I'll "never"

A couple of days ago we were challenged to write about what we said we would "never" do but inevitably did. My list of things I was never going to do seemed endless: I was never going to get married, abandon my degree, smoke, learn how to use a computer, stop writing, lose touch with friends, drink wine, stop painting, get fat, stop playing tennis, join a message board ... the list goes on and on.

Of the many things on the endless list, the one thing I'm completely thrilled that I was "never" going to do but did is: go to the chiropractor!





Not only that, but at the Lakeshore Clinic, I get to treat myself to a deep tissue massage as well. I've also had the trigenics which really helped with my frozen shoulder when nothing else worked.

This answer, of course, comes to mind because I have just returned home from another appointment. I had a massage then an adjustment. I've been going weekly for the past month and I have to say that my shoulder is feeling so much better which just makes everything feel better!

Hope you're having a great day :)

The Beckoning of Lovely

I agree: THIS should go viral!

Layout: He Boy

This is my first attempt at a Pencil Lines sketch. I think it turned out pretty well. As always, I've converted to a 2-page spread.





Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: Scenic Route; Ghost Letters: Heidi Swapp; Ink: Fluid Chalk: Color Box; Other: Staples; Font: Garamond

Another PageMaps Challenge Layout

This is the sketch:

This is my layout (as always, my layout is 2-pages so I just "extended" the page):

I'm quite enjoying these challenges.

It is certainly getting me to get some layouts completed. Expecially the difficult ones. I find it harder to do layouts for which I have taken numerous photos. I managed to somehow get myself used to designing pages for one or two photos! My life is not a one- or two-photo life so this challenge process is definitely getting the creative juices flowing.

I produced four more layouts but they include photos of friends' kids so I don't want to put on the blog until I get permission. So, you may or may not see any of them!

Any of you scrapbookers, do you participate in challenges? Do you have any favourites? What are they? Tell me, tell me, tell me :)

2Peas: Sunday Blogger

hi bloggers.. your challenge today is journaling!! do you think you do enough of it? does it always relate to the story?

I do a lot of journaling. That does not necessarily mean I write a lot of words. But the words I write have meaning and provide context to the work I'm doing. The journaling is always incorporated into the design, is in fact, the basis for the design.

To me, the story is often more important than the photo or event. A photo or event without context is lost and after time doesn't hold up: it loses it's meaning. To have a beautifully crafted piece of work and no context makes little sense to me.

Plus: The "real" story behind a photo, painting, sculpture or artist, writer, crafter is often more interesting than something that can be assumed by the work or the person. I'm also a big supporter of getting the information from the source, it is often more interesting, and certainly, more true!

(Written while waiting on the Wimbledon Rain Delay - GAH. Virtually no rain all tournament and it pours today!)

Another Challenge!

Challenge (from DolphinDesigns):
What is your greatest joy about scrapbooking?

I have always enjoyed combining photos and words. I scrapbook much the same way I've set up this blog. Few photos, lots of words, true, sincere, from-the-heart thoughts and ideas. The added benefit is that I get to play with paper, colour, photos to feed my need for my fingers to get involved. Way more fun than simply typing!

(This entry has no photo because there is no way to pick one layout or one scrapbook idea or one ingredient or one embellishment that would be right!)

Mix tape, er, CD, er ... iTunes playlist!

Challenged issued by Beth: If you had to make your ultimate MIX TAPE (er, mix CD) what would be the top 10 songs on it, and why would you choose those songs?

Tough to choose only 10. So, for LYRICAL content, I would have to select the following:

Insensitive by Jann Arden
What a tremendous talent. She has such a way with phrasing and wording. I love her as a person an as an artist. She is warm, generous, genuine, funny, deep and caring. This is one of the best examples of her songwriting.

Concrete and Stone by David Byrne
He has come a long way from his beginnings (or when I first "met" him) as a member of the Talking Heads! While watching the movie "In Good Company" I fell in love with the soundtrack, particularly this song. I really enjoy the content and especially xylophone. Love the xylophone.

