Gone.

Okay, peeps, here's the scoop: I am on vacation.  As in gone.  Meaning not at home.  My internet time is down to extremely limited.

I spent all day Monday and Tuesday in the car.  Good times.

Today was spent at the zoo with the family.  Reminded me that the last time I was at the zoo was in the summer of 1999 in Berlin.  This time was better since I could read the signs.  Well, maybe not.  The animals were all sleeping on this trip.  It was hot as heck and they were all snoozing.  In 1999, I couldn't read squat but the animals were all out and about.  Turns out the monkeys act the same in every country.  That show is X-Rated and not really appropriate for children.  I kept expecting parents to say to their kids, "Moving on.  Nothing to see here."  Several times when the monkeys were "getting their groove on" I heard five and six year old's ask their parents, "What are they doing?"  I never did quite catch that answer.  I think it was something like "Frazzle Dazzle."  Yeah, you had to have watched the Thursday post to appreciate that one. Moving on...

Tomorrow we are driving approximately three hours to get our groove on.  Say what?  We are going to a Casino.  That is my idea of a Good Time.  Unless your heart sings to the sweet sounds of slot machines, rolling dice, and the tick of a roulette wheel, you have no idea what I am talking about.  However, I walk in the doors of a casino and my heart begins to pitter pat.  You maybe needed to read my V is for Vegas post to better appreciate this paragraph.  Anyway, there is nothing like the sight, sounds, and smells of a Casino.

What does this mean for Thursday?  Probably not a Here's To You post.  That's what.  I am beat.  I haven't read anything in days.  I don't have time to read anything now.  I have to go to bed in order to get up early for our early Casino Run.  Even though next week I will still be on vacation, I shouldn't be quite so busy.  I will keep you posted.

Until then, consider me Gone.  However, I still Love You Like Mad!  Here's some music to get you through...



image found at www.weheartit.com

HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY

SURPRISE. Drum roll please. It is once again HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY. Yes, you read that correctly.  HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY is back on Thursday.  For those of you unfamiliar with the once again weekly HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY posts, I bet you're wondering what is going on.   Well, peeps, let me give you the skinny on this event...

This is a weekly event landing typically on Thursdays.  The best (or worst) part is that I am not going to explain why I chose "whatever" footage for each of you. If, you watch your footage and are scratching your head at the end, well that means I didn't do a very good job. However, all is not lost. You can email me at rarichards68@gmail.com and ask me what I was thinking when I chose that particular piece of footage off of youtube and connected it to you. And then I will tell you. Then I will start sending up prayers that I haven't offended the crap out of whoever is on the receiving end of that email....lol. Because, honestly, I will tell you right now... I admire all of you enormously so I really hope that doesn't happen.

Also, this is not an exclusive venture by any means. I hope that you will take the time to watch ALL of the footage because I don't pick bad footage:-) I also hope that you might check out the blog of the person I dedicated the footage to because they are pretty darn awesome. If you haven't figured this out yet... I pick the footage based on something that you've written or something that I've gleaned from your personality. Think on that for a while... If you are having trouble watching the entire video (meaning it is being cut off on one side), click on it a couple of times and it will take you straight over to youtube. If you click on the four squares at the bottom corner of the video, it will enlarge it to fill your screen. The escape key will bring it back to normal size. The back arrow will bring you back to my page.

Now, let's get this PARTY STARTED!!!!

This one is for everyone:


This one is for Jasmine at A Yellow Rose of Texas:


This one is for JJ The Disconnected Writer:


This one is for Al Diaz at Father Dragon Writes:


This one is for DiscConnected:


This one is for Shoes at Red Shoe's Chronicles:


This one is for Christine at A Deliberate Life:

image found at www.weheartit.com

For My Broken Heart

In February of 2000 I began having dreams of a puppy.  Our family had dogs when I was a growing up, but I had never had a dog as an Adult.  Suddenly, I am dreaming about this Very Specific Dog out of the blue.  It plagued me to such an extent that I began to go to shelters in every place I worked.  I was a commission sales person and traveled for my job.  I was looking for a Puppy In My Dreams.  I didn't expect to find it right away.  I tracked her down in Aiken, SC.  She was adorable.

She was so tiny that she fit in my hands.  She was found outside an office building in the downtown area all by herself.  Hand to God, I don't know how one of those employees didn't snatch her up then and there.  But, I think she was destined to be mine.  So, that is how that happened.  Anyway, she was only six weeks old and precious as could be.  I paid the fee, signed the documents, and took her home.  Shelby.  The Princess Dog.

