Holy Guacamole! Rides and Slides of Insanity!

Is life just not insane enough for you? Try booking a trip to Brazil for your next spring break experience with some insane and intense action.  

Would you plummet from the height of 14 stories?

I’m thinking if I were to plummet down 14 stories it would certainly blow the insanity right out the bottom of my shorts!

Surprisingly, there are people that do want this experience.

Bacon, Tomato and Egg Pasta Salad with Greek Yogurt Dijon Dressing

It's all about the Egg for the Easter holiday!  Colored hard boiled eggs, deviled eggs and how about this Egg Pasta Salad with a little twist off the BLT.  You could call this the BTE (bacon, tomato, egg) pasta salad. Tossed with a healthier dressing consisting of Greek Yogurt, Dijon mustard, Bolthouse Yogurt Ranch and you've got a delicious salad to include for a Sunday brunch. It's also a perfect little side salad for an anytime lunch or paired with a main meal.

Are You Listening? 10 Ways to Communicate Better

You've seen it. Distracted eye movement, head turned to focus on something else, maybe even pauses of interrupted multi-tasking.  

You notice these distractions and you'd like to scream out,  

"HEY, are you listening to me?"

I'm sure, at some point in life, you've fallen victim to not being heard. 

It's also possible that you've been guilty of doing it yourself...NOT listening. 

It's quite common in relationships with family, friends, co-workers or even new acquaintances.  

"I thought you said to unload the dishwasher?"

    "No, I said to start the dishwasher."

"I thought we were meeting at Mary's house?"

     "No, we were meeting at Bonnie's house."

"I was supposed to pick up Johnny today?"

     "Yes, we spoke about it over lunch yesterday." 

"When did you say we had plans for Saturday?" 

     "We discussed this! Weren't you listening?"

Many of these conversations that slip through the cracks are pretty common when we're easily distracted by our daily routines. The small reminders, little tasks and dates to remember can easily fall off the noggin wagon. 

Maybe it's midlife memory syndrome (read "These Days Remembering Not To Forget Is Challenging) or simply not giving full attention to what's being said. 

We're all guilty of not listening like we should. Missing the day to day spiel is probably pretty normal. It might be boredom, not being interested or just plain not paying attention to one another. 

A Stagecoach Discovery: History of Mantorville and The Hubbell House

Try to imagine taking a road trip by stagecoach in the 1800's. Riding along treacherous terrain, withstanding the weather elements and dealing with unforeseen hazards along the way.  

It was during the time our nation was expanding west and stagecoach travelers were made up of many different individuals like merchants, miners or entrepreneurs that would ride in confined and tiresome conditions to get to their destination.  Some were on board to discover distant lands and build new dreams. 

Our road trip to Mantorville, MN was far cushier in comparison to what Frank Mantor and John Hubbell may have experienced. They took a stagecoach road trip across the Great Plains from Winona to St. Peter and somewhere between rolling through river towns and the dusty trails, they staked claim on the land that is now the town of Mantorville.

Our travels to Mantorville didn't include the danger of bandit attacks or the uncomfortable rocking and jolsting motion of the stagecoach. We weren't snugly seated just inches from unfamiliar passengers and our coach wasn't horse driven by a reinsman named One-eyed Charlie or Sage Brush Bill. 

Image Source: http://www.hubbellhouserestaurant.com/

Our present day trip took us a little over an hour from St. Paul, MN to arrive at this historic town and restaurant called the Hubbell House. Built originally as a hotel in 1854 by John Hubbell, it soon became an important stopping place along the trail from the Mississippi River to St. Peter. The small town is situated just 20 miles north west of Rochester, MN and approximately 70 miles south of the Twin Cities. 

Our discovery came to life when we entered the historic Hubbell House on a quiet Friday afternoon. It was in the saloon that we enthusiastically bellied up to the bar for a cold one and to grab some lunch. 

A Breakthrough Moment For a Candy Striper

From the start, don’t mistake a Candy Striper with a Candy Stripper. It could easily be mispronounced. Just by adding an extra 'P' this story could take on a whole new vibe. 

The red and white pinafore candy striper uniform was the official dress for a hospital volunteer and not a bosom busting outfit worn by a sultry porn star. 

At 16 years old, being a candy striper was my first real grown up role.  I was excited to slip on the official red and white pin striped dress that was worn back in the day. I think these days the position has transformed and the "candy striper" uniform no longer exists. 

Even though it was an unpaid volunteer position, it felt like I was entering into a respected profession and anxious for any new opportunities.

It's true, the uniform was a bit corny for a self-conscious adolescent, but this was the start of my possible future. No qualms about it, the experience was going to help me move up the ranks in the medical field. 

March's Picture The Possibilities

Blue Barn Door by Darcy Sime Photography - https://www.flickr.com/photos/djsime
Unexpected Discoveries Quote - http://www.asquareofchocolate.com/

This is March's installment of my monthly series called "Picture the Possibilities."  Along with talented photographer, Darcy Sime, I'm combining her photos along with my writing creations to bring inspiration, beauty and wonder through her amazing photos.  

Could March be the month of a new discovery for you?