Thursday, March 29, 2012

Rambling about gym decisions

I have to decide what I want to do about my gym membership. In September I started taking a weekly Zumba class through community education at a local elementary school and I immediately loved it. It’s a full hour of dancing and fun. I work up a sweat. I feel it in my muscles. I actually enjoy exercising for maybe the first time ever. Then in December with a Groupon, I was able to get 12 weeks of classes at another local gym for $20 and I picked up their Zumba class as well so at the very least I’ve been doing Zumba twice a week for the last 3 months—and this class is fantastic. I could not say a single bad thing about it (well...except for the mirrors. I don’t like to see myself do it.). I also belong to the cheapy gym around the corner from us. It’s cheap because they don’t do classes and convenient because it is a 2 minute drive and they open at 5am so I can go before the kids get up. I do that 2-3 mornings a week. We’re at the point now though where I need to decide if I want to do all of it or some of it.

My Groupon ended yesterday, and I think I would like to continue to take this class. Continuing the class would mean getting a full membership at the big-box gym and while doing so is a lot more affordable now then it was 8 or 10 years ago when I originally belonged to such a gym, I don’t know if I want to pay for the full membership. Granted, they have every amenity I could ever want in a gym, but based on their proximity to my house (15 minute drive), I don’t know that I would ever use it for more than the classes. So, I need to decide—is $30 or so bucks a month worth for between 4 and 8 Zumba classes within the same payment timeframe. I also hate the idea of a contract.

I have no intention of stopping the Community Ed. class. It runs in 3 sessions throughout the year, and I do it with friends 1 night a week. It doesn’t happen in the summer.

I don’t really see any reason to cancel the cheap gym membership. Hub and I have some sort of family deal, and we pay something like $22/month total for both of our memberships with no contract. It’s convenient to go when I can, and I don’t feel guilty if I only make it for 30 minutes.

So I guess the only decision is whether or not I want to sign the contract and pay for the big-box gym. I think it could be worth it in terms of happiness with an exercise program. They also have childcare, kids classes for the children of members, and a real bevy of other things (chiropractors, nutritionists etc.).

And if I do decide to do it, I should also decide on a better form of birth control. I swear I get pregnant every time I sign a long term gym contract.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Light Errors-Stealing a Pot O'Gold

First let me direct you to my original post on this subject. No, we are not talking about an error in lighting. We are talking about a child screaming in her sleep for hours on end. Let me tell you, it is not fun.

The last time this was all going on, we followed the doctor’s advice. We walked her through the house to see what made her nervous. We softened, as hard as it was to do so, on our bedtime routine and now we have something that is more drawn out and relaxed yet still a routine. We had a long talk about Star Wars being just a movie and stopped allowing Bud to watch it when she was in the room. It took some time, but it did work. We’ve been free of errors since mid-December.

It started again the middle of last week though: screaming, thrashing, crying out. Even waking her up did nothing to stop it. I was in her bed with her just trying to get a little bit of sleep. It was awful. We started talking to her Friday, trying to drag out what could be bothering her. Finally on Saturday she started asking all kinds of questions about Leprechauns. Lucy had a minor freak-out the previous weekend when she found her art supplies tipped over in her playroom. She was convinced that there were leprechauns in the house. If they messed up her classroom at school, then they must be here too. She could deal with leprechauns at school, but not at home. This led to a long discussion about leprechauns not being real, and begging a friend to call and say that she was the one who trashed the 1st grade classroom while the kids were outside. In the end Lucy was fine, and Liv seemed to be ok too.

It turns out though, that leprechauns visited Liv’s classroom as well. And if they also made it to the big kid’s school, they must be in our house. We talked and talked and talked about it and eventually convinced Liv that the pre-school director had messed up the classroom when the kids were outside; it was just a joke. Finally, Sunday night Liv slept.

Of course, Hub mentioned nothing of this to anyone at preschool at drop-off yesterday, and Liv came home utterly PISSED because when she told Miss C. that it was Director who messed up the room, and not a leprechaun, Miss C. said that OF COURSE it was a leprechaun! Why would Director mess up the classroom? My teeth nearly hit the floor. I know that we didn’t say anything to the teacher, and maybe she was just trying to further suspend disbelief, but seriously. If a 3-year-old tells you something like this, wouldn’t common sense ring some sort of bell? I just…ugh. Of course, Liv was up all night.

