Day 181

More than 10 years ago, I got bit by a stray dog that I was trying to help. It was a big enough bite that I went to the urgent care to see if I needed stitches, but it was more of a puncture wound than a tear, so they basically had me soak it in betadine, gave me an antibiotic, and sent me on my way. While I was sitting in the cubicle with my had in the bucket of betadine, I made sure to take the time to feel sorry for myself. It had hurt like hell, and was definitely going to scar.

Then, a gentleman walked by me with his thumb in a plastic baggie.

Huh. Guess my injury wasn't so bad after all. 

Last night I jammed my toed at volleyball practice pretty hard. I don't think it's broken, but it's a little swollen and purple, and definitely sore. It was one of those days at work where I didn't pee or eat all day- therefore staying off my injured toe was a joke. 

I left work later than I had wanted to because it was so crazy, and showed up for my volleyball game in my scrubs. I took off my badge before I went in, changed into my flip flops, grabbed my bag, and walked in, eager to shed the work day. The flip flops weren't as stable as my tennis shoes and I was mentally boo-hooing about it and thinking about how it may affect my triathlon training as I walked into the facility.

Immediately after I walked in, a woman came in through another door and spotted me. She was limping and asked, "Are you a nurse?"

Crap.

I hate that. I mean, yes I'm a nurse but sometimes people want you to look at crazy things and give them advice on stuff you have no idea about. Just because I'm a nurse doesn't mean I'm an expert on skin rashes, pregnancy woes, or STDs...

"Yes", I say timidly. 

She points down to her foot. "Do you think it's broken?"

I look down. Whew- this was an easy one. Her toes were all sticking straight up while her sole was on the ground, and the top of her foot looked like a purple grapefruit had grown underneath the skin...

"Yes", I said- more confidently this time.

She immediately burst into tears, so I helped her call her husband to come pick her up, got her an ice pack and glass of water, elevated her foot on a bar stool, then excused myself to go change in the bathroom. As I took off my scrubs, I looked down at my barely-purple toe and had a moment of thanks that at least all my toes were pointing the right way...

I apologize that I have not had a pedicure, but tonight's pic represents the fact that no matter how bad you may think things are- chances are there is someone else in a worse spot than you. So be thankful that the dog didn't bite you on your dominant hand, and that your toes are not at a 90-degree angle from your foot. All in all- your day could have been worse.

Day 180

Today I sowed the vegetable garden. At this point, the vegetables have grown enouGh that they. Don't need much tending or weed pulling, but I still like to clean things up. Plus, "sow garden" is on the list for today, so there's no getting around it right?

As I was looking under the zucchini leaves for weeds to pull, I came across something familiar. A baby tomato plant. Sure enough, as I looked close, I found at least four "volunteer" tomato plants. They are all in the vicinity of where I had tomatoes last year, and must have sprung from seeds that made their way from plant to earth last year.

I wavered with my gardening tool, trying to decide if I should treat them like weeds. But alas, I could not, especially after planting my own from seeds. They had endured one of the hardest winters we have had around here in years, along with a full blown tilling in the early spring. How could I destroy all that perseverance with one swipe of my spade?

Life amazes me. I have such respect for it. Plants and animals have the amazing ability to adapt and survive, no matter what you throw at them. Except zombies, I guess, according to The Walking Dead. I know there is science behind all of it, and that's one of the reasons I became a nurse. The fact that we can heal is just amazing. And you know how I feel about babies- absolute miracles. 

But plants deserve props as well. Just watching something grow every day from a seed the size of a Tic Tac into a plant laden with food that we can eat is just as amazing to me. So I will not pull up the volunteers, and if they die on their own, then it was meant to be. But if they live, I think I will make something special with them, because they will have earned that at the very least.

Tonight's pic represents the magical mixture of science and life, as well as life's perseverance. 

Day 179

When I worked at the firehouse, we all took turns doing chores and cooking. One evening I was in charge of dinner, and decided to take a risk and be a girl. I went outside and clipped some daisies from the landscaping, brought them in, and put them in a glass on the dinner table.

They were good guys, so they tolerated my flowers without giving me too much grief. Just like I had tolerated their breast-shaped meatloaf (complete with two breasts and nipples) a few weeks before...

I wound up putting one of the daisies behind my ear to be funny during dinner. And like many nights, the alarm dropped before we could clean our plates. It was a medic run, and it wasn't until we got back from the hospital that I realized the daisy was still stuck behind my ear.

I gave the guys hell for letting me walk around like that, but it was too late. The name stuck. The nickname "Daisy" soon made it's way to the back of my fire helmet, and the assignment board in the great room. My one lieutenant said it fit my personality and how it represented who I was at the firehouse. I wasn't overly flowery like a rose, yet still a flower. A happy flower that didn't wilt under summer heat or die in the winter- just came back time and time again, steady and true. I took that as a great compliment. It wasn't easy being a woman in the firehouse those days, but my time there wound up being some of the best in my life.

And so the happy, steady flower became my signature flower. Daisies have been a part of many of the major events of my life, thanks to that fateful day at the firehouse. Daisies were the main flower in my wedding, a symbol of happiness and long-lasting love that could survive all sorts of conditions. My husband brought me daisies when our son was born, and I have happily received them over roses for anniversaries and as the famous "I'm sorry" bouquet.

My mom bought me a tub of white Shasta daisies when we bought our house. That one small tub has now transformed into a sea of summer flowers that I have been able to not only split and spread throughout our own property, but share with others- giving me the opportunity to share my happiness, and sometimes a daisy story,  with others.

Early this spring, I transplanted  some of my Shasta and Black-eyed Susan daisies to the backyard by the vegetable garden that my husband built for me. Today, the first blooms opened up, and just the sight of the bright white-and-yellow flower instantly brought forth both memories and smiles.

So tonight's picture celebrates nicknames and the daisy- a hell of a flower, and one I still aspire to be like.

Day 178

I think everyone has had the experience of driving past a skunk roadkill and having to endure a carful of skunk stink for a few minutes. I always ask myself- how does that get inside my car so fast when I am just driving by?!

I am here to tell you that what you smell from that roadkill is NOTHING compared to having a live skunk spray your dog, then letting that dog into your house before you realize what's happened.

Oh. My. God.

