The Strongest Woman I Know

World- Meet Thea.
She is the strongest woman I know, but if you ask her she might say "Sometimes I don't want to be strong, I didn't sign up for this sh*t."

Thea is my friend. We met 1 year ago when both of our children ended up on the same soccer teams together. She is a no nonsense kind of gal, beautiful and tough. She has a warm, good heart that makes everyone she meets want to be near her. Her fun loving, smiley personality is hard to resist and didn't change much after the accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down.

Thea moved to this country from her homeland in Holland some 15?? years ago. She met the man of her dreams, married him and started their family. Thea's family love horses. One for each person- they own five. Riding soon became a family bonding experience. It also became a way of making friends. Joining clubs and taking out new friends (like me) along the way.

6 months ago a series of unfortunate events occurred. Just finishing a nice 5 hour ride, the group of women were in visual range of their horse trailers. The horse Thea was on (not one of her own) for some unknown reason reared up. In a split second she realized for the first time in her life, she would fall off her horse. It happened so fast, but still she knew (as if rehearsing it earlier that day), to let go of the reigns and slide off the rear. On the ground , Thea curled herself up to protect her neck. The horse then lost his footing, and as if in slow motion, fell on Thea. The weight of the horse broke her back.
Spinal cord injuries are different for each person. For Thea there is hope. Her spine was not severed. She is making progress, but it's hard! The toneness and spasms in her legs fights her constantly. I pray everyday that she will walk again.
Everyone who knows her, believes she will.

I took this picture on Monday- Sept. 27th.
How many people do you know would be willing and eager, to get back on the horse (paralyzed for that matter) after what happened? Thea was. This was her third ride since the accident. Therapy.

Thank You Lord for bringing Thea into my life. I love her.

Too Funny Headlines :-)

BEST [ACTUAL] HEADLINES OF 2003

Crack Found on Governor's Daughter
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?
Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
War Dims Hope for Peace!
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft (my personal favorite)
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Chef Throws His Heart into Helping Feed Needy
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

And the winner:
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

Something Obvious

something I read today,

"There is no such thing as a more intelligent or less intelligent movie goer. There are simply people with different sensibilities, who work on different frequencies, and thus all must be respected." Olmi

I really agree with this perspective.
It was quoted by a movie director.

The thought could go farther or be adapted to more than just movies. We all come from different places in life and it's not fair to call someone ignorant if they never had the opportunity to learn it in the first place.
All you have to do is read a few books (or blogs) to figure out that you can't possibly know everything.
We are all ignorant about something. Respecting each other is essential. Our similarities and our differences.
I daily become more aware of the fact that I am no expert on anything.
Even the smallest child may know something I don't.
Doesn't this concept seem a bit obvious?
It does to me.

Not so Manic Monday

The dishes are piled high and the laundry is scattered, but I don't mind. I sit here in my pjs sipping flavored coffee while bathing in soft classical music.
It was an excellent morning. It started off in the usual way. Forcing myself out of bed, waking up the kids for school and wondering if I should go running or make the girls a nice breakfast.
The weather changed this week. Colder with a fresh scent of rain in the air. Perfect for running. It will last, I tell myself. I could even wait until 10am if I wanted to. With that swimming about my nautical brain, I made a conscience decision. This could be a perfect morning. No yelling, no fighting, no running out the door upset that we're going to be late.
I made my way straight into the living room and started a collection of serenades by Rachmaninoff and Beethoven. While the girls showered and dressed, I prepared cinnamon french toast. Their happy faces lifted my spirit. They love each other and today it shows. I put together their lunches while Katie offered Megan a glass of orange juice.
The moment of truth has arrived. Teeth are brushed, hair is combed and shoes are on. Yipee! A mothers joyful moment. We're ready to go.
8:15, just the right time to avoid the crazy drop off rush. In the car Katie is writing in her 'Dream Journal' about a dream which involved holes in your stomach that don't bleed. I see her writing novels someday that would give Steven King a run for his money. Megan sits in the middle of the back seat telling me about her dream in which she discovers fins on her body while she is swimming in her ocean bed. She thinks she is a fish until she realizes that she is a beautiful mermaid.
At school they have 20 glorious minutes before the first bell rings to talk with friends and run about like those silver balls in arcade games. I don't know if there has been any studies done on this, but it has been my observation that they seem to pay more attention in class and get better grades if they don't have to rush right to their seat and sit down. Kids have agendas too. They have things they want to tell their friends. Games they want to play. If my kids get the chance to fulfill their agenda first, they're more willing to do whatever the teacher asks. Their mind is clearer.
So, it was an excellent morning. I hope to start off every Monday this way. Maybe it will set a calm tone for the rest of the week. I'll add it to my file of other 'Way to go Mom' ideas. Like "Super Tuesdays", "Book Picnic" and "Family Dessert Night."

I've made my choice to be happy.
I love my life- Everything is right with my World!
Especially when the dishes are in the sink and the laundry is scattered.

