I know I'm crazy. I know it. I ALWAYS bite off more than most people can chew. Some days are demanding from start to finish. I have a volunteer habit. I've had it for a long time. When I quit working, I felt a void. I needed to fill it. I've done various things (non church related) over the years. PTC president for 2 years, Room Mom for 3 years straight, coaching soccer, Brownie Troop Leader for years, Coach Coordinator for our Community soccer program, etc. These are not positions to be taken lightly. You get the picture. These days, I work for my husband, which could also be considered a volunteer position, or even marriage counseling. :) My latest assignment is Uniform Coordinator for our soccer club. I mean, really, how hard could it be? Oh...that's why they needed someone. Lightbulb moment.
Right now I'm putting on the life preserver cuz the dam is about the break. Oh, the problems! You get to see the good in people and the bad. Sometimes that'll make you feel flat out superior just watching other peoples ingratitude and selfishness. But mostly, you work with other volunteers who work just as hard as you do on behalf of 100's of families for the greater good. This has been harder than I thought it would be. But what I love about volunteer work is how you manage to separate these problems from other things. They aren't MY problems...but they are problems. What are the solutions? I find pleasure in seeking out the answers.
Meanwhile, I'm searching, making lunches, running to drop off and pick up kids, make choices about what events I can attend, occassionally dust, fix dinner or vacuum and still maintain my footing. Yesterday, the wind died down and so I decided my husband could go watch Mal conquer her track meet (which, naturally, she posted PR's on both the mile and 800) and I decided to take Lindsay and Hayden to the park. This is a beautiful park with a stream running through it, a brand new large play structure along a smaller one, and fields of green grass, park benches and shade trees. They each took a friend...played tag, made stick boats and watched them float down the stream. We soaked up the rays of the warming sunshine. I basked in the peace and simplicity of the experience. And yet, I probably wouldn't have valued it quite the same way had I not needed a break from the business at hand.
I love being busy. And I love small moments.
And now...off to treasure a moment of fun with friends at CPK and enjoy a salad pizza. That for Grapefruit and RAC Mom. WYWH!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Celebrations
This month has been full of celebrations. First there was Easter. Pretty tame, but still, it's a celebration. My husband just turned 48. That's right, we're over the 40 mark driving 100 mph to the 50 mark. My younger sister often reminds me all the while thoroughly enjoying our age difference. She's younger and prettier, but I'm wiser! (Isn't that how it goes?) We're not too big on surprises and blow out parties at our house. But my husband is a man and a father that deserves to be recognized. He's a very attentive father and loves to be involved in his kids lives. He pretty much gives me free reign -- which is a big "I love you" in and of itself. He's not good at romantic surprises or unexpected boquets of flowers. But he loves me and I know it. That is a daily gift. So here he is with his most precious gifts...plus a new tube for the boat. (A close second?) The kids worked hard to surprise him while he was at work they made cards, blew up a ton of balloons attached them various places as well as letting them dance along the floor. They taped their cards to the boat tube box and made him a fresh batch of brownies. That and a BBQ and we were good to go. My hubby wouldn't have it any other way. Right up his alley and he never had to leave the house. That's HIS kind of party.
My girls were in a wedding -- they lit candles at their cousin's wedding. Lindsay's hands were shaking like crazy! While they've outgrown the cinderella style of their childhood -- they still looked so beautiful and sweet in their dresses. Hayden's smile is goofy, as usual!
This isn't a celebration, but he does look dapper in his button down shirt. Only a boy could find two sticks and use them as shot guns during a wedding celebration, eh?
The egg-dying tradition...
And finally, no pictures for this one. Mallory has to try-out for her soccer team every year as it's competitive soccer. You can make it one year, but not necessarily the next. So it's always a nail-biter. I got the call today at 2 pm from the coach...I happily went to school with a jug of ice water for my daughter before track practice (it's 97 degrees here today!!!) and told her the good news. Joy and relief crossed her face. I got a big hug in return. That is cause for celebration. Here's to all the little celebrations as well as the big ones. Life is sweet!
My girls were in a wedding -- they lit candles at their cousin's wedding. Lindsay's hands were shaking like crazy! While they've outgrown the cinderella style of their childhood -- they still looked so beautiful and sweet in their dresses. Hayden's smile is goofy, as usual!
This isn't a celebration, but he does look dapper in his button down shirt. Only a boy could find two sticks and use them as shot guns during a wedding celebration, eh?
The egg-dying tradition...
