Purling Sprite

A Gift for Myself

Each year, I try to get something special for myself, last year, I went ahead and got myself some personal training sessions and I loved it, so this year, I decided to do the same. It is something I love and wish I could have it all the time. My trainer is an amazing and supportive trainer but he makes me  hurt all over.

Today was day number 1 and I am so sore and it hasn't even been 24hrs yet, I can't imagine what tomorrow will bring. Some say I am crazy, yet, I think I am getting exactly what I wanted.You know it is quite pathetic when they put you to do some lat raises on a cable machine and you can barely lift the 5lbs on each side, yah, I was laughing so hard because I can run 26.2 miles yet I cannot do more than 10 reps with 5lbs on each side. Sad.

Although I am super psyched, I found out my measurements and weight and fat percentage and the BMI...yah...I wasn't ready for all those numbers. I love numbers, especially when they are high and in the back account, however high numbers and in the red in respect to my body, not a good thing. It can only spell something--P-O-R-T-I-O-N-S.  Today's numbers just reinforced my post from a day or so ago, I must really control my portions. Sigh, something so simple yet so hard for me to do. Maybe if I didn't have to cook, or maybe if I just made exactly enough for 4 people for 1 meal.

Goals for this session, to see if I can finally work on my portion control and clean eating and consequently reach my goal in both weight and fat percentage. Time to eat healthy to train at my best.

C.A.A.D.D

Because it is Wednesday and rather than give you a Wordless Wednesday I give you the following funny of the day :). Today's funny was provided by my SIL from NY, she has 3 little boys and she is due any day with her first little girl.

The story resembles my every day life in so many levels it is unnerving! Enjoy :)

Recently, I was diagnosed with C. A. A. D. D. - Child Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:
I decide to do the laundry. As I start toward the laundry room, I notice that there are cheerios all over the floor and my car keys are in the cereal bowl. I decide to pick up the cheerios before I do the laundry. I lay my car keys down on the counter, put the cheerios in the trash can under the counter, and notice that the trash can is full. So, I decide to take out the trash. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash I may as well pay the bills first. I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left, my extra checks are in my desk in the office/playroom, so I go to my desk where I find a sippy cup full of juice.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I decide I should put sippy cup in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with the sippy cup, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered. I set the sippy cup on the counter, and I discover baby wipes that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back in the bathroom, but first I'm going to water the flowers.  I set the wipes back down, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote, one of the kids left it on the kitchen table. I realize that when they go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote as they fight over who lost it, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down, get some paper towels and wipe up the spill. Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.  At the end of the day: the laundry isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm cup of juice sitting on the counter, the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook, I can't find the remote, I can't find the wipes, and I don' t remember what I did with the car keys.  Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.  Do me a favor, will you? Forward this message, because I don't remember to whom it has been sent. Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming.

Braces Update

So it has been about 4 months since I got my braces and I couldn't be happier with the improvement. The pain has all been worth it! I have learned to learn that things that are hard to eat: apples, chips, sandwiches. I have to cut everything up to bite size pieces and then eat them. The flossing is more difficult and I have told hubby that I will never, ever complain about flossing once my braces are gone. So...you wanna see? Click the pic to enlarge.

The biggest improvement has been made on my lower teeth. There was a tooth that was all the way behind the others and no space for it. A couple of months with a spacer created the space needed, then some magic rubber bands and the tooth was pulled forward and the gap is closing. I am so thrilled and I am looking forward to the end result in 12 months or so. This month, I get some rubber bands to line up my top teeth with my bottom...it should be fun.

BTW: I had a haircut last month and the photo shows the new do. I cut about 7 inches off...I know the thing grows like weeds!

Felt Good

I got one of the best compliments today. I was leaving the spin class and a gal approached me and said to me "I hear that you are a triathlete, I want to try it out." Her comment made me feel so great!

We proceeded to talk about running and our goals for this year. She did a marathon last year and apparently we did two halves together but we didn't know it. We are going to get together and train for my first marathon. She finished hers last year in about 5 hours and this year she is hoping for a faster pace.

Anyways, I have now a training marathon partner!

What I've Done...or Haven't...a MeMe

Because there is still nothing here...besides the burn in my hammies from yesterday's lunges--crazy to do 50!

