tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32761448813951209282024-03-05T21:22:57.770-05:00kelariousA few thoughts on life, work and the random, hilarious stuff that happens in between.kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-73119764573185329752014-06-04T23:40:00.002-04:002014-06-04T23:41:58.711-04:00An Ode to the Brownie<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">No, I’m not
talking about the small girls who sell amazing cookies, though y’all probably
know I love the Girl Scouts, they hold a very special place in my heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">The
“Brownies” I’m talking about are roller skates. The old-school, brown roller
skates that you borrow when you visit a roller rink. They are well-loved,
dirty, smelly, and have lovely orange coordinating wheels and toe stops. I
skated on these beauties for my first month of roller derby. Which, to say the
least, was really, really, REALLY hard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77eYSUmTEg48rqlYMeq2-mpFFRdswOsShdLlAe1glf1PAISCxhtMexXOMkqSrxLsVVYGNtJnA13YVJq2-tpM51eKO7cX577aWbRctsFIB-GrgJ7tn6B_X7088Fd8WSt6XEqXa-tHpOO0/w399-h532-no/IMG_20140426_090714.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">As I
understand it, when you have your own skates, everything about them is
adjustable and/or upgradeable: the wheels, the bearings, the cushions, the trucks, the plates, the shoe, the
laces, the length and size of the toe stop, etc. I am only just beginning to
figure out what the hell all this even means, and why one might want a looser
truck or a higher toe stop than the next woman. For now, because I’m attempting to figure
out how to skate on new skates and wheels, everything will pretty much stay the
way I found it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YD114QLK6cPcwbwJbf59lymsKYb9yjTknfLmrerFLYTYlX_psJ2M4lfCgEU13gTbPE65rA-NE8RPq2hRT1Z-EDZcn7MTwWzOznITCGDCV7hIpgfulWZOSaeUOWyT092qC4WHbs_zc2U/w399-h532-no/IMG_20140426_091019.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">The brownies
are tough to skate on, in that they are made for going forward, and that’s
pretty much it. You aren't able to feel your inner/outer/front or back wheels,
(like we are supposed to be able to do in our own skates), turning is quite a
bit challenging, and doing anything on a toe stop feels like an impossibility.
Some have said that if you can learn anything in brownies, then quad skates
will be “easy”! So, instead of investing in skates from the beginning, I bought
really good safety gear and borrowed skates from the roller rink. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">I was able
to learn A LOT of new skills on my borrowed brownies: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Stopping –
T-stops and Plow stops<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Skating on
one foot – both on the straightaways and on the curves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Cross-overs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Weaving<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Carving<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Falling –
both the single and double-knee kind, and the “rock-star” fall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Hockey stops<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Backwards
skating<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Turning
around<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Fast feet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Transitions
– from forward to backward and vice versa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Walking and running on my toe stops</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">In theory, I
also learned how to do a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC_HgSTmpwQ" target="_blank">Mohawk</a>. I can’t actually DO one of these yet, but I’m
sure I’ll get there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">These skates
helped me to figure out this this is my new sport. That maybe, just maybe, if I
can do anything resembling skating, including this pretty long list of skills
above on this challenging of a skate, might actually be able to play some roller derby! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHYpmwz5mJps_qxXCO-kGuLWGLuYUjDe_lOPdz_rpMYIAg62LnsrOrMgrCFMjbGxA-hlmwmKkIxOtU5MyyVd5D_LvXqurUmSOKFJ3UYJeNUiDxq2cg9-xwFhF-e-jO6MCejUMNnQArRo/w399-h532-no/IMG_20140426_090911.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">So while I
am very excited to figure out the nuances of my new wheels, I am thankful for
what I learned in these old school skates. They were a great place to begin,
and I will always think fondly of my entrance into this new world, while being
extremely grateful that I no longer have to endure a practice wearing these skates. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">And now I present
to you, My New Skates:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/1623688_10104323850181495_2247561521725711585_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;">They are definitely not cute, but I can turn and feel my edges in them, so the bedazzling will have to come later. For now, I'm so damn happy not to be in brownies they look beautiful to me!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">When I
figured out that the laces they came with weren't working for me, I used the
<a href="http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacingmethods.htm" target="_blank">Google machine to find different lacing options</a>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img alt="Displaying IMG_20140516_162917.jpg" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=3211010f12&view=fimg&th=14669cb3b927e2a8&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=1470034616616222720-local0&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ-R6kc6mmpTNpBSxN0o5iKj-e_gbqmUjtHM2b9WxUPBN7vp7ft5Eg6Ya303ovGvTk4y3JTZQO5j_p1uTl50qBm9YRmNkudAD2BhHQkfWG_Yc6oF_LNlYeXeWJE&ats=1401936349803&rm=14669cb3b927e2a8&zw&sz=w1168-h475" /></div>
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After a couple of practices, I chose to go with the laces on the right. Which also happens to be my left skate. :) Apparently in order for me to feel my toes, I need to not really do anything with the first few holes, so the lovely star laces are just for show. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Displaying IMG_20140522_214313.jpg" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=3211010f12&view=fimg&th=14669ca0c590c68e&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=1470034531975168000-local0&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ9kT9AjuijGbK37fwC2_XO5BMWrkUbNBLjheOM48QZIPZTgUbONzI98C6FFzlTR009GiWAJf9ArCyqYKssRUsS3hWfPZPiUGJf1orZtTDVZdSmbpQ0VPSKhRXY&ats=1401936349820&rm=14669ca0c590c68e&zw&sz=w1168-h475" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new skates, with new laces and toe stops! Wrigley is clearly as excited as I am. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Added bonus
since this post took so damn long to actually get published: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Garamond, serif;">After I got my new toe stops, and being in a hurry to replace the current ones (read: too impatient to wait until I got to the next practice to have an expert help me), I googled “how to put on gumball toe stops”, and learned that the top three
things people apparently google are “how to put on a ….. 1. Condom. 2. Dog
harness 3. Eyeliner.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Yep, you can’t
make this stuff up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This post, brought to you, apparently, by Google. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Dear Google, can I get a little something for my free advertising? I've started this new hobby, and it's getting a little pricey!]</span></span></div>
kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-62102167243048845022014-02-12T14:31:00.001-05:002014-02-12T14:31:31.616-05:00Be. Here. Now. <div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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Back when I used to work for a different Big Ten university, I had the opportunity to go to a one or two-day-long seminar on . . . . shoot . . . something - change management/campus climate/etc. (oops!)We talked about the concept of "Be Here Now," and apparently that's all I retained. <br />
Probably because I got this cute desk plate: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqYEq4HdpsWQwSilblwDazcKQI3RyDQl_31fuOmr8RgQzqoBt4anKVKJr9qZwbBAjvCKRH2fed0Sjmn-Va9bDnNSipYSf7S0C1M__LGWZ29pjps_6joMA3WuYTO2xpl9GTicS580ONzg/s1600/IMG_20140212_080352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqYEq4HdpsWQwSilblwDazcKQI3RyDQl_31fuOmr8RgQzqoBt4anKVKJr9qZwbBAjvCKRH2fed0Sjmn-Va9bDnNSipYSf7S0C1M__LGWZ29pjps_6joMA3WuYTO2xpl9GTicS580ONzg/s1600/IMG_20140212_080352.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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One of the things I learned early on with Wrigley is that I HAD to be present when I was with her. Great Danes are apparently highly social animals, and can easily suffer from separation anxiety. [Apparently I <strike>ignored </strike>missed that bit of information in my research.] <br />
<br />
I learned VERY QUICKLY where the phrase "follow you around like a puppy" came from. When I first brought her home, Wrigley literally followed me everywhere. No seriously - EVERYWHERE. <br />
I needed a drink of water - she came to the kitchen. And then back to wherever I was. <br />
I forgot a snack to go with said drink of water, she came back into the kitchen. And then back again. <br />
Washing the dishes from the snack? She'd be sitting in the kitchen next to me. <br />
Water goes through the body . .. you get the picture. <br />
She was everywhere. Constant. Ever present. <br />
<br />
Which was adorable and endearing and also sometimes annoying and frustrating at the same time. <br />
<br />
Until I came to terms with the fact that I had chosen to bring this puppy into my life - not the other way around. And I needed to give her this needed and wanted attention, otherwise - what was the point of me getting a puppy? I didn't buy a decoration for my living room; I added a four-legged baby to my family, and I needed to treat her as such. She needed love, attention, boundaries and my time. <br />
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The "attention" part of that has been a little challenging at times. That's where the "Be Here Now" concept came into play. <br />
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<img class="HAa Eha" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7apl0DjnvnqG9I4Uq8vCfLwmPer_6L_pR8SIcXEWZuexU-OZeFwHeYd19j2xrpQmaoeD5MIIc90YF7ds4ZzH2yWgTN3MJUhem0Mqj47eSBEdiT2cxkLRthVDn0xhponQ_REb_itHUF4/w1085-h814-no/IMG_20130628_121822.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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When we first went out on walks, Wrigley was obsessed with every sidewalk crack. Every. Single. One. I wish I was exaggerating here, but sadly, I'm not. Sometimes it felt like it took us an hour to walk around the block or cross the street with all of her sleuth work. <br />
<img class="HAa Eha" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaNg7uDr0gPb5W-mI0ea6URzAE88ZaLudxvs6-COcfQePrm0-D8jBwKIAp2LaowIsyYdb61XeCM2dfF90zZS1tvvCUh1oU9ZLRmTHKeYUnME90tESqkEZAGW0wwcbeALpNbQtHE4RxnQ/w611-h814-no/IMG_20130628_121714.jpg" width="299" /><br />
<br />
She also had to investigate anything that was outside the normal "stuff" she investigated (like the grass, bushes and trees). This investigating mostly looked like smelling and sniffing, but sometimes it also turned into tasting. This is when I had to pay the most attention. Wrigley was always putting something into her mouth: dirt, ants, bits of trees, grass, dandelions (Wrigley LOVED dandelions - I wish the city would have hired her for the amount of them that she ate last summer), and anything else that looked good. Which was often trash, food waste and other items no one would want their puppy to put anywhere in her mouth. The problem was, she was fast! <br />
