” The charm of the moment is in the spontaneity of it, like road trips are the best. So are the unplanned moments.”

Pragya

Hope everyone had a safe and memorable 4th of July while celebrating the separation of the thirteen American colonies from the British Monarch in 1776. It is notable that John Adams is said to have written his wife, Abigail, stating ” I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.” (1.) He was not wrong.

One such place that is known for its fourth of July celebration is Laughlin, Nevada. Desert USA notes that the firework display over the Colorado River is one of the “most spectacular and exciting in the West.” (2.) I concur. Twenty five years ago my mom, Claire, my grandmother, Claire, my aunt, Roni and I went to Laughlin on a spur of the moment trip to see the 4th of July spectacle for ourselves.

It started as a joke between my mother and my grandmother stating that it would be fun to go to Nevada to win some big money. I told them I had just read that Laughlin was the fireworks capital of the West. We were discussing fireworks displays we had seen as we went to breakfast that morning. Mom mentioned how lucky we were when we found a parking place right in front of the entry. As I climbed out of the car, a $5 bill blew right across my path. The sun was shining and it felt great because it was only going to be an unusually moderate 75 degrees that day in Scottsdale, AZ. The conversation at breakfast turned to how lucky we were feeling and then that a trip to Laughlin calling. We were all ears.

We piled in the car around 3 PM with our overnight bags and were off. Our luck started to waver when we would start going up various hills and the air conditioning in my Aunt’s car would shut off. I say waver because downhill it would start blowing cool again. Even though we vacillated about continuing, we are not ones to turn around. When we arrived in Laughlin a few hours later and went to the counter to check into a hotel room, I heard the desk clerk tell grandmother that there were no vacant rooms in their hotel nor any hotel in Laughlin. She was further informed that if we wanted to stay there next year we should start calling six months in advance to reserve a room. Disappointed, I followed the ladies to the casino. No luck there either, we did not win big. Aunt Roni hit three cherries on the penny machine and that was about it.

At around 8 PM we went out to the parking lot and saw the fireworks over the Colorado River. The firework display was memorable with all the colors and designs lighting up the sky. We watched with great amazement as the 2,000 firework’s blast finale went off causing all the car alarms in the parking lot to go off. As the smoke cleared, Laughlin was one big honk fest. We all jumped when it started and then could not stop laughing.

A few hours later we climbed in the car and headed home. This time we were prepared to deal with the AC mountain climbing calamity. We all bought little battery operated fans at the hotel gift shop. Our luck returned, we made it back with no issues. We stayed awake till sun up talking about our adventure. It was a 4^th I will never forget.

Moral: 1) Memories are priceless. 2) Don’t be afraid to be spontaneous.

I invite you to share your memories in the comments or email me at zsmisadventures@gmail.com to possibly have your story used in future posting. If you are enjoying my blogs, feel free to follow and get an update on Sunday’s when a new one is released. To become a follower, just hit the follow button on the right corner, enter your email, and confirm once you receive an email asking for that action to be taken. Thank you for your support and keep being whimsical.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

2. https://www.desertusa.com/holidays/fourth-of-july.html

“The best things happen unexpectedly.”

anonymous

I have never been one to pull pranks, nor do I enjoying having pranks pulled on me, but I do enjoy hearing about them. My favorite prank memory was waking to see my bed and the floor covered in two feet of shredded paper. While my brother and I slept, our  dad shredded all of our end of the year school papers, homework, tests and notebooks. He wanted to give us a laugh and a chance to celebrate the end of the school year in a fun playful way. He knew how much I loved the snow, but also like the sun. By giving me shredded paper to throw around I could stay warm while pretending to build a snowman on Mt. Everest.

The only thing that he did not take into account was the mess that would be left when we were done throwing, rolling and playing in our bedrooms blanketed in slivers of paper. Shredded paper does not melt away like snow, it tends to expand and find its way into every nook and cranny. The trail of paper lead down the hallway to the kitchen area where we threw wads at dad as he left for work.

