I view life through rose colored glasses...

less than a week away from Christmas...

2009-12-19T23:33:00.003-05:00

The holidays are so strange now, since I'm soooo far away from my family. AND snow has been replaced by sand, which is even more odd - but wonderful, just the same. :) This week, it's been in the upper 70's most days...which really feels weird. It just doesn't feel 'right' to hear Christmas music on the radio, and have the a/c on in your car. Ha!

I'm really ready for 2010. I usually skip over the whole 'new year' thing, and just continue on with life. This time though, I feel like something is on the horizon...something is about to change. Which reminds me, for the millionth time over the last several weeks, of these words: "Be the change you want to see in the world." Man. It's tough to get any deeper - or more true - than that. So these are the words that I've been focusing on lately, and will continue to focus on as we approach this new year. I would love to see people being kind, just in general. Sometimes, it just simple manners that would make all the difference.

On a completely different tangent, I've been remembering my dreams more often lately! I rarely remember my dreams. And I've been dreaming about random people, which is really odd. Just out of the blue, a person I know in passing, or haven't seen in a while, will make an appearance. I don't know what to think about that...

This blog has turned into a stream of conscienceness ...which is actually a great idea! It's supposed to be a great writing technique. Maybe it will get my creative juices flowing!! I've been wanting to write a Christmas song...

I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and Happy Holiday Season!
Peace and Love.

Catching up...

2009-11-08T23:33:00.006-05:00

I had every intention to keep my blog updated again, but life once again got in the way. About 6 weeks ago, I had to put my Codybear down. It was the hardest thing ever, but I couldn't let him suffer. He had 13 wonderful years, and was thee best dog. I miss him every day. My mom was down here for the last 10 days, which was nice and helpful. I've been really sad about Cody, and it was good to focus my attention on something else. I'm still very sad, and will be for awhile. It's amazing how different it is without him. He has been a constant in my life for so many years, and now is just gone.

I'm going home in a week, and I think that will help with the healing process as well. It will be wonderful to hug the kiddos and spend lots of time playing and laughing with them! I can't wait!! I wish I could've made it up sooner, so I could enjoy the fall colors.

The song writing is on pause right now, as a result of not being able to shake the 'sad' away. I used to write some of my best stuff when I was overcome with emotion - but it doesn't seem to be inspiring anything good this time. I'm hoping after my visit home, I'll be able to finish up the songs I've started. I was asked to play a show down here, however it's while I will be up in Michigan so that won't work this time. I think I'm a bit too rusty to play a show right now anyway, but it does give me something to work towards. I need to have a goal to get me motivated!

Anyway, here are some of my favorite pictures of Cody. RIP.

Looooong time, no see!

2009-09-09T10:08:00.005-04:00

It's been several months since I posted anything. A lot has happened, and I don't even know where to begin! There have been some really difficult times, and some really wonderful times. Of the wonderful times was my visit home in August, which included: spending 5 straight days of 24 hours with the kids, Brittany's wedding, meeting my new niece Violet, seeing friends and family.

When I got back to Florida, I felt like I had started a new chapter. It was very odd. Almost like something snapped, and I felt normal again. Which is very odd, since I didn't fully realize that I hadn't been 'normal' since before I'd moved. My mom had told me, but I brushed her assessment aside. So, super good news, I'm back! :)

My birthday was this week. I celebrated my 35th with new friends and old friends. I'm thankful for all the cards from home. It's always difficult to be away on birthdays and holidays.

Last night, Bernadette and I went to see Cirque Du Soleil: La Nouba at Downtown Disney. It's such a wonderful show! We were 2nd row from the stage, which proved awesome and also neck-straining during the high trapeze act.

I've started some new songs, which are coming together nicely as far as words go. The tunes and music portion are still not even close! BUT, it's a great start after being blocked for over a year.

As Walt Disney said, "keep moving forward". And that's what I intend to do.

Ok. Sorry to ask, but...

2009-06-09T08:55:00.000-04:00

I entered a contest, which I never do because they're usually such a pain. This one is really no exception, BUT I did it anyway. There is no real way to 'vote for me', however you can post "grab it" (it being the widget) and post it to your various social networking sites...which supposedly helps me to win. :) But, also it's the overall song that is being judged, or so the contest rules said.

SO. If you're so included, click to listen, or grab the widget and put it somewhere...

Thanks, and I promise not to do one of these again.

CLICK HERE AND THEN GRAB THIS!

OR, you can click the 'grab this' button on the gigantic cassette player along the left side of my MySpace page by clicking below...after listening to the song of course. :)

CLICK HERE FOR MY MYSPACE PAGE

Stand Up For Kids

2009-05-19T18:49:00.004-04:00

Did you know that there are 1.3 to 1.6 Million homeless teens/kids on the streets of America in an average year? Every year, assault, illness, and suicide claim the lives of approximately 5,000 runaway and homeless youth. One in every seven youth will run away from home by the age of 18.