<img class="HAa Eha" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccOIC3LTBn5Vz94JY7NvtExYYH4zi8zgfn5Bhzq2fmE1raQ0K9OwGHJk09OGvBK8zBp6OGRLYexgCH6h60ckbvFUgGXBdX4G4wYbKd_1pZYIO-V5DdWUccaM0iA279Oa36xfW1ZDB1PQ/w611-h814-no/IMG_20130628_121847.jpg" width="299" /><br />
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If I wasn't paying attention to the world around us (i.e., the ground and sidewalk ahead), she'd have something she shouldn't in her mouth before I would even realize it. This meant that during our 25 trips outside to "do her thing" I had to PAY ATTENTION to Wrigley. The end. Nothing else. No talking on the phone, checking email, talking to another human on the sidewalk, nothing. If I did any of those things, my dog was eating rocks and twigs and goddess-knows what else. Which I would then need to pry out of her cheeks. I haven't mentioned yet that puppy teeth are crazy sharp, so this was not a fun way to spend my time. And so, I started paying better attention, and being in the present with my puppy.<br />
<br />
This was great for us, as indicated by the amazing bond that we currently have. I also didn't need to take her to the vet for any emergency surgeries because she swallowed something she shouldn't. Granted, it also meant that any attempt to multi-task was out the window. I couldn't talk on the phone while walking my dog. Wrigley knew that all attention wasn't on her, and she would refuse to walk if I were on the phone. <br />
<img class="HAa Eha" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCTPIaExOB4Em3vs_zs_NUdUZxxumKd0Xopaf-JUdYyJMebZblqm1Dm7WiXX_-Gkl4ioNThBj59ETO54r5NMW0JNUmQn0Bu2XBJVHmlbP2y4mKYLFkH_5LZzgCZHeqytK9CRuuxOAQXY/w1085-h814-no/IMG_20130611_130019.jpg" width="400" /><br />
She'd just lay down in the middle of the sidewalk, full bladder and all, waiting for me to be ready to walk her. My house is in a constant state of disarray and laundry is never folded because then I would be spending time on me . . . not my dog. <br />
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Yes, it sounds ridiculous, and it WAS ridiculous. And completely obnoxious. And a little bit sweet. And a ton annoying. But that's what my smart puppy has brought into my life. She forces me to be in the present, and if I'm not, and if I'm not playing with her or rubbing her belly or holding her paw while I'm reading a book, she's sad and annoyed and acts out. And because she's smart, she pays attention to what other things in our house matter to me, and she targets those items, because she knows it will get me to stop what I'm doing and give her attention. Her favorite go-to items are my shoes, because I will, in fact, stop washing the dishes or eating my dinner to save my shoes. <br />
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And so, I'm [thankfully] <strong>forced</strong> to live in the moment and be present when I'm with my puppy. Which hopefully has bled into the rest of my life. I'm clearly not perfect, and I can't spend all my time at home just sitting or playing with my dog, even though that's what she'd prefer, but I'm getting there. So I'm thankful that she has reminded me to Be Here Now. <br />
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These timely reminders, this one floated via facebook, are also helpful: <a href="http://www.reshareworthy.com/20-facts-for-dog-lovers/">http://www.reshareworthy.com/20-facts-for-dog-lovers/</a>kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-23121499978089713522014-02-11T21:32:00.004-05:002014-02-11T21:32:51.488-05:00Wrigley at Eleven MonthsWrigley has changed so much since I got her (and wrote that first post), it feels impossible to catch up. Especially since I live with the aforementioned puppy. So I'm going to attempt to continue to catch up on our life together, but today I'll focus on the now.<br />
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Wrigley has learned:<br />
Sit! Stay! Down! Come! Leave it! On your mat! Shake! Heel! Off! Wait!<br />
As I write this list, especially like this, it seems like this should be longer. I guess that's because it doesn't include things like polite greetings (both for human and canine friends), on and off her leash, Wrigley has successfully completed three courses through our favorite trainers at Dog's Best Friend - Puppy I, Puppy II and Intermediate classes. She's made a lot of friends in these classes - this is one of my favorite photos from our last class, this is Wrigley and Tyke.<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyp2_DE2Ar7ohcHY_vbLGqIuIJy2H1RI2zSqXNeL15-bO9JSn1sirSNfcjpMdO6N12KF5DCibixYeUw3hTBFx-kTGNfUmmhfFlYD99PJdv6Iug2zLxSc6Ke88jO2waCvyRfdW2XUBtSM/w400-h532-no/IMG_20131121_203817-MOTION.gif" /><br />
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Things I want Wrigley to learn:<br />
1. All of the above, without needing to practice.<br />
2. How to use the bathroom. Indoors. I haven't gone down this road yet, but I'm tempted: http://bit.ly/1bnid3K (She is extra smart and tall enough . .. gotta get some perks, right?<br />
<br />
Wrigley is obsessed with:<br />
1. Anything peanut butter.<br />
2. The end.<br />
3. My shoes - the more expensive, the better.<br />
4. All things on the kitchen counter.<br />
<br />
<br />
Human foods she wants to eat:<br />
1. Everything cinnamon and sugar: cinnamon rolls, bagels, etc.<br />
2. Fake cheese: think: Velveeta<br />
3. Anything I happen to be eating.<br />
<br />
Winter fun for Nancy Drew:<br />
1. Wrigley finally grew out of the "let's-lick-every-sidewalk-crack-in-the-city" phase, and then it snowed. Now we're in the "let's-sniff-every-damn-snow pile-on-our-walk" phase. It's awesome, especially when the windchill is 40 below zero.<br />
2. Wrigley is not a fan of the cold, but she loves, loves, LOVES the snow. She likes running in it, chasing it, watching it fall and eating it, in no particular order. She especially loves playing in the snow with any of her puppy friends. Personally, I'm thankful I invested in some snow pants so we can "enjoy" this time together.<br />
3. I'll say it again: Brenda, you were right. Puppies love snow. [I was wrong.]<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvAaUuPwNqW4vHLCl2uv3Cyuym_HPdajfcaPgVbz7WMaD_hN6atKpMi5PNeZ75TuJk6FaNoUiL7qiwmVJTR_0pjrYUw0XPR3KF0RXrketmVrxF3LT1qoSa7ycqnNFgwHllCuue6zZBrc/w709-h532-no/IMG_20131225_144913-SNOW.gif" /><br />
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The Teenage Years<br />
1. Wrigley is currently like a teenager: she is staying up late, sleeping in, and doing everything on her own terms. This is both endearing and annoying at exactly the same time.<br />
2. Baby girl knows how to get my attention. She has a special run, which is essentially a trot across the living room that announces "I've got something I shouldn't . . . you'd better stop me!" This "something" is often a piece of my footwear, a Christmas ornament or a used dryer sheet.<br />
3. Last week, Wrigley noticed that she was tall enough to see out our front windows - which overlook a park, street and sidewalk. We now have more barking from her as she announces her desire to be playing with everyone in the snow.<br />
4. This is very different from the obsessing she does from the porch. "But momma, WHY can't I go play with those dogs/people/squirrels/snowflakes?"<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CYpyXAYEkpkSCoJc3HIoGmN3VND6xTWDFTEWRuQOXiPm-EaHQLx6j33u9kJNDEISe-bWpGCpPAPixb6VDYAcH5Jr5Qom2nq6-gJFXZfsf2SfLLpTEO6ifJXPRq7hrynxe3sCwRHY3nA/w399-h532-no/IMG_20140118_143000.jpg" /><br />
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Apparently this is all Wrigley wants me to share. My teenager is currently behaving like a two-month-old . . . needing some attention, which will force the end of this post. She's no longer willing to be put off via treats and bribes of peanut butter. Tomorrow I'll tell you more about this concept I've grown accustomed to, in a post I'll title, Be Here Now.kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-30226328027726443932014-02-09T23:40:00.000-05:002014-02-09T23:40:53.689-05:00Texts from my Puppy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know, Wrigley can't text. </div>
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But I'm pretty sure that's only because she doesn't currently have a cell phone.<br />
Yet. I assume this is all a matter of time. She is a pretty smart puppy!<br />
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I am very lucky to have some great people in my life who are willing to take care of Wrigley while I'm gone. They are also awesome enough to send me updates, as they know while I'm gone I miss my fur baby. And to make the updates even more great, they sometimes send me photos.<br />
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<i><b><span style="color: purple;">Here are some of my favorites:</span></b></i><br />
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<b>From MB in June: </b>"So I took Wrigley out and she peed and then laid down on her side and refused to get back up." "Now that we're back inside . . . plenty of energy."<br />
Me: Welcome to my world!<br />
<b>Next day from MB</b>: PS. . . I look like I used to be a cutter. Apparently my arms taste like bacon."<br />
Me: Laughing so hard I'm crying. So sorry! She's showing you love!<br />
MB: I feel it . . . literally.<br />
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She also loves to jump on your couch just to make someone come over and pull her off.<br />
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Wrigley enjoying the view:<br />
<img alt="Photo" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeCWnKHCOHSwRY1AoWot7QDrDGhn2KCnNehUwNjwwCbsLk9MSR3EMhZ3vGlrCUvQhEEEG6FgLDizND5a23p-n-R0kkCOfO_t15ZY-dgj3EmOYxBXFnk-UowlCyTBLiQZ0Ch6Cv_kg3_k/w88-h156-p-no/" width="225" /><br />
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<b>From Debb in June</b>: No thank u, I really don't care 2 poop, nor do I care to go for a walk right now - but thanks 4 asking!<br />
<img alt="Photo" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGwH3CtQFfVvKJQZ2UQwFKnlgocOmVOjI11VPBeBleOW3f1ayrrrD_sGTAV_K8p-vIETWoMPSgZQD0N7z-TWxdfa7PdKyJhfcXpy2bel13REieKcpnq3c7n0nFKlMIgELsnS_ebm_vec/w155-h207-p-no/" width="299" /><br />
"Did u think ur bed was 2 tall 4 Wrigley 2 get up on? Not any more! Also I can now text with one hand while using the other 4 petting!"<br />
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<b>From Alicia in August:</b> "Hi Mom! I feel so much better with that cone off my head! :) I pooped and peed for Aunt Alicia and ate my lunch and medicine. Hope you're having a fun day! Can't wait to see you tonight! Love, Wrigley<br />
<img alt="Photo" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVV6jl4o_8-_22GAnW_C_lBdtrw3yxBM3vVDAS03JwymHPQICDxynOU3bB735beO4SoPd7T6ycGpl-BWUZPIBs7zJ12cDDFSEui99_NFtZB3DRfi9XgnNSPFBOXY_Js_LxFP_0AE6Dt0s/w116-h207-p-no/" width="224" /><br />
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<b>From Geb in August:</b> Wrigley had a little over an hour of loving from the fam. . . two walks around the block - peed twice (once after a big drink) she did poop. No accidents. Lots of treats that she did work for :)<br />
<img alt="Photo" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOm6ihhEnwtkVqHNksrNrqe7sjesbjzr6BD-iSub8LSqfHKxd4BtJBlRlHvcr903Dck6nPGY8dDh0vu4eIUZ5BVZy8QRDcqpeAoZsf4pLVPVQsHdikyUK44nuMlV82JPRTvj2Sb6CyjiI/w156-h117-p-no/" width="320" /><br />
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Hope the run was good! P.S. Looks like she went to town on the basket since yesterday . . . that did not happen on my watch! :)<br />
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<b>From Debb in September:</b> Wrigs is gr8! Nose seems fine. We walked thru hose spray - 2 funny! And don't worry, she sniffed all neighborhood recycle bins! Ur safe! She is SO BIG! Wow!<br />
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<b>From Geb in October:</b> Wrigley was a good girl . . . but she misses her mommy! Also she did not like posing for pictures.<br />
<img alt="Photo" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaA6xSr-RpZi9iJqV_brxvDXD3JTyRO7W_kmhkPQQqpro9IgBUJDhbnAoqoseIcZP4S9vQ1nNZcyW0_mRJ0pe2TlSFXL9HqrZeW42vv9gdalIU6vBcfTF8zRguFLvD-3KG2Yr8jXsSlo/w156-h117-p-no/" width="320" /><br />
