Heart, Aunt Bee

12.18.2016

That's Errday

For Valentine's Day 2015, this generous guy got me a kickass Nikon camera, with all the fixin's. I'm a turd and don't use it.

I mean I want to...I just don't carry around a camera every day like I used to do. And...well...there's a lot of excuses, I'm sure. None are good.

The other day, I decided to do one of those picture a day challenges where you have a word to inspire you each day. I was hoping this would motivate me. There are a couple of groups already out there, like those run by Capture Your 365 or the list by Fat Mum Slim. I thought maybe I'd be more accountable and make it into a fun thing for the two of us (gross) if I made Dub give me a word each day.

The photo above is the first in the series, #Bee365. I don't know if I'll always caption the photos but I did with this one:

heartauntbeehas decided to do one of those photo a day things to motivate her to use her expensive and rarely used Nikon. The idea is there's a word every day to provide inspiration for a daily photo. Instead of joining a group, she asked Dub to provide a word each day. Today's word is butthole. #Bee365 #Dubbledore

You can see, it's going well for us!

You can follow the series by following me on Instagram. The photos will also post on my tumblr, of which the most recent posts can be seen on the left, here. Wish me luck!

12.13.2016

All My Roads, They Lead to You

I know it was probably a narcissistic gift, but many years ago, I had a years' worth of my blog published for a couple of special people. As you can see, the inevitable happened and one of the poomongers found a copy.

So here's the thing...in the last few years, somehow I found a soul or something and with it came emotions. It's awful. I cry at stupid commercials, now. Like the Frankie's Christmas commercial from Apple. I'm one of those people, now.

I cried when I got this text message. My reaction surprised me. I mean, I'm new to this emotion thing. I sat and thought about it as the tears kept coming. I knew I wasn't upset at Sadie's discovery. I loved that she found it because of her curiosity and OMG SHE LIKES TO READ! And I was happy for her to read what I had written. The whole point of this place was to store memories.

It finally hit me. I'd been writing for them all along. I was writing so I wouldn't forget to tell them things when they got older. I was excited it was happening but also felt awful because I hadn't written in years.

I'm not sure why I quit writing. I'm sure there's several reasons. Raw, because she's the most supportive friend I've ever had, encouraged me to start writing again. She told me I had a gift.

Then they came to visit. The girls started in on me, immediately. Sophia had also read the book. They started bombarding me. "I KNOW WHY YOU HATE WAL-MART!"

They were only here for a few days but in that time, they said to me about one hundred times "You should write more!" And so...at their request, here I am.

Girls, I can't promise a timeframe or even that anything will be good, but here we go again.

7.08.2012

Different Drum

I don't know what made me think of this story, but it's something I want to get out there so I can perhaps remember it again sometime.

My apartment in Wichita was within walking distance of Botanica, the local botanical gardens. During my last Christmas season there, I met Raw, her sister, her mom and the kids to see the Illumations display.

Every year, Botanica bedazzles the place with billions of lights and decorations for the holiday season. It is pretty but crowded and full of crazy kids. Including ours.

In one garden, they had a train track running around a tree. There was a train with a few cars and also Santa on one of those carts . . . I'm not sure what they're called. The carts where you lift the lever up and down and it makes the car follow the track? Anyway. Santa was on one of these. His cart and the train are mostly equal distance from each other.

There's a million little children crowded around the track. Okay, not a million. But enough for me to feel very claustrophobic. I hear several of them talking about how Santa is trying to catch up to the train.

But not Sophia. My amazing Sophia looked at us with a giant smile on her face, doing her pony jump. "Look! Santa is beating the train!"

How brilliant is that kid?

1.04.2012

I Don't Care About That

So the Iowa Caucus was last night and uuuuuuuuugh.

Seriously. Has there ever been such a lame lot of candidates? I just can't seem to get myself to care this year.

I caucused for Hillary in 2008. I still think she would have been the better president. I think she has done well as Secretary of State.

I read this article the other day and a spark of interest ignited for the 2012 election. Obama/Clinton in 2012! Brilliant! While I think it is actually not the best use of Clinton, it puts her in a good place.

HRC in 2012!!!

1.02.2012

Don't Speak

While at my parents' home this weekend, I read a couple of editions of the local newspaper.

There was a column printed from the Kansas wire. The gist of the whole thing was that technology, namely mobile devices, are ruining our ability to communicate. I almost didn't read it because come on, how many stories have there been about this in the last few years. But the first bit caught my attention.

The author was disappointed because nobody pays attention to him in the airport. Everyone is playing games on their iPads, reading books on their Kindles and are wearing earbuds. He said that in ye olde days, travelling was a time when you got to learn about other people's hopes and dreams.

Hopes and dreams???

Today, as I headed back to Phoenix wearing earbuds, I kept freaking out that I might run into someone who would get waaaay too personal like that guy.

Little did I know the airports were safe. It wasn't until the train that I ended up being approached by a mouth-breather.

Maybe I should get a bigger set of headphones.

1.01.2012

Be It Ever So Humble

Tomorrow I head back to the Valley after more than a week spent in the heart of America with friends and family.

Today was an especially difficult day. I said goodbye to a lot of family members. It seems like it has been a long week of goodbyes. I bid adieu once again to my loved ones, not knowing when I might see them again.

I have to remember that it has also been a vacation filled with awesome greetings...

BJ laughing and pointing at me as I approached the Navigator at the airport. Me, pointing and laughing back because he was in the backseat.

The Boy, running at me with a huge grin on my face hollering "AUNT BEEEEEEE!!!"

Being welcomed at the door in Missouri and discovering rum cake.

Saying hello to Allison for the first time in years and to her son Darian for the first time ever.

Being mobbed at the door by my gorgeous goddaughters and their cousins and Raw and Mary. Then turning around to see Tom walk in the door. Greeting Tom with a giant "TOOOOOM!!!!"

Having Evan greet me with a "Look at what I got!" and seeing his 150th Nerf gun.

Waking up to my brother coming home from work and having him try to fart in my face. Okay. Maybe that wasn't so awesome.

Walking in the door to Mamo's house and hearing several people exclaim "There she is!" before getting bear-hugged.

I am getting so sappy in my old age. It is really hard to go. But it is so nice to know whereever I may be...someone out there gives a shit about me.

Happy 2012!