Tuesday, March 13, 2012

In My Bag

So good morning!  I'm feeling pretty good today... how about you?
I got a GOOD night's sleep last night (really struggled the night before...) and that makes all the difference in the world.

Today's assignment is "In My Bag"... so here's a quick glimpse of what I carry around in my "bag" every day.


All those cards?  Those are the ones I DON'T use on a regular basis.  The ones I DO use are in this cute, handy little carrier...



I don't like to take my purse into the store - my phone fits in one pocket and my little red guy fits in the other. 

There's not much in my purse, and yet it weighs about 9,875,467 pounds.  How can that be???  I have a wallet, admittedly full of cards I need but don't often use... (insurance cards, hotel cards, Parelli club card...) and my little colored glass blobs that represent the members of my family.  (I've carried them since Soni gave them to me at Grandma Hanna's birthday party in Utah a gazillion years ago!)

Of course, there are my glasses - I can't read without them - a spray bottle of B-12 Plus - helps me make it through a 10 hour lecture... and an envelope to collect all my receipts when I'm out of town.  (Love living on an expense account...)

A check book, a little silver pill holder (from Nancy), my bluetooth earbud, my iPod Touch (from M&D) and it's wire, and a hair scrunchie.

That's about it...  Oh yah, a REALLY OLD gross packet of gum.  Guess I could toss that out, eh?  (I don't actually chew gum, but once in awhile I buy a pack "just in case"... lol)

And that's your peek into my bag...

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Update:  Rod did his "physical/strength" test at 8:00 this morning and is now sitting in the doctor's waiting room for his DOT Physical.  I expect him to pass both with flying colors...

I'm getting ready to run over to a local church to pick up a 40 pound box of FRESH organic chicken - http://www.zayconfoods.com/ - hopefully it's as impressive as they advertise.  I need to take it home and food saver it in 2 breast packs.  They say the breasts are pretty big, so 2 should be enough...

Monday, March 12, 2012

Close up

Today is supposed to be a "close up" photo.  But I haven't thought of anything to take one of... 

But this morning, on my drive in to the office, I wished I could have snapped a picture.  With the change to Daylight Savings time yesterday, it was a little early - the sun was just coming up over the ocean.  There is usually a nice breeze coming from the east (over the ocean) and this morning there were lots of sea gulls and pelicans enjoying the lovely morning.

There was one seagull I noticed, in particular, that was riding the thermals - zooming along parallel to the river, and then he would turn into the wind and just seem to hang - wings outstretched, tips angled "just so"...

I tossed off a "Good Morning Jonathan Livingston" as he zoomed off again, perfecting his technique.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Day 11: Where I Sleep

Here is where I sleep.  I don't spend as much time here as I would like, but I'm pretty lucky to average 7 to 8 hours a night.

Aaaaaahhhh



Yes, there are horses on my bed spread.

However, sometimes I've been known to catch a few winks here...


And, of course, here...



Where do YOU sleep?

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Day 10: My Childhood

Just a couple of pictures (courtesy of Burke) of my fantastic childhood


Loved those Stampede outfits!  Such a talented Mom!


That is STILL how I eat a drumstick!

Happy Valley - the BEST place on earth. 
But the gap between the ground and the trampolines was nightmare fodder for YEARS!

Who else had an Uncle who was a REAL MAGICIAN!
And who else had their own, personal Santa Claus? 
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 Update - today Rod and Kyle are out shooting their guns for a little.  Kyle works noon til 7 on Wednesdays...  then it's back to the shop for Rod. 
His big appointment is tomorrow - please remember him in your prayers.
As soon as we know how this is all going to play out, I'll let you know...

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Day 9: My Daily Routine

Oops!  This was supposed to be yesterday - but the boys came home Sunday night, so I got discombobulated.  LOL

So, first things first - my daily routine.


In the mornings, I get up and workout.  Then I take this little lineup of goodies.  Left to right - first there is my Premium Blend Alfalfa.  Since taking it, my thyroid has either been working better, or my body has been better able to use the synthroid.  Either way, I've been able to lower my dosage twice!  That's great!  It is also helping with both PMS and Menopause.  I am completely symptom free from both!  (One hot flash to date - and no cramps/back aches/etc... although I reserve the right to blame my random crankiness on hormones... a woman's gotta have SOME benefits!)

Next up:  Turmeric.  I take 2 capsules every morning and am watching a couple of pre-skin cancer things vanish.  Loving that!

Then we have Milk Thistle.  Long known for cleansing the liver.  I know with all the fast food I've eaten over the years, my liver has to be a mess!  So I'm taking it... hoping for the best, but honestly, it can't hurt, right?

Of course, Flaxseed Oil is for those all important Omegas.  Just couldn't love the fishy burps I was getting from Fish Oil, so switched to flaxseed.

Then my favorite!  D3.  I take 5,000 units every morning.  I up it to 10,000 on the days I'm teaching (to ward off all the germs I encounter with all those strangers, and also it helps me sleep in a strange bed...) and up it again to 50,000 if I feel a cold or flu coming on.  Last winter I cured a terrible flu using 100,000 D3 and vast amounts of Oil of Oregano for 3 days.  I started getting sick on Tuesday and was able to teach my regular schedule that weekend.  (All around me, people were down for the count for an entire two weeks!)

