       |
|
09.30.09 |
Last week, I am stopped at a red traffic light in Paradise Valley after meandering on Cactus Road through the Stone Creek Golf Course.
Looking around to enjoy the beauty of the area, I see a person riding a very expensive looking bicycle heading eastbound on the sidewalk along Cactus Road.
It was a weathered looking old man with a substantial gray beard, dressed in full bicycle racing gear: the skin tight stretchy bike shorts with a matching skin tight jersey. Sleek matching gloves and color coordinated biking shoes that I suppose cost a fortune.
I thought to myself, "How cool is that? Grandpa a la Lance Armstrong!"
Uh no.
He slowed down and rode just fast enough to stay upright ... and lifted his hand to his face. It was then that I saw he was smoking a cigarette while riding.
Just riding casually along with smoke trailing from his mouth and nose ... taking long drags and apparently enjoying every second of the smoke.
It actually made me laugh out loud.
It kind of reminded me of those ladies who lunch on their "figure conscious" wee salads and diet sodas but stop on the way back to the office for a Snickers candy bar for dessert.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Steven! Baki! What a nice surprise!
Thank you both for stopping in to say "Hi". How the heck have ya'll been?
Baki, I am planning to redo all of sweetaspirations.com (using the same look and feel) but get rid of the frames (they served their purpose a long time ago). When I do, I will attempt the RSS feed on the journal.
[12:45 PM MST] [Permalink]
|
|
|
|
|
|
09.26.09 |
Vrooom. Vrooom.
I lust for this car:
If I win the Powerball Lottery tonight, I am getting in line to get one of the 45 of these made.
I love Mustangs. Always have. Probably always will.
I own a 'stang.
Is it at all practical for a woman my age with my physical challenges ... and need for space to tote work-related items?
Hell no.
But I cannot seem to pull the trigger on getting a crossover.
Photo © I Legacy and courtesy of CNN Money
[1:35PM MST] [Permalink]
|
|
|
|
|
|
09.25.09 |
There is the old saying, "If a tree falls in the woods and there is no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
I can't help but wonder: "If a journal is now being somewhat updated but there is no one around to read it, does it still have a voice?"
[11:59PM MST] [Permalink]
|
|
|
|
|
|
09.19.09 |
A pirate and his parrot were adrift in a lifeboat following a dramatic escape from a valiant battle.
While rummaging through the lifeboat's meager provisions, the pirate stumbled across an old lamp.
Secretly hoping that a magic genie would appear, he rubbed the lamp vigorously. To the amazement of the castaways, a genie came forth.
This particular genie, however, stated that he could only deliver one wish, not the standard three.
Without giving any thought to the matter the pirate blurted out, "Make the entire ocean into rum!"
The genie clapped his hands with a deafening crash, and immediately the entire sea turned into the finest rum ever sampled by mortals.
Simultaneously, the genie vanished.
Only the gentle lapping of rum on the hull broke the stillness as the two considered their circumstances.
The parrot looked disgustedly at the pirate and after a tension-filled moment spoke:
"Now yee've done it!! Now we're go'on to have to pee in the boat!"
Aye, mateys ... shiver me timbers!
It Is Talk Like A Pirate Day.
[08:50AM MST] [Permalink]
|
|
|
|
|
|
09.15.09 |
This morning I put fresh blackberries on my bowl of HeartSmart Cereal with Silk Soy Milk.
The blackberries turned the soy milk purple.
The HeartSmart Cereal with blackberries in purple soy milk were in a bright orange bowl.
It was like eating the crunchy goodness of The Phoenix Suns!
Or maybe the Clemson Tigers?
Logos © The Phoenix Suns and The Clemson Tigers respectively
|
|
|
|
|
|
09.11.09 |
This is a reprise of a previous post made 09/2004.
While I am not able to attend this year, The Healing Field is in place for its 6th year at Tempe Town Lake.
- - - - - - - - -
I had to go. The voice inside my mind told me that I would regret it if I did not.
The Healing Field came to Tempe, AZ this weekend to commemorate and to "honor, remember and heal".
I purposely stayed on the freeway that looks down upon Tempe Town Lake and the beautiful park. As I approached the park, the sunlight was glinting off the lake ... temporarily blinding me with a glorious flash of light.
And then ... there they were ... 4000+ white poles ... anchored in the soil of everyday life ... with a mass of red, white, and blue American flags waving in the early morning breeze.
My breath caught in my throat as I remembered the flags that a united America displayed in the days and weeks that followed 9/11.
I exited the freeway and found myself nervous as I made my way to the parking area.
Walking into the park yesterday morning is something I will never forget ... and will cherish until the day I die.
As I walked amongst the rows and rows of flags, I was shocked at the sheer volume ... the overwhelming number ... of the lives lost that each flag represents.
I wept without embarrassment.
I have never really put a quantitative perspective on 4000+ ... but dear God, so many flags ... on and on and on ... so many souls.
So many families and friends missing someone.
The Healing Field not only represents the lives of those taken from us on 9/11 ... but also displays one flag bearing a yellow ribbon for every soldier who has lost their life in Afghanistan or Iraq. These yellow ribbons are embellished with a card indicating the name and rank of the soldier with where ... and how ... the soldier died.
As I stood in the quiet moments of morning ... before the crowds began to arrive ... my eyes were drawn to the bright blue Arizona sky. There, directly overhead, was a commercial airliner steadily climbing in the atmosphere but seeming to pause ... as if to catch a glimpse of the park below. It was somehow fitting that the flight path for Sky Harbor brought the planes directly over a symbol of healing.
I have many, many thoughts and feelings about the sights and sounds of The Healing Field ... but they shall remain held carefully and ever-so-tightly in my heart.
Instead, here is my yesterday morning in photographs (click the image):
|
|
|
|
|
|
09.02.09 |
Oh. My. Gawd.
I am not a foodie. I am not a gourmand. I am not an epicure.
However, tonight my mouth sang the tastebud opera of delight!
Applewood smoked cheddar cheese atop tart apple slices ...
... on a Wheat Thin.
MMMMMMmmmm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