Dear Father from the Jonathan Livingston Seagull Soundtrack by Neil Diamond
I grew up listening to Neil Diamond. This soundtrack I would blast in the basement and this song was my favourite. It was 1978. I was 14. It had great meaning to me while growing up and means just as much now though the reasons have changed.

Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkle
If my sisters are reading, they will understand the significance. Poor Beth, cramped between Bryn and I in the backseat of the Jaguar sedan driving up and down the hills of Maine on our way to Cape Breton for our summer holiday. Beth, singing at the top of her lungs every single word to this song. NO CLUE what the words meant. My dad thought it was hysterical. My mother? Not so much. That made it even funnier!

Your Body is a Wonderland by John Mayer
This song came out in 2002 and at the time John Mayer was 25. Who writes like that at 25? He is such a tremendous talent. And diverse! Wow, from introducing "Garage Band" for Apple Computers to duets with Eric Clapton to philanthropy. This is one of my favourite songs, but truly, my entire top 10 could be songs by John Mayer.

Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen
Written by Brian May, one of his many tremendous epic songs. It has all of the great ingredients that made Queen and Freddy Mercury such a mainstay of rock. Seal did an incredible cover at the tribute concert to Freddy Mercury in 1992. Now that's a recording I should find! Other favourites: Play the Game; Under Pressure; I Want to Break Free; Save Me

Beautiful by Carole King
Though Tapestry is a great album (I even sang "It's Too Late" in concert years ago) filled with many popular songs, my favourite is one of the lesser-knowns. How can you not enjoy lyrics that go:
You've got to get up every morning with a smile on you´re face
And show the world all the love in you´re heart
Then people gonna treat you better
You're gonna find, yes you will
That you're beautiful as you feel.

Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys
My birthday (September 4) is always in or around Labour Day weekend. The Canadian National Exhibition was a huge part of my formative years and one of the very last concerts every summer was the Beach Boys. Oh how my Dad loved to take the whole family to "The Ex" to this celebration of the end of summer, and my big day!

Say a Little Prayer by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Dionne Warwick
Five years ago, Caden almost drown in our backyard pool. It was a turning point in my life. There was a lot to deal with: Louis' guilt, confusion and chaos for my three older children, Lise (my Mother in Law) in to help, my parents' concern, the judgements of neighbours and friends. Twice each day I would drive from Oakville to the Hospital for Sick Children. It was about 35 minutes each way. THIS was the song that kept me going. I would sing it over and over and over again in the car on the way to and from the hospital.

Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison
Louis is a HUGE Van Morrison fan. For a long time he travelled out of town. Monday to Friday, week after week. Sometimes it was Monday to the second or third Friday. One of the many songs I would sing to our children was this one by Van Morrison. It always made me feel better, closer to him when I put it on.


Ask me next week and I might have a completely different top 10. Or, maybe I'll put together my top 10 MUSICAL choices.

Blog Challenge: 30 seconds to change the world

With all the issues going on in the world today, earthquakes, tornados, tsunamis, etc., I thought it would be nice to take some time to take a look at the bigger picture. This weeks challenge? Blog a list of 30 things you can do in 30 seconds each to change the world.

Here as some answers to some anticipated questions...

First, the definition of “change the world” is frequently challenged. It isn’t up to me to define what will “change the world”. It’s up to you. It’s your world. Define it by whatever parameters arrive in your head to define “change the world”. It can be to “make the world a better place”, change conditions worldwide, make yourself a better person, make others better people, or just make it a little better than you found it in your neck of the woods. Whatever you want. Just let us know what your definition of “change the world” means so we are clear about the intent behind your list.

Second, each of the 30 things on your list must take no more than 30 seconds to accomplish by the average human being. Not 30 seconds for all 30 items. Just 30 seconds for each one.
Solving world hunger or conflict takes just a little longer than 30 seconds. It might take less, if you have the right idea, but as a rule, if no one has yet come up with a 30 second method to solve hunger and war so far, what are the odds you can? Hmm?

