Weekly Photo Challenge: Threshold

Tags

boots, photography, Spring, Weekly Photo Challenge

“When you’re safe at home you wish you were having an adventure; when you’re having an adventure you wish you were safe at home.” –Thornton Wilder

***

A threshold is the point of entering  or a new beginning. It is a split-second moment in time when you are filled with anticipation. To see other threshold photo challenge photos, click here.

Capture Your 365 (March 3-March 9)

Tags

365 Daily Photo Challenge, boots, Capture your 365 project, CY365, family, nature, Photo Challenge, photography

Yesterday the snow really got to me…actually it wasn’t the snow as much as the bad drivers in the snow. But I found a way to deal with it – a quiet corner out of the snow and a white “wine with legs”…

 

OK, not really. I bought this for Valentine’s Day and it has taken us awhile to finish it off.  I’d like to say my disposition has improved…but it’s probably better if I don’t say anything and just let you “ooh” and “aah” over at my pretty pictures! 🙂

Choose a Favourite: the river by my parents’ home

Party!

My Muse – My Sassy Green Boots

Frustrated (in the school parking lot)

Drive

Emerging – from a snow cave

Happy Weekend!

 

Inked!

Tags

adventure, boots, faith, humour, midlife crisis, tattoo

I am officially inked!

I believe my reasons were honourable. Wednesday “morning” (they open at noon), my friend & I arrived at the Tattoo Parlour to do the “dirty deed”. We had visited the week before to ask questions a whole lot of questions, including “can you do something like this?”, and I showed them the necklace I had chosen. I set the date and paid my deposit.

What do you wear to get a tattoo on your shoulder? How much is it going to hurt afterward (i.e., will I be able to stand a bra strap)? After my morning shower, I tried on several outfits – tank tops, a sundresses, etc. It would have been easier if it had been a sunny day. I finally settled on jeans and a strapless bustier (that is now too big after all the weight I’ve lost, and threatened to spin around entirely). Yes, I felt a little overdressed and very skanky, but it was muggy outside and I didn’t have to worry about straps. Of course, an adventure wouldn’t be an adventure without my sassy green boots!

I was nervous on the way over, so I picked up Henry (O Henry) in a convenience store. He calmed me right down. Then my friend asked the guy in reception if they numbed the skin first. Like that’s something I wanted to think about right then! He said some places do, but it’s better to get the full experience. Gulp! He also said it felt like being snapped with an elastic. My big brother was a pro! I was going to be okay

Once the paperwork was done and Tyler, my artist, was all set up, he took me to his cubicle, to explain the procedure. Tyler was built like a football player, over 6′ tall and broad, with a long, fuzzy red beard, and large ear plugs. His cubicle was decorated with an eclectic blend of kitschy memorabilia. How appropriate that I would have a whimsical tattoo artist!

After the explanations, Tyler applied the stencil, and I had to check the location. Stencils can be removed!

REALLY bad picture of me – I’m making a face at my friend!

Next I watched him open the packaging and put together his instruments. Everything is disposable so there is no possibility of cross-contamination. Next, I lay on the table and using water, he gave me a shot so I could see whether I could handle the discomfort. Yup, still good! The actual tattoo took less than 10 minutes. And we were on our way!

Ready for the reveal?

 

Do you have any idea how hard it is to take a picture of your own back?

Happy Weekend!

One of My BEST Birthdays Ever

Tags

birthday, boots, family, fashion, food, friends, humour

There were signs…little ones that sometimes made the voice in my head ask “why does he…? Oh, who cares!”

2 weeks ago: Hubby and I joked about the fact that I am suddenly blessed with a number of girlfriends (how did that happen?)…and he asked me who they were. He also asked me where I’d like to eat out for my birthday dinner if we decided to do that.

Last week: Hubby asked me, at the risk of getting himself in trouble, to not make any plans for Sunday afternoon. I knew I’d be out late Saturday night after the evening worship service, so I was okay with a quiet Sunday. I am also learning not to have big expectations, and therefore avoid big disappointments. Big Guy was down as well, and I enjoy spending time with my whole family.

