iTri and i don't know why

Sunday marks a day I know I will be proud. my first tri. what was i thinking is coming to mind...yet the anticipation of the finish is keeping me up at night. it's time to blog again i say...mark the tri journey. here's to the whole road and traveling bit. (this is where one raises the glass - cheers)

Why I Love the Heartts

J. Howard - "Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are - you need one."

shuffling through the iPhoto i was struck by the absolute hilariousness of this family. each photo made me laugh at the boldness of each character. speedo man is my uncle greg who has a sense of humor and tenderness that rivals any enlightened man. harley man is my father in law looking great on his Road King. I get to ride with this man and see him laugh with that "crazy laugh" after a good ride together as the Black Widows (our family motorcycle club - an homage to "Any Which Way You Can" w/Clint Eastwood.) Oh and we are "patched" with our own black widow patches on each of our jackets. (Got to ride a HOG to understand.)

I also realized that these people from Day One have taken me in like their own and will do anything for me. They truly are the Heartts - loyal to the essence and well - they crack you up along the way. Unconditional acceptance has been all I have known from this group. Warty? Yes. Stubborn? As all hell. Kick your ass because you hurt me? You bet. And yet these big guys will be the first to step up and give you the big bear hug you need when it all goes to shit. In a blogger world of us girls, I wanted to give a holla to the big guys in my life that rock....that's the Heartt way and I love 'em for it!!

From Chateau Relaxo to Chateau Maximus

They wasted no time gutting the 'ol house
The new walkway up to the house has many more plants etc. now, but this is the ocean view side
Cool dutch door
A Great Room that holds the loveseat, two chairs, tiki bar and a huge dining table & bar seats...it's HUGE
3 bedrooms/2bath/ 2+ garage...nice..
The master bath has an ocean view out the window...very nice...aaahhhhh space.

lessons from gus

if there were to be a creation of pure love, it would be this creature. never have i met a little thing that could be so inspirational in such a simple way.

here are gussy's lessons for today.
#1) Give everyone regardless of how many paws or freckles MAX love the instant you see them. They will love you for it.

#2) Give a drive by lick every once in awhile - bare feet, face, hand it really doesn't matter. They will love you for it.

#3) Sleep with all paws up. It's ultimate relaxation at it's finest and the humans...They will love you for it.

love that boy!

Me n my sister in law yep, she's the biker chick in this one....let's say that the neighbor fell in love...yea, she passed out on the lawn later

the neighbor passed out that is...comedy...there was a tussle on the floor...hee hee

grooving on a love thing

oh yes, it's a grrove thing

The Necessity of A Wine Fridge

who knew.
a wine fridge keeping my cotes de rhone and pinot at a perfect temp. a luxury in the new house. today was a horrendous day involving the usual suspects 13 year old hormonals - i can't believe I have a Master's degree for this job - situation. only to be cracked upside the head by a boss feeling the pressure of declining test scores. "our middle school director has some concerns with the way you are delivering instruction". hmmmm...15min. gives one the right to negate 12 years of loyal servitude and I do mean servitude. oh and let's mention that i am teaching 25th % reader for 80% of my day and in a program that tells you what the f*&&^%$E$E#E# to say.the fearless leader ended the day with a later email stating that he is disappointed that i took the critcism as anything other than a constructive chat. he was hoping it would meet with a positive and supportive reception by me. right.
hence...
the wine fridge.
simple.
cool.
necessary on a day like today.
and assisting in the leeching of the fungus of the day.
brilliant.

up close bling

yep they're gold baby

flat stanley rules!

what up seestahs!? here's me with my man stan rolling with a libation and a bit oh bling on my grill

gray hair, wine stained lips, cheesy tummy and braces?

recently i've been noticing a new phenomenon in my life. not a whack you over the head thing - just a slow seepage - slowly seeping (sorry i love to play with words like that)...i do not recognize myself in the mirror - AT ALL. you can catch me on occasional morning deeply staring into my own eyes with a wonderment type of feeling ...who is this masked women looking back at me? in the past i usually giggle at myself and move on. except lately. lately i am really looking, like the way you really check to make sure your dog does not in fact have fleas. really looking to make sure you don't have two more wrinkles from the night before.

the first time i did this...carefully... i yelped like a stepped on pup. yikes! i have brown aging spots on my temples - not little freckly ones. BIG I AM MAKING MYSELF KNOWN ones...upon further review. i need botox! (ok you know i live in the cradle of botox/new boobs/nosejob/tummy tucks {although i must say these are looking better each day} civilization and i am indeed joking) i have a permafrown between my eyebrows and stretch as i try - it ain't moving. it could be from 11yrs as a middle school teacher in a large school in soCal (i'm blaming it on this - oh the fodder for another day - rest assured)

gray hair - now to be honest, i don't care about gray hair that much. if i had a few strands - fine. the fact that left untamed, my hair would do a perfect imitation of Frankenstein's bride is a bit much for even me - tom boy. yet i toil on - coloring as infrequently as possible to avoid screaming adolescents scurrying like freddie krueger is here from the classroom. HOWEVER.. i found a gray hair - THERE - yes you know where i am talking about - THERE. admittedly i was stunned. stunned in the way you wonder will i live on...a gray 2 inch hair proudly proclaiming she is here and proud of it. sheeeeiiiitttt!

so i'm getting braces on tues - just to make myself feel more balanced with my own perception - gray hair, wine stained lips and freakin' braces. aaahhh life. good stuff. oh the (i need to make my own acronym) husband is needing attention. must run. i am after all the diligent wife.