Out Conducting Fun ... Part 1

Well today I find myself in Zephyrhills, FL for the 2nd morning in a row. Am I touring the bottled water plant, you ask? No. Zephyrhills has another draw -- skydiving!

Yes, today might be the day I take the plunge, literally. Yesterday was supposed to be the day, but high winds permitted any flights from going up and it gave me another 24 hours to think this over. I came back. The weather still wasn't great so there were a lot of bored skydivers waiting around, along with one nervous first-timer.

These people don't like to sit still for a long time, so they fired up this very large, loud, helicopter -- just like the ones in M*A*S*H. For $20 you could have the ride of your life. The pilot's name was Nigel and he was awesome. He buzzed the ground at about 15 feet, he did hard turns, he took us nice and high. It was the best $20 I ever spent. I would've gone all day ...

A Day at the Beach

I had a lovely day at the beach today. Just me & my camera. Here are a few of the better shots:

"Who Gets to Sit Here?" "Fishing Buddies"

"Some Bird"

"Lumps"

"The Island Is Calling"
"Out On The Beach There Are 2 Empty Chairs

Who Say More Than The People Who Ever Sit There"

"Where I've Been"

"Who's Walking Who?"

"Disorganization in Lounge Chair City" "Functional Sundeck"

"Re-Tired"

I'm registered to attend this seminar.

It sounds really good. I wonder if I have to bring my own smokes or if they're provided?

I had the dream again

I have had this recurring dream now for years! I thought maybe it had left me, but nope -- last night it showed up again as clear as a bell. Here's the happenstance:

There is a giant hippo swimming around in this nice habitat at a zoo. He's thrashing and moaning and no one knows what to do.

So they call me, and I'm like this super-dentist to the animals or something, because I put on a wet suit, hop in the water, and proceed to work on this poor hippo's hurting teeth.

He opens up real wide, and I go in and dig the rot out of his choppers. I then inspect his other teeth, deem them healthy and leave the water.

That's it - end of dream.

If anyone out there has any remote idea what this could mean, please write. I have been having this one since I was a sophomore in high school, and I'm yet to understand it. I feel like there's meaning there, but I can't for the life of me figure it out.

Great Quotes from All Kinds of Songs

Another list by Wendy.

I give you some exceptional quotes from songs. And BTW, if anyone can name all the titles of these, I'll give you a fabulous prize package including a t-shirt worn by me, a lock of my hair, and all of the pickles in my fridge. Good luck.

"I'd never count the cost. It's worth all that's lost. Just to see you smile."

"Meet me at a bar called O'Malleys, where we'll plan our escape."

"Everyone is helpful, everyone is kind."

"But not a real fur coat ... that's cruel."

"You've got to roll with the punches to get to what's real."

"I love you baby. But not like I love my guitar."

"Incense, wine and candles. It's such a freaky scene."

"Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom."

"Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!"

"She walked in through the out door."

"The life I love is makin' music with my friends."

"He bought a one-way ticket back to the life he once knew."

"A thousand violins fill the air."

"But you've gotta make your own kind of music sing your own special song."

"You drop your drink, then they bring ya more."

Cougar

Today in chatting with a friend, I learned a new word. Well a new definition of an old word. My friend was referring to someone we both know, and she called "Person X" a cougar.

In my mind, a cougar is this:

But my friend went onto laugh at my understanding of this word. She then proceeded to educate me on the urban definition:

Cougar

An older woman who frequents clubs in order to score with a much younger man. The cougar can be anyone from an overly surgically altered wind tunnel victim, to an absolute sad and bloated old horn-meister, to a real hottie or milf. Cougars are gaining in popularity -- particularly the true hotties -- as young men find not only a sexual high, but many times a chick with her shit together.

That cougar I met last night, showed me shit I didn't know existed, I'm goin back for more.

See exhibits 1 and 2 below:

See informational poster:

Your life story in 6 words...

Someone challenged me to write my life's story in 6 words the other day. Actually this is a big movement and can be followed on http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/.

I thought and thought, and this is much harder than it appears. I initally came up with this:

Past's done.
Present's here.
Future's mine.

But that's vague and predicatable. So here are some others I'm considering:

Art's inside me
Want it out

Don't have the life I want.

Where's the bathroom? I've gotta go.

Bug or windshield?
Sometimes my choice.

No matter what
I love me

4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42

I can't believe
The remote's gone

I like turtles.
I wanta pickle.

Fish don't fry in the kitchen.

I'm my bestfriend and worst enemy.

I can't take it with me.

Those are mine. Some of the most intriguing ones I read were:

For sale
Baby shoes
Never worn

Birth was amazing
Downhill from there

Buy my art
Leave me alone

Daydreamed daily of spending lottery winnings

I am more than six words

Afraid of dying, terrified of living

Some really good quotes I heard this week

"People can only upset you or hurt you if you love them. Think about that for a minute."

"There are 2 ways to acquire more money: make more of it, or spend less of it."

"It takes as much energy to sit around wishing and hoping as it does to be out doing."

"I drink your milkshake. I drink it up."

"If you don't know what you want, you can't really go get it now can you?"

"You don't have to stay in the life you're in."

"Risks would be risky if there wasn't a risk. Taking risks is the only way to get a big payout in the end, whether the result is happiness, money, relationships ... whatever."

"As you lay on your deathbed in 50 years, are you really gonna sit there and say, 'Gosh, I wish I'd worked a little harder that one Thursday night.'. Let it go, put it in perspective."

"These pretzels are making me thirsty."

Thanks to all of my wonderful friends and family members who helped me through a little drama this week. Your wisdom, insight, and caring is very appreciated!

The best things in life ARE free

I had a little financial set back this weekend. Well, 4 actually. This was cause for reflection. And swearing. And crying.

I'm now in search of things in life that are meaningful but free. Here is my current list:

1. Shit on the side of the road. (See exhibit 1a)

2. Sunsets

3. Prank calls

4. Illegally downloaded songs

5. Towels at hotels

6 Soda refills (this can apply even days after a purchase)

7. Coffee at work (but it tastes like ass)

8. Naps

9. My neighbor's Sunday paper

10. Bulk candy at the grocery store

11. Naps

12. Parking in a spot where there's still time left on the meter

13. Sample day at Sam's Club

14. The movie after the one you just paid to see.

15. Popcorn refills if you can score a bucket out of the trash at the movies.

16. Perfume (one squirt at a time at the mall)

[This list is in progress. Check back soon for additions.]