pancake treat

beach, sunshine, jewelry shopping, a long nap and pancakes.

what could be better?

what its all about

i was wondering what i was going to blog about...

been a little slow around here.

then, i received this in the mail.

absolutely made my day.

and made me think...

"this is what its all about"

this is my big brothers family.

(hes the one in the burgundy shirt)

and his rather large family, 6 kids to be exact.
he is a good man. an exceptional man.

all good people doing good stuff.

and i share these good genes.

and i am doing good stuff too.
maybe even exceptional stuff.

and i smiled.

i will say it again...

sometimes when you do stuff you wouldnt normally do...

come outta your shell a little...

do something on a whim...

it turns out to be way fun.

and yes, we fit right in with the rednecks.

action figure love

i came back from dropping dane off at school, and this guy was standing on my counter...

in all of his super saiyan glory.

(you have to watch dragon ball z to know what im talking about)

funny how i know all the lingo.

used to watch it with aenon, how many years ago?

now my dane is into it.

and i admit, i will miss his talk about gohan and "over 9000".

one day he will grow out of all of this.

but until then, i will nod and participate in his silly conversations

about cartoon characters.

love that little boy.

first born

aenons birthday was yesterday.

i feverishly tried to get both scanners to work, so i could write my post.

neither one did.

i would try one, then another. unplug this, unplug that.

error this, error that...original jam...what the heck is an original jam?

all messages i was getting from these advanced technical devices.

i came up empty handed.

nothing worked.

so i gave up.

so i tried again today.

i guess the lovely scanner was finished with his tantrum.

(i call it a male for some reason...dont know why).

maybe it was the unplugging and replugging one last time.
some stupid, unimportant ritual i needed to perform in order for it to start working.
how exasperating.

so good of it to realize it should finally step up to the plate and perform.

just like a man.

anyway...today it worked.
it was a miracle.

so out came these wonderful photos circa 1988.

january 19th to be exact.

it was rainy that day, i remember.

it was a great day to have my first child.

disclaimer:

if you dont like the sight of blood, 

 icky goo stuff slathered all over a non breathing newborn...

or legs in stirrups, 

please exit quietly from this site.

dont say i didnt warn you.

to make a long story short, my mom took me to st johns hospital in 

santa monica after i started to have contractions. 

i labored for awhile (not fun for the first time), then was given an epidural...

then dr garza did his thing. he was old school, and draped me like i was about

to have open heart surgery...

they must have taken a half hour just to put those blue things all over me.

then...

she came easily and with no trouble.

it was magic.

and apparently i was put in the room afterwards where all the celebrities recover.

pretty nice digs i will say.

then all the nurses went crazy because she was red headed.

you would have thought she was born with wings or with some host of angels surrounding her.

she was an attention getter for sure.

from day one.

from minute one.

and that has never stopped.

and i am happy about that.

that girl is one in a million.

and i wouldnt trade her for anything.

she touches my soul.

she is the flesh of my flesh.

and i am very happy she is mine.

i love you aenon.

happy 23rd.

(and i cant believe i was 25 (or was i 26?) in these photos...amazing when it seems like yesterday)

soul sister

 my sister went home.

cant even express the love i have for her.

cant even express how much she helped me this week.

(she cooked and cleaned...A LOT)

feels very good to have support.

feels very good to know someone loves you unconditionally.

no matter what.

feels good when someone has your back.

loyalty is good.

love is good.

my sister is good.

so melissa, i am missing you this morning.

but am glad you are home safe with jack, and your kitties.

thank you from the bottom of my heart.

and in hunters words...

"too bad our maid and cook left...when can she come back?"

what happens in vegas...

so melissa was so kind to give me a trip to vegas for christmas.

pretty lucky girl i am.

 we are here lounging in bed actually as i write this.

crisp white linen sheets at the trump tower.

pretty cool.

doesnt get much better than this.
we visited the steam room and the sauna, ate at the rio last night...
and on our way out, we may even finish with another buffet.
good thing my diet starts on monday.

the LOVE show was amazing. 

a feast for the senses for sure.

words cannot effectively describe it.

to be the art director for that show would be a dream come true.

so thank you to my very sweet sister for a fun couple of days.

a total get away for sure.

and im a sucker for a road trip, 

so it didnt take much arm twisting to get me into the car.

and she even drove!

what a treat.

here comes the sun...

(we werent supposed to take a photo...oops)

and i will end the with words of john lennon...

There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game 
It's easy

There's nothing you can make that can't me made
No one you can save that can't be saved
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time
It's easy

All you need is love

All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

There's nothing you can know that isn't known
Nothing you can see that isn't shown
There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

...

my friend ingrid...

has this list on her blog.

so i stole it from her.

26 Ways to Become a Better Version of Yourself

1.  Be authentic.  Be true to yourself. – Judy Garland once said, “Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of somebody else.”  Live by this statement.  There is no such thing as living in someone else’s shoes.  The only shoes you can occupy are your own.  If you aren’t being yourself, you aren’t truly living – you’re merely existing.  And ask yourself this:  If you don’t like who you really are, why should I like you?

