she just likes me as the older brother. She's like a baby sister. Do you know what I mean? No, I don't have a crush on her. Besides, my brother is the one in love with her. I'm the big brother.
What do think will happen this summer? How do you think it's going to be? This summer I'm going to: Live life. Enjoy my time in Hawaii. I'm going to win the Jr Lifeguard competition, and I'm going to Maui. I've been so lucky for the things and moments I"ve had in my life The one thing I can guarantee you is that the sun always comes up. And what I realize is that not everyone has these moments. There are "snaps" in life.
"Snaps": a change. Immediate response. I changed from a way I used to think the way things were going to turn out.
The greatest things about snaps? Well, they let you know where they are.
We don't know what's going to happen. We expect the unexpected. Something that is never going to happen.
If there was a book to be named after you, what is the name of the book: "Challenging, Wrong Answer". My entire life, even when I knew I was wrong, I challenged the wrong answers. Even if I knew I was wrong. I knew better than to let it go - just for one more day.
'
I'm just thankful that my mom was crazy enough to make exploring something I couldn't only hoped to. Maybe next time. .
I know you love you me. I know you hate me. I know there is a Bing Video changing others lives. I'm here to tell you , my my mom tried. She might have been wrong, she might have been right, but she willing to take the chance.
That's the thing....
(love, Duncan)
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
The story of us
My name is Harper, I'm 32. I'm married and have two young kids. My best friend, her name is Carson. She's getting divorced this summer. You really shouldn't be jealous when your best friend gets divorced.
That's the first paragraph of my book. Only, it's not really a paragraph. Just a couple of sentences. It really doesn't tell you anything. It's not supposed too. The point is to make you want to read more.
If I read the first two lines above, I would want to keep reading. If you haven't read "The Glass Castle", by Jeanette Walls, you should. The first page of this book, made me want to keep reading. It started out with a woman in a limo looking out the window watching a homeless woman digging through the trash. Only, it took a few minutes for her to realize it was her mother digging through the trash (the rest you have to read..) The story brought you in, and told you their story. Even though it was non-fiction, it was their story.
Which brings me to the story of us. Which story you ask? Where do I even begin? Which one? The one of my elementary school friend whom I still keep in touch with? Whom runs snow cone stands in Texas. By the way, we didn't like each other in 5th grade. Good thing we got over that. I couldn't have asked for a better friend to help me with my grand-father's funeral. She was there for all of it.
Were you talking about the story of me and my kids? Isn't that what this blog was supposed to be about? The adventures of me and my sons. The journeys. The adventures. The highs and the lows.
Were you talking about the story of::
For whatever reason, this is how we work out. Almost there. Not really. Can't let you go. Yet can't hang on. Were you talking about the story of you and me? You know the story. They always end the same.
It's been along time since we weren't nice to each other. I was busy. There were many things going on We were both busy. He didn't make the time either. I wasn't a priority in his life. We didn't get to see each other. When it was safe, he sent me a text "I'm sorry it didn't work out"
I replied: "I guess that's just our story"
It is the story of us.
That's the first paragraph of my book. Only, it's not really a paragraph. Just a couple of sentences. It really doesn't tell you anything. It's not supposed too. The point is to make you want to read more.
If I read the first two lines above, I would want to keep reading. If you haven't read "The Glass Castle", by Jeanette Walls, you should. The first page of this book, made me want to keep reading. It started out with a woman in a limo looking out the window watching a homeless woman digging through the trash. Only, it took a few minutes for her to realize it was her mother digging through the trash (the rest you have to read..) The story brought you in, and told you their story. Even though it was non-fiction, it was their story.
Which brings me to the story of us. Which story you ask? Where do I even begin? Which one? The one of my elementary school friend whom I still keep in touch with? Whom runs snow cone stands in Texas. By the way, we didn't like each other in 5th grade. Good thing we got over that. I couldn't have asked for a better friend to help me with my grand-father's funeral. She was there for all of it.
Were you talking about the story of me and my kids? Isn't that what this blog was supposed to be about? The adventures of me and my sons. The journeys. The adventures. The highs and the lows.
