Resolutions

Day 1 - 1 mile

OK - - I need help sticking to my routine. The last time I was diligent about exercise, it took the force of hurricane winds to knock me from my habit ( literally, IKE came and went, and the workout went with him and I have been idle since then). So, new year, new resolutions...I've been back in the school routine for a week now, so I think I have been generous enough in giving myself time to ease into the new year. I am going to start slow, but slow and steady wins the race, right?

So, here I am turtling into my resolution - a habit of exercise. But, if I do happen to stop and put my head in the shell, hopefully it isn't because another storm is brewing in the gulf!!

Yep, Its Official

I guess when you live in the south, it is only inevitable. It is bound to happen sooner or later. It is part of our worldly personna, our identity to the rest of the human race. I'm sorta impressed I have lived,umm, 37 years in the deep south and never experienced it before. Intrigued yet?

Well, Saturday night we went to the Monster Truck Rally - one of the most redneck occasions I can think of attending. Today is P's 12th birthday, so to celebrate we took him, his brothers, and 3 friends to the Truck show to see GraveDigger, Maximum Destruction, El Toro Loco and the rest of the monster truck superstars. (Aren't you impressed that I can rattle off their names like I am talking about Hollywood who's who?). I was pretty skeptical, and the only reason I decided to go (silly me, thinking big trucks were only for boys) was that it was kind of P's birthday party.

Anyway - was I surprised. I wasn't engulfed in ta'bacy spittin', no teeth smilin', mullet combin', dropped out of the third grade, low-rider '83 Camaro drivin' crowd. In fact, we sat next to several families...most of whom looked a whole lot like us. The boys - all 6 of them - had a great time. They loved when the trucks smashed into old cars or jumped over ramps. And, I have to admit, I thought it was pretty cool, too. Most impotrantly, P had a great birthday celebration, the last one before he hits teenager-dom....that's a whole new post topic, I'm sure.

So, I guess it is now official - I have embraced my inner red-neck...do you think I can surpress it again for the next 37 years?
Before the big event...eating pizza.
GraveDigger - the star of the show (that's 3 cars underneath there).
Texas' own, El Toro Loco -check out the long horns!
Maximum Destruction flying through the air (no pun intended).

Continuity

Yesterday I had lunch with my Phi Mu little sis - it had been over 12 years since we had seen each other, and only a few weeks since we had reconnected. So much has happened with each of us during those lost years, but we sat and talked and ate like it was only yesterday we were hanging out together at State. True friendships last lifetimes, and stretch to fit whatever changes life gives us. It was great to be able to reminisce and laugh, and then leave knowing that the next time we see each other, it will be just as comfortable. Like the motto on the Phi Mu crest suggests, we really are faithful sisters and our bond will keep us together for ever.

I feel so fortunate to have so many true friends - all my HS friends (whom I think of as more like family, because our lives are interwoven with school memories and growing up together), my Phi Mu & college friends ( many of whom I am beginning to find again after so many years), and now my current set of girlfriends (another set of family, because our children are growing up together and sharing so much). I hope that as my boys grow older, they too can experience the many layers of friendship, and each of them finds the stretchy, comfortable friendships that will span their lives.

I know this is sentimental and cheesey - But I really do feel blessed by all these wonderful people in my life, and I hope you realize how much each of you means to me.

The new 40?

So, today is my birthday, and I am 1 year closer to the big 4-0. Nowadays people are saying that 50 is the new 40 and 40 is the new 30...is this good or bad? If 40 is the new 30, then I wonder what else will be "new" as I near another mile marker in my life...

Will the cell phone for my soon-to-be teenager be the new baby monitor that chirped at me for the first half of my 30's?..sounds scary, I think the baby monitor is more comfortable.

Will Jr High dances replace toddler play dates? ...I bet there is some similarity between these, though. All the boy babies would play on one side of the room, while the girl babies played on the other - - now, girls on one side of the dance floor, boys on the other....(or maybe I just hope how this is how it will work, at first).

Will picking up dirty socks (in various sizes) replace the changing of dirty diapers?...can't escape this one, no matter my age, or the age of the sock wearers!

Exercise routines replace afternoon naps?...can I somehow work both into my schedule?

Nickleback replace Nursery rhymes?...Nickleback, for now.

Global cooling replace global warming?...It was pretty cool already this winter, but lets see how high the mercury rises this summer before we decide one way or the other.

