Tag: Fun

Published – Mama Blue Loves Cassie Sue

On By DGThomaIn Family, WritingLeave a comment

The profound connection between Cassie Sue and her grandmother Mama Blue is tested when the physical distance between them makes it difficult to find comfort and smiles. The story demonstrates a delightful tale of family bonds, joy and inspiration.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHL1C96N – link to book on Amazon

Pick up a copy of the eBook or paperback and leave a review! Check back here to follow new tales of Mama Blue and Cassie. Be the first to know when the Blue Family adventures continue in the next book.

Obsessions

On By DGThomaIn Exercise, Friends, Humor/Light Hearted, Writing1 Comment

Obsessions, everyone has a few.  They may be mild or they may be extreme.  Mine fall somewhere in the middle.   I call them “my crazies”.  People may say they don’t have obsessions, but I don’t believe it.  Even Superman has Lois Lane.  If you must have crazies, pick something you enjoy.

My current crazy is easy to recognize.  Visit any of my social media accounts where threads of running related anecdotes litter the posts.  Most days between 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM, I’m dressed in spandex and Asics running shoes ready to exercise.

My number one addiction is running.  I find it social, meditative and energizing.  It can be a much-needed tension reliever and in my group, filled with laughter.  We have christened ourselves, the fun group.

As a young naïve employee, I smirked watching my 50+ co-workers lace their Keds ready to spend the lunch break in a brisk walk.  I lounged inside, enjoying the air conditioning.  If I walked, I never wore tennis shoes and a dress!

Well, how silly was that?  Who cares what I wear during a lunch walk? If they do, that’s their problem not mine.  My mature self knows better.  Most days I eat, then slip a favorite pair of athletic shoes on anxious feet, anticipating spending half an hour in the fresh air and sunshine.

My younger clueless self missed much enjoyment, choosing safety behind the glass while she could have meandered through the tree lined paths on the other side of the pane.

This current obsession has enjoyed a longer life span than former ones.  With 18 marathons, over 20 half marathons and  countless 5 and 10 K runs completed, I hope this one doesn’t end.  And there I go again, letting crazy spill out.

If I run 100 marathons when I’m eighty, that’s my crazy.  Well not that I’m 80 but I will be someday.   I resolve to be diverse in choosing topics to tweet, post or blog, but for today, here is one more on my current obsession.

 

A Saturday of Surprises

On By DGThomaIn News and Reviews, Writing1 Comment

I was scheduled to work Saturday a few weeks ago.  Well I scheduled myself, but there were a lot of things I needed to get done.   I planned to sleep in a bit, maybe even until 7:30 AM.  Weekdays, the alarm goes off at 5:00 AM.  I also planned to drop by the Farmer’s Market on my way out of town.  From our suburb outside Austin, TX to my office is normally a 60-90 minute commute.  On Saturdays, if we leave early enough we can make it 45 minutes.  A stop by the market would still get me to work relatively early.

I did sleep until 7:30 AM and was in the kitchen by 8:00 AM, trying to decide what I wanted for breakfast.  My phone beeped to alert me, I had a text.  One of my co-workers, already at the office informed me the water was off and everyone was going home.  I resisted the temptation to text “Woo hoo!” and simply replied “Thanks!”

With unexpected free time, I stirred up a vegetable frittata, steamed new potatoes from my garden and had a delicious breakfast.  After breakfast, I managed to talk both my husband and son into going with me to the Farmer’s Market downtown.

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Elgin Farmers’ Market

It’s not a large venue.  There were about 15 vendor stalls, live local musicians, and a decent number of people milling about.  Saturday morning, the crowd,  smaller than normal due in part to an early morning rain shower, still provided quite a few shoppers.  We arrived around 10:45 AM, just in time for a drawing.  A vendor approached us and insisted we drop our names in the bucket.  I appointed my husband our representative.  He often wins these things but I rarely do.

