I think what I like best about blogging, is that it allows you a place to put these little nuggets of nothingness down and while you have not uttered a word to anyone.... it feels like you had a conversation about it.
I have shared my off and on struggle with waking up in the middle of the night - and then remaining awake for a couple/three hours before falling a sleep moments before the alarm goes off. Last night was no exception, only, I had company.
I woke-up first around 12:30 and then woke-up and stayed away at about 1:30 a.m. As I stared at the motionless ceiling fan, I could tell Mark was waking up, too. Then, he was all the way awake.
So, as I lay there, he has no idea I am awake, but out of the blue he says, loudly, "Is the AIR even on in here???!!!!!" Like I have just been hanging out waiting for a question to be tossed to me, ya know?
I asked him how he knew I was awake and he says, "I didn't know...." So, for my own amusement more than anything, I ask, "So, then, who are you talking to?"
Mark: "You. Is the air on?"
Me: "Well, let me just pull my crystal ball out of the drawer here ...."
Mark: Heavy Sigh..... "funny..."
Me: "Well! I'm not hot...."
Mark: thrashes around
Me: yank covers
Mark: flops over and sighs again...
This goes on for about 30 minutes...meanwhile, I make the mental discovery that when HE is stuck awake - the commotion that endures is as though the earth has spun off its axis. It would not be humanly possible for anyone to fall asleep next to this combination of thrashing and kicking and sighing and tapping on the headboard. Yet, when I am awake, I tip-toe around and slip in and out of bed with the precision of a cat burglar in the night.
So, my Monday morning has become a series of power yawns and I can only hope my dh is joining me as he makes his trek through his day sucking in large amounts of air, wishing it was time to go home.
One more thing....2:52 on the digital clock looks the same if you turn the clock upside down. It's still 2:52.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Hello, I have a flat again...
Friday off is a good thing. And, thank you to the bagger who put my 6 pack of bottled fizzy water on top of my perfect peaches last night.
I was driving home yesterday from work and I had the perfect blog post all tapped out in my head and do you think I can remember it today? Yeah. Well, anyway....
It's been an odd ball week as far as goings on. I had yet ANOTHER flat tire and have decided I will just send Decorah Tire $16.04 each month so that I can pre-pay for my services. Who gets one flat tire per month? I do, that's who. This time, I picked up an industrial size staple that let the air out of my tire faster than you can say flat tire. Thankfully, Mark was home and he was able to come with a portable air compressor and air it up - and then I made the 2.5 minute drive to the tire place and it was already too flat to go any farther. I can only assume that because I drive by the turn off to a landfill twice per day, that my odds shoot up considerably that I will pick up some sort of spent piece of metal that hurled itself off its trek to eternal rust and rot.
I have to tell you, though - it's a little unnerving that my normal cycle of thought when I get in and start up my truck has become, "Ok - am I prepared for a flat tire today? (then I mental check, wardrobe/shoes, in case I have to walk, do I have a phone book, spare bottle of water depending on where I am going and cell phone and charger....yes, check, yes and yes.... let's go..." Today it is supposed to rain, so I have an umbrella handy, as well. I was MOST pleased my luck held out on Tuesday, however. I took Kona - who is no longer a puppy I can carry under my arm - to get neutered. I cannot imagine a flat tire with an 85 pound dog that is all strung out on pain killers and post anesthesia. Thankfully - Tuesday was flat free...
Read and finished this week, "Women, Food and God." by Geneen Roth. I saw her on Oprah and was inspired enough in that hour to go buy the book. She shares her experience with weight issues and offers some advice that so goes against anything you have ever considered, its worth reading just for that. It goes beyond food, though, and talks about how to shut off that voice in your head that nags at you all day long. It is about being good to yourself and being okay with being nice to yourself. It's not just for women, even though that is part of the title - it is for anyone looking for a "freshly unique" perspective on life and getting to know yourself. It challenges you to look really deep into WHY you are the way you are and think the way you think. After all, this is the driving force behind the voice track in our heads. Interesting!
That's all for now - Have a great weekend!
I was driving home yesterday from work and I had the perfect blog post all tapped out in my head and do you think I can remember it today? Yeah. Well, anyway....
