My 10 motherly gems for a daughter starting her adult life

I was going to write something when my older daughter turned 18 in June, and then write something else when she went off to college, but then I thought since they are both so close I'd just kill two birds.

As just about all of us adults know by now, hindsight is 20/20. You especially see it online, there is article after article, blog after blog about preparing children for college and living on their own. Some are helpful, some you can tell are written in a drunken Xanax-ridden state from a parent who is having a hard time letting go.

So I'm going to throw mine into the fray, sober and sipping coffee. 10 pieces of advice as my first born goes off and starts the path of adulting (it's a word, because I say so).

Allison, this is for you.

1. Join a club. You found things you loved in high school; Soccer, archery, photography. I hope you seek one or two of these out and continue to enjoy them.

2. Exercise. If you can't join a club right away (which is totally fine, you have a full schedule of engineering and honors classes), then just find time to exercise. Yes, I know you will be walking all over campus every day to classes. I'm talking about 30 minutes of something to get your heart pumping and relieve some stress. Did you see the rock wall and the indoor track at the recreation center? It puts the dinky ones here to shame. SHAME.

3. Read the news. Even if it's just headlines from your area, it's so important to know what's happening out there beyond the college walls. You don't have to read in-depth articles and commentary (unless you want to), but daily local and world headlines will do. 

4. Vote. We've already talked about this a little, and I know right now you don't see it as a top importance. That's cool, but at least register. Who knows, something you learn by following #3 might drive you to take action. It's the simplest way to be a part of the process. Ok I'll shut up now about that, I feel your eye-roll and you haven't even read this yet.

5. Eat well. I don't mean organic-vegan-paleo-gluten free-blessed by a Yogi. Just eat an apple and have a salad once in awhile. PS- pass this one on to your boyfriend, I think he needs this advice more than you.

6. Use the resources available. You are lucky, you chose a university that is smaller and very easy to get around. Most universities are a town inside a town, but you can really feel that in this campus. So many resources are available and easy to access. Take the time and make sure you know where to go for what you need. You would only need a couple of hours on a weekend to get to know your campus.

7. Ask for help. This one will be easy for you, all of your schooling from elementary through high school was geared towards asking for help when you needed it. It seems to be more encouraged in smaller schools, and this puts you at an advantage because you already know how to ask for help. Don't forget, and never feel as if you can't or shouldn't ask. You always can.

8. Be aware of where you are and who you are with. I'm not saying you need a background check before you go to new places, I'm just saying know where you are. Heading to a party off campus? Know the address and where it is from your dorm, so you know how to get back (i.e. Google is your friend). If you feel uncomfortable, and you're not sure you want to stay, then leave. If someone else drove, call Uber. We'll reimburse you. There are some great apps here for safety. I'm certainly not a paranoid person, but I also believe in having too much information instead of not enough.

9. Party responsibly. I'm definitely not going to say you can't drink until you are 21. Yeah, legally you can't, but I know better. Again, it comes down to awareness and not overdoing it. Really it's about two things. One, get your own drinks unless you know who is handing you one, and two, it might taste like Kool-Aid but IT'S NOT KOOL-AID. See tips in #8, because they apply here too. Especially being aware of who you are with should you happen to drink too much. Also remember that everyone has a smartphone with a camera.

It's funny because I write this thinking "oh she would never." Then I think about me. Then I think about your Uncle Andy, who was the opposite of me. I'm just going to leave this here. Take what you want from it (and don't ask your Uncle Andy about "purple nurples.")

10. Text your dad. I already know you'll get in touch with me when you need me.

No, I'm not void of emotion. I love you and I'm going to miss you, and I imagine there will be some tears when we drive away after dropping you off at your dorm. I'm losing my Supernatural and Walking Dead watching buddy. It's weird not knowing if you're coming home for Thanksgiving this year or not. But my heart is not breaking and I'm not wandering around aimlessly feeling like there is going to be great loss in my life. You're not dying, quite the opposite. I'm so excited for you as you set off on this adventure. As you know, my upbringing was a bit different than yours. College and going off on my own didn't work out in quite the same way. When I knew I was going to become a mother, my goal was to make you (and your sister) as independent of a person as possible, and not be too clingy so when this day did come YOU were sure you could handle it. I have never been more confident that you can.

I'm hoping you have that confidence too.  If you're ever in doubt, see numbers 6, 7, and 10. Repeat as necessary. We are just a 3 hour drive away, and Lizzie is transportable.

The path to adulting is one you will always be on. As long as I'm here, you'll never be alone on that path.

Big damn road trip part 3

In foster years, I'm 26 years old.

If this is new to you, you can get a bit of a catch up here.

The final leg of our trip was the reason the trip was created, my cousin (foster) was getting married in Boise, ID. Once we left Yellowstone, we took the 6 hour drive through southern Idaho. I have to say there isn't much to southern Idaho. We did hit a huge rain storm, which was probably the most exciting part of the trip. It was nice seeing part of a state for the very first time, which is why I love road trips. You can't take in your surroundings from a plane.

Driving into Boise felt vaguely familiar, even though  I have never visited before. After a few moments I figured it out, it felt like home. No, not nostalgic "home." Gilbert, Arizona home, with some Tempe sprinkled in (Boise is a college town). Only greener and slightly cooler. Bret described it as "a combination of southwest and midwest. That's accurate.

It was nice to be in a place for a couple of days without an agenda, or having to do dishes or laundry (the downside of renting a home, no room service or free breakfasts in the lobby). We had dinner that evening, and the next morning my brother (foster) and I hit the hotel gym. My girls noticed there was a Dutch Bros. and a Chipotle in town, so I guess that gave them an agenda for the day. I hung out in the hotel room, watched an awful and hateful speech by Donald Trump and relaxed until it was time to head to the wedding.

Boise Botanical Garden is gorgeous. I love being in climates where beautiful lush, green things can actually grow! A perfect setting for a wedding, and the thunderstorm held off until after the ceremony. I'm not kidding. Immediately after the ceremony the storm hit, and stuck around for a good 45 minutes. Once the storm moved on, it was nice and cool, and the rest of the reception could commence. Amazing food, a bluegrass band, walks around the gardens. Just lovely. Anna and Wayland are a perfect fit, even though I met her at the wedding it was obvious.