I've been doing quite a bit of self analyzing lately. So much has happened over the last several years, leading me to where I am now. And to where I'm not. The last few months have been pretty tough, but while I've definitely weathered a fair number of difficulties in my life, I know that I am very blessed.

A couple of months ago I started feeling weighed down with something that I couldn't explain. After soul searching and a lot of prayer, I've realized that I have been called. I understand that this is a foreign and strange concept for many people - and believe me, it was to me as well. I was so confused, still not 100% clear (but close), and just didn't know what was going on...or why I was feeling the way I was.

Without getting too deeply into it, especially since it's really tough for me to even put this whole experience in to words, I'll just give you the end of the story...

I'm going to be volunteering for a non-profit organization called Stand Up For Kids. I will be the Director of Outreach here in the Tampa area. You can read about it, if you'd like, at the link below. I am really excited to make a difference. I've been missing coaching so much over the last couple years, it will be good to work with kids again. And I really feel like this is one of the reasons - if not THEE reason - I was so compelled to move down here.

So...check it out...and pray for these kids who so desperately need someone. And if you maybe have an hour to spare each week, look for one in your area.
Click here to read about STAND UP FOR KIDS

Happy Mother's Day to my mom

2009-05-09T22:54:00.001-04:00

My Quiet Tribute

2009-04-22T18:47:00.003-04:00

Ok, so here are the lyrics I was talking about in my last blog. They're still a work in progress, but mostly finished. My Gramma will be the first to hear it. :)

My Quiet Tribute

A quiet pride.
A quiet love.
A sparkle in his eye,
that in one moment
will reach your heart.

He quietly endured.
He quietly prayed.
His final breath,
just a wall away
from his first.

This is my quiet tribute to my Grandpa.
I didn't get to tell him before,
so I wannna make sure he hears me now.
He was loved and totally adored.
This is my quiet tribute to my Grandpa.

People drove the distance.
People stood in line,
to pay their respect
to a man who gave
and lost so much.

His silent strength was known for miles.
He was an icon, in our community.
With his hands, those famous hands,
he grew hope and security.

This is my quiet tribute to my Grandpa.
I didn't get to tell him before,
so I wannna make sure he hears me now.
He was loved and totally adored.
This is my quiet tribute to my Grandpa.

I will miss you.

In Memory of my Grandpa

2009-04-19T13:58:00.016-04:00

Kenneth Laug
Thursday, July 21, 1927 - Saturday, March 28, 2009

I've been wanting to write this blog for a few weeks now, but haven't been able to pull it together enough to get anything out. I thought I was ready today but as soon as I typed out those dates, my tears started flowing again. So, I guess I'll just work through the tears.

I still have a hard time believing that I'm not going to see him anymore on my visits home to Michigan. It's barely been a month since the doctors first discovered several large brain tumors. Almost a week after we found out about the tumors, they gave him about 2 weeks more to live, and he toughed it out for a few days short of that.

On the night of March 26, I had a dream about him. It wasn't anything detailed, and there were no words. I just kept seeing his face over and over again, and his hands. He looked like he was patiently waiting. So when I woke up, I called my family to tell them I was going to fly home the next day. I wanted to make sure I was able to see him one more time.

He passed away at 3am on the morning of March 28th. There were several of us who woke up at 3am. I believe he was saying good bye. I was just a few hours too late to say good bye in person. I've come to grips with the fact that it's going to take me awhile to get over having missed the last part of his life.

My Grandpa was such a strong man. If you didn't really know him, you'd find him rather intimidating. But he had a sparkle in his eye, even if he wasn't smiling - though usually when I saw him he had a smirk on his face. He called me "annie" from the time I was very little, and used to grab my ponytail in one hand and hold his jack knife in the other - threatening to cut it off. As a kid, I remember him taking my hand (or arm) into his huge hands and jokingly shake it and not let go. At church, as a teenager I'd make sure to give him a hug during the sign of peace because he seemed to get a kick out of it.

He put blood, sweat, and tears into his family farm, and looking through all the old pictures you know he also put his laughter and love. My dad tells me that Grandpa "picked out" my Grandma, and being an outsider of "The Ridge" it may have been a challenge. He made a good choice, she is an amazing and inspiring woman. They celebrated almost 60 years of marriage, had 8 children (4 boys and 4 girls), and 16 grandchildren (we were all born in same-sex pairs: 2 girls, 2 boys, etc.)!

My brother spent some wonderful quality time with him over the last several years, working out at the wood piles. They got to know each other, and really appreciate one another. My grandpa was very proud of my brother; they hold a special place in eachother's heart. My grandpa split wood for my dad up until the week he was diagnosed.

