I Might Be Crazy, but It Keeps Me From Going Insane

Pictured above: Camping in Big Sur on the Big Sur River in NorCal along the Redwood forest.

Moving out of the Big D has been on my mind for a few years. Since I became a parent about 3 years ago I've been a tidge bit annoying with my web surfing for jobs and housing out West. I think it is a combo of wanting my kids to grow up in a more natural wonder type environment-not just mall play areas; coupled with my growing frustration with a routine-filled day.  Before kids, my day was NEVER routine. I just did random stuff all of the time during my days and weeks. Now, I have to sort of take care of the children which pretty much puts you on a schedule. I don't know why but they like to be fed regularly. They require like baths and transportation each day pretty much at the same time too. 

Anyway, my point is....well, I still live in the same place. I never moved. Now, life is pretty good here, so I can't really complain. I mean we have good jobs, live in a good neighborhood, have family to jump in and help in a bind, and good friends. So, it looks like there is no amazing relocation package in site.

To keep my mind busy I have conversations with it:

Ego: "Sell everything here and move to the Baja Peninsula. Teaching is a possibility and Scott can home school the kids. We'll sit on the beach every night and all learn to play guitar."

Me: I can travel to cool places for the kids to play in the summer, spring break, winter, etc. We have a sensible stable life here. Scott's right: We should stay put.

Ego: "Sell everything. Cash out the retirement. Move to coastal Central/Northern California. Buy a shack. Plant tomatoes. Teach school. Hike trails to waterfalls on the weekends. Take the girls to snowboard camp in the winter and surf camp in the summer."

Me: We've got good jobs here. Stay put. We have such a reasonably priced home here that we'd never be able to afford out West. The girls can ride their bikes on the sidewalk on the weekends. That was fun as a kid, right?

Ego: "Sell everything. Buy an RV and just drive around in it. Home school the kids. Sell stuff on the internet. Stop in towns for long enough to work a job for some $$ for gas for the next trip. It can happen."

Me: Just buy a small travel trailer and use it on vacations. Find the adventure in everyday living by drinking alcohol. Stay put.

AND IF I AM NOT MOVING AND I HAVE TO BE ROUTINE....

Then, I will obsess about a new plan of excitement:

1) lose weight

2) get a big tattoo on my shoulder/upper arm

3) wear a lot of spaghetti strapped tops

Pictured above: NOT ME. Yet.

You Just Never Know

Take a look at the picture above in my blog banner. Does that hippie family look like college material? Could one day the girl wearing the terry-cloth shorts, green swim suit and old school head phones will complete a graduate degree?

Now focus below on the banner in red here in this post. Yes, there is a university called Lamer University. And Yes, I just finished my master's degree tonight - online! It was quite a mara-sprint. And No, I am not going to fly to Beaumont, Texas to receive my diploma. I will however, check my mailbox for my online graduate degree. 

Here are just a few reasons I know there is a God and he loves me and appreciates a good joke:

1) I am the girl in the picture all grown up who graduated from Grand Canyon University, home of the mighty Antelopes. 

2) I topped off that awesome GCU action with some Lamar U! Seriously, I have to be in some sort of running for the most random combination of university diplomas.

Appropriately, I would like to thank Scott for watching the kid(s) on mostly Sundays over the last 18 months while I muddled through. And, I must also give a shout out to Robin who pushed and prodded and helped me every step of the way.

Finally, you might be wondering, "why would some chick who wants to live out the dream in an RV go to the trouble of getting an M.Ed. degree?" Well, sportsfans....It is so I can get a job anywhere I land. It is all about options!

Great Minds Think MINI and Airstream

Is this awesome or what? Click the title of this post to read/see more pictures. After I bought my jeep, MINI came out with the Clubman which would have been more practical for me and the kiddos. I have had some regrets about not getting one. But, the jeep is pretty cool, especially when I was able to use the four-wheel drive last week in the mountains and mud!

But, what do you think about this MINI and "mini" Airstream? Would you buy this combo? Shout out to Jalyn for this article. She knows my heart.

Arkansas. Don't Let the Name Fool You.

As spring break rolled around, I made arrangements for us to go to Beaver Lake up in Northwest Arkansas. When people would ask me what I was doing for spring break, I would say "camping."
They would say "where?"
I would say "Arkansas."
And, I would get silence or a random look.
Ok, so Arkansas doesn't evoke visions of a grand spring break blast. However, let me tell you doubters (that probably have not been to the Ozark Mountains or to Beaver Lake): It is pretty darn nice! I have already booked my return trip for this summer. My cousins that live up there have found a nice little piece of the American pie. We dabbled in some fishing and kayaking, but we mostly just made fires and cooked things on fires and drank beer next to the fires. How can that be wrong? I wish you had all been there. Too bad for you that the secret cabin will remain a secret here.