It's been an odd ball week as far as goings on. I had yet ANOTHER flat tire and have decided I will just send Decorah Tire $16.04 each month so that I can pre-pay for my services. Who gets one flat tire per month? I do, that's who. This time, I picked up an industrial size staple that let the air out of my tire faster than you can say flat tire. Thankfully, Mark was home and he was able to come with a portable air compressor and air it up - and then I made the 2.5 minute drive to the tire place and it was already too flat to go any farther. I can only assume that because I drive by the turn off to a landfill twice per day, that my odds shoot up considerably that I will pick up some sort of spent piece of metal that hurled itself off its trek to eternal rust and rot.
I have to tell you, though - it's a little unnerving that my normal cycle of thought when I get in and start up my truck has become, "Ok - am I prepared for a flat tire today? (then I mental check, wardrobe/shoes, in case I have to walk, do I have a phone book, spare bottle of water depending on where I am going and cell phone and charger....yes, check, yes and yes.... let's go..." Today it is supposed to rain, so I have an umbrella handy, as well. I was MOST pleased my luck held out on Tuesday, however. I took Kona - who is no longer a puppy I can carry under my arm - to get neutered. I cannot imagine a flat tire with an 85 pound dog that is all strung out on pain killers and post anesthesia. Thankfully - Tuesday was flat free...
Read and finished this week, "Women, Food and God." by Geneen Roth. I saw her on Oprah and was inspired enough in that hour to go buy the book. She shares her experience with weight issues and offers some advice that so goes against anything you have ever considered, its worth reading just for that. It goes beyond food, though, and talks about how to shut off that voice in your head that nags at you all day long. It is about being good to yourself and being okay with being nice to yourself. It's not just for women, even though that is part of the title - it is for anyone looking for a "freshly unique" perspective on life and getting to know yourself. It challenges you to look really deep into WHY you are the way you are and think the way you think. After all, this is the driving force behind the voice track in our heads. Interesting!
That's all for now - Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Eliminating a Food Group
Decision time is upon me. I have known it for a long time. I have heard the bad reports about what I love...what I rely on....what I seem to grab at every snack at home:
Lunch meat, sandwich meat, sliced goo...whatever your term - I am giving it up. Not only is it packed FULL of sodium, the processing that takes place unto this carnivore delight is just not healthy. Period. But, I love it. I have also been known to sneak some bologna once per month and on a daring day, I will open a can of SPAM...(but I really miss the twist key on that thing...that was half the fun and I think it may have burned up some fat calories on the crank...)
My favorite "brand" of lunch meat is the store brand "Our Family" shaved deli ham. I adore it. I eat it on nearly everything. Hormel has a good version too, but strangely the store brand for this particular item is much better. It is shaved so completely thin, you CAN read a newspaper through it and I love one slice on a piece of toast or in my Egg Beater omelet. (No, I am not getting paid for this post....)
In my quest to ingest the things that are more better, than more worse...I see lunch meat as a do-able elimination. In fact - I could be a veg. girl very easy, because beyond the lunch meat thing - I have no desire for alot of "meat" per se anymore.
I never meant to take this post in this direction, but since I am here... I was asked today at my job if I would be willing to "clerk" the auction at the fair. This is actually an illustration of how ignorant I really am:
me: "Of course - so they sell animals to each other?"
work: "No. Pigs will be sold to auction and then slaughtered."
me: "Oh. So - do I have to actually ...touch them...or do anything to the animals?"
work: "Well - no, you just need to take their information.."
me in my head: so, I gotta look in their little eyes and send them off to die.
me out loud: Okay.
We have bought fair pigs for our freezer and as I speak I probably have half a Wilbur in the basement freezer. I have eaten meat my entire life. I grew up on a farm. I absolutely support farms and absolutely believe we truly do and should feed the world. I would never be on a march to end eating MEAT. "THIS" post is not about "THAT".
But, as time marches on for "me"...I am coming to realize that I am a vegetarian in waiting you might say. The more and more I eat meat, I cannot seem to get beyond the face in my plate.
I also know I am a hypocrite. I love my shaved ham because it is not a meat product, it comes in a neat little box with no face and I plan on finishing it off before I go, Cold Turkey! ;)
Dang...I forgot about turkey....I love that, too. Giving up the face in my lunch meat will be way harder than a good steak or a good hunk of turkey. I am gonna try though.
So back off Oscar Meyer....I know what weekend it is!
