Making Memories

I was on a road trip recently with my mother. We meandered down the main street of the town and our attention caught on a rustic saloon by the name of Sorry Gulch Saloon. It looked pretty sorry. It’s always fun to find places specific to the character of each place we visit…we turned in.

Our plan was to sit in the outside patio, as it was a lovely afternoon. However, patios in Arizona’s smoke free state generally mean SMOKE…so rather than join several clients enjoying their cigarettes, we ducked inside the dimly lit interior.

We bellied up to the much carved and autographed wood bar and took a look at the sparkling wall display of most every alcoholic beverage one could imagine. It had the usual beer banners and posters, beat up chairs and hardwood floor. Scarred pool tables dominated the main room, but around the bend in the room we could see a large dance floor and stage. Behind the bar looked very clean, but we both ordered a light beer in a bottle from the bearded bartender.

First thing we met was a friendly, scruffy regular whose first words were to let us know that though the town religious folk didn’t allow a Hooters on Main Street, Wednesday night they had a great stripper show right here at Sorry Gulch.

Well… we had to smile. What possessed this stranger to think an old lady and her daughter would need to know that? Hometown pride I guess…and as we sat and listened, this place was full of it. Pretty soon someone put a dollar in the juke box and Johnny Cash started serenading us…

I actually found internet reviews on the place --

“This is the best bar I have ever been in! And, I've been in plenty. I'm older than dirt and have been going to bars, night clubs, road houses and saloons all my life. The Sorry Gulch Saloon beats them all! The atmosphere can't be beat. “

“Great Bar: Very diverse crowd.”
Pros: inexpensive drinks, friendly people, diverse crowd
Cons: the nasty strippers

“This local hang out has more to offer than strippers. A local Cheer's to those regulars and daring outsiders who come to visit. Not for the faint at heart. The robust conversation among regulars covers many topics. Harley Riders frequent the joint adding to the flavor.”

“All I can say is Thursday night, stripper night, stripper night, stripper night!!!”
Pros: stripper night
Cons: stripper night


So our reviewers are tactful and this mother-daughter duo enjoyed kicking back and enjoying some local flavor for a little while. If you’re ever taking a road trip through the military town of Sierra Vista, AZ (we went for the balloon festival) and you feel adventurous…stop in for a soda or beverage at the Sorry Gulch Saloon.

Our favorite moment? Spotting the rack of t-shirts for sale…we were oh…so… tempted….

“Good Girl Gone Gulch”

Exactly. :)
Everyone should go gulch in their lifetime.

P.S. My SECOND favorite moment? Giggling with my reputably austere mother like two girls sneaking out at midnight....

The Path less Traveled...

We live about 20 minutes north of Tucson, in a newer community of Marana a few miles off the main interstate running from Tucson to Phoenix. In the last few months, a new road was completed just off the freeway, with four lanes and a wide, beautiful median of desert floral. It replaces the bumpy, lumpy frontage road and two lane jaunt through the cotton fields.

After taking the ‘new” road for over a month, I got to thinking that it was LONGER to take the new, smooth road at 45 mph, than the old, construction truck-frequented bumpy, 35 mph lane. So, in my typical analytical fashion, set my odometer and set off to measure time and distance.

My findings were that the smooth “new” road took 5 minutes, and was 3 miles long. The former pathway took 6 minutes, and was 3.5 miles long.

Again, I mention my analytical nature because I couldn’t just drop it at that. Upon reflection of my results, I began to parallel it with life, past and present.

I remember being a passenger as we drove across the Dakotas. We swore that if we looked far enough down the road we saw ahead of us straight and narrow AND SMOOTH, we’d see our night’s destination. BORING, LONG, UNEVENTFUL!!!!

Or...When you’re sitting in a jury duty waiting room ALL DAY, it seems to take forever. However if you’re sitting in the aisle awaiting TRAFFIC COURT…your time can come too SOON!