Just so you guys know, I'm working on a new post here. It is about the US Southwest. Ponder if you will.

I'm so freaking busy and stressed right now I want to reach into my own heart and squeeze it until it stops beating so I could just lose conciousness for like, a day.  Needless to say this blog post is just going to be a little bit late...

If The 80's Were Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Right....

I'm sorry, but this Boom Box is AWESOME. I want to own it!  Ok, so look closely and see your iPod in the area where the cassette used to be.  I mean imagine the possibilities? You could carry it on your shoulder when you strolled...or you could take it camping....or just set it on your dining room table. Buy It Here

And this watch, well, it is just sick...

buy it here if you are cool enough

Seriously?

We've had some break-in's in the neighb. I have decided to leave my car unlocked so that I don't get a window broken or my jeep's soft top cut. I take all of my valuables out and usually lock my console and glove compartment.  However, I didn't lock my console the night before last, apparently. Someone had gotten into my car during the night and strewn all the random contents (band-aids, hand sanitizer, scissors, napkins, receipts, etc) of my center console about the passenger seat.  The only thing that was missing was my new make up bag with my super awesome new make-up!!!   

F-ers.

my banner

I tried to change something in my layout and I screwed up my banner. Then, I sort of panicked and odly enough, I ended up creating my entire layout from scratch. I think I'll redo it to make it better, but what do you all think?  Go back to my old banner?  Like the new layout? 

It Is Hard To Stay Strong

I'm not really the stereotypical mother, so I've been told. I've been analyzing why I think the way I think. Metacognition if you will.

And I will.

Ok, this could get long and self-indulgent. Stop now if your time is valuable.

Here's a little secret about me. I'm into visualization.  I totally believe that if you can see it, you can achieve it.  I used to visualize myself playing sports. I used to visualize a married life with a tall, red-headed lumberjack (close). Now, I visualize where I would like to live, travel and even how I'd like to design my house.  That all being said, I never visualized me having children.

So, on my life went: married, employed, self-absorbed, sporadic, unplanned, always looking for the next destination, experience or at least the next get-together with friends.  I had no need for children.  

Now, I have children. Two.

I'm going to get to the point.  Here's the shakedown:

There are two types of moms:

1) Moms that have always wanted kids. Moms that before they were moms were practicing to be moms. Moms that before they had kids didn't really like to go out or get crazy, but are now finally most happy in life when at home with their children.

2) Women that will become the moms listed above.

I guess what I'm trying to articulate is that I've been trying so hard to hold on to my prior life. I resolved to not change who I was just because I was having kids. I didn't want to be like those women. Give me some examples you say. Ok, I will. I thought I could still just travel like always. I thought I could (Scott sold me on this one.) still go out anytime with friends and to happy hours.  I was determined to keep my sports car.  I was still going to raise hell and maybe take off some clothing after a night of drinking.  Yes, I was not going to let kids, babies, tots bring me down.

Well ladies and gentlemen, it is FREAKING HARD TO HOLD ON TO YOUR PAST LIFE once you become a mom.  Oh it is so hard.  And, let me just break it to you. Two kids makes it damned near impossible.  So, here is my struggle. I am laying it all on the line here in the virtual reality of blogger.  

I am about to just give in.  I am about to just throw in the towel and say, ok, I'm a mom #1 now.  Give me the mom jeans. Give me the minivan. Give me the Hobby Lobby membership discount card so I can buy stamps and ink pads. Give me play dates and MOPS and growth charts.  Hand over staying at home Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday night and liking it.

But I haven't given in yet. I still visualize my camper, my road trips, my rifle, my cooler of beer, my campfires, my kayak, my dreams of adventure.  I just have had to add in the two little girls bouncing around in the back with a portable dvd player, juice boxes and marshmallows for the campfire. I've had to expand my dreams and add Scout and Brooke riding quads and purple dirt bikes, and fishing with their dad and learning to surf and snowboard and start a fire.  If I can see it, I can achieve it.

Combining The Worlds

Isn't that what Thanksgiving is about? Combining the worlds? We had a great time tailgating and the Cowboy win was good too. Yes, there are some stories to the game; the good the bad and the ugly.  But I will just say that 6 of us had counterfeit tickets.  I mean, it didn't stop us from getting in the park....finagle! But, well, it was eventful. We'll say that.

Big Group Above (L-R) Adam, Jack, Shay, Trish, Kamie, Scott, Jeremy, Ro, Jerry, Braden, Amanda, Reuben. We had California, New Mexico and Alaska represented along with various Texans.