I need a new t-shirt

The t-shirt would say on it...

"I survived Spring Break at the chucklehead house!"

seriously....and I wasn't even around the kids for the past 3 days. I sent them all packing with Mr. C to eastern Washington for his grandfather's 90th birthday party.

I stayed home and got over this awful cold. Its finally almost gone.

What a crazy last 10 days, though! I think they should have spring break closer to the time that school bonds are passed. Then parents would remember why they want their kids in school for longer. I'd pay for a few extra days. :)

Just kidding. I'm being just a tiny bit facetious...but not about the t-shirt.

Sore throats

I had an icky sore throat yesterday...clogged sinus passages and just a general feeling of yuck. I'm always nervous about sore throats because as a kid it was an annual event for me to get strep throat even though I haven't had a case of it since college - 15 years ago!

I made Mr. C check my tonsils. His diagnosis, "Yep, they look red and swollen, but not strep."

So, I drank some Theraflu (my favorite sick medicine) before bed and got a good nights sleep and was up by 7:30AM.

So far today the sore throat has stayed away and I just seem to be plagued by a stuffy nose. It makes me want to sing a song....

"Snotty nose go away
I really want to play
This weekend is grandpa P's birthday
He'll be 90 on Sunday."

MySpace Ridiculousness

It came to my attention yesterday that Cruella Deville has "stolen" a photo of me from our family MySpace page and posted it on hers under the title, "People who don't want their photos on my MySpace page."

She also posted one of Mr. C with his kids.

We're the only two photos under that album...I suppose I could be flattered that she is so obsessed with me that she felt the need to post my picture on her page. But really, could you be any more JUNIOR HIGH in your approach to an ex-relationship?

If I was vindictive I think I could probably find a really nasty one in the old photos that Mr. C has and post that on mine, but I'm going to be the bigger person.

Instead I reported her to MySpace for cyberharassment and unauthorized use of photos. HAHAHA.

Ok...maybe not the most mature, but I at least made it to HIGH SCHOOL.

Happy Easter!

What a beautiful (rainy) Easter we had. Believe it or not...all three kids - Gag, Chortle and Little Giggle were with us yesterday. We got to see family and friends. Had dinner with Miss Barbara and played with her sweet puppy Cocoa...the kids ended up hiding dog treats in easter eggs to see if she could find them (suggestion from Grandpa Johnnie and a good one at that!)

It really struck me yesterday how little familiarity Chortle and LG have with religion in general. Mr. C and I do what we can in the 4 days per month we see them but yesterday at church there was quite a bit of confusion from both Chortle and Little Giggle about what it meant that Jesus was Risen.

The kids got jellybean packets with a bookmark that was the "jellybean prayer." Chortle was stressed out about eating the speckled jellybeans because they represented sin...and he didn't want to eat sin. While Lil' Giggle couldn't understand why Jesus didn't "beat up" the Jews (since he is all powerful) when they crucified him...followed by Chortle asking if we could have Jews as friends now... (AIYA!)

All in all, we got a basic understanding down and Maddie drew this great picture of Jesus on the cross and Jesus rising from the dead (see the big smile!). Mr. C and I will be working on religion a little more closely for these kids...starting with a little Family Home Evening tonight on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Kind of a big topic to cover in 20 minutes. :)

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.