Giancarlo Esposito

For someone who has a passion for writing, it's obvious this isn't the medium I've been using.
Still, the fact that I'm still alive is a huge indicator it's not too late.

Because of the tremendous influence my two oldest sons - Levi and Trevor have had on me, I decided last fall to go back to school and finish my degree.  Not that they were pushing me to, they just have a way of motivating and inspiring me to become better.  I always knew I would, but the time didn't seem right ... at that time.

I'm now a full-time student at Weber State University, pursuing a degree in Professional Sales, (formerly known as Technical Sales and Service) and currently, I'm on track to graduate in December.

Yesterday I attended a convocation on campus.  The guest speaker was Giancarlo Esposito who played Gus in Breaking Bad.  He is a phenomenal speaker and had a wealth of information and gems to offer.  Being 51 in a packed ballroom where 90% of the students were half my age, I'm not sure how much they could appreciate everything Giancarlo was saying.  What I do know is, he's very captivating and no doubt, anyone listening walked away better equipped with tools and truth for live as a result of attending his presentation.

At the end of his formal presentation, he opened it up for questions.  I immediately leaped out of my seat and came close to taking out a couple of people in my as I bee-lined to the microphone.

So picture this, here's a very well read, well versed, tremendously talented, highly intellectual human being who carved time from his demanding schedule to speak to a large group of students. The floor is now open for questions, and he's totally present, ready to share whatever he can offer from his experiences, insight, etc.  Out of the first 8 people to take the microphone, 5 asked for his autograph and a selfie with him, one said her first book had just been printed - in which she created a villain eerily close to Gus, so could she leave a copy with him.  I was bewildered!  Seriously kiddies?  After the self-proclaimed novelist presented her book to him, the moderator swiftly and clearly reminded the audience, this was their opportunity to ASK QUESTIONS.

Obviously the next person did.  Then it was my turn.  Earlier that morning,
Trevor sent me a text saying if I had the chance to ask a question, ask him how it was filming the episode Box Cutter when he kills Victor.

So I did.  The moderator of the mic. held my iPhone and recorded his reply.  This afternoon, I stumbled and fumbled my way around windows movie maker and created something resembling a 4 min. movie...
I've never even attempted such a project, so consider yourself prepared for this little gem.

Right-click the link below.  When the menu pops up, or drops down, click Open in new tab.  A little box will show up in the bottom corner of your screen.  Once downloaded, click on it and there you go!
If that doesn't work, try standing up, dropping to the floor and cranking out 5 squat thrusts, followed by 20 jumping jacks, 9 sit ups, a double-gainer with a half-twist, three french hens, two turtle doves, and one biggie size fries.

All rights reserved.  No duplication, publication, implication or humiliation of this work may be plagiarized for personal kicks and giggles.  Anyone attempting to do so, will receive swift and severe punishment.  You ARE being watched by the IRS, FBI, CIA, NBA, CBS, NBC and BLM.

However, the most important  tid-bit you may want to keep in mind is, I CALLED SAUL!

file:///C:/Users/SHAN/Desktop/Giancarlo%20Eposito.wmv

A post I didn't post ... Until now.

"My Three Sons"

This is sort of like starting a book reading the last chapter first.  Ah, well ~ some of us actually prefer to jump straight to the punch line.

After seven long months having our Marine deployed in Afghanistan, we FINALLY welcomed him home. OOH-RAH!! 

It's a bit sobering to look at this picture and realize all three of my boys are now taller than me.  I'm wearing heels, so Wyatt's height is deceiving.  I remember twenty-plus years ago a woman saying to me, "Honey, enjoy the busy, it will be over before you know it."  I was convinced she had wandered away from her 'home' and at that moment a staff of 25 people were sweating bullets frantically trying to find her before her children showed up for a visit only to discover she was missing. 

Little did I know then ...

Question of the Day: Is there such a thing as bi-polar weather?

