So You Want To Be A Runner?

In 2011, I decided I was going to become a runner. No, I didn't just wake up one day and decide. I had actually been a runner back in the day when I was much skinnier and in great shape. In 2010 I met my friend Aimee via the website Spark People. Yes, I met her online. Don't judge. Anyways, when we met she was in the midst of a massively inspiring weight loss journey. Over 100 pounds! She had run her first 5k in October of that year, and I thought to myself, "well I should do that."

I picked the Shamrock Run in April 2011. I asked Aimee to come run with me, and she did. All the way from West Virginia. In the months and weeks leading up to the race, Chris and I trained together--maybe not as much as we should have--but we tried. One day we were running at a local high school track and everything was fine. My left foot was hurting on the side but nothing out of the ordinary, so I didn't think anything of it. But after a few days it was becoming obvious something was not right. The pain was sharp and not going away, and running at that point was certainly not an option. So off to my doctor I went. The diagnosis was a hairline fracture. Doctors orders were to stay off the foot as much as possible, and in no way was I to be running at all. I was given a pretty hefty walking boot and sent on my way.

Needless to say I was super bummed out at the prospect of not being able to take part in my first race--plus the fact missing out with running with my friend who was flying all this way simply because I asked her to. By the time race day came, I was still having significant pain in my foot and knew running was just not an option. I was very disappointed. I went along anyways to support Chris, Aimee and a few of our other friends who joined us. The whole thing wasn't a loss. I did get to meet and hang out with one of my closest and dearest friends. Fatty may have broke her foot, but the "race that wasn't" helped solidify a life-long friendship.

I didn't let my foot keep me out of commission for long. A month later I finally got to run my first race. Chris and I ran in the Seahawks 5k in Renton, Washington. I was both nervous and excited. To a lot of people running 3 miles doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but when you have been overweight for as long as I have and trying to get healthy it feels like a huge mountain just to run one mile. So to take part in an actual timed race and FINISH was so awesome. My race time that day was 38.29. Not bad for a first timer. My pace was just about 12 1/2 minutes per mile. I was very happy with that and very proud of myself.

I am not sure I would say I like running, per se. I feel I can clear my head and release any crappy energy while I am running, and I like that. I like the adrenaline when you are nearing the finish line of a race, and the feeling of accomplishment when you cross the finish line. I have run a handful of races since. Not nearly enough or as much as I would like--I really need to start being more committed to it. Nothing keeps you motivated like a race looming over your head. You certainly don't want to be the fat girl being carted off to the ambulance. (Or followed by the ambulance just in case, right Aimee?!) I even got to run a race with my dad when he and his wife Lynne came to visit us a couple years ago. Well, we didn't really run with him given the fact he is like a roadrunner. No, seriously! He's 68 years old and runs like the wind. I think he bested both Chris and I by like 10 minutes and said, "oh, I just took it easy today." Grrr.

 

I hope to sign up for and run another race in the very near future. I very much need to get my lazy butt back in to shape and its the perfect way to do it.

I may never run a marathon or even a half marathon, but as long as I keep my feet moving and running I will consider myself a runner. If you are reading this and have always wanted to run but are thinking "I am too fat and out of shape," or "I can't even run a block," just stop thinking it. It is NOT true. There was a time I thought those same things, but they are lies and I can promise you that--because you CAN. Don't NOT run because you think you can't. Try it--the feeling you have the first time you cross that finish line will be exhilarating.

My Name is Evey and I am a Crusher

Aggravating, annoying, frustrating, exasperating, infuriating, trying, vexatious, irksome, tormenting, incommodious, rebarbative.

Need I go on? What--you ask--could possibly make me start off a blog post with such words? Some of which are so big that you are probably all "awed and amazed" at how I even know them. Well...truth be told...I don't. Three of those words I have never heard of--that's what thesaurus.com is for. (You can guess which words.) However, the answer to the question is simple. Three simple little words: CANDY CRUSH SAGA! More specifically Level 147, which I have been stuck on for going on two months now. TWO !@#$% MONTHS!

