My view of my foot in bed for the past 3 days.

Thank goodness my mom and Scott are taking care of the baby, because this is no way to mother.

Bunion Update

I'm typing this post from the bed...I'm in the same position I was in last year at this time...bed rest. However, this time it isn't because I squeezed an 11 pounder out, instead I'm laid up because of foot surgery.

The surgery went well. I took lots of pain meds the first 24 hours because I could feel a nasty pain down in there trying to bite me. But, I'm past the severe pain part now.

So, why am I still in bed you might ask??

Well, I can't put any weight on my right foot for FOUR WEEKS! I didn't realize this. I thought when he said cast for 4 weeks, that you know, I'd be like walking in it after a week or two. Yep, a wheelchair was delivered to my house yesterday. The doctor said he wanted me to have it because it can get really tiring on crutches for a month. I'm like...a wheelchair? ahhhhhhhhh!

My goal for tomorrow/this weekend is to be up on the crutches and in the wheelchair around the house. I've only used them so far to go to the potty. So, don't invite me to go dancing on New Year's anybody, unless you want to dance with a cripple in a wheelchair....

Double Ostectomy

It is official. The day after Christmas, I will be going under the knife...er saw to remove some bone from my right foot. They are actually set to made two cuts. Cut one will be up in that nasty knot on my right foot. Cut two will be lower down on my metatarsal on the right foot. After further review of my x-rays, the doctor has put these babies in the severe catagory, and he is pretty sure that I'll be in a hard cast for 4 weeks. That is why I can't get them done at the same time...I wouldn't be able to walk...I'd have to wheel. I can't wait to update this whole process here on my blog. So, keep tuning in. For Christmas, I'm dreaming of straight nice feet!
And, if you are wondering...yes, it hurts.

Last Week's Icy Rain

Scott took this picture last week of our house with the icy-rain/teeny bit of snow. We've put a few lights up, and we are ready for Christmas.

My Husband Is A Man of Routine, but I'm a Woman of Randomness

When you drive to work, do you always take the same route? What about getting ready for bed; do you have a routine? When you cook dinner, do you follow recipes?

My answer to those questions is no. I pretty much am a creature of NO routine. I've known that I do things maybe differently, but I never realized that I always do the same things differently. I'm not sure of the significance if any, this information carries. Executing daily tasks in random ways seems to offer some insight into oddness.

I'll list what I'm talking about here:

• I often vary my route to and from work.


• I eat totally random foods with no rhyme or reason.


• When I arrive home, I don't have a set spot that I lay down keys, wallet, phones etc.


• At work, I put my two sets of keys in a different drawer or spot each day.


• I don't really carry a purse, but sometimes I carry a purse.


• I put different increments of gas in the tank each time I go to the service station, and I don't even care if it is a rounded number! (i.e. $20.00)


• I get up at a different time each morning. I rarely use an alarm clock.

I could stretch for other examples, but you get the idea. Essentially, I have very limited structure to my life. Hmmmm....what does it all mean? I know it means that my parents weren't big on "structure." Understatement.

Well, is structure good? Do we need it? Am I wrong? Does it matter? Why does it appear that structure is what we all should aspire to? I feel like society prods us...have a plan!

Well, I don't have plans. I only have dreams; with different ways to make them happen.

Bunion-ectomy

I originally posted this photo when I first started this blog

Yes, I'm finally going to have surgery to remove my bunions. They've gotten out of control. The doctor said they are in between moderate and severe. The right one is pretty much in the severe catagory. They've been painful since college, but they've been bothering me badly for the last few years.

I finally went in to the doctor and you should have seen those x-rays!!! Whoa! It looks so bad on film. This picture above is from like 4 years ago. And, they are actually worse now if you can believe it. Anyway, I'm "tentatively" set up to go under the knife in one month. Happy New Year to me! He said the right one is so bad that he'll have to work on them one at a time. I really wanted them both done at once, but that's the way it goes. I'll keep you updated on my funky feet.

Tradition

Thanksgiving in a parking lot is a great way to spend it as long as you have good friends and good food. Of course we had both. We had two new members with us this year as Lisa and Maria's Donnie joined us. It was great to have newbies to share the energy and excitement that Dallas Cowboys football has at Texas Stadium on Thanksgiving.

