Death By Snowbird

“The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any.” -- Fred Astaire

I nearly died three times last week. And I wasn’t drinking or speeding. In Arizona we have an annual migration known as “Snowbirds”. While I am infinitely grateful for their financial contribution to our communities and the return of my friends’ loved ones, this year seems to be different - everyone’s normal asshole driving while Christmas shopping seems to be continuing into the New Year.

When I’m practically run down three times in the last week, just trying to get from my car to the grocery – all by senior citizens – I get a little surly. Now I’m not only nervous on the roads but in the crosswalk at the grocery, the parking lot at Walgreen’s and the aisles at Costco. Foolishly, I thought that a car over 30 feet away, on the other side of the crosswalk, driven by an older individual would let a pedestrian cross. I had to run to avoid being hit, and as a fluffy girl, let me assure you, that’s not pretty.

Full disclosure here: I drive like a distracted demon leaving Hell. I’m the first to admit it and the handle on the passenger side of my car has the nail marks to prove it. But there is NEVER a school zone or pedestrian wanting to cross that I will blow through. NEVER. I believe it comes down to manners and Karma. Let’s just say that there are quite a few seniors in Arizona with some Karmic imbalance right now.

The Holidays Are Over. Please Find Your Manners.

Image courtesy of: writerattheranch-thiswritinglife.blogspot.com

2011 From A Kathy View

  1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
      Nothing. I’m boring as hell.

  2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions and will you
      make more for next year?
      I did a better job of making more ME time, but need to do
      more in 2012. Yes I will make more resolutions. Stay tuned.

  3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
      Not this year. I keep hoping my nephew and his wife will
      bless us with a new baby girl. Keeping my fingers crossed.

  4. Did anyone close to you die?
      2011 sucked the big one in the death department.
      It can kiss my big white ass. I’m done losing my loved ones and I’m done
      with my friends losing family. Fuck you 2011.

  5. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
      Sleep. Not going to happen with teenage girls.

 6. What countries did you visit?
      None. I have girls that play club basketball.

 7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
     The pain of two of my best friends. It’s not a specific date, but the hell of September-December.
     Two fathers and two dogs lost. Although some may say that they aren’t the same, the loss hurts
     so much in all cases.

 8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
     a. Professional: Getting keywords on page 1 of Google for my former employer.
     b. Personal: I’ll get back to you on this one.

 9. What was your biggest failure?
      a. Professional: Getting laid off
      b. Personal: Trying too hard to please everyone

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
      Thank you Lord Jesus, not in 2011.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
      HP TouchPad. Loving the tablet format.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
      Max is only ½ as annoying as he was last year. Good boy.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
      Teenage decisions are so painful.

14. Where did most of your money go?
      Club basketball


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
      Seeing my girls play basketball.
      (Sensing a pattern here?)

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
      Anything by Adele and Bruno Mars

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
        i. happier or sadder? Sadder
       ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter (only by 4 lbs tho)
      iii. richer or poorer? Poorer (the lack of a 2nd income will do that)

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
      Exercise

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
      Making excuses

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
      Had two wonderful ones - with the Miranda and Denton clans

21. What did you become obsessed with?
      My new touchpad

22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
     With Glee and Gossip Girl. Can you tell I live with teenage girls? 

23. How many one-night stands?
      Um… none

24. What was your favorite TV program(s)?
      True Blood and Sons of Anarchy 

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
      No. Hate is a waste of energy. They usually don’t care about you.

26. What was the best book you read?
      I re-read the Eve Dallas series by JD Robb (aka Nora Roberts)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
      Adele!!!!

28. What did you want and get?
      “Adoration” see this post.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
      “Breaking Dawn, Part 1”. Seriously. 

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
      Kelsey had a basketball game and attempted to score
      20 points for me (since my birthday is on the 20th).
      She got 19, bless her heart. Nosy, I’m 48.

32. What one thing would have made your year
       immeasurably more satisfying?
      If I could discover the desire to exercise.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
      Does it still fit?

34. What kept you sane?
      My family (they also made me insane). 

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
      Alexander Skarsgard – from True Blood

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
      The immigration bill in Arizona.
      SOOOOOO much brouhaha……

37. Who did you miss?
      Angela Perry who still resides in China.
     GET YOUR ASS HOME MISSY!

38. Who was the best new person you met?
      Jessica Brady. She makes me laugh my ass off. 

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011
      Don’t fall for the bait of someone talking bad about another person. They’re just fishing
      for something to stab you with.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year (or just from my favorite song of the year):
      Raise Your Glass by Pink
      “So raise your glass if you are wrong In all the right ways, all my underdogs
       We will never be, never be anything but loud
       And nitty gritty, dirty little freaks
       Won't you come on and come on and Raise your glass!
       Just come on and come on and Raise your glass!”