Candy Crush sucks you in by looking fun and happy, and it makes fun noises when you get candy matches. "TASTY," it says. "SWEET!" And it is tasty and sweet...at first. But then...the addiction kicks in. The Candy crushing addiction. You need to play. You play it on your phone, your laptop and your tablet. Any electronic device you can get your hands on. You must crush candy at all available times. But as much as you love it, there are those levels that you get to--and no matter what you do, no matter how you crush the candy--you just can't conquer. But you keep going back. You will prevail. One day. Maybe.

I don't know how many more days, weeks, or months I will be trying to pass Level 147. But when I do, there will come another level I cannot pass. And so goes the vicious cycle.

Congratulations to the makers of Candy Crush. You are crushing my soul one animated candy at a time. But I love you, so I forgive you. But I hate you. But I love you. Flip a coin.

How I Met My Doggie

When Chris and I first started dating back in 2002 and he informed me he was allergic to dogs, I will admit I hesitated a little. I love animals, specifically dogs. When I was growing up I never had a dog. In fact, I had a cat. Yes, I was a cat person. In his defense, Sparky was a pretty awesome cat. From the day we got him when I was 7, he was my buddy until he died 13 years later. After he died, I had trouble sleeping for a few weeks because I was so used to his loud purr. He would sleep above my head on my pillow and his purr was loud like a Harley Davidson. I miss him. But, I digress.

When Chris said he was allergic to dogs, my heart sank. Lucky for him, I kept dating him in spite of this revelation. On our 6 month (dating) anniversary, we were hanging out in Seattle when he asked me if I wanted to go up in the Space Needle with him. Instantly, my answer was no. For those of you who know me, you know that two of my least favorite things are elevators and heights. Put a glass elevator on the OUTSIDE of a building, and the chances of getting me in it are pretty slim. After trying all he could think of to convince me, he had what may have been the smartest and greatest idea in his life. He said that if I went to the top of the Space Needle with him, he would get me a puppy. I was skeptical at first--was he just saying whatever I wanted to hear so I would go up with him? He swore to me he was being serious, and so after about an hour--probably more like a half hour, but my gosh it seemed like three--of fighting internally with myself I decided to go for it. The elevator ride was TERRIBLE! I didn't look outside and fought panic and tears all the way up. I will admit, the view from the top was amazing but once we were back on solid ground I couldn't have been more relieved.

A year and half or so later in February 2004--Valentine's Day to be specific--Chris woke me up by telling me it was time to look for a dog. I was beside myself with excitement! We had decided when we got a dog it would be a rescue, so I immediately was out of bed and on the computer searching through dogs on Petfinder. I didn't take me long before I came across this picture. These were the first pictures I ever saw of Belle, and I was in love at first sight. Seriously, look at that face and those eyes!

 

I immediately told Chris that she was the one, so he asked me if I was sure and I said YES! She had been found wandering the streets of Wenatchee, Washington with no collar or microchip. It was as if she had run away or been left behind, but we'll never know. They estimated her at about 10 months old. Her adoption fee was $75, so Chris and I agreed we would drive out to Wenatchee to meet her the following day. After a 2 1/2 hour drive, we arrived at the shelter. A lady took us back to where all the dogs were kept, and ALL the dogs were barking and clamoring for our attention. Now--we have long suspected that she didn't have a great start in life, because when we got to Belle's cage she was sitting way in the back against the wall and wasn't making a peep. She look very scared and sad. We put a leash on her and were able to take her outside to a fenced area to play and see how we interacted and got along together. Once we were alone with her, she was happy and running and eager to play. I picked her when I saw that photo of her, but she picked us that Sunday afternoon! With the decision made, we headed back inside to pay her adoption fee. One of the stipulations of adoption is they must be spayed/neutered before they can go home. Given the fact it was a Sunday, she wouldn't be able to have her surgery until Tuesday morning. So we headed the 2 1/2 hours back home and waited for Tuesday to be able to go and pick her up.