I'm always so thankful for these moments in my life. It's always a little weird too. It shouldn't be, after 26 years of being part of this extended family. Sometimes I have quick flashes of "I don't belong." It's silly and the thought goes as quickly as it comes. I'm always grateful that not just my immediate foster family, but the extended family took me in and accepted me too, and that my children see them as their family. I write "foster" to eliminate confusion with the many beautiful branches of my family tree, but there really is no need to say it.

They are family.

*Big damn road trip Part 1
*Big damn road trip Part 2

Big damn road trip part 2

You know what the worst part of a National Park is?

The tourists.

The past week was spent exploring Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. I was beyond excited to get there, a peek of the explorer in me coming to the surface. The Nation's first National Park! Old Faithful! Bison casually walking by!

Plus, a week with my Massachusetts (and CA) family! We found a wonderful cabin that holds 10 about 10 minutes away from the park entrance. It was lovely, although very dated. I believe the oven was the original one, from the 70's. Either way, it had its charm and we weren't in a cramped hotel room. It was a perfect home base.

Day 1: Old Faithful. I understand why it's such an attraction, since it is the most predictable of the geysers. After seeing her we walked along the path and looked at all of the other geysers in the area. It was a warm day, and smelly. Yes I made several jokes about demons in the area (if you're a Supernatural fan you'll understand). I think my niece Audrey captured how it smelled perfectly.

We probably hiked a good three miles around the geyser area, and everyone was exhausted and sunburned by the end. We desert rats forget that higher elevation brings a different type of sun!

Day 2: Mammoth Springs. This day did not begin well. Some construction was happening in West

Yellowstone (the town right outside the park entrance), so you had hundreds of people merging into one lane and trying to get to the park. It was terrible, and by the time we made it to the springs, which was about 50 miles away, 3 hours had passed. We were all happy to get out of the car at that point, and we had plenty of elk to entertain us.

Mammoth Springs were bigger spaces of geyser activity, and the formations created are beautiful. What was most interesting to me are the different climates all in one place. You feel like you're in the desert, then the mountains, and there were spots that reminded me of the ocean due to the smell of salt in the air. It was very confusing.

Construction aside, traffic is crazy in this park. It's understandable, it is summer and everyone is on vacation. The park has one main road and it's a 45. Several times we were stopped or going at a crawl because wildlife was seen. There's not much you can do about it, but on this particular day is was hard to stay positive.

Day 3: No park day! Grandma took us all on a horseback riding tour. I'm pretty sure this is due to our niece Audrey's love of horses, but either way it was a wonderful morning. Overcast, cool, and riding through the mountains. It was fabulous. After that we decided to stay out of the park, and just hung out at the cabin all afternoon.

So if you are ever out in the Yellowstone area and want a break from the crowds, I highly recommend The Diamond P Ranch. Lots of fun, and they can handle even the most inexperienced riders. That was me.

Day 4: Last day in the park. I think this was my favorite day. We went up to see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and the upper and lower falls. It was beautiful and rainy all day long. It did clear enough to take a few hikes down into the canyon a bit for better views of the falls. We had a bear sighting, very close by. Slightly freaky, but we just stayed on the path and it moved on.

After that we drove on to see Yellowstone Lake, which is the largest high-elevation lake in North America. We almost turned back, as we were stopped once again by wildlife. We didn't see it, but my sister's family did. A mother bear and her cubs were feeding off of a bison carcass just off the road, and had been there for several days as the mother bear was guarding their food supply. Traffic was backed up for a good hour, and we learned this has been the third day. I think my nephew got some good photos, so I can't wait to see them!

We also had a bison walk by.

Then we saw the entire herd, which was amazing.

By the time we made it to Yellowstone Lake, the girls were pretty finished for the day, so I got out momentarily to take it in, then we drove around it to start our trek back to the cabin. I loved it, so beautiful. Would have loved to stay longer. This day was probably my favorite sight-seeing day.

Day 5: Souvenirs! The girls really wanted to walk through West Yellowstone and browse around in the shops. So after we checked out at the cabin we headed there and found some knick knacks.

After that, we headed through Idaho to Boise, for what is currently a very relaxing day before our cousin's wedding this evening at the Botanical Garden. Right now, I'm heading down to the pool, but I leave you with the cutest thing I saw in a gift shop.

*Big damn road trip Part 1

Big damn road trip part 1

I haven't worn make-up since July 2nd, because it was my last day at work.

I haven't put a flat iron to my hair in just about the same amount of time. It's been under a hat.

I read a book, and have begun a second one. Neither are about marketing, self-improvement, or politics.

I'm blogging!

These are the things that make a vacation for me. Some might say, "lounging in a hammock having young, beautiful people bring me fruity drinks with umbrellas in them" is their definition of vacation. This would be my definition too, but not this time.

We began our road trip on July 3. The entire reason for this vacation is due to a cousin getting married in Boise, ID. Our first official stop was the north rim of the Grand Canyon, because we've never seen it from that side. Our first unofficial stop was the Navajo Bridge. We just happened to be driving by, and pulled over and had lunch. A nice surprise. The north rim was also a nice surprise. Completely different than the south rim. Cooler. Greener. Less populated. I don't think I ever want to see the south rim again, I'm spoiled.

We spent the night in a town right on the AZ/UT border (I can't remember the name right now). The next morning we were up and out the door and onward to Zion National Park. Our time was limited, which was regrettable since Zion is amazing. We only drove until they stopped allowing cars, we just didn't have time to take the shuttle around the park. We will certainly return.

Our next stop was Bryce Canyon, and we did have time to stop there, have some lunch, and then

explore Sunset Point. There was a mile-long loop down into the canyon. I braved it. A mile hike might not seem like much, but when you have a bad back and are at 8000' elevation, it was quite the jaunt. It was worth the huffing and puffing- so majestic! After the hike we needed to keep going to our destination for the evening, Nephi. It's a one-light town south of Provo, and where Allison and Bret would be skydiving the next morning.

Yes, skydiving. Ever since Allison saw her father skydive 5 years ago, she had wanted to do the same. Unfortunately you have to wait until you are 18. We gave her a jump for her 18th birthday. We woke up to rain, but after a couple hours wait they were able to take off. Was absolutely worth it. She was nervous, but so excited that trumped any fears. Her tandem was great, and lots of fun. I'm so happy she has this adventure bug. I never had it, so I always want to foster it in her. I hope she never loses the desire to explore and try amazing things!