Now I consider myself an experienced person when it comes to bad smells. After 15 years of critical care nursing and being married to a man who farts after eating just about anything, I thought my nose was pretty immune to stink.

Well, let me tell you- my husband's ass has finally met it's match,

The smell was so bad that it literally made my eyes water. It was like a mixture of onions and garlic, only times one trillion. I kept waking up all night literally from the smell. Luckily my parents had some special "skunk off" shampoo, which helped the dog smell less pungent, but my house still was permeated. I emptied almost two bottles of Febreeze without prolonged success into the air, and of course it was pouring rain outside, making it impossible to open the windows.

I posted my debacle on Facebook, and felt a teeny bit better when I saw that many of my friends had been through the same ordeal. I was paranoid all the next day at work, certain the skunk stink had permeated into my hair and clothes. I came home hopeful that it had dissipated, only to be disappointed. It was better- but still there.

Later that night, I received a gift from a friend. It came in a traditional gift bag, like you would give someone on their birthday or other holiday. Confused, I read the note inside. 

My friend had taken time out of her busy life to make me a care package, knowing how much the skunk debacle had stressed me out. There was a package of baby wipes to help wipe away the tears from my eyes and the stink from my hands when giving the mutt (multiple) baths. There were two boxes of baking soda to put in bowls and place around the house for odor absorption. And lastly, she had taken two oranges and hand-inserted hundreds of cloves into the rind, making homemade air fresheners that were odor absorbers as well.

I have said it before, and I will say it again- the best gifts are not the fancy ones. 

Tonight's picture represents friendship, and finally being able to breathe in your own home. Friends take care of each other, in the good times and the bad. I came home tonight after a day of my homemade air fresheners working hard, and I can definitely tell a difference. The dog still has residual stink, but I can live with that. In the mean time, I have seen not one, but two skunks slinking around in my backyard, and am pretty sure they must have babies behind my shed. Tomorrow I will be calling animal control to see if they can relocate the family- because there is no way I am taking a chance at my 170-pound Mastiff getting sprayed...there are not enough oranges in Florida for that.

Day 177

The quote on my office door this month reads, "Nothing will work unless you do".

I think this is applies not only to your job, but to many things in life.

Take sports, for example. Those soccer players today didn't just walk out onto the field and magically play well. Sure, they have baseline talent, but that talent was drilled and honed with sweat (and probably blood) over many years. Pro sport players don't sit on the couch during their entire off season- they train and prep for the next round of competition.

And although our Friday night volleyball league is far from professional, some of us took a cue from those that are and decided to practice tonight. We have a sand volleyball pit at a park nearby, and so we decided to go and work out some of our kinks.

We each chose something that we would like to get better at, then we did drills to help each other with our goals. It wasn't long until we were working up a sweat- but it also wasn't long before we started to see some improvement.

A group of people showed up and we played a pick-up game, then went back to our practicing for another hour or so. Our kids experienced role reversal- having to sit on the sidelines and watch us practice was definitely a new adventure for them.

By the time we left, I think we all felt a little better about the areas we know we need to work on. None of us are where we want to be yet, but it was nice to have others around you that both support you but tell you when your'e doing something wrong. Because the truth is, you don't get better at anything in life if you can't accept feedback on what you need to improve.

So tonight's picture represents both hard work and team work. Don't think that what you want will fall in your lap- you will wind up waiting a long time. Go out and work for it, and help others along the way. Your success will be that much sweeter!

Day 176

I am having so much fun grandbaby shopping.

Probably too much fun. 

But there's just so much cute stuff! I really don't think I've gone too overboard- I pick up a few things per week and always on sale or clearance. 

I've always loved shopping for babies. But doing it a bit more lately has made me realize how much things have changed since my own last little one. How do you choose which diapers or baby food to buy these days- there are so many choices! Of course, some of those choices are for the better, especially in the food department. 

One thing hasn't changed though- there is definately a disproportionate array of boys versus girls clothing. The girls clothes always take up 9/10 of the baby department. That always frustrated me. But I guess the hard truth is that boys look just adorable in plain ole OshKosh overalls and a hat. No muss no fuss. 

So the search continues for adorable boy stuff. I'm getting ready to graduate to larger items like bouncy seats and bathtubs- I've been stalking the papers for neighborhood garage sales...

But in the mean time, I'm having a blast finding little treasures like the one in tonight's pic. I can't wait to see what he looks like! 

Day 175

My little mutt has a big attitude. He thinks he is king of the house, no matter that he is by far the smallest of the pack. The 170-pound Mastiff is no challenge, nor am I for that matter. He listens to my husband (grr....) but that's about it.

He is loud, stubborn, and generally a pain in the ass. But every once in a while, he does something that gives me hope. He will crawl in my lap and cuddle during a movie (after he paws me to death for five minutes to find just the right spot). He will sit by my chair and whine quietly until I pet him. Oh wait- that is part of being a pain in the ass. At least he whines quietly....

Tonight, I started to walk out of my bathroom and almost tripped over something. Looking down, I see the mutt with his tennis ball. He picked up his ball,  looked at me, then rolled onto his back- something he NEVER does to me. I am laughingly the farthest from being alpha as far as he is concerned. But there he was, looking at me with puppy eyes, pleading for me to toss the ball down the hallway.

So I promptly stepped over him and went about my business- "I'll show you who's in charge around here, you little #$%^".

Now many of you will be surprised by this, as it's not my personality. And your'e exactly right. I'm a weenie. I didn't step over him- but I definitely thought about it....

I threw the stinking ball. And of course it wasn't just one time- it was at least 10 before he had his fill of it. But he was so happy. Don't you wish you could be that happy just from chasing after a ball? He laid down next to me with his ball afterwards, happily gnawing at it while his tail wagged. I spent a few more minutes petting him, then moved on to write my post.

Tonight's pic represents relationships and how the best ones fluctuate with who is currently alpha and who is not. Even the most dominant person should roll on their back every once in a while and ask someone else to do something for them. It can be rewarding for both parties. Just don't sit next to them and whine quietly afterwards like the mutt is currently doing....

Day 174

Wow what a set of summer thunderstorms we had tonight! I was at sand volleyball, and the lightening started just as our game was getting ready to start.

At first they just postponed it, which was really just a marketing ploy to get us to go into the bar and buy beer.

Naturally, it worked.