And finally, no pictures for this one. Mallory has to try-out for her soccer team every year as it's competitive soccer. You can make it one year, but not necessarily the next. So it's always a nail-biter. I got the call today at 2 pm from the coach...I happily went to school with a jug of ice water for my daughter before track practice (it's 97 degrees here today!!!) and told her the good news. Joy and relief crossed her face. I got a big hug in return. That is cause for celebration. Here's to all the little celebrations as well as the big ones. Life is sweet!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tales from The Wild Side
Jack Hanna -- eat your heart out! I've got stories from Wildlife Suburbia. I've shared stories of snakes, and skunks, squirrels who dig holes and plant acorns from nearby oak trees that are now spreading their roots growing oaks trees in my yard where I don't need them! But this one, this story, it boggles the mind.
This day I am awakened long before my alarm was set to go off, I open my eyes as the gobble gobble gobble of mating turkeys call outside my window, relentlessly, too loud and annoying to ignore. Over and over again. (Sidenote: to make matters worse, not only do we start the day with this sound, but my hubby pulls in the driveway, opens his door, and "gobble gobble gobble's" his way right into those turkey's hearts when he gets home. His secret talent is bird caller. America's Got Talent anyone?) Just this past weekend we counted no less than 25 turkeys right out in our driveway. They live in the field next to our house during the spring. I'd invite a rattlesnake/turkey contest just to keep the noise level down. So it's no secret we do not live alone out here. Lots of critters to keep us company. We don't call the police for late night parties, we call animal control and Federal Trappers!
So a good friend of mine was on a walk with a friend. They came upon a distraught woman just down the street from my house. She looked as if she'd been crying and asked my friends if they'd seen a little dog that looked lost. They answered no and struck up a conversation about the dog. She said she went out into her backyard the night prior to let the dog go to the bathroom, and as she was standing there watching the dog on her lawn, a large owl swooped down from the night sky and picked up that little dog, never to be seen again! Right in front of her eyes! The owl was not deterred by her presence, and it was over before she knew it began!
So I ask you...why do these "circle of life" events not happen to my dog? I know, I know...I'm mean. We've often said a hawk could come down right out of those huge oak trees they live in and scoop up our Annie. The RIP dog was just under 10 lbs. Annie is just weighing in at 11 1/2 pounds. I've since shared this story with my girls and immediately Lindsay changed the rules.
"Annie is NOT allowed outside unsupervised!" Yeah, right. Whatever. I swore I'd never let her out in the yard again without us after the rattlesnake bite event and the vet bill that followed. But little dogs love the sun and a warm sidewalk (just like snakes)...so how can I deprive her? Now we just figure if there's a bite, there's a long hard free road to meet her maker. Because we've travelled down that road, and it was expensive! One time only.
So this is for my sister who just yesterday said: "Whatever. I'm quite sure you live in a castle." (She's never been here). My response: "Whatever! It's more like a den!"
Stay tuned for more tales from The Wonderful World of Wildlife. For now, it's cleaning up dog poop, scooping the cat box, and scraping turkey droppings from the driveway with a shovel. You'd think they'd have someone hired to do that on a castle-like set as this?!
This day I am awakened long before my alarm was set to go off, I open my eyes as the gobble gobble gobble of mating turkeys call outside my window, relentlessly, too loud and annoying to ignore. Over and over again. (Sidenote: to make matters worse, not only do we start the day with this sound, but my hubby pulls in the driveway, opens his door, and "gobble gobble gobble's" his way right into those turkey's hearts when he gets home. His secret talent is bird caller. America's Got Talent anyone?) Just this past weekend we counted no less than 25 turkeys right out in our driveway. They live in the field next to our house during the spring. I'd invite a rattlesnake/turkey contest just to keep the noise level down. So it's no secret we do not live alone out here. Lots of critters to keep us company. We don't call the police for late night parties, we call animal control and Federal Trappers!
So a good friend of mine was on a walk with a friend. They came upon a distraught woman just down the street from my house. She looked as if she'd been crying and asked my friends if they'd seen a little dog that looked lost. They answered no and struck up a conversation about the dog. She said she went out into her backyard the night prior to let the dog go to the bathroom, and as she was standing there watching the dog on her lawn, a large owl swooped down from the night sky and picked up that little dog, never to be seen again! Right in front of her eyes! The owl was not deterred by her presence, and it was over before she knew it began!
So I ask you...why do these "circle of life" events not happen to my dog? I know, I know...I'm mean. We've often said a hawk could come down right out of those huge oak trees they live in and scoop up our Annie. The RIP dog was just under 10 lbs. Annie is just weighing in at 11 1/2 pounds. I've since shared this story with my girls and immediately Lindsay changed the rules.
