Technology is an amazing thing. Thanks to the awesomeness that is the internet, I’ve discovered a passion for blogging, photography and social media. And thanks to modern technology, I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting like-minded folks around the world who share my passions as well; folks I would have never had the opportunity to meet had the internet not existed. Folks like today’s guest blogger, Alicia from A Beautiful Mess.

Lish and I became fast friends last year and I totally owe the wonderful world of blogging for the friendship we share. Lish is kind and sweet and amazingly talented behind a camera lens. She’s also very honest in her writing approach, oftentimes pouring her heart and frustrations into her blog posts. She has a way of making me and so many others feel like we’re not alone in this crazy, messy life and I really love that about her.

You know what I also love about Alicia? That she’s guest posting for me today so that I can run around town and enjoy this last weekend before my best friend Lana returns to Hawaii. Because there are some needs in life that technology just can’t satisfy – the need for family and friends to connect in person from time to time.

So while I’m off connecting with my best friend, head on over to Alicia’s and tell her that I can’t wait to connect with her in person some day as well.

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33 years ago when I was just a kid I watched this crazy show called the Jetsons. I often marveled at the amazing world that they lived in. The high tech mode of transportation they used. The robotic contraptions. The holograms. It seemed like nothing more than a wild imagination at play.

Now skip forward 15 years.

At the age of 19 I lived in Orlando, FL where my husband attended the Naval Nuclear Power school. I often found myself alone, most days until 11 or 12 PM.

At the age of 21 I lived in Washington state where my husband was gone for extended periods of time on a nuclear submarine. I kept busy with work and school, but my nights were lonely. The deployment phase of my life lasted for many years.

At 26 years of age I welcomed my first born child into the world. After a near death experience, a colicky baby, and many sleepless nights, I often felt alone.

Today I am living in Cedar Rapids, thousands of miles from most family and friends. My children are in a more independent stage of life, and my husband often works crazy hours at the power plant. I still find myself alone often.

But unlike the other times in my life, new technology now allows me to reach out and connect with other like-minded people across the world.

I often think how much it could have helped me through those lonely Orlando days or those long deployments. Even those new mommy moments may have been less overwhelming and lonely had I an outlet to share with others in similar circumstances.

In this century we are blessed to not only have the internet, but social networks are also readily accessible with the push of a button. Smart phones make Facebook, Twitter, emails, and blogging easier than ever before.

I can chat with my new found blog friend from the comfort of my bed. I can update my tweets from any location. I can even send photos over the cyber wires in mere seconds with my handy phone.

It is indeed a unique day and age that we live in.

I have made some amazing friendships through the world of blogging. Relationships that I would have never imagined or thought possible just 5 years ago.

My friend Kristi from Live and Love Out Loud is one of those said friends. We have recently talked on the phone for the better part of a Saturday as she sacrificed time with her family to help me with blogging issues. She is just as nice as she appears on her blog and I hope to one day meet her in person.

That once far-fetched unbelievable world the Jetsons lived in has become my own reality in many ways.

Encyclopedias have been replaced with a cyberworld chock-full of information. Rotary dial phones are now a thing of the past, replaced by handheld smart phones that are portable and functional in almost any location in the world. Microwaves now make cooking a cinch. And modes of transportation are continually improving making travel easier and more desirable than any decade prior.

And although this reality has it’s downsides, it is also one filled with amazing perks and opportunities. I am thankful that my children are able to grow up with all of these modern day technological advancements.

I can’t see what lies ahead in the not so distant future, but I know that technology will only continue to improve with time.

Jetsons, watch out. The gap is narrowing.

My best friend Lana arrived here in small town Missouri last week and we’re having a blast. Lana and I have been friends for almost 20 years now. We met in high school in 1992, back when it was cool for bangs to stand like a brick wall on your head thanks to the magic of Aqua Net hairspray.

Lana is a great friend. She’s incredibly kind and knows just about everything one could ever know about me, which basically means that she has a lot of incriminating dirt on me. Lana knows my faults and failures, the ridiculously stupid things I’ve done (with her I might add) and she’s also seen me naked. Scary, right? Surprisingly, Lana still wants to be my friend.

Lana is more than a friend though. She’s a member of our family. Lana was present during the birth of my first child and I even named my youngest child after her. She wiped my tears as my first marriage came crashing down. She’s been one of my biggest cheerleaders over the years and there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for me.

Oh and have I mentioned that she lives in Hawaii and visits me fairly regularly, no matter where in the world I’m living at the time?

Make no mistake…Lana is a wonderful friend, one that I’ll always treasure. I guess that’s why I took her to a wastewater treatment facility.

Of all the wonderful things to see in the state of Missouri, the wastewater treatment facility at Ft. Leonard Wood is by far the most exciting destination for out-of-town guests. At the wastewater treatment facility, you’ll find poop, poop and more poop!

Among the building projects my husband oversees as a construction control technician is the lovely poop plant on Ft. Wood. The Poop Plant smells like crap and for some reason George thought it would be a great idea to give our out-of-town guest a tour of the facilities. Isn’t he sweet?

George took us around, educating us on the different processes that human waste goes through before it’s safe enough to be released into rivers, streams, etc. Gross right? Judging by the expression on my little girl’s face, she wasn’t the least bit impressed.