She was smart as a whip.  She learned commands easily.  Sit.  Down. Stay.  Roll Over.  She wanted to please.  The first time someone threw a ball that dog was hooked.  Ball was her new favorite pastime.  She could play Ball forever.  Was there anything more important on earth than playing ball?  I think not.  Running second to ball was Chase.  You chase me. I chase you.  It really didn't matter.  The game could turn on a dime.  Shelby was the Master of "The Pivot."  She also had the advantage of being able to run under small places to gain the advantage.  One smart cookie, that one.

Last year, she was diagnosed with cancer in her front leg.  The only thing the vet knew to do was to amputate the leg.  It was an agonizing decision.  However, she recovered amazingly well.  She was walking the same day.  Ball was no longer a part of her daily life.  She could no longer pivot on a dime.  She would try and fall.  However, she would bounce right back up and keep going.  It was a lesson to anyone who watched about how dogs don't wallow there - and a smart person doesn't either!  She inspired me every day.  Her gait, post-surgery, resembled a bunny hop.  She did better running than walking, and was still a force with which to be reckoned.

About two months ago she stopped eating regularly.  We have been having Dog Problems Galore here.  Our other older dog, Molly,  is in Kidney Failure and also not eating on any sort of regular basis.   Shelby seemed to be just Persnickety about her food.  So, we began a campaign of buying new food to tempt her palate.  It simply didn't occur that there was more going on.  She would start to eat again... and then stop.  The Stops got worse.  She started losing weight.  This was getting serious.  We bought canned food.

Last night she stopped moving around altogether.  Mom and started feeling around on her and the shoulder area where her leg was removed was noticeably distended.  Whenever we even lightly touched it, Shelby yelped in pain.  Mom says to me, "Has it been like this long?"

"It can't have been too long because we both hold her and rub on her fairly frequently."

Cancer.  When it comes back, it comes with a vengeance.  It had been working on her from the inside out.  We just misread the signs.  Now, the outward signs are coming fast and furious.  This morning that protuberance is Significantly Larger than it was last night.  It is growing at a phenomenal rate.  It is doing what Cancer does.  When I was sitting with My Sweet Girl this morning, I could tell that she had trouble breathing at one point.  Given that they amputated her leg out to the shoulder.... that means the tissue extending into the lymph nodes was likely affected.  And it spread into the chest cavity.

While Mom was at her doctor appointment, I picked her up and carried her outside and laid her under the tree in the shade.  She enjoyed all of the smells.  I wanted her to have good memories.

Then we packed her up and took her to the vet's office and said our Goodbyes.  I love you Shelby.  You will always be my Princess Dog.  Please keep my daddy company and  make him throw the ball for you in Heaven.  I will see you when I see you.  You'll always be My Best Girl.

Reflecting on the A to Z and Life After A to Z

Check out my cool new badge.  What badge, you say?  I am talking about the graphic displayed above that indicates that I survived the A to Z Challenge.  I posted something in April for every letter of the alphabet, Monday through Friday.  I actually did it.  On the day.  And all of my posts were geared toward my THEME of Passions, Phases and/or Life Lessons.  Let me tell you (now that it is over) that it was touch and go round about the letter "T."  I ran out of pre-written posts, I was tired, life was knocking on my door, and I really wasn't sure I was going to make it.  However, it all turned out pretty darn awesome.  Of course, now I feel like something the cat dragged in.  Ooops.  I am skipping ahead.

I want to take a minute (or two) to reflect back on this challenge.  A few people that I regularly follow were already participating in the Challenge.  That was nice.  I started following some new blogs, and a few blogs started following me.  Some were consistent.  Some were not.  Hey, that is how this blogging thing always works out.  I think we are always looking for the blogs that have subject content we are actually interested in reading.  So, to all of those readers, old and new, who stuck it out with me, I am continually inspired by your ability to give great comment.  I look forward to cementing our blogging relationship in the future... when I get my head reattached to my body.  Ooops.  More on that later...

