Screamed myself hoarse

WE WON! Oh man...it was the most exciting game of the entire season. They finished last in the league and actually had a 22 game LOSING streak and then the very last game of the season we see the amazing behind the back shot made my our very own king of the ice...Matt Schmermund.

Not only did they win the 1st place team in the league on their last game, but they won it in overtime during a shoot out with a behind the back shot. Now you can understand the scream myself hoarse!

Matt Schmermund...for any of you dumb humor lovers out there...perhaps you don't understand the significance of the name, but if you've ever seen Zoolander...just roll the name schmermund off your tongue the same way Zoolander says, "Mer-MAN...Mer-MAN!"

SCHMER-MUND! SCHMER-MUND!

It was green ice night in honor of St. Patricks day. Thus the green tinge to the below photos. We took nephew Nick with us and had a marvy time. I'm sad that we won't be around to cheer the Winterhawks on next year.

Pinch me...its real.

Mr. Chucklehead
is
a
warrant
officer.

Its true...I know...I know...we've been waiting almost a year for the Army to finally get their "shtuff" in order and its finally happened.

Today he was given his oath of office, entered the Active Duty Reserves and now awaits appointment to the class in Ft. Huachuca, AZ.

We immediately booked tickets to AZ in April to go visit and scout out the location. Now I have to pack, clean, sort, organize. Gaaaah. Please remind me that I am happy about this when I'm stressed out from the work it takes to move a household.

Really...the most important thing I want you to know is that I am SO PROUD of my soldier.

Cruella has a boyfriend.

As much as I hate it, I find myself drawn to the drama created in my life by Cruella DeVille. The newest installment includes her very very friendly attitude toward Mr. Chucklehead and myself.

I knew something was up when she invited us INTO HER HOUSE.

The woman who tried to run me over with her car and swore she would slit my throat if she ever caught me out on a dark night alone wanted us to enter her domain like old friends? She even specifically said, "You can bring her in with you."

Now, granted she didn't utter these words directly to us. She relayed them through a female friend she had over at her house. Mr. Chucklehead had known this friend for awhile...maybe this was a showing of good will and friendship just for the benefit of the friend? (No, I can take nothing for granted...not even an offer of kindness when it comes to Cruella.)

Regardless...

We refused, of course...it would have set a precedence of me having to invite her into my house...Heaven forbid I ever have to have that kind of discomfort in my life and besides...I'm much too shallow right now for that kind of test of character... Can you imagine?

"Cruella - would you like a glass of water or tea?" (muwahaha...I can spit in this if I want.) "Sure, Cruella you can use my bathroom." (She's probably snooping in my medicine cabinet...how much of her purse can I look through before she gets back?)

Yes, I admit it...she brings out the very worst in me....that sordid fascination with who this woman is...why Mr. Chucklehead was married to her for so long...How did she become such a huge part of MY LIFE??? (although...I don't think I would really go through her purse...I'd be much too nervous she'd catch me.)

Then, the answer to our unspoken question comes...

Cruella has a boyfriend.

Dating 2 months...she thinks it serious. Wanted us to know since he'll be spending a lot of time with the kids.

Praise the Lord. She's got a boyfriend. Dare I hope the drama will stop for awhile?

Urban Ninja

Funniest thing I've seen in a long time. If only I'd known this profession was an option. :)

Go HAWKS!

I love hockey. I've always loved hockey. My first experience with it was with my friend Jody Knisple and her grandmother. Her grandmother was a big fan. I probably went to 10 games with them in my preteen years. After that Jody and I didn't hang out much anymore...different friends, different interests, but I always still had a place in my heart for hockey.

Especially the fighting.

So, fast forward to meeting Mr. Chucklehead. Guess who is a hockey fan? He gets press passes through his photography business. What a great **free** way to spend an evening!

Saturday night it was the Hawks against the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Hawks played TERRIBLE...all except one player - White - #34. He stopped 66 successive shots on goal. That should tell you two things...

1. The defense was awful to allow 66 shots on goal and,
2. Jordan White was a one man show.

Yes - White broke the record for most blocked shots on goal. Yeah #34! It was a terribly exciting game...and they had at least two spectacular fights.

There is just something about a couple of hockey players throwing off their gloves, taking off their helmets and beating each other up. I think it plays to my aggressive competitive side.

Tonight the gme was not so hot. They lost again...against the Vancouver Giants...7 to 2.

There wasn't even a good fight.

Oh well - the next game is Friday night against Tri-City. They are good. Really good. Its also cancer awareness night - they are turning the ice PINK.

If you can't win you might as well have pink ice. Go HAWKS!

Til' we meet again.

President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away a couple of days ago. He was the prophet of the LDS Church and I have a very fond place in my heart for this sweet loving man.

I remember the day I first saw him. Unlike the superstar musicians of my youth that I screamed and cried and shoved to get closer to, I stood in awe at this celebrity of a different type. He was with his wife, Marjorie and I mostly remember how much he loved her. He showed it without worry of public attention, holding her hand, guiding her arm and loving caresses.