I was on the patio talking to my mom, when I heard, “O dios mio.” It was the housekeeping staff coming to clean our suite. We had been living at the resort for over five months and, luckily, knew all the staff. Before we pitched in to help clean up the mess, we had one last paper flinging battle that even included Jesse from room service. After the brief skirmish which spread paper into the living area, it took 6 people almost 30 minutes to get all the shredded paper into trash bags.  It was worth the clean up effort for the years of joy and laughs that experience produced.

Moral: 1)Take time to make memories. 2) Let your inner child flourish whenever possible.

Feel free to share your favorite pranks in the comment section or email me at zsmisadventures@gmail.com and it might be used in a feature blog post. If you enjoyed this blog feel free to follow by clicking the follow button on the bottom right hand side of the screen. Thank you and hope all is well.

Your NO MONKEY ’til some MONKEY LOVES you.”

anonymous

As a child I was fortunate enough to travel to many exotic locations, such as, the Galapagos Islands, Amazon Rain Forest, and a variety of Caribbean Islands. I was born in Arizona, but thanks to my dad’s easy going personality and endless imagination, he thought the Caribbean Island of Aruba might be fun and safe place to raise a family. While redesigning the landscaping for Scottsdale Princess Resort, Dad was asked to play golf with the General Manager of several resorts and casinos in Aruba. The GM was interested in landscape environments and implied that the boulders, native trees and relatively dry and warm climate of Aruba were quite similar to the resort landscape canvas in Arizona. The differences, he was happy to explain, were the most beautiful white sandy beaches and azure, temperate seas you could ask for. Their conversations eventually lead to a visit and job offer. Lucky for my mom, Claire, my brother, Justin, and me, we got to tag along in this new adventure.

Aruba is a small island off the coast of Venezuela. One of the original Dutch ABC islands – A for Aruba, B for Bonaire and C for Curacao. It is 20 miles long and 6 miles wide. It is so small that some maps don’t even have it marked and if they do, it is just a dot without a name. Thanks to my dad’s job with Sonesta Resorts, we were able to go on a two week trip each year anywhere we wanted, as well as summer in Arizona to get off the island and go shopping.

The first year off island, we went on a cruise to Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, and St. Lucia. I was seven years old. I had never been on a cruise ship. I indulged in the all-you- can-eat meals and the 24 hour bingo, despite being a minor. I was mesmerized that a swimming pool filled with 30,000 gallons of water was able to fit on a cruise ship. Most of all, I was pleased that I never truly felt like I was stuck on a boat. It was a kid’s exploration dream.

Like all Melgreen vacations, I have found, nothing ever goes according to plan, the cruise of ’96 was no exception. My dad forgot to pack underwear. We lost half a day because port shopping areas sell trinkets and souvenirs, not underwear. When dad went to rent a car for a trip to the local mall in Grenada, he discovered that his driver’s license had expired. We got lost more than once trying to find an underwear outlet, as well as, our room on the ship.

We went to an aquarium in Curacao where we saw sharks, held crocodiles, and swam with stinger rays. We jumped off waterfalls in Granada, while hiking and exploring the spicy jungle. My brother had me jumping off the boulders into the small bubbling pools below first. I understand now that he was having me do all these dangerous stunts first, like boulder jumping, swimming with piranhas and sting rays, as well as petting a white bangle tiger to see if I would survive before he risked his neck.

I am pleased to say that I did do everything first, including making a friend with a monkey that we saw cross our trail high up in the jungle canopy. The monkey later threw acorns at my mom and branches at my dad. He left a walking stick for me to use to navigate my way thru the jungle. The monkey even left an “X” in the dirt path to let me know which way to go. My diary of that trip implies that I could not have been more happy or excited to have befriended a monkey. I felt special and everywhere we went in Granada the monkey was somewhere up in trees accompanying me. It turns out 25 years later while writing this blog, I find out, my Monkey friend was my parents and the Monkey was their participation in my imaginative experience and a way to make a walk thru the jungle more enjoyable for me.

