The One with Me, Myself, & I

Wherever you go, there you are – Jon Kabat-Zinn (somewhere in the Chocolate Mountain Range where the Chocolate Mountain Ariel Gunnery Range operated by MCAS Yuma, Arizona is located)

That Arizona sky burnin’ in your eyes
You look at me and, babe, I wanna catch on fire
It’s buried in my soul like California gold
You found the light in me that I couldn’t see.

November 6, 2026

*Next time… we will laugh more, we’ll love more; we just won’t be so afraid (Georgia Byrde, 2006)*

In honor of the last holiday season of the year, I look forward to New Year 2027. However, I’m still excited for the upcoming holidays. Marty is helping to unpack our new ornaments and tree topper. This weekend, the season is rightly kicked off with the SAMI holiday show. I look forward to getting my (now) traditional handmade ornaments ❤️ 🎄 💚 🎅

You’ll have to wait for the big reveal, but I hope it’s worth waiting! I’ll never be able to replace the handmade ornaments and our memories, but we can get new ornaments and make new memories around our new tree. I love you ❤️

November 5, 2026: Flashback to 2007

November 2, 2026

Made some new friends…

Me three, me three

November 1, 2026: Happy New Month of November

*He don’t eat no meat? He don’t eat no meat?*

October 31, 2026 🎃 Happy Halloween

October 30, 2026: Happy Halloween Eve

The supervisors dressed up as Crayons at work. The hats remind me of “Elf”.

*Delicious* Friday Nap time 1803 – 8:03 PM

October 29, 2026

Turn the volume up – kitty dreams
I’m going to miss 😢 him when I move !!! Maybe he’ll have sleep overs with the other cousins.

Oh my stars

October 28, 2026: Russell Crowe keeping me company tonight

October 25, 2026: Raising Helen (yes, I just got the title…after watching it)

Pastor Dan: “I’m a sexy man of God” (best quote of the day) – John Corbett (Then)

John Corbett & his beard – John Corbett (Now)

I was at the studio long enough to hear this song twice tonight… 2009, back when Lady A was Lady Antebellum. Ask your dad whom this song reminds him of…but make sure he isn’t drinking Dr. Pepper…

What to do, what to do…Stood up by Mr. Ed (intimidated by the triple threat??), Jazzy J (at the fair or eating cake??), DD (sick), BFF 1505+ miles away 🙁 …. I am determined to win the October challenge!

Our new neighbors…

…a friendly little Halloween competition.

*He’s Just Not Into You* … Your dad giving me dating advice before we started dating… *Playah, Playah*

Somewhere only we know… Jij bent mijn uitzondering … Schuinsmarcheerder, Schuinsmarcheerder. I’m not sure why the movie was in Dutch, but guess who completed her family tree and found our Dutch heritage…

Laten we naar Nederland gaan. *Ik hou van jullie mijn baby’s, voor nu en altijd.* <3

October 24, 2026: Later that day

I had a huge craving for hot & spicy wings 🐔🍗 🔥 I remember eating a bag of hot wings after riding 111 miles on the bike trying to beat someone’s record. 😆 🤣 😂 😹

October 24, 2026: early morning

October 23, 2026: Friday Night Fun

But first…2 hour *delicious* Friday early evening nap…and turn back clocks to CST- I gain 1 hour of weekend time!!

A 1000 Miles – Halloween Edition!

The original

October 22, 2026

-.– . …

October 21, 2026

Get back to work, servant, need more dough for more chicken 🐔

October 20, 2026: Feels like home to me

Princess K and me at cousins’ football game

Uncle and cousins – I got them snowcones, sugared them up, and sent them home with their mom

Blue Scout and Princess K, little cousins

Another picture of the beard- it might get its own page

October 18, 2026

Late check out: I cooked what groceries that I had left: shrimp and pepper jack cheese. I probably would take the tails off next time. Still yummy and spicy!

Inside pool wall up – the water is warm now!

October 16, 2026

I thought I would miss this, because I was sick this week… but it’s open this weekend. Now, will it rain or be sunny!?????

October 13, 2026: Colder Weather

When I read that the temperature was going to plummet, I asked – Yay! Is it going to snow???

58 degrees

Fine, I’ll put my ice skates away and cook some steaks.

This tree is Summer but identifies as Autumn.

October 5, 2026

October 4, 2026

October 3, 2026

I hope this isn’t something you inherited from me. I’m going to try the WeatherX app and its earplugs.

A little Will Ferrell to make me laugh 😂

Talledega Nights: If you ain’t first, you’re last!

October 2, 2026: Lunch with my boyfriend

October 1, 2026

I won 🏆 the September sweaty challenge 🥵 My prize: a space & body spray 😆 🤣 😂 😹

Here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick, chick! Just as the storm started….