Or... how about the safe pleasure of a merry go round—at what age does the majority begin to desire speed, thrills, spins, flips….

For us the drive to Phoenix is pretty dull until you get close in. It’s a flat, barren land broken by occasional small towns and farm areas. We enjoy our mountains as we near Tucson and find the canyons, peaks and rocks of Arizona preferable to the scrub-filled flats. I have driven all day on the dirt backroads of AZ along the southern border and found that more “fun” than the first 80 miles driving north to Phoenix…

So, what do you think? Bumps or smooth sailing?
Don’t the potholes and curves and detours in life add the interest, the spice, the COMPLEXITY to life?
Or from another perspective….the differences between the roads we journey help us to appreciate both as they come…at least in hindsight?

Or digging deeper…the curves the bad roads toss our way prepare us to be better drivers on the straightaway?

See…I told you that road is long going home…lots of time for reflection….

By the way...the photo above was taken at the tip of Door County, WI...the final 2 miles to catch the ferry to Washington Island. Gorgeous summer, winter and fall. The best part???? The ric-rack, zig zag, up and down!!!!!

Clearing the Air

Did you know this is National Pet Peeve Week? I excused myself during my morning break to take a walk today at work because I was strung out regarding a pet peeve. During my lunch break I did a little “surfing” on the pet peeve subject. This is what I found that made sense to me:

"The main reason I hate "so busy" is because it is used as an excuse - an excuse for not being a good friend, not being a nice person, not following through on promises, not completing jobs well, etc. For example, I know many women use this as a way to explain why they haven't called, texted or emailed other friends.
The other "so busy" type is the uber-mom. We all know her. She is living through her kids, and is often a really cool mom. I usually like her alot, and she is a good soul most of the time. But there is a darkness lurking within her - the overscheduling madness that seems to overtake certain moms. Her children are in ballet, in baseball, in piano lessons, in the band, cheerleading, taking drama and cooking and art and gymnastics. They are going camping four weekends this summer and the family will hike the Grand Canyon. The kids are taking horseback and golf lessons and French too. They are active in church, and in fact, they attend the children's program. And the youth. And VBS. And church camp.
This sweet mom, who does seem really busy, spends most summer hours driving around dropping kids off here and there. Her kids are whiny and gripey, and she is grumpy too - She really is busy - but is "so busy" an excuse you can use, when you put yourself there?
The ones who don't say they are "so busy" only really differ from the overscheduling mom in that they don't complain about the life they have chosen, and they don't use it to excuse them from basic social skills."

A recent poll indicates that office workers have plenty of gripes, and most of them are about the behavior of their co-workers.
Here’s just the top 3:
Gossip (60%)
Poor time management (including personal calls and non work-related web surfing) (54%)
General messiness in shared spaces, such as dirty dishes in the sink (45%)

So in honor of National Pet Peeve Week…are you venting, internalizing, or getting some good exercize???

Comment from S. Fox: Cara, My dad used to have a little saying on the wall above his desk. It read, "I'm not interested in the storms you endured, but did you bring in the ship?" This as of late has been my motto, and as you note about pet peeves the same thing goes for those people that don't have time for people.I don't know if you knew I have just returned from two weeks in Hungary. Every day someone had to give a thought for the day. This is one I keep on my list: "People who need people are the luckiest people in the world" Burt Bacharach. You would know the words and you can sing.

Have you seen the bumper snicker...I'm not having hot flashes, I'm experiencing POWER SURGES!?

So I’ve been reading up on hot flashes…or more specifically, the eradication of them…without the weight inducing factor of hormones. Ever nearing 50, I’m sure you can figure out WHY I’d be suddenly interested.

I am a great source of amusement to those I live and socialize with. In Tucson, we learn to dress in layers…you have to be prepared for blasts of air conditioning co-existing with temps in the 100’s. Even today, October 1, it was 80 at 8:00 a.m. I’m bringing the term, dressing layers, to a whole new level!