After the first pitcher, the lightening had stopped and it was just s slow, steady rain. We all sat inside the bar, peering out of the windows at the sand courts that were now miniature lakes and empty.

Except for one court.

Sure enough, there was a little boy about 7 or 8 out there in nothing but his underwear, living it up in the world's largest summer rain puddle. And he wasn't just jumping in it- the soft sand allowed for belly flops and running slide tackles that sent shoots of both water and laughter into the air.

My first reaction was relief that it wasn't my kid out there. My second reaction was to grab my camera and take a picture. Because here was a chance to capture absolute happiness at it's best.

Hopefully most people can remember at least one time in their life when they played outside in the summer rain. If not, find yourself a child (preferably one you know...) and go experience it. There's something both decadent and naughty about it all at the same time- a fun time for kids of all ages.  But remember that if you choose to do it in public, you should preferably be wearing a bra and a non-white outfit unless you look like Cindy Crawford or Thor. Just sayin.

Tonight's pic is grainy, because I couldn't get as close as I wanted due to the rain. But it celebrates the magic of jumping in rain puddles, wherever you may come across them.

Day 173

As I have mentioned before, I love to play volleyball. Magically, it has become a family favorite over the last year at our house. I now play on 2 different teams, including one with my husband, and the 11-year old has started to really like the sport as well.

We now have a volleyball net in our backyard, and the three of us are out in the yard at least once or twice a day practicing. We are contemplating putting a "real" sand court in our backyard- a compromise on my husband's part as I would really rather have a pool...

We have made great friends through our volleyball league, and strengthened other friendships. Volleyball is one of those games where all ages can play- like golf. Or bowling.

Friends of ours had a summer barbecue yesterday, and one of the many things they had for adult and child entertainment was a volleyball net. He even mowed the grass around the court shorter than the rest of the yard so we could tell which balls were "in" or "out". Little did he know how important those lines would become later that night...

There were many of us from our volleyball team present, but in truth it was volleyball fun for all- kids and adults alike played. There were crazy hits that had everyone laughing, husband-and-wife arguments ("that was your ball"- "no it was yours"), and a referee complete with a whistle.

But as the sun went down, most people either migrated to the bonfire or headed home. We sat and talked, bonding like you just naturally do around a campfire.

As the clock struck midnight, word made it to the campfire that another volleyball game was going to start. Those of us not akin to this plan looked at each other puzzled, as it was pitch black out by the field. 

"How are we going to see the ball?" one wife asked.

"Flood lights, silly", answered her husband.

Oh yes. Silly us.

Sure enough, our host was hauling out floodlights and extension cords from his garage, and our husbands were rigging them to the posts and sitting them on chairs. They looked very proud of themselves, and challenged us to a game of "girls vs guys".  The wives looked at each other for a moment with raised eyebrows....then shrugged and took our shoes off.

What crazy fun. We were loud and obnoxious, and admittedly a little slow and tipsy from an evening of hamburgers and beer. I'm pretty sure I both peed myself a little from laughing and stepped in dog shit, but I just closed my eyes and willed myself to believe it was dew from the grass...

One wife couldn't get the hang of serving with her hand---so she drop-kicked the ball over the net as a serve instead.

 Eleven times in a row.

 And all but one went directly to her husband. Hilarious.

The kids eventually ventured out of the play-world in the basement (they probably heard us squealing and laughing), and we turned "guys vs girls" once more into a mixed bag of family fun. We rounded out the evening with smores for the kids (ok I might have eaten one) back at the smoldering bonfire, then we finally thanked our hosts for a great evening and left, making comments on the way home about how we can't believe we stayed out so late (I mean, we're old for Pete's sake!).

Today's pic was technically taken today, so I decided to count it :). It celebrates making memories with friends and family, and doing something crazy. We came home this morning with grass stains on our knees, smores in our bellies, and smiles on our faces. 

Oh and I came home with a little extra- I discovered it was definitely dog shit on my feet :). 

Day 172

What is it about men and fire? I say that as the wife of a firefighter...

Give them a fire pit, a few beers, and voila. Instant inferno.

Never mind the children. No, no. They'll get out of the way. 

But I admit that I write this as I sit in my camp chair, nice and toasty warm. 

The men started the fire, then left us women to chat while they go to the garage and play some drinking game called "baseball". 

Tonight's pic represents the age-old tradition of a campfire with friends, and the even older tradition of men playing with fire.

Day 171

Friday night. Summer time. Windows down, radio up. Just me and the 11-year old get-in-jiggy-with-it in the front seat of the Honda.

Oh yeah. We were rockin it out.

And grinning from ear to ear.

Sure we got some funny looks. Sure we have 28 years of age difference. Sure, we may have looked silly dancing in our seats.

But when the rhythm gets you, there's just nothing you can do about it.

I remember being young and driving in my girlfriend's jeep on summer nights singing "Really like your peaches wanna shake your trees..." at the top of our lungs.

I can only hope that when he gets older, he remembers singing, "Gettin jiggy with it" and ACDC with his mom.

Tonight's pic represents loud music on warm summer nights, and making memories by being silly with your kids.

Day 170

Throughout my entire life, I have found that I like to help people. I know that may sound a bit silly, but it is in truth a large part of the core that makes up who I am. It describes how I am as a mother, a wife, a nurse, and a friend.

I don't know a stranger. That drives my husband crazy. But my ability to go from complete stranger to confidant and/or friend has allowed me to gain trust from thousands of patients in the worst of times, as well as meet some amazing people I would have otherwise not had the pleasure to encounter. When we flew to Disney World, I became quick friends with an amazing young woman who was both leaving home and flying for the first time. She was in college and studying physical education, and was also training to be a body builder. She was using her spring break to fly to Florida and train with someone famous in the body building arena. Her tearful mother and I talked a bit at the gate before we took off, and I promised I would keep an eye on her as long as I could. We talked the whole way- well, mostly she talked. I think she was pretty nervous about her new adventure and was more than willing to share her story...and I soon discovered she was mostly deaf and had a dream to help other young people with disabilities be healthy and fit and use exercise as a positive outlet and confidence booster,  and the gym as a safe place.

Wow. When I was her age I was drinking beer.

