Bonanza

On a morning like this, I'm not sure there is enough coffee.  Anywhere.

For any other kid who who has stood on the stage and tried to make their well through the spelling hierarchy (definition please), I found this little NPR piece a fun listen.  (Of course, it gave me flash backs, but it's a still a good piece.)

You don't ever forget your last word, and you won't ever misspell it again.

Skaal!

I'm grateful that exercise left me exhausted this weekend so that I could curl up on the sofa to finish The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson.  It was a fun summer read and the cameos by well-known political figures were great.  The story moved well and the characters were likeable with their quirky, dotted pasts.  Several parts made me laugh aloud.

There were a very highlight-able quotes including this one (p 136):

"Never try to outdrink a Swede, unless you happen to be a Finn or at least a Russian"

If you've ever been drinking in Finland or Russia with Finns, Swedes, Norwegians, Russians, and Germans, you know this to be true (especially if you're in a revolving restaurant or anywhere near a sauna).  But we'll save these stories for another day.  Hope a great week ahead!

Change for a 100?

I'm quite hooked on the 100 year old man who abandoned his birthday party.  I like the panache of a man who takes on the world armed with slippers and enough money for a bus fare to an unknown destination.

That this centenarian would also steal luggage?  He's inspiration to the blue-hair/no hairs across retirement communities everywhere.

I want him to succeed because I wouldn't want to die in a stale home either.  I want him to have a set of adventures that makes 100 worth every breath.  As I approach a milestone birthday, I want to continually have the courage to take the path less traveled because what's life without a little adventure and friends who respond to your crazy ideas with "Why not"?

Here Comes the Bride

I love (other people's) weddings. I love the excitement, anticipation, and joy that's on everyone's face on those moments leading up to the "I do."  I love observing the mild rush, the swishing dresses, and the final check of lipstick before someone walks down an aisle.

Over the weekend, there were two wedding parties and one bachelorette party near the hotel.  One bride told her me her bridesmaids were wearing "blush".  I said, "Bashful?"  She said, "No".  She was at least a decade younger so I'm not sure she got the joke.

This photo below is my view as a "wedding guest" for yet another wedding from the second story restaurant above.

A Stranger's Wedding
Puerto Rico, May 2013

[Author's note from "Lessons Learned the Expensive Way":  if you, as the bride, do not share these same emotions of pure bliss and/or your invitations are accidentally sent to Tanzania, probably better not to wear the dress.]