My First Arizona State Football Game

Let's see...I'd seen ASU play volleyball, basketball and even baseball, but I'd never been to a Football game. Scott's uncle asked me why not, and I thought it was because I was too broke to attend when I was living in AZ, but now I realize it was because we were always playing volleyball on the weekends back when I was in college. So, old Scott had to go without me in those days. Aaaaaaaaaaannnnyway, we went to see a game this weekend against Washington State. We started off with some shopping on Mill Ave...notice the matching shirts!! C'mon...all the coolest couples are doing it! Don't hate! Then, we went back to the rental car to "tailgate."
I had a differnt idea of tailgating than Scott though. While he kicked with the Coors Light at the HHR rental, I went for the Desert Cruiser and the bungy corded Keystone...or "30 Stones."Then we headed into Sun Devil Stadium. It is pretty darn cool because it is set up between the mountains ridges. It is all rocky and cactus-y.

You have to be careful around Saguaro Cactus...they are prickly.


Here are three of the things Scott misses most about Arizona....desert sunsets, palm trees, and ASU football games.

Maria Got Married...In Chanute!

We (Christy, Lisa, Ryann and I) took a road trip to Chanute, Kansas this weekend to witness Maria take the plunge. Donnie is the lucky man. They actually went through with it and tied the knot. I've added some pictures. What a trip.

It Was A Nail Biter

I put the MINI on ebay and watched the auction closely for 7 days. This Saturday afternoon I kept my eyes on the action. I was worried I wasn't going to get my reserve price met, but thank goodness a couple of interested buyers got into a bidding war. And at, literally, the last minute a lucky guy in Arizona bought the little guy. We are so excited. I'll be twice as excited once the money is in the bank. Praise God - The MINI Sold!!!

Halloweenie...Bitter?

I'll just be blunt: I really don't care about Halloween.

Still, I feel somewhat ashamed and embarrassed that I don't give two shits about this holiday. People will ask, "What are you dressing up as for Halloween? Will you go trick or treating? Have you bought candy for the trick or treaters?" I sort of give them polite answers and tip toe around my indifference to the 31st. Essentially, I don't really want people to know that I'm such a jack-o-lantern party pooper.

Reasons for my phlegmatic point of view are few. Actually, I just couldn't tell you why I wish Halloween would just go away. But, pressed for answers...

• Maybe it is because we didn't have a lot of money growing up thus, I never had a "good costume."


• Maybe it is because I don't like to be scared.


• Maybe it is because I don't like candy very much.


• Maybe I'm bitter that I never won the pumpkin carving competition at Arapaho Elementary because my parents gave me a pumpkin and a knife while other parents stinking hired an artist to make a body, wig, and carve a Picasso out on the pumpkin so their kid could win.


• Could it be that I sort of got on-board with the whole...Halloween is a pagan celebration?

Who knows? Who really cares what my bad attitude is a result of?

All I can say is that when I'm in the stores, and the shelves are dripping merchandise of orange and purple that will make noise, light up, creepy laugh, or melt, I pretty much just roll my eyes and push my buggy faster. My mind keeps scrolling a marquee of words over my frontal lobe that reads:
WASTE OF MONEY...
UNNECESSARY...
MARKETING AT IT'S FINEST...
ISN'T THERE MORE IMPORTANT ITEMS OR CAUSES TO SPEND MONEY ON?...
WHY SUPPORT ALL OF THIS CRAP MANUFACTURED IN SOME ASIAN COUNTRY FULL OF PEOPLE THAT HATE AMERICANS?...

Yes, all of that does roll through my mind. I guess a case could be made for over-analysis and putting the kill, in joy. I suppose my attitude will change once the baby wants to do Halloween stuff. Or, maybe it won't. We'll see. It is nothing big. I'm just blogging here, not trying to change the world.

Happy Halloween!

Lobsters and Dinosaurs

Emmitt is sporting the dinosaur headgear for Halloween this year. Today was the dress rehearsal. Charlie is considerate and wanted to insure proper dog costumes for her fur nieces and nephews. Roxy struck a pose in her Lobster wear. Dogs are too funny.

Supercharged MINI For Sale

I'm selling my MINI Cooper S! Put a comment if you want to buy it. I've got no advertising shame. I love this lil' guy, but the time has come to part ways. MY EBAY LINK

Here is why we are selling the beloved MINI...we bought a gas guzzling "family" car. I say that, but are loving this Tahoe because it is comfortable for us to travel as a fan-dam-ily.

