This Guy We Met

Informal note -- in case you don't know what the green, and sometimes another color, words are, let me tell you - they are links.  They will take you to another web location to read more about what I am discussing there.  Just click!

Maybe I mentioned that we were in Maui in February.  

I had been on the medical mission trip to the Philippines, 

and it was on my way home....

During the last week there, the rancher, who makes daily late afternoon trips to the 

hot tub, met this younger guy that he was able to chat with...  Sometimes the hot tub is full of people, sometimes it is full of cranky people, and sometimes there is no one there at all.  But nearly every day, he stops by before the day is done.  I find it humorous that someone as quiet as M even enjoys going somewhere and striking up conversations with strangers.  He's not a coffee shop, chit-chat, kind of guy.  On this particular afternoon, there were about five other people in the hot tub when he got there.  He climbed in, greeted the others, and he proceeded to listen.  A few of the others were traveling together, and after they dominated the conversation for a few minutes they decided to leave.  This leaves M and the young guy.  

The young guy throws the rancher a bone, and after saying he is from Ohio, he says he could tell that M was someone he could relate to by his accent and the way the two of them were perfectly quiet while those other guys were talking about how much money they made - or something like that.  M asks the young guy what he does in Ohio, the young guy asks M what he does, hunting comes up, and there is no stopping the conversation.  I don't see hide nor hair of him for nearly two hours.  

He comes up to our place and tells me he met a really interesting and nice guy.  (That's not usually the hot tub report.)  He tells me that this guy is a singer and songwriter.  Not his full time job, he works in construction while raising a young family.  I start asking a thousand questions, but all I get is that the guy, is very humble, performed at a place in Kihei the night before, and is extremely down to earth.  He tells M that he got an exciting phone call within the past couple of days, and he has to get back for a big meeting in Nashville.  To which I say, "and you didn't get his name?"  Either he didn't, or he did, and he forgot.  Well, it sounds to me like an opportunity lost.  

I should have gone to the hot tub.

The next day, in the mid to late afternoon, we are up by the pool.  We never do that.  But M pokes me in the rib, and he tips his head across the pool.  "There's the country singer I was telling you about."  I see a young, nice-looking, clean cut guy walking around the other side of the pool.  At some point he sees M, they both raise a greeting hand toward each other, and he heads our way.  As we get introduced, 

I make a mental note, Bryan Lewis.  Got it.  He and M talk for quite a while when he says he has to catch a late flight that night to get back home for the big meeting in Nashville he was telling M about yesterday.  I pipe up.  "The only person I know in Nashville is a guy named X" - (doesn't really matter what his name is, but he is head of a major music label.)  Bryan practically falls down.  He says, "Did you say, X?"  And I say, "Yeah, I guess I really don't know him as well as my brother does, but yes, that's him."  Bryan sits down and pulls up a chair.  "Are you kidding me, your brother knows X?"  Our new friend, Bryan, breathes deep for at least 30 seconds.  He explains that this meeting in Nashville has been years in the making, and he is meeting with a direct representative of X.  All of us just exchange glances for a minute.  

Bryan describes it as a "goose bump moment."

We have been talking for quite a while when Bryan says, "Do you have a little time?  I'm going to go grab my guitar.  I want to play something for you."  Of course we have time, got nothing but time.  He is back in a flash with his guitar, and he explains that he has played music down by the pool before, and it is frowned upon by management.  (What's up with that?)  So, we kind of ducked behind some other lounge chairs and all lean in toward each other, and he plays the sweetest, most precious song for us.  He wrote it, he sings it, and he has one of the most pure and clear voices I believe I have EVER heard.  There were more goosebumps.  There were tears.  

We definitely had a moment.  A true professional, he lightened the mood after that with a true-to-life song about chocolate milk and other things kids like.

Bryan proceeds to tell us about the foundation that he is closely affiliated with in Texas.  It is called the Will Smith Foundation.  William Naylor Smith was on vacation with his family on Maui in 2007, when he died in a tragic auto accident at the young age of eight.  His mother, Susan Moulton, has established the foundation as a 501(c)(3) which is staffed totally by volunteers and no employees are compensated.  All monies raised go directly to the programs they fund.  Bryan's aunt taught Will as a student in second grade, and after she connected Bryan with Will's mother following Will's passing, they have continued to work together in many different ways. 