After the jump, we continued our trek north to our destination for the next four days, Yellowstone, meeting up with family and a lovely rented cabin about 10 minutes from the park. More on that in the next post.

My definition of vacation this time around is undiscovered country (to me). Everywhere we have ventured so far has been new to me. I've now been in 4 more states (Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming). It's been busy, but I haven't worn make up and have been reading books for pleasure. I'll take it.

What is vacation to you?

Thoughts I had while walking 2 miles in the Phoenix heat

It's no secret I am not a fan of warm weather. Anything over 70 degrees and I get grumbly. During the summer I avoid the outdoors as much as possible. I won't even go swimming- who wants to be outside in lukewarm water when you can be inside in nice, cool air-conditioning?

Creative Commons photo by Greg Burkett

Today however, I didn't feel like driving to the gym for my workout, so decided to brave the sun and take a walk so I could at least get some exercise in. It was 100 degrees. Here are some of the random thoughts I had while taking this short, 2.41 mile walk.

- Well, it doesn't feel that bad in the shade. And I'm only walking so how much worse could it get?
- (5min. in) Ok, it is warm.
- This street needs more shade trees.
- That was a long half mile.
- My water is warm already.
- Hey, that's the drink cart for the golf course, I wish I had some money. Maybe she will give me a ride.
- I do believe she is mocking me as she drives by.
- It's pretty warm now.
- It's only been a mile? Come on now, Ruth rode 21 miles yesterday and she loved it. Suck it up.
- You would think in a place with sun 360 days out of the year there would be more shade.
- It's rather hard to breathe right now.
- You know, if water is the issue cities could just fund shade partitions along the sidewalks. One time cost, no upkeep, and shade all along the sidewalk.
- I'm going to write my town about this.
- If I run home, I'll get there faster.
- HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
- My fingers are really swollen, they look like sausages.
- There was an episode of Teletubbies that had a song about fingers and sausages, wasn't there? I should look that up when I get home.
- There aren't even birds out here. Birds are smarter than I am. 
- Home. I wish home were closer.
- Oh, it's only a quarter mile away!
- My foot is numb, maybe I should stop and shake it out.
- SHAKE IT OUT, SHAKE IT OUT! (apologies to Taylor Swift for the wrong lyric)
- I could still run home.
- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
- Why do I live here? If I were in Seattle I could walk during this time of day and not feel as if water is evaporating before it hits my tongue.
- Do souls dehydrate? I feel my soul withering away.
- This is not being bad ass. It is being dumb ass.
- HOW IS THIS ONLY TWO AND A HALF MILES?
- Home. That was SO worth not wasting 30 minutes to drive to the gym and back.
- I really need to get a treadmill.

I'm super bad now.

I had a goal. To run a marathon when I turned 40. Well, technically I did that, although I didn't finish. The story behind that is in the last post on this blog, ironically enough. It was a beautiful run, for about 14 miles. I pushed too hard, and the Lost Dutchman course was not an easy one. With the knee problems, I just couldn't take the hilly course. So I dropped out. I tried to play it off like it was no big deal, but I was ashamed, and angry at myself. And worried. What if I permanently hurt my knee, and the one thing I love to do and am fairly good at is gone forever?

After that I went and had some X-rays, and it turned out that my knee was fine. The issue was my weak hips, glutes, pretty much the entire upper-leg area. So I started a couple months of physical therapy, but it didn't take long to make their exercises part of my regular workout routine. I also registered for the PF Chang's Rock 'n Roll Marathon as soon as registration opened. No way I could let an incomplete stand. "DNF*"- hell no.

I had to get over some things too. First off, I had to get over myself, and comparing myself to others. I stopped using the website Daily Mile, because everyone's accomplishments and fast pace just made me feel bad. Rationally I KNOW, it's not about the time, everyone is different blah blah blah... but the only way I could let it go was to stop looking at it. It didn't help that I went from an 11-12 min/mile runner to 13-15 minutes (I walk/run). Pain really slows you down, and although I loathe competitiveness, I am a competitive person.

I also had to get over the race. In my mind, I felt a little like I was giving up by switching races. You're supposed to conquer the course you fail, right? Rock 'n Roll is a flatter course, and you have more time to finish. It took a long time to convince myself that 26.2 is 26.2 no matter where you run it, or how long it takes to run it.

I had some setbacks during training. Number one, it's ALWAYS difficult to train during the holidays. November and December are the worst, plus I also have TechPhx in November. I also began a new job right as I started training. That was a difficult transition, and I didn't do nearly the amount of running I should during the week. I was getting nervous, and doubt started to kick in. Plus I was still having alot of joint pain, and was generally frustrated with what seemed like non-progress.

The turning point came when a friend of mind said out loud what I was thinking to myself.

"Maybe you're just not meant to run a marathon."

Screw that. It was like a switch flipped in my head. Even though I still couldn't get the miles in during the week (I was doing only about 5 or 6 each week plus my long run), I was still hitting milestone distances. I hit 10, 12, 18, then boom- 20 miles. I forced myself to be slow, to save it for the race. For the most part I did. I was training roughly at a 5/15 ratio: 5 minutes walking, 15 minutes of running. For race day, my plan was to walk 5, run 20. I was ready. Walking around the expo after picking up my gear, I felt excited. Itching to get going. A complete turn around from a year ago.

The race itself was awesome. The half marathon is definitely more popular, and I enjoyed that the starting corrals were not crowded. I also reconfirmed that I am a city gal, because I love being in DT Phoenix (though I prefer other cities, but you work with what you have). My 5/20 plan went wrong from the start- I was feeling so good, I was running a 5/25 minute (5 min walk, 25 min run). This lasted pretty much through the half. After about mile 14, things became more difficult. Externally, internally... I will spare you the TMI. Plus, the second half has more of the inclines on the course, so the long stretches of a slight incline slowed me down.

By mile 20, I had given up on even a 5/20 plan. Just kept moving forward. I think my family knew my mood was changing, because they met up with me at mile 21 and walked with me a bit (yes, they could walk, even as I was running it was more of a determined shuffle). Bret and the girls went back to the car to go to the finish line, and my brother Andy kept walking with me. It was perfect timing, plus I had my own documentarian (is that a word? It is now!) with me!

