Sunday, June 28, 2009

Wow! What a Week!

It's been quite the week. Last Sunday was Father's Day and nearly my entire family visited my parent's house--there are 39 of us and during the day, 37 made it to the house. It's a lot of fun and a lot of babies!! We've had 5 little boys born in the last 15 months.

So, we've had dinner and we're all visiting and talking. The teenage cousins are goofing off together. The next thing I know, I'm being told my son has hurt himself somehow. He's in the bathroom screaming because his eye hurts and he is flushing it with water. I can't get him to calm down. He's 6 feet tall and a very strong kid. I'm trying to get him to go to the hospital with me but he keeps yelling at me. He's hurt and he's scared so we call the paramedics. He calmed down for them. There were 4 or 5 of them surrounding him.

As it turns out, the bicycle tire blew up in his face and hit his eye. They checked him out and didn't see any obvious foreign objects or penetration of the eyeball but recommended that we have him checked out at the emergency room. So, his dad took him down. We have to go to the IHC Hospital in Murray because of insurance even though St. Mark's is less than a mile away. They got him in a room almost immediately and then the waiting began. However, they checked him out really thoroughly and his cornea was severely scratched. The doctor said "stippled".

However, while they were at the hospital, I got to help get the trailers packed for the 200 mile bike ride starting the next day.
hmmmm....... I'm not sure we made a good decision on who should go to the hospital. Anyway, we got the trailers packed up just before 10pm and they got home right about 10:30.

Up at 5:00 to get ready for a 6:30am departure. It was quite the sight to see nearly 35 men and boys all dressed in green t-shirts, wearing helmets and sitting astride bikes ready to go. Unfortunately, my boy got to watch and wave them off. He was sidelined until the eye doctor could do a follow up. Sunday night he was telling me there was no way he was going and Monday morning, I caught him trying to load his pack into the trailer with his helmet over his arm. So sorry!! Take everything back inside.

However, we were able to get an early morning appointment and he was cleared to ride--with wrap around sunglasses and eye drops. We ran around getting last minute things for him and caught up with the peloton in Ogden just in time for lunch. They rode 200+ miles over 3 days from Salt Lake City to Bear Lake. WOW!!!

That meant a girl's week at home. We went to see The Proposal with Sandra Bullock. It's pretty cute. Nothing great but an enjoyable evening out with my daughter. Then we came home and rented Twilight. I'd never seen it. It was a fun evening.

I got to spend some time getting caught up on my quilting. Two quilts totally finished this week with two more to finish before Sunday!! Getting close!!!!

Finished off the week with the whole family at Transformers! The action is intense and the story is good but it was pretty crude in places and I thought that was disappointing. We hit Robintino's for a late dinner and home. It was so much fun to spend the evening with my teens. They are so rarely around that family time tends to be Sundays only.

So, here's what I've done this week!!


Friday, June 12, 2009

I thought I was going to die!

I got up early this morning--before 6am--so I could go riding with a group of gals from my neighborhood. I'm just getting into the biking scene. I got a new mountain bike for Mother's Day last month and I'm slowly getting in some short rides. The gals I went with have been riding for a while and they were all on road bikes and clipped in. They are also all 10-15 years younger than me and in much better shape. I thought I was going to die!

It actually wasn't a bad ride--about 10.25 miles out to the Cotton Bottom and back. Just some small hills, some really nice downhill sections. Really, a pretty good ride. The gals I was with were really nice--they'd get out ahead of me and then wait for me to catch up and off we'd go again. The only down side to that scenario is that they kept getting these great little breaks and I had to keep riding, riding, riding to keep up. I thought I was going to die!

I realized at about 4.5 miles out that I had taken off without any water. I really needed water at that point. I'm panting and my mouth is dry and I really, really want some water. I've fallen far enough back that I can't quite see the gals I'm riding with. If I'd had my phone on me, I would have called for a pick-up from my hubby. I really thought I was going to die!

I finally catch up to the other gals and we have a little break. They were nice enough to share some water so I could get my mouth wet. Then we head back. This part is the really nice downhill section. I'm in the front and I'm pushing hard because there's a steep little hill coming up. I hit the hill and the other gals cruise right on past and I'm frantically downshifting. I thought I was going to die!

Then we're in the mostly uphill section. We're probably pedaling through mile 7 at this point. I can no longer feel my rear end. It's numb. My arms are starting to hurt because I'm leaning on the handlebars so hard. Again, I can't see the gals in front of me. This is when I had the bright realization that I'm riding with gals who are way younger than me--the youngest is around 16 years younger than me! What the heck was I thinking?? I'm pedaling ever so slowly and really wishing I had that phone so I could get picked up. I thought I was going to die!

So, we're playing the catch up game. They ride for a while and wait for me to catch up. We pedal ever closer to home. Finally, we reach Lincoln Lane. I know this section and I"ve ridden it several times because this is the way I come home from work. I took off and pedaled like crazy and was out in front all the way down Lincoln and over to Suada Drive. I really love riding down Suada drive. It's a great downhill and all the way home. I'm feeling really great! This is fun!

