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I know we’ve all heard or used the phrase “blah, blah, blah,” and more often than we may admit. I understand this term is specifically related to meaningless or repetitive chatter. However, I am using it to explain how I’ve been feeling these past few weeks, which is “blah, blah, blah!” LOL.  Although I’ve been working, exercising and living my life, I’ve been feeling disconnected and a lack of motivation. I realize that I can’t always be on top of the world, but I don’t like

I don’t know about you, but every day seems to bring a new hurdle to jump over. In light of this, I am finding that actively cultivating joy and laughter is essential to my physical and mental well-being. Have you ever thought about how much you laugh during the course of a day?  I’ve been pondering this topic recently, as my husband and I were talking about how I might incorporate laughter in my day, especially when my shoulder pain is excruciating. In my quest for understan

As I sit here in the passenger seat while my husband is driving us to a friend’s surprise birthday party, I began thinking about the different drivers on the road. In keeping with my curious disposition, I started to contemplate the mechanics of the driving process and the motivations and reasons behind human actions when behind the wheel. I used to drive fairly aggressively and at times, I would “speed and weave.” Don’t get me wrong, I was safe, but aggressive. I think I did

I don’t know about you, but I am grateful for the varied and continual learning/growing lessons I’ve experienced over the past few years. However, I find myself single-mindedly focused on a desire to spend my time solely with some of “my favorite things.” This past week I began to think of some of my favorite things, and I was reminded of one of my most treasured movies, and a classic, The Sound of Music . I really enjoy it, as it’s all about a family finding joy and happines

For many of us, 2025 has been quite an eventful year already. With the Southern California fires, tax season, changes at work, and most recently, the loss of my sister, life has been somewhat draining. This past weekend, my husband, niece, and one of our good friends went on a mini hike in the San Gabriel Mountains.   Initially, it was difficult to convince all to get up and go for a hike, as we had spent a few hours earlier playing Pickleball. However, once we got there, it

In reflecting upon my childhood, I don’t recall any grandiose dreams of becoming a doctor, lawyer or another profession like that. I was, however, captivated by big trucks. It’s quite comical when I think about it now. When I was younger, the only thing I remember wanting to be when I grew up was a semi-truck driver (or as Louisianans would say, an 18-wheeler). LOL! I suspect that it was because I was enamored with the immense size of semis, and I especially loved the ones th

One week ago today, the windstorm began to violently blow through Southern California. So many friends and neighbors of ours, at this point, too many to count have lost their homes and their possessions almost overnight. The Altadena community that we were a part of for 11 years, was decimated over a 24-hour span. It’s heartbreaking. As I sit here safely nestled in my home, I hear the unending hum of the super scooper planes (water planes) circling above, desperately trying t

I am sitting here in our backyard (amongst all of our boxes and things), rocking the night away in my favorite chair. Three hours ago, as I was working remotely today, our power went off (or the electric company turned it off), as we are in a full-blown Santa Ana winds frenzy. For the most part, it is just windy, but then every so often, gusty and erratic wind sweeps in!  This is an expression that my Grandpa Peter used a lot with my father while he was growing up. Unfortunat

Around the world, the beginning of a new year symbolizes a fresh start (or a new beginning) and a sense of hope. It’s a great time to abandon any difficulties from the previous year as well as to embrace new opportunities for the coming year. What are you hoping for or believing for in 2025? Are you planning on ringing in the new year in a special way? Although we’ve gone out in the past, my husband and I don’t typically go out on New Year’s Eve, unless we’ve been invited to

I have shared in a previous blog, that I have a soft spot for movies that involve a “Cinderella” type of motif or “turnaround story.” I love seeing characters (and humans in real life) start from one place and turn their lives around to become a better version of themselves. Inevitably this involves “change” - a change in attitude, mind, circumstances, etc. One of my favorite “rags to riches” movies is The Blind Side . If you haven’t seen it, it is a tear-jerker and an all-ti

As I was riding my peloton this morning, I was thinking about the power of our words, whether it is with our spouse, kids, pets, or even ourselves. We’ve all heard the saying that “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But is that really true?  I don’t believe it’s true, as I’ve seen words affect not only how a person feels, but how they perceive the various events around them. For instance, if I was kind and spoke uplifting words to you, chance

Have you ever felt krazy about something or someone, but also intimidated by it or them at the same time? That would be me and Pickleball. {Please check out the following article on "How Pickleball Became America's Fastest-Growing Sport" ( How Pickleball Became America's Fastest-Growing Sport ( dogonews.com ) } I’m fairly new to the Pickleball (Pb) scene, having picked up the paddle a little bit over the past two years, but more consistently over the past six months.   I’ve

As human beings, each of us has some sort of physical pain, challenges or limitations. And perhaps, as you are reading this, you are in such excruciating pain that you are not sure how you are going to get through it or IF you’re going to get through it. I truly understand that feeling. I have experienced pain so severe, that I have wanted to scream and throw things, and at times, I did. It was the kind of physical pain that is so bad that I became discouraged and felt like g

I’ve wanted kids for as long as I can remember. I mentioned in one of my other blogs, that I grew up with three sisters and that I am a middle child.  Throughout my life I would daydream of having my own family, and for me, that meant four kids. However, as I got older, that number quickly shrank to two kids – twins (a boy and girl). Over the many years that my husband and I have been married, there have been people that assumed that either we did not want kids, or that we we