"Annie is NOT allowed outside unsupervised!" Yeah, right. Whatever. I swore I'd never let her out in the yard again without us after the rattlesnake bite event and the vet bill that followed. But little dogs love the sun and a warm sidewalk (just like snakes)...so how can I deprive her? Now we just figure if there's a bite, there's a long hard free road to meet her maker. Because we've travelled down that road, and it was expensive! One time only.
So this is for my sister who just yesterday said: "Whatever. I'm quite sure you live in a castle." (She's never been here). My response: "Whatever! It's more like a den!"
Stay tuned for more tales from The Wonderful World of Wildlife. For now, it's cleaning up dog poop, scooping the cat box, and scraping turkey droppings from the driveway with a shovel. You'd think they'd have someone hired to do that on a castle-like set as this?!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sloppy What?
The other day my sister told me she made these Sloppy Joes that were so good her family devoured them. Sloppy Joes. That took me right back to our dinner table on Hamilton Avenue excited about eating. It took me back to younger faces of my siblings surrounding a table. White hamburger buns. And my mom rarely bought anything white. Heck, she made a lot of the bread we ate. But certainly didn't buy AIR bread on a regular basis. Hamburger buns were a treat!
Anyway, after hearing how my sister's family delighted in such a simple pleasure, I was eager to do the same. So...Lindsay sat down at the table and an immediate look of questioning crossed her face.
"What's this?" It was as if I was forcing her to eat hot lunch. Come to think of it, it maybe wasn't far from the truth of the matter.
To make the situation at hand even worse, her Dad started laughing.
In my defense: "It's Sloppy Joes! They are SO good. I used to eat them all the time when I was a kid. You have to eat it." Right then I transformed into my mother. Another look then crossed Lindsay's face after sampling my culinary treasure. It was a look of disgust.
"Lindsay...you have to eat most of it." I could see it was hard for her to swallow. I guess times have changed. Enough so that I won't be making Sloppy What again! So tonight...Hamburger Helper?
Anyway, after hearing how my sister's family delighted in such a simple pleasure, I was eager to do the same. So...Lindsay sat down at the table and an immediate look of questioning crossed her face.
"What's this?" It was as if I was forcing her to eat hot lunch. Come to think of it, it maybe wasn't far from the truth of the matter.
To make the situation at hand even worse, her Dad started laughing.
In my defense: "It's Sloppy Joes! They are SO good. I used to eat them all the time when I was a kid. You have to eat it." Right then I transformed into my mother. Another look then crossed Lindsay's face after sampling my culinary treasure. It was a look of disgust.
"Lindsay...you have to eat most of it." I could see it was hard for her to swallow. I guess times have changed. Enough so that I won't be making Sloppy What again! So tonight...Hamburger Helper?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Spring Fever
Spring Break is here. And we took full advantage...weather arrived as ordered!
Started with sleeping in til 9 am. (Thanks, honey).
Seeing this always puts me in a good mood!
These never disappoint.
Do you need a reason for cake? It's one more excuse to have something for the kids to put whipped cream on!
Chicken Apple Salad. YUMMO! (Yummo courtesy of Rachel Ray).
Rummikub in the sun. Notice the dog on Mal's towel. What a princess!
Gimpy Dave giving Hayden's one and only golf club a try. He said it made for a nice putter. Does he get a handicap for a sprained ankle or for just being special? (You know what I mean, right Bex?)
(This is a video, Mom...press play)! :)
Started with sleeping in til 9 am. (Thanks, honey).
Seeing this always puts me in a good mood!
These never disappoint.
Do you need a reason for cake? It's one more excuse to have something for the kids to put whipped cream on!
Chicken Apple Salad. YUMMO! (Yummo courtesy of Rachel Ray).
At this point, Hayden hasn't realized his hair is sticking up or he'd be spazzing! Is he not cute or what! (Not biased at all).
Rummikub in the sun. Notice the dog on Mal's towel. What a princess!
Gimpy Dave giving Hayden's one and only golf club a try. He said it made for a nice putter. Does he get a handicap for a sprained ankle or for just being special? (You know what I mean, right Bex?)
Chillin' in the garage while the track is being constructed.
Attention! Children's imagination at work!
This is the bike track -- many upsides to this very large driveway!
This is the bike track -- many upsides to this very large driveway!
(We went out and bought chalk after this...way too much cleanup!)
(This is a video, Mom...press play)! :)
Who needs a pool? This is regular stuff at our house.
