Blocked

Facebook has a capability where you can block people. Block them from seeing anything about you. Even block them from knowing you have a Facebook profile.

I've been blocked before. I even have a couple of people blocked. Blocking is not "un-friending" them - if you "un-friend" someone, they can still see your information. Blocking, it's like you don't even exist. Neither does the other person.

That is kind of a nice thing. The person doesn't know you've blocked them, of course, unless you were "friends" with them before. And all your other friends are still "friends" with them. Well, then you know. Well, you know everyone is acting like a 14 year old.

The people I block? The creepy guy whom sends me weird "Can we be friends e-mails on Facebook" whom I've never met. A good friends ex-husband whom would say stuff to her about things we were doing - not being able to get his ego out of the way and realize we don't talk about him. I don't have any ex's blocked. Or in fact, I don't even think I have blocked old boyfriends new girlfriends. If they want to know about my life - well, most of them read this blog. ;-) Otherwise, just hide them.

And really, there are no secrets any more. Everything is pretty much out there. Or most of it anyway.

I'm talking about a different kind of blocking.

In the guy world it's called "a cock block". The "intentional or unintentional of action of preventing the opposite sex from being with another friend". In other words, "I'm not sure if I want to be with you, but I don't want you liking anyone else".

Girls do it to. Block their friends from moving in on their guy friends. I'd like to think it's a protection type of thing versus a jealousy thing. We don't want our friends (either the guy or the girl) to get hurt.

For the past 5 months or so, I've had this crush on Denver's most eligible bachelor. We met in September and have run into each other several times since then. We are now at the point, where he will wave to me when he sees me. Once, he was even on a date (As he stopped by to ask me how my sons teams were doing, we chatted and I told him he looked bored on his date) ;-)  Yes, only I would actually say this out loud to him. And, I've actually figured out a couple of mutual friends.  (Patience my friend, we are slowly getting there)

One of these so called mutual friends is a friend with "The Coach" (as we call him).  My running buddy gave me 6 tickets to the playoff game for the Denver Broncos.  Here is a PERFECT opportunity.

I text my guy friend and say "Hey, do you and Coach want to go the Broncos game on Sunday?"  These are great seats. As in, yes, it's okay to ask this person to this game.  (You could smell the grass on the field).

He replies, "I can't go.". Okay, I reply, well then, will you send coach my number (I'm not asking for his) and see if he wants to go.

His reply:  Ha ha. He has a game Saturday, I don't want to bother him.

I couldn't even see straight. Seriously? Yes, I understand how we all want to keep our friendship sacred, but really?

So I took the boys and their friends and a girlfriend of mine all to the game. It was a cold. We lost. It was fun time. Duncan even brought a date.

But one day, when I'm telling the coach how he was "blocked" from going to the game, I know I'll be the one smiling.

Priceless

How do you tell a story from the beginning, yet not make it drag on. Yet, make the reader want to know more.

Do you start at the beginning? Or the end?  Or the middle? Or maybe, it's not really the middle or the end, it's the present?

How do you start?

You start at a wedding at the end of the year. With a group of people you love. A group of people that love you.

This is how love looks. Not the Hollywood version, but the real world version. Only, we were in Hollywood. So, I guess we did get the Hollywood version of this story.....

The trip to Los Angeles was a surprise to both the both the boys. When they walked in from their dads there were suitcases and plane tickets waiting. For a moment, they did wonder if it was Hawaii.

There were new suitcases. A piece of paper on the top of each bag.

Where are we going? I don't know. Open the envelope.

LAX.

My sons "uncle" picked us up. With his "bride to be". (Only the boys thought this was his girlfriend). Her daughter too - she is 10.

I do love his girlfriend. She's good for him. They are good for each other.

Besides, how many times can you say you were at a former boy/girl friends wedding?

At this point, I knew, but the boys didn't.  Well, they knew about the trip (obviously), but they still didn't know about the wedding.

Long story short. I woke the boys up Sunday morning in Southern California by saying their Uncle wasn't haven't a football party that day. "Why?" "What happened?"

Oh, there's still a party.

Only it's a wedding.

I love priceless.

I wanna go

I like to "go".

Go in the essence of where ever you want me to go. Where ever you are going, I want to go to. Even if you don't want to go, I will.

I'm all about the experience. The journey. Sometimes even the destination. (that was a joke - the destination part, I'm all about it all)

Going. Doing.

I've also learned to stay home. Cozy. Warm. Safe. Staying put has something that has taken me a long time to learn. But I'm also comfortable staying.

I've lived in the same house for ten years now. A record in my life. The first time ever I've lived in one place for ten years. (Although I do wonder if it counts because I don't stay here in the summer - but I'm thinking yes)

Where I am starting to have trouble?  When my boys want to go do something. Anything. Lunch with their friends. Hanging out with MY friends in California. Trips. Activities.

Tonight, a friend of Duncan's gave them two tickets to the pro hockey team (Avalanche) game here in town. We had dinner at 5:00pm. They put on their Avalanche jerseys, had dinner, drove to the light rail, rode the train downtown, went to the game - all WITHOUT me.

Now I know, most moms would be more worried about them doing all those things as teenagers without an adult. Not me.

They have been riding the light rail their whole life. Then when they got to high school, instead of school buses, the district gives them a city bus pass and they rode the city bus to/from school (until one started to drive). They are city kids. They have also been going to Avalanche games their whole lives too.  They know how to do all this.

