Exercising and writing

So, I exercised for the fifth time this week! I didn't miss a day and twice I ran around 1/2 mile along with my routine. However, the rain has put a damper (no pun intended) on the running. Yesterday, I was at my brother's due to something I'll discuss in a minute so I couldn't work out on my normal equipment, but instead of foregoing my routine I decided to try his eliptical machine. Scary thing that. I made it 21 minutes but barely, it was rough. It was like climbing up a hill with your feet incased in cement or something. I really like my "normal" routine where I do multiple things...Nordic track, step, bouncer, crunches and sometimes running. I think it mixes it up more and keeps me from getting bored.

Anyway, I was at my brothers due to his having to have put his dog to sleep. His dog was an Anatolian Shepard used in Turkey to keep large cats (like Cougars!) away from sheep. So this dog was BIG! And very furry. He had a bark like he had swallowed a bull horn too. But a nicer dog you won't find. The problem was as big as he is, he had trouble with his joints and then had some eye issues that caused them to have to remove one of his eyes and that surgery and/or the medication from it caused issues with his liver and gall bladder that could not be easily corrected. It was a hard decision but based on his level of suffering they decided the best course of action was to put him down. It will be different going there and not seeing the big furry monstrosity. I suggested their next dog might be better suited as a beagle! NOT well received, I'm afraid...having experienced both of mine beagles are not high on their list of possible new dogs! For me, I cannot imagine life without one!

Today, I take the census test to possibly work on the census for a while. I figure it will be a good way to get some extra money while I look for something more permanent (provided I pass the test!). I will also complete and submit the story I'm writing and maybe start another one...I think the more I write the better and easier it will get!!

Thought you'd want to know.

Long time no blog

My first blog in many weeks. Since my last blog I have become unemployed. I lost my banking job due to a referral rate that was below what they thought it should be. Referral rates are basically the amount of times you offer someone a product when they call in to ask about their accounts. I had a referral rate of 19.70 and they wanted 20%. I didn't think I was that far off, however, in watching the Olympics I realized less than a fraction of a second can make a difference evidently not just in ski racing and bob sledding but also in banking, who knew?

Anyway, I've been thinking long and hard about what I want to do when I grow up. Granted I'm over 40 and should already have that covered, but I think anytime a change happens, if it is forced or not, one should re-evaluate. I'm praying about it as well and it seems that God is leading me toward writing again. I'm going to try to do a few children's books and see where that leads.

In the "off" chance that doesn't work out, I am also taking a test to work on the census and have registered for unemployment and on a few sites to get my resume out there!

The one thing, being unemployed opens up my schedule a lot more so I can do some fun stuff I didn't have time for in the past. I went to the Capitol with the District's Legislative Action group. That was eye opening. I learned a lot about spending and how things I wouldn't have thought of effect it.

For instance, one of the legislators who spoke to us said that due to the unemployment rate and the economy being on a downswing people are largely buying only the staples. Those being food and clothing, food and clothing are not taxed. Therefore, there is less tax going into the economy and you follow the rest!
I really hadn't considered that and I sat marveling about it for quite sometime after. Then, I heard on the news someone is proposing taxing clothing. Of course they are! Next they'll be taking part of the stuffing out of the turkey too!

Another representative mentioned how the state is allowed to borrow surplus funds from the school districts. Then they are supposed to give it back with the interest that would have been earned had the districts been allowed to keep the funds. It turns out this is often a losing proposition for the districts as the interest they get back is often less than they would have gotten. And, of course, this is built into the laws of the State so the districts HAVE to give them the money. Our district has not had to do this yet, but it is certainly possible. This makes no sense to me when the schools are struggling so much...why cannot the State keep their hands out of money they have no business in??

That is my political commentary for the day...I'll end with this: Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

Thought you'd want to know.

2nd day still going

So I worked out two days in a row! I am so thrilled and excited and realize I should never have stopped in the first place. It makes no sense at all that I did and looking back I have no idea why I stopped. The Holidays? But the Holidays cause weight gain so why would I not have worked out during them? Also it relieves stress...I seriously do not know what goes on in my head sometimes!

