Monday, November 30, 2009

Ruby Tuesday and My Bike


My first Ruby Tuesday in awhile. If you want to take part, click here.
So far, so good with the exercise, although I almost forgot to ride today. I was in my van at 4:30 and I thought, oh man!
When I got home, I put my shorts on (yes, shorts, it's not cold-cold here yet) and I got to pedaling. I was only 3 miles in and it was too dark, so I headed home. At home, I can do a 3/10 mile loop in the apartment driveway. I had to be really careful, lots of people are coming and going at that time and I was not easy to see. Tomorrow, I'll take an earlier ride. I couldn't not do it on the second day of my plan.
When I arrived at the apartment driveway, two men, also on bikes, were coming right at me. We all turned in and dodged a car right off the bat (some people drive too fast here), then veered to the right, toward the West side of the apartments. One man was in front of me, one behind me.
The one behind me was faster, so he passed on my left, and we veered farther to the right to avoid another car.
It was just a few seconds and nobody said anything, but it was kind vroom, vroom. It reminded me of when I rode in the Wildflower and we finally hit town. Everyone was tearing down the street with the weekend morning traffic - it was exciting, but kind of jarring after riding for so many miles out on the country roads. I remember thinking, I did it, I did it, I'm almost there. I felt great.
I love riding. I run and it's what makes me feel strong and healthy, but riding is pure joy. (Unless I'm going uphill, then it's work).
**Edit** Blogger won't let me format this correctly. Grrr


Sunday, November 29, 2009

On A Diet

Last night I decided to start a diet. I set a goal of 20 lbs to start. I'm going to accomplish this goal by doing the following:

*Eating less (duh)
*Riding my bike every day (weather allowing)
*Getting my running mileage up (Currently 12 miles a week, need to get to 20+)

The running is the most important point on the list. I am running a 10K on the 19th and I'm in no way ready. I figure I'll walk what I can't run. Possibly Bay is running this with me. Which means I will watch the back of her until she disappears from view, then I'll run into her walking about a mile down the road. She's faster, but I can run farther. I'll take my victories wherever I find them.

I got the biking in, plus some yoga, but no run yet today. I've been at my computer longer hours lately - either writing or researching - and that means I've got a really stiff back. Have you ever tried to run with a stiff back? Very awkward. Very uncomfortable. I need more yoga.


When I got out my bike today, my neighbor said, "Sharp bike." I thought he was teasing me, because so many of the men that I know are smartasses, but apparently he was actually complimenting me. He went on to compliment the color. I've got to get better at accepting compliments.


And on a totally unrelated note.......I smell interesting right now. I wrote a piece about the top 5 men's fragrances that I've reviewed this year and I'm wearing all 5. My favorite changes, but it would probably be a toss-up between Gucci Pour Homme (no that is not "poor homie" but I read it that way and it never fails to make me laugh) and Kenzo Power which actually smells a bit like sweat. I'm such a hippie, well a hippie who appreciates pricey Japanese men's fragrance.
Okay, time to feed Max and then get that run in.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Black Friday - Good Day For a Tree Hunt

This is what the sky looked this afternoon. The rain was over, but it was wet-ish out, not cold. Really beautiful, in my opinion. I got some work done, let the bulk of the Black Friday-ness pass, then I went in search of a tree.


We have a little fake tree - white, extremely girly with pink, purple, blue, and gold lights. I love it and it fits well in the little living room, but sometimes I miss a real tree. My favorite trees were the Silvertips that my Grandma Artie is famous for. Okay, famous in my mind, anyway. They were wide open, broad-width, with silver-green branches. I will always see Grandma's trees as the perfect example. I'm going to ask my cousin to take a picture of her tree this year... Teri, if you are reading this, would it be possible for you to send me a picture?


I found a 6-7 ft tree for $29.99 at Raleys. Yeah, I was shocked at that price myself. It's not a Silvertip, it's a Noble Fir, but that tree is a beast. Huge.




It took me almost 3 hours to purchase and put up the tree - it required a lot of trimming along the bottom - but Max is pleased. I think I need two more strands of lights. I'll decorate it tomorrow.

