Revisiting

Birthdays are always a good day to revisit old posts.  Don't you think?  A few years back I wrote a 30 things to do before I turn 30.  Well today I turn 31 and I should see what I can cross off.  Now granted when I wrote this post I was in a very different season of life.  I was temporarily living in Alabama with plans to return to home(Arizona) when my husband came back from Afghanistan.  Well....... Here are the details now.

Still live in AL
Divorced

So I have a feeling most of these are obsolete. Thats okay.  It is time to start a new list. 


Original Post
30 Things before I turn 30

I will add commentary in Red!

1. Go abroad- Fall 08 I did go to Italy and it was a wonderful amazing trip!  I even got to do a 6 hour whirlwind tour of London on our layover.

2. Learn the basics for said country-I tried........so tried.  I did take all my Western Civ. classes last year and it was wonerful to have a visual for parts of those classes.  It made the class come alive for me and only lighted the fire for me to go back!

3. Go back to school and work on finishing up my general studies- Well I can almost cross this off.  After this semester I literally have about 5 classes left of general studies.  I am very proud despite wanting to give up several times!

4. Catch up on all things scrapbooking-Haha!  I have not touched it therefore piling up even more years to catch up on!  I am looking to get in the groove, but plan a more basic approach.  I have not even developed pictures in 3 years!

5. Continue my running-Well it is true that I have ran many races since I first wrote these goals but in the last year I have let it go.  I still LOVE it and desire it but I have a hard time fitting it into my life which is only an excuse.  I have been getting out a couple times a week here lately but I am no where near where I want to be.

6. Run a marathon- Again see #5.....The highest distance I have reached in a race is 10K

7. Work on group fitness certification-This is seperate from going back to school. This is still a goal, but I am trying to concentrate on my degree now.  I guess I underestimated my superhero abilities.

8. Take my husband to Half Moon Bay, CA- He has never seen this beautiful place and I wish to take him there and drive down Hwy 1, hopefully in the fall. Stop at the little pumpkin festivals along the way, taking our time and enjoying all that this route has to offer.Well I guess we can drop this off.....Don't live on the West side anymore and not married. 

9. Go to San Franciso-This could technically be done on the same trip as Half Moon Bay, but who knows, I love California so much I may want to break up the trips. Same see #8

10. Visit Big Sky Country- Maybe even ski! We will see. I have a friend who lives up there and so does Chris. So It would be great to go to this area that I have never seen and be around friends as well. Nope, not yet!

11. Buy a mountain Bike- There are alot of races and fun things to explore if I could get into this hobby. still have not done this.  The kids got bikes and I hope to get one sometime but more for leisurely fun.

12. Go Kayacking- I live in AZ for goodness sake, there is so much to see and explore. Oh the aspirations I had at 29!

13. Learn what it takes to be the house that is the kid friendly house-You know what I mean, I want the kids and their friends to want to be at my house. There are multiple reasons for this. For one, I am always in contact with my kids and know what they are into, and I wish to build a relationship with my kids that is close and open. I have had a touch of this living down here.  Especially before we moved to our new house.  Its good but sometimes can wear you out!

14. Get a dog- I do not have any pets, my cat is now living with my parents(long story) but I wish to have a dog.  I have my name on the list for a morkie(Maltese/Yorkie). Well this one did happen.  I got my Morkie and his name is Mac.  He is 2 years old now and lives with my mom.  I miss him dearly but in all my life changes he got settled in with her and is very happy.  I give him all the love I can when I visit. I have however adopted a Greyhound.  Miley is a 2 year old retired racer.  It was always my dream to have one but I was always concerned about size and well we never stayed in on place too long.  Well with life changes came stability and I got my Grey.


15. Set up a fish tank..........again. Love this....but not sure I want anymore responsibility.  Haha

16. Do a fun/run/walk/ with the kids for a good cause Last summer we did one with the kids.  It was great and they loved it!

17. Sky Dive- Yes maybe someday.  Not anytime soon.

18. Continue paying off Debt- including student loans Happy to report I am debt free.
.
19. Spend a anniversary together with my husband-This has not happened for us in 6 years! We have only been married 7! Oh lord.  Again....Divorce

20. Get into the habit of a girls night out-Seriously Laura, when I get home, seriously!!! I miss you--Oh and side note to this, we are going to get tickets to see Wicked and hopefully Mama Mia again! While this has been a regular even for me in the last few years.....I miss it now.  New place, still meeting people.  Yada yada

21. Go on regular dates with my husband- No we have never done this. I need a babysitter!  Ahhhh....Divorced....Told you these were obselete

22. Get in the car and drive somewhere for the weekend-no plans, no direction, just go! Good one.....why is this so hard to do?

