Slacker, SLACKER, SLACKER!!!!

I am such a slacker. I had such a good time writing this blog last year. I looked forward everyday to writing something new and sharing and writing and sharing. I thought this was a blast. 

Then life happened. 

I still read blogs but I can't seem to find anything to really get behind to write about. Yet I think of topics all the time. Of course I said the same things that everyone says - You have to write everyday to keep in the habit, or Fake it 'til you make it, or just write about anything, or you are such a loser!

I read somewhere that most bloggers only have about 50 entries then they run out of things to write about or interest in writing about what is happening. When I read that I said to myself "That's NOT going to be me."  He he ho ho ha ha he he. Yeah right! I am at 50 and there you go. 

I am so disappointed in myself. But then I thought well who am I to think I'm special and wont fall into the same traps as others have. I am human and a regular person too. OK I am special too but not when it comes to this activity. So stop beating yourself up kiddo. 

Here's what's been happening. 

1.  My brother passed away last December. I got the word that he had cancer (a very aggressive type) in July and that he had less than 3 months to live. He hung on for an additional 2 months. 

I went to see him just before his dementia set in to say goodbye. It was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. It was quite nice actually. 

He was staying with his brother (no blood relation to me) and his wife who are SAINTS! I really mean that. They are WONDERFUL people for everything they did for my brother.  

MARK STEVEN SHIFFER (born March 1, 1954 in Monterey, CA) died on December 3, 2014 in Denver, CO. 

I know he is in a better place. He is with our other brother and our father and all our aunts and uncles and cousins that have passed before. He is out of pain and and can now fly. 

Because I was basically on a death watch - waiting for word on my brother - almost everything else was put on hold, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

2.  So comes the new year. It's going to get better I tell myself. 

I make my new year's resolutions like so many others. The usual ones like losing weight, get into shape, be healthy. Well that last one was because in the meantime I have been having some health issues with regard to . . . well let's just say I was in the throne room. A LOT. So I was finally diagnosed with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). I take medication now and am finally feeling myself again. 

Not only was I prescribed medication but also ---- get this ---- exercise. And he said Cardio type of exercise. You know what that means. I envisioned all those get up and go types of exercises that are put to music with the instructor wearing a microphone shouting "Come on you can do it! Just 1 more verse!" or something like that. 

Or the ever dreadful, I can't even say it, ok it's .... it's .... running. EWWWEEEEE. I hate running. I am allergic to running. 

I was reprieved.  I need to walk nightly. Well at least 3 times a week anyway. I can do that. I like that. So me and my FitBit are walking these days. I quite like it actually. 

That's pretty much what has been going on with me, at least the high points anyway.

It's now spring - and I have more good things going on that I hope I will write more about. Some really fun things too. 

I may not write every week but I will get more posts than once every 6 months. 

See you soon. 

Happy 4th Rodeo Style

Happy 4th of July.

What a day!

It was HOT! Like 100 degrees hot. 

But I didn't care. I braved the heat! I tool our Light Rail to the next town called Folsom. It was the 54th Annual Folsom Rodeo. I so didn't want to fight traffic and find a place to park, etc. So I decided to take Light Rail. I like Light Rail. They do all the driving and I just sit back and relax. That's nice!

So off I go. It was about 6:30pm and the Rodeo started at 7:00pm. I figure it would take about 20 minutes to get there. Even though it was UPHILL all the way. 

Then I double checked the timetable about getting back home. Oh NO!!!!! The last train left at 7:09pm. How could I have overlooked this wrinkle? I was so screwed! Really. That is so not me. What happened? How am I going to get home?  I totally freaked. Then I remembered that I had a friend that was going as well. Luckily she would give me a ride back to my car. Whew! Crisis averted, I can enjoy the rest of the night.

