Happy New Year!

I don't know if we've all been told that as we age, the hands of time seem to speed up. I know I've heard it many times in my life and I'm here to testify, yep, it's true! As 2018 was winding down it was occurring to me that our family was not as busy in terms of line items on the calendar but we also weren't sitting home twiddling our thumbs either. There was plenty going on to keep us running from the time the alarm clock sounded until the 10 o'clock news was wrapping up and Dave was sound asleep in bed next to me. I also noticed that so many of my friends on social media were bidding good riddance to 2018, using visuals like 2018 on a garbage bag and the like. Did I miss something? I know that I generally live my life wearing rose colored glasses but I didn't think 2018 was such a horrible year. It seems to me that we have some good and bad in every year, and 2018 certainly has its ups and downs. We lost some dear friends, Ty and Angela were two of my close friends who we said goodbye to way too soon, and we had a few financial hits that we weren't all the way prepared for but to me, those are just normal life events. We also had lots of fun, my business was thriving, we spent many days on the lake, Mason made some movies, we went to the premiere of his first film, he did a number of cooking demos and competitions, and I won the grand prize at the 25th Anniversary of the Mandarin Festival recipe competition. We traveled to North Carolina and Tennessee and Dave did all of his paperwork in preparation to retire after 33 years of service to the United States military. I'm sure I'm leaving lots of things out, maybe on both sides of the coin, but I just don't think that 2018 needs to be remembered as the year we toss out like a big bag of garbage. Yet again, it's all about perspective, isn't it?

So here we are in 2019 and it feels like a fresh start. The Christmas tree is down, the new year confetti has been swept up and though there is still some clean up to do, I am ready to make things happen. Menopause has not been easy but I am pushing through it. I didn't make a single weight loss or fitness goal for the new year but I am staying the course with good food and the gym. I hope that doesn't sound contradictory, I just need to not make it the focus right now as it feels like something I just can't succeed at for the moment. I am taking my focus off Mason and turning the lens on me for this year. I want to make more videos and share my message on my channels. I want to start growing my platform in different directions so when Dave and I move when Mason graduates I am not having to start all over trying to "figure it out" in a new place with new people. I want to work in casting and movies with Sally, and I want to tell my own stories, too. Dave and I want to write our story for Mason and if we can craft that into a story that is interesting enough that others will enjoy then that is even better. I am a storyteller, I love to write and paint pictures with my words. I also love to make movies so I want to do that on my Youtube channel as well. I will start with motivational videos and then maybe mini-movies. We'll see where it goes, but this is my year to start, to not be afraid, and to do more, be more, and give more! What about you, what do you want for 2019? Can I help? Let me know and if I can make it happen, I will. Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

May the past be left behind, unless the memories are happy. May the future be bright, but not so shiny you forget to enjoy the present. Every moment we have with the ones we love is the real gift in this lifetime. I love these people so very deeply, I hope you get to be with your people tonight, too.
Happy New Year!

Mason's Christmas of Love, 2018

Having a 15 year old is a challenge, especially during the holidays. Mason is completely normal and I am not complaining, its just that it's sometimes more difficult than others to turn the other cheek when they can't see outside of themselves. Mason has been all about what he wants, what he will be buying for himself, and so on. I asked him last week what he was thinking about for his dad. No answer. I asked again, to which he replied, "I'm giving him llooovvvveee! I'm giving you and dad love for Christmas." I love that! I told Mason that I appreciated that very much, my heart was warm thinking about a Christmas of love.

Mason woke up this morning to a half dozen packages of love. I printed some of my favorite quotes and laminated them after writing, "Mason's Christmas of Love, 2018" on them and I will punch a hole and thread a ribbon through them to be future ornaments for his Christmas trees. The first package he opened was this one, our holiday Christmas card with a note on the back . Then the rest followed. When Dave and I started exchanging gifts, I pointed out that Dave and I did not agree to the "love" for gifts, in fact, we get our joy from thinking of the other and how much they might like this gift or that. I explained that it would be awkward for us to bombard him with gifts if he wasn't finding the same joy in giving that we were, so we were respecting his wishes. The joy is in giving far more than getting.

By the time he got to love gift number 5, he was really getting it, and I could see the reality starting to hit him..."I'm getting nothing for Christmas..." he thought. Dave and I left the room and came back with all his wrapped gifts in a big Santa sack, he said he wasn't sure how to feel, he was glad he had real gifts to open but acknowledged he had been a real "Dingle."

I have to give him kudos, he kept his cool, he maintained a good attitude and ultimately, I think he got the message. He told me a few hours later that this was an awesome Christmas and how much he really loves his dad and I and the life we live. Mason is a good kid, he's completely normal and he's smart, funny, and quick. I think he got it. Merry Christmas friends,

Look Who's 52!

