New Rugs!

After about an hour of bickering and almost a divorce we ended up with new area rugs for the living room. We were supposed to get two rugs alike and ended up with two different rugs that hopefully will compliment each other when you see them together. Once we had the concept of two different rugs, I ended up throwing all these rugs down on the floor of the store so I could see how they interacted. Dan almost came unglued that I would do such a thing......oh he of limited shopping! I swear...I have no idea how men shop! I actually like both rugs...one he picked out and one I picked out. I must say it turned out Ok even thought it was almost a disaster! It's important to note that all salespeople took off in other directions when we started the choosing dance. Hmmmm...that should have told us something. Can't wait until we have to pick out the new bed to replace the waterbed mattress that the cat shredded! We have a history of liking two completely different styles which accounts for our eclectic furnishings! (But I did get rid of the beer signs!)

Rock On!

I so rocked all my exercise goals today! The elliptical machine keeps record of carbs burned, calories used, distance traveled, and target pace. I increased my stats in all areas! The biggest factor which probably affected all the others was the target pace. The elliptical machine has a little light that turns red when you hit your target pace for each resistance level. I've been able to work up to level four in the target zone but levels 5 through 10 I'm sadly in the green. Today I even hit the target zone (just for a second though) in level 10. That's huge for me! I'm starting to get into this exercising every day... at least something! Now if I could find my yoga mat to do some stretches. I may just have to buy a new one.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I had the best birthday weekend ever! This is one of those times to remember and visualize again and again. Nicole flew home as a surprise. She worked it out with Natalie and they both arrived at the house on Friday evening! Totally surprised me and for a moment I had difficulty realizing that it was true. I just couldn't believe my eyes! On Saturday we all went to a yoga class and Natalie and I did a decent job of surviving! I will never be as accomplished as Nicole at yoga since she has been working at it for a long time. She is fantastic! I feel like I did get the health benefits though even at the level I was functioning! Then Saturday evening we catered a small dinner at the house (aka we ordered food and brought it home!). It was fun and relaxing. Sunday was lounging around the house eating breakfast and the obligatory stop at Wahoo's Fish Taco on the way to the airport. (No Wahoo's in Nashville!) Fabulous birthday weekend and nothing like I had expected! I am so lucky sometimes!

Post Secret

Post Secret is a disturbing and yet addicting link. I have found that I check it out every Sunday now. We all like to keep secrets and yet we all want to share secrets. Hmmmmm.... Here's the link.... you may have to copy and paste since I tried to put in an active link and it didn't work right. http://postsecret.blogspot.com

Yea Elliptical!

It wobbles... it makes noise... but it works! yes! I have managed to actually use it about 4 times now and the machine feels like it has potential. Hopefully when the repairman comes back he will be able to tighten it up, get rid of the noise and fix the back covers. In the meantime we can use it and hopefully start a healthy habit. So far I've been doing the weight loss program which uses all 10 resistant levels. I can stay in my target for the first 4 and then well...let's just say I'm still moving. For some bizarre reason Dan likes to exercise in the dark so he has disconnected the light bulb above the elliptical machine. This only serves to blind me from the control panel. I've been putting on my African drum music and walking away....with a huge light guiding the way.

Sometimes...

Sometimes I feel like I'm going a different way than everyone else. I know we are all the same and we all have beautiful parts of ourselves...it's just that sometimes... I seem to be heading off in another direction!

Concert

Last night I was lucky enough to get to see Xavier Rudd at the Boulder Theater. I was in heaven with the rhythms and different instruments. Lately he has been playing with a drummer that added another whole layer to his show. It was energetic, different, and a great crowd that was there for the actual music! I have no idea what any of the words to the songs (for those songs that had words) but it didn't matter because it wasn't that type of music. At one point I was even thinking that he out played David Lindley on the steel guitar and I love David's music! Oh... another plus was that he was barefoot!
P.S. I also didn't pay any attention to the background pictures because I was mesmerized by the two guys on stage and the fact that they could generate such fabulous sounds!

Defining Moment

There are moments in your day or life that seem to change the flow of events. Due to Grandpa's illness I had been having a very stressful day and was panicked, tired, worn out and disgusted. The doorbell rang and I have to admit that I almost didn't answer it because I was afraid it was a salesmen etc. But.... when I opened the door I found a dozen pink roses from Susie thanking me for her visit out here at Christmas time. Wow! My whole day began to turn around. The flowers gave me a smile and such a nice smell. (I even saved the outer petals to dry.) Then the phone rang and the nurse gave me good news for Grandpa and a possible solution to the problems. From there on in the whole mood of the day was uplifted!

How We Treat Our Friends!

We are so nice to our company! We always make them feel at home. Especially when they fly in from New York. We give them all of our trash bags and hassle them in the hallway!

KBCO

KBCO is one of the best radio stations there is in our country! (I think you can hear them on your computer by going to KBCO.com and following the links.) Anyhow, every year they play all of their songs from A to Z in order. It's sort of a New Year tradition. I have come to look forward to it because you hear some great songs and not just the new ones out right now! Currently we are up to the "all's". For the next hour I will hear the songs they have that start with "All" in the title. This also has the advantage of hearing the same song done by more than one artist in different renditions. This morning the neatest one was All Along the Watchtower. Talk about some great renditions of that song!