Finally, of course, is my Synthroid.  (although this month I switched to the generic - we'll see how it goes...)

No idea about the random coins.  (Well, actually I bought a Snickers from the vending machine a couple of days ago and that was the change in my pocket... it's not like people are putting change on my dresser...)

So.  That's my morning routine.  Behind my daily bottles there are a couple of others - some cayenne I take when I'm having sinus issues (haven't taken any in a year - should probably check the expiration date on it) and my Oil of Oregano pills - haven't needed any of those either!  I gave some to Sabrina to help with her infected molar, but her dentist put her on an anti-biotic, so I had her quit the OoO. 

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Update on the guys.  They had a load to deliver to Ft. Lauderdale on Sunday, and since I was teaching down in Boynton Beach, after school I hung around for a little bit and then they pulled into my parking lot!  We got to "convoy" home - stopping in Ft. Pierce so they could scan and fax their load papers and we grabbed some dinner at Denney's.  They are home for a couple of days while Rod has an important appointment.  Since my blog is "public" I can't say more yet - but prayers would certainly be appreciated.  We are hoping and praying for the best possible outcome..... (duh)

Meanwhile, last night we went to a Town Council meeting to discuss the trails behind the house.  The land is EELS (Environmentally Endangered Land), owned by the County, and they have "closed" them to horses and are only open to bikes.  They were also proposing closing some of the trails in the Town's property at the end of my road!  WHAT???  The town emailed me wanting my opinion - so I gave them what I had and then went to the meeting to speak last night.  They tabled the discussion, not wanting to make any decisions yet - but I'm certain they won't close the town trails - too many of us are horse owners in town (although no other horse people showed up at the meeting - we aren't organized like the bike people are...)  I met with the County guy afterward (in the parking lot).  I've met with him a couple of other times over the years (although he says he doesn't remember...) and hopefully we'll be able to work it out.  Kyle and I are out there regularly, trimming the trails and keeping them maintained for the bikes, the horses, and the walkers. 

Rod got to go to lunch with his Dad yesterday.  It was good to spend some time with him. 

I'm SUPER excited to get to spend time with the Arizona contingent in a couple of weeks!   (THANKS AGAIN NANC!!!!!  You are such a dear!)  I have another ticket I have to use before the end of August - I'm thinking I might swing over to SLC sometime this summer????  Soni?  Bean?

Friday, March 2, 2012

Day 8: My Sky

Ok, better late than never, right?

It was a BUSY day today...  Started out early with a phone call to Rod first thing in the morning.  They were on their way to San Antonio, TX, he was finishing up an all-night drive.  I got up, dressed, fed the horses and headed off to work.  Was out the gate by 7!

Off to the office to put in 3.6 hours (to finish my 40 for the week) and then back home.  
Sabrina and I went back out into the woods for a walk with Ozzie.  We met a couple of gentlemen with a pretty lab puppy - he and Ozzie "met" each other and then Ozzie had to let him know he was small, but tough!  LOL  

It was HOT out there!  We walked (fast) for nearly an hour - then home for a nice cool shower and get all my stuffed packed.

And then drive down south to my school.

All that fresh air makes me sleepy, so I set my alarm and took a quick power nap at the hotel (except I got caught up in a Nat Geo show about bears, so didn't really snooze...) and then off to school.

Had 10 students - a good group - a little of everything, some young, some middle, some older.  The back row held a young couple who are getting married in 11 days!!!  (And going to a 40 hour school in the meantime... wow...)

Finished up at 10:00 and then chatted with Rod for a bit.  He's on a run to Ft. Worth and then heading to Ft. Lauderdale!!!!!  Yippeeeeee!

And now it's time for bed.

But I leave you with a couple of pictures of today's beautiful sky.  (From my back porch)



Thursday, March 1, 2012

Day 7: Favorites

Wow.  How do you decide what your favorite thing is?  If I only had ONE favorite, I'd be even more boring!

So... here goes...
(I'm cheating and using pictures from my files...)
(also - these are in no particular order, mostly because I can't get blogger to let me move them around... grrrrrrrrr!)


Favorite horse:  Andy.  Duh!

Favorite dog:  Fuzzy!!!  He'll always hold a special place in my heart.


Favorite Red Neck:  Nobody does it like Jimbo!


Favorite Cowboy:  Rod.  He's my favorite EVERYTHING!


Favorite puzzle builder, travel companion, house mate, buddy:  Kyle.



Favorite "Nearly Daughter-in-Law":  Sabrina (pretty good house mate, too!)

Favorite picture:  Just makes me SMILE!



Except this is my OTHER favorite picture that makes me SMILE!



Favorite Hat(s):  Festus and Festus Jr.


Favorite Role Models:  My Amazing Parents!  LOVE YOU



Favorite Sisters!  (They are so creative!)