Third, think of the items on your list on a global scale. Your blog post may be read by hundreds or millions of people who may be inspired to do one or more of the 30 things on your list in their own 30 seconds. On a global scale, think of what it would mean if 30 people did one of the 30 things on your list at the same time? What if 300 did? Or 3 million? Or 3 billion? What if 3 billion people all leaned over at the same time and picked up a piece of trash off the ground and put it in the garbage? Would that change the world? Maybe if 3 billion people all looked at each other and smiled at the same time, the idea of peace solved in 30 seconds might be closer to reality, wouldn’t it? Make your list doable, but think about how your list may inspire the world to act.

Note: on point 3, there are 27 people "authorized" to participate on this blog, so I don't see us changing the world, but hey, who knows?

1. Bring your own coffee cup.

2. Smile at a stranger.

3. Use a cloth napkin.

4. Pick up a piece of trash and throw it away.

5. Let a car merge in front of you in traffic.

6. Turn your heat down one degree (or air conditioning up a degree).

7. Add money to a parking meter.

8. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water.

9. Say something nice to someone who won't expect it.

10. Think before you print.

11. Send an e-birthday card.

12. Turn off the T.V. or computer.

13. Purchase rechargeable batteries.

14. Buy local fruit and vegetables.

15. Use your car blinker.

16. Park your car farthest from the door and walk.

17. Turn the lights off when you leave a room.

18. Take your children to the park not the store.

19. Stop chasing "the latest".

20. Snip six-pack rings.

21. Choose whole grains.

22. Wave hello to your neighbors.

23. Reuse paper in your printer (print on the back).

24. Make rags from an old t-shirt.

25. Use the stairs not the elevator.

26. Shut up and listen.

27. Tell someone “I love you”.

28. Let someone cut in front in the grocery line.

29. Use a bucket not a hose.

30. Consume less.

One Word

Not as easy as you might think... answer each question with only one word!

1. Where is your cell phone? counter
2. Significant other? bed
3. Your hair? bottle
4. Your mother? absent
5. Your father? conservative
6. Your favorite thing? children
7. Your dream last night? odd
8. Your favorite drink? lemonade
9. Your dream/goal? publish
10. The room you're in? kitchen
11. Your hobby? photography
12. Your fear? fire
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you're not? patient
16. Muffins? poppyseed
17. One of your wish list items? digi-book
18. Where you grew up? everywhere
19. The last thing you did? slept
20. What are you wearing? pajamas
21. Your TV? sports
22. Your pets? gone
23. Your computer? distraction
24. Your life? fulfilling
25. Your mood? positive
26. Missing someone? no
27. Your car? fun
28. Something you're not wearing? jewelry
29. Favorite store? Scrapalicious
30. Your summer? busy
31. Like someone? many
32. Your favorite color? red
33. When is the last time you laughed? today
34. Last time you cried? unknown

Blog Challenge: Life Lessons

Here is the blog challenge issued by Gaye on ScrapShare:

Life Lessons: When was the last time you had a life lesson -- one that made you feel "BETTER" about "YOU"? It doesn't have to be a life altering lesson; it can be something small, it can be something very minor, but it must be a life lesson And it must be a GOOD life lesson. What is it?

Every day I learn life altering lessons in perspective.

I have four children who teach me on a daily basis how to acknowledge events and happenings and move on. Especially the two younger kids: they shake off anything negative and simply move forward onto the next adventure. They remind me that I'm doing a job: a very important one. I am raising four small beings to be great adults. I have to listen closely to their issues and give them the best possible advice for them. Not for me. I must be unselfish, unbiased and kind. I must give them the tools and confidence to make decisions that will keep them true to themselves.

They make me kinder, gentler, patient, thoughtful, more resilient and less stuck on "perfect". They also make me more driven, determined and passionate about making their lives fulfilling and challenging on a daily basis. After all, I'm preparing them to go out and change the world. Not for the world to change them.