Wishing for a fireplace 🔥 on this cold (for.Texas), rainy day 🪵

Until then…

September 30, 2026: Row, Row, Row Your Boat

I had a dream last night it snowed. I could feel brrrr season in the air last night. <3 Still in the 80’s during the day.

We have windows! Drywall meeting is on Monday, before they close up the walls. Shingles are going on today!

October Eve:

September 29, 2026: Home (another sentimental day)

My childhood home was sold. When you lose your parents, it changes you. Like lose…as in gone, passed away. A year ago today, your PawPaw fell and hit his head. I had a feeling to call him just then. He was still conscious and was talking to me. Within an hour, he had lost the ability to talk or move. He held on for 10 days until all of us kids could get there. He recovered for a couple of hours and woke up and asked for orange juice. We thought it was a miracle, but later, the doctors told us that happens sometimes. I made a joke and he wiggled his eyebrows and laughed. I do that too, so I assume one of you do it too. I never felt like I had a home. I felt like a nomad and like my heart had been abandoned. I am building a house, so I can have a home. So, you can have a home. But, in the end, the house is not the home, because my heart is in WA, in MD, in TX, in FL, in IN, and in CA. Sometimes, you don’t understand your parents until much later- what they went through, how it affected them, lots of things. I found out a lot of things after your MawMaw died, and suddenly, everything clicked. I can’t call you; I don’t even know where you live. But, I know you are out there. You were part of me when you grew in my belly, and you are still a part of me. Nothing will change that fact. If you find this tomorrow or 10 years from now, my love will never change for you. You were always loved, you were not abandoned, and you were never forgotten. PawPaw dying saved my life, and I will be forever grateful that he loved me, even when we were fighting- as kids and parents do. Now, I know my parents always loved me. They didn’t always know how to say it or knew how to deal with issues that I had. Sometimes, time, loss, pain, and regret change people; it can make you hard and cold. Or, in some cases, warm and soft. Don’t let life’s hardships make you hard and cold. Being warm and soft may get you hurt, used, and manipulated in the world that we live in, but forgiving, being resilient, being able to move on, and make the best of your life, is the greatest gift that I could give you. I love you forever. That is the truth. Everything else is just noise.

Do good to others, especially when no one is looking.

