The end...M is for mania

 

I have a Kelly Clarkson problem. And the problem is that I cannot get enough of seeing her live(13+ times and counting).  This picture above is from when I saw her in Central Park when my Mom took me on a last minute whim because I told her that KC was going to NYC and would put on a free concert for the CBS Morning Show.  My Mom was the best at flying by the seat of her pants and was always up for an adventure.  Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge with her will always be a core memory for me.

When we went to this concert, it was down pouring. We had to leave our hotel and walk to the park at around 5 am.  Was it crazy? Yes.  Did the rain soak us? Yes.  Do we regret it?  Absolutely not.  

I had a hard time writing this because Kelly Clarkson's talk show was ending.  And get this...it was ending before I was able to fly to NYC again to see her live.  The nerve.  It truly made me sad and I wish I could have gone.  But alas, adult responsibilities and a very low bank account prevented this dream. Sigh.  

I know there will be many more opportunites to see KC is concert and I cannot wait until the next time I am jumping to the closing song, which is always the closing song: "Since You Been Gone."  

Love you Kelly!

Let's hang in Vegas again soon!

S is for Spiritual.

 I don’t have much again this Sunday. I did listen to a talk given by one of my church’s leaders. In his talk entitled: “He Knows You by Name,” Elder Matswagothata says:

“The Savior can and will guide us through every season of life—especially through difficult times.”

If you read the previous post I wrote about being able to do hard things. When I get through difficulties it isn’t just me getting through it. Jesus has walked with me through much of my heartache. I think the most monumental moments of hard were when my mom passed away nearly four years ago and this past year as I grieved the life I thought I would live forever(the end of a 12 year marriage). I cannot make it through anything without heavenly help. I’m most grateful for that kind of support. 

S is for Sayings…

 “I can do hard things,” has been a saying that resonates with me. Life isn’t always rainbows and butterflies and I often get down and don’t want to be positive or even keep trying to be. Each time I lose hope, I remember all the hard things I have already done and I realize I truly can do anything, including those hard things.  

F is for Flowers.

 

The kids and I planted many packets of wildflowers in one of our garden boxes. We watered religiously and waited and waited. A cat decided that our garden is a great place for a litter box. I have multiple cat defense barriers. The damn cat still digs and poops. Sorry cat lovers. I do not like cats and this hideous feline has solidified my hatred. (Being allergic was the biggest prior factor). 

This lonely flower is the sole survivor in our wildflower experiment of 2026. It isn’t much but that flower is hope and believe it or not it still brings me joy everyday when I water.  

Do I know what kind of flower it is? Is the kind of flower my favorite this year? You bet!

T is for True Confessions

 True confessions:

I love hamburgers. 

I eat ketchup on eggs. 

I have students I would not want to meet in a dark alley. 

I have students I would do anything for. 

I laugh so hard at a few girls in my health class. 

I did say: “I can’t learn it for you” in class this week. 

I am so glad it is the weekend. 

I need to get out of bed. 

I am not writing this in Thursday, it is Saturday. 

I lie to my kids all the time. Hmmm…Christmas. 

I’m a little behind on writing. 

I love that the current temp is 66 degrees.

I like baseball more than football.

I like rugby more than football.

I hate that streaming has ruined sports watching.

My new tag line is: the first time I married for love, next time I’m marrying for money.

I really don’t think there will be a next time. Single is easier.

I’m delaying getting a workout in.

I’ll let you know all about the rainy bike ride I’ll take.

I’ll probably forget that promise.  

W is for Wanderlust…

 Wanderlust: the desire to travel the world. 

Oh what I would do for another chance to travel with my mother. 

A very memorable roadtrip was to The Apostle Islamds of northern Wisconsin. 

It was a girls’ vacation with Sue and Seester Andi. We had a blast. Madeline Island was a highlight. We had to take a ferry to get there. 

Lake Superior is a cool destination and being around boats always adds to the vacation. We explored the whole island but were highly impressed with a local outdoors bar. 

The atmosphere was amazing as was the food. It was like a little shack. The walls were covered with silly signs. I always love a good pun so I was in heaven. 

I love that I have so many sweet memories from times With my mom. She was always up for adventure and made life fun. Miss you mom!

T is for Timeless…

 Timeless: things that never go out of style

Dolly Parton’s first album released in 1967. She was 21 years young. Today, she passed on to the diamonds in the sky. I found out in the middle of a class activity in my health class from my students. And I have to say, it took me a few minutes to compose myself to be able to carry on with that activity.  