All four of them are able to remind me that though I may be a speck in the universe that, for right now, I am their world, to them.

Blog Challenge: There's No Place Like Home

This week tell us about the places you've called home. Have you lived in one place all your life? Tell us about it and why you've chosen to stay there. Have you lived in many places? Where have you lived and what have you done to make each place feel like home? What has been your favorite place to live and why?

In my life there have been many, many moves! This may become quite long ... you are warned!

I was born, what feels like aeons ago, in Saint John, New Brunswick. We lived in a few homes before my parents built a big red house on Kelton Street. Funnily enough, almost forty years later I moved into a neighbourhood in Oakville and one of the little girls who lived across from us on Kelton Street was one of my neighbours - four doors down the road! The world truly is small sometimes!

When I was four, we moved to Boston when my Dad was accepted into the MBA program at Harvard. We lived in the married student housing in Watertown. Two years later, degree in hand (or, to be more precise, degree in Grampy's hand because my dad would have left it somewhere!) we moved to Cleveland, Ohio, I seem to recall it being a small ranch house in a town called Meadowbrook or Meadowvale Village. Two vivid memories: breaking the neighbours picture window with a boomerang recently brought home by one of the dads from Australia; and, the snapping turtles which lived in the pond across the street from the bus stop. At the time it was the cheapest place to live in the US and still be in reasonable commuting distance to the big cities in the North East. We then moved to Toronto and lived in a lovely home on Strathallan Boulevard in the Avenue Road and Lawrence area. (I would dearly love to live back there but I'd have to be married to someone else!) We then moved to Chicago, the suburb of Palentine on a 15 acre farm with an awesome basketball court in the barn and a pool! Back to Canada and another house in Toronto. This is the house my father considers our family home. An old, character home in Forest Hill, originally built in 1913. It was a behemoth 10,000 square foot, 3 storey, yellow brick house on a corner lot. It came with an incredible regulation size snooker table in the basement, I swear the house was built around it.

Alas, puberty hit and I was no angel. Can you imagine? I was then off to boarding school in St. Thomas, Ontario (just outside of London). I was sent with great hopes that I just might squeak by with a high school diploma. I'm happy to say I ended up valedictorian. Then off to Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. Truly, the coldest place on earth. When the wind comes over the marshes and blasts you, there is NOTHING more bone chilling. Much rye was consumed in an effort to keep warm. I'm sticking with that story. Though, it's entirely possible Sackville has never recovered from my presence!

My career began. I worked in West Seneca (Buffalo), New York and moved into various apartments and houses in the eight years I went through the longest management training program in the history of mankind! Enough with all that training, time to put it to the test. I took a transfer to Calgary, Alberta. I lived in a tiny townhouse, but since I really lived at the office it didn't matter. Then I bought my first house. A real house all my own, with a front and back yard and all that goes with it! I bought the house a year before we got married. I got married and had two babies in that little blue bungalow on 7A Street. It was cramped and small but it was home.

Louis took a transfer to the Toronto office and we moved to Oakville, a suburb located just outside Toronto to the west on the shores of Lake Ontario. Since moving here in 1997 we have lived in three communities: we first moved to a big "white elephant" in Glen Abbey, moved to River Oaks with the best neighbours ever and now have settled in Bronte.

Please let this be our last home. I tease Louis that the only way he's getting me to leave is in a casket. But it's true! This is a lovely home. It has high ceilings, wood floors, huge windows and sits on the shore. We have balconies out each floor and the deck runs around the back half of the house. The look is very formal when you walk up to the front door. Inside it is a casual beach house. The colours are very rich and earthy which was a fantastic reprieve from our long, bleak winter! I was really concerned that I went too heavy in my selections when we moved in last Spring, but it turned out great. It's still a work in progress. We have an empty dining room (in all these moves I still haven't found one I like). But, it's coming along.

