Laying here in my bed realizing I'm probably not going back to sleep after seeing my husband off to work over an hour ago has given me time to think "maybe I should blog". Haven't done so in months. I'm long overdue. I had 3 followers, I'm down to 2, I was disheartened that nobody was reading my blog, and decided to keep my thoughts on Facebook, which have proven to annoy some, but encourage others. Don't we all just "get by w/a little help from our friends"? I owe my friends so much gratitude for reading about me and my life, finding inspiration from it, and for inspiring me just as well. So, w/that in mind, I'm not writing any of this in hopes of gaining followers, or comments. This is just me, a mother, getting my feelings out in the open. Something for my son to read and hold dear.
Well, I'm sitting here at the stoplight in my life, waiting for it to turn green. Or maybe I'm seeing it wrong. Maybe it's a yellow light, cautioning me. Regardless, I'm still just sitting here, not moving. I'm kinda not wanting to just yet. You see, 19 years ago my husband and I had only recently discovered I was pregnant w/our first child. We so badly wanted our first-born to be a son, by December 1st, 1992, God gave us the most precious gift. Our first son. We knew we were on borrowed time, at least 18 years, right? He gave us 3 more precious sons within 6 years. These last 19 years appear to have just flown right on by, w/barely a blink. Hang on, if you hold your breath, maybe you can drag it out?! *sigh*, it didn't work. 19 years have whisked away right before my eyes. What seems like just yesterday dreaming of what our first child would be like, all the hopes we had, is now today w/him preparing to graduate high school in 9 days, and in a very short 3 1/2 months, he's leaving his family, his home to begin his own life. Leaving behind a mother who complains about how much he frustrates me, submitting to his constant taking advantage of me to do so much for him, being inconveniencd at all times......but in reality, that same mother is going to miss him beyond belief. She's going to long for the days of him calling me to be at his beck & call, instead of worrying about whether or not he's ok. Is someone picking on him? Is he lonely? Is he scared? Can he handle this? Is it too much for him to bear? Is he learning more respect and responsibility? Is he becoming a man?
This child of ours is actually no longer a child. He has made a very grown-up decision. He has decided that the United States Air Force is going to be his life for at least the next 6 years, and he leaves his family of mom, dad and 3 younger brothers on August 28th later this summer. He will be at basic training in Lackland Air Force base, San Antonio, TX until early November (8 1/2 weeks of boot camp, not too shabby), then he will do his training and studying to be in Missile and Space Electronics. While he's enlisted he will also study to earn his bachelors degree, then he will have several choices for his career path, which at this point, he hopes any of them lead him to work for NASA. He can either continue on as an Air Force officer, continue his education to earn his masters, or with a little luck, and a lot of prayer, begin working for NASA straight from the AF, as he will already have security clearance. His choices are vast, (with hopes that our country will be able to pull itself out of turmoil).
My husband served the US Navy in the early '90's. He joined during the middle of Desert Storm. I think I now know what his own mother must have been going through, although for me, at the time I was his girlfriend, I was excited for him. I was so proud of him for making the decision to serve our country and to find a better life, considering he was failing college, he knew he had to do something. I was just so proud of him. Well, now my own son is leaving to serve his country, and although I am so, SO very proud, I'm screaming on the inside. I fight back the tears CONSTANTLY, to not embarrass myself, or cause people to approach me, asking if I'm ok. I want to tell everyone I come in contact with that my oldest son is leaving for the Air Force and I am so proud of him, so scared for him, so worried about him, and I'm going to miss him terribly!!!! But, I digress, because I know other people don't feel the same as we do. This is my personal battle to fight. And only God knows how I feel. I'm going to miss him so much. I'm going to worry about him everyday. I'm putting all my faith in God that he will protect our son. That he will see to it his needs are met, and that he will survive. That he will learn how to take care of himself, how to handle making grown-up decisions on his own for the rest of his life. After all, didn't we all have to go through the very same process and start somewhere? Didn't our own mothers worry the exact same thing as we were each leaving home to try it on our own? If I survived and figured it all out, then he is certainly capable of doing the same.
I'm scared. I've always been here for him, and although that will never change, the hard part is, he going to need me to be there the same way less and less. Fewer and fewer. He will no longer need me to be his band-aid. He will no longer need me to pick up the pieces, to be his chauffeur, his bank, his personal shopper, the list goes extremely on.....so, although I should be running around singing "freedom! Freedom!", I'm quite the opposite. I'm crying on the inside. I'm screaming where noone else can hear. Only God can hear me. And I know he's here listening, comforting me. But, still, I feel the pain. The pain each and every good mother feels when she knows she's done a good enough job raising him, now it's time to put it to the test, and see if he knows it too. Will he take his upbringing with him and hear his dad and I in his head as he makes decisions, and now lives his life w/o us? His dad and I will always be here for him, always. Only difference is now, he won't always need us.
He's a brilliant person. He has a philosophical mind, like his father, empathy for others, like his mother, love and faith in God, and a good head on his shoulders, sometimes he needs to tighten the bolts as they tend to loosen up, but don't we all? That doesn't go away w/age or wisdom, that's just part of being human. I cannot even begin to express how proud I am of this child, who is no longer even a child, but will always be my baby. He's made a mark in the lives of all he knows. He's musically talented, and was given several opportunities to show off his talent and skill with the band. He has made his family so proud. He's done very well in school, and even though right now he wonders why he chose to take AP, honors and college credit classes in high school, he did so with the right intentions. To challenge himself to do better, to get smarter, and to achieve some goals. He may not think they'll do him any good while in the Air Force, but he will realize later on, that he's actually grateful he made those choices.
Getting to say "my son is serving in the USAF" kinda puts a big bright glowing light over me. I feel so proud of him. So excited for him. He's happy w/his decisions. He's excited for his future. And although there's nothing I can do about the "mom syndrome" and the "empty nest" feeling, that comes naturally to every mother when it's that time, I will forever be proud of our boy, who has become a man. <3 He is only leaving home. Not leaving family. Family - he gets to take w/him, everyday, everywhere he goes, even if he can't physically see us, touch us or hear us - we are always w/him. Always.