The end. Monday is just hours away.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The Fighter in Me
My friend said this morning she was going to start calling me "Mo". That's short for Mohammad Ali. And while I'm short, white, and horribly uncoordinated -- that comparison is nothing but funny.
This came from our workout this morning. As part of our CrossFit circuit, my friend's husband included the boxing bag as part of our workout. Here's the workout:
Warm Up: 2 minutes of AMSAP (that's...As Many Sit Ups As Possible)
Circuit: 1 minute Flutters (that's a sit up while kicking your legs in a scisscor kick as high as you can without stoping), 20 second rest; 1 minute air squats, 20 second rest; 1 minute punching bag, 20 second rest. (5 rounds of this)!
Cool Down: 2 minutes of AMSAP
Post Workout: Cut clothes off with scissors because you can't lift your arms over your head!
I'm telling you...boxing is the hardest thing I've ever done! My friend's hubby (alias Cross Fit Nazi) said: "That was a great workout ladies but now I know why Deborah's children are so well-behaved!" We all laughed. I said I'd never thrown a punch in my life, and my good friend responded: "Yah! That's your problem! The way you were hitting that bag, there's a lot of pent up aggression!"
Ha! I was just pretending it was my realtor, the bank, and President O. Whatever. Needless to say, my arms are gonna be sore. But NOW...I want a punching bag. WHO KNEW?! I never knew I could sweat so hard from hitting a bag for 60 seconds. 60 seconds. That was an eternity each time I did it.
And for the record, it's fine. You can call me Mo. Mo better. Mo stronger. Mo meaner. Mo no sissy girl!!! I am empowered!
This came from our workout this morning. As part of our CrossFit circuit, my friend's husband included the boxing bag as part of our workout. Here's the workout:
Warm Up: 2 minutes of AMSAP (that's...As Many Sit Ups As Possible)
Circuit: 1 minute Flutters (that's a sit up while kicking your legs in a scisscor kick as high as you can without stoping), 20 second rest; 1 minute air squats, 20 second rest; 1 minute punching bag, 20 second rest. (5 rounds of this)!
Cool Down: 2 minutes of AMSAP
Post Workout: Cut clothes off with scissors because you can't lift your arms over your head!
I'm telling you...boxing is the hardest thing I've ever done! My friend's hubby (alias Cross Fit Nazi) said: "That was a great workout ladies but now I know why Deborah's children are so well-behaved!" We all laughed. I said I'd never thrown a punch in my life, and my good friend responded: "Yah! That's your problem! The way you were hitting that bag, there's a lot of pent up aggression!"
Ha! I was just pretending it was my realtor, the bank, and President O. Whatever. Needless to say, my arms are gonna be sore. But NOW...I want a punching bag. WHO KNEW?! I never knew I could sweat so hard from hitting a bag for 60 seconds. 60 seconds. That was an eternity each time I did it.
And for the record, it's fine. You can call me Mo. Mo better. Mo stronger. Mo meaner. Mo no sissy girl!!! I am empowered!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Evening Stroll
Tonight was a beautiful evening. After two days of gusty winds, it finally calmed long enough for us to enjoy the afternoon sunshine. I swapped my sweats for shorts and knew I needed to take a long walk.
At dinner I announced I was going to go for a long walk. My husband asked "How long?" Why? Does he actually want to join me? How could I resist. "Alright, I won't go for a super long walk. Will you come with me?"
I got him to agree. "Let's go," he said. "No -- you need to change out of your jeans and into shorts. We are going for a real walk!" "Ugh!" he groaned. Exercise is so much harder when you haven't done it in a while...or a year...or more.
Out the door we went. We weren't even one whole house away from ours and my husband pulls out a chocolate Dove egg and says "Want a Dove?"
Needless to say, I was cracking up. "You are not much help! No, I don't want one!"
"Why not? They're goooooooood." Dove's are his favorite. But all I need at the beginning of a long walk is chocolate mouth! I couldn't believe he grabbed a small handful before leaving the house. (Who's buying these things anyway?!)
We continued on passing the park near our house and I said -- "Let's cut through the fancy neighborhood and gawk at houses." That's Dave's favorite thing to do, so I got him to agree. After all, I had already indulged him in climbing the stairs of a half-built house one block down the street from ours. He's a nosey one, my husband. We started to climb the hill through this fancy street. "Are we almost to the top?" he asks. I laughed and encouraged him "You are doing it babe!" "I think I have a heart murmur." "No, that's just you re-discovering that yes, you are alive, your heart does beat, and you can indeed walk up a hill." Down the hill we went. That is the reward for climbing a hill. I guided him to unknown walking paths. Where are we? he's asking. Just keep coming. For a long while he enjoyed the views, the fancy custom homes, the 20 turkeys we saw on the hillside, the creek. Every now and then he'd say, "Slow down...you trying to kill me?" My answer "I'm saving your life! Keep coming! Just one more hill."