He set a strong example for hard work, loyalty, dedication, and appreciation. After he found out about the tumors, he took his tractor for a slow drive around his acres. The Sunday right before he passed away was the first Sunday he had missed church. He was born in the same house where he took his last breath, just a room away. He will always be remembered and loved by every person his life has touched.

Typically my emotional outlet is writing songs. I did start lyrics about my Grandpa, and hope to finish them within a few months time. I have so many more words to say, and just can't seem to get them all out yet.

Family Fun at Disney World!

2009-03-22T09:53:00.003-04:00

Scott, Margo, Olivia, and Ethan all came down for the kids first visit to Walt Disney World - and to see me, of course. ;) It was SO MUCH FUN!!! I picked them up from the airport, and was able to spend a few days with them at the resort, Magic Kingdom, and Epcot. Then I had to work for a few days, before heading back to enjoy their last 2 days in Florida with them! Here are some of my pictures from their visit...I can't wait to see them all again soon.

Locks of Love

2009-02-06T15:34:00.002-05:00

This morning my hair was 10 inches longer. :) I decided to donate my hair to Locks of Love again. (Even though my mom doesn't like it when I chop my hair.) I like being able to give something to someone who needs it. My hair grows pretty fast, so I may as well be growing it for a reason!

My mom's visit!

2009-01-18T11:01:00.003-05:00

Yay! My mom came down for a week long visit, and we had lots of fun!

Her flight arrived on Saturday afternoon, so we went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner - mom's fave. If you've never had Cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory, you MUST. Then we went to the Shops at Wiregrass to window shop. This is a really REALLY cool outdoor walking mall...with major stores and a double decker Barnes & Noble.

On Sunday morning we headed to Walt Disney World for 3 nights and 4 days of fun! We stayed at Wilderness Lodge, and enjoyed great food at Coral Reef, Yachtsman Steakhouse, The Wave...just to name a few. I tried to sell mom on Contemporary Resort, with no luck. :) Everything we saw, we related it to how much fun Ethan & Olivia are going to have on their first visit!!

Wednesday night we headed back to Tampa. On Thursday and Friday, we putzed around...went shopping, out to eat, and to Clearwater Beach. It was a little chilly, but the sunshine warmed it up.

Saturday morning we had to be to the airport EARLY, so we headed out at 6 AM...the temp was only 30 degrees!! Eeeeks! Mom had a safe flight home, though ALMOST had to land in South Bend instead of Lansing due to snowfall!!

We had a great time...here are some pics of our vacation...

In with the new...

2009-01-01T11:47:00.006-05:00

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe that it's 2009...and that I've been down in Florida for almost a year and a half. So much has changed over the last 16 months, yet one thing has been constant - my friends and family.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you. Thank you for taking the time to keep in touch. I know it's difficult when I'm 1301 miles away now, however you have really risen to the challenge. Thank you. There have been many tough days, and some good ones as well, and it's always easier knowing there are people out there who care about and love me.

I look forward to all that this new year will bring. A new beginning. A fresh outlook. The end of sadness. Becoming my old strong self again...in a new way. Standing on my own two feet. Being firmly planted. Renewed faith, hope, trust. Moving forward. I'm trying to make the most of this time, and really do what I need to do. It's a long road most days, full of twists and turns and bumps and dead ends and u-turns... Knowing that I have support is really important to me, so even if you don't know what you're supporting me through - it just matters that you're there. So again, thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I love and miss you all.
xoxo

Have a holly jolly Christmas...

2008-12-25T19:41:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas! Today I was able to Skype with lots of family, which is wonderful! I met my newest cousin, Rory, and she's just beautiful. Then I went to Clearwater Beach with Katy and her kiddos. And ended my Christmas Day festivities by Skype-ing with Scott, Margo, Olivia, Ethan, and my mom! Yay!! They showed me some of their new toys, and opened up the gifts that I sent them as well.

So here are the pics from my day...

More holiday and skype fun!

2008-12-17T16:37:00.002-05:00

We went to Disney yesterday to have lunch at Trail's End (Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground). Then off to Hollywood Studios for Tower of Terror and Rockin' Rollercoaster and some Christmas shopping!!

Today I got to skype with the kiddos! Yay! Gotta love Skype. Oliva told me about her pre-school Christmas party, and decorating cookies. Ethan and Olivia showed me their art projects...lots of Rudolph and so cute!! Olivia also wanted a picture of her toes. :)

Christmas Lights!

2008-12-11T22:39:00.005-05:00

I went with Katy and the kiddos tonight to see Christmas lights!!

Here is Sean lip-syncing to the music...and saying he's a girl...lol...

And some pictures...they really are quite amazing!

If you'd like to check out their website:
Huseman Family Lights

High Tide and Candy Canes

2008-12-11T12:10:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, I drove down to Anna Maria Island to visit Bernadette and to be her photographer. She wanted to send out some holiday personalized postcards! They turned out great! We brought Flat Olivia with us, so she got a chance to visit the Gulf of Mexico.

