Oct 27, 2011 | Life, Uncategorized, What's going on |
Last winter I decided to start exercising again. Since running marathons and lifting weights was slightly outside my range of expertise (or, quite frankly, my desire at the moment) and I am not a member of any gym, I chose to go the exercise video route.
To be honest, I have traveled that route many times always with the same result- I end up arguing with the woman teaching the class and become completely disgusted with the whole thing by the time 30 minutes is up. How she can expect me to keep up with all her jumping, flipping, and squatting when I’ve never seen the video before is beyond me. It doesn’t help that I tend to get my right and left mixed up when watching said videos. The only way to fix this problem is for me to turn around so we’re facing the same way, but that presents yet another problem- I CAN’T SEE THE TV. (I have found one video that I sort of like. It probably comes as no big surprise that I picked it because the words, “fun, fast, and dance” are in the title.)
Halfway through one video the instructor told us all, with a huge smile on her face, to “get out our weighted exercise bar because it was time to work those biceps!!” I certainly did not have any sort of weighted exercise bar hanging around my house, so I improvised and used this instead.
I don’t think my biceps got too much of a workout. On the bright side, the floor was clean by the time the video was over.
Since returning home, I have started Zumba class again. I’m happy to report that Zumba is much better for both the health of my body and my mental health. Sure, we have the moments when I bang into the wall or am swinging to the right when most other people are swinging to the left, but overall it’s a huge improvement.
The only downside is that the floor doesn’t get cleaned.
Oct 25, 2011 | Uncategorized, What's going on |
When we began making plans for the move that sent Christopher off to school and me back to my family, we asked my mom if she would take the train up so that I wouldn’t have to drive back to my homeland alone. We thought it would be fun to make the next few days into a mother/daughter trip!
After I dropped Christopher off at the airport Thursday morning (it was very sad event), Mom and I went to the Syracuse science museum.
The next morning we drove to the Franklin Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
This is the view from their house. I would have no objections to seeing this landscape every morning.
It always amuses me to see the every day objects in these museums. Seen below, one of Franklin’s pens.
I decided to recreate the above exhibit with one of my own pens. Who knows, sixty years from now people may be willing to pay fourteen American dollars to see something I wrote with.
The sign next to the pen will read:
Be sure to check the gift shop if you’re interested in purchasing an authentic Sarah Olivia replica pen of your own.
Oct 14, 2011 | Uncategorized, What's going on |
1. Christopher’s parentals are up for a visit/to help us pack and move.
1a. Christopher’s father is a FAST packer.
1b. I was not given any fast packer genes, something that became quite evident after he packed the entire kitchen in half the time it took me to pack one closet.
1c. I choose to believe this is because I like to bubble wrap and tape everything within an inch of its life, and not because I am an inexperienced packer.
2. For the last month or so Christopher has been taken a special class at work. After seeing the graduation ceremony for my friend Kayla’s husband, I prepared myself for all sorts of ceremony wonderfulness for my husband. (I don’t know if I have mentioned it before, but I do enjoy a good Army ceremony.) There was not a chance in the world I would forget about it, but I wrote GRADUATION in very big letters on my calendar just so I could see it. I pondered my graduation ceremony attire. I ensured the camera battery was charged.
Then the powers that be decided they didn’t want “guests” at the graduation.
I was less than enthusiastic about their decision.
When Christopher told me I might not be able to attend, I offered to go as a Refreshments Officer. I was informed that my plan, while incredibly impressive (my words, not his), would not work at this event. I was slightly baffled at that because I have this theory that putting ‘officer’ in front of anything instantly puts one HIGH ON THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
Apparently not.
3. Christopher got the Smarty Pants Award* for being the smartest his the class. Katie having the highest gpa of her graduating class and Christopher earning the Smarty Pants Award at his school can mean only one thing- I like to hang out with smart people.
*For those aspiring to military greatness, let me tell you something. If you ask your recruiter how to earn the Smarty Pants Award, you probably won’t get anywhere because chances are he won’t have heard of it. I, using the creativity given me by the Lord, came up with the name myself since I don’t know the real name of the award. (While you’re there, why not consider becoming a Refreshments Officer?)
You all have a lovely weekend.
Oct 11, 2011 | Uncategorized, What's going on |
To keep in the spirit of Fall activities, we went apple picking yesterday.
When we got to the orchard, we were presented with a myriad of activities. We did the corn maze first. It took all of 45 seconds.
Immediately after the below picture, Allison and I climbed up a small wooden tower in order to reach the yellow slide at the top. The slide was not made for people of my size, something I discovered when I got stuck immediately after entering.
Near the slide was a long tunnel that ended next to a twisty green slide. I convinced Allison it would be fun to crawl through and go down another slide. Once again I did not judge the size properly and only managed not to get stuck while crawling by wearing my sunglasses instead of having them atop my head. Half way through our long journey, a herd of wild buffalo entered the tunnel behind us. I turned around and saw four very loud little boys not three inches away from my face. They obviously had some place to be, but Allison was pondering each movement she made so I knew there was no chance we’d be out of there anytime time soon. The buffalo were getting antsy to get by us so I did the only thing I could think of- I started extolling the wonders of the yellow slide. I told them it was SO FUN! And VERY twisty! Even I went down it! After a brief conference among themselves, the herd of boys decided that if a “big kid” went down the slide, they could too.
After going to slides and riding duckie carousels, we went on a tractor ride to the spot where we could pick apples. (It almost seemed like Allison didn’t want to be in this picture with us because she REFUSED to look up.)
This picture makes me so happy. I think I’ll stick Allison in my pocket and keep her forever.*
(* Do you think her parents would mind?)
Oct 2, 2011 | Life, Uncategorized, What's going on |
I don’t know if you looked at the calendar today, but it’s
I personally am not overly excited about the date and even had a meeting wherein I asked September to please go on for a few more weeks, but I was not successful. The beginning of October means it’s only a few weeks before Christopher goes off to a three month school and I go back home. It might be slightly sad. I might even cry. (see also: I am a girl so it’s almost guaranteed there will be crying involved.)
In other news, today is Miss Ariela’s two month birthday. I plan on spending a lot of quality time with her in the next three months.
I had this centerpiece on the kitchen table for the last few weeks.
I made the pumpkin out of a paper book. Christopher gave me two books he no longer wanted and since they were both the same size and I knew one had language in it, I chose the other.I didn’t want a a profane pumpkin, something I think is completely understandable.
When I told Christopher my book-picking logic, he said, “Well, the book you picked has unfaithfulness and adultery in it.”
My poor pumpkin.
Sep 5, 2011 | Uncategorized, What's going on |
Well.
The past ten days have not exactly been a time I will look back on with great excitement and joy.
To be precise, I am recovering from an infection, allergic reactions to medications given for said infection, e.coli, and a heart rate of 137 which resulted in an eight hour visit to the hospital. It’s been a grand-slam of medical maladies.
I would like to introduce six of my new best friends.
Try not to be jealous.
Christopher has been taking wonderful care of me. He is in charge of dispensing all medications, as well as delivering applesauce, yogurt, juice, and any other get-well necessities. Last night he even took me for a drive at sunset because I was getting a little stir crazy after being inside so long. I think I’ll keep him around to take care of me forever and ever.
Now I must go. I do believe it’s Maalox time again.