We pull in and Melissa says it's 10.25 miles. I'm quite proud of myself. I made it through and I didn't die! I pull into my driveway and get off the bike. My legs feel like lead! By the time I reach the door, I can barely move! I hobble down the hallway and into the kitchen for food and drink. I can hardly feel the lower half of my body--it's gone numb! My hands hurt, my arms hurt, my shoulders hurt. My legs don't hurt because I can't feel them. I thought I was going to die!

I can hardly wait to do it all again on Tuesday!!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Every ride is a water ride!

I am not a fan of water rides at amusement parks. I had a bad experience with a water ride about 14 years ago and I've never enjoyed them since. Generally, I like amusement parks--just not the water rides. So you can imagine how my day went today at Lagoon.

It's the annual Lagoon day today! In the middle of what must be classified as a monsoon in the desert! So of course we went. I took my son and his friend and we got there about 4pm. It was actually pretty nice--not too hot, fairly sunny, not at all crowded.

My daughter and husband got there about 6pm. Just before they got there, the clouds moved in and it rained a bit and turned cold. I stayed dry under some of the large trees because the rain was pretty light and it only lasted 10 minutes or so.

We did some rides, got some dinner, the boys had their picture taken at the Photography shop in Pioneer Village. My husband and daughter got on Samurai and it started to rain. Just lightly. My daughter was cold and hungry so she went off to Arby's and we hit the inside rides--Haunted House and Terror Ride.

Now the rain is coming down a little harder and it is starting to get really chilly. So the husband and daughter head home. The two 14-year old boys are just getting started. By the time I found them just after 9:30 they were soaked to the skin. But they wanted one more ride. So off they went to Wild Mouse and Wicked.

Unfortunately, they found the deepest, hugest puddle I have ever seen. It was nearly up to my son's knees and he's 6 feet tall! I know this because he waded through it--about 6 times!!!!! If there was any part of their bodies that was dry before the puddle, it was wet after!

Now it's time to head home with two very wet teen-agers--and no towels! My daughter will freak tomorrow because I'm pretty sure the car is going to smell like wet teen age boy! I had the heat on full blast because we were all cold and shivering. It's June and I have the heat on in my car!

So, I really don't like water rides and after today's experience with every ride being a water ride, I think my Lagoon season is done for 2009!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Wet Sunday!

What a wet, wet day! I can hardly believe it's June. I woke up late and I thought it was earlier than it was because it was overcast. It's really rained and been cloudy and almost cold for Utah in June. My mom called it an English summer-rain and gray clouds.

I am enjoying the cooler weather. I love the fact that I don't need to have the heat on or the air on. It's perfect. It's cool to sleep and brisk in the mornings. I really wouldn't mind this for about 10 weeks out of the summer with two weeks of bright sunshine and mid-80's mixed in. Unfortunately, it's going to get really hot and hit 100 sooner than I hope.

My kids would like it to warm up before the week is over but that's not in the forecast. They are headed into the mountains with the youth group from church and my daughter is complaining that they will be cold. I think they really will be cold, too. Jacket time all day long most likely because it's not forecast to get above 70 degrees for a high! WOW!! So cool for mid-June.

So, I'm enjoying my cool days and the lower utility bills are a wonderful bonus. Enjoy the weather wherever you are!




Saturday, June 6, 2009

Lazy Day!

Don't you just love days you can be lazy? No great expectations, no big tasks to be done, no place to be. Just a day to hang around at home and do something or nothing depending on how you feel.

Today was one of those days. I lazed around and really didn't do much. It felt great. I slept in this morning which is something I rarely do. It was 10am before I woke up and I was really surprised. I haven't slept that late in years. It's not something I want to do every Saturday, but I certainly enjoyed it today.

So, here's to the rare lazy Saturday in my life!

Friday, June 5, 2009

AAHHH!! FRIDAY!!!

I love Fridays and this is one of the very best Fridays of the year--SCHOOL'S OUT!!! I'm soooooooooooo excited to be done with school and to have 3 months of play time with my kids.

Tonight my nephew is spending the night and we're headed to the movie in the park--Kung Fu Panda on an outdoor screen with lots of yummy snacks (even grapes for me!!). Our township puts on a movie in a different park every Friday night during the summer. Last summer I think they did 6 movies and we went to City Slickers. Right in the middle of the movie, the sprinklers came on!! You should have seen people scramble. Unfortunately, they raced to get the projection equipment out of the water so everyone left and we didn't get to see the end of the movie. But what a memorable night.

I'm hoping they communicated with the parks department so we have a dry showing tonight (I'm really hoping no more rain and the wind calms down as well). Should be lots of fun.

See you at the movies!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Full body work-out!

Once a week, I work out with a trainer at the gym. He's great! In the last few weeks, we've been focusing on total body work-outs. I feel absolutely wonderful after I'm done--about 3 hours after! LOL Right after I'm totally wiped out. But I can tell I'm getting stronger and that's a good thing.