The last few miles were tough. My hips to my toes were on fire with every step. The cops were getting anxious to open the roads again, so a van kept picking up us stragglers and bringing us forward a bit. How sad is that? Heh. There were probably a dozen of us at the end of the pack.
One had a bad knee injury, but he was determined to finish. One woman who I saw throughout the day kept yelling happily, "I'm 78!!" We were all doing way more walking than running. Mile 25 was incredible to see, and then soon after that, the Mill Avenue bridge. That was the home stretch, and there was my husband waiting for me, and he walked across the bridge with me. Then it became the finish corral, and both he and Andy moved off the course.





Oh, when I saw that finish line- I gave that last ounce I had left and pushed. I thought he was only taking a photo, but Andy got a great video of my finish. It was perfect, as well as the song that was playing too (hence the title of this post).

So that's that. I don't have a long bucket list, but this was one of the things on it. It's now two days later, and I'm finally moving a little more freely, and haven't taken any ibuprofen today. My calves are still pretty stiff, and I still feel a little off my axis, but I think by the end of the week I'll be ready to go take a jog. :)

I have to thank my husband and my girls for coming out, and Andy for sticking around to be here for this. Love you all so much. I also have to thank my friends for celebrating with me at dinner that night. Sorry I wasn't full of conversation. I'm surprised I didn't faceplant into my enchilada. And all the support online- wow. You are all great! I happen to know most of you in one way or another, so as silly as it sounds, I really feel like every "like" and comment was authentic and true. You are all wonderful, and Andy read me many of your comments and posts as I was finishing the last 5 miles. You all kept me going, I want you to know that.

So let's talk 2015.

*DNF= Did Not Finish

Almost Marathon Time!

Thanks to I Love To Run on Facebook.

"No one has any guarantee of being physically intact at this time tomorrow. So whining about a run is like whining about having too much money. Every drop of sweat from every run is a gift. Never complain about running." - Matt Judge 

Never have I believed words more, especially over the past couple of months. I can't say that training for a marathon is the most difficult thing I've ever done, but it certainly is up there. I was feeling great when I started way back in October. I had just run a 10k with my sister in Boston, and was excited to get my training underway. As I looked back over my entries on Daily Mile, I really messed up my legs trying to find new shoes. Plus training around the holidays is NEVER easy. I had to have surgery on my gums too- which put me on the couch for a good week, then another week of short running until my mouth was completely healed. AND I have been trying to get my business up and running. It was a crazy time from November through Christmas.

Yes, these are excuses. However, they took their toll, so by the time January came around, my legs were ready to fight back. By fight back, I mean my knee started tweaking to the point where I couldn't go more than 4 or 5 miles without pain, and then had to limp home on my long runs. Then I had a brace that didn't work for running, and my ankle took on the brunt of my leg and THAT started to hurt. By this point I was just miserable, and starting to really worry about this 26.2 thing I signed up for.

In desperation I went and had a running analysis done, and was fitted for shoes. That actually was a good move, because I found a pair that actually feel pretty good (however I had to change the insoles). I tried rock tape, but that wasn't enough support for my knee. The biggest problem was I kept running. Cardio-wise I'm fine. If I had no leg pain I could run 50 miles. By now I had major shin splints up my leg and needed an ankle brace to keep from moving so much. It had gotten to the point where I called Katie one day and completely broke down. I was ready to quit. There would be other marathons, and I wanted another chance to try rather than blow out my knee and never be able to try again. 

My friend Kimber pointed out the obvious- why don't I do cross training? I hate doing anything other than running. I don't like to ride a bike, or use the elliptical at the gym. I only want to run. But I had to get over that, and started only using the elliptical twice a week, and then my long run on the weekends. Kimber also reminded me that the time limit for the marathon can be done in a fast walk. That combined with running would keep me in the race (they actually check your time at the halfway point, and if you're not at a 14 1/2 mile/hr pace they stop you).

Armed (legged?) with a better knee brace, I started applying this running/speed walking technique, along with continuing cross training. At the same time, I was making sure to keep weight training to strengthen the rest of my body and core, and of course my frenemie the foam roller on my hips and legs. This past weekend was my best long run- still slow but I managed 15 miles. The next day I had just some minor muscle soreness, but my knee and my ankle were fine. Today at the gym I had to talk myself out of running, and still use the elliptical. I feel that good. It's amazing what your body can do when you take care of it.

I'm really glad I didn't decide to quit. I backed off and adjusted to heal as much as I can while still training. It seems to be working. I am so confident I can complete this marathon, I wish it was this weekend! 

My problems are so minor compared to the person who can't run (or do any activity) because of a bigger injury or illness. Still, it really blew my self-confidence for quite some time, the feeling that I can't do it. The feeling that I'm not physically able to do it. The feeling that I've failed without even trying. 

Running is a gift. Next weekend I'll run The Lost Dutchman Marathon. I'll be as ready as I'm going to be, and confident that I have done all I can. I will remember my journey and reflect on it as I'm running. I will be nervous about how fast I run the first half because of the time restriction, and hope that doesn't push me too hard too soon. It is what it is. All I know is I deserve the chance to try. 

Running is a gift. These past few months have taught me that I can't take that for granted.

Why I can't stand warm temperatures

View of the Superstitions from
the edge of my neighborhood,
when it was a high of 45.

 I bitch about warm weather ALL THE TIME. Basically, any time the sun is out, I'm going to be unhappy. We just had a freeze here for about a week, and the highs were in the 40's. It was the best weather, and I got to listen to everyone else in the valley complain for awhile.

View two days later when the high
was 70 degrees. 

Heat is gross. It hits 70 in the valley and it feels 10-15 degrees warmer than that. I sweat. OTHERS sweat. I get headaches. I can't run as well when it's warm. I physically feel bad when the temps are warmer. As you can see from the pictures, as soon as the temps rise, the air pressure increases, and it pushes all the crap in the air down. And we breathe it. Even on nice days Bret and I can rarely have our windows open, because we get scratchy throats.  This is just January too! In summer, throw in dust storms and 40 MORE degrees. It's why I escape to the east coast whenever I can over the summers. Even their 90 degrees and 90% humidity is more tolerable than the desert heat. The sun just isn't as intense as it is here.

The only time 70-80 degrees temps are tolerable in the desert is when it was 100+ for months before. I hope there are a few more cooler temps left in this season, because I'm all ready looking forward to next winter!

Hi, I'm Dani, and I have a parking problem.

