A Weekend Away - No TV!

Waking up in Squaw Vally Saturday morning was just what the doctor ordered! I made my boys biscuits and gravy, eggs over easy, and Vermont Maple Sausage. I had a wonderful cup of coffee and the second cup was even better, Dave made it and added a touch of something wonderful! We expected that Dave and Mason would ski but it didn't quite play out that way. You see, Squaw Valley is proud to offer our men and women of the military free skiing. We knew that holiday(s) weekends were blacked out, but I guess we've never tried to go on a Saturday, their blacked out, too. Military discounts are certainly appreciated but with blackout dates and NO SATURDAYS, it's tough to come spend our money at the resort. We (as a military family) often get leave on those same holidays and Saturdays. Keep in mind, there are no blackout days while defending our freedom. I know, I know, be appreciative for any discount and quit sniveling about the days you can't use it. I just feel it's a bit of a bait and switch. I wonder how many military (keep in mind, only active duty ski free) folks they actually get. When Dave goes, we pay for me (full adult price $89) and Mason (Kids $39) AND we buy lunch and snack...isn't that worth the one free pass? Dave and Mason went Sunday instead but some people may not have the option to stay and come back the next day. My thoughts are give the discount or not.

Since the boys didn't ski on Saturday, we took the short drive to see what we could see in Tahoe City - maybe photograph the sun setting over lake Tahoe Except that surrounded by mountains, there really isn't a sunset to see. Laughing!! We end up in a restaurant/bar and I see they have a Key West Margarita, which immediately sounds delish! I can almost taste it until I see it has a $9.00 price tag and interestingly, I clearly remember that a margarita has 650 calories - the Key West one must have way more than a regular one, right? I happily order a regular old, run-of-the-mill shot of Jose Cuervo for a happy (read "mere") 97 calories. I hate it when my husband doesn't get me what I order! Why does he do this? I heard him order the Key West Monster and repeated my order. Nope! He bought me the devil, the million calorie, amazingly delicious Key West Margarita. I drank it and I was right, it tasted as good as I imagined when I first saw the chalk board of specials on the wall, but that's not the point. I hate it when my husband doesn't get me what I order! It must be a man-woman thing, much like how easily I forget that I was frustrated and how next time he will have forgotten how mad it makes me when he doesn't get me what I order. Laughing!

Sunday, skiing-take two!! It felt a little like Groundhog Day, same wonderful night in the mountains, waking up to snowy scenery, a breakfast fit for royalty and for me, looking ahead to homework. I remember thinking, it might be a bear getting home later today, but I'm not thinking about that now, just enjoying the day while I am here. There was no traffic getting home and Dave and Mason had a great day on the slopes. I was really proud that with no television Mason never once complained that he was bored. When we weren't watching movies (we watched 3), he was playing with Legos, making music on the iPad, reading and experimenting with how to make paper airplanes, playing ball with Spencer and playing outside in the snow. I love that he is not dependent on TV to be entertained. Now it is back to reality; work and school. I hope you have an opportunity to get away and enjoy some time away from the distractions of home - as happy as home can be, there are all those things that remind you they need doing. Happy Monday and welcome to February!

It's Raining!

It's raining buckets today! Monday's are often difficult to face anyway but when it's storming, it's even more so. Mason had to go to school, Dave to work and I had an early morning dentist appointment. School starts for me tomorrow and I'm ready! Someone asked me when I graduate and I stared at them blankly and stuttered, "Graduate? I don't know." I'm

having so much fun being in school, it seems silly to stop going. I know! I know! I will get a degree and hopefully that will take me to a job I love.

Last week I wrote about being honest and so many of you sent me words of encouragement and most of your said the same thing, "What is really important is what's real for you." I agree with that and I'm being much more selective about who I'm sharing the truth with. Right now I am wanting the truth to come out about how hard big business is making it for small business to succeed. The banks are one area that many of us know need to loan money to small business so they can operate, but other big retailers need to make their shelves more accessible (and less costly) for mom and pop inventors working so hard to bring great products to life. I'm not going to bore you with all this here, but I am devoting more space to this on my Intentional Winning blog.