Monster truck rallies replace Barney birthday parties?...we are going to try the Monster truck rally this weekend -- but for either one, I think ear plugs are a must.

Stitches replace bandaids? been there, done that....for both...I am a firm believer in the power of paper stitches, and can easily remove genuine ones myself.

Coke zero replace diet coke ? - never!!

Hmmm - looks like there is a balance in there somewhere. If 40 is the new 30, I am glad that most of my 30s were spent finishing what I started in my 20s. (finished having babies, finished moving - at least for now). Now, in the dawn of my "new 30s", I think I will spend some time making sure that my 20-self and my 30-self are synchronized and recognizable, so that together we can welcome in my new 40 self on the appropriate date in the next few years. It seems that there must be some give and take for us to move happily through life. I am glad, though, that I still have a few years before I hit 40, to decide what I should give and what I should take!

In the meantime, though, feel free to follow along as I ramble and meander throughout our journey. And, thanks for keeping us company.

Happy Holidays

Well, what a whirlwind of a holiday season we have had so far.

W played the Nutcracker in the third grade Christmas program, and did a great job in his sword fight against the mouse king. He was so excited the day he found out he was given that part. He was a great nutcracker.

Last Friday after G's first district b-ball game (we won, btw!!) we loaded in the car, me, G, P, W,M and Grandmama, and headed to the state HS football state championship. We played in the Alamodome Saturday afternoon, and lost in a nailbiter(first half, at least) and record setting high scoring football championship game 48-69.It was a great game, and an even greater season. Our boys did a great job and always represented out community with dignity and pride. We were able to do a little sight-seeing before the game - we visited the Alamo and cruised the Riverwalk. San Antonio is a great city - if you have never been there, it should be on your list! It is one of our favorite places to visit.

This week has seen us busily last-minute shopping and prepapring for the big day. Yesterday morning, we opened our presents - -it was an electronic Christmas for the boys - and enjoyed a leisurely morning of playing with all the new stuff. Grandmama came over about 11, and we had round 2 of presents and fun. Grammie and Poppie arrived not long after that, and we had round 3. Thankfully, G's sister was doing all the cooking at her house, so we didn't have to worry about pushing the boys into thier rooms to play, and we all could lounge and play and just have fun spening the day together. In the afternoon,we headed to Aunt J's house, and ate Christmas dinner ( which was wonderful) and had our 4th and final round of gift-giving. By the time we got home and put in one of the new movies unwrapped earlier in the day, I think we were all exhausted. I know that G and P were the only ones to watch the entiree movie - M, W and I were asleep within 20 minutes!

Oh well, WallE is still in the DVD player...

Now - for many of you, the holidays begin winding down. But not for us. G is at the gym today, getting ready for tomorrow's practice. Then, its a week full of basketball for us Mon- Wed - and hopefully a win on my birthday!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful and blessed Christmas Day, and I hope your plans for the remainder of the holiday include family and fun. Happy New Year!

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!

Last Wednesday we all got an extra special, early Christmas present from Mother Nature - - 4 inches of snow. It fell quietly and peacefully through the night. Luckily, just as the boys were going to bed, we noticed that it was beginning to accumulate on the ground, so they all got up, put on clothes/jackets over their pajamas ( notice M's pjs in the pic), and went outside to have some snowy fun. This was their first time to play in it. They had a blast - - miniature snow men, snow angels, multiple snowball asaults. We had a great time just watching their amazement and wonder.

Eventually, though, the cold was too much for these sunshine boys, and we all headed back inside. As we all slept, the snow kept falling, and falling, and falling... we woke up the next morning surrounded by a foreign winter wonderland. The boys lept up out of bed to head outside and throw a few more snowballs before school. W & P even got to play outside most of the day at school and had a blast enjoying the snow with their friends. Even the big kids at the high school were giddy and excited about playing outside and having fun in the novety of the snow.

By the early afternoon, the temps were back in the 50s and most of the snow had melted. There were only a few patches of shadows that held on to their snowy coats. By the next morning, the only signs of the snow were the mud puddles and sandy streets.

I know that even though Christmas is still a week away, that snow gave my boys a holiday season they will remember all their lives.

Back to Life, Back to Reality

Well - here I am, back to my virtual reality. My computer decided to take an early retirement and crashed about 3 weeks ago. It's kind of pathetic how dependent we become on our computers, isn't it? I guess I was virtually deprived there for a while, but now I am back again - with loving thanks to my very special in-laws and their early Christmas surprise for me & G. We love you B & D.