The Agony of Defeat

So, I had an appointment for an assessment with a personal trainer this past Wednesday. She evaluated pretty much every single muscle in my body, even though I told her that quite a few of them have never been used before.

She won.

I was thoroughly and completely convinced that I needed some serious help. I couldn't even balance on a damn ball thing because my quads were so much weaker than my glutes. (?) Even my most valiant efforts were obviously not. good. enough.

Problem is, I don't have $2268 to spend on 36 sessions with her. Not even in the realm of possibility right now. I haven't worked in over a year and Brian has taken some big pay cuts. Their payment plan was still WAAAYY out of reach.

So after being rendered practically crippled by the intensity of that 1 1/4 hours, I went to the library and got some books to hopefully incorporate resistance training into my usual workout.

I went back to the gym yesterday and it was hard, I felt embarrassed and like a big loser for wasting her time, but I did it and I'll keep going until it feels like fun again. Right now all I feel is pain and frustration. Wish I could go back to that state of ignorance and bliss, where I thought I was doing alright.

Back in the Day

So, as I am trying to determine what the kids need to go back to school, I remembered how every year at the end of summer, my mom would take us to Kinney Shoes to get a new pair for school. I always had a hard time deciding what I wanted to live with for the entire school year and almost never got them big enough to last anyway.

Gold's Gym Rocks!

At the end of June, Brian and I joined Gold's Gym. The first two weeks were pretty hard, we both stuck to the treadmill. Brian's heart race reached some scary levels and every workout made me really dizzy and nauseous. We hung in there though and we get there at least twice a week, usually 3 times.

We are a little dismayed that of the 7 channels of TV to watch, one of the constants is Fox News. It's hard to look away from that train wreck.

I have graduated from the treadmill to the elliptical, doing 2.25 miles in 30 minutes. No more dizziness for me and Brian's heart rates are in normal range now. Brian has lost weight, but mine hasn't changed significantly. I'm afraid that I might be one of those fit but fat people unless I go on some kind of meal plan. I hope it's too soon to worry about that and since I'm still breastfeeding, there isn't too much I want to do about it at this point.

I'm ready to test out my new fitness level with a bike ride or something. We live in the foothills and have some crazy streets, so it will probably still kick my ass, but I'm still curious to try.

School Days, School Days

Today was registration at Harry's school. After being in a two-teacher, very full class last year, I asked for him to be moved to a traditional classroom. He is not a needy kid, but all that chaos didn't work for him. The whole idea of having two teachers seemed to make sense at first until I found out that in practice, it meant one teacher was teaching ALL 37 kids while the other teacher graded papers.

All spring semester, they insisted that my son could hardly read and then when they gave him a standardized test, he suddenly "could" read above grade level. I wasn't impressed. It told me that he was not going to excel in that environment.

Only 12 days left until we start finding out!

Target gets me every time.

Everytime I go to Target and think, "I just need ____ and ____." they have something new or cheap that I just cannot resist.
I saw it and it was the ONLY one and I HAD to have it.
Today's find:

Here's a linky if you like it too: Mossimo Tote

Lucky mom gets to watch this every day

So last week, just two days before he turned 9 months old, my little sunshine started walking. He's been teasing us for a few weeks, but now he takes off pretty much whenever he wants. Truly amazing.

How's that for a slice of fried gold?

So, for the first time in ages, I woke up before George and was able to do the whole wake up and get your coffee thing in peace. I had a full hour all to myself to check email, start some laundry and get my mind in gear. It was great.

Unfortunately, I did something truly dumb yesterday. Just to entertain George, we went around the house "knocking" on all kinds of different things to hear the sound it made. Guess that wasn't such a great idea because this morning my "knocking" knuckle hurts like hell. People who have arthritis probably shouldn't go around smashing their joints on things. I hope it calms down soon.

Whew!

After three summers, we have finally established a lawn! In my opinion, it is just WAY too much effort and cost here in the high desert, but it was already there.

We have aerated and dethatched, seeded and overseeded, fertilized and watered and it finally looks like a lawn!

Ummmm, that's not fog

According to my Google Weather Gadget:

85°F
Current:Fog
Wind: NW at 2 mph
Humidity: 10%

Pretty much wishing that it WAS fog. This was after the first full day of smoke:

I resemble that remark

So, my daughter and I were leaving Gold's Gym today and when we were waiting for M Night Shyamalan to cross the street (not really, but the guy kinda looked like him), we decided that in no way did I have any kind of resemblance in any way to any celebrity. I thought that was a very good thing since if there was some characteristic that one would recognize in me, it would likely not be a good one. "Hey, she's got a pooch that looks just like Roseanne Barr's!" Catch my drift?