As a five year old, I carried a guitar around my house and I was a singer. I’m sure much of my inspiration came from Dolly. I don’t remember specifics of Dolly but I do know she has been in the fabric of my background forever. There isn’t a time on this planet that Dolly wasn’t a part of. I’m sure you also have memories with Dolly. 

She wasn’t only an inspiration to girls with guitars, her reach was huge. She campaigned for good in this world. She was kind and generous and also had some spice. She is what we needed, what music needed and what the world needed.  

I think that genuine voice and creative talent seemed to be something that would last forever. As I scrolled through social media, there were many people who said they just weren’t okay because they didn’t ever think she could ever die. Her nephew had the daunting task to announce her death and even he mentioned how for years he put the idea behind him as if it would never happen. Today, we lost a special one; may Dolly continue to shine for us to feel.

Dolly Parton is truly a timeless icon and I’m so glad I got to live in a world with her in it. 

M is for Mania

 “Mania: excessive or unreasonable enthusiasm; the object of such enthusiasm."

I got into teaching because I had some passion. I was passionate about helping kids learn that they were capable. I also was passionate about sports and writing. In what world besides sports writing could I combine those? I started out teaching English and physical education. What a combo. Turns out it wasn’t “marketable” to keep my position because it would be hard to fill. Funny…it hasn’t been open in 25 years. But I am thankful I got a certification to teach health as well. Anyway, as I taught my current students to throw frisbees at each other this week, I was reminded of just how much gratitude I have to be able to bring energy and passion to something as simple as sport skills. 

Sports truly give me so much joy and how blessed I am to be able to call what I do “work.”

S is for Spiritual…

 I haven’t always been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints(sometimes referred to as “Mormons”)

I grew up Catholic and in high school met a really cool family. Their house was a place of calm and welcoming. The day my brother got married the first time, I was to sleep on the couch(my bed was given away to family) and that family invited me to stay at their house as long as I went to church with them in the morning. I didn’t know anything about “the Mormons” and I always liked to see what people believed. Well…long story short…I went to church that Sunday and went regularly to that church since then back in 1995. 

Here is a scripture that a missionary shared with me as I was learning about the church and wondering if it was true, Doctrine and Covenants 9:8-9:

“8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.”

Just two verses change the trajectory of my life.   

 

S is for Sayings…

 

“You’ll miss this someday”

Parenthood is a crazy ride. One day they are tiny and need you for everything, then one day you can’t even pick them up because they are so big. W

She was a bit scared tonight. I said she can sleep with me if she needed to even though I cannot sleep well when she does. 

The I’m glad I’m her safe place and that I get to mother her. I’m sad it goes way too fast. I will miss this someday!

F is for Flowers

 

This is Artemis II those buds only open when it is warm. I close when it is warm. Utah, here is your invitation to let up on the heat waves and do something like fall! Until then, you’ll find me indoors next to the cool air vent. 

T is for True Confessions…

 True confession…

…I love riding bikes. 

…I have to wear a mouthguard when I sleep because I grind my teeth

…I don’t go to bed early enough. 

…I like my job but with every year I get more and more exhausted more and more early in the school year. 

…I say “I just work her “ about 30 times a day. 

…I say “living the dream” anytime somebody asks me about my day. 

…I often talk to other drivers when driving even though they can’t hear me. 

…I whisper in class while mic’d up and pretend people can’t hear my inner thoughts. 

…I am wearing a granny dress to sleep in. 

…I do not care about the ac running constantly tonight. 

…I wish I were vacationing. 

…I am tired. 

…my legs hurt. Standing all day is tough. 

…I have grey hair coming in next to my ears. I sometimes think I should fight the battle and color my hair. 

Good night. 

W is for…Wanderlust

  Wanderlust: the desire to travel the world  

I hope to travel again. Time and money, mainly the later, keep me from whimsically wandering the globe. Oh yeah…And that whole job thing!

Back in the day I had an amazing trip with an amazing friend. After I finished in London with my aunt, uncle and mom and sent them back to the states, I traveled north to Scotland where my friend, Mary Beth was living at the time. My favorite quote from the trip was when we went out and MB had to drive, she would chant:”we drive on the left here!”

Oh the castles and cool things we saw!

I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to go across the pond. I hope to one day again get to see some pretty places.