And I won't always be fighting the tears, I will sometimes allow them to flow. And I will also see that God has wiped them away, comforting me that he's taking good care of our son. But, I will always miss him when he's not here. I will always worry when I don't hear from him, I will always pray for him. And I will always be proud of him. I can't say he turned out to be a fine young man, because he was already like that from the moment he was born.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Thanksgiving, Black Friday and beyond
So, we had a very nice Thanksgiving! Don was home on vacation all that week, he managed to get a lot of gaming in w/the boys (COD Black Ops). Thanksgiving Day, we missed our families very much, but we appreciate tremendously that they understand how difficult it is for us to host the holidays w/our house still being in such a shambles. (We're REALLY going to get this renovating done in 2011! We better!) Our close friends invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed good cooking and warm, friendly company. They are our extended family. And I cherish them so much! The kids all gathered around the tv to watch "How to Train Your Dragon" (okay, the adults gathered around the tv to watch it too!), then I took Don home to get some sleep, and the boys home to wind down and play some video games.....while I drove over to Wal-Mart to meet "my girls" (as I lovingly call them) for some midnight Black Friday shopping. Don was really looking forward to Black Friday shopping w/me, while on his vacation, so I had to disperse my shopping times and partners accordingly. ;-)
It was funny how incredibly crowded the store was at midnight. I'm not happy about stores being open on Thanksgiving Day. I miss it when some holidays were just so special, that you had to travel for miles just to find an open gas station. But now, in order to "save" the economy and keep commerce moving, stores will stay open to let shoppers spend their money. But, I admit, there were some deals at midnight that I wanted to take advantage of, so I left my family at home to get some of those good buys. However, w/in minutes of finding my friends, we all lost each other anyway, lol. I found the kitchen appliances I was looking for, then was lost in the crowd. So, I just moseyed around Wal-Mart picking up Christmas gifts for the boys. It was refreshing to experience the other shoppers being friendly and polite towards each other (for the most part at least. There was one woman who was less than thrilled that she was rear-ended by another shopper's cart, and made it quite clear, that the other woman "hurt her", no, REALLY "hurt her".....after witnessing the whole thing, it was quite laughable really, and required a major eye roll, I felt bad for the poor woman who accidentally bumped into her, she felt so bad, and kept apologizing....I was just waiting for the "victim" to call her lawyer to get a lawsuit started!!) When I'd had enough, I found my way to the end of the line and waited for an hour and 20 minutes before I was able to finally check out. On my way out to the car, I found 2 of my girls, who told me they've already been through checkout twice, lol, even made a trip home for a drop off to make room for more, lol.....apparently I got in the wrong line!! Oh well, I was done. I needed to get home and take my nap.
In bed by 2:40 am. Alarm set for 3:45. Turned off the alarm on my phone, and accidentally called Mercy, lol. They were already at JC Penneys!!! There was no nap for those poor girls. But, it sure sounds like they had a great night of being silly and hap-slappy! Don and I got up, threw our clothes on, grabbed our bag of store ads and were on our way to Target. Got there about 15 min after they opened (which was at 4 am), and realized the list of items we wanted for the door-buster deals were already all sold out. Lines were snaking around the aisles all across the store.....so we left empty handed and made our way to the next store. We got to all the stores we wanted to get deals from. Even managed to go back to Target to find at least 3 of the items we originally went for, but couldn't find previously. I was pretty excited about that. Still didn't manage to get that electronic drumset Sammy wanted, but we found everything else. Then, returned one item to K-Mart before making our way back to Wal-Mart. In the middle of all this we stopped at Sirloin Stockade (we still call it "the Fat Cow", which is what Joshua named it when he was 3, because of their big brown cow on the sign) when they opened at 8 to have breakfast w/my girls. They were sooo pooped! At that point they had made a couple trips home already to unload, and had been shopping since 11 the night before, so they were done. We left them to their wills, and continued shopping, getting home just after 12-noon. The boys were excited at the prospect of all the Christmas shopping we'd accomplished. So, they hid out of sight quite happily to allow us to bring all our wares inside for further hiding until wrapping day.
I dozed off upstairs for about 20 minutes, as I was taking Christmas inventory, while Don played some games downstairs w/the boys. Then he and I took off again to catch an afternoon movie matinee, to see "Unstoppable". I really don't remember what we did after that. I don't even remember what we did for dinner, everything started turning into a big blur at that point, lol. I was so tired!! Thanksgiving morning, I got up at 5:30, then went to the gym for my long 3 hour, extensive workout, before celebrating the holiday, then a couple itty-bitty naps, w/a long day of shopping and movies. I'm actually pretty pleased w/myself for managing to stay alert and productive those 2 days. My how things have changed in the past 2+ years!! I do actually remember bringing all the Christmas boxes down to begin my decorating that same night. But, that's where it stopped, lol. I was in bed by 11 that night, ready to start over again at the gym the next morning!
After my workout, I went out w/my girls to see Disney's "Tangled". There were 2 little girls in age and 5 little girls at heart in our group that went to see it. And I loved it sooooo much!!! I would love to see it again! When I got home that night, after having dinner w/Megan, Kimm & Katie at Perkins, I managed to put up the tree, and over the course of the past week, I've managed to get it lit and finally started hanging ornaments last night.
And, on that note, this will end my current post, to begin a new post. I hope everyone reading (all 3 of my followers, lol) had a wonderful Thanksgiving w/your own families as well. <3
It was funny how incredibly crowded the store was at midnight. I'm not happy about stores being open on Thanksgiving Day. I miss it when some holidays were just so special, that you had to travel for miles just to find an open gas station. But now, in order to "save" the economy and keep commerce moving, stores will stay open to let shoppers spend their money. But, I admit, there were some deals at midnight that I wanted to take advantage of, so I left my family at home to get some of those good buys. However, w/in minutes of finding my friends, we all lost each other anyway, lol. I found the kitchen appliances I was looking for, then was lost in the crowd. So, I just moseyed around Wal-Mart picking up Christmas gifts for the boys. It was refreshing to experience the other shoppers being friendly and polite towards each other (for the most part at least. There was one woman who was less than thrilled that she was rear-ended by another shopper's cart, and made it quite clear, that the other woman "hurt her", no, REALLY "hurt her".....after witnessing the whole thing, it was quite laughable really, and required a major eye roll, I felt bad for the poor woman who accidentally bumped into her, she felt so bad, and kept apologizing....I was just waiting for the "victim" to call her lawyer to get a lawsuit started!!) When I'd had enough, I found my way to the end of the line and waited for an hour and 20 minutes before I was able to finally check out. On my way out to the car, I found 2 of my girls, who told me they've already been through checkout twice, lol, even made a trip home for a drop off to make room for more, lol.....apparently I got in the wrong line!! Oh well, I was done. I needed to get home and take my nap.
In bed by 2:40 am. Alarm set for 3:45. Turned off the alarm on my phone, and accidentally called Mercy, lol. They were already at JC Penneys!!! There was no nap for those poor girls. But, it sure sounds like they had a great night of being silly and hap-slappy! Don and I got up, threw our clothes on, grabbed our bag of store ads and were on our way to Target. Got there about 15 min after they opened (which was at 4 am), and realized the list of items we wanted for the door-buster deals were already all sold out. Lines were snaking around the aisles all across the store.....so we left empty handed and made our way to the next store. We got to all the stores we wanted to get deals from. Even managed to go back to Target to find at least 3 of the items we originally went for, but couldn't find previously. I was pretty excited about that. Still didn't manage to get that electronic drumset Sammy wanted, but we found everything else. Then, returned one item to K-Mart before making our way back to Wal-Mart. In the middle of all this we stopped at Sirloin Stockade (we still call it "the Fat Cow", which is what Joshua named it when he was 3, because of their big brown cow on the sign) when they opened at 8 to have breakfast w/my girls. They were sooo pooped! At that point they had made a couple trips home already to unload, and had been shopping since 11 the night before, so they were done. We left them to their wills, and continued shopping, getting home just after 12-noon. The boys were excited at the prospect of all the Christmas shopping we'd accomplished. So, they hid out of sight quite happily to allow us to bring all our wares inside for further hiding until wrapping day.
