Coffee Chat: If I Could Go Anywhere Today... #CoffeeChat

It is coffee chat time...for me, that would be Pepsi...it is time to talk about a not-so-random topic with Rory. This week she wants to talk about if I could go anywhere today, where I would go? Hmm...?

Well, since she did ask about just today and not long term, that makes a difference as to where I would go. Since I do not have a car...sigh...I would probably walk up to the nearest bus stop, hand-in-hand with the hubby, and head to Sedona. There I can catch up with my Mom.

I would ask her to drive us to the mountains toward Flagstaff. Have you ever been that way? Oh, my gosh, it is gorgeous with winding roads, loads of trees, and the river running along. I think this time I would ask her to first stop at Dairy Queen. Yeah! We would all get some ice cream and check out the Native American wares. Oh, my, their stuff is gorgeous!

photo credit link

Then, after all of that, I would ask her to take me somewhere close by the river. I have been wanting to go down there and take some photos. Maybe we could dip our toes in the river, skip rocks, or make the river move in a different direction by moving big boulders. We would certainly have a picnic.

Oh, I know, we could go down to the trout fishery. The water there runs swiftly and it would be cool to see the fish flitting about. Oh yes, I can see it and feel the cool water wafting over my feet.

After we spent several hours, then we would head back to Sedona and go up to Airport Road. This is on top of one of the mountains, although, I am not sure which. Anyway, we would join others who have come up there to see the breathtaking view over Sedona and watch the sun set over the mountains.

photo credit

 I am sure we would hear a group of women singing their songs to the sun or hear a young violinist making beautiful music while people drop coins in her case.

Yes! This is what I would do if I could go anywhere. But...

Unfortunately, I have to go to work.

~Michelle aka Naila Moon

Coffee Chat: Perfect Spring Day #CoffeeChat #Arizona

I am so incredibly late for Coffee Chat today. I had two doctor appointments today and had to take my Mom places, pick up meds, and jump hoops in general. Ah....
Oh yeah, and the net here at the house keeps going out so if you lose me...
HA, you won't even know!

So, what was I saying? Oh yeah, Coffe Chat with Rory!

                                         Topic: Describe your perfect Spring day. 

Here in Arizona, we have beautiful days although, often hot. Spring is absolutely no exception. Take for example the two-part mini road trip I had to take today. Since my Mom lives in one town and I live in another, we are about 15-20 minutes apart.

The road in between is nothing but high desert. Going toward my house I can see the gorgeous land with mountains in the foreground. Cactus growing among the bushes and Joshua trees spotting the land. The mini mountains along the way are dotted with those trees along with dry reeds and brush. If I am lucky, I might see an antelope or deer. Sometimes those mini mountains look like they go up and down depending on the day. Is that a desert illusion? Perhaps.

the photo was taken by my husband, Mark

Coming to my Mom's house, the Red Rock Mountains rise up to meet me. The red is enhanced by the bright sun that beams off of them. The clouds are fluffy and the sky is bluer than blue. The wildflowers that dot along the highway spread their fragrance in the colors of oranges and yellows. The wind whips the tall grasses in a natural dance.  All is lovely and...

I have no allergies.

M.M. Hudson aka Naila Moon

Tuesday Coffee Chat: The Stupidest Thing #TuesdayswithRory #CoffeeChat

Happy day after Monday...ya know, Tuesday! I love the Minions. I totally took this from Rory B's page. I am sure she stole it...um, secured it...from someone else.

Who's Rory you ask? Oh my gosh, let me tell you! She is the gal I used to share my favorite beverage with, via online of course, for Tuesday's Coffee Chat. It has been so long ago that I am sure she thinks I no longer exist. I do, Rory, I do! I am back!

Anyway, she always has these great convo starters and this week is:                                                                        Foolish Me -- 

What's the silliest or craziest thing you've ever done?

Well, I wish I could say that I was never an idiot and did stupid stuff but then, I would be lying through my teeth. In fact, I have done a few crazy things which I will divulge, but will deny later if it comes up again, especially if my Mom asks. Okay? 

