That's Incredible

I'm totally going to out myself.

By the time we're done here, you are either going to think

1. I am more crazy than you already do
2. You'll be inspired
3. You'll be reaching out and asking me to come organize your stuff too

I apologize for the not quite so good picture quality. I took these after a few mango margaritas last night.

Let me set the stage for you. We (Maricel, J, Drea, and I) were settling in for a meal during game 2 at my place last night.

J asked for a certain sauce to add to his meal and this is when it all began.

He noticed I label my spices and seasonings in this manner. I keep them organized on a word document, complete with the expiration dates of seasonings and sauces noted in the box.
At this point, J is exclaiming, "That's incredible!" Over and over he's saying this. I'm feeling a tad exposed so I'm telling him to get out of my kitchen. Over and over.

Then he opens the fridge and takes note of how my condiments are stored. I put like items with like items and for some reason he was impressed with the two types of mustard.

I will also label tupperware items with what is in the container and the date of storage.

Drea made a good point when she said it makes sense because of my travel schedule; this is a necessary evil. Who wants to be surprised by some rank food in the fridge upon their return?And I'd be remiss if I didn't point out the handwritten list of booze inside my bar/storage area. Beer and Goose is chilling in the fridge 90% of the time; no need to list a staple.

It may seem like it takes a long time to do this but it really doesn't. All you need is some masking tape and a sharpie.

Overkill? Maybe. Organizational madness just right for Mo? Check.

The real reason I started this? Drea is partly right but the true source is inspired by my Mom. She hung on to food items like none other. I understand the source of her need to do so but growing up, and cleaning the pantry out after her passing, instilled in me the desire to be diligent in this area of my home.

Call me crazy but this is part of what makes me...well me...

Peace and Love Peeps.

Weekly Challenge #34

This week's challenge can be interpreted many different ways.

The choice is yours. Determine how it applies in your life.

Simply put, this week's challenge is DISCIPLINE.

For me, this means putting myself back on a work out schedule, having things ready, and to do the things I say I am going to do followed up by putting action in motion.

I already lead a relatively structured life. I'm the one planning to make a plan. I'm the one who schedules things weeks, even months, in advance. I'm the one who lives by lists.

But when it comes to getting some things done, I need more disciplined execution in my life.

I wonder, do you too?

Mine started with a solo (gasp, I know) trip to Costco yesterday. I immediately came home and started washing and chopping.

I have a fresh, homemade, strawberry, blueberry, and apple fruit salad ready for munching on.

I have a spinach, mushroom, carrot, broccoli, sweet pepper, and grape tomato homemade salad ready for the week too.

Onions and mushrooms have been chopped and are mixed together to throw in with some egg whites or on whatever I may choose.

Also representing in the fridge are mango and pineapple slices ready for smoothies and margaritas this afternoon.

It took a total of two hours to make this happen on a Saturday afternoon. I see those two hours as an investment in my health. An investment allowing me the discipline to eat healthy at the drop of a hat.

I'm set for the first half of the week. I challenge you to apply this methodology in your personal life too.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Meet the Work Husband

Lots of y'all have asked.

I now introduce you to the work husband.

He and I travel together. A lot.

We compliment each other in terms of work style.

Personality wise we totally bring it.

Not only are we colleagues, we're the best of friends.

We've got each others backs like nobody's business.

We can order a meal for each other without skipping a beat, including the special requests and quirks we both have. We have complete conversations via a look of the eyes. If one of us forgets to pack something, you can pretty much be assured the other one has it or will make sure we make the time for a store shopping trip.

We've worked together for a total of 7 years but only in the last two have we been lean, mean traveling machines on the exact same team.

From time to time, I travel solo. So does he. Another member of our team, the dotted line boss aka "boss man" joins us on some of our trips too.

Bottom line? We lurve each other and traveling solo just isn't the same without your road dog.

Peace and Love Peeps.

He's Baaaack

Spanky is back!

Did you miss him?

I'm pretty sure he's upset with me for keeping him on the down low for about a month but forgiveness will be granted.

I'm glad I packed him for this trip as he was asked for specifically by name upon my arrival yesterday. Love, love, love that my work peeps embrace him like they do.

Here's a random sampling of his life of late. It may seem as if all we do is eat and drink but I assure you we do much more than this when we're on the road.

After a looooooong day, booze hound Spanky believes the peeps should have an ice cold beer; Guinness for "boss man" and Bud Light for me.