Scout is in these pictures, but this post is pretty much about me...haha...After several years of pretty much the same look, I changed the hair-do today. It is darker, shorter, and funkier than ever. And, I am really happy with it. Christy was my conspirator in the operation. I don't think I could have done it without her. On the other hand, Scott wasn't happy that I went shorter and darker, but eh, he'll get over it. I told him that if he was going to insist on a suberban existance in rather uneventful city then I was going to need an outlet and it is going to be hair and....maybe more tatoos???

The side view of the new hair. Scout likes it.

The new hair-do from the back.

Fall, Football, and TV Season Premiers

I've been watching a load of football on TV the past few weeks. However, I really don't watch a ton of TV. I went through a "cleansing" back in the Spring where I totally deleted all my (the bedroom TiVo is mine) Tivo'd programs and deleted all the programmed recordings. So, I don't watch Judge Judy, Cold Case Files, dog whisperer or my other daily scheduled viewings anymore. It is sad but true.

Now, in the living room there are just a couple of TV shows I watch weekly: Dog the Bounty Hunter and Intervention. I don't think 2 shows a week is too much. That is pretty much all the TV I watch...Until now. Fall Series TV is back on. What does that mean? That means Scott is beside himself with excitement. But, for me it means you can bet I'll be watching my favorite weekly TV series:














Survivor is already AWESOME this season because they split the people into 4 "tribes" by races. Yes, there is an Asian team, Latino team, African-American team, and Caucasian team. I've only seen the first episode, but it was totally great. I don't know why the media was all up in arms because it wasn't "politically correct." STUPID. I mean are we supposed to act like we are all just one race...Human? C'mon...I say let's learn about our differences and just have fun. I don't see why people are afraid to talk about different races. I'm pretty excited to see how the show pans out and who will win. And for the record, the white people were BORING!

Next on the list of shows to watch:

Now, I wasn't a fan of The Office right off the bat. Scott was obsessed with it from the start, but I wasn't sold. Although, I've been totally sucked in because of him and Lisa & Christy non-stop talking about it. I got on board with it at the end of last season, so I'm going to watch it weakly this year. Scott also has the DVD's of the previous seasons, so we're watching those (when scout's asleep) too.

Lastly, I've been listening to Dane Cook here and there just on CD, but recently I've tuned into HBO for his "Vicious Circle" and I'm going to say that it is pretty damn funny. He's a trip. I'm going to watch him more and listen to him more. Here is a photo (or two) of him and would you believe it? He's got a pug butt to boot! I mean, this guy is what I'm all about!

Seriously. This has been bothering me for like several months now. Why the flippity-flip-flop do we need new banks? Each time they break ground on a new corner it is a damn bank, most of them I've never heard of anyway. The main thing is...hello??...online banking people? Doesn't this CUT DOWN on the need for live tellers? I'm so confused. I just wish these banks would quit building more buildings and start running the existing ones better with less picky, stupid, money-grubbing charges. Geesh, go build homes for poor people or something. This post was random, but it is bugging the crap out of me.

Do You Really Know Them?

How long does a person have to be dating/married to a person to really know them? Often I hear people say, "I know exactly how he is." Or the infamous, "I know her like the back of my hand," can be heard among friends. But, do they really know them?

This inter-personal relationship topic developed for me about a week ago when Scott and I went out to a company-sponsored party one night.

Not so amazing part of the story: I was eating a lot. I even went in for a giant oatmeal raisin cookie. I brought back some kind of chocolate-nut type cookie for Scott. I figured that he probably didn't want the oatmeal variety. I love them, but often people will comment like, "ew, oatmeal raisin?" when I'm choosing them.

Amazing part of the story: Scott told me that he loves oatmeal raisin cookies. I was like, "Shut Up!" Yeah, I've been dating/married to Scott for 14 years, and I didn't know he loved oatmeal raisin cookies. I couldn't believe it. I like to think I know the guy. Pretty much, I figure I can predict his every move. Yeah, just when you think you know someone, they'll throw you a cookie curve ball, if you will.

Now, I don't mean for this to be a down turn in my otherwise light hearted story, but I was watching Oprah a couple days later, and she had a woman on with a story about her ex-husband. Basically, after like 8 years of marriage and dating for like 6 years before that, he tries to kill her. Yeah, they met to discuss their pending divorce, and after never being physical with her before he just up and bludgeons her about the head within an inch of her life. Then, he shows up after she gets out of the hospital, (He'd gotten out of jail on bond.) pops up in her back seat, and shoots her twice in the head. She survived...crazy.

