Sunday, September 24, 2006

Q&A

Q: If I put all of the house projects I want to get done this fall into a spreadsheet am I a total loser?
A: Affirmitive (but I really want to...)

Q: Will I be ready for the October 5k I signed up for if I keep skipping my night runs to watch TV and drink a glass of Shiraz?
A: Doubtful

Q: Will I cry the day we have our subdivision Garage Sale and I sell my son's baby clothes, high chair, stroller, etc?
A: Someone get me a kleenex please

Q: Will I ever be a morning person?
A: It's not looking promising

Q: Am I going to finish the Abigail Adams biography?
A: Hmmmm, not sure about this one

Q: Will I ever get the guts to leave Missouri and move to the mountains?
A: One day.... one day

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Rude people... and there are a lot of them

Ok, I told myself when I started this blog that I would keep it positive. No whining, complaining, venting, etc. But I can't take it anymore, I am so appalled by how rude people are.

So I just got back from Target and the woman in front of me was on her phone through her entire purchase. Never looked at the cashier, never smiled to say hello. Oh wait, she did at one point in the middle of her phone call order the cashier to put her lamps in bigger bags. Seriously. What is wrong with people?

RUDE RUDE RUDE. I'm so sick of it. What has happened to general pleasantries like smiling, saying hello and thank you?

I know one could argue with me that I just need to worry about myself- why do you care what other people are doing? Ok fair, but it infuriates me to see people so incredibly self-absorbed that they can't say hello to the person behind the counter.

I'm thankful that back in my highschool and college days when I was the cashier that cell phones did not exist. If someone did that to me I think I would have just stopped in mid stride and sat there till they got off the phone. Or even better, just started carrying on a conversation with them loudly so they were dazed and confused.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

It's not about the door



When I took this picture in Montpellier, France I felt silly. "Why am I taking a picture of a door"? Now, it's one of my favorite pics.

I had just gotten done with a perfect dinner and decided to walk into the heart of Montpellier. It was 9:30 in the middle of the week and the city center was full of activity- the restaurants, sidewalks, stairsteps and benches were full of people soaking up life and each other.

I'm ready to go back. I feel like I need to return- reground myself. Take more time to sit and soak it all in. And take more pictures!!

Sunday, September 17, 2006

"What was your favorite part of today"?


This is the question we ask at our dinner table now that we have a 3 year old. My answer for today was a simple but perfect moment.

As Aaron was slugging away t-balls this morning the rain came in. No one wanted to go inside so we opened up the back of the SUV and all climbed in and watched the rain. As the dark sky rumbled, Aaron commented that Mr. Brown was making thunder. If you have ever read Dr. Seuss I'm sure you understand...

It was a reminder that the small and unexpected moments in life are always the best.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Name the National Park



The Grand Prismatic Springs in Wyoming- the largest hot spring in Yellowstone National Park

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Conversations with Aaron...a 3 year old.

Aaron: Daddy turned on a red light

Mom: He did?

Aaron: The light was red and he turned

Mom: Well, what did you say to Daddy?

Aaron: I told him "Daddy we no turn on red lights"

Mom: Good job Aaron, you keep that Daddy of yours in line

Merriam-Webster's word of the day, 9/11/06

réchauffé: a warmed-over dish of food

A fancy French word for leftovers- I love it!

I have now figured out the trick to making that 2 day old chicken and rice sound delicious and appetizing the second time around- call it "réchauffé".

Do you think you can give leftover Mexican a french name? I say Oui Oui!

Saturday, September 09, 2006

My Passion


It took my trips to France to uncover what my passion truly is- traveling. There is something about surrounding myself with new people, culture, food, scenery, etc that stirs up so many facets of me which are normally lying dormant. I feel more alive, positive and adventurous then my stereotypical suburban life can seem to match.

I dearly miss my trips to France- having the opportunity to travel out of the country for work was an experience that changed me in many ways. I came home with a new outlook on people, cultures and how to live my life. Everyone I met in France was so engaged in LIFE. It is subtle at first and then it smacks you in the face when you return to the states. The differences are so defined to me now. I remember the late dinners where everyone was laughing and conversing to the wee hours of the morning hanging on each others words- laughing, drinking, dancing and singing. The French have an amazing ability to truly be in a conversation- the eye contact at first is uncomfortable and then you learn to not only appreciate it but crave it when you return to the states. There is a zest for life there that I have had a hard time recognizing here.

Since then, we have replaced the beach vacations with our own adventures. Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, the Grand Canyon and Sedona AZ. Hiking outdoors in breathtaking scenery helps bring me back to those feelings of traveling in France. However, each trip always makes me wonder- is it time to move? Do I really want to stay in Missouri my whole life? How can I find my own mini-adventures in my day to day life of being a wife, mom and employee? Once these questions are answered I think I'll be headed closer to where I was meant to be.