Were you talking about the story of::
- How I met an incredible running buddy from a Craigslist ad. Wait make that two running buddies. And our friendship
- How I swapped my house in Denver for one half way across the world?
- A summer romance. Learning that hearts still ache, no matter how old you are. Or how many times it's been broken.
- Letting time heal everything. Everything.
- Carson and Harper have their first beer together. Forging a friendship that would last through it all.
- A children's romance. You know, the type where you just write in the sand that persons name.
- Meeting a random stranger at the airport. Then knowing you couldn't live without this person.
- Letting go. Make that holding on. Not knowing if it would be better to hold on or let go.
- On and on and on.
For whatever reason, this is how we work out. Almost there. Not really. Can't let you go. Yet can't hang on. Were you talking about the story of you and me? You know the story. They always end the same.
It's been along time since we weren't nice to each other. I was busy. There were many things going on We were both busy. He didn't make the time either. I wasn't a priority in his life. We didn't get to see each other. When it was safe, he sent me a text "I'm sorry it didn't work out"
I replied: "I guess that's just our story"
It is the story of us.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Career Day
Today was a bittersweet day for me.
Today, I was in charge of Career Day at my youngest sons school. The same school he and his brother attended from first grade until now. My oldest finished last year. My youngest finishes in two weeks.
This is a K-8 Denver Public School. This school originally opened in the 50's. The same time as all the houses in the area were built. This area of town was considered "South East Denver", now well, it's just part of Denver. After many years, the school closed. The "original" kids were grown and gone. The parents were still living in the neighborhood. Not many kids for an elementary school. There were five families on our block with kids at the same school when we moved in. Everyone else was over the age of 75.
The school became an administration building.
About 15 years ago, the neighborhood united and asked for the school to re-open for the neighborhood. A "test school" so to speak. Junior Highs/Middle Schools are notoriously bad across the country. What does one do with the middle schoolers? Too young for high school. The schools with just "middle school" - can't find a positive one to say about many of them. Let's try this: Let's make it a K-8 school.
The school re-opened. 15 years later, this school is the #1 DPS school. A few years ago, some of the smaller middle schools were trying to get DPS to move the "middle school" out of the school to help give them students. "Allowing for more room for elementary students. As the superintendent for DPS said at the time: "Why would we disrupt and change our most successful school model?"
I call it my "public/private school". Yes, it's mostly over-educated, upper-middle class parents and kids. If the kids of the "really wealthy" have it even better, it's hard to imagine what THEIR lives are really like.
The parents are over involved. Although, this "next generation" of parents aren't near as involved as we have been. Which actually is kind of scary. The school didn't get to be the best without all the parents volunteering. People now move into the neighborhood to get their kids into the school. Only they "don't have the time" to volunteer. Parents of the next group of kids, let me tell you something, "I DON"T HAVE TIME EITHER". But, I made the time. I found the time. Other parents did too. Working parents. Stay at home parents. The school didn't just become the best. We made it happen.
Of course, when the kids are young, they WANT you at the school. They want you to help out. Until about 4th grade. They will want you there then, but not as much. Then every year you become needed/wanted just a little bit less.
Field trips, "book clubs", auction committees, bake sales, cake walks, fundraisers. A little bit of everything. It's been great. You can say what you want about public education, but until the parents/community are involved in each and every school, nothing will change.
And today was my last volunteer activity for this incredible school.
Don't get me wrong - it's not a perfect place. There are politics amongst the faculty, the parents, the kids. There are cliques. It's a normal place.
An incredible place. A building that kept my children safe. Teachers whom taught my children. A couple that didn't like my boys. A few whom loved them. People whom cared. A community of parents, teachers, faculty whom helped me raise my boys.
I was in charge of Career Day last year. The mayor came to speak. Plus many other incredible speakers. I arranged it all. Then said, that's it, I'm done. "Please, please, just once more", they asked. "Okay, I will line up the keynote speaker and handle the start. You have to find someone else to do the rest".
It's been my only volunteer activity at school this year. I have been SO done. I couldn't have pulled it off without help, but it's done. And, yes, it was great. All of it.