I dozed off upstairs for about 20 minutes, as I was taking Christmas inventory, while Don played some games downstairs w/the boys. Then he and I took off again to catch an afternoon movie matinee, to see "Unstoppable". I really don't remember what we did after that. I don't even remember what we did for dinner, everything started turning into a big blur at that point, lol. I was so tired!! Thanksgiving morning, I got up at 5:30, then went to the gym for my long 3 hour, extensive workout, before celebrating the holiday, then a couple itty-bitty naps, w/a long day of shopping and movies. I'm actually pretty pleased w/myself for managing to stay alert and productive those 2 days. My how things have changed in the past 2+ years!! I do actually remember bringing all the Christmas boxes down to begin my decorating that same night. But, that's where it stopped, lol. I was in bed by 11 that night, ready to start over again at the gym the next morning!
After my workout, I went out w/my girls to see Disney's "Tangled". There were 2 little girls in age and 5 little girls at heart in our group that went to see it. And I loved it sooooo much!!! I would love to see it again! When I got home that night, after having dinner w/Megan, Kimm & Katie at Perkins, I managed to put up the tree, and over the course of the past week, I've managed to get it lit and finally started hanging ornaments last night.
And, on that note, this will end my current post, to begin a new post. I hope everyone reading (all 3 of my followers, lol) had a wonderful Thanksgiving w/your own families as well. <3
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Everything but the kitchen sink cookies
So, I played Betty Crocker today. Just 'cause I felt like baking. Not 'cause I felt like eating. I bought a couple packages of cookie mix at the store, and some chips. I started putting the mixes together at home, when I decided to be creative. I went through the fridge and the pantry and started chucking in anything else I thought would go well in cookies. So, this is what I came up with. Turned out purdy-darn tasty if you ask the boys (and yes, I even tried one. Okay, I tried two)
Recipe: Everything But The Kitchen Sink Cookies
1 pkg Betty Crocker oatmeal, chocolate chip cookie mix
1 pkg Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix
1 tbsp water
3 tbsp oil
2 eggs
1 stick softened butter
1/2 can canned pumpkin (not pie mix, just canned pumpkin)
2 tbsp honey
3 tbsp Peanut Butter Co. dark chocolate dreams peanut butter
1/2 pkg Reese's peanut butter chips for baking
1/2 pkg Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 pkg Hershey's butterscotch chips
1/2 pkg Hershey's cinnamon chips
1 individual pkg M&M's
1 individual pkg peanut butter M&M's
(I would've used pecan pieces too, but our kids don't like 'em)
Pre-heat oven 375
Mix the packaged mixes with all the chips and M&M's first. Then add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well, then dollop onto cookie sheet in whatever size cookie you choose. I make them about the size of a heaping tablespoon. Bake in oven 13-15 min. I stop at 13, 'cause we like them uber soft and mushy. (They're not that mushy, lol, but they're good!) Let them cool on cookie sheet 1-2 min, then move them to either a cooling rack, or a plate, and let them cool another 5 min or so, or be like my Austin, and just take it straight off the cookie sheet, regardless if it's so soft, it just falls apart.
Enjoy, they're ever so yummy!!! :-)
Recipe: Everything But The Kitchen Sink Cookies
1 pkg Betty Crocker oatmeal, chocolate chip cookie mix
1 pkg Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix
1 tbsp water
3 tbsp oil
2 eggs
1 stick softened butter
1/2 can canned pumpkin (not pie mix, just canned pumpkin)
2 tbsp honey
3 tbsp Peanut Butter Co. dark chocolate dreams peanut butter
1/2 pkg Reese's peanut butter chips for baking
1/2 pkg Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 pkg Hershey's butterscotch chips
1/2 pkg Hershey's cinnamon chips
1 individual pkg M&M's
1 individual pkg peanut butter M&M's
(I would've used pecan pieces too, but our kids don't like 'em)
Pre-heat oven 375
Mix the packaged mixes with all the chips and M&M's first. Then add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well, then dollop onto cookie sheet in whatever size cookie you choose. I make them about the size of a heaping tablespoon. Bake in oven 13-15 min. I stop at 13, 'cause we like them uber soft and mushy. (They're not that mushy, lol, but they're good!) Let them cool on cookie sheet 1-2 min, then move them to either a cooling rack, or a plate, and let them cool another 5 min or so, or be like my Austin, and just take it straight off the cookie sheet, regardless if it's so soft, it just falls apart.
Enjoy, they're ever so yummy!!! :-)
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
My Happy Place
In the sense of "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens", I feel the need to mention some of the things that make me smile on the outside and feel warm and cozy on the inside.....taking me to my happy place.....
Since it's fall, I'll start there -- the temps dropping overnight, so I don't feel the need to run the window ac in our bedroom, making it cozy enough to cuddle under all the bedding and next to my hubby. The temps rising enough in the daytime that you can't decide if it's cool enough for a hoodie, but better bring it just in case. Obviously the beautiful glow of the rainbow of colors spilling out from every tree, every bush, the golden glow of the bean/corn fields against the horizon of a turquoise sky. The leaves crunching underfoot as you walk with your kids to the high school football game. Football, both pro and local high school. Who doesn't enjoy Friday Night Lights when 1/2 the town gathers in the stadium, our boys are on the field, either throwing the ball, making the tackle, or playing their trumpet, baritone or percussion, giving the audience a truly fantastic show of creativity, talent and skill, or our cheerleaders getting the audience all wound up and excited as we all root for our team! Eating pumpkin flavored anything. Enjoying the warm, inviting scent of cinnamon, baked apple pie, pumpkin, snickerdoodle, cranberry cobbler or vanilla spice candles burning in every room throughout the house. A bright sunny sky, with or w/o some clouds, no matter what the temp is. Cumulonimbus clouds bringing the excitement of a good thunderstorm. Cumulus clouds that you can let your imagination run wild with as you determine what shape each cloud makes, usually it's cartoon characters or animals, lol. The flowers in gardens that are finally in their full, vibrant bloom, reminding you, there is still a hint of summer remaining. The kids raking up piles of leaves, just so they can take a running leap, dive in, bury themselves, and scare the first unsuspecting person walking by. Fall festivities such as Scenic Drive, trips to the pumpkin patch or apple orchard, corn mazes, scarecrow contests, bonfires. Actually having a bonfire that you can stand close to, to keep warm while roasting marshmallows or hot dogs, telling ghost stories to the kids, or sending them out on a snipe hunt, (I still claim that I saw one once!!) I love, love, love Hallowe'en!! One of my fave holidays!!! Seeing all the creative costumes the kids (and adults) wear. Getting to dress in costume myself (yes...I still love doing that!!!) Digging through the boys trick-or-treat buckets for chocolate. Hearing spooky music being played. Choosing to get scared on purpose, either by going to a haunted house, or watching a scary movie.
The kids being in school so my hubby and I have some "free" personal time, like going out for lunch or Christmas shopping (always start early!) Getting to wear make-up again, and re-discovering my fall/winter wardrobe, and shoes. Scarves. I love scarves. Watching in fascination as the birds begin their migration to warmer climates - although that's kind of a love-hate thing, lol. It's fascinating to see these birds by the hundreds, but so sad to know why they're leaving.