Anyway, I suddenly remembered that the owner of a silk shop in Virginia City a few months ago was so intent on selling me a wrap, that when I was trying it on, he told me, "See! You look just like Angelina Jolie!" I think you will have to agree:

My Little Carnivore is 8 Months Old

Georgie doesn't really eat the meat; he just chews on it for a while-still doesn't have any teeth. Little dude is pulling up and walking all around the furniture and can crawl wherever he wants to go. Some serious babyproofing is going to happen here this weekend. It's been so long since we've had a baby in the house that it feels like a minefield now.
I realize that I sound like a really bad reporter, but George has become so demanding in the last few weeks, I am totally frazzled. He wants constant interaction and attention and it is exhausting. I know that this stage will quickly pass when he is fully walking, but I am drained right now.
I can't believe my little lamb is already 8 months old. It is flying by and as usual, I wish I was less tired and enjoying it more.

One less Son this Summer

My oldest son, Steven is leaving today to stay with his dad for the summer. We get to do this every year, but I never really get used to it. On one hand, it's nice not having to try and entertain an almost-17 year old boy, but it is also a constant nagging worry about where he is and what he is doing. Hopefully, he will take good care of himself AND have a good time.

See my Husband Get Nailed

Here he is in a commercial for AlphaFlex. (yep, he's the guy getting tackled-he had the nasty abrasions to prove it!)

AlphaFlex Commercial

An outlaw for my love...

I don't think I've ever heard another song that quite nailed down the early teen experience like this one. I stumbled across it when I was ripping CD's onto our new computer. I dont' know how I missed it the first time around, but I can't stop playing it now. It has a lovely, swoony melody. I can't find a sample of it since it was from a compliation CD called "Double Take," but here are the lyrics.

Thirteen by Garbage

Won't you let me walk you home from school?
Won't you let me meet you at the pool?
Maybe, Friday I can
Get tickets for the dance
And I'll take you.

Won't you tell your dad, "Get off my back"?
Tell him what we said 'bout "Paint It, Black".
Rock n' roll is here to stay.
Come inside, now; it's okay.
And I'll shake you.

Won't you tell me what you're thinking of?
And would you be an outlaw for my love?
If it's so, then, let me know.
If it's "no", well, I can go.
I won't make you.

Silly Boys in a Box

While Georgie would LOVE to get his little hands on Harry's Legos and tiny cars, we can sometimes find things that amuse them both in a way that nobody gets hurt.

Shakin'

We are having an earthquake "storm" here in Northern Nevada. Last night we had a 4.7 that woke me out of a sound sleep. Going to stock up on water today.

Home-Decor challenged

I will be the first to admit, I have never taken an interest in or made any kind of effort at all to decorate a home I lived in, except for maybe my first apartment, which in all honesty, had a lot more style than any other home I've lived in.

Anyhoo, almost every single thing in our house is a hand-me-down, or bought quickly out of necessity or on impulse. Needless to say, it looks like shit.

Since I am creeping up on 40, it is pretty embarrassing to have anyone come into our house. The theme song from "Sanford and Son" constantly plays in my mind. I am almost to the point where I'd like to chuck everything and live on cushions because at least it would have some kind of flair. The problem with that is, since everything I've collected so far is some kind of weird rustic flavor and that is NOT AT ALL where I'd like to be and I would literally have to toss EVERYTHING. I can't get rid of the quilt my mom made or the brass candlesticks my grandma gave me, but I can't figure out how they could be incorporated into color schemes like this:



The whole idea seems very overwhelming and horribly expensive. I think it might require a few more years of looking and dreaming.

Living in Sin

Just read a post from a midwesterner who is looking to relocate to the west. She wasn't sure about "Navada" because of the gambling. I guess we can't help from bumping into all the hookers walking around either. (the only ones I've ever seen were in ads on top of taxis)

I find it quite hilarious since I grew up in Wisconsin where there is a freaking bar or liquor store on every corner, even in most neighborhoods. I can remember going to church on Sunday and then going to Grandma's house, where the booze was flowing. It's five o' clock somewhere, right?

Then I thought, what the hell am I bitching about? Like I really want some religious nut moving anywhere near me anyway.

Yes, yes, Nevada is chock full o' brothels and casinos and don't forget that we have the highest meth use per capita in the entire world!

WWYD?

I was just wondering; if you put aside all matters related to health, would you rather:

1) be just the right size; not too drastically skinny, but whatever amount is ideal to you without starving yourself or going crazy with the exercising thing (whatever that is).

2) be rich, but have to be chunky, with no reprieve via plastic surgery or whatever. So you could dress well and all that, but you'd have to be a chunk.

I honestly don't know which I would choose.

Little bit scary.

Harry's Award

Here's a video of Harry getting a principal's award at school. His reading level went up a whole grade since January. I kind of knew that he would just suddenly "get" reading since that's exactly how it happened with Steven. Way to go Dude!