For all of you that have moved away...you know you miss KBCO!

Candid Shots

My family never poses for shots... duh... yep this one is just us going for a walk and we all tried to play spy together at the same time! You know... like we thought we could hide behind the huge tree and not be seen!

Coronas

Coronas have a strange effect around our house. The cat loves the boxes! What's strange is that my husband has the same reaction. He rolls on the floor and tries to lick and crawl into the boxes if you bring a case of beer into the house!

Elliptical machine...saga continues!

The saga of the elliptical machine continues! Above is a picture of the broken part. Now we are waiting for the repair technician to arrive and see if we have the correct part! Ahhh....looks like my prediction of late January is going to be correct. Seems to take a long time to get everything in place. Can't wait to start working out again...of course I could go to the gym but that would mean grandpa would need a sitter. Patience....

New Crocus Bulbs

Received these bulbs the other day from Nicole. They look like candles but they are actually little crocus bulbs. I have them downstairs in a cool place in the dark trying to force them to bloom. I hope it works!

Frog Lights

This was definitely an impulse buy...like who would actually go out and try and find a frog candle holder? It has turned out to be one of my most favorite christmas gifts. it's just whimsical enough to make me smile!

Because I don't have a dog!

Some blogs have neat pictures of stupid dog tricks or funny cat photos. Well, I don't have a dog and the cats won't cooperate so what's left?.....Grandpa! You'll be seeing a few random pictures of the guy in the coming months. He actually likes seeing his picture online and at times will ask me to get his picture on so he can see it. Woot!

Good day

We have a metal puzzle that is attached and the goal is to separate the two pieces. Since a lot of mornings are like brand new activities for grandpa he has been working the same puzzle everyday. Today he not only recognized the puzzle but he was able to solve it in under 10 seconds. Hmmm...a good start to the day!

I'm Sorry

The world is often a cruel and ugly place. Meredith Emerson who used to hang out with the kids in our neighborhood is presumed dead. Kidnapped and murdered while walking her dog in Georgia. It is hard to understand. In fact I may never understand it. Please take time throughout your day to be compassionate to those around you and try to leave footprints of peace and serenity on the Earth. I know of no way to erase the cruelty but only how to try and increase the kindness one person at a time.

What holds your smile?

"Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile. I have lost my smile, but don't worry. The dandelion has it." Thich Nhat Hanh

For me, my smile is held by the orchid that I grew that is above my sink. Throughout the day I pause....look at my flower.....breathe in......breathe out.......and smile. It's amazing how that little act allows me to be peaceful and aware.

Kittens and Kids

Over the holidays the kittens and kids have had a terrific time playing around. I think the original idea was snow angels but neither group could quite get the idea of peacefully laying there and flapping their paws and arms.

telephone conversation

It's happening again!

Phone rings and Grandpa answers at the same time as Dan

Dan: "I've got the phone Pop"

Grandpa: "No one is home right now"

Dan: "Pop it's me, Dan, go ahead and hang up."

Grandpa: "Sorry, Dan's not home right now...Goodbye!"

Christmas cookies

Today I signed up for PERAfit which is a free program offered by my retirement plan and insurance company. I had to commit for an entire year. It involves online and telephone coaching for nutrition, weight management, and exercise...otherwise lifestyle choices! I get a scale, actipad to wear on my shoes, and a link to have it download to my computer to send to them. This all sounds great and I'm willing to do this but then why did I just go and eat a bag of frozen Christmas cookies before the counting starts? Oh...I know...the same reason that I forgot to tell them about my weekly burrito! Stress eating and routines that I don't even think about! I'll keep you posted but not with actual weight numbers.....I have some secrets!

Catching Up

I've been working for the last two days trying to catch up and get the house back in order. I am finally starting to make progress! Yea! Clean sheets are on all the beds and ready for the next set of company....not expecting any but I'm ready! Bummer that the elliptical machine is broken...never got it even running...waiting for a part and representative to show to install the new part. Like that will happen soon...we'll see. I'm taking bets that it will end up being the end of the month...oh me of little faith! I do have the bills done, boxes packed to send with gifts too big to take on the plane and items forgotten at our house. (Cole...forgot to ship the plastic margarita glass from the shower with the tiki heads on it. It will have to wait for another shipment!) Still not back to fully caught up but at least I'm making progress. Go me!

Surprise

On of the biggest surprises over the holidays was the mini drum circles. Natalie brought her drum over and Danny just brought himself. It was wonderful to drum and just explore rhythms. We didn't always sound fantastic but we had fun. At one point I got out the wooden blocks, drumsticks, tambourine, and the smallest drum and we had a drum circle with Grandpa. It included Richard, Danny, Michael, Grandpa and myself. Grandpa loved it. As Grandpa fell asleep we all tiptoed out of the room! Danny is very good on the drums and it was exciting when I could start a root rhythm and he would fill in other beats around the main rhythm. It was just what I needed. I loved every minute of it!