Survivor

My Dad, who is turning 60 this year just called the day before yesterday to tell me he was driving to Fresno to audition to be on Survivor! My first reaction was probably not to his liking, "DAD, you're too old for this! What are you trying to do, kill yourself!?"
His response, "you only live once!" He's right, but I still worry! I somehow feel like the roles have been reversed a bit, here!
He has had a beard my entire life, but just shaved it into a goatee this year. He also shaved his thinning and balding on top head. Now he looks so different to me!? Not bad, just so different. He rides Harley's and party's, he's a lot of fun! I wonder how much of it he's doing just to avoid feeling his age... but either way, what's the harm!?

I sort of hope I can embrace new challenges and be so adventurous at 60! I feel like such an old lady now, and I'm barely turning 30. Maybe my Dad has had it right all along, age is just a number... it's all in how you feel... how you approach life. And that's my problem I FEEL old! And I'm afraid I'm approaching life accordingly.

SOoooo, I think it's time for me to take the inspiration cues from my Dad, and Ronda... who inspired me with her life list.
I haven't realized it, but I've already gotten so absorbed into my kids lives, I don't even think I have one of my own anymore!? I don't even know if a life of my own will be possible until my kids are in school!? I've got a while, considering I'm currently pregnant. Lucky for me, having children and staying home with them has been a life long dream of mine, so I suppose I'm not so off course!

But I do sort of miss having something all my own! I look forward to getting back out into the world again. Contributing and interacting with others in my community. I know the day will come, I just hope I'm prepared for it when it does!
In the meantime, I hope to be watching my Dad "Survive" on Survivor!

Here She is....

So, I just finished watching the Miss America Pageant.
I watch it every year. I know, I'm a dork.
But I can't help it! I can't believe it's going on 11 years since I myself wore a crown. I've been 'aged out' as they call it, when you're too old to compete... for 6 years now! And SO much has changed in the program in the past decade.... they were dropped from ABC, picked up by CMT.... now they're on TLC. They moved the location from Atlantic City to Las Vegas. They're now focusing on making M.A. an 'IT' girl! Learning to walk like you're on a runway, etc... They've even incorporated a reality show leading up to the big night called "Countdown to the Crown."
But the one thing that has never changed is that it continues to be the highest paying Scholarship Competition for young women in the world. These women who are competing in this program are so well rounded, it is unbelievable! SO much more than a pretty face. They're ambassadors, service women, students, they're talented, smart, and beautiful. It is all the other pageant competitions, the one's that award sun tan lotion and cars, and favor nothing but beauty that give M.A.O. a bad rap!

I admit, that before I began participating in the program, I was one of those people that squawked at pageants in general as a sexist display of women. I certainly had never had childhood dreams of being Miss America... never thought anything like that would be in the cards for me! With my bucked teeth and my coke bottle glasses, I was a hot mess!!
After much coaxing from my neighbor, (one of our local directors) I agreed to compete for the scholarship money and as another stage to practice performing/singing on. My first pageant, my goal was to win as much scholarship money as possible with out winning the title and all the responsibility that came with it. My second year, I was in it to win it... and win it I did.

Before then, I hadn't worn makeup or dresses, and I was very much a Tomboy! So the transformation was a bit overwhelming! My dad wept at my send off too Miss California as he thanked my committee for giving him a 'daughter'. I'm not kidding you, my dad thought I was such a dude! I was always running and lifting weights, and I guess I was kind of 'dude' like.

Anyhow, I'm not sure how all of this is relevant... I'm just rambling, really. But watching the pageant now, I'm reminded of the feeling I once felt... I find myself holding my breath and sucking in my stomach as I watch the girls parade in their gowns and swimsuits..... when your heart is racing, and you're singing in front of thousands of people on tv, hoping not to crack. When they're calling out the runners up and your praying it's not you! When you're being crowned and it feels like the entire world is spinning all too fast.
Although my moments were on smaller stages and lower levels, I will never forget the feelings.... or the excitement. I will never forget the things that I learned and the wonderful people that I was able to meet.
I will never forget the Scholarship money I earned that enabled me to attend college free of charge for 2 years.

Tonight, was Miss Indiana now, Miss America's time to shine. She was beautiful. Humble, with gorgeous cow like eyes, big wide and innocent. Although, I was a little disappointed that it wasn't Miss California
(I thought she had it in the bag... but I'm probably a bit biased considering it's where I was born and raised)... but still, any one of the girls would have been great!

Here she is.... Miss America 2009... Katie Stam

California Dream'n

If you haven't noticed by now... much of what I feel, I feel through music.
If I'm feeling something and I don't have the words to explain... lyrics to an appropriate song come to mind!

Today's song is California Dream'n! :)

California Dream'n on such a winter day....

I spoke with my my family out west yesterday only to be told how warm it felt... 67 degrees that felt like 90!
So I sit in sub zero weather, day dreaming of California Sun, surf and sand.

We're headed back to California in May by then it will be beautiful here too! I want to go now, while it's yucky here!

This year the HGTV Dream House Giveaway is in California. I'm entering Jeff and I both, every day for the next month!!! I've even found myself saying child like prayers such as.... "Please God, please let us win this house! If you let us win this house I promise to go to church and stop swearing!"

I really shouldn't make promises I can't keep! :)

We're PREGNANT!!!

YAY!!! I am so excited to announce that we are pregnant with our 3rd and final child!!
I am 5 weeks as of yesterday, and due September 9th... so I'm guessing we'll induce around the 2nd.
We always induce a week early since my babies are huge!

So far, knock on wood... I am feeling fantastic!! No sickness... just a little tired! But I'll take it! :)
I'm hoping I can continue to feel so well!

I've also started going to the Chiropractor this month which has helped my sciatica a ton!! :)
I also leaned from my digital x-ray that I have Scoliosis in my upper spine, that my neck curves in the wrong direction, I have arthritis in my neck already and I have two extra ribs at the top of my rib cage that curve into my top two ribs with nothing in-between (painful).

Basicly, I'm a mess! :) Doc said he doesn't know how I've been functioning!?
My response is that I really haven't. I have aches pains and Motrin on a daily basis... but now with the baby on board, no more Motrin for me!! Uh oh! Thank God I've got a good Chiropractor! He's working wonders with my spine and I'm even starting to feel human again! :) Less like a 60 year old and more like a 40 year old!! ;) YAY!

All in all, I'm a very Happy Girl these days!! Pregnancy and Pain Relief... Woo Hoo!! :) Life is good!

I'm Back!

Okay, It's January 15th... the new year! 2009! And the last time I wrote was before the holidays!
It's sad but true that it has taken me this long to get back to it!
This long to catch my breath again!?
But I am happy to report that Valentines Day decorations are up and there is not a trace of Christmas left to be seen! :)

I've hit a blogging block... like writers block, but bloggers block! I have no idea what to write about.
So I thought I would start with getting rid of the xmas carols still lingering on my playlist
and the Happy Holidays layout! :)
Maybe now that I've broken the ice again, the musings will flow!? :)
Hope so!