Memorial Day in the Northland.

It's May 30th...and I've got a pot of chili simmering on the stove.  It's a cold, rainy Memorial Day here in the northland and I'm glad to have the chili ready to eat.

There is a classic chili recipe that I follow with modifications. It may not be a five alarm fire,maybe 3.5 - 4.0.  ~L~   A little salsa, V-8 (spicy) juice, jalepeno peppers,stewed tomatoes, a dash of Tobasco, green peppers, onions, red peppers, chili beans (in hot sauce, of course!).  Add some garlic, black pepper, salt and a dash of shredded cheese thrown in to blend it all together and we're good to go!

I'm not one for add ones to my chili - like extra sour cream, taco chips, but I do like to eat it with corn bread.  Yum!!!   I'm hungry already!

Today is Memorial Day...and I'd be remise if I didn't share my thoughts on this day.

•  I  miss my parents terribly.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of them...but their memories live on in my heart.  
•  To my good friends Jerry Z and Sniper Bob, your memories live on in my heart and I still cherish and remember the good times we used to have. 
• To Earl...my brother-in-law.  Every time I see your girls, I see you.  You'd be proud of them.  You live on in them!
• To the men and women that have given their lives for our great Nation...I thank you for all that you've given in order for me to continue to have the freedoms I have in life today.

Namaste'

Every once in a while

..someone touches your heart and you just cannot ignore the imprint they leave on your life.  I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason...and that people come in and out of your life to teach you something. 

I am lucky enough to have a friend that is teaching me the meaning of perseverance, determination, and sheer will power.  My friend, Rick, finished his first marathon at the age of  50.  He finished it in 5:34 minutes - 4 minutes off his goal time. 

I've known Rick since he used to work at the prison with me. I've always known him to be a strong person, kind, and generous.  He has goals in mind and doesn't waiver from them if at all possible.  Last year he was sidelined from the 1/2 marathon by his doctors when it was determined that running could induce a stroke.  Did that stop him?  Nope.  See...he has a bucket list in his mind and running a marathon was on his list.  He told me, "Life is too short to let it pass me by...I'm going to live it!"  Amen brother!!

So, as he recounts his 26.2 mile run - with laughter, some tears, and a huge sense of pride...I realize that everyone once in a while, a person needs to look at his own life and say, "I CAN DO THIS"...and LIVE!

When asked , "what's next on your bucket list?"  He simply laughs and says, "I haven't decided yet...I'll let you know when I have."

Yes, every once in a while someone shows you what it is like to be an inspiration!

Remember those awesome 80's movies..

..you know the ones....the epic movies with the freakin awesome musical number?  Chariots of Fire, Vision Quest, Flashdance, Fame (ok, Fame was a TV show, but it was still freakin awesome), Footloose, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Big Chill, Purple Rain...just to name a few

They don't make movies like those anymore...and they certainly don't have the epic soundtracks that go down in history as classic.  Those types of movies are classics and I could watch them over and over again.  If truth be told...I have Purple Rain on my DVR and it's my "go to" movie when I want to lose myself. 

I can tell you the first time I saw it and with whom.  Was in south Moorehead MN with my best friend (at the time) Jody in the summer of '84.  She talked me in to playing hooky from work (she didn't have to talk hard).  We had pizza at the Speak Easy (best pizza in town!) and then walked across the street to watch the movie.  Freakin Awesome!  I think we picked up a bottle of wine on the way home (yes, I loved wine way back then!), and sat up all night talking about Prince, his music, and the movie.  

I had been a fan of Prince for quite some time.  My friend Sherry Schmidt and the Miami Connection (remind me to tell you about these three guys sometime!) turned me on to Prince and some of his more raw music back in 1981 or 1982.  We used to dance and party to Prince's music all night long!    He was a musical genius...and still is.

Ya.... I'm wishing they made movies like they did in the 80's! 

It's not procrastination...

… if you planned to do it at the last minute anyway.  I LOVE this!!  Those of you who know me well, know that I tend to be a "procrastinating perfectionist".  If I can't do it in MY time frame, it doesn't fit in to MY time frame or I can't do it the way I want to do it, then I tend not to do it at all or delay doing it until it fits in to my world.

It's not that I'm lazy, it's just a matter of timing….MY timing!

Drives my husband crazy!  He's a "getter done" type of guy.  Therefore, he thinks that I should follow his lead. NOT.

I often hear, "did you remember to call so-and so?"  "No, but it's on my list."  (Silence). 

The next day, same question.  "No, it's on my list of things to do."  (More silence). After the third day, he finally gets the hint and drops the subject.  Smart move, because every time he asks me the question, it moves further down my on my list.  Did I also mention that I'm a tad bit stubborn as well? 

I prioritize my procrastination also.  Anyone do that besides me?  I know precisely what needs to get done last (or first) and how long it's going to take me to complete the task.  Some people may say that I'm living life on the edge.  I prefer to look at it as being a the ultimate "time and task manager" who "works well under pressure."  Works for me!  Looks good on a resume too! :)

 

What the heck....

snow, wind, and rain on May 1st???!!  I want to know who pissed off Mother Nature and how they are going to make it right!  Geez!

Ok, I'm better now.  I just needed to get that off my chest. :)

All things considered, I'm doing alright today.  I should go to the gym..I NEED to go to the gym, but I'm having a hard time getting motivated when the weather feels like November instead of May 1st.  I should be in tank tops and flip flops right now, sitting on my deck enjoying a nice cool beverage.  Am I?  Nope.  I'm in sweats and drinking hot chocolate to stay warm.  This just isn't right.   I heard on the local news the other night that ND has had a snow episode - somewhere in the state - for 8 months now.  (sighs heavily). This winter was BRUTAL!!!! 

We're hearty souls up here in the northland, but this one took the cake.  And when do I get sick?  At the tail end of it.  The last four weeks haven't been great for this body of mine.  Fighting bronchial infection, reinjuring my cervical neck issue (bulging disc at  C5-6), etc.  It's enough to make a grown woman cry.  So what do I do instead?  Teach yoga!  Oh...and maybe drink a little wine too! ;)