I love the smell of bread baking. I love open-fingered gloves, and the super-soft (like a baby's stuffed animal) gloves. I love big, knit berets. And I love wearing all these....and a scarf w/nothing more than a sweater or hoodie. As long as it's not cold enough for a coat, it's all good! I love hearing the boys laughing and excited to tell me all about their day at school, as they're walking in the door at 3:30 in the afternoon. I love it when they're being so loud and obnoxious, and crazy-silly. Or when they bring out the Eye Toy on the PS3 to make super-silly movies. I love hearing a small child w/a big belly laugh that is so contagious, you don't want it to ever end, and you start laughing right along with them, clueless as to what is so funny, lol. I love when a stranger smiles at you, as you pass them by, or when a boy shows he's a gentleman as he proudly holds the door open for you w/a friendly smile across his face. I love hearing musack being played in the store that is mimicking a current top 40 song, and bobbing my head to it....then of course singing it out loud, making people look at you funny. Even more fun is playing an awesome song in the van and bouncing around to it, singing loud enough for the person in the car next to you to hear. Especially when it's either a current popular song that teens will think you're too old to enjoy, or a classic that most teens don't appreciate (although, our kids prefer classic rock, The Beatles and even 80's music). It's so much fun to embarrass them, lol.
I love wearing tops that make me feel like I'm in my early 20's. Like long sleeved thumb-hole shirts under artsy tee shirts. I love wearing my hair like Alice from my favorite Twilight movies, (time for a haircut soon, it's been a year since my last one!) I love, love, love nail polish!!!! I love painting my nails. And although it drives my husband crazy that retailers are ripping us women off by charging $7 a bottle for polish (he compares the cost to a gallon of paint, and says it's much cheaper that way, lol!), I'm always looking for new colors. I have an obsession over colors. Probably why I still colored in coloring books until I was introduced to Stampin' Up! only a few years ago, and the obsession of card making, lol. I love colors, and finding creative ways to use them.
And......I looooove working out at the gym. So, on that note (and worthy reminder that I am indeed still sitting in my van in the gym parking lot, watching people exit the building....after I previously watched them enter.......does this give you an idea of long I've been working on this?!?!) -- I seriously need to get my butt in there to get my own workout done for the day.
I sure feel good now, thinking about so many things that make me feel happy this time of year, or all the time, for that matter, lol. Now to enjoy my morning!!! :-) :-) :-) :-)
Since it's fall, I'll start there -- the temps dropping overnight, so I don't feel the need to run the window ac in our bedroom, making it cozy enough to cuddle under all the bedding and next to my hubby. The temps rising enough in the daytime that you can't decide if it's cool enough for a hoodie, but better bring it just in case. Obviously the beautiful glow of the rainbow of colors spilling out from every tree, every bush, the golden glow of the bean/corn fields against the horizon of a turquoise sky. The leaves crunching underfoot as you walk with your kids to the high school football game. Football, both pro and local high school. Who doesn't enjoy Friday Night Lights when 1/2 the town gathers in the stadium, our boys are on the field, either throwing the ball, making the tackle, or playing their trumpet, baritone or percussion, giving the audience a truly fantastic show of creativity, talent and skill, or our cheerleaders getting the audience all wound up and excited as we all root for our team! Eating pumpkin flavored anything. Enjoying the warm, inviting scent of cinnamon, baked apple pie, pumpkin, snickerdoodle, cranberry cobbler or vanilla spice candles burning in every room throughout the house. A bright sunny sky, with or w/o some clouds, no matter what the temp is. Cumulonimbus clouds bringing the excitement of a good thunderstorm. Cumulus clouds that you can let your imagination run wild with as you determine what shape each cloud makes, usually it's cartoon characters or animals, lol. The flowers in gardens that are finally in their full, vibrant bloom, reminding you, there is still a hint of summer remaining. The kids raking up piles of leaves, just so they can take a running leap, dive in, bury themselves, and scare the first unsuspecting person walking by. Fall festivities such as Scenic Drive, trips to the pumpkin patch or apple orchard, corn mazes, scarecrow contests, bonfires. Actually having a bonfire that you can stand close to, to keep warm while roasting marshmallows or hot dogs, telling ghost stories to the kids, or sending them out on a snipe hunt, (I still claim that I saw one once!!) I love, love, love Hallowe'en!! One of my fave holidays!!! Seeing all the creative costumes the kids (and adults) wear. Getting to dress in costume myself (yes...I still love doing that!!!) Digging through the boys trick-or-treat buckets for chocolate. Hearing spooky music being played. Choosing to get scared on purpose, either by going to a haunted house, or watching a scary movie.
The kids being in school so my hubby and I have some "free" personal time, like going out for lunch or Christmas shopping (always start early!) Getting to wear make-up again, and re-discovering my fall/winter wardrobe, and shoes. Scarves. I love scarves. Watching in fascination as the birds begin their migration to warmer climates - although that's kind of a love-hate thing, lol. It's fascinating to see these birds by the hundreds, but so sad to know why they're leaving.
I love the smell of bread baking. I love open-fingered gloves, and the super-soft (like a baby's stuffed animal) gloves. I love big, knit berets. And I love wearing all these....and a scarf w/nothing more than a sweater or hoodie. As long as it's not cold enough for a coat, it's all good! I love hearing the boys laughing and excited to tell me all about their day at school, as they're walking in the door at 3:30 in the afternoon. I love it when they're being so loud and obnoxious, and crazy-silly. Or when they bring out the Eye Toy on the PS3 to make super-silly movies. I love hearing a small child w/a big belly laugh that is so contagious, you don't want it to ever end, and you start laughing right along with them, clueless as to what is so funny, lol. I love when a stranger smiles at you, as you pass them by, or when a boy shows he's a gentleman as he proudly holds the door open for you w/a friendly smile across his face. I love hearing musack being played in the store that is mimicking a current top 40 song, and bobbing my head to it....then of course singing it out loud, making people look at you funny. Even more fun is playing an awesome song in the van and bouncing around to it, singing loud enough for the person in the car next to you to hear. Especially when it's either a current popular song that teens will think you're too old to enjoy, or a classic that most teens don't appreciate (although, our kids prefer classic rock, The Beatles and even 80's music). It's so much fun to embarrass them, lol.
I love wearing tops that make me feel like I'm in my early 20's. Like long sleeved thumb-hole shirts under artsy tee shirts. I love wearing my hair like Alice from my favorite Twilight movies, (time for a haircut soon, it's been a year since my last one!) I love, love, love nail polish!!!! I love painting my nails. And although it drives my husband crazy that retailers are ripping us women off by charging $7 a bottle for polish (he compares the cost to a gallon of paint, and says it's much cheaper that way, lol!), I'm always looking for new colors. I have an obsession over colors. Probably why I still colored in coloring books until I was introduced to Stampin' Up! only a few years ago, and the obsession of card making, lol. I love colors, and finding creative ways to use them.
And......I looooove working out at the gym. So, on that note (and worthy reminder that I am indeed still sitting in my van in the gym parking lot, watching people exit the building....after I previously watched them enter.......does this give you an idea of long I've been working on this?!?!) -- I seriously need to get my butt in there to get my own workout done for the day.
I sure feel good now, thinking about so many things that make me feel happy this time of year, or all the time, for that matter, lol. Now to enjoy my morning!!! :-) :-) :-) :-)
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Day of recovery
Wow! I had a true experience in just how important it is to allow your body a full day off from working out, so it has the chance to fully recover!! Especially, if you're like me and do a cardio and weight resistance or weight training workout. Let me start from Monday. Monday I went to the gym for my full workout. Then, that afternoon, I decided to work in the yard. Cleaning out dead flowers from the flower bed, then I took on the big job of weeding out a section of our gravel driveway that has been recovering in its own right from my van getting stuck in it back in March, ultimately leading to a temporary demise. So, I spent the remainder of the afternoon pulling weeds there, bent over in a squat position for several hours.