Have you ever seen a fried baked potato? I had not until last night. Apparently it is a house speciality and according to our waitress and the restaurant manager, awesome. My vote? Not so awesome but at least I can say I have tried a fried baked tater.

Fresh horseradish with prime rib is a rare treat. Almost made up for the not so awesome tater. Almost.

I passed on the melted butter that accompanied the prawn and scallop skewer cooked cajun style. We love us some salsa and queso oh yes we do.

If you don't watch yourself, we'll run you over for chicken fajita salad.

We have another night and two days to go in this destination. It's been a good trip so far and I am sure the rest of the time in the great state of Idaho will be more of the same.

I hope things are good where you are too.

Peace and Love Peeps.

This Morning

This morning started entirely too early.

Like 3: 15 AM early.

No need to rub your eyes and look twice. You read that correctly. 3:15 AM!

I would love to say it has everything to do with being woken up by one of the love kitties but sadly, this is not the case.

Sadly is the correct choice of words as both of the babies have been at the vet's office since Saturday afternoon.

Leaving home before the butt crack of dawn on a Monday morning, with no other real option to get them to the vet before I departed, I have determined makes me sad.

I know you know I love my babies but can I just tell you how lonely it was coming home Saturday afternoon, all day Sunday, and waking this morning without them?

So. Very. Sad.

Know what else is sad but in an entirely different form of sad?

People who have no business being in the expert traveler line being in it at 4:45 AM.

** WARNING ** This is where y'all get to experience my frustration.

If you don't know the drill, get out of the line! Shoes, belts, and jackets off. Computers out of the bag. Liquids, in containers no bigger than 3 oz, in a quart size ziploc bag in the bin. No drinks through the line. Boarding pass out, id put away.

Might I suggest you put your other electronics, such as iPod, cell phone, camera, etc., in a ziploc bag too?

Doing the above makes it that much easier for all of us.

I think it is pretty much safe to say I am feeling like Famous Dave's BBQ sauce so far today.

Sweet and Zesty. Yep, that's me. I think I'm gonna' roll with this as long as I can.

That weekly challenge I put out there yesterday was large and in charge as I felt my frustration growing in the TSA line. I kept telling myself, "Love these people. Let it go. In the grand scheme of things, it is not that big of a deal."

Yeah, yeah. Whatever.

Then just as I was getting irritated even more, from behind me I hear, "I just farted."

I could not help but laugh a little bit inside. Don't you just love the innocence of children?

And the best part of the day so far? Seeing a flashback from back in the day. Seriously. A woman with a teased up to here beehive and her man totally sporting the Fu Manchu long hair and mustache.

I wish I could have gotten my camera out fast enough to snap the picture so you could have experienced it too.

Now that you have enjoyed part of the morning with me, I need to finish my eggs, shut down my laptop, hit up the bathroom, and get ready to board the second flight of the day.

Happy Monday; Peace and Love Peeps.

Weekly Challenge #33

This week's challenge is love.

Love yourself. Quiet the inner voice telling you negative things and replace it with loving, positive thoughts and energy.

Love others. Tell those you cherish how much they mean to you. Whisper it, write it, say it...just be sure they know.

Love family. Might be the same as loving others but I'm seeing this one more as letting a slight annoyance that normally would get under your skin, just be.

Love your work. Be thankful you are gainfully employed and find at least one thing you enjoy about what you do that allows for financial stability in these trying times. Appreciate the housework you have to do as it means you have a roof over your head.

Y'all get what I am trying to get across?

Love.

Let it in your life this week. Each and every day. Carry it forward. Personally I have found the love I give away comes back tenfold and then some.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Thirsty Thursday In Pictures

My usual. Goose and lemonade with three limes and a fatty straw.
Not the healthiest of food choices but I was craving pizza and as the night wore on, the peeps wanted an order of what we call snachos.

Why snachos? Because we snarf on the chicken nachos.

The drink that won't be gracing Thirsty Thursday; diet coke and crown. Take it to Vancouver T. Represent it like I know you will!
T and Mo. Look into our noses and mouths why dontcha'?
You'll be missed my friend but lord knows I'll be coming to visit ya'! Going to Portland won't be so bad after all and now I have reason for it to be more than a day trip.

In case anyone is wondering, I received lots and lots of crap for rooting on the Lakers, who won by the way, last night. For the love of God, just because I am from Texas does not mean I have to pull for a Texas team. Not doing so does not make me any less of a Texan. Sheesh.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Thank Goodness

It's Thursday.

Thank goodness is all I have to say.

Wanna' guess why?

Did I just hear you say Thirsty Thursday at our local Cheers?