So I had to call the director this morning and explain everything to her. And ask her to please go and tell Liv that it was her, and reassure her that there are no leprechauns. She was more than agreeable, and is even going to show her how they used the green paint to make little foot prints. We’re lucky to have a fantastic relationship with her, and the center and thankfully she cares a lot about Liv.

I’m waiting for the director to email me to tell me how it goes, and then we’ll talk some more when she gets home. I just really hope it works. I am exhausted. She is exhausted. And I really just hate that she processes all of this fear in her sleep when I can’t help her.

Monday, March 26, 2012

My Brief Thoughts on the Fifty Shades Trilogy

I get very caught up in books; it is probably the biggest-if only-downfall to reading for me. When I’m caught up in a story, I just can’t stop thinking about it, obsessing really, until it is over. And then when it is over I am sad. Depressed. Missing the friends I’d made inside the book. I can’t help being completely submerged in a good story—I enjoy being submerged in the story. And then it’s over and I feel sort of empty. It never lasts long; I’m not a lunatic, but it happens.

Prior to my recent jag of reading, it was The Hunger Games that got me all spun up—I really missed Katniss and Peeta when it was over. Last week though, I started in on Fifty Shades of Grey. I was apprehensive at first wondering if I really wanted to get in to a BDSM type story. Articles across the internet refer to the book as “m0mmy p0rn”. I wasn’t sure that I would be entirely comfortable with the concept, but I started reading anyway and I was almost immediately sucked in to the chemistry between Christian and Ana. There was a ton of inappropriate smut but it was important to the story and getting to know these characters. Reading it didn’t make me uncomfortable in the least. The books are substantial—long—but I breezed through them all in just about a week. The story was just so engaging. I found myself wanting to speed through so I would know what happens while at the same time wanting to slow down so that it wouldn’t end.

I realize these books may not be for everyone, but I would recommend giving them a shot if you are at all considering reading them. You will find yourself annoyed with Christian and his controlling nature, and all of the mentions of Ana’s inner goddess (for reference, she does backflips and runs laps while Ana’s subconscious looks on in horror—that kind of annoying). You may even at a point think to yourself that another 4-5 page sex scene is probably not necessary, for the love, let’s just get on with the story. And if you’re even a little bit perceptive you’ll see that the writing isn’t always 100% put together. It’s enough though. And if you’re like me, you will be mesmerized by the electric attraction between Christian and Ana, the love story that unfolds, and all of Christian’s past as Ana brings it to the surface. And you’ll enjoy some of the steamy sex. You may even send a few inappropriate text messages to your husband. AHEM.

Anyway—I am never the one to recommend a book; I’m always the one reading what the internet recommends. I would recommend all three of these books though without thinking twice. I loved them and I wish there were more.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Monday Bullets

Oh! I feel so behind on everything! I have been up to my eyeballs with finishing my long term work project, consigning, kids activities, Zumba and PTA stuff. So of course, I’m going to do some bullets.

• I have a brand new job (same company) that I didn’t apply for. I’d really like to get in to how I feel about this and some other things, but you know…the internet. Anyone want a long ranty email from me? There’s only so much Hub can put up with. The bottom line is that I am happy to have a job. I am happy that I seem to be a jack of all trades and can adapt wherever I am placed. I’m just generally not thrilled about not having a choice.
• My big consignment sale was this past weekend and I did the best I’ve ever done. To be fair, they are the people I blog for, and I’ve done some other things for them, so I made a higher %, but still. I came home with 4 items out of 140 and I made over $500. Just by selling my kids’ clothes, many of which I’ve bought second hand. WIN!
• We are in a spot right now where we are going going going all the time. It is rough, man. On Saturday we had my niece and the boy from across the street with us. For a while I was driving 5 kids around with me. It was INSANE. I left at 9:30, dropped the boys at TKD, took the girls to gymnastics, picked up the boys, went to hockey and then out to the sale where Hub had a vendor table set up for his business.
• Although I’ve only lost about 12lbs since January, my clothes are falling off of me. Yesterday I wore my favorite stretch jean capris, and they are too big. I tried to take a picture but our only semi-full length mirror has horrible lighting. But it would appear that I once again have a waistline and hips. Hub asked me if I was sucking my stomach in and I was not! Granted there is still much fat on my body, but actually being able to see results keeps me motivated and makes me VERY happy.
• Well. Maybe I didn’t need bullets because it appears that was all I had to say!!