T is for timeless…

School starts tomorrow. School is timeless, as is the one room schoolhouse. This one was in Little Suamico, Wisconsin. I think my dad went to school here as well as his siblings. School had changed in many ways since way back in the day…but alas…school is school. I guess we will see how this year will go. Year 25 as a teacher for me. Weird. 

M is for Mania…

  "Mania: excessive or unreasonable enthusiasm; the object of such enthusiasm."

Pens. They either matter to you or they don’t. For the writer in me, pens have always been important. I have had a few favorites along my writing journey. 

My first preferred pen were the Pilot G2 Gel Pens. They went on smooth and had a thin line. The second were Korean pens. Not only did they have cool mistranslations on them, but they also were the thinnest pen you could buy. Even smaller than .3mm

Then came fountain pens with the ink inside. Again a great line and thickness but I was lead to the perfect pen for me:

Enter the Pilot Frixon Eraseable Gel Pen. These are my current mania pen. I bought myself that very pack as a back to school constellation present. Retail therapy truly is a thing. These pens make me happy. If you know, you know!

What’s your favorite pen?

S is for Spitual…

 In the church I am a member of, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have prophets and apostles. The leader of our church is called: The Prophet. 

Currently, Dallen H. Oaks is Thr Prophet. Here is a quote from him:

I find hope within my faith  That hope comes from Jesus Christ.  We need Him now more than ever.  May we all find hope and light in this often dark and chaotic world! Happy Sunday!

S is for Sayings…

 “What cha gonna do? -Karen Zumann

I have a very wise woman in my life named Karen. She is in her early 80s and I truly want to be like her when I grow up. 

Karen is the mom of one of my dear friends, Marla. Marla and I met when we were in middle school. Marla remembers everything including the goofy stuff I said in class back then, and she is still one of my besties!

Karen recently said to Marla when asked how she was doing even with some challenges and Karen responded with our now very quoted inspiration: “what cha gonna do?”

Life hands us lemons sometimes. It can be brutal and sour but realizing that a lot of the hard stuff is out of our control can really free us from unneeded worry. Sometimes we just need to  let  go and  add the sugar of positivity to the mix. I also suggest making time to do what you love…cleansing and diluting water so to speak for the lemons of life.

So…make lemonade and realize…

“What cha gonna do?”

F is for Flowers…

 This little beauty is a late add to my flower collection:

I was checking out the Home Depot outdoor flowers one day hoping for clearance flowers(sad to think the season is almost over) and saw this without flowers, only buds. Price tag: $5. 

I cannot say no to a deal. Glad I didn’t. In bloom ever since, this little pot brightens each day as I pass it on my porch!

T is for True Comfessions

 Here’s my list of true confessions for today:

1. I fixed the bathroom sink drain that wouldn’t open today. It was very satisfying but deep inside I also hate that I have to fix everything that goes wrong in the house now.

2. I drink too much zero soda. And eat too much pizza pretzels from Sam’s Club. Be careful they are so good and so habit forming. 

3.My planner for this school year has quotes only by Christina Koch because she’s my emotional support astronaut and the whole idea makes me happy. 

4. Weddings are a mix of emotion for a recently divorced person.  I’m happy for people but also feel very broken because I have no desire to be married and really hope they can make it but only because I project all the crazy of my marriage onto them  

5. I really like dogs. I see dogs and I have to talk about them as I admire them. I actually prefer dogs to some humans. They don’t talk back and most of them are pretty dang positive. The dogs, not the people. 

Humor me. Share confessions in the comments. 

W is for Wanderlust…

 Wanderlust: the desire to travel the world. 

Our trip to Disneyland was magical. It was the last family trip before the divorce and I am so glad we went. I am also glad R wanted to invite my Disney-loving sister!

We only spent one day in the park and although we could have filled more days, we packed a whole lot into that one day. I’m not much of a ride person but I even enjoyed Rise of the Resistance. My favorites rides were It’s a Small World and Haunted Mansion. Somebody was very sad it wasn’t the OG version…that person was definitely not me. 

I’d have to say The Nightmare Before Christmas is 

my favorite Disney theme. Halloween is my favorite holiday and I am so glad they had just changed to this theme just days before we were there in July 2024. 

I feel I may have more Disney adventures in my future. I would love to go see all of the park in Halloween decor. It would also be really cool to one day be in Halloween and the next Christmas.  Maybe in retirement with my sister!