I continued to shop while he signed up for the raffle.  He surprised me by entering all three of our names.  A little late, but not too long after 11:00 AM someone announced the drawing was about to begin.  No matter what the prize, the anticipation of waiting for your name to be called is exhilarating.  The “grand prize” was a gift certificate for handmade goat milk soaps and lotions from Sweet Life.  Everyone had an eye on that one.  First name called?  My son. Several people nearby whispered, “Maybe he isn’t here,” but he hurried to the grandstand, calling “Here I am!”   Screenshot 2016-06-15 15.04.44

Now everyone was interested in the drawing.  We all moved closer and circled the grandstand.  Several more prizes were awarded, before they announced the next prize was an olive tree.  “That’s what I want,” I told my husband.  I don’t know why, but it seemed really cool.  Winner?  My husband; still exciting because I suspected I would be the actual recipient.

More names were drawn and prizes awarded.  The next prize? Two glitter tattoos.  Immediately, I whispered, “that’s what I’m going to win.”   Yes, absolutely they called my name.  I looked around for a little girl I could donate to, but alas they all already sported a glittery tattoo.

I only claimed one of my tattoos, I didn’t want to be greedy after all.  I left with a pretty Celtic knot plastered on my calf.  I thanked my benefactor and had to smile as I walked away.  She shouted to me, “Sometimes, they will last up to two weeks.”

Two weeks later, I can still see the outline.   Wonderful day of surprises!

 

A Calm Mind is a Precious Gift

On By DGThomaIn 2016, Exercise, Family, News and Reviews, WritingLeave a comment

The Bastrop State Park is a quick 20-minute drive from my home.  I love to visit the park, picnicking, cooking on the grill or hiking and running the trails.  My memories are peppered with hours spent in the park.

In September 2011 a roaring fire swept through Bastrop County in Central Texas.  The fiery inferno didn’t spare the state park. The resulting devastation affected ninety-six percent of the park as firefighters struggled to extinguish the blaze.   Ultimately, it charred 32,000 acres.

The recovery has been amazing and the many volunteers who work tirelessly to revitalize it are inspiring.

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Last Sunday, we arrived at the park for our first visit of the new year. As I tightened my laces, my spirit stirred.  The sandy trail, flowed beneath my sneakers, grabbing  for traction, keeping me sure-footed as  I navigated the rocky trail.

The rustle of the dry leaves falling from the trees whispered, reminiscent of a Texas rattlesnake.

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Fallen trees lay tangled, a jigsaw of trunks etched on the ground by spring flooding.  We passed a young hiker garbed in a pink dress and knee high cowboy boots.  She grasped her father’s hand wide eyed as her brother warned us “to watch out for those ants up ahead”.  He punctuated his words with his walking stick, the stick twice his size.

Regal pine trees crooned a melody, their branches, the wind’s violin.  Small white flowers sprinkled across our path an embryo that would soon be plump juicy berries, ripe and tart.20160228_115141

Trudging up slopes I flew down the other side, shedding inhibitions.  I felt free to stumble, laugh, fall and get back up to do it again.  Leaping mud puddles in a single bound, I conquered makeshift bridges and eluded poisonous tendrils of vines alongside the trail.

Fire damage and destruction faded.  Sparks of green climbed over and under fallen and damaged trees.

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Seven miles of fun later, wonderfully spent but also energized, I sat.  Warmed by the sun, I enjoyed the song of a bird, the notes carried on the breeze.  Marveling at the unexpected joy of a soul unburdened, my soul and body were restored.  What a precious gift!

Winding down the Old and Quietly Ushering in the New

On By DGThomaIn Family, News and Reviews, Travel, Writing2 Comments

My anniversary is the first week in January and instead of exchanging gifts, my husband and I often take a weekend trip.  We are usually in need of a bit of recuperation.  Although fun, holiday travel can take a toll.   Our hectic schedule begins with Thanksgiving and culminates with our anniversary weekend.

I love to travel but am always grateful to return home.  This year our holiday plans included multiple trips, and I wanted to avoid piling on more miles when planning our anniversary.

I debated planning a special meal instead of a weekend trip, but decided to search online for day trips.  A few familiar options popped up, but, there was one I had not heard of , the 9E Ranch.  Intrigued, I read the following blurb:

“On a 320-acre ranch, this rustic cabin resort lies 13.4 miles from both downtown Bastrop and Smithville.