23. Attend a SS retreat I did at Skyline!

24. Better yet, host a SS retreat-There is a ton of us in AZ and CA....its doable! Nope

25. See Jimmy Buffett in concert....again-Now I know technically I have already done this..3 times but it just gets better and better and I hope in the next 2 years I can do it again! Well I almost got to Gulf Shores for the benefit concert, then the date changed.  blah blah blah.....I miss you Jimmy

26.Wine taste in California- I would love to go and stay at a vineyard and do this! Again.....Living in the South this is much harder to do

27. Ride a motorcycle- Yes I have done this, but it has been a really long time. Nope

28. Get another tattoo-I want one on the wrist or neck and I want it to be celtic in design I have done this!  Well I got a cover up.  I finally covered up the nasty moon on my shoulder and it is beautiful!  I got a fleur de lis.

29. Go back to Mexico- Hopefully with someone that knows it better!- Ivan and Krysten I am counting on you guys for this. I would love to see all those things I saw pictures of! I don't really care anymore but it is also not as close anymore .  Not like you can drive a few hours and be there anymore.

30. Vegas Baby!-- for more than 24 hours. This is the key factor. I got no sleep last time because we tried to squeeze it all in in such a short time frame. Also included in this trip is a shocking show(more shocking than Wayne Newton!) Damn I want to go!



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So as you can see life has changed and while I still desire many of those things they were much harder to cross off  when your whole life changes.  I am working on a new list 32 before 32.  It is going to include  items that are much more attainable!  Stay tuned!

Catch up

Ive been a bad blogger.  Blame it on Verizon.  I thought my internet problem was fixed.  Wrong. I do think it is fixed now.  350.00 later.  Got set up with a have phone company and wireless router.  It is fixed......well as fixed as it is ever going to be living here in the sticks!   I mean fabulous country.  At least I can actually see pictures and such in my google reader now.  My google reader that I neglected.  I have slowly been making my way through it and realizing very quickly I have filled it with blogs I am uninterested in and don't read.  No offense people but we all know that it happens.  Here lately my interests have been running more towards blogs with home design, holidays, and greyhounds.  Some I am slowly cleaning up the reader and trying to take time to visit the blogs I love.  Which was almost impossible before we my connection. 
There has not been alot of internet time lately anyway.  We are in the 3rd week of school (gasp) and I am starting my first full week of classes this week.  I had 2 days last week but diving in head first this week.  I hate the feeling of being overwhelmed that I always get with school.  I am still on fire about school and really happy with the progress I have made but still there are days I think how will I make it through.  Also I am not totally thrilled with my options here at the community college.  I have enough to keep me occupied for now but know soon I will need to travel further to a college that offers more.  This semester I am right on target with a few classes I have procrastinated to take.  1 math class, Biology, Literature, and yuck yuck yuck Speech.  I have dreaded this class since I was 18. Now at 30 it is not any easier.  Except for being one of the oldest in the class. I am hoping experience will help me out.  Biology I love and I have taken this class before. The school has decided that I needed to take it again because it had been 10 years and it did not transfer.  * I litterally banged my head against my advisors desk*  Okay, I can get down with that.  I am happy to report I am in my last literature class of my college career.....Thank you Lord!  I love literature and I love to read what I hate is all the reports and papers for said peices of literature.  Now Speech is a whole other ballgame.  This week I am required to give a 2 minute speech about ME.  Okay.  I tremble at the thought.....and this is just a little speech.  I am happy to report that all the kids in the class look just as scared as I did and a few said as they were leaving the class " What am I going to say about myself ,what have I done, I am only 18".......I have time on my side here.  I have plenty that I know about myself.  I just do not want to speak! 

But I digress...
In other news Its my bday this week.  Wednesday I turn 3 and 1.  I really don't get the bday thing anymore.  Unless someone could make it go in reverse. 

Anywho....
I will be back, I will keep up better.  Really I do miss it.  Blogging.  I got to bitch somewhere about my Speech class.  I might even show off my supercool cupcakes I want to try for my bday. 

Then its diet people.  Diet.  I can't take this down home, southen, got to have bread with every meat and potatoe meal........I got to give it up.  I would  greatly appreciate if someone in the nearby vicinity would bring in a Whole Foods, Greenlife or Sprouts.......Anyone?  It will never fly. 

Ciao!

I don't think I care to come up with anymore clever titles for my posts anymore.  Not sure why.

Could possibly be because all I seem to do is "catch up" when I do post....mostly because I have to reconnect to the internet every few minutes. 

Today is the anniversary of Elvis' death.  8/16/1977.  So in honor of the King I thought I would list my
"top 5" favorite songs of all time from Elvis.

1. Devil in Disguise
2. Suspicious Minds
3. Fools Rush In
4. Amazing Grace
5. In the Ghetto.....which is quite surprising because I never used to like this song....but damn I do now.  Even though I struggle to get Carmen's voice (from South Park)


Ever since I have been painting the house I have been listening to my deluxe Elvis disk on my handy cd player that hangs under the cabinet in the kitchen.  A CD player that I initially thought I would remove from the cabinet.  Yet I have used the cd player so much I think it is staying.  Anyway.....I have gotten the kitchen painted.  Check out my before and after.


Before:  Please excuse my awful pictures. 

After

This 1st one is really dark.

This is all just paint.  J and I have talked about new counter tops, painting cabinets, faucets blah blah blah.....

Right now I am just handling the paint. 