A Lakers and Spurs game I am sure will be nothing short of exciting and have me on the edge of my seat?

Turning the goose loose with peeps?

Well, if you didn't say those things this is why I am happy it is Thursday. I am looking forward to some good times.

Good times I need tonight.

I like holidays but I don't like squeezing all the work for five days into four, especially when I have a day trip tomorrow, which technically means it is fitting five days into three. And I have to prepare for an out of town week long trip next week too.

I'm not complaining. Really I am not. I am just saying.

I hope you and yours have some good times planned too. We could all use more of them.

But I especially want some tonight because I've been spending entirely too much time alone with my thoughts this week. Self examination is good but too much starts to get me self doubting and thinking.

Good times in the form of Thirsty Thursday, even if it is T's last official one with us, is just what this girl needs.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Seriously?

Anyone else see the 2 point game between the Lakers and Spurs?

I predicted, after the previous loss, the Lakers would take back game 4, and sho' enough they did!

However, it was entirely too close for my comfort.

It is true. I am pulling for the Lakers even though I am from Texas, which according to Ace, means I should be pulling for the Spurs.

And just because Ray Allen is playing for the Celtics, and I believe he is deserving of a championship, does not mean I am cheering on the Celtics. I am rooting for the Pistons.

Anywho, it was one heck of a game tonight. And I'm just saying if Kobe Bryant can do a behind the head dunk like that during a game, can you imagine what he would and could do in a dunking contest?

This was the first full game I sat down and watched in HD. I've watched bits and pieces before but tonight was the first time I did from start to finish. I just have to say the hype about high def is everything you have heard and then some.

The gleam of lights on the court. The beads of sweat on the players faces. The stitching detail on an announcer's jacket. It's all there. I recommend you think twice before watching an episode of Cops in HD though. There are some things better left to the imagination.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Past Due

When: Sunday, April 27, 2008

What: Adult Field Trip

Who: The Usual Suspects: T, Snookums, Mars, J, and Mo

Where: Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

I should have posted this weeks ago. Better late than never right?

We started out the day at my place around 10:00 AM. We did the green thing by squeezing 5 adults in a Sentra for the ride north.

J drove.

Snookums rode shotgun and dee-jayed for us.

T, Mars, and I did our thing from the backseat. At first this was all we saw.

I'm not going to lie to you and say we weren't worried. We thought we might have missed the blooms.

Fortunately, we were wrong with our initial reaction. We were treated to fields and fields of beauty.

Pictures never quite do justice do they?

Nature continues to amaze me. All the flowers began like this and with care and love, grow into this .

Mars and J lapped T, Snookums, and me as we made our way around the fields. Of course, I was the one snap, snap, snapping away. I'll take a pictures of the most random things that catch my eye. Such as Thankfully my peeps get this about me. They just let me be me. I'm also the one stopping along the way and asking random strangers if they would like a group shot or someone to take their picture for them.

After a day in the fields and the ride back, we went for Ivar's, a Northwest tradition since 1938. We love us some clam chowder and fish 'n chips.
After a nap, Mars went with me to watch the man play flag football in the shadow of the Space Needle.

He's down there I promise.

All in all, it was a wonderful day. Once again, I feel so very blessed to have such wonderful people in my life whom I love and love me. Thanks for being a part of my life.
Peace and Love Peeps.

Weekly Challenge #32

This week I challenge you to organize and purge any magazines that possibly are taking over your life, your home, your mind.

I say mind because when I have clutter around me I am not on top of my game. Clutter distracts me.

I have a stack I need to go through. You wouldn't know said stack exists at first glance in my home but trust me, it does.

I have those suckers tucked nicely away in a open face brown leather storage cube under an end table next to my couch.

Here is my line of thought. At one time there was an article or two I wanted to read. If I haven't touched the publication in over six months do I really think I am going to now?

Yea, not so much. So this is the week I am going to pile them up in my vehicle and hit the recycle for charity bin down the street.

Won't you join in with me? I dare you not to.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Nuttin' Much

Nuttin' much sums up what is going on around these parts.

I'm slated to have a low key weekend.

Time to spend with the fur babies. Time to catch up on domestic activities. Or time to do nuttin'.

For those of you who have sent texts, called, emailed, and been praying for me and the babies to be better and to rise from the funk, I thank you. I appreciate you. I love you so very much!

I hope whatever you are doing this long weekend you are happy, surrounded by those you love, and doing the things that make you smile.