Another plane ride was on the way home from Florida, this time early the morning after a wedding. I was....well, lets face it. I was hung over as hell. And definately not in the mood to chat. But karma found me, and I was placed next to a very interesting gentleman in his upper 50's who was extremely well traveled. He had wonderful stories about so many places and things, as well as advice on both travel and life. I sipped ginger ale and nibbled crackers while he described the differences between cruise lines and what is the best way to travel through Europe so you can see everything there is to offer. Ironically, he had never been to Dayton before, and I was able to provide him with a (short) list of must-see places and restaurants. He wrote them down on his cocktail napkin provided by the stewardess, and thanked me for making his flight more pleasant than most.

I was just glad I hadn't thrown up on him to be honest.

Today I got a text from a friend that I have grown closer to over the last year or so. She reads my blog regularly, and we usually text or talk at least once per day. She's done some amazing things lately to change her overall lifestyle and be healthier, and I've been so happy for her and the success that she's having. We've talked a lot about eating habits, body image and  realistic expectations, goal setting, exercise, and of course...our husbands.

So how do you help motivate a friend? Panties, of course.

Yes, panties. We had a discussion one evening about underwear (adult beverages may have been involved...), and I admitted that I am a very boring panty-wearer. In fact, calling them panties is a stretch. I wear underwear. I've just never felt comfortable in anything that threatens to stay in my crack- it's distracting.

But I promised my friend that when she hits her next weight goal- we are going panty shopping together. New sexy underwear for her smaller booty,-and something besides "underwear" for me.

I got a text from this friend today that just made my day. She took time out of her day (her BIRTHDAY no less) to send me a note telling me she appreciates me as a friend. I don't think we do that enough these days. I know I don't. It's so easy to take your family and/or friends for granted. They aren't looking or expecting praise or thanks. But when you give it, you can truly make someone's day.

Today's pic represents friendship and the power of a simple thank you. So take a moment the next day or two and tell someone you care about that you appreciate them. Chances are, it will make both of your days. But I don't suggest you go panty shopping with them unless you have that kind of relationship :).

Day 169

MAbout every other week, I go into work later than usual. A critical care unit runs 24/7, and my job as a nurse educator includes both day and night shift nurses. Working nights and evenings periodically helps me keep in touch with my night shift staff, something I feel is so much more important than many people realize.

When I first became a nurse, we worked 8-hour shifts instead of 12. Therefore, you had the day shift, evening shift, and night shift. I worked 3-11, and it was awesome. Of course, I didn't have children yet, so that was definitely a plus. But I loved being able to get up when I wanted to, and still have time to run errands or workout or lay at the pool before having to come in to work.

Today I am working 2-10. I was able to do laundry, dishes, clean my kitchen, go for a bike ride, and take the 11-year old to camp- all before 10:30 AM!

But the best part was getting to go out for sushi with my husband. We love sushi- but the 11-year old does not. It's not very often we have the opportunity to go for lunch without him, so this was a special treat. 

Today's pic celebrates lunch dates, and being thankful I have a job that is so flexible!

Day 168

I dropped my phone today.

It's not the first time I've dropped my phone, of course. There have been plenty of other times it has hit the ground, and I have picked it back up with one eye open, praying the screen isn't cracked. Up until today, the phone has weathered the storm, and I have gone on with life as usual in this smart-phone-driven world.

But today my friends....today my phone said, "No more, young lady. No more dropping me and thinking everything is going to be ok. It's time to teach you a lesson'.

It didn't actually say that. I mean, Siri is pretty good but she has her limits.

The screen wasn't cracked, but it was completely black. And no amount of pushing buttons or saying cuss words would make it turn back on. I could tell it still functioned, because it made noises every once in awhile for when I would get an email. But the black screen of death remained.

I tried to stay calm, thinking I would just use Google or You Tube when I got home to figure out how to get it going again. But even as I started towards my car my anxiety started to climb.

What if couldn't get it turned on? What if I had to get a new phone? What if my information didn't transfer to a new phone? I have my calendar and so many contacts in there, and I sure as heck don't actually remember anyone's phone number. Plus, I had sweet apps like Pandora and Coupon Savers, and Candy Crush., and....

Oh. My. God.

I have my lists on my phone.

That's when I started to cry.

Now there was a rational part of my brain that told me I was being ridiculous and overreacting. It's just a phone, for goodness sakes. But the reality is that most of us have become quite reliant on such a small device. It keeps me connected with people, gets me to places without getting lost, and keeps me organized and entertained. It was a big part of my life.

Ok now I was really being ridiculous. It's a phone, lady. Get over it.

So I stopped my internal whining and made a plan. First step...Google. No luck there. Next was You Tube, and for the first time since I have used that website, I actually couldn't find what I was looking for. I mean, you can usually type in any 4 random words on You Tube and you would have more success than I did. I did see how to get the back of the phone off, but of course the tools that are required do not reside in the usual household. I called Radio Shack to see if they sold the miniature screwdrivers- nope. Well, crap.

That's when I remembered seeing a Kiosk in the middle of the mall last week with a big sign proclaiming they could fix your smart phone while you waited. From what I could remember, it looked like a place that replaced broken screens, so it was worth a shot.

Luckily, the gentleman at the Kisok was very nice and not very busy. And he had those damn screwdrivers. He took off the lid and first checked all the connections. Nothing was found to be out of sorts. Then he took a new lid out of his drawer and attached it. I could see some light turn on underneath the lid, but still nothing on the touch screen side.

He made a face then, one that I recognized as being similar to the one I get when faced with a situation at work that I'm not familiar with. Great.

He looked up at me and said, "Maybe the LCD on my screen isn't working right. Let's try another one". And lo and behold- it worked, I don't know honestly who was more surprised and pleased- me or him. Thank goodness he had the patience and perseverance to try just one more time. I thanked him with words and my credit card, then went on my way, hurriedly unlocking my phone to make sure my lists were intact.

Today's pic represents how it's better to think rationally and take action instead of lying around blubbering, and how taking that extra step can make all the difference. If you don't get an immediate text back from me, that's because today taught me I am too reliant upon my phone and I am trying not to have it with me all the time. But I did transfer my lists to my Ipad. I mean, a girl has her limits.

Day 167

Long day, so short post...

I worked a little later than usual today, so I only had about 15 minutes once I got home to change into my sand volleyball gear before having to leave again. That actually left me 10 minutes to change and 5 minutes to check my garden.

