I wish I could...

So many things come to mind when I think of things I wish I could do. So many. Now to decide if I should be realistic or just be no holds barred. *lol* Or maybe just a lil bit of both.

~ The first thing that popped into my head when given this prompt was an old Diamond Rio song, "One More Day:"

Last night I had a crazy dream

A wish was granted just for me

It could be for anything

I didn't ask for money

Or a mansion in Malibu

I simply wished, for one more day with you.

One more day

One more time

One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied

But then again

I know what it would do

Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you.

Yeah, I'd wish for more time with my dad. I miss him terribly. I miss his advice. I miss his voice. I miss his hugs. I miss his unconditional love. But I know that one more day just wouldn't be enough. Or to have met my mom's mom, Grandma Donna. I wish I could have known her. I've heard so many stories and she seems to have been such a firecracker. A woman strong enough to keep my hard-headed grandpa in line.

~ The next thing that popped into my head was that I wish I could have a baby of my own. I know that it's just not in the cards for me, and I've resigned myself to that reality, but some lil piece of me still yearns for that. 

~ I'm beginning to think that I maybe watched/listened to/read too many fairy tales growing up. Ugh. Unrealistic expectations of love. Which leads me to my next thought...part of me yearns for that "perfect love." White picket fence and all. *lol* Anyways, in all seriousness, I wish I could get married again. There I said it (or typed it rather but it's all the same, right?). In truth I don't think that marriage is the only way to have a committed partnership but there's just something about the titles, husband and wife. Yeah, I want that again someday.

~ I also wish I could travel. It would be so wonderful to see the world. Even just traveling in the United States would be great. I've never seen the ocean...and I really want to. I want to go somewhere that is not home and see places that take my breath away. Whenever I think of this, I remember our family road trip to/from Tennessee. Having mom and dad stop on some back road in the mountains so that Tesha & I could wade to the center of the river/stream to get a rock. *giggles* I still have my rock. It was an amazing trip. One I will always remember. I want that again.

~ I wish I could find a way to work from home. Maybe selling my mosiacs. Taking something that I love to do and making money from it would be amazing...and wonderful. This is something totally doable, though.

~ I wish I could publish some of my poetry...as well as start writing more. Something I've always wanted to do. Even if I end up with the only copy ever, it would be so awesome to have my poetry in book/mini-book form.

...have a raised garden.

...dye purple streaks in my hair (just a couple).

...be a better friend...girlfriend...aunt...cousin...sister...daughter...person.

...take some dance classes.

...earn my second degree black belt.

...take a few cooking/baking classes.

...get more sleep.

Rules of Friendship

Wow. This one is a hard one for me. Mostly because I feel like I'm at a place where I'm rethinking all the things that I think friendship entails or should entail.

Let me start out by saying I'm not sure there are any real cut and dry "rules" of friendship. I mean, friendships evolve and change and grow as the people do, right? So maybe then the "rules" of friendship are just an altered version of the "rules" of life. 

~ Be kind to yourself...and others.
~ Be honest....with yourself and others. Along with that, I think, should come don't be afraid to say no...and don't be afraid to say yes.
~ Be real. Trying to be someone you're not isn't fair to anyone.
~ Don't judge. You know that whole, those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones saying? Totally true. None of us are perfect.
~ Allow yourself to be vulnerable. If you aren't vulnerable with your friends, then why are you friends with them? Friends are allowed to do things like that.
~ Be random...and spontaneous. Sometimes it's just needed.
~ Make time...for yourself and each other.
~ Show that you care. Sometimes words just aren't enough, actions are needed.
~ Listen...which goes hand-in-hand with talk. Both are necessary, just not simultaneously.

This is just the beginnings of a list...I will revisit this later, after work...

Blogging Together

A couple friends and I decided that we would blog together since we all enjoy writing. A way to stay connected even if it can't be/isn't in person.

We all plan to blog on the same topic/prompt each week and then post in our own blogs. We'll take turns each week deciding on the writing prompt, and have agreed that our posting deadlines will be Thursdays.

We just finished week two's blogs. This is going to be so much fun!