Recently, I spent a week in Green Bay, WI visiting my enchanting first grandchild, Calianna Cadence Malcore. It was cooler, so I had heavy sweaters, light sweaters, long sleeved shirts…and tank tops. Any given 2 hour period of time included various additions or subtractions of each. Blankets even…and then, spaghetti strap tops a few moments later. This is a 24 hour thing.

I’ve learned that foundation makeup is a waste of time, waterproof mascara is a must, and ponytails are good enough for fashion nowadays.

According to WEB MD and other fun sites, I have to ride out the initial rollercoaster, or experiment with acupuncture (uh, don’t think so) or prescription drugs. (Um, I really don’t think so)

I’ve done the dietary changes over the past 5 years…doing pretty good with whole wheat, fiber, higher protein and low carbs. Trying the herb Black Cohash too, despite posts that its really just a placebo. (Having positive attitude here) Exercise I’m increasing, although I hate the compounded sweat on top of hot flash sweat. Oh well, its 40 minutes three times a week, throwing in a walk or two as it cools. (Still 100 degree days happening here)

So here’s hoping that the ride levels out as I get more into it. I pity my husband who endures my tossing and turning and blanket flipping and pillow fluffing….night after night after night. I even have my own personal fan running on my side of the bed! And heaven forbid if he wants to “cuddle”. I have heard him describe me as “clammy”. Romantic huh!

I am counting my blessings that I am not experiencing the characteristic mood swings or depression…that’s gotta be good right???

So feel free to warn me if you catch any mood swings. I’m trying to stay positive. Just keep out of the way of my tossed blankets, sweaters, socks and shoes….

It's a GIRL!!!!!!!

A Baby Girl!!!

Calianna Cadence Malcore

7 lbs 3 ounces
19.5 inches long
August 28, 2008

All are well, healthy, happy!

The Commercialism of America

So I work up this morning to the blare of my Hannah Montana radio singing, what else, “10 Things I hate about you” and confirmed the time on my Hannah Montana wrist watch. Yep…had to go to work. Reluctantly, I climbed out of my Hannah Montana silk coverlet, smoothed my Hannah Montana pillow set, and set to get up.

Moving aside my Hannah Montana shower curtain, I had a nice shower with my Hannah Montana shower wash and used my special Hannah Montana hand mitten for a good wake up call. Drying off with my Hannah Montana beach towel, I added a little Hannah Montana lotion from my special Hannah Montana hand dispenser to make everything silky smooth. I brushed my hair with my Hannah Montana hairbrush and then I put on my Hannah Montana t-shirt, bermudas, baseball hat and co-ordinating pink scarf, waved to my Hannah Montana wall poster and grabbed a Hannah Montana cheese stick on the way out the door. (I’ll save the Hannah Montana Breakfast crunch for another day – watching carbs)

Starting the car, I hummed along with Best of Both Worlds on my Hannah Montana CD and read the back to school billboards along the route featuring my favorite Hannah Montana clothing wear. SALE TIME!

At lunch, I pulled out my Hannah Montana frozen dinner, and set it on my Hannah Montana plate, got me a Hannah Montana yogurt stick, and poured some drink into my Hannah Montana plastic cup. Keeping neat, I was sure to use my Hannah Montana napkin set too. Then it was back to work and I pulled out my Hannah Montana pencil, pen set, out of my Hannah Montana purse and set to writing notes on my Hannah Montana notepaper.

I got a lovely surprise in the afternoon – my hunnie sent me some pink carnations with Hannah Montana Balloons. What a mind reader! I blew him a kiss, because I keep his face close by on my Hannah Montana bentwood table in my favorite Hannah Montana picture frame. After a quick stretch in my Hannah Montana director’s chair, it was back to finish my day!

Glancing at my Hannah Montana wall calendar, I noted what was up for tomorrow, took one last look around my office adored with my Hannah Montana wall paper border, fluffed my Hannah Montana pillows arrayed in a special corner, and shut off my Hannah Montana lamp for the day.