I remember that he spoke of tolerance, kindness and Christian living. I think I loved most about him that he demanded that true "saints" back up their words with actions. Something that so many of us fall short of at one time or another.

I love his smile, his short stature and his quick laugh.

I do not know this man. I never went to his home, broke bread with him or walked down a street in his company, but I would not call him a stranger and he has changed my life.

I read the biographies, the memorials, the tributes, the stories found on www.lds.org but the comment I found that most echoed my own sentiments was this,

"President Hinckley had the gift to make people want to do better and to feel that they could...For me, he raised the standard of what it is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, giving all." President Henry B. Eyring

How piddly the things I worry about seem when I dwell on the work of this great man. Spiritual giant of the world...friend of all religions...admired by millions...loved by all who have taken the time to know him.

Til' we meet again, dear friend. Til' we meet again.

Snow Day

"Mrs C, can you come here for a minute?"

I looked at him warily...Mr. C had been in the mood lately for doing things that made me nervous like jumping out at me and tickling.

"Please? I promise, just for a second."

I stood and walked to where he stood near the front door. He turned the handle and opened the door.

I gasped. "Its beautiful."

And there we stood for the next few minutes watching the snow fall...our late weird weather Pacific Northwest January snowfall. The streets were white, the night silent, the cold air rushed around our bare legs and we just watched the fat flakes float down and for me, the world was at peace.

Picture of the day

North Head Lighthouse - We watched for whales, but didn't ever see any!

Beach Weekend

Dead Man's Cove - Near Cape Disappointment, WA


Fort Stevens, OR - Playing in an old army jeep


The Living History role players at Fort Canby. We learned all about World War 2.

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse - anything but a disappointment. What a beautiful view!


Watching the tankers coming down the Columbia River in Astoria's Maritime Museum.


Errrr...is that a TORPEDO you are sitting on?


My serious cowboys...


The SUPERSTAR family! Playing around in Seaside, OR.

THR vs RPE...

I'm having a problem. I am exercising daily at an average of 60 min/day cardio + strength training.

What Sparkpeople tells me is to eat 1800-2100 calories! WOW...thats a lot more than I'm currently consuming. I have lots of questions about that, but I'm going to save this topic for another day and perhaps a nutritionist?

The problem that I'm having has to do with my exercise. I started looking into what the "optimum" way to maximize the results of the exercise and after much reading I am as confused as ever.

First there is a Target Heart Rate (THR). For me...the zone is about 112 to 149. then there is Borg's Rate of Perceived Exertion Level (RPE). This is the way you FEEL when you exercise...how hard are you actually working and is often shown by a 1-10 scale.

So, lately, following the THR method, when I exercise I feel good...Heart rate monitor shows between 130 and 145 usually. Muscles are warm, breathing is slightly labored...but I'm not "exerting" myself. I don't feel like I'm doing ENOUGH. I should be sweating and breathing hard and muscles burning by the end of it...

Right?

I'm such a health idiot...really...I've had bad information fed me for so long (thanks to poor image magazines...be skinny by eating NOTHING!) and such a poor understanding of what my body should and should not be able to do that I'm confused on whether I'm doing what I should be doing or on if I'm being a total slacker.

That being said...they say that the talk test is also a good indicator...you should be able to carry on a conversation and still breathe comfortably

(i can do that!)

...but you should not be able to sing.

(haven't tried this yet!)

So - the questions continue...the confusion is still here. I have a personal trainer small group meeting tonight. I think I will pose these questions and see if I can't feel better about all that time spent exercising!

Hoorah for Birthday Rollovers

A comment brought the birthday rollover story to mind. Its such a classic that I thought it needed to be documented for family history purposes. Besides...everyone needs a good laugh every once in a while.

So, it starts in Bear Lake, Idaho last summer. BIG family reunion - all my siblings, step siblings and parents plus children staying at a vacation cabin. It was a blast. 40+ people and a private beach, gorgeous lawn and our very own golf cart to zoom around in.

We had a cabin, but most everyone chose to stay in a tent on the lawn. One morning as we all sat around the front of our tents in our camp chairs discussing this and that we had quite the laugh. My oldest sister J--A (names are removed to protect the embarassed) crawled out of her tent to a resounding tune of Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!

She graciously accepted our well wishes and made herself comfortable in her own camp chair. Not long after, her husband J--N also crawled out of the tent...and made this announcement, "Well, J--A...I hope you enjoyed your birthday rollover."

Silence.

And then it started...gut splitting, bend over, hold your belly laughter. Not a dry eye in the circle. Part of it was J--A's face when he said it. Mostly it was just the comment itself.

The explanation of what he meant has never fully sufficed...something about being the one to rollover all night long with sweet baby E--R. Apparently she fussed all night long and as a birthday gift to his wife he's been the one to "rollover" and care for her.

Forever more there shall be a place in my heart that shouts, "Hoorah for birthday rollovers!"

One measly little pound

Humph....worked my buns off and weighed in one measly little pound thinner this week.

Grump...so I did extra today.

snarl...60 minutes of yoga class this morning

growl...45 minutes on the elliptical

740 calories burned

And now I have to climb my stairs up and down 7 times.

