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It’s Friday And That Must Mean …

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Thank you for your patience with me this last week or two while I’ve been off vacationing.  I have lots of Hawaii stories to share with you, but I think I am going to wait until Monday.  I didn’t get home till 2:30 in the morning Thursday so I’m still operating in an exhausted fog.  By Monday I will be a little less flustered.  I get a little out of sorts during those first 48 hours back home after a trip.  You know, when you come home to rotten no groceries in the house, laundry piled to the roof, a stackload of bills and collection notices mail that need to be read ASAP, five hundred plus items waiting for you in your Reader, a few hundred emails, etc.  All that fun stuff. 


By the way, several of those emails informed me that my partner would really be happy if I enlarged my penis by 3 inches.  (?) 


Lately, I’ve been trying to end each week with a few pictures of Orange County.  I know I can’t do this every week because some weeks my life is just, um, boring and I will have nothing to show you.  I do enjoy the “Glimpse of Orange County” Fridays though because I figure it gives you a good feel for my environment.  Plus what can be better than ending your week with thoughts of getting outside and enjoying yourself for the upcoming weekend?


Life here is not all about beaches.  I wish it was.  I spend nearly every day out walking and oftentimes not at the beach.  I enjoy the walks, but I get bored easily so I try to change up where I walk.  I have started branching out and going to different locations for a change of scenery.  Here is one spot I walk sometimes because there is a nice, one mile, flat, path around the lake.  It is so pretty that I thought it would be great for this week’s Glimpse of Orange County. 


LakeMtn


This lake is located in a town called Rancho Santa Margarita.  Pretty, isn’t it?  It looks like a postcard, but obviously it’s not.  I took this photo with my superb photography skills.  Ha!  I love the mountains in California nearly as much as the beach.   


Birds


These guys were swimming by in a very nicely formed line.  (Don’t you want to know WHY?)  I figure with all that effort on their part, they deserve to be shown on the blog too.


In California there are a lot of communities that have built man-made lakes to center their towns around.  I may not have walked all of them (yet), but I have walked many of them.  Yes, we have real lakes too, including one right behind my house.  However. the one behind my house is home to some pretty scary critters, especially in the summer months.  I prefer walking in the more populated areas so I don’t, you know, get eaten alive by a mountain lion. 

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Aloha

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As you read this I am on my way home from a week in Hawaii.  It was our first family vacation in years due to my car accident and resulting nightmare.  I want you to know that I arrived tan, even if it was a fake tan (and please don't anybody look at my feet).  And my hootch?  It was ready to hula!

TR only has about 10 days with us this summer so we flew to Maui for a week of it.  My parents were able to overlap our trip by two days (they live in Oregon now that they are retired).  I know I will be exhausted and have a lot to do when I get back so I have one more "mini-post" for tomorrow.  If you have emailed me while I've been gone, I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.  I will be returning to my normal posting routine on Friday.  In the meantime, here's a picture of a Maui sunset for you to enjoy today:

Maui

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Short and Sweet Week

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My daughter, TR, is only going to be home with us for a very short time this summer.  In addition, I have the opportunity to see my parents over the next couple days.  They retired out of state and I rarely get to see them.  I will have posts all of this week, but they will be short and sweet.  I hope you will be patient.  Trust me, time with my family is bound to give me plenty of fresh writing material for weeks to come!

On either Friday of this week, or next Monday I will be back to my usual routine.  You know how that goes … blah, blah, asshole, blah, blah, tit!!

Enjoy the "mini-posts" this week! 

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And We Also Have Purple Trees

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I think I am starting a tradition without meaning to.  Here is another Friday "Glimpse of Orange County" post to end your week (or begin your weekend).  If you live around here these posts might bore you to tears.  Or, hopefully, they remind you to appreciate your surroundings. 

Recently Briefcase was visited by a work associate from Europe.  The gentleman lived in the U.S. until a few years ago, but not in California.  He was in town only for a few days and he was startled by some of the scenery in Orange County.  He thought the beaches were breathtaking (duh!), he could not believe the number of palm trees (everywhere!) and he had never seen outdoor malls before.  Yes, we have outdoor malls with fountains, ocean views, and palm trees and I would never have thought twice about it until he FREAKED OUT when he saw one!  

