OLA

I watch the mystery of teenage love and life unfold or collapse right in front of me. I feel like an alien who has been dropped from another planet and I am learning strange and new practices. Things make little or no sense to me at all. Teen priorities are somewhat different than mine. Their thought process is steam rolling over the plains and only stops to send a text message. Converstaions are half baked, wars are fought and won, friendships are flattered and flattened, love is without consequences or connections. The fingers move at sonic speed while the lips give service to minor problems. Instant gratification is a necessity.

Was this me so many years ago? Looking back I saw myself as very mature with my head on the correct way and my goals listed in a sensible order. Life was slower then. Now, I feel like i'm on a roller coaster ride and I get violently ill on fast rides. I remember a few years ago getting sick from riding the merry-go-round. Today my life spins like a Maytag washer. Silent but fast.

I'm hoping they find their way, reach their goals and surpass their desires and on occasion CLEAN their room. I see the glint of surprise and happiness shine through at unexpected times.

I would like to share a quote I picked up somewhere along the trail - the author is unknown to me but I thank him/her for these words.

Aspire to inspire before you expire.

Goals

One of my goals for this year is to get more exercise. I started with that goal while vacationing in Key West. Driving a car in Key West is like walking thru a maze blindfolded. It is more peaceful to ride bikes. While at Key West I decided to rent a bike instead of walking all day. They have these cute little baskets where you can store water and all of your kool purchases. Once I even put my dirty laundry in the basket and rode to the laundry mat.

So the bike rentals are basically one size fits all. I am a little on the short side. They lowered the seat as far as it would go and still it was difficult to stop and have my feet reach the pavement. I can not even tell you how many times I came face to face with asphalt. Bumps and bruises all over my sore body and I said, "I will never ride a bike again." That was then - this is today.

I search the garage to find my bike - I know it's in there somewhere. Hidden beneath the old pool cover (why haven't we thrown that out?) the umbrella and several stacks of throw rugs: there she is just waiting to be found. I know I should walk the dog today so possibly I could kill two birds with one ride. Not that I would ever kill a bird - maybe a seagull!

I hook the big boy up to his long leash, hop on the bike and off we go. First stop soft grass by the end of my driveway. I look around the cul-de-sac to make sure no one has seen my misfortune. Second try gets me to the corner by the STOP sign. I stop big boy doesn't. The loose fender now hangs precariously closer to the ground. Third and final try - off we go!

The pit bull behind the fence notices us first. I am not prepared. Woof, his deep loud bark shatters my concentration. The big boy takes it as challenge and woofs back on the run. That dog can run faster than I can pedal. It's funny how curbs can stop a person (riding a bike) right in their tracks. I watch my pretty purple bike fly like an eagle gently through the air and land on a perfectly sturdy mailbox. It looked sturdy before it met my bike. I wonder if my homeowners insurance will pay up.

The big boy is busy charging at the pit bull behind the chain link fence as I sit in the gutter and survey my missing skin. I hobble over to the fence and grab his leash and give him a tirade of BAD words. He pants. The owner of the mangled mailbox comes over and asks if I am okay and offers to drive me home and then he looks at big boy. I thank him and offer to replace the mailbox. I pick up my once shiny purple bike and limp home with the big boy. I certainly met my exercise goals for today.

No Resolutions

I have decided to go the route of NO New Year's Resolutions. They never seem to work anyways and they put you under lots of pressure. There is enough pressure already so why should I create more for myself.

I have gone the route of Goals - very unspecific Goals. I have 5 of them. And they are no benchmarks or criteria to meet. Actually I have recently added a sixth but it has not been set in stone (written down). My last entry #6 concerns an interesting site I found while searching the net. I never realized that this kind of thing really existed or that men really care about their undies. Usually I find sweetie-kins used ones in a pile on the floor in the closet or under the bed. He has never seemed to care what color, what material or how much they cost. The fact that they should be changed every day or at least twice a week has never entered his mind. You gotta love em! And let's not even discuss those - skid marks. So my goal #6 is to learn more about underwear for men. I have started my search at this site - this is where my inspiration for this fetish began. It's not really a fetish just a fascination that there are real men out there that really do care about their undergarments.

http://www.mensunderwearguy.com/

My goal number 2 is to eat more healthy. This is so much more better (LOL) than having a diet resolution. With goal #2 it allows me to indulge myself in chocolate whenever necessary. I will still try to eat healthy and there is absolutely NO proof that chocolate is not healthy! It's a refurbisher of the mind, body and soul. When the urge expoldes for a chocolate fudge brownie sundae I will commence with the attack and feel little if any remorse. If I had made a resolution to go on a diet I would most definately become a failure.

So my goals for the New Year are hand written on a sticky note and taped to my desk. I'm hoping the sticky doesn't wear off too soon and my goals become one with the long lost underwear. I will make undates about my goals when appropriate.

I have posted a picture of my friends who will be helping me with my goals. Cry and you cry alone - laugh and you laugh with friends.