…They said Elvis Pressley had difficulty adapting to fame and all that it entailed back in the day…leading to his lifestyle choices and eventual demise. (Yeah, I know, I'm dating myself) What is it about America that thrives on the Star, the Enquirer, People, the Media, YouTube, MySpace, and more?. Where does it end?…When does it start all over?... Where does it go from here? Can this be fixed?

It used to be you paid extra for cable and avoided commercials. Now we pay extra for stations like NFL or movie channels…and even those are saturated in commercialism. In watching the Jets against Giants this weekend, by the end of the first half (30 minutes game time) we’d been watching tv 90 minutes….COMMERCIALS. Now, we even get to watch advertisements BEFORE movies in the theatre.

So all this commercialism fuels the stars/athletes/talking head salaries they say. So, What happens NEXT? Are there limits?
To quote an 80’s icon, please, STOP THE INSANITY!!!
Well, let me know...I'll be watching the Hanna Montana Show...

Photo to go with contest!

Awaiting word in September! Thanks for voting!

Ballad of the Barren Backyard

Ballad of the Barren Backyard

I sit...waiting

Uncared for, forgotten

Windswept

In my solitude hearing echoes of the children

I can see them:

Splashing toddlers in the pool; playing tag

Teenagers lounging, gossiping, giggling

Sunburst smiles warming my gardener's soul


I let the wind take me away on the dust of my palate

Seeking the trickle of water over picturesque boulders

Poetry of landscape; the aroma of desert bloom

I hear my owners' laments --words I only understand as "someday"

I feel empty. I AM empty...


There are so few rainy days in Tucson...

How long does it take to save for one?


So, the Arizona Star is having a backyard contest. Here's the story:

"Hey You! Yeah, you. Is your backyard ugly? We mean, really, really ugly. It's OK to admit it. In fact, it's to your advantage if you admit it, because there's this contest, see, and you could win a yard makeover worth up to $30,000. Here's what you have to do: Submit up to two pictures of your "backyard beast" along with 100 words or fewer describing why your yard needs some major help. It's OK — we're not here to judge. Well, that's not quite true. Readers will weigh in on the entries, as well as a panel of judges that will render a final decision. The winning yard will be featured in a future At Home section. The Beautify Your Backyard Beast Contest is sponsored by Premier Backyard Design Center, Premier Pools & Spas, Flame Connection and Turf Tek LLC. To submit an entry and see contest rules, go online to: go.azstarnet.com/backyard."

After some thought about what to say, I figured no one really wanted to hear another real estate story, this time featuring ROCCO AND I, and how my townhome hasn't sold for over 16 months being on the market, and we have two mortgages, and the price/value has dropped over $70,000 and so we won't EVER get a back yard now...in fact, if it doesn't sell soon, we may be giving away BOTH BACKYARDS to the bank, its getting so ugly. See...isn't a poem so much better? EVERYONE has a hard luck story...but I haven't seen one poem as of my submission the day before deadline. (There were some great rhyming poems submitted! (8/08)

Billboard Along Tucson Highway

So, we're driving down the road June '08 and spot a new billboard. Now mind you, this is over a month ago as I finally publish this. See anything wrong with this picture???? And...any particular reason why it wasn't corrected???

Makes you kinda worry about the actual building/assembly of the advertised product...

I sent the photo to my son who is great at photo shop and he re-arranged the panels. Guess good help is hard to find.

Caption ideas?

SUBMISSIONS:

Life is a puzzle; home shouldn't be. Wendy S.

RAGE on the ROAD

So, I'm really trying to work on my road rage. Anyone else suffer from it? Not the antagonist rage...but the passifest rage. The one that puts cruise on at 23 mph when someone is tailgating at my speed of 32 in a 25 mile per hour zone. The one that is swearing myself blue in the face when I'm stuck behind a truck merging at 45 mph when the traffic is buzzing by at 75 or 80, and the car BEHIND me tries to swerve round....

