So, it's Father's Day 2011 and it's been, oh about...a-long-time since I've blogged and there are about 2000 other things I could write about. BUT, I thought since I haven't written in a while, I would bring you a cautionary technology tale. A kind of Public Service Announcement. Consider it a Father's Day gift. Or if you are not a father - just consider it my gift to you (I know, I know. I am always thinking of others).
Here's the set-up in my house. Basically it's Dueling Computers. No, we are not techies. No, we do not grow money on trees and thereby buy all the technology we want. We have one fairly old laptop that is "mine," one brand spankin' new Toshiba laptop that is "sometimes mine," one dEEOInosaur from the ice age when computers actually looked like TV's (Remember large, fat TVs? No? Well, then you are too young to be reading my blog.) - that one is the "kids," and one of hubby's "work laptops" that only runs Very Important Work Programs That Are Useless to the Average American. Any given day or night you can find the kids playing games on the dinosaur and whining incessantly about no sound, it moves too slow to shoot anything, why can't they have a real computer, blah, blah, blah, me "working" on my old laptop, and hubby fooling around with his work laptop (presumably doing actual work), and also doing Very Important Stuff on the Toshiba.
I think a timeline would be helpful and since I have lost all track of time, I am just going to make-up a timeline. One night, let's call it Tuesday night, when hubby and I were feeling particularly technologically savvy, we decided to load all of our External Hard drive Very Important Information onto the Toshiba. We did it! It was a team effort, but we were successful (as evidenced by then having to open every file on the Toshiba and comment about how it all looked correct and normal). Mission Accomplished. We felt like pros.
Wednesday night hubby was doing work on his work laptop and fooling around on the Toshiba when a sound came out of his mouth that I can only describe as horror and amazement? If it had been a word the word would have been EEGADS. I mumbled, "Huh?" from my laptop. He quickly told me that ALL our files we had loaded just the night before onto the Toshiba were gone, lost, vanished. I did nothing. I did not comment or react because I was absolutely sure that he was nuts and/or was not looking in the correct place on the computer. So this type of conversation ensued for about 10 minutes:
Him: BABE!!! Everything is GONE! How can this be???
Me: Hmm.
Him: Jeez!!! Aren't you freaking out??? Don't you care???
Me: That's weird. For sure.
Him: Holy CRAP (not his EXACT words)!!! I freaking HATE COMPUTERS! What is the deal??? How can this be???
Me: So are you sure they are gone?
Him: Sheesh. ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME??? What the heck is wrong here??? Didn't we just load this crap yesterday???
Me: Hmm.
Now, after this continued for 10 minutes I decided to get up and walk the two feet across the table to examine the computer with him. THEN the conversation went a little like THIS:
Me: %$HS#!!! What the heck??? Where the heck are all the files???
Him: I don't freaking know!!! What the heck is going on here???
Me: It's like we are in some sort of altered universe.
Him: What should I do???
Me: I don't know. Shut the whole thing down and REBOOT. This is freaking crazy. What the heck could have happened???
Him: Okay. Let's THINK, babe. Let's shut down. Maybe something mysterious and weird has happened that we wouldn't understand. Shutting down.
Me: Do it.
Silence.
More silence.
Him: (Very quietly.) Oh, um babe. It's the wrong computer. This is my WORK computer. The files are on the Toshiba. We loaded the files on the Toshiba. We've been looking on my work laptop.
Me: You are kidding, right?
Him: (Very quietly again.) No, not kidding.
Doh!
After we got over the shock of our Very Important Files not disappearing into thin air, we had a good belly laugh. As I am sure you are laughing at us now. As you know, I have no pride. So, I am not ashamed to tell you that THE VERY SAME THING happened about one week later. Of course, we realized quicker (after only about 6 minutes) that hubby was looking at the wrong computer.
Moral of the Story: If you are not a techie and you are experiencing technological difficulties run through your list of helpful troubleshooting questions. Is the computer plugged in? Is the computer on? And ADD to the list, IS THE COMPUTER YOURS?
Happy Father's Day!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Turn your calendar. Summer's here.
It's SUMMER! Can you believe it? Summer always comes with mixed emotions for me. The good: no more lunches to pack, no more schedule to follow, no more homework to help with, no more bedtime to adhere to, no more teachers to explain to. The bad: my kids are aging before my eyes. The ugly: Me having my midlife crisis and crying in random places that are embarrassing to my four kids and my four kids whining about me crying in weird places. So, I know that's kind of disjointed, but that's why you haven't heard from me in a while. Basically, I've been happy/sad that my kids are successfully growing up and passing to the next grade. (I didn't say I was rationale.)
I desperately want to be happy about summer because I love summer, but I feel a tugging at my heart (or it could just be that midlife crisis thing) knowing that we don't have that much time left. Nuts, huh? The kids are in elementary for heaven's sake. I know. Even as I type it (or think it for that matter) it seems crazy. But it's how I feel. I look at them and I can barely remember when the older three were 3, 2, and 1. And, sadly I don't really want to remember much from those days.
Looking back it seems that I spent much of that time wishing they were older and could do more for themselves because...I was flat-out exhausted. Now, I spend a lot of time being amazed (and just a little sad) about how much they don't need me anymore.
The retrospection has been mostly good. I try to spend more time now enjoying the moments rather than wishing for the future. I am excited for this summer. I am excited to have more time with them (and, yes, you can quote me on that later - like tomorrow - when I am ready to ship them all to summer school). Happy dog days!