Tuesday morning the phone rang early--much earlier than we expected--and we immediately thought something might have happened to Belle before or during her surgery. It turned out the vet office was calling to tell us she had already been spayed, so she didn't need surgery and we could come and pick her up anytime. Once again, we made the long drive to finally go pick up our dog. She was so happy to see us when we got there, and it warmed my heart. However, when we got back in the car and started driving home, she curled up in the back seat and started shaking like a little leaf. I ended up sitting in the back and snuggling with her.

We have loved every day we have had with her. She has brought us such joy! We have been very fortunate with her health-wise with no major issues. (I know this post kinda sounds like a doggie eulogy, but she's not dead yet!) She is 10 1/2 now, although you would never know it given her never-ending level of energy. Her grey/white beard is the only dead giveaway that she is not 2 years old anymore. Her stamina has definitely tailed off, but she is still full of happy happy happy doggie energy. She has traveled cross-country with us (twice!), she sleeps under the blankets in between us at night, she goes for lots of walks and car rides, she eats premium dog food and gets tons of treats, and she even gets turkey dinner at the holidays! She has had a great life and she has enriched our lives. She is truly the definition of a man's (and woman's) best friend.

 

 

 

 

 

If any of you are considering getting a dog, I strongly recommend a rescue/shelter dog. There are so many of them--all breeds, sizes and ages--needing homes everyday. Rescuing Belle was one of the best decisions we have ever made! 

Picture Day

What is picture day you ask? Well it is a day when you get to see some of the most favorite pictures I have taken at different times and different places. So enjoy.

This first photo was taken aboard an Alaskan Airlines flight from Boston to Seattle back in 2008. It was a red eye flight, and this was just one of a series of pictures taken during sunrise. One of the most amazing things I have ever seen. 

In July 2012, Chris's brother and his family moved to Arizona. We traveled down to help them move in. Our drive home took us through the Grand Canyon. It was breathtaking. Pictures don't even come close to doing it justice.

One of my favorite things about living in Oregon is how open and beautiful it is. This picture was taken on an afternoon drive up through the Columbia River Gorge. It was a perfect clear day.

This next picture was taken one August evening out at Browns Point, Washington. The sun was just finishing setting over Commencement Bay when I spotted a boat and thought it was a perfect photo op. It turned out even better than I had hoped.

In November 2010, Chris and I took a week-long vacation down in Northern California wine country. Sonoma is beautiful. This photo was taken up at a winery called Paradise Ridge. It was by far one of the best views of the entire area. We had a picnic lunch out on their balcony and it was just so beautiful.

 

When we lived in Boston we made a handful of trips to New York City. In 2006, we went to the top of Rockefeller Center. Why not the Empire State Building, you ask? Well it is way more expensive, way busier and WAY too high for this girl. Also you can't SEE the Empire State Building if you're IN it. Chris took this amazing picture of the New York skyline with the Empire State Building in it. The colors were incredible.

 

What's In A Fridge...Besides Lame Vegetables

I was at a loss for what to blog about today, so I decided to use one of the daily prompts on the Blogher website. I chose this one: "Name five things inside your refrigerator right now and how you feel about them." When I first saw it, my immediate thought was how stupid of an idea that was. Why would I want to blog about what is in my fridge--and more so--why would anyone care how they make me feel? But then I thought...well it's my blog and I can write what I want--so guess what--you DO get to read about five things in my fridge and how I feel about them. You're welcome!                                                                       

 

Ah, my French Vanilla coffee creamer. This is such an important part of my life. We start our morning together over coffee every single day. My mornings are not the same without it. Sure--I like my coffee black from time to time...especially when I need a big jolt to get going in the morning. But for the most part it's me, my coffee and the creamer. Delicious. There are days when I think Chris and I keep these folks in business.

 

Cottage cheese is one of my morning staples. I love a small bowl of cottage cheese with my breakfast. During summertime I love mixing it with fresh strawberries. I realize a lot of people think cottage cheese is gross, clearly those people are insane. 