I realize those are two odd stories to put together here, but when I was watching the show I thought of the "cookie" and how I thought I knew everything about Scott, but I was wrong. Luckily, it was only about baking ingredients. Ironically, this morning Scott threw me another little detail about himself I was unaware of: He has to have a beverage with a meal, like he can't just eat-he must drink too. I guess I sort of noticed that, but he actually verbalized that detail this morning. That's when I thought, I'm going to blog this stuff.

It is mildly exciting to know that after many years of marriage there are still surprises. I just hope I never get surprised with a murder plot on my life. Let's keep it to cookies and cokes.

Willis Wedding Reception...(l-r) April facing away, me, scout, cricket, kevin, charlie. Really beautiful setting for a terrific event.

Tattoo parlor support....these pals were excited for me (Kamie is just getting mentally prepared for her turn) and did a great job of harassing the tattoo artist that worked right in a casino. sshweet.

While in Lake Tahoe...get a tattoo! You only live once, and Kamie is only getting married once, so on with the starts permanently emblazened on my foot. Kamie went after me and got a really neat tattoo on her ankle.

Here is another angle of Emerald Bay. The white specks are the many boats touring the lake and bay.

Emerald Bay State Park on Lake Tahoe was one of our many stops on our road trip around the entire lake.

Welcome to Lake Tahoe says the rainbow. This was the view from our cabin as we arrived in South Lake Tahoe, CA. The tallest pine trees I've ever seen surround us. Behind the cabin is a snow capped mountain. We are sitting at roughly 6200 feet elevation with the temperatures in the high 70's during the day.

Why I Can't Sleep - An Open Letter

Dear Christy,

YA-MO-BE-THERE. YA-MO-BE-THERE.
YA-MO-BE-THERE. YA-MO-BE-THERE.
YA-MO-BE-THERE. YA-MO-BE-THERE.

These lyrics of Michael McDonald / lines of Paul Rudd in 40 year old Virgin are dancing through my head like a Star Search gone wrong.

Sure, you've done it before. You've put movie lines or song lyrics into my subconcious. But this time, my friend, it is downright obsessive compulsive. Please keep your damn sing song shit to yourself. Because if my brain sings YAMOBETHERE one more time, I'm gonna YAMO-BLOW THIS PLACE UP!

anxious and sleepy,
ro

We just got back from the Frio River down in Concan, Texas. We had a great time cooling off in the water and getting our minds ready to get back into the working groove.

I DID IT AND I'M CALLING OUT YOU BLOGGERS TO DO IT TOO

This was sent to me from Aunt Sandi...how could I refuse?

1. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? El Paso, Texas
2.WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? ...after a character in a musical that my grandmother wrote/composed
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Probably when I was watching Oprah the other day.
4 DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? yes
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CHEESE? Havarati
6. KIDS? uno = Scouteroo (Fur children=emmitt merle, pudge & roxy
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? sure
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? online
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? of course...someone told me once that "sarcasm doesn't build relationships", but oh freaking well.
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
11. DO YOU BUNGEE JUMP? nope
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? all time is a tie between Golden Grahams and Cocoa Pebbles
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? i try not to even wear shoes with ties.
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? yes
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM ? Choco Cherry Blizzard from Dairy Queen
16. SHOE SIZE? 11 womens, 9.5 mens
17. RED OR PINK? boo
18. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? physical appearance
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? all of my buddies (and my sister) that live in other states
20. DO YOU WORK IN THE FIELD THAT YOU WANTED TO AS A CHILD? well, i'm not an orthopedic surgeon am i?
21. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? pj's
22. LAST THING YOU ATE? Cannelloni
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? dog panting, fan churning (it is hot as burnt leather 'round here in TX)
24. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? blue green
25. FAVORITE SMELL? spring morning dew
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Sunny Jean
27. FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? hair
28. HOW DO YOU KNOW THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? she is my favorite california aunt
29. FAVORITE DRINK? dr. pepper
30. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? football
31. EYE COLOR? blue-ish
32. HAT SIZE? 7 3/8
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? no
34. FAVORITE FOOD? tex mex
35. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? happy ending and i pretty much get mad if not
36. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AT THE MOVIE THEATRE? Superman
37. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHES? shorts
38. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer because i don't have to work and winter because i don't have to sweat
39. HUGS OR KISSES? yuck
40. FAVORITE DESSERT? dr. pepper
43. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing
44. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? n/a ... laptop
45. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU WATCHED ON TV? The View
46. FAVORITE SOUNDS? It would have to be waves crashing or a river running.
47. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? the one with the 4 guys from England
48. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? probably Hawaii
49. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? do we really want to get into that here?
41. FAVORITE FAST FOOD: in-n-out burger is quite a treat
42. FAVORITE FLOWER: flowers/shmowers...i don't know a daisy from a sunflower

