Birthdays and Adventures

I recently celebrated a momentous birthday occasion: 34! I’m sure I’ve mentioned before I have a twin, right? The game is always who can tell the other happy birthday first. She usually cheats and sends the text shortly after midnight. At least we’re in the same time zone now because it got tricky for awhile. The cake of my choosing is this luscious lemon, blueberry concoction of yumminess. There’s no other words.

And I went deep into Oklahoma to explore the Wichita Mountains, namely Mount Scott. Mostly I went with the promise of incredible post-hike Italian food. Which did not disappoint.

Then I chopped off my Fabio-like locks, as well as my mini’s. Ha. If they even remotely resembled Fabio’s, I wouldn’t be here. Hence the cut. And mini only got a trim. Calm down.

Then we went fishing! It’s a very long story why I don’t fish – for another day – but I caught one this time. And mini caught a catfish. Get it, get it!

I’m attempting to stay well, but my non-Coronavirus related sneezing is about to drive me nuts. Stupid allergies. If these trees could just skip blooming, I’d be happy. Who needs bees anyway? Oh, the flowers.

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I ask you –

Care to state your age?

When I was a child, my family were beekeepers. Do you know anyone in this profession?

Tell me your last adventure!

Travel and Leisure

My first thought upon the titling was is this copyrighted? That’s how you know you’re a writer! When your original thinking pertains to the fact you don’t want to impose on anyone’s creative property. I don’t think it is. Let’s continue.

A wonderful friend of mine, Dan, whom I’ve mentioned before, sent me this caption-less photo some time ago (aka without going back searching for an exact date, I can’t exactly remember). New York is iconic. The rush and hustle of so many humans packed into one small city. An entertainment hub of importance. Not to mention a great sparkly ball falls from the sky every December 31st to commemorate a new year! And the way kindness, humility, and strength formed an impenetrable shield in the face of an event that forever changed not only the city but the world. Just… wow.

I’ve only driven past New York, briefly got lost in New Jersey, went ice skating in Connecticut, and spent a very short weekend in Baltimore. Washington DC was incredible and full of history. These are each world renowned places mentioned in textbooks and constantly crossing our media channels. But there’s also much beauty in the tucked away cities far from the Eastern seaboard.

And one of these I am excited to vacation at again! It would seem the sea has always called my name, beckoned me to dip my toes in its warm water, unfurled my hand while the sand pours through my fingers. A “vacation” is the sun, sea, and copious amounts of seafood. Indeed I am thankful to the Navy I was able to live where many people simply visit. Opportunity knocks on even the commoner’s door.

South Padre Island – I will see you soon. Too many years have passed. My tiny human has never experienced the wonders of the Gulf of Mexico – the blue and green foam riding atop the water, soft sand beneath your feet, and the incredible crabs traversing a starlit, nighttime beach. I haven’t even started on the food descriptors!

Isn’t this why we work? To play? To share our happiness and passion with those we love? Everyone needs a vacation. I realize our work culture overstates this “need” to do, go, produce. But the real need is to relax, recharge, and experience life.

And I intend to do just that!

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I ask you –

When was your last vacation? Oh, about 9 years ago

What does an ideal vacation look like to you? Where? With whom?

Share your vacation photos with me, please!

Next Up!

Sometimes I write entire posts in the blissful space between falling asleep and dreaming. Often there’s an internal struggle: should I get up to actually type these words or will I remember them the next day? The answer is always the same. I fall asleep, then spend the next morning attempting to re-create what my sleepy mind so eloquently said in monologue. Never fails.

In this short space of unemployment, rest and relaxation have helped with creativity. Or forced it. Whichever. I’ve tried some new recipes. Decorated and rearranged a whole bedroom. Cleaned a bunch of sh*t. And finished an art project. Not bad for a self-proclaimed non creative person. I’m doing pretty well!

I also worked out almost daily. Built some muscle. Gained a few necessary lbs. And took walks outdoors with the soothing sounds of nature and angry birds. I’ve made appointments, attended appointments, and considered joining a yoga studio. I’m zen in my short-lived creativeness! Minus those pissed off birds.

There’s something to be said for time on your hands. Nowhere to be; no time clock to punch. Waiting on others can be a lesson in futility. Or a blessing in disguise!

Now let me see what that weightless class is all about. Suspending myself from the ceiling via a sex swing-looking contraption sounds like so much fun. Gotta go!

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I ask you –

How often do you find yourself with extra time on your hands?

Bet you also wish you remembered some of the greatest things thought of before falling asleep, right?

Cookies: favorite kind?

Looking Out From the Throne, I Now See…

In response to a few questions and comments I received about a prior post when I referred to “mental, physical, and spiritual growth”, I’d like to provide some clarification.

There are two topics I have stayed away from on Running on Fumes: politics and religion. My goal is to never exclude someone based on any kind of discriminatory trait. Never. No way. No how. Not acceptable. Ever.

