3. A Picture That Makes Me Smile

A Picture That Makes Me Smile

I am assuming that I didn’t have to take the picture.  I figured that I should use the first picture that comes to mind. 
I can't help but smile when I see it.....

I first saw this picture on a coffee mug.  It was given as a gift to my mother in law.  I know it was purchased in Seattle, Washington.  While I was in Seattle, I looked everywhere for this mug.  I couldn't find it anywhere.  I found some cups and mugs with umbrellas in the wind on them which I didn't get because I was determined to find the one I really wanted.  This went as far as checking every single gift shop in the Seattle airport.  I kept seeing the other ones with the umbrellas but not the one I wanted.
I was running out of time as our plane was boarding within minutes.  I finally decided to get the cup with the umbrellas in the wind at the last gift store if they didn't have the one I wanted.  They didn't have the one I wanted, but this gift shop didn't have the umbrellas in the wind either.  Figures right.  The thought raced through my mind to go back to one of the first gift shops and get it but time was not on my side.   

I could look at this and feel regret for not getting the umbrella cup but instead I look at it this way: I know exactly what to get the next time I go to Seattle.  And I love Seattle so I will go again.  

Why does this picture make me smile when it has such a crazy back story? 

1. This is so me.  I am the one looking up in the rain, enjoying it while the others are protecting themselves from it. I don't think I need to elaborate any more on my love for the rain.

2. I love Seattle and now this picture reminds me of it. It reminds me of the search in the airport (I also love airports and do not visit them enough). 

So when I got home I looked up the picture online.  I still haven't acquired anything with the image on it.  But one of these days, I will find it.
And in the meantime, I was inspired to create the image below to tide me over.

2. What if...?

I often wonder what my life would be like if I never moved to Ukiah.  My life could be so different.  In Ukiah is where I met my husband.  I can’t imagine a better match for me than him.  I can’t image someone who I get along with as well as him.  Someone who makes me laugh no matter what mood I am in.  Someone who puts me first the way he does.  Someone who I want to spend most of my time with.  Someone who I can tell the stupid things I am feeling.  Someone who I can just be silent with.  The guy who was my best friend first.  I am thankful everyday that I moved to Ukiah and met Kyle.
Other things would be different in my life as well.  When I moved to Ukiah I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life.  But shortly after moving I found the job that I have now been at for almost 10 years. Of course there are times that the job drives me crazy but for the most part I have enjoyed my job.  I learned so much about photography there. Hands on training is the best.  I get to have fun and be creative.  If I hadn’t moved to Ukiah I might be stuck in a job that I hate like most people I know. For these main two reasons I am glad I moved to Ukiah when I did. 

1. 20 Random Things About Me

Day one and notice this post isn't until 10.30pm. I almost failed on day one. But all is well as I just finished.
20 random things about me.

1. Rain makes me happy.
2.  The daffodil is my favorite flower
3.  To feel accomplished I sometimes write a finished task on my to do list just so I can cross it off.  I love crossing things off lists.
4. I was Cottontail in Peter Rabbit in the first grade.  My mom had to make my costume.  All the other bunnies said they were Cottontail too, but I know I really was.
5.  I debate on bringing my camera with me to many places.  If I don’t, I regret it and sometimes make an extra trip back to get it.  Why don’t I have that thing stuck to me with Velcro.  Maybe one day I will learn, I almost always want it. 
6. I am almost always in the mood for a musical.  But I will also fast forward through the intermission music. 
7.  I always say me and my sister weren’t friends until she moved out.  That might be true but I always thought she was cool.Actually we just had our normal sister stages.  Sharing a room as teenagers easily stresses your relationship. I’m glad we are friends now. 
8.  I didn’t get my drivers license until I was 20.  I do things in my own time.
9.  I wanted to be an author.  I tried to major in English but the classes kept getting cancelled. 
10.  I was editor in chief of the high school paper when I was a senior.  This was only because I was the only person in the class who was interested in it.  At times it was embarrassing to have my name on it. 
11.  I switched to mineral make up after wanting to for 2 years.  I love it. 
12.  I have never tried smoking.  I never tried drugs.  Didn’t need to try something that revolting.
13.  I think I am the only person in the world who hasn’t seen the entire movie, “The Goonies” or at least I don’t think I have. When people refer to that movie, which happens a lot, I am always lost.
14.  I whistle.  Sometimes I don’t even realize I am doing it.  My mom says I have been whistling since I could crawl. And I did both at the same time.  My whistling has rubbed off on my husband.
15.  I used to be a pepsi-holic.  One or two a day.  I haven’t had a pepsi in at least 4 years.  This is because I am afraid I will get right back to where I was.

16.  I have never been pulled over.  If I ever am I will probably cry.  And Kyle would never let me hear the end of it (since I am always on him if he is over the speed limit)
17.  I took piano lessons for awhile in elementary school. Early on in my lessons I let another girl do my piano lesson music theory homework because I didn’t know any of it and she said she did.  I (technically ‘she’) got almost all of them wrong. 
18.  I took a year of French in high school and can probably say less than 10 sentences.  And most of those 10 are very similar and completely useless.
19.  In second grade I was told repeatedly that a certain boy liked me.  I was mortified.  I faked sick because of it but I think I felt bad about faking sick and ended up spilling everything to my mom. 
20.  When I was in the 4^th grade my sister got glasses, so I wanted them too.  I tried to mess up my test (which I now realize the doctor was probably totally on to me) I didn’t get glasses that year.  The next year I did.  The doctor couldn’t believe how bad my vision had gotten in one year.  It gets progressively worse each year and I really want eye surgery but I am scared. 

Blog Challenge

My poor little blog.  So neglected.  Weak and grasping for air.  The only answer is therapy. Medicate with a blog challenge. A post a day for a month.   Can I do it?  We shall find out. 
I looked up some ideas for a blog challenge.  Found some great ones…but… I am going to have to modify what I found, by combining parts of different challenges.  Why?  Because of my blog rule.  Only happy thoughts.  No ranting or complaining or venting.  Many of the blog challenges I found included things like pet peeves, things you wish you have done or not done, said or not said.  No dwelling.  I want a challenge that just helps me think and write.  I want to smile at the end.  So here it is my list of topics that I will be blogging about for the month of March.  Don’t be surprised if I go out of order. 
1. 20 Random Things About Me

2. What if...?

3. A picture that makes you smile and why

4. My favorite Season

5. Something you have done spontaneously. 

6. 5 passions

7. If you were an animal

8. 3 memories from childhood

9. Superpower

10. A photo of something you ate today

11. Something you crave a lot

12. My 5 senses right now

13. Words

14. Favorite childhood book

15. Something you don’t regret.

16. Places you want to visit

17. A food you are glad you tried.

18. Something I have had for a long time

19. What book am I currently reading.

20.  A photo that is at least 10 years old.

21.  Something I wrote a long time ago.

22. Something I enjoyed about school.

23. Something I want to learn how to do

24. A song that inspires emotion.

25. Talents I admire about other people

26. One thing I am excited for.

27. What is under my bed.

28. Describe my ‘perfect day’

29. States I have been to

30. Describe your month.
Ready...Set.....Go