It's New to Me

So here's my funny new revelation...my legs are crazy ticklish!

How does one discover this in a completely PG way you might ask - well I'll tell you. My back was so tight that I was reverting to neanderthal posture - sorry Geico dude! So what to do, I after all don't want to be covered in hair and walking around with a huge slump!

So I entered the fantastic world of finding a good massage...last Thursday was pretty darn good, Swedish massage at Allure, it felt like a dream but didn't do the trick...but hello the legs, stay away from my quads woman!!! Oh calves, so not the answer - they are just as bad! Take two Mario Tricoci deep tissue on Tuesday! I for some reason thought this would be better...if it kinda hurts it shouldn't tickle right - wrong! I tried so hard not to squirm but it TICKLES! I took a deep sigh of relief when my legs were done and the pain was again inflicted on my back...today I feel like a walking, talking dream! Ahhh!

I know it's really not important, but when did my legs become ticklish - ridiculous I tell you, RIDICULOUS!

Fun times in INDY!

If you know my family you know that crazy and sometimes frightening stories follow us around...so I thought I'd share a good one from this weekend.

We were in Indiana, land of the Hoosiers, and where Mom is from. She gets a lot of flack for this and I'm sure this episode did her state no favors...

So, anyhow...we were walking to our car through the Marsh parking lot when this huge, pickup truck came barreling at us, I screamed and jumped out of the way as it barreled past. I know that I have a flare for the dramatic, but seriously, this guy almost single handedly ended our family. So my dad goes into a fist pumping rage and gives the truck a little love tap (it was tiny I swear). The guy slams his brakes and starts spewing this black smoke out of his exhaust stacks, his back wheels are squealing and white smoke is pouring off of them! Oh holy toledo, this is bad!!! They carry guns in Indiana you know...

He did this for a bit too long of course and his truck flooded - tee he he, serves him right! This also gave us a perfect get away as he jumped out of his truck to attempt what I can only imagine would have been a nasty fight!

Welcome to INDIANA - I've never been so happy to be back in the Land of Lincoln!

Doggie Diaries...

The dogs have been a bit of a tornado of terror tonight...and since I don't feel well they are front and center trying to take care of me. Dogs are great in that way, they know when you are sick or down and are there in a flash - and with these dogs I really mean a flash!

Bailey's way of caring, he has been laying either on me or next to me all night. How he gets there starts with one very vertical leap and a pile of dog landing in your lap!

Boomer...well, he is just trying to get close but in the process he has been typing on my computer, with the vigor of Tigger! When he finally settled down he couldn't stop hiccuping...poor guy, just like a little baby!

Bentley has been a Houdini...every hour or so he escapes...silly boy has explored every inch he should not have been occupying, broken into at least one cabinet...and the rest I'll find later. As for his form of consolation he has licked every exposed piece of skin he can find and when that got dull, he started licking my computer...um, hello that's just obsessive but ok!

...and now I leave you with one of Bentley's nightly rituals to close Doggie Diaries for March 10th!

Yikes...zinger!

My brother-in-law is one of the people in my life that is super good at speaking truth into me...and I'm not even really sure that he knows it is taking place. Well he probably does but he doesn't do it in a way that ever really requires anything more, no follow-up, no debrief, nothing. He says something, and he says it with such truth and wisdom that I sit and think about it for a good long time...

So here is the most recent piece of truth from Brother Jay - a.k.a. Jay Jay the Jet Plane!

I think this started because my sister told him that some guy made me awkward...thanks sis, love you too!

Jay's instant question almost without thought...why do you think anyone makes you awkward? Do you think that you are assigning them too much value? Are you placing their worth above that of God?

Yikes - zinger! I'd never thought of it that way! But so true Jay, if I can talk freely and openly with God without hesitation why does a guy make me awkward? God is so much greater, why am I intimidated by a guy...perhaps my values are a bit off!

So think on it...what things or people in your life are you assigning too much value? Is it your car, if you wrecked it would your world spin out of control, your significant other, your pet, a new home...what is your stumbling block?

SUNNNNN!

The sun is out and I am loving it! How is it that a bit of sun can have such an impact on people...

1) Everyone in the office is happy!
2) Most everyone went out to lunch - a few even went for 2 hours!
3) Not a single person I've talked to is staying past 4:00
4) Here's a big one...my dogs may even get walked today!

I can't quite find a picture of all the pooches - so here is the nastiest - GRRRR - doesn't he look like he could kill! Now imagine he has 2 partners in crime...that IS scary!

Integrity - My Personal Fave!

Today's post is focused on my favorite character trait. I've been thinking recently about what draws you to people, why are you friends with certain people, why would you want to "do life" with them. Through this process I've landed on my favorite character trait...it belongs to no other than Matty! So let's all be clear I have hated this trait for the way that it can manifest itself but in the end have found it to be so very precious!

I'm not sure if it is defined as integrity...or the determination to never make a promise that can not be kept and to keep every promise ever made no matter the cost. Matt did this so well...and the first time I ever really noticed this as a trait I darn near killed him. In reality he was protecting me from false expectations...flashback to Feb 8, 2005 (yep, it's my birthday) and Matt is about to deploy...I begged him to promise me that he wouldn't die...his response, I love you, but I am not going to make a promise I can't keep. My thoughts - you bastard! At that moment I hated his integrity. But that was who he was, if he promised to do the tiniest thing like call you the next day he did...he was always true to his word and this is a trait that deserves a bit of recognition! Our entire culture could benefit from a bit more of this...no matter how small a promise, stick to it!

2nd Lt. Matthew Scott Coutu
(KIA Baghdad June 27, 2005)

Because it's fun to be Awkward!

Did you just find that? No it's my home made frappuccino! SICK!

I just quite literally tied my shoes together while walking...

Alyssa - Oh my gosh are you ok? Me - I'm just going to lay here for a bit. I'm hog tied and laying in the dirt!

I look like butt, not bare butt, covered butt!

Screaming from the chairlift, after one of my major black diamond crashes...Boutwell - Camille, you ok? Me - Yep, just resting! (insert crash) Oh, yep should have rested longer!

Do you want anything from Starbucks...oh YES!...are you going to bring it back?....nope, it'll be waiting for you in Wisconsin!

Is that hair next to my car? Oh my gosh it's a weave!

Oh Shirley Temple, do you know how much I've missed you?

Shred the GNAR!

The 10th annual Park Ski trip was this past weekend, and chances are next year they'll have to change the name to shred trip...te he he!

It was a blast...starting with an early morning attempt to get Starbucks - 5 stores later mission accomplished and it was so good!

Despite the freezing wind it was a complete blast, and when you hurt way too much to board - why not photo shoot! Here are a few of my faves!