Just a scratch. Or ten.

I do many stupid things. Everyone pretty much hears about all of them, since I'm such an outspoken person online. The latest was backing out of the garage and scraping the side of my van on the side, also slightly damaging the trim of the garage. Hey- at least the door still works!

Anyway, I was thinking about parking, and how many times I've had a costly issue. I really do suck at it, and what I discovered while having this trip down memory lane is that every time it happened, I was IN A VAN. You would think after 20+ years I would learn, or at least own a smaller vehicle!

* 1990. The place? Slide Rock, Sedona. Yes, this newly-driving 18-year-old, with a van full of her fellow tired teen friends, forgot that there was a concrete divider separating the parking spaces. So instead of backing out, I went forward. And stopped. Then continued moving forward, grimacing at the scraping sound underneath us. I almost made it home free too, until my foster Dad came in from outside the next day and asked, "why is the license plate bent?"

It's not as bad as it looks. Really!

* 2004 (I think). The place? San Diego, CA. My sister Katie and I were there for our friend Tasha's baby shower. Katie had rented a van. She was also pregnant at the time. The one time she asks me to drive, the van is in a parking garage next to one of those big concrete supports. You guessed it- scraped the side backing out. 

*2006. The place? DT Tempe. I was meeting someone for lunch, and parked my new van where? THE PARKING GARAGE. Well, I parked it after I went too wide turning and hit the concrete support next to the space. That one we just left alone, and were very lucky it wasn't noticed when we traded it for the current one.

This time though, not so lucky. Personally I don't really care how it looks, but I guess at some point we'll get rid of it and it needs to look ok. Bret didn't like my Sharpie idea, so tomorrow I will go get an estimate, and keep my fingers crossed that if it comes out under our deductible, that it's WAY under. 

Obviously, I need to stop driving altogether. Or just hire a valet. Maybe this guy is available? He's got enough money, he would totally work for free, right?

Buh-bye, 2012. You were good to us.

My Christmas Dinner Fortune Cookie:
"Consume Less, Share More, Enjoy Life."

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe time merrily being merry. The last couple of years we had decided to go paperless in our yearly Christmas Holiday Letter. This year it seemed more difficult to get to. This isn't necessarily due to being lazy or even too busy. I found myself wondering why I was doing it. Then I put my ego in check. (No, Dani, not EVERYONE follows every single thing you post on Facebook, and not everyone you would send this too is even on Facebook! Get over yourself, lady.) So let us commence the yearly family brag!


Sam (as she likes to be known now) is 12 going-on complete stereotypical teen girl. She is the one who reminds me the most of myself at her age, and with 80's colors and clothing being back in style, it just hits me harder. Bright pants, big curls in her hair, and her favorite boy-band all over her bedroom wall (for her it is One Direction, for me it was Duran Duran). She also entered middle-school this year, and now I have both kids in the same place- thank goodness! I was worried after so many years of Montessori the transition to a more rigorous education would be a problem, but she did just fine, and continues to shine in the classroom as well as outside of it. She is looking forward to trying her hand at archery in the spring, and hopefully getting to the 1D Store in NYC sometime this year (that's the above-mentioned boy band).

Allison, now 15 and a sophomore in High School, could pretty much just live on her own at this point. Well, if she had a car and a job. She has always been the independent one, and at times it is really hard to forget she is still so young. Now that she has reached 15 and 6 months, there is a drivers manual lying around somewhere. She also continues to excel in her studies, and now the focus is beginning to turn to where she might end up for college. On top of school she is still playing soccer (and scoring some goals for the team!), and also keeping her steady archer's arm. A new development this year is a boyfriend, which I think has been a little harder on Bret than me. He's a wonderful young man, and it often reminds me of Bret and myself way back when.

Bret continues to work for Intel, and has also kept up the continuing education planning for other employees. He has been teaching and attending classes this year too. There has been a lot of discussion this year about making some changes, as he really wants to do something more fulfilling, or even switch places with me and stay at home for awhile. He also received a small bite from the athletic bug, and participated in his first Sprint-Triathlon this past April. He achieved his goal-time, and it was a lot of fun to see him accomplish this feat! I don't think he's interested in doing more, but I secretly hope he does.

As for myself, I always have 50 things going on at once, and 2012 was no exception. I ran another half-marathon, a couple of 5k's, the yearly Pat's Run with the family, and a 10k in Boston with my foster-sister Katie, who also joined us for Pat's Run. April was actually a big month. Not only did Bret run his tri, and we had more people join us for Pat's Run, I also turned 40. For the most part, I absolutely loved saying goodbye to another decade. I did a 40-to-40 blog series, had a roller skating party, and saw the musical American Idiot. I also led the organizing committee for TechPhx, which was a first for me (I was always on the committee but never leading). That was a great experience, and I look forward to doing it again this year. I also found myself looking for a job this year, which didn't work out so well. So I decided to start my own business! It's been so busy I put my political podcast on hiatus for the time-being, but one of the wonderful things about podcasting is you can pick it back up whenever you want!

As a family, it wasn't a big travel year. We managed to spend a nice weekend up at the family cabin with Bret's parents, and spent a week in Boston over fall break. The girls did more traveling on their own- they went off to Iowa to visit their Nanas in July, which was Sam's first flight sans parents. She loved it! Right after that, Allison went off to spend a week with Bret's sister in San Francisco. Though I am sad we didn't make our summer trek to the east coast, I am glad the girls did some exploring on their own. We also stayed home for Christmas too- my brother Henry and his family joined us for the holiday! It was great meeting his 4 daughters for the first time, and getting to know all of them better. We don't see them very often, so it made for a very special holiday.

So that is it. 2012 in a few paragraphs. I don't make resolutions, but I do enjoy looking back and seeing what a good year it has been for the Cutler Clan. I always try to be grateful for what we have, and not sweating the small stuff... too much. I'm not big on resolutions, but I do hope that you take each day of 2013 in stride, so you can also look back and smile at all you've accomplished come the end of the year!

Let the marathon training begin!

I am here in overcast, rainy New England visiting family this week for Fall Break, and having a blast! Just being in cold weather instantly cheers me. Vitamin D must not be an issue for me, as it seems to have an adverse effect. Even when it's pleasant and sunny I'm miserable, never mind 110.