Alex J. Cavanaugh, who I have been following for quite some time now, and he I, had a Super Awesome Theme this time for the A to Z.  It was kind of like a Here's To You on Steroids.   (Apparently Alex figures out a way to showcase fellow bloggers with this challenge every year.  I am only using the Here's To You as a reference point for those of you who didn't visit Alex's blog during the challenge so you can kinda/sorta imagine what this was like.  However, he in NO WAY got this idea from my little ole blog.  Moving on...)   For each letter he picked out a movie and a song that started with that letter.  He then chose a character from said movie that reminded him of a blogger buddy and linked them in to the post.  He then posted their photo and said something nice about them to direct traffic to their page.  On top of all that, there was trivia every day.  I don't know anyone who is better about supporting fellow bloggers than Alex.  He selected me for the letter "Y."  Yep, right when I was spiralling out and going into freefall, Alex chose me.  That, my friends is LIFE.  Hahahaha.  However, I wouldn't change a thing about it, since this blog spends half its life that way.  I wouldn't want anyone to think there is false advertising going on here.  Thank you, Alex, for picking me for the letter "Y" even though I have no idea WHY you would!

One last shout out to Arlee Bird who started this whole challenge in the first place.  There were plenty of other helpers.  If you are interested in any of the details, check out the A to Z site.  It will be happening again next April.

I think I mentioned that I have been having some difficulty getting my self together after the the A to Z.  Yeah.  Something like that.  I remember when I first started this blog.  I blogged daily.  I spent several days doing some head scratching over that one.  How did I do that?  Then it occurred to me.  I had NO followers.  I didn't know how to follow anyone for at least two months.  I think I had nine followers for about four months.  Now, nine blogs I can keep up with fairly easily.   ::aaah, it is making sense now::

What is in store for the future?  I really want to get back to the Inspirational Song Saturday posts.  I think I am going to do a list of all the features already done, so that you can link back to them.  They are all 80s artists and how well they worked MTV.  Of course, this is strictly from my perspective.  I want your opinion, too:)  And I really miss my HERE'S TO YOU THURSDAY posts.  I thought about trying to get one out this past Thursday, but I wasn't prepared.  I have been hunting and gathering for next Thursday, though.  No doubt, I will sprinkle some Random Thoughts in between these events.

Ever since the challenge I have been feeling like I've been stuck in second gear.  Anyone else?  Because of that, THIS SONG won't get out of my head:





image found on facebook, naturally

Z IS FOR ZOE

Since I was an English Major in college, I took several Creative Writing Classes, as you might imagine.  The focus of this particular class was writing short stories that were true (aka non-fiction).  The class would break up into small groups of three or four, and read/critique each other's work.  I remember ONE of those stories twenty years later.  I can recall it in fairly accurate detail.  Let me share the bare bones of the story with you...

It is the story of an 11 year old girl who wants so much to grow up.  She wants to do grown-up things.  She has been yearning for the day when she can shave her legs with the razor that she has seen her mother use.  She knows how to do it.  It is merely squirting out the foam and then gliding that razor up the leg in precise movements.  Until all of the foam and hair is gone.  That act will define her as a woman.  She will leave the hair and childish things behind  her.  Today is the day.  She is finally squirting the foam and using her mother's razor to strip away childhood.  This day isn't the way she planned it.  There is none of the joy that she expected to feel.  None of the freedom.  There is no song in her soul.  After the act is done, she puts on the black dress hanging on the back of the door, and joins her father.  Today is her mother's funeral.  After they come home, her father surprises her with a kitten.  He knows that today was a difficult one.  She nuzzles the new friend to her chest and decides to name her Zoe, meaning Life.  The end.

I was crying by the end of that piece, which was actually several pages in length.  I had nothing for it by way of critique.  It was wonderful.  Until that story, I had never even thought about the impact of a non-fictional short story.  After that, I did.  I knew that a short story of no more than two pages, if it was well written could pull a punch.  It could land one right in the gut.  The fact that I remember that story is a testament to its power.

Will I ever write anything, long or short, that impacts a person the way that story did me?  I don't know.  However, this blog is me exercising my writing muscle so that it doesn't get flabby.  I might not knock out gems here every day, but I try to write *something* every few days just to stay toned.  That way when I jump back into the Writing Game of Life I will be ready.  Thank you Christine (the writer of the awesome paper) for the inspiration.  Thank you, too, Zoe!

Rating: Life Lesson

Who has inspired you to be a better writer?  What stories do you still remember twenty years later? 

Y IS FOR YES

My theme for this challenge is Passions, Phases, and/or Life Lessons.

Yesterday I talked about how migraines can X Out your life.

Today I want to talk about the Power of Yes.  When you are being X'd Out, you find yourself saying Maybe a lot.  After a time, maybe turns into No.  Eventually friends stop asking altogether.  They know your situation.  Doors start closing instead of opening.