This particular trip to Maui was for Bryan to perform at a retirement event for Archie Kalepa, Maui Ocean Safety Chief.  Archie was a first responder to the accident that took Will's life, because he was traveling a few cars behind on the highway.  Susan has remained close to Archie, a Hawaiian sports legend and lifeguard.  The Will Smith Foundation has donated to Maui Ocean Safety and last year sponsored the 

First Annual Will's Water Day emphasizing water safety on Maui.

Archie Kalepa with the new Ocean Safety Wave Runner, donated by the Will Smith Foundation

I tell this story because Bryan is the person who told us to drop everything and read the book, Heaven Is For Real.  I think he just read it this January.  After hearing his original song by the pool that day, I felt it was uber-ironic that he had written it prior to the publication of Todd Burpo's account of what had happened to his son, Colton.  If you ask Bryan, he will tell you that the trip to Maui this February was full of the most crazy coincidences.  I spoke with him yesterday, and he continues to question the big plan for his life.  He daily reminds himself that he isn't steering the ship.  I reminded him that with small children, it may be a blessing that he isn't on the road and missing the everyday details of life.  He knows that.  Timing is everything, and he is trying to be patient.  One of the benefits of travel is not only learning new things but meeting new people.  Over the last several months, we have met lots of new people in all parts of the world.  

If this is what it's like to be 50, I want to stay 50 forever!

This Guy We Met

Book Review

The book, Heaven Is For Real, by Todd Burpo, has been sitting on my nightstand for over a year.  A new friend we met on vacation, more on that tomorrow, recommended it, and he was probably the 150th person to do so.  I noticed that the film is debuting in mid April, so I sat down and read it.  It is a quick read, and I realize that I am probably the last person in the world to do so, but it was just as wonderful as I had hoped.  

Heaven is a place that most people have considered.  Many have developed opinions and preconceived ideas of what it might look like, be like.  Of course, no one knows.  The Bible describes Heaven in specific terms, but I am of the opinion that you have to be somewhat open minded when translating the words of the Bible into your perception of the meanings of those words.  A book I read a few years back, The Shack, by William Paul Young, was a work of fiction that changed how I viewed almost everything.  It demonstrated a different way to view things and people here on earth in this life, as well as showing me how wrong I might be about my insights regarding Heaven.  The fact that I read this book a few years ago, definitely affected how I devoured Todd Burpo's book, because I have a more undeveloped opinion about the specifics of Heaven.  

One thing that I strongly believe is that it is wonderful, awesome, and so much better than what is here on earth.  I am not one of those people that needs to understand the details of life, death, and everything in between.  As a human being, I don't believe we are capable or supposed to comprehend it.  It is my opinion that God is in charge, and I am not going to "get" the big picture until we meet in Heaven.  When I say that, I am referring to everything from why a person passes away at an early age, to why illness hits a family, to car accidents, and even to why good things sometimes happen to bad people and why bad things happen to good people.  Those things might make me mad and uncomfortable, but eventually, I come back around to my core belief that I am not put on this earth to understand everything.

Heaven Is For Real is the story of Colton Burpo, who, during a very serious appendectomy surgery, claims to have visited Heaven.  His appendix had burst, leaking poison and infection into his tiny body.  Later, his parents would find out that even the doctors could not explain his recovery from such a grave condition.  At the age of 3, shortly after this surgery, Colton casually mentioned things to his parents that he observed them doing during his surgery.  These were facts that he could have never known.  The fact that Todd, his father, was yelling at God in one room of the hospital and having a meltdown -- the fact that his mother, Sonja, was making phone calls on her cell phone asking for prayers for Colton from family and friends, he told them exactly what they were doing.  Then there were the revelations that came out randomly during the next months and year or so -- unbelievable things that he had never been told.  These comments came out of the blue, and they would usually catch either parent off guard.  He told his parents that he met his other sister.  Thinking he was confused, they told him that he knew his sister, she was in the other room.  He confidently told them, no this sister had dark hair, and she was a little smaller than his blonde sister, Cassie.  These parents had never spoken to him about the miscarriage that they suffered before Colton was born.  Why would you tell a four year old about an event like that?  But he knew.  He told his mother that she had a "baby in her tummy that died."  Todd and Sonja didn't even know the gender of that child.  The miscarriage was very early, and this was news to them.  

