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Wednesday, January 7, 2009

SPT ~ I resolve to take more self portraits

SPT

I am not a fan of self portraits for a few reasons, but I am older and wiser enough to realize that there are great benefits for taking them now for when I am yet more older and more wise. So I reluctantly continue to take them.
Today the temperatures have warmed up to 44 degrees, which means I will finally be able to get out and do some errands... get the late birthday packages to the post office, the bank, get my hair cut, get ink for the printer, and work on the lists I have been creating while stuck at home these past couple of days.
As I tried to sleep last night, I thought I was having a heart attack... my chest was tight, and I was aching on my left side. So scary, but it didn't really hurt, just very annoying. This morning I could recognize it was my muscles, because I could hardly move... WHAT? I have been focusing on my Wii Fit, doing yoga and strength training and aerobics but to be this sore??? Crazy!!! But cool!!!
Then I mentioned it to my strong silent mysterious man and he reminded me it was probably from the snow shoveling.
Of course!
But all my hopes and dreams that I could be getting really fit from a game - dashed!
DRAT!!!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Happy Birthday ~ Ralph!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
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Today is my brothers birthday.
He really knows how to have fun!!!
He is the one who invented the "birthday, holiday, week, extravaganza"!!!
Where you get to celebrate your birthday for the entire week, you know asking for special service, and favors, and getting to do what you want all week.
I heard rumors that he might be updating the "week" to be "month"... but I am not sure that will go over well with those closest to him.
We will see.
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This past year, my brother was a grandpa again... also known tenderly as "Poppy".
I think that was self appointed... I hate to tell him, sometimes they call you what they want, no matter what you want... but I bet Poppy will be an easy one to pronounce, so it will probably stick... and so fitting!!!!!

He has two great boys, who I think, were blessed to receive the best parts of him.... the big giving heart, and a witty sense of humor.

While we were together at Christmas time, I heard him say, the only thing he has to do EVERYDAY is tell his wife how much he loves her, and give her hugs!
It was so sweet, he has the best wifey, and I am so happy he loves her as much as I do! It brought tears to my eyes, and I couldn't look at him the same way the rest of the trip. Very cool for a guy!
I love him so much, and miss living near him.
He is such an example of how to grow from your trials, not take life too seriously, cherish each moment, love what you do, and do what you love!
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Happy Birthday to my brother!!!

Monday, January 5, 2009

Last day of vacation and back to School and routine...

Yesterday was a beautiful Sunday, cold but mostly sunny.
A new schedule, the 1pm meeting... which I had already evaluated and discovered, I never like change, it's either too early, too late, or breaks up the whole day... but I know we ALWAYS adapt and end up finding something we really like about every schedule.
So I made the decision I wouldn't complain or murmur about the new schedule, and just wait to find all those good things about it quicker!
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But then when we got to church, NO BODY was happy about the meeting time and most were very willing to voice an opinion about it. I just tried to be quiet and not waver from my attempts to embrace it early in the game... this too shall pass.
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We had an opportunity to fast for our Relief Society President who had a stroke hours after her youngest sons wedding in Sacramento CA the week before Christmas. She has been so much on my mind and I loved hearing all the sweet prayers for her during our meetings.
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I went over so much church business, getting my schedule and lists and talks organized, this time of year is super busy for me going to Ward Conferences and attending (and teaching) lessons for the youth in the Stake. It is fun and exciting, but totally different, and I have to pay close attention and take good notes for myself so that while I am traveling I take away from the meetings what I need for my calling, as well as what I need to build up myself, and to teach my family as well... so I struggle for balance this time of year.
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Later in the evening I had felt a pulled muscle in my back and by 7pm I was hurting so badly, I was just hoping to be able to walk the next morning. I have no idea what, where, when or how I did it.... but it was bad.
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I tossed for hours and at 2am was thrust from my bed hearing a sick dog in the other room! That is the worst way to wake up anyway, but with a pulled back muscle it's even more dreadful.
By 2:10am everyone in the house was up to see what the commotion was all about.
We had gone to get dog food on Saturday only to discover our regular brand which we had spent years finding that would be low on the poop scooping, good for the dogs, filling but also affordable.... was bought out by another company and discontinued. Not all dog foods are created equal and finding the right one is a huge process, and yes it matters, ALLOT! Apparently there is a huge political game in the dog food industry too... ugggg!
So in changing dog foods we discovered the hard way, the one we chose doesn't agree with one of them... luckily the other two were fine. Not that it really helped at 2am, but I am sure around noon the next day I will be appreciative it was only one of them.
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When the alarm went off at 5:30am, I tried to roll over, only to have one of the dogs whimpering to go back outside... so I flung my legs back out of bed, this was an opportunity not to miss... as I had discovered at 2am... and as I tried to clear my eyes and see what was on our sliding glass door, I opened it to have snow blowing in on my bare feet.
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Now I was awake, I only thought I would be crawling back in bed! NOT!!
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The good news was my back was fine, not any more pain... it must have been a pinched nerve or something.
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How could we get THIS MUCH SNOW in only a few hours?