I desperately want to be happy about summer because I love summer, but I feel a tugging at my heart (or it could just be that midlife crisis thing) knowing that we don't have that much time left. Nuts, huh? The kids are in elementary for heaven's sake. I know. Even as I type it (or think it for that matter) it seems crazy. But it's how I feel. I look at them and I can barely remember when the older three were 3, 2, and 1. And, sadly I don't really want to remember much from those days.
Looking back it seems that I spent much of that time wishing they were older and could do more for themselves because...I was flat-out exhausted. Now, I spend a lot of time being amazed (and just a little sad) about how much they don't need me anymore.
The retrospection has been mostly good. I try to spend more time now enjoying the moments rather than wishing for the future. I am excited for this summer. I am excited to have more time with them (and, yes, you can quote me on that later - like tomorrow - when I am ready to ship them all to summer school). Happy dog days!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
A Pleasant Surprise
Another restaurant review.
I have eaten out since my last one, but nothing really worth blogging about. I cheated on Rosarios http://rosariossa.com/ once or twice (and it wasn't worth it) and I got in a fight and made up with Rosarios. I also ate at a diner - which is noteworthy and has been a favorite with hubby and I for about 15 years. Service is inconsistent, but the food has been consistently good, down home cooking spanning 15 years and a change in management. Check it out if you are local. http://www.410diner.com/default2.html
Now, I am not a fan of restaurants couched in strip malls, or attached to gas stations mostly because of the fact that it seems as if they are there because they have not graduated to be real restaurants. But, I also tend to be tongue tied when hubby says, "Let's go to lunch. What are you hungry for?" and we have an hour and a half to make a decision, drive to a restaurant, eat leisurely, and drive home so that I can pick up a child or children before the school calls the cops. So, that is how I ended up at the nearby Spicy Ginger restaurant http://www.spicygingersa.com/ last Thursday after the lunch crowd.
It is couched in a strip mall along with one of the places with which we bank, so I drive by it quite a bit. A few friends had told me it was good, so we decided to check it out. I am so happy we did.
I was surprised immediately upon entering because for being in a tiny strip mall and for being a small Asian restaurant, it was decorated quite nicely. This is not a commentary about the decorating in small Asian restaurants but do you know the red walls, Chinese calendar menus, Buddha theme? Well, this was not of that variety. The ambiance was warm, inviting, and the pendant lighting added a comfortable feeling.
I will get right to the food because it was yummy. I ordered (and, yes, I am a big eater) four "crab and cream cheese puffs" for an appetizer. They came and looked like neat little pillows. You could have almost mistaken them for tiny sopapillas. They had some cilantro and julienned carrots in the middle of the plate. An attractive touch and super delicious when I picked it up and put it in my puff. The puffs were steaming hot when I ripped them open. Did I mention that I love my food hot when it's supposed to be hot? The puff itself was a little thicker than the crab rangoons I have eaten and now I think I like them thin and thick. I thought the puffs could have had a bit more filling, but the flavor was good.
It was difficult for me to decide on a main dish because I liked the noodle selection (always a good sign). I picked Vietnamese noodles and decided to give tofu a try. It's been a long time since I've eaten tofu and I wanted to see if I still liked it. I was really happy with my choice. The bowl came and it was a bowl. I ate that lunch and lunch/snack the next day (which unfortunately I had to share with my foodie nine year old boy). The noodles were hot and the flavors mixed together excellently. The cucumber was sliced a little thicker than in the Vietnamese noodles I've had before. I liked that. I could really taste the flavor that way. There were carrots, lots of cilantro, lettuce, beansprouts, and a slight lemony flavor. Lemongrass? Really great combination of flavors. The tofu was spicy and had the consistency of chicken. I have no idea if that is normal since it's been so long since I've had tofu, but it was good and tasted like soy sauce. Sidenote: The next day my nine year old (who has no idea what tofu is) said, "Give me all the chicken pieces, mom." Then he claimed how great the chicken was in the noodles.
Hubby enjoyed what he had - Moo Goo Gai Pan. But, it didn't look nearly as delish as mine, so I didn't ask for a bite.
I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, the ambiance was nice, and the service was great. The prices? I couldn't make it for cheaper (let's be honest - I couldn't make it at all). I will go back. :o)
I have eaten out since my last one, but nothing really worth blogging about. I cheated on Rosarios http://rosariossa.com/ once or twice (and it wasn't worth it) and I got in a fight and made up with Rosarios. I also ate at a diner - which is noteworthy and has been a favorite with hubby and I for about 15 years. Service is inconsistent, but the food has been consistently good, down home cooking spanning 15 years and a change in management. Check it out if you are local. http://www.410diner.com/default2.html
Now, I am not a fan of restaurants couched in strip malls, or attached to gas stations mostly because of the fact that it seems as if they are there because they have not graduated to be real restaurants. But, I also tend to be tongue tied when hubby says, "Let's go to lunch. What are you hungry for?" and we have an hour and a half to make a decision, drive to a restaurant, eat leisurely, and drive home so that I can pick up a child or children before the school calls the cops. So, that is how I ended up at the nearby Spicy Ginger restaurant http://www.spicygingersa.com/ last Thursday after the lunch crowd.