Check out their blogs:

Driving with the Windows Wide Open

The Midnight Cafe

What Gives Me Peace When Sad or Mad?

It was my turn to pick our prompt this week. It was harder to come up with than I thought it would be. I hope my friends find it as thought provoking and interesting as I hoped it would be.

Peace can be achieved in many ways.

If avoidance is what I'm looking for a movie or a book will do. Sometimes that's how peace comes, by not thinking of the thing that I'm sad or mad about. Very seldom to I do this, though, as I don't think that it's real peace.

Conversations with close friends...whether at a home, coffee shop or park...are usually a source of peace. Or definitely a means to achieving peace. Those talks help me to see things from other perspectives, which can be very helpful from time to time. Sometimes new perspectives are just what are needed to see the overall picture in a clearer light.

Another means of achieving peace when I'm sad or mad is to clear my thoughts, organize them if you will. I often do this when I'm swimming, relaxing by the pool, weeding the rose garden, or doing anything outdoors, communing with nature. Creating mosaics, making something beautiful and useful out of something that was once broken and thought to be useless by some. Baking or cooking also help me to clear my mind.

Music. Jammin' to music, dancing with music, singing along with my favorite songs. Music can be very soothing or healing. Music can be anything that you want it to be. Music can invoke any emotion that you want it to.

Karate. Cuddling with my kitty. Laughing and playing with my nieces, nephews or friends. Reminding myself of the things that I'm grateful to have very much leads me to a more peaceful state of mind.

I'm happiest when...

...the sky is clear and blue, the sun is shining, and I'm laying in my hammock just listening to music or the animals around me; enjoying nature & the day.

...the stars are bright in the sky on a warm, clear night.

...laughing and joking around the bonfire with friends and family.

...laying in his arms, with him stroking my hair, feeling safe and cared for.

...curled up in bed, petting a furry purring kitty.

...reading.

...in the kitchen: baking and listening to music and dancing.

...exploring new coffee shops with great friends.

...cruising down the road, windows down, breeze blowing thru my hair, jamming to some tunes.

...holding a sleeping baby.

...doing karate.

...weeding the rose garden.

...writing.

Stomp Out Suicide 5k Run/Walk for Awareness

Stomp Out Suicide 5k Run/Walk for Awareness Saturday, August 25th, 2011 Goodview Park Goodview Avenue, Wyoming MN Stomp Out Suicide 5K Run/Walk for Awareness will be an event for the entire family and will revolve around a 5k Run/Walk at Goodview Park in Wyoming, MN on Saturday, August 25th, 2012. This event is being created out of love and hope. Funds raised from this event will be donated to SAVE, a Minnesota (Bloomington) based organization. The event will have entertainment for every age group and is meant for the whole family to enjoy. Live music, kids area and some good food are just a few of the activities planned in addition to the 5K. The spirit of the event will be one of fun, music, food, family and friends. To see the race route, click here. Registration Information: Run/Walk Registration - $25.00 before 8/24/2012 $35.00 day of event Kids 12 years and younger - $15.00 before 8/24/2012 $20.00 day of event All registrations include a t-shirt 9:00 a.m. Check-in/Registration 10:00 a.m. 5K Run Starts 10:05 a.m. Walk Starts Schedule: 9:00 a.m. Registration 10:00 a.m. Runners start 10:05 a.m. Walkers start Here's a link to my donation page Such a great cause! And very near to my heart. I'd love to get at least a few more peeps to walk with me...anyone interested?

Global Citizenship & SAVE...

So I'm taking this Global Citizenship class this quarter. Really just reminds me of the things that I want to do & that I told myself I would do. I have a service-learning project that I need to do for this class. Oh, then write a paper about my reflections. Reminded me to re-connect with the SAVE people, make a more conscience effort to actually volunteer, to do my part to make a difference. In doing that I was looking around on their website, checking stuff out. I found that they're doing the usual walk (at Lake Harriet, August 25th) but that they're also doing a walk closer to my house (Wyoming, August 11th). Yay! So I registered for it & created a "team"...hoping to be able to talk some of my friends into walking with me. I think some of them will. Double yay!

Here's a link to my page.

http://save.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=533&participantID=2004