Then off I go on my walk to the Rodeo Arena. I walk UP Sutter Street which is still in the old time west tradition. Quaint stores and some restaurants. You really feel like it's 100+ years ago. It's all up hill alright. I get the end (about 4 blocks) and I ask a passerby if the Rodeo Arena nearby. "Are you walking?" he asks. Well, ah, yes. You have  LONG walk ahead of you. Oh no, no, no. Did I do it again?  Well no help for it so just keep walking. Another 3 blocks then turn right for two more blocks then turn left for 3 more blocks. UPHILL! It's 100 degrees. By the time I got the Arena I was WET! 

But there I am. I am so excited.

I found my seat. It was concrete. Yes Concrete. Not even smooth concrete. It was rocky. If you put your hand down it scraped it. But it was a seat. The even was totally sold out. People everywhere. 

I drank my water bottle in 3 seconds flat. So off to get a soda now. I get back and there is someone sitting in my seat. 

Me:  Sir, I believe that is my seat.

Mr.:  Yeah well I am sitting here now.

Me:  But that is MY seat. It says so right here on my ticket.

Mr.:  Well you can find another seat. I am sitting here (grins). 

Me: (Staring at him in disbelief) Well I need to sit there. So you need to move.

Mr.:  Well you can sit there.

Me:  (Wimp that I am) I sit down and hope no one challenges me. 

So the Rodeo started.  It was fun. The sun finally bowed down on the horizon and there were bronc riding, bull riding, barrel racing.

Sorry for the fuzzyness but they went by pretty quick. 

Then my battery started dying and well that was it for the photos. 

But I do need to tell you about the little mutton chop kids. They were so cute. They were between 6 and 8 years old and they had to ride a sheep. 

This one little girl hung on for dear life. She even won! Yeah for all the little girls out there. 

Then there were the swearing in of about 20 cadets into the Marine Corps. God bless them. I shed a tear.

Then came the Motocross. I didn't think I would like that very much. Boy was I wrong. That was COOOOLLLL!!!! Yep it was exciting. I felt like I was at an Evil Kneivel event. They were very exciting.

Then came the AWESOME fireworks. That was too cool. 

I found my friend and she game me a ride to my car. What a night. A really nice 4th of July. 

 

I love our Starbuck's

When I moved here 7 years ago, there was NOTHING here. It's a new subdivision and there was just alot of dirt, pipes, 2 x 4's, and the promise of something special.

Then came the little shopping center. I was so excited. Building of something coming. There was a rumor that there was going to be a Lowe's and a Chili's and a Starbuck's and a Panda Express and a Pandera's.  Ok,  I know that's a lot of "and a" but seriously the rumors abounded.

Pandera's just materialized (7 years later) and Panda Express just came across the freeway earlier this year. But the other 3 were the first. I was so excited when I saw the Starbuck's logo go up and couldn't wait for it to open. It was the first one in our part of town.

As time has gone on it is still one of my favorite places to go. I walk through the local park and down the street (which looks like Main Street USA) and take my computer and spend some serious quality time with my coffee and the internet.

Over the years I have gotten to know the baristas. They have changed over the years of course but I frequent the establishment enough that they all know me quickly.

I should also tell you that I have a pretty serious Starbuck's cup collection going. 

The purple one above just broke about 30 seconds after I took this picture. I really like that one too.

I love these huge cups for coffee and hot chocolate when it's cold and rainy out.

Of course I get the cups that celebrate my favorite cities. 

I love these pictures on this cup of San Francisco. 

And of course my Home Town.

Even has the statistics on the back of the cup. Cool.

But what I really love is the Cheer's feeling I get. You know that place where everyone knows your name. 

Plus they are so silly.

She knows my name. Should I be worried?

But this is something special that she did for me. Not only does she make my special drinks just the way I like it and encourages me to try something new but she kept my latest addition to my cup collection for me. 

It was a crazy day. There was a special on Fraps that day and I had the best time just watching these baristas work. 

This is what a part of the counter looked like.They used all these plus more during the time I was there. Whew!  

But I forgot my cup.

It was pretty. And a lovely addition to my collection for spring. 

Well this was easily a month ago and we kept missing each other. Finally yesterday she gave me my package. I had given it up for lost and now here it is. 

I LOVE MY STARBUCK'S!!!!!!