BlokThoughts

Serious Wednesday: Laughter and Cherished time

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:10:00 +0000

Since I first became pregnant with DCar I have had one person after another telling me, "cherish them now, they grow up faster than you think".

Life has tossed us some crazy things. We decided to better our lot in life by going back to school which brought me to working full time for benefits and other things while MSM went to school. For us, it was the best decision.

I went back to work when my little girl Peeps was just 12 months. I've been lucky that I have had my parents and other family there to help watch her for me while I have been working. I try to work REALLY early in the mornings or REALLY late at night so that I don't miss out on too much with her or my son, but I come home tired, burning the candle at both ends.

I'm exhausted. Even though I have everyday with them, I miss them. Weekends zoom by, our time as a family is short, especialy with my best friend off at work or at school or studying for school.

The other day I took stock of my two kids wrestling and playing around with each other, realizing that just an hour before my little four year old had made her self a PB&J sandwich. A SANDWICH while I was editing in my "dungeon".

When my little girl got tired of being tossed around by her older brother she came over to me and wiggled herself into my lap, like she knew I was feeling melancholy and needed her attention. I curled my arms and body around her and we just lay there cuddling. Did you know that there was a smell to innocence? Well there is, take my word for it, because my daughter was wrapped up in it and I just soaked it in and smiled. Even though I cherish every moment I have with my children, they still grow up to fast… they deserve to, they need to… it's not easy for me, but I wouldn't have it any other way it's kinda what we sign up for as parents.

They are happy, they are living life, they are good kids. I'm lucky and blessed that they are the ones that came to me… their souls are sweet and genuine and I don't deserve to be given so much but I'm not going to argue either.

This is my life, this is there life, they are just on loan to me for a while and so we deal with life the best way we can … through laughter and cherished time.

Sorry, was just remembering that I was a mom... :)

Have a good day guys…

Love,

THoughts Friday Random-Giveaway edition!

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:19:00 +0000

I know I know I keep mentioning Twitter. But for someone like me who loves to laugh, if you follow the right people, you can be laughing all day long! No joke!

Someone told me the other day after one of my tweets that I should be a motivational speaker!

OMGosh how did they KNOW that that was my life dream??? CRAZY!!!

So I was all sorts of flattered and thought I would share some of my twitter knowledge with you and then share some of the twitter names of those people that pretty much make me laugh on a daily basis with their tweets!

So what I'm saying is... don't twitter, it's of the devil, you'll HATE it.

What? ME use reverse psychology? You're trippin right now... I'd NEVER stoop so low! :)

My TWITTER BITS of KNOWLEDGE in which NONE of them are motivational or knowledgeable:

"A girl walked into the bathroom humming, should I say, nicely "excuse me, could u keep it down? I'm on the phone?" and see what she does :)

Sometimes I like to drive right on the side of another car and make my own roadblock just to prove a point that I am all powerful!

Have u ever been @ a stoplight and had the urge to slightly bumped the car in front of u and yell,"Bumper Car Tag! UR it!"...me neither

I'm listening to that song, "Indian Outlaw" by Tim McGraw makes me want to spit! Gasp! I know I'm such a rebel...

I ponder sometimes about the fact that if the world really DID revolve around me that everyone would be a lot happier! True story! :)

I like to run around and splash water all over my face so that when my hubs gets home he won't suspect I've been on the computer too long!

Why start ur day by saying"todays going 2 b a good day"? Sets urself up 4 failure! Start by saying"todays going 2 suck!" only up from there!

Isn't it my duty to call a guy a sissy if he sneezes like a girl? Or better yet that he sneezes cuter than me?

I have to hurry but they r making me get naked from the waste up for my facial!!! Is this normal? Gotta go they're coming!

After facial:

All of that and all they did was massage my face... I'm kind of disappointed!"

***I wonder about that person that feels I should be a motivational speaker... but everyone their own, right? lol!

Okay here are some of my favorite tweeters!

@sween example of a series of his tweets: "I like to make fun of orphans because their threats to tell on me are so adorably empty.

I'm kidding! I don't tease orphans. They're beneath me. Literally. They're really short. From malnutrition. ADORABLE malnutrition.

Seriously though ― orphans are sad. Tee-hee.

Come on, orphans! I'm just fooling with ya! Ya know I love ya! Who wants to get deloused? Yeah, I thought so. *Everyone* love delousing!

Thank goodness orphans have those cute little consumptive coughs so they can't sneak up on you. Orphans make horrible ninjas.

No orphans were harmed in the making of these tweets. Except wee Bartleby. Donations in lieu of flowers."

@DrZibbs some tweets of his:
"Whenever I see someone with like 30 followers I'm like, "What a nobody"...unless it's YOU of course.

if i had a legit massage parlor the tagline would be ... sad endings only.

I might have some of my best tweets embroidered onto pillows. Just so it's not too gay I'll man things up by filling the pillows with rocks"

One more @FatherKelly some of his tweets:
"Just got a call requesting that I bless a parakeet. I'm not making this up. I told them a 5th of scotch was usual payment. They bought it.

Sometimes in the confessional box I'll say, "You did what?! I don't believe you. Bring pictures to prove it". Some of them actually do.

My vampire fighting class starts in 15 minutes. Love the class but the instructor is a SUCH a know-it-all dick!

They say you can't throw a stick around priests w/out hitting a gay. So I throw a stick and I hit Father Brennan right in the nuts. Irony."