LUNCH MEAT
Lunch meat, sandwich meat, sliced goo...whatever your term - I am giving it up. Not only is it packed FULL of sodium, the processing that takes place unto this carnivore delight is just not healthy. Period. But, I love it. I have also been known to sneak some bologna once per month and on a daring day, I will open a can of SPAM...(but I really miss the twist key on that thing...that was half the fun and I think it may have burned up some fat calories on the crank...)
My favorite "brand" of lunch meat is the store brand "Our Family" shaved deli ham. I adore it. I eat it on nearly everything. Hormel has a good version too, but strangely the store brand for this particular item is much better. It is shaved so completely thin, you CAN read a newspaper through it and I love one slice on a piece of toast or in my Egg Beater omelet. (No, I am not getting paid for this post....)
In my quest to ingest the things that are more better, than more worse...I see lunch meat as a do-able elimination. In fact - I could be a veg. girl very easy, because beyond the lunch meat thing - I have no desire for alot of "meat" per se anymore.
I never meant to take this post in this direction, but since I am here... I was asked today at my job if I would be willing to "clerk" the auction at the fair. This is actually an illustration of how ignorant I really am:
me: "Of course - so they sell animals to each other?"
work: "No. Pigs will be sold to auction and then slaughtered."
me: "Oh. So - do I have to actually ...touch them...or do anything to the animals?"
work: "Well - no, you just need to take their information.."
me in my head: so, I gotta look in their little eyes and send them off to die.
me out loud: Okay.
We have bought fair pigs for our freezer and as I speak I probably have half a Wilbur in the basement freezer. I have eaten meat my entire life. I grew up on a farm. I absolutely support farms and absolutely believe we truly do and should feed the world. I would never be on a march to end eating MEAT. "THIS" post is not about "THAT".
But, as time marches on for "me"...I am coming to realize that I am a vegetarian in waiting you might say. The more and more I eat meat, I cannot seem to get beyond the face in my plate.
I also know I am a hypocrite. I love my shaved ham because it is not a meat product, it comes in a neat little box with no face and I plan on finishing it off before I go, Cold Turkey! ;)
Dang...I forgot about turkey....I love that, too. Giving up the face in my lunch meat will be way harder than a good steak or a good hunk of turkey. I am gonna try though.
So back off Oscar Meyer....I know what weekend it is!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Thought provokers!
We managed to squeak out one good motorcycle ride last Saturday. A guy Mark works with was having a cook-out at his house in Coggon (about 2-2.5 hours south). This was reason enough to get the motor runnin' - but I was dying to try out my new helmet and riding jacket. What am I becoming!!??
As we rode and rode along - I decided that a helmet is one of the most thought provoking places you can "be". Life outside of the shell is muffled, your head is snuggly secured and with the face shield down - I felt like I was inside of myself somehow. So - you all know me by now - I had solved alot of societal problems in those 2 hours and pondered a few more revelations I'm sure know one has even thought of yet!
When we got there and went to get off - both Mark and I decided as we GROANED to dismount - we either need to take Yoga or Pilates or something - because we were SO stiff it was laughable. And we laughed and laughed! It was worse when we got home - the ride was MUCH colder and we were much more stiff (we didn't stop on the way) - and neither of us were moving to fast on Sunday either.
Tonight I got to mow. That too leads to infinite amounts of random minutia that drops into your brain before you even realize what your thinking about. I was around the front yard twice before I realized I was actually wondering if there was a heaven for moths and bugs? I don't normally stop for bugs - I will stop and move frogs, however or let them cross - they seem soulful to me somehow - but as I blew through the yard and moths and bugs were flying it occurred to me that heaven would be really full if all the bugs that died every day were up there, too. I concluded there must be OFF! in Heaven. ;-)
Graduation madness is upon us and once again we have committed to go to each and every one we are invited to. I don't know why I find this so amusing but it is! (Perhaps I need to put my helmet on and think about it.) This weekend, however, we have a gathering for one of my husbands side of the family in Des Moines and 2 gatherings on Saturday for my side of the family.
In the interest of not missing any of it - we have opted to divide and conquer this weekend. Mark will go to Des Moines and I will attend a birthday party and a graduation. So - I think we are covered!