Juice, juice and juice. I love juice. Apple juice has always been my favorite. I don't usually drink a lot of juice in the regular day-to-day, as I don't like to waste all my calories on drinks. I just drink a ton of water. However, when I am feeling under the weather with a cold or flu, I love to drink juice like it's going out of style. It makes me feel better and fills me up with extra vitamin C. But I have learned one thing about juice, specifically apple and orange...drinking too much of it results in some not fun stomach issues. I will leave it at that. :)

Ok, so this is technically in the freezer, but it counts. I am a whiskey girl, always have been. I don't drink hard liquor very often, but when I do, I love me some whiskey. (Apparently, I am also the most interesting man in the world.) Mixed or on its own, sometimes it just hits the spot. Yum!

Blue cheese and I have an odd relationship. I will never eat it on salad, for some reason that grosses me out. However, with hot wings or pizza crust I will eat blue cheese like a nerd plays D&D. Which is to say, A LOT.

So there you have it. Five things in my fridge and how I feel about them. I bet you somehow feel like you know me deeper as a person now. I am glad I could bring us closer in this way!

Lest We Forget...

I have seen this video a handful of times today, and it still makes me cry every single time. My Pappy Floyd (my dad's dad) fought in World War II and was presumed killed at Normandy. I never knew him, and neither did my dad...but I am thankful for his sacrifice. I am thankful for everyone who served. Those still with us and those who were lost, and those whose lives have been forever changed with injuries both physical and emotional. I am not sure we thank them enough. Let us never take those still here for granted and let us never forget those who didn't have those special homecomings with their families.

I took this picture at Arlington National Cemetery when we visited in 2007. It was a very somber experience to walk among all those graves. I felt both sadness and gratitude.

In Canada today is Remembrance Day, set aside to remember those we have lost. In the United States today is Veterans Day, which honors all those who have served. To both I humbly and respectfully thank you. 

Lights! Camera! Blog Post!

I love movies. I don't watch them or go to them nearly as often as I would like. A lot of that is due to the fact that even though Chris enjoys movies, getting him to go to one is sometimes like pulling teeth. Fortunately we like a lot of the same types of movies--but even when we don't, he will still go see movies with me that he maybe wouldn't see otherwise. He probably wouldn't deny that he has been known to enjoy a chick flick--or two--in his day. One that comes to mind off the top of my head is Serendipity with John Cusack.

Only a handful of movies have ever had me excited enough to "count down the months" until it will be released in theatres. For example, the Lord of The Rings trilogy were the three movies I was probably most excited for while awaiting them to open. It will be hard to ever replace these as three of my favorite movies of all time.
                               
A few months before the first Hunger Games movie was released in theatres, I read the trilogy after reading review after review of how good the books are. I usually tend to steer clear of books that fall in the 'young adult' category, but I finally gave in and read them. I think I read all three books in less than a month! I loved every single word and I was sad when I was done because I didn't want the story to end. Naturally when the movie opened, Chris and I went to see it. Other than a minor malfunction with my new contacts--one of which came out mid movie...and we couldn't find it till the movie was done when we had light to search--I ended up watching the final hour of the movie all wonky eyed. Regardless, I loved it.

On November 22, the second movie Catching Fire comes out. We will likely wait a week or two and go see it late one Tuesday night, so we can avoid crowds (and only pay $5.) Either way I will be counting down the days. I am very very excited!

My Neck is Longer Than Your Neck

 

 

                            

This was one of the coolest experiences of my life! I got to feed this giraffe named Hodari at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon. Wildlife Safari is a park where you get to drive through and see the animals in a safari-like setting in their own habitat without the traditional things you have at the zoo--like fences, etc. Of course the exception is the enclosure for the wildcats and bears, etc. I'm pretty sure they don't want lions chasing down zebras and eating them in front of small children. Ha! You can also pay an extra fee for special animal encounters, one of which was feeding the giraffes. We were driven out to the giraffes in a special open-top truck. The animal encounters do come with a disclaimer that they cannot guarantee the animals will cooperate. This day--as my luck would have it--the giraffes did not cooperate. They were up on a hill and had no desire to come down to where we were waiting and hoping. Staff drove out to them in trucks to try and coax them down. Not a chance. They did at one point seem like they were making their way to us, but instead they just stopped and started fighting. Giraffe fighting is crazy. They stand next to each other and one at a time will swing their long necks around and bring their head and neck crashing into the chest of the other giraffe.Considering there necks weight like 400 plus pounds that is ridiculous.