September 28, 2026

I don’t know how real these videos are, but I know that I watch people more closely at the airport now. If it can happen to me, it can happen to you. I only got away, because my dad fell and ended up in the hospital. Get to a phone, find someone, tell someone, anyone. Don’t be afraid to make a scene. It was a year ago tomorrow. that I got away, and I survived by the grace of God and a dad who was always looking out for me. Do what you have to do to get away! Life isn’t meant to live in fear or caged in. Your life is too precious to miss.
~~~~~~443-295-3434~~~~~~~~mom@tanfamkids4.com~~~~~~~~605-728-7500~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I love you!~~~~~~~

September 27, 2026: Werewolves & Dad Bods (Deep musings on a Sunday morning)

IRL: Taylor Lautner married another Taylor “Tay” who is a nurse and wellness coach. It took him years to recover from the eating disorder he developed trying to maintain his physique from the *Twilight* series. He was ridiculed publicly when he got older for having a “dad bod”, which is completely normal for both men and women as metabolism slows and hormone levels fluctuate. I’ve seen a 6’2″ man shrink from 400 lbs to less than 200 lbs by engaging in cycles of binge and purge, while ridiculing me for not being able to lose weight as quickly. He doesn’t realize how much muscle he lost by starving himself. I’ve seen men not take their prescription meds to help with their own mental issues, because it made them gain 15 lbs.

The point of the story is: no one is perfect. It’s better to be healthy, have a few extra pounds, and be physically active than wreck your mind and body trying to live up to unattainable standards. If someone discards you because of your looks or because you gained weight, they have deeper issues than you can ever imagine. You can always start eating healthy, lose weight, be physically strong, and build endurance. But the likelihood that you will develop a conscience, have a good soul, and be virtuous are core attributes that someone can’t buy, steal, or even borrow. Someone’s true nature will always end up showing in the end, so it’s better just to accept yourself as you are. Because if you don’t accept yourself, no one else will either. And, like your mom, you could get manipulated into thinking that you are the problem. That’s an important point too. Remember: you’re not the problem. You aren’t responsible for anyone else’s emotions; just your own and how you react.

Yeah, that was a little deep for a Sunday morning. It was just what was on my mind while watching movies 3 and 4 of Twilight.

Almost time for your cousin Baby Cece’s birthday. I remember when you were this little 💕 and I still remember how the top of your head smelled. It might sound weird, but a mom never forgets these things. Gorda and I bought this on our road trip this weekend.

Freeway Flow tonight

I love the empty studio, but the heaters turn off…so, I had to warm the studio up.

I like that this thicker instructor could do the scorpion pose! She was actually doing all the advanced poses, and the actual ballerina was doing my level.

The Barre without the Barre – Remember when Auntie Jen taught us the positions in Ballet. I never worked out with the lights on. I had to show you my Sweat Elite!

I thought she said “Good night, my babies”…back to East Coast time I go.

Good night, my babies…

Almost forgot to show you the house! All the attics are in – all 3 peaks have attics that we can stand up in and store whatever needs storing.

Next weekend— who wants to be my bestie?

September 25, 2026

I just had a student ask me who Bon Jovi was…

I kind of feel like we could add this to our Christmas 🎄 rotation. 😊 I bought the movie set, just in case.

September 24, 2026

Life lessons from *Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban*

*Expecto Patronum*… or *Expecto Matrem?* She is here.

*Brrrrr* season in Harry Potter…94 degrees in Texas.

*Expelliarmus:* Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord (Romans 12:19)

September 23, 2026

I didn’t remember this about Tom Riddle.

September 21, 2026: What I wouldn’t give

When you lose your kids, it changes who you are…

September 18, 2026: Sip & Paint, Gaithersburg, MD

September 17, 2026

Connie and me under the waxing moon 🌔 -still taking bad moon pictures with the phone

Shoes haven’t felt comfortable since the broken ankle. I tried New Balance- oh how I’ve missed you. Kiki, I ran a 1/2 marathon after you were born. I have a picture of us together in Pensicola!

September 15, 2026

Travel energy today: would rather ride a $94 Concord from Walmart with me, myself, and I than a $3000 Aventon Avalon with…

September 14, 2026

Wish this came in adult size- love, love the color

The first time I’ve seen the pool in daylight – I finally swam under the wall.

There were 3 of these guys in the pool. I’d scoop them up gently and put them on the ledge…then they’d just jump back in. We had a lovely afternoon swim 🏊‍♀️

Later…

Leave it to me to make friends with a pest that Maryland wants to eradicate …

September 13, 2026

Travel energy today: Please don’t park your 18 wheeler outside the airport and leave it unattended. It makes people nervous.

September 12, 2026

Wow! Blast from the past (2006) @ Hotworx. I’ve learned alot in 20 years. I’m no longer waiting for someone to save me. Put your own oxygen mask on first, kids. Triple: Blast, Thunder, Bands. 💥 🔥

September 10, 2026

Hot Blast

https://www.hotworx.net/virtualinstructorcompetition

It wasn’t just a silly competition- people voted for the winners (1 vote – $1) and they bought a veteran this jeep.

Ignite your bones

September 9, 2026

Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets: Be a good spy and get yourself an invisibility cloak…

September 8, 2026

I’m on London time! I gotta be up in 3 hours! When the markets open!

September 7, 2026

Happy Labor Day

Your cousins are excited about the new Harry Potter series, so I bought all the movies to rewatch with them, like we use to do every Christmas! I wonder if any of you still like that series or finished the books?

The new Gilderoy Lockhart. Winter is coming…for real.

Where I labored- do you guys still ride? Remember when we went to that park with the boardwalk, and Gregory and Q learned how to ride their bikes <3 I was also so afraid to cross the boardwalk over the marsh…that would have been B-A-D to fall into the marsh…

Hot Iso 🔥 AKA stretches we did in the military 😆

September 5, 2026

This song came on my playlist as I drove away from the gym. It took me 50 years that I needed to fill my cup first, so I could pour into others. I put myself last, but I’m definitely not least. It makes me a better mother, sister, auntie, and friend. And, I will always love you.

AKA Thunder Rows

Enjoy your milkshakes and metabolism while you have them…

The Yard Milkshake Bar

Situational Irony: A cruel and unusual marketing strategy

September 4, 2026

Still taking Friday afternoon naps, and they are still d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s. No pizza tonight, but I’m watching this movie.

Remember when I would wake up from my Friday afternoon nap, and then, we would go to Little Caesars for pizza and soda. We ate our pizza and watched a movie!

Everyone needs a friend like Ferris Bueller.

virtus et honor

Spending Friday Night with Emil

Everything under the sun

Your heart, your heart, your heart

Is broken and tattered, it barely beats
The second it shatters, I’ll find every piece
So pack up the torture in the back of your mind
Spit out the poison, and leave it behind
Just don’t leave me behind (behind, behind)
Just don’t leave me behind (behind, behind)
Just don’t leave me behind