Okay last thing... the best thing about going to New York is they allow their Mentally Ill to go out and perform on time square! They say they are "magicians" and the thing is people WATCH and THROW MONEY at them they actually BUY it! But I know different so I just take a picture! :)

I mean what magician uses a old Halloween candy pumpkin bucket??? A real magician would have use a black floating TOP HAT... DUH!

So YOUR turn... put your Random Thought in the comment box!!! The person with the BEST Random Thought today gets a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card! If you are a tweeter... TWEET this AWESOME giveaway! lol!

I'm serious though, the person that makes ME LOL the most... wins!

Love,

P.S. Sage is talking flirting over at Real World Venus vs. Mars today... he has a thwarted sense of it all but go check it out anyway! :)

To the Middle Aged Couple in the parking lot...

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:20:00 +0000

To the Middle Aged Couple strolling down the middle of the parking lot:

GGGGAAAAHHHH!!! WHY must you walk down the middle of the row of cars??!!??!! Walk on one side or the other so that those of us who are driving vehicles don't have the urge to teach you a lesson and bump your butt because you feel like you can take all the time in the world to walk to your car down the MIDDLE OF THE ROW OF CARS in the parking lot!!!

Do you not HEAR me behind you or at least my car?

Can you not FEEL the animosity shooting from every pore of my body???

I flipped you off in four different languages (in my mind because I do TRY to be a lady).

I know I pretend to KNOW about etiquette, but really I slink my way through it most of the time... I KNOW! GASP! You are shocked right??!!??

But it's true... I'm ashamed to say, I never attended an etiquette school, the closest thing I got to learning how to be a lady was when I tried out for our city pageant, and I spaced out on most of the lesson until we came to plucking our eyebrows, believe me when I tell you... it's DIFFICULT To space out when someone is picking at your UNIBROW!!! And A LOT embarrassing.

Wait... where was I? Oh yes, jerky jerks in the parking lot...

But HONESTLY... SERIOUSLY... it's not Rocket Science here people.

There is a row of cars.

When walking your cart down to your car, or walking yourself into the store... PLEASE please please walk on either said of the row of cars... no need to be a prick and walk right in the middle of the lane.

Just saying...

Brought to you by Shelle's standard of etiquette.

Have a good Monday!

The winner for the Random Thought Amazon Gift card will be announced tomorrow... I need help deciding which one I liked best! So I'm ~~forcing~~ asking MSM to read them with me and help decide for FAMILY NIGHT! :)

Love,

P.S. SciFi Dad is Guest contributing and wrote about the first time he met his IN-LAWS over at Real World Venus vs. Mars today! You GUYS... it's SO funny! Go tell him what you think...

Your laughter for the day... VIDEO

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:33:00 +0000

Today I have a feeling you are in need of a funny video... I have a sixth sense about these things! :)

So here you go, you can thank me later!

The end is the best part! I was crying laughing, crying! :)

HAHAHAHA! My favorite part... "I might do a duck!" lol!

Love,

Who I was in high school...

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Who I was in High School. Inspired by THIS post and THIS post.

You know guys... I KNOW I'm different because I'm older and have matured and been through stuff that just makes you change and grow up but high school for me was three things: dance, SCHOOL (like actually study), and social.

*Hello Glamour shot! hahahahaha! OMGOSH gotta love High School*

That's it.

I KNEW a lot of people, was invited to a lot of parties, could kind of adapt to whatever group I felt like hanging out with... but like I commented on the other two blogs that inspired me, I was more two dimensional, black and white, good and bad.

I loved me in high school. I was a nice person. I just didn't KNOW a lot hadn't experienced enough. I knew a lot about dance, I was pretty BOOK smart, but as far as the WORLD goes... I didn't really know a whole bunch. And I'm glad.

My voice was those who influenced me the most. My parents. I believed what they believed, that includes religion. I repeated what I had been taught to know and repeat... that is just how it went.

After a few times of getting caught doing the wrong thing in middle school I learned that getting into "trouble" took to much time and effort. So I did what my parents said, thought what they told me to think, and lived my life the best way I could with my boundaries.

I loved almost every minute of it, high school was good to me.

I crushed on boys... a lot. I had 3 REALLY close friends in High School and we would jump from one group to another never really staying or hanging with the same group of people. I learned to love my Father in Heaven. I trusted WAY to easily and was burned a lot because of it. I made Dance my life.

I still get this when I see people from high school, "Oh Shelle right? You were in (Drill Team Name) right?" It defined me... and I loved it.

That was me.

That was who I was.

The thing that I wished was different was I wished I let people in more. Sure I made people feel that way, but I put on a front. I appeared ALWAYS happy, when in reality it was all a facade. I had normal emotions like everyone else, but I only allowed myself to show one emotion. My closest friends were the only ones that really KNEW me and I was okay with that.

I was happy to say that almost everyone I graduated with I hung out with at one time or another... I just LOVE people. And I'm still that way.

So although I liked who I was in high school, I would NEVER want to be her again though.

I think that changing and becoming a better person than who you were is a must. The worst kind of person is the one who is stuck back in high school and the "what could have been" mind frame.