The last few times I've the left the school, my eyes have teared up. 10 years of my life have been spent in this building, with these people. I've NEVER done anything for this long of a period.
Today though, after I hugged the office ladies good-bye, I quietly just slipped out the side door being thankful for it all.
Today, I was in charge of Career Day at my youngest sons school. The same school he and his brother attended from first grade until now. My oldest finished last year. My youngest finishes in two weeks.
This is a K-8 Denver Public School. This school originally opened in the 50's. The same time as all the houses in the area were built. This area of town was considered "South East Denver", now well, it's just part of Denver. After many years, the school closed. The "original" kids were grown and gone. The parents were still living in the neighborhood. Not many kids for an elementary school. There were five families on our block with kids at the same school when we moved in. Everyone else was over the age of 75.
The school became an administration building.
About 15 years ago, the neighborhood united and asked for the school to re-open for the neighborhood. A "test school" so to speak. Junior Highs/Middle Schools are notoriously bad across the country. What does one do with the middle schoolers? Too young for high school. The schools with just "middle school" - can't find a positive one to say about many of them. Let's try this: Let's make it a K-8 school.
The school re-opened. 15 years later, this school is the #1 DPS school. A few years ago, some of the smaller middle schools were trying to get DPS to move the "middle school" out of the school to help give them students. "Allowing for more room for elementary students. As the superintendent for DPS said at the time: "Why would we disrupt and change our most successful school model?"
I call it my "public/private school". Yes, it's mostly over-educated, upper-middle class parents and kids. If the kids of the "really wealthy" have it even better, it's hard to imagine what THEIR lives are really like.
The parents are over involved. Although, this "next generation" of parents aren't near as involved as we have been. Which actually is kind of scary. The school didn't get to be the best without all the parents volunteering. People now move into the neighborhood to get their kids into the school. Only they "don't have the time" to volunteer. Parents of the next group of kids, let me tell you something, "I DON"T HAVE TIME EITHER". But, I made the time. I found the time. Other parents did too. Working parents. Stay at home parents. The school didn't just become the best. We made it happen.
Of course, when the kids are young, they WANT you at the school. They want you to help out. Until about 4th grade. They will want you there then, but not as much. Then every year you become needed/wanted just a little bit less.
Field trips, "book clubs", auction committees, bake sales, cake walks, fundraisers. A little bit of everything. It's been great. You can say what you want about public education, but until the parents/community are involved in each and every school, nothing will change.
And today was my last volunteer activity for this incredible school.
Don't get me wrong - it's not a perfect place. There are politics amongst the faculty, the parents, the kids. There are cliques. It's a normal place.
An incredible place. A building that kept my children safe. Teachers whom taught my children. A couple that didn't like my boys. A few whom loved them. People whom cared. A community of parents, teachers, faculty whom helped me raise my boys.
I was in charge of Career Day last year. The mayor came to speak. Plus many other incredible speakers. I arranged it all. Then said, that's it, I'm done. "Please, please, just once more", they asked. "Okay, I will line up the keynote speaker and handle the start. You have to find someone else to do the rest".
It's been my only volunteer activity at school this year. I have been SO done. I couldn't have pulled it off without help, but it's done. And, yes, it was great. All of it.
The last few times I've the left the school, my eyes have teared up. 10 years of my life have been spent in this building, with these people. I've NEVER done anything for this long of a period.
Today though, after I hugged the office ladies good-bye, I quietly just slipped out the side door being thankful for it all.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Hope
Hope can be a bitch. She's evil. She will convince you - even when you KNOW better - that there "might be a chance". No matter what the situation.
If you ever watched "Two and a Half A Men", she is the character "Rose". She is charming. She's funny. She's a stalker. She's fun. You want to be friends with her. At least for a few minutes, then you realize you are slipping into a vortex. The only problem is you don't WANT to leave. For all the reasons above. You want to be with the fun, charming, adventurous one. And she's a little crazy. Even for your standards.
But Hope makes friends with you. You just can't help it. Why wouldn't you be friends with her? Only she reels you in and tells you everything will work out just like you "hoped" it would. And you believe it. Then when you are so mad at yourself, you try and end the friendship. Only you try to be mad at her, only it's YOU that upsets you. YOU come to terms with your friendship with Hope. It calms down. You realize you are "occasional" friends. It's okay, because you both understand your friendship. It's all good.