Sunday afternoon: Hubby asked me what I was going to do for supper and he offered to cook since he wouldn’t be home to do it today. He also suggested I fix my hair and make-up before supper, and get dressed up for a picture for my blog. I was excited that he remembered that I had talked about posting a picture of me (face and all) for my birthday!

Around 4:30, I fixed my hair and my make-up, and tried on several outfits (including the sexy red dress my girlfriend bought for me when I missed Girls’ Night Out. I showed it to Hubby and he asked me if I’d wear that out in public…hmm…I’m not going out anywhere, am I?)– while Hubby cooked supper. I heard Hubby chatting with someone on the phone, and I meant to ask who it was…hmm…but I forgot (old age creeping in?). Hubby took some pictures of me by the apple tree, and laughed at me trying to walk in the mud in my high heels. When I came in, and said I was getting changed, he suggested I stay dressed up. Big Guy piped up – “Yeah, Mom. You look pretty”…hmm…maybe Hubby is going to whisk me out for dinner and leave the boys home. I took my boots off before I killed myself, and started taking the clothes off the line. I was just about to come in when Hubby asked me to go to the door for another picture…hmm…too tired to argue – you take the laundry basket then! Feeling a little irritated, I threw on my jacket as someone knocked on the door. It was my friend, B. and Hubby is standing there with a stupid grin on his face recording the conversation at the door. B: “Did you get your picture?” Me: (confused and a little suspicious) Yes. B: “Are you ready to go?” Me: (confused and suspicious) Are we going some where?”

B. drove – but she wouldn’t tell me where…she just laughed! Once we got to the restaurant, she walked right in past the line up of patrons, and started looking in every room…hmm…are there others? Yes – a group of 8 other ladies waiting for us, and a helium balloon signalling to everyone in the restaurant that this was a surprise birthday party! We dined on Chinese (why did I waste time on rice when there was such a huge dessert buffet?) and everyone sang Happy Birthday while I was forced to wear a floral lei and a grass hat (it was fetching). Lucky me – I have the commemorative photo fridge magnet…and it may magically appear on Facebook when I least expect it!

Thank you Hubby and my amazing group of friends (yes I said it – friends), for such an surprising beginning to the BIG 4-0!!

Hubby’s Favourite Picture

My favourite picture

Counting Down to 40

Tags

aging, birthday, boots, chocolate, food, humour, shopping, youth

The “Big Day” is only a few days away, and I’m trying very hard to ignore the imminent toll of the bell – it tolls for me! I’ve been reciting “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light” (Dylan Thomas). It may seem melodramatic or downright maudlin, but you’re not the one about to turn…the Big 4 0 (gulp)! I can remember my Dad turning the Big 4 0 – my brother and I made a sign that said “Lordy, lordy, look who’s 40” and taped it to the deck fence for all to see. I know Dad was not impressed but the sign stayed up all day (I’m guessing Mom told him, on behalf of his insensitive children, to leave it alone – Thanks Dad!)

There’s so much I had hoped to accomplish before my youth fled like a bat out of…some place not very nice! So many adventures. So many blog posts… Sensing that the end was near (and there isn’t time to get my tattoo…which is now an “after 40 adventure”), my time taken up with so many appointments to keep the family wheels on the road, I did take some time yesterday to get my hair done (at the place that costs more than $15 for a cut), to eat greasy food with a friend (McDonald’s because I got my hair cut at the place that costs more than $15 a cut), and to shop! I may not have my tattoo (yet) but I did purchase a biker jacket (leather would be nice but “pleather” is all that fits in our budget…I just bought a car after all)! It felt good to head off to band rehearsal (and by band, I mean rock band, not concert band) in tight jeans and a biker jacket, my long hair swishing like one of the original Charlie’s Angels…and of course, my sassy green boots!

I have no Big plans for the Big day…Little Guy has school; I have to do our taxes and buy groceries. I’m ordering pizza for supper and buying something with chocolate for dessert. I’ll lament my losses over the weekend by eating lots of sinful things. Big Guy already took me out for crepes filled with cream cheese, raspberries, and vanilla cream. Cheesy pizza tomorrow night right before I am leading an evening worship service (ack)! And I may have to cheat with Henry (O Henry!) one last time…before I turn 40! You know the saying: once a cheater – always a cheater!