I'm addicted to my garden. I have to check it every day, trimming dying leaves here and encouraging vines onto supports there.byous think I was OCD or something...

And tonight, I got to reap my first reward. Ladies and gentlemen, behold the first harvest of 2014. It's nothing fancy, but I just know it's gonna taste great! And I haven't

 grown squash before, so there's a little happiness of success for me as well . There's zucchini and more squash ready any day now, so I will be even more excited to do my daily check.

Today's pic represents the excitement and pride of a first harvest. I have cucumbers and tomatoes forming,  and even a baby watermelon the size of a pea. Good eats!

Day 166

One down. Two to go.

It was a beautiful day for a triathlon. The sun was shining, and the water was warm. There were families both racing together and cheering from the sidelines. I listened to two boys (cousins I believe) about 4 or 5 years old talk smack to each other for at least 5 minutes straight- "My mommy is going to beat your mommy!" and so on...

I wasn't as nervous today as I was last year. But I could feel the nerves around me- I did a "beginner" triathlon, and there were at least 20-30 people there today making their first venture into the multi-sport world. I remember all too clearly the nerves and even tears right before my first race, as well as the utter astonishment and dopamine-rush that I actually finished. I made sure to team up around some of those first-timers and give encouragement and what little advice I could, remembering how much that helped me only one short summer ago.

That's one of the best things I have found about this type of sport. All of the ones I have done truly have been a positive experience. Everyone is super-encouraging of each other. There were all ages (literally from teens to seventies) and sizes. And everyone, save those of us that were wheezing too hard at the moment, would say, "good job" or "keep it up" when passing a fellow racer on the road or path. There were even high-fives and fist bumps at times.

Because the truth of it is that 95% of us will never be overly-competitive. We are racing ourselves, and ok, maybe I was trying to beat the 20-something guy in front of me on the bike. But he had a mountain bike and a helmet with a mohawk...

My swim felt good, but it was definitely crowded in the water, making it hard to get a good rhythm going. When you watch us from the beach, it looks like a huge flock of birds trying to fight one another. I tried to compensate by moving farther out, and wound up losing some valuable seconds by taking a more round-about turn around the final buoy. 400 meters (16 laps in the pool) and up the hill from the beach in just over 10 minutes. Whew.

The bike started off uphill, which was awful but being as there is only one road out of the park there was nothing they could do about it. I remembered my training and paced slower at first, allowing 4 people to pass me. But by pushing at the end, I was able to regain those 4 people plus 2 more. It took me 45 minutes to travel 10 miles though, an area I now know is one to focus on improving.

My downfall came at the run. During training, they call workouts in which you ride your bike then immediately run for awhile "bricks". Why, you ask? Because your legs literally feel like you are picking up bricks after pushing pedals hard for almost an hour. I learned that eating my powergel at the transition area after the bike was too late- the first mile running was torture and I was more than winded. Next time I will shoot one down just past the halfway point of the bike, hoping this helps push me through. I kept my time to 20.52 for 2 miles, which was over my 10-min mile goal, but I'll take it.

I didn't finish as strong as I would have liked, but I definitely took time off my swim and cut my transition times in half from last year. I swam almost twice as far as last summer's race, and my bike was 3 miles longer. So all in all, I think it was a success. I got 37th place out of 65 male/female racers, and a gift card to Qdoba. Whoo-hoo!

I made new friends, and saw an old one who was doing his first triathlon. I watched kids cheer on their parents, and parents cheer on their adult children. I saw a woman who was at least in her 50's get out of the water after doing a 3-mile swim- that's like 65 laps in the pool. I saw a woman be the third one out of the water in the Intermediate triathlon of over 50 participants- and she wasn't the youngest in the bunch.

So tonight, I celebrate a successful first race that will help motivate me for my next one in July. I am doing an even longer one at that time, and am excited and nervous as hell all at the same time.

You want to know what the best part of race day is? I let myself eat whatever the heck I want to. I had a hamburger (on a white bun!) and french fries for dinner (oh heavenly fried potatoes!), and took the 11-year old out for ice cream as well (no more frozen yogurt or bananas!).

Today's pic celebrates adding another notch to my racebelt, and the happiness (ok, I was ecstatic) of seeing the finish line. Congrats to all who raced today, and as always, I would love to have someone join me at the next one!! Now where did I put those Tums...

Day 165

The thing I love best about the day before a race is that I get to do absolutely nothing, and not feel guilty about it.

No workout.

And I can eat carbs.

I'm supposed to lay around most of the day.

Ok, I did do a couple of hours of gardening, but I promise I didn't work very hard. I ran a few errands, including treating myself to a tri-top that can see me through the swim, bike, and run without having to change at my transition area.

But otherwise, I laid around most of the day.

The mastiff was pleased. The mutt and 11-year old were bored.

Oh well. They will survive.

Today's pic represents the simple pleasure of just lazing around on a gorgeous summer day. My bag is packed, clothes and breakfast are laid out, bike rack is on the car, and I've practiced laying out my transition area. All that's left is making sure my armpits are shaved- nothing like realizing your armpits are hairy to mentally throw you off your game, right? Wish me luck!

Day 164

One of the best things I ever did was work for a fire department for 5 years. I met amazing people and learned how to use a chainsaw. I got the opportunity to see the world like many people never get to- some good some bad- which was a good life lesson for a young woman who had honestly been sheltered for most of her life.

On practical terms, two of the most important skills I learned while wearing those dark blue uniforms were related to driving. GPS and electronic devices weren't available yet, so every employee had to learn the major roads of our city and which direction was north, south, etc ( directions in our map book were written as "turn north on Edenwood Drive").

Even more important was learning how to drive an ambulance. Driving a huge box from that high up was intimidating enough- throw in having to manage sirens, lights, and talk on the radio at the same time you are driving above the speed limit and the paramedic in the back is trying to intubate or put I'm an IV....well, let's just say it's not as easy as it may seem at first.

But learning how to maneuver those huge trucks has helped me throughout the rest of my life. When it came time for someone to drive the huge van on field trips at the daycare where I worked- I volunteered and was able to feel like I could safely transport children. Plus I got to go to the Zoo and COSI- win, win.

Then I married a man who insists on owning large trucks. Luckily, my past experience with large vehicles makes it

less stressful when I am "allowed" to drive his penismobile...

