Go as bright, as bold, or as crazy as you can!

My current big non-work project is to turn a pink princess room (complete with a Cinderella mural on the wall) into a more serene office space.  While priming this lovely pink, my mind wanders to a little girl who probably loved this space.  It made her feel like she had her own fairy tale.  At the same time, it made me comment to my Mom 'Never paint a room pink.  No matter how much begging is involved.' Then I started priming again and had another thought.

In my old house, one that Alex & lived in for many years, the walls in his room often changed colors.  At one point, they were navy blue with glow in the dark yellow stars.  His bathroom was Texas orange, yes, the whole thing.  Even my rooms changed colors, my bedroom was pale purple for a while and my office?  Well it was red apple red.  Not for a minute did I question painting, or repainting any of those colors.  Why?  Because they were fun and they helped whatever picture of our space, either Alex's or mine, come to fruition.  And what did it hurt?  Nothing!  You can repaint, yes, it may take more time and more work, but it can be changed.

Let's be honest, life is like that too.  You can make bold, bright, crazy decisions and, for the most part, you can enjoy those decisions, live in the moment and then move onto the next one.  I have often made bold, some would say crazy, choices in life and, my life is far from perfect but it is pretty great.  My challenge for you?  Go be bold.  Be bright.  Be a little crazy.  Even if your bold and bright is as simple as painting your nails red or as big as painting a whole room.  In your life, just be as bright, bold and crazy as you want to be in the moment.  What do you have lose?  Paint your lives pink my friends!

Please note...I am not saying go be stupid or put yourself or others in danger or in pain.  As I often say, don't do anything horrible that is permanent.  Take care of you and yours, they are what makes life worth living.

Life in a small town - and the live stock that think we are crazy

I often say that I live out in the country, and compared to the 'city' I use to live in, I do.  However, compared to real country living, I do not.  Regardless, I treasure our 'small town' country days.

Today my lungs decided a simple 5k should become a battle of wits, the lungs won.  Now all of you grousing need to relax, I know and agree that a 5k is not simple but this was not timed and I got to run it in step with Nikki and in the crowd with other friends, so that makes it simpler as we always have fun and kick 5k butt. That is not the point so breathe which I couldn't so it's kind of ironic for me to tell you too.  It was in the town next to us, a city in this case but still a quiet suburb city with great trees and rolling Texas hills.  Which also are sneaky and mean.

Downtown Wylie...

Murphy City Hall

After the longest and worst 3.1 miles ever, the Big Guy and I decided to have breakfast in downtown Wylie, the very picture of a small town downtown you can find in any movie about Texas.  The flags were flying up and down the streets, the kids were running around, the antique stores were open,  and we, along with everyone else, were waiting for a table at Ballard Street Cafe.  As we ate, I was reminded how much I like the cafe.  There are football jerseys on the wall, old photos of townsfolk, and a chalk board announcing the fresh made pies for the day.  The dry erase board proud bragged about the Daily Breakfast Special (I always get it as I am a sucker for corned beef hash and sunny side up eggs - well, the yolk anyway), a special that has not changed in all the years we have been eating there.  That regularity, the old time decor, the AMHO football jerseys, all of it are comforting.  The chandelier that hangs in the middle to the room?  Well, that is just like Bill and I, a little country and a little sparkly city touch too. I will let y'all decide which is which.

I could live here...

After the ever so healthy breakfast, we hit a Vintage Market at South Fork. Yes, that South Fork.  Walking in between the various vendor tents with a glass of wine in one of our hands, beer (Coors Light of course) in the other, was peaceful in its own right but it wasn't the best part.  The best part was talking to the animals in the shadow of the house.  Now this is Texas so really it was the burning sun but you get the idea.  The longhorns, horses, mini-horses, llamas, I stopped to talk to all of them, heck I sang with the llamas.  We walked in between the barns with stalls, I for one thankful that there was a big door and gate separating me from the longhorns - they are really big in person.  While driving out, we moved out of the way for the people on horseback, they always have the right of way.  I might not be a Texan by birth, and am considered more Yankee than most by my wonderful boys, but this part of Texas and the country?  I love it.  I still want a horse...not sure why there never is one under the Christmas tree for me.

One of us ran a 5k for fun...

...one of us thinks running that far is stupid.

Of course now it is time for the Cowboys game so we are back in the 'Country House' with sleeping dogs (and a sleeping Big Guy too) in time for me to make up taco nachos.  What is the point of all this?  Well it's really quite simple.  Today could have been hot, and miserable, disappointing but instead I embraced the joy of being with my friends - and yes, I recovered my breathing, very important wedding to sing for next week so I cannot die - embraced walking around in the pasture looking at beautiful antiques and wooden signs (I need to learn how to use a saw as I know I can make a Texas sign), holding hands with the love of my life talking and singing with animals as he rolls his eyes and dares me to jump the fence, moving out of the way for the horse riders.  Already today has proven to be another great day to be alive, even in the country.

Open the door and dance through it with me

This year has brought a lot of change to my life - personally and professionally.  The kids are both in college - Go Flyers! and Gig 'Em! -  I have a new job that is providing me with new challenges and adventures.  Such an exciting year usually brings me great ideas to write about, to share, I am a writer after all.  Clearly, I took a break from the blog (latest post was January?  Ouch).  More than one person has asked why I stopped and why I haven't started again.  Last night I put some thought into the reason.

I have had great times, shared a lot - some may say too many - pictures of family fun on FB, traveled many different places and had a lot of adventures.  So why didn't I write about these?  Excellent question that is not easy to answer.

Part of me assumes that my friends and family who have already heard about my adventures are the only people who read the blog so why bother.  Part of me was too busy at times to write.  Part of me didn't want to seem like I was bragging about the good times.  Part of me had bad days I don't share with others, I don't think you should put bad 'stuff' out on the internet - bottle it up and keep it hidden, no one needs to hear about it.  All of these are excuses, and today, I get over them.

My last post - Lucky to be along for the ride - was about putting one foot in front of the other, how Alex's experiences over the past year taught me to push forward and keep going.  Well, I need to apologize to him as I stopped putting one foot in front of the other with my personal writing, I hid behind being too busy or fear that people didn't want to read what I wrote, I hid behind excuses.  More than apologizing to my family, I need to apologize to myself.  I love writing, I love sharing experiences and it doesn't matter to me who reads what I write, I love doing it for me.  I need to find that love again, that confidence again.

So today is my new start line, my new runway.  Today is when I start writing because I love to write and want to write.  Today I stop worrying that the only parts of life you share should be the happy ones.  Today I stop worrying about what people thing when I write about the good times or my wonderful family and friends.

Friends, we all have good times and bad.  We all have different ways of handling life. Well, I handle things by dancing it out, singing at the top of my lungs, by writing.  As I start my new challenge and become true to me again I challenge each of you to do the same.  Don't worry that someone else might be watching, or not, just be you.  Hope you will join me as my suitcases open more doors...I can't wait to see what is behind them as I dance through each one.