I love who I am becoming. I love that there are more dimensions to me... some shallow and some deep... but there nonetheless. I think more now when I speak to people (still working on that though); I smile more, I laugh harder, but I also get mad, sad, and I cry; I am a mom and LOVE being a mom (one a completely natural birth. Labor use to be one of my greatest fears) even when I get frustrated with it; I take pictures and continue to work at being and one day becoming a Professional Photographer; I work at a job that I have to listen to a co-worker tell me about her life and WO-BE-HER everyday because she needs me to; I married my best friend and continue to get to know him and who he is changing into; I blog and meet interesting people everyday who let me share a part of my life with them-because I NEED it, I have traveled and learned about other cultures and walked through dirty cities and small towns; I've fought when I felt like I needed to, I've bitten my tongue when I would have rather not, I've been passionate about certain issues and made my voice heard or debated; I've experienced death of a close one and birth with the ones I loved; I've compromised; I have a deeper understanding of my religion and am thankful that I was blessed to have it in my life and the peace and perspective it gives me; I'm definitely more curvy (my kids fault); I exercise and watch what I eat, most of the time, but still splurge when I'm really happy or really sad; I like to scrapbook but don't have time; I like to write and would one day like to write a Romantic Comedy novel :); and I adapt better to change.

There is just A LOT more to me now (that wasn't MEANT to be a fat joke)... and I hope in 10 years when I'm blogging through my brain into a blue tooth that then types it onto my blog... I hope my list is longer and I hope that I am better because I've grown and changed and learned.

What about you guys? Who were YOU in high school?

P.S. Chief is the winner of the $10 Amazon Card, her comment is in the comment of the day if you want to link to her.

I'm talking over HERE today...

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:15:00 +0000

I'm over at Real World Venus vs. Mars today! Come over and harrass me there!

BBBBBEEEEEPPPPPP!!!!

Love,

10 RANDOM things about me... what about you?

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:14:00 +0000

Just Jules tagged me for a meme today. I HATE tags. But I LOVE Jules. SO I'll do it. But I'm putting my own RANDOM twist to it!

I guess I'm suppose to tell you 10 things about me that you don't already KNOW! HELLO?!?!?! I don't have any secrets. I wish I could keep a secret about myself to save my life... but sigh... I don't have a chance.

So 10 things about me Random Style aka stuff that's just stupid and weird:

1: When I'm on something really tall or high and look down, for example the roof of my house or on top of a mountain, I have the biggest urge to just FLING myself off to fall to my death, I literally think, "What if I just jumped off right now!"

I am in no way suicidal... yet...

2. When I go work out and I don't have my wedding ring on, I feel like a piece of meat... and secretly I like it.

3. When I eat pancakes I have to do the following: spread peanut butter all over it, add jam, and douse with Sugar Free pancake syrup. Don't ask me why. I try and stay away from pancakes.

4. At McDonald's on the rare occasion I have french fries I HAVE to dip them in their HOT MUSTARD... that stuff is the manna of McDonald's and a lot of people don't understand what they are missing. I try and stay away from McDonald's and french fries.

5. In high school I got my first role. I was so excited and practiced and practiced my part so I got the timing JUST right. The play was, "Into the Woods" and I stood behind a tree back drop and stuck my hand out from behind it... on my hand was a wolf paw and I had to slyly move my fingers. People stood in line for HOURS to get their picture taken with my wolf hand. It was a great moment for me :)

6. For one week out of my WHOLE life I had a date EVERY NIGHT with a different guy. I married MR. Tuesday! :)

7. I have to give people 1 syllable nick names if they have more than 1 syllable in their name. For example, McKenzie after our first meeting I would proceed to call "Kenz".

8. I HATE talking on the phone. I LOVE to talk, but I HATE talking on the phone. Unless, it's the first time we have talked and/or it's the only way we can communicate. Then I'm okay to grin and bear it.

9. On that same note. I screen my calls. If I don't answer your first call right away then don't try and call again. Take the hint. It's usually when I'm taking a nap or I'm working on photos... but really, I don't need an excuse.

10. I get nervous to meet people that know me solely from this blog. I don't want to disappoint their expectations of me and even though I I'm not really a touchy feely person... First thing I want to do when I meet fellow bloggers is HUG them?! Track record proves it. Ask anyone that's met me.

11. BONUS: I can make my chin quiver, usually on cue, it's helpful in many situations... I can also make my ears and nostrils move separately. Stupid human tricks will be worth something to me someday... like if I do late night talk shows when I'm blog famous.

Okay...

Random things about me.

So what I'd like from you is first of all... steal the tag if you are into those things and/or you don't want to think of a post.

Secondly, what's something random about you? Tell me... and just so you know I might tweet it! hehehehe

Love,

Mind is Temporarily Under Construction...

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:15:00 +0000

Mind is Temporarily Under Construction.

If there is anything you need to know about me that I haven't already divulged please don't hesitate to comment about it.

Other than that. My mind seems to be off on vacation. I'm not sure when it will be back up and running.

I kind of feel like this David after the Dentist:

I love you guys... no really, I LOVE you guys! :)

I am, however, reading, responding, and writing posts on Real World Venus vs. Mars because it completes me and it's my baby... check it out if you have another .2 seconds to spare :) If you would like to contribute to the blog or Guest post there please PLEASE email me and let me know... I'd LOVE to have you! :)

LOVE,

See PeePs... the wannabe picture book!

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0000

You know when you had to read in school but you brain was just TOO tired to read???

I remember that.

I loved reading... but sometimes my brain just couldn't take one more plot!

So I would look at pictures books and make up my own stories in my mind. I kid you not!

Since my mind is still temporarily out of service.

Here is a picture post about PeeP's last day of summer and first day of school... and then, and THEN, she...sniff...well, you'll see...

See PeePs wear her swimming suit and rain boots for the last day of summer, may they R.I.P.

PeePs loved her rain boots. She wore them almost everyday like her swimming suits.