Thats 98 stairs total. I'll add two more for an even 100.

That scale better be down further next Monday.

TESTING...1...2...3... TESTING.

I just discovered that my comments link was disabled when I switched my page template...sigh...and I though ya'll just didn't love me anymore.

Its back on and now you can comment to your hearts content.

B...b...b...babies?

MC had a vasectomy reversal today. Talk about painful...but we DID it!!!!!!! (Thats the eternal "we" as in I was there supporting and feeling appropriately sick about those big needles poking and prodding.) I couldn't believe the way nurses just jab with needles...gaaah. It really was disturbing.

MC is asleep right now...been loopy all day from the med cocktail they gave him...he was so brave...he was pretty nervous this AM...I could tell...it was a bag of mixed feelings for both of us.. His mood would go from playful to thoughtful then sad then back to happy....

When he had the "numbing solution" injected in I thought he was going to pass out...instead between large intakes of air to try and keep the pain minimized he squeaked out, "One is not enough...for this kind of pain you better want at least two kids...got it." Our nurse thought that was hilarious.

In his drugged dazed conciousness MC remembers the doctor talking about his swimmers...saying they looked healthy and "ready to rumble." I talked to the doc afterward and he basically said the same thing...I was hoping for him to use the term, "ready to rumble" but he didn't.

Then he handed me the post-op at home care sheet and I read these words, "If you do not acheive pregnancy in 3-4 months please reschedule an appointment to test the validity of the sperm."

My stomach dropped...it became real...THREE to FOUR months?! Suddenly I couldn't think straight...I mean, I know that we don't have to start trying for children immediately...

We had this done now more because MC is at that point where waiting longer reduces his chances of everything working right by like 30%...

Suddenly I was stopped dead in my tracks and all those fears...did we do the right thing? Are we too old? Did we think this through well enough?

Another mixture of feelings...happy, nervous, worried, happy...happy...happy.

Biggest Loser

Its 2008. This is the time of year when gym memberships increase and people swear to get rid of that spare tire around their middle or the tone that cellulite on their thighs...

Me, I'm part of Sparkpeople. Its a free online calorie and exercise tracking log as well as a support network. I'm really excited because next week starts the BIGGEST LOSER Challenges for my sparkpeople teams.

Biggest Loser is a tv show that I'm a little addicted to. I love seeing the transformation of these people on the show. I know its not realistic unless you've got the dietician, 8 hours of exercise/day and your own personal doctor and staff watching out for you...but really...there has to be a dedication on the part of the participant too.

Plus...I love BOB and JILLIAN. Bob is like the kind trainer...he's softer and gentler and trains by example. Jillian is the pusher...she yells and demands and doesn't accept no for an answer, but you always have this feeling that its because she wants whats best for you and she KNOWS you can reach a goal.

I would LOVE to be on this show...but instead...I have sparkpeople.

I'm in two challenges this next quarter.

1. PINK TEAM - PINK SHRINKERS - I'm the captain and there are about 37 team members...Gaaah! Thats a lot. But it should be fun. By week 3-4 there are usually about 1/3 that drop out or disappear because they aren't totally dedicated. This is an 8 week challenge and I hope to drop 16 pounds by the end of it.

2. Purple Pound Punchers - This is a new team for me...they are crazy. I log on once or maybe twice per day and there are 5 pages of posts that I have to catch up to. They are also very motivating. This challenge is 12 full weeks. I'm hoping to be down 24 more pounds by the end of it.

I'm really excited. I've been waiting for these teams to get started so I could feel that same motivation that I had last year. I've got my exercise plan in place...my nutrition plan in place...this should be a good year for me to be the biggest loser.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

1. Get matching tattoos

2. Travel to foreign lands

3. Get rid of a few bad habits

4. Pick up a few good habits

5. Be more adventurous

New Years Eve

MC is taking me to a Winterhawks game and dinner...we may meet up with my sister's "party RV" that will be tooling around town later that evening. What I'm most looking forward to is that marvelous New Year's midnight kiss.

Weakness

I have a weakness. They are called Lindt Truffles Extra Dark. Delicious dark chocolate shell and smooth filling.

None of that Hershey chocolate nightmare. This is the real thing when it comes to chocolate. (yes...I'm a snob when it comes to chocolate treats...)

I'm addicted. its 7:28AM and I just ate the last one.

All is right in the world at this moment.

Changes...

There is nothing quite like ruminating on changing your life at 8AM on a Thursday morning.

My thought process:

I'm looking out at a gray sky and wishing that if it was going to look so cold and dark that it would at least give us a little more snow...

Snow would mean its cold, however, and I can't go running if its that cold cuz I can't breathe.

Which reminded me of how hard it was to breathe in general when I first started.

And that took me to lifestyle changes and what I'm going to do in the New Year...

So, in an effort of looking back...In the past year, I've accomplished the following:

1. Worked a lot
2. Stayed married (harder sometimes than I thought...hahaha)
3. Dejunked my house and junked up the garage
4. Finished all house projects (getting ready to sell)
5. Found two potential renters that are waiting on me
6. Lost 37 pounds and went down 6 BMI points
7. Lost custody of the kids to Cruella Deville
8. Travelled all over Oregon
9. Took up geocaching
10. Started running

Not that those are the top 10 necessarily...but those are the ones I want to spend a little time on in this blog.