If ya' feel like sharing, I'm interested in what you'll be doing over the holiday weekend. Go on now and speak to me. I really do want to know.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Fiwa, I am happy you found a pocket of peace. It truly is the one of the best gifts you can give yourself...

Cancelled

10% of the shows I like to entertain myself with have been cancelled.

4 of these will no longer be on my DVR.


So long Shark. See ya' Women's Murder Club. Adios Cashmere Mafia. Buh Bye October Road

Please TV network peeps, don't think of doing this to Grey's Anatomy, Brothers and Sisters, CSI, Criminal Minds, The Closer, or Real World. I'll be sad if those are cancelled.

What about you? What do you watch to unwind and numb your brain with? Which ones would make you sad if they were no longer being aired? Speak to me peeps...

Princess Update

My baby is doing better. God bless the miracles of modern medicine.

She is on drugs to control her seizures. It causes her to have the munchies something fierce.

The lab work has ruled out infectious diseases as the cause.

The only way to get a full diagnosis is for her to have a MRI.

The MRI will reveal if it is cancer, a tumor, or if she has epilepsy.

The question I have to answer is do I go this route or continue to monitor her to see how she does on the meds over the course of the next couple of weeks?

For now, this is what I am going to do. Thankfully, my travel schedule allows me to be home to monitor her daily, to administer her meds, and feed the insatiable appetite.

I thank you for all of your well wishes, good thoughts, and prayers. Please keep 'em coming as we are definitely not out of the woods yet.

M is For . . .

Thank this woman for the tag! If you have not been by her place to check her out, what are you waiting for? She'll be sure to crack your stuff right up!

Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following... they have to be real places, names, things... Nothing made up!

Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same first initial. You can't use your name for the boy/girl.

1. What is your name? Mo
2. 4 letter word: Math
3. Vehicle: Mustang
4. City: Miami
5. Boy's Name: Michael
6. Girl's Name: Mary
7. Alcoholic beverage: Merlot
8. Occupation: Musician
9. Something you wear: Makeup
10. Celebrity: Mariah Carey
11. Food: Meat
12. Something found in a bathroom: Moisturizer
13. Reason for being late: Meeting
14. Cartoon Character: Mickey Mouse
15. Something you shout: Man oh Man!
16. Animal: Monkey
17. Body Part : Mouth
18. Word to describe you: Marvelous


And just because I feel like it, the most recent cd created for driving in the car includes these music selections. I call it Auto Party Spring 2008:
Damaged by Danity Kane
What You Got by Colby O'Donis
Forever by Chris Brown
Love in This Club by Usher
Independent by Webbie
Killa by Cherish
4 Minutes by Madonna
Dangerous by Kardinal Offishall
Like Me by Girlicious
Move Shake Drop Remix by DJ Laz
Boyfriend/Girlfriend by C-Side
Elevator by Flo Rida
Lollipop by Lil Wayne
Sexy Can I by Ray J
Cyclone by Baby Bash
Shawty Get Loose by Lil Mama
Swing by Savage
I Like the Way She Do It by G Unit

Current Mood

I'm feeling blue today.

I know you have to go through the pain to experience the joy and this too shall pass but today I feel down.

Today I feel sorry for myself.

Today I feel let down.

Today I feel exposed.

Today I feel vulnerable.

Today I feel blue.

Today I feel this way for so many reasons but I have hope this too shall pass...

Weekly Challenge #31

This week's challenge is simply to ensure your car is clean inside and out.

Mine currently is covered in ornamental cherry blossoms. Very pretty to look at but not so nice when they cover your car from "head to toe" and the blossoms find their way into every nook and cranny of the car.

So, in an effort to get mine back in sparkling clean status, I'm throwing it out there as this week's challenge.

If you're in the same shape as I am, let's get our babies to the car wash.

Peace and Love Peeps.

Prayers Please

I'm asking for your prayers please.

This time it is for Princess.

Last night, or rather I should say this morning around midnight, she had what I thought was, and now has been confirmed, a seizure.

Followed by another at about 1:25 AM and again this morning around 6:30 AM. She could have experienced more while I slept but I don't know.

I dropped her off at the vet's nice and early. So early none of the vets had made it in to the office.

I feel helpless. I can only imagine how y'all feel when something happens to your kids.

Dr. Gray called and said she has also lost about 5 ounces from the last time she was in, which was only a few weeks ago.

I'm telling you, I baby my babies but I think their age is starting to catch up with them.

I hope it is simply an age thing and nothing too serious with her. Regardless, prayers and healing vibes are requested, especially since I just got a call saying she had another seizure and has been put on Valium.