2.  Care about people. – If you don’t genuinely care about people, they won’t care about you.  The more you help others, the more they will want to help you.  Love and kindness begets love and kindness.  And so on and so forth.

3.  Make others feel good. – People will rarely remember what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

4.  Be honest and take ownership of your actions. – Nobody likes a liar.  In the long-run, the truth always reveals itself anyway.  Either you own up to your actions or your actions will ultimately own you.

5.  Smile often. – Everyone likes the sight of a genuine smile.  Think about how you feel when a complete stranger looks into your eyes and smiles.  Suddenly they don’t seem like a stranger anymore, do they?

6.  Respect elders.  Respect minors.  Respect everyone. – There are no boundaries or classes that define a group of people that deserve to be respected.  Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother.  People will notice your kindness.

7.  Address people by their name. – People love the sight and sound of their own name.  So make sure you learn to remember names.  Use them courteously in both oral and written communication.

8.  Say “Please” and “Thank you.” – These two simple phrases make demands sound like requests, and they inject a friendly tone into serious conversations.  Using them can mean the difference between sounding rude and sounding genuinely grateful.

9.  Excel at what you do. – I am impressed by great guitarists, writers, bloggers, painters, motivational speakers, internet entrepreneurs, computer engineers, mothers, fathers, athletes, etc.  There is only one thing they all have in common: They excel at what they do.  There’s no point in doing something if you aren’t going to do it right.  Excel at your work and excel at your hobbies.  Develop a reputation for yourself, a reputation for consistent excellence.

10.  Help others when you’re able. – In life, you get what you put in.  When you make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life.  Do something that’s greater than you – something that helps someone else to be happy or to suffer less.  Everyone values the gift of unexpected assistance and those who supply it.

11.  Put a small personal touch on everything you do. – Think of it as branding your work.  If you’re funny, add a little humor into it.  If you’re an artist, decorate it with illustrations.  Whatever you do, customize it with a little personal touch of ‘you.’

12.  Over-deliver on all of your promises. – Some people habitually make promises they are just barely able to fulfill.  They promise perfection and deliver mediocrity.  If you want to boost your personal value in the eyes of others, do the exact opposite.  Slightly under-sell your capabilities so that you’re always able to over-deliver.  It will seem to others like you’re habitually going above and beyond the call of duty.

13.  Get organized. – How can you get anything accomplished if you aren’t organized?  You can’t.  Make a regular habit of organizing your living space and working space.

14.  Share knowledge and information with others. – When you can, be a resource to those around you.  If you have access to essential information, don’t hoard it.  Share it openly.

15.  Be positive and focus on what’s right. – Everything that happens in life is neither good nor bad.  It just depends on your perspective.  And no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should.  Either you succeed or you learn something.  So stay positive, appreciate the pleasant outcomes, and learn from the rest.  Your positivity will rub off on everyone around you.

16.  Listen intently to what others have to say. – Eyes focused, ears tuned, mobile phone off.  In a world that can’t move fast enough, someone who can find time to listen to others is always appreciated.

17.  Be faithful to your significant other. – Tiger Woods was everyone’s hero until recently, wasn’t he?  Sustained fidelity in a long-term intimate relationship is not only impressive, it creates a healthy foundation for everything else you do.

18.  Learn to appreciate and love Mother Nature. – Those who truly appreciate and love the natural world surrounding us typically exhibit the same high regard for all humanity.  It’s a positive way to live, and it’s something people notice.

19.  Perform random acts of kindness on a regular basis. – Pay for a stranger’s coffee in line at Starbucks.  Buy the office receptionist flowers just to say, “Thank you.”  Help an elderly lady with her groceries.  There’s nothing more rewarding than putting smiles on the faces around you.

20.  Compliment people who deserve it. – Go out of your way to personally acknowledge and complement the people who have gone out of their way to shine.  Everybody likes to hear that their efforts are appreciated.

21.  Speak clearly and make eye contact. – Most people have a very low tolerance for dealing with people they can’t understand.  Mystery does not fuel strong relationships and impressiveness.  Also, there’s little doubt that eye contact is one of the most captivating forms of personal communication.  When executed properly, eye contact injects closeness into human interaction.

22.  Make yourself available and approachable. – If people cannot get a hold of you, or have trouble approaching you, they will forget about you.  Your general availability and accessibility to others is extremely important to them.  Always maintain a positive, tolerant attitude and keep an open line of communication to those around you.

23.  Be self-sufficient. – Freedom is the greatest gift.  Self-sufficiency is the greatest freedom.  And self-sufficiency is quite impressive too.   In the business world, it’s one of the primary dreams that inspire people to give-up their day jobs to pursue entrepreneurship.

24.  Exploit the resources you do have access to. – The average person is usually astonished when they see a physically handicap person show intense signs of emotional happiness.  How could someone in such a restricted physical state be so happy?  The answer rests in how they use the resources they do have available to them.  Stevie Wonder couldn’t see, so he exploited his sense of hearing into a passion for music, and he now has 25 Grammy Awards to prove it.