A Little Treasure

I cleaned out my closet today and found this little memento of a night out in Richardson roughly a year ago. A dear friend wrote this note, and I thought it was so funny that I put it in my pocket to show it to her the next day or so. Then, I couldn't find it. I searched for it too because I really wanted her to see what she had written. Anyway, here it is on the World Wide Web now, one year later. Hope you can read it because it is funny to me. Please excuse my friend for the drunkeness....

Why the hell do people think anyone cares if we've seen Suri Cruise?? Please, someone kill the pop/cheese media. I love this country and freedom of speech, but it gets really old having to see rich skinny dramatic people's business all over the tv and magazines. Barf.

Keep Austin Weird

I arrived in Austin today after being in Salado and Temple, Texas for the past few days helping out Dee Ann. This week my blogs will most likely be sparse because business calls, but I will try to have a little bit of fun. Austin is well known for 6th Street because of the live music scene and the numerous bars all lined up to serve the UT students as well as all of the many visitors that stay in hotels downtown. We are staying in the Hilton right off 6th street, and it is always interesting because of the great people watching and giddy bar hoppers.

I'll mostly be working *really* but, I will try to join other educators in taking in some good old Tejas night life, restaurants, and local flavor. I always enjoy Austin. It is a great city.

Sigmund and the Seamonsters

Seriously, in my childhood, I LOVED this show. Probable reasons: beach setting, funny talking seamonster, the cute red headed older brother. Pure Genius.

Which Life Would You Choose?

I came up with this idea while day dreaming one morning. Here is the scenario: You are offered a secluded cabin home large enough for you and your family. The cabin can belong to you free and clear for you to enjoy the views of wildlife, rivers and mountains. And, you don't have to work. The costs of the dwelling are all paid for and food is provided.

Here is the choice: If you accept the living arrangement, you must reside there as your main residence and you are not allowed any TV, cell phones, or internet. However, you are allowed a regular land line telephone.




SO, what is your decision? Drop "everything" and head for the "simple life?" Would you be willing to give up all the technology and convenience to have a mountain retreat home given to you? Would you prefer to raise your family in such an atmosphere? Could you live without TV and the Internet? Do you think mountain living is for crazy people, so you'll keep your city digs? Leave a comment and tell me if you would take the offer or if you would keep the life you've already carved out for yourself.

Ranch Diva Weekend at the Ruby Star Ranch in Oklahoma

CLICK HERE IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE WILD BOAR ON VIDEO

Hope these amigas don't mind that I posted their mugs...Some of the "Canyon" people got together at good old Brennan's while I was in town. It was so great to see them all since I'd been away so long.

The Southwest and All It's Glory

While growing up in Texas, all I knew about Arizona was that it was a hot desert of a state that we crossed in our family car each summer to get to California. However, after exploring the state during visits and when I lived in AZ during college, I realize more and more how awesome it is. I've grown to love the Southwest including the sagebrush, saguaro, mountains, plateaus, rivers, arid climate, and even neighborhood "desertscaping" that I used to despise. The Valley Of The Sun is ok, but I really love when you head north. We are heading out today. This first picture is of the central valley of Arizona as you head northeast from Scottsdale up towards Payson through the Tonto National Forest :

After reaching Payson we continued our ascent towards Holbrook through the Apache-Sitgreavs National Forest . That area is so awesome because it has pine trees, elk, several lakes. I makes me feel like I'm in Colorado.

Once you reach the town of Holbrook on the famed old Route 66, then you are close to I-40 and New Mexico. On our way out of state I wish we could spent the night here in these wigwams!

Also near Holbrook, there is a chance to shop for rocks and petrified wood at this little dandy of a place:

Once you head east on I-40 from Flagstaff and Holbrook, you can catch a glimpse of the Petrified Forest National Park...
....and the Painted Desert National Park:

Arizona has so much variable scenery, topography, geology and climate. I've been to many places within it's boundaries, but I've still much to explore. I can't wait until I can bring the dreamed camper back and put in some time lounging by rivers, falls, canyons and even cacti.