This book is bold and told by his father, but it uses Colton's three and four year old vocabulary to tell about how "really, really big" God is.  During this Lenten season, there was one line in the book that just grabbed me.  Easter is approaching, and during a conversation in the car, Cassie answers her dad's question about what happened on Good Friday by saying, "That's the day Jesus died on the cross."  Todd follows that with the question about why Jesus died on the cross.  Cassie was quiet and thinking, when Todd looked at Colton, and asked him, "Colton, do you know why Jesus died on the cross?"  Colton silently nodded.  Todd was surprised, but he said, "Okay, why?"  Here was Colton's answer -- "Well, Jesus told me he died on the cross so we could go see his Dad."  This whole book compares the differences, yet similarities, between grown-up faith and childlike faith. 

Even if you have already read it, might be worth a revisit.

Book Review

The "B" Team

In a normal week, I have a couple of part-time (a term I will use loosely) jobs that keep me plenty busy.  One of them is in my Dad's law office.  He says he is trying to slow down.  I believe him.  He is in excellent health, and he and my Mom enjoy traveling.  But he loves to work as much as the rancher.

In fact, I have worked off and on in his office for upwards of 35 years.  I started very young, and I had a couple of breaks with college and small kids; he has always let me be super flexible with it.  They let me come and go as I please, just as long as I do or arrange for someone to take care of my obligations.  My office is in the back;  I suppose I could wear my pajamas if I wanted.

This morning, I received a frantic text from a co-worker.  She was sicker than sick and could not come to work.  Normally, this is not a big deal, but with another co-worker on vacation, she was calling me to save the day.  Awesome!  I'm there.  I owe this chick big time, and I need to get with it on paying her back.

Bam!  I beat my Dad to the office.  So what?  I barely know where the light switches are.  One disadvantage of coming and going as you please is that the lights are always on, doors open -- all the preliminaries are covered.  Seems like there is always coffee.  I wonder how that works.  The coffee maker is nothing like people have in their kitchens.  A brighter gal might have figured it out, but I was embarrassed when my Dad showed up and demonstrated how it was done.  
So far so good, and it's about 8:20 A.M.

I have to be super vague due to confidentiality, but I can tell you it was a hilarious day.  It was a day of discovery.  It was a day of, "hey, we're doing the best we can, here."  But the fact of the matter is, everyone who works there has a routine, and when everyone does their thing, the whole place is a well-oiled machine.  Today, with two big gaps in the system, it was Dad leading the blind (me).  The ill co-worker at home was trying to help me from afar, but I was a real piece of work.  When I have to do the parts of the the job that I am not very familiar with, it is slightly out of my comfort zone.

Lunchtime arrives faster than usual, and we call my Mom to meet us out for a quick bite.  We get seated, and Dad asks me if we did something very important before we left.  Sheepishly, I tell him, "I don't think we did.  I didn't, did you?"  Kind of a big deal, so he runs back to the office and secures the issue.  Somehow, after lunch we arrived back at the office about 20 minutes late, and that NEVER happens.  I'm telling you, it was a day of firsts.

Any office you go into has a copy machine.  With me in charge of office operations outside the practice of law, the copy machine didn't get turned on until 2:40 P.M.  Yep.  Just goes to show how "not normal" this day was.  Everyone has certain responsibilities and even different equipment.  Something as simple as printing a document can be challenging when I am in someone else's space.  
Let's be clear -- I am the "B Team."

Several times today the phone lines would all light up at once.  When I answer and am on one line, people are usually surprised when Dad picks up the next phone line.  Sometimes it's not for him.  I bet that makes him happy.  

All I can say is that when the regulars get back, they are going to be thrilled with what I left waiting for them.  New little symbols to reflect things not completed.  Little notes trying to explain what I did and why.  Lots of mysteries to solve.

About 5:30 when Dad and I were walking out the door and verbalizing every "shut down procedure" we could possibly think of -- we decided on a high five.  
And it all ended with a laugh.

The "B" Team

Positivity Needed

Work hard in silence; let success make the noise.
  --  unknown

Enjoyment is not a goal; 
it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.
  --  Paul Goodman

If there is something you want to do, do it now.  
Don't let later turn into never.
  --  unknown

Faith and fear both demand you believe in something you cannot see.  
You choose.
  --  Bob Proctor

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
  --  Wayne Gretzky

Luck is a dividend of sweat.  The more you sweat, the luckier you get.
  --  Ray Kroc

Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation.  Your character is what you really are, 
while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
  --  John Wooden

Don't go through life, grow through life.
  --  Eric Butterworth

To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.
  --  Fred Shero

I don't know the key to success, 
but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
  --  Bill Cosby

 -  -  -  And did you know that Dr. Seuss was 54 when he wrote The Cat In The Hat?

Positivity Needed

Driving Range, C'mon Over!

