past future sense

We're leaving tomorrow a..m. on a cross country road trip. So naturally this morning I decided to get sick. I spent the better part of today not prepping for this journey, not facing my mountain of laundry from the last trip (I've been living from a suitcase since November), and really not moving from the confines of a 2 sweaters, 2 blankets and a fat cat for extra warmth. Despite all this and a thermostat reading 77 degrees hot, my fever had me convinced that I was adrift on an iceberg in Antarctica. The fever finally broke this afternoon so that I could be the tiniest bit productive.

Yay that I will finally be visiting my cousin Matt who has been living in Vail, Colorado for at least the past 8 years, and maybe a looot longer, I have lost track. And my other cousin, his younger brother Mike who is a year older than me, is now living there as well since this past summer. I'll also get to go skiing for the second time. The first happened this past weekend in Gatlinburg with much disaster, many bruises. Basically, don't expect any amazing uploads to YouTube from a GoPro. I do wish I could have seen my final wipeout on the mountain in slow motion. Over and over again. It was pretty epic from all accounts.

It feels crazy to plan to be gone this length of time. Actually, I haven't taken a trip this long since.. I was a kid. Except for some music festivals and maybe a trip to Austin, TX, my last real vacation was in 2010 with some of my best girlfriends. We met in San Francisco and toured wine country. But even that was only 5 days. Roadtrips in general are a real test of patience for me, especially on this 22+ hr drive. Four of us are leaving tomorrow and hopefully four of us come back!

This is Nancy's political statement on the excessive consumerism of American Christmas. 

Oh gosh, it's almost dreaded resolution time. The weeks before and after the new year where we all pretend to have really high standards, let ourselves down and have to punish ourselves later with another holiday, aka Lent.
Vicious cycle.
This year I plan to not let the boundaries of my personal means prevent me from my objectives. I want to double my business. I want to help improve my community. I want to give of what time and resources I have to those in need--mainly puppies. I want to help all the puppies. Maybe some babies. No adults, really, they're hopeless.
Kidding.
This year, I want to say what I mean and know when to speak up and when to let my actions do the talking.
I want to be the person you come to for the truth, even or especially when it hurts. Not because I enjoy hurting people, but because lies and ignorance are way more dangerous.
Never someone with all the answers, but unafraid to ask questions.
I want to solve problems with more communication not less.
Over each of he last two years, I've adopted a different phrase.
2012 was the year I decided to finally Get Paid.
2013 I subscribed to Be Unafraid.
In 2014, I want to practice Believe What I Said.
Basically, to under promise and over deliver, but not by saying less--by doing more. Time to just practice, not preach. 

T-minus 4 days to our favorite party of the year at the Corinne complex, and really the only thing we invite nearly the whole town to attend. Costumes are mandatory, dance moves are recommended.
Whitney will be making these treats:

Candy Corn Jello Shots

So far, a few of the costumes in attendance:

Three weeks ago, I got a phone call from my best friend's husband. He told me that his wife, my best friend of 20 years (20 years!) had been in a brutal car accident on the interstate in Jackson on her way home from work. The panic in his voice made me sit on the ground in my office.
I headed to the hospital the next morning with Steph. We learned that the accident caused a major head injury, fractured skull, multiple neck fractures, broken arm bone piercing a major artery, and a fractured knee. Her facial bones would have to be rebuilt, her body was covered in road rash from being launched out
the driver's side door a great distance.