Hooker and Kids a match made in...

Heaven.. surely only God could create something this beautiful.
Day 2 of the Ashevegas Extavanganza, was a trip to Hooker Falls. Nature makes me HAPPY.

“A river is more than an amenity, it is a treasure”

Chicken Dance

While we try to teach our children all about life,Our children teach us what life is all about.~Angela Schwindt

School's Out For Summer

Today is my first day of Summer Break. Anyone, who knows me knows that I won't be on the computer for most of the summer, so it is best to text or phone me. We are as we speak, headed to Asheville, NC. We are trying to look at this time together as a precious gift, and truly make the most of being unencumbered by the constraints of work and school.

We are going to visit friends and play in the fresh air. The boys are excited to see the mountains, and our friends are delighted to see how they have grown. It will be good for my soul. I often have to block out the mountains calling me home.

Maybe it is time I started to Listen.

“When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new. This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view.” - Ella Wheeler Willcox

Wordless Wednesday - Beam Me Up Bradley

Quick update

I have changed the comment moderation to allow for anonymous comments. Actually, I did not know that it wasn't set to do so until someone pointed it out. Feel free to leave snarky pain in the ass comments. Leave your name or don't, I will accept them all with open arms. Sorry, to anyone including my sister who wanted to comment and couldn't. Just remember Seis is an equal opportunist. Come one, Come all.

"Without an open-minded mind, you can never be a great success."- Martha Stewart

Life's Little Ironies

So, last fall I placed 150 pages on why I should be promoted into a packet to be reviewed by basically everyone else I worked with. This in itself is kinda an odd peculiarity of academia. Nonetheless, I sent it in and waited. and I waited..and I waited. The last faculty meeting rolled around where they announce the promotions and nothing was announced. Not mine or any of the others. I took this as an ominous sign.

However, Monday rolled around and as I was deleting my weekend junk mail there was a message from the provost announcing my promotion. I am now Associate Professor. When I called Hubby to tell him. He simply replied "What were you before?" Nothing like family to keep you humble. Well, exactly one week after hubby gets canned, I get promoted.

"Life's a roller coaster might as well throw your hands up and enjoy the ride." - Seis

At least I still have a Uterus....

Ok, cut me some slack. I know that the two people who follow this blog, will notice that it is backdated. This might be considered cheating, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

At my after race celebration, we were talking about all the crazy things that go on in your life. Those unexpected things you never thought you would do as a parent, etc. They were stories of guilt and humor and the realization that we were all children of horribly negligent parents. Really, where was DHR when we driving around without car seats, pedaling our bikes without helmets, and walking to the neighborhood convenience store without supervision? The way the media acts we are phenomena an outlier lucky to have survived.

This conversation morphed into the strange things children do to your bodies. As we all griped about the spreading of hips and sagging of boobs, one Mom retorted "at least you still have a uterus, mine fell apart." We busted out laughing. It became the catch phrase of the day, and it made me think of the fact that no matter how hard your situation is, some one has it worse. At least I still have my Uterus.

Thanks girls for keeping it Real.

"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.”- Anonymous

Slow and Steady Seis wins the Race

OK. I didn't actually win but I did finish. Today, my friends Queen B, K-Mom, and I ran a 5k. It was the first race for K-Mom and I, but Queen B was an old pro and was so sweet and reassuring. The race was the annual zoo run, and it was so much fun. I was actually scared and a little dare I say, pessimistic about before I ran. We all did better than we expected, and were so elated to have accomplished our goal. We met up for lunch with a few more friends and celebrated our personal victories.

If you like to people watch, the race is great showcase. There was a guy who ran the whole thing barefoot. Two girls who dressed up as the Turtle and the Hare, and the turtle actually beat the hare. A little boy about seven, who smoked us in the 5 k that looked like a little greek god with his blond pony tail, and everyone in between.

They were handing out medals for the kids race, and I was so jealous that I talked the teen handing them out to give me three for us. I really felt like we deserved more than a T-shirt. I wore the medal to lunch.

I mean really doesn't life need more flare?

