The past 4 years have really been trying for me, divorce, the death of my brother, mother, my very 1^st horse – Sophie, my cat, friends and family being laid off due to the economic downturn, my home in foreclosure…let me tell you – it’s been a roller coaster ride.

Because of this constant barrage of situations that could be deemed negative…I should be curled up in a fetal position, but every day that I wake up I have an attitude of gratitude.

I thank God that I still have a home, friends, a great job/career, horses, live in Northern California (the most beautiful place in the United States)

It’s the only thing that helps me get through the day. You can’t see it, but there are days when I’m sobbing behind the microphone, overwhelmed by the life I’ve created. But I pick myself up and realize that nothing else matters in this world, really matters except the relationships I share with others…

Material things come and go…experiencing life…being awake to the possibilities, is what keeps me going.

It’s not the mountain off in the distance to conquer, it’s the climb…

This article in the USA Today on August 6, 2009 really touched a soft spot in my heart…

Enjoy…

Happiness

This morning’s trivia on KOIT:

Q: What car is being turned in most often during the cash for clunkers program?

A: Ford Explorer

The top 10 Cash for Clunkers trade-ins are:
1. 1998 Ford Explorer
2. 1997 Ford Explorer
3. 1996 Ford Explorer
4. 1999 Ford Explorer
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee
6. Jeep Cherokee
7. 1995 Ford Explorer
8. 1994 Ford Explorer
9. 1997 Ford Windstar
10. 1999 Dodge Caravan

The top ten new cars being sold in the Cash for Clunkers program are:
1. Ford Focus
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Corolla
4. Toyota Prius
5. Ford Escape
6. Toyota Camry
7. Dodge Caliber
8. Hyundai Elantra
9. Honda Fit
10. Chevy Cobalt.

Today is National Pamper Yourself  Day. How do YOU pamper yourself? Me? I usually eat something I’m not supposed to. Like ice cream.

Which Major League ballpark has the most expensive beer? Look no further than 801 3rd Street in San Francisco. AT&T Park sells a 20 ounce cup of suds for $8.75. Gotta pay Barry Zito SOMEhow. Where’s the most expensive ticket in Major League Baseball? The new Yankee Stadium…the AVERAGE ticket price there being close to 73 bucks. The annual fan cost index will show you how other ball parks stack up.

Britian’s “You’ve Got Talent” runner-up Susan Boyle is currently being featured in the new edition of Harpers Bazaar…

She looks great (a superb makeover!) she feels great…and is ready to record…read the story –

Yes, this is really Susan Boyle!

Susan Boyle

This morning’s trivia question on KOIT:

Q: Formanova, Golden, and Lutz Green Leaf are all varieties of…..

A: Beets

As promised, I finally got the time to upload our family surfing pix from our trip to Hawaii a couple of weeks ago.

Kim’s showing some style here, don’t you think…?

Andrew’s getting the hang (ten) of it…

Jordan, the chronic skateboarder, was a natural….

As for me, the first time on a board in about thirty years. ‘Could have been much worse…

IN MY LAST BLOG, I MENTIONED I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING. THE MOVE IS NOW COMPLETE, AND WITH IT, SOME CHANGES TO MY LIFESTYLE.
I MOVED IN WITH MY GIRL FRIEND JOY, AND SHE HAS A 7 AND A HALF YEAR OLD SON. HIS NAME IS MATHEW. I LOVE THE LITTLE GUY, AND HE NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME.
I DIDN’T REALIZE IT UNTIL RECENTLY, BUT HE HAS BEEN SNEAKING INTO OUR ROOM, AND CRAWLING INTO BED WITH US. JOY SAID HE HAS DONE THIS BEFORE WE MOVED IN TOGETHER, BUT I WANTED AN END PUT TO IT.
SO I DECIDED TO HAVE A TALK WITH MY LITTLE FRIEND:
“MATHEW, WHY DO YOU COME INTO OUR BED LATE AT NIGHT?’ I ASKED.
‘BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU AND MOMMY MIGHT DO,” HE SAID.
UH OH. AND HE’S ONLY SEVEN AND A HALF. ‘AND WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID WE MIGHT DO?’ I ASKED TENTATIVELY.
HE REPLIED: ‘MAKE OUT.’
WOW, THEY LEARN FAST NOWADAYS.

This morning’s trivia on KOIT:

Q: How much paint does it take to paint the Bay Bridge?

A: About 200 thousand gallons

Do you really need me to remind you that the Bay Bridge will be closed over Labor Day? Consider it done. Closing 8pm Thursday September 8, and reopening 5am on Tuesday September 8.  New speed limit on the bridge too….40 mph. You can find all kinds of helpful Bay Bridge info right here.

This morning’s trivia on KOIT:

Q: What year did the first gas gauge-equipped auto hit the market?

A: 1922. Actually, the car in which I learned to drive had no gas gauge. It was an early 60’s VW bug, and you had to keep track of the miles you drove. But there was a backup tank that held a gallon or so. If you ran out, you turned a lever, and there was enough gas in the back-up to get you to a filling station.

‘Hope you had a nice weekend. I spent the weekend painting patio furniture…which is why I’m wondering where the weekend went. My plan was to split it between this past weekend and next. As I got going though, I realized it made no sense to clean up the mess twice, so I blew through the whole project Sat & Sun. I have flat black Rustoleum under my fingernails to prove it. I used to enjoy painting, but no longer.

Last week for the first time in a loooong time, I went surfing with my family. ‘Hope to post pix in tomorrow’s blog.

If you were an early Fastrak adopter, first of all, good for you. Second, you may in line for a new transponder. The older ones are starting to run out of juice, and the Fastrak Customer Service Center will begin swapping them out this Fall. You won’t need to lift a finger. Can you believe that Fastrak has been in operation of ten years already? Where did THAT time go?