It is couched in a strip mall along with one of the places with which we bank, so I drive by it quite a bit. A few friends had told me it was good, so we decided to check it out. I am so happy we did.
I was surprised immediately upon entering because for being in a tiny strip mall and for being a small Asian restaurant, it was decorated quite nicely. This is not a commentary about the decorating in small Asian restaurants but do you know the red walls, Chinese calendar menus, Buddha theme? Well, this was not of that variety. The ambiance was warm, inviting, and the pendant lighting added a comfortable feeling.
I will get right to the food because it was yummy. I ordered (and, yes, I am a big eater) four "crab and cream cheese puffs" for an appetizer. They came and looked like neat little pillows. You could have almost mistaken them for tiny sopapillas. They had some cilantro and julienned carrots in the middle of the plate. An attractive touch and super delicious when I picked it up and put it in my puff. The puffs were steaming hot when I ripped them open. Did I mention that I love my food hot when it's supposed to be hot? The puff itself was a little thicker than the crab rangoons I have eaten and now I think I like them thin and thick. I thought the puffs could have had a bit more filling, but the flavor was good.
It was difficult for me to decide on a main dish because I liked the noodle selection (always a good sign). I picked Vietnamese noodles and decided to give tofu a try. It's been a long time since I've eaten tofu and I wanted to see if I still liked it. I was really happy with my choice. The bowl came and it was a bowl. I ate that lunch and lunch/snack the next day (which unfortunately I had to share with my foodie nine year old boy). The noodles were hot and the flavors mixed together excellently. The cucumber was sliced a little thicker than in the Vietnamese noodles I've had before. I liked that. I could really taste the flavor that way. There were carrots, lots of cilantro, lettuce, beansprouts, and a slight lemony flavor. Lemongrass? Really great combination of flavors. The tofu was spicy and had the consistency of chicken. I have no idea if that is normal since it's been so long since I've had tofu, but it was good and tasted like soy sauce. Sidenote: The next day my nine year old (who has no idea what tofu is) said, "Give me all the chicken pieces, mom." Then he claimed how great the chicken was in the noodles.
Hubby enjoyed what he had - Moo Goo Gai Pan. But, it didn't look nearly as delish as mine, so I didn't ask for a bite.
I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, the ambiance was nice, and the service was great. The prices? I couldn't make it for cheaper (let's be honest - I couldn't make it at all). I will go back. :o)
Friday, May 6, 2011
Healthy Diet and Exercise, or EAT THE CAKE FIRST!
As many of you know, I am going through a crazy-a$$ midlife crisis which at any given moment can range in depth and proportion but for the most part is centered around, "I need to workout like a mad and crazy woman so that I can have a healthy body which may not look great, but that down deep is muscled and toned, and I need to change my eating habits from things that taste great to things that are good-for-you."
I said this is a "mid-life crisis" which I will clarify by saying:
1. I am not even sure what that means, and
2. I am realizing as the days pass that it is irrational on some levels.
Why? Nothing profound and requiring years of therapy. It is quite simply difficult to understand and irrational - because I have four kids.
Yesterday: Case in Point
5:40 - Alarm rang
6:00 - I was up. Head ached from lack of sleep and no IV for my coffee.
6:45 - Peeps were up, breakfast was underway, lunches were being packed.
7:15 - We headed out the door a full 15 minutes early because I was dreaming of a pre-ZOO FIELD TRIP WITH MY NINE YEAR OLD BOY workout. HUH? Yeah, I know. Irrational on some level.
7:30 - I was back home and promptly popped in the Reebok girl with whom I planned on "stepping" for 35 minutes.
7:30 - 8:00 - I stepped, got sweaty, stopped (yes, stopped) a few times to help a two year old pee and poop, I thought about the million things that had to be done before I could drop said two year old off at MDO and get on to the field trip.
8:00 - I said good-bye to my stepping friend early because I was then feeling a little frantic about what had to be done. I promised myself that AFTER the zoo field trip when I was fresh and perky (???) I would finish my workout or do an additional workout with KK (can you see irrationality rearing its ugly head?).
8:00 - 8:50 - I ate a bowl of healthy oatmeal and a banana, fixed a healthy lunch for myself for the zoo (two homemade California rolls, one two day old apple, water, and trail mix with just a little dark chocolate in it), fixed "lunch" for my two year old who never eats anything anyway, got her dressed, cleaned the kitchen, put in a load of laundry, brushed and fixed her hair, showered, got dressed, packed everything twice after the two year old was helping me and unpacked it all.
9:00 - I was on my way to the zoo.
10:00 - I ate the trail mix because I was starving.
10:45 - I ate the rest of my son's heavily buttered and salted popcorn to "lighten my load" because popcorn is heavy.
11:30 - We broke for lunch and I ate the California rolls. Note to self: these are only yummy when they are fresh. And I attempted to eat the apple which was mealy.
11:30 - 1:30 - I walked around the zoo and resisted the urge to buy an ice cream.
2:00 - 2:30 - I picked up baby, did a frantic thing at home that we like to call, "get-kids'-stuff-ready-for-piano-lessons-prep-for-a-quick-yet-healthy-dinner-which-has-presumably-been-planned-load-up-the-Yukon-and-take-off!"
2:50 - My two girl children bounded into the Yukon with Mother's Day Cakes that they had made at school. I am pretty sure that's when my mouth started to water and I realized I was starving.
