Music That Moves Me – Runaway Train.

I first heard this song many years ago when I was going through a particularly hard time. The song is basically about missing young people and what could have possibly happened to them. There is so much evil in this world and I hate the ignorance that causes this pain.

I related to the song for a different reason. Still, it was pain. I know I am much stronger now. I am grateful I did not let pain or ignorance lead me to whatever hell was awaiting the people in the video.

No one  should be on a runaway train. Or feel like they are.

Soul Asylum.

Yum.

I was watching Live! With Kelly the other day and one of the guests was Rachael Ray. She was demonstrating a few recipes for Super Bowl Sunday. One caught my eye. Bacon Wrapped Potato Skins. I decided to make them at home.

Now, I did not have the exact ingredients  as called for in the recipe but I have made potatoes like this before so I just used what was available. All I can say is yum! If you are on a diet better to exit this page now.

Here is a photo of mine.

My only question is, does she not have a recipe without EVOO?

Dreams.

Since my mom, Grandma M started treatment for cancer I have dreamed about her a couple of times. I guess when something like this is on your mind it tends to come out in your subconscious.

The first dream occurred in the chemo room. I sat and watched  my mom light a cigarette. She took a couple of puffs and then attempted to put it out. The cigarette did not go out all the way. The smoke was swirling from the cigarette and then a nurse walked up to me and got in my face and said, “You know, you can not smoke in here?”

My response was, “It was not me! She was smoking the cigarette!” I woke up at that point.

The next dream I had last night. My mom and I were on a road trip to Salt Lake City of all places. We were supposed to meet up with relatives that I had never heard of. We arrived at the house and spent time with the wife and children. Soon after, the husband came home. He told me that he worked at a Starbucks in a grocery store. He knew that I was unemployed at this time and asked me if I would like to check out his job. I said yes.

Me, my mom and the husband went to the Starbucks. The husband showed me around and then he had me wait on a gentleman. I served him a coffee and french fries. (Yea, I do not think Starbucks serves french fries.)

I turned around and my mom was gone. I wondered where she went. The husband and I got back in the car and on the way home went drove by a big building and I asked if it was the Mormon Temple. He said it was. We arrived back at the house and I asked about my mom. The wife said she left.

My response was, “How will I get home?”

I woke up after that. Mom, you simply must get out of my head! Next, I will wake up strapped to the radiation machine. In a dream of course.

Read about the journey here.

Twins.

On Friday I spent some time with my bestie, Lady Red. We went out to lunch at a local French themed restaurant. I had a lovely tuna and avocado sandwich. Lady Red had a honey mustard ham sandwich. Ymm is all I can say. We sat outside, by ourselves and talked about her grandma. 93 years old. Wonderful woman I have the pleasure of knowing.

We also talked of my mom, Grandma M’s cancer battle.

The most strange part of the day was the fact that we were dressed in similarly outfits. No, we did not call each other the night before. Our tops had the same colors, we had almost the same jeans, five-pocket with the little red tag and wait for it, the same nail polish.

Another thing I noticed was when we went to look at the menus we both pulled out eye glasses. Oh yea, they looked the same. I found it funny that the both of us need eyeglasses to read a menu. Aging sucks sometimes.

I took some photos with my (un) smartphone and the only way I could retrieve them was to take a photo with my camera. They sorta look like Instragram photos off of the iphone. Anyway, here we are together with our almost matching tops.

Here are our red, nail polished hands. We could exchange hands and no one would know the difference.

We must have been twins in another life. Or maybe sisters. Love ya Lady Red!

I Just Can Not Help It.

Since I lost my job last August, I think I’ve watched a little too much TV. I have a couple favorite commercials.

Love Mayhem

Way to sell a car Kelly!

Kelly’s video. My theme song at the moment. Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).

See How My Garden Grows – Dang How Long Has It Been?

The summer before last I attempted to grow a plethora of veggies and flowers.  I succeeded with some and failed with others. Considering I live in the Desert Southwest where the temps reach over 100 degrees on most days during the summer, I think I did my best.