Anywho, in the midst of vacationing, I ran a 10k with my sister Katie yesterday in Boston. This is my first 10k, after the disaster from February. It really helps to know others are there, or are on the course with me. I can't help it, I'm a social being and having support around helps me succeed.

This race was so much fun! First- I was with my sister. Second- I'm not in AZ. Third- It was cooler and I got to run through one of the oldest cities in the US, through beautiful streets and along the harbor. Fourth- I'm not in AZ. My back was still sore from flying out on Saturday, but I just wanted to enjoy myself and not be slower than an hour and a half. Mission accomplished. :) 1:20:28 was my official time. Really enjoyed myself and I feel pretty good today. Hate to say it, but I enjoyed this so much more than Pat's Run. That run is getting too big for the course they use. Plus, it's too hot and with the crowd I just don't have as a good of a time. I focus on the reason I'm involved with Pat's Run over the run itself. I'm also sure some of this has to do with the fact that I'm in a new place and it was a new experience.

This 10k was also the kickoff to my next bucket list item- running a full marathon when I'm 40. By February I will only have a couple months left of 40- but it still counts! I have decided to skip the Rock and Roll this year, and run the Lost Dutchman Marathon in February. I figure if I'm going to be out running for 6 hours, I am going to have nice scenery! This starts out on the Peralta Trail, and you run back in through Gold Canyon and end up at Prospector Park in Apache Junction. It won't be as flat of a course as the Rock and Roll, but I'm not concerned. They cut off the marathon at 600 people, and the time is cut at 6 1/2 hours. As much as I don't want to be the last person to finish, I am less concerned with that as I am with finishing in the allotted time. 6 1/2 hours is roughly a 15 min. mile average. To you non-slow runners that is nothing, but I average a 13 min. mile in a half marathon, and I believe in walking breaks. So it's definitely a concern, but also helping me frame how I train.

I'll also be posting here more. As I did training for my first half marathon, I want to document how training for the full is going! That will begin next week! I'm approaching this training a little differently than I did half training. I am going to focus more on getting to my distance goals, and less on interval training for speed. I will probably do one interval training session every OTHER week just to keep my cardio strong, but other than that it's going to be straight running. I'm excited! If you want to follow along you certainly can, you know I'll be posting links to these posts anyway. ;)

Let the games begin!

Wanting For Less

I used to look around our house and want. Want another bedroom. Want a garage that can fit one more car. Want a master bedroom with a sitting area. Want more places to put stuff. Now, we've purged a lot. We've made room to be comfortable with the space we have (and if you know where I live, you know it's plenty of space!) Sure, we can always do more purging of stuff (it's amazing how junk suddenly appears!), and sometimes I give in to needless wants, we all do. But I no longer feel like I should have more. That I need more. When I do find myself thinking I need something now, I can assess that need and quickly realize that I don't need it. I want it. Then the feeling of need usually goes away.

My biggest want nowadays is less. I want less. The best part is, wanting less is the easiest and probably the least expensive thing you can give yourself! The benefits outweigh anything you could get from material wants. I don't think I could live in a house as tiny as in this post (perhaps if it was just me, but not a family of 4), but I do look back to our first house in Chandler and think... why did I want more? Why did we think we needed more? Of course I can only speak for myself. I know Bret likes the fact that with wanting less I BUY less, I don't think he would agree with me about our home. Which is fine, we're different people and have different ways of looking at things. We find our balance.

Unless you're starving or truly struggling to make ends meet, if you want more, you probably have too much.

Unplugged Weekend

I had a realization about this blog. I use it for me more than anyone else. Sure, I share my posts (when I make them) and love feedback, but it's not why I do it. I am documenting things for me. It's more of a public journal than a "Look at me! I'm blogging and you have to read me!!" thing. This answers my question about why I don't blog more. It's because I don't want to, but when I do have something I want to remember or look back on, I will blog about it.

That being said, this weekend was quality family time spent at Bret's grandparent's cabin up in Happy Jack. It was mostly an unplugged weekend from the internet, the girls still brought their games and movies on the iPad. There is no cell service either (thank you TMobile for being on top of that). Although you could put in satellite in order to get tv and internet, I am glad they never have. I did a lot of reading and a lot of music-listening, as I don't sleep well when we go on these trips. A lot of just sitting on the porch, staring at pine trees and the storm clouds brewing, and the dog enjoying the freedom of having an entire acre to romp around in. Bret's parents were with us so it was also nice connecting with them for an extended period of time. You don't realize how fast and busy life is until you are in a place where you have no choice but to slow down.

There was talk about how we need more than two days up there. You get there late Friday, have all day Saturday, half the day Sunday. Then you want to make sure you leave early enough so you're not coming back down with all the other traffic trying to get back to the valley for work Monday. So it's not a great amount of time.

Technically you could spend weeks there during the summer. There's plumbing so you can shower and use an actual toilet. You're close enough to Payson or even Flagstaff for supplies. I guess that would be a way to check email and news. Of course when you work online, that becomes more of a problem. And, although I could catch up by getting a paper each day or week, I know I won't be getting all the information I am used to reading daily. It would be snippets, and I would probably lose my mind. I haven't read a print newspaper in... geez I can't even tell you how long. A long time. So the lack of information would be difficult for me.

I also attempted a run. It's about a mile from the highway up the hill to the cabin, and nice gravel road that I was itching to put my feet to. However, it's a different atmosphere there, and everyone has their dogs roaming free, and a lot of places aren't fenced in. Sunday morning I was up nice and early, and ready to kill my shins on the downhill, and a big black dog decided to come running up to me and bark. A lot. Not happily. I guess if we were going to spend a longer amount of time there, I would have to do some introductions to the animals there, so they know the person running by isn't prey. Worst case is we are right on the edge of the national forest, so I can go in the other direction and still get a nice hike in.

Regardless, we all love it there, and it was a wonderful family weekend away from the disgusting bad air and heat of the valley. It was nice to breathe easier, and not sweat simply by standing outside. I hope they winterize the place someday so we have more opportunities to escape throughout the year.

40 To 40? I'm on the flip side now!

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing for 40 days straight. Yes, even the lazy, post-a-youtube-video ones. I haven't posted in two days now and I found myself missing it! I guess that means maybe I'll keep on blogging away. :)

I had talked about how I feel emotionally about turning 40, but I didn't talk about what I actually *did* that day. Well, other than on twitter and Facebook. I all ready had my official party a week prior, so the day started out pretty normal. I took Allison to soccer practice. I picked up Allison from soccer practice. I had to make an small emergency run to the grocery store right after we returned from practice. Then I scrambled to get ready to see American Idiot: The Musical with my friend Scott.