2:50 - 5:45 - Kids complained about no snack, they completed their piano lessons, and I tried to focus while dreaming of how I could justify eating cake for dinner AND eating the Mother's Day cakes four days before Mother's Day.
5:50 - Hubby called and asked what was for dinner. I said, "Biscuits? And........Mother's Day Cakes?"
6:00 - 6:20 - We arrived home to an unplanned dinner. Chaos ensued. Backpacks flew, kids rushed to "talk" to dad, I frantically heated up a serious modge-podge of leftovers (including biscuits), and we unwrapped and examined both cakes. We all dutifully ooed and ahed over the cakes.
6:25 - I got out a fork.
All my kids exclaimed, "MOM WHAT ARE YOU DOING???"
I quietly said, "I am eating the cake."
All my kids shouted, "YOU HAVEN'T EATEN DINNER AND IT'S FOR MOTHER'S DAY???"
I quietly said, "It's MY cake and if you be quiet I will give you some before your dinner, too."
Silence ensued, I ate my cake and there went my healthy diet.
Later when all the peeps were in bed, hubby was at the gym and I was WAY too exhausted to workout with KK or the Reebok girl. I blog-surfed and was in bed by 10:30.
And that is how the exercise went.
Healthy day, my friends. Cake is on the menu for breakfast this morning and may just turn into lunch. :o)
I said this is a "mid-life crisis" which I will clarify by saying:
1. I am not even sure what that means, and
2. I am realizing as the days pass that it is irrational on some levels.
Why? Nothing profound and requiring years of therapy. It is quite simply difficult to understand and irrational - because I have four kids.
Yesterday: Case in Point
5:40 - Alarm rang
6:00 - I was up. Head ached from lack of sleep and no IV for my coffee.
6:45 - Peeps were up, breakfast was underway, lunches were being packed.
7:15 - We headed out the door a full 15 minutes early because I was dreaming of a pre-ZOO FIELD TRIP WITH MY NINE YEAR OLD BOY workout. HUH? Yeah, I know. Irrational on some level.
7:30 - I was back home and promptly popped in the Reebok girl with whom I planned on "stepping" for 35 minutes.
7:30 - 8:00 - I stepped, got sweaty, stopped (yes, stopped) a few times to help a two year old pee and poop, I thought about the million things that had to be done before I could drop said two year old off at MDO and get on to the field trip.
8:00 - I said good-bye to my stepping friend early because I was then feeling a little frantic about what had to be done. I promised myself that AFTER the zoo field trip when I was fresh and perky (???) I would finish my workout or do an additional workout with KK (can you see irrationality rearing its ugly head?).
8:00 - 8:50 - I ate a bowl of healthy oatmeal and a banana, fixed a healthy lunch for myself for the zoo (two homemade California rolls, one two day old apple, water, and trail mix with just a little dark chocolate in it), fixed "lunch" for my two year old who never eats anything anyway, got her dressed, cleaned the kitchen, put in a load of laundry, brushed and fixed her hair, showered, got dressed, packed everything twice after the two year old was helping me and unpacked it all.
9:00 - I was on my way to the zoo.
10:00 - I ate the trail mix because I was starving.
10:45 - I ate the rest of my son's heavily buttered and salted popcorn to "lighten my load" because popcorn is heavy.
11:30 - We broke for lunch and I ate the California rolls. Note to self: these are only yummy when they are fresh. And I attempted to eat the apple which was mealy.
11:30 - 1:30 - I walked around the zoo and resisted the urge to buy an ice cream.
2:00 - 2:30 - I picked up baby, did a frantic thing at home that we like to call, "get-kids'-stuff-ready-for-piano-lessons-prep-for-a-quick-yet-healthy-dinner-which-has-presumably-been-planned-load-up-the-Yukon-and-take-off!"
2:50 - My two girl children bounded into the Yukon with Mother's Day Cakes that they had made at school. I am pretty sure that's when my mouth started to water and I realized I was starving.
2:50 - 5:45 - Kids complained about no snack, they completed their piano lessons, and I tried to focus while dreaming of how I could justify eating cake for dinner AND eating the Mother's Day cakes four days before Mother's Day.
5:50 - Hubby called and asked what was for dinner. I said, "Biscuits?
6:00 - 6:20 - We arrived home to an unplanned dinner. Chaos ensued. Backpacks flew, kids rushed to "talk" to dad, I frantically heated up a serious modge-podge of leftovers (including biscuits), and we unwrapped and examined both cakes. We all dutifully ooed and ahed over the cakes.
6:25 - I got out a fork.
All my kids exclaimed, "MOM WHAT ARE YOU DOING???"
I quietly said, "I am eating the cake."
All my kids shouted, "YOU HAVEN'T EATEN DINNER AND IT'S FOR MOTHER'S DAY???"
I quietly said, "It's MY cake and if you be quiet I will give you some before your dinner, too."
Silence ensued, I ate my cake and there went my healthy diet.
Later when all the peeps were in bed, hubby was at the gym and I was WAY too exhausted to workout with KK or the Reebok girl. I blog-surfed and was in bed by 10:30.
And that is how the exercise went.
Healthy day, my friends. Cake is on the menu for breakfast this morning and may just turn into lunch. :o)
Thursday, April 21, 2011
A Love Story? No, I don't do that.