1. I'm now working from home. Very convenient as I sit in my pj's typing this, BUT...I miss the water cooler. I miss being interrupted every few minutes with a question...all I do these days is put the nose to the grindstone and actually work work work. I'm at least 10% more productive at home with noone to talk to than I was at work with quick trips to the coffee shop or just hangin' out with my coworkers chatting about the weekend or the evening or details about a project or two.

2. I stayed married. I laugh, but I consider that a real accomplishment this year. This is actually all part of numbers 2, 3, 4, and 7....so, I stayed married, dejunked my house, finished all house projects and we lost the kids in the custody battle. Those last three really put a huge strain on my marriage to MC. We were both so stressed out....trying to get the house ready to sell...trying to figure out the whole custody thing...trying to understand why the law automatically thinks a woman is a better parent...just because she is a woman. (especially since Cruella Deville can be evil, mean, and just plain psycho...)

5. In the absence of selling we have two renters on the hook right now...actually one that is willing to look at a lease option to buy. We're just waiting on MC's call to duty....please let it come soon...please!

6. Ahhhh...the great weight loss saga. Those 37 pounds actually have only been gone since starting this process in July. Prior to that I probably gained 37 pounds. :) But, for the purposes of this blog...in looking back, I've made some big lifestyle changes for MC and I to help us reduce our waist sizes. I've been reading up on cholesterol and blood sugar and crying into my water jug that I'm at an age where those words are realities in my life. *sigh* You can't be young forever, I suppose. and with adding number 10 to this one...much of that loss and increase in stamina has come from running. I'm down to a 12 minute mile. Ha! Thats way better than I was when I started (17 min/mile) and I run about 6-8 miles a week...

8. Traveling...I love it. It makes me happy to jump from location to location and see cool things. I've been to every corner of Oregon this year and most of the places in between. I saw the Oregon caves, I went to the beach, I camped in the mountains, I crawled through the Crack in the Ground, I drove so far and long that my alternator gave out in LaGrande...Gaaah. Now that was an adventure. And now adding number 9 to the mix...I geocached in the high desert, through streams and marsh, in parking lots, on the side of the freeway, up in trees and behind rocks. Its been a great adventure that I will continue for many years...

So....now what do I do with this information? New Years is only a few days away and it will soon be time for me to put on paper my goals...what will I put on my list next year? What will I be striving to accomplish? How will I continue to better myself, my marriage, my life in general.

Its almost too much for 8AM on a Thursday morning.

By the way....we got snow!!!

A Christmas miracle! It suddenly started snowing big fat flakes at 11:50 on Christmas day. It snowed on and off for about 3 1/2 hours then disappeared. It was wonderful and beautiful and the perfect gift.

Merry Christmas!

A December birthday

The younger turned 8 today...

He and his dad went to WONDERLAND...a nickle-video arcade place that MC used to frequent in high school. They played all kinds of video games and won tickets to cash in for a prize. When the prize guy found out it was Chortles birthday his 12 tickets turned into 895 tickets. Thank you video game man for letting him pick out so much junk...errrr....treasure.

He got secret agent stuff from me and his father. Secret agent pens/decoder and a secret agent message launcher. I fully expect to find scraps of secret agent paper all over the house for the next week. I hope one of them says to give me a big kiss.

My mom/stepdad sent him a card with 8 dimes taped to it. He was so excited to put them in his piggy bank. $0.80 is almost enough for a dollar store trip. He can't wait until he's 10 and gets a full $1.00!

MC's parents gave him K'nex. His favorite build'em things. This set has a MOTOR in it. He can't wait to build a windmill. I checked out the how-to guide and requested a peacock. Very cool toys kids have these day.

Little miss giggle was really excited to help open the package. There was "SO MUCH PAPER" on it...they ripped and tore it and he got to use his new pocket knife.

Oh yes...8 is a coming of age and is rewarded with a first pocket knife. After a lesson on whats what he became quite the little expert in opening, closing and cutting carefully with his new sharp blade.

I think Its been a good day today.

I want snow!

Snowflakes

Out of the bosom of the Air.

Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,

Over the woodlands brown and bare,

Over the harvest-fields forsaken,

Silent and soft and slow

Descends the snow.



Even as our cloudy fancies take

Suddenly shape in some divine expression,

Even as the troubled heart doth make

In the white countenance confession,

The troubled sky reveals

The grief it feels



This is the poem of the air,

Slowly in silent syllables recorded;

This is the secret of despair,

Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded,

Now whispered and revealed

To wood and field.



Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Half full...

Here it is just after 5pm and I am now home from a long day at work. Started early today and had to host a conference at the NIKE campus.

Now its just after 5pm (I think I said that already...) and its dark outside and I've got to eat some dinner before Mr. C and I rush off to Gag's choir concert then take her out afterward for a b-day dessert.

I would rather go running right now.