Monday, March 5, 2012

11. A nice oldschool MEME

What a happy day! Laura tagged me for a meme, and I was just saying (to myself) that it’s been WAY too long since anyone did a good meme. Not to mention my plan was to tell you all about how I cried for probably 20 minutes when I heard that Davy Jones died last week. And while my relationship with The Monkees (in my head, they don’t know me) was I don’t know, religious? Awesome? STRONG? You probably don’t want to hear about it. Or maybe you do. But anyway…a MEME!! Yay!!

 Post a picture of yourself, tell us 11 things we might not know about you, answer the 11 questions asked of you, then write 11 new questions and tag some friends to play along (let them know you tagged them!)

Here is a photo I took in my bathroom after screwing around with my hair for an hour after I had it cut the last time. I also had on make-up and earrings because I was going out. I still hate the hair cut, and am getting it fixed this week.



11 things you might not know about me

1. People who don’t know me very well think that I am very quiet and reserved—this is because I am shyawkward and not really a conversation starter with new people.
2. People who know me well know that I am severely inappropriate, and sarcastic/dry.
3. In my life, I have moved 10 times. 8 of those times were with my parents.
4. I’m not just a coffee drinker; I consider myself a coffee connoisseur. I love coffee! L O V E! But—I’m not a fan of most flavored coffee. I like it usually plain and black. Unless there is heavy cream in the house, and then God help us all.
5. I have perfectly straight teeth (except for a teeny gap between my front teeth) and never wore braces. EVERY time I am at the dentist, she marvels at how straight they are and asks me how long I wore braces.
6. I have a thing for colored pens. I love to write in color! I will never write in black ink if I can help it.
7. I have only flown twice in my life—2 round trips—for work.
8. I do not know how to apply makeup or nail polish. Like seriously, at all.
9. I’ve been on CNN twice! Once in high school with my show choir, and once a few years ago when there was this big story about my company and how we never answer the phone. I recorded our automated system, and so my voice played through the story over and over again. I’m famous, Mom!!
10. I can’t eat while I’m wearing my glasses. It makes me motion sick.
11. I always wished and wanted to take dance while I was growing up, but there was never any money for such things. Taking Zumba has totally filled that void for me.

Now for Laura’s questions to me:
1) What are your top five all-time favorite bands?
a) The Monkees
b) Meatloaf
c) Queen
d) Alanis Morisette
e) Simon and Garfunkel

2) What are your top five all-time favorite books?
This one is hard for me! I just love books! So these 1st 3 are ones I can read over and over and the last 2 are ones I’ve read recently and just loved.
a) Little House Series
b) Chronicles of Narnia
c) The Hunger Games Trilogy—can’t help it. LOVED it
d) The Descendents
e) The Help

3) What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
You know those sky coaster things at amusement parks? Like almost like bungee jumping but you are flat on your belly and kind of glide? I’ve done that. Twice.

4) What is your favorite treat?
I think (THINK!) bakery donuts. Like, real delicious donuts. If not, then brownies of any kind so long as there are no nuts.

5) What are you the proudest of?
It’s really hard to say. I think I am most proud of having a happy normal family, that I have managed to raise kids who are also good human beings (so far) and who love us and each other.
6) What are you the most ashamed of?
I don’t know if I’ve ever told you this or not. I didn’t graduate high school with my class. I screwed around and missed too many days/assignments in one class so I ended up finishing my senior year in August in summer school, making me an official part of the graduating class of 1997, rather than 1996, and leaving me off of the roister used for reunions etc. I kind of hope to use this as a lesson for my kids some day, but also, I would like to never have to tell them.

7) What is your guilty pleasure?
Reading blogs and blogging. I love that it is something that is just for me.
8) What are you really, really good at?
I can sing, like actually sing. Not like a pop star, but more in a classic way. I majored in voice and music in college with plans to be a music teacher. I am also a really good cook.
9) What does your handwriting look like? (post a pic!!!)?
It’s sort of half cursive/half print.

