Things on my mind

I follow this blog: kerismith

She is an extraordinary person....Author, illustrator, guerilla artist

I love her way of looking at things, her creativity, her ability to step out of the box. Simply Amazing. We should all strive to be more that way. Please check her out and read. I start thinking just by reading a few posts by her.

In an effort to be more creative,get back to being the artist I once was, think outside the box, and simple observe more of the world around me. I am trying this : Here

Some of my favorite ideas from the list:
~make a map of everywhere you went in one day
~write a haiku- challenging ....but I like that
~draw the same object every day for a week

Too many to list....If you have any interest in art, try the list yourself. Or maybe you think I have to much time on my hands? Who cares.....this stuff gets me.

Today I totally did something too. Almost like drawing your dinner. I just sat down and made a pencil drawing while enjoying my coffee and oatmeal. Kendal did too. What fun. I like seeing what comes out of my head. Its amazing to see what came out of hers and the story behind it.

Me and K eating and drawing this morning. She is more of a "fill both sides of the paper" kind of girl. I am more of a "put it all on one side even if it makes no sense" kind of girl.








Our drawings. The bottom is Kendal's side A. "K" of course for Kendal! And her pop tart. I guess she really did draw her food.






Kendal's side B. Here is the story: There was this snowman, right in the middle of a baseball game. These kids were out there playing baseball and a big tornado came. The end.
Extraordinary!

Mine.....A little left of sanity. I know. Actually I started out with a side view of a face. K said the face was creepy like a witch. I said well we could make it the man in the moon. She liked that, but she just could not understand the arrow. I said "baby, there is a lot I don't understand!" Seemed to be a good enough explanation for her.

I wonder what we will come up with tomorrow and maybe Rye will join us.

Back to the Beach

I've got a song to help describe the weekend.


Work, work, work
Big pile of it and the boss is a jerk.
I just want to disappear
Wishin' I was somewhere other than here.
Livin' for the weekend,
Jumpin' off the deep end,
With just enough money to buy
A license to chill
And I believe I will

Let the rat race run, roll around in the sun until
Trouble turns funny,
songs get sung
A little bit of money,
the night's still young
Leave me alone
I've got a license,
A license to chill

Girls, girls, girls
Ain't nothin' like them in the whole wide world.
So damn smart and cute,
And it's amazing what they pass off as a bathing suit.
Winners and losers
Sailors and cruisers
We're all qualified,
for a license to chill

And I believe I will
Let the rat race run,
roll around in the sun until
Trouble turns funny,
songs get sung
A little bit of money,
the night's still young
Leave me alone
I've got a license,
A license to chill

One good song will last all night long
Leave me alone I've got a license,
A license to chill


Ramos go rent me a coupe deville
Hey KL, where's that barbecue grill
Head on down to Margaritaville
Have me a cheeseburger with a big pickle dill
Jesus, I sound kinda mentally ill
I guess I better go turn on Dr Phil


Yep, that just about sums it up........

Well except for these simple things I learned
-The night should always start with Lulu's
-Its completely okay to COOK all day
-I really should get my wings hot enough , that the paramedics will come
-Doesn't matter how hip your kitty is, if it aint happening, it aint happening
-Size does matter.....especially when we are talking flotation devices
-The hangout did not get any better, yet we keep going back. ?????
-I like chocolate cake and when the bell rings.
-Dan makes a great special
-Cabbage can be eaten at almost every meal
-No one else is technically needed
-Come on baby light my "fire"
-22 was a good year

last but not least

I love you MudBug!

Indescribably yours ;)
~Stang

Beach Season

There has not been much time for blogging lately. Or laundry for that matter. I have been wasting away in Margaritaville.....Well at least at the beach. I will start first with my trip to Panama City with the Lewis Clan. We had a excellent trip. The kids and I drove down and met them there. We had a lovely condo on the beach. Plans were to relax, swim, lay on the beach and thats about it. I so enjoyed some time with my good friends Kylene and Miller. We had a blast staying up after the kids had gone off to the beach. It was great to just sit back on the balcony listening to the waves crash enjoying some boat drinks. The first day out on the beach was a adventure........I am sure if she were here Ky would be laughing with me. We decided to take this big tent/canopy out to the beach before we brought the kiddos down. Well we carried this heavy thing down to the beach, got it out, attempted to put it up. We were pathetic. Miller sat up on the balcony and laughed his butt off at us! We were pouring in sweat by the end and swearing we would not do it again! Holy Cow what a pain in the ass it was. After it was all said and done though. Kylene and I spent a great day down at the beach with the kids.
We definetly baked a little too long though! Ouch! The next day we definetly did not attempt the tent but got rental chairs.
Much better. Thank you Miller! We spent some time at the pool and beach. That night we went out to Dirty Dicks Crab Shack. This place you always here about, was quite dissapointing. My food looked like this.....