Then she introduces you to her cousins: Potential, Wish, Want, Would Like. See, all the "thoughts" are the same - "I wish I was thinner. He has the potential to be better. I want to be thinner. I would like to travel". And instead of concentrating on what we do have in this world, we focus on Hope and her cousins. Why wouldn't we? They will come around. We KNOW it. They are our friends.
But see, Hope and her cousins have a secret. They won't ever tell you what I'm about to tell you. It's the real secret. They keep "their secret" a secret. Hope has a twin. Only Hope is the evil twin.
Faith is Hope's twin.
Faith has been large and small. She understands her size fluctuates. Faith doesn't want to be your friend. She understands you don't talk to her for a while. She's a bit of a recluse. She's okay with that. She's loyal. She doesn't even need you to say thank you. She just wants you to remember, when her sister Hope has beat you up and down, well, she will still be there.
We so want to rush things, so we turn to Hope, Wish, Want, Potential and Would Like. Forgetting all the time, we are friends with Faith and her friend Believe.
If you ever watched "Two and a Half A Men", she is the character "Rose". She is charming. She's funny. She's a stalker. She's fun. You want to be friends with her. At least for a few minutes, then you realize you are slipping into a vortex. The only problem is you don't WANT to leave. For all the reasons above. You want to be with the fun, charming, adventurous one. And she's a little crazy. Even for your standards.
But Hope makes friends with you. You just can't help it. Why wouldn't you be friends with her? Only she reels you in and tells you everything will work out just like you "hoped" it would. And you believe it. Then when you are so mad at yourself, you try and end the friendship. Only you try to be mad at her, only it's YOU that upsets you. YOU come to terms with your friendship with Hope. It calms down. You realize you are "occasional" friends. It's okay, because you both understand your friendship. It's all good.
Then she introduces you to her cousins: Potential, Wish, Want, Would Like. See, all the "thoughts" are the same - "I wish I was thinner. He has the potential to be better. I want to be thinner. I would like to travel". And instead of concentrating on what we do have in this world, we focus on Hope and her cousins. Why wouldn't we? They will come around. We KNOW it. They are our friends.
But see, Hope and her cousins have a secret. They won't ever tell you what I'm about to tell you. It's the real secret. They keep "their secret" a secret. Hope has a twin. Only Hope is the evil twin.
Faith is Hope's twin.
Faith has been large and small. She understands her size fluctuates. Faith doesn't want to be your friend. She understands you don't talk to her for a while. She's a bit of a recluse. She's okay with that. She's loyal. She doesn't even need you to say thank you. She just wants you to remember, when her sister Hope has beat you up and down, well, she will still be there.
We so want to rush things, so we turn to Hope, Wish, Want, Potential and Would Like. Forgetting all the time, we are friends with Faith and her friend Believe.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Ask about the grills
There are just some things I can't make up - they really happen to me.
As part of my work, I have helped start-up companies "get up and running". Find office space, get the books (accounting) in order, put processes in place, hire the key people to get the organization up and running. Then I usually go on to the next project.
This is fun for many reasons. I learn about many different industries, but really start-ups are all the same. They are some basic functions they all need. It also fulfills the "gypsy" in me. I can stay, but then I hop off to the next adventure. Sometimes I go into client offices, most of the time I work from home. When I do go to the client offices, its never a dull moment. Each culture is very different, yet just the same. Excitement, nervousness, learning, panic, success and failure.
Today's story brings us to a client site.
The owner of this company and two of the sales guys are in Vegas for a trade show with one of their clients. It was quite peaceful around the office today. I'm completing my various tasks and the company had brought lunch in. The owners wife was in and we were all having a delightful lunch. She's on the phone with her husband and asks me "Do you need anything from him?". Me: "Will you ask him about the grills?" She replies: "The GIRLS?", Me, "No, the GRILLS" Her: "Oh, ha ha." She then says to him, "What about the grills?" She gives me my answer and while we all thought it was funny, that was the end of it.