The good news? The husband is out of the house, I took him over to Blaine in my pajamas this AM and he headed off in his truck to WORK. Therefore, my life is back to normal. I will go get the nephew this AM and then come back and clean up the house until daughter gets home to watch nephew and then can go get other nephew and niece! My life and routine are back! It is amazing how wonderful that is.

I also admitted I am looking for a job today. I didn't realize it before but my current job is not working very well. I struggle each month to meet the sales goals and my heart is truly not in it. I need to do something that I have talent for. I love to write, I love to organize events, I love to coordinate volunteers, I like leading. The problem is my resume reflects experience in insurance and banking which is not what I am good at doing. So I decided I am going to start asking people who I know are in the business and education world to see if they know of anything out there I'd be good at. Then I'm relying on their word of mouth and not my resume.

Well I'm off to enjoy my new-old routine!

Thought you'd want to know.

Husband must leave house!

You know how they say when a husband retires and he is normally not home and then he is home and he begins to drive the wife crazy? Well, mine has had a broken work truck for 3 days now. I normally have off on Tuesday and Wednesday and accomplish numerous tasks during that time. well, he has been here on my couch in my way, tromping in and out of the house with his boots on, making a mess in the kitchen! I could go on but I'd be whining. It is getting to the point that if the truck does not get fixed today, I will be going to the shop myself and standing behind the mechanic in a menacing fashion until he gets it done. It is too much for me to have him around this much.

I plan on working out today, yesterday I did not succeed due to the fact that I tried it when both husband and son were home. No one is home now but the beagle so you'd think it would work out, barring the phone I mean and other unforeseen circumstances!

I WILL have a decent body to take to the pool when it opens in June, I WILL. However, the upside of having him home yesterday is he ran out of things to do i.e. fishing and working out and fixed my car! So the brakes have decided to stay with the car and not seek their fortune elsewhere. It is actually a pleasure to drive the car again and I am okay with driving it again. There is always a silver lining.

Anyway, today my goal is to get rid of my pile of junk generated from the fact that husband decided to bring home some free cedar from somewhere and line our closet. This entailed getting everything out of said closet and I refused to put back the items I had not seen or wanted to see for 10 or more years. So I'll be heading to goodwill. Goodwill has such a wonderful purging effect! It really is awesome coming home to less stuff!

Thought you'd want to know.

First blog in a long time!

I haven't been writing lately as I lack a key thing that I need..time. Things have been a bit crazy around here. You can tell this by the condition of my house and the lack of laundry in drawers and availability of spoons. In fact, I gauge my level of insanity by the spoon availability 2 or less and we are in trouble and 0 means serious issues and stay away!

My husband's truck broke down last week. He drives a truck for work and it is old and needs to be put into the big truck graveyard but husband believes it has redeeming qualities and continues to pour money and time into fixing it. Therefore, this entailed me going down to a random auto repair place in the far reaches of Blaine to pick him up one night last week.

As a result of the truck being down husband had a free day. Therefore, I naturally pointed out it would be a lovely time to fix my brakes as they sound like they may leave the car and seek their fortune elsewhere at any time. He said he thought he'd go fishing. That was definitely going to be my other suggestion...NOT!

That night my son woke up at 2:30 am and I got up with him. I wandered into the bathroom sat down and felt immense cold! Freezing cold in fact!! It seems that my husband, in preparation for his upcoming fishing expedition decided to dump his unused FROZEN minnow bucket contents into the toilet!! Yes folks, I SAT ON IT! Quite the wake up call let me tell you. So I lifted up the ice berg and placed it into the sink. My husband awoke the next morning and wanted to know why all his minnows were in the sink. Gee the toilet is such a better place!

Then I went to Wisconsin to visit my aunt and best friend who married my cousin. My friend has a Y membership and took us all to run around and have fun. The kids love the freedom of being able to play raquetball and swim and run free. Plus, I even got to work out on the treadmill for the first time in months. The problem came when I went to change back into my clothes after my work out. I am not entirely familiar with that Y and walked into the locker room to change. But, first I decided I needed some water so went to fill up my cup at the drinking fountain in the back of the locker room. It was then I noticed the balding woman...not entirely bald, just mostly...I looked toward her thinking perhaps chemo? NOT chemo and NOT a woman! I was in the men's locker room!! I quietly made my way out I don't think anyone else noticed, but just in case when I got dressed I put on my coat with the hood up!! I thought of the Southwest commercials that say "Want to get away?" I certainly did at that point.

