The Road Not Taken
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
~Robert Frost

It's About Bloomin' Time...

More floral shots from this weekend for you all to enjoy. I had a few more tulips sprout and my lilacs are about to bloom!

Viburnum (this one smells delicious)

Lilacs

The Tulips

I love the yellow feathering effect on the petal edges.

"Waking Up"

"Snooze"

Red

Check out the red speckles on this one

Bright, sunny day in Boise!

Peace, love and happiness to everyone! Hope you are all enjoying Spring!

"I live the life I love
And I love the life I live."
I Love The Life I Live

"I'd rather you hate me
For everything I am
Than have you love me
For something that I ain't"
Never Enough



"I'm taking her home with me, all dressed in white
She's got everything I need, pharmacy keys
She's falling hard for me I can see it in her eyes
She acts just like a nurse with all the other guys"
The Nurse Who Loved Me



"But I don't have time for your distorted esteem..."
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"Well I confess, you were too much stress
I'd have a heart attack at best"
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"Stop talking down to me
Your war is old, your game is over
So here's my coldest shoulder"
Say It

PBR 2009

After much ado, here is the official posting for PBR 2009, Nampa, Idaho. We had a blast checking out the competition this year and made it to the finals this time. Todd won the chance to play Out of the Chute - bull riding game for the Wii - on the big screen during one of the intermissions! Todd won with a 0.2 second lead on his fellow competitor. It was hysterical!

Back to the real competition...we got some great shots of the action! I present them here for your enjoyment:

Idaho's own Wiley Peterson

Brazil's Guilherme Marchi - 2008 PBR World Champion!

Crash Cooper & Me

Our winning "signature" t-shirt!

Hope you enjoyed all the fun pics! Check back for more updates often! Wishing you all health, happiness, and good times!

Springtime!

The sun is shining, the songbirds are singing, and the flowers are in bloom...Spring has sprung! Here are some Spring-inspired shots from my neck of the woods for you all to enjoy!

Forsythia

Tulips

Hyacinths

And some happy Daffodils!

Wishing you lots of sunshine and joy this Spring!

Appetizers

Looking for an update on my crazy weekend? Well, here is a little taste to tide you over. I will post more in the coming days, but for now need to catch up on some sleep! So, while I'm off to Slumberland...here are some pics for you to enjoy!

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Expect more pics & stories from the weekend, including some great shots of Brazil's Guilherme Marchi, Big Tex, Chicken on a Chain, and Idaho's own Wiley Peterson! Stayed tuned...

Psych Series #5: Anger & Aggression (Positive or Negative?)

Psych Series #5

What comes to mind when you hear the terms anger or angry? Do you picture a positive outcome or negative outcome to a situation that involves anger? Many people when faced with these questions may automatically focus on the negative aspects of the emotion anger. But, there is an upside to an angry emotional state. Hopefully this will help you identify the positives and negatives to anger & aggression.

Let's start out with some definitions!

Anger:

• "A strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance"
• "Belligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong"
• "A normal, healthy emotion that serves as a warning signal and alerts us to potential threat or trauma." (Townsend, 2003).

Aggression:

• "The act of initiating hostilities or invasion"
• "The practice or habit of launching attacks"
• "Hostile or destructive behavior or actions"
• "...a behavior intended to threaten or injure the victim's security or self-esteem." (Warren, 1990).
• Warren (1990) also states: "Whether the damage is caused by words, fists, or weapons, the behavior is virtually always designed to punish. It is frequently accompanied by bitterness, meanness, and ridicule."

According to Townsend (2003), anger becomes a problem when it is not expressed and when it is expressed aggressively. (p.245) Violence results when a person loses control of his/her anger. So, how does one determine if they are expressing anger in a positive or negative way?

Predisposing factors to anger/aggression:

• Modeling: Children learn how to express anger by modeling the expressions of parents, primary caregivers, or significant others.