We have an unfinished basement.  There are several little "areas" down there that serve purposes.  We have some large tools, ladders and equipment, there is a little hobby area, we have a dark place to watch movies, and then there is just a lot of storage on rolling metal shelves, for Christmas things, etc.  There are also some animal 'things.'  I would show you a picture, but it is so unorganized -- that's the nicest word I can use -- it's embarrassing.

The rancher has some trophies, and we have a plan that he so kindly agreed to -- that we will not put any animal heads or skins in the living room upstairs, at this time.  I might go for a tasteful hide, properly tanned, maybe one favorite or meaningful trophy, but it would have to fit in somewhere...  However, he has this 8 foot alligator skin, numerous deer mounts, some antler-only mounts, and other unusual things that I cannot tell you what they are because I don't know.  Hunting happens to be a hobby we don't share.  In actuality, he could have hundreds of them, and I should thank him that we don't -- but he sees all kinds of things at the ranch every day.  His approach for hunting is that if you do not plan to eat it, do not kill it.  On occasion, he has given the meat away after making a prior agreement with someone, but still, cleaning an animal is a huge job for the hobby hunter.  Oh, and another okay time to shoot is when you see coyotes near your newborn baby calves.

This really happened.  The other night, the rancher, who cannot sit still and watch Dancing With The Stars with me, found a project in the basement.  It has a high ceiling and is wide open, so we entertain ourselves with what it will ever end up looking like... I was thinking maybe some used rough brick on the walls, man cave type deal with darts, pool table and man stuff, of course more tv's, and some big comfortable seating.  A little wine storage place... a tasting room would be a ridiculous fantasy.  Whoa.  

Back to what happened.  I hear what sounds like a golf ball bouncing off of every cement wall in the basement.  No...  Then, I hear it again, and I hear it again and again.  I am in the middle of the house, and I hear it in every direction -- below me, north, south, east, west.  Surely not.  No way.  We have golfed a few times recently, and he thought we needed a driving range.  No, not a putting green or golf game or simulator, an actual driving RANGE.  In the basement.  Big black nets and a green driving turf with those white rubber tees.  Really?  REALLY?  

I can't even go down there.  I know.  I know what I will find.  What will I even say?  "Hey, if you are driving golf balls in the basement, why aren't they going into the net instead of bouncing off every cement wall down there?"  No judgment.  

I left him alone.

Eventually, he came back upstairs.  I look over at him, say nothing, just raise my eyebrows, and he just dies laughing.

I thought we lived regular, middle-aged lives.  Maybe not.

Driving Range, C'mon Over!

Our Christmas

In working with my pictures today, I found many of them that I haven't had the opportunity to discuss on the blog.  

Just in case you weren't with me in December, we went on a Rhine River cruise that ended in Amsterdam during the week of Christmas just in time to celebrate with the Expat kids.  We had packed light for such a long trip.  Their apartment is a little bigger than a studio, but they didn't take much with them when they moved.  What I'm trying to say is that this Christmas was different from any other by a long shot.  We thought everything would be closed, but it wasn't.  A few things were open.  Christmas is followed by Boxing Day, and it was about the same as Christmas Day.  Not knowing what to expect, we just planned the day inside.  We went straight over to the apartment when we got up, and the daughter in love had a fabulous breakfast with pastries and fruits.  Since I have never been a coffee drinker, I was treated to a local hot tea with a fortune cookie tag on the tea bag.

Great way to start my day!  

Since we had been shopping the day before, we decided on a new tradition.  We thought we were too mature (i.e. guys wouldn't cooperate) for Christmas pajamas, so we decided on house slippers.  They had to match, and next year we will be wearing our Netherlands Christmas slippers wherever we are.

Our hosts had prepared the heartiest and most delicious chicken noodle and vegetable soup with fresh cheeses, meats and crackers for lunch.  We absolutely chilled all day, with a few traditions thrown in for good measure.  I insisted that we take some Christmas pictures.  I had everyone's attention for a short while, then -- well, it just got out of control. 

 

I didn't promise explanations for these pictures.

Then they let me be the tall one.  I didn't realize it was such good preparation for going to the Philippines the next month.

This was supposed to be "attitude."  Apparently, the rancher doesn't have any.

He tries.  He was born bashful.  Sorta.  
We should title that one, "jazz hands."

Like I said, no explanation for most of these....