The 4 antiques-filled cabins are individually decorated and come with full kitchens and country views. Some add sleeper lofts, claw-foot tubs, air-conditioning, decks or wood-burning stoves.

Paths and hiking trails crisscross the property. Breakfast muffins and coffee are complimentary.”

The description sounded perfect for a quiet restful weekend!  I checked the website for a vacancy and found The Eagles’ Nest Log Cabin was available.  I booked the cabin and on Friday afternoon, we headed for the 9E Ranch.

We arrived at the ranch half an hour after we left home.  The entrance was easy enough to find but I recommend using GPS.  It is well marked but in the dusk it wasn’t as obvious as I expected.  As we drove through the gate, we shook, rattled and rolled down the hard-packed dirt road.

9E

It was a typical ranch road as expected on a working ranch. When we pulled up to the cabin, a smile spread across my face.  The scene was idyllic.  Thankfully, we had packed light, bringing few bags.  The air was chilly and damp, so minimal luggage made unloading easy. DSC00388

Inside, I was instantly charmed.  The view was lovely.  The stately pine trees meandered across the grassy slope tossing pine needles in their wake.  Huddled at the bottom of the hill a small herd of longhorn cattle strolled.

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We stowed our bags and settled on the sofa as the evening dusk faded to cast delightful light show across the horizon.  Later, we sat at the little wooden table and ate a light meal.  Tuna and fruit on a bed of greens and a tray of cheese with crackers on the side made a light and tasty meal!  The rest of the evening we sat quietly reading, talking and just looking at  the skyline.

On Saturday we drove to Smithville to visit a few antique stores and enjoy a fun lunch at Pocket’s Grille.  At Pockets, the burger bar is the trunk of a 1961 Ford Galaxy.  I ordered fish tacos and it was a delicious choice.  Ron opted for a burger. We both cleaned our plates.  After lunch, we headed back to our cabin.  With the drizzle now a rain, we stayed inside the rest of the day.  We had planned to take long walks on the trails and view the animals that roam the ranch.

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Instead we stayed indoors, wrapped in a quilt while we played Trivial Pursuit and watched the night sky come to life.  We left the Eagles’ Nest cabin around noon on Sunday, refreshed and rested.  It was the perfect getaway and I can hardly wait to return.

The Quiet After the Tempests

On By DGThomaIn Animal Stories, Family, Musings, Travel, WritingLeave a comment

Last year I persistently clacked the keyboard, determined to put some small entertainment on the blank page.   If not entertainment, then perhaps grammatically correct sentences.  Doggedly producing words, I waited for a gem to flow through my fingers.

Then I faltered.  I’ve been away from the page for a while, pulled by distractions and obligations.

It began with Thanksgiving, the gentle nudge away from writing.  The busy work and family obligations wooed me.  I allowed myself to let writing slide for a while, missing a blog post, then two and three.  My novel (s) in waiting went unopened for weeks.  New ideas blossomed in my head and faded; notepads empty and computers idle.

Today I attempted to regain focus.  Christmas has passed and Christmas future is far away.  I took a deep breath, mentally rather than physically and opened a beautifully blank page.

Behind the computer screen, through the windowpane, two red cardinals play in the leaves.  I smile and watch them foraging when suddenly the leaves around the bright spots of red became alive with movement.  Bobbing in and out of the fallen oak leaves are numerous female cardinals.  Their slight movement camouflaged, their coloring matching the dried leaves.  Enjoying the activity, I see a squirrel has entered the scene.  He too is easy to miss as he darts among the reds and browns of the winter landscape.

Past the tall barren oaks and through splashes of green from the fir trees, my neighbors walk their large white dog down our country lane; his full coat and bushy tail appear at odd intervals through the kaleidoscope of nature.

I recall the many cities I visited in the last few weeks and the family stories I intend to share, later.  Now, I’m going to relax and enjoy nature.  I’ll be back to catch up on travel and family a little later.

 

 

Rainy Days and Halloween……

On By DGThomaIn Food, Friends, Humor/Light Hearted, Writing1 Comment

I decided a few weeks before Halloween to throw a party for my staff.  They love celebrating and most of them enjoy dressing up for Halloween.  I sent an invitation for 2:00 PM Friday, October 30th promising punch, cookies and a costume contest.

