The Greatest Gift...

that I have ever given my child is her cello with the ability to play it. I was able to sit in with DD and her band last night. They are totally awesome!! They are all so very young and very accomplished musicians. To put it in a word, they ROCK!! I am so excited for tonight's concert. It will be DD's first concert as a member of a rock band. I cannot wait for 5:30pm. They play all original music that they have written. The band name is currently "Dance Over Aneheim." They are thinking of changing the name.

There were quite a few other groupies there last night and there were lots of comments on how cool the cello sounded with them and how well DD plays it. That it is such an awesome instrument and how they didn't think to place it as an instrument in a rock band. One of the kids replied,"yeah, K is the beast." (I'm thinking that's a good thing and a compliment. I also learned a lot of cool lingo).

These guys will open for another band that is signed with Disney and it will be great exposure for them.

The second greatest gift to DD was her braces. Having a beautiful smile is definitely worth the cost. I'm glad that I could do that for her.

I am...

1. overly picky
2. slightly irrational
2. highly suspicious
3. somewhat jealous
4. very passionate
and able to be logical about all of the above.

The best pick up line ever...

Walk over to the person that you know is attracted to you and you to them. Give them a lovely, soft and slightly lingering kiss on the lips (nothing crass or white trashy and not a quick peck either) and after you kiss them, whisper in their ear. "Pardon me, but my lips find pleasure in the most unusual places." And if you can say this in French, even better.

Let me know if this works if you use it. I'm curious.

The Secret Garden...

I went to this venue last night for music. There was an acoustic player as the opening act for an old time rock band. The rock band played rock from the 60s and 70s. The acoustic player did very well. She had her own original music that she played which was really nice. Here are a few pictures of the place. I wish I had been in a better mood to enjoy it more. Its another "hell" week at work again. Biomed techs are such prim-a-donas.

A few words you like to hear...

1. I love you.
2. you're the best.
3. you are healthy.
4. I've missed you.
5. more yarn
6. no charge
7. It's happy hour
8. free
9. Let me help you with that.
10. I found them!!

A few words you never really want to hear...

1. "mom, I was in a roll-over accident..."
DD is fine and so is everyone involved. the vehicle is a little worse for wear. and two of the four were not wearing seat belts. DD did and was glad of it. The two in back were not. The roll over was more a side roll and not a complete 360. They flipped on to the side and skid about 50 feet.

2."What was it you were saying? Oh, sorry, (I thought it was about me, not you)."
3. "Do you need help with that? I can help you...next year."
4. "That'll be $2,500.00, please."
5. "No, you don't get change back."
6. "missed in-punch."
7. "National Health Care Plan"
8. "It's for your own good"
9. "more power"
10. "It's not my job"
11. "Do you have a job?"
12. "Now where'd I put those...?"

I'm really nervous...

about court. As the saying goes: you have a fool for a client when you represent yourself. I finally worked on my spreadsheet today. I took a look at my previous contempt that I won and looked at Mr. Xs exhibits. Geez, looks like Xs only excuse is to put the blame on me. How that works is beyond me. If he intends to do the same thing I'm going to object. I sent my spreadsheet to his attorney and it looks as though I didn't even have to do that. I don't have anything to hide so I sent it. I can't wait to point out the fact that for a year I worked two jobs so why can't Mr. X work just one?

I'm grinding my teeth so bad at night that it wakes me up. I also wake up with a very sore jaw. Its amazing that I don't break my teeth or jaw while doing it. I'm really out of it. I really wish I had some focus.

People are funny when it comes to money. They'll give a ton of money to people, places and things they shouldn't and then be resentful and not give to the people, places and things that would actually do some good.

Well done...

Will I hear those words? Have I done well? Today it doesn't feel like it and its my own fault. I wish I had an easy button. Maybe a button for my own personal cheering section too.

Happy Birthday G...

Today will be a very tough day for mom. Maybe that's why she went away for a week with friends. I hope she is ok today. Where are you G? Send your energy to your sons & mom today. Speak to them G.

Here's a derisive laugh for you...

Met with the ex and his court appointed attorney yesterday regarding his contempt for not paying child support for the past 18 months, which is contemptible in itself. Anyway his attorney states OK this is a settlement conference and you two are to come up with a plan on how Mr X will pay his arrears. The arrears of child support is pretty much a "slam dunk." The attorney looks at me as though I'm gonna pull the payment outta my butt. Little does he know that,THAT is not gonna happen.

I, of course, am sitting there with a mocking smile and face full of derision,which the attorney notices and finds out later in the conference as to why, knowing full well the X is not gonna pay. No way, no how. He has purposefully not worked for the last 15 years so he wouldn't have a large payment and feels that he doesn't owe the money at all. I even found him 3 decently paying jobs that he had some excuse as to why he couldn't take them. Anyway, no one says anything. Its pretty much up to the X to state what he will pay. The attorney finally splits the payment into 24 monthly payments and asks is that acceptable? I inform the attorney that Mr. X wouldn't pay the amount he was supposed to (which was approx the amt the atty came up with) I highly doubted that he'll come up with that either, especially since Mr. X happens to believe he doesn't owe anything. We both look at Mr. X and X states I don't have a job and could make zero in 2 years or $5,000.00 in one day. So X offers to pay $2000.00 in two years time from now. FYI-He owes more than twice that amount.