Now that I’ve said all these things, I want to reiterate to my readers my support of whatever you decide to live, be, and believe. Have at it. As long as it doesn’t hurt you or others, do your thing. And I’ll do mine.

In figuring out the track my life is on, I decided to consult with a really amazing group of people I spend time with approximately once a week. My church “friends”. Clearly we don’t know each other outside of that establishment, but they smile and laugh with me so I think we’re pretty steady now. Then they invited me to a small group titled “Freedom”. Freedom? From what? I am free. I fought for freedom. Why do I need to attend such a group?

Unbeknownst to me, it has become exactly what I need when I need it. I’m not only learning about myself but also my belief system. Double win. For more than a decade, the self-titled version of me would be agnostic. It’s not the same as atheism, look it up. I believed there was a God, or even multiple gods, but science prevailed and the ultimate decision making was up to us mortals. I didn’t need to believe in a higher power because I was the ruler and controller of my life, good or bad.

Adult enough to admit it, I now understand I have major control issues, am a rule maker, and envisioned God as a throne-perched ruler who judges us above mentioned mortals with a condescending eye. How wrong I was. “We are blessed to bless others.” And to give of our time, money, and self is the ultimate worship.

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I ask you –

What is your belief system?

Have your spiritual views changed over time? Perhaps multiple times?

What mantra do you live by?

…of the spring persuasion

Is it possible I am the only one who believes as soon as dusk arrives Christmas Day we should be transported into Spring? I can always hear that extra hour of daylight calling my name.

Stupid groundhog should retire, too. Oh, Phil, you know not. Fairly certain you’ve outlived your usefulness and are now a source of ridicule and bad vibes. Except when you tell me spring will come early. Then I believe in you. But if it’s the other fortune let’s move on.

I crave daylight, sunshine, and warmth. Even though there’s a lost hour of sleep, I’ll take it!

Let’s get real. Time change once had a noble purpose. Circa 1918, it was intended to save electricity due to the extra hour of sunlight. To date, many people have advocated for the abolishment – and a few states have succeeded. Arizona, here I come!

P.S. it’s my birthday this week!

I ask you –

Would you rather spring forward or fall back?

Did you know Spring Break in Texas traditionally falls the week of my birthday? Party bummer, for sure.

Favorite flower?

Project Uno Completion

A story in photos. What began many months ago, I finally completed. Procrastinating much? In my defense, the weather has been less than cooperative. And what started out easy in theory was slightly more complicated in application. Stupid wallpaper.

Like my yard ornament stake? I’m a genius!

I certainly realize my readers could be wondering what the big deal is? There’s no deal. It was just an idea to channel some creativity into a tangible result. There’s another project in progress, as well. Stay tuned!

I ask you –

Thoughts on wallpaper?

What was your last project?

I’m taking guesses for my next big reveal!

We Have a Winner!

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Typically I have several ongoing posts in varying stages of completion. It’s rare I feel compelled to hurriedly write a post for quick upload. And I like to protect mine and my family’s privacy so events and things reported here are most likely at least a week behind.

But today I have something important to share! On Monday, I received an email stating I was one of 30 first prize winners in a contest hosted by Brooks – a well-known running shoe and apparel company headquartered in Seatle, Washington. I love their brand and run in their shoes, specifically the Adrenaline GTS. Huge fan, if you can’t tell.

These are but a few

My first thought was I’ve been spammed because who actually ever wins these contests? No one I know. I verified the email came from the company Brooks was using to distribute prizes, completed the information, and refused to believe it could be true. Later, I browsed the Brooks website to see if anything substantial had been posted. Ask and ye shall receive.

I found my submission complete with photo I had uploaded for the 20 Year Drop contest. I may have screamed out loud, saved 40+ screenshots of the page, and called my parents. Does this mean I’m famous?!

Screenshot 1 of a lot

So what’s the prize, you ask? Only something incredible! I won a free pair of Adrenaline GTS shoes every year for the next 20 years. 20 years!!! I’ll be almost 54 years old then. I hope I’m still running at that age. Running my mouth, definitely. Running on fumes, absolutely!

A huge thank you to Brooks for creating a shoe literally designed for PR’s, as well as a contest with real people who can win. I never knew such a thing existed.

Unbelievable as this story is, because of course that’s how most of my life has been, credit be to the perfect one watching over me. Everything in my life has changed since I accepted that my spiritual health is even more important than I ever believed. Another bullet point in my testimony.

I ask you –

Have you ever won a contest? If not, know anyone who has?

Does this mean I need to play the lottery?

Share a story of spiritual life!

The Apples are Falling

In speaking to my mini human the other night, she was practicing unscrewing a bolt from a nut. Cue the lost your marbles jokes. She was asked how did she get to be so smart and she calmly answered something along the lines of “just like Mommy” or “Mommy taught me”. As flattering as this sounds, it really got me thinking.