Moral: No two family vacation stories are ever the same. 

Please feel free to share your travel adventure stories below in the comments or email me at zsmisadventures@gmail.com to possibly see your story mentioned in a future blog. If you enjoy feel free to follow. Have a great Sunday!

“I smile because you are my father, I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it.”

Anonymous

I would like to start this post off by wishing my dad, Dennis, a happy Father’s Day. He has been a great co-pilot on many of my misadventures.

One of our first misadventures that I have heard about repeatedly throughout my life actually happened on Father’s Day. I was 3 years old. We were driving to the central city park, Encanto, to fulfill one of my many early childhood fantasies – being a teacher and taking my stuff animal students on a field-trip.

My pupils were anxious to get there and sensing that they may become unruly I got out of my car seat in the second row of our van in order to keep an eye on the occupants in the third row. My dad heard me lecturing my crew and saw in the rear view mirror that I was no longer in my car seat. Of course, I was too busy to hear his pleas and, I assure you, would never disobey a really important demand. In his haste to do the lawful thing, he pull over on the freeway. He climbed over the center console to reach me and to buckle me back into my car seat. As he was explaining to me that all heroes big and small must be buckled in, and I was no exception, a highway patrol officer stuck his head in the front window and asked my dad what was going on.

Dad told the officer that I had gotten out of my car seat to lecture my students and that he pulled over to address the issue and buckle me up. I assume my father was calm, courteous and kind to the officer when he informed dad that it was against the law to park on the freeway shoulder. I also assume that after receiving the ticket with a hefty fine that we continued on to the park, had an awesome field trip and a Happy Father’s Day.

Moral: Always wear your seat-belt: it saves lives, money, and field trips.

“Once in awhile in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.”

Anonymous

With the joy of wedding season upon us, I felt the need to share one of the many misadventures of mine – daydreaming about a fairy tale wedding. Being single in my early thirties is, at times, too much to bear. You cannot help but wonder, is there something wrong with me? Will I ever get to share life’s many memorable moments with my Prince Charming. I have seen the sad eyes telling me, “It will be okay, there is someone out there for you. Just be patient.”

Did I mention my patients is running thin. Friends are writing dating profiles to showcase my whimsicality and the need for my Prince Charming to know his way around a kitchen or face starvation. It is easy to get caught up in the hype of love and matchmaking. I do want to celebrate that I have found my nerdy soulmate with that walk down some type of aisle with my parents. I have dreamt of an ASU themed wedding with Sparky dancing at the reception. That vision was around the time I finish ASU grad school which may explain the premise. I have dreamt of a proposal that is simplistic, but thoughtful, on one knee and, maybe, a tear. My tear.

I know that the wedding is just one step. I also know that I can’t take that step without the right person and hopefully with a proposal I can recall with fondness. I have heard about proposals made at a Comic Con Convention while in cosplay as pictured above or finding the ring in a treasure box while scuba diving, or in an ice cube in a martini glass. For most, the memory of that epic question brings a big smile.

To date, I have been proposed to twice. One was so unimaginable that I didn’t realize it was actually a proposal, the other was less memorable.

The first proposal happened when I was a freshman at college. I was 20 years old. I was home visiting my parents for Spring Break when my boyfriend of 2 years stopped by. My parents were running errands. He wanted to know if I wanted to go see a movie. When I went into my room to get my purse, he entered behind me. When I turned around he was on one knee with a box open asking me to marry him. I said yes, but my heart felt heavy. As I took off his high school ring to replace it with the engagement ring, I realized I had just been asked to marry someone, but I was not overcome with tears of joy. I was not jumping up and down. I was not feeling the need to share this news. Instead, I stood there with a half-smile thinking, “My mom is not going to be thrilled.” At this point in our relationship it was quite evident that he did not fit with my family. He was one who had to always be right and would put others down if need be. At the time, I just wanted to be in love and accepted, but when he asked me to marry him, I knew this was wrong. I gave him the ring back a few days later.

