Arizona Almanac on Hiatus

No Arizona post today.  But fear not...in about a week, I think you will all be sick of hearing about Arizona. 

Beginning on Sunday, April 1st, I will be participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. You can click on the icon to the right to find out more about it (pretty ironic that the icon has the initials of my state, don't you think? ;)

The concept is:  blogging everyday but Sunday (the 1st being the exception) and the post topics must follow the alphabet.  So, on Sunday April 1st the topic will begin with A and on Monday the 2nd it will begin with B and so on.  When I first signed up for this way back in January (seems like a week ago) I wasn't sure what I would write about.  I was going to write about being a mom of adult kids since that's kinda what my blog is supposed to be about, but who's kidding who, there just isn't enough material for 26 posts about being a mom of adult kids.  That and it just seemed overwhelming.  When I write posts like that I feel the pressure to be witty or wise or both...and at this point I just can't handle that pressure.  So, I got the bright idea that I would use this challenge to write about Arizona.  I have lots of material, I can keep the posts short and everyone would learn something.  I might still try to be witty, but don't hold your breath on that one. 

After this challenge I will re-evaluate my Arizona Almanac posts.  I may be tired of writing about Arizona, and you may be tired of hearing about it.  We'll see how that goes. 

So, wish me luck with this little endeavour, I will need it.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

The War - Day 47

Just here to give a little update to my faithful readers. 

I joined Weight Watchers two and a half weeks ago.  I am doing the online version.  I'm just not up to the whole meeting thing.  Maybe one day I can go back to that, but not right now.  I've lost 10 lbs in my first two weeks so....GO ME!  I am eating so much better, not perfect, but much better.  But that is not even the most exciting news.  I have been walking every day at work on our walking path that they have set up in the basement of the hospital.  Today I was able to add an extra lap for a total of 5 laps.  I'm so proud of myself for this accomplishment.  It's not easy for a couch potato to suddenly start expending energy, but I am determined to make it happen.

So, choice by choice, I continue to move forward.  The war has just begun...today I won a significant battle.  Can't wait to conquer more obstacles along the way!

So, does everyone remember our deal?  I lose weight and you get all your health screenings...I hope you are doing that.

What good choices have you made lately?

Water, Water Everywhere....Well, not EVERYWHERE

Here in the desert we are all too aware of water conservation.  We value water and hold it at a premium.  But we don't have to work to get it.  We can turn on our tap anytime and get fresh, clean water.  We can buy bottled water just about anywhere we go.  So while we are mindful that water is precious, we rarely really think about how we get it or what it takes to get it to our tap.

Today is World Water Day.  You can visit The Adventure Project, to learn more.  Meg from Whatever has written very eloquently about it on her blog.  I'm going to steal her words because she writes it better than I ever could:

so it's here.
today is World Water Day.
most of us reading this....we take our water for granted.
we can turn on the tap anytime we want.
we can use a drinking fountain just about anywhere.
we can bathe whenever we feel like it...in CLEAN water.
we can jump in a gigantic swimming pool or soak in a hot tub to relax.
we give our dogs big bowls of clean water...we make sure they are never out.

we don't have to worry about our babies getting sick or dying from the water we have to serve them.
we don't have to walk for hours EVERY DAY to get dirty water in buckets for our family.
we can help those that do have to do that.

So today I donated to help bring clean water to people who are not as fortunate as I am.  I hope you can find it in your heart to donate something, however large or small.  Whatever you may be able to afford.

Please go HERE to donate.  Thanks for helping.