And come Monday?

Happy Weekend!

All By Myself

Tags

boots, driving, family, humour, red cars, shopping

Well, when I started this blog, I had said I wanted to have new experiences…and last night was a new experience!

When Hubby called to ask me if I’d undertake this task, I was thankful I was still dressed in my skinny jeans and wearing make-up. I put on my sassy green boots to boost my confidence level, and with my hair braided and hanging over one shoulder, I felt like Katniss setting out with one goal in mind – to come out the other end of my journey, intake and alive!

I started my car and cranked the music up – there’s something about loud music with a throbbing bass guitar to empower the soul. Group: Red. Album: End of Silence. Song: Let Go. How appropriate!

As I pulled into a parking space, I took a deep breath and checked my lipstick (a girl feels confident when she feels she looks good, right?). I had called ahead to make sure the sales rep. was available…but unfortunately, he was with other customers…so I confidently informed the receptionist that I would wait for him, and I strolled to the lounge area. I didn’t realize I would end up waiting almost half an hour, but the sales rep.  did pop over a couple of times to apologize for the wait. I didn’t mind waiting for him – we met with him Monday evening and he showed us the car, crunched the numbers and sent us on our way in less than half an hour. The sales rep. at another dealership last night only spoke to Hubby, took up an hour and a half of our time, and was just plain too pushy! It pays to be personable.

By the time I sat down at the sales rep’s desk, I wasn’t nervous any more. I wanted to finish up so I could go home!  To make this long story short, I bought a car…

A L L          B Y       M Y S E L F 

I have owned 6 cars before this, but I have never purchased a vehicle without either my father or my husband being present and dealing with the sales rep. I paid the deposit, filled out the paperwork for the financing, and signed my name to the contract. I will drop off the remainder of the information required today, and hopefully, we will have a new car by Friday (Monday at the latest). I bought our flat screen television, a cell phone and now a car. What’s next? A house?

The car required some compromise – I wanted manual transmission and Hubby wanted automatic transmission – Hubby won! I wanted red and Hubby wanted silver – we’re getting violet gray.

Now we just have to figure who gets to drive it!

Ready for Spring

Tags

boots, humour, Spring, winter

I am SO ready to come out of hibernation. I’m ready to go for long walks in the morning and listen to the birds. I am ready to peel a couple of sweaters off, even if it means (gasp) showing off my chubby elbows; I’ve even painted my toenails! I’m ready to trade my snow shovel for a garden shovel and attempt to wage war on the weeds that are already growing there. I’m ready for Spring.

I may be tempted to do this every time I look out the window…

But I am not ready to become one of those people who complain about the weather…even though I am getting dangerously close to it! I try not to get worked up over the things that I can’t control, like the fact that I’m only 5′ 1½” and will start shrinking any day. Instead, I have footstools on every floor of my house, and I buy fabulous high heels! I can’t change the weather. I can’t change the fact that even though I was comfortable in a Spring jacket Wednesday morning, by afternoon, through the torrential downpour, I could see my breath. I can’t change the fact that I toured my muddy backyard Thursday morning, but by noon it had snowed enough to cover all the grass, and I had to shovel slop off the walkway. And I can’t change the fact that the predicted temperature for Monday will be in the plus double digits, but we’ll have snow again by next weekend. We’ve also had 2 thunderstorms, which is unusual so early in the year. At least I’m not stuck in the same day…but if it keeps on, I may have to do more than whinge and complain. I may be forced to do something drastic…

Eat gluten-filled toast in the bathtub! I’m not suicidal…just grumpy!

Happy Weekend!

New “Hooker” boots

Tags

boots, cartoon, fashion, humour, shoes, shopping

As I mentioned before, I have been on the lookout for a new pair of “hooker boots”…my nickname for a great pair of stilettos, since I sadly said good-bye to my last pair. Not only did I find one great pair of boots at a thrift store, I found two…and I bought them both! What else is a girl to do when she wears out one pair of boots? So  now I have the hot ($10) boots:

And the extra hot ($12) boots:

I just have one question:

A Dirty Little Lesson

Tags

boots, humour, moral

I learned a valuable lesson yesterday…

Normally if you hear Hubby or I say “dog poo”, we are reminding Little Guy to get his fingers out of his mouth, but from now on, when I hear “dog poo”, it will take on a whole new meaning.