Okay, there is some clarification required here.  The rancher is photobombing the pic with a tiny Babybel.  The student is holding a pussy willow branch as if it were a weapon.  D.I.L. is holding the Die Hard full box set with her face as the other half of Bruce Willis' face.  And I just have my guns out because we are getting ready to watch the movie.  It's a family tradition, to watch Die Hard on Christmas Day.  Please don't judge.  The first movie in the set started at a Christmas party.  That is how it was explained to me, I didn't get it either for the first few years.  Eventually, the boys would yearly watch all three on Christmas Day.  
We opted for one this year, because there are now four films in the series.

This is the view out that window we were standing by in the pictures.  It turned out to be a really beautiful day, and the rancher insisted on going for a bike ride in this land of bicycles.  So off he goes.  About two hours later, it is starting to get dark, and we are wondering if we should worry.  He has a pretty good sense of direction.  But no cell phone.

Yeah right.
  Notice the darkness?  And the flash?  He wasn't worried.  
Why would we have been worried?

The movie theater (Pathe´) was open, and we had bought tickets (pretend like they aren't blurry) online to go see Captain Phillips.  Some movies are in Dutch and have English subtitles, and vice-versa.  Our multi-lingual leader had the correct tickets for the correct language at the correct time.  Off we went to finish our most non-traditional Christmas Day ever.  It was great!

Our Christmas

Kansas City Here We Come

This past weekend we were fortunate enough to get those suitcases back out and head for Kansas City...  (I want to sing it and upload to You Tube, but not gonna happen).

In any normal year, I might be going to Kansas City on the second weekend of March for the Big XII basketball tournament.  Glad those weren't my plans this year.  :)

We went to a fundraising gala for next year's medical mission trip.  I plan to go next year, and I really wanted the rancher to dress up and come meet the new friends I had been talking about for the last 6 weeks.  Surely to goodness by now, you know that I spent a couple of weeks in the Philippines in January on a medical mission trip.  This trip is sponsored by a well established organization called the Philippine Medical Society of Greater Kansas City (PMSGKC).  They receive assistance from the Philippine Nurses Association of Greater Kansas City (PNAGKC). 

The event was held at the Westin in downtown Kansas City, and the country girl doesn't need much of an excuse to visit the big city.  So, using the rancher's mantra, "it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission," I sent in the money, made the reservation, and told him we were going.  Not really.  That's a long drive, and I probably wouldn't have made the trip by myself.  I had him check his calendar, he balked a little when I said he needed to wear a tux, but he manned up and did it, and he had the team at home in place to cover for him.  He was Mr. Cooperation.

With the physicians group and the nurses group working together, they almost have these trips, although to different locations every year, down to a science.  Maybe it is because they have so many repeat participants, but they have wonderful leadership and the trip was highly organized.  Since I am not Filipino and I am not a medical student or practitioner of any kind, I was really lucky to be allowed to accompany the group and be a member.  They gave me jobs, but when those tasks were completed, I would float and try to find somewhere else to be involved.  It was such a great experience.  Yes, I have considered medical school.  My age and home location are the determining factors.  Probably not gonna happen.

 

In order for these medical missions to take place, money is raised year-round.  Starting right after everyone gets home from the mission.  Every bit of it goes for supplies and medicines.  Missioners pay their own way.  Above, this is Luz and Liz -- it would have been more confusing if I was an RN like she is, but since I was "just Liz," it was easy.  She and her daughter were my roommates for part of the trip, 

and I would now consider them very close friends.

Sticking with the 3-letter name theme, here is Luz's daughter, Sam (Samantha).  Now I call her Dr. Sam because she was just this week admitted to medical school.  

She's going to rock that.

Samantha's dad, Cesar, (of course, Luz's husband) joined us as well, and it was nice to finally meet someone I had heard so many nice things about.  We sat at the same table, and it was such a fun time.

Then I asked the photographer to take a picture of me and Dr. Sharma, one of the M.D.'s that went on the mission.  I wanted a picture of all the Indians in the group.  

(I crack myself up.)

Oh!  There's a photo booth!?  C'mon, Sam!

(She's early 20's, and I am early something.)

When I am with her, I pretend to be younger...than I really am.

Everyone looked so nice!  We looked a bit different working in the Philippines.

Beth, an RN who attended the mission, and her husband, Ernie, looked extremely elegant.

It's kind of ridiculous that I am in all these pictures, but I love these people!  This is Del, and we are being slightly photobombed by Joel, Dr. Christine's husband.  Del's husband was one of the surgeons who was EXTREMELY kind to let me watch any surgery he was doing, and would pull the instruments away and to the side so I could get a clearer view or angle of his procedures.  She is a nurse, and the two of them working as a team, she assisted him on every surgery.  Dr. Fred seems to have avoided my camera this weekend.  These two were so generous to include me in their operating room.