At the risk of reading like a Hallmark "romantic" card, my post today will be about my hubby. Blech. I know. I will try not to be too sappy.
I cannot remember ever writing about him - even though sometimes I think he is convinced that my blog is some twisted rant about married life with him??? AND, I don't think he's ever actually read the blog, so I should be safe.
It's not going to be long....just two reasons why I am still married after 20 years. And, mainly I am doing this for posterity (huh? - look it up.). So that when I am stinkin' mad at him (like, possibly later today), I can go back and read this post and remember that I really do like him. ;o)
1. Baby is a stink pot at the BMX track. And, I can't say I blame her. It's not Chucky Cheese for a two year old. It is dirty, dusty, filled with sweaty older kids, and not-much-fun. So, we usually are at the track Thursdays when there is no school Friday. This morning I told hubby that I wasn't going to the track tonight. He said, "Aw, man."
He likes me to go to the track (I think) even though sometimes we don't say anything to each other the entire time we are there, or sit next to each other??? I know. I don't understand it either, but I will take that as a compliment.
I said, "I have too much to do."
Now, here's where the "like" comes in. He has seen me sit on my a$$ all week and watch TV, blog, be on Facebook, randomly find things that need to be done (other than my actual work), and basically Procrastinate Like Only I Can. AND yet, this is what he says,
"I'll take baby to the track with me tonight so you can work. I just won't practice or race. I'll just watch baby."
He says this without the least bit of sarcasm in his voice.
SAY WHAT??? Wow! He would watch our stink pot baby at the track for three plus hours while the older three ride and race and baby gets filthy dirty, whines for a "fish stick" (which we finally figured out last Saturday means "popsicle" - I know, she's weird), and tries her best to find new parents??? While he knows all the while I have procrastinated ALL WEEK and am staying home under the guise of "having too much to do"??? Yeah! I like this guy!
Reason Number 2. And this one is more serious, so try not to throw up and I will do the same. He has the most generous heart of anyone I know (except possibly, Jesus or Mother Teresa). Which I am finding (the older I get) is really, really hard to come by in this materialistic world of instant gratification. I will not tell you what he did on the Internet, because he wouldn't like that. So far, I think he has only told me. But yesterday he was in one of those situations where any other person that I can think of would have just walked away and pretended they couldn't do anything to help. Instead, he made a simple decision (for him) which was - basically - I have all I need right now, and this person doesn't. So, I am going to give this person what he needs to make it through this moment. Sounds easy, but I don't think it is. He not only is generous he is generous without expectation, without judgment, and without announcing his generosity through updating his profile status (if he had one).
If I was into mush and gush, PDA, and love I would end with "I love that guy." Lucky for you I am not into those things.
There is a man and a family out there who could rest much easier last night, and there will be one dirty, bored, mischievous baby at the track tonight.
Hubby - thank you!
I cannot remember ever writing about him - even though sometimes I think he is convinced that my blog is some twisted rant about married life with him??? AND, I don't think he's ever actually read the blog, so I should be safe.
It's not going to be long....just two reasons why I am still married after 20 years. And, mainly I am doing this for posterity (huh? - look it up.). So that when I am stinkin' mad at him (like, possibly later today), I can go back and read this post and remember that I really do like him. ;o)
1. Baby is a stink pot at the BMX track. And, I can't say I blame her. It's not Chucky Cheese for a two year old. It is dirty, dusty, filled with sweaty older kids, and not-much-fun. So, we usually are at the track Thursdays when there is no school Friday. This morning I told hubby that I wasn't going to the track tonight. He said, "Aw, man."
He likes me to go to the track (I think) even though sometimes we don't say anything to each other the entire time we are there, or sit next to each other??? I know. I don't understand it either, but I will take that as a compliment.
I said, "I have too much to do."
Now, here's where the "like" comes in. He has seen me sit on my a$$ all week and watch TV, blog, be on Facebook, randomly find things that need to be done (other than my actual work), and basically Procrastinate Like Only I Can. AND yet, this is what he says,
"I'll take baby to the track with me tonight so you can work. I just won't practice or race. I'll just watch baby."
He says this without the least bit of sarcasm in his voice.
SAY WHAT??? Wow! He would watch our stink pot baby at the track for three plus hours while the older three ride and race and baby gets filthy dirty, whines for a "fish stick" (which we finally figured out last Saturday means "popsicle" - I know, she's weird), and tries her best to find new parents??? While he knows all the while I have procrastinated ALL WEEK and am staying home under the guise of "having too much to do"??? Yeah! I like this guy!
Reason Number 2. And this one is more serious, so try not to throw up and I will do the same. He has the most generous heart of anyone I know (except possibly, Jesus or Mother Teresa). Which I am finding (the older I get) is really, really hard to come by in this materialistic world of instant gratification. I will not tell you what he did on the Internet, because he wouldn't like that. So far, I think he has only told me. But yesterday he was in one of those situations where any other person that I can think of would have just walked away and pretended they couldn't do anything to help. Instead, he made a simple decision (for him) which was - basically - I have all I need right now, and this person doesn't. So, I am going to give this person what he needs to make it through this moment. Sounds easy, but I don't think it is. He not only is generous he is generous without expectation, without judgment, and without announcing his generosity through updating his profile status (if he had one).
If I was into mush and gush, PDA, and love I would end with "I love that guy." Lucky for you I am not into those things.