25.  Be a part of something you believe in. – This could be anything.  Some people take an active role in their local city council, some find refuge in religious faith, some join social clubs supporting causes they believe in, and others find passion in their careers.  In each case the psychological outcome is the same.  They engage themselves in something they strongly believe in.  This engagement brings happiness and meaning into their lives.  It’s hard not to be impressed by someone who is passionate about what they are doing. 

26.  Stand up for your beliefs without flaunting them. – Yes, it is possible to stand up for your beliefs without foisting them down someone else’s throat.  Discuss your personal beliefs when someone asks about them, but don’t spawn offensive attacks of propaganda on unsuspecting victims.  Stand firm by your values and always keep an open mind to new information.

Of course, the coolest thing about this list is that everything you need to check off is already contained within you.  Most of these things were the ideals we were taught as children, we just need to rethink them as adults.  You can inspire others with the way you live your live.  That is my plan. 

We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give.
- Winston Churchill

my sister, the stager

my sister is in town. she is the energizer bunny reincarnated.

i cannot keep up with her. 

i wish i could. 

she is amazing.

she has transformed my house into a showpiece.

we go around the house brainstorming, then run to the garage for some old mirror,

or even had hunter move a chaise lounge down from upstairs.

its amazing what can be found in the back of closets and in my cluttered garage.

furniture in one room, brought to another for a whole new look.

and i dont think my kitchen has ever been cleaner.

she definitely got the "clean" genes.

i got the "clutter drives me crazy, but i cant seem to fix it" genes.

or the "im too tired to put this away" genes.

or "lets do that tomorrow" genes.

i havent always been like this, is swear.

i think i need to just throw everything away.

but why cant i do that?

every piece of my discarded junk needs a good home, or i am not fulfilled.

as soon as some piece of "valuable" crap hits the bottom of my trash can, i am left devastated.

so i "store" my junk, waiting to have it all adopted by loving homes.

and not much sees the bottom of that lonely can.

i shouldnt feel too bad...when jack was here in december. he said...

"your garage isnt that bad...ive seen way worse".

(i didnt see him roll his eyes..maybe he did, and i didnt see)

so...thanks jack, for those words of encouragement.

hopefully you werent lying through your teeth.

ive determined, however, there is something wrong with me for sure.

but i am determined to manage all of my "stuff".

because the "stuff" is managing me.

my sister has come to help me do that.

and yes, i fully admit, i need help.

and a lot of it.

so, thank you melissa for sharing your contagious energy and optimism.

and bringing your anti-bacterial soap.

(no one has caught hunters dreaded illness...yet)

lets hope for the best.

so far so good.

ode to david

sometimes words dont work.

i am finding lately that the less i say the better.

kind of unfortunate when i have such good things to convey.

so...

just want to say that i love this boy.

and i always have. 

from the moment i saw him.

and i am very happy he will be a permanent part of our family.

when i think of him, good feelings flood my heart.

and that is a wonderful thing.

and thats all i have to say about that.

quiet house

kids are back in school.

absolutely hate the quiet.

but toby doesnt seem to mind.

hes sneaking on the couch now for his naps.

even though he knows hes not supposed to.

what to do with this dog.

year at a glance

i thought i would copy emmas idea and put together a year in pictures.

so i went through all of my photos and this is what i found...

in january we went to storytellers cafe in the grand californian hotel.

then proceeded to get in a really gnarly family fight in the lobby.

ive forgotten what started it all...

hunter got his lettermans jacket.

size XXXL.

and emma left for her big adventure in london.

in february, eden turned 17.

we celebrated with a big fat cheesecake. 

swim season started.

eden and michael munton went to winter formal.

in march, i headed up a project to donate 75 homemade dresses

to the humanitarian group koins for kenya. 

swim season heated up.

in april, eden and brandon chase went to mormon prom.

then a stupid volcano erupted and ruined my trip to london.

michael english shaved hunters head.

in may, dane turned the big 9. 

a certified single digit midget.

the weather started to warm up and we were frequently found at table rock.

and the jacuzzi was heated on a regular basis.

in june, my edens started to bloom.

then i celebrated my birthday with these wonderful, favorite people. 

in july, i made red, white and blue cupcakes on the 4th.

well, actually i think emma made these.

experienced major june gloom at the beach...ALL summer long.

then went on a very fun road trip...and made all sorts of new friends.

in august, we rode the alpine slide...again.

dane, this time by himself.

visited family.

and went to the beach the few times the sun peeked through the clouds.

in september, we had to get back into a routine, start wearing clothes again,

and reluctantly, complaining the whole time, go back to school.

then polo started up.

in october, i attended my 30th mira costa high school reunion, 

and got reacquainted with some really great people.

ended up chasing the sun, and had a relaxing weekend in palm springs.

(one of the reasons i live in southern california.)

and celebrated halloween with an elementary 

school carnival and eating lots of bad for you food.

(green frosting stains, by the way)

in november, i cooked a couple of turkeys.

this one being the tastiest.

 hunter had his last polo game at mira costa.

(they lost.)

and found myself walking on the beach a lot.

we kicked off december, with a visit from melissa and jack,

and sing noel.

and had a quiet, uneventful, peaceful christmas.

and then i got to see my aenon.

and it felt good.

im gonna make it another good year.