From this list I've gathered the following: I need to get some mula so I can travel to exotic places!

I snagged this from Denise's blog.

Copy, paste, and bold what you have done!

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Gone rollerskating

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon (does a 1/2 count?) Fine, this year!

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Acted in a play or performed on stage

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible once

86. Visited the White House

87. Won money

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Had to put someone you love in Hospice Care

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day

Resolutions...scratch that....goals...maybe

I have a few goals and they should be quite easy to accomplish as long as I keep the credit cards away from my purse and my finger away from the Amazon.com website...and stop going to the sports store and seeing new gear that I "have to have". Well, that is after I have purchased some jerseys in my new size.

I do have some big goals in the training department, as posted on my Chubbette blog. They are simple and they should be attainable if I get my butt off the couch and out on the road and lay off the tamales and tacos. I have such a hard time eating clean. I exercise about 15hrs a week and my body doesn't show it because I put crap in the tank. Why can't I like salad and grilled chicken all the time...stupid salad is for rabbits! Anyways, back to the big goals:

• MARATHON--no, not a knitting marathon but a real running one. 26.2 miles of running. My goal to run my very first in less than 4 1/2 hrs.
• 3 centuries--I want to bike 3 centuries with my friends this year and enjoy every minute of it.
• LOTOJA Relay--Want to take a little tour before I go for the full 206 miles in 2010. I have a few friends interested in joining the team so this should definitely be possible...as long as I train going up hill for at least 50 miles.
• Run--700 miles. I want to run at least 700 miles in 2009. I ran 650 in 2008 and I wasn't training for a marathon, this year, I should run a bit more since I am training for one.

Other goals:

• Go on 3 family vacations: Moab, Yellowstone (never been there), and somewhere where I can see a nice blue beach, I am thinking Mexico :)
• Go on a few getaway weekends with just hubby--cuz we need to keep the flame alive and we are entering our 8th year of marriage.
• Work less or quit working altogether and spend more time with my kiddos.
• Find a worthwhile job for hubby so he can too spend more time with kiddos.
• Find information on how to become a Spinning Instructor and see what I need to get certified (besides losing the chubs!).
• Knitting: knit with needles more!!! I have a few hundred patterns that I need to do, especially now that I am no longer a size XXL. Loom knitting...no goals, just go with the flow.  
• Take more pictures of my kiddos and scrapbook them right away!

How many sprites?

Does it take to crash a car--to the side of the garage door?

Just ONE. Just ONE, very distracted Mom. Ugh! Side mirror is busted. I am such an idiot!

Fun at the School

Boyo's school's PTA had their yearly fundraiser which meant lots of fun stuff for the kids and plenty of chatty time for the Moms. The children and I took Friday afternoon off and we went to the school and partied. The children bounced, slid down the slides, jumped, climbed, and got plenty of treats along with Pizza and soda.

A little video of Boyo climbing up the wall. If we could have one of these in our backyard, our Boyo would be in heaven. He loves the challenge!

Part of the (paid) Workforce

I am so thrilled! I just got a job!!!! I will be working as an assistant in a dentist office--note: doing office work, not assisting the dentist. I am so excited!

I haven't had a "real" job since I had Boyo, 7 years ago....I am a bit rusty but I should be able to get back to the swing of things within a couple of weeks.

How the job came about: a couple of weeks ago, I went to my dentist to pick up some toothpaste (they sell it for $1 while at the store they are close to $5) anyways, I went in for toothpaste and then my friend, who works there, told me they were looking for someone to work in the afternoons, from about 4pm-7pm. The job entailed calling people to comfirm their appointments and sending postcards reminding them of their appointment. Easy enough job. I had an interview on the spot with the Dentist (he happens to be a cyclist too and we were in the same MS team, Team Taylor this summer). A few days later, I had a "working interview" where I basically had to call people and confirm their appointments. Today, I was offered the job. Weee!

The job seems simple enough and I should be able to do it. The best part is that I can be home til 3:30pm when my son comes back from school then I can go to work. Hubby can be home to take care of them.

Ouch!

Zoomer Issues First. Bank Issues Now. Mr. Car Doctor says: $610 to fix it. Darn stinking car! There goes my dream of a new Dyson vacuum.