If you don't know about Flat Olivia: My niece, Olivia, has a pre-school project based on the books "Flat Stanley". So, all the kids sent their flat person out somewhere to experience something or somewhere. Then we send her teacher the pictures, and she puts them on this big map in the hallway at her school. It's pretty neat! I took Flat Olivia to Disney last month, and took her picture with Disney characters too. :)

ANYWAY...back to the "photo shoot"... We went out in the afternoon, so as we were walking down the beach, there were some places that we had wade in the water to get around the trees and rocks. This last hurricane season took a large amount of the beach away, and there are many places where the water comes right up to the tree/brush line. When we found our place, we saw that we weren't the only ones who thought it was a good day for a photo shoot. A little further up the beach, there was a photo shoot going on with very little clothing...we'll just leave it at that.

After we had some great shots, we decided to head back...and noticed the tide was coming in...higher and higher. All the places we had to wade in ankle deep water on our way out, was now knee deep water...and each time the waves came in - which was about every second - I was soaked to my waist!! Bernadette is lucky because of her 6 feet, about 5 feet of her is leg...so she was only soaked to her thighs.

We finally made it back, after scaling a retaining wall, and headed to dinner. Soaked. We went to Banana Cabana, and no one seemed to care - or notice - that my pants were soaking wet. After dinner, we stopped at a beachy tourist store so I could buy some lovely purple capri sweats for the ride home. ;)

All in all, a fabulous day! We had lots of fun.

Close Encounters!

2008-12-03T14:29:00.003-05:00

Cody and I took a walk at Lettuce Lake Park today, which has become one of our typical outings for my days off. We usually see wildlife on our walks there, since this is a Nature Preserve and all. ;) Well TODAY, we had up close and personal encounter with an armadillo!! I've seen a flash of one at the park before, but this time was different. We were walking along, minding our own business, when I heard some scuffling in the leaves!! I though - oh God, please don't let it be a gator. And as we got -cautiously - closer on the path, I was relieved, and amazed, to see that it was an armadillo! We watched that darn thing for about 5 minutes, and it kept digging for food. Cody was very good, and watched patiently without startling it. Then we finished our loop, and on our way back past - that little bugger was still there doing the same thing!! There must've been something good hiding in that leaf pile.

Oh - and just so you know, the current weather is about 70 degrees, sunny and clear.
xoxo

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T18:49:00.004-05:00

I skyped with my brother, sister-in-law, niece, nephew, and mom tonight. I'm still sick and feel crappy, so I'm not going to blog much. I just had to share these shots I took while on skype with them.

Ethan was washing the dishes...which I found hilarious. Oh - and the greatest holiday gift - my brother surprised his family with a trip to Disney World!! Which means they're coming down to visit me in March!! YAY!!! This is the best gift ever for me...and it wasn't even for me! :)

so...it snowed...

2008-11-19T12:00:00.003-05:00

I just got back from spending a week in Michigan. Below, you will see the kid-version of my trip! I decided not to include pictures from the nights I spent at Sazerac with friends. :)

My visit home was wonderful with the exception of the snow and the good-bye. Those two things, I could do without. On the excellent side, I was able to spend every single day with Olivia & Ethan, which is what I wanted to do more than anything else! I'm still hoping that teleporter will be invented so I can pop up and visit them whenever I want...however, until then, I will stick with Allegiant Air. Which - in case some of you didn't know - will be flying between Tampa Bay/St. Pete and Grand Rapids beginning in February!! I'm so excited! This time, I flew American - and yuck.

So anyway, it was great to be able to hug and kiss my niece and nephew. My next visit home will probably be mid-to-late April...just to see my family and those few who matter most.

Now - here in Florida - it is a sunny, clear, blue sky day...about 60 degrees...and fabulous. I'm happy to be away from the snow. It would just happen to dump 6 inches on Grand Haven while I was there. ;)
xoxo

Lullabye

2008-10-28T13:39:00.003-04:00

As you may know, I've been stuck in a slump...writer's block has kept me from finishing any new songs this past year. Well - last week I was talking to Olivia & Ethan, and they totally inspired me. Soooo here is the first rough cut of the lullabye! There are mistakes, however you can get a good idea of what the final product will sound like!

...what I've been up to this month...

2008-10-22T13:32:00.001-04:00

...update on the countdown...

2008-10-22T13:31:00.002-04:00

Custom Countdowns & MySpace Layouts

Only in Florida would you see this scrolling at work...

2008-10-12T23:33:00.003-04:00

It says: There is an alligator outside of the north entrance. Please do not use those doors until further notice.

HA!!

Wow, Apples!

2008-10-02T16:53:00.003-04:00

It's true! An apple a day really does keep the doctor away!