Unfortunately, the good/bad thing is, they know how to do this without me.

I'm proud.

I'm jealous.

I wanna go too.......

Behind

Happy New Year.

Not sure what it means, when I start the year already behind. Someone asked me today if I set goals for this year?

This year? Are you kidding? I'm not sure I even know where my to-do list is at moment, much less my "goals", but I do know, I have to get it done.

If not, I won't get any THING accomplished!

Back to writing more is one goal.

Okay, now I've started my goals......

Surprises

If I were to write about 2014 and not read the old blogs first, my first thought would be: It was a year filled with surprises.

Surprises I planned. (Lily meeting us in London - Nolan not having a clue). Really, London/Paris was a surprise too - as this time last year, it wasn't even a thought. It was a Christmas party that changed our lives.

A surprise trip to Hawaii. It wasn't on the books either. The boys, a trip to Texas.

A year not planned. Yet planned all the same.

We are taking one more trip this year. Not our normal trip to Salt Lake City. Although, the boys keep thinking we will end up there. We knew last year, that we were wrapping up that tradition.

But what to do this year?

I keep telling the boys "Oh, we will figure it out".

Although, part of it's been planned for months.  Good thing, or it wouldn't have happened. Wait a minute, there is nothing really planned - just some airline tickets.

The rest of the trip?

It's full of surprises.......

This time of year

From previous experience, I have learned December is a busy month. Almost everyone I know realizes December is busy.

Usually, I'm able to roll with it. 

At my house, we have the end of the year school activities. Now the boys are in high school - there are finals before break. Duncan's birthday is half way through the month - adding a few more things to do. If Christmas cards aren't ordered before Thanksgiving, they just aren't going to happen.

Of course, it is also hockey season. Only this year, the both played on club teams. Teams that normally run until the end of February. However, due to the higher levels teams they made this year, they end early, so those players can go play high school hockey. Meaning, that this year, hockey season was wrapping up also in December. The good news is, both teams made the play-offs. Both teams lost in the state finals. Then the high school hockey team practices started in early November. Meaning, I have two sons on three teams. The week of play-offs, the week before finals, the week before Duncan's birthday - there were 12 games in 7 days. I was exhausted.

And I didn't even play!

Then, it's Sunday afternoon. Apparently I didn't attend enough sporting events and went to watch the Broncos play. It's cloudy with light snow. I'm meeting some girlfriends at the Cricket. A local dive burger bar. I have my yoga clothes on. My hair is clean and curly. I'm not sure if I have make up on or not.

I take a seat at the bar waiting for my friends. I start talking to the guy next to me. (Yes, this is a common theme in my life).

Long story short:  My girlfriends arrive and we stay sitting at the bar. We eat. We watch the game. The game is over. The whole time I'm still talking to the guy next to me.

My friends leave. Still talking. I look up and it's now 10pm. I don't do anything for 8 hours - yet, I've been sitting here. 

Turns out he's pilot for United. Flies the San Fran to Asia route. He was here for training. Leaving on Tuesday.

I tell him about my insane week and how nothing extra gets fit in this time of year. He wants to know if I can go to dinner the next night. Can't do it. It's Duncan's birthday, plus I have one more hockey game.

People always tell us, just ask. Ask the one more question. So, I reply, "Do you have to leave on Tuesday?" He says, "No, I don't fly again until Sunday".

He stayed the week. We went to dinner every night after Monday. I took him to the airport on Friday afternoon on my way to yet another hockey game.

I was a "little" behind on some things - I'm now at least two weeks behind on everything. I'm blaming it on the time of year.

The Banker and The Fisherman

I was at a business event on Thursday night. I don't attend these types of events on a regular basis - I used to. A friend of mine runs this event, so I went to help out.

Basically, it's a cocktail party - with corporate sponsors held at a bank (A very special bank - this one is called Young Americans Bank. It's geared for everyone under the age of 21. They have summer camps and educational programs through the schools. A program like no other in the US).

Side note:  As much as I love the bank, I have to smile when I think of some kid saying they went to summer camp at bank. :-)

You mingle with business owners, sales people, other community service organizations. A wide variety of people. These can be boring, but it's also a good time to meet new people. There was also a silent auction going on. Great gifts.

I was talking to one of the guys at the event. Talking about business. Talking about business. Of course we get to the point in the conversation when they ask where my office is. I reply, I work from home. Many people work from home these days.

With technology what is, it makes sense.

Then, of course, we get to my families summers in Hawaii. It's funny, the first people usually comment on is the time difference. I then explain, it's worth it to get up at 4 in the morning to work. My work day is over by 11am.  Ah, then they see the light. We talk a bit more about work schedules, etc.

I happen to make the comment, "I may have to work longer in years, but I will have enjoyed my years more".

This man, I'll call Bob, smiles and says to me, "Do you know about the fisherman and the banker?"

"No, please tell"

This banker was on vacation and paid a commercial fisherman to take him out deep sea fishing for the day. They spend about 6 hours on the boat. Come home with fish. The banker pays him and they go to part ways. The banker says to the fisherman, "Wow. What a great day." "You know, we could really turn this into a great operation.  We could hire some people, buy a couple more boats, re-do the marina." "Work really hard and you could retire in ten years."

The fisherman smiled at the banker and replied, "Yes, and what would I do when I retire?"  The banker says, "Oh, I guess you would be doing this......."

Some of us understand that sooner than others.