Last September I decided to throw out a few seeds to see what what would happen. My conclusions are, not to try so hard. Give it your best shot and God willing, you just might get something without working so hard.

I was pleasantly surprised to find life in the garden. Not much life, but still. Life

Here are my onions that are providing me with some tasty chives. I added them to ham and beans, egg salad, and breakfast burritos. I am hoping the onions will mature, but I am not counting on that happening. Oh, and a couple of carrots came up too.

This is a small patch of lettuce. We shall see how they turn out.

While I was out picking up Miss Lucie my big, red dog’s poo. I found a couple of plants growing in the yard. I am quite sure this is a succulent. I love the red color. I promptly picked up a shovel and transplanted it into a pot.

This pretty little plant now resides next to a succulent that I picked up at our local home improvement store last summer. The bright green accented with red pleases my eye every time I gaze upon it.

My very best friend, Lady Red gave me some aloe and a plant that for the life of me I can not remember the name. I thought the plant was gone. While picking up poo, I was pleased to see that the plant was still there, small yes, but still alive. I once again grabbed the shovel and transplanted to a pot. Also, notice the one small marigold in the pot. This lonely, little flower was growing next to this plant. Anyway, I figured they should live together in the pot as they did in the yard.

Of course, Lucie my big, red dog likes to have a hand in planting and gardening.

I guess she was once a farmer in another life.

My Boss.

Guest post from Natalie Walter

My boss is always riding me to stay at work later and get more done and I just don’t think he really understands how hard it is to do all of this when you’ve got a family at home. Thank goodness I’ve got satellite internet in Wisconsin at my house so I can get online and email with him a bit before bed but it’s really all just becoming too much and it’s going to have to stop.

I feel like this is the plight of the modern woman right now – they want to have it all and everyone tells them they have to BE it all so we get caught up trying to be wives and mothers and businesswomen and all manner of things that really just tie us down at the end of the day. I really love being in charge of some of my family’s income but it’s hard knowing I don’t get to be home with my kids when they get home from school or when they took their first steps…

Music That Moves Me – Mr. Know It All.

This is why Kelly Clarkson was the first American Idol winner. She continues to put out the hits.

We’ve all met a “Mr. Know It All” at some point. Right?

Sharing a Pizza With a Friend.

Yesterday I was dog-tired. Apparently so was Lucie my big, red dog. (No pun intended.) I also was hungry as a dog. (Man, I am on a roll.) I pulled a frozen pizza out of the frig. It was one of those private label pizzas one can buy at the local grocery store. The pizza was not as big as a normal pizza and I think it was intended for two people. Covered in mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and other assorted veggies the pizza was just what I was craving after all the holidays filled with turkey, ham, and stuffing. You see, I could probably eat pizza everyday. I love it. My butt on the other hand, not so much.

Anyway, I only intended to eat half of the pizza. Of course, I shared the crust ends with Lucie. She and I have a food understanding. If she does not beg then she receives the last bite. It is a win, win situation for both of us.

When I was done with the first half of the pizza, it was clear to me that I was still hungry. Lucie is always willing to eat. No news there. So, I scooped up the other half, sat down to one of my favorite TV shows and ate the rest.

Mmmmm. So good.

Afterwards I did something I rarely do. I took a nap. A nice, long two-hour nap. Of course, Lucie joined me in this endeavor. Lucie takes naps all the time. Day, night and even as I write this post, she is napping.

Here she is taking a last lick of my hand. Probably going for stray pizza juices.

Mere seconds before falling asleep. Sweet dreams sweet pea.

I Was Featured.

I am a member of several blog networking sites. I do not visit as much as I would like but it helps in gaining new readers and meeting other bloggers. Last week Carolee of Blogging Buddies featured my blogs. I am honored and humbled. Check out this cool graphic I found in my email inbox.

Thanks Carolee!

You can check out my profile here.