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<b>Kim in December:</b><br />
"She was not in her kennel. .. .<br />
me: What? Seriously? Where was she?<br />
""Yep . . . bottom gate was locked. She met me at the door. One ornament down. . otherwise seems OK."<br />
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<b>From Mike in December: </b><br />
Just me and the girls watching the Badgers. Have a great time in Florida!<br />
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<img alt="Photo" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarTbomXEV2ac_83l_opcNBZy1yRmMXFfVq1VrQN1niw3tx5qBDgBkQD2fBdbTDg-KXiTkShzyzDCCsksMu2PNFwJ9mptyOhvlW9vKuY2zCWpi8octUJj30ude5dlyvLvTEeZKLr0pOPI/w281-h211-p-no/" /><br />
<b>From Heather in December: </b><br />
"PS - the girls have been playing nonstop. Maybe Wrigs needs a sibling?<br />
<img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcd1fUZ1uoEqf-LsIXkuZns29L0L9UbUGpzMZhQWIHlR_zzVF-_HNG5QtBwdvX9PBpYWN1AcxQC90E62eUN1UMLrFGfCNaQRCnxykBsPbfz_RIsfTBsRHWwCELucYtWy-gTqewD4l6KaM/w399-h532-no/IMG_20140209_220855.JPG" width="300" /><br />
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"Wrigs got a slurp of bourbon and ginger. She liked it. Beg (her drink) was less impressed." Sorry Becci!<br />
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"Exciting news from here. Some dog barfed on the patio outside. We didn't know about it until the dogs went back outside and started fighting over who got to eat it. Now June isn't talking to Wrigs."<br />
<img alt="Photo" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwyttZKwtK6wBPEJgqwH1Jsj-O0j0BoM6VP0OFKLHzG0XmHyGJMArFWwKtcN6nh767_4jHMkMK6KXaGEhH8yaTsOktu0eZUBnL515YSfQs-aoe_RvFULtLnblrgd6BZzs8ljFRwgmqes/w276-h207-p-no/" width="400" /><br />
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"This isn't where I sit?"<br />
<img alt="Photo" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiasRjiQ-Lz0j4YTPab3uuHcRij2lK08EKZExDP1kGb0lfqApwZ5DuGQf9LSmNAwPZ6lYdXr0a5FpndPJIsWbTOHPooXYYddJ5S5Od8K1Z_idRVaFzgklhOF3YBImNk_HZebqFnpbpHho/w155-h207-p-no/" width="299" /><br />
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My friends are great. That's one of the many reasons later this week there will be a post titled "It takes a Village." Until then, I'm so thankful for these messages - and not just because they're hilarious, but when I'm gone, I DO wonder what my baby is doing and how she's behaving for whomever is helping us out. So these help me out a lot. Many thanks, my friends!kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-86266569238877703112014-02-08T12:54:00.001-05:002014-02-08T12:54:29.248-05:00My life in Four Hour Increments - June 10, 2013<i><b>Update: This post was written in June, about a month after Wrigley came into my life. I'm pretty sure it never got posted because I meant to add photos.</b></i><br />
<i><b> *sigh*</b></i><br />
<i><b>And then eight months went by. Pretend it's warm out:</b></i><br />
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***My Life in Four Hour Increments***<br />
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I've been meaning to write for some time now, but pretty much all free moments are devoted to the puppy. I got to spend some time on the porch this weekend, and did a nice brain dump of some stories to share. The most important part of this is that I got to sit on the porch and write. Wrigley has become a huge fan of the porch - she loves people and puppy watching, AND . . . she gets to sit on the furniture. Pretty sure she loves that part the most, as she's not allowed on the furniture in the house. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmVHujfbB3oUu71W0UZnqU5h_OsER3FJhhugpLaTNiQ04wdl5LDeepcFrSjK87KCRYyulujRXIgr2kHHK9DlqpPF7jstwFT1X9KcMGPKqjAS4ZO8dvLnEf21sAuUNk_S1L6Knqicj0n8/s1600/IMG_20130624_205754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmVHujfbB3oUu71W0UZnqU5h_OsER3FJhhugpLaTNiQ04wdl5LDeepcFrSjK87KCRYyulujRXIgr2kHHK9DlqpPF7jstwFT1X9KcMGPKqjAS4ZO8dvLnEf21sAuUNk_S1L6Knqicj0n8/s1600/IMG_20130624_205754.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, I got to write, and enjoy the ambiance of the porch on a cool summer night. Life is good! <br />
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This is going to be the most disjointed blog post yet, as I'm going to take that brain dump and attempt to make it a semblance of a list of fun puppy stories. <br />
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1. My life is planned into four hour increments. So during the week I pretty much go to work, sprint home, take out and attempt to play with Wrigley, sprint back to work, and four hours later, I come home and do it again. While also trying to push off dinner time as long as possible. This is mostly so I don't have to get up at 4:00am. I'm getting close to four and a half hours. . . . which means that 5 hours of puppy bladder strength is just around the corner!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfw6-5YxexINHcWJfgQ1UcgMIeoa2v6qqJd-Fidedn56jPtegM7KFd_89pGgp3ctTISqgzEqkIiJSG7utGs-ytH6IOHezPFamdX1LzhXKy_cahKFFeJq2mA8LlhuuJdNwvCjUb_YgpvU/s1600/IMG_20130529_124743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfw6-5YxexINHcWJfgQ1UcgMIeoa2v6qqJd-Fidedn56jPtegM7KFd_89pGgp3ctTISqgzEqkIiJSG7utGs-ytH6IOHezPFamdX1LzhXKy_cahKFFeJq2mA8LlhuuJdNwvCjUb_YgpvU/s1600/IMG_20130529_124743.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">"I'm sorry, Momma, that you are in a hurry to get back to work. But the weather is so lovely, I think I'd rather lay here in the grass, thank you very much, and enjoy the breeze and the bugs and the not-being-in-a-crate. You cool with that?"</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWUY4ipnuxXNvZdP0tgvo2SDwN9_8eRYIp-4B3d-9NflAxWdUAaVkNYQnF7aCa0aaH7kGZmmrdFiAEQhLxPg0Mpx0K9ILCPUP-xRxsBDJl84fsT7Stm2Qc3OPEtWL9pLNdUgq-6VHV-8/s1600/IMG_20130601_072708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWUY4ipnuxXNvZdP0tgvo2SDwN9_8eRYIp-4B3d-9NflAxWdUAaVkNYQnF7aCa0aaH7kGZmmrdFiAEQhLxPg0Mpx0K9ILCPUP-xRxsBDJl84fsT7Stm2Qc3OPEtWL9pLNdUgq-6VHV-8/s1600/IMG_20130601_072708.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a>2. During our second week together, we had some long days. Like the one that day that I got to wash Wrigley's crate pad three times in one day. ONE DAY! Definitely getting my use out of my washer and dryer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWUY4ipnuxXNvZdP0tgvo2SDwN9_8eRYIp-4B3d-9NflAxWdUAaVkNYQnF7aCa0aaH7kGZmmrdFiAEQhLxPg0Mpx0K9ILCPUP-xRxsBDJl84fsT7Stm2Qc3OPEtWL9pLNdUgq-6VHV-8/s1600/IMG_20130601_072708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>3. My dog likes to eat rocks (and dirt and grass and dandelions and wood chips). With all the washing of her crate pad and blankets, I find a lot of rocks and pebbles in my dryer. Awesome perk. [Yes, I did contemplate saving them for amusement. That thought lasted for a good 3 minutes.]<br />
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4. Wrigley is pretty good with loud noises, which is helpful since we live on a main thoroughfare downtown - lots of sirens and people and loud noises. She seems to really like watching the skateboarders - maybe she'll be a trick dog in the future!<br />
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5. Danes aren't apparently that bright. But I got myself a smart girl - she's figured out how to get out of her crate. I've taken to adding two locks/caribeners to the doors. {Thanks to a helpful hint from a friend who suggested two - only adding one can be dangerous because smart puppies could get stuck squeezing out of the opening.}<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Wrigley trying to figure out the combination. Why is there a combination lock on her crate? Because this happened when she figured out how to open the door: </td></tr>
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= <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliwqYjDiqIGRPTn2RrwKWWtc2s-L93VzdLoH6mjx1J1ZJQfexmQqN1xg7pjIJ6BujGyi0-zdR9jXcyQ2rC9wymC9HDUhJdbyk9m1xIEx-RwSs1xjnABMuz6xMYWBlIZcqc2QNDtzeV10/s1600/IMG_20130604_121057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliwqYjDiqIGRPTn2RrwKWWtc2s-L93VzdLoH6mjx1J1ZJQfexmQqN1xg7pjIJ6BujGyi0-zdR9jXcyQ2rC9wymC9HDUhJdbyk9m1xIEx-RwSs1xjnABMuz6xMYWBlIZcqc2QNDtzeV10/s1600/IMG_20130604_121057.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
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6.Wrigley LOVES meeting people. In fact, she clearly looks snubbed when someone walks past her on the sidewalk who doesn't want to say hello and give her some loving. It's pretty cute. I've tried suggesting to her that not everyone is going to want to meet her, but that logic has yet to sink in. <br />
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7. This weekend Wrigley met two cats. One did NOT LIKE Wrigley AT ALL. The other one didn't mind a puppy with ginormous paws . . . until she did. <br />
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8. At least a couple times a week a stranger asks if they can take a picture of Wrigley. Of course we say yes. Some friends suggested we ask for a donation for her treat and food fund. Not a bad idea. <br />
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9. I find myself talking to my dog. A lot. Like .. . pretty much all the time. I've even started singing. My friends K Savvy and P-Bad should be proud. The most recent song for her is to the tune of No One Mourns the Wicked. It goes something like this . . . "Puppies can't be trusted....."<br />
We only need one line. Because Puppies CAN'T Be Trusted. <br />
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10. Wrigley behaves like a toddler before bedtime - she sprints around the house, pulling all of her toys out of her toy box, getting all bite-y and clearly exhibiting a tantrum fit, yelling in her own way, "I'm not tired! I'm not tired! I'm. NOT. TIRED." Until I coax, pull and eventually shove her into her bed. She emits a few requisite barks, and then falls asleep immediately. After the barking and biting is over, it's pretty freaking cute. <br />
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11. Wrigley has recently figured out that she can fit under my bed [it's on lifts for more storage]. Pretty sure she has commandeered this space as her own personal fort. I try to capture pictures of her peeking her front paws and nose out from under the bed, but it's thus far been pretty hard to capture. Never fear, I am nothing if not stubborn. This picture is going to happen! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9XyiWtmkkvF0Z73K1K0cxRglpmmT9r8es1iZezZ85n2Zx-qYI5cK9sZROPp3d8XnuaZ9NaQ-vWijlf0RPeRrLEyHQzMJhqQdb9E6ei4JWTRWzGxZiOOQlVVk0WomiujTqiNNoE_GIvo/s1600/IMG_20130607_010622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9XyiWtmkkvF0Z73K1K0cxRglpmmT9r8es1iZezZ85n2Zx-qYI5cK9sZROPp3d8XnuaZ9NaQ-vWijlf0RPeRrLEyHQzMJhqQdb9E6ei4JWTRWzGxZiOOQlVVk0WomiujTqiNNoE_GIvo/s1600/IMG_20130607_010622.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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12. Sometimes it takes us an hour to walk around our park, which even with a few friendly hello's, should only take twenty minutes. This is not always helpful, especially with that whole four-hour-increment life style we've got going on. Sometimes it takes so long because Wrigley decides to do this:<br />
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Needless to say, life with Wrigley continues to be pretty damn awesome. I think I'll keep her. </div>
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kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-75827326349764699072014-02-07T14:07:00.002-05:002014-02-07T15:20:12.125-05:00Catching up on Life with My Baby Giant<br />
Wrigley is turning a year old in a week. This seems completely unfathomable
to me. Didn’t I just get her? She's still such a puppy! How can she be ONE
already? <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And yet . . .</i> Haven't I had
her forever? Isn't she going on 13 already? <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