EDIT:  So, far be it from me to start fights on other people's blogs...so I will bring my comments here.  A commenter on Meg's blog stated that they thought there were many charitable oranizations here in our own country and shouldn't we be donating to those instead?  You are right...whoever you are that will most likely never read this, but why can't we do both?  We all inhabit this big blue marble and we are not called to just help America.  We are called to help all of God's children, wherever they may live.  Ok, I'm done.  I just had to say that.  It needed to be said.  Thanks for listening :)

Awards, Awards

KC of The Occasional Adventures of a Hermit was kind enough to give me this award.  Now, I'm not really sure how much of an award it is since it comes with things I have to do and people I have to tag, but I'm grateful non-the-less.  It pushes me to go outside my own little bloggy self.  So here's what I have to do:

Tell you 7 random things about me and pass this on to 15 more bloggers.  The ones who win will come get their award, tag 15 people, tell us all 7 things about themselves, tell the tagees about their win, tell them what to do.   

The problem is...not sure I can tag 15 people...especially people who know I exist.  I'm kind of a lurker.  Which means I read lots of blogs but I don't comment a lot.  I know, I'm always telling you people to comment, and then I don't do it myself.  Oops, guess I shouldn't have told you that. Part of that is my issue with blogger envy, which I have talked about here.  I read some pretty amazing blogs and they intimidate me, hence why I don't comment.  I'm trying to get better though.  Really I am.  OK, on to 7 random things about myself.  I shouldn't have a problem with this one...

1.  I have the weirdest dreams known to man.  One example:  I dreamt that I was in a town full of clowns.  Everyone was a clown.  The mailman, the store clerks, the policeman... everyone... except me.  It was rather creepy to say the least.  My family gets much enjoyment out of listening to the tales of my weird dreams.

2.  I have certain foods that I won't eat.  Not because of how they taste but because of the consistency.  Like jello...ewwww.  I just can't stand the way it feels in my mouth.  Also, cottage cheese.  There are others but that's enough.  I feel I may be driving away any readers I might have.  Who wants to follow the weird dream/food phobia lady....

3. I dislike all things that fly.  It doesn't matter how big or how little, how ugly or how pretty (yes, I dislike butterflies).  I think I know why but being as I am not a mental health care professional, I can't say for sure....but I'm pretty sure.  When I was little we had parakeets.  My mother loved them and she used to let them fly around the house.  They scared me to death.  I hated them.  Now I hate everything that flies.

4.  I'm scared of heights.  I don't even really like the fact that I work on the second floor and I'm forced to walk across an enclosed bridge to get to the parking garage.  I try as hard as I can not to look out those windows.  It makes me nervous.  I know, I'm weird.  My family tells me all the time.

So this post is kind of turning into the list of Gerri's weirdness and phobias.  I think I'll have to pick a few non-phobia random things to say about myself.  This may take a while.....talk amongst yourselves....

5.  I love American history. I will watch any show on TV and read any book I can get my hands on, anything that has to do with American history.  In my next life I want to be a history teacher.

6.  I love Thomas Jefferson.  He is the person I always pick when people ask what famous person, dead or alive, you would most like to have dinner with.  TJ every time.  He fascinates me.  I want to pick his brain.  I would love to know what he thinks of his country now.  And I'm especially curious to know what Mr. Jefferson thinks of Mr. Obama.

7.  I have a rare illness.  It's called Hallmarkornamentitis.  I am obsessed with Hallmark Christmas ornaments.  I have so many I can't get them all on my trees.  Yes, I said trees, plural.  I have three Christmas trees (2 six foot and 1 seven and a half foot) and I still cannot get all the ornaments on the trees.  And, each one of my children have a large plastic container full of Hallmark ornaments that I have collected for them over their lifetimes.  I don't even put those on my trees anymore.  So yes, I have issues with ornaments.  My family thinks I'm nuts...but my Christmas trees are awesome! 

OK, that wasn't too painful.  At least not for me.  I don't know about you...if it was painful for you I apologize.  Now I have to tag some people.  Here goes:

Sarah @ Honest to Blog
Kelly @ My Voice, My View
Jenn @ The Loves of Jenn
Erin @ Sunny Side Up
Meg @ Whatever
Sarah @ Clover Lane

OK, that's it folks.  If you have time you should check out the blogs I listed.  They are all worth the read.