With that said, thank you for being my sounding board and my dear friends. I appreciate each one of you beyond measure and love that we connect at least once each week. Happy Monday!

The Trouble With The Truth...

It's Monday and for many, a holiday. Happy Martin Luther King Day. School is out and Dave has the day off so we all know what that means...sleeping in! While the two of them are asleep, I am here on the couch enjoying a cup of coffee and a gorgeous blue sky outside. I am thinking about my new years resolution to get honest and frankly, I'm stalled. I'm finding that I get stuck in what feels like a spider web sticking to me from all sides. What will he/she think? Say? What will the reaction be? Will my truth be seen as more or less serious than I see it? Will a duologue be had or will judgment be cast? If judgment is cast, what will that mean? Will I lose my power if I'm perceived as weak or broken? All of this is plain and simple fear, but at what point is fear healthy and sane? It's easy to advise someone else that no matter what the fallout might be, that honesty is the best policy. Would you tell your boss you had a prescription drug addiction? The trouble with the truth is it can be dangerous. This all goes back to what I said at the beginning of the year about public persona versus what's real. Is it better to simply deal with what is real and do what you can to make right what is wrong - getting really honest personally? Seeking help and confiding in trusted sources may be better than opening Pandora's box for the world to see. From my perspective, once the world sees it, each person is forced to do something with it...from simply dismissing the knowledge (who cares?) to being rocked with fear not knowing what will happen next (something ones young children might feel). I suppose it all depends on what needs confronting and only the individual person can decide what the right thing to do is. I'm feeling that getting honest is a good thing, but doing it in a responsible way is equally important. Addressing issues with only the people who need to be involved and working to feel less fear and shame is really the goal anyone who wants to come clean is looking for, don't you think? I really do want to know what you think of this topic.


For today, I want to create. I want to learn more about my camera in manual modes and take some pictures of my boys. For those of you who are local and are interested in having some pictures taken, let me know. I need to practice and would love to shoot you! If you have today off, enjoy! If not, take a moment and be grateful you are gainfully employed.



Let me leave you with a quote and a link... "I have a vulnerability issue. I know that vulnerability is kind of the core of shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness, but it appears that it's also the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, of love and I think I have a problem. And I just, I need some help. Here's the thing, no family stuff, no childhood shit, I just need some strategies." Brene Brown



The 20 minute talk this is from is worth every minute of your time...click here

Welcome 2012!

We made it, welcome 2012! Our economy is far from recovered but 2011 doesn't feel like it was as hard as 2010 was - not necessarily easier, but not harder. I feel like this year is bringing big changes - I expect we will move from this house (not out of state yet), and I'm hopeful that ZipperBack Gloves will reach the next level of production and be in a national chain for the 2012/2013 season. I'm not sure what to expect but I'm sure the unexpected is on tap!

Here's what I know for sure, my family is healthy and happy (well, relatively speaking!), I love being in school and I'm looking forward to developing my skills as an artist and photographer. My new years resolution is to get honest on all fronts, really honest. Dave and I are working together on our family finances with an emphasis on saving and I'm digging deep into why we (our society) believe things need to look like something other than what they are. I understand "image" and "perception" and how they play into getting people to do and be who we want (okay, manipulation), but wouldn't we all be better served if we just told the truth and worked together to lift each other up? Call me crazy, but it seems to me it doesn't make sense to sell an image that is far more than what it really is and have people putting their faith and hard earned dollars into something that is a lie, a foundation of quicksand. When can you really believe what you see?

With that said, on day two of the new year it feels like a year of growth is in store. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year holiday, we sure did!

Wacky Time Zones!

Oh Lord! This holiday schedule has me all over the place, every where except where I am suppose to be. We had the merriest Christmas and are looking forward to a wonderful new year. I'm feeling much better though not walking without crutches yet.