Later on, I was downloading yesterday's bank transactions. This is what I see:
$200.00 cash withdraw
$200.00 b-soll
$200.00 b-soll
$200.00 cash withdraw
Hmmm..... That's unusual. So, being the sweet girl I am, I look up "b-soll". Word to the wise, you can Google everything these days. Let's just say they were at a dance club.
I just smiled. I'm just there to do my job, not give my opinion. However, I had to smile. He must have had a heart attack when she thought I said "Ask about the girls".
As part of my work, I have helped start-up companies "get up and running". Find office space, get the books (accounting) in order, put processes in place, hire the key people to get the organization up and running. Then I usually go on to the next project.
This is fun for many reasons. I learn about many different industries, but really start-ups are all the same. They are some basic functions they all need. It also fulfills the "gypsy" in me. I can stay, but then I hop off to the next adventure. Sometimes I go into client offices, most of the time I work from home. When I do go to the client offices, its never a dull moment. Each culture is very different, yet just the same. Excitement, nervousness, learning, panic, success and failure.
Today's story brings us to a client site.
The owner of this company and two of the sales guys are in Vegas for a trade show with one of their clients. It was quite peaceful around the office today. I'm completing my various tasks and the company had brought lunch in. The owners wife was in and we were all having a delightful lunch. She's on the phone with her husband and asks me "Do you need anything from him?". Me: "Will you ask him about the grills?" She replies: "The GIRLS?", Me, "No, the GRILLS" Her: "Oh, ha ha." She then says to him, "What about the grills?" She gives me my answer and while we all thought it was funny, that was the end of it.
Later on, I was downloading yesterday's bank transactions. This is what I see:
$200.00 cash withdraw
$200.00 b-soll
$200.00 b-soll
$200.00 cash withdraw
Hmmm..... That's unusual. So, being the sweet girl I am, I look up "b-soll". Word to the wise, you can Google everything these days. Let's just say they were at a dance club.
I just smiled. I'm just there to do my job, not give my opinion. However, I had to smile. He must have had a heart attack when she thought I said "Ask about the girls".
Friday, May 3, 2013
I'm a cheating woman
Loyal. I'm loyal to anyone and anything LONG after it's due. Loyal to a fault.
"Give them ONE more chance"
Although I've gotten better the older I've become. People will abuse their power. People will over-step their boundaries in order to get what they want. We all do it. We also all need to stop. Stop stepping on people, things, situations, to get what we want.
Quitting is also hard.
Quitting is harder than hanging on. We try. We do our best. We give it our best shot.
BUT, sometimes, it's okay to quit. Just walk away. It's actually harder to quit. It's easier to hang on. Quiting is hard. Difficult. Because that's admitting you were wrong in the first place. That's a difficult decision.
Although, you aren't quitting. You are admitting - I no longer want to do this! What power you have. "I no longer want to do this". It takes someone brave to admit "I no longer want to do this"
Let me tell you what I no longer want to do:
Career Day at my kids school - although, last year I had the mayor come speak. This year, I have a fantastic speaker lined up up speak too. I DON"T WANT TO DO THIS ANY MORE
Volunteer - until, of course, prom. I want to volunteer there.
Recruit. I'm done.
It's been a good ride. It's been a great ride. Recruiting: Thank you for everything you gave me. Thank you for the freedom. The financial stability. The.... well, everything. Thank you for the high and lows. BUT, I have to be honest, I've been cheating on you.
Well, I've been cheating on you for years. I can't let you go, and I can't hang on any longer. I'm in love.
Love with the part-time job - he's promised me everything you said you were going to deliver. Only once again, I have hope. Hope is a bitch. She's pretty though. She's giving me the dreams you always said you were going to deliver.
Until you can commit, I'm going to cheat. I'm not a cheating woman. I'm LOYAL. Loyal to a fault. Loyal to the point until I'm waiting for you to love me more than I love him. Whomever shows up first wins the prize..
For now though, I'm going to quit cheating. I'm going to quit cheating on recruiting. I hate to tell you this, but "We are breaking up". IT"S OVER.