Today is my 52nd birthday! Yep, it's the one I've been waiting for all of my adult life. Why this one? I don't know. LOL! Because 52 is my number, it's the number I get when I'm in line at the DMV, when I have to check my coat at a formal event, or when I am waiting to have a sandwich made at my local deli, #52. Two years ago I set out to make an epic plan to go someplace tropical for my 52nd birthday, I figured two years was enough time to plan and save and get a group of people together for a few days of fun in the sun in December. I don't know what I was thinking! There is no way my Christmas Loving husband can be away from home for a week at Christmastime. I looked at the plans and saw that the plans weren't panning out so we made plans to spend a few days in Las Vegas with David and Lisa Anderson and I was good with that, in fact, I was excited about that plan. You see, Dave and I got engaged on December 14, 2001, way back when and to be in Las Vegas for that anniversary, with David and Lisa would have been great. Well, again, that wasn't meant to be. On Thanksgiving day I injured my right knee and just couldn't manage all the standing and walking so I cancelled Vegas and we stayed home. Dave planned a birthday party and gave me the BEST gift, he framed his favorite pictures of us, minus one he couldn't find (I'll find it and we'll put it in the middle).

It all worked out, Mason ended up having an audition that gave us some great time together. I always take advantage of the opportunities to be in the car with him for any significant amount of time, and the time to and back from San Francisco is just that. The auditions take no time at all, but we always spend a little time visiting a thrift store (something I like to do) and finding a good restaurant (something he likes to do). This time, because it was December we went to Pier 39 to see the holiday decorations and Mason had some fun with the camera on his new phone. He took a photo of me and posted this on his Instagram account -

"I love my mom so much, and I really don't say it enough, but mom I love you. I know the last couple of months have been a little bit of a struggle with High School, Jobs, and just life getting in the way. But this is my favorite picture of you, because you in this picture you are simply happy and in the moment, and that's how you live your life and that's how I wanna live my life. Mom I love you and there's no doubt about it, even when you're mad at me, or I'm mad at you you will always be my #1supporter and the love of my life because you out of everyone will always be there for me.💕"

What can I say, having Mason write something like this to me on his social media was the best birthday gift ever. He didn't write it as a birthday gift but It touched my heart that way. So here we go, I'm 52 and it's all good. 

Nostalgic December

Uh Oh! It didn’t look that big in the wild. Do you know a good roofer? Yes, Dave has our Christmas tree coming out fo the roof of our house. It's just one more fun idea he had and I love seeing him make his ideas real.

December is always nostalgic. When Dave was #deployed to Iraq in 2004 I made ornaments that were just photos. I sent him a little artificial Christmas tree and made him the same ornaments. That was the only Christmas we’ve ever spent apart. These are some of those ornaments. 

I'm supposed to be in Las Vegas this week celebrating my 52nd birthday with Lisa Anderson. The gift was being with her, not so much being in Vegas. Instead, I'm prepping for knee surgery after hurting my knee on Thanksgiving day. Yes, this is a bit of a pity party, but dang it, my 52nd was the birthday I was most looking forward to celebrating... Okay, enough of that. I will practice gratitude and a giving spirit today. I'm going to find ways to give of myself and anything I have not only today but every day. Happy Monday friends.

December Memories

Life Has It's Struggles

As I'm struggling lately with the emotions I still sometimes feel about past betrayals, my feed today is filled with messages that remind me about the people who love me, of the amazing life I get to live, and how it doesn't matter how others have treated and hurt me, it's how I have not responded in a like way.

Though I am likely far more sensitive than people realize (they only see the tough, calls-it-like-she-sees-it, doesn't give a damn Kathy), I do feel confident that I do my best to be kind first, help without being asked, and ethical to the honest best of my ability.

When Mason is struggling with high school drama, I remind him that it doesn't end with middle school, or high school, or college, or the workplace, or, or, or... The fact of the matter is that there always will be people in this world that not only find joy in hurting others but thrive on chaos and pain. It's sad but true. I advise him to do his best to eliminate these kinds of people from his life and when he can't, he's best off to not engage in the drama. Be forthright, honest & practice the golden rule and things should work out just fine. Who was I talking to?

If you are waking up in a bed with a roof over your head and your own clothes to wear, you are already blessed beyond measure. So my melancholy mood was rectified with lots of love from my friends and a big pot of homemade chicken veggie soup. Being in the south over the last week was just pure joy, lots of smiles, kind "hellos," and people are in the holiday spirit. Lots of street decorations already up and lit, cool, crisp days with stores not only playing Christmas music but so many of them have homemade hot chocolate and cider to sip while you shop, it's such a far cry from smoky California. My soup has my house smelling delicious and next up is cookies! Having Diana here for Saturday Thanksgiving was the icing on the Turkey Cinnamon rolls!