The look on his attorney's face was priceless. PRICELESS, I tell ya! So I reply, well, this is pretty simple see you in court. His attorney tries to get his client to see the light of day and Mr. X asks me what he should do and I reply go get a bank loan. He says bring me a bank and I replied its not up to me to fix your mess, its your responsibility, you made the choice not to pay in the first place. His attorney states loudly I apologize for wasting your time (he says this at least 3 times), which means in lawyer speak "my client is an idiot and he wasted my time too." It totally went over Mr. Xs head and I of course can tell by the attorney's face that Mr. X will be going to jail, because it really is a "slam dunk." A simple case of accounting.

My thoughts for later were hey, its not so bad that I messed up on the Contempt because now instead of six months max in jail, it goes to 12! Hmm, interesting.

13 months and a day...

Where are you G? Your son T needs you. Please, if you are an energy, a force, aim it all towards your son T. He has made stupid decisions again and will now head back to prison this time it will be for a long time, until he is 30. I know it breaks your heart and you have been greatly embarrassed by this. Just let your energy help. It is sorely needed.

I read yesterday that Warren Buffet is asking wealthy citizens to give half of their wealth to charity. I would give all of my wealth to have you back so you could help your sons. Its not much, just a home, a car and a little money set aside for a rainy day. My life too. Its all there waiting for you.

Willow had her puppies last Thursday. 10. one past away right away and now 4 more. K is helping Aunt C with them now. Willow is too young to be a mommy. They went to the vet with the puppies and one passed in K's arms. K is very sad since she came back from Arkansas. I do not know what happened but my suspicions are it was not pleasant. K came back to where she is loved with all of our hearts and it looks as though she is here to stay now. I see the pain and disappointment written on her face and wonder if there is anything to do to help. Maybe helping Aunt C with the puppies no matter how painful will help.

Come back G. You are greatly missed.

Can You See the Sleeping Indian?

For last weekend I went up to Buena Vista and spent from Saturday to Monday with cousins. I enjoyed my time with them and met a lot of interesting people. I met a cinematographer who had just got back from South Africa filming a movie, his girlfriend who has a catering business to movie sets in California, two bankers (VPs) from San Diego and the list goes on. All of these people were very approachable down-to-earth, positive people, which is not the impression you would have of a person when you find out what they actually do for a living. My cousins have surrounded themselves with a huge amount of great people. I told this to C and she said, "oh, yes, its not worth having anyone else in your life." I told her that's what I want to do, surround myself with positive, helpful, capable people. For me that's been easier said than done. I suppose it takes time and I just need to keep positive and keep working towards enjoying life and then the "people will come" so to speak.

The picture is from the 5th tee box of the Collegiate Peaks Golf Course and my cousin is the one who previously pointed it out when we took a drive to Clear Creek. I thought it a lovely picture. My golf score was not that great, although I did enjoy myself immensely. I hit from the men's tees and I would get to the green in two or 3 hits and then I would 4 putt. The short game will get you every time. Practice, practice.

A Lie by Omission...

is still a lie. Keep that in mind when you are trying to manipulate, be ambiguous,or avoid. It would be a whole lot better for everyone involved if the whole truth were told (ask me how I know?).

I really get tired of people making things right in their own head by using other people's inadequacies for their own ambiguous (manipulative)desires. Why do you do that? The scary thing is that in that person's head all is well and they did nothing, absolutely nothing wrong. It is very hurtful and the person harmed feels used and trust is lost between two people.

I could go on and on and on regarding this subject but really, is anyone listening? I think not. Well happy manipulating to all you lairs by omission. Don't come crying to me when it doesn't work out. Maybe someday you will get a clue, but I seriously doubt it.

Happy 4th Everyone!

Wishing everyone a safe holiday weekend. Safe driving if you're driving. Safe drinking if you're drinking. ta, ta till Tuesday!!

Twilight zone...

Last night was the weekly kick-off of Thursday night blues music at Bancroft Park in Old Colorado City. That's not the strange part. The music was great, as always. There were several people that I knew, which is always nice (not strange) and one in particular that I had not seen for over 27 years (that's the strange part). Patrick Sandoval. WOW! I would never have known it was him unless Neal Y. (another good family friend) had not introduced us. Oh, how we all change. I still feel the same. Do I look any different??? It certainly doesn't seem like it, but I must have changed in some ways. How I carry myself? My attitude?? How I think or speak.

It was great speaking with him. He now prefers to go by is middle name, Joseph, which is really difficult for me but I'm game and I'll try to remember. He is an international attorney with a firm in California. He had some great stories about meeting (nameless) clients overseas, and how he met his wife. He spoke about his family, which was great to hear about his mom, dad and his brother (I know them too). He also has two young children. It was really great to catch up. We grew up within two blocks of each other and when we hit high school he wouldn't give me the time of day (or even speak to me). I realize we traveled different paths with different friends. Its interesting how all that falls away (and strange in a way too). I suppose that's just growing up (which can also be strange in some ways). Like a Twilight Zone effect.

DD waltzes back into my life...

and I was so happy I cried. DD came home yesterday. It was very good to see her. She has broken up with the BF in Alabama and has decided that Arkansas is not for her. It wasn't bad, it wasn't good. She informed me she wanted to get a waitress job, which is surprising since she hated how men treated her at Home Depot. I informed her it would be even worse as a waitress and suggested that she go back to her old job at HD.

It's delightful to have her home and the dog was beside herself with joy too.