Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine

Lots and lots of changes are going on at the casa de therefore I am.

After 12 years together, the Rockstar and I have decided to split up. It's been coming for a while, but it's not easy. Some days have been pretty miserable, other days I am doing ok. I would never trade the years and experiences we have had together. We will most likely sell the house and we have to work out an arrangement for the mutts. We have a lot of years worth of life to sort through.

While all of this was going on, Minnie had a run in with a bobcat or maybe a coyote. She broke her femur in several places. She has an orthopedic surgeon and has been under rabies quarantine. After the first surgery she broke some steel pins in her cast and had to go back in for a second surgery. I could have bought a used car with what we've paid the vet. But she should be ok, so that's all that matters.

As they say, change is inevitable, growth is optional. It's up to you to decide.

Happy Friday!

There are always things to be happy about. This week:

neighbors bearing margaritas

catching up with old friends

summer rainstorms

sparkly pink cupcakes for the neighbor kid's 5th birthday

surviving another week of triathlon training

my two fabulous little dogs

Three birds with one seashell

I have had a very productive week in the 101 in 1001 Life List department! Maggie says that just the act of writing down your list is transformative, and she is right. Many of the goals on my list have been banging around the back of my mind for years. But having a list that I carry around with me and that I have told people about makes a difference. I look for ways to complete goals and check things off. I keep my eyes out for things to add. When I see something that others are doing that I want to try, I do.

So, with about three weeks of planning I hopped a plane to Belize all by myself! Just prior to leaving I scrambled around to get my open water certification so that I could knock number eight off the list. I randomly selected Belize after googling yoga retreats (and I never made it to a yoga class while I was there! Sorry number thirty-one!)

In the days leading up to the trip I was excited. The thought of a break from everything and some peace and quiet sounded awesome. No laundry, no cleaning, no conference calls. No one else to worry about and flying by the seat of my pants.

Just before I left, some things happened that made me have to rearrange and scramble some more. On the bad side, I never really finished making plans or doing research. On the good side, I got to spend some time with old friends. So by the time I left, I hadn't been thinking about my trip much at all.

I had a great time. I read a book, lounged in a hammock, by the pool and on the beach. I sailed, snorkeled, dove, and climbed some Mayan ruins. I ate, drank and took some naps. There were a few times I was a little lonely and wished that the Rockstar was there, and a couple times when I saw groups of girls laughing together that I missed my friends. But I enjoyed traveling alone. It's a different experience and it didn't allow me to fall into the same patterns that I would normally fall into when I travel. I took the time to watch and to talk to people. By the time I left, I knew a few of the locals by name and they knew me too.

Lots of people thought I was crazy, but I am very glad that I took the plunge out of my comfort zone.

So, I am marking complete:

Scuba Dive (8)

Go to the beach (16)

Take a trip by myself (17)

And partially complete:

travel to three countries I have never been to before (5)

leave my country once a year (7)

trying foods I have never tried before (61)

Vacation, all I ever wanted. Vacation, have to get away!

Lately, I feel like I am somewhat close to a nervous breakdown. I am overworked, over stressed, and over extended.

But . . . things are looking up. Very soon I will be here:

doing this:

this:

and definitely this:

I am excited about this trip. I am going to knock three things off my life list, and partially complete two more. I am going to the beach, going scuba diving, and taking a trip alone. It's kind of weird though - people feel sorry for me.

I have great friends, great family, a pretty nifty Rockstar, and four fabulous mutts. Any and all of them could come too. But the thought taking a trip alone to decompress is very exciting. I don't have to worry about feeding anyone but myself, laundry, scheduling or doing anything I don't want to do. I also have to rely on myself for all decisions. Tentative plans include sleeping, eating, sampling the local rum, scuba diving and/or snorkeling, yoga and reading. Maybe a trip to some Mayan ruins or caves if I am feeling particularly ambitious. If not, I will lounge on the beach or in a hammock. Yes, you can see how tragic it is that I will be traveling alone.

Move over Martha!

It was a relatively productive day here at the homestead. I brought home the bacon and fried it up in a pan!

I kicked some ass at work managing projects and people and managing not to yell too loudly at a particularly dimwitted individual.

I worked out at lunch, came home and did laundry, cleaned floors, washed dishes, brushed and walked a herd of dogs, played with the neighbor kids plus lots more stuff too.

Then . . . I picked some wild blueberries from the vines in the backyard and baked them into muffins! Whole wheat double berry muffins! That actually tasted pretty good even though they are kind of healthy!

Exhibit 1: Fresh Blackberries

Exhibit 2: Add some Blueberries

Exhibit 3: Sidetracked by a dog in a shirt

Exhibit 4: Muffin-tastic!

There's a sucker born every minute

I am a sucker for a cute dog. So . . . when I was presented with a homeless dog last Saturday I eventually fell for it hook, line and sinker. I resisted. I told the group that I couldn't possibly take another dog. I lobbied hard to have another member of the group adopt her. A text and photo sent to the Rockstar confirmed that she looked like a miniature version of Deuce and that we should bring her home at least temporarily, and resistance proved futile.

She doesn't have a name yet, but she's such a sweetie she has already managed to worm her way into our hearts. (Except for Deuce - he's still pouting half the time.) Welcome to the family little dog. I know what kind of life we can give you and I am pretty sure it's a lot better than the one you came from. And with that, we are one step further down the road of the crazy dog people.

Does size really matter?

Dear Old Navy,

Thanks for the feel good marketing techniques, mostly.

I realize that the last few months have been filled with junk food and sugar and booze and not much time in the gym, but it was tough when I tried on my "nice" shorts this year and most of them didn't fit. I was sad and am resolved to remedy the situation as quickly as possible.

But this is Texas, where temperatures have already hit 90 degrees, so I can't quite wait until my exercise and sensible eating plan reshapes me. Side note: Bring it on Jillian.

Under a little cloud, I headed to Old Navy for some cheap shorts to tide me over.

O.N., we have some things to discuss. This whole manipulating the sizes thing? I am not too sure about it. On one hand, it was good for my self esteem to find some new shorts that are the same size as the shorts that don't fit at home. On the other hand, it's a pain in the ass to take 74 sizes into the dressing room and truthfully, shouldn't I be aware that I need a bigger size? In the name of my health and well-being? And you aren't even consistent!

I am 5 foot 6 inches tall and hit puberty many (many) years ago. Let's be honest with each other, I should never ever need an extra small. But I found a nifty flouncy skirt on the clearance rack in exactly that size that fits great hanging next to a pair of XS shorts that I am quite sure I couldn't get one leg in. Mixed messages are not good things to send to women of any age.

Don't worry O.N., I am not giving up on you yet - you have a groovy dog mannequin.

Kisses!

Laura

(Size XS, S, M, 2, 4, 6, 8, and probably some 10s)