So, a couple of things come to mind both being B.B.Y. (before baby years). The first is when I was 18ish or 19ish. My first husband and I went to visit his Dad that lived on Bull Shoals Lake. He had a ski lift kind of contraption that connected from his house to the boat dock down the hill.  He lived on a private cove too. Pretty cool thing. 

So, we invited my best friend and her then fiance to come down and hang out for the weekend. They were in college in a nearby city. As young adults will do at times, we decided to take off down to the dock, have some bbq, and party.   We had a few but not to the point of total intoxication.  

The next thing I know, the guys are stripping and jumped into the lake. Of course, they wanted us to get in too. Now, it was cool and all to strip in front of my then husband but not in front of my best friends! I hesitated a bit and next thing I know, in goes my girlfriend. Needless to say, it did not take long before I was butt naked in the water too. 

We drank wine and swam around the cove a bit and had a great time. The only issue we had after that was trying to get out of the water without completely falling back in and also somehow, keeping out modesty. Did I happen to mention we had no towels? Yeah, that didn't happen.

----------------

The other time I will mention is before we got married. We were in college and I was 18ish. We went to a college after play party that my then, boyfriend, was in. The problem for me is that I had just come from a not-so-unusual weekend party with my friends. I was already feeling fine.

This party turned out to be a barn party with 100's of kids and a whole bunch of booze. Seriously, I have no idea the different types there was including a few kegs. I know I drank a bottle of Moon Dog Grape 20/20, as that was the thing then. Good stuff!

Next thing I know is I needed to use the bathroom. I was drunk as a skunk.

The only one there was, was at the house from the barn owners, the line was ridiculously long. I finally got to the front and promptly threw myself into the bathroom and threw up. This would not be that big of a deal, probably, if it hadn't been for the several other people that did the same thing before me. Oy, nasty!

If that was not enough, we then went to his friend's house. I had never met the guy. They partook in a bit of MJ (which I did not for the record) as I drank more wine. I passed out.

Several hours later, he took me home. He was a complete gentleman, though, and never laid one hand on me. Boy, was I lucky and only had a major hangover to deal with.

Yeah, stupid!

~Michelle

PS>Hop over to Rory's and link up, then hop over to Stacy's too for random.

What One Good Thing Have You Found Today? #CoffeeChat

Depression really is sucky. I should know, I live with it every day. Every...Day! Maybe I have never shared that publicly, but there it is right in front of you, in print.

I am not some psycho that goes off and kills a bunch of people.  No, I am someone who has a chemical imbalance and need meds to get me straightened out. I take them everyday. I know you and am your friend. Are you freaked out now knowing I have depression? I hope not. Stupid press.
If more of us would admit the issues, the stigmas would go away.

So, what does that have to do with finding the good daily?  Well, sometimes when I am really having a low day, it is hard to find the silver lining, the sunshine, the rainbows and Skittles. Sometimes, I simply want to stay in bed and hope that the dark cloud I have awakened with will just go away. In truth,it is then that I find the good, the most. I know that sound odd but, it is true.

I force myself to get up, to see that I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and a great family near and far. I see that I have clean water to drink, shoes to wear, and a comfortable bed that I just got out of. So many people do not even have that. Good? You bet.

On better days, which the majority of day are, I see so much more. Like the beautiful place I live in. I walk out my door and see this.

Or like today, I get to visit a self-run library with a wonderful section for everyone. I can get books for free to read or music to listen to. I can use the library computer (if I want to) and get passes to go see really cool places. Good? You better believe it.

I try hard to see every day something that is good. It is really hard sometimes, especially when you have been exposed hours to the Iowa caucus. Stupid press. Ok, let's not go there.
Anyway, you get my drift. Sometimes, I do have to work at it but for the most part, I cannot help but always seeing the good in people and things. Soemtimes, I just like to be in a moment and enjoy that too.

What about you? Tell me in comments. Have a great day. ~Naila Moon

PS> Sometimes even looking at something a little bit different helps. Case in point, my grandson enjoying looking at the mirror in the car. Don't worry, we were parked in a parking lot.