"Great is victory, but the friendship of all is greater."____Emil Zatopek

Debbie Downer

So, Felix has taken up making this sound sporadically. Every so often he will go "womp womp". You, know that sound they do in that SNL skit for Debbie Downer. He seems to uncannily know when I am whiny and bust it out. It always makes me laugh.

Doesn't he know I am the new positive Seis? Well, I guess that is what I get for complaining about running a race that I volunteered for and organized. Hopefully, tomorrow he will change his studio audience soundtrack into a cheer track.

Thanks Felix for keeping it real.

Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours” - Swedish Proverb

Sunshine Makes me Happy

This has got to be the rainiest spring in Alabama history. OK, maybe I exaggerate, and this is probably magnified by the fact that we have been in a drought for years, but it has been raining like we live in Seattle. This afternoon was sunny and hot. Just as the South should be. We took the kids to the pool and the whole family swam. It was lovely.

It suppose to rain all weekend, so I am glad we got out while we could. Maybe next time the sun decides to visit, I will get a rainbow. You can't have a cocktail with only one ingredient.

On another Happy note, only three more days till summer. Can't wait.

Wacky Wordless Wednesday

Drive Thru Recession

So, today was really hard. I found out that my work will not give me health insurance, and we will have to COBRA hubby's. I cried when the HR lady called me on the phone. She was so nice, and I started to feel sorry for her. What a bad job it must be to fire people and tell them that you can't give their family health insurance.

Well, I decided to move on with my day and get hubby prepared for the job search. I went to the cleaners and while in line, I overheard a woman ranting from her Lexus. She was going on and on about how the recession was just media hype. All I could do is laugh like a crazy maniacal serial killer. I swear sometimes all you can do is laugh.

Later at Casa de Crisis, our friend Wes arrived just as we were going through Hubby's severance package. He commented on the bad timing, but then retorted, "Hell, if I get fired at least five times a year. You only get fired once every five years. I think you will make it."

He goes on to tell us how he had no power for a week, because he couldn't pay the bill. That he was on the phone with his baby mama, and could hear his son begging to go to daddy's house.

After, about the third request his Baby Mama curly replied, "Your Daddy ain't got no power." He said how white trash he felt. Knowing Wes the story was embellished for my benefit, and I thanked him it was very funny and really helped the situation.

He went on to complain that Cory wouldn't come over and visit him while he was without power. Without missing a beat, Hubby says " I drove by but I didn't see any lights so I thought no one was home." We were rolling in laughter and my day was instantly better. Funny friends are priceless.

What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul. ~Yiddish Proverb

When One Door Closes...

Well, on Day 2 of the Year of Happiness my hubby lost his job. He is upset and, I am sorry he is sad. However, he hated his job. Hew was good at it, but he didn't like it at all. I am hoping this unfortunate turn of events yields a great opportunity. I am very optimistic and extremely hopeful. His next job will be lucky to have him.

I am just grateful to have a husband that is hard working, loving, and faithful. If he never found a job, I would be the luckiest (albeit poor) woman in the world.

Quote of the Day:
“Sometimes I think [my husband] is so amazing that I don't know why he's with me. I don't know whether I'm good enough. But if I make him happy, then I'm everything I want to be.”

A Year of Happiness

People seem stuck on all the woes, worries, and drama in their lives. I have recently been wallowing in an egocentric puddle of self pity this last week. For example, my hubby's really sick, dishwasher broken, a/c out, and generally being overwhelmed.

I started to lose sight of the other side of the coin. I have a great hubby that perservered and went to work for his family despite his physical discomfort, and managed to fix the dishwasher by himself. I am fortunate enough to have a home and the money to fix my a/c. Being overwhelmed is just another way of realizing I have a very full life.

So, No more self pity from Seis. (post Script: I am really sorry K-Mom that I called you and ranted about all the stuff I didn't want to hear about, but made you listen to). Everyday, I am going to post something happy. I hope you will do the same. Feel free to comment with whatever made you smile or laugh today. If you see something here that might help change someone's day pass it on. Remeber, happiness is contagious

Today is Mother's Day. I am happy to be a Mama, and I am glad to have such wonderful grandmothers for them as well. I am truly blessed and thankful.

Quote of the day:
Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
-Mother Teresa