As some friends recently commented, and I concur . . . I can't remember what
my life was like <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">B</b>efore <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">W</b>rigley. I wish that I had been able to
better document the beginning of our life together. I took a million photos,
jotted down a few notes, and posted a few thoughts on the baby girl on facebook,
but she literally has taken over my life, and so I didn't take time to properly
record and reflect. I am going to attempt to do a little catch up over the next
week to bring you up to speed before Wrigley turns one. My gift for the
blogosphere is to get out a post a day for the next week. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
If nothing else, I'll be able to share some photos so you can see how this
puppy:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
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turned into this puppy:<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylwJaFPSRZJX019TiSL9GJi3977lhTe5qKg0-bm5aSdSdAZJrxIhEZW8Q86Gzcq35UVlK713C3Gkxy0o3g_UYM5rSiBfmbROjnOEsK16WUCqdyLfca22HfG7lNZ81u3YOTi3Q_-ptzlg/s1600/IMG_20130601_184958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylwJaFPSRZJX019TiSL9GJi3977lhTe5qKg0-bm5aSdSdAZJrxIhEZW8Q86Gzcq35UVlK713C3Gkxy0o3g_UYM5rSiBfmbROjnOEsK16WUCqdyLfca22HfG7lNZ81u3YOTi3Q_-ptzlg/s1600/IMG_20130601_184958.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
turned into THIS puppy:<br />
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And now I've got this awesome extra large puppy: </div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-74128940259434817152014-02-07T13:27:00.000-05:002014-02-07T13:27:29.215-05:00Puppy LeaveWhat do you call it when you're on vacation, but you're doing the opposite of relaxing because you are training a new puppy? Puppy Leave? Puppernity? <br />
<br />
I have had Wrigley for five days.** Here are some things that have changed: <br />
1. My entire life.<br />
<br />
End of post. <br />
Ha ha. :) Okay . . . . I'll give you a little more specifics.<br />
<br />
1. I will never need an alarm clock again.<br />
2. I'm an insomniac, and I have never been so exhausted.<br />
3. I wash my hands 8000 times a day. <br />
4. My floor is littered with dog toys. <br />
5. My shoes are all in closets or stored on high chairs/shelves. (See #4 - Wrigley likes to trade one for the other).<br />
6. I take a lot of walks. Where I watch my puppy investigate Every.Damn.Sidewalk.Crack in Madison. <br />
7. I've accidentally flushed a waste-bag-holder down the toilet. The saddest part about this so far is that I had JUST refilled it with a new roll of bags. Hopefully this will continue to be the saddest part of this debacle, and not that I'll need to bring in a plumber. <br />
8. When I go to a store with any kind of pet supplies, I have to check them out (groceries/Target/Walgreens/etc). <br />
9. I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to delete apps off my phone so I will have more storage memory for all the photos I'm taking. I won't tell you how many I've taken already - but mostly because I'm too tired to count. It's a lot. <br />
10. I'm turning into my mother. No phone conversation is without at least ten breaks so I can tell Wrigley to "stop chewing on fill-in-the-blank." Sorry friends and family. I can only hope this will get better, but I'm not confident enough yet to make any promises. <br />
<br />
I don't want you to think that I'm not loving this new experience. I am. Wrigley and I are definitely co-chairs in our mutual admiration society. I'm quite smitten with this cute pup. She's changed and grown and learned so much so far. She is very smart, and I am quite proud of all the progress she's made already! <br />
<br />
Here are a few things that Wrigley has learned so far: <br />
1. "Good girl." <br />
2. Her name is Wrigley. :)<br />
3. Sit. [Well . . . we're still working on this one, but she's getting there!]<br />
4. Instead of needing to be carried outside to "do her thing" (go potty), she confidently walks down the hall, into the stairwell and outside! Stairs are really hard! Momma is quite proud of this feat. Wrigley still needs a little encouragement to go down, but she's got the hang of going up them! <br />
5. If she's scared about something new, she slows down and walks closer to her momma. <br />
6. Walking across streets is Stressful! Sometimes she sits down in the middle of them. Then momma is stressed! We have been lucky that so far the cars waiting have found this to be entertaining. <br />
7. Wrigley is extroverted and stubborn, just like her momma. <br />
8. People love puppies! And this puppy loves people! In fact, when someone walks past us and they don't acknowledge her, Wrigley clearly looks offended and feels snubbed. <br />
9. Toys are awesome. Especially the washable ones, in case someone has an accident. Also awesome? The deodorizing odor neutralizer. (Sadly) we use this a few times a day. <br />
10. Her momma loves her a whole lot. <br />
<br />
**Please note, this WAS written when she was home for 5 days. But it's taken three more to get it published. Such is my life now. <br />
<br />
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kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-45925896508124071592013-05-06T22:25:00.001-04:002013-05-06T22:32:27.098-04:00Impatient and Frustrated, Party of OneIf you've met me, and I can only assume that if you're reading this, you have, then you know I tend toward the impatient end of the spectrum. Especially if it's something for or about myself. I can be very patient with others, but rarely with myself. [Unless they're drivers. Then all bets are off. But that's a whole other post.]<br />
<br />
Anyway . . . I digress. <br />
I'm impatient. <br />
And right now I'm both impatient and frustrated with my training, or lack there-of. <br />
I went to bed on Friday night with a bit of a sore back, and by morning I was officially miserable. Around 6:00am I finally googled 'sciatic nerve pain.' [One can technically call me a 'runner' again, so of course I've also become my own doctor.]<br />
This may or may not be my actual problem, but following the webMD advice I've gathered, gentle stretching, time on a heating pad, walking and ibuprofen seem to be helping. I can now both lift my right leg and start to bend over more than ten degrees without wanting to scream. So that's progress. <br />
Seriously, it's getting better, so I've yet to go to an actual medical professional. If it comes back or gets worse . . . don't worry, I'm there. However, for now, I'm taking it easy. Which is actually quite challenging for me. Especially when I want to be doing the opposite of easy. <br />
So it's given me some time to think, this slow-walking and time not-running or cleaning or doing errands, like I should have been doing this weekend. <br />
What seems fascinating to me is that often, when running, I'm not always having fun. <br />
And by 'always', of course I mean, 'most of the time when running.'<br />
<br />
But I AM finding that I'm enjoying my time outdoors, regardless of the weather. Rain, snow or sunshine, I'm happy pounding the pavement - people watching and thinking and looking at the changes in nature - from a frozen lake to monitoring the tulip blossoms. I'm loving it. <br />
This is not what I was expecting. <br />
Though to be honest, I guess I hadn't really thought about the domino effect of signing up for this 5K. <br />
<br />
So I'm trying to pay attention to the little things in life, like the fact that the tulips near my office are blooming, but the ones at the capital aren't ready yet. There are a few at the top of the hill near my house, which is a nice view after making it to the top. I got to notice these on a nice walk yesterday, which is what Dr. Kelly is allowing herself to do until further notice. I'm frustrated at the fact that I'm "getting behind" on my training, but I'm really trying to look at the bigger picture. This involves slowing down, stepping back, and resting. I am attempting to listen to my body which is clearly screaming "KNOCK. IT. OFF." [Yes, my body apparently also has an Irish temper.]<br />
<br />
So I'm listening.<br />
And taking it slowly, and trying to not be in a rush to get back into my new running shoes. I am looking forward to this race in the mud, and I want to be able to compete and finish, so if I get really injured now, that's not going to happen. <br />
So please, wish me luck. With the running, and the Waiting-to-run. <br />
I need it. kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-16655404769620508072013-04-21T19:36:00.001-04:002013-04-22T14:00:39.786-04:00Four Twenty, 2013: The Day of the Wardrobe ChangesThree Wardrobe changes, to be exact.<br />
Or Four, if we're really being honest with ourselves, and I do enjoy being honest.<br />
<br />
Yesterday was jam-packed with amazing fun with my dear friend Susan. <br />
We realized last night we have known each other for ten years. <br />
It seems not possible that we have known each other for 'that long,' but that might also be because we spent much of our weekend saying, "is X person/child/etc REALLY THAT OLD ALREADY?"<br />
Time sure does fly. <br />
<br />
Susan is one of those friends who I love dearly, but don't get to spend nearly enough time with. However, when we do (finally) get together, it's like no time has passed - even though we've had major life changes in between. She was able to visit Madison for a wonderful long weekend, and I can confidently say we both had an amazing time. <br />
<br />
Yesterday we packed in as much as humanly possible, including quite the outfit changes, so I thought I'd give you a snapshot of what you could do if you, too, visited me in lovely Madison, WI.<br />
<br />
Because she is a good friend, and an actual runner, we started our day with a run. She ran, and I did my prescribed workout from my friends at <a href="http://www.lozilu.com/" target="_blank">LoziLu</a>. It was 25*. Did I mention she's a good friend? But it was sunny, so better than our workout the other day when we ran through a downpour. <br />
Sorry, we forgot to take a photo after our run, so I'll share the one from Thursday. <br />
<br />
<strong>OUTFIT NUMBER ONE:</strong><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRC4uGML3ddcLN1kY2kHTMCFrQcshhi8AluLoQwDP1Z0AzdzhwJU2Jko8q6dDbw5kpAXGUz84i1RlvguCKdduPjbUS-bAH1qWNiW-tEJ3vxx5NVJZaMI_mSO0ESNbGS_ZBYjZ4a8zQq1A/s640/blogger-image--2128861465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRC4uGML3ddcLN1kY2kHTMCFrQcshhi8AluLoQwDP1Z0AzdzhwJU2Jko8q6dDbw5kpAXGUz84i1RlvguCKdduPjbUS-bAH1qWNiW-tEJ3vxx5NVJZaMI_mSO0ESNbGS_ZBYjZ4a8zQq1A/s640/blogger-image--2128861465.jpg" /></a><br />
After our run, we swapped our running gear for some jeans and warmer clothes to head to the <a href="http://dcfm.org/" target="_blank">Dane County Farmer's Market</a> - the first farmer's market of the year! I got to introduce Susan to my favorite baked goods from <a href="http://stellasofmadison.com/" target="_blank">Stella's</a> - we got a little bit of everything I love from there - Hot & Spicy Cheese bread, scones, Cloud Cookies and a cherry turnover. I'm confident they are made with love and sent directly from Heaven. Yep, they're that good. <br />
I didn't take photos of the baked goods. That's just mean. :) <br />
We also helped Susan stock up on some tasty cheese goods from Wisconsin. <br />
So here we are walking around the Square, enjoying the sunshine and the beautiful Capital. <br />
<br />
<strong>OUTFIT NUMBER TWO:</strong><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZjARPpxk2uRoYmtWcDTeuWUEwXWCMyXLy6RzOG3zXmOqjd9v0Cv6I2M1LHNm7byD2xImse4svTyZD1r1wJC5O8gh_O8Jk-hgmZPjPV7IMgbTW3_Bx00jdvS2AQ2SYmu0U2wY7_EXt00/s640/blogger-image-1432741403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZjARPpxk2uRoYmtWcDTeuWUEwXWCMyXLy6RzOG3zXmOqjd9v0Cv6I2M1LHNm7byD2xImse4svTyZD1r1wJC5O8gh_O8Jk-hgmZPjPV7IMgbTW3_Bx00jdvS2AQ2SYmu0U2wY7_EXt00/s640/blogger-image-1432741403.jpg" /></a><br />
After the Farmer's Market we rushed to get ready for Brunch at <a href="http://www.sardinemadison.com/" target="_blank">Sardine</a>. We had an amazing breakfast before going to see my friends Alicia and Mitch get married. She was a gorgeous bride, he was a handsome groom, and the ceremony was beautiful. Hence the need for:<br />
