You've Got Mail

As per my feelings about technology and human contact, checking the mail is a task that I do not enjoy performing. It's ALL junk mail (including the bills). I stand at the trash can and throw away all I don't need, check out the balance and due date of what's left, sigh (heavily) and put the bills away for payment later.

It's a tedious process that rarely brings me any satisfaction.

EXCEPT yesterday I was sorting through the mail and there was a HANDWRITTEN envelope in the pile.

I'm the type of girl that NEVER reads the end of the book. I save my favorite bite of food for the last. I don't eat dessert first. I didn't cheat and find out the gender of my kids when I was pregnant. I don't give away gifts. My kids don't get to decide or choose or pick what their getting for Christmas or birthdays. I hate when people guess their gifts (Mark is so good at this that I won't even talk to him about gifts) and I don't try to guess my own gifts. I'm all about the element of SURPRISE. So, true to form, I set the envelope aside and hurried through the sorting process at hand. I'll tell you, it was dramatically less painful because I was excited to open my envelope and see what was inside.

I threw away the junk mail, discarded the useless part of the bills, and stacked them to be taken upstairs to my desk. The moment had finally arrived when I could see who had dropped me a note in the MAIL!  Not an email, or a text, or a facebook message. I got a REAL letter with a stamp and EVERYTHING!

I thought I recognized the writing and the return address. I wasn't positive and the sender had not put a name with the address. It was a PO box out of Salt Lake.

I slid my finger along the edge and opened it and VOILA I had received a card from my gal-pal-sister-friend Lynnette Richardson. She had taken the time to go somewhere, purchase a card, fill it out and drop it in the mail for ME. All this was to let me know that she "treasures me beyond words". Heck, I'm STILL grinning about it. Made my day, my week, my WHOLE month! It's going into my memory file to be found all over again and re-enjoyed at a later date.

You're secretly jealous aren't you?

I, for one, have learned my lesson. I'm going to quit complaining about the lost art of human contact and get out there and buy a card here and there. Not just birthday cards, either. I'll do the "just because I was thinking about you" card. I'll address it, stamp it and drop it in the mail. Pay it forward, right? 

Lynnette and Linnette

Mean People Suck

Last night someone got into the jeep and stole my purse. There was only $5.00 in the wallet. My sunglasses that Mark got me for Christmas were in it. The $100 gift card that Tyson and Diana gave me for my birthday was in it. Of course all my ID, debit card and those stupid reward cards that are from every-store-you-set-foot-in were in it.

I guess not much was truly lost. I'm MAD, though. I have lived in this neighborhood for 15 years now. I'm nice to everyone I come in contact with. I was naive enough to think that I was "safe" around here. I wrongly believed that if you treat others with respect that they will treat you equally.

This is the second time in a few months that someone has come on our property and taken something that doesn't belong to them. The first item taken was the power washer that Mark used all the time to clean the truck. Some rotten human being walked all the way to our garage and decided they needed it more than we did.

Now it's my purse. Weird how I feel violated.

I need to find a balance. I need to figure out how to NOT be naive and a sucker for STUPID people and yet not lose my "trust" in human nature.

Maybe we live in a world full of self-righteous, self-serving individuals after all?  I don't know. What I do know? Mean people suck.

I sure do miss that

I told you I would periodically update on my blog about how the man-oh-man-I-need-to-help-Mark-make-money dilemma is coming along. I have updated and am keeping current on the facebook pages for my graphics and pictures. I get sporadic looks, but so far? No takers.

I'm frustrated, I guess. I'm working on a web page right now. Hopefully it will help to be able to direct people to an actual web page. I have GOT to find out how to do web design. I say design, but I have that stuff figured out, but html? flash? cs? what the crap is that?

My partner in crime, gal pal, friend FOREVER Lynnette Richardson has FAITHFULLY supplied me with a constant stream of links to potential jobs. I have responded to more than I can count. This has been going on for over a year. Between her efforts and my efforts? Not a single interview. What?

My resume' looks good. My art is good. My computer skills are SUPER. Yet... (sigh)

I always do well once I interview. I'm a "people person". I enjoy shaking hands, looking someone in the eye, showing my portfolio, talking about the process behind creating. I like the banter and friendliness that comes with meeting new people. But, I can't seem to get that far.