So, I got this little article at work. I'll share it with you.

For the next 7 days, in your journal or on a fresh sheet of paper, make a list of all of your responsibilities. Remember to list everything you do for your family, as well as any responsibilities outside the home. Include church, work and social too.
For each item on your list, describe how you approach the task. What are your feelings, how does your behavior or attitude change to fit the situation? Check your actions and re-actions.
Pick one or two items from your list. Over the next 21 days, consciously approach the task from a difference perspective, bringing your character and personality to it. In your journal, write about how you or your feelings change.

So I was lazy, and just looked at the big picture. WHERE DOES MY ATTITUDE NEED THE MOST ADJUSTMENT???

The morning I yelled "F*&@ing driver!!!" to the person who just about wiped me out, while on the cell phone to my mother was a reality check. Yeah, and I know...I should be READING THE INSTRUCTIONS and getting my bluetooth phone I got a year ago to work too. Hands free driving and all...

So what's YOUR attitude?????

A trip to the Dentist

So anyone ever enjoy a trip to the dentist?

I have to say, when I had Super Insurance through my school job in Wisconsin, that it wasn't half bad. I'd get $1000 coverage a year, which in those days covered the cost of TWO crowns/caps, and a wonderful dentist. I was with him from his dating years, to marriage, honeymoon, first kids, you name it. You learn alot when you're a regular in a dental office.

The best was the personal service, and the nitris oxide or whatever the formal term for laughing gas is. Other than the injections and the drilling, oh and the teeth cleaning/scraping, it wasn't half bad!!!

So I move to Tucson. First of all, I can't find anyone who uses laughing gas. What is the world coming to? After 20 years of the stuff, I'm addicted. That was my (literally) high of the visit.
Sigh. So secondly, you either take out a second mortgage to get your pearly whites cleaned, or you take on dental insurance personally.

Being self employed, I found some dental insurance. Generally ONE visit to the clinic takes care of my yearly "dues".

So here I am in Tucson, and my old dental work starts to slowly fall apart, fall out, etc. So, I get this really strong feeling I'm going to lose my front tooth (or half of it) and I make an appointment. The first thing the telephone receptionist says is...you haven't been here in 18 months! I'm like...well it's EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (You have to have priorities! I remodeled my house, got married, moved...and subsequently STILL haven't sold my house -- but that's another story) So I get my appointment and come in for my temporary cap. Now let me tell you -- there's a LOT of difference between a nice family dentist you've been going to for 20 years, and a CLINIC. Today's surprise was it was under new management and all new dentists. Oh boy...I've got to train another one all over again.

Right away I ask my new dentist's credentials as he's standing above me, 6 inch syringe in his hand. He realizes I'm scoping him out and I said, "well wouldn't you"? My assistant has a whopping 7 months experience. Hmmm. He did well with the shot, and the drilling--Everything else was left in the capable hands of his 7 month's experience sidekick.

Without too much information here, I'll tell you my front tooth temporary cap fell out within 24 hours. I have five other caps, so I'm surprised at the quality (lack of). Besides, I must comment that the tooth was the ugliest, most ill-fitting piece of clay I'd ever received. I go BACK in for a re-glue. Hmmm....by evening it popped again.

So, it's a long drive to the dentist, and about 10 days til I get my final, so I decide to use denture cream adhesive. (ucky tasting stuff, wow) So, day 4 of my experience, my husband and I are out taking a twilight walk on a rocky roadway. I let go a mighty sneeze...and you guessed it...lost the tooth.

I spent the next day hiding behind a magazine...and got a new, one size fits all, chicklet temporary now. Anytime I forget and smile big, people look twice. There's a lot of public complaints about health care, hospitals, nurses, etc. Better lump dental into it too...

Anyone got any stories to share? My family wants me to take a picture of my chicklet--but I'm afraid it'll end up on one of their web pages....