Saturday, December 12, 2015

And We Got Ambrose

Ok, we can all admit it, "Ambrose" wasn't the best of names. Well, in my opinion.

Our vet says to us on the first visit, "I had an Uncle Ambrose".

What does one say to that statement? "Man, it must have sucked to be your Uncle?" :-) "That's interesting". "Will you let him know we have a dog named after him?"

We all like different names.

The puppies being delivered to the Denver region - have names like: Chardonnay. Fargo. Diana. Tulip.

Really, and we got Ambrose?

We call him Brodie.

After the surfer in PointBreak. People also say, did you say "Bode" - after the skier in the Olympics from Colorado.

We have our surfer and our skier.

He's a good dog. A really good dog.

Yes, I know you are thinking "we all think our kids are good." This is a good one.

He has his problems. No doubt.

After a weekend away, he started peeing on the floor again. (Yes, I mean again, as after the first week - he stopped)

He know his commands. All the commands he should know by 6 months old. He's not even 4 months old yet.

Don't I now sound like that mother with a preschooler whom reads on a 6th grade level?

During the day, he stays under my chair. (He doesn't even know the command "UNDER" yet.) When he's tired at night he goes and gets in his kennel.

We weren't expecting a boy. Okay, really, well, we always knew we'd get a boy. And we got the puppy with aspirations to go do great things.

Keep it up Ambrose, You were born to do great things.

Friday, December 11, 2015

I took my sons to London

A year and a half ago, we went to London. The trip that started this blog.

We had a great time. The boys LOVED London. They "liked" Paris, but they LOVED London. From the fish & chips to the "city" to the people to being served a "pint" at the pub.

Since that point, my oldest son has called me "Mum".

Of course, their "Uncles" (Rich & Ed) are originally from England. They are Manchester fans.

When Rich & Ed moved to America - they "Americanized" immediately. Except for the accents (neither one of them still have one), you would have NEVER known they weren't American. Your classic, stereo-typical suburban boys.

You would think I took them to London for a year. (my sons).

They now use words (in addition to "Mum") like: "boot" and "flat" and "lift".  "trunk of the car", "apartment" and "elevator".

How long were we there?

Granted, I know and have friends from all over the world. These words are used interchangeably. I tried to explain to the boys, "We speak American".

How great it is, that they ignore me. How great it is they want to learn more about the world.


Boys,

I love the fact that you are all open to other cultures, lives, traditions.

HOWEVER, you were only in London for FOUR DAYS.

I don't care what you call things. I love the fact you want to assimilate into any culture. Just don't ever forget, you will always be an American. God Believing. Peace Loving. Gun Toting. American.

If you believe you have a different God than me, that's okay too. I just hope (and pray) your God and my God want the same things. Peace. Acceptance.

No matter where your journeys take you in life.

Know that you have roots.

Love always,

Mum

PS. Our favorite 'football' team is on at 16:00. Be sure and get your stuff from the boot. I'm selling the house and buying a flat. Come collect your stuff. Cheers Namaste. Or whatever that means to you

Connecting to the next stage of life. One day at a time. Or maybe one something at a time...






Thursday, December 10, 2015

Connecting

I'm a really good connector.

The type of person whom stays in touch - even just briefly.

Of course today, there are many tools at our disposal to connect one person to another. From social, to work, to the neighborhood. (FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, NextDoor). I'm sure there are a million other places too.

Oh yeah, the coffee shop around the corner.

Someone I met, needs to be introduced to someone you know - you introduce them. The rest is up to them.

It's sorta like matchmaking - just not from the romantic side of things.

Today, I received an e-mail from a woman, connecting me to a man whom is looking for a job.

I met this woman at least 10 years ago at apres-ski in Vail. We connected on LinkedIn and have stayed in touch professionally off/on for the last 10 years.

She said she thought she would be out in March and wanted to know if I still skied.

I explained that my sons were in hockey, and that interfered with ski season. I didn't even go into the fact, that I spent my summers in Hawaii now. Something in the budget had to give.

She replies, "Hockey is a great sport." "I went to Miami of Ohio, in fact, I'm good friends with the President of the University. If either of your sons would be interested in playing hockey there, let me know. I'm happy to connect and do what I can to help."

There is a woman in the neighborhood whom also works at home. She's been coming over here to work - as to prevent us from both going stir crazy during the winter.

I received the above e-mail this afternoon. I looked up and said, "God Bless America" oh and Vail, too.