The second proposal, I found out when I was 23, had actually occurred 2 years prior on my 21st birthday. I had gone to Boston to visit a childhood friend. The day before I was to leave to return to college at Humboldt State University, we were at Hooters laughing about our horrible past relationship experiences. (Side note: The creator of Sponge Bob went to Humboldt and studied physics.) During the conversation he decided to let me in on a little secret, I was engaged to him. He spoke of the night of our 21st birthday (we were both born on the same day) and I had come to Boston to celebrate with him. He informed me the ring he gave me as a gift that day, was indeed a wedding ring. I looked at him in shock and reminded him that 1) The speech he gave before he handed me the ring was about it being a friendship ring and how hard it is to find a ring that is not an engagement ring to celebrate and honor our longtime friendship. 2) In order to be engaged it helps if the people have been dating 3) He lived in Boston and I in California and we both had a slew of bad relationships since our 21st birthdays. He reminded me that he had his whole family around his bedroom door to listen to his speech and after he was done, he had gotten down on one knee to ask me to marry him. All I could do was laugh. The truth is, he did get down on one knee that night, but only because I asked him to. We had made a pack that if by our 25^th birthdays we were not married then we would tie the proverbial knot. It was not meant to be and I didn’t feel a spark when he asked. I returned the ring and we haven’t spoken in 6 years.

I have a feeling that when that whimsical soul finds me, my fairy tale will be filled with countless misadventures just like my parents. My dad proposed to my mom over a hot fudge sundae. Saying that while the sundae was awesome, being with her for the rest of his life would be awesomer. Dad made a ring out of his straw sleeve of paper and happily announced to the crowded restaurant that he was the luckiest man alive.

Just like the engagement, my parents wedding day had a charming misadventure of its own. My dad loves sharing his most embarrassing moment. They were married on Halloween in order to make the date easy for him to remember. They did not costume up due to my dad wanting a bit more of a traditional wedding. It took place in their backyard at sunset, with twinkling lights in the trees, candles floating in the pool and surrounded by family and friends. My dad who claims to the be cool and calm partner in their relationship listen as the pastor started the ceremony talking about love, commitments, the holiest of traditions, etc.

“My mind was super focused on his words, their meaning and beauty,” he will tell you. “I was so focused that when the cleric leaned in and whispered, ‘Say I will..(pause)..if you will.”

So dad said, “I will if you will.”

It is in times like those that make ordinary life feel more like a fairy tale.

Moral: 1) When proposing make sure your future spouse has a clue about what is happening. 2) Embrace the misadventures as they can be the tie that binds.

I would love to hear about your misdventures. I invite you to join in and share your misadventures in the comment section or by emailing me at zsmissventures@gmail.com. I enjoy incorporating your stories in a later post. 

“There is no greater disability in society, then the inability to see a person as more.”

Robert M. Hensel

Everyone has a story of humility, i.e., being humbled by our modest suffering when talking with someone who has truly suffered. ‘I stubbed my toe’ vs  ‘I had to cut my leg off with a pocket knife to escape the rock slide alive’.

While everyone may suffer setbacks, not everyone is fortunate to be surrounded by the love and support that is needed to make it through those tough times. While waiting in line with a like-minded group of Comic Con nerds a conversation turned to the trials and tribulations some face based solely on their physical appearances. I would like to share some of their stories with you.

Jeff, a man in his late thirties, was just diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis, otherwise known as MS, “is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).” (1) He was born a paraplegic and uses a manual wheelchair to get around. He was very open about what his experiences are with the outside world. He spoke about people not seeing him as a person with thoughts, feelings, aspirations, and many meaningful accomplishments but instead as a man confined to a chair. He spoke about people meeting him for the first time and instead of a traditional greeting of, “Hi, how are you?” they ask “What happened to you?” He was angered by some who met him and insist on wanting to heal him. He feels it is comments like those that are a bit insensitive. He doesn’t feel broken or in need of healing, he is just a guy, who uses a wheelchair merely for logistical reasons. He has a team of doctors that can help him for MS, he just wants strangers to greet and treat him like everyone else. Jeff said, “Just say, Good Morning. Beautiful day to be out and about.”