<br />
<strong>OUTFIT NUMBER THREE:</strong><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2ziTRqLWMaKk9H56eYHzfiUuR0fDFv25mpech4-NS2Be6CH2uN_RgthK0NlwYAI_b2x2OZZIPz9GEkdQhx28NzD9Xvqcjex6KLUrdw8xoRKhyTRuCwpBVxZIJdZdS0pCQHDcSTUXIhs/s640/blogger-image--753157903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2ziTRqLWMaKk9H56eYHzfiUuR0fDFv25mpech4-NS2Be6CH2uN_RgthK0NlwYAI_b2x2OZZIPz9GEkdQhx28NzD9Xvqcjex6KLUrdw8xoRKhyTRuCwpBVxZIJdZdS0pCQHDcSTUXIhs/s640/blogger-image--753157903.jpg" /></a><br />
After the ceremony we were able to squeeze in a trip to <a href="http://www.anthology.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Anthology</a>, my favorite local store stocked with all things crafty, fun and Made in Wisconsin. I'm pretty sure it's a favorite of Susan's, too. We stocked up on some goodies and headed home for our last wardrobe change for the day. <br />
<br />
We drove to Milwaukee to watch our beloved Cubs play the Brewers at <a href="http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/mil/ballpark/index.jsp" target="_blank">Miller Park</a>. It was the first game in Miller for both of us. Thank goodness the company was great, because the playing by our team was not. However, we had a fabulous time in our Cubbie gear, cheering on our favorite sausages during the sixth inning sausage race. It might have been the best part of the game. Except for our outfits. Including our awesome shoes. Here are a few shots of <br />
<br />
<strong>OUTFIT NUMBER FOUR:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYg45rfXUtulLvRPlQusdyo_7xmHAhAOdAky9z4UM8PD5xhcqb7Xw_Y7Fy6q7H5Jd6vyOc0lgFYEqiIVHc7A5QGJzNotLR74pvWBli7Tc-4ZPMe7tER59g5sEDJUOizh69KBPF5f-2n4/s640/blogger-image--2003809994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYg45rfXUtulLvRPlQusdyo_7xmHAhAOdAky9z4UM8PD5xhcqb7Xw_Y7Fy6q7H5Jd6vyOc0lgFYEqiIVHc7A5QGJzNotLR74pvWBli7Tc-4ZPMe7tER59g5sEDJUOizh69KBPF5f-2n4/s640/blogger-image--2003809994.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
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<em>[Yes, our shoes coordinate with our Cub gear. That's how we roll.]</em><br />
<br />
It was a perfect day, and a great weekend. I am so thankful to live in this wonderful town, and have both new friendships here, and old friends spread around the world. Those that I can call up and say "wanna join me for Fill-In-The-Blank in an hour?" and others that I can call and pick up where we left off days or months or years ago, those who I'm blessed to call my friend, and who will come and visit and let me share the reasons why I love living in Madison. <br />
<br />
Who's next? The reservation book is open! <br />
<br />
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kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-68910356404011590562013-04-15T22:25:00.001-04:002013-04-21T19:37:44.252-04:00"Vitamin I" - My New FriendMy brain was all over the place during my workout today. <br />
Which isn't really all that new.<br />
It's Always All Over the Place. <br />
I might be an Over-Thinker, so I'm finding these workouts to be even more of a time for my brain to hop all over the place. <br />
Tonight was no exception. <br />
I heard about the Boston Marathon bombing this afternoon. I watched a few minutes of the news, but didn't have time to get sucked in, so I sent a little prayer into the universe, and moved back to my work pile. <br />
I knew today was going to be a rough run - I was tired, sore, and not looking forward to another run in the cold and rain. But I started anyway. And finished. <br />
But it was rough, I'm not gonna lie. <br />
While running, my thoughts kept going to the tragedy at the marathon. I just can't imagine - I'm excited about completing my 3-minute intervals - I can't even fathom training for, qualifying for, and then running the Boston Marathon, only to have the race ended so abruptly and horrifically. <br />
<br />
When I got home from my workout, I attempted my normal post-workout multi-tasking: jotting notes on my run and stretching my (already) sore muscles. But like during my run, it was hard to concentrate on the task at hand because I wanted information about what had happened. It was challenging to focus on how I was feeling, both physically and mentally about my run, when my brain was clearly wanting to go elsewhere. It got harder when I started second-guessing myself - feeling whiny about my aches and pains, when others today had limbs blown off. <br />
*sigh*<br />
My heart goes out to the marathoners, volunteers, organizers, Boston residents, and all affected by today's tragedy. <br />
<br />
I will also be true to myself and share the notes from today. Even though they feel a little ridiculous in the grand scheme of today, they're MY ridiculous, and they're real. So here are today's thoughts on completing week two of my training program:<br />
<br />
4.15.13: Week Two, Day 3, Workout #6<br />
<br />
This is going to be really hard.<br />
Maybe harder than I thought.<br />
Last week this slow delving into training seemed Very Do-able.<br />
Today I ran two 3-minute intervals. I was proud of myself on Saturday for completing the first 3-minute interval, so today I was extra proud. TWICE I ran three minutes in a row!!!!<br />
It was hard, but I did it. <br />
It dawned on me that the walking time is quickly decreasing during these workouts.<br />
Which means more running. <br />
<br />
Which is when the doubt crept in. <br />
The goal is to run a 5K. The whole 5K. Three point one miles. <br />
Today that seems daunting and REALLY FAR.<br />
But hopefully that's just because I'm feeling the effects of a long Monday at work, and I just need some Vitamin I. (A colleague introduced me to to this term today. The "I", my friends, is Ibuprofen).<br />
BUT . . . I finished today.<br />
I ran when I didn't want to. <br />
I'm sure this won't be the last day I dread my workout, but here's hoping it is! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2rr2J-Dco9gitjGDxLS6fC4yToC3QNNk3yp9-RhYZBZ4SS4FDF7Xr2FWfJkj1ZBSg0GK0uxG0UxKK3MmLksyWsYNpsy7jqM0n-SMqXgJJtedEwBT9kLU-0-S-4bMJI424CG-_CPpL_Q/s640/blogger-image--269921023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2rr2J-Dco9gitjGDxLS6fC4yToC3QNNk3yp9-RhYZBZ4SS4FDF7Xr2FWfJkj1ZBSg0GK0uxG0UxKK3MmLksyWsYNpsy7jqM0n-SMqXgJJtedEwBT9kLU-0-S-4bMJI424CG-_CPpL_Q/s640/blogger-image--269921023.jpg" /></a></div>kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com1James Madison Park Madison43.079636 -89.383998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-1730184495145045322013-04-11T23:42:00.001-04:002013-04-12T00:01:04.355-04:00A Small Miracle that looks a little bit like a new blog post!I'm behind.<br />
I know. <br />
It's a bit of a perpetual battle of mine. <br />
And I've learned that I find jumping back into kelarious to be intimidating. I mean . . . I haven't blogged since August. Which is ridiculous. Not for a lack of topics, but from a lack of putting topics-to-screen in a timely manner. And at this point (and by 'at this point' I'm referring to the past four months or so), it feels like I need to have some sort of grand entrance. <br />
So I'm putting together a list of "things you missed while I was not blogging" or "What I was doing instead of blogging." I'm trying to gloss over the last eight months. Not easy. Especially because I want to add pictures and links and all sorts of fun. <br />
And so I haven't blogged. <br />
But at work today I had some fun conversations that reminded me that A)I'm not a very good blogger - because I haven't written anything in ages and B) "Blogging is like riding a bike." - S. Powell. <br />
<br />
So here I am.<br />
Getting back on the bike.<br />
<br />
Which is a nice transition to "The Run."<br />
<br />
This would be my update for the last month. I've joined some friends and signed up to run the LoziLu Women's Mud Run in Milwaukee. It's a 5K with a bunch of obstacles to climb over, under and through. (www.lozilu.com)<br />
With Mud. <br />
Which Sounds AWESOME.<br />
When I told my boss about it, his response was: "You know, other people who want to run a 5K pick a nice race, in town, on a PATH." My response was, "well, yeah . . . but you've met me, right?"<br />
Yep. Jumping in. <br />
Go big or go home.<br />
<br />
So . .. I've started training with the "From Couch to LoziLu in 12 Weeks: A total-body take on the couch to 5k plan." Today I officially began Week 2 of my training workouts. Last week I decided to chronicle my journey via photos and a journal. I thought I'd share today's entry with you as a dive back into the blogosphere. <br />
<br />
Thursday, April 11th - Week 2, Day 1, Workout #4<br />
Workout: Walk 6 minutes<br />
Run 2 minutes, Walk 1 minute<br />
Run 2 minutes, Walk 2 minutes<br />
Run 1 minute, Walk 2 minutes<br />
Run 2 minutes, Walk 2 minutes<br />
Walk 10 minutes<br />
30 minutes Total.<br />
<br />
Here are some of my thoughts and observations from today:<br />
1. I can do this.<br />
2. I'm really thankful I had the last two days off. I needed that.<br />
3. I can do this, even in the cold and rain.<br />
4. Shite. I'm training for a run in the summer. [June 29th] I hate the heat. Awesome. Perhaps it will be better for my muscles? [She says tentatively and begrudgingly.]<br />
5. This plan to run the same path on the first day of each workout week is good. I'm already seeing progress. YAY!!!<br />
6. I'm really glad I started my "weeks" on a Thursday. Seems apropos for this project. That's how I roll. :)<br />
7. Can I really run this fast?<br />
8. No. Not for that long. <br />
9. Should I have "checked with my physician before starting this workout?"<br />
10. Nope. I can do this. :)<br />
11. Um? What are we to REVOLT against? Must take a picture of this before someone (appropriately) paints over it. It's been stuck in my brain since I saw it a week ago on Day One of this journey. So perhaps this can be considered effective tagging? <br />
12. Holy crap. The lake looks like water again! (Note small portion of lake in upper left of photo). The lake was fully frozen when I started a week ago. Hooray! Spring is on the way! <br />
13. I can do this. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPr1AFC5Vexa_ddHPUm3jJ8zu-SpHeWN-UVyh5FrQ5CmUeJaUy6Nt446_oJ4keRZdsTHuAfWvz_TxbhgcLnwUWwYpfs4G4y_9f1Ly0w5se8I1YFCrH2OgTPtEZVkLjm08R9LL11VjrQ1I/s640/blogger-image-1388053561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPr1AFC5Vexa_ddHPUm3jJ8zu-SpHeWN-UVyh5FrQ5CmUeJaUy6Nt446_oJ4keRZdsTHuAfWvz_TxbhgcLnwUWwYpfs4G4y_9f1Ly0w5se8I1YFCrH2OgTPtEZVkLjm08R9LL11VjrQ1I/s640/blogger-image-1388053561.jpg" /></a></div>kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com2Gates of Heaven Synagogue 302 East Gorham Street, Madison43.079712 -89.384037tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-7584518261748520632012-08-13T01:55:00.002-04:002012-08-13T01:58:57.842-04:00A few more Olympic Thoughts<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">I promised a
second round of Olympic questions, and while I’ve been keeping a running list,
I’ve clearly run out of time. But I’m enjoying the Closing Ceremony, so it
seems as though there’s no time like the present. My buddy <a href="http://bodyodd.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/09/13182836-youve-just-won-a-gold-medal-so-why-are-you-trying-to-eat-it?lite" target="_blank">Brian Williams even did a little segment</a>, inspired, I’m sure, by my blog. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">At any rate,
here are some additional thoughts and questions gathered while watching the
Olympics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">How can Keri
Walsh-Jennings play volleyball with a watch on? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">[Side note –
anyone else remember being an athlete in high school when you weren’t allowed
to wear any jewelry – because your earring/necklace/watch/bracelet/etc. might
pop off your person and injure someone? Clearly these Olympians function just
fine! Take that – high school coaches and referees!]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Why is Ryan