Again horrible pictures. I am not sure what is with my camera indoors.

Oh and what is the big black square on my wall?

Chalkboard!

I am pretty excited about it.  I have seen it before on tons of websites/magazines....and I thought I would go for it.  I am waiting another 10 hours or so to write on it....and I am not exactly sure what I will write. 

Calendar? Menu? Quote? Let the kids go wild?

Who knows  but I absoltely love the boldness of it when you walk in. 

P.S.  Anyone have a problem making a house a home?

Does that question make sense?

I have a house.......kind of an empty shell......its not comfortable yet.  Not cozy.  Not home.

I am ok with this....sorta.

I have commitment issues.. and I am not the only one. Thank you very much.

I am relationship challenged.

Not to quote Meridith Grey but I am scary and damaged or is it dark and twisty?

J and I do not have stuff. We don't have years together where you collect stuff.  You know stuff that you decorate or place in your home.  What we have is a house. 

Hell who am I kidding we went couch shopping and can not even commit to a couch.  So we have a living room.  One I spent a week painting with no furniture in it.  So we do not spend any time in there.  Its a shame and actually becoming quite the joke. 

Don't get me wrong ....I am not angry. I am not upset really. 

I have commitment issues. Quite possibly domestically challenged.

From Psychologist point of view......and I am not a psychologist .......I would say that my failure to decorate the house, put any furniture in the house, hang a picture......shows my fear of committing to the house, the relationship.....uh anything.   So J called me on it.  He flat out called me out.   I did not even realize it until he brought it up.  Which kind of stung a bit.  Who am I kidding it stung alot. 

So today I hung a picture.  I actually put a nail in the wall. 

I committed. 

BUT

 I couldnt commit to a rug today for the kitchen.  I just couldnt do it.

Baby Steps People

.......

Don't worry I can laugh at myself.

1 week of school down.  Well almost.  This has been one long exhausting week.  The kids and I are all cranky.  Lack of sleep.  Long days.  My youngest has declared she does not want to go back.  I don't blame her.  The boys are doing well.......albeit realizing that "hey I am in a bigger grade this year" and "I might have to put some effort into it." 

I am still so very thrilled about school uniforms............That was a total lie.

okay, so this is a short post.

I am tired, I have had less sleep than needed in the last two days.

K has been sleepwalking and the other night she walked straight to the back door and clicked the deadbolt and if I had not caught her would have been outside. 

Clearly I did not sleep well after that.  In fact I went and slept with her.  Last night I was just overly tired from the previous night and therefore was awake until 12. Alarm went off at 3:30 where I promptly let myself out on the back door to watch the meteor shower only to be completly dissapointed because of the clouds.  Darn tropical depression.  I was really excited for this shower.  It was supposed to be the peak.  60 per minute.  Alas.....not a one did I get to see.

Anyway my point is I am tired.

I am still MIA alot around here.  I think a actual land line is my only hope. 

My school starts soon. I will be glad to have a routine of my own. 

Everyone around here seems to have one....but me.

My babies are home. 

They were gone for a long weekend with their dad. 

I picked them up early this morning. 

This one is a little under the weather.

Me too. I have a bad cold..

So we are hanging in bed. 

Ok... she has me a little worried.......sleeping for close to 4 hours now.

She told me her tummy and head hurt.

Of course she ate a cheese pizza.....and said she had a bunch of cheese and milk.

Eh hem.......she is lactose intolerant. Which gives her incredible acid reflux pain. blah. blah. blah.

Come on dad!  Give me a break

Anyway......we are laying in bed. 

As if we didnt have an excuse anyway.  It is pouring.  

I feel that it is perfectly exceptable to come up with excuses to lay in bed all day.

For instance:

Im sick

Its raining

Its too hot outside

Its Friday....or Monday

New book

New magazine

No school

Seriously Im kidding. sorta. 

I usually have very busy days.

Just not this summer.

This summer has been lazy.

I am totally ready to be slightly busier.

Slightly.

Remember I said that....

I will bitching in a few weeks about how there is no time! 

Its slipping away........

Summer.
I feel it slipping away.
Its been a long summer ........but it went by fast.
The summer started off quite busy.  It seemed there was always something going on.  Soon though summer faded into long days that my kids would describe as boring. 

It has been so HOT.....and I have definetly not adjusted to the humidity.....still I will miss Summer.
I will miss

lazy days with simple enjoyments

new adventures

impromptu days

and hot summer nights

Still there are things to look forward to.  August is still here which means Summer is still around. School is starting.  This year we have a 6th, 4th, and 1st grader. I am starting another year of college as well.  This year will be interesting as I am unable to take online.  So its brick and mortar for me. 

And then there will be fall.  Which I can totally look forward to.  Especially October. Love October.  Love Halloween. I am already planning K's costume.  I am thinking the boys are going to be too old.....

So today I am following along.....Its been awhile.

Bliss

I wish I could sleep like this. 

I wonder if she would scoot over and let me try her bed out?

J and I have got to get a new bed.  We switch sides every night because apparently there is a "good side".

Miley seems to have no problems sleeping......