So I'm feeling a little frustrated about that...but because I'm trying really hard to be a glass half full kind of girl I thought about all the people in this world that are in my position but have a dog to take care of too...then I thought about people with a dog and a cat...then a dog and a cat and a kid...then a dog and a cat and 6 kids...

...and a hamster.

And suddenly my little grump about not being able to go running right now seems much less grumpable than it did a few minutes ago.

I just can't believe there are women and men in this world that can juggle job, animals, spouse, kid(s) and still manage to exercise.

I'm humbled and impressed.

Teach me o' wise ones...I sit at your feet...

Secret Agent

I'm working from home right now. And YES, I was actually working. This blog is a much needed break right before I get dressed to go running at the HS track. So, anyway...

I've been playing secret agent trying to figure out what is going on in our culdesaq with the water guys. I know I could probably walk out there and just ask, but how do you think these men would react to frumpy "housewife" still in pjs at 11AM? Good grief - I'm still in my slippers and you should see the state of my hair. Fortunately, I don't mind that much as I consider pjs and nightmare hair as one of those perks of working at home.

Little do they know that my work is superbly important to the universe. I am saving the world by saving energy just a little at a time...of course, all they would see is my huggy kissy pj bottoms and old slippers. Their minds would be immediately made up that I am not someone to be reckoned with. I'd hate to have to come up with some kind of revenge tactic like letting the air out of their truck tires or some other juvenile act.

So, in secret agent mode I check out the gigantic hole they cut in the street and watch the water spilling out. unfortunately for all you...the photo doesn't do it justice because its also garbage day and that darn trash can from my neighbor is in the way.

I must say...they don't exactly look hard at work do they?

The secret agent has left the building.

PS...does that picture make my ankles look fat?

*****Edited at 11:29AM*****
Waiting has ended. They came to me. "Ma'am, (still can't get over the fact that I'm old enough to be called ma'am) we need to shut your water off from 1-2pm." With my superb skills as interrogator I learn that the pipe did not break, but rusted through. Will most likely be done with repairs today, but he doesn't know how long it will take for them to fill the hole and asphalt over the top. My work here is done.

I wonder if they came to me because they saw me peeking out the windows?...

Attack of the Sugar Cookies...

They look innocent enough don't they...all red and green and white with stars and dots and candies here and there.

They look so cute and friendly..."Come here...eat me!," they say. Innocent girl peers at them with innocent eyes. "Oh, how cute those sweet cookies are," she says.

Without a word they attack her...

And the only way to survive was to EAT THEM ALL!

No, the poor innocent girl didn't wake up from a dream. This really happened. I know because it happened to ME.

Sorry for the scary Christmas story, but I want to make sure everyone knows the truth about sugar cookies.

Run far...run fast...they are coming...

DUM DUM DUM DUMMMMMMMMMMMMM.....

Flooded!

Being the lowpoint of the neighborhood definitely has its disadvantages. In the four years I've lived in this house I've had a few pooled water incidents, but nothing like the flood of 2007. And now...after what we just finished going through there is a Tualatin Valley Water District guy outside inspecting what we believe is a broken mainline pipe under the street...a broken 6 INCH mainline pipe under the culdesaq. Water is bubbling up through the concrete...a river of water flowing into the storm drain...and he tells us to just wait until they can get a crew out there...oh yeah...and by the way..if it starts to bubble up in your yard or if you lose water pressure call us and we'll come running quicker.

Uhm...why are we waiting for the disaster before we fix the potential disaster?

Two weeks ago I spent 24 hours on flood watch with John - we filled 12 sandbags and stopped up our garage and built a riverbed for the water to flow past our house and out into the greenspace behind it.

It was amazing. The culdesaq was under at least 18 inches of water. It made a lake out of our yard and front stoop...if I'd been 12 again I would have been out playing in it. Now that I'm much more grown up and responsible (Ahem...yes I am ... no you're not...YES I AM!) I can see why my parents never joined us in frolicking around in the water when we were kids.

Of course, dare I complain with so many places in the world going without water at all? I'd be happy to share...I'm sure the whole Oregon Coast would have been happy to share...that flood of 2007 was a real disaster for some areas. I suppose we got off easy with a wet crawlspace, a $90 sump pump purchase and achy backs from digging. OK...it was really only Mr. Chucklehead's back that was achy...I offered, but he demanded on being the manly man.

So here I sit now checking off my checklist...shower...CHECK...(a girls got priorities when there is a possiblity of no water for 24 hours as they rip up the culdesaq to locate the pipe break...waterproof boots...CHECK, filled up all my water jugs...CHECK...and put them in the fridge...CHECK...and I would just like to say that its days like this that I love my mother for teaching me the value of a years worth of food supply. I don't have nearly a year's worth (getting ready for the move and all), but we'll definitely survive for the 24 hours.

The moral of my story? Don't buy the house in the low point of your neighborhood and just a little preparation can really bring peace of mind and next time I'm going to go out and play in it. If the water guy doesn't care...maybe I need to learn the glass is half full side of a flood?