I knew I wanted to see this musical since it premiered in Berkeley in 2009. I've been a Green Day fan since before their Dookie album, and of course I love the middle finger that the American Idiot album gives to societal norms. The ultimate goal was to see it on Broadway in New York City, but alas it closed just a few short months prior to my visit last summer. So the moment I saw it was on tour, and coming to Tempe the week of my BIRTHDAY- well, nothing was going to keep me from seeing it. Birthday or not.

Side note: The second track on the album is "Jesus of Suburbia"- and it's 9:08 minutes. I have a goal of running a mile while listening to this song.

I knew I would love this show before I saw it. I know the music, I know what it stands for. I know it was originally written as a rock-opera, with all songs connected. What I was trying to figure out is how they could put a story around it. To me, they succeeded. It was pretty intense and they packed a LOT of music into that 90-95 minutes. The only things I didn't like was the voice of the guy who was Tunny, and how they made me all mad at GW again. Dammit.

I was definitely spoiled by Scott, and it was a great birthday present. Sometimes I wonder how we ended up being such good friends. I met him in 2007 thanks to our mutual friend (and really, she is everyone's friend!) CJ. He has an interest in politics, so he checked out my show. Before I knew it, he was a frequent guest, and we've had some great discussions. From there we discovered mutual loves of The Beatles, Green Day, and acting like immature adolescents. Scott is a unique individual, and only a few people really understand him. I'd like to think I'm one of those people. He's like a little brother that I wish would grow up, but secretly happy he doesn't because it keeps me in touch with my silly side. Then suddenly we're talking about regrets in life and it turns into this crazy philosophical discussion. He's a cool dude, and I'm so happy to call him friend.

That evening the rest of the family, Scott, along with my sister and nephew ended up at Cheesecake Factory for dinner. A nice way to end the day!

Now all of our company is gone, and I've started getting things back to normal around here. I've put a lot of my volunteer duties on hold over the past few weeks, and today was the first day that things felt like they were back on a normal routine. I'm playing a little catch-up, but I'll be back on track soon enough. It's only a few short weeks until the kids are out of school for summer vacation too! It was a nice break, but now it's time to get back to work!

40 To 40 Day 40! On Turning Forty

Turning 30 was hard for me. I wasn't very happy then. I had two kids under the age of 5, wasn't really doing anything other than taking care of them, and had an overwhelming sense of  "is this really it?" I was still just coming off of a career as a legal assistant, and still thinking that I needed a career to be considered successful. It's a hard thing to do, change the way you think. Change the way you see yourself in the world.

By 2006 I had really found what I wanted to do in podcasting and the radio, but then by the end of that year my foster father was really sick, and I had a falling out with another family member. My father passed in early 2007, and I never made any real amends with the family member, though I really did try (at least I think so).

It's cliche', but it took great loss to get me to appreciate what I have. To stop wanting more than what is necessary, to try and only stick to what I need. To know how quickly it can be over, and someone you love can be taken away, or can leave you. It's hard to learn that you can't change others, you can only change yourself. You definitely can't change things when someone passes on, and maybe that is what helped me learn to let things go easier. In everything. Not saying I'm completely Zen with it, we all slip up, but for the most part I feel I have a much better awareness of things than I did when I turned 30. If I am aware of my actions, and stay in control of what I do, that's enough. It has to be- because it's the only thing I can control.

You know what the biggest test is? Driving. If you can let all those other cars pass you by, or cut you off, and still keep a smile? You're doing pretty good. Driving is the ultimate test of our stress level. Think about it.

So here I am now, forty. I'm in a good place. I'm trying new things when I feel ready. I know that it's ok to not look too far ahead, so I can enjoy the moments I'm in even more. I have two amazing daughters who I love to watch grow. I have a husband who has indeed been the love of my life, and I can't see anything changing. Well, you know, as far as I look ahead I don't see anything changing. ;)

I feel better physically now than I did at 30. Hell, even at 20. I certainly feel better mentally. I'm more confident than I have ever been, and have stepped out of my comfort zone more times in the past couple of years than I would ever think to 10-15 years ago.

Forty is this. And this.

So forty, I embrace you. I start this decade not hiding behind hair color and dreams of the future, but as a woman who has both feet firmly on the ground. Confident in who I am and what I look like, and ready to take on the future- not with dreams, but only when the future becomes the now.

40 To 40 Day 39: On The Last Day Of My 30's

For a dollar, I will make this
face for you. Cheeks and all!

I don't know how I'll feel tomorrow, but today I felt great. I had to say goodbye to Andy, so that was a little sad. He was replaced by my friend Scott, who is here to do some traveling, and is also going to take me to see American Idiot tomorrow for my birthday! (which of course, came into town JUST FOR ME.)

So today it did hit me that it's the last day of my 30's. Not in a OHMYGODWHATAMIGOINGTODOWITHTHERESTOFMYLIFE kind of way, but sort of like, "Oh. Wow tomorrow is my birthday." And then I went and picked up Sam from school.

It's been a really great week of celebrating, even in ways that had nothing to do with my birthday. Tomorrow will be a nice finale' to the 40 To 40 series, and a great beginning of another decade!

40 To 40 Day 38: On Upcoming Awesomeness

Just got home from an awesome Yelp event- and I'm so very, very, very tired. So I leave you with a taste of what I'm doing on my birthday Saturday! No, Green Day won't be there, but I think I'll be ok. :)

40 To 40 Day 37: On Being Super Cool

Rebel Mamas.

I think having company is good for me. It "forces" me to take a break. I put that in quotes because no one is keeping me from doing anything. It's a lot easier to go out to lunch, or go to a movie when you are hanging with family and friends who happen to be staying at your house. You want to spend time with them, since it's temporary. The to-do list and responsibilities will always be there. At least with the internet and tech today if someone needed me for anything I'm right there. Not doing much has sort of been a mental health vacation, and I didn't realize I could use one until I wasn't doing anything.

I have been a little worried about Bret though. He hasn't had any down time at all. No down time includes no break from work between racing a triathlon, Pat's Run, and planning my birthday party. I want him to take a mental health vacation! All I can do is try and make things as calm as possible at home. He's a super cool dude, I love him and don't want him to burn himself out!