Bill interjected, “How about, Good Day to be waiting in line.” Bill then mentioned that his girlfriend has lupus. “Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.“(2) He was thrilled to announce that in the last week she had not had any flare ups. “If you saw her today,” he explained, “You wouldn’t know that she was in the battle of her life.” He described her flare ups as being overwhelming and hard to bare. She needed to use leg braces to walk around. She was highly fatigued and, at times, had trouble breathing. He was thankful for the good days and for the modern technology that enables his cell phone to monitor her medications and if one is missed he can respond to make sure she is alright.

It was during this conversation with complete strangers, that I opened up about being diabetic and being asked if my insulin pump is a pager. Needless to say they were appalled and glad I shared. I spoke about the awkward feeling of standing in the early entry line at the airport gate surrounded by people with canes, people in wheelchairs, helmets on babies heads, etc. and feeling a thousand eyes staring me down as I do not appear to need any extra support boarding the plane. However, that day, I did. The night before I had my first grand mal seizure. I needed to make sure that I had my sister, Serena, next to me on the flight home, in case anything happened during flight. I learned that day that due to being diagnosed with seizures I could use the early board line to have a better chance of being able to stay seated next to Serena on the flight. I have never used my seizures as a way to get special treatment, but as hard as it is, there are times, it needs to be addressed in a conversation for my safety. That was one of those times.

I enjoyed the open and honest conversation. You can learn a lot in long lines and in the audience at a Comic Con guest panel –  like the power of television and its ability to help others feel powerful, accepted, and escape reality. I learned that we all suffer in our own ways, but embracing it and finding a way to laugh about it can make a difference. I enjoyed hearing the humbleness in a Lord of The Rings actor’s voice when an audience participant told them that their character had a profound impact on the her life and her ability to see herself in a brighter light. Comic con can provide Good Nerdy stuff for the heart and soul.

Moral: 1) Not all struggles are visible. 2) Respect our differences. 3) Stay Humble.

Resource:

(1) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350269

(2) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/symptoms-causes/syc-20365789

Just remember the attitude you wake up determines the kind of day you will have.

Krysta Oberg

Every fishing trip comes with its own misadventures. The first time I went fishing I was five years old. My parents had taken my brother, Justin, and I up to see the Arizona State University football practice at Camp Tontozona. We had just arrived back at the cabin and I was determined to catch my first fish.

My dad got the monster fly fishing pole ready for me and went inside to take a nap. Come to find out later, he didn’t think there were any fish in the foot of water in the creek.

I found a nice open spot along the creek and on my first cast, caught my nose. Dad was sound asleep so mom removed the hook. After my second more carefully place cast, I howled, “I got one, I got one.” Justin looked at me in disbelieve while I dropped my fishing pole and ran to tell my dad that I caught a fish. He was shocked to see my pole on the ground with a fish on the end of my line. He immediately instructed Justin on how to get the fish into a net while I reeled it in before the fish had a chance to change its mind. We laugh about it to this day, that I was able to catch a big fish where only little fish usually play. He later had to explain to me the importance of not dropping my pole because that fish was big enough to lose it down stream.

Since my first catch, I have still continued to catch fish in unlikely and whimsical ways. A year ago my dad and I were trolling Big Lake near Pine Top, AZ, when I caught a fish. We tethered the fish on a stringer tied to the back of the boat and continued trolling. About five minutes later I yelled at my dad, ” I got one, I got one.” He sighed in disbelief, but stopped the boat, to see a fish at the end of my line. We both started to giggle with excitement at the quickness that I caught my second fish. However, it was quickly discovered that I actually hooked the fish on the stringer. We still laugh about me hooking the same fish twice. I just wanted to make sure I caught more fish than my dad.