I have a wonderful blog friend who has been on many adventures.  He has lived an extremely full life.  He has also been very willing to pack up and go, with his wife, on a dime when a new opportunity has knocked on the door.  In other words, he has always lived with "Yes" on his tongue and in his heart.  He has traveled the globe, met more interesting people, and done Fantastic things.

Before Migraines stopped me in my tracks, I was "Yes" person, too.  Adventure comes to the person who is ready to seize it.  Love comes to the person who is ready to embrace it.  Once you decide that you are ready to be a "Yes" person, step back and watch your life change.   I believe that once we begin to invite good things into our lives, we will be amazed at how many good things there actually are... that we were missing out on.  In fact, we might find ourselves having to evaluate and sift through this bevy of riches, much like a child in a candy store, who only has a dollar, and there are twenty dollars worth of candies that he/she would like to buy.  Fortunately, the candy will still be there tomorrow, so it is simply deciding what do I want to bring into my life today. Next week.  Next month.  I know I am going to say Yes eventually.  Why?  Because I know how wonderful it is and I now always want More. 

I am not going back to Maybe and No.

Rating: Life Lesson


Are you living the Power of Yes?  Sometimes?  All the time?  Not enough?  Would you like to be living the Power of Yes more often?  In all of the areas of your life and not just some of them?  Would you like your life to bloom and become an adventure because your heart is open and saying "Yes?"

X IS FOR X'D OUT

I have dedicated many a post to migraines over the years.  One of the things that migraines will do is X Out your life.  I have no doubt that other Chronic Illnesses do the same, but Chronic Migraines are my Biggest Offender, so they are the Illness that I am going to speak to right now.

When that commercial comes on the TV asking if you have 15 or more headache days in a month, I always sigh.  It says that if you do, you are suffering from Chronic Migraine.  And you should see your doctor because you shouldn't have to life with a Maybe Life.  Well, I have been in many a doctor's care for the last ten years, and I know all about the Maybe Life.  Let me tell you: it sucks.

It actually X's out your life.  Someone with a Chronic Migraine cannot commit to doing anything in advance because they don't know what their migraine will be like on any given day.  If you know you are going to have a migraine every day (I do), it is always a matter of severity.  Even taking pain killers only does so much to take the edge off of a bad migraine.  Hence, you are always living a Maybe Life.  Or, to put it another way, I feel like my life has been on Indefinite Hold for the last ten years.  However, to be more accurate, it really has just been X'd Out.  Wasted.  Gone.  Flushed.  The best years of my life lost to a Maybe Life.

So, it was Pretty Darn Awesome when we moved back to Florida and I saw my new doctor for the first time.  She had a diagnosis for my migraines and a treatment plan.  She X'd Out all of my pain medication first thing.  I have to admit that I was nervous about this plan.  I had been subsisting on prescription and over-the-counter pain meds for the last ten years.  EXcedrin being the only one that is even remotely effective, if you are curious... She swapped out the pain medication for Phenergan, which is used to primarily treat nausea.  The first four days were awful, terrible, miserable, but then everything settled down to the way it had been.  If I took the Phenergan round the clock, I felt just as I did taking the pain medication round the clock.  Who knew?

I also began to follow the rest of her treatment plan.  I started seeing the therapist she suggested for tapping.  That kind of therapy was completely new to me.  Using tapping, the emotional trauma is released from the body.  It is amazing all of the things that we keep locked inside that make us physically ill.  I knew that was working when I no longer had an emotional reaction to "old junk."  Additionally, I switched up my diet.  More vegetables, more protein, less carbohydrates, no sugar, more water, absolutely no processed foods, and multi-grains were my new menu.  When I combined all of these changes, it made a HUGE difference.

My doctor has since added a few supplements to make up for some genetic deficits.  She wants to eventually get me off of every prescription that I am on as I get healthier.  She believes  my body will be able to restore all of the imbalances in my own system, going so far as to return even my antibodies that are autoimmune back to a normal state.  In other words, my body can heal itself and X Out all of the things that have in the past X'd Out My Life.  I have always believed that there was an Answer out there.  I never stopped looking for someone who would help me get on this Road To Wellness.  After ten years, my perseverance has been rewarded.

Never Give Up.  Always fight for your life.  Don't allow yourself to be X'd Out.

Rating: Life Lesson


Have you ever had to fight for anything even though the battle was long and failure seemed likely?  Have you ever felt you were being X'd Out by someone or something?  Has a hardship in your life ever tested your faith or your endurance?