Um no. I don't want my shrimp stabbed into a pineapple. I swear Ky and Miller laughed so hard. It was disturbing! Ryley managed to spill an entire glass of shark attack on him........


Well anyway , we can say we have been there and done that. If you want my opinion go somewhere else. Totally overpriced and unimpressive!

The next day was more of the same, some beach , some pool.
That night we went to Pineapple Willys. We were meeting up with some friends of Ky and Miller. We all met up, and started with drinks in the Pier Bar before going into the restaurant. This is a great place. The kids loved it and the adults too.


I can't wait to go back. We decided to finish up the night playing arcade games and riding go carts!


I have not done this is so long. I had a blast. We all did. It was such a great way to end our trip.

Friday Fill ins

1. All children alarm their parents, if only because you are forever expecting_them not too!
.2. Show me a good loser and I will show you a person who tries harder to win next time.
3. __Venice___ is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs at one time.-Well I did not make it to Venice, but Italy is amazing. Next trip I will make it to Venice.
4. Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy _smoking and screwing.
5. I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and career. Apparently these are the correct answers, I had to look up the quote. Oh the stories I could write on this one. OY!
6. It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without wine or good company in it.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to being in Gulf Shores hanging out with my best bud, tomorrow my plans include laying on the beach all day and having fun at night and Sunday, I want to spend some time on the beach before driving home!

Thursday Thirteen(yes, its Friday...)

Thirteen Fabulous 80's songs!

1. Come on Eileen-Dexy's Midnight Runners
2. Cruel Summer-Bangles
3. Wake me up (before you go-go)- Wham
4. Karma Cameleon -Culture Club
5. Always something there to remind me- Naked Eyes
6. Venus -Bananarama
7. Betty Davis Eyes-Pat Benatar
8. I think were alone now- Tiffany
9. Sweet Dreams-Eurythmics
10. Tainted Love-Soft Cell
11.West End Girls-Pet shop boys
12. Livin on a Prayer-Bon Jovi
13.Sweet Child O mine- Gun's and Roses



Okay, Don't get crazy on me. I could only name 13. Which is really hard!!! I love all 80's music! Why you ask did I pick this as my Thursday 13.....because thats what I am listening to on the way to the beach. Don't ask why, just feeling it.....

I am back

Back from the beach.......Kinda refreshed. Mostly tired. I have alot of adventures to blog about, but I have to organize my thoughts and get some sleep. I drove in last night, went straight to swim meet, dropped the family off, went to studio, taught 2 classes, and back to finish the swim meet. We were up again this morning going to the dentist. Tooth problem that began at the beach. I have 2 days to clean the house, car, and do laundry before I head back to Gulf Shores. Yeah! Anyway, I will blog about all that soon. For now. Here is a little filler.


A - Age: 29 , turning the big 3-0 soon. Of course if you ask me to my face , I am not a day over 25
B - Bed size: Just big enough to sleep on! I don't care
C - Chore you hate: laundry or rather the putting away of laundry.
D - Dogs' names: Mac Kingsley
E - Essential start your day item: Coffee
F - Favorite color: Blue
G - Gold or Silver, or both: Silver
H - Height: Almost 5'9
I - Instruments you play(ed): flute but not in a long time. Piano, some of the time
J - Job title: Dance teacher(ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop,etc.) and Danceline and Winterguard instructor for FPHS.
K - Kid(s): Ryley and Kendal
L - Living arrangements: Complicated
M - Mom's name: Charlotte
N - Nicknames: B.B., Breezy, Brick, B,
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: 5 days after arm reconstruction
P - Pet Peeve: 1. people who are all up in others business, Like it effects them or something! Move on people , get your own life.
2. People who actually think that I am interested in their advice or opinions on my life or what I should be doing.
Q - Quote from a movie: It's been swell, but the swelling's gone down. - Tank Girl.....my favorite pointless movie!
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 1 - Tav-o
T - Time you wake up: depends on the day.
U- Underwear: Totally optional! And you should definetly consider your activities before choosing to wear any or not
V- Vegetable you dislike: Brussel Sprouts an Asparagus
W - Ways you run late: I usually don't!
X - X-rays you've had: Arm, Neck, Back, foot, hand, stomach, pretty much every part of me
Y - Yummy food you make: Well I can bake just about anything. Cakes, cookies, breads, candies
Z- Zoo/favorite animal: Giraffe