Gobble Gobble

It Thanksgiving week! I really always loved Thanksgiving. As a child I spent it with my mother's side of the family. She is one of 9 children and each of those children have 5+ children of their own...so I have 50+ first cousins on that side of the family.

I LOVED having a big extended family. I'm very close still to my aunts and uncles and my cousins that were around my age. I could call them up or visit them at any time and that is a good feeling to have so many people that love you.

ANYHOW....on Thanksgiving we'd all get together at a highschool in Eastern Oregon (which is where we all lived and where my uncle was the PE teacher/coach...) and all the families would bring food and we would eat and eat and eat... I don't remember a thanksgiving where in my young mind there weren't at least 200 people present (everyone brought friends) or where anyone ever went hungry.

I'm sure my young eyes remember a great deal more food than perhaps was actually there, but recreating in my mind I see 7-8 gigantic 20-pound turkeys, 20 different types of salad, a pile of rolls as tall as me, and pies....at least 15 different kinds of pie. I remember my aunt's cement mixer that would make the mashed potatoes. It was a big commercial kitchen mixer but I always thought it was a cement mixer. And piles of stuffing, frogs eye salad, large ladle-filled bowls of gravy...food as far and as wide as the cafeteria counters would hold.

But my favorite part of Thanksgiving was always the pinatas. Multiple pinatas created for various age-groups of cousins. It was the highlight of the day. They let us hit at the pinata from youngest to oldest within that age group and the strength of the pinata was in direct proportion to how old you were...

The older you got the more like a rock they became.

We would hang the pinata from the basketball hoop, blindfold the "hitter", spin them around until they were dizzy then laugh hysterically watching them try and hit the pinata which one of my uncles would swing wildly and raise up and down. It was near impossible to hit it, but occasionally one of us would get lucky and land a solid hit that would split it apart.

Then came "the sweep." Its a strategic pinata move that all children who do multiple pinatas in their life eventually learn. It consists of a running leap into a knee slide with your feet touching and knees wide open. Your arms are spread wide with your face near the ground as you slide into the pinata candy and essentially sweep the greatest amount of treats into your holding pen.

Thanksgivings are much smaller now...quieter. I think we'll have 12 people at my house this year. But for my stepkids and nephews I'm definitely making a pinata...I'll be teaching this young generation "the sweep" this year.

The Neverending Story...

Scene: Red-faced with crazy hair and beady red eyes the wicked stepmom advances upon frightened little blond-haired blue eyed angelic face.

Wicked Stepmom (WSM): C'mere you little brat!

(grappling with frightened angel - one hand yanking her hair and the other pummeling her body.)

Enters heroic 16-year old sister.

Heroic sister (HS): I'll save you!

HS pushes WSM, but WSM stops her by throwing out an arm hitting HS in the chest.

HS: You b**ch! Don't you ever touch my sister again!

WSM: You try and stop me.

HS rushes WSM and slaps her across the face.

WSM: Aaaaaaaaahhh (high pitched scream sounding earily like dying witch in Wizard of Oz)

Closing scene: WSM rushing from room chasing HS to beat her into bloody pulp.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We found out about the above lie because Gag had asked to come live with us. "I hate my mother! I want to live with you daddy!"

These types of stories for over 2 years now...

Its all very clear to me...

1. The hatred that Cruella exhibits toward me. Would you be nice to someone you thought behaved like that to your children?

2. Gag has really made a statement this time about her character (or lack thereof)

The funny thing is that Gag doesn't believe she needs to apologize for the big lies she's told because...

I told her she lacked character for saying those horrid lies.

I know...very wrong of me to thing that a 17-in one month girl would be able to handle facing her own lies. Enter Gag..."We're even now...I don't have to apologize. She made me cry for 3 hours!"

Cruella, of course, backed her up and was horrified at my hateful expression toward her daughter.

Problem solved. Gag hates me more than Cruella. The world is now at peace.

S-kid weekends....

wear me out.

tear me down.

exhaust me.

make me crazy.

drive me to drink.

cause heart palpitations.

frustrate me.

How would you know it when you look at these cherubic faces...

I love me because...

I'm part of a group of women all working to lose weight. We've been giving mini-challenges to each other...one of them really stuck me...

Tell yourself you love you.

Hmmm...so to the mirror I went.

Me to self, "I love you."

*giggle* Shifty eyes...smile playing at the corner of my mouth. Hard to look at me when I said that. So again...this time more assertively...

"I LOVE YOU."

It felt good.

So I took it to the next step...

Self to me, "Why do you love me?"

And boy if that didn't stump me for a minute...I started out tentatively..., "Because I'm a good person?"

Why?

Because I am generous with myself, my time, my money, my stuff....and because I like to help other people.

But what about YOU...what do you love about you?

I like my sense of humor and I like my laugh. Actually, I like laughing in general - it makes me happy.

And on it went...this little conversation with myself until I had a chance to really tell myself today the reasons why I like...scratch that...LOVE me.

If you think this is easy...I challenge you to try it. :)

The full 30 minutes...

I've been working on getting my mile run time down, but this week I was thinking about my goals and I realized that I need to really work on endurance more than speed.