Garden is in and everything looks good so far! We got some old carpet from some friends and cut that into strips as wide as the rows to keep weeds down. Suh-WEET!!!! I can literally go down there and yank a couple weeds between plants and I am done. No power hoeing this year... hoeing? Sumthin' 'bout that just doesn't sound right! LOL
Kona is growing fast and is proving to be a handful ....and a total mama's boy. He will be a big boy too, I think. At a little over 5.5 months he is about as long as Jack was and tall - taller than Lucy already. Loads of fun though - reminds me so much of Jack that its spooky some days.
(kirelimel - I neglected to answer your question last time - with this guy hair is not an issue since he is an outside dog now - when we had a Pug, it was hair city in the house...had to vacuum every day - no other way! But I will still say it was worth it!)
Well - I better run - laundry calling - flowers to water and then time to wrap today up at some point! Hope to read some blogs this weekend - post lots of stuff for me!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The Graduate!
Ah, Finally! The Tuesday night puppy classes draw to a close this evening and Kona was voted the "most improved"! I need to clarify that by adding he is the most reserved, calm..."IN CHECK" German Shepherd I have had the pleasure of being around. I took this picture yesterday and he is now 5 months old!
In class, he was happy to have children pet him, adults with loud voices and big coats, someone else with a kitty, and someone else with a crying baby. In all cases, he was very even, in control and that was my goal.
Anyone who has had a GSD knows that the ear stage can be stressful! His have been up and down, one up one down, the other up the other down, both down then half up...well you get it. It is all over the map while they are teething or stressed, especially. When we got home from class tonight both ears were flapped down at the tips so I know, while he was great there, he was stressing, bad. As I put him in the kennel for "bed" they are both back UP. What a goofy ride for a GSD owner!
I am off tomorrow, and gosh....I am going to appreciate this day off like no other! Why? Because when you have a day off during the week, the sun shine's brighter, the rain smells...clean....
....the outside smells, too. But, at night, it is so quiet that surely the next day could never come. It is that quiet, and yet if you listen hard, you can hear birds. You can hear all of nature preparing for the next day. I have never experienced anything so hopeful! We could learn alot from birds...
Take care, enjoy this spring!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Hump Day!
It's been a busy spring! I never realized just how much I got accomplished around here in a day's time when I was not working. Now, laundry piles up, dishes pile up, stuff piles up and before you know it you look around thinking, "Is this my house?". I am looking forward to Friday off, but it sounds like rain - so maybe I can get some things planted next week if my scheduled days off pan out.
Beyond that realization, job is going great. No two days are alike - the down side for me remains the vast black abyss of things I do not know - but I will try and be patient as that gap can only close over time.
Getting our garden planned out. As usual - Mark decided to go a step further and built some elevated beds in the center of the garden. I think whatever goes in there will look splendid! I am thinking either very colorful veg, flowers or both. If I ever figure out why my printer won't send pictures back to my computer, I will post some pictures. (No time to sit and figure that out!) We are scaling back the garden a touch this year too. I have to get a grip on my urge to plant anything that will grow and catapult myself to the end of summer when I have truckloads of squash, zucchini, tomatoes and cucumbers! Although, no tomato or cuc went to waste last year - it is just way too much fresh food to deal with, even with giving some away. Everyone seems to be giving that stuff away - at least in my neighborhood.
Puppy kindergarten is almost over! Graduation is next week - but don't look for an invitation to the proud moment! ;) I made Mark take him last night by himself. Kona is pretty much a mama's boy and will be another 100 pound cupcake, just like Jack was! I am glad about that, but he has a more reserved, timid personality. I don't mind that either. I would hate to have an aggressive charging fella on my hands because we have a lot of visitors here. So far, he treats visitors like most of us would treat a stranger on the street. You might get acknowledged and you might not - and he might just go the other direction altogether if it suits him at the moment. But, he has found his bark and there are times I almost think its Jack out there - not to mention, I got a glimpse of him one day in my peripheral vision and it gave me the willies for a split second - I think he will be a dead ringer for Jack. Didn't plan on that either but I will take it!
Time to hit the road and get to work! Have a great day - and Judy, thanks for another gentle reminder I have been away too long! Hope to get around and do some blog reading Friday - ah - the days of coffee and blogging early in the day! I think I might miss that just a little!
Beyond that realization, job is going great. No two days are alike - the down side for me remains the vast black abyss of things I do not know - but I will try and be patient as that gap can only close over time.
