He Still Brings Me Flowers

Nathan brought me flowers last week:


Granted they were from my own garden, and the vase is a plastic shot glass left over from a Mother Freakin' Sleepover (thanks Christina!).  But isn't it sweet?!?!? 

Oh, he also got me flowers for my birthday:


Flowers twice in one week!  I'm Mother Freakin' lucky :)

Here Are a Few of My Not-Favorite Things

About a month ago I bruised my heel during the first leg of the Ragnar Relay.  I ran the other two legs anyway, because that's how I am.  The week after Ragnar I ran three times, because that's how I am.  I simmered down for a week and then came to the conclusion that my heal isn't going to get better if I don't rest it.  So I did a great job resting for about a week and a half, because that's how I am.  And then I jogged 1.43 miles on Thursday and now I can barely walk again.  I decided to go with low impact workouts.  Yay me, right?!  Today I drove (instead of walking like I usually do) up to the gym and got my butt on the recumbent bike.  I lasted about forty minutes and then had to quit because of the pain.

It seems that in order for my heal to get better for good I will have to do some things that just aren't currently on the top of my list:

  • Weight Lifting
  • Taking it 'Easy'
  • Core Work
  • Yoga (yeah, it's just not calling to me right now)
  • Using an Insert in My Shoes
  • Wearing Shoes in the House
  • Wearing Shoes Period
  • My Natural Hair Color
I'm coming up with a plan, but thank goodness going back to my natural hair color won't be on it!

Again???

My left ankle hurts again. I'm angry.  I'm tired of being 'The Girl Who Is Always Hurt."  Seriously I have lived most of my adult life in physical pain.  I feel like I get something healed up and then something else goes bad (or the whole reoccurring thing happens)...WTF?!?!

With this re-found ankle pain, I will be adjusting my workouts (again).  I'm trying this 80s style leg lifting routine, some core work, and upper body weight lifting.  Oh, and let's not forget that the community center is open for lap swimming at 6:00 AM on Mon/Wed/Fri.  Yeah, I'm going to try that too.  Have I mentioned that I'm not a Morning Person?  Yep, I guess I have.  Wish me luck.

Mind Meld

You know how it is when you know someone so well that you can finish each others sentences?  Or that you can change topics mid-conversation and the other person doesn't skip a beat and is right there on the new topic with you?  This is how my husband and I are.  For example:

A couple nights ago we were coming home after a visit with Nathan's grandpa.  It was late and dark.  We were on unfamiliar roads.  Nathan was at the wheel and I was playing Navigator.  We were all a bit on the sleepy side, but after having missed a turn or two on a previous trip we were vigilant with the Mapquest directions in my hand and Nathan's use of the trip odometer. 

The Artist (my 15 year old step-daughter) and The Brainiac (my 9 year old son) were watching a movie in the back seat on my laptop.  The Social Guy (my 16 year old son) was in the middle seat, listening to the Vikings game.  Nathan and my conversation was peppered with giggles from The Artist and The Brainiac and there were also brief updates on the Vikings game from The Social Guy.

There was a lull in the conversation.  I noticed he was driving pretty fast as we were approaching our next turn.  I say in a loud clear voice, "4."...nothing happens.

I'm a bit confused and so I say a little louder, "4!"...again nothing happens.

I start to panic.  He's not slowing down.  I've told him twice now that the turn is RIGHT THERE...I poke him on the shoulder and shout, "4!!!"  He slams on the breaks and makes the turn...I look at him and ask him if he's okay?  Does he want me to drive?

He says, "No, I just thought you were talking about Brett Farve."


Mind Meld Fail...

Reverting

When I was a young woman, I used to joke that the only kind of camping I was willing to do would be at Camp Holiday Inn.  This was mostly due to the fact that as a child almost every camping trip I went on with my parents was completely uncomfortable and usually ended in rain.  And then there was the one time it ended in a tornado...me, holding my baby sister, sitting in the tent and watching it heave in and out...yeah that particular trip might have had something to do with my dislike for camping.