We drove back without incident although the car sounded like it was less than pleased at having made the long journey lacking break pads and grinding at every stop. My husband said I wouldn't have to stop that much as most of it was freeway so it should be okay. I want a new car, I want a new car! NOT a new-new car just a new-used car/van type thing. Someday...

Anyway, my goal this week is to work-out. I started today but didn't finish as my son decided he needed something in the 5 minutes before he went to school that I HAD to find. I will walk the dog later and try again tomorrow.

Now I have meetings and stuff.

Thought you'd want to know.

Phone Books why?

I have a stack of phone books half as tall as I am and I virtually never look at them. When I need a number I either go on line or I call 411 from my cell phone. Yet, my husband insists on collecting these dinasaurs from years past. Back in the day, it made sense to have them as most folks have either internet or a cell phone or both. I think of how much they must spend in just creating the books and how much they would save by not creating as many. People without cell and internet could request one or they could even have a spot on the phone bill to opt in or out of phone books and then they'd know how many to make. I would think saving money on making phone books would bring down phone bills too. It is really a lovely plan. Though as all my lovely plans go, it probably won't go much beyond this blog!

My car is behaving badly again. It's brakes sound as if they may leave the car at any moment and go seek out their fortune somewhere else. Really, I need a different car, but to get one would involve a lot more production than I wish to be a part of at this time. Plus, I don't know that I could afford a car payment on top of other payments. So, it's back to the car repair folks to discuss the most inexpensive way to talk the brakes into staying with the car. The next thing that I'm certain is in process of packing it's bags is the exhaust system, last summer, it was planning on leaving but we managed to tie it to the car for the bargain price of $120.00 and until it breaks the ties life is good! The one good part of this car is it is never boring having it around.

Thought you'd want to know.

Speed blogging

I'm blogging fast today, no one knows what that actually means because I'm not able to type any faster really. And I'll probably say about the same amount I always do, but by saying I'm blogging fast, it makes me feel better about spending time blogging when I have a list longer than Shaquille O'Neal's arms to complete today!

Last night, I held a meeting of the 5th grade farewell committee and everything was going fine until the popcorn machine started smoking. You see, my plan was that I would have popcorn at the PTO meeting that was immediately following the 5th grade farewell meeting and that I would heat up the machine ahead of time. The reason for the popcorn is I had found a machine when I was organizing stuff for the fun fair earlier that day and thought we could use it at the fun fair if it worked. The good part about it, is I discovered it DIDN'T work. The bad part was the smoke, however, happily it was removed from the room fast enough to avoid setting off the sprinklers, so mission accomplished!! AND no more cooking by Beth outside her own kitchen anyway where all fires are covered by our insurance.

On another topic entirely, I've been thinking a lot about Prayer lately. This was caused by a verse I ran into during my Bible study, James 1: 5-8 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

This verse made me think about the way I pray and the things I ask for. I ask for financial help a lot, I ask for help with the kids, I ask for help for friends and relatives. But, in all those things I seem to always have a back up plan if God does not come through. This in all frankness, makes me sincerely insane. How can anyone who sincerely believes in God and Jesus Christ feel that there is a back up plan needed? God created the world in 6 days, the ENTIRE world, Jesus died and rose again and also cured countless people, performed astounding miracles, and as a grand finale saved us all from certain death by taking the punishment for our sins. So, based on that, my answer is that I need a back up plan. RIGHT.

That is why this verse said so much to me. It says that a man must ask without doubt. By having a back up plan what I mean is praying for financial help and buying a lottery ticket or going with an option for the kids without first praying about it and knowing in my heart it is right not just in my head.

My term for this is "Praying with a parachute" and I am finding it won't work for me anymore. I am going to throw the parachute out the window and free fall with God.

My mom always told me that God will provide and she was right.

Thought you'd want to know.

No one is reading but I'm still talking

I keep blogging regardless of who is reading. I think it is therapy for me to write. Last evening I made a turkey breast. I had numerous problems getting started, including the fact that on the outside of the package it stated, "Put turkey breast side down." Well I didn't know which side was the breast because the thing had no legs. So I called a friend. She said what kind he turkey is it, I read the package...it is a TURKEY BREAST. Which explained the lack of legs, I guess. But why would the package say, "Put turkey breast side down." if it is ALL BREAST!! It is clearly designed for experienced cooks and not those, like me who are making their first turkey at age 40+.