Tuesday, I went to the gym only for time on the treadmill. Most of my "off-days" I will still get a good cardio workout in, which will allow me to get my heart rate up, burning fat, but allowing my muscles a day to recover and repair. Then I came home to return to my weed-pulling task, again in squat position for several hours. Wednesday, back to the gym for a full workout, then my hubby and I spent the afternoon at the driving range practicing our golf swing. Thursday, a FANTASTIC workout!!! I still can't get over how much I worked myself that day! But, I was too busy the rest of the day to get anymore weed pulling in.....which proved to be a good thing. By Thursday evening, I was getting real sore, and real stiff. Yesterday, (Friday), I was so incredibly sore, there was absolutely NO way I was going to even try to walk at a snails pace on the treadmill, I could barely walk around the store when Don wanted to so some shopping! I took Advil several times yesterday to help squelch the pain from my workouts and weed pulling. Didn't really help much. I was in so much discomfort and pain, I wanted to just curl up and cry.... but I can't just sit around and do nothing, so I kept at my day of running around, till bedtime. Uncomfortable the entire day!!! I went to bed scared that I'd not be able to do my workout this morning, and that maybe something else was going on, other than a painful recovery day.
But.....here I am...after a good night sleep, and an honest-to-goodness day of recovery, most of that pain is officially gone!! And, I am ready for another great workout!!! It is sooo important to allow your body a full day of recovery every few days. Your body needs that time to repair itself. Regardless if you've been having bad diet-days, or if you've hit a plateau, and feel the need to just keep going everyday......if you don't give yourself the proper time to recover/repair....you're only going to cause damage, which could lead to injury, which could lead to a lot more time off from your workout. So, take that full day off now and then. You won't regret it! :-) :-)
Tuesday, I went to the gym only for time on the treadmill. Most of my "off-days" I will still get a good cardio workout in, which will allow me to get my heart rate up, burning fat, but allowing my muscles a day to recover and repair. Then I came home to return to my weed-pulling task, again in squat position for several hours. Wednesday, back to the gym for a full workout, then my hubby and I spent the afternoon at the driving range practicing our golf swing. Thursday, a FANTASTIC workout!!! I still can't get over how much I worked myself that day! But, I was too busy the rest of the day to get anymore weed pulling in.....which proved to be a good thing. By Thursday evening, I was getting real sore, and real stiff. Yesterday, (Friday), I was so incredibly sore, there was absolutely NO way I was going to even try to walk at a snails pace on the treadmill, I could barely walk around the store when Don wanted to so some shopping! I took Advil several times yesterday to help squelch the pain from my workouts and weed pulling. Didn't really help much. I was in so much discomfort and pain, I wanted to just curl up and cry.... but I can't just sit around and do nothing, so I kept at my day of running around, till bedtime. Uncomfortable the entire day!!! I went to bed scared that I'd not be able to do my workout this morning, and that maybe something else was going on, other than a painful recovery day.
But.....here I am...after a good night sleep, and an honest-to-goodness day of recovery, most of that pain is officially gone!! And, I am ready for another great workout!!! It is sooo important to allow your body a full day of recovery every few days. Your body needs that time to repair itself. Regardless if you've been having bad diet-days, or if you've hit a plateau, and feel the need to just keep going everyday......if you don't give yourself the proper time to recover/repair....you're only going to cause damage, which could lead to injury, which could lead to a lot more time off from your workout. So, take that full day off now and then. You won't regret it! :-) :-)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Stinky turtle tank!
I can't stand stinky smells!!! My nose just won't tolerate it! So, why can't my husband just let me get a new filter system for Sammy's turtle tank, instead of "waiting to see what kind of scientific/biological thing is taking place in there"?!? Everything is a science experiment w/him, lol. That's great!! He's going on 40, and still loves to learn and do research. So do I.....but, I can also tell when a filter system has simply failed, it is after all, 3 1/2 years old....it's just time to replace the system!
Meanwhile....no matter how many candles I burn, or room fresheners I use, or windows open with fans pulling the air out of the house -- nothing will get rid of the nasty odor coming from that tank! And it does get cleaned often!! The filter just no longer works! PERIOD! Get a new one!!! I will find one on Ebay! No biggie!
But, nope....Don --- who is gone more often than he is home, (spending maybe about 10-15 waking hours at home each week - if that), would rather let me and the boys suffer the horrendous odor, so he can determine what is going on in the tank. But, when will he have the time to do that??? I know....when he's on vacation in November! Right?? By then, I will have just ignored his desire to do his "scientific research" that he will not find the time to proceed with....and will have already purchased a new filter system, that he can put together. The one that it's in there now.....must be buried, deep underground. Yes. It's THAT bad!!!! It's not only humiliating, but I just can't live w/that odor!!! UGH!!!
You'd think, (the scientific mind he has), that by now, he'd just realize the filter system failed!!! Oy!
Meanwhile....no matter how many candles I burn, or room fresheners I use, or windows open with fans pulling the air out of the house -- nothing will get rid of the nasty odor coming from that tank! And it does get cleaned often!! The filter just no longer works! PERIOD! Get a new one!!! I will find one on Ebay! No biggie!
But, nope....Don --- who is gone more often than he is home, (spending maybe about 10-15 waking hours at home each week - if that), would rather let me and the boys suffer the horrendous odor, so he can determine what is going on in the tank. But, when will he have the time to do that??? I know....when he's on vacation in November! Right?? By then, I will have just ignored his desire to do his "scientific research" that he will not find the time to proceed with....and will have already purchased a new filter system, that he can put together. The one that it's in there now.....must be buried, deep underground. Yes. It's THAT bad!!!! It's not only humiliating, but I just can't live w/that odor!!! UGH!!!
You'd think, (the scientific mind he has), that by now, he'd just realize the filter system failed!!! Oy!
Enough already!!!
This is a very personal blog concerning my diet. I needed to put it on my blog, so that I will come back and read it, and know that I just exposed my bad habits for others to see, as a reminder of why it's so important to eat healthy. I've not been practicing what I preach for almost a couple months now. So, it's time for some personal humility. Sometimes, I just have to realize that all the advice I've been giving people.....will come in handy for myself as well! It's time to take my own advice.
For the past 2 months, I've been allowing myself to eat badly. I've been very committed to my workout....but not so committed to my normal healthy eating habits. At first I was blaming it on the upcoming cold season.....when our bodies naturally want to get into "hibernation" mode. The cold weather approaches, the chemistry in our bodies can sense it...just like a dog or cat will grow their "winter coat" of fur to keep warm, well our bodies want to naturally store extra fat to keep warm. So, instead of recognizing this, and fighting extra hard, like I normally do....I gave into it. Aware of what I was doing, but still allowing it to happen. Each night....I mindlessly start eating bad. The same thing that got me in trouble with my weight, to begin with.
