Wordless Wednesday: Cool in the Pool

It has not been cool lately. In fact, it is creeping dangerously close to the triple digits. We aren't even out of May yet....

Yes... I am well aware that it is Southern California. I am also well aware that it is a dry heat. However, so is an oven and you don't see me sticking my head in there.

Needless to say... I am looking forward to putting the pool up this coming weekend!

Help! I can't swim!!!

If you would like to participate in Wordless Wednesday, check out my friend Cyndi at Pictimilitude for submission guidelines.

Wordless Wednesday: Cleaning

My parents are coming to town. They are taking the long drive from Wisconsin all the way to California. I know I am crazy enough to do it... my parents are following suite.

What does that mean to me....

I need to get serious about my cleaning!

Cleaning up and getting the house ready for company!

Ok - it isn't that we are slobs. And the mess that you do see is the results of having three kids anyway. But this is what I do know. They have never seen my house before. So even if it kills me, my house will smell and look like sunshine and roses.

Until they get here. And then I will blame the mess on having company!

So if you notice I do a bit of a disappearing act for awhile... just know I will be back. I am currently visiting with the people who had crazy!

And if you would like to participate in Wordless Wednesday, check out Pictimilitude for further instructions!

Wordless Wednesday: Money

Did you ever hear the phrase that "Money Can't Buy Your Happiness?"

It really can't buy happiness but with today's increasingly cost of living, it sure as hell helps to make you a little happier.

When I sit down and think about money, I get disgusted. There is never enough to go around. It doesn't help that we live in California where the cost of living is ridiculous, the gas prices skyrocket for piss poor reasons and you have no choice but to commute to work to make living affordable.

The other day I was looking at plane tickets. I really want to go back to Wisconsin this summer, but I just don't see how that is possible anymore. With all the car issues we had earlier in the year, and the grocery bill nearly doubling as the cost of food raises, and gas (well don't get me started), plane tickets seem to be out of reach. I have yet to justify spending $300 per person for a weekend.

I would love to be able to go home. My budget doesn't nearly support my dreams of traveling. It doesn't support my want of a hot date out on the town all the time. And it surely doesn't pay for a maid that will clean and organize my house so I could spend my extra time writing!

On the other hand.... I have an amazing family. My kids never fail to say something that will make me laugh. My husband is never short on showing me how much he loves me. And those I am fortunate enough to call friends have filled my heart with riches that can never be spent. They are memories to be hoarded inside my heart to keep going when times get rough.

Now if only love would pay my electric bill this summer when it gets hot and the AC is turned on!

Who wouldn't love to have a handful of 100
dollar bills in their hand?

If you would like to participate in Wordless (or Wordy, since I obviously failed at the Wordless part this week!), check out my dear friend Cyndi over at Pictimilitude for ways to submit.

Wordless Wednesday: Creating Music

Music is a big part of my life.

It always has been and continues to be until this day. When I was younger, they gave us a very basic introduction to the keyboard. It wasn't anything more than here is the middle C and the easiest song you can play while only using two fingers. It might not have even been that hard.

While I did eventually learn to play an instrument, the piano is not one of them. I regret that to this day and wish I could play beautiful music the way I have watched some other very talented pianists do, but it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. I have been slowly teaching myself, but I am not sure I will ever be as good as those who learned when they were much younger.

However, I have been able to give my daughters both a chance to start playing the piano. They may stick with it, they may not, but I am glad they have at least gotten the opportunity.

There is nothing better than filling your life with music!

There is nothing cooler than watching your own children create music.

If you would like to join Wordless Wednesday, check out Pictimilitude for guideline submissions.

Wordless Wednesday: Underwater Bubbles

It isn't hear yet, but it is right around the corner. Warmer weather. Swimming. Fun outside. I can't wait.

Swimming underwater!

One of my favorite possessions is my underwater camera. I will admit, it is not easy to use or catch the shot (particularly because I have a hard time opening my eyes underwater), but when you get lucky, the shots can be amazing.

If you would like to join Wordless Wednesday, check out Pictimilitude for submission guidelines and join the fun.

Wordless Wednesday: Popcorn

Sometimes the best pictures can be grabbed and what you may think is the most inopportune time... for instance... making popcorn before family movie night.