So I just got back from another total body workout and I'm sitting here wiped out as usual. A great time to update the blog since the only body part that has to move is my fingers. Try this sometime--take a medicine ball, hold it high above your head with elbows as straight as possible and do 8 lunges down and 8 lunges back all while keeping the ball above your head--don't lower it! Follow that with some seated rows on a yoga ball, 8-10 squats on a bosu ball (I absolutely hate getting on and off those things and I can't do it without holding on), then 15 chest fly presses and finally one minute of planks. I really hate planks! For anybody who doesn't know what they are, it's similar to a push up but you are resting on both elbows and your toes and holding your body perfectly flat as long as you possibly can. Today's plank fun included holding as long as I could, dropping and resting for 5 seconds and then doing it again for a total plank time of 60 seconds. Now, do the whole routine again. And one more time. Believe it or not, I did all three reps in just over 20 minutes.

Now why is this important? Because my husband has found a triathlon he wants to participate in. To be fair, I guess I want to participate as well. Both kids are going to do it too. The second Saturday in September so that gives me plenty of time to get in shape. I'm hoping to be doing something physical twice a day--riding my bike to work, working out at the gym, running in the mornings and swimming once or twice per week so I can get myself to 400 yards without dying otherwise the bike and run portion of that tri is going to be awfully difficult.

My personal theme for the summer is work out. My daughter is supposed to be running 500 miles this summer to prepare for X-Country season in the fall. She's a really good runner--not so great on the bike or the swim. My son is a good biker and a good swimmer--not so great on the run. My husband loves to bike, used to be a good runner (hasn't done it for nearly 30 years), but really is weak in the water. I used to be a really good swimmer, I like biking so I think that will become better this summer but running is really difficult for me. I never liked to run distance ever. I doubt I've ever run more than one mile at one time in my life (I remember doing the mile in high school gym class and it just about killed me then). So, that portion of the triathlon has me rather nervous. Okay, a lot nervous.

So, here's to a summer filled with total body workouts and a successful tri in the fall!!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

The Joys of a teen-age driver!

My daughter is a newly licensed driver. She's really excited about driving. I'm excited about her being able to drive herself where I used to have to drive her. That's a lot of time in a week--in a typical week, it's probably at least 2 hours of driving time for me. That's the good side.

Now for the not so good side. Yesterday I got home from work and found no car and no daughter. Hmmmm..... wonder where she is? So, I call the trusty cell phone. No answer. I text her. No response. Thirty minutes later, I call again. No reply. I'm now wavering between wanting to ground her until she's 90 and wondering if the next time the phone rings it's the police saying she's been in an accident. She finally calls me back and lo and behold she went to see "Up" by Pixar. There was a group of kids who didn't have classes so they all went to the movie. Since she had wheels, she didn't bother to call me. New rule--Just because you have the keys to the car does not mean you do not have to check in!!! Check-in is now mandatory or the keys to the car mysteriously disappear forever or until Mom's frustrated with driving you everywhere again.

So, today I'm on my way home from work. I get a call. "Do you need the truck this afternoon?" She's asking because I'm driving the Vibe today and the dealership is picking it up to do some warranty work. She is driving the truck. No, I don't need the truck this afternoon. "Why?" It seems that a group of them want to go do "something". They don't know what yet and she wants to drive. In this state, a newly licensed driver cannot drive her friends in the car unless a licensed driver over 21 is in the passenger seat. Unless she's been holding out on me, none of her friends are over 21 . I point out that it's silly for her to drive all alone and would she please catch a ride with those kids who have had their licenses long enough to actually drive a group of teen-agers. That comment was not well received. She still has the truck because she's still at school. So, I'm waiting to see . . .

I'm not so sure this independence thing is all it's cracked up to be. I really like knowing where my children are 24/7 and I can see that with keys to a car, I'm really not going to know that fact anymore. I guess the control freak part of my nature is going to have to learn to live with it.

Now for the other not so good side. Do you know how much it costs to insure a teen-age driver? !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

We actually changed insurances recently because we flat out couldn't afford the insurance we had once my daughter started driving. We're now paying about $100 more a year than we were before but that includes a 3rd vehicle and the teenager! Luckily, she's a good student and gets the good student discount as well as being a girl!!! In two years, I have a BOY who will need to drive!!! AARGH!! I'm going to need a second or third job!!!

So, for now, I'm living on the edge of enjoying being able to send someone to the store and worrying sick about where she is and if she's safe!!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Time Flies!!!!

Time flies!! It's supposed to fly when you are having fun. I don't know that I've been having a lot of fun over the last 4 months, but time has sure flown by.

Can I just say one more time that I hate homework? The song School's Out for the Summer (Alice Cooper, I think) has been running through my mind all weekend with emphasis on "School's out forever!" I wish!!!

The very sad thing is that summer will really fly by almost faster than I can blink and then it will be homework season. Again!! FOR 9 WHOLE MONTHS!!!!!!! :(

Oh well. Enough misery. I'm going to enjoy my summer!!!!! Anybody have fun plans to share?