Then and Now

December 7, 2010December 7, 2010 ~ JodiLea

1985 2009

How in the Hell did this happen?

Wasn’t I just standing with my best friend, her car all packed and ready to go off to Woman’s Weekend, impatiently waiting for her husband to take the photo, so we could run away from home? In 1985 I was a single mother. Little did I know that It would be a year before I would meet the love of my life, change my career path, catch chicken pox from my daughter and nearly die.

Now I have been married to the love of my life for 22 years. I went back to school for a degree and graduated the same year my daughter graduated from high school. That was weird! Made 2 more career changes, 3 years later became a grandmother, and 3 years after that I was diagnosed with diabetes days before slipping into a coma. Of course there was a ton of other stuff in between – but this is not my autobiography…

Mentally I am 25 years old. A glimpse of my reflection startles me now. Who is that old woman ? Oh yeah, it’s me. Bummer. Just when I start to feel like I am getting a handle on life it’s half over.

What has brought on this melancholy tonight? I think I had a hot flash. I’m not sure if that is what happened. All I know is, I was hot. It felt like a fever without being sick. Part of me thinks OMG! The other part of me is thrilled – maybe this signals the end of 15 years of pre-menopausal HELL.

I have many questions these days. For example, is it just me, or do police officers look like they should be in high school instead of patrolling the streets? How do people with piercings pass through airport security? Don’t teens know that tattoos are permanent? Will somebody teach my hubby how to text, so I can have someone to sext?

Do I have to buy a red hat now?

Things NOT on my Bucket List

November 28, 2010December 4, 2010 ~ JodiLea

Ever since that movie came out, my friends have been thinking about what they would put on their lists. No one is actually writing these lists down on paper. At least not admitting they are, because after all, we are way too young to be thinking about that.

I have no clue what will be on my list. I do know, however, what will NOT be.

Bicycling down the Haleakala Volcano

Have you seen this? If you think it looks scary while you watch it on Nat Geo, try being on the same road. There is only one road. It goes up the volcano. It goes down the volcano. The grade is about 5%. You coast from 10,028 ft to sea level in 38 miles. Seems simple. No peddling. Ha! A steep road is only half of the problem. A twisted, two-lane road makes the trip horrifying. And I was in a car.

The views are breathtaking.

I would not see them because all my focus would be on not crashing my bike into the 300 other tourists also biking down the volcano, being hit by one of the (sane) people driving their car, or coasting right off a cliff.

No Thank You.

Bungee Jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge

This is just wrong!

Aside from being dangerous, this jump was probably illegal.

Considering it is at night and there is just the couple present .

Hey, maybe he pushed her off the bridge and this is a homicide.

If you ever see me in this position – call the police!

Running with the Bulls

Don’t kid yourself.

Only the bulls are running with each other. People are running FROM the Bulls.

Do these guys look like they are having fun? Even I am saner than this.

Climb Mount Everest (or Kilimanjaro, or Fuji, etc.)

Just “because it is there”, are you kidding me? Many things are “there” and I am not one bit tempted to climb them. That reason to climb a mountain is ridiculous!

The only climbing I want to do is the stairs – when I have to, in order to be where I want to be. Like my daughter’s house. The 2nd story of the mall. My doctor’s office. That kind of climbing.

NOT this…

My 15-minutes of fame

For me, any recognition from the media would be embarrassing or damaging to my self-esteem. People who knew me would not be awed or jealous of my fame.

They would roll their eyes and say, “That’s Jodi, alright!”

So, who needs that?

Watching Dogs Poop

November 27, 2010 ~ JodiLea

Let me explain.

My mother lives in a very nice neighborhood. From mom’s porch you can see the ocean (between the condos across the street). If there isn’t any fog. Sunrise and Sunsets are awesome along the Pacific Ocean’s horizon! I love to admire this view while I sip my coffee and smoke a cigarette. It has become my morning thing.

Almost every resident here has a dog (or two). Because this neighborhood has ornate landscaping and no fences, these dogs take their people for a walk on a regular basis. I enjoy watching the diverse breeds of dogs that pass in and out of my view. There are several “regulars”, who are out and about every morning. A couple of Labs, a Golden Retriever in his golden years, a Scottie, two British Springer Spaniels, and quite a few of those little yap-dogs of obscure lineage. My favorite dog, a Bernese Mountain Dog, must not live in mom’s neighborhood. I only see him every couple months. I am sure they must need to go out more than that.

The condos across the street have a strip of grass next to the sidewalk. Mom’s side of the street is a well landscaped hill, overlooking this sidewalk. Dogs and their people must walk on that side, which is right smack in the middle of my view. Every dog must sniff around a few times on this patch of grass. Then, of course, they poop. They have to poop there because all the other dogs have done so, and it’s a canine imperative to poop upon the poop of others.

I didn’t really think much about it until the other morning when a friend called me and asked “What are you doing?”. Being the smart-ass that I am, I told her “Oh, not much. Just watching dogs poop.” It was then I realized that was exactly what I have been doing.

Every morning.

Yuk!

The dog’s people are well trained. The poop is scooped off the grass as soon as their dog moves on. Everyone accompanying a dog carries a plastic bag for waste containment. The homeowner’s association rules are apparently followed around here.

I wonder if these people are always so conscientious. Do you think it has something to do with a woman watching from above, with a coffee and cigarette?