Seacrest reporting for the Olympics? I’m still a little traumatized by this, so
I think it’s worth mentioning twice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><o:p>C</o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">ould we
spend more time watching events and less time learning social media stats? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Do rowing
teams bring their own boats? How do they get through security? And are they charged
for only one checked bag? ;) [please note, no drinking was happening during this
list-making.]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">How can
Sanya Richards-Ross run so fast with all that hair? And lift her hand with
that bling on it? That woman is amazing. They all were, actually. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Did London
2012 strike a major deal with Nike? Why is every athlete in the world (except
maybe 5 or 6) wearing neon yellow athletic shoes? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">There are
many, many people who believe that Oscar Pistorius should not have been competing
in these Olympic games because he has an unfair advantage. Makes my heart hurt,
and not just because I have an Olympic-sized crush on him. Here’s the <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/olympics/2012/writers/david_epstein/08/03/oscar-pistorius-london-olympics/index.html" target="_blank">SportsIllustrated article about the science</a> of his legs and his running. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Why didn’t I
ever get to see any synchronized swimming? I'm quite sad by that. I guess this is a way to help me continue with this Olympic madness - I'll try and watch a few things online. </span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Are there
always so many crashes in the biking events? They seem quite dangerous!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">What am I
ever going to do when they’re over? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";">Shit. They
are over. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span>kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-87978436967132528442012-07-31T21:56:00.001-04:002012-07-31T21:56:23.608-04:00Some thoughts while watching the OlympicsI like to think of myself as a naturally curious person - I like to learn, and I often do this by asking lots of questions. I will admit, however, that I'm probably one of the reasons why the Let Me Google That For You (www.lmgtfy.com) website exists - I don't always take the next step to actually find out the answer. I find that while watching [read: obsessively watching as much as I can] the Olympics is no different. I've had a few questions pop into my head the last couple of days, and I'm going to share with you. Feel free to add your own questions and thoughts - a girl can only watch so much television, after all! There are many sports not represented here. . . yet. <br />
<br />
- Who thought it was a good idea to make the men's diving suits so tiny? I'd like to write a thank-you note. <br />
<br />
- Did the swimmers get their nails done before their trip? Are they spending their nights painting their toes in Olympic village? Or did they bring their own manicurist? Maybe they're running out and about in London to get mani/pedi's?<br />
<br />
- While we're on the topic of personal hygiene, does the swim team have their own personal aesthetician? I'm just sayin' . . . these men are awfully smooth! <br />
<br />
- Why isn't there music during the men's gymnastic floor routines? <br />
<br />
- Where did some of these sports come from? Like "individual canoeing" . . . which to me looked an awful lot like something that should be called "whitewater kayaking." And who makes up the rules for these?<br />
<br />
- Why must the nightly news team (both local and national) insist on spoiling the outcomes for me? Can't we just watch the events unfold? MUST you break the news that most of us average folks don't know yet . . . and don't want to because we're watching most of our olympics during prime time? There's no need to apologize for this - how about you JUST DON'T DO IT. [Sorry. That might have been more along the 'rant' line than question.]<br />
<br />
- Why do I have to choose between Phelps and Lochte? Can't I cheer for both (like I do when watching my buckeyes and badgers)?<br />
<br />
- Why do some of the swimmers take a drink of pool water before their swim? Are they that thirsty? Can't we hydrate our Olympic athletes better? Does the chlorine really help them prepare to race?<br />
<br />
- When I googled "lochte" to ensure the correct spelling of Ryan's last name, why did "Ryan Lochte Girlfriend 2012" come up first? <br />
<br />
Know what I think after asking all these? Clearly my career should move in the direction of sports broadcasting. I'm hilarious and I know very little about what I'm watching. :) kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-45020026839194141102012-07-26T00:40:00.001-04:002012-07-26T00:40:44.613-04:00Confessions of ANOTHER raging hot messI borrowed this title from my friend K Savvy. She wrote a post a while ago about how she did not, in fact, have it together. [ www.mysavvyboys.com/2012/05confessions-of-raging-hot-mess.html ] As usual, her post was hilarious. It was also quite poignant with a perfect reminder - "so i thought i would fess up and share a few of the things that make me feel like a walking disaster. maybe if we all did that a little more, we would all know that we're all doing our best." You should read her post, because it's pretty damn great.<br />
<br />
When I read her post the first time, I nodded my head, and felt like I could respond in the comments section with many examples. Except nothing came to mind. But I've been paying attention this week, and thought I would share a few of my "what the hell?" "I need more sleep" and "stress will kill you" moments I've had. <br />
- I might have had all three of those thoughts occur to me at lunch the other day. I attempted to prepare one of those new lean cuisine steamers. Except that instead of letting it steam first, I CUT IT OPEN. [Insert head shaking here.] Yeah, it can't STEAM if there's a big hole in the bag. *sigh*<br />
<br />
Ever have that moment when searching your email for something, and you realize it's not in your inbox, it's in your sent box - so you switch over? And during that nanosecond, you absolutely have no idea what the hell it is you're supposed to be looking for. *sigh*<br />
<br />
Today I wanted to listen to a cd while working on a project in the office. So I opened up the disc drive. Except I didn't. I shut the damn computer off. Helpful to reboot and start over and open and restart all emails and projects. *ugh*<br />
<br />
The other day while making myself a lunch (after the failed "easy" lean cuisine), I put together a nice salad. And tried to put the lettuce away in the junk drawer. Not helpful - doesn't seem to provide the same kinds of experience for the lettuce like the crisper in the refrigerator does. Good job, me. <br />
<br />
So, my friend Krystyne is right. We are not perfect. We do weird shite every day. I think it's because we need more sleep. But I also think it's good to own it and share with others - so I'm sharing with y'all. In case you were wondering whether or not I've got it together. 'Cuz clearly that's not happening . . . . :) kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-52593830782004246182012-06-07T22:26:00.000-04:002012-06-07T22:26:18.868-04:00On, Wisconsin!<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I seem to have a pattern of blogging [lately] on a 2 or 3 month cycle. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Fail.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Life
has been busy – I’ve been contemplating a real estate purchase, spent a week “screen-free”
(or pretty damn close, anyway), went to a drive-in conference about behavior <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>intervention teams and even got to make a
quick trip to see some peeps in Columbus. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
also voted in an historic recall election for our governor and lt. governor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Quite
sadly, they’re both still in office. And so I, like many people I know and work
with, are quite disappointed and a little deflated. And I’m pretty sure that’s
an understatement of great proportion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m
trying to look at the bright side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Like
that I believe that democracy is pretty awesome. Still. People used their collective
voices to say, “what you are doing is not okay. Your choices in fact, are unacceptable
to us.” Almost a million signatures were obtained to even make the election
happen. Only 2 other governors in history have been recalled. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">TWO.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
I got to vote in a recall election. They clearly don’t happen very often. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Over
2.5 million people voted. They waited in lines in places that didn’t have
enough ballots. They waited in line to vote absentee. They made homemade signs
and stood on the streets, telling people to vote. They got people who have
never before voted to go to the polls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Power
to the people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It
was awesome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m
trying to remember that, because right now it doesn’t feel awesome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s
disheartening and scary and still unbelievable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But
we are Wisconsin, and we will push Forward. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-2605494728323773382012-04-24T22:03:00.000-04:002012-04-24T22:03:16.828-04:00Science is Weird.<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Dear
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
find you to be both amazing and creepy at the same time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You
help me with all sorts of problems around the house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Most
recently, cleaning off the kicks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo79n_redH-hNsmFrUKmLLPUgD129l8Hmy0z4a7765yfLi-S2thSS34gb_10jEj1iRlfx2nhVcbJ0GBA9rytuD8SrZyYObWbcScHF-eHnKFB1cUdB_KC8lgpot8QU9O7Y2lmKpeNXV3U/s1600/grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo79n_redH-hNsmFrUKmLLPUgD129l8Hmy0z4a7765yfLi-S2thSS34gb_10jEj1iRlfx2nhVcbJ0GBA9rytuD8SrZyYObWbcScHF-eHnKFB1cUdB_KC8lgpot8QU9O7Y2lmKpeNXV3U/s400/grey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo79n_redH-hNsmFrUKmLLPUgD129l8Hmy0z4a7765yfLi-S2thSS34gb_10jEj1iRlfx2nhVcbJ0GBA9rytuD8SrZyYObWbcScHF-eHnKFB1cUdB_KC8lgpot8QU9O7Y2lmKpeNXV3U/s1600/grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
appreciate this immensely, as now they look like new. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And