Our first swim meet of the summer

Well we made it through the first meet of the summer. We had a little storm delay, but once it got started it went quickly. Rye was up first doing a IM. His first. This basically is 25 fly, 25 back, 25 breast, and 25 free. He did great. He even ended up with a first because the others disqualified. You disqualify if you do the stroke wrong. I told him basically, "You were not the fastest, but you did it correctly, thats why you won"




He did the 25 breast and the 25 fly individual as well. I was quite pleased with his first night!


Kendal was a little apprehensive. She is still such a new swimmer. Everything just scared her. She did a medly relay. Jumped in and took off! She was crying by the end, but the whole place was cheering her on. She also did a 25 breast and 25 back individual. Thanks to Jessie for helping her across! Her and Belle had a great time together. I was very proud of my children cheering each other on. Ryley was being a great big brother and friend. The whole team was high fiving each other. Thats what it is all about!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I love about trips to the Beach!

I am leaving in less than 24 hours. Oh how I need this trip. I need to get out of here. Away from this town and the people in it! Sorry, but true! Its just me and the kids meeting Kylene and family in Panama City! Next weekend , it is Misti and I in Gulf Shores!

I added some old pics too!

1. Long road trips.......I know this sounds weird but it is true.

2. The first look of ocean.

2. The smell of salt and surf

3. Toes sinking in wet sand

4. Long walks down the beach looking for "treasure"

5. Early morning runs or my kids finding me early in the morning outside.

6. Sitting on the beach watching the sun set

7. Making Sandcastles

8. Squalls out on the gulf stream

9. My kids footprints and markings in the sand


10. Swimming in the ocean, Going out as far as we dare, riding the surf in.


11. Seafood

12. Spending uninterupted time with my kids



13. Never wanting to leave. Talking about trips to come and beaches we want to explore. All the things we will do "Next Time". Feeling sun drenched, exhausted, calm, and centered. Like everything is right in the world. I have this in me and I believe me kids get it too.




So I will sum it with this......and a bit of help from J.B. Thank you sir!

I am leaving Manana, Heading Home. Excuse me , Just looking for the beach. One Particular Harbor if you will. The Coconut Telegraph has a "Out of Order" sign. I am Incommunicado. So If the Phone Doesn't Ring its Me. I can't be your hero today. The Weather is here and I wish you were Beautiful. My feet will be in the sand, with a Boat Drink in my hand. I will have my Barefoot Children too, we will Live it up with our toes in the sand, listening to the Jolly Mon Sing and Wonder Why we ever go home. I will be Changing Latitudes for a while, with hopes that is changes my Attitude. Maybe I have a few Coastal Confessions. We are Changing Channels for a bit, sipping the Barometer soup, eating Cheeseburgers in Paradise and half-baked cookies, watching out for those fruitcakes. All I got to say is there is a fine line between Saturday night and Sunday morning.... because the Wino and I know that Come Monday it will all be alright.

Fins to the Left,
~Breezy~

Tumbling Down

Ten Things I Wish I Could Say to Ten Different People (but don't say their name).

1. I wish you knew how much I DO NOT CARE!

2. Absolutely!

3. Please don't ever stop taking your pills.

4. You don't need pills!

5. You really were on the crazy train.......and we still call you choo choo

6. Appreciate you telling me you were in town......Not that I expect any different from you.

7. Gah! We are the same person

8. I do things differently and see things differently than you, thats okay.

9. It is what it is

10. I want to ride you like a float , and eat you like a moonpie.......



Nine Things About Myself.