But to my surprise, Lana was thrilled about our visit to the poop plant. Me? Not so much. Dressing up and pretending to be tough construction chicks was more my thing.

Disgusting as it may have been, our visit to the poop plant was a lot of fun. We laughed. We screamed. We held our noses.

And we had a great time. Who knew that a poop plant would be the perfect tourist destination?

Have I mentioned that it smelled like crap?

I’ve been on a little bit of a mystery photo kick lately. They’re so much fun to do. I love that you all get so excited about these mystery photos and your guesses amuse the heck out of me. This week’s guesses were incredibly entertaining and you’ll soon find out why. But first, a few of my favorite guesses courtesy of YOU:

• hot molten gravy
• geoduck
• brownie
• chocolate mudcake
• melting snow run-off
• cola
• chocolate bubbling on the stove

A few of you were really creative with your guesses and deserve an honorable mention. Little Mochi guessed “Willy Wonka’s chocolate river”. I wish! Paula thought that the mystery photo might be “really fertile smushy dirt with a few slug eggs in it and something about to sprout”. What an imagination! And Natalie of And Then There Were Four said “this is where you hide the bodies”. Now we all know who to call when we’ve got a pesky dead body lying around!

Mystery Revealed

Your guesses were awesome and left me dying of laughter. I found “bubbling chocolate on the stove” to be particularly funny. There was definitely something bubbling in the photo, but trust me…it most certainly was not chocolate. As a matter of fact, it’s POOP!

Don’t ever tell me that I don’t make sacrifices for your entertainment! I’ve photographed roadkill, decomposed mice and now this. I may have stooped to a new low, but I did it all for you. I believe a “thanks” is in order here. That, or a neti pot. My nostrils are still filled with the stench of bubbling wastewater! Can you believe that I actually toured a wastewater treatment facility? It’s the perfect tourist destination. Just ask my out-of-town guest.

And The Winners Are…

This week’s mystery photo was a bit tricky, but a couple of ladies came fairly close. {Not Quite} Susie Homemaker guessed “poops” and Jen of  Buried with Children guessed “a toilet gone horribly wrong”. Congratulations ladies!

You came.

You guessed.

You got it right.

And now you’ve got a crappy souvenir t-shirt to prove it.

You can thank me later.

*I’m still recovering from my recent visit to the wastewater treatment facility construction project that my husband is currently overseeing. It was an experience to say the least. Head on over and read all about it. You’ll be glad that you did. Or not. Either way, go read it.

Welcome to yet another edition of Mystery Photo here at Live and Love Out Loud. I’ve had a blast hosting these lately! Last week, you all put me to shame and guessed correctly. I won’t lie. My pride was a little hurt and I felt like a great big mystery photo hosting loser, but this week I’m hoping to redeem myself and make things a little more challenging. So without further ado, let’s get this Mystery Photo edition of Wordless Wednesday started! You know the drill. Take a wild guess as to what the mystery photo might be and come back on Thursday to see if you guessed right. Guess right and you’ll win a crappy souvenir t-shirt courtesy of moi.

Good luck.

Thanks for stopping by and linking up at Live and Love Out Loud. If you’re looking for even more fabulous people to link up with, head on over to the following blogs and link up with them as well. I do. Every single week.

Two ways to link up…

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Welcome to the Small Business Spotlight at Live and Love Out Loud, the monthly series that shines a spotlight on small businesses owned and operated by women. Small businesses are labors of love. The women behind these businesses are innovative, creative and inspirational. They pour their hearts into the goods and services they provide and customer satisfaction reign supreme. In an age where large corporations are motivated by the almighty dollar, women are taking over and changing the face of business; motivated by customer loyalty and satisfaction. Please join me in supporting small businesses owned and operated by women. Small businesses like…

Twenty Five Design

Twenty Five Design is the place to find funky and fresh accessories for women. The pieces in Torie’s popular Etsy shop are bold, fun and guaranteed to make a statement.

From headbands to hair pins to cuffs – OH MY! I just can’t get enough of Twenty Five Design.

Twenty Five Design was born out of Torie’s passion for creating beautiful accessories for women. Inspired by her little girl Rylie, this super sweet wife and mother is committed to creating gorgeous, high quality pieces at a reasonable price. As a repeat customer, I’ve found Torie to be absolutely pleasant to work with. Her accessories are made with love, shipped out quickly and certainly make a statement.

Head on over to Twenty Five Design and take a look around. You’ll find adorable headbands, fabulous necklaces, super sassy cuffs and more. While you’re there, use the code “LIVEANDLOVE10″ during checkout to receive a 10% discount on your purchase. And don’t forget to follow Torie on Twitter as well. You never know when she’ll host an impromptu giveaway next.

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Twenty Five Design is just one of many fabulous small businesses owned and operated by women. Click on over to my Small Business Spotlight page to nominate your favorite small business and to see a complete list of women-owned businesses spotlighted here at Live and Love Out Loud.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post by Twenty Five Design. Thirty days of complimentary ad space is provided to the current small business featured in the Small Business Spotlight each month. Why? Because I’m passionate about supporting small businesses owned and operated by women. I hope you are too.