My latest fishing adventure was no different. This past weekend I caught several fishing lines and trees at Woods Canyon Lake. I may have spent more time putting on new weights and hooks and worms than fishing. While shivering in 45 degree weather and watching the storm clouds roll in, I reeled in my line ready to call it a day as it started to snow. My dad and I looked at each other in awe because it was snowing in the middle of May. While my dad waited for me to reel in my line I turned and said, ” Not again.” He laughed because it appeared I had gotten it stuck on another fishing line one last time. A second later my dad questioned, “Is that a fish on that other line?” I looked at him with bewilderment, but there was no denying there was a fish on the line, whose line was it was yet to be discovered. After several minutes we were able to get the fish reeled in and to my astonishment it was caught on my line. That was the first time I caught a fish and didn’t know it. Of course, if you look at that catch in the picture above, you may understand why I didn’t feel the hit on the worm. My dad who failed to even get a bite, tried to claim the worm was bigger then the trout.

Moral: 1. You may get what you want, just not in the way you expected. 2. Even a little bitty fish counts when you are fishing with your dad or your brothers.

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

Winston Churchill

First, thank you to everyone who is reading this. It means a lot. Despite being told daily that I needed to start a blog, I was still worried no one would read it and if they did they wouldn’t follow it. I am glad to say that is not the case…… thanks to you.

I have always enjoyed learning. I enjoy the feeling of pen on paper. I enjoy the smell and feel of books. I enjoy learning new and useless facts that I can share at the most random times. One such fact being, that jelly fish have survived for over 650 years without a brain, so all is not yet lost.

School was my happy place. Thus, it was hard when I would get teased by peers and worse when I got picked on by my second grade teacher. I was raising my hand every thirty minutes or so asking for a bathroom break. It felt like every time I got back to the classroom, I would need to ask for another hall pass. This happened for several weeks. I was not happy.

My teacher was less happy. She told me one morning that I could no longer go to the bathroom. When asked “Why?” The reply, ” I know what you are doing and you will no longer be ditching class.” I was furious that my teacher would think that I would ever ditch class. I was obsessed with learning and maintaining a straight A average. I was also worried about peeing my pants in front of 24 other second graders. After several hours, I begged and pleaded with my teacher to let me go as my biggest worry was about to come to true. She would not. I had her call my mother to explain the situation and if I wasn’t allowed to go to the restroom quickly, a new pair of pants would be needed. My mother showed up and had a frank talk with my teacher. This was the first time my mom heard about my need to use the restroom at such an alarming rate.

She not only took me out of school but took me straight to our doctor. After several hours and several tests the doctor reported that the recent flu virus I had seemed to have attacked my pancreas and caused it to shut down. I was born with a 50/50 chance of getting the autoimmune disease, diabetes, and the flu made sure I did. I was taken to the hospital to stabilize my sugar levels and to learn more about how to handle it. I was told that I would have to take at least 3 shots a day and more if necessary. I would have to poke my finger to get blood readings several times a day. I told my mom that I would rather die than be diabetic. I felt that I was given a death sentence on top of the lingering distress of my teacher’s rebuke.

It was discussed later with my teacher that constant urination is a sign of diabetes along with dry mouth, fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, etc. My teacher felt horrible for the way she responded and regretted not contacting my mother sooner about my frequent bathroom breaks.

My diabetic misadventures did not end there. Awaiting the after school bus in the sixth grade, I started to feel dizzy. Not being sure if I was dizzy from volleyball practice or my blood sugar being low, I decided to test myself. When I had the test kit next to finger ready to draw blood, I was stopped by one of the teachers who grabbed my shoulder and raised her voice stating, “Stop playing video games.” I looked up in confusion. I attempted to explain that I was not feeling well and was just about to test my blood sugar to try and gain answers. However, she insisted I was playing a video game. Luckily, an eighth grade friend of mine, Frans, was near by and yelled at the teacher, “She is not playing a video game, she is diabetic.” It’s funny how some memories are burnt into our brains. I can remember his voice coming from behind, I remember turning to see him step forward and then hearing the teacher’s voice, “Carry on.”