She's baaaaaaaaaaaaack! After a long obsession with Facebook, I'm beginning to understand that I need more space to share. It was fun to go out and look at my old posts though. The girls were sooooo little when I began this blog. So hold onto your hats, I'm going to take off the gloves here (like I hold back much on FB.....) Happy 2012 Bitches!

Sleep Where Art Thou?

I've turned into my mother - sleep wise. I remember her staying up until all hours of the night. Sitting at our kitchen table. Smoking and thinking. I never understood why she didn't just go to bed if she was tired. Now I understand.

While I'm not up smoking - snacking, reading and surfing the 'net are more my speed. I'm up at 6:15 every week day, making sure Kayla and Kelsey are up getting ready for school. Then I'm dead on my feet when I get home at 3:00. I either have to take a nap or I'm dozing on the couch. The dozing is based on my ability to fit it in - between practices and social schedules that are not mine. And I wonder why the laundry hasn't been put away?

And the LOGICAL answer would then be - go to bed earlier. Sigh. If only I could. As all you other parents of teenagers out there know, going to bed by 10:00 would be a luxury. Doesn't matter how many times I tell them, 10:00 is just not happening. And I refuse to resort to screaming. I'm just not going to become THAT parent.

And even if they are tucked in at a decent hour, I just can't seem to go to bed when the girls do. I NEED the hour or so when the house is quiet to settle down so sleep will come when I lay down.

So..... am I alone in the sleep deprivation world or do I have company? Or even better, have you battled it and won? Please! Share your secrets!

Liar, liar pants on fire!

From my friend, Jim, who is IN Israel this week:

"Do not believe the news. CNN International has called the "riots" in Jerusalem the worst since 1973. They might be a bit off. We did adjust our schedule as they were not allowing buses at the lower end of the city of David. The riot footage on CNN must have been stock footage as we drove the area three times today. The old city was hopping with tourists and kids on school field trips all day."

I remember when Barbara Walters interviewed Michael Jackson many years ago. I watched the entire interview and was floored at quote that CNN aired the next day. It was entirely fictitious. I stopped believing mainstream media then.

Jorge reads BBC online every day for a more balanced perspective.

Liar, liar pants on fire!

How to Be a Positive Person, in Under 300 Words

I share this post today that really spoke to me. Enjoy!

"How to Be a Positive Person,in Under 300 Words" by Leo Babauta (http://zenhabits.net/)

‘Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune.’ - Walt Whitman

I’m a pretty positive person — I consider it one of the keys to the modest success I’ve had in creating new habits and achieving things in the last few years. I couldn’t have run three marathons without a positive mindset, nor created Zen Habits, mnmlist, or The Power of Less. I couldn’t have lost 50 lbs., quit smoking, eliminated my debt, or quit my day job.

Positive thinking, as trite as it seems, has changed my life.

I’m not going to sell you on it, but if you’re interested, here’s the condensed guide to changing your own life:

- Realize it’s possible, instead of telling yourself why you can’t.
- Become aware of your self-talk.
- Squash negative thoughts like a bug.
- Replace them with positive thoughts.
- Love what you have already.
- Be grateful for your life, your gifts, and other people. Every day.
- Focus on what you have, not on what you haven’t.
- Don’t compare yourself to others. But be inspired by them.
- Accept criticism with grace. But ignore the naysayers.
- See bad things as a blessing in disguise.
- See failure as a stepping stone to success.
- Surround yourself by those who are positive.
- Complain less, smile more.
- Imagine that you’re already positive. Then become that person in your next act. (Focus on this habit first, and you’ll have a much easier time with any other.)

‘A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.’ - Herm Albright

I Love March!

I love the month of March.  It has always been my favorite month of the year.  From anticipating Spring Break as a kid to the shot of adrenaline a sunny day gives me now - March brings change, energy and an endless supply of great memories.  Here are just a few:

• Traveled to AZ twice while in college on Spring Break with my roommate, Kim Zerfas, to visit her sister Kris (who is no longer with us but still in our hearts).
• Got pregnant with Kayla while visiting Jorge's family in Julimes, Mexico. We tease her that she has a stamp on her butt that says "Hecho en México" (Made in Mexico).  
• Interviewed at MicroAge where I would spend six great years.
• Became addicted to March Madness - even I can overdose on basketball this month!
• Started at InStock, where I've been for the past two years - learning and growing.
• And the list goes on.....

Do you have a time of the year that energizes and inspires you?