We don't have human contact anymore. Need I say?  I am STRUGGLING with that. I pull up the job specifics, email a few short sentences to sum up my work, attach my resume' and a few of my designs, then send it off. I don't get a response.  I don't get a phone call. There is not a reply email. A letter of acknowledgement isn't popped into the mail. Heck...I don't even get smoke signals in receipt of the application.  What happened to "thank-you for applying", or "we like your work, but..."? It drives me nuts.

I say quite often that technology will be our downfall. Don't get me wrong...I love that I have found and now have contact with friends and acquaintances that I have missed TERRIBLY. But, it seems to me that countless hours and billions of dollars are spent inventing ways to do things faster, easier, better, but it all lacks the human factor...the handshake, a smile, a hug, a conversation. Faster? Definitely. Easier? I would say that it probably is. But better? NO.

I enjoy the handshake, the smile, the small talk. (sigh) Yep, I sure do miss that.

So...About That Road...

Everyone knows the poem by Robert Frost. You know the one. It's the poem about traveling on the road less traveled.

I thought about this poem last night. I woke up re-thinking the poem. It's weighed on my mind enough, that I thought I had better write about it and BE DONE with my obsession.

I guess the story goes: A long time ago, in a land far away...

When Goose was an infant (I TOLD you it was a long time ago) Mark and I went for a few days to hike the Sespe in California. We borrowed packs and lightweight sleeping bags, loaded the packs with what we would need for 4-5 days and off we went. Ohmygosh, I'm not kidding when I say that my pack weighed more than I did. I'm sure I looked a sight. In addition, I HATE shoes and I wear them as little as possible. About a quarter of a mile into the hike, off went my boots, and I did the rest of my journey barefoot.

Mark is a very adventurous soul. He is the first one off the beaten path. I, on the other hand, am perfectly content with following the marked trails and going exactly where I am told to go. Hence, Mark sees wonders and beauty that are not shared by many, and I see what everyone else gets to see. Still beautiful, but I think Mark has it figured out.

Sticking to proper characteristics, we followed that path MY WAY for a bit when Mark saw a small, rocky, barely there trail and OF COURSE that's the way we went. We trekked through dust and rocks, weeds, mud, steep hills and spooky drops. Then, there it was, a BEAUTIFUL camp spot right beside an AMAZING waterfall and pond. I can't describe how perfectly spectacular it was. Peaceful, tranquil, cool...man it smelled WONDERFUL.

My point is, the main trail led away from the falls. I'm sure I would have had some "wow" moments if we had continued in the direction of the signs. After all, why would they put up signs that led to something un-pretty? However, by taking the path that was more difficult, I witnessed astounding.

The choices we make put us on different paths. That is what Robert Frost is talking about. When we are faced with challenges and controversy the "easy out" is to walk away. We quit. That is the road most traveled. It's a quick fix. The more difficult road that has hills and valleys sure doesn't look so appealing. That's when the "now" doesn't matter. That's when we MUST think about what lies ahead. In the end we all want SPECTACULAR.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 

Just Bring A Pepsi

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” 
― Maya Angelou

For some dumb reason I got in my head that Eleanor Roosevelt said this. Guess what. Wasn't Eleanor. It was Maya. I guess it doesn't matter who said it. It's a good "say". One of those things you tuck away inside and pull out when it's needed.

It has been necessary for me to utilize the wisdom of this quote multiple times in my life. Seems like I have been placed on this earth as the constant student. I always have something to learn.

When we decide to open our hearts to love someone, I find it works best to learn to love them individually. In order to love individually, it is necessary to find out what their version of "I love you" is.  Sometimes it's a note. Sometimes a hug. There are times that call for more drastic measures...a visit, a phone call, dinner, movie, flowers...might be a conversation.

We all have something that makes us go "Aw...I feel so important." Because you are, you know. You ARE important. It's so wonderful to hear it, so in turn, you must not be afraid to say it. And if the conversation is such that the "other guy" isn't getting what you are saying? Well, then you be the one to change how you are communicating your love.