Writing Topic from Mr. Harris

Thanks Sonnek,
Writing topic from Mr. Harris:
[Achieving a Goal] Think of a time when you achieved a personal goal. Tell your readers about the story of how you met your goal. Be sure that your readers understand why the goal is important to you.

okay, here goes...

The cold air hit me like I'd just opened the freezer door on a hot summer day. The wind whipped the tree branches around and made me think of cotton candy. You know, those machines that collect the pink and blue strands of melt in your mouth sugar.
The familiar nausea in my stomach will soon pass, I thought. The hardest part is over. Just getting my butt out of bed this early, that's the real challenge. It's worth it to see the sun rise over the edge of the mountain, watch the deer bounce happily across my path in unison and to smell the unmistakable scent of crisp fresh air, as if God had spent all the night before doing his laundry.
I laced up my shoes and set my blue ipod mini to my favorite playlist "running mix". Today will be the day, I thought to myself with complete determination. Heading down the street, I saw a friend driving off to work. We exchanged waves and I wondered what that was like. Getting up every morning and driving off to a job for 8-10 hours. It's been almost 9 years now since I've had that kind of life.
Half mile down the curvy road is where my second wind kicks in. Thank goodness because I hate that first half mile. It marks the moment that I most want to stop, and stopping is not an option. The soccer field is wet, the security guard has been watering early this morning. I'll have to run around it. The horses whom I call Fred and Wilma are waiting by the wood and wire fence to cheer me on. Thanks guys! I'm waving at horses! I hope nobody saw that. I keep going. Around Otter trail and up that crazy steep hill. The hill that everyone walks up. Everyone except me. I want to do this without stopping. The sky is turning a pinky orange shade of dawn. My breathing is getting labored. In through the nose and out the mouth, get control Kathy! Looking at the sky, I ask God a question. "Can you take me higher?" My thoughts float seamlessly into a conversation with our maker.

Even if my body fails me, Lord I want to make you smile.

I have felt bad for so long. I don't remember what it's like to wake up or

go to bed feeling normal. Can you take me higher? To a place with golden streets?

I press on just passing mile 2. Almost there. The fat white line that Caltrans uses to try and get drivers to stop just before making a right-hand turn, the one at the bottom of my own crazy steep street; that's my finish line. It's where I allow myself a 2 minute seventh inning streach before tackling the real goal. The goal I haven't been able to conquer yet. The thing that has beaten me and deprived me of victory in the last 7 attempts.
Standing in the middle of the street staring at the asphalt, I try to imagine ways of making it to the top without heaving up the dry acids that line my stomach.

"I can't do it without you God, please help me do it."

My heart feels like a hot air balloon that is rising and falling within the walls of a high school gym. Getting more siked with every second, I wait for just the right moment in a familiar song. Logically it makes sense. If I can't hear my heart pumping or my lungs pounding, I won't get distracted. I'll find myself standing on top of the world with my fists in the air gleaming with the face of victory like Rocky Balboa.

Big leaps. Big strides. Careful on the breathing. Keep my head down! I'm off.

The first 1/3 is easy. The second third and I find myself taking smaller leaps, smaller strides. Just passing my house, I lift my head then force it down. "I...can...do...this...!

If you were standing in my living room gazing down in the street, I'm sure you would laugh. It must look awfully funny. I know I'm barely moving. Power walkers would fly past me.

The last third and I'm still going, still running. Pleasently shocked that I haven't stopped yet. Buried deep inside my brain, a movie quote pops out of it's hiding place. With the accent of Forest Gump, "Well, I figured since I've gone this far, I might as well keep goin..." something like that anyway.

Step, step, step. 2 more. First right and then the left foot gets the sweet pounding of the dirt. My fists fly up and don't care that I've just yelled out loud "YEAH!! THANK YOU GOD!!!"

Like a fish with no spine, I doubled over and tried to spit out the thick saliva caked around my tongue. No, I thought, I won't throw up today.

Dairy allergy? Intolerance to dairy? Doctors don't really know. I'm tired of the tests to find out why I feel sick every morning and random nights. But I won't sit and let it take me. I want to be healthy. I believe in mind over body. The brain can heal it's carrier. The Lord does heal the soul, the sick, the sinner. At least that's what I've seen.

I've learned that goals are good and throwing up is okay.

"Set up High, I'm strong enough to take these dreams and make them mine." Creed- Higher

Kids...the dog died.

Well, we told the girls about our dog, Coffee.

"Girls, we've got something to tell you. It's about Coffee...Uhmm...she, well she..."
"Died" they finished my awkward sentence.
"Yeah" I said softly.
I expected the next question to be...How? But no. Instead my 8 year old looked at the ground and replied "She's in Heaven now." They took it well. Better than I did actually. I was glad they didn't ask. My in-laws have been putting some pressure on me to lie.

Don't tell them she drowned in the pool- they'll never want to swim in there again!