This time of year always has me thinking about what I did well, what I want to do more of or better, and what I really didn't succeed at even remotely. This year, I seem to be looking back a little further and I'm noticing that I have failed far more than I have succeeded. I can hear you all now, "No way!" Well, to some degree it all depends on your perspective... looking at my family and marriage, I am wildly successful. Looking at my professional life and trying to figure out why I can't seem to find my "thing," you know, the thing that you love and the money will come... yeah, that thing! I am creative and entrepreneurial so it stands to reason that working for someone else may not be the best fit for me. That's fine and even the way I like it, but by the same token, I would like to find the creative endeavor that allows me to be me and make a respectable living. With 2012 just around the corner, I am embarking on doing what I love to do - continue going to school and honing my photography skills. My RiverLights Originals have several public showings coming and and I plan to also try my hand at portraits. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, I am working hard to focus on what is good and all that I have to be grateful for. It's an effort everyday to accept all that is good and not focus too hard on that which I am not accomplishing. I don't know that I will ever be able to simply be content with what I have - no matter how good. It seems a large part of the cloth I'm cut from is to work for something more, something that challenges and educates me - even if I never obtain that which I am seeking.


Our gloves are still patent pending and I'm not sure the patent will issue. I am studying and learning how to work my way through the patent woozle-doozle and minimally buy some more time. I intend to sell like the Dickens for the next few months to see if I can get sales for the 2012-2013 season to the next level while continuing to secure that elusive and so expensive US Patent. We have a licensing deal waiting to be signed if we actually do get our patent issued. Yes, I am looking for a New Year miracle. Some people believe they come true.


With all that said, I hope you had the best Christmas ever and are looking forward to a bright new year. I would love it if you would jot me a note and let me know how you are. Lots of love and luck coming your way, from me to you! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

The last 10 days have been somewhat of a blur. This surgery has been as hard as the first one, which should come as no surprise since the first one was really hard, too. I told my doctor when he advised I take this route (ACL reconstruction w/additional procedure to remove arthritis from my knee cap) that I was loathe to do this again because it was so painful. He assured me that the process of ACL reconstructions has been streamlined and are not as painful as they were in the past. While that may be true, he failed to mention that the Oates procedure (the knee cap thing) is also incredibly painful! I decided to go ahead with the surgery hoping that it will eliminate the need for a full knee replacement in the future. In any case, I'm moving slowly and doing far less than I thought I would be by now. I know, I know, you all are making a point to tell me that slowing down is not a bad thing and while I agree with you, a dead stop is not good either.

Dave is going like crazy taking care of things I need, getting ready for Christmas, and working. It's hard letting go of things that are part of your holiday traditions but there is just so much that can happen in a day. I baked and did all my shopping before I had surgery so short of addressing Christmas cards and wrapping a few presents, my holiday tasks are done. I would have liked to baked more cookies to deliver to our neighbors and I'm missing some of the social festivities as I just can't be out and about right now. It is what it is. What about you, are you ready?

On a really fun note,I made my debut as an artist last week. My RiverLights Originals artwork is on display at Tango Frozen Yogurt in downtown Auburn. I haven't been able to go in and see it for myself yet, but I am tickled pink that my artwork is actually on public display. I printed note cards and sold out almost immediately (my first customer was someone who does not even know me - she bought all 3 sets the retailer had!) and I have seven 2012 calendars still available. You can see the images in the calendar at Facebook.com/RiverLightsOriginals

Merry Christmas friends, I feel so grateful that you are in my life even if it is a Christmas card once a year, a weekly e-mail exchange or something more frequent. I hope you have a Christmas that is exactly as you want it to be, and if not, I wish you the ability to accept peacefully what it is and move on. With love, Kathy

Monday Motivator...sort of.

Hi friends,

My knee surgery went well but the recovery has been slow. I know it's only been 4 days, but I thought for sure I would be up for writing a little weekly email... not so much. Tonight I'm writing this before bed because when I don't send my Monday Motivator it weighs on me, like that thing that needs doing, know what I mean? So off to bed I go hoping tomorrow will put me 'round the corner and on the upswing! Merry Christmas and I'll have something cheerier next week. Sweet dreams, Kathy