See PeePs sick of Mom taking her picture of her last day of freedom! (Mom's first day of freedom, at least for 2 1/2 hours! Can I get an A.Men.)

See PeePs' first day of school outfit. See PeePs giddy and excited.

See PeePs humor Mom and take a picture in front of her pre-school play ground! :) Take a look for the last time of PeePs' long, long, hair that she hated to get combed because "Cinderella's rats slept with her at night".

See PeeP's long hair intact for the last seconds of it's life. (can you tell this was a bit unnerving for me?)

See PeePs' excitement that her hair was cut/hacked off! PeePs loves loves loves her "bouncy" hair!

See PeePs happy and content that Mom finally allowed her to cut off her hair.

Hope you enjoyed your picture book, reading level 1. Now you can sign off your fifteen minutes and turn in your homework!!!

Love,

i can't give a 100% to everything.

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:13:00 +0000

So my mind has been everywhere! It doesn't seem to want to focus and I think it is because I'm stretching myself to thin...so to speak...

I'm still laughing everyday, my life is good and I'm happy, but I'm also tired, and maybe a little OVER giddy because I'm putting myself through some kind of psychotic training on how one can survive and be normal on little amounts of sleep.

I'm happy, but if I step back, I think those that I love most are suffering because I'm not 100% there. I'm maybe 50% there for them, on a bad day lower, on a good day higher...but it's not fair to them and its not good for me...at least I don't think so.

Its a balancing act that at one time I thought I was good at. Time for my real life, and real life responsibilities... and then time for my online life and making sure that I get around to see everyone and let them know that I do read them by commenting, because how else are you suppose to know?

I began blogging to make a life journal for friends and family of what was going on with us and our life, to stay connected.

Then I realized I could use it for an avenue of all the crazy things that I think about, laugh about, and want to spew about. It was great! I couldn't get enough... one post after another left my mind, through my fingertips, and out into the internet world.

Then I began to get my first comments from people I didn't know, validating how I felt, laughed at my stupid humor, and became, to me, close friends. I would email them, chat sometimes, and we would plan to meet each other because as they blogged about their lives I began to get to know them and love them. Meeting them has been such a special treat for me. You honestly feel like you are just getting back together with old friends, you have a bond, it's really indescribable unless you blog... it sounds funny when you try to explain it to people that don't blog, or hardly get on the internet for that matter, it sounds a little psycho to be honest... but it's real, it's people's inner thoughts connecting, connecting through personalities instead of body language and touch...there just isn't a word to call it or someone hasn't written a book to explain it or study it. There are relationships built... frienships, but through the internet, to someone who doesn't understand it, it doesn't seem real it seems fake.

And like real life there are those you connect more with then others for whatever reason.

I'm thinking about this out loud... because it is those people that I don't want to let down, because I am thinking about NOT doing my personal blog any longer.

It's just one to many things to handle on my plate at this time, for me, it is the last straw placed on the camels back before it breaks.

My family needs me to be there for them 100%, I can't seem to do it as well as the rest of you in balancing it. People have asked me how I do it all... quite frankly I DON'T. Something SOMEWHERE is lacking if I'm honest with myself...and like those Mom's that work out of the home like myself, we try to deny it, but it's true, you have to let something slide somewhere, sometime... because it's really impossible to give a 100% to it all, all the time. Sometimes it's my blogs, sometimes it's my work, and sometimes, I'm ashamed to say that it has been my family, and most importantly my husband.

So for now...it's this blog that I choose to let lay by the wayside. My love and interest of the human bond will keep me at Real World, I honestly love learning from everyone over there and am not quite ready to let that go and I don't have to write EVERYDAY, I get to read and listen as well. My random thoughts will be on Twitter or Facebook because it's the easiest and fastest way to get them out there and yet you still have the fun of people commenting back at you... And of course my photography blog... because it's my creative outlet.

I will still come around to visit you, but now there isn't the pressure of you feeling like you need to visit me, unless you want to... come over and join Real World Venus vs. Mars or my PlushMoments... because for a blog that is where I will be...other than that... laugh with me and make fun of me on the other two things... Twitter or Facebook :)

BTW--if you have followed me on twitter and I didn't follow you back, it's probably because I didn't recognize your Screen Name!!! So just email me and say, "HEY dork head! I followed you on twitter, this is my screen name @ipickmynose... so follow me back or ELSE!" I promise I will follow you! :)

And when it comes to FaceBook--if you don't want me to know your REAL name, then I can't let you know mine. Sorry, I don't have a BLOKTHOUGHTS facebook... it's my real name. So... sorry, but do you blame me?

I'm sorry... I'm not sure for what, but I am. I just can't do EVERYTHING even if I LOVE it and it makes me completely happy...

Love you all, email me at blokthoughts@gmail.com, chat with me when I'm on... I would love that... follow me somewhere else...my Yahoo Id (same thing applies to screen names on this one) is shelleblok add me if you'd like!

Love,

Nobody told me that!!!

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:04:00 +0000

Check out Real World Venus vs. Mars we are doing things a tad bit differently!!!

Or you can laugh at me while I talk on the video, because I make funny faces when I talk!

How come nobody ever TOLD me how funny my faces were when I talked!!!

Love,

P.S. BTW--I'm not DELETING this blog... I'll just be blogging only sporadically!!! I'm to much of a wuss to really delete the blog it makes me to happy!!! Now go laugh at my video!

St. Jude's and Chili's, AND, I was hit by the subway teaser...

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:50:00 +0000

HELLO EVERYONE out there still!!! I miss you guys!

