Reflecting...

So many things have changed in my life over the past year that I felt compelled to sit back and reflect on what I am truly thankful for:

I am thankful for:

• my loveable, cuddly Turner.
  
• my loveable, cuddly John.
  
• my ever resilient Brittani.
  
• tears.
  
• trials and obstacles, we would never know how much fight we have in us without them.
  
• successful co-parenting.
  
• Peggy.
  
• true family, the kind that stands by you through absolutely ANYTHING.
  
• downtime.
  
• my thoughts. 
  

A CELEBRATION!

This past weekend John and I ventured over to Taos for a much needed relaxing weekend. We drove up on Friday night and stayed at the coziest condo I have ever been in, thank you Helen! We arrived a bit late so we decided to get some wine and brie and relax, actually relax with nowhere to be. We were up until almost 2:00am and for those of you who know me it is quite the feat to stay up late. We slept in on Saturday then rallied ourselves to get ready and get some breakfast, which was really more like brunch. Afterwards we toured the shops and I must say I do enjoy the sleepy little artist town. If you are ever in Taos stop at World Cup coffee shop, but bring cash they only take cash. Order yourself an Americano and take some time to read the walls. In the evening  we bought groceries at Cid's, a very organic grocer, to make sushi. After dinner we convinced ourselves to get back out and headed to the Anaconda Bar. I must say, the drinks were great, but the people watching was better. We also ordered the "El Mundo" dessert, also get that if you are in Taos, a delectable chocolate concoction. 

Sunday we woke up, had breakfast at a cafe. While waiting for our food, a blind couple came in to dine, they were probably in their eighties. I mention this because they were two of the happiest people I have encountered in a long time. I didn't have to talk to them, just listen and watch and truly believe that they live by the mantra, "Be happy with what you have, where you are." After breakfast, we went back to the condo and really truly relaxed. I started reading "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch and what an amazing book, very eye-opening and inspiring. We drove up to the ski area, no skiing of course, but I became car sick on the way up, geez, I NEVER get car sick. It is a very cute area with shops not too far from the slopes, yes, cute that is how I can explain it. 

I had a tremendous weekend with John and spending time re-discovering who we are. I wrote something for John that I want to share with you.

One Year

 

After one year, we stand together, we remain as one.

 

After one year we have fallen in and out of

love and still remain in love.

 

After one year, we have conquered seemingly insurmountable mountains and scaled the highest

heights to stay together.

 

We have looked in the faces of the naysayers

and proven them foolish.

 

We have created a life, made a family, found each

other again and again.

 

After one year, we have learned each other’s ups and downs and we still remain.

 

We have grown together and displayed the kind of strength and fortitude some people only dream of.

 

For all of this, I say to you and believe there is

nothing if there isn’t love.

 

 

I love knowing you.

I love waking up next to you and falling asleep by you.

I love the sound of your voice and the feel of your touch.

I love your warm heart and your cold feet.

I love making love with you and giving love to you.

I love that you are mine.

I love watching you exist.

I love your affection and your kindness.

I love your family.

I love the way you love my son.

I love your kisses.

I love you.

 

Halloween...for 40 minutes.

Halloween turned out more exciting for us than it really did for Turner. At first we had to bribe him to get the costume on, then to get the face paint on, then to say Trick-or-Treat, which comes out more like, "Ch-Ch-Cheat." In my very biased opinion, Turner is the cutest lion that has ever prowled Albuquerque. After about forty minutes he decided that pushing his bike was much more entertaining than knocking on doors. Thankfully, he really doesn't understand candy yet so the interest in getting candy was low. 

After trick-or-treating, we went to a carnival at an elementary school down the road. They had hot air balloons, and jumping things (I don't know the official name), games, music, candy, food...and if you can believe it, even with all of that, Turner only wanted to swing on the swings and pretend to drive a parked golf cart. By 7:30 he was completely finished with this Halloween business so we called it a night, bathed the lion, and sent him off to his den. 

The Pumpkin Patch

This past weekend we packed up and drove to McCall's pumpkin patch and what fun it was to see Turner take in the sites. Everyday he is more funny and amazing. The patch was more crowed than I have ever seen it, but it was fantastic either way. Turner very much enjoyed the farm animals, except for when they had their faces in his, he didn't want any part of that. He went down an interesting slide and I still don't know how he really felt about that adventure. The line to catch the hay ride to get to the actual pumpkin patch was long, but moved quickly. Turner loved the pumpkin patch and picked out too many pumpkins. We ended up with 3 very large pumpkins and 1 small one, needless to say it was very difficult for John and I to get Turner, the bag, and the pumpkins back to to the departing hay ride. We soon realized that we had gone too far back in the patch and it was not as easy to get out whilst toting the pumpkins. Much to my surprise, Turner konked out on the ride back, very cute though. 

The 19th was my birthday, the day we went to the patch, but I don't say that to tout, but to say that I had one of the best birthdays that I can ever remember. Although I got a killer gift (an iPhone) it was the intangible things that really made the day extraordinary, like the time I had with Turner and John. It was relaxing, exciting, fun, and amazing all at once.

I was thinking...

So I have been at my desk mulling about the election and I am infuriated. I am infuriated with the voter that believes every attack advertisement, I am angry with the voter that does no political research on the candidate, I am livid with the voter who chooses a party because their family is affiliated with that party, I am fed up with the voter that votes on one issue, like abortion, without ever considering the entire platform, I am sick and tired of the voter who votes on color or gender. 

I read an article today about "Working Moms" viewing the flawed Sarah Palin as their perfect candidate! Are you serious? Simply relating to someone doesn't warrant them as eligible or qualified for the position of Vice President. Should all of the rich geriatrics vote for McCain, how about the African-American, should they vote for Obama, and what will the veterans do? Oh my, there is Biden and McCain. VOTE ON ISSUES!!! Vote on the truth! Find out the truth, research their records, be an active voters or stay home. 

Barack the Vote!

I don't know how many of you tuned into Barack's speech last night, but I must say, AMAZING! The speech was so amazing, so moving, so direct. I am sick and tired of the GWB administration and I am so proud that people are FINALLY rallying for a change. When he came out to officially accept the nomination tears came to my eyes because not only it is so monumental, but because I really believe in what can happen. Like Barack said, "This election has never been about me, it is about you." It is about the people, the people know there is better, that this is not the best that America can be and refuse to simply live in our own bubble and say that it doesn't effect me. Rally and be a part of this immense change!

If you somehow missed last night's speech:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gG5l5C

The Marriage of Figaro

Last Friday, John and I went to the opera for the very first time, to think all of this time the opera house was just waiting for us. It was amazing, I wasn't much for the scandal, but what would the opera be without scandal? The show was enjoyable, in Italian (thankfully there were translation screens), and even humorous. It was 3.5 hours long though, usually that wouldn't bother me, but it started at 8:00pm! At one point, though, I thought I was going to waste my very expensive ticket by falling asleep...it was 10:45pm!! Either way, we had a great time and I am so happy to have an opera experience under my belt!