The one thing he could not stop talking about, however, were the "purple trees".  The purple trees were amazing, startling, unbelievable.  Without question, he found them simply awe inspiring.  Jacaranda trees are beautiful, but to be honest I take them for granted.  If this man had not mentioned how unusual he found them, I would not have thought to share a picture with you. 

JAC2

Jacaranda trees are probably at their prettiest in the month of May, but this picture was taken mid June and there are still a lot of blossoms.  They grow in "sub-tropical" climates.  Here's a closer look:

JAC

Jacaranda's line a lot of the city streets in Orange County because they are so beautiful.  Here is a google image of a street full of them because I am too lazy to traipse around taking anymore pictures today.

Jacarandastreet

The negative thing about these trees is they eventually lose all those flowers.  And when they do?  It causes quite a mess.  The petals can stain if they land on sidewalks or patios.  Nonetheless, driving down a street with a line of Jacarandas in bloom is quite a beautiful sight. 

Once again, happy Friday everybody!

 

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Reader's Question

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I am going to answer an email I got last week from a reader.  The reader asked, "Did you really have that happen in a tanning booth?  And what do you mean by FUNKYFEET?"

I would love to answer that I am far too intelligent to have ever talked out loud to a tanning booth, but I can't.  Yes, reader it really happened!  I'm stupid that way.  

And as for FUNKYFEET …. 

  

Feet  

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Reader’s Question

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I am going to answer an email I got last week from a reader.  The reader asked, "Did you really have that happen in a tanning booth?  And what do you mean by FUNKYFEET?"

I would love to answer that I am far too intelligent to have ever talked out loud to a tanning booth, but I can't.  Yes, reader it really happened!  I'm stupid that way.  

And as for FUNKYFEET …. 

  

Feet  

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Home Sweet Home

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TR just returned home from college a few days ago.  You have no idea how hard it was for me to send her off to college last September.  I know it is a difficult thing for all parents, no matter what the circumstances.  (Well, maybe not all parents.  I have a friend who sent her kid packing because she could not handle his teen antics for one more second!  She was overjoyed he was gone!)

When TR left, I was in the midst of excruciating physical pain from the car accident and multiple surgeries.  My life was out of control and spinning in a downward spiral which I could not control.  (Yes, OK, I am a little bit of a control freak.  A car accident, multiple failed surgeries, daily PT with The Torturer, Briefcase traveling nonstop and never, ever, being home to help with anything, debilitating pain, daughter leaving … it was all out of my control!)  I was vulnerable, my defenses were wiped out.  I felt beat to hell from life itself.  And my firstborn, my only daughter, was moving away from me at the same time. 

I was that mom.  The one who cried the entire way up to drop her at college.  Yes, I cried for hours as we drove, snot dripping from my nose, salty tear streaks, and red, unattractive, hive-like splotches all over my face.  I valiantly tried, but failed, to focus my thoughts on anything other than the fact I was losing my daughter forever!  

I was the mom who could barely squeak out a "good-bye" because I was sobbing so hard and clutching her in a death grip.  I am terrible at good-byes and I don't think it would have ever been easy.  However, I was going through so much at the time and TR's leaving was another major change to deal with.  Honestly, I was not strong enough to even handle the pain I was in.  I wanted her to have a wonderful college experience, I did not want her worried about me or feeling guilty about leaving.  Nevertheless, I sobbed uncontrollably.

TR did have a wonderful first year in college.  And the big surprise?  How fast it went by.  (As fast as a speeding train!  Ha!)  It seems like we just dropped her off and now we moved her stuff back in.  I am, happily, in a little bit better place myself now.  Still in pain, but in manageable pain vs. excruciating, "about to go totally out of my mind" pain.  This summer TR will be traveling so we won't have her around much.  This time, however, I am better able to deal with it.

Part of the reason is that once your teen moves out, it is a bit of an adjustment to have them move back in.  Not that I don't absolutely love TR and want her home.  It's just that …

TRoom1

This is what her room looks like.