There is a man and a family out there who could rest much easier last night, and there will be one dirty, bored, mischievous baby at the track tonight.
Hubby - thank you!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Don't panic. Mom's having (another) midlife crisis.
Today I decided to get on a bicycle. I know. What's the big deal, right? Well, I am going to tell you The Big Deal. I haven't been on a bike in about 15 years, it was a BMX bike, I had a full face helmet on (very attractive), and my hubby and my kids expected me to go up and down these wild dirt bumps (that if they had SNOW on them would be moguls) called "rollers" on our pump track out back.
You are probably thinking, "Sheesh. Whose idea was that???" Right??? Well, it was mine. Call me crazy (I have been calling myself that all day). I have been trying to figure out why in the HELL I would want to do this. And, I can't quite put my finger on it. Here is my list so far:
1. I am having a midlife crisis (another one).
2. I am going insane.
3. I have a death wish.
4. I have become obsessive about fitness.
5. I want to conquer a fear I have of anything that might hurt.
6. I have a competitive heart (I know. That one is REALLY a long shot).
7. I haven't been able to roller derby or write a book so I figure riding the hell out of a bike and not killing myself could quite possibly be the next best thing.
8. I want to spend more time with my hubby and the kids (say what???).
9. I thought about taking up knitting, but the bike and the helmet were here already.
So, enough about WHY. Let me tell you what happened. I think a timeline would be good.
10:00 a.m. - I was confident that I would be able to do the rollers after a little practice on the rest of our 100 foot loop pump track. I happily put workout pants and a long sleeve t-shirt on and headed out back. I wore hubby's full face helmet (which is really HEAVY) and used one of his bikes (more about the bike later). It took me a few minutes to maneuver the bike back to the track. When I put the bike on the track (which, sadly, is the first time I have looked at the track from the track) I realized there is NO SAFE PLACE to practice on the track. My six year old told me the best way to start was to get on the top of a bump and just ride down and start riding up and down. It took me a while to actually get ON one of those bumps (which, I have to say at 10:00 in the morning - and from the top - looked more like small mountains).
10:05 - I was finally at the top of a roller ready to start my first ever ride around the track when I just froze (in fear) and began to tip right over. This was really crazy (and very funny to my kids, apparently) because I wasn't actually going anywhere. I just tipped over - not all the way. I caught myself and hubby very gently said, "Babe. I think it might be good if you practice a little in the cul-de-sac." I did not take this condescendingly and promptly got off the track and onto the pavement out front.
10:15 - It took me a good 10 minutes to maneuver the bike off the damn track and back to the front where it was safe. I had done NO ACTUAL RIDING and I swear I could have downed a Gatorade, and I am pretty sure I was sweating under that 20 pound helmet.
10:17 - I was on the PK Ripper in the front wondering how in the hell you ride a bike when hubby said (a little more forcefully), "Go, babe!" Now, the PK Ripper is a tiny little (clown) bike which has an actual technical name (that I can't remember) and is used for an actual technical purpose. (That purpose is not to have a mother of four riding a bike for the first time in 15 years.) Before I could take off I had to show hubby that my knees were hitting the handlebars of this clown bike and that I thought it was too small. "It's supposed to be like that, babe. Anyway, you don't sit down. Just ride standing up. Go!" I think it was at that point that my nine year old chimed in, "Mom. Are you sure you know how to ride a bike??? I mean, did you learn when you were a little girl???"
Meanwhile, I am thinking that I am not really up to testing the adage, "Once you learn how to ride a bike....blah, blah, blah." Not to mention the fact that I was not sure I remembered how to RIDE STANDING UP??? At this point I was sure I had not fully thought this midlife crisis out.
10:19 - I did my first spin around the neighborhood on the PK Ripper. Well, technically it was just about 20 yards to the mailboxes, but the kids were all cheering for me (and I am pretty sure hubby was rolling his eyes at me behind my back). I did not fall down...but, I did not stand up.
I must digress to tell you readers that I distinctly remember as a child riding standing up most of the time. It took little to no effort. HAVE YOU PEOPLE TRIED RIDING STANDING UP LATELY??? Jeesh. Not only is it a trick of balance (of which - I have NONE), it requires strength. Now, funny story about strength. This midlife crisis has been building up for quite a while, so I have been working out. I have been working out with Kim Kardashian (KK), some Reebok lady, and with my 30 pound baby, her 30 pound stroller, my Nikes and the hills right here in my neighborhood. Well, none of this prepared me for standing up on the damn bike. It was hard.....when I finally did it.
10:25 - After I felt I had mastered "to the mailboxes and back" I decided to try standing up. It didn't work out too well. I was really wobbly. Hubby told me to get off the PK Ripper and get on the cruiser. It would be safer he told me.
10:30 to around 10:40 - I rode around (standing up) on the cruiser on the pavement in the cul-de-sac.
10:40 - The kids got tired of cheering me after my first ride and started racing each other and trying to "stay out of mom's way." My youngest biker (who is 6) started asking me if I was ever going to ride the track.
10:41 - I felt fairly accomplished and so my six year old and I headed back to the pump track.
10:45 - 11:00 - I tried to do the rollers. My six year old coached me.........very patiently. I started to tip many times and then finally I did one side of the rollers (well, if you don't count all the times I put my feet down because I was SCARED). Just to feel accomplished I did the rollers three times while all the kids and hubby breezed around me.
