diary of Maria Radloff

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whatsup

2008-08-18

Curvy little friend

I swear this guy wasn't there when we left for our walk this morning! When we came back down my street, we had to pass this guy in the road.

The dogs seemed oblivious to it. They had no desire to check it out. Me on the other hand? I had to grab my camera and the neighbor to come check him out!

This is snake number 2 for me since moving up here...it's only been 4 weeks! The first snake was under the bush right outside my front door.

2008-08-09

A room with a view

My 2nd story patio over looks a little valley of homes. I was getting ready to go meet a friend when I just felt the need to go upstairs and look out my patio. When I looked up I saw a huge rainbow stretching from end to end. The full deal. My intuition never steers me wrong.

I wanted to envision all the little fairy creatures that could live around it. My life is a fairy tale already, so why not add some little winged friends. I know somebody that is going to make me a unicorn too. ;)

I am grateful every morning that I wake up in this house, in this part of the desert. It is such a peaceful, happy place.

2008-08-05

Scottsdale mayor going out for Mexican?

There are two things I think of when I see Pink Taco - yummy Mexican food at the Scottsdale Waterfront and, well, you know. So everyday I drive home I'm reminded that our Scottsdale mayor enjoys one of those 2 items.

So I'm not sure what's to hate about Ms. Manross, although I do know I pass about 10 traffic cameras on Pima Road and the Loop 101 each day. But if they want my picture that badly - let them have it!

Last time the Scottsdale goons tried to serve me a photo radar ticket they knocked on my renter's door instead and she ended up calling the police on him because he was screaming and kicking the door. Way to go, Scottsdale...are you really that desperate for your citizens' dollars?

If you'd like to see the sign, closeup and personal, drive north on Pima Road and start looking to your right when you see the row of large candy canes in the desert coming up on Happy Valley Road.

2008-08-05

Is that cactus fer real?

Every day I wal the dogs past a cactus growing out of a cement rock. Peculiar? No - it's actually a cell tower. I would never have noticed had a friend not pointed it out to me. Unfortunately that tower doesn't help my iPhone get any better reception with AT&T Wireless.

A friend recently commented they can't hear anybody well that is talking to them from an iPhone. What was Apple thinking when they chose their carrier?! I did install a land line.

2008-08-05

Desert animal preserve in my new house

view from my front door step

I moved! I'm no longer in downtown Phoenix, but now up in north Scottsdale. It's such a beautiful area up here - I'm at a higher elevation, looking down over a valley of desert develoment. Every morning I walk the dogs I walk out the front door to a huge mountain. Every evening I see the pink skies, sometimes with some lightning, from my patio or near the pool. I can't imagine a place where I would rather live. It is soooo beautiful here!

Along with the beautiful desert landscaping, though, has come a little collection of visitors. My first week I had a tarantula living under my front sidewalk. Unfortunately Reese's (he was black and brown) died a few days later. I've already seen 3 scorpions here, tons of horny toads and miscellaneous lizards. My dogs always see the bunnies before I do, and there is always a road being crossed by a mama quail with about 10 trailing babies. Cute!

There also seem to be lots of flattened animals in the road. I try not to hit the little mice and other crossing critters by driving slow enough and paying attention...and we all know how hard that is for me!

2008-08-02

Ashtanga Girl

I was waiting to take an Astanga class with Dave Oliver for about six months. I waited because I was really busy with work and I was still living downtown, not quite ready to embark on a big yoga committment. But I finally got a private session scheduled.

I met with Dave and another Astanga teacher and had the session of my life. Although I was told we only did about 60% of the primary series, it was a great experience. I got adjustments and instructions galore. I honestly think that a yoga adjustment session would be a bigger hit than a massage. You just go into your poses and your instructor just moves everything around so it feels great!

I think what left me feeling that best was the version of boat that I can't remember what it's called - most refer to as wheel. I went up in my backbend - they held my feet down, my butt up and I just had to breathe and keep my eyes open. My back felt glorious! I even got lifted up to my feet, like I was just floating up.

Honestly, if you can ever score a private session with two teachers, you will be in heaven. If you're interested in coming to our Friday afternoons, give me a hollah!

They are having an Ashtanga seminar that includes Sanskrit and chanting the weekend of 9/26 - 9/28. It will eventually be posted at www.davesastangayoga.com.

Sweet Ron Paul

Nothing could be sweeter than putting Ron Paul on a bottle of soda. Apparently our country puts limits on how much sugar we can import, thus making it more economical to use high fructose corn syrup in our carbonated beverages instead. God bless the corn growers of the U. S. of A.

Ron Paul soda

2008-06-08

Giving my life definition

I have decided that I am dedicating my life to two words. Well, not actually to the words themselves, but to the discovery of their true meaning...if those definitions really exist at all.

I think people all have their own definitions of these words, but if any of them were truely accurate, there wouldn't be much room for discussion. And honestly, I think these two misunderstood words create many of the problems in this world.

So I am going to take a journey and try and figure them out. And share my discoveries. If you'd like to pre-order an autographed copy of my book, you can send a request my way. In the meantime, I'll just try and post some highlights. And...maybe soon...the actual words.

What's your eco-sense?

underwear survey

Office Talk About Matching Underwear

So the four of us at the Holy Click! office had a discussion about whether or not it is important to wear matching undergarments. Because I feel it is really important to always be fashionably coordinated, I had to take a stand for the matching sets. Everyone else seems to think it is ridiculous and over-the-top. Help a girl out and take my survey!

Let's see what I'm up to

Twitter Updates

2008-08-05

The Pillars of the Earth

Made famous by the Ophrah Book List, this is a modern day story set back in medieval times. Unfortunately there are no dragons or magic potions, but there are beautiful cathedrals, monks, love and scandal...and even a princess-like girl.

Although Oprah and I don't normally have the same taste in books, I have to say this one is pretty good. It's a thick one, so make sure you have some time on your hands.

gaming