Check out these cute Turkey cookies that Leah just dropped off. Now I know why she was searching Chico for candy corn. I love that girl.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thankgiving Grump

Sometimes I have a hard time with holidays. My intention is to be happy and make a festive home, but part of me wants to go back to bed and sleep right through the day.


I woke up all set to get busy, but as the day went on I could feel my celebratory spirit slipping away. I kept cooking, getting organized, taking pictures, talking to Sarah, but I missed my daughter Bailey and I missed the company of other women in the kitchen - Mom, Robin, Grandma.


After dinner, I pulled the garbage bag out of the can, it split and the turkey carcass rolled down my leg, along my foot, onto the floor. I was done. I called Leah - she and KP were due in less than an hour for pie - and asked if we could postpone until tomorrow. I left them pie-less.


I want to figure out how to keep from getting grumpy at Christmas. Where is my notebook? I need to get started on a plan....

#1 Follow Sarah's cheery example. Sarah has the right attitude about the holidays. It doesn't matter which one. She's always ready to seize the day.......or the Kitty.

Kitty is trying to look grumpier than me here. Okay, she wins.


Tuesday, November 10, 2009

To Find Balance, Organize


Sometimes I get the urge to get everything organized. It's not as easy to do this as I get older, the kids get older, and our lives become more challenging. Right now I'm working on going through each room and getting rid of excess STUFF.


So far we've worked on the larger part of Sarah's room in depth. Her closet will be a separate project. I'm doing my room today. Then, my closet. I'll slowly work my way through the various rooms, closets, drawers, etc, until I feel that I've regained control again. When it all flows smoothly, life is more enjoyable.


I used to be very organized. My house was clean. My bills were organized. My menus were planned. I used coupons when I shopped. Everyone was up to date on check-ups, homework, etc. I somehow had a handle on it all.


I've spent the last two and a half years sort of distracted and scrambling. It's impossible to find anything but short glimpses of peace when I live that way. I want more than that. Learning how to balance, family, friends, work, dating, the whole thing - it's an ongoing process. Wish me luck, please!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Before the Brownies Were Done





I'm single again. That's all I'm going to say about that and not because I'm secretive or because I feel that it's none of your business. I'm more open-book-y than that. The reason is simple. I can't talk. Anything I say is misconstrued. It's exhausting.

Okay, I guess I had a little more to say about it. I am done now.

I'm hopeful that it will rain this weekend. I want to sleep in a little, then open the window at the head of my bed, and listen to the rain as I read my book. Kitty loves to sit in the window and watch for birds. I can tell when she sees one because her tail goes thunk, thunk against the wall. She thinks she is a hunter, but in reality, she needs me to lift her up to catch mosquitoes when they buzz along the wall.

The brownies are done. Time to go.

Monday, November 2, 2009

It's Time To Be SuperMom


I don't claim to be good at many things. There is, however, one area in which I am very skilled. When something - a way of life, a job, an event, a relationship, whatever - is not working, I stop and re-evaluate the situation. I look at other possible options, some of these options are not options that most people would consider, but I gave up on having a "normal life" long ago. I chose a new direction and I get going again. The one aspect of my personality that I am proud of - I'm creative.


I don't like to think of anything as a failure and if you find a way to do something that is different or better, then there is no failure. Doing it better is success.


I don't get to that point easily, the re-assess point. I'm what my good friend, Jackie, calls a fence sitter in many ways. I hang on and hang on and try to fit the square peg into the round hole until that moment arrives when I realize that it will never fit, because it's not supposed to fit. When I decide it's time to move on, when I get to that a-ha! moment, I feel so at peace. Everything leading up to that moment might be full of freak-outs and stress, but once I recognize that there can be another way, I'm good.


I hit that realization, that moment when I threw up my hands and said, nope, not going to work, with one of my kids today. No, I'm not saying she doesn't fit me, that she doesn't work. I'm saying that I've been pushing her to finish something in a way that has not worked for years. Duh, mom. Time to re-evaluate and move in a different direction.


This morning I'm going to look at some options, I'm going to find a way to get it all back on track. I'm feeling a little like SuperMom ...........