Is the Word 'Never' in Your Vocabulary?

It has come to my attention that I use the word 'never' way too much. Lemme give you the dirt, I just got cussed out by my tennis instructor. No, not the hot one but the guy who looks like a mix of Einstein and Mel Gibson. Not a pretty combo.

He asked me to run in place while hitting the ball. I looked at him like he had slime all over his body and said, "With a sprained ankle, I could never do that."

He then proceeded to yell (in Mel Gibson fashion), "Do you know much time you waste saying never?"

The problem is- the guy's right. As a dreamer, the word never shouldn't be in our vocabulary. We have to tune out the lil negative thoughts that trace our mind. Instead of second guessing yourself, just go for it.

And remember, "The more impossible something is, the more it must be done."

Today I barfed on a cop

*Embarressing moment alert

Yep, the title is correct. I lost my lunch all over the cities finest.

I wish I could say that the man looked disgusting but noooo, I just happened to yak on the hottest cop ever.

Let's back this story up a bit. I'll admit, I was speeding. You would too if you had a gigantic great dane in the backseat. My sister had me dog sit for her because precious Ralphie (that's the name of the great dane) had just been put on a mood stabilizer.

First off, when did dogs get placed on uppers? Seriously. Anways, I'm speeding down the road and the cop's lights are flashing.

The cop exits his car and does the typical thing, "Can I see your liscense and registration."

He returns to his car to check my info and I start shaking. Which really baffles me because my old job required me to have a tough skin. I've had a knife pulled on me, been head butted and punched repeatedly. But somehow, the mere precense of this cop sends me into a tailspin.

My voice is weak, and I am on the verge of tears. My body has completly shut down. I tried to collect myself but I just couldn't. My throat begins to feel a tickle. My stomache acid is going out of control. With utter abandon, I empty my stomache contents onto the poor policeman's shoes.

There is nothing to say. I am mortified at this point. I wipe my mouth and whisper, "I'm sorry, I'm just really nervous."

The cop was ever-so nice. He did nothing more than smile and helped me calm down.

The lesson of the story? Well, there isn't one. Sometimes you're gonna make choices that have consequences. Some horrid and some just plain embarressing. It's one of the joys of life. Sometimes you gotta live with it. And laugh at the crazy moments.

One year anniversary

This month marks our one year anniversary and I am grateful beyond words. Writing two blogs has been the craziest-cool experience I could be given. I have met some of the most incredible people during this process called writing. My smashing writing group, fellow bloggers who are making a difference with their words. And I have reconnected with longtime friends.

You're all on the path to greatness. I'm so grateful to know you and call you friend.

Thank you for reading this blog. Thanks for your insightful comments and more importantly, your friendship.

And cheers to my blogging team, Janiel and Maegan. You both are so dear to me. These two ladies have taught me that I am more than my past. They helped me dig deep and grow as a writer and as a person. The second I met these two I was amazed by their talent and grace.


Janiel is fire-ball of energy, she uses that in her life and writing. She has a unique voice that draws the reader in. She knows how to speak her mind well. She looks out for her friends. And she is never without a good story. Janiel notices things about people because she truly cares. This is the woman who gave me the courage to face my dad. We had many car rides together where she helped me piece together my life and etc.


The first time I met Maegan I was in awe. Writing is in her blood, she's inspiring. She can construct a sentence like no other. She's sweet, kind and smart as whip. Maegan's the kind of person that looks out for the underdogs. Her ability to care for animals shows her benevolent ways. Plus, she is accomplished-traveled to Europe, worked in Africa. I know no one like her (and that's a great thing.)


These two ladies have become my dearest friends, they know so much dirt about me. Yet, they never judge (And trust me, they could)

I'm a lucky girl. Thank you to everyone who has supported our blog and our lives.

Fire works and physical therapy

For the past year, I have been in physical therapy with my foot. I have a screw holding my arch together-an injury brought on by my own stubbornness.

This week while grinding it out with my therapist he said the most fascinating quote. Maybe it will help you in your journey toward your dream.

After an excruciating day with weights, he stared at me and said, "It's not happening because you want it too much. Just stop for a moment and breathe."

Which got me thinking, how often to we push for our wishes to happen the way we want it to?

Sure our dreams require us to have an absolute drive toward the goal. But what would happen if every now and then we took a step back and breath. Allow the dream to have some air.