It will be a reflection of us ... all of us, crazy, hectic, warm and happy.

ABC Adendum: I forgot Xylophone!

This is a GREAT example of how a xylophone can be used in a

modern, non-jazz, primal context. LOVE this song. I first heard it

in the movie In Good Company. Who knew I'd go to see Dennis

Quaid and fall in love with a song? Hell, a whole soundtrack!

Blog Challenge: Act Your Age

The challenge: If you could go back to any age again, how old would you want to be and why? What age would you least like to be and why?

I am not much for regrets or looking backward. Certainly, a limited amount of reflection is good to learn from mistakes or errors in judgment. Given that hindsight is 20-20 there is plenty to be re-evaluated. But go back? No.

I loved turning 40. There is a credibility that comes with the age. A confidence and courage comes with living that long. You are now a full fledged human being with definite opinions and the right to speak them without anyone looking at you funny because you “aren’t old enough” to have that viewpoint. A full resume that reflects where you’ve been; and, still you are young enough to have dreams for the future.

Who knows, it might be better when I turn 50!

The only age I would not want to be is whatever age you are when you are no longer learning and growing.

Right now? At 43, I’m glad to simply be my age.

WARNING! Long! Sherry's Blog Challenge: Getting to know you

Getting To Know You
Copy and paste the following section into your blog and answer as best as you can. You can elaborate (I hope you do), you can post pictures, you can be deep, you can be funny. Whatever you choose -just be honest.
Second part of the challenge - post a picture (from this week) of you at your computer. Don't worry about cleaning up - just post and have fun.

1) Right now I want:
2) I wish I knew how to:
3) When I want to indulge myself, I:
4) You’ll never see me:
5) A childhood memory that I love:
6) 2 things I do every single day:
7) Happiest moment of 2008, so far:
8) Describe yourself in 3 words:
9) 2 scrap related goals for this year:
10) You have $40 that you MUST spend on yourself – what do you do with it?

Right now, I want: Chinese Food. Actually, Asian Comfort Food from Celedon House. BUT, Celedon House is CLOSED on Mondays. So, I'll just have to wait, because, you really can't always get what you want (sing it, boys)!

I wish I knew how to: ski. Ski with confidence. Ski like I've been to Banff, Big Mountain, Whistler, Alta, Park City, Mount Tremblant, Saint-Sauveur and Deer Valley. Like I've received professional instruction - which I have done in each place listed! BUT, I still ski like I've only been down the bunny hill at Blue Mountain! Pitiful. But, I get great pictures ;) (no, I didn't take this one ...)

When I want to indulge myself, I: sleep in. Nothing better than getting a few extra minutes in bed. Not a long time - we all know how crappy you can feel with too much of a a good thing!

You'll never see me: willingly consume Brussels Sprouts. Ick.

A childhood memory that I love: is a tie! I could not choose between the two.

The top picture is of the Courtyard Cafe in the Windsor Arms Hotel. Very posh. Our dad would take us there for special occasions. The best, truly the best Cream of Mushroom Soup and for dessert Carrot Cake. Totally delicious. It was always a wonderful lunch and a pure treat to go.

The bottom picture is of the Tavern on the Green in Central Park, New York City. For years we spent Canadian Thanksgiving (Columbus Day) in New York. Shopping with my dad at Paul Stewart, eating at incredible restaurants, seeing fantastic on-and-off-Broadway shows. We stayed at the Plaza and walked the city, sometimes skated at Rockefeller Centre, always had a wonderful time.

Two things I do every day:

I wait. I wait all the time. My glove compartment is filled with 'waiting material'. Books, journal, magazines. All designed for me to be more productive while I wait: outside school, outside the rink, outside the wherever the kids find themselves at that moment.

I love mail. We get mail every day and I'm thrilled to say it's not just bills and magazines. My post man always comments that I'm the only one in the neighbourhood who receives real mail.