Invitation

Immediately I went into hyper mode in an effort to plan the perfect party.  We’d have a variety of Halloween themed punches, the perfect baked, decorated cookies and lots of decorations.

I spent the next couple of weeks making lists and jotting notes.  I searched for the best cookies, polling everyone for opinions.  I surfed the web and combed Pinterest for ghoulish recipes.

Settling on wormy orange punch, witches brew and blood (orange) punch, I purchased cauldrons, ladles, spider webs and more.  On Thursday night, I worked late but still managed to pick up fresh vegetables, fruit and a few other last minute supplies.  I made sure we had enough to feed an army even though I only needed enough for 15 people.  I enlisted help from family, picking up the cookies, baking treats, making dip and putting up with my insanity.

Over the course of the week, I brought supplies and decorations to the office to minimize chaos on Friday.  All of Austin and the surrounding areas woke up to a deluge of rain on Friday, October 30th.  Relieved that most of the party paraphernalia was already stored at my office, we loaded the car with the final touches and began the hour long commute.

Five miles from the house, I realized that the frozen juice cubes for the punch were still in the freezer.  Since the National Weather Center had issued flood warnings, it didn’t seem realistic to return home for ice cubes.  At about mile 10 I discovered the fruit tray and the vegetable tray were also at home in the refrigerator along with the vegetable dip.  No problem.  I would just call my son and see if he would bring it in around lunch.  Surely the sun would be out by then.

At mile 20, the radio informed us that there was a confirmed tornado on the ground about 30 miles away and the rain wasn’t expected to end anytime soon. I wasn’t going to ask anyone to get out in this mess.  No problem.  I’d just walk across the street for frozen fruit to drop in the punch and we could live without the vegetables.

At work, reports of flooding replaced any thoughts of the party while I tried to get in touch with any employees not already at work.  Now I was trying to contact my son to be sure he was paying attention to the rapidly changing weather conditions.

At 8:45 AM, I received an ‘Extreme Alert’ via my phone:

“Tornado Warning in this area til 9:15 AM CDT.  Take shelter now.”

Well, herding hundreds of costumed people down three flights of stairs to the bottom of the parking garage quickly became priority.  We are all fine and the storm passed without significant damage for us and I realized that we had everything we needed.

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When 2:00 PM finally arrived, it was still raining.  The party was fun and everyone was relieved to forget about storms for just a little while.

 

Rainbows and Lollipops

On By DGThomaIn Friends, Musings, Writing2 Comments

Normally, I am happy and contented and suffer only occasional bouts of frustration.  I mean, we all have to deal with reality checks at times.

I spend more than a little effort trying to do the right thing because I believe karma can be powerful, both good and bad.  Generally good triumphs over evil and doing the right thing pays off.  Of course, not always.

Let’s face it, sometimes when you bend to smell the flowers, you get a nose covered in fertilizer.  The past few weeks have really been busy and everything has been overly complicated.  It’s that time of year when numerous projects are wrapping up, while others are just beginning.  Everything and everyone has been clamoring for my attention (at least from my totally unbiased perspective).  But as a co-worker said, “Sometimes you’ve got to laugh and keep on going.”

We’ve been working long hours…..

Leaving at 6:30 AM for the office

 

Returning home late from the office.

Returning home late from the office.

As you can see, I’m definitely not getting enough sunshine!

I thought I was internalizing my grumpiness pretty well, but I may not have been as successful as I thought.

A good friend stopped by my office with a gift.  She said this can be for now or later, you decide.  Well of course I chose to open it immediately.  It was a present after all.  What was inside, made me smile and tear up a little.  Underneath a plump stuffed gray elephant lay a book, titled, “You’re Here for a Reason”, by Nancy Tillman.  20151028_190401

I’m very fortunate to have a caring and generous friend to remind me what is important.  The rest of the story……

My friend is very close to her great nieces.  They were out shopping and she has bought me gifts before when they were with her.  They are all between 4 – 8 years old.  They showed her the book and said, “If someone is having a really bad day, this is the bestest book to read.”  Of course she bought it immediately and that is why it ended up on my desk last night.