Anyway, so I put it on it's side on her advice. It had a gaping hole in it, but I didn't put anything in it as I didn't want to push my skills too far the first time. Then, I had to get the pager system set up. My brother got me a meat thermometer for Christmas that includes a pager so when the meat is done it rings the pager. VERY COOL, but it involved sticking an implement into the turkey and then running a cord outside the oven and attaching it to the receiver and then entering in the correct temperature so the machine knew when to page.

It was like programming a computer, but it turned out great. In fact, I cannot wait until I find some more meat to communicate with...maybe a pork roast or something.

On another topic entirely...There was an article on MSN about the fact that the Catholic Church was upset about the nature worship in Avatar. Truthfully, I thought about that when I watched the film and wondered if it would be an issue. However, the movie was a science fiction film, based on another planet. I have to feel that fantasy, meaning story telling and reality, meaning our actual God are two separate things and a reasonable person should be able to separate the two.

If we start analyzing every film's belief system then how do we feel about "The Force" in Star Wars? Or whatever it is in "Harry Potter" or "The Lord of the Rings." or the whole Vampire thing. It is fantasy, NOT reality. We need to raise our children to understand the difference between reality and fantasy and make a solid ground around them so it is clear. If we do that, then a blue person with a tail who worships a tree seen in a film shouldn't take away their entire belief system and send them off collecting acorns.

Thought you'd want to know.

Putting on the brakes!

Sometimes I just need to take a break and write. Maybe just breathe!!

My New Year's resolutions aren't going too well thus far. Remember they were to be on time and to exercise. I've decided exercise starts in February and as to being on time, it is going okay although sometimes I'm still late. I wish I knew how to solve that, maybe if something absolutely unpleasant happened when I was late I would stop, who knows? Maybe it is my nature and I should stop fighting it.

I HAVE taken out the very spoiled beagle for walks even when it was so cold my nose froze into a nosesickle. At least now things have improved on that front and now my feet just get covered in slush when we walk. My car has a leak it its windshield washer fluid container so when I fill it it only lasts about 1 and 1/2 days. This is a problem at this time of year, so I don't know if I should just throw a spray bottle in the car and spray out the window or fill it part way use it for 1 1/2 days and then re-fill again...maybe both. Old cars are definitely a challenge!!

My daughter and I saw Avatar this past weekend. I really enjoyed it. It was a total escape from reality movie the way the Star Wars movies were for me when they first came out. I just thought it was a great plot, not too violent, nor too much vulgar language or other things you do not want kids to see. It WAS really long though and I caught my daughter texting during the film, but then she texts everywhere but the shower these days! I also liked the fact that most of the actors I had not seen before they were new to me. It is possible others have seen them before but I don't get out much. Sigorney Weaver I'd seen but it was nice to see her again as she hasn't been around a lot except doing narration for the Planet Earth series on Discover. Anyway, I'd recommend the film if you want to just watch a movie for the pure fun of it!

Last, the fish house is out of the living room! The room seems so much bigger now without the tree and the fish house...the couch looks so small! Perspective does strange things sometimes! It is really NICE to have my space back and I have been on a get the house in order one part at a time, I cleaned out a cabinet, I mounted a couple of new shelves, I got rid of a bag or two of stuff, one step at a time to a new house order!!

Thought you'd want to know.

Motivation

So yesterday I went to the grocery store to get groceries. I managed to come back with $30 worth of items and then went to pack my son's lunch this AM and discovered I bought nothing of use at all. Therefore, I'll be going back to the store again today. There was a story on the news yesterday that said if you shop once per month you can save up to $50 per month if you actually use all the food you buy. I just don't think I could do that...my memory is getting so bad, I'd surely forget something.

I did get Christmas put away yesterday which is a major accomplishment and I got a lamp for a mere $4.95 plus another $4.95 for the shade. The problem is, the shade is too dark, so I may switch it for my existing shade...I'm going to try it out anyway. It is a really nice lamp! I also got a Vikings sweatshirt for $3.00. I figure that investment won't break the bank and it will allow me to root for the team as long as it goes for and then if they crash and burn I won't be out a fortune!
Not that they will, but aside from this past week's game, things didn't look too Rosy.