I had a little fun experimenting with this picture in Photoshop, but the original snap was just as neat. If you too would like to join Wordless Wednesday and share a photo, check out Pictimilitude for submission guidelines.

Wordless Wednesday: Photo Bombing at The Grand Canyon

This past weekend we headed out to The Grand Canyon for a much needed weekend of R&R. We were fortunate to meet up with a fellow blogger, Terrye, from The Adventures of A Misplaced Alaskan, and her wonderful family.

However, old habits die hard. Usually, I am the one behind the camera so if I want to be included in the pictures, I have to take self portraits.

When I uploaded the pictures, I couldn't help but laugh when I realized we had been "Photo Bombed!"

Happy couple enjoying a break from the stresses of life.

If you too would like to participate in Wordless Wednesday, check out Pictimilitude for submission guidelines!

I found the Alaskan who was Misplaced in Arizona

The end of 2012 was upon us and I knew I was in trouble... after all, I was getting a new neighbor.

Ok... so it really wasn't a new neighbor. I was already familiar with her. After all, I was listening to her advice about how to get dressed for a zombie apocalypse and how to make money illegally. What can I say, this type of information is invaluable!

What she didn't know was what she was in for. She joked about the crazy lady hiding outside her house in the bushes. But I bet she never imagined what that would lead to...

A couple hour train ride that lead to a big hole in the earth!

Ok - it could have been dangerous. After all, I am known for my bad acting skills. I once knocked myself unconscious acting out a scene done by Rick from the Walking Dead. Can you imagine acting out a scene from Thelma and Louis?

Well, my husband does have a life insurance policy out on me... but I prefer to stick around and torture him.

The reality of it is, when The Undiagnosed Mad Woman meets ups with The Misplaced Alaskan, we had a blast!

This is just one of the many pictures of The Grand Canyon.
Honestly, pictures just don't do it justice!

We met up at a hotel in Willimans, AZ. Our rooms were even right next to each other. We wore the kids down in the pool. We ate at a fancy restaurant  - AKA Pizza Hut - and arm wrestled for the bill. (Ok - there was no arm wrestling at all - I showed off my mad Kung Fu skills! Ok - so I stole the bill before they had a chance and refused to let them pay because they picked up lunch!) Then we put the kids to bed and caused commotion outside the hotel room by talking in loud voices about keywords, SEO, making money with Google Adsense, and naked mule riding!

Hey - us bloggers don't get out much!

The next day was a train ride to the canyon where we explored for a couple of hours and even had to endure a train robbery. There was no children or husbands or bloggers injured on this trip... unless of course you can consider laughing your ass off an injury.

You know it's gonna be a good time when The Misplaced Alaskan meets
The Undiagnosed Mad Woman in The Grand Canyon!

We had a blast and I find it fortunate to have such a wonderful blogger neighbor and I look forward to the next adventure we meet up for! Who knows... maybe next time we will take over Las Vegas!

Wordless Wednesday: Writings in the Sand

It's Wordless Wednesday and today I wanted to show that love is all around! After all, it is Valentine's Day tomorrow. 

So celebrate the person you love. Find a unique way to show it!

If you too would like to participate in Wordless Wednesday, check out Pictimilitude for submission guidelines.

Wordless Wednesday - Ocean Sunset

As a writer, I am not going to lie... Wordless Wednesday is a little hard. I like to write and it is hard to keep the writing down to a minimum. But I am going to try. After all, I just want to put up a single photograph and let the photograph tell the story. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.

What does this picture say to you?

This picture was taken in San Diego, California as the
sun set over the ocean. 

If you too would like to participate in Wordless Wednesday, check out my friend Cyndi from Pictimilitude. On Wednesday she will post one of her own pictures and then on Sunday, she will feature pictures from those who participated.

Have fun - Wordless Wednesday is about finding a picture that speaks more than you can possibly say in words!

Wordless Wednesday - The View Behind You

I would love to say that I had nothing to say on Wednesday and that is why it is wordless, but that isn't really true. You see, this is my second blog post of the day and the reason behind it is because I want to participate in Wordless Wednesday, started up by my friend Cyndi over at Pictimilitude.

This is my own picture. This was not even taken because I was trying for some special effect. But the result is something that I am absolutely in love with.

Wordless Wednesday is about a picture being worth 1000 words. So, what does this picture say to you?