1. I am casual to a fault....Apparently. Shorts, ponytail, and makeup suit me just fine!

2. I don't finish things.....I am trying to fix that

3. I obsess about everything that goes in my mouth and I hate that!

4. I love music. It constantly plays. I love all kinds of music not just mainstream. I love sharing it with my kids too!

5. When I am running alot of miles , my head constantly tells me I am not going to make it....but I always do!

6. I truly am confused by the question....."Where are you from?"

7. I love to laugh.

8. I think my kids are awesome and I truly feel like I will have a great relationship with my son and daughter (even in high school).

9. I really do goof off and dance and sing around the house with the kids

Eight Ways to Win My Heart.

1. Make me laugh.

2. Let me make you laugh.

3. Play around. Don't be serious all the time!

4. Be intelligent. Its okay if you are more intelligent than me......but don't act like it!

5. Give me space. Time to do whatever I want. Run, write, scrapbook, be with friends, etc.

6. Encourage me.

7. Take me to the Beach

8. Give me moments of undivided attention......Just me!



Seven Things That Cross My Mind A Lot.

1. vacations

2. running

3. races

4. schedule of events, games, practices, classes...........

5. Choreography for the Danceline

6. Food

7. Not wanting to fold and put away laundry



Six Things I Do Before I Fall Asleep.

1. Pick up any toys, dishes, shoes, clothes, etc. around the house and put them away

2. shower

3. Brush teeth

4. Set the coffee pot for the morning(most of the time)

5. Turn on a movie

6. Hug up to my body pillow



Five People Who Mean A Lot (in no order whatsoever)
Not going to go there! I could not name just 5. I would hate to leave anyone off !



Four Things You Do In The Morning While Getting Ready

.1. Hit snooze if the alarm is set

2. pee

3. stumble to the coffee pot

4. Computer



Three Songs That You Listen to Often.
Here lately?
1. Let me sign-Robert Pattison- Well actually the whole Twilight cd

2. Second Chance-shinedown

3. aint no sunshine



Two Things You Want To Do Before You Die.(These questions are so hard!)

1. Learn to Sail.

2. Run a Marathon



One confession.
1. I can not stop myself from eating the cookies I made yesterday!

Im a Barbie Girl, in a Barbie World

Now that you are singing the song in your head. K got out the barbies today, set up a little pool party in the back yard. Barbie has to cool off too, you know.

This reminds me of my childhood. I remember setting up little places in the yard. Barbie houses, yards, whatever. Yes we did it in the house alot but we did it in the yard too. Which was always cool. I remember playing Barbies constantly. Kendal always says " I don't know what to do with them". I don't really have a answer for her. It was just always us using our imaginations. Maybe she is still a bit too young. I remember starting as young as her but Barbies lasted into middle school. Maybe it is not having a sister to play with. I have passed most of that Barbie "stuff" onto her, plus added to her collection. I was looking through it all today and realized alot should more or less be thrown away. Matted hair and sticky bodies. Some of those dolls are over 25 years old. Ah, I sound like my mother. She passed her barbies onto us too. So we are talking about a 3 generation collection here. Oy.
Here is one of my old dolls. Matted hair and all. Look carefully , I believe you can see a piece of rubberband that I used to pull back her hair.(20 years ago)Its just stayed in there disintegrating over time. Gross!

Here is K.......see the hair resemblance.

This is what Ryley thought about it.......



He did say...."Check out the girl at the pool! Kendal, cover her up! " I guess she was trying not to have tan lines. (Putting his head down in his book.....the whole thing just embarrasses him!)

This is K's attempt at being Barbie. Oh , the future. DH , you having a heart attack yet?......And no I absolutely did not put her up to it. I was simply there filling up water balloons. Well she popped them and moved on.

You might be a redneck if........

If you go over to your neighbors house to check out the "coon" he caught!

Um, yeah we did. It barked at Mac. Which was kind of hilarious. Not really sure what the plans for the raccoon are. I believe it was to go and release him. Time will tell if we see Uncle R walking around with a freshly skinned coon hat. OMG.

The process

First mix plaster and water


Smooth......



Press hands


Remove hands(and wash!) My kids were concerned about getting "stuck" in the "concrete"



Let sit for a few more minutes, then write or draw

Love the end result! I will take it out in a few days and we will find the perfect place in the yard for it. K is thinking it needs to go by the treehouse.