"One more hill? Is it big?" So funny. I actually saw my husband grab his heart a few times for dramatic emphasis. He has, at this point, offered me the Dove egg at least 4 times during our stroll. I said: "C'mon...let's jog down the hill to the light." "No, you can, I'll watch." "C'mon, you can do it."
Much more conversation about the length of our walk that was just supposed to be an extended neighborhood stroll and how we should have brought our phone because Mallory is probably scared to death that you took me on this long walk and killed me. I mentioned how this would all be so much easier if he would get on board and we could probably both be 10 lbs lighter by summer if we'd just do this 5 nights a week. Plus it's so much fun, we love doing this stuff together. But he's feet are feeling it and so are his legs. We aren't 20 after all, anymore.
When we finally walked into the house an hour later (and probably a good 3 or 4 miles later), Dave said: "Mallory. Your mother tried to kill me. We walked at least 10 miles." Hayden screamed: "10 miles! Oh my goodness." Mallory knew better. She just looked at me and rolled her eyes. Her dad is not very subtle or good at lying! And for the 100th time in the last hour, I had a really good laugh. And for all I know, Dave ate that last Dove egg from his pocket, soft and warm, no doubt from the walk, the minute he hit that couch.
At dinner I announced I was going to go for a long walk. My husband asked "How long?" Why? Does he actually want to join me? How could I resist. "Alright, I won't go for a super long walk. Will you come with me?"
I got him to agree. "Let's go," he said. "No -- you need to change out of your jeans and into shorts. We are going for a real walk!" "Ugh!" he groaned. Exercise is so much harder when you haven't done it in a while...or a year...or more.
Out the door we went. We weren't even one whole house away from ours and my husband pulls out a chocolate Dove egg and says "Want a Dove?"
Needless to say, I was cracking up. "You are not much help! No, I don't want one!"
"Why not? They're goooooooood." Dove's are his favorite. But all I need at the beginning of a long walk is chocolate mouth! I couldn't believe he grabbed a small handful before leaving the house. (Who's buying these things anyway?!)
We continued on passing the park near our house and I said -- "Let's cut through the fancy neighborhood and gawk at houses." That's Dave's favorite thing to do, so I got him to agree. After all, I had already indulged him in climbing the stairs of a half-built house one block down the street from ours. He's a nosey one, my husband. We started to climb the hill through this fancy street. "Are we almost to the top?" he asks. I laughed and encouraged him "You are doing it babe!" "I think I have a heart murmur." "No, that's just you re-discovering that yes, you are alive, your heart does beat, and you can indeed walk up a hill." Down the hill we went. That is the reward for climbing a hill. I guided him to unknown walking paths. Where are we? he's asking. Just keep coming. For a long while he enjoyed the views, the fancy custom homes, the 20 turkeys we saw on the hillside, the creek. Every now and then he'd say, "Slow down...you trying to kill me?" My answer "I'm saving your life! Keep coming! Just one more hill."
"One more hill? Is it big?" So funny. I actually saw my husband grab his heart a few times for dramatic emphasis. He has, at this point, offered me the Dove egg at least 4 times during our stroll. I said: "C'mon...let's jog down the hill to the light." "No, you can, I'll watch." "C'mon, you can do it."
Much more conversation about the length of our walk that was just supposed to be an extended neighborhood stroll and how we should have brought our phone because Mallory is probably scared to death that you took me on this long walk and killed me. I mentioned how this would all be so much easier if he would get on board and we could probably both be 10 lbs lighter by summer if we'd just do this 5 nights a week. Plus it's so much fun, we love doing this stuff together. But he's feet are feeling it and so are his legs. We aren't 20 after all, anymore.
When we finally walked into the house an hour later (and probably a good 3 or 4 miles later), Dave said: "Mallory. Your mother tried to kill me. We walked at least 10 miles." Hayden screamed: "10 miles! Oh my goodness." Mallory knew better. She just looked at me and rolled her eyes. Her dad is not very subtle or good at lying! And for the 100th time in the last hour, I had a really good laugh. And for all I know, Dave ate that last Dove egg from his pocket, soft and warm, no doubt from the walk, the minute he hit that couch.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)