For me, its more important that I can run as long as I need to instead of being a sprinter and going in short fast bursts. Not that I'm anywhere close to being a sprinter, but I was thinking futuristically and decided that I wanted to be an endurance runner and not a sprinter.

So, I changed my routine and today I ran a full 30 minutes WITHOUT stopping. This is huge.

At 5 minutes I checked my watch...gaaah...25 to go!

At 10 minutes I peaked over the tough part...mostly because I had the perfect song to run to...

At 15 minutes I thought...this is what I would normally stop at...maybe I'll just go another 2 minutes and then I'll have "improved."

At 17 minutes I thought, "I can make it to 20 minutes..only 3 more to go."

At 20 minutes I stopped watching the time and turned the treadmill to distance to see how far I could go and told myself that I would run until it read 1.5 miles then I could stop.

At 25 minutes I reached 1.5 miles and thought to myself...I've got to go the last 5 minutes.

At 28 minutes I knew I wouldn't stop until the calories lost read 300 no matter what the time read and wouldn't you know it...at 30 minutes it all came together.

Three months ago I could have NEVER done that. I would have flopped on the floor after 5 minutes and been depressed at how out of shape I was.

I'm proud of myself today. I'm proud of how far I've come and today I can actually see the finish line and it doesn't look too far away or too hard to get there.

Today I ran the full 30 minutes.

The Blair Witch and Geocaching

Have you ever seen the Blair Witch project? Well, Mr. Chucklehead hadn't so we watched it the other night...a little suspense...not really scary, but gets you thinking about the woods and the dark and the things that go bump...

Now that Mr. Chucklehead's toes are healing nicely we decided to go for a little geocaching to get in our exercise for yesterday. We decided this a little later in the day...it is a holiday weekend and all so we took our time doing ANYTHING yesterday. I left it to him to find a couple of good caches that would have us walking around a couple of hours and he did me proud.

The first one, called the end of the sidewalk was not really at the end...it was a good 20 minute hike up the side of a Portland west hills "mountain." We had a great time...eventually found it and logged our finds.

The second one was two part. We had to find the first coordinates to be able to move on to the second. Well, by the time we had found the second coordinates it was already getting later in the day...we found two access points to the cache...one was clearly marked NO TRESPASSING and had hazardous chemical signs posted...uhm...yeah...not going that way. The other was about 3/10 or a mile across what looked like a large field.

The sun was starting down and although there was plenty of light we figured a quick little walk wouldn't hurt and we'd get back in no time at all.

We started off across the field and quickly realized this would be a little different than we thought. Bushwacking started immediately...we found poison oak :( and eventually stumbled onto a "logging road" which was actually just tracks made my a CAT. Followed those for awhile and well, to make a long story short...found the cache just as it got dusky dark. The kind of dark where you can make out whats 5 feet in front of you, but further than that its quite ominously well...to be frank...Blair Witch woodsy dark.

I freaked myself out...but in my defense the spiderwebs were out to get me. We had to bushwack it back out...found what we thought was the field, but wasn't...continued to bushwack and made it back to the car after spotting an owl, deer, skunk and a few bats...

Luckily there were no stone piles or weird hanging stickmen anywhere near it.

So...moral of the story is don't watch the Blair Witch Project if you plan on bushwacking through the forest at near dark. I know most of you don't have to be told that, but for the select few who think like Mr. Chucklehead and I...just a little word of caution. :)

I found my smile today! It seems that this day is the opposite of yesterday...there has been much productivy and much happiness. Actually it started late yesterday afternoon when I watched the Youtube video of Miss Teen USA - S. Carolina's answer to why only 20% of Americans can point out the USA on a map.

Ok...so no offense to anyone from S. Carolina, but I had tears rolling down my face and I had to watch the video about 8 times before I'd had my fill. That was the funniest thing I'd ever seen. She just threw out buzz words in random order as she attempted to make a complete sentence.

If you haven't seen this video then I highly recommend watching it just to see if you can make sense of what she said.

Just thinking about it makes me smile and so I'm crediting her for my positive outlook on life right now.

So forget the increase of a pound from my emotional eatfest a few days ago...With the jolly mood Miss S. Carolina put me in I'm bound to lose it plus the extra three I'm gunning for this week.

And if I don't make it... well...all I have to say is,

"I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uhmmm, some people out there in our nation don't have SCALES and uh, I believe that our, I, education like such as, uh, South Africa, and uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uhhh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us.”

Well said, Miss S. Carolina...Well said.

Elvis and the freeway...

So...I was driving down the freeway this morning and had a huge dose of nostalgia watching two cars filled with teens...

We (the girls) had just got back from a rousing night of cruising Broadway in the city downtown. You had to be sneaky because if you cruised up the strip more than 3 times then the police would ticket you so it was a game to take as long as you could and then park and walk and you could jump in cars with boys as they were driving by if you wanted...(I know...insanity)

Well, this evening in particular this group of boys were "following us..." I admit that there was some flirting happening on both ends, but not only did they follow us as we cruised, but they followed us out of Portland and onto the freeway where we rolled down our windows and passed notes back and forth to each other as we sped down the freeway at 55 MPH...(wouldn't you just KILL your daughter if you knew she did stuff like this?)