I wanted to pop in and say to go Eat at Chili's Bar and Grill today. 100% of profits NATIONWIDE go to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital!!! So go eat for LUNCH and DINNER! You get some good food AND you help to further the research for children's cancer!

Click HERE for more info!

Just wait for tomorrow guys... I have a post going up!!!

***A teaser for tomorrow... I hiked this (those of you that know me can pick your chins off the ground now, I'm NOT lying):

Click the picture to see other beautiful images from this photographer and the hike I went on!

And was hit by a subway!!! My fingers hurt with every PUSH of the key's!!!

It's funny the way I'm walking, but so worth the challenge!

Love,

P.S. We are having a "Group Therapy" session over at Real World Venus vs. Mars. Come give your advice it's much needed!

Ha! Gotcha! :)

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Okay I KNOW I said I would let you how I have been hit by the "subway"... and it's ready to go, but I am also posting about my blogging obsession/addiction on Real World Venus vs. Mars today and I really want to hear what you guys have to say about it.

Plus it has a really hot pic of my guy on it!

And REALLY... who has the time OR patience to read me twice???

So tomorrow... tomorrow we talk about me and the "subway".

Love,

Hit by the "Subway"

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Okay the I've been hit by the Subway post!

Let me just state. I am not a hiker. I don't train for hiking I don't usually hike, I am NOT a hiker. Give me an easy, follow this trail, a few short hills to get over and I'm good.

My lil' Sis, her husband, her SIL and BIL, her MIL and a close friend convinced me and my husband that we needed to go on this hike with them called the, "SUBWAY". My husband was STOKED... he was all for it! Over excited if one asks me, but they don't.

Let me tell you, I found every excuse NOT to go, but in the end the peer pressure got to me and I decided to go. Here is how THIS website explained it, and their pictures are MUCH better than mine. Just remember, everything pictured there I SAW in real life! You can be jealous now... well to a point.

Harder Optional Route:
For the hardcore the "Subway" can be completed in the reverse direction of what is described here. This will require 6 to 8 hours and a vehicle shuttle. If you do the route in the reverse direction I suggest you have a climber along who can lead traditional 5.8 rated routes.

Willing participants will battle climbing down boulders, ledges and waterfalls that bar the way. The route contains several short swims through chilly pools and miles of wading in ankle deep water. The route passes through several narrow slots and near a collection of dinosaur tracks from the Jurassic Period.

Ummm the "climbing down boulders" = aka repelling. I've never repelled before.

This hike is 9 1/2 miles, it took us 8 hours from start to finish. We repelled 3 times, and swam through ICE COLD freezing water, like can't stop your stupid looking face this-is-so-cold-my-heart-has-just-stopped water.

At the beginning of the hike I was good. I enjoyed the scenery and talked everybody's ear off. (partly because I was scared out of my mind...because on the way to the hike they filled me in with the repelling and 8 HOURS worth of hiking and 9 1/2 miles!!!) They nicknamed me SID the SLOTH! (okay, it was funny, I grant you that)

We took a lunch break about half way through the hike, we had already walked straight down "boulders" so my calves were burning, repelled, and swam so I had permanent "RT", and I had probably peed in nature already about 10 times, I guess I felt the need to mark my territory??? Which resulted in my thighs burning...if you don't get why you don't need to know. When I saw that sun after the freezing cold narrow canyon water... I felt like a kid at Christmas!!! I lazed on the rock like a lizard basking in the sun.

At that point, 4 hours into the hike, I was done. I was exhausted. Here are those pictures... these were all taken within that first 4 hours... like when I had energy to hold a camera to take pictures. I don't own really OLD clothes that I don't care about... so my husband provided my wardrobe... you know you love it!

As you can see I'm smiling... so this was early on.

When we continued on after lunch it was just walking down this semi dried up river bed full of rocks and boulders to jump over, climb down, and slip on. My ankles were feeling it! Plus no more shade... we were out in the desert sun, and my body had warmed up and THEN some! I was sweating to the point that I took of my T-shirt and soaked it in water and carried it around my neck to wipe down my face, arms, and neck every 5 minutes because it was so hot!

When we finally got to the end I was seeing things, I'm not going to lie. I was past the point of exhaustion and I had been completely silent for the last two hours of it! If you know me, that TELLS you how tired I was. Hallucinations had become my friend and pain had passed to the point that "feeling numb" was an understatement. When we finally reached the path that was the last mile of our hike, our leader smiled ever so slightly and said, "This is the last part, it's grueling but you can do it" then she pointed up--as I cranked my neck back to look at the tallest mountain ridge, which to my mind could battle the tallest skyscraper or Mount Everest, I looked at her and laughed, "no really" she said, "I'm not joking this time". That hike was STRAIGHT up people. Straight UP!!! 400 ft. up and was the only way out.

I begged to have someone call in an emergency helicopter but conveniently nobody had brought their cell phones, something about the water ruining them or something!!!

I did it... I lived, and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. It it right up there with having my first child natural!

But, like having a child, it was rewarding! And I look back on it and I think 'I could do that again' (I think, not do) and 'that wasn't so bad'. The beauty that lies in those canyons is incredible! The feeling of accomplishing that up hill 400 ft. hike at the end was euphoric!

No there were no pictures to journal it, because like I said, I could barely think straight.

For those of you who think you know where I live now... don't get your hopes up, I had to drive to Zions National Park... well I didn't, MountainSport Man did, but still.