• Operant Conditioning: Reinforcement of a specific behavior. This can be through positive or negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement produces a pleasurable or desired result. Negative reinforcement prevents an undesirable result from occurring.
  

• Neurophysiological Disorders: Traumatic brain injuries, brain tumors, and diseases like encephalitis have been predisposing factors to aggression and violent behaviors.

• Biochemical Factors: Hormonal dysfunction in endocrine disorders such as Cushing's disease or hyperthyroidism have been associated with increased violent tendencies.
  

• Socioeconomic Factors: Impoverished populations may have a higher rate of violence related to lack of resources, broken family relationships, alienation, discrimination, and frustrations.
  

• Environmental Factors: Increased temperatures, physical crowding (overcrowding), and drug & alcohol use/abuse have also been implicated in contributing to aggressive behavior patterns.

Signs & Symptoms - How will someone appear or act when in an angry or aggressive state?

Anger

• Intense distress
• Frowning
• Pacing
• Clenched fists
• Fatigue
• Withdrawal
• Increased energy
• Emotional overcontrol
• Change in tone of voice (yelling, shouting, lowered tone spoken through clenched teeth)

Aggression

• Sarcasm
• Verbal or physical threats
• Change in tone of voice (raised/quavering tone, pitch, rapid/hesitant speech)
• Degrading comments
• Pacing
• Invasion of personal space
• Increased agitation or irritability
• Misinterpretation of stimuli
• Anger disproportionate to an event
• Throwing or striking objects or people

So, for all of you "negative Nancys" out there...how is anger used in a negative way?

• Can result in impulsive behavior (without thinking about negative consequences to actions)
• Conflict may escalate and the problem initially creating the conflict goes unresolved.
• A coping response of displaced anger may lead to aggression.
• May create exaggerated feelings of control & the individual may try to use that "power" to intimidate others.
• May mask true feelings, weakness, self-esteem leading to hostility and rage.

What about all the "positive Petes" out there...how can anger be a positive emotion?

• Can energize & mobilize body for self-defense purposes. (Fight or Flight Response)
  
• In an assertive way, can promote conflict resolution.
• Signals threat or injustice against the "self" and elicits coping responses to help deal with the distress.
• Assists with providing feelings of control in a situation & helps an individual assertively take charge of a situation.
• Can create positive outcomes when expressed assertively, increasing self-esteem and leading to mutual understanding and forgiveness.

So the next time you are faced with anger, whether your own or someone else's, ask yourself "is this positive or negative?" Is it a healthy response to a perceived threat or is it a destructive, ineffective coping mechanism? A little patience and understanding go a long way in a negative situation. And keep in mind that you can catch more bees with honey that you can with vinegar!

Here's to healthy, happy and positively angry people everywhere!

Blue October

Tickets to Blue October Private Label X-session: Free (won by my hubby!)

Cost of gas to drive to X Studio: Less than $1.00


Live serenade, meet & greet, & photo-op with Blue October (a band that totally ROCKS & has a special place in my heart FOREVER): PRICELESS

That's right folks, I got to meet & get serenaded by Blue October! And it was AMAZING! If you have never heard of these guys...you have been living under a rock or have just really missed out on life for awhile. This group, originally from Texas, formed in 1995 and has been rocking out to very original music ever since. With their eclectic tastes in music & variety of sounds, instruments & vocals, they have been impressing audiences around nation. Their lyrics are heartfelt, deep down & gritty, focusing on personal experiences of the band members. This isn't the kind of group that is going to be putting music out there just to make a buck or two. Songs such as "Hate Me" are raw and real. (The album version includes an actual voicemail recording from lead singer Justin's & drummer Jeremy's mom.) Topics include everything from mental health issues, broken relationships, and crappy business managers to letting go of the anger and getting healthier physically, emotionally & spiritually. Expect some open and honest lyrical poetry from these guys. And their live performances are nothing to ignore! If you ever get the chance to see these guys live...don't miss it!