I was ready to say "she died in her sleep."
I'm an awful liar.
I teach my kids they can always tell me the truth, even if it makes me sad. Shouldn't I give them the same respect? I think we underestimate the strength of children.

Really, what would you have done? Truth or lie?

Match Box Racers; Guts on the Road

Have you seen these guys?
Motorcycle riders that look like power rangers? Not the Harleys- they've got class!
Let me tell you my latest run-in with them...

These are small country roads around here. Whindy, 2 lane roads with double yellow lines for miles. I was on my way, taking my daughter to her soccer game in Georgetown, when 3 of these clowns appeared in my review mirror. They tailgated me so bad that I sped up to 60 mph. That didn't work. I tapped my brakes lightly and tried to wave them off. No good. Finally the first one passes. Followed by the second and of course the last has to keep up with his buddies. It's always the last guy that gets it- huh. On a blind curve, double line. What a dumb----. I'll tell you that he makes it, barely. My adrenaline was pumpin and in that second I thought I'd see a crash right in front of me. But no. He ducked back in just in time.
Up the road, in Georgetown, I saw the 3 deathwishes parked at a small store. Just getting off their bikes with their helmets still covering their fat faces. I stopped in the middle of the road (remember these are very small towns, nobody was behind me) and rolled down my passenger window.
"What the hell do you think you were doing back there?" I yelled.
"Uh- what?" yeah fitting I thought...
I continued as a mad mamma bear protecting her cubs, "You three, you passed me back there. I was the one honking... You shouldn't be driving so fast around here."
Trying to sound tough the middle bozo said "You were going to slow." I quickly came back with "I was going 60!" Pointing to my daughter in the back seat, "I have a young daughter in here- you could have killed someone ya dumb----." I didn't swear knowing my child was in the car, but I sure wanted to! Instead I let me right hand do the talking. With all fingers up-okay.
"Why were you going 60 with your daughter in the car?"
"Trying to get you off my tail!" really what kind of question is that! To slow or to fast...make up your mind already.
I glanced in the rearview mirror, a red jeep was coming up.
"Just try to be more responsible!" was all I could think of in my angry state of mind.
Surprisingly I got this reply, "Okay, yes ma'am." with their heads down and feet kicking the dirt.
I drove on.

These guys had to be in their late 40s from what I could tell. Maybe a male form of mid life crisis. I was just so pissed that they were so careless.

If you think you need an adolescent fix to cure your aging body- go out on some muddy dirt road and rip it up there. Try jumping over the divide for all I care. Just don't try to pass the double line. You might get yelled at by a protective mom like me, or worse- someone will be scraping your fearless guts off the road.

What If?

What If...
The people who have to much time could trade it in.
The ones who need more time could get it.
Food was distributed evenly.
Everyones questions were answered all at once.
Maple syrap came from the ground instead of a tree.
Cable lines could transmit scent.
All trash could be disposed of safely.
Our first thoughts of the day were positve.
We could just learn to relax!

What if nobody cared about any of this?

My Beloved Jamaica

Oh, say it isn't so...

"The storm's current path would take it directly over Kingston, Jamaica's sprawling capital of 1 million people in the southeast, and smash across the island to exit around Montego Bay in the northwest."

Damn You Ivan!!

womens work?...

Hanging sheetrock by yourself is hard. If you ever have to do this- get someone to help you. I can't wait til I can park my trooper in this space again. What a mess!

Kitty Came Home

Why do cats make us so happy? Ahhh-He's so cute!

I just love this little guy. I hope he knows his way home now. I took this picture of Danny and I this morning while working in the garage...see next picture.

Heavens' Heard My Cry!

I can't believe it!
The wild beasts of Cool have spared my kitty... or else those claws are sharper than I thought. He came back- well actually, I found him. I was out last night, just past nightfall calling for my cat, Daisy. Up the hill on our street I saw a small shadow of a kitten that resembled my Danny. So I called his name, thinking it was probably the neigbhors' cat- when he came rushing up to me.
He ran wild for 6 days. Nice to have him home.
Still haven't found the right time to tell the kids about our dog, coffee...

Raining Cats & Dogs in Heaven

Well, it must be. This week my kitten went missing and yesterday our dog drowned. Danny (our kitten) we hope will come home soon. Considering where we live- it's not likely. Mountain lions, bears and coyotes...Oh my!

Coffee (our dog) was 13 years old. She was going blind and deaf, but still the sweetest terrier/poodle mix you ever met. She fell in the pool while my mother-in-law was out shopping. Coffee had been living with my in-laws for the past year. We didn't bring her with us when we moved for fear she would become some other animals light snack or be picked up by an owl and dropped on a rooftop somewhere- yes, that happens around here! Plus our property is not fenced yet.

I know, they're just pets. I am thankful I don't live in Russia finding myself trying to decide which one of my children will live or die... and that's if I'm one of the lucky ones who gets to choose. That story kept me up at night.

Let's hope the fish don't follow. My girls don't even know about the dog yet...