As for that night of the hike and the following day... my eyelids hurt, I had to kick my legs out in front of me just to walk, and it even hurt to cry. I was SOOOOOOO sore! So SORE! Every time I sat down for even a minute, to get back up was like a 10 minute preparation! My brother thought it was fun to poke me where I was sore and MSM was to sore himself to massage anything to get comfortable. IB Profin was my best friend, and I'm not ashamed to say that!

So if you are ever over my way and you spend a couple of days here. Or you make your way to Zions National Park... hike the SUBWAY. It's not so bad ;)

Love,

P.S. no my kids did not go with us!

P.S.S. TysDaddy is writing the male perspective on Real World today about social networking... it's a good read!

The Cure for JM-A Husbands/Father's Quest-Birthday Gift!

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:48:00 +0000

Kevin of Always Home and Uncool has asked me to post this as part of his effort to raise awareness in the blogosphere of juvenile myositis, a rare autoimmune disease his daughter was diagnosed with on this day seven years ago. The day also happens to be his wife's birthday.

*
Our pediatrician admitted it early on.

The rash on our 2-year-old daughter's cheeks, joints and legs was something he'd never seen before.

The next doctor wouldn't admit to not knowing.

He rattled off the names of several skins conditions -- none of them seemingly worth his time or bedside manner -- then quickly prescribed antibiotics and showed us the door.

The third doctor admitted she didn't know much.

The biopsy of the chunk of skin she had removed from our daughter's knee showed signs of an "allergic reaction" even though we had ruled out every allergy source -- obvious and otherwise -- that we could.

The fourth doctor had barely closed the door behind her when, looking at the limp blonde cherub in my lap, she admitted she had seen this before. At least one too many times before.

She brought in a gaggle of med students. She pointed out each of the physical symptoms in our daughter:

The rash across her face and temples resembling the silhouette of a butterfly.

The purple-brown spots and smears, called heliotrope, on her eyelids.

The reddish alligator-like skin, known as Gottron papules, covering the knuckles of her hands.

The onset of crippling muscle weakness in her legs and upper body.

She then had an assistant bring in a handful of pages photocopied from an old medical textbook. She handed them to my wife, whose birthday it happened to be that day.

This was her gift -- a diagnosis for her little girl.

That was seven years ago -- Oct. 2, 2002 -- the day our daughter was found to have juvenile dermatomyositis, one of a family of rare autoimmune diseases that can have debilitating and even fatal consequences when not treated quickly and effectively.

Our daughter's first year with the disease consisted of surgical procedures, intravenous infusions, staph infections, pulmonary treatments and worry. Her muscles were too weak for her to walk or swallow solid food for several months. When not in the hospital, she sat on our living room couch, propped up by pillows so she wouldn't tip over, as medicine or nourishment dripped from a bag into her body.

Our daughter, Thing 1, Megan, now age 9, remembers little of that today when she dances or sings or plays soccer. All that remain with her are scars, six to be exact, and the array of pills she takes twice a day to help keep the disease at bay.

What would have happened if it took us more than two months and four doctors before we lucked into someone who could piece all the symptoms together? I don't know.

I do know that the fourth doctor, the one who brought in others to see our daughter's condition so they could easily recognize it if they ever had the misfortune to be presented with it again, was a step toward making sure other parents also never have to find out.

That, too, is my purpose today.

It is also my birthday gift to my wife, My Love, Rhonda, for all you have done these past seven years to make others aware of juvenile myositis diseases and help find a cure for them once and for all.

To read more about children and families affected by juvenile myositis diseases, visit Cure JM Foundation at www.curejm.org.

To make a tax-deductible donation toward JM research, go to www.firstgiving.com/rhondaandkevinmckeever or www.curejm.com/team/donations.htm.

***********************************************************

Hey guys,

I was so excited to be asked to be a part of this for Kevin. I happen to know, through experience, that you my friends are some of the most generous and kind people out there! Thanks for taking the time to read this!

I hope this will help!

Love,

Need a Pick me UP???

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:11:00 +0000

Oh MY GOSH you guys! I've watched this like 6 times. I laughed so hard! It's such a great pick me up!

And if you have seen, LORD OF THE DANCE with Michael Flatley... you will love this!

The boy sliding in is CLASSIC!!!

Oh and a fun male perspective on intimacy is up at Real World Venus vs. Mars today!

Love,

The Fall

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:24:00 +0000

Can I just tell you how IN LOVE with the Fall I am?

I use to be a Spring/Summer person. I couldn't wait for those seasons to come. I would hum with excitement as soon as I felt that first ray of sun's real warmth and smell the blossoms beginning to bud. I would whip out my shorts and t-shirts and day dream out the window of whatever shelter was confining me, usually school, sometimes work. I would spend hours out in that sun. We were best friends really. I would lay and bask in the Vitamin D and E rays, soak them up, start the beginnings of my soon to be lifeguard summer tan.

SCRREEECCHH!

Not so much anymore.

I am now a Fall/Winter person. As soon as I began to see the effects of those bask giving rays of sunlight, like when I turned 30 *shudder* and realized that the sun was NOT my friend, but a bitter jealous enemy of my skin, I began to change my mind.

My pasty white skin is not flattering in shorts, I will admit that. I am one of THOSE women. Ya know the ones, the ones that you look at and say to yourself, "Aaahhh she's a mom" or "Poor thing must be allergic to the sun" or "I'm sure glad I don't have that Irish skin tone". I still wear shorts, capri's and short sleeves, and when I really want to throw caution to the wind I will actually slip on a swimming suit… but I douse myself in sunscreen so the sun doesn't have a chance to play "war" with my skin and plus I just don't love to see myself in those types of clothes any longer post child bearing! My fault completely, but now I pay the price :)

And the sun thinks it's funny to dot my skin with brown little spots all over my skin.