Can weather be diagnosed with bi-polar disorder?  Given the last 3 weeks outside my front door,  I'm convinced all signs and symptoms would indicate said term as an accurate diagnosis.  Nearly a handful of times just in the last two weeks there has been 4 inches of snow to greet the new day.  By mid-afternoon it's melted, and from 6:00 on the neighborhood is filled with the delicious aroma of barbecues grilling.  Two days ago after nearly 24 hours of rain/snow, the sun came out and began to dry things off.  I immediately bee-lined it for the shed, grabbed the lawn mower and trimmer and raced to the front yard to beat the next storm.  I leaned over and made a fast swipe with my bare hand across the grass.  Closer to dry than wet.  Good enough.  Then I darted into the garage, grabbed my work gloves and the gas can.  Racing back to my 'yardies', I felt the wind kick up. 
Mother nature had thrown down the gauntlet.  Now it was a race to the finish and I was on a quest.  Come on Shan, pour the gas in quickly ... don't spill ... forget the wind, forget those ominous clouds, just get this yard in shape before your window of opportunity slams shut.  Edger filled, check.  Mower filled, check.  OK Shan, (I'm telling myself) don't forget to think nice thoughts when you start this edger.  It's old and temperamental.  I leaned over, grabbed the handle on the rope and I swear I saw an inscription next to the choke that said "Martin Willey Handcart Co."  I scratched my head.  Huh, wouldn't surprise me a bit.
OK, come on little edger, you can do it.  I pulled once.  Nothing.  Again.  Nothing.  The third time it sputtered, burped then creaked and spat so I knew I was almost there.  One last pull... and ... BINGO!  Score.  As I stood up, something small and cold pelted me in the forehead.  Please no!  Yep.  It was hail, and within a nano-second the wind swept the freezing B B's with power and fury in every direction. 
My head hung in shame with defeat. - Not really tho, I was just trying to dodge these mini bullets pelting me from every angle.  I grabbed both 'yardies' and sprinted to the shed clocking a speed that would rival Olympians.
From the shed to the house (which is all of 10 giant steps if you're playing "Mother May I") I walked through the door on the deck and realized I was DRENCHED.  Sopping wet, ring-your-clothes-out soaked to the bone.
Three hours later the sun was back out accompanied by a few white fluffy clouds dancing in the breeze all against a deep crisp blue sky.  It was so incredibly beautiful.  For a split second I thought about tearing into round two, but decided not to tempt Mother Nature twice in one day.  So I grabbed a book I'm reading, pulled the lounge chair around to face the sun, fixed myself something cold to drink and sat back to soak up this amazing afternoon.  I opened my book, read a page and a half when literally out of nowhere a gust of wind kicked up as heavy, dark clouds simultaneously hovered above me as if to say, "Wanna bet?"
I called 'uncle'. 

Random Thoughts

Does it bother anyone that Jack Bauer could never pronounce 'Nuclear' correctly but had the best cell phone service in the universe?

I wonder if it's too late to send out the Christmas cards I ordered last October with our recent family portraits taken in September.  Maybe I could include an insert also wishing a Happy New Year, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and Easter.  The only problem is, by the time I finished getting all of them addressed it would be November again.  Which would actually put me ahead of the holiday calendar for this year, except the picture would be outdated.  This is why I've never sent out Christmas cards.

Now that the country has gone digital and high def., should televisions have their tubes tied?

Here we go...

A couple of weeks ago while running errands with my 22 yr. old son, we were in the middle of a great discussion about our interests and passions. Since writing has been one of mine for as long as I can remember, (on a good day that's back to kindergarten and on a bad day it's about an hour) he suggested I start a blog spot. Thinking he burped in the middle of his sentence, I said, "Excuse me? Would you please repeat that without sharing your indigestion?" After he stopped laughing at me (which is a common occurrence among all three of my boys) he said, "No mom, it's a thing you can do online. You know, sort of like a running journal. People can read it. It'll give you an outlet for writing, and who knows? You might just gain a fan out there somewhere."
I thought about this for a minute... I could almost see it; somewhere in the back woods, a little shack nestled among the trees would live a funny little couple as old as the wood used to build their abode. The wife standing over the stove in ankle high boots, apron tied snugly, one hand stirring the pot and the other scratching her hip. The husband on the front porch snickers as he rocks in his handmade rocking chair. He's holding a laptop reading my blog...he he.

So, with tender nudging from my oldest man-child, wherever you are Mr. little back woods man rocking on your front porch waiting for supper, here's to you. I hope you like what you read.