Friday...you can't get here soon enough!

Really...

What else is there to say?

No, I am not promoting alcohol, I am just supporting the cause.

Loss, it never quite leaves you.

My Gram was a pioneer.

When she was still a girl she made the decision to leave her home and her family for a better life.

She was my hero and I miss her everyday.

This month marks five years since she left us. 

I so wish I could say that there isn't a day that goes by where I don't think of her.  Plenty of them whistle right along.  But then, one will happen and the loss will sucker punch me so hard I can't breathe.

Her time here on this earth was put to good use.  She raised a family.  She stepped in and raised a grandchild when it was called for.  Yep, that would be me.

She didn't complain about her lot in life.  She just lived it.  She laughed.  She loved.  She was loved.

She instilled in me a desire to see the world and be the best women I could be.

I don't always live up to the standard she set, but I do try.

I miss you.

 

Happy Birthday to my friend...

Today my friend is celebrating her birthday.

Marylee.

We have been friends for over twenty years.

She means the world to me and I am so lucky to have her in my life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Girl we were hot...

We still are, but now it comes in flashes!!!

Happy Birthday from one hot chick to another!

The Story of Us

Recently I completed a collaboration with a friend on a book celebrating his late wife's life.  It's a lovely tribute and completely heartfelt.  When we started this project I thought I would breeze through this.  

I was incredibly wrong.

While she was still alive I saw their life together through the lens of friendship.  But after, diving in and taking the reins on this project, I saw my friend in a new light.  Their marriage was built on a solid foundation of love, friendship and mutual respect. And in the years that would follow, their fairy tale would be the stuff that inspires the next generation.
  The undertaking of this work was such an emotional roller coaster ride.  I was reintroduced to my friend's wife and had a front row seat to how their happily ever after played out.  

In the end; her life was cut short way too early.  But I have comfort in the knowledge that she got to spend the rest of her days with the man of her dreams.  

I'm also proud to call him my friend.

We ordered the first book to see how it turned out and I am on pins and needles with the hope that he is completely happy with what we did.  While the words were all his, the design and detail were mine and I desperately want this to be right.

It was such a pleasure, even as it wrung me dry, to participate in this love letter he put together to leave for his children and grandchildren.  A legacy that will be passed on from one generation to the next.

Thank you Houston for trusting me with something so important to you and yours.  It was truly an honor.

When getting banged isn't dirty at all...

September 26, 2013

You can't get here soon enough.

Why?  Why?

Because that is when Sheldon and the gang will be back for the new season.

I have missed them.

Much!

At least I have something to look forward to as we say Goodbye to Summer.


But don't worry, I haven't been without.  I have spent the summer watching re-runs.  I know that those of you who know me are not surprised.  Or maybe you are.  Maybe you weren't aware that I was a BBT junkie.  How you wouldn't know is beyond me.  I have a Soft Kitty mouse pad on my desk at work.  

The lanyard I wear around my neck to hold my badge has Bazinga stamped all over it.

Plus I named my new Mini Cooper Sheldon too. 

These are the things that make me happy.

Now I am just waiting for summer to wind down so Sheldon and I can pick up where we left off last May.  

It's not really cheating, the Captain is aware.

Besides I have questions that can't be answered until the show is back on the air.  I'm wondering if Raj will still be speaking to girls and if Leonard had a great summer working for Hawking.  

What shows are you guys looking forward to in September? 

Hypocrisy...the new political party

My nephew is having a birthday.

We pitched in with his folks to get him this sweet ride.

I'm jealous.  I want one.



I love how excited he gets.

But what I really love is how video on the go and social media allow us to share these moments with him.  Of course at the same time I am so grateful that I didn't grow up in a world where all of my childhood indiscretions were posted for the entire world to see.

Yeah, I see the hypocrisy.  

May the force be with you...

Recently, I got a convertible.

I never wanted a convertible, or at least I never thought I wanted a convertible.

Back in the day, when I was much younger I had a Suzuki Samurai and I loved that little Jeep.  I took it with me to Alaska where we spent many a cold days driving the snow covered roads and hot dogging on top of large snow drifts.

Unfortunately it was so cold in Alaska I only ever had one day where the sun was shining (petering sadly through clouds) and the temperature reached a balmy 42 degrees.  Trust me, in Alaska that was balmy.  I felt it was worth it to take that rag top off, bundle myself up into three layers of clothes and take a drive.  Of course there was wind in my hair, the wind drifts off the water were enough to freeze my eyes to the open position.   The sun was in my face, or a blindingly bright facsimile.  During the day the glare off the snow was enough to convince you the sun was shining. Sadly if the sun had come it would have burned us all like vampires since we hadn't seen it in so long.  True Story.

Even if I did lose feeling in all my extremities, I was grateful for that drive.  It was glorious.
 
Yeah, not so much.  After that I pretty much realized that driving a convertible wasn't really worth it.  Too hard to take the top off.  Could have had something to do with the three pairs of gloves I was wearing and this was 1992.  I don't think they had electric rag tops back then. 

So when we started looking at Coopers I was positive I didn't want a convertible.  I can still hear myself telling the hubs why.  "I will never drive with the top down."  I was emphatic.  By the way emphatic used this way is just another word for dumb ass.  Seriously.

The salesmen said, "Just take the car for a spin."
It was like nothing I have ever slid into before.  If I were a guy I would compare this to apple pie.  (Please tell me you get the reference?)  But the part that took my breath away was the 12.2 second release I have on Sheldon to lower the top.  (I bet the boys can relate with the 12.2 second release as well.)  I can even do it while the car is in motion.  But that's a story for another day.

 Suffice it to say life is looking pretty cool from the front seat of a my new Coop, which I have loving christened "Sheldon".  For those of you who know me, you already know why.  For those of you who need some education, it's simple really.  The car is the color of Luke Skywalker's light saber before it was digitally remastered.  And if you don't know what that means, well, I can't explain it to you.

Bug or Windshield

It's been a while since I posted.

I know, bad Kelly.

Here's the thing.  So many changes recently for me that I've barely had the time to catch my breath, let alone keep up with my blog.

Excuses?  Maybe.

Truth?  Absolutely.

I started a new job in June.  And I adore it.  Why, because I have been blessed with a boss that encourages me to bring my very best everyday.  I get to work with a team of folks who are fun and they challenge me every day to out-do myself.  I've not gotten this from a job since I was in the Navy. (Full disclosure, my last position was with a much smaller company.)

But life here in the Breakey household continues to be one long "I love Lucy" episode.  Thankfully, the role of Lucy is currently being played by the Captain.

I swear it's true.  Coffee is a passion for the hubs. Especially in the mornings before work.  He has at least two cups at home and then another two that he takes with him.

For Christmas last year I got him a new Keurig coffee maker.  He really wanted it and I really wanted to get it for him.

So on Friday, he made his coffee like normal and had his breakfast.  Once he was ready to get in the shower he set the coffee maker up to make the first of his two fisted travel mugs.  He got everything ready.  Put the coffee in the little cup.  Put the little cup in the coffee maker.  Checked to make sure the water resevoir was filled and then he hit the start button.

Of course he forgot to put his mug under the stream so the little over flow tray caught the entire cup.  But the best part had to be his confusion when he went back to get the cup and couldn't figure out where it went, especially since it was sitting next to the coffee maker.  Empty.

It's these little things that crack me up and make me grateful that sometimes I'm the Lucy and other times I get to be the Ricky.  But not a boy, cause ew!