 

I was very disappointed, as feeding the giraffes was what I was most looking forward to. We talked to the tour guide afterwards, and they told us they would honor our tickets if we came back the next day for the next set time for giraffe feeding. We enjoyed the rest of our time that day, which included an elephant encounter with Alice the elephant who did a dance and a workout routine for us after we got to feed her some celery. 

 

                            

The next morning we checked out of our hotel, dropped Belle off at the PetSmart groomers for a couple of hours, and headed back to Wildlife Safari. I was worried we would once again be disappointed, but thank goodness we were not! It was a beautiful day, and Hodari the giraffe was definitely in the mood to come greet us and enjoy all the goodies that awaited him.  He was inches from my face, his loooooong tongue licked my fingers as he took the carrots and lettuce from me. It was amazing! Giraffes are obviously big...but you really have no idea until they are standing with their face in yours.

If you ever get a chance to experience an animal like this up close and personal, I strongly suggest it. It really was a once in a lifetime experience. Sadly, Hodari died last year. You can see that story HERE .

What if the World Ran Out of Cheese?

My love of cheese started early in life. For as long as I can remember I have loved it. I used to eat so much cheese when I was a kid and always wanted it for a snack before bedtime. My dad tried to deter me from doing so by telling me lies. Lies like, "if you eat cheese before you go to bed you will have bad dreams about mice!" I believed him and stopped eating cheese close to bedtime. They really just wanted me to stop eating ALLLLL the cheese.

Cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, feta, swiss. I could go on and on but I won't. You get it, I like cheese. Oh I forgot string cheese, I really like the string cheese. 

When we moved to Oregon, I was introduced the deliciousness of Tillamook cheese. The factory is in Tillamook, Oregon about an hour and 15 minute drive from here.

I love Tillamook cheese. Since we moved here in 2010, we have made many a trip to the factory. I love watching the cheese process from the viewing area. I could probably stand there all day. Maybe I am a total nerd but I find it very interesting.

 

They have a sample area where you can try and handful of different cheeses. The squeaky cheese is apparently a hit with a lot of people. Not with me! Have you ever put squeaking cheese in your mouth? The feel and texture on my teeth is just wrong. Ew! It is basically cheese curds and it is wrong. My favorite cheese is the Tillamook Extra Sharp White Cheddar. Oh my gosh it is delicious!

 Chris and I actually just had grilled cheese sandwiches made with this cheese for dinner tonight. Love it. Some cheese and chocolate with a good glass of wine sounds like a great night to me.

If you ever find your self at the Tillamook Factory be sure to get some ice cream on the way out. Also delicious and well worth the calories. 

Once again I have dropped all sorts of knowledge and wisdom on you. You're welcome.

I'm An Owl...Hoo Hoo!

For as long as I can remember I have been a night owl. I think when I was younger it was more about feeling if I went to sleep I was going to miss something. When I was a kid--and after everyone was in bed--my mum always was up late watching her favorite shows. One of which was "Unsolved Mysteries" hosted by Robert Stack. I would sneak out of my bedroom and hide behind the wall separating the kitchen and the living room, and I would watch "Unsolved Mysteries" until she caught me and sent me back to bed. This was ALWAYS a bad idea on my part. The theme song was enough to scare me half to death every time. It was only made worse when Robert Stack appeared on screen and started talking. I get the shivers now just thinking about that guy. Watch for yourself and tell me this isn't creepy. Yet I kept on doing it. I always have been a sucker for punishment.

Perhaps that is where I get it from. My mum was always up late, but she was always up early in the morning getting breakfast ready for us and getting us out the door to school and seeing my dad off to work. I am very similar. Always staying up late and waking up early.