And of course we then decided to pull over at a gas station and hang out for awhile...and that was an invitation to a party they knew about which led to more parties and more hanging out and well...the friendships of a lifetime.

Now these guy friends were an actual dance troup...well, they called themselves a gang or a posse...not the literal meaning of gang as you think of it today, but gang as in homeboys hanging out...they called themselved Flips-n-Effect...and they danced a mixture of techno, 80's and breakdance moves.

Us girls always pictured ourselves as the backup dancer/singers. Many a night I'd be in my bedroom singing ooohs and aaaahs to some late 80's/early 90's hip hop song while shaking my bootie around...(I can only imagine what my mother thought. )

And I'm telling you all this because today is the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's "mysterious... maybe it didn't really happen" death. Elvis is best known (at least in my opinion) for his dance moves...the man could really shake his bootie. And well...if I think of bootie shaking in my life it all leads back to that one fateful night on the freeway...

Spiders and weight loss

I love being in my garden. I love green trees and plants and flowers. I love the smell of dirt and the feeling of the wind through my hair and sun on my shoulders.

I even love to pull weeds, rake grass, trim shrubs, and mow the lawn.

What I do not love is spiders...spiders are creepy looking...they move way too fast and if they were big enough you KNOW they'd want to beat us up, wrap us in a web then eat us. Thank goodness they aren't big in Oregon, cuz then I'd never be able to live here again.

So, I'm out in my yard today after about a 2-week haitus from working on a remodel project inside my house and wouldn't you know it but almost the entire yard, garden and flowerbed is covered in spiderwebs...Darn little buggers work so fast! So, off I went looking for a spider stick...(no way I go after those with my hands...even if they are gloved.)

As I was diligently destroying all their hard webmaking work and transplanting them over my neighbor's fence (shhh...don't tell, but I'm convinced is where they all come from in the first place) I decided that instead of cursing them I would use my big brain to think of 5 reasons why spiders are good for weight loss...here is what I came up with...

1. Spiders get my adrenalin going thus increasing my metabolism and the rate at which I'm burning calories.

2. Spiders demonstrate a persistant nature in that they always come back...no matter how many times I move them, ruin their house, stomp on them or spray them...

I should have this same persistance with exercise...no matter how much it pains me, bores me, or I don't want to do it... (you get the idea)

3. The urban legend about the lady with a brown recluse in her bunch of bananas from the grocery store that bit her and killed her has made me diligent in washing, cleaning and examining my food so I only get the best...thus ensuring I'm eating healthy wholesome fruits and veggies.

4. Fear of spiders is called arachnaphobia....thats a pretty good movie and I like that part where he sets the mother spider on fire with the flame thingy...and that has to do with weight loss because they live on a farm and that reminds me that being active like milking cows and stuff will help build muscle and make me stronger and thinner...? ( a bit of a stretch I know...especially since I live in the burbs...)

5. When I looked up the username spiderman on MySpace its a 35 year old male in Boston...which reminds me of the Boston Marathon and that is something that really fit people run...oh and he's a dance teacher and I like to play Dance Dance Revolution and that helps me lose weight.

So there you have it...once again...I'm looking on the bright side of things. :)

At the beach with grumpy

I went to the beach with grumpy this weekend. Yes...grumpy the dwarf...only he was disguised as a 38 y/o woman that absolutely REFUSED to have fun.

Now...don't get me wrong. I also *hate* the beach. I hate hanging out with all of my best friends. I especially hate spending money on adorable clothing, eating seafood at an incredible restaurant and walking along the sand while dipping my toes in the cold Oregon surf.

In fact, if anyone ever invites me to their beach house for a weekend again I will absolutely refuse to have fun. I will NOT laugh or snuggle with my best friend in the entire world and I will NOT eat a single chocolate and I will NOT enjoy the beautiful weather and sunshine. Bah humbug!

So, in reality...I had a BLAST...as did 5 of my other friends...it was just that grump sitting there with a humph scowl on her face that really made me wonder how in the world you can be unhappy with your best friends while on vacation?!

Peeps...let me tell you that life is WAY too short to be grumpy...next time you can't seem to make that frown go away I want you to call me. Dial me up and I'll do my best to put a smile back on your face because smiles make people so much prettier and really...can't you think of one wonderful thing that life has to offer?

Like pickles. YUM. How can life be bad when pickles are part of the equation. Or the color orange. Its my absolute favorite color (with yellow and blue close second and third picks) but whatever color you love...its so wonderful. And how about tulips...if tulips didn't exist then MAYBE I can understand a day or two of grumpiness because then you couldn't write terrible poetry like, "Roses are red, Violets are blue TU-LIPS are for kissing Woo Woo!"

So today...smile...make someone else smile...be happy. Love life...enjoy your time here with family and friends...talk to someone you miss today. Tell that special someone you love them. Give a dollar to a panhandler...close your eyes and just feel the sun on your face, the wind in your hair or smell the earth and trees around you.

And next time...just stay home from the beach if you are gonna be such a grump!