To this day I have never heard anyone say,”Carry on,” nor do I remember carrying on.

I would like to say that things have gotten better as I have gotten older. I no longer have to stick needles in arms, thighs and mid-section thanks to the invention of insulin pumps. I now just have to deal with looking like an IV fluid station and finding a way to make that work with my wardrobe. I do get a chance to educate others not only on what diabetes is, but what it feels like living with it day to day. I still hear comments about my insulin pump, about being too skinny to be diabetic, and once, you should only eat salads. I now laugh it off as another – misadventure.

Moral: 1) It is important to keep communication channels open, especially listening. 2) If you have a chance to stand up for someone or back them up, do it. You will be remembered.

Happiness is Mother and Daughter Time! – Unknown

As today is mother’s day I find it only fitting that I write about the first misadventure that I had with my mother. I was about 2 months old when I decided to play a game with my mother during diaper time. The game was fine your wedding ring. Was the ring in my hair? Was the ring on my toe? Was the ring under the table? Oh Where o Where could that ring of love be? Where you ask… somewhere it will be safe… my dirty diaper. Being the master of both finding and hiding things, I decided the dirty diaper was the one place no one would suspect. Turns out, I was right. The ring of love got thrown out with a pile of other dirty diapers never to be seen again.

My mom received her new ring on my thirteenth birthday….how appropriate. That was a great day in my household. On that day my dad was proud and excited that he finally found a ring worthy of my mother. I got a ruby heart shaped ring from my dad that day too. I resolved to never take off (unless diapers are involved) because it expresses his love for my whimsicality.

The morals: 1) Don’t wear jewelry around infants if you ever plan to see it again. 2) Laughter is always the best medicine. 3) Family memories are always being created; it is up to us to choose how we remember and share them.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers who read this post. You are an inspiration.

A special “Thank You” to my mom for putting up with me through the years. You have grown to be more than my mother, but my best friend. I am truly grateful for the bond we share and I feel some of it is owed to that day we played hide the ring. You have filled my life with love and laughter.

I love you (—————————————————————————-) this much.

Thanks for joining me!

One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure. 

— William Feather

Hello world, I am Linzie. At the present time, I am a juggler.  I am juggling time as I work on advancing my career, as I strive to maintain daily workout and relaxation exercises that will reduce the health risks of a diabetic life and as I dedicate the other free moments to being the biggest Arizona State University fan the world has ever seen. Go Devils! While hectic, it is an exciting time.

My time on this earth began on an unusually warm April afternoon in 1987. While I was born and spent my first 7 years in Phoenix, I consider the island of Aruba home. I grew up there immersed in diversity and the warm Caribbean trade winds. I returned to the states to attend high school in the small central California town of Clovis. It was life in smaller communities, ocean views, and a chance to learn log rolling that drew me to Arcata, California and Humboldt State University. Set on a redwood covered mesa overlooking the rocky Pacific shore, Humboldt offered the small comfortable environment where I could, not only, pursue a degree in Child Development, but also, become a member of the marching band despite not knowing how to play a musical instrument (I shook an Egg and tambourine until learning and earning my spot as a bass drummer) and became a member of the crew team. Humboldt trivia:  the creator of SpongeBob went to Humboldt and studied Physics.

While my work is a major and serious focus, I also have a rather whimsical side. I love to wear color and dress up as my favorite comic book heroes, watch reruns of Monk, and am perfectly satisfied being addressed as Z. I can get lost in the details of scrapbooking, as well as, the rigors of a bubble run or Flagstaff Extreme Challenge. I enjoy the feeling of the music coursing thru my veins at concerts. I have often been told that I have a flair for misadventures to the likes no one has ever seen before. It may be because of my caring nature or my need to find a good story in each day. Treasured adventures surround me daily and not just on my light rail commute to work. Having traveled for seven summers throughout the Caribbean and South America from Macchu Picchu to the Galapagos’ Archipelago, from Angel Falls to Atlantis I am always ready to welcome another misadventure.