Friday, March 25, 2011

A Little Is Better Than None

Wednesday the "big cold front" was supposed to tear through our area and bring rain, storms, etc.  At 3:00 when school let out, it was rumbling thunder and VERY windy.  My husband had a late committment, so I decided I would not drive up to running club and eat a big dinner with the children instead. 
As I was finishing my dinner, my son went out to play where I could see him.  I went outside after eating a huge salad and 20 lbs. of tortellini, and it was approximately 55 degrees and sun-shining!  I guess I WAY missed the boat.  I was able to run two miles before our poorly lit neighborhood was too dark to run.  I guess a little is better than none.  That was my only mid-week run since my seven last Saturday and my 6-8 this Saturday (I hope). 

Thursday, March 24, 2011

March Madness--Library Style

Our regional library system has set up its own version of March Madness.  I'm happy to say that I've read a good portion of these books.  If you are interested, click Dayton Metro Library Brackets .
Now I just need to pick the final two and the winner so I can win a new color NOOK (I promise--I still love you Kindle!).

Wag More -- Bark Less

Tough morning at our house--I was crabbing at two of the three children.  I was driving home from work when I read the following bumper sticker:  Wag More  --  Bark Less.

Wow!  How funny!  The statement made sense, at least until I read the license plates.  The plate read, "ROVER."  Ok--clearly this was a person who had pets vs. children.  Pets are much less maintainence.  Of course they would wag more.  (Ha! Ha!)

Monday, March 21, 2011

March Madness

I don't mind a basketball game or two--but this weekend was March Madness from the moment they started until I could take it no more and went to bed.  I asked my husband if there were 64 televised games.  He smiled and responded that there were 64 TEAMS, not games.

How many games? 
Round 1:  32
Round 2:  16
Round 3:  8
Round 4:  4
Round 5:  2
Round 6:  1
Oh--and don't forget the First Four Games played in Dayton that my husband attended.
Math is not my strong point; however, I'd say 64 games was a close guess!  I cannot take one more blaring televised game!  It IS March madness--I'm going mad!

Heater or Air-conditioner

You know it is March in the mid-west by running two hours worth of errands. 

You start your trip with the heater on in the car.  You end your journey with the air-conditioner on to cool you off.

Bars on window

My older daughter had a volleyball game at 8 p.m. at a gym 20 miles away--so I knew it would be late for her on a school night.  I really despise driving in the dark and have zero sense of direction, but the household daddy was gone and the directions seemed easy. 
Somehow I missed the signs for the interstate.  As is very typical for me, I was not lost--I just wasn't where I wanted to be.  After manuveuring around for about ten minutes, Ms. Naive asks me, "Why are there bars on the windows?"  I told her that some neighborhoods do this for protection against crime.  "Why don't they [people in these neighborhoods] move somewhere safer?"
I was dumbfounded.  I thought my husband, the school she attends, and I did a good job educating our children about the plight of others less fortunate.  I guess she is just so far removed from these concepts, some of these simple things never occur to her.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Underachiever Exerciser

I got up at 5:15 this morning to run with a friend.  We are meeting an hour earlier than our Miles That Matter group since our daughters have a mutual practice at 10:30.  My friend is training for a marathon this spring.  She optimistically and erroneously thinks I'm running seven miles with her.  I'm going as moral suppport.
I am not sure why I never have a "Ooooh! I cannot wait to exercise!" attitude.  I almost always dread the first step of a run.  I'm sure this is mental.  I wonder if I am the only underachiever exerciser around?  I guess if I truly despised exercise, I wouldn't be up fueling my body before the sun comes up.  Let's see how far my body (which hasn't run in over a week) will allow me to go.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Ashes Made From PomPoms?

The children I teach (pre-kindergarten) crack me up.  We discussed how today is a special day in the church--Ash Wednesday.  We were going over to the church for the dispensation of ashes, but all the children want to know is "Will it hurt?"  We talked about how the priest or deacon puts the ashes on their forheads and says a little prayer.  We even taught them that the ashes come from last season's palms.

I review the day the last couple of minutes of each class.  I am such as fabulous catechist that today was "Ash Saturday" and the ashes come from "burnt pompoms."  Hum?

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

I'm Losing It . . . Again

It's been a hectic week with volleyball games, dance chaperoning, track practices starting, working, school parties, and my husband going out of town.  I have been trying to fight off a migraine.
I completed the school party for first grade--it's Shrove Tuesday (as I've been told that is how "Yankees" say Mardi Gras).  I came home for an hour before running my daughter to practice.  While she's at the gym, my son and I run to Target to get him shoes for track.  We return to the gym to pick up my daughter, but we had to wait about ten minutes.  I talked with another mom while my son played with the stray volleyballs.  My daughter and I started to walk out of the gym only to realize that I left my son in the gym.  I'm losing it . . . again! 

Sunday, March 6, 2011

My Daughter Has My Tapeworm!

During my teen years, I was a voracious eater.  To this day, I basically can eat anything and not gain weight.  I've never counted a calorie in my life, and wouldn't know how to begin.  My mother used to serve everyone seconds on the meal, do a "last call," then literally set the skillet in front of me and let me finish what remained.  She claimed I had a tapeworm.
    
My daughter has acquired this tapeworm.  I picked up an eight piece pack of fried chicken from the grocery store.  If I pair it with homemade mashed potatoes and a salad I count this as "home cooking."  When cleaning up dinner, I realized there was nothing left (I had big plans for the leftovers for lunch).  My daughter ate FOUR of the eight pieces!!!  She must have a tapeworm!

New Running Shoes for $50

There are basically three stores in our area that specialize in running shoes.  I don't care for the one closest to me--I feel the staff there is less experienced with us . . . uh . . . slower and more mature runners.  However, I noticed a tiny ad in the newspaper that stated they were clearancing running shoes for only $50.  My younger daughter starts track on Monday and needed a new pair of shoes. 

The store actually had a TON of running shoes in all brands and sizes.  Both she (my tiny 7th grader with size 8 feet!) and I (with my large size 9's) got a new pair of $100+ running shoes for $50 a piece.  I LOVE a bargain!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Keep Running or I'll Sing . . . Loudly

My younger daughter had practice at 5:00 to 6:15; my older daughter from 6:15 to 7:30.  I could either spend two hours driving kids back & forth or spend three hours basically waiting at the gym.  The latter is less expensive--so I completed an errand during practice #1 and ran during practice #2.

To my surprise, my younger daughter wanted to run with me.  We ran an out-&-back 3-mile loop, so my daughter walked after ten minutes while I continued running.  I picked her up on the way back.  We were less than a quarter mile from the end when she wanted to walk (we were going slow and she wasn't breathing hard).  I told her if she stopped to walk that I was doing to sing and sing loudly.  You should have seen her amazing sprint to the end.  Now if only I can manipulate this technique with room cleaning . . .

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Great Spaghetti!

We dine out infrequently (our goal is less than once a week).  Dining out at our home equals a drive thru fast food place or pizza carry out.  Sitting at a restaurant eating is reserved for a once-every-six-weeks thing with my husband sans children. 
Anyway . . . I cook 98% of all meals.  During the week, I cook one or two meals that I can stretch into two nights.  Last night, I made spaghetti.  I don't have a recipe--the base is some can of store-bought spaghetti sauce and I "doctor" it up with meat or green peppers or mushrooms or olives, etc.  I achieved the right combo last night--yum!  I put the leftovers in a bowl for night #2 when the phone rang.  Two hours later, my husband walked into the kitchen and asked, "Hey--does this need to be put in the fridge?"  Darn it--out too long for my comfort zone.  We threw it away.  Now I have to cook tonight!