Yesterday was a pretty ordinary day. I took Little Guy to school, and stopped at home to use the restroom and put on some make-up before heading to a planning meeting at the church. I normally don’t put on make-up (except for Sunday morning) but I thought I should make the effort to not look like the walking dead at the early hour of 9:15 a.m. It wasn’t until I was sitting on the couch in the office, that I noticed the giant, thick gob of dog poo the colour and texture of Dijon mustard. I have other reasons for my incredibly intense hatred of Dijon mustard but that’s a story for another day…It was down the inside of my right foot and squished under the straps of leather around my ankle. It had also been transferred to the other foot, and there were patches like yellow scuffs across my toes and half way to one knee. I knew it wasn’t fresh but it still looked…warm…

Let me tell you…there is no easy way to delicately extricate yourself from someone’s office because you have just realized that you are covered in dog poo (and they have carpet on their floor). There is also no easy way to take those boots off without getting dog poo on you – hands or socks…it was no easy choice! I wiped and washed my boots as best as I could in the ladies’ room, making a huge effort to clean up everything in the ladies’ room as well. Then I left them outside the office, and finished the meeting in my socks.

I’d like to say that’s the end of the story…I’d like to…

Have you forgotten where I was between the school and the church? Me too. Until I got home. I had lunch with a friend and did some shopping at the Mall…it wasn’t until I was heading upstairs that I noticed this strange blob on the top step that looked kind of like…O gross! I was in such a hurry that morning that I hadn’t bothered to take off my boots. There was snow on the ground so my boots should be clean, right? Armed with tissue in one hand and a wet washcloth on the other, I had to slowly retrace my steps through the whole house, wiping up drying blobs and yellow scuffs…into the living room (to get the phone), over to the piano (to get my books), upstairs (to use the bathroom – again), into my bedroom (to put on my make-up). It. was. everywhere.

So the moral of my sad little story is this: Always take off your boots at the door.

It’s Official

Tags

adventure, blogs, boots, humour, midlife crisis

Well, it’s official. I have been blogging for 1 year. In my first post, Raison D’Etre, I tried to explain (and maybe just plain figure out) what I was going to write about. The impulsive idea (so unlike me), literally, came out of the blue and within hours I was all set up on WordPress, with a blank page staring me in the face. I endeavoured to fill that blank page 5 times a week, and for the most part, I did!

It’s been a year of adventure…maybe not all the adventures I had planned or ones that would have ever considered before. It has been a year of introspection, loss, renewal, and what I most wanted, laughter! I haven’t written about everything…a woman’s heart is full of many secrets, and some of those secrets need to be kept closely guarded (don’t worry – nothing startling like I’m a dude). Nor have I shared every experience and conversation – some relationships need to be respected. Still, I have (and will) endeavour to be as open and honest as possible.

When I started this, I never imagined that I’d have more than 1 follower – my Mom. Every week has been filled with shock and pure delight to see the stats slowly climbing…I am nowhere near triple digits but I am blessed! I’ve even been nominated for a few awards – I do the “potty dance” every time (it’s been over 8 years since I’ve been dancing so the “potty dance” is the only way I know how to “groove”)!!

Thank you to all those bloggers who have passed through…and especially to those who have decided to stay awhile and laugh along with me. It has been exceedingly encouraging and has boosted my confidence to take more chances, to be more trusting, and to “release” those who aren’t willing (or able) to accept me for who I am. God led me to Psalm 40 over a year ago and I love how it ends: “And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing: make something of me” (Ps. 40:17b MSG) There’s still hope!

So here I go again with a new set of blank “pages” before me (but maybe not 5 days a week – we’ll see…)

It’s time to dig out my sassy green boots – an impulsive buy last January. I will go shopping one of these days for new jeans since these ones are now too BIG! My mid-life crisis isn’t over – these boots were made for walking and that’s just what I’ll do…