Happiest moment of 2008, so far: was this past weekend when the girls came home from Night Life (dance) and were giggly and chatty in the kitchen. They had a grand time. Later, once the evening and subsequent sleepover, was over, Claire told me that I was voted "coolest mum".

How awesome is that?

Describe yourself in 3 words: Antithesis of Beverley (see post above)

I couldn't find any photo that represented my scrapbooking related goals for this year! But my two scrap related goals for the remainder of this year are: to get projects DONE and not to sign up for any BPS programs that I am not willing to commit to 100%!

You have $40 to spend on yourself, what would you do with it? I would call Sherry and chat and not worry about the bill! I have met so many wonderful women on ScrapShare. Truly lovely and I'm so blessed to have them in my life. Sherry I know better from Facebook but we are getting to know each other even more now that we have to virtual places to play! I would love to put her voice to her posts. And yes, I would use my favourite Pottery Barn phone!

Part 2 of the assignment: here I am. In the kitchen, playing on the computer.

Thanks for sticking around this long! Can't wait to read the rest of the challenges!

Stacy's Blog Challenge (yes, I'm late ... again)!

This week, get out your cameras and open your eyes!
Share with us a photo for each of the following categories, and tell us about the photo, and/or the story behind it.

1. a sign of spring
2. an image of joy
3. a bad habit
4. a good word
5. a reflection of you

Get as creative or as simple as you want.
Be philisophical, or be silly.
The only rule is to open your eyes, and have fun!

A SIGN OF SPRING: Cudmore's is OPEN. Yay! I can browse this nursery for HOURS. They have the best trees and plants in town. I love gardening and designing gardens. I'm so excited to start the process in our new home. I've been planning all winter.

IMAGE OF JOY: I can tell the good weather is coming because each morning when I wake up, this is the scene that now greets me. An actual sunrise. And, this particular morning (Monday) there was the sliver of the moon. Yes, joy.

BAD HABIT: I'm a clock watcher. Truly. I cannot stand being late (except for blog challenges!) I cannot stand MY being late or OTHERS being late. It is tremendously disrespectful and thoughtless.

GOOD WORD: Believe is the word I've chosen to instill in my children. Believe in something. Please.

REFLECTION OF ME: Drum roll ... a picture of me. Yes, me, in the black sweater! My kids have asked me to take more photos of myself so this was a good start. Really, my reflection of me are my children, but they argued. And won.

One more word ...

only because I've had a C.R.A.P.P.Y. couple of weeks, I'm being whiny and taking a bonus word. My sister Beth sent the perfect word a while back and I forgot to include it in the first list posted. So,

Word #7

Driven

6-Word Memoir

The idea is to select 6 words to sum up your life: your memoir.

Humour

Family

Fulfilled

Decent

Generous

Loyal

(Thanks Joanie, that was tough. I have about 1000 extra words!)

Blog Challenge #8: Best and Least Favourite Part of the Day

Joanie's Challenge: When we are lucky enough to gather around the table and have everyone home for our evening meal, there are always two questions we ask everyone seated at the table....

What was your favorite part of your day today?

and

What was your least favorite part of your day today?

Even Joel participates in this tradition. Most days the answers are somewhat predictable but there are days when my sweet children surprise me with wonderful insights into our world.

So pick a day this week and sit down and just blog those two questions.

For this assignment I'm LATE! By over a week!

I'm happy for an "easy" assignment this challenge! When we sit down for dinner with the children - whether it be at the kitchen table or at Ice Sports (!) we always ask about the best part of their day. I don't know that we've ever asked about the least favourite part of the day. I have never recorded it. Should be interesting at any rate! I wonder what is the best and worst part of their day ;)

Claire: the best part of Claire's day was (in addition to STILL being on March Break) was getting to eat her favourite Knorr Stove Top pasta lunch; the worst part, was learning that lazy days just make you sluggish.

Cole: the best part of Cole's day was Dry Land Training at Frozen Ropes; the worst part was having art class today.

