I haven't been blogging lately because I am trying to write a "serious" book. It is taking all of my time and creative energy.  I really need to get out and laugh more, so it was great voting in the pumpkin contest. Go neighbors!

Ok, We all have one.  A pet peeve!  Something that really irritates us and disturbs our inner peace.  Maybe, because it touches one of our emotional "Buttons" or maybe just because it is time-consuming, not important and unneccesarily adds to an already stress filled day.  Well, I have mine.  E-MAILS that tell you to send this to (any number will do) people in so many minutes.  If you do "YOU WILL BE BLESSED" and if you don't, well go figure.  My old fundamentalist guilt kicks in, I don't want to go to Hell for not forwarding an e-mail, but it takes me forever to go through my address book and edit the people that will respond appropriately to the sentiment of each e-mail.I would like to get my house cleaned up and my errands run, before it's time to cook dinner, be homework tutor and drop my tired behind on the sofa for a little down time.  Hell is feeling guilty if you forward it, and guilty if you don't.  The simple solution, is for those people that are authoring these e-mails to please stop, unless you really have the power to personally make a miracle happen for those who recieve your e-mail. Or maybe I need to disconnect from my emotional "guilt' button. That is what I am going to do.  Starting today I will not forward another e-mail, if I don't want to do it.  Be forwarned!  I don't believe I will miss any miracles or blessings.  I think I will have the miracle of, more time of my own, and inner peace.  Two miracles I can really use!

Just wanted to remind everyone that there is a book study here in mckinney for people who relate to this spiritual outlook.  Check this website for details wwwuclight.org. 

also we are talking about this book this Sunday at UC Light of McKinney. Check the website for details on this too.

Why, you may ask am I so interested in the Skatepark in Mckinney opening?  The reason is, because I am running the "unofficial" skateboard park of Mckinney, which I know is a sore spot with my neighbors and myself.  First off- I don't feel I can charge for drinks, since I know most of these kids parents.  Secondly, They are always hungry and since my maternal instinct kicks in, I feel the need to feed!  Thirdly-they need rides, and everyone knows all moms have second jobs, as taxi services.  So I am an unofficial skate park and the sole owner and employee, I also sleep here, which can be quite inconvienent!  Hurry up, please and open the other one so I can take a nap!!!!

Who is DON DAY? You may be asking youself right now.  Don Day isn't someone you hear about everyday.  But for as long as I've lived here(8 years) he has been buying and remodeling buildings in downtown Mckinney.  The list is long and getting longer of his accomplishments.  A few are as follows, Sweet Tomato Restuarant (Now Poppy's), Antique Collection,  Bought, remodeled and sold The Prison.  Most recently Owns Ricks Chop House and The Grande Hotel. Don is a visionary and he has chosen to envision downtown Mckinney as an upscale Shopping, entertainment, and dining experience.  Now he has out done all of his past accomplishments by DONATING LAND TO THE CITY OF MCKINNEY, FOR A COMMUNITY SKATEPARK!!!!  I never thought McKinney would have one, and as the mother of a "SKATER" I cannot thank you enough! I vote for McKinney to have a DON DAY DAY!  Hey, kind of catchy, don'tcha think?  Could you get that open tomorrow?  No pressure.

This year I planned our vacation.  Usually my husband plans it. We decided to use one of those, stay cheap and listen to one hour of Time-Sharing sales plans, from a major hotel chain. The Hotel stay was in Las Vegas.  I am not a lover of gambling or cigarette smoke but it was a really good deal!  I decided first we should spend a couple of days at the Grand Canyon.  I hadn't ever seen it except to fly over and I thought it would be fun and different!  I looked on the internet and found a place called Grand Canyon West. We flew into Las Vegas and then drove to the "Dude Ranch." A five hour drive I wouldn't recommend!  ( I found out later we could have helecoptered from Las Vagas, which would have been much better.)THE DUDE RANCH was a great experience for my ten year old!  We stayed in a log cabin with NO PHONE.  Our cell phones didn't work either!  We had NO TV or electronic game stuff.  For two days my family had to eat together, talk together and play together.  My son could not believe people really used to live like this!  all of us staying there ate together, at one big table. Then we sat out by a bonfire and the cowboys that worked there sang and played their guitars.  There were several visiters from England!  The cowboys were from Mexico, Jamaica, and of course The U.S.  It was fun to sit out under the stars and listen to them.  They played Hispanic cowboy music, as well as Jamaican and American!  It was a great education for my little guy!  And I had an epiphany under the stars, when the cowboys sang and we all were one voice for a night.

 

  Sunday at the Heard we talked about FREEDOM.  Freedom from being tied to outcomes, Freedom to make our own choices.  Freedom to love "WHAT IS." A reference to a Byron Katy book, "Loving What is." They say you can put a Buddist monk in solitary confinement, which to most men would be Hell.  The Monk will find Heaven there!  Now that is what I'm talking about!!!!!  By the way it was Ringo Starr's 68th Birthday yesterday.  He was on Larry King last night.  He wanted Everyone to stop at twelve oclock and say "PEACE and LOVE."  To quote on of my favorite songs, "When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, LET IT BE!" Mary means Contradiction.  Think about it.

Normally, my past fourth of July experiences have been, for lack of a better word, disappointing!  Either we would get there too early and by the time the fireworks started, the bugs would have sucked all of the blood out of me, the heat would have sucked all of the water out of me and all I could think about was how good home, a bath and a glass of water was going to be!  Or we would wait till the last minute, to avoid the first scenario, only to get there after the fireworks were over and everyone was leaving.  Once we decided to go to Lonestar Park for the fourth.  They have their festivities on the third so that was a really depressing year!  This year was different though.  My type "A" workaholic, husband has found the perfect way to do Six Flags.  Buy season tickets.  Always go at late, when everyone else is leaving.  You don't pay a parking fee. You can park right in the front.  Run to the park.  ride as many rides as you can in the two or so hours you have. Then on your way out, watch the fireworks.  I'll have to admit, that really worked!  We had just enough fun, then watched the fireworks, then went home.

I haven't been to Six Flags lately and I wondered how they would be faring in these economic times but I needn't worry. The place was packed.  There was a definate cross section of people there,  I saw Muslim women in their headgear,  "Gangsters" as my little boy likes to call the hip guys. Couples strolling arm in arm.  All races, all ages, Every sector in America was at Six Flags.  When the Fireworks started and "God Bless America"  Came over the PA system my emotions caught me by surprise.  I could feel the tear in my eye.  I looked behind me and there was a hispanic Dad holding his toddler girl on one shoulder and his toddler boy on the other.  They all had this mesmerized look on their faces, as they watched the fireworks!  If six Flags is any indication, it would be possible for us all to live in Peace, Harmony, and Freedom together. For a minute I could actually see it happening  in this land of the free and home of the brave!!!!