So. I just had a little chat with myself. I got in front of the bathroom mirror, and got on my case about my irrational stupidity! This is what I said to myself -----
"WHAT are you DOING?! You have been eating all the wrong foods. And you KNOW you have! You tell yourself every single day 'do not screw it up today!' You start off on the right track. Then by late afternoon, or evening, it's all over. You told yourself, 'if you don't buy it, you won't eat it. Live by that!' The boys tell you that, to remind you of your own words, for your own good. Yet, you've been ignoring them. You tell them 'they're right', but then, you buy it anyway. And then....YOU EAT IT!!! Like a dumb fool! It is so NOT worth a moment or two of the brief pleasure you feel when you indulge in foods that are seriously bad for you, that are nothing more than high calories, lots of sugar and lots of fat. No nutritional value, whatsoever. Just garbage. It just ISN'T worth that brief moment, now is it??? NO!!!! It's sooo not worth the indulgence, if it's only going to put an extra 15 lbs on the numbers on the scale, and you can see the bloating in your face, in your reflection. Your size 8's are getting snug again. It's time to start focusing on your every action. It's time to put all that energy back into your mental thinking of what and how you eat. It's time to let go of the brief moments of pleasure that are hurting you! You're exercising, SO well, every single day!!! You are taking the time to move your body, to build your muscles, your strength, your stamina, to improve your overall health by getting exercise....GOOD exercise that your friend, who's more like a brother, has put the time in to create, JUST for you, to help you improve your life. So....WHY are you destroying all that hard work you put into yourself everyday, by eating food that you know is BAD?!?!?!!!!! You don't know why? Then, STOP already! Enough is enough!!! Instead of working so hard to combat your bad diet, work hard to continue reaching for your goal! You are 5' 7". Your goal is 140 lbs. That is smack dab in the middle of your ideal body weight. It's not too much to reach for. It's not going too far. It's not inconceivable. So DO IT already!!!! You reached your 2nd big goal 2 months ago. Your first goal was to get under 200 lbs. Your second goal was to reach that 100 lb loss. Your final goal is that magic number. 140 lbs. You were sooo close, even just to the top of your ideal body weight when you reached the 100 lb marker. So, why, after you returned from your vacation did you just stop working so hard at the diet? Why??? I'll tell you....because you got lost in yourself again. You lost your focus. You have not been paying as close attention to your own details as you think. You're allowing yourself to give in to indulgences. Most indulgences are bad. You KNOW what you have to do, miss Kathi. So, it's time to stop getting mad at yourself for eating wrong.........and start paying more attention to your actions. You've put 15 lbs on since you reached your 100 lb goal. It's time to kick it back into high gear. Say goodbye to those foolish 15 lbs you gained, and hello to continuing on the right track again. Get--back--on--track. You're doing soo well with your workout. Let's show it by eating right. You have all the tools you need. You know exactly what to do. Stop being the fool. Show your tempted mind who's the boss. Tell your inhibitions that YOU are in charge of what goes in your body, therefore, you're taking control again. It's time to start listening to your own advice again, start listening to your precious children who have been trying so hard to help you realize what you're doing wrong. Start listening to your husband who does not want to see you disappointed in yourself again. Kathi, you've changed soooo much over the past year alone. You're starting to get lost again. STOP! It's hammer-time! Now, you're going to find yourself again. Now, you're going to listen! You are going to FOLLOW YOUR OWN ADVICE!!!! Because you know that it's right!"
Yep, that pretty much sums up the lecture I gave myself. Yes, I have allowed myself to fall off the diet wagon. To fall prey to the goodies on display in the stores. To go out to eat all the time. I've allowed myself to be a victim of old habits. And, now.........
I'm DONE!! No longer the victim of myself. I am going to be the conquering hero (heroine?). I will NOT buy anymore bad foods. Not a single living person on this planet needs those bad foods. Time to think of food as fuel again. And remind myself, what I already know.....and start participating in the proper healthy diet again. I'm done being the window shopper.....I'm buying into my healthy diet again. I'm investing in ME! :-)
For the past 2 months, I've been allowing myself to eat badly. I've been very committed to my workout....but not so committed to my normal healthy eating habits. At first I was blaming it on the upcoming cold season.....when our bodies naturally want to get into "hibernation" mode. The cold weather approaches, the chemistry in our bodies can sense it...just like a dog or cat will grow their "winter coat" of fur to keep warm, well our bodies want to naturally store extra fat to keep warm. So, instead of recognizing this, and fighting extra hard, like I normally do....I gave into it. Aware of what I was doing, but still allowing it to happen. Each night....I mindlessly start eating bad. The same thing that got me in trouble with my weight, to begin with.
So. I just had a little chat with myself. I got in front of the bathroom mirror, and got on my case about my irrational stupidity! This is what I said to myself -----
"WHAT are you DOING?! You have been eating all the wrong foods. And you KNOW you have! You tell yourself every single day 'do not screw it up today!' You start off on the right track. Then by late afternoon, or evening, it's all over. You told yourself, 'if you don't buy it, you won't eat it. Live by that!' The boys tell you that, to remind you of your own words, for your own good. Yet, you've been ignoring them. You tell them 'they're right', but then, you buy it anyway. And then....YOU EAT IT!!! Like a dumb fool! It is so NOT worth a moment or two of the brief pleasure you feel when you indulge in foods that are seriously bad for you, that are nothing more than high calories, lots of sugar and lots of fat. No nutritional value, whatsoever. Just garbage. It just ISN'T worth that brief moment, now is it??? NO!!!! It's sooo not worth the indulgence, if it's only going to put an extra 15 lbs on the numbers on the scale, and you can see the bloating in your face, in your reflection. Your size 8's are getting snug again. It's time to start focusing on your every action. It's time to put all that energy back into your mental thinking of what and how you eat. It's time to let go of the brief moments of pleasure that are hurting you! You're exercising, SO well, every single day!!! You are taking the time to move your body, to build your muscles, your strength, your stamina, to improve your overall health by getting exercise....GOOD exercise that your friend, who's more like a brother, has put the time in to create, JUST for you, to help you improve your life. So....WHY are you destroying all that hard work you put into yourself everyday, by eating food that you know is BAD?!?!?!!!!! You don't know why? Then, STOP already! Enough is enough!!! Instead of working so hard to combat your bad diet, work hard to continue reaching for your goal! You are 5' 7". Your goal is 140 lbs. That is smack dab in the middle of your ideal body weight. It's not too much to reach for. It's not going too far. It's not inconceivable. So DO IT already!!!! You reached your 2nd big goal 2 months ago. Your first goal was to get under 200 lbs. Your second goal was to reach that 100 lb loss. Your final goal is that magic number. 140 lbs. You were sooo close, even just to the top of your ideal body weight when you reached the 100 lb marker. So, why, after you returned from your vacation did you just stop working so hard at the diet? Why??? I'll tell you....because you got lost in yourself again. You lost your focus. You have not been paying as close attention to your own details as you think. You're allowing yourself to give in to indulgences. Most indulgences are bad. You KNOW what you have to do, miss Kathi. So, it's time to stop getting mad at yourself for eating wrong.........and start paying more attention to your actions. You've put 15 lbs on since you reached your 100 lb goal. It's time to kick it back into high gear. Say goodbye to those foolish 15 lbs you gained, and hello to continuing on the right track again. Get--back--on--track. You're doing soo well with your workout. Let's show it by eating right. You have all the tools you need. You know exactly what to do. Stop being the fool. Show your tempted mind who's the boss. Tell your inhibitions that YOU are in charge of what goes in your body, therefore, you're taking control again. It's time to start listening to your own advice again, start listening to your precious children who have been trying so hard to help you realize what you're doing wrong. Start listening to your husband who does not want to see you disappointed in yourself again. Kathi, you've changed soooo much over the past year alone. You're starting to get lost again. STOP! It's hammer-time! Now, you're going to find yourself again. Now, you're going to listen! You are going to FOLLOW YOUR OWN ADVICE!!!! Because you know that it's right!"