Take 5 Tuesday

I love all the blog challenges out there. Blogging can be a incredible thing. It helps me vent. It helps me say something, when sometimes there is no one to talk to. It is a creative outlet. Writing is my thing. I guess I follow my dad there. I love documenting my life. Kind of a journal yes, but maybe not quite so detailed. Enough that I can look back and remember things and transfer thoughts and events to scrapbooks. Which by the way I am so far behind. I really miss AZ. There was such an incredible network there. Friends I shared interests with. Girls I got together with and Scrapbooked, shopped, etc. I miss that. I don't feel like I have that here. Well anyway , I said all that to say this. I have been looking for daily challenges for creative writing. I got Monday,Thursday,Friday pretty much covered. I came across Take 5 Tuesday, it has not been updated in awhile but I took some of the questions and I will roll with it.

5 things you’ve read recently
-Dead and Gone- Sookie Stackhouse series
-Runners World May and April
-Jillian Michaels Shred
-before that I tried to read the inbetween Stephanie Plum, and Confessions of a Shopaholic. Both did not hold my interest.
-My scuba manual(okay, I technically have not cracked it, but I am going to....I swear)

Reading has side stepped lately. I have been desperately in want of a new book though. I can not believe I forgot the release of Skin Trade(forgive me Anita). I am so on it soon! Don't think I will find it in this town. Its too......risque! I mean Vampires, Lycanthropes, and one badass woman......and they all have(shhhhhh......) sex! Together! Hush, now ....we are in the bible belt! No fornicating!

5 sites you’ve signed up for(not signed up for lately but added to favorites)
- Dirty Spokes Productions
-Run Georgia
-Silver Comet Races
Thats about it.

5 shows you’ve watched lately
-oh you guys no me. I don't watch the tv. I have watched the entire 1st season of Trueblood though....on dvd.




5 things you want right now
- Skin Trade
-My toes in the sand
-All this school admissions, etc. behind me
- Ben and Jerry's (flavor is totally up in the air)
-A race set on the calendar

5 things on your grocery list
Just took care of that!


5 things that have interested you lately.
-the sun
-laying out in the sun
-running some longer runs
-Jillian Michaels
-Not working

5 things you’ve researched recently.
-races in Alabama
-races in Georgia
-Races in TN
- JSU and Northeast
-algebra(come on Laura, you know it was fun)

No words needed

Summer is flying

Okay, its been a very busy week. I will back it up to last Friday. Misti and I drove to Gadsden to the Blue Parrot. Great little restaurant/bar on the water. Why? To surprise my old friend Stacey, who I have not seen in for-ev-er! Thank you facebook for putting everyone's life out there so I know where people are and what they are doing. Good thing? hmmmmmm........ Oh well , I DONT CARE! eh hem. like I was saying. We drove over, walked in to hear screams from her! I love surprises. It was kinda cool to introduce old friends with new. We danced and sweated all night thanks to the JAB band! Which were great as always to see. Misti and I ended the night with Huddle House and her snoring on the way home.

Misti & Bry Bry and Stacey



We spent the rest of the weekend laying out at the pool and going to a Baseball game on Sunday. I really don't want to talk much about baseball season since the Cubbies are SUCKING! Come on guys, this was supposed to be OUR year! Okay, I will come see you soon......thats what we need right? Any way. Lookouts games are always great. The kids and I went in the blazing heat. We could barely sit down for burning butts!






Monday rolled around fast and I had a 3 day Danceline camp in West End. Which is west of Middle of NoWhere! 15 girls on a danceline. And very few had any dance training. Ever. There are no words. Day 1 , I walked away feeling defeated, Day 2, I walked away feeling a little more confident. Day 3, I walked away feeling good about what they and I had accomplished. Its amazing to see the progress they made. it will be good to see their fall show and see all the work they ( I hope) do.

Friday I had another dance camp but this time with our FP girls. It was an exhausting day of me leading them in workouts!!! But we had a little fun too. This is going to be a great year and I can not wait! We have got a great group of kids and they are eager to do the best!






My dad came in from Phoenix this week as well. The kids were ecstatic to say the least.
We had 4 ball games, and 5 swim practices. Um.....yes they were exhausted too.

Ryley learned to drive......



K dressed up......

No comments please about how "she is just like her mother"

A nice quiet weekend here at home was good. We did go swimming some but mostly stayed in. Or outside. I got a ton of miles in this weekend and that has me feeling pretty confident. I have some 13.1's on the table and I am feeling pumped.

hmmmm....okay blog updated.