25 MORE things about "Yours Truly"

Ok, so way back when...not sure how long ago, but at least a year or two, I posted 25 things you may or may not know about me. And since my eyes are burning, my brain is mush, and my throat has taken on that deep sexy night time voice...from working for the last few hours to meet some "work" deadlines- I thought I'd break for some mindless chatter...are you ready for this? I mean really ready? It's late so don't hold any of it against me:

1. I trip a lot. Usually for no reason. Sometimes my ankle will just roll and I'll be on the ground.
2. I've been known to trip while holding my kids (Before you go callin' me Brittney, I always save the kid before my own knees, shoes, Burberry bag...)
3. I love to invent recipes, always have. Used to make my brothers be my guinea pigs...ahhh those were the days.
4. I could eat avacados on ANYTHING, ANYTIME, JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE
5. I would bodyboard in the ocean everyday if I had the opportunity
6. My mom's family is 100% Portugese and my dad is a mutt
7. I can't nap. Not possible, don't ask. It doesn't ever happen.
8. I'm still friends with at least 3 girls from when I was 5. I think it says more about how wonderful they are than me...but whatever, I've got some great friends.
9. I LOVE being a mom. It definitely happened sooner than I planned, but it was great timing and that has enriched my life more than words could ever express.
10. I sing a lot. Start up a song around me and you won't EVER sing alone. Don't care if I sound crappy or know the words, I'm going to sing with you.
11. I'm a binge reader. I love to read, but for me it's addicting, so I won't go to the Library if I know I don't have time to knock out a book in a day or so, cause it won't matter I'll take the time, if I have the book.
12. I've been crushing on my husband since I was 12, no joke. 7 years after we met, he came to his senses, or I became legal..not sure which was the deciding factor.
14. I can decorate cakes sorta good. Really. Kinda, well I try that is...
15. I'd rather do it myself. (what's it you ask? pretty much anything...I've usually got to force myself to delegate. I usually like the challenge, but sometimes I wish others would make me let them help.)
16. I love games, board games, etc. I like to win, and the competitive genes really freak out against my husband. I MUST WIN!!!! (but I NEVER do. sigh...)
17. (hmmm...nothing life altering yet, eh?) My memory, it's like a steel trap. Phone numbers, names, outfits you wore the first time I met you. I usually remember.
18. I've been in lots of the stereotypical "circles" in school growing up and can relate to most anyone on at least some level. I make it a point to put myself in others shoes and think about how they are feeling.
19. I'm impatient at times. Ok, more often than I like...Ok, I snapped at the old lady across the street (SOOO kidding...)
20. (almost there....) I'm one of three siblings with two younger brothers, I've always been the bossy type.
21. For years I promised that I would NOT be like my mom and cry at anything even remotely sentimental...but I'll admit, I'm a sap. I can't wach Extreme Home Makeovers, even though I know way too much about the behind the scenes- as my little bro worked on two homes...But still so sweet, and Ty, fall for his kindness every time...)
22. I love horses. Riding, watching. They are so magnificent.
23. I get sucked into most any Disney show...especially The Suite Life of Zack and Cody...am I crazy? I think maybe.
24. Santa Barbara is MY city. I love that place. Oooooohhh yes I do.
25. (and here we are, the grand finale...) I am sooo sleepy right now, can't keep my eyes op...

Perks of the job

Many of you know that MD works in sales in a fast paced sales environment where they offer lots of incentives...and boy they do ever know how to motivate him.

I remember a couple years ago--he brought home grocery gift cards EVERY DAY for a month. I didn't have to pay anything for groceries for something like two months...Of course they were to one of the fancier stores where you don't quite get the 10 for 10 deals, but, FREE food IS FREE food. Then there was the shopping spree at Costco...and this month alone he won a new digital camera that he graciously gave to his beautiful and adoring wife...an Olympus- 7.1 mp...quite a step up for me...then a couple days later he won a home theater system, which we will most likely ebay...It's like they offer something, anything, and he gets into the zone.