TRoom3

She has been home for only a few days, but already has friends from college staying with us.  I love her friends and I love having lots of people around, but … look at her room!  Her friends are staying in there too?  Plus, it didn't occur to her to ask about convenient dates for her friends to visit.  She's used to living on her own and doing what she wants, when she wants.  She is not going to be home much this summer so she invited house guests to stay here at a time when she felt it worked best for her. 

Me?  I have an overbooked week and will barely be home for a minute.  Cooking and cleaning for house guests?  Well, it isn't going to happen.  I feel bad about that.  I enjoy being a great hostess … usually.  This time TR will be on her own, and that's okay.  It will be a good learning experience for her.  Just like we both had to adjust to her leaving for college, now we need to make adjustments with her return.  

And her room?  TR says she's "been meaning to get all unpacked and clean up the mess".  Let's hope so!  In the meantime, I just shut her bedroom door (and my mouth!) as I walk by.   

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Is It a Violation of Privacy?

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Sometimes, like right now, I question whether I should write a post or not.  My reasons vary.  Recently I dropped an "F-bomb" in my bikini wax post and I worried it would offend the Internet.  (You know … the Internet with all the porn on it?  That Internet!)  I couldn't think of a more adequate word to use in that post, however, so I didn't edit the word out.  I often decide against posts that mention my kids because they are teens.  It is hard enough to be a teen without having their lives written about and published for all eternity on the world-wide-web.  I think of it as my Writing Filter … what I feel comfortable sharing with the world, and what I do not.  I try to do better with my Writing Filter than I do with my Mouth Filter. 

In reality, I wasn't born with the best Mouth Filter.  You know … the filter between the brain and mouth that keeps you from blurting out things when all humanity would be better off if you kept your mouth shut?  I don't have a very good filter.  (For those of you who know me personally, please stop nodding your head in agreement!)  The thought in my brain is often out of my mouth without hesitation.  The positive aspect of this is people always know where they stand with me.  I love my friends for life, but if they piss me off they know it.  I do think that this characteristic will keep me ulcer free.  In addition, I also freely tell the people I care about that I do indeed adore them … and I mean it.  One thing I am not, is fake.  You will never hear me implying I like or care about someone if I don't. 

So it is with a little trepidation that I make a confession today.  You, Internet, may condemn me for it.  I may have, possibly, violated my two boy's privacy by reading what friends wrote in their yearbooks.  Some of you who are parents will be thinking, "What's wrong with that?"  Others of you will be ashamed of me for not respecting their privacy.  Both boys said I could look at their yearbooks, but did they expect me to read what their friends wrote?  I don't think so.  Would they want me writing about it? 

The most difficult part was reading RC's.  He is 17, has just finished his Junior year of high school, and he is quite social.  I held my breath as I read the full page inscription from a girl he has dated frequently.  She was flirty, she told him to have "fun, but not too much fun" without her while she is traveling this summer.  She added how happy she is now that they've done "everything" together.  And everything was in quotes.  "Dear God," I prayed,  "Please let her not end up pregnant!"  Did she mean everything when she wrote "everything"?  Maybe she meant some things when she wrote "everything"?  (Head-in-Sand-Head-in-Sand-Head-in-Sand!!)   

More worrisome was the note written by a girl RC has not dated.  She went on and on saying how "hot" she thinks he is, she "loves his muscles", he "is so funny", and blah, blah, blah.  And then she wrote … "I really hope someday I'll get to mate with you – I mean, date you."  Oh … My … God!!  I wish I could ask her parents, "Do you have any idea what your 16 year old daughter is saying to 17 year old boys … who, by the way, can think of nothing other than sex 24 hours per day?"  

I love men.  I really do.  Have I ever said to one, "I'd love to mate with you someday?"  No, I have not.  What do you think, Internet?  Do you think most men would turn down an invitation at "mating"?  How about a 17 year old boy?  How do I, as a mom, teach my hormonal son to turn down offers like that? 

Thank goodness I read PR's yearbook second.  Having just completed 7th grade, his yearbook inscriptions were much more innocent.  The most touching note was written by a male classmate.  He is a boy PR played Little League baseball with last year.  He wrote, "PR, you are the best baseball player I have ever met in my entire life!!" 

Sigh … how I cherish the innocence and wish it could last!