Yep, that pretty much sums up the lecture I gave myself. Yes, I have allowed myself to fall off the diet wagon. To fall prey to the goodies on display in the stores. To go out to eat all the time. I've allowed myself to be a victim of old habits. And, now.........
I'm DONE!! No longer the victim of myself. I am going to be the conquering hero (heroine?). I will NOT buy anymore bad foods. Not a single living person on this planet needs those bad foods. Time to think of food as fuel again. And remind myself, what I already know.....and start participating in the proper healthy diet again. I'm done being the window shopper.....I'm buying into my healthy diet again. I'm investing in ME! :-)
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Goodbye summer 2010, I shall miss you, so!! :-(
The last day of summer. What a sullen feeling that leaves me. I absolutely LOVE fall!!! But, I never like to see summer go. Also, I'm not particularly too thrilled that fall brings winter -- living in the midwest, I'm sure you can imagine why.
This summer was the best we'd had in years. I reached my 100 lb weight-loss goal, and subsequently comfortably finally fit into a size 8!!! Still have more to lose, but reaching that number was a true accomplishment for me! We witnessed the son of one of our closest friends get married to the sweetest girl on a perfect summer day, (and I even wore an actual dress for the first time since Donny was a baby - he's almost 18 now!). The boys and I started going for walks around Lake Storey, on the bike path, and the hidden trails. We love to explore and take pictures, so at first, we did more of that on our Lake walks, than the actual walking for exercise. Toy Story 3 came to theatres, that was a real treat, and brought me to tears. Actually, let me clarify, I was kinda bawling, lol!! The boys and I decided we were going to see as many movies at the theatre as possible, and we had the best time going to the theatre! Twilight's Eclipse also debuted, and thankfully my friend Alanna was willing to see the midnight premiere with me again (she also went w/me to see New Moon last November!)
Donny finished his driver's ed summer course. And, he played his trumpet for the orchestra in the Prairie Players Civic Theatre production of The Sound of Music. Sammy did NOT have to attend summer school this year. Joshua turned 12, and Austin turned 16 (I was informed when Donny turned 16, that only girls celebrate their "Sweet 16", and boys only like the fact that they can legally get their driver's license at 16, lol!!) Don's parents came to visit for the first time since July 2009. Donny celebrated his 1 year anniversary w/his girlfriend-Brittany. We spent many nights outside watching the night sky. Stargazing is one of our favorite summer traditions. In August, we caught the Perseids and managed to see 28 meteors in about a 1/2 hour or so, before we got too tired and called it a night. We missed the Northern Lights, although we were out there waiting and watching. And.....our little chihuahua-Tiny finally got fat!
The highlight of our summer: our FIRST summer vacation, EVER!!!
Let me back-track a little bit.......Don & I have been married 19 years this December. And in those 19 years, we never really went on a family vacation. We've had many trips to Chicago to stay w/his parents or mine. Or mini-trips to Chicago museums, etc. But, never really did much while we were up there. My parents retired winter of '09, and after living in the house they purchased together when they got married in July 1967, (that's 42 years in the same house --- the house my sister & I grew up in), they FINALLY moved out of that sinking hole of a town called Park Forest, sold their house, and moved down to the Ozark Mountains in Lakeview, AR, right next to the resort town of Bull Shoals. My mom's younger sister, and her husband, and their 6 children all still live there. In fact, they're all w/in a couple blocks of each other. My parents, sister and I used to drive down there every summer to visit them, and my fondest memories from my teen years are of our trips to Bull Shoals, and all the fun we'd have fun w/my cousins, their friends, their church (which my uncle is the Pastor of), and all the different things we used to do for fun/recreation on the lake, or driving to Branson, or Dogpatch USA (now an abandoned amusement park). Just so many fun, wonderful memories! My last time visiting there was June 1991, just 6 weeks before Don proposed to me. And I have missed that place, and my family down there sooooo much all these years!!!
But, for the first time, we finally did what I've been wanting to do since we started our family. We took a family vacation down to the Ozark Mountains!! We stayed w/my parents in their beautiful, spacious new house (literally, it's only like 12 years old or so!) But, I think at this point, I'm just going to make a whole other blog to describe it. I will say, our vacation was the icing on the cake for this summer! Memories our family never-ever forget!
Also we taught the boys how to target shoot down at the outdoor gun range this summer. And we've all discovered a fun new pasttime!! Shooting rifles, and trap shooting (aka "Skeet") w/the 20 gauge shotgun, is sooo much fun!! It's been a real great experience and bonding w/the boys by taking them down to the range.
Then, we spent a day at Fun City waterpark in Burlington, IA. Sammy, Joshua and I met my best friend, Kimm, her kids, and her parents out there for the afternoon. Unfortunately Donny & Austin had to miss out, they were in band camp all day, every day for 2 weeks. So, I spent about 20 min in the pool, and about 3 hours on the lazy river, lol. (Even ran into one of my other Galesburg friends while we were there!) Meanwhile the boys spent all afternoon either in the lazy river or going down all the slides. I should put pics in here....but that's time I don't have to spare right now, considering I haven't even figured out how to do that yet, lol.
But, all in all, my family and I had a wonderful, full summer. We had more warm days this summer than we've had in years, and that's awesome as far as I'm concerned!!! Most of the summer the temps were in the mid-upper 90's and even got into the 100's. The heat indeces were in the 100's many times. And yes, I'm really going to miss that heat!!! I welcome the fall. I LOOOOVE fall.....I just don't like the wintery weather it brings come November or December. I could do w/o the temps falling into the 20's and lower, the ice storms, the deep snow to try and plow through, etc. I would much, much rather keep my summer. But, the nature in the midwest just doesn't agree w/me.....and I don't see any plans of moving further south anytime soon, lol.
So, farewell my precious summer, I shall miss you....but look forward to meeting up with you again in May (when "MY" summer actually begins, lol) Welcome fall, even though with apprehension. You're already here, so what can I do? Make you leave?? LOL!!! ;-)
This summer was the best we'd had in years. I reached my 100 lb weight-loss goal, and subsequently comfortably finally fit into a size 8!!! Still have more to lose, but reaching that number was a true accomplishment for me! We witnessed the son of one of our closest friends get married to the sweetest girl on a perfect summer day, (and I even wore an actual dress for the first time since Donny was a baby - he's almost 18 now!). The boys and I started going for walks around Lake Storey, on the bike path, and the hidden trails. We love to explore and take pictures, so at first, we did more of that on our Lake walks, than the actual walking for exercise. Toy Story 3 came to theatres, that was a real treat, and brought me to tears. Actually, let me clarify, I was kinda bawling, lol!! The boys and I decided we were going to see as many movies at the theatre as possible, and we had the best time going to the theatre! Twilight's Eclipse also debuted, and thankfully my friend Alanna was willing to see the midnight premiere with me again (she also went w/me to see New Moon last November!)