This is my example of wanting something so badly and then finally taking a step back. Its written with my grandma in mind.

As a little girl I wanted to see the fireworks with you. Bask in their splendor while listening to the pops and booms all around us. You, in your moccasins, me, in my pigtails and tights. But wishes never come true when you want them desperately.

You passed away before I ever got my wish. For twenty-one years bouquets of fire have flashed in the night sky. Some Independence Days were rainy, others were sweltering hot. Year after year, I wished you were near me.

And just when I had laid to rest my burning desire, you surprised me.

On the Fourth of July 2011, I sit on a blanket across the street from your grave. The crickets chirp and the air is warm. I didn't drive to this spot but somehow, I am here.

My dearest friend smiles wildly and says, "See, I told you this was the perfect place to watch fireworks."

No words would form as I stared at your headstone. I got my wish, just not in the way I had planned.

*And so my friends, the lesson is simple. Just stop for a moment and breath. Everything will work out in time. Until that day, just breath.

PS- We have an amazing caption contest going on right now- want some cool prizes? Just check out Maegan's post (it's right below mine) She'll fill you in with the details.

A bug flew up my nose

Today I sprained my ankle and not in some heroic sprint-five-miles-run-till-your-feet-bleed crap. No, I sprained my ankle all because a bug flew up my nose.

Has that ever happened to you? No joke, I played a wicked game of tennis, my feet were flying. I ran to the net and pounded the ball onto Jameses side of the court. I let out a roar and in went the bug up my nasal passages.

I dropped my racket and then danced around the green court like an idjut. My hands were waving and I kept flicking my nose.

I am sure the bug had quite a surprise up there because my nose is all jacked up from getting punched in the nose a handful of times and snorting (ahem, we won't go there.)

Sometimes when chasing a dream lil' annoyance will creep into your life. They will try to take you down or distract you. Don't let them. You are more powerful than you realize. This dream is yours-don't let anything stop you, my friend.

PS- If a bug does happen to fly up your nose, learn from my mistake. #1) Be very gentle when removing the bug because they do bite or your fingernail can scrape the the thin skin in your nostril. #2) Don't panic, the follicles in your nostril are there to protect your body. #3) Apply an ice pack to your nose, it helps with swelling and numbs the pain.

#4) Most importantly, when in doubt always go to the doctors office.

Andre Agassi

This week I was watching a special on Andre Agassi, the tennis great. A few quotes made me think of our own journey to greatness.

"Andre was driven to find his way out of a labyrinth that he was born into. "

I dunno about you but this one plagues me. I'll get a lil personal here with you, growing up, I was a divorced kid living with a single mom, 2 brothers and an absentee father. Needless to say, it was a struggle. But after driving home with a friend a month ago, I realized these life situations make you hungry to succeed. You have nothing, so you have to fight and claw your way to the top.


"I'm not sure Andre would have reached the points and heights that he did without the disappointment and the pitfalls. Andre got every ounce of talent out of his body and brought all of it along for the ride."

I adore this quote for us- you have to have the lows and failures to reach the top.

Let's get every ounce of talent out of us, my friends.

Work hard, or as Andre puts it himself, "My sport was a vehicle for me to discover myself and to push myself."

Rules that Royalty must follow

I dunno about you but it has come to my attention that I am obsessed with fairy tales lately. It all started with that blasted royal wedding.

The other day Jameses was helping sort out my closet (we were in search of my thigh high leather boots) and came across a stack of Prince William and Kate magazines hidden in hat box. I don't know whats freakier, the fact that I'm into fairy tales or the fact that I have them hidden away like dirty magazines.

Maybe its not about the fairy tales at all-maybe we're all wanting a little bit of magic in our lives. The need to go back to our childhood belief that anything is possible.

I babysat my niece this week and we watched Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. She flitted and floated around the room singing, "Impossible things are happening everyday."

Which made me really think about our dreams and the sacrifices we are making to get there. Never forget my friends that a beautiful future is on the horizon. Can you see it?

*On a side note, did you know that the Royal's have rules? Here are a few things the Queen must live by:

1-Wear hats in public

2-wave at the elbow, not the palm

3-smile gently and walk cautiously

4-and more importantly never pee in a public toilet

Yeah, I'd never make it as royalty.