And here is Dr. Christine, looking so beautiful.  We had the lizard experience together in Angono, we laughed, we probably cried, and we roomed together for part of the trip.  I found her to be such a caring and wonderful physician.  She always went the extra mile to see another patient, or an extra patient, and when she wasn't seeing patients, she was handling the organizational aspects of the mission trip.  She was in charge.  She is one of those people with kids, extra responsibilities here and there, a big-time full-time job, and she gets up early to go running.  Those kind of people amaze me.  I find myself lacking words to describe all that these folks do.

We had to get a picture with Dr. Yvonne.  She will be the President again next year of the PMSGKC, and she has served in that capacity this year.  She was all over the place at the gala.  I saw her at an entry table, getting things ready, I saw her greeting and welcoming people, she was part of a dance troupe that performed during the slide show of the mission work that was done, she swore in new officers -- we were lucky to get this one picture with her.  These two sisters (and committee) worked so hard to get all the arrangements taken care of for this celebration, and I wish their parents could have been there to see how perfectly it all came together.  They currently live out of state and could not make the trip this year.  They have to be so proud.  

My parents, on the other hand, probably not so much when they will see this picture of me singing with Elvis.  He walked out onto the dance floor.  Looked like an invitation to me!  But if you'll notice, the mike is nowhere near me.  Every once in a while, I like to cut loose.

Great weekend.  Great people.  Great event.

Kansas City Here We Come

Not Sure

I am really not sure you want to know about my travels of late.  The world is a big place, and I feel somewhat of an obligation to see as much of it as possible.  While I've been working on that, we took a detour to Maui on my way home from the Philippine medical mission trip.  Should I stop right here?

After all that white rice that I had previously consumed, I think it's okay if a girl indulges a little.  I always two fist it with iced tea.

Would it help if I said that it rained a few times while we were there?

Yeah, and that caused a double rainbow!

Then after that happened, there was this beautiful sunset.  They have them everyday.  But in all seriousness, I don't know if you can beat our sunsets right here at home.

Oh, look!  There's another one of those skimpy swimsuits I bought.  

It's kind of hard to see.   :)

Grandmothers-to-be should maintain a bit of modesty.  Or should they?

And GTB should also show restraint.  But this is a rare jewel.  A mai tai in a plastic cup.  Like you can walk away from the place you got it... for instance, if you wanted to take it to your cabana on the beach.  Just saying.

I could watch this happen all day.  And sometimes I do.  I take books and all kinds of things down in my beach bag, but I end up just watching the waves break and people.  Oh my gosh.  The people.  It's the world.  They all come to Maui.  All kinds.  Shapes and sizes, fashionistas, wanna-be's.  I am a people watcher. 

Oh, look!  I'm not alone.... or am I?

Do you want me to stop?

I rarely live on the wild side.  Predictable.

I know.  See how boring we are?

Don't ever miss Roy's.  And in case you don't know, order your soufflé for dessert first.  Eat it last, but order it first.

Yep.  My team, playing in the background.  The game was so ugly, 

it took at least two of these uber-authentic mai tais to get over it.

Didn't take long to get over the basketball loss.  

We found the new hot spot in Lahaina, and claimed it as our own.

Fleetwoods on Front Street.

Be sure and order the Harley Davidson Hog Burger.  $33,791.81 - not kidding.

Not Sure

Wednesday Wanderings

Why does it feel like a new year to me?  It could be the decent weather we have been teased with lately.  It could be the daylight savings time that I #dislike.  

It just feels like a whole new schedule is upon us.

So Monday, I decided to shake things up.  I had to be somewhere first thing in the morning, but after that, I spent the whole morning back at home, trying to catch up that ridiculous laundry pile.  It was absolutely beautiful outside.  Barely a breath of wind, temperature warm enough for shorts, but I was comfortable in pants, and I made a little free time for golf.  In case you don't know, I would not consider myself a golfer.  I can count the number of times I have golfed in the last ten years on one hand.  But the day was gorgeous, and I decided I was going golfing.  I called my dad, who had said he wanted to start golfing a little bit, -- middle of the day -- and I said, "I'm going, do you want to go?"  Within 30 minutes, we were teeing off for a quick 9 holes.  

And not to brag or anything, but I only lost one golfball!