My sleep habits are terrible, I will be the first to admit it. The first mistake I make every night is I drink WAY too much liquid late in the evening. Wine, water, tea etc. This is not a good combination with my walnut size bladder. I am pretty sure I get up to pee 100 times a night. I may be slightly exaggerating that number, but sometimes it feels that way. My second mistake is the fact I have become accustomed to watching an episode or two of my favorite sitcom reruns while in bed. These usually consist of any mix of "Scrubs," "Boy Meets World," "King of Queens" or "The Cosby Show." Many a night Chris has to tell me to turn the TV off because I have fallen asleep in the middle of an episode. My third mistake--which should maybe be my first mistake--is the fact I just stay up late in the first place.

Should I maybe go to bed earlier? Should I not watch TV in bed? Should I stop drinking so much liquid leading up to bedtime? Probably. Chances are though, going to bed early is just never going to happen. My mum never did, she was a night owl through and through and so am I. Perhaps I will stop drinking so much liquid at night or watching TV in bed because getting up to pee all the time is REALLY annoying. Especially when you are warm and cozy and the last thing you want to do is get up. However, peeing the bed is not an option at 35 years old so I really have no choice.

So moral of the story is: Don't watch "Unsolved Mysteries" late at night, don't dream about Robert Stack--creepy shivers--don't drink a lot in the evening and don't watch TV in bed. Rules to live by. You're welcome!

Surgery, Boobies, and Kiwi's, Oh My!

Back in 2009--when we still lived in Boston--my doctor recommended I have surgery to remove a rather large fibroadenoma from my left breast. Fibroadenomas are benign tumors that are generally harmless. We had some issues with our insurance at the time, and I used it as an excuse to put the surgery off. For no reason other than I am a big fraidy cat and I freely admit it.

Last year when a mammogram and ultrasound showed a suspicious area on my left breast, I needed to have an excisional biopsy done in the operating room. The decision was--since they were taking me in to the operating room anyways--that we would remove the large fibroadenoma as well as a smaller one while they were in there. My surgery was set for January 16th, 2013, and I was terrified. I hadn't been put under in over 15 years, and even then it was not surgery--per se--as I was just having my wrist set after breaking it. I was scared of being put under, it creeps me the heck out.

My surgeon prescribed some Valium specifically for the night before (so I could get some sleep) and the morning of (so Chris could drag me to the hospital without a fight, minus some kicking and screaming.) That morning I was nervous for sure, but the Valium certainly helped. We got to the hospital very early, just after 5 am. Once checked in, I was taken to a room and changed into the most awesome hospital gown ever, called a "Bair Paws" gown. Get it? It has hoses that plug into it to control hot or cool air to keep you comfortable. It was awesome! I realize the photo doesn't capture how awesome I thought the gown was, but that was just me being a big fraidy cat. Again.

After waiting quite a while, radiology came to take me to have my wires inserted. The wires were for the purpose of making sure my surgeon biopsied the correct area, and to show the location of the small fibroadenoma. The big fibroadenoma didn't need a guide wire, LOL. Any idiot could have found that thing. The wires were placed via ultrasound after the radiologist had me all numbed up. I didn't feel a thing. After she was done, I was sent to mammogram to check that the wires were in the right spots. Once all was confirmed to be good, I was sent back over to my room to wait to be taken to surgery. I did relatively good all morning with no serious meltdowns--that was until I met the anesthesiologist. He was very nice (although a New England Patriots fan) and took the time to explain exactly what he would be doing. I asked him about the tube for my throat, and when he confirmed that they would indeed be inserting a tube I got upset. For some reason, this scared me more than anything else. He promised I would be asleep before they put it in and it would be out before I woke up...but this assertion didn't really calm my nerves at all, so he put something in my IV to relax me even more and left the room. As soon as he left, I started freaking out! My surgeon came in to talk with me before the anesthesiologist came back, and of course when she walked in I was crying like a big baby because well as I mentioned before, I'm a fraidy cat.