Fifteen years ago, Nathan and I went on our fist camping trip together and I was shocked at the differences.  Instead of four people sleeping in a 'four person tent' (seriously, who sleeps side by side like that without any gear when camping?!?!?), there was just the two of us in a four person tent.



Instead of sleeping with rocks and sticks poking me in the back all night, we slept on an air mattress.  Instead of our campsite being in a parking lot next to fifty other campers, our site was secluded amongst the trees.  And instead of the cold and rainy weather I was used to, we had a calm cool breeze at night and it was completely-rain-free!

I was sold on this new version of camping and soon we started adding gear to make our camping more and more convenient.  Seriously, we camp like kings and queens.  Here's a picture of my camping bed, it's a double-decker air-mattress, with sheets and satin pillowcases:



We love camping so much we've considered buying and living full-time in an RV.  An RV....now that would rock.  Imagine most of your things pre-packed in your camper, pulling up to your sight, leveling your camper, and then....just enjoying yourself for the duration of the trip.

Over the last year or so, this RV dream of mine has become a bit obsessive.  It's to the point where I don't want to camp anymore without one.  I'm tired of setting up the tents (3 of them), filling up air-mattresses (4 of them, including the double-decker which requires a special plug-in that runs off the battery of the truck), putting sheets on the bed and rolling out sleeping bags, pounding the Kamp Pal into the ground (with it's paper towels, garbage bag, lantern, and hand sanitizer), putting out the table cloth, setting out the chairs, organizing the camp stove, gas burner, AND the gas griddle, stringing the close line, filling the water jug, erecting the canopy, and then finally playing the 'what did we forget?' game.

This past weekend we went camping and there was something *different* about it.  When we pulled up to the camp site, everyone jumped out of the truck and we had camp set up in less then an hour, less then an hour!  It was easy and fun.  I stood there, dazed and confused, wondering why on earth I wanted an RV so badly.  Then it hit me.  Over the last year, in an attempt to get a head start on our camping weekends, I have gone out early with the kids and set up camp without Nathan three of the last five times.

I don't need an RV, I just need my husband...the camper.


Joy Ride

I've been a bit moody the last few weeks.  I wasn't really sure what it was, but I might have figured it out last night on my bike ride.  I think it's because I've been in a constant state of 'not-really-all-that-great'.

I mountain bike and I basically battle it out for not-last-place every race.  I have yet to have a race where I'm middle of the pack, let alone close to first.  I raced Ragnar.  Our team's only expectations were to survive.  We knew we weren't going to win our division (most of us probably don't even know what division we were in) and we weren't exactly the most creative/spirited team - although we did get a lot of props for the tutus.

So I've been working my ass off all spring and summer to be 'not-really-all-that-great'.  It sucks.  I want to feel like I can do anything.  I want to feel strong and lean.  I want to feel powerful and graceful at the same time.  I want to be proud of myself.  And I get it....I *get* that just getting out there is great and that I have a lot to be proud of and I am strong and graceful.  BUT...I want more.  I want to be good...no, I want to be great.  I want to be great at...something.

Last night we went mountain biking.  We went to our 'home' course.  We left the two younger kids at home, they were tired.  It was just Nathan, The Social Guy, and Me.  The plan was; I was going to ride the whole trail once, and the two boys would ride the whole trail, plus an additional hard loop.  We pulled up to the trail and when we started to get our gear on, The Social Guy realized he didn't bring his biking shoes.  He can't go biking without his biking shoes.  We decided that Nathan and I would still bike, but just shorten our ride.  Nathan would do the whole trail and I would do the medium loop twice.

OH MY GOD....I had one of the best rides of my life.  The trail was just challenging enough to keep my interested and I flew like a mother fucker.  I felt I had wings.  I just glided along the trail, up and down the hills, over rocks and between the trees.  No one passed me.  I got out to the clearing at the end of my first loop and tears streamed down my face.  THIS IS WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO FEEL LIKE!  I went for a second lap and again, had the time of my life.  I was not only good last night on the trail, I was great.

This is me, after my ride.  It's a pretty bad picture, but I can't be great at everything :)