I should have been home doing laundry.  I probably should have been cooking dinner.  But after the golf game, I rushed in, changed clothes and ran off to exercise class.  Okay, I stroll back in the house, a sweaty mess, and I get a text message that a delivery is coming within the next few minutes.  Whaaaa?  Okay, this is where the story has to be a bit vague.  These people come in the door carrying a very large frame, and it is being carried backwards so that I cannot see it.  The rancher isn't home yet, and he is missing all the excitement.  What the heck?  The title of this piece of artwork is revealed to me, it is called "Lily in Bronze."  It was in the stars.  Someone thought it had to be for me.  But I wasn't at this event, so they generously purchased it for me.  Sounds like a sculpture, doesn't it?  Well, it is a sculpture -- mounted on a beautiful giant frame.  A true piece of art.  Hint:  It is a bust and torso.  I sort of want to show you the picture I took of it, but it's personal.  I feel like you need to be a friend of mine, and be a guest in my house -- happy for you to see it.  :)    

Sorry to leave you hanging!

Recent success in our family.... the rancher's dad, who is also a rancher, has refused to own a computer.  He thinks it's going to be too hard to learn how to use, and he won't know how to do it.  After about, no kidding, talking about it for over 15 years, we are getting ready to hook him up.  He is going to love it.  He is going to enjoy the up-to-the-minute news.  There are some things he collects, and he is absolutely going to be overwhelmed with everything he will be able to find, read, and learn. 

Never quit learning!

Wednesday Wanderings

Yay For Tuesday!

Yesterday was Monday.  Fine.  I can deal with that.  Mondays usually bring a full week of lots of things to do and a big list to make sure I can check them off of it.  Sometimes I can't find the list.  Sometimes I forget to look at the list or my calendar.  I tell you these things, because I am on a permanent mission to prove to my family and friends that I am NOT a perfectionist.  They accuse me of that.  I prefer to call it "trying to give it my all" or "doing my best."

Last week a sweet friend shared with me this Lenten Bible Study that she is doing online.  Everyday they send her an email, and it has Bible verses, as well as commentary from the author for reflection and things to consider.  She is Catholic, I am Methodist, and this program is written by a Lutheran minister in New Jersey.  So, it's for everyone!

Click here or on the picture to go straight to this Day 5 link, which I put here in an effort to show you that in a perfect world, I would have started with Day 1.  But since I am a little late in starting myself, you should know that you can start wherever you want, just like I can.       :)

photo courtesy of iStockphoto.com

This is the starting place, if you would like to do it in order.  Day 1.

Speaking of perfectionism, I could tell you stories...  You ought to see my laundry room.  You would think I have been gone for 3 months.   Well, I kind of was, but I have also been home for nearly a month.  A perfectionist would have had that laundry cleaned and put away by the end of week one.

Have you ever seen my desk?  Don't touch it.  I know where everything is, but it looks like a 5 year old has stacked school papers on it since last September.

Bank statements?  Don't go there.  I have a system.  You don't have to understand it.  (Referring to personal stuff here - not business entities I handle.)

And in order to be real, I kinda like the following mantra...

Both came from Facebook - The Power of Giving.

Yay For Tuesday!

Dislike

I prefer not to use the word 'hate.'  It's strong, and I am not sure it is appropriate in any situation.  Today is my least favorite day of the year, and that spurred me on to make a new list of things I dislike.  I am not a fan of this hat, for instance...

A)     Daylight Savings Time.  I am not that picky.  Can we please just pick one way and stay there?  It is not my belief that we are saving any electricity or gas or whatever the original excuse for it was.  #dislikeswitchingbackandforth

B)     Uncomfortable Clothing.  Life is short.  I cannot wear things that are uncomfortable, EVER.  Once I wore a dress that had sequins all over it.  Everywhere it touched my bare skin, I developed a dry, itchy rash.  I have always been like this.  I didn't wear a pair of jeans until junior high because I preferred to wear slacks or something stretchy like that.  #dislikelackofcomfort

C)     Conflict.  I avoid conflict like I avoid pecans.  I don't like it.  Negativity, blue or red, strong opinions on any subject -- I try to always be respectful of others, and I appreciate it when I am treated that way.  #dislikeconflict    (This is where I apologize for my remarks about espn and their sec bias.  They have a lot of bias.)