I'll give you a quick list of what good things apples do for you. Then you can check out this link to read HOW:

Click here to read more about Apples!

1. Apples improve the bowels.
2. Apples lower cholesterol.
3. Apples reduce the risk of cancer
4. Apples slow the aging process.
5. Apples help to prevent hair loss.

Wow! :)

I am reducing my carbon footprint.

2008-10-01T11:27:00.002-04:00

Walt Disney World is a very "green" employer. Our resorts and offices are "green", and they're constantly giving us reminders to do our part. This has made me take note, and think about how what I do every day affects the environment.

If you’ve seen “An Inconvenient Truth” or read about Global Warming, you’ve probably seen or heard the term “carbon footprint”: the amount of carbon dioxide released through energy use. Here are some simple ways that you can do your part to help, and reduce your carbon footprint!

*Bring your own canvas bags to the grocery store, or at least re-use the paper ones.

*Unplug your electronics: Most electronics still use some energy even when turned off. This 'standby mode' or 'phantom load' drains up to 10 percent of electricity used in most homes. Each charger (like ipod, cell phone, laptop, camera) you have plugged in takes up about a watt a day when you're NOT using it!

*Use surge protectors to make it easier to unplug lots of things at once when you leave a room.

*Turn off your lights when they aren’t being used, even when you leave a room for a short period of time.

*Replace any incandescent light bulbs with the new energy-efficient bulbs (they looks like a swirl).

*Regulate your home temperature: Move your thermostat two degrees cooler in winter and two degrees warmer in the summer.

*Clean or replace air filters on your AC unit at least once a month.

*Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees.

*Set refrigerator temperature at 36-38 degrees and your freezer to 0-5 degrees.

*Use the microwave more. Microwaves use a lot less energy than conventional ovens and stoves.

*Wash clothes with cold water, hang dry your laundry rather than putting it in the dryer when it's warm outside. Clean the lint filter in the dryer every time.
Dry clothes on a clothes line instead of in a dryer whenever possible.

*Use dishwashers instead of washing dishes by hand. You actually use more hot water when you wash dishes by hand. Do not use the heated dry mode on your dishwasher.

*Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. You will save 25 gallons of water a month!

*Reduce water in your toilet tank. Putting a liter bottle filled with water in your toilet tank can save 300 gallons per month!

*Use a low-flow showerhead to conserve water.

*Reverse indoor ceiling fans for summer and winter operations.

*Buy used furniture because there is a surplus of it. It is often cheaper than new, with the exception of some antique furniture.

*Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.

*Turn off your computer when you're not using it. Or adjust your computer's power management to reduce the amount of power it uses while idle.

*Drive less! Walk or bike for quick trips around town, or even to work if you're close enough (like me!).

*Buy LOCAL! Not only does it save the energy costs associated with shipping bulk produce, it keeps a portion of your grocery money close to where you live - so go to your local farmer’s market. You’ll be supporting local growers while enjoying fresh, seasonal produce. So look up your local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and use it - you can google "CSA" if you don't know.

Some of these tips are from Green Wikia

Also, check out Be Green Now

dog park update...yes, this is my life...

2008-09-25T18:17:00.007-04:00

We went back to the dog park yesterday, and Shanna tagged along to see if she could pick up a girl (she thinks she can use Cody to attract a gf). LOL. No such luck, by the way. ANYway, Cody met some new friends on this visit. One was a Great Dane named Daisy...who was just about as tall as Shanna, while standing on all four legs. If Daisy decided to stand on her hind legs, she would've towered over Shanna by at least a good foot!

And we also found a new - and nicer - Farmer's Market! Yay!!

Disney, and dog parks!

2008-09-18T14:50:00.006-04:00

Yesterday, we had a work dinner party (end of fiscal year and launch of new year) at Epcot. So we had this huge buffet with foods from all of the countries in the World Showcase, followed by VIP fireworks viewing. It was awesome!

Then today, Cody and I discovered a new dog park! It's only about 9 miles from my apartment, and it is huge! It's an off-leash, 5-acre, completely fenced in park. There is a section for small dogs under 30 pounds, and the large dog over 30 pounds. We had a great time. At first we were the only ones in the large dog part, so we walked around and checked out all the picnic tables and trees, played fetch, and Cody did a lot of sniffing. They have lots of shade trees, and the dog drinking fountains as well. There are even dog pools set up to cool off, and big dog bowls with water too. It was a hot one today, about 95 degrees out, so Cody took advantage of the water. This will be our new hang out on Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays for sure! I can't wait until it starts cooling off, which should be over the next few weeks, then it will be even nicer!!

Birthday moments...