Finally after 5 hours, I was wheeled off to surgery. I really wasn't freaking out at this point because whatever he put in my IV was making me suuuuuuper mellllllllllowwwwww. Yay for drugs! We got to the operating room and I remember them asking my name, what I was having done, switching to the other bed and the anesthesiologist putting the mask over my face. That was it. Evey over. The next thing I remembered was waking up in the recovery room with a very nice nurse named Linda talking to me. My surgery had taken just about an hour and a half, and while I was in recovery my surgeon was talking with Chris letting him know everything went really well and that the large fibroadenoma was 6 cm and the size of a large kiwi.

As they were getting ready to take me back to my room--where Chris was waiting for me--I asked them the most important question of the day, COULD I HAVE SOME COFFEE? I had had nothing since the night before, and now it was after 1 in the afternoon and Evey needed her coffee. They said they didn't think it would be a problem, but I would have to wait and ask my nurse. So naturally, as soon as I was wheeled back and my nurse came in I asked for coffee. Ha ha! She was more than happy to bring it to me, as long as I ate some crackers and felt fine. I did and I felt fine...and let me tell you that crappy hospital coffee was DELICIOUS! Not long after, they determined I was good to go home and we were on our way.

I was sore and uncomfortable the next few days--as you can imagine. Lefty was bruised to high heaven. Within a few weeks I was healing really good, the bruising was going down significantly, and the nerve issues were sorting themselves out. The biopsy obviously came back negative, and now 10 months later I am just left with two cool looking boob scars.

Hopefully there is no surgery in my near future. As I have mentioned over and over I am a fraidy cat. And ain't nobody got time for that!

Soaking Up The Sun

We could all stand to learn something from the animals in our lives. With the sun shining through the front window and on the living room floor, Belle took the opportunity to take a nap in the sun. Stretched out without a care in the world. We could all learn from that. Remember daily to enjoy the little things, even if that means stretching out on the floor to lay in the sun.  

Pumpkin Extravaganza

I have always been a kid at heart. Some of my favorite things growing up have stayed my favorite things. I love animated movies, and Chris and I are always the only two adults in a theater full of parents and kids--although--we are much smarter now than we used to be and we go to such movies late on a weeknight (to avoid most of the children.) Also, I love Christmas morning and the anticipation of waking up hurrying downstairs to see what is waiting under the Christmas tree. 

A few weeks ago we set out an a Saturday afternoon to a local Pumpkin Patch. Amidst all the children, there is a 35 year old woman who is just as excited as they are to wander through and pick out the perfect pumpkin for carving. It was a little windy that day, but it was still a beautiful afternoon. We declined to wait for the free hayride and wandered on foot out to where all the pumpkins were waiting to be picked.

It didn't take me long to decide on the perfect pumpkin. I was happy and on my way. 

I made a new friend along the way. This fat little goat and I had a pretty good talk about the afternoon events, the weather, the corn field maze that had been damaged by a recent windstorm and about all the little kids constantly poking at him. I wished him well before I headed on my way. 

With the pumpkins picked all that was left to do was to go home and clean them out and carve them. I know that this stuff is not always Chris's favorite thing to do but I am thankful to be married to someone who is

willing to just go along with it and have fun anyways. 

I have an obsession with the Minions from the Despicable Me movies which was obvious from my Halloween costume so of course my pumpkin had to be in tune with that, How cute is this?  Chris decided to be all artistic and carve his pumpkin free hand. It actually turned out pretty good and scary.

A fun time was had. Just another "kid" thing I look forward to every year. I hope I continue to look forward to such things. I want to always have the ability to appreciate the joy in the little things. Sometimes enjoying things with a childlike appreciation is so much more fulfilling than looking at from a grown up point of view. 

"Life is not easy for anyone. Every human has to go through the phases of childhood, youth, middle age and finally old age. Many things that happen to us in life are because of us. In other words, whatever destiny may have been ordained for us in our own individual lives, it is up to us to make the best of what life offers us. The secret of living a long life is to stay young at heart." -- Marilyn Cramer