Mahalo for the memories. The foresight. Wow, I've loved you for a very long time. I will always love you. You perplex me these days though. "What do you do?" I'm a headhunter - that's my first response. I also help companies with their start-up operations.
When you ask me what I do - I answer the truth "I'm a headhunter" And part of me cringes. That's not what I do. That's also not whom I am.
I am mom. I help companies get up and running. I am loyal. I cheat. I lie. But most of all, I'm honest. I'm honest about cheating and lying. I've done all. But, most of all, I'm loyal. Loyal to the very end. Loyal until you understand I'm no longer cheating on you.
"Give them ONE more chance"
Although I've gotten better the older I've become. People will abuse their power. People will over-step their boundaries in order to get what they want. We all do it. We also all need to stop. Stop stepping on people, things, situations, to get what we want.
Quitting is also hard.
Quitting is harder than hanging on. We try. We do our best. We give it our best shot.
BUT, sometimes, it's okay to quit. Just walk away. It's actually harder to quit. It's easier to hang on. Quiting is hard. Difficult. Because that's admitting you were wrong in the first place. That's a difficult decision.
Although, you aren't quitting. You are admitting - I no longer want to do this! What power you have. "I no longer want to do this". It takes someone brave to admit "I no longer want to do this"
Let me tell you what I no longer want to do:
Career Day at my kids school - although, last year I had the mayor come speak. This year, I have a fantastic speaker lined up up speak too. I DON"T WANT TO DO THIS ANY MORE
Volunteer - until, of course, prom. I want to volunteer there.
Recruit. I'm done.
It's been a good ride. It's been a great ride. Recruiting: Thank you for everything you gave me. Thank you for the freedom. The financial stability. The.... well, everything. Thank you for the high and lows. BUT, I have to be honest, I've been cheating on you.
Well, I've been cheating on you for years. I can't let you go, and I can't hang on any longer. I'm in love.
Love with the part-time job - he's promised me everything you said you were going to deliver. Only once again, I have hope. Hope is a bitch. She's pretty though. She's giving me the dreams you always said you were going to deliver.
Until you can commit, I'm going to cheat. I'm not a cheating woman. I'm LOYAL. Loyal to a fault. Loyal to the point until I'm waiting for you to love me more than I love him. Whomever shows up first wins the prize..
For now though, I'm going to quit cheating. I'm going to quit cheating on recruiting. I hate to tell you this, but "We are breaking up". IT"S OVER.
Mahalo for the memories. The foresight. Wow, I've loved you for a very long time. I will always love you. You perplex me these days though. "What do you do?" I'm a headhunter - that's my first response. I also help companies with their start-up operations.
When you ask me what I do - I answer the truth "I'm a headhunter" And part of me cringes. That's not what I do. That's also not whom I am.
I am mom. I help companies get up and running. I am loyal. I cheat. I lie. But most of all, I'm honest. I'm honest about cheating and lying. I've done all. But, most of all, I'm loyal. Loyal to the very end. Loyal until you understand I'm no longer cheating on you.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Things you can do
We've been on this big random act of kindness kick around here. Practicing random acts of kindness - expecting nothing in return. Just hoping to provide smiles or even a kind thought to random strangers.
A friend of mine asked some of the things we do. How can you do, and not also spend a bunch of money. So, I'm going to share - not to receive recognition, but to share so YOU may also participate.
Here we go:
A friend of mine asked some of the things we do. How can you do, and not also spend a bunch of money. So, I'm going to share - not to receive recognition, but to share so YOU may also participate.
Here we go:
- When you are driving down the highway, let someone over - even if you just let the last two people "in line" over
- We have a local little Japanese restaurant in the neighborhood whom mails out coupons. Take the extra coupons and give to another table.
- Compliment someone on their outfit/hair/shoes, etc. Everyday.
- Send a note to someone to just say hi
- Plant flowers - in someone else's garden
- Let someone go ahead of you in line
- If you are the type whom sends in money for rebates, send the rebate to a charity or a child or someone - you will never know if they have received it - and they don't know whom to think.
- On a cold day - hand out cups of coffee to the city workers. On hot days - water.
- Volunteer
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