Please and Thank You.

Now to answer a few other questions and reply to some comments.

Kim, *cough* boyfriend updates....you crack me up. Dinner was good. It's always good when you're with the people you love and love you right? We snarfed on some bbq courtesy of Famous Dave's.

Brad, Yenta away! June, as of now, I am free except for 06/01, 06/14, 06/21, 06/22, and possibly 06/28, 06/29. You were talking brunch on a weekend day I assume. If so, looks like 06/07 or 06/08 works best for brunch.

Anna, He is 6'5, black hair, brown eyes.

Cheryl, I met the deadlines. A little late but projects completed. Thanks for asking.

As for the rest of the weekend, tonight I would have been attending a going away party for . T has been promoted and will be relocating to an area south of here later this month.

Thirsty Thursday and life in the office just won't be the same without him. As with Ace, I will remain in contact with him but his physical presence most definitely will be missed.

Maricel and I will not be going to the shin-ding as the vet has told me to monitor her tonight and tomorrow. If she has a seizure (she's now had five in less than 10 hours), I have to medicate her. My baby comes before a partay any day of the week.

Saturday day will be spent with the kitties. Y'all know what Saturday night is supposed to hold. Ahem, date night with the man.

Sunday is questionable thus far. A few options but nothing set in stone just yet.

How 'bout you? What do you have going on this fine weekend? Other than wishing my kitty well?

Happy Hump Day

Can y'all believe it is Wednesday already? This week has flown by! At least for me it has.

I've gotten a few emails from folks who are experiencing difficulty in posting comments here so I thought I would entertain their questions here.

The most common question seems to be about the man. And have we gotten serious yet?

Y'all sure are in a rush for us to be in a committed relationship!

See that bus? With the pretty stop flashing hi?

I appreciate you pulling for it. We're proceeding with caution. Due to my previous travel schedule, company he has in town, and both of our crazy weeks, we have reached the stop portion of things right now.

We will see each other Saturday night and I am hoping my being in town for the next few weeks will lead to us spending more time together and allowing things to develop.

So, I guess the best I can say is hold tight, hang in there, and enjoy the slow ride. I'd rather take it slow than not at all or to rush it and have it fizzle out before it had a chance to go. Y'all know what I am saying here? I hope so because I'm at a loss for words other than what I just wrote.

Other stuff going on 'round these parts is a whole lot of nothing. It's about to get warm as all get out this weekend. I can't wait! It's a long time coming for us. Of course as soon as the heat arrives I'll probably start whining and wish for the coolness again.

I'll just be happy to get some sun. I'm ghostly pale. And it will be nice to see people out and about. We tend to hibernate when the weather is gloomy and cool.

I finally figured out what got on part of my couch and the floor. The source of the mysterious tea like spots has been identified. Can you say bad watermelon juice that leaked out of a trash bag and was transferred to other destinations by the trash? At least I know the source and how to treat it but dang it took me awhile to remember that had happened right before I went out of town this last time.

Later this week I am supposed to get a new fridge. The compressor on my current one is on the way out. Just in time for me to have a full fridge. Why couldn't this have been determined when it was empty? This will be fun to take care of but hey it could be a lot worse right?

I'm gonna' jet for now. I have a few deadlines to finish before I can head over to the other side to have dinner with T and her momma for a belated Mother's Day celebration of sorts.

Peace and Love Peeps.

For My Buddy

I wish there was more I could do from here for you.

Maricel is ready to go. I got her primed Saturday night.

Know that if you need us, we've got your back. And remember, we are a bunch of lovers, not fighters, in this family but when pushed, we are a fiercely protective group of peeps.

Happy Day

Seeing a basket full of fresh Fuji apples and Anjou pears made me a very happy girl this Monday morning.

What else makes me happy today? Other than having my health and the other blessings life offers me?

Knowing I am home based for the next few weeks at least gives me a warm fuzzy like none other. I can actually unpack the suitcase and put it in the closet for a bit.

I made a mater, spinach, and onion omelet for breakfast this morning. Then I cooked a chicken breast on the George Foreman grill, steamed some broccoli, sliced up some strawberries, pineapple, and threw in some blueberries too for my food throughout the day at the office.

Tonight I will saute spinach and shrimp for dinner after I work out.

I get to sleep in my bed. I will be surrounded by my things. I will love on and be loved by my kitties. I know if I want to I can text a friend or two for a quick get together.

Oh yea, Mo is home and loving it!

Hope you are loving life too.

Peace and Love Peeps.