Last evening my daughter and I went to tour Fair School in Crystal. I was thinking of trying to get my son into it. And it did look great and I think he'd enjoy it. Plus the building was beautiful! The architecture was incredible! The problem is that the way the enrollment is set up it is by district and Robbinsdale has a huge waiting list. I'm sure it has something to do with the school closings causing a massive bail out. But we applied anyway and we'll see. If that doesn't work out, I heard of another school I'm going to look at as well. I really think he needs another year of elementary type classes. I don't think I can send him into a middle school environment it just won't work. Also, he needs a smaller school too. Noise is not his friend nor is chaos!

Thought you'd want to know.

Writing

So, I've been thinking of trying more writing. Once I told my brother I planned to write a book and he told me before I would get one published he could build a cardboard rocket and fly it to the moon. I don't consider that a confidence boost, but then I look around at what is out there for literature and I think, why could I not write a book? All I'd need is a plot, some words and a publisher, how hard is that?

I already write this blog, granted there isn't a lot of substance to the blog, it basically is rambling, I would just need to ramble more with a purpose.

Today, I have to first put laundry away and finish putting Christmas away and then run errands - get groceries and I'm going to the thrift store to find a lamp. Ours is missing the little thingy that goes on the switch, it is extremely painful to turn it on and off and they have a 25% bonus today so I figure I can get a good deal if I can find a treasure in the rough! I do enjoy bargain hunting!! If not, IKEA is also having a sale, but that means driving to Bloomington and I don't feel very excited by that prospect. Yes, I see the weirdness between a Thrift Store purchase and IKEA but ultimately, who is going to know where I got the lamp?

I've decided to make Shake and Bake porkchops today, I successfully made Shake and Bake chicken last week and I am so fired up! I had no idea I could make chicken but it turns out, all you need to do is follow the directions! I'm 40+ years old and I just clued into this, but better late than never! I also successfully boiled a lobster tail, just the tail, not a live lobster or anything, I could NOT do that!!
Give me a few more days and I'll rival Emeril with my cooking skill, stay tuned. Bam!!

My mission this week aside from cooking and getting laundry finished up is getting the fish house out of my living room! That's right FISH HOUSE! My husband made the decision he needed a fish house and assembled it in the living room. Okay. It is STILL there and granted it folds up but it folds up into a rather large sled device. It isn't small and my room cannot support it. It makes it hard to move around. I just got rid of the enormous Christmas Tree and now I have to deal with the enormous fish house on a sled. My only concern about getting rid of it is what may follow...don't really like to think of it!!

Thought you'd want to know.

Teenagers why?

Ok, so I have a teenager and I am wondering what God was thinking? NOT that I personally have a teenager but that there are teenagers at all..why could we not go from 10-20 without having to go through all the awkward crazy, I'm not sure I'm an adult or a kid...but I sure don't want to be like my parents mentality! It is nuts.

Every day poses a new challenge! I just thank heavens I've been through it so I understand some of it. The other part, the electronic part is what scares me. I can only chase around following so many text messages and facebook posts. I just need to raise her to understand the dangers out there and hope she understands and when I see something, instantly correct it so she gets the right there message.

It is a small world out there that is actually very large. Meaning we can call someone in China now, but going to China is another thing entirely. We can text someone in the jungles of Brazil, but would we want to live there? I have no idea where I'm going with this...

I worked last night until 11:30 and then drove over to my brothers to watch the countdown with the kids, husband and brother's family. Then, I noticed my gas guage was on empty so that left me getting gas at 11:45 pm and hoping I'd make it there by midnight. I did just get there right on time! But by the time I got up the driveway it was 12:01. Then, we had to visit for a bit so by the time we got home it was 1:15 am and my son couldn't get to sleep so by the time I actually got to bed it was almost 3! I slept until 11:30 but still I'm beat! NOT used to this type of thing anymore. I used to stay up late but now 11:30 is late for me.

Anyway, it is 2010 and my resolutions are to exercise again and also to be on time. That will be enough to keep me busy till 2011!!

Thought you'd want to know.