2008-09-18T14:50:00.002-04:00

I forgot to blog about my birthday! Oops! So, thank you to everyone who sent me a bday card or a bday comment of some sort. I really appreciate it. Soooo...a few days before my bday, Bernadette and I went to Disney's Hollywood Studios (used to be Disney's MGM Studios until this year). We had a great time - I love the new Toy Story Mania ride...even though Bernadette slaughtered me each time (you play for points). I took quite a few pictures of this, which is set up like "Andy's Bedroom" from the Toy Story movies.

At work, my team decorated my desk in a 70's hippy theme. I've included a pictures of my desk as well!

My bday party was up in Michigan on my last trip home...so thanks to my family for doing that too! :)

Recent Skype shots

2008-09-09T17:55:00.003-04:00

Yes, I've said it before and I'll say it again - SKYPE ROCKS. I can't even begin to explain how wonderful it is to see and talk to my niece & nephew on Skype every week. They are so funny - and grow so fast! If I wasn't able to see them through the wonders of video conferencing each week, I would barely recognize them every few months when I go up to visit!

Anyway, here are some shots from our conversation tonight. They crack me up, and really crack themselves up too...We always end every conversation with virtual hugs & kisses...though they're not virtual, we actually hug and kiss the webcam. :)
We're dorks, I know. xoxo

Road Trip!!

2008-09-02T11:57:00.004-04:00

It's official - I'll be driving up to Michigan in November! I'm going to leave after work on Sunday, November 9th...and drive straight through. I should be in Coops late Monday night. Then I'll be there through the following Tuesday...leave at on the 18th and give myself a couple days to get back for work on Friday the 21st, YAY!

This way I'll be able to bring Cody along, take some of my things that are in Michigan back down to Florida with me, and stay for more than twice as many days! I won't be coming up in December now, so this will be my Holiday Visit. :)

Lettuce Lake Park

2008-08-27T14:42:00.003-04:00

There is a county park just up the street from me, Lettuce Lake Park (Hillsborough County), and for the past year I've been wanting to check it out - but haven't. Today I finally did - and it's beautiful. I can't believe I've let a year go by without visiting it. Man! The good news is now I know and can go there weekly. Cody liked it too, and was running around like a dog of half his age...they even have doggie drinking fountains! Shanna took me around the trails, and I figured it all out. We even saw a LIVE armadillo, and huge turtle! I'm sure there were plenty of gators that saw us, however we didn't get to walk on the boardwalks by the water since Cody was with us...though he REALLY wanted to. It was about 90 degrees (humidity at 60% and "feels like 102 degrees")...mostly sunny...but shady - however the mosquitos were having a party in the shade. Cody is now sleeping on the bathroom floor. Check out my pics from our adventure! ...oh...the picture where you can see part of my car, is the only pic I could get of the armadillo (you can barely see it, in the very center of the pic). It RAN into the bushes...I didn't know they ran!!

Michigan is cool...literally.

2008-08-16T17:08:00.007-04:00

My visit home was super short, but it was so great to see the kiddos! The hardest part was leaving. I sucked it up until we were out of sight, and then the tears starting pouring. UGH! The hardest thing for me is being away from them. There is seriously nothing more difficult. I know they're too little to understand why I can't be there everyday anymore, heck - some adults don't even seem to understand...I can only make the most of the precious few days I do get to spend with them. Unfortunately we sometimes have to make sacrifices in order to fix mistakes that we've made...and that's what I'm trying to do - fix stuff.

I can't wait for them to experience Disney World for the first time!! I want to see Olivia's face when she sees the castle, and the princesses. And Ethan's face when he sees Lightning and Buzz Lightyear! Thinking about these things, and about my quick trip home, really makes me start wishing for that teleporter again! :)

I just got back to Florida a few hours ago...have all my stuff unpacked, dog walked, got some groceries, and am now uploading all my pictures to snapfish...and making a slide for this blog.

In uploading my pictures, I realize that I didn't take any pictures on Friday at my Aunt Deb's house! Dang it all. We had so much fun though - but I'm going to do a quick recap of my trip in order.

On Wednesday I flew in to Lansing Airport, and Brittany picked me up. We had a yummy lunch at Marie Catrib's in GR (Diamond & Lake). Then I unpacked some things at my moms, and went over to see the kids! I can't even begin to describe how much I miss them - and to see them after 4 months is very emotional! This time Olivia was on the porch happy to greet me and ready to play, and Ethan didn't seem to miss a beat. I think Skype really helped with that. It was so great to see them and to hug them and kiss them! They are SO TALL!! Then we all went over to my dad's for a grilled chicken dinner, and my Grandparents were there too.