Yea, so I spit in the sun's general direction.

I bask in the brisk cool air now. I wrap my body up in great fitting, comfortable jeans, and a long sleeve shirt, it hides all those places on your body you can't hide in the summer, well you can, but it's uncomfortable. I get giddy to go out and shop for my new jacket(s) for the season and boots/shoes to match! Beanies and scarves Oh MY! I'm starting to get enchanted with it all now. The smell of apple cinnamon spice and the mixture of my favorite colors.

Now let's all have a moment of silence because I was able to pull out my favorite pair of jeans and I have worn them like 3 days in a row! If you know where I live you will be happy for me, since it takes longer to cool down around here!

My goal this weekend is to make it to all of your sites!

Love

I'm the best actress EVER!

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:32:00 +0000

I should have taken up acting.

No really.

Lately I have noticed that I must be an extremely good actress.

This is why.

I'm kinda everywhere lately because I always am doing way to much. But only because the stuff I LOVE to do and makes me happy, keeps me busy. So I'm okay with being busy, the only problem is, my brain seems to attach itself to Shelle-is-to-busy-little-sleep-attention-deficit-disorder or SITBLSADD.

My mind tends to easily wander off. Unless I'm focusing on a project or my hands are doing something, I tend to lose focus. And what I mean is, if I'm just conversing with someone I'm either going to A) cut you off and start a random thought, or B) say "uh huh" in the right place, but really I'm not listening to you.

So how does this correlate with me being a great actress you ask?

Because the last few times I have had a moment to sit and talk with an adult, I haven't paid attention to the conversation for longer than 8.2 seconds, YET it's like the other person has NO clue. They just keep talking away.

It's a beautiful thing really.

In fact, I thought about this while in the midst of my last adult conversation.

I sat there, put my replies to "uh huh" on auto robot, and thought while they were talking about who KNOWS what, "I'm the best actress ever! They have no idea that I'm not paying attention to them. In fact, I'm surprised they can't tell? Usually my face is like a book... I should look like a blank wall right now? Interesting... oh she smiled, I should smile back" so I smile, then I continue, "I should blog about this and tell everyone how cool I am? Maybe it will come off the wrong way, like I'm being mean... but I'm NOT being mean, I can't really help it right now. Maybe it's the cold medicine... yea that's it, that's what I will blame it on... oh she laughed, I should laugh also" so I laugh.

And on and on it went for about 45 minutes!

I should be appalled at myself. And you guys will probably thing I'm a prick just writing this post. Normally I would agree that this is horrible and normally I'm actually a great listener.

But I'm actually quite impressed.

I'm blaming it on the cold medicine though ;)

If you have a funny Halloween date story or couple story that you would like to share with the blog world email me at blokthoughts @ gmail dot com and let me know. Over at Real World Venus vs. Mars the week of Halloween is all about the stories! :)

Love,

Where media teaches my kids a lesson...

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:46:00 +0000

Okay so after the whole Balloon boy incident I thought I would sit my kids down and let them know... "Hey, if I'm calling your name and you are hiding from me and I say the code word, 'BALLOON BOY' that means if you don't get your butt out in the next couple of seconds I'l beat your BUTT as soon as I DO see you. But if you come out when I say the code word then we will go out for ice cream.

It's the perfect deal and the perfect solution.

Now, on FaceBook I see THIS report and I'm still sick about it. So I shoved my kids in the car and bought them ice cream because it made me feel better. Luckily the kid was okay.

You guys rock my socks. You should check out the apology perspectives over at Real World ... some great reads and comments!

The PHOTOGRAPHY TRAIN-HEADSHOTS!

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:59:00 +0000

Okay so somehow I was able to be a part of this fantastic thing called THE PHOTOGRAPHY TRAIN.

What I do is travel around the United States and do Head Shots.

I base out of New York City for head shots... but this a traveling company and it's all sorts of awesome!

So... i just wanted to let my East Coast friends know that I'm most likely going to be in Boston, MA November 5-7, depending on who books, and I want to MEET YOU!!!

Don't be scared...I'll control myself I promise!

And if you know anyone that needs head shots send them my way!

Here's some stuff that I have done:

OH and you should go give your opinion in Group Therapy over at Real World. A boyfriends best friend, but not his girlfriend?

Love ya,

My body image...

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:20:00 +0000

Posted over at Real World today. Its about how my body image effects my relationship. Not funny at all, but I'm over there, so come over and say HI :)

Love,

I hate PUBLIC RESTROOMS!!!

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:53:00 +0000

I got this in an email... it fits PERFECTLY with my other bathroom stories on this blog, and it has been awhile since I have shared one of my own... believe me, this has SOOOOOO been me!

When you have to visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place.

Once it's your turn, you check for feet under the stall doors. Every stall is occupied.

Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall.

You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants!

The dispenser for the modern "seat covers" (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty .

You would hang your purse on the door hook, if there was one , but there isn't - so you carefully, but quickly drape it around your neck, ( Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR! ), yank down your pants, and assume " The Stance."

In this position your aging, toneless (God I should have gone to the gym!!!) thigh muscles begin to shake.

You'd love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold "The Stance".

To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, "Honey, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!" Your thighs shake more.

You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse . (Oh yeah, the purse around your neck, that now, you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That will have to do. You crumple it in thepuffiest way possible. It's still smaller than your thumbnail.

Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work.

The door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest , and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet.

"Occupied!" you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny , crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, lose your footing altogether, and slide down directly onto the TOILET SEAT .

It is wet of course.

You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late . Yourbare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper - not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try.

You know that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because, you're certain her bare bottom nevertouched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear

"You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get".

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist of water that covers your butt and runs down your legs and into your shoes.

The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in too

At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat.

You're e-x-h-a-u-s-t-e-d.

You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks.

You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, .....so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting.

You are no longer able to smile politely to them.

A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when you NEEDED it??) You yank the paper from yo ur shoe, plunk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly,"Here, you just might need this".

As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used, and left the men's restroom.

Annoyed, he asks, "What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?" .................

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with a public restrooms (rest??? you've GOT to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your purse,and hand you Kleenex under the door!

Send this to all women that understand what bonding in the bathroom is all about!

A Friend Is Like A Good Bra...
Hard to Find...
Supportive....
Comfortable ...

Always Lifts You Up...

Never Lets You Down, or Leaves You Hanging,
And Is Always Close To Your Heart!!!

And people wonder WHY I hate public restrooms. I could have written this I've BEEN there DONE that!!!

Have a good weekend everyone! I'm going to try and make it to your blogs this weekend! Miss you all!

And BRIAN is writing how Body Image has effected him in life and marriage over at Real World... it's a great story!

Let's talk about clavicle's

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:06:00 +0000

Saturday i went on a bike ride with my hubs. We both had road bikes. We were going fast. i got close to the trail edge>>>inexperienced as I am...I freaked, I tried to correct myself and stop, I flipped instead> Landed on my shoulder and head and hip, my collar bone broke right in half.

I'm bed ridden.

This is not my x-rays, but this is pretty close to what it looks like, almost identical:

Photo came from HERE

It hurts and it sucks. that's it.

Love ya guys.

Just my feet...

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:31:00 +0000

So this is me... doing pretty much everything with me feet! LOL

Okay... I kid.

I'm not even close to this because I can still use my left hand.

But I have been practicing picking things up with my feet for as long as I can remember. It comes in really handy!!! :)

Have a good Halloween everyone!

This is slow and go, but it's getting better everyday!

So I met somebody...

blokthoughts@gmail.com (Shelle-BlokThoughts) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:42:00 +0000

Hey everyone!

See this pic with my daughter...sigh...back in the good ol' days when my collar bone was in one piece??? Those days are gone... I was happy back then, I didn't appreciate the collar bone like I should have, and NOW my collar bone/clavicle modeling is no longer...sigh. HEHEHEHEHE...

If you can't tell or don't know... I'm feeling MUCH better now! MUCH MUCH MUCH better!

I'm not healed. But I can lift my arm to take pictures and I can edit on my computer. Me so happy! :)

So you all have been so great about still coming to my blog and I want you to know that I have some posts up my sleeve so although I still won't be posting obsessively like before... I've some funny things to tell you and I can't keep them to myself!

So I met someone.

I went to Vegas and met someone. My curiosity got the best of me and I took my broken self off alone in our little Honda Accord and drove myself-literally single handed-down to Vegas, not just to meet up with someone, but to also connect with my new LOVE.

If blogs aren't for confessions what ARE they good for?

So here I go... I'm spilling the beans.

On Sunday, November 1st 2009, I, Shelle, drove myself down to Vegas to go watch BULL RIDING (My new found LOVE since I first saw it at the beginning of the year this year-reruns, but I fell in love anyway)!!! That's right... I went down and met up with Jules at IT IS JUST JULES and went to the Finals of the PBR in Vegas!!! You GUYS first let me just tell you Jules is just as fun and outgoing as she is on her blog, plus she was willing to go to watch Bull Riding with me so that means she is pretty much awesome!

When I met up with her she had a gift for me. Peeps...she makes jewelry, and not fuddy duddy jewelry, but really really cute jewelry! Pictured below! :)

We honestly had so much fun.

And the PBR EVENT! You guys I ate it up! I loved every second of it. I sat there and drank in everything and had my little score sheet and whooped and hollered like a professional when they guys rode 8 seconds and gave an appropriate gasp when someone got hurt or got to close to the bull. It's so unpredictable and exciting. So did I tell you I loved it? In fact, I didn't even have the mind to take more pictures than this one:

And thankfully for Jules and her brain we got this one together! Since my collarbone was out of a commission...she took the picture... her arms are good for that. The girl is long and skinny...no lie...sigh, I was envious.

Forgive the quality it's a phone pic!

There were cowboys and wranglers and bulls and clowns and bull fighters and lights and music and...aaahhhh just to fun. I didn't even really talk to anyone around me...if you know me you are surprised huh! I didn't, I just watched. I'm still giddy thinking about it! Anybody ever needs someone to go to an event with... PICK ME!!!

Then I took JULES to Cheesecake Factory and she is such a light weight we couldn't even try the cheesecake, she got full to fast!!! lol! But the conversation was good and easy going like we have been friends for years! We took this picture after eating...again, she took the pic...her arms... her arms... remember?

So I met someone and connected with a new love.

Tell me what you guys have been up to! I'm coming around to visit you on your blogs... but I want to hear the funniest thing you have done since I've been away! :)

Here is how I feel while wearing this figure 8 brace! Just so you all know...

Love,

P.S. You have to go read the hilarious post that Sage wrote about his wife's spending habits over on Real World--HA! It is so funny! I'm not kidding! Go give him some comment love! :)