See. Listen. Hear. Feel. You can't go wrong. If you're scared? Say it. If you're lonely? Say it. If you're happy? Say it. If you love someone? Say it. Say it. Say it. Say it.

Tune in to those you love. Communicate your needs and listen to their needs. Write a note. Send a card. Go for a walk. Giggle at dinner. Buy a candy bar. Bring balloons.

Not every moment calls for a dozen roses. In the end, it's the simple things that matter. It's the simple things that make the good and it's the simple things that add up to bad.

As for Me? Just bring me a pepsi. That's MY dozen roses.

Remember This Moment

A few years ago, it became a family tradition that I create a video of events we have captured throughout the year and give it to the family at Christmas time. I wrap it up and put it under the tree and when the time comes that it is opened, we stop all the festivities and watch the video.

I love this new-found activity. Of course, I cry when I make the video. I cry while we watch the video on Christmas morning. Every time I watch it thereafter, I choke up. Maybe it's because I know the stress that is involved in finding the PERFECT song that says what I need to say to my family. Could be the hours upon hours I spend looking at pictures and finding the perfect one and making it all fit together. Maybe it's because I see how much my family is growing. Maybe it's because it always represents the end of year. I guess I don't need to defend it. I cry - okay?

I have started creating our sweatshirts to match the video. I find a theme and that's what my design, quotes, colors, fonts and video fit around.

This year I went with the song Long Live by Taylor Swift. It was a perfect fit with what I was trying to communicate with the family.

See, there's a storm a-brewing on the Deason horizon. It's not the kind to fear, but it's a storm that will bring many changes to the Deason family. And I need them to remember the NOW.

I think that at times we are all guilty of focusing only on our horizons. In and of itself, that's not a bad thing, but it's important to me to remember what is our right now. All too soon, it will be gone. Some stuff will forever be locked in our minds but I would ask my family (and those reading my thoughts) to remember the little moments. Don't forget the family barbecues, the laughter, the simple "I love you"s, birthdays, hugs from Hailey, Bill's giggle. Lock away the little things that warm your heart so you can retrieve them in the tough times. These are the things that matter.

Here's the sweatshirts. And the video. Enjoy...

It's Not Just Ground Hogs Day

It's my birthday. Happy birthday to me! I'm now 47 years old. What the crap? I SWEAR I just blinked and time passed. It's a bit surreal. I FEEL like I'm still in my twenties. Yet, when I look in the mirror, the image looking back is NOT looking twenty-something any longer. Weird.

I feel a bit melancholy this year. I don't know if it's because the big 5-OH-MY-GOSH-AM-I-REALLY-THAT-OLD-O is sneaking up on me, but whatever is going on with me...(sigh).

I have tons to be happy about. I have the ever-so-amazingly-bestest-kids on the planet. I couldn't ask for better daughters-to-be than Diana and Daulton. My husband is a rock solid kind of guy and I am SO very lucky to be his wife. I adore my grandkids. I have the COOLEST dog in the world (I know that's a bit weird, but I really, REALLY like my dog). I have family that loves me AND (I'll have to explain further in another blog) I have been fortunate to add more family members into my heart over the last 5 years.

SO here's to many more days to:

watch movies, read books, design great art, eat good food, walk barefoot in the green grass, sit by the pool, get haircuts, sing ferociously, play the piano, eat popcorn, soak in the tub, laugh out loud, fight for the underdog, make new friends, drink more pepsi, talk with friends, sit by the fire, hold my babies, watch my kids be better than I am, check out facebook, watch fireworks, write in my blog, ride in my jeep, sing the National Anthem, feel the sunshine on my shoulders, check out museums, go to plays, see great concerts, sit on my porch swing, watch my family play basketball, plant flowers, hear the ocean, listen to a new song, climb a mountain, roast marshmallows, go camping, buy new clothes, ride the harley, laugh with my husband, play games with the family, run, count the stars, make a difference, learn photography, dance when nobody is watching, be amazed at the small things, hear the birds in the Spring, go to the park, check out a rainbow, watch football, talk on the phone, paint a wall, listen to children playing, wrap up in a quilt, make a cool video, live for today and believe in tomorrow...

...CHEERS.