Getting our garden planned out. As usual - Mark decided to go a step further and built some elevated beds in the center of the garden. I think whatever goes in there will look splendid! I am thinking either very colorful veg, flowers or both. If I ever figure out why my printer won't send pictures back to my computer, I will post some pictures. (No time to sit and figure that out!) We are scaling back the garden a touch this year too. I have to get a grip on my urge to plant anything that will grow and catapult myself to the end of summer when I have truckloads of squash, zucchini, tomatoes and cucumbers! Although, no tomato or cuc went to waste last year - it is just way too much fresh food to deal with, even with giving some away. Everyone seems to be giving that stuff away - at least in my neighborhood.
Puppy kindergarten is almost over! Graduation is next week - but don't look for an invitation to the proud moment! ;) I made Mark take him last night by himself. Kona is pretty much a mama's boy and will be another 100 pound cupcake, just like Jack was! I am glad about that, but he has a more reserved, timid personality. I don't mind that either. I would hate to have an aggressive charging fella on my hands because we have a lot of visitors here. So far, he treats visitors like most of us would treat a stranger on the street. You might get acknowledged and you might not - and he might just go the other direction altogether if it suits him at the moment. But, he has found his bark and there are times I almost think its Jack out there - not to mention, I got a glimpse of him one day in my peripheral vision and it gave me the willies for a split second - I think he will be a dead ringer for Jack. Didn't plan on that either but I will take it!
Time to hit the road and get to work! Have a great day - and Judy, thanks for another gentle reminder I have been away too long! Hope to get around and do some blog reading Friday - ah - the days of coffee and blogging early in the day! I think I might miss that just a little!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
My month of presenting the illusion that I know what I am doing has officially come to a close! LOL The woman I work with is now back from her March vacation and I could not be happier!
So, I am enjoying a day off today and got some much needed housework done and errands up the wazoo are done.
Puppy is growing fast - 4 months old now and at his vet appt last week weighs 45 pounds! He is going to be a big boy! Every Tuesday night, we have been going to puppy kindergarten which is just hilarious! I think the socialization will be good for him. I am getting glimpses of what I believe his adult personality will be. Reserved and gentle come to mind. At class, he is calm and watches the mayhem. I think he would like to get to know the other pups that are on the quiet side so I hope we can make that happen tonight. I have come to call him "chimpy butt" or "monkey" - he has the craziest happy voice - it reminds me of a chimpanzee and it is the goofiest thing you have ever heard. Not really a bark - more of just a long sound he makes - I love it! He is just as smart as they come and can sit already and working on shake and come. He will have no problem with these. I started early!
Sadly, I don't have much to report. We are busy getting into garden and landscaping mode! Mark is creating nothing short of a Martha Stewart garden this year and has been working on that the last few weekends. He loves to play in the dirt - and I end up with a great garden space! I got some lawn chairs out today - and then after chasing them a couple acres across the lawn decided I better put them inside the fenced part by the house! Windy as all get out today!
Well - that's all I got. Judy - thanks for hanging in - and checking back with me! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods and you are not getting all the rain I am hearing about.
Happy Spring!!!
So, I am enjoying a day off today and got some much needed housework done and errands up the wazoo are done.
Puppy is growing fast - 4 months old now and at his vet appt last week weighs 45 pounds! He is going to be a big boy! Every Tuesday night, we have been going to puppy kindergarten which is just hilarious! I think the socialization will be good for him. I am getting glimpses of what I believe his adult personality will be. Reserved and gentle come to mind. At class, he is calm and watches the mayhem. I think he would like to get to know the other pups that are on the quiet side so I hope we can make that happen tonight. I have come to call him "chimpy butt" or "monkey" - he has the craziest happy voice - it reminds me of a chimpanzee and it is the goofiest thing you have ever heard. Not really a bark - more of just a long sound he makes - I love it! He is just as smart as they come and can sit already and working on shake and come. He will have no problem with these. I started early!
Sadly, I don't have much to report. We are busy getting into garden and landscaping mode! Mark is creating nothing short of a Martha Stewart garden this year and has been working on that the last few weekends. He loves to play in the dirt - and I end up with a great garden space! I got some lawn chairs out today - and then after chasing them a couple acres across the lawn decided I better put them inside the fenced part by the house! Windy as all get out today!
Well - that's all I got. Judy - thanks for hanging in - and checking back with me! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods and you are not getting all the rain I am hearing about.
Happy Spring!!!
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