I tend to shy away from labeling anyone ‘smart’; as a child, it wasn’t a compliment to be called smart. Probably because smart was a prefix to ‘alec’ or ‘ass’. Smart was often synonymous with being taken advantage of and having a group of friends that maybe not were real friends. I did well throughout school. Top 3 in both middle school and high school. My graduating class totaled less than 30 – don’t give me too much credit. Yes, I mean three-zero. “Smart” meant I received several scholarships which I am most grateful for. But there’s a dark side to being smart.

It did absolutely nothing for me when I went to college. I had no study habits because those smarts gave me this false belief college work would come as naturally as it had all the years prior. What a surprise. I didn’t know how to take notes. I didn’t know how to follow along to a lecture and extract the important pieces. I struggled. A lot. In my mind, being smart would carry me through 4 years and I’d emerge with this fabulous degree. You can laugh at any time. I am. Smart meant peanuts in college.

I had to learn how to study, how to succeed in a higher education setting, and how to do what worked best for me to get through. I made it. But, again, it was a struggle. So being smart? It’s just a word with a whole lot of promise and no deliverance. And I don’t like to call anyone such lest they learn the struggle like I did. I prefer words like strong, brave, and a good thinker. These words mean more to me than the book smarts that would have failed me had I not quickly realized the only way I was going to make it to a degree was by my own merit. So whenever my mini does something extraordinary or I see her little mind moving as fast as it can to figure out a puzzle, I compliment her on her perseverance and determination. Those are the skills I want her to notice about me and others. That’s what I want her to believe she has inherited from me. Because supermodel beauty and above average talent won’t pay my bills. Unless you count humor. I could pay about $2.93 of the water bill.

If I paid myself!

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I ask you –

How do you compliment your child(ren) and self?

Were you truly prepared for any type of higher education?

Tell me you went to a huge school with hundreds of people! What’s that like?

“Fail Until You Don’t” – that’s what Bobby Bones says

Perhaps this would appropriately be titled “How things don’t work out”… but it would give you a sense of negativity and an unappreciative mood. Definitely not what I’m going for.

Working on a professional image – first, fingernails

Let’s just say: I didn’t see that coming! Funny how things work out in their own way, in their own time, with more than a little nudge from above.

The employment opportunity I firmly believed was for me was not to be. I don’t know why. I’m qualified, available, driven, funny!, and personable. So why not me? Again, I don’t know. It was rather disappointing at first. Then I was blindsided by a different opportunity – the interview was swift, they stayed in touch, and the offer was a no brainier. It’s almost surreal.

You see, unexpected doesn’t even come close to the magnitude I’m describing. Within the government and federal employment system, there is some sort of unknown, magical, subjective algorithm which decides what resumes to ‘hit’. Needless to say, I’ve submitted hundreds, read that again in numerical form, 100’s, of applications within the past 5+ years and never received a hit. Never. Then suddenly I landed on someone’s desk – this time not the President’s and not for “inflammatory” writings – I’ll post about this soon, you don’t want to miss it! – and they thought I was a perfect match. Ha!

Everyone starts somewhere. Barring the ability to retire in 16 years (hey, that military service came in handy!, the ability to continue to support my family and ensuing shoe/running habits, as well as be a part of a new-to-me organization, I best go brush up on my Air Force lingo. I have multiple programs to oversee. No one wants to look like an idiot on their first day. The third, maybe, but not the first.

Would they mind if I arrived with my trusty foam roller?

I’m sure there will be jokes: here comes the Navy girl on an Air Force base. But I have a way of chameleonizing (like that word? It’s my very own!) and I know this opportunity could be my best work to date. Wish me luck! Here I go!

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I ask you –

Are some things just meant to be?

Thoughts on perseverance? Is it just a lesson in futility until one sticks?

Rhetorical question: will they think I’m funny? Of course they will, Kel!!

And we shall call her –

Betty. Betty White, of course. Why are you not laughing with me? I am a competent, mature woman in her early 30’s, a patient and loyal mother – what better time in my life to name an inanimate object?! Ok, so you could probably list a million other times, but why start all that?

She’s a beautiful hunk of steel! The only way she could be better is if she was actually made of steel. Of the tank persuasion preferably.

She drives smoothly and gets a whole 35.5 mpg. I’ll take it! In fact, I drove the 3 hours home with 1/4 tank of gas. Winning! I’m slowly becoming more comfortable driving again. It’s much worse in stop/go situations, like traffic, and in any weather conditions that aren’t full sun and dry roads. So basically a lot of the time. I’m testing some cognitive techniques – will update soon. Many people I’ve spoken to state the accident may have been taken so hard by me because I’ve never before been the driver in an accident and I was already dealing with the daily stress of driving long distances. Either way, it can be overcome.

So I will love her and clean her and call her Betty. And she will patiently chauffeur me and my mini human around until, one day in the far far far far (are you getting the point?) future, her wheels fall off. Then I will be sad.

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I ask you –

When was the last time you purchased a car/truck/van/tank?

Have you ever named your vehicle?

Do most people expect to keep a vehicle for the life of the vehicle? Unrealistic?