See you tomorrow for Arizona Almanac!  

Randomy Randomness

I'm going to write a bunch of random stuff and hope to tie it all together at the end.  But I make no promises.  You may just have to be happy with unconnected randomness.

First up...an update on the war.  Not going so well.  It's the struggle of my life, but I keep forging ahead.  I'm not going to give up, and I do plan on winning.  Saw the doctor on Friday and he scolded me about my weight, which he should have done years ago, but for some reason it just hit me really hard and I was on the verge of tears all the way home.  I recommitted myself to making good choices and getting it done.  I signed up for Weight Watchers online.  I got motivated and pumped.  I was formulating my grocery list for the upcoming week and then.....

Food poisoning hit my house hard.  Dan, Sarah and I were all stricken.  It was awful, nasty stuff that I do not wish to repeat anytime soon.  I am still feeling a bit queasy.  Needless to say, nothing got done this weekend, and especially no food shopping.  The thought of food is still kind of making me sick.  If one bright spot could come of this it would be that we are pretty certain it was ice cream that did it.  Ice cream...my biggest weakness...I now want nothing to do with.  Might be a good thing.  Guess we'll see how long it lasts.

I had another one of those "Mom" moments last night.  Beth text me about her new apartment and I could feel how excited she is.  I remember when life was bright and shiny and new and you were always excited for what was around the corner.  Like when she was little.  It was another one of those moments that put me in a melancholy mood and where I try to figure out where all the time has gone.  Maybe it's time to find something bright, shiny and new for myself.

One of my best friends lost her mother last week.  My heart breaks for her.  It brought me right back to 9 years ago when I lost my own mother.  Things like that can make the pain very fresh in an instant.  Losing a mom is never easy.  Time dulls but does not take away the pain and loss.  We all need our mom's, even when we are 53 year old mothers ourselves.

OK, no way for me to tie that all together, except to say....life happens.  It's what we do with it that makes the difference.  Hope you all have a great week.

It's Time to...Play Ball!

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training today.  This is one of my favorite days of the year.  It means baseball is just around the corner.  And I love baseball.  I love getting in my car after a long day at work, turning on the radio and listening to the sounds of the national past time.  In those moments I feel content.  Those moments take me right back to my childhood.

I remember my dad listening to games on the radio, and I would listen along.  Sometimes it played while we ate dinner.  Sometimes it played while my dad did yard work.  Sometimes it played while my dad took a nap.  In the beginning I had no idea what was going on, I was too young.  But I knew my dad loved it, so I did too.  Some of my earliest memories are of sitting with my dad and watching the game on TV.  In those days there was only one game a week on TV and it was on Saturday afternoon.  It was especially exciting if the Indians were playing.  That was my dad's team.  Those were the afternoons when I first learned what baseball was all about.  My dad explained the game and answered questions and created a lover of baseball. 

As I got older I continued to love the game and wanted to know everything about it.  I would read the sports page and devour the box scores.  By the time I was in sixth grade I was a baseball aficionado.  I changed my team to the Reds because John Fertman (yes that was his name, and despite it, I still had a crush on him) liked the Reds.  And then I fell in love with Johnny Bench.  I was all about catchers after that.  I became infatuated with my best friends brother, mostly because he was a catcher on our high school baseball team.  He became interested in me through our mutual love of baseball and Johnny Bench.  I eventually married him and now we love the Diamondbacks and Kirk Gibson. 

I love everything about baseball.  The fact that there's no time limit and you play until there's a winner...I LOVE that.  The back and forth strategy of opposing managers, the death stare of a pitcher, that there are as many ways to hit a baseball as there are hitters, the quirkiness of a closer.  I love it all.  So, yes, I am excited for the season to start, and I only have one more thing to say....

Play Ball!!

Quote for the Day:

Baseball is like church.  Many attend, few understand. 

