good.

The Melting Pot

I received a gift card to the Melting Pot for Christmas, so I took Ian to dinner. The food there is incredible. This is the White Chocolate and Banana fondue, which was positively sinful.

Ian's First High School Dance

Ariel and Ian

 

Put the Glass Down

Facebook has forever changed how I think about sharing. Sometimes I share because the post is funny, but sometimes because it is unbelievable in one way or another.  This one I thought had an excellent point, and I am sharing it with you here. 

Sixth Sense

I really enjoyed this movie. When young Cole finally fesses up to his Mom what is going on, I cried...

Seattle is going to the Superbowl!

Earlier this year, I watched an entire Bills game with a friend of mine. He was great. He even let me ask questions during the game! Anyway, I came away with a reasonable amount of basics and an understanding that there is a whole lot more to this game than I previously thought.

Now, from listening to the radio every morning, especially on a Monday morning following a Bills game, I've come to the understanding that they really aren't that good. So I caught the occasional game during the season to keep my hand in, so to speak, and never had any Superbowl hopes that Bills fans seem to have at the beginning of every season.

Besides, my brother lives in Seattle. If I'm going to root for a team, why not a good one in his hometown?

I have to say I surprised myself. I was so disappointed in the Seahawks for most of the game...interceptions, sacks, penalties...it appeared hopeless. I still, though, could not bring myself to root for the team whose fans wear Swiss cheese hats. I have my standards.

I don't know how, but they pulled it off. Seattle won in overtime and will be in Superbowl 49. Guess who I'm rooting for on Superbowl Sunday?

The Universe and Positivity

My friend Sue is an amazing source of self-help materials and is one of the most positive people I know. She recently told me about a new habit she started last year, which I am going to incorporate in my day as well. 

She believes that you have to keep an open mind to all things and make room in your life for positive things to come to you. Every morning, she receives a reminder text that she has set up with her niece:

"This is the Universe. Tell me what was great about yesterday, 

in writing, and I will send you more greatness today."  

She then jots down a note on a small piece of paper about something that was great about her day and puts it in a Mason jar. At the end of the year, she goes back through and reads her notes. She said it was fun to reminiscence, and it was very cool to see who made the jar. 

I started my Universe box today. So far, I feel very good about it. One can never be too positive. 

Painting with a Twist

Three friends and I went to Painting with a Twist for a girls night out. What fun! 

It's BYOB and snacks, and an instructor takes you step-by-step through painting a 'masterpiece'. I had a blast!

The Epitomy of Fluidity and Grace

All swollen, black and blue, and hurting like blue blazes. 

Saturday evening, I stumbled at my cousin's house while coming out of her garage. The cement pad of her garage and the blacktop of her driveway are slightly uneven, and I twisted my ankle a bit - not bad - and carried on.

Sunday morning, I tried to jump over a puddle, rolled my ankle, and completely wiped out. Both my knees are skinned and bruised, and my shoulder hurts where I hit that, too.  The ankle swelled a bit, but I could still walk on it.

Then Sunday evening, I missed the last step as I was coming down my stairs and rolled the ankle again.

It is possible to see stars.

I'm in an air cast for two weeks with crutches for one. Let's see how many things I can take out trying to get around on the crutches...

Dawn

I'm not that great a photographer, but every once in a while, 

something seems to me to be so striking, 

I grab my iPod and hope for the best.