Today, I had to drive the truck to work. As the 11-year old and I got in this morning he said, " you're gonna look wierd driving this truck mom." 

Ok I'll bite. "Why?"

" Because you are a pretty girl".

Well. Unfortunately the 11-year old spent his ride to camp listening to a lecture on sexism, but the reality is-most people don't expect a woman to be driving a truck like that. 

And that's the main reason I like driving it.

I like driving up high and being able to feel taller than everyone else. I like the feel of the hemi when I hit the gas. And I like the rubbernecking that occasionally occurs when people drive by and see a "pretty girl" behind the wheel. One of my favorite moments in the truck was in the middle of winter. I helped tow 2 guys and a Ford out of a snowy ditch with  my Dodge. Should've taken a pic of that...

So today's picture is a reminder to us that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, and celebrates the thrill of a Hemi underneath you.

Day 163

I don't love running. But I do love new running shoes.

Isn't it always the best feeling when you put on a new pair of tennis shoes? I don't think I ever truly realize how worn down my old ones are until I put on new ones. Then I'm like, "Whoa. I guess I really do need a new pair..."

Although I am newer to running, I'm not new to wearing shoes down. Having been a hospital nurse for 15 years, I've taken the tread off many soles. 

This time, I actually went to a running store and had them fit me for running shoes. They put me on a treadmill and video taped the back of my legs and feet while I ran on a treadmill. Then, he played back the video very slowly to see how much my ankles turned and such. It was a little weird to see the back of my own calves- it's not an area of my body that I can really visualize. Which is probably good, beause they are ridiculously chicken-like...

Of course, they didn't have my Amazon-size in the store, so they had to order them in. Today, I got to pick them up- and I was actually a little excited to get home and run.

This is the first time I've had Saucony shoes. They are definately lighter than the Asics I am retiring, and have a firmer sole support as well. Most importantly, the colors match the majority of my workout outfits. Very important- I can't be running around the neighborhood worried about my shoes not matching my running shorts...

I put the first three miles on my new running shoes tonight. They felt great, and I am looking forward to using them for my first race this weekend. 

Tonights pic celebrates the foot-joy associated with new tennis shoes, and the anticipation of finally getting to see if all your hard work/training is going to pay off.

Day 162

The 11-year old is at basketball camp this week, and I was supposed to pick him up at 4 PM. Luckily, I was able to get out the door of my office a little after 3PM. Knowing full well the traffic could be a 50/50 shot that time of day, I hurried through the lobby on my way to the parking lot.

As I neared the door that I leave by, I passed  an elderly, stooped-over woman in the middle of the hallway who had both her purse and another bag sitting on the ground. She was so still that I slowed as I hurried by just to be sure she was breathing...

Crap. Crap. Crap.

My conscious just wouldn't let me keep going. I stopped, turned around, and walked back to the hunched-over woman.

"Are you alright, ma'am?" I asked.

The poor thing was so hunched over from age that I could tell it took real effort to look up at me. I'm 5'10", and I know she wasn't over 5 foot even. "Oh yes, dear. Just taking a break to let my heart settle down a bit. Carrying this bag has kicked it up a notch".

I looked wistfully at the parking lot. Crap. Crap. Crap.

"Can I help you to your car?"

Her face lit up with a smile, and she graciously accepted my assistance, asking my name as we started (VERY slowly) towards the exit.

She introduced herself as Dr. Jane Doe (obviously I have altered her name...) and she proceeded to tell me that she was the first female physician to practice family medicine in the city of Middletown. She looked up at me, and her eyes twinkled as she said, "I am 91-years old, you know".

Holy crap. 91-years old. And yes, she was stooped over and walked slow, but she was walking without any type of assistance, was dressed immaculately, and was able to carry on quite an intelligent conversation with me as we continued to make our way (again, VERY slowly...) to the parking lot.

She told me that she is getting ready to visit her daughter in Canada next month. "She's still alive too, so I figure it's only fair I go see her each summer for a few weeks". I tried to think of anyone I knew who was close to that age and still flying...nope.

I mentioned that I hoped she was at the hospital to visit and not for herself. She replied that she had been at the hospital for business, and was actually running late to meet with the tumor board at another hospital. She had a pathology backround and still sits on a board of physicians that helps to make treatment decisions for patients.

Holy crap. Did I mention she is 91-years old?

Eventually, we arrived at her car. I put her bag inside for her, and she turned to thank me. I held my hand out and she shook it with the grasp of someone half her age. Then she smiled at me at gave me a big hug. I wished her well, and told her she looks tremendous. As I walked away, she called after me-"Stay away from white sugar and white flour!"

I chuckled to myself, and turned around to snap a picture of her white Chrysler so I would have something to use on my blog, because I was certain that nothing else would be more positive today. What started out as a possible nuisance and/or obligation turned into a lovely chance to meet an amazing woman.

Today's pic represents the rewards you can reap by thinking and helping others before yourself. I can only hope that when I am 91, I can balance being independent and accepting help at the same time as graciously as she did.

Day 161

Some people don't like the rain. I agree that it can be frustrating- slowing traffic and making good hair days almost impossible.

But the gardener in me loves the rain. First off, I don't have to water- yeah! And my plants love summer rain- they grew quite a bit just from yesterday to today!

I got to harvest our first strawberry today. I've tried several times before to grow them without success, so the 1/2 of a strawberry that I ate ( I shared with the 11-year old) tasted extra sweet.

I trimmed some basil and parsley as it started to sprinkle this evening, and now it's a wonderful summer rain outside my window. No torrential downpours that can harm fragile leaves and vegetables- just a steady, calming beat that I can even leave my windows open for.

So today's pic celebrates summer rain and first harvests. Go ahead- open the window and close your eyes. After all, there's a reason rainfall is recorded for relaxation CDs...

Day 160

Sleepovers. Oh, the memories...freezing the bra of the first girl who fell asleep. Talking about boys and giggling until wee hours of the night. Playing truth or dare and practicing hairstyles and make-up on each other...

The 11-year old had a sleepover last night. My husband finally laid the law down at 2:30 this morning that they had to go to sleep...and yes, they were giggling. No underwear was in the freezer, but there was a definite threat hanging out there that the first boy asleep would get a marker mustache on his face...

As I cleaned up the aftermath this morning, I found three rolls of toilet paper discreetly tucked behind a chair in our front living room.