Chloe: the best part of Chloe's day was getting up, having art class and drawing a picture of herself, and helping her friend at school celebrate his birthday with Timbits brought into class; the worst part was going to bed.

Caden: the best part of Caden's day was writing a letter to the Easter Bunny (a new tradition?) asking for a specific Webkinz in his Easter basket instead of a DVD; the worst part was having to participate in gym with a sore foot.

All this best and worst will change tomorrow. Kinda funny today.

Tiff's Blog Challenge: Embarrasing Moments

If you only have one most embarrassing story then you are lucky! I have about ten really good ones that still make me red in the face when I recount them. But one thing I have found is that most embarrassing stories usually result in someone reporting back to you that they have had a similar experience or know someone who has. We all do dumb things, have stupid stuff happen to us in public, experience an escape of gas at the most inopportune moment or find ourselves in a predicament we just didn't expect. Ever.

The challenge this week is to write about one of those moments. Trust me.....it will be cathartic!

I would suggest....and it is merely just a suggestion....that you keep the subject lighthearted. This is your choice but I'm not encouraging anyone to dredge up some long-held secret that you swore you would never reveal. It's a chance to laugh at yourself and commisserate with others about the times when things just don't go right.

Blog on!!

I have to start by saying that I'm not in the least bit surprised that the topic of embarassment was brought up by my friend Tiffany - who is the most outrageous and funny woman I have met in YEARS. Whenever I think of her, I smile.

There are so many embarrassing moments from which to choose. But truly, in the last year, one really stands out in my mind. My trip to the ScrapShare Texas Retreat. Not really the trip, more my arrival. I printed everything off - tickets, itinerary, phone numbers (well, all of the phone numbers I thought I needed), logistics from the website to insure that I did not get lost. So what did I do? Yup, got lost.

(Louis is fond of saying that I would have a hard time finding my way out of a paper bag. It's true. I have ZERO sense of direction and get lost on a regular basis. This time I made every effort not to. Which, I think, insured that I did.)

I arrived at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport and got my bags. Went to the information booth and asked about transportation getting to the American Airlines Training Centre. I was directed outside to the "blue" vans. I got onto a "blue" van and was driven, with two very pleasant ladies, to downtown Dallas. Now, I'm chatting away (it's what I do!) but am aware enough that we're going pretty far so asked the driver who assured me that we were going in the right direction and not to worry as he's been getting people to the right place for years. A half our or so later I am dropped off in downtown Dallas at the American Airline Centre. Okay. So, hmm. Where am I supposed to go. I check for Retreat signs. None. Doors are locked. This is not a good sign. One door is open. The pro shop. The pro shop? It turns out I am at the American Airlines Centre not the American Airlines TRAINING Centre which is way back - by the airport.

Bless Stacy who borrowed a friend's truck and drove all the way to Downtown Dallas through the end of day rush hour traffic to rescue me. This was, of course, the first time I had every actually met Stacy in real life! Great first impression, eh?

A Blog Challenge from Denise: Superhero

The blog challenge this week is if you could be ANY superhero, who would it be and what special super-power would you enjoy using the most? You can use some of the well-known Superheroes (Superman, etc....) or make up one of your own.

To help me with this challenge, I enlisted the assistance of my youngest, Caden, who is seven. Thinking that he would tell me something like the Pink Power Ranger or Super Girl, I asked him what Superhero I most resembled. Much to my surprise and delight he said "You are already a superhero. You're my mama." Bless him, that boy makes me cry and smile at the same time.

But, if I were to be my own superhero I would want a combination of the following powers: telepathy (since it's assumed I have it anyway), fullofshitometre (aka, lie detector), laundry fluff-n-folder, I'd never require food (THAT would maintain my weight at a nice level!), fly (of course!) and the ability to clean the whole house in a matter of minutes - or maybe just think about it and it would get done, rather than thinking about it and nothing gets done!

That all sounds exhausting. I think I'm just glad that I'm a superhero already. At least I am to one small boy.