11:10 - I took the helmet off. The nine year old said, "Mom, are you done??? You are really sweaty. Are you okay?"
11:15 - I came inside and promptly fell sound asleep on the hardwood floor downstairs while the kids screamed and played around me and baby peed her pants.
So, where do we go from here? I have no idea. I have a deep desire to conquer the rollers, my butt hurts, my kids are less enthusiastic about me riding a bike than they were before today, I think hubby thinks I am a little nuts, and KK is going to be pissed at me when I can't work out with her tomorrow because I can't lift my arms.
Check me later. I will either be racing at the actual track or knitting a large afghan. Either way - another crisis down.
You are probably thinking, "Sheesh. Whose idea was that???" Right??? Well, it was mine. Call me crazy (I have been calling myself that all day). I have been trying to figure out why in the HELL I would want to do this. And, I can't quite put my finger on it. Here is my list so far:
1. I am having a midlife crisis (another one).
2. I am going insane.
3. I have a death wish.
4. I have become obsessive about fitness.
5. I want to conquer a fear I have of anything that might hurt.
6. I have a competitive heart (I know. That one is REALLY a long shot).
7. I haven't been able to roller derby or write a book so I figure riding the hell out of a bike and not killing myself could quite possibly be the next best thing.
8. I want to spend more time with my hubby and the kids (say what???).
9. I thought about taking up knitting, but the bike and the helmet were here already.
So, enough about WHY. Let me tell you what happened. I think a timeline would be good.
10:00 a.m. - I was confident that I would be able to do the rollers after a little practice on the rest of our 100 foot loop pump track. I happily put workout pants and a long sleeve t-shirt on and headed out back. I wore hubby's full face helmet (which is really HEAVY) and used one of his bikes (more about the bike later). It took me a few minutes to maneuver the bike back to the track. When I put the bike on the track (which, sadly, is the first time I have looked at the track from the track) I realized there is NO SAFE PLACE to practice on the track. My six year old told me the best way to start was to get on the top of a bump and just ride down and start riding up and down. It took me a while to actually get ON one of those bumps (which, I have to say at 10:00 in the morning - and from the top - looked more like small mountains).
10:05 - I was finally at the top of a roller ready to start my first ever ride around the track when I just froze (in fear) and began to tip right over. This was really crazy (and very funny to my kids, apparently) because I wasn't actually going anywhere. I just tipped over - not all the way. I caught myself and hubby very gently said, "Babe. I think it might be good if you practice a little in the cul-de-sac." I did not take this condescendingly and promptly got off the track and onto the pavement out front.
10:15 - It took me a good 10 minutes to maneuver the bike off the damn track and back to the front where it was safe. I had done NO ACTUAL RIDING and I swear I could have downed a Gatorade, and I am pretty sure I was sweating under that 20 pound helmet.
10:17 - I was on the PK Ripper in the front wondering how in the hell you ride a bike when hubby said (a little more forcefully), "Go, babe!" Now, the PK Ripper is a tiny little (clown) bike which has an actual technical name (that I can't remember) and is used for an actual technical purpose. (That purpose is not to have a mother of four riding a bike for the first time in 15 years.) Before I could take off I had to show hubby that my knees were hitting the handlebars of this clown bike and that I thought it was too small. "It's supposed to be like that, babe. Anyway, you don't sit down. Just ride standing up. Go!" I think it was at that point that my nine year old chimed in, "Mom. Are you sure you know how to ride a bike??? I mean, did you learn when you were a little girl???"
Meanwhile, I am thinking that I am not really up to testing the adage, "Once you learn how to ride a bike....blah, blah, blah." Not to mention the fact that I was not sure I remembered how to RIDE STANDING UP??? At this point I was sure I had not fully thought this midlife crisis out.
10:19 - I did my first spin around the neighborhood on the PK Ripper. Well, technically it was just about 20 yards to the mailboxes, but the kids were all cheering for me (and I am pretty sure hubby was rolling his eyes at me behind my back). I did not fall down...but, I did not stand up.
I must digress to tell you readers that I distinctly remember as a child riding standing up most of the time. It took little to no effort. HAVE YOU PEOPLE TRIED RIDING STANDING UP LATELY??? Jeesh. Not only is it a trick of balance (of which - I have NONE), it requires strength. Now, funny story about strength. This midlife crisis has been building up for quite a while, so I have been working out. I have been working out with Kim Kardashian (KK), some Reebok lady, and with my 30 pound baby, her 30 pound stroller, my Nikes and the hills right here in my neighborhood. Well, none of this prepared me for standing up on the damn bike. It was hard.....when I finally did it.
10:25 - After I felt I had mastered "to the mailboxes and back" I decided to try standing up. It didn't work out too well. I was really wobbly. Hubby told me to get off the PK Ripper and get on the cruiser. It would be safer he told me.
10:30 to around 10:40 - I rode around (standing up) on the cruiser on the pavement in the cul-de-sac.
10:40 - The kids got tired of cheering me after my first ride and started racing each other and trying to "stay out of mom's way." My youngest biker (who is 6) started asking me if I was ever going to ride the track.
10:41 - I felt fairly accomplished and so my six year old and I headed back to the pump track.