Hmm....

I immediately went to the window and looked across the street, knowing that my neighbors have a perfect TP tree in their front yard...

Nothing. Whew.

Several of the boys were still in the room when I bent over and said, "Aww..darn guys. Looks like you fell asleep before you got the chance to use these..."

The room got very quiet. It was all I could do not to laugh.

Finally, one brave boy asked, "You mean, you would have let us do it?"

I just smiled and walked away with my arms full of toilet paper. Because, come on- half  the fun of going toilet papering is knowing you are doing something your'e not supposed to, right? I mean, if I actually gave them permission, wouldn't that take some of the glory out of it?

Oh well. I guess we'll never know. Because my husband and I have sworn we are never having another sleepover with that many boys- I feel like I was up partying all night myself, and my pantry and refrigerator are bare.

One day, I am sure my son and his friends will have their right-of-TP-passage. He will probably ding-dong-ditch too. There's a part of me that kind of hopes he does. I have some great memories of holding on to one end of the TP roll while throwing the other end over a branch. Our neighbors down the street got TP'd a few nights ago, and some clever kids came up with the idea to also cover the ENTIRE car with post-it notes. Like, you literally couldn't see the car at all. Genius.

Today' pic represents making memories, and the thrill of being "bad".

Day 159

I haven't had many chances yet this spring and summer to "get on my bike and ride", as one of my favorite musicians would say. Early last spring, I went shopping for my first bike since high school. As you may suspect, bikes are much more advanced than they were 25 years ago. When the salesman asked what type of bike I was interested in, the word "Huffy" was all I could think of....turns out even the term "10-speed" is no longer significant in the world of bicycles.

After bringing my new bike home, I was surprised at how nervous I was about actually getting on it. I didn't get clips on my pedals, but I did get the cages, and that plus the super-skinny tires (compared to my Huffy they were super-skinny at least...) and multiple ways to change gears was enough to make my heart rate scoot up even before I started pedaling!

Eventually, I got the hang of it again ( I know, I know- "like riding a bike"). And this year, it was just a matter of sweeping off the cobwebs (literally and figuratively, as my bike had been in the garage all winter) before I was out and on the road again.

This morning was my first "long" ride of the year. Ninety minutes of pushing pedals got me a little over 20 miles. If anyone is wondering, riding a bike in the gym is NOTHING like riding in real life. Spinning is a little more realistic, as you at least get the added practice of upper body form- the regular bikes at the gym just don't do justice to the upper body strength it takes to stay in an aerodynamic position that long.

At the 45-minute mark I stopped, turned my bike around, and chomped down some power gel-blocks. I closed my eyes, willing the blocks to to take effect immediately, because I was ti-red. The first half of the ride had been sets of high gear pushing, and I knew I still had 30-minutes of moderate effort to go.

I closed my eyes again, and forced myself to start thinking about the positives surrounding my ride on the way back. It was early on a Sunday morning, and the vast majority of my time on the path was devoid of other humans.

But it was far from empty.

I saw nature like I haven't been able to see it for awhile. Thoughts of summer camps as a child in the woods filled my head as I drove through the quiet areas of forest. I shared the path with squirrels, rabbits, a cute-as-a-button chipmunk, and even a young deer came out to greet me.

My second wind kicked in, and I limped back home. Isn't funny though how you can be so exhausted yet feel so good at the same time?

Today's pic represents the simple pleasure of a morning bike ride with nature, and the dopamine rush from finishing a long haul.

Day 158

As I was cleaning out the 11-year old's backpack today, I came across a worksheet that caught my eye. It was an "All About Me" paper, which at first looked pretty typical- Name, Age, Favorite Subject in School, etc. But upon closer examination, I discovered this was a paper destined for the "Keep" pile, instead of the trash pile.

It started out plain enough:

Height: 5'3"
Weight: 100 pounds

Then the first clue came that I should continue reading:

Eyes: 20/20

I giggled. I had no idea he even knew what "20/20" meant. And so it continued, again innocently:

My Best Subject: Science .Um...he got his worst grade on his report card in Science...but then I saw

My Favorite Subject: Science. Aha. Ok, I get that.

It went on to describe his favorite book, and his worst subject in school, then it asked for three adjectives to describe himself. The first two made me proud, and the third made me giggle again:

1. Active
2. Kind
3. Awesome

He stated the most important thing about himself is that "I am nice to people". Another little mommy-chest-swell moment.

His biggest wish? That his older brother will come home. Loved that one so much I took a pic of it and sent it to his brother. No peer pressure or anything...

And of course, no All About Me paper would be complete without filling in the blank to the sentence "My Best Day_____"

"When I was born."

Well, of course. Because after all, he is awesome.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be: An NBA player. He tells everyone he can that he is going to be 6'7". The poor kid is going to be so disappointed when he's only 6'6". Oh well, at least he should be motivated at Basketball camp next week...

I took the worksheet, along with his report card and a handwritten note from his teacher, and placed them in the box where I have collected little things over the years. One day in the future, he will get quite a kick out of reading it.

Today's pic celebrates kids and their honesty, humbleness, and yes- awesomeness.

Day 157

Some of us at work are always talking about what new food we have found that we love. This weeks winner?

Whipped honey.

Oh my gosh where have you been all my life?! A little bit on a whole wheat English muffin with some organic peanut butter (another discussion topic at work this week), and poof! Heaven, without the guilt of a regular dessert!

So today's pic celebrates my foodie friends at work, as well as the fun and pleasure of trying something you hVe never tasted before.

Day 156

They say all good things must come to an end. I guess that includes Elementary School.

Today, the last of three children ended their primary school days. I have seen many of my friends with children the same age posting on Facebook today about how it seems this next step is much harder for us as parents than them.

Well, they were just cute little Kindergartners the other day weren't they?

But as melancholy as I may be about the 11-year old moving on to Middle School, I am so ready for him to be on summer break. We had to go an extra week this year due to the unusual amount of snow days we had this past winter. And it's a good thing too, because otherwise they wouldn't have been able to go bowling on Monday, have field day Tuesday, watch movies on Wednesday, and have a beach party and early dismissal today (insert sarcasm here...).

So bring on the days of summer camp, and  long nights filled with fireflies and Ghosts in the Graveyard. Because summers full of childhood fun are just about behind this family. He hasn't been home 3 hours and already he is getting texts on his phone from girls...