After daylight I realized it was mostly drifted snow, but we still waiting for the announcement of at least a delay from the school! At the last minute, with no announcement, my strong silent mysterious man took the teenager to school and headed off to work.
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They don't expect much, but at 8:45am it's still snowing.

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So I will get back on my regular routine as planned. It's so distracting for me to try and work inside when it's snowing outside. I love the snow!

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It will be gone before Wednesday as the temps are getting warm again, so for now

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Marley & Me the Movie...

Saturday I went to see Marley & Me the movie... it would be my first time watching a movie after reading a book.
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So afterward I had to call my Mom and share with her all the stuff they left out, how I felt about it, and all the differences from what was in my head to what was portraited on the screen. A very new experience for me... I have always been kind of jealous for those who could do that... now I am among them! So cool!
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I just didn't like that I had to cry, I knew I would, it was inevitable... but I don't like to cry.
I was unavoidable.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Marley & Me...

In my quest to become a reader in my middle age... a visiting teaching sister gave me a book in November.

"Marley & Me"

She suggested it to be a good read, well written, and said since I loved dogs so much, and owned labs, I would probably relate and really get into this book.

So since I knew I would have allot of traveling time to read I accepted it and packed it in my airplane bags. The day before I left, I heard on the television the movie would be coming out on Christmas. I was not sure if that was going to be motivation for me, or the end of my attempt to read the book, knowing I could go catch it on film and save me all the time and effort of having to actually read it.

I wanted to try, I didn't want to be a failure at this reading thing... and I admired my vt sister so much, I really wanted to be able to tell her, I did it, I read the book!

I took it out a few times to read on the plane, each time having to put it away after the inevitable sleepiness would come over me. But I did find myself loving the way it was written, and I could relate in the first chapters completely... especially when he described going to the breeders... and all the things they didn't exactly reveal about Marleys parents.

I found myself laughing and crying! Who knew you could laugh from reading a book, but laugh I did, and even out loud at times! I knew this would be good, if it were making me laugh out loud!!

Since I was traveling with my Mom, I tried to explain to her what a great book it was... having fun, talking about books all of a sudden. I knew she wouldn't be able to relate unless she was reading it too. So when I wasn't reading it, I let her read... but carefully watched to make sure she didn't pass me up, as I knew that would be the end of my reading... I would just ask her to tell me what happened and I wouldn't have to read it myself.

I am such a lazy reader, but I do know this about myself... so I am careful to avoid all the pitfalls. And there are many.

After many nights and plane trips and car rides later... I finally finished the book on New Years Eve... so I officially read an entire book in 2008! Silly I know, but quite an accomplishment for me!!! Really!!!!

Now I am ready to go see the movie... http://marleyandmemovie.com/

Knowing the sad parts, I am a little nervous, I am sure I will cry! And I hate to cry! But I can't wait to see the movie!

I have found the Authors blog and I love his writing so well, I can't wait to read all of his posts and especially anxious to read more about Woodson (I love that name) and Gracie his labs since Marley!

http://www.johngroganbooks.com/blog/index.html

Thursday, January 1, 2009

New Years Eve Festivities...

As usual we had no plans for New Years Eve, except to be in bed early.
There was an Elders Quorum party, but we had decided not to attend.
The teenager was going to the Stake Youth New Years Eve Dance.
But earlier in the day, after talking to my sister and hearing about the special dinner she had planned for her husband. I thought, a special dinner, I could at least come up with that to bring in the New Year.
So after much pondering, I remembered the teenager and I used to love fondue... so we planned an entire meal around it.
I should have known that would be way too funky for my Strong Silent Mysterious Man... but he was kind of a good sport and ate some bread and a couple of meatballs dipped in the cheese. He wouldn't even try the chocolate though.
Oh well, more for us!

Then the teenager got ready and was off to the Stake Dance.
One of these days, he will be sorry for all the crummy pictures he leaves me with.
You can't tell from the scowl on his face, but he looked really handsome in his BYU tie. It was an entire ordeal, because normally our Stake dances are casual dress, and this one was being put on by other Stake and required church dress. Having a calling in the Stake I totally understood this request of the kids... but it was an all out fight at our house anyway.
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He finally came around and agreed to be obedient to the rules... it would have been very undesirable for me to have him get his way and try and sneak in past our Stake President like he thought he was going to try. So I was extremely pleased he finally came around and was complient... and I hate to say I told you so, but he wasn't the ONLY ONE at the dance who had to wear a tie. They required it of everyone, just like I told him. One of these days I wish we could just get there without all the lip.
Life just isn't lived until you live it with a teenager in your home.

The biggest partying going on at our house was Morgan with her new toy.
None of the other dogs, really love the stuffed toys, but Morgan adores them...
I found a basket of them at Walmart for .50 each after Christmas...
So she stayed up waiting for the teenager to get home and brought in the New Year, playing with her new toy by the front door for hours!

2009 ~ Happy New Year!

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