10:45 - 11:00 - I tried to do the rollers. My six year old coached me.........very patiently. I started to tip many times and then finally I did one side of the rollers (well, if you don't count all the times I put my feet down because I was SCARED). Just to feel accomplished I did the rollers three times while all the kids and hubby breezed around me.
11:10 - I took the helmet off. The nine year old said, "Mom, are you done??? You are really sweaty. Are you okay?"
11:15 - I came inside and promptly fell sound asleep on the hardwood floor downstairs while the kids screamed and played around me and baby peed her pants.
So, where do we go from here? I have no idea. I have a deep desire to conquer the rollers, my butt hurts, my kids are less enthusiastic about me riding a bike than they were before today, I think hubby thinks I am a little nuts, and KK is going to be pissed at me when I can't work out with her tomorrow because I can't lift my arms.
Check me later. I will either be racing at the actual track or knitting a large afghan. Either way - another crisis down.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Not a total waste of time...
Hello again. It's been awhile. Not much how 'bout you? Blah. Okay, done with that 70's song. ;o) If you didn't get that, don't worry.
I am just going to check in briefly (because the stack of prints on my desk - which I can scarily see from here - is downright FRIGHTENING) to tell you..............BABY IS POTTY TRAINED. I have NOT been doing jack..........rabbit. I have been POTTY TRAINING A VERY STUBBORN AND THICK HEADED TWO YEAR OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can I get an amen???
You might ask (and if you do - bite your tongue) potty trained "Officially?" Or "just a phase?" And my answer is: I don't know and I don't care. I have not changed a pee diaper in about five days and I am ecstatic. AND......hold on to your horses now..........she POOPED tonight on the potty (as opposed to the floor, the carpet, the concrete slab out back, her beautiful new panties, her old training panties, the neighbor's front yard, etc., etc.).
So, all this time I've been away, my friends, I was not drinking margaritas living the high life. I was busy dealing with............well.......................pee and poop. It's that simple. AND (if you've ever potty trained a two year old) it's that...........complicated. My life these past few weeks has been reduced to the bare necessities. I have been unable to blog, run errands, exercise (well, only in brief 20 minute spurts), or basically be away from the princess potty (which stopped working about three weeks after we bought it) for more than a few minutes. Now, I can begin to ease back into normal life.
So, want to know my secret? Why did it all of a sudden work for me? Did I get back my nazi mojo? Well, no. I had to resort to new tactics this time around. Baby now has a weird concept of tiny marshmellows actually being FOR going potty. But, I am too happy to care about its possible mental implications. Funny sidenote: I left her home with dad one full day and he gave her the large marshmellows everytime she peed. Say what??? I promptly told baby that those marshmellows were only for roasting the smaller ones were for potty. Daddy got it wrong.
AND baby also does not want to spend vacation with grandpa and auntie (sorry, grandpa and auntie). Hmm. That's weird, too, right? Well, not really. See when I booked our summer vacation to Great Wolf Lodge http://www.greatwolf.com/grapevine/explore/activities/?&s_kwcid=TC-21399-5407118756-e-377930510 I told her that there were no diapers allowed there and that if she was not potty trained she would have to stay with grandpa and auntie. MIRACULOUSLY she started a full fledged effort the next day. ;o) Should I start a potty training boot camp? I just might.
I am just going to check in briefly (because the stack of prints on my desk - which I can scarily see from here - is downright FRIGHTENING) to tell you..............BABY IS POTTY TRAINED. I have NOT been doing jack..........rabbit. I have been POTTY TRAINING A VERY STUBBORN AND THICK HEADED TWO YEAR OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can I get an amen???
You might ask (and if you do - bite your tongue) potty trained "Officially?" Or "just a phase?" And my answer is: I don't know and I don't care. I have not changed a pee diaper in about five days and I am ecstatic. AND......hold on to your horses now..........she POOPED tonight on the potty (as opposed to the floor, the carpet, the concrete slab out back, her beautiful new panties, her old training panties, the neighbor's front yard, etc., etc.).
So, all this time I've been away, my friends, I was not drinking margaritas living the high life. I was busy dealing with............well.......................pee and poop. It's that simple. AND (if you've ever potty trained a two year old) it's that...........complicated. My life these past few weeks has been reduced to the bare necessities. I have been unable to blog, run errands, exercise (well, only in brief 20 minute spurts), or basically be away from the princess potty (which stopped working about three weeks after we bought it) for more than a few minutes. Now, I can begin to ease back into normal life.
So, want to know my secret? Why did it all of a sudden work for me? Did I get back my nazi mojo? Well, no. I had to resort to new tactics this time around. Baby now has a weird concept of tiny marshmellows actually being FOR going potty. But, I am too happy to care about its possible mental implications. Funny sidenote: I left her home with dad one full day and he gave her the large marshmellows everytime she peed. Say what??? I promptly told baby that those marshmellows were only for roasting the smaller ones were for potty. Daddy got it wrong.
AND baby also does not want to spend vacation with grandpa and auntie (sorry, grandpa and auntie). Hmm. That's weird, too, right? Well, not really. See when I booked our summer vacation to Great Wolf Lodge http://www.greatwolf.com/grapevine/explore/activities/?&s_kwcid=TC-21399-5407118756-e-377930510 I told her that there were no diapers allowed there and that if she was not potty trained she would have to stay with grandpa and auntie. MIRACULOUSLY she started a full fledged effort the next day. ;o) Should I start a potty training boot camp? I just might.
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