Donny finished his driver's ed summer course. And, he played his trumpet for the orchestra in the Prairie Players Civic Theatre production of The Sound of Music. Sammy did NOT have to attend summer school this year. Joshua turned 12, and Austin turned 16 (I was informed when Donny turned 16, that only girls celebrate their "Sweet 16", and boys only like the fact that they can legally get their driver's license at 16, lol!!) Don's parents came to visit for the first time since July 2009. Donny celebrated his 1 year anniversary w/his girlfriend-Brittany. We spent many nights outside watching the night sky. Stargazing is one of our favorite summer traditions. In August, we caught the Perseids and managed to see 28 meteors in about a 1/2 hour or so, before we got too tired and called it a night. We missed the Northern Lights, although we were out there waiting and watching. And.....our little chihuahua-Tiny finally got fat!
The highlight of our summer: our FIRST summer vacation, EVER!!!
Let me back-track a little bit.......Don & I have been married 19 years this December. And in those 19 years, we never really went on a family vacation. We've had many trips to Chicago to stay w/his parents or mine. Or mini-trips to Chicago museums, etc. But, never really did much while we were up there. My parents retired winter of '09, and after living in the house they purchased together when they got married in July 1967, (that's 42 years in the same house --- the house my sister & I grew up in), they FINALLY moved out of that sinking hole of a town called Park Forest, sold their house, and moved down to the Ozark Mountains in Lakeview, AR, right next to the resort town of Bull Shoals. My mom's younger sister, and her husband, and their 6 children all still live there. In fact, they're all w/in a couple blocks of each other. My parents, sister and I used to drive down there every summer to visit them, and my fondest memories from my teen years are of our trips to Bull Shoals, and all the fun we'd have fun w/my cousins, their friends, their church (which my uncle is the Pastor of), and all the different things we used to do for fun/recreation on the lake, or driving to Branson, or Dogpatch USA (now an abandoned amusement park). Just so many fun, wonderful memories! My last time visiting there was June 1991, just 6 weeks before Don proposed to me. And I have missed that place, and my family down there sooooo much all these years!!!
But, for the first time, we finally did what I've been wanting to do since we started our family. We took a family vacation down to the Ozark Mountains!! We stayed w/my parents in their beautiful, spacious new house (literally, it's only like 12 years old or so!) But, I think at this point, I'm just going to make a whole other blog to describe it. I will say, our vacation was the icing on the cake for this summer! Memories our family never-ever forget!
Also we taught the boys how to target shoot down at the outdoor gun range this summer. And we've all discovered a fun new pasttime!! Shooting rifles, and trap shooting (aka "Skeet") w/the 20 gauge shotgun, is sooo much fun!! It's been a real great experience and bonding w/the boys by taking them down to the range.
Then, we spent a day at Fun City waterpark in Burlington, IA. Sammy, Joshua and I met my best friend, Kimm, her kids, and her parents out there for the afternoon. Unfortunately Donny & Austin had to miss out, they were in band camp all day, every day for 2 weeks. So, I spent about 20 min in the pool, and about 3 hours on the lazy river, lol. (Even ran into one of my other Galesburg friends while we were there!) Meanwhile the boys spent all afternoon either in the lazy river or going down all the slides. I should put pics in here....but that's time I don't have to spare right now, considering I haven't even figured out how to do that yet, lol.
But, all in all, my family and I had a wonderful, full summer. We had more warm days this summer than we've had in years, and that's awesome as far as I'm concerned!!! Most of the summer the temps were in the mid-upper 90's and even got into the 100's. The heat indeces were in the 100's many times. And yes, I'm really going to miss that heat!!! I welcome the fall. I LOOOOVE fall.....I just don't like the wintery weather it brings come November or December. I could do w/o the temps falling into the 20's and lower, the ice storms, the deep snow to try and plow through, etc. I would much, much rather keep my summer. But, the nature in the midwest just doesn't agree w/me.....and I don't see any plans of moving further south anytime soon, lol.
So, farewell my precious summer, I shall miss you....but look forward to meeting up with you again in May (when "MY" summer actually begins, lol) Welcome fall, even though with apprehension. You're already here, so what can I do? Make you leave?? LOL!!! ;-)
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Just an itty-bitty rant regarding political parties
I'm going to go into politics a smidgen. Kinda. Not really politics, but just a little bit about how people are behaving regarding political parties. I can honestly say I don't fit in, lol. I don't follow any particular party. I don't even think the country should be divided by "parties" anymore. Just vote for the right people to do the job.....not because they belong to a certain party. Sometimes the "party" is what blinds people from voting the right person in. I can find truth and lies, good and bad in all parties. I used to call myself a democrat, and had I been a registered voter, I would've voted for Obama. I was truly inspired by him, and thought he would be great for our country. When he said "change was coming"......I didn't quite have a grasp on exactly what he meant by that. Now, I feel betrayed and confused, and fearful of everything that is going on with the United States of America. But, that's not the topic I'm covering right now.
I can still find good in democratic values. I also find good in republican values, independent/conservative, and even the new tea party. What I don't like is people acting ridiculous and childish and calling each other names. I've even seen the people in the tea party coined as "teatards". Or even racist, and after having researching some of these "tea-partiers", they're not racist at all. I don't know where they even get that from......Honestly, what is anyone saying about themselves if the best they can do is just shout out mean names, and make fun of other people for standing up for what they believe in, or simply because they didn't check their spelling before holding up a poster they hand-made? I think all they are doing is behaving badly, acting like fools and using bullish tactics to make themselves feel better about their own agenda. People need to just remember, to treat others the way they themselves would like to be treated. Show compassion for humanity, be nice. So what if they don't agree with their beliefs. Does it make them popular? Does it make them a cool person for bullying someone else down? It really just makes them look mean, rude and uneducated. I'm not dumb, I know that this is nothing new.......I'm just voicing my opinion over how mean people can be, just over political views.
I can still find good in democratic values. I also find good in republican values, independent/conservative, and even the new tea party. What I don't like is people acting ridiculous and childish and calling each other names. I've even seen the people in the tea party coined as "teatards". Or even racist, and after having researching some of these "tea-partiers", they're not racist at all. I don't know where they even get that from......Honestly, what is anyone saying about themselves if the best they can do is just shout out mean names, and make fun of other people for standing up for what they believe in, or simply because they didn't check their spelling before holding up a poster they hand-made? I think all they are doing is behaving badly, acting like fools and using bullish tactics to make themselves feel better about their own agenda. People need to just remember, to treat others the way they themselves would like to be treated. Show compassion for humanity, be nice. So what if they don't agree with their beliefs. Does it make them popular? Does it make them a cool person for bullying someone else down? It really just makes them look mean, rude and uneducated. I'm not dumb, I know that this is nothing new.......I'm just voicing my opinion over how mean people can be, just over political views.
Introduction.
This is my first attempt at a blog. Okay, well maybe my second. But, I feel I'm really ready this time around. I will be opening up a lot about myself, my weight loss and the journey I'm on, my feelings on politics and our country, and anything else I feel I want to write about. You might even find an occasional recipe from yours truly. This will be a total random blog, about anything in my heart, or on my mind, and I won't hold back. And please understand, some of things I might write about, might be sensitive to me, so take that into consideration before responding. I welcome anyone to respond, but be warned, if I feel any comments are rude, mean, threatening, hurtful, or of a bullying nature - those comments will be removed. But, discussions, even if of a difference of opinion are always welcome. I won't like you any less, if you do not share my opinion. Everyone has one, they don't all have to be the same. Thank you! :-)
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