Thursday started with the kiddos again, of course! I picked them up, and we went over to Karen's. Her kids are 1 and 3, so all together the kids are 1, 2, 3, and 4 - an active bunch! As soon as Ethan saw Ella, he just wanted to hold her hand and give her kisses on the cheek, and hug her, it was so cute! Then later that night, I went to dinner with Karen and Sharon at Bistro Bella Vita downtown GR, and then met up with more friends at Rocky's Pub. I even got to play a couple songs at the bar! AND I think Meghan may be ready to move down here before it snows! :)

On Friday, I went to my Aunt Deb's with Margo and the kids for swimming and grilling and birthday cake! We had lots of fun in the sunshine, and I was whooped by the end of the afternoon. Then my mom and I met Scott, Margo, and the kiddos for pizza at Fricano's in Muskegon, and ice cream at Temptation's in Grand Haven.

Saturday - today - started sad. My mom and I went over to Scott & Margo's to say bye to the kids. Oh man, that was tough...it's so sad to know I won't see them until December...or maybe if I'm lucky, October. And I hate that I will miss Olivia's first day of pre-school.

All in all, a great trip. I just wish it could've been longer.
Enjoy!

veggies, veggies, and more veggies!

2008-08-07T17:27:00.004-04:00

We went to the Farmer's Market today and wow! We bought big tomatoes, little tomatoes, medium tomatoes, avacodo, garlic, red peppers, cherries...and mmm mmmm mmmmm!! The tomatoes are so yummy. Shanna and I have decided that we are going back every week. I spent a total of $4.50 and Shanna spent $6.00! Had we bought this in the grocery store, we easily would've spent 3 times as much. Amazing. Shanna had the best value purchase: 5 garlic bulbs for $1.

Here are some colorful pictures! We had so much to choose from.

only one week til: michigan here i come!

2008-08-06T15:35:00.002-04:00

I only have one more week before I can give hugs & kisses to my niece & nephew! YAY!! I can't wait!! I was just talking to my brother on the phone, and realizing how little time I have there. *sigh* It's tough to fit in everyone in just 2 1/2 days. eeeeks!! Oh well, better than nothing.

As you can see, I added a new little feature to my blog page. A flikr badge in the left column. This will show 5 different pictures from my flikr albums each time you refresh my blog! Neat-o! Typically I only upload my very favorite pictures to flikr, whereas I upload ALL of my pictures to snapfish. Uploading can be time consuming when you take as many pictures as I do.

Speaking of pictures, prepare for a new slide show tomorrow night! Shanna is taking me to a Farmer's Market and Flea Market tomorrow here in Tampa and I'm SO excited!! I've been jonesin' for some fresh fruits and veggies!! I can't wait to see what types of characters visit the Farm/Flea Markets down here. Should be interesting...

mad photographic skills

2008-08-03T22:52:00.004-04:00

I have taken some pretty great shots over the last couple years - basically since I bought my digital. I wanted to share some of the shots that I'm proud of with you! There are some pics of the kiddos, some self-portraits, pics of Mackinac, of the Upper Pennisula, Grand Haven, Memphis, Tampa, Ludington, Walt Disney World, Wisconsin, Anna Maria Island, Maui, Chicago, Vegas, and more! I also like to take pictures of signs.

Skype Rocks

2008-08-02T10:28:00.006-04:00

I just wanted to reiterate how fabulous I think Skype is - and thanks to Bernadette who introduced me to it!

I had the opportunity to talk to my brother Scott, and the kiddos this morning before they headed out to Aunt Deb's to swim. It seriously makes my day to be able to talk with them and SEE them for just a few minutes.

So anyway, I thought I'd put together a Skype Slideshow of some shots that I've taken during our conversations - yes! you can take pics during your chat!! You'll see how much fun the kids have with the webcam. There are some pics of the kids opening a gift that I had sent them too (Ethan's bday present, and something special for Liv). And there are a couple funny pics of Aunt Deb and Emily too, because they have also joined the Skype community. (It's FREE and a great way to keep in touch with long distance family members and friends!!)

...and this concludes my Skype commercial...

my mom thinks i'm funny

2008-07-31T22:56:00.011-04:00

I'm sitting here...still...as the day has turned in to night...and still no new music. SO I decided that maybe it was because I haven't been LISTENING to much music lately! *gasp* Could it be so simple? It could be!

I tried to spark some creativity today by looking at pictures of the shows that Meghan Wilcox and I played...Memphis, Indianapolis, Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Chicago, Saugatuck, Grand Rapids, etc...they more made me nostalgic, and want to kick Meghan for not moving down here with me. (Love and miss you Meg-hand.) Maybe I will win that battle yet!! My plan is to get her really drunk when I fly home, and fold her up in my suitcase. What? She's small.

So now I'm not just sitting here surfing the web...I've been sitting here surfing the web AND listening to some of my favorite tunes...which you can see below (and possibly hear if you have sound on)...such as "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver, and "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead, and "So Close" by Jon McLaughlin, and everything by Ray LaMontagne, and the list goes on and on and on and on...I also took the initiative to put a banner link to my own music page at the very bottom of this blog. So you can take some time, if you like, to listen to a few of my songs that I was able to upload to MySpace...though by no means perfect.