~Leo Durocher~ 

 

Happy 100 Arizona!

Today the great state of Arizona celebrates it's centennial.  Perfect occasion for a mother/daughter blog.  Sarah and I will be blogging about Arizona.  I have no idea what she will say, but I bet she will complain about the heat at some point.  I know I will!

I am a native Arizonan.  My parents came here from Ohio in the 1950's because of my dad's asthma.  I sure wish they'd kept on going...right to San Diego.  It's not that I don't like Arizona.  I like it just fine.  In fact, when I was a kid I used to be really proud of being from the place with the big hole in the ground.  But, I hate the heat.  Always have, always will.  OK, no more about the heat.

I feel like all the weird stuff happens in Arizona.  I suppose other people feel that way about their states too.  But you have to admit, we've had a pretty good run of national publicity.  From Evan Mecham to Sheriff Joe, we have our fair share quirky personalities.  We've also had our fair share of polarizing issues.  From MLK Day to SB1070...Arizona likes to do things her way.  And I kind of like that about my state...'cause I'm kinda like that too. 

We have some interesting history too.  Like Tombstone.  I'm sure you've heard of the shootout at the OK Corral.  Don't believe everything you see in the movies...it didn't really happen that way.  Tombstone is a great place to visit.  If you ever get the chance, you should go. You won't learn the real history there either, they like to perpetuate the myth.  Those shootouts in the street are good for business.  If you like murder mysteries we have our fair share of those also.  None more grisly and fascinating than the case of Winnie Ruth Judd, known around these parts as The Trunk Murderess.  It really is a fascinating story and if you want to read more get this book...written by our very own Jana Bommersbach, an acclaimed journalist.  There's also the story of Don Bolles.  An investigative journalist who was assassinated for his reporting on the mafia in Arizona.  Our state is full of colorful stories about cowboys and Indians, pioneers and modern day hero's.  Gabrielle Giffords comes to mind.

Our state is beautiful, despite the heat (oops, sorry).  You can be in the desert and travel about 2 hours north and be in some of the most beautiful forests you've ever seen.  We call it the high country, or for traveling purposes...driving up the mountain.  I wish I could live there...on the mountain...but it's not economically feasible.  I keep dreaming for a summer home there.  Hopefully one day.  We also have a bridge brought piece by piece all the way from London.  I used to live in the city were the London Bridge resides.  Nice place to visit...and I'll just leave it at that.  The states natural beauty is beyond compare.  The Grand Canyon is only one of many canyons in our great state. Of course it's the biggest, and most impressive, but I believe some of the smaller ones are even more beautiful. My favorite: Walnut Canyon.  Gorgeous and full of history. The canyons aren't the only beautiful places.  There are so many but these are two of my favorites: Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest.  And last but not least, we have some of the most beautiful sunsets you'll ever lay your eyes on.  When I drive home at night, right into one of those sunsets...I remember why this is such a great place to live....that and the fact that I don't have to shovel anything in February.

We have our fair share of controversy and I've heard people talk about us like were a bunch of back water hicks.  They say our school systems are no good, that we're racist and we are too conservative.  Funny thing though, they keep moving here....so we must be doing something right.  Either that or it just proves that people will put up with anything not to have to shovel snow.

I've really only scratched the surface of some of the wonderful, interesting and quirky things about my state. I could write so much more, but I'll let you off the hook.  I don't think I've ever put so many links in one post, but I really wanted to share my little corner of the world with you.  Hope you enjoyed it.  I really enjoyed writing it and it's given me an idea.  I think I'm going to make this a regular feature of my blog.  Every week I'll give you some random fact or other information about Arizona.  We'll probably all learn things we never knew before. (And maybe never wanted to know, but I'm gonna do it anyway!)

Now head on over to Sarah's blog...I'm really curious to see what she has to say about her native land.

Oh, and PS...I think we should get "cool" points for being the birth place of Alice Cooper  :-)