My point? To brag on our good fortune? No. My point is that I wish all of life had these incentive programs..."You changed FOUR dirty diapers in ONE day, kudos to you, here's one of Marc Jacobs latest bags" or maybe ,"You made it to work on time every day this week, take a trip to wine country in gorgeous Santa Barbara" or best of all, "You've blogged FOUR times this week, sit back relax and enjoy the sounds of a live performance by Sting in your bedroom while you fall asleep."

I mean, what is more motivating than the prospect of handbags, relaxation, and great music just around the corner? Those are some dangling carrots I'd like to take a bite of.

The one where she says "balls"

It's funny how recently this blog has turned into a reporting of a stream of events, something so far from my original intent. I did want to give readers a glimpse into everyday life, maybe with some pictures to show a bit of this, how cute my kids are, how hot my husband is...but I definitely wanted to "say" something of significance, even if its just relating a story that makes you think, smile, wince, whatever.

So basically I'm admitting this site has been "less than" for some time. And I'm not really okay with it, but not 100% sure that I can change it at the moment. Sometimes I feel like a master juggler...and sometimes I let my balls drop. Ok, the last part of that sentence sounded strange. Obviously I'm speaking figuratively, not literally-- I'm not actually dropping my balls...wait, what I meant to say was...oh never mind.

As I make an effort to offer something to you other than the event reporting that you've grown accustomed to now, please throw me a bone...share with me your thoughts so I know you're out there and have an opinion.

Now, I guess its time to join the October train and say the proverbial, "I LOOOVVVEEE the fall", that everyone's been screaming out lately...but really I love NOVEMBER, that's the money right there...I mean the weather can get down right crispy (ok, maybe not so much here in Scottsdale but...) there is a Holiday completely devoted to FOOD (and thankfulness, and who isn't thankful when they are consuming mash potatoes? Ahhh...I digress) Family starts to gather, the shopping commences (though surprisingly the Christmas Shopping ball is already in the air, and I've not dropped it.) Cozy sweats, chilly nights, clear perfect days--yep, I'm all about November, October is over rated if you ask me.

Of Backspace and Photoshop

I've always loved writing. I remember being a kid, fighting with my parents, and writing them letters to explain how mad I was. I'd write and write...then I'd write letters to make up with them too. I'd write letters to friends, cousins...there is just something about being able to get all your thoughts out, have no one interrupt and rewrite, and cross out and tweak until the paper contains the absolute best version of your thoughts, sentiments, ideas.

I got to thinking about life awhile back and thought about how texting, emailing, myspacing (is that a word?) writing...all of these means of communication have something in common, they are "editable". Take MySpace for example, the ole fuzzy picture in a dark room with lots of eyeliner and sideways shot that turns a 85 year old man into a 19 year old stud, or what about blogging or emails, all of these things can be backspaced, spell checked, (ok, I know, I know there are times I need to use this feature more, don't rub it in.) Edited. And that's the trouble.

With the media airbrushing every photo, editing every video, restylane in the lips, lipo on the hips...what part of us is real, raw, unedited? Not that all of these things are bad, I'm not saying that, I'm saying that almost every means of communication or contact can be altered to be the best version of "you" or "me".

Somewhere in all of that-- "perfection" has become the norm. When everything has been nipped or tucked or augmented or injected or photoshopped or cropped or backspaced...we see what others want us to see. I know, I'm rambling, but stay with me, there might be something worth reading, no promises though.

But I want to know what about the raw, uncut, unplugged, unedited versions of us? What if there were no backspace, no tummy tucks, no cover up? How would our perceptions of people change if our flaws were out there for all to see, all the time? Of course, I think its great that we can "fix" our problems and deal with our issues, but sometimes, I wonder if the fixing of the outside makes us overlook the fixing that we might need on the inside...