Now...about the title of this blog...my mom annoys me more than any other person could possibly ever annoy me. HA! This really makes me laugh, because I know that she will read this...and because she too has a great sense of humor, will not be angry at me for saying that. lol. But anyway, even though she annoys me, I also love her to pieces. Tonight when I was talking to her on the phone...wait...let me start that sentence over... Tonight when my mom was talking at me on the phone (*snicker*), she said she had read my blogs and laughed at every one because of my dry sense of humor. This was after she cracked up laughing about the pictures of snails that I had put on my blog earlier today. She said "you must've been pretty bored today", and I said "yes. I really was."

Long story short. I'm funny. You should know this. And, I still have writer's block, though am trying to cure it by listening to fabulous music.

Here are a few pics of my travels/shows with Meghan...peace out.

rain, rain, go away!

2008-07-31T17:08:00.003-04:00

OH. MY. GOSH! I can't believe it's raining again! This is the rainy season in Florida, however usually it's just an afternoon shower that lasts about an hour and then it's over. Sunny morning, clear evening. Argh. The last few weeks have had more completely cloudy and rainy days than is typical of Florida even in the months of June through September! *sigh*

So...Cody and I sit here and watch the rain fall...

...and due to all the rain, there are tons of SNAILS all over our screens on the porch!! ...eeewwwwwwwwwwwww....

lazy daze

2008-07-30T16:51:00.003-04:00

I started a new work schedule last week and am trying to get used to it. I went from working mad overtime with only 1 day off a week to working 4 10-hour days with 3 days off! Yikes! I barely know what to do with myself. I should work on that writer's block problem I was talking about...but instead I'm balancing my check book, writing my budget for the month (did you read that Scott??? i said "budget"!!) doing laundry, moving my room around, trying to find the best place to put my laptop (based on the strongest wireless signal I can get back in my bedroom from the very front of my living room), catching up on some tv shows that I can watch online, and watching the rain fall.

This is the perfect nap day, however I can never seem to take naps. I'm not a good "napper". I always feel like there's so much to do - and time's wasted if I nap. Maybe I should write a song about that...

I really should take full advantage of my 3 days off this week, because next week we're back to overtime! Woot!! Unfortunately, since it happens right about when I'm going up to Michigan, I have to jam a whole bunch of hours in to the 3 days that I work that week. So on Sunday & Monday (August 10 & 11) I work from 9:30 AM - 10 PM, and then Tuesday (August 12) I work 10:30 AM - 10 PM...it's all worth it though, because then on Wednesday (August 13) I get to fly home to Michigan and see my niece & nephew!! YAY!!! ...and everyone else of course... :)

Cody even knows today is a lazy day...although, now that I think about...everyday is a lazy day for him! The only difference in today is that he gets to sleep on my bed this afternoon instead of in his crate.

~some of my favorite music~

2008-07-29T21:41:00.002-04:00

I moved my music player featuring some of my favorite tunes to the very bottom of my page. So if you want to change the song or stop the music, just scroll all the way down.

Writer's Block!

2008-07-28T09:07:00.000-04:00

My plan was to take the last year off from performing to write new music. I thought this would give me enough time to get aquainted with my new surroundings, and write about my new experiences. Argh, wrong! I can't seem to finish any new stuff and it's very frustrating! I feel like I have the classic case of "Writer's Block"!

I've started quite a few new songs, however none of them are what I really want to say. I want to write songs about the beach and the sunshine - a la Jack Johnson!! I'm tired of writing songs about stupid boys who tick me off, and about waiting around for love to come my way again. Maybe I need to go sit outside more often...there's plenty of beautiful inspiration around here...

Home Sweet Home

2008-07-26T10:19:00.000-04:00

I moved in to a new apartment on Saturday...I now have twice as much space, a patio, a second bedroom (and a roomie with a kitty for the second bedroom)! I can't believe it's already been a week. Time flies.

Honestly, I can't believe that I've been down here for almost a year! I didn't anticipate that it would go by so quickly, or that I would be so happy here. I knew it was a good move at the beginning, however I didn't know how good of a move it would be for me. Don't get me wrong, I miss my family and friends like crazy... the fact that I'm missing all of these monumental pieces in the lives of my niece & nephew feels like someone is tearing my guts out. I can handle missing my friends, I can handle missing the rest of my family, but those kids...man it's tough! Skype is about the best thing ever - this enables me to actually see and talk to them! I can see how much they've grown and changed, it's fun - nothing like actually being there, however it's the closest I can get.

It's also been nice having fellow Coopersvillians down here. Bernadette and Katy both help keep the homesickness to a minimum. :)

I'll blog more later. I'm going to try and get in to a habit of it. I'm tired now though!