D)     Bugs and varmints.  I know there is a circle of life and everything has a purpose, but I just don't like being surprised by bugs or reptiles.  As long as I see them before they see me and they aren't super close, I'm good.  #dislikespiderscrawlingonme

E)      No second chances.  Once one of our kids was driving the 25 mile trip to town for cross country at about 5:30 in the morning.  He hit a black cow on a blind curve on a dark road.  Luckily, he wasn't hurt.  The pickup had very little damage.  But the cow died.  We called the guy that owned the cow, and told him about it, and he was not very sympathetic, and straight up told us what we owed him for the cow.  If that would have been my rancher, he would have said, "Gee, thanks for calling, that's terrible, is Child A okay?  Hey, don't worry about it, those things happen."  Or at least he would have thought about it for a minute before saying a dollar amount.  Ever seen a dead cow on the side of the road?  Looks like most people just keep on going.  I think there is a certain amount of karma waiting for some people.  Not our first friendly encounter with this guy.  #karmaisabitch

F)     Phone calls from salesmen.  Almost zero tolerance here.  There is nothing you can say that is going to make me buy something from you unless I personally know you or your child.  I'm not very good at this tactic of getting rid of telephone salesmen, but I have heard stories about people going into hysterics and screaming, "Oh my, oh my, do you know how to get blood out of carpet?  I am going to need a lot of help.  This is awful!  It's a lot of blood, I don't know what to do!....."  I'm sure you can google it and find some hilarious stories.  Typically, I do not get very wound up with callers until I say no once, and they have trouble understanding no means no.  #dontneedvinylsidingtoday

Dislike

Please Let Me Go Back

In going back through my pictures one last time before I started a thumb drive or two to share with the others, I found a few little nuggets that might be duplicates, or maybe I just saw them in a different way.  Here we go.

This was what I saw on the chalkboard when we visited the school for the outreach day.  A couple of things struck me.  I think there were only 20 or fewer kids in the class.  So we have "come early +5" -- what do you suppose that means?  Come 5 minutes early?  That seems pretty effective.  *sarcasm*  Maybe it means come really early for 5 days.  Then you have the +3 -- what about that?  Come 3 minutes early?  Stay 3 minutes late?  I really wanted to ask, but I just didn't have the nerve.

 

Here was a picture of Christine, right, with her aunt, Tess, preparing a lantern for the release the night of the event at the new resort.  Check out the one in the background on fire.  These two had no problem releasing theirs.

Not only was I a giant most everywhere I went, I was of fairer skin than I have ever been in my Native American life!  This is me and Sam demonstrating how comfortable and cool one of these swings would look in my backyard.  Usually the rancher can take a picture of something and just build it.  This one did swing, and it was very strong... pretty comfortable, too!

 

Here was where things started getting really hard.  The group was shrinking by the minute.  This was where we said goodbye to Ted, and we all knew we only had a few more hours together.  But it is also the time that we had hot water for the second night in a row.  We had fluffy pillows and full facilities.  We had lots of options of what to eat and drink.  We had choices of what to do.  Dr. Sharma is missing from this picture, but he is still with us here.

There was a ginormous shopping mall right across the street from the hotel.  We walked in through the parking garage, and I have never seen such a system.  Green lights show you where there are openings.  Maybe everyone has seen this but me, but I had never been in such a modern parking garage.

I have never known why, but I like to photograph my beverages.  Cool drinks all around the world.  Maybe I should make a coffee table book.

The day I finally learned to eat with chopsticks!  Kind of a big deal.  Been trying for years.  Never had the right teacher.  This day, I had a table full of people with suggestions.  I still think it would be a good diet plan for me, since I'm not that good at it yet.

I had to include this picture of myself making the funny shapes with my mouth.  Doesn't that look like a kid learning to color?  I was concentrating so hard, I had no idea I was making that face.  Christine is being so patient.  I'm sure she just wants to do it for me.

A wee bit of relaxation and special treatment at the salon -- they had my hair shiny and spiffy in no time.  The other two girls got the relatively new Brazilian deal.  You know, that lasts for like 2-3 months, and keeps your hair straight, healthy and shiny?  

I may need to check into that.

This was a great picture after our last dinner together.  We enjoyed each other's company SO so much, and I can't wait to meet up with them again.  I cannot tell you how sweet these kids were to me.  Every single one of them is younger than I am, so yes, I can call them kids.  The three on the left were 25-ish and under.  The three on the right were, well, they were over 25.  All of them were so mature, caring, pleasant, thoughtful and good-natured.  There aren't enough good words to say about them.  This picture makes me cry.  I think I am going to frame it.

Please Let Me Go Back