I read another thing today, and this time it made me smile. It was the opposite of the stupid "what you NEED to do by 30" list from yesterday. Boy that list still makes me grumble. So when I read this other list it was everything I would want- and you don't even have to make sure you accomplish any of them by a certain age.

You are all ready super cool. Not matter what your age. :)

A taste:

You are super cool because you:

*know that if you are having a bad day, tomorrow will be better
*know that 30 isn’t the new 20, 40 isn’t the new 30 and 50 isn’t the new 40 and you are grateful
*don’t fit into your skinny jeans, gave them away and bought jeans that fit you.
*do serious things without taking yourself too seriously
*are a rebel mama
*are starting to recognize what matters

There are plenty more- read them and know that you are super cool!

40 To 40 Day 36: On What Every Woman Should Know

I read a really dumb thing today. Side note- is it just me, or is the Huffington Post becoming a bastion of crazy paranoid ridiculousness?

Ok, this particular thing isn't crazy or paranoid, just a little stupid. "Turning 30: What Every Woman Should Have And Should Know" Well ok! I'm turning 40- so I should have all this down, right? So I clicked.

Oy. Why did I click on this nonsense? Here's a sampling:

You should have by the time you're 30:


3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.

4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.

6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.

11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.

And here's some of what you all should know by the time you're 30, ladies:

5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.

9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents.

13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally.

Do women take this shit seriously? Besides, I can name plenty of women I know who don't have this any of this figured out yet. And you know what? It. Doesn't. Matter. This is why women get so paranoid about their looks, where they are going in life, and getting older. Why is the goal a juicy past? I would have LOVED to have the most boring, uneventful past. Lace makes my boobs itch- am I a total failure?

A lot of these things I didn't figure out until just a few years ago. Several things I'm still working on. Why does life have to be like a standardized test? Can women just live their lives and accept themselves the way
they are, without having to feel like they have to achieve certain things by a certain age?

Fuck you, Glamour. Now people are going to spend money on your nonsense, because you have famous people validating this stupid list.


We are works in progress, never failures.

40 To 40 Day 35: On The Beatles

Last night at the party Bret had a bunch of songs on the iPod for the DJ to play. Poor kid, he couldn't have even been 20... probably didn't know half the songs.

Going back further, in my late teens I really became a huge Beatles fan. It all started when I saw Paul McCartney in concert for the first time, in 1990. In Orchestra we were able to earn money for tours by working concessions at Sun Devil stadium for games and other events. My sophomore year we handed out water when The Pope was in town. Bret still kicks himself over not working THIS particular concert.

Anyway, McCartney was in town, and I signed up to work. We were there early enough we got to listen to sound checks, and he waved up at us as we cheered. That night, it turned out that concessions stopped being sold soon after the concert began, and although we didn't have seats we could still hang out and watch the concert. That's when my obsession love for Paul and the Beatles began.

What, doesn't everyone put the birthday of their favorite musician on their calendar?

So, my little group of airport- crashing friends are also Beatles fans, and there were many nights of driving around singing and living it up like 1965.  Hey Jude is my favorite Beatles tune, and we never missed a chance to "Jude" at the top of our lungs every time we heard it, and every time was in a car.

Last night at the party, was the first time we "Juded" on roller skates. Katie, Rob, Bret, and me- the 4 original dorks!

40 To 40 Day 34: On Being Grateful

Tonight as I blew out candles on the amazing birthday cake my sister Jenn made for my birthday, the very young Skateland DJ kept yelling at me to make a wish.

I looked at the group gathered around me. Friends, family, all there for me. For some weird reason to celebrate me. They came in costume, they hung out, they donated to causes that are important to me. They (hopefully) had a good time.

My wishes have all ready come true, there's no need to make more. Thank you all.

My heart is full tonight.

40 To 40 Day 33: On Charitable Celebrations

Pat's Run was another great morning. Unfortunately Sam hurt her knee at school Friday, so while running today it really started bothering her. We walked after 2 miles, then for the last mile we ran. So we've been icing a swollen knee all afternoon. It was still a good day, and I'm so proud of her for finishing, although I'm feeling a little mama guilt at letting her finish by running. I hope I didn't break my daughter!

I'm hoping it's going to be a very charitable weekend. We started with Pat's Run, which benefits the Pat Tillman Foundation. It continues tomorrow with my 40th Birthday Party. Yep, even though my actual birthday falls on a Saturday and is uber convenient for party-throwing, we decided to plan it around Pat's Run so my sister Katie could come out and do both! (I also think her kids are on Spring Break so that makes it a little easier to travel too).

I'm really not into focusing on me all that much, but I figure what the hell I'm turning 40. I also went to a friend's party a few months ago at Skateland*, and had such an awesome time that I decided that is what I wanted to do. A roller skating party, and people are dressing up in their decade of choice. I also decided that rather than gifts, I'm hoping people will donate to a few charities that are important to me:

CASA: Voices for CASA Children is the non-profit that raises funds to help educate and train new Court Appointed Special Advocates in Maricopa County. Currently there are less than 400 CASA's in the county, and over 7,000 children in foster care. As you have previously read, I was one of those foster children in Maricopa County once upon a time, and am currently on my first case as a CASA.

Planned Parenthood: Conservatives are trying to do everything in their power to defund this very important organization. Arizona has a bill out there now. A reminder: only 3% of what Planned Parenthood does are abortions. It's about women's health- exams, physicals, breast screenings... all for women who don't have access to insurance. They even offer men's health options. Access to health care is not a bad thing, and in this time more than ever they could use a donation.

Leukemia Lymphoma Society: Leukemia took my foster dad at least 20 years before his time. That's really all I have to say about that. There is also a great need for marrow transplants. If you haven't been swabbed- perhaps you might consider? You never know when you might have the opportunity to save a life, like my friend Amy did when she donated a kidney now one year ago!

The best part? It will make you feel good to give too. See, I'm giving YOU a present for my birthday! So thank you everyone for considering!


*I do wish I could have invited all 300 local people I know via the social media scene, but you know, you have to cut it off somewhere. I hope that if you read this and wonder why you weren't invited, that you understand. And hey you can still donate! Nope, no shame in me at all tonight, but I've been awake since 4:30 this morning so my gauge is off. ;)