I will cherish it always and any time I’m feeling down, I think I know just what I want to read.

Listening for your song…..

On By DGThomaIn Family, Writing1 Comment

Can you hear your song, Jilly Girl?  Listen carefully!  Your song is deep inside, but if you listen you can hear it.  It is a conglomeration of thousands of melodies from everyone who helped make you.  Your great-grandmother, Granny Greenway, Nana Thoma, Mama and great-aunts each contributed.  There are lots more that I don’t even remember.”

I recently found this message I had written to my granddaughter 15 or 16 years ago.  She had asked me to snuggle with her in our oversized recliner and watch a video.  Yes, we were still playing video tapes on a VCR back then.

We watched as an inventor named Doc and his dog Sprocket wandered through Fraggle Rock. Fraggle Rock is a Muppet type show created by Jim Henson.  It debuted in 1983.  Jillian was born in 1996 and has always loved retro things.  Betty Boop was her favorite animation and the theme from Top Gun was her favorite music.   The Fraggles spent the episode searching for their songs.  I heard Jillian humming, and realized she still had to find her inner songs.

I whispered to her, “Start looking now, before your life is cluttered with everyone else’s songs.”

Jillian is 19 years old now.  We don’t fit in that old recliner any more.  I’m sure neither of us have a copy of Fraggle Rock any longer.  We still enjoying snuggling occasionally.  She has a lovely song and it’s “cluttered” by many other songs.  I was wrong in one respect.  Her song is unique, but it’s definitely peppered with melodies and notes from everyone that has passed through her life and that’s the way it should be.

I haven’t shared this with Jillian and I don’t believe she will remember any advice I freely offered to her at 5 years young.  I hope she will always remember those special memories we created and continues to enjoy creating more of them.

But mostly, I hope she knows, how beautiful her song has become.

Where Oh Where has the Cool Weather Gone?

On By DGThomaIn Exercise, Writing1 Comment

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The past couple of weeks the temperatures in Austin Texas hovered just under 100 degrees finally tipping the scales to peak at 100 degrees for more than 8 days straight.  The thought of slogging through the humid soupy air isn’t very motivating.

As the heat climbs, exercising outdoors becomes dangerous.  In Austin, the trails and roads are filled with all of us crazy runners, walkers and cyclist at all hours of the day.

Savvy athletes know you should always carry water if you will be out for any length of time in the Texas heat.  Even so I have occasionally found myself in the heat sans water bottle.  It usually happens when I intend to go a short distance and turn around but get caught up in the run and forget.  I’m certainly no expert on how to prevent or treat heat illnesses but running in Austin for 12 years, I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks on keeping your cool.20150609_192313

If you run in the downtown area, the Lady Bird Lake hike and bike trail has water fountains placed strategically along the course.  Much of the trail is shaded with large trees hanging over the path. I enjoy the shade on the trail, but it does get too crowded at times.  Dodging strollers, cyclist and pets often drives me to the pavement for my runs.

If like me you prefer to run the roads instead of the trail, downtown Austin offers wide sidewalks on many streets.  Drivers are accustomed to runners in the crosswalk, on the shoulder or occasionally in the bike lane.  Less traveled side streets commonly offer tree lined sidewalks which provide some shade.

If you find yourself in need of water, there is a public water fountain near Colorado on Cesar Chavez.  About a mile down Congress from Cesar Chavez you can access a replica water fountain located on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol Building.  The fountain was restored in the early 1950’s and has a foot pedal to pump fresh water to quench your thirst.  Warning!  Be prepared to get wet as you push your face under the falling stream for a sip.

Fountain

There are a few businesses who provide access to water for runners as well.  I personally know of a dry cleaner who leaves a hose out for runners so they can get a drink from his outdoor faucet.  I have also befriended a gas station attendant who has invited us to share the fountain in his garage any time we are out for a run.

On the UT campus there are public areas that offer cold water fountains for a brief respite for overheated runners.  In addition, Pease Park and Butler Park both have water fountains to refill water bottles.  I’m sure there are many other water sources but these are some of my “go to sources”  if I find my water bottle nearing empty on a hot day.

All things considered, if you have to train in the heat, Austin Texas is a great place to do it.