I'm exhausted!

No, not really, actually. 

Yesterday I had planned (and even Facebooked, much to my embarassment) to go for a hike with the hubband, my pooch, my girl Gemma and her hubby, Josh.  We got up. We got dressed.  We picked them up.  We grabbed coffee and a bagel - you know, a nice light meal before a hike - and then it all went down hill.  It was cold!

Okay, I understand that cold is relative.  My friends and family back home are shaking their head and rolling their eyes at my new idea of "cold".  To me (now, that I live in sunny SoCal) cold is anything that requires more than a long sleeved t-shirt.  Am I a wimp?  Probably but I like it this way so :P

We endured the cold winds and eventual rain for about 20 minutes while we ate our bagels.  We clibmed an ardurous incline of 6" (there was a curb on the way to the deli) and an exhausitng 60 yards to and from the vehicle.  We were whipped so we took a few hours to rest and watch Land of the Lost.

All in all a successful day.  I won't even speak of the horrors that Superbowl XLIV wrought on my book wracked body! 

Peace out!

I love... Monster Trucks

Over the past couple of days, due in large to some inspiration from some of the amazing Wedding vendors I work with, I've been taking stock of who I am, what I love, what I represent, and what I believe.  Some pretty deep thoughts have come from it and I'm attacking 2010 with a new zeal... albeit a month later than I would have liked.

With that said, I'd like to share another "Love" with you.  Monster Trucks.  Oh yeah, you read me... Monster. Trucks.  Loud. Smelly. Crazy, flippy, rough and tumble, make your boots shake and your stomach quiver Monster Trucks. 

For those of you doubters our there who think it's a 'hick' pass time, or for gun-toting rednecks... well, you're kind of right!  And I guess I'm one of them at heart!  There are plenty of jacked up trucks with lift kits and gun racks in the parking lot, accompanied by the almost mandatory pile of Pilsner beer cans and cigarette butts.  You'll see the odd "gentleman" (I use the term very loosely here) relieving himself of all of his imbibed liquids behind his big ol' truck when he thinks no one is watching, and perhaps a Camo jacket or two (thousand), BUT! Don't knock it 'til you try it.  Think of it as a mini-Halloween.  Pull out your nastiest, ripped jeans (not the ones that are in style this year, the ones that you paint and mow the lawn in), your multi-pocket vests and your Dad's old trucker hats and head on down to the Monster Jam.  Seriously.  If you don't have a good time I'll eat my words but I LOVE 'EM!

Take a gander at these here pictures and tell me you're not just a little bit interested...

It keeps this crazy Canuck family happy!  I hope to see you there next January with your mitts, toques (that's Canadian for "beanie") and your open minds at Qualcomm Stadium to see whether Monster Mutt can finally beat Grave Digger (though the odds are pretty slim...)

Oh, and don't forget your earplugs!

 

I love... new shoes!

So I think its come to light that I'm a bit of a geek.  For example, I recently met with a photographer, Kevin Mudd of Cool Cake Photography, who found out that I'm a fan of Monster Trucks.  Yep, my geek was showing that day.  Here's my disclaimer: I tell my Wedding associates that they enter my personal blog "at their own risk".  I'm not responsible for what they learn about me from this page.  My Wedding Blog is professional and "safe".  My personal blog... not so much.

So here's today's geek moment: my new shoes.  You may have seen my fabulous boots on my headshots profile with La Vida Creations Photography on their blog.  But here are my newest additions to my family:

My question to you is: what are they?  Pumps? Heels? Stiletto's?  I don't know the official definition and my girlfriend Gemma and I are at odds.  What's your opinion?

Another disclaimer: I'm not a photographer!  Just enjoy the shoes for what they are and ignore the poor photography skills!

So I Married A...

Nerd.

This is what my darling husband has chosen to do with his afternoon.  He and a friend of his (a former roommate, in fact) have decided to take the first nice, sunny day in about 6 days and spend it inside playing this...

Arkham Horror.  Can you SEE all the pieces? 

I'll be sitting on the couch, in my comfy clothes, wrapped up in my pink Snuggie (oh yeah, I said SNUGGIE), sipping my ginger beer and losing myself in my book - the third book in the Percy Jackson series.  Which, for those of you who know what these books are, likely relegates me to "Nerd" status too.

Life. Is. Good.

My Downfall

Most girls crave chocolate.

Some girls crave salt.

Other girls crave bread.

Me?  Gummy Frogs all the way.  These treats that my loving guests bring me will send me back to Weight Watchers faster than I can say "Oh yeah... gummy frogs!"  Sadly... I'm not sure I care.  Gummy Frogs are always welcome in the Schmaltz house!

New Moon... Almost

Every Tuesday morning I get up between 5am and 5:30am to attend my weekly BNI meeting.  And every Monday night I groan and complain about the fact that I have to get up so early and run a meeting.

This morning, though, it was worth it.  Today I did manage to take a picture of something beuatiful... unfortunately my cell phone isn't very good at taking images of objects as far away as the moon.  So, while the image is not breathtaking, I was stunned at the fact that this was the first time since moving to beautiful sunny San Diego that I've seen such a small sliver of the moon so clearly.  Enjoy it for what it's worth!

Fun Fact: the moon is (on average because of it's elliptical orbit) 238,857 miles from planet earth.  No wonder my cell phone camera wasn't up to snuff!

Love Is All Around

I had a moment today. 

Not a crazy, screaming, pull-your-hair-out kind of moment, but a moment that made me think of all the things in this world that are wonderful. 

My husband.
My dog.
My family (however far away they may be).
My job.
My friends.

And then it hit me.  Love, itself, is wonderful.

Here's what I saw (I only wish I'd been able to take a picture):
A young man (probably around 30 years old) was riding his bike up a very long hill from San Diego into Santee.  He looks incredibly fit and appears to be riding up this hill with little effort.  How can I tell as I drive by at 65mph?  Because he's riding slowly enough that he has his hand on the back of his partner who is also riding up the hill with him... an older gentleman who appears to be struggling up the hill. 

I'm not even sure why this struck me so strongly other than it has to be love and kindness driving this young man to help someone struggling up the hill.  Instead of being frustrated by being slowed-down, or giving up and telling this older rider to just get off and walk up the hill, he was, literally, giving him a pat on the back, a little bit of extra encouragement to keep going.

Of course this is just the way I see it...

Let's try to pass a little extra love today.  Who couldn't use it?