10) Which chores do you refuse to do (or do your best to get out of)?
All of them. I hate housework. HATE IT. But the thing I put off the most is putting away my clothes. I wash, and the kids take care of folding and putting away their own laundry and the towels. My laundry usually sits in the basket until it’s time to do laundry again.
11) Do you have any tattoos, body piercings, etc.?
I have one hole in each ear. That is it! And if I wear earrings twice a year, that is a lot. I had wanted to pierce my eyebrow back in the day, but never got around to it. And the only way I’m getting a tattoo is over Hub’s dead body, so none of those either. I’m not sure the permanence of a tattoo is for me anyway. I like change.

Ok, so now here are my 11 questions for YOU! Any of you really, but I am specifically tagging the following people although putting them under no obligation to do this (even though they should!). Misty, because I miss her. Sarah, because her personal blog is EMPTY, Sarah, because she is on a posting roll, Sarah, because all the other Sara(h)’s are doing it, Carrie, because she’s going to have a baby any minute, and Mrs. Irritation and Mama Bub because I know how they love to answer my questions.
 Post a picture of yourself, tell us 11 things we might not know about you, answer the 11 questions asked of you, then write 11 new questions and tag some friends to play along (let them know you tagged them!)

1. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be, and why?
2. What is your favorite flower?
3. What is something you regret?
4. You are in a frou frou coffee shop. What do you order?
5. What is the best thing that you cook?
6. Where is your favorite place to vacation, and why?
7. What’s the weirdest thing in your refrigerator?
8. Do you collect anything?
9. You have an entire day alone with no plans. What would you do?
10. Who is your #1 celebrity crush?
11. How do you like your eggs?

Friday, March 2, 2012

Bullets, and (sort of) resolution to Hub's date proposition

• So Hub talked to Lana. She thought it would be a fun thing to do. Her husband wasn’t interested but “would go if he had to”. She knows Hub likes musicals (he has been in several musicals as he studied theatre and drama in high school and college but actually kind of hates musicals), so she thought he might want to go. I…don’t buy it for a second---and not just because The Entire Internet agreed with me. But he does, that naïve man. And so we are going to go bowling with them this weekend, and see Sp@m@lot when it comes to town in the spring. Hooray. Honestly, I would like to never see her again, and I am probably going to be all kinds of inappropriate when we see them. I am not jealous by nature. Like, AT ALL. And I trust Hub. But this girl…nope. And I’m done with her shenanigans.
• I’ve been mildly feverish and fighting a cold for the last 3 days, and it’s been pretty miserable. I have powered through and continued to work out which is completely out of character for me. I haven’t gotten full blown sick though. Could it be the exercise? Maybe I am sweating it out.
• Last night there was a big school budget hearing at the district office which also happens to be at the school where I take Zumba on Thursdays. Hub, and my friend’s husband really wanted to go, so we ended up bringing our 5 kids to class with us. They were really well behaved, actually. Hub stopped down on a break though, and saw me sweaty and dancing like a fool. Even though he has seen everything at this point, I was mortified. He…doesn’t need to see that.
• I went to Walgreens for prescriptions this morning and decided to check out the Cadbury eggs. They only had the dark chocolate version. I bought them, of course, but it sort of seems like sacrilege. I actually prefer dark chocolate in just about everything else, but I guess I am an egg purist. They are so-so.
• I bought myself 3 crappy day presents over the last couple of days because I am plum out. A bag of the new Starbucks Blonde roast, some new hair bands, and some new hair ties. Nothing spectacular, but things that will help brighten my day. Win!
• It’s 50 degrees out today, and tonight we are supposed to have severe thunderstorms and more high wind. Oh, the wind we’ve had this winter. I’ve never seen anything like it! I cannot handle the dog when it’s windy either; it is the one thing that scares her. I should have maybe bought some Benadryl at Walgreens.
• I guess I’ve lollygagged long enough on this post. My desk is a mess, and I swore to myself that I would clean it before the weekend. I think I’ll eat lunch first though. Or watch some TV…or…