She says, "and the reason for this afternoon blessing?" I tell the story.

Nolan's #1 choice to go play hockey and go to college? Miami of Ohio.

She said, "that's not Vail"

"That's you. Being you. At your best"


Thursday, December 3, 2015

Something

We have to do something.

Something about the "mass shootings/killings".

Something. Anything.

Gun control is not the blanket answer. Do I believe everyone should have the right to buy an Automatic Assault Rifle?

Yes. Absolutely.

Do we really need to sell them? Why does someone need to own one?

There are many other things people can acquire/steal/buy that can blow up the world.

I don't know the answer.

I don't know what the world is going to do to stop the massive violence we are having in the world.

I do know.

Something has got to change.

The "world" tells us, "be the change you want to see in the world."

Change something today.

#changesomething

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

One of us

Today, I stopped over at my friends house. My friend whom I personally give full credit to getting me involved in CCI

Brodie and Scooter were able to play. GM and I had a glass of wine. Her husband, came in. Left again to go for a run.

It was play date. A play date for everyone.

This weekend the boys are each going on different hockey game schedule to Salt Lake City. I also booked a ticked to go. (The boys are each riding on their respective team buses. Me? I'm flying)

My great incredible friends live there. These are the friends that you don't talk to for months. Or even years.

You just call and say, "Hey, I'm going to be in town."

Next thing you know, you have 10 people going to a hockey game. You have people saying "Where are you staying?" "There is always room for you.".

And then there is one. The one whom calls her brother-in-law crying. "She's trying to ruin our life." (I guess I'm trying to ruin their life because I want to see my friends?)

The one whom got rid of any extra bed in the house so no one can stay over.

The one whom told me: "I can't handle this right now (I guess that was anyone staying over)." THEN says, "I hope you find happiness in your life."

Huh? I give up. I tried.

Down to my core, I can't be rude. I can't call her on this again. (I seriously think there are many problems).

Her husband's mother and I were sitting up late one night last summer in California. We were talking about life and where we are now. Talking about her sons. Their wives. Her life. My life.

We got to the one wife. We are really not the type to gossip. It wasn't anything in particular. I just clearly remember her saying: "She's just not one us us."



GM asked me if I had met on of the other puppy raisers in particular. I replied that I had not. After telling me a little bit more of us, she says, "She's one of us." You would like her.






Wednesday, November 25, 2015

What do you think?

I get annoyed with people who can't commit.

Can't commit to one thing or the other.

Where do you want to go to dinner? I don't know? Where do you want to go.

I want to go to the Sushi Den.

That's not where I want to go.

THEN WHY DID YOU ASK ME?

Life is short. Life is simple. Life can be complicated. BUT, if you are going to ask me, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR DINNER?"

Then, I tell you what I want for dinner.

PLEASE, do not ask me any more questions. Someone else, PLEASE, make a decision.

I will be happy with HOWEVER you make dinner. The other alternative is, well, I'll make dinner myself.

Tonight, I get a text:

"What do you think?"

My first thought? What do I think of WHAT?"

But to respond to Peter Pan with that answer would give him hope. Would give me hope. Would give us all hope.

I should just respond: Of what?

Nah.

Wait on that answer.

"What do I think?"

I finally respond:  "We should bomb the shit out of Syria. What do you think?"

"Absolutely."

Then there is nothing but silence.

We bombed the answer to this question years ago.


Thursday, November 12, 2015

Recruiting

I guess it is in my blood.

I recruit.

No matter what I'm doing to make money, I recruit people.

I recruit people to:


  • run marathons
  • turn their lives inside out 
  • take chances
  • try
  • travel
  • try something new.
There are other people like me in this world too. We are the "pied pipers". Come. Follow us. It will be fun.

The woman whom got me involved with CCI (the puppy organization) was a recruiter in a different lifetime too. She recruited nurses and doctors. (I also found out recently she had been a camp counselor in a previous life - I knew we were really living our lives in parallel universes).

She "recruited" me into this organization. We know each other from working out at the same club.

Brodie has been with us a month today.

Another lady from the club (whom I actually also know from Hawaii) texted me today. She and her husband signed up for a puppy today.

My neighbors down the street just called the organization about doing this to have their son make this decision for his senior project next year.

Two other families on the hockey team are seriously considering signing up. 

Hope CCI knew what they were doing when they signed us up.

Recruiting for good causes every day......