Today's pic represents the end of the school year, as well as an era. The backpacks are hung up for a few months, unless they get filled with swimming gear or sleepover necessities!

Day 155

Today was...strange. Overall, it has been a strange week, mostly because someone has possessed my usually-organized brain and locked it up somewhere.

I've forgotten and screwed up all sorts of things. I forgot to put makeup on before going to work one day. I forgot my tennis shoes and scrubs in the locker at the YMCA another day. I forgot that I paid $225 for basketball camp and told my son he could have a sleep over the night before. Luckily, I have remembered to put a bra on each day this week, and as far as I know my socks have all matched...

In truth, I believe that much of my being "off" stems from feeling like there are just so many things to get accomplished and not enough time to do it. My mind is constantly racing from one thing to another, and there is always a bit of worry in the back of mind that something is going to be forgotten or not done to my satisfaction.

I'm also a bit off schedule, and you know how that is for me. I spent an unusual amount of time in the yard this past weekend, and so my usual indoor chores such as mopping, vacuuming, dusting, and folding laundry went to the wayside. I also didn't go to the grocery store, library, or pay bills on the day that I usually accomplish these goals. Therefore, every time I walk by the pile of laundry on the dining room table, I feel guilty- and my eye twitches just a bit.

The building that I work in has limited windows on my unit. I was busy enough throughout the day that I didn't notice if it rained or not, although I knew the weather had predicted storms. As I walked out of work, there was a part of me that was happy to see blue skies and white clouds. And there was a part of me that sighed, knowing that today was Wednesday- which of course means watering the yard, flowers, and garden (of course).

Then I looked over at one of the trees in the parking lot, and was elated to see it was surrounded by a puddle of water. It had rained after all! And it must have been a good one too, to leave such a nice bit of water behind.

I was saved. No watering of flowers tonight. And a wet yard meant no temptation to go out and finish pulling weeds in the front yard...

Tonight's pic represents a reprieve from duty, thanks to Mother Nature. And the reality is the world has not ended just because I haven't vacuumed in a while, or returned my books to the library at the exact moment they were due. But if anyone needs me, I'll be in the dining room folding laundry...

Day 154

About a year and a half ago, I went perusing at The Goodwill Outlet. Yes, I said outlet. I had no idea that Goodwill had an outlet- I mean, can you really get stuff cheaper than what you pay at the regular Goodwill?

Yes. Yes you can.

The Goodwill Outlet does not price items individually, except for large furniture. Everything else is weighed and you pay a flat rate per pound.

It is one huge storeroom with rows of large containers. The majority of it is junk (literally), but every once in awhile you find a treasure.

My Lawn Buddy was a treasure.

It's made of plastic so it weighs next to nothing, and cost me all of about $1.50 I think. But it's a workhorse. I garden a lot and maintain plants on all four sides of my house. I have 2 vegetable gardens and a couple of other areas on our property that I piddle around with. So I haul my Lawn buddy with me all over the yard, and it saves me countless trips back to the garage or barn.

It's much like a wagon, so I can throw whatever I am going to need that day in it. Gardening tools, potting soil, fertilizer, etc. But even better is that the handle folds over on top of the wagon part and turns the Buddy into a little bench on wheels- complete with a beer...I mean water holder.

As I relax this evening after a backbreaking weed-pulling and mulch throwing session, I am thankful for my Lawn Buddy. Because the older I get, the more the term "work smarter, not harder" becomes a mantra, not just something my mom told me...

Day 153

I've never in my life been so happy to see a penis.

That's right- Baby G is a boy. The kids got a sneak peek at 16 weeks with the help of a 2D ultrasound. He was a bit stubborn at first, but once he turned the right way there was no doubt he was a boy.

They got pictures, a DVD, and the neatest thing of all- a teddy bear. But not any teddy bear. They got a teddy bear that plays a recording of the baby's heartbeat when you squeeze it's tummy. That's just cool.

A name has been chosen, and I couldn't be prouder to say that Baby G's middle name will be the same as my husband's first one. That's just cool as well.

So now it's on. Bring on the Superman (my step-son's favorite superhero) and giraffes. I can't wait to start buying baby boy stuff again. Buying baby stuff just makes me happy. I don't know- some weird endorphin release or something. Or possibly hormone release...

It was neat to hear my step-son talk dreamily about seeing his own son sucking his thumb. He's so excited, and that's such a blessing. It truly is amazing to see a human being actually living inside someone you love. What a miracle.

Tonight's picture celebrates...., well...the penis I guess. And the honor of passing something as special as a name from one generation to the next.

Day 152

I was not a huge comic book fan growing up. I did love the TV shows associated with comic book characters though- The Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man, and of course...Wonder Woman. She was my favorite-  I had Wonder Woman underoos that my mom couldn't wash fast enough so that I could wear them again.

Over the last 10 years or more, comic book heroes have made one hell of a come back. TV is small change for these guys- the big screen is where they now live. Spider-Man and Hulk have had multiple mega-movies, and they are coming out almost one right after the other.

I love them.

I love all of them. Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Catwoman, Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Wolverine, Storm, Black Widow, and more.

I love watching good kick evil's ass. I love watching strong women kick men's asses. And I just plain love watching Thor. Cuz he is freaking hot.

And who doesn't love a superhero? They are timeless, staying alive for generation after generation. I firmly believe that 50 years from now there will still be children in the street pretending to be Spidey, as they flick their wrists making pretend webs come out.

Today we went to see the new Avengers movie. Wolverine rocked it as always, and I always enjoy seeing what new mutants are introduced to the mix. Good kicked evil's ass, and the end left you wondering what would be the next adventure.

As we walked out, I realized that my husband was wearing a Captain America t shirt. In my hand, I carried a bag from Old Navy where we had gone shopping before the movie. Inside, among khaki shorts and v-neck tshirts for my son and husband were two tshirts- Batman and again, Captain America.

So today's pic celebrates superheroes, and good kicking evil's ass. I'm still waiting for a Wonder Woman movie to come out, but I'm afraid she just isn't kick-assy enough for the big screen. Oh well. At least I  got to see Hugh Jackman's naked butt - I can settle for that. But I think I am gonna go looking for some new Wonder Woman underwear....