yet – you disintegrate into nothing, and this bothers me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Me<o:p></o:p></span><br />kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-76820320807183364262012-04-19T00:23:00.000-04:002012-04-19T00:23:02.197-04:00Thank Goodness for Bloggers . . .<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">. . . because someone needs to write consistently for the internet. <o:p></o:p></span> <div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I like to read blogs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I actually like writing this one. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I just can’t seem to regularly make time to write. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I will continue to battle that. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But if you’re looking for something to read in the meantime, here are a few of my favorite bloggers, and links to some of my favorite posts from them. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And I’ll continue to try to get my shite together more often. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.mysavvyboys.com/" target="_blank">MySavvy Boys</a></strong> – Not only is my friend K Savvy an excellent writer, her boys are amazing and hilarious and provide her with great material. She has so many great posts, so I’ve decided to share a couple:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -15pt;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A favorite Benny Post - <a href="http://www.mysavvyboys.com/2012/03/another-letter-to-benny-cookie-crisis.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.mysavvyboys.com/2012/03/another-letter-to-benny-cookie-crisis.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -15pt;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A favorite Anth Post - <a href="http://www.mysavvyboys.com/2012/03/this-i-believe-or-at-least-anth-does.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.mysavvyboys.com/2012/03/this-i-believe-or-at-least-anth-does.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -15pt;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">§<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Perfect insight into my good friend Krystyne- <a href="http://www.mysavvyboys.com/2012/01/little-more-homework-to-do.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.mysavvyboys.com/2012/01/little-more-homework-to-do.html</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 21pt;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="http://thebloggess.com/" target="_blank">TheBloggess</a></strong> – This post made me want to be this woman’s friend. When I need a random laugh, and the Savvy family doesn’t have any updates, I go here. Prepare to become obsessed with finding giant metal chickens. <a href="http://thebloggess.com/2011/06/and-thats-why-you-should-learn-to-pick-your-battles/"><span style="color: blue;">http://thebloggess.com/2011/06/and-thats-why-you-should-learn-to-pick-your-battles/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="http://momastery.com/blog/" target="_blank">Momastery</a></strong> – A great “mommy” blog – that’s not just about being a mom. Her insight into humanity is quite inspiring. Some might find some of her stuff a little “churchy” . . . but the heartfelt kindness and grace flows through without judgment. <a href="http://momastery.com/blog/2012/03/26/for-trayvon/"><span style="color: blue;">http://momastery.com/blog/2012/03/26/for-trayvon/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="http://anthology.typepad.com/anthology/" target="_blank">Anthology</a></strong> – This is my favorite little shop in Madison. I’ve taken (dragged?) all friends and visitors downtown just to visit this hidden gem. The owner also makes me think, whether about the pitfalls of Pinterest (which opened my eyes and saddened me at the same time), or inspired me to keep paying attention to the political hotbed that is our state political system. I heart them. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://anthology.typepad.com/anthology/2012/03/feeling-feisty.html"><span style="color: blue;">http://anthology.typepad.com/anthology/2012/03/feeling-feisty.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="http://curlygirldesign.com/blog/" target="_blank">CurlyGirl Design</a></strong> – LOVE the curly girl, and not just because I want to ask her for hair product advice. Thoughtful and creative, her posts always hit the spot! I also feel good about buying her cards if I can't make my own, or find them to have the perfect sentiment.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://curlygirldesign.com/blog/view/spring_2012_sneak_peek_6"><span style="color: blue;">http://curlygirldesign.com/blog/view/spring_2012_sneak_peek_6</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Apparently I read a lot of blogs. I’ll stop here for now, and make a promise to share some more in the future. </span></div>kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-26610324959746530842012-03-07T21:19:00.000-05:002012-03-07T21:19:07.875-05:00It's time to admit . . . I have an addiction.<span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">To paper. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I went to JoAnn's - my craft Mecca - to purchase <s>some</s> [<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ahem</i>] more paper-organizing products, because what I have is currently getting out of hand and hard to organize.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">Perhaps this is because. Well. Apparently . . . </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I CAN’T STOP BUYING PAPER.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I almost bought more tonight. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">Of some 4x6 Jewel tones, in case you’re wondering. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">Because I don’t have that yet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">And Jewel Tones are so very different from the “Bold” and “Bright” packs I currently have. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">Clearly. </span>kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-77082450172515440862012-03-06T21:30:00.000-05:002012-03-06T21:30:32.128-05:00You know you're in trouble when . . .. . . your quote of the day makes your boss and staff think about ...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
prune juice. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>"Overcome the notion that you must be regular.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary." - Uta Hagen</strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Womp, womp.kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-62629281035290035882012-03-03T01:13:00.000-05:002012-03-03T01:13:50.718-05:00Damn You, OPE!!*<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">[**Just to clarify, I don’t damn that lovely conference at all . . . just served me well as a catchy title!]</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It snowed today. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“A lot.” </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This is a big deal, as I think it’s snowed maybe 4 whole days this winter. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Like everywhere else, our winter in Wisconsin has been pretty mild. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And frankly, quite weird.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Last year at this time we had around 100 inches of snow. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This year we’ve had 24. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Tonight we got around 5 more. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So it’s kind-of a big deal.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">[I should also say, while we’re here, that this makes me VERY NERVOUS for what Mother Nature is going to bring our way. I just can’t believe that this is IT. But I REALLY hope it is because I’m enjoying this ‘winter’ immensely.]</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It was VERY pretty.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxd-ApGz-nRi7y5gw08JR8AINHwTLEmppgodoK1YhaXUQ2LeRoRK9umn3D4u3XuR4IJrCsO_AKrVCO-l5oRqDVSDF6k3_IoIq291FSM4ifw5o2mZjxQHSOsGe_0cxw3WRlzOe4e7qPftI/s1600/uw+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxd-ApGz-nRi7y5gw08JR8AINHwTLEmppgodoK1YhaXUQ2LeRoRK9umn3D4u3XuR4IJrCsO_AKrVCO-l5oRqDVSDF6k3_IoIq291FSM4ifw5o2mZjxQHSOsGe_0cxw3WRlzOe4e7qPftI/s400/uw+snow.jpg" uda="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The snow was also wet and heavy and gross. I walked into a meeting today feeling like a football player wearing eye black, thanks to the walk TO the meeting and the aforementioned snow attacking my mascara. Classy.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But I digress. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I realized tonight that this snow is because <a href="https://theope.org/" target="_blank"><strong>OPE</strong></a> is this weekend in good ole’ Oshkosh, WI.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’m not there, but when I have been, there has always been a huge snowstorm.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Every. Time.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I should be there, especially as I’m spending the next two weeks doing many phone interviews. Though I’m pretty sure if I suggested to this group of folks that they should meet me in a residence hall room in Oshkosh for an interview, too many of them might run away screaming. Not something we often do for a facilities staff interview. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Which is too bad . . . it’s a great opportunity to interview a huge number of folks in person – which, in my humble opinion, is so much nicer than interviewing on the phone. (Can you tell I have fond memories of all my OPE experiences? Because I do. Big fan.]</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But I digress. Again. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Thinking about the OPE snowstorm made me think of my second trip there – when I was in grad school, looking for my first position post-master’s degree. We had a van of fun people who made it to Oshkosh and back safely. Which was pretty amazing considering the conditions. I won’t mention any names, but there were a few who weren’t comfortable driving in the city (that might have been most of the van), a couple who were undergrads who couldn’t drive (I can’t remember why … would have been helpful!) and a couple who WE weren’t comfortable driving us in a van. So . .. that left two of us. And, having been one of those two, I can confidently say that we were champs. That drive home in that snowstorm sucked tremendously. Thank goodness our passengers were such supportive colleagues (as all great student affairs professionals are), and encouraged us during the rough times. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Ah . . . . THOSE were the days! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Regardless of what side of the table you’re on this weekend, I hope you have a successful and fun OPE experience. Be yourself. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-34497088623405297992012-02-21T22:29:00.001-05:002012-02-21T22:30:49.950-05:00Got Mail?<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I’m back. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">And apparently perpetually behind on life.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">“Life” apparently means: sending out birthday cards, cleaning my apartment, blogging, going to the gym, catching up with friends, finding a new hair product that makes my hair behave . . . you know . . . life. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">*sigh*</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I’m working on it. Like everyone else on the planet. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">Luckily, I have kind friends who remind me every now and again that since I’m behind on everything (not what they remind me of), and I’m not blogging, and we can’t seem to connect on the phone, they have no idea what’s going on in my life. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I know. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I’m sorry. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I have no excuses. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I was going to list off some of the things that I HAVE accomplished recently, but very few things have come to mind. I’m sure that’s the glass-half-empty tendency and high expectations for myself that I have. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I mean . . . surely I’ve accomplished SOMETHING. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I did get up and shower and go to work today. I even braided my hair (because aforementioned hair products are not providing me with the curl I desire). </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">But enough whining. That’s not what this post was going to be about. And so I’m just going to skip over that part entirely and move on. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">Hi. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I’ve spent the last couple of hours attacking one of the craft tables that is currently taking over my living room. It’s been piled high with a multitude of craft projects, junk mail, too many magazines I haven’t read and those damn scratch-off coupon/game/things from the grocery store that are now expired. I’m able to see portions of the actual table, so I’m making progress, but it’s not usable yet. Though I’m confident it will be by the end of the week. [And then I’ll tackle that OTHER craft table that I put up in December to help a friend with a craft project. And is still here today.]</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">Anyway, while sorting and recycling and organizing, I was also thinking about <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/45856_b45856" target="_blank">a blog post that a friend tweeted recently</a>. (Thanks VKR!)It’s about a woman who has decided to revive the art of letter-writing– and has devoted the month of February to writing people she knows – and sending them letters – IN THE MAIL. [Imagine that!]</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">It seemed like a cool project, but as many who know me know, I have enough damn projects to keep me occupied well into my 90’s. However, as I was sorting through all the card-making and scrapbooking supplies, it dawned on me that I have sent very few cards lately. [Lately being defined as at least the past year]. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I used to send postcards to friends and family when I travelled – now I sometimes buy them, and I’m still carrying them around, thinking I’ll get around to it. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">I also used to send a note or card ‘just because’ or to celebrate a holiday, or when someone needed a motivational pick-me-up. Love via the post office, if you will. And this piece of my life has been an epic fail. I’ve been great about giving out birthday cards to my staff, but I’m afraid that the rest of the people in my life have fallen off the radar. And I’d like to remedy that. Putting a card in the mail for someone, knowing how nice it is to get mail-that-isn’t-a-bill, it’s pretty great. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">And so, for the month of March, I’m going to write to one person each day. If you would like to be a recipient of some snazzy mail, send me a message – either by facebook or email. If you don’t think I have it, include your address. It will help the post office figure out where you live. :) Help me get back to being me. Maybe we'll become penpals. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZa-ZX-7uyXg-gAxIR6-WN6mYE3uOgoVtz2tNYAYQGvari6811xflA9W8GUZCZ_dTs8r6E2kejuIpIeX5854Zhjs3PMNDQuPNwiYetzSAT5CKEiyEHKK0ZMvF5kHT19fWDINNkFMVakc/s1600/card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZa-ZX-7uyXg-gAxIR6-WN6mYE3uOgoVtz2tNYAYQGvari6811xflA9W8GUZCZ_dTs8r6E2kejuIpIeX5854Zhjs3PMNDQuPNwiYetzSAT5CKEiyEHKK0ZMvF5kHT19fWDINNkFMVakc/s400/card.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">p.s. Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of a card that has a picture on it? With a camera phone? Why must something so seemingly simple turn out to be such a challenge? </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">p.p.s. I apologize for the ridiculously outdated background on the blog. It's clearly been awhile. It will get changed. Eventually. But isn't a new post better than new wallpaper? That's what I thought. </span></div>kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-75732893688938157582012-01-12T01:29:00.001-05:002012-01-12T01:32:27.567-05:00Witty Wednesday: Midwest InspirationHere's me, trying something new. I love quotations and sharing them - via a cute card, at the top of an agenda, or whenever something reminds me of someone. So . . . I'm thinking that maybe I'll start "blogging more" by sharing a weekly quote. On a Wednesday. We'll see . . . maybe someone can help me with a better title. <br />
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At any rate . . . there are two quotes I found that I think it'll be great to share with you. Especially those of you who identify with the concept of "the midwest people." [I found these quotes in my <a href="http://midwestliving.com/" target="_blank">Midwest Living Magazine</a> - a gift that gives me new ideas for place to go and things to do in this area of the country. Thanks, Mom!]<br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><strong>"Let's just say we Midwesterners choose what works, and only what works, and leave the rest behind. That's why we're the ultimate test market, and why marketers proclaim: 'If it doesn't play in the Heartland, it won't play.' I consider 'Midwest' as an honest, approachable, easy style of personal vision." - Amy Butler (Ohio Designer)</strong></span><br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: #38761d;">"William Maxwell used to say about Illinois that it was his 'Imagination's Home.' There is something about the Midwest that I've tried to get into my stories: the odd politeness of the people here, their secretiveness, their wish to do good.' - Charles Baxter (Minnesota professor)</span></strong></em>kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-59564040711068336322012-01-10T00:24:00.002-05:002012-01-10T18:41:17.771-05:00You Can't Be Stressed Around a Baby<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">While home for the holidays, I did a little reminiscing with one of my aunts. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">When I was in grad school, I spent every Tuesday afternoon at her house, holding her babies. My cousins. Three of them. You see, the twins were born in November, and they already had the lovely Hailey, who at that point was around 16 months old (if I’ve done my math correctly). Let’s just say that she was also a baby – just not the newborn variety. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As you can imagine, their household was a little insane, and needed a little assistance. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And so I became the Tuesday Girl. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Every Tuesday afternoon I spent approximately 4 hours at their house – I held, fed, changed diapers, fed, rocked-to-sleep, changed diapers, and occasionally entertained, 3 very small girls. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It was great. And exhausting. And perfect for a grad student in housing. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You see, grad school is stressful. It’s especially stressful if you also have an assistantship in residence life – it feels like a full time job, while also going to school full time, and trying to figure out how to supervise staff and appropriately manage a crisis and hold students accountable. Really great stuff – but stressful to try and balance it all and pay for school and figure out “what’s next” in life. So . . . yeah. .. . it was stressful. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But I had my secret weapons: Avery, Anna and Hailey. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Why, you ask? </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Because you can’t be stressed when you’re holding a baby. They’re smart. Like dogs, they can sense how you’re feeling. And if you’re stressed? Then they’re stressed. And then they quickly become miserable. And when they’re miserable? They cry. And since you probably don’t want to join in (especially when there are additional small beings that might join in on the crying), you want to console them. And while you’re consoling the baby, it helps you console yourself. Or at least pull yourself out of whatever cohort-ridden drama you’ve found yourself part of, and stop thinking about that next thesis chapter you have to write, or how you’re going to fit in four classes and a practicum alongside your assistantship next semester. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">All you have to focus on is holding a baby. Maybe trying to make her smile, or giggle, or calm herself because you awakened her for her afternoon snack. It’s not about you. It’s about the baby. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I was reminded of this when I saw the girls for Hanukkah. They are now 11 and 12 – and the oldest might now officially be taller than me (I’m not sure what I find more unacceptable – her extra 2 inches or the “bye shorty” <a href="http://therealsouthkorea.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/whats-the-opposite-of-salutation-what-do-you-call-that-the-greeting-at-the-end-of-a-letteremail/" target="_blank">valediction</a> I received from her. Probably the latter). Anyway . . . my aunt and I reminisced about the days of jotting down every bodily function, memorizing the book “Moo, Ba, La la la” and ‘the Anna dance.’ Those were the days! Though, I do enjoy talking books with them or taking them down in a game of Uno or Who Gnu! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">After that visit home, I got to meet Baby G, my bestie’s firstborn. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJnDAllG3oZKiuFSfMaoyGeYIytit4dL3oKzwsF-VVS6J44bA7B-nH9QopS2QT08sb8Y5Svuhvdd3NqGzSG93U00AhWm0lSEdVkEuTJgZ9kvZbMZAyLweNjUpL9bR5FHdFPXAN_PZ4WA/s1600/Grayson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJnDAllG3oZKiuFSfMaoyGeYIytit4dL3oKzwsF-VVS6J44bA7B-nH9QopS2QT08sb8Y5Svuhvdd3NqGzSG93U00AhWm0lSEdVkEuTJgZ9kvZbMZAyLweNjUpL9bR5FHdFPXAN_PZ4WA/s640/Grayson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">He.Is.Adorable. Clearly - look at that face!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Many of her siblings and their families were present, so I tried to be kind, and not steal or monopolize the baby. Though, I might have once (or twice) said “I think your brother-in-law is hogging the baby.” </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">[He WAS!!!]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvozWEt9YMoDwP10s-7U06I7mkQEfPCmKVg69srW1mpx83iQAz1VicWyuHu2EB0E8HOd6JYSxPNFwLDYZNAMXbvAPMYCMPylvVfqx-AE2gzaT5HudWKpNUeJZZKyT9xFBLpLeZcSbdeq0/s1600/G1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvozWEt9YMoDwP10s-7U06I7mkQEfPCmKVg69srW1mpx83iQAz1VicWyuHu2EB0E8HOd6JYSxPNFwLDYZNAMXbvAPMYCMPylvVfqx-AE2gzaT5HudWKpNUeJZZKyT9xFBLpLeZcSbdeq0/s400/G1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But who could blame him? G is gorgeous and smells amazing and . . . you can’t be stressed when you’re holding a baby! And so I backed down and tried to focus on other things. But it was a good reminder that perhaps I need to volunteer at the hospital to hold babies. It might be a really healthy way to get some stress to disappear.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4I9Ce-FLanbiBw9llxcNK038X_rP0NEKLsDJdP07LOKGltbrExbCNRNXiGGC9Ei7ufqUqmdDNKuJDcstOHXR6iyrilYfkFKVhYavPGdnc1Dze89e0gGYKywbVnW8MyBWADhoRCCe2YU/s1600/G7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4I9Ce-FLanbiBw9llxcNK038X_rP0NEKLsDJdP07LOKGltbrExbCNRNXiGGC9Ei7ufqUqmdDNKuJDcstOHXR6iyrilYfkFKVhYavPGdnc1Dze89e0gGYKywbVnW8MyBWADhoRCCe2YU/s640/G7.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Come on . . . you know you’d wanna hold this adorable nugget! </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I recommend you find someone in your life with a little one [asking a stranger is REALLY awkward, and probably a really bad idea], and volunteer to babysit. Chances are high the parents might need a night out together, and you can get some de-stressing in. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">** Side note: I might have spent more time trying to google 'antonym of salutation' to figure out what to call Hailey's farewell statement. What the heck? I've shared the great blog I found along with the appropriate word: valediction. You learn something new every day . . . </span></div>kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-45704729349633098462012-01-01T14:04:00.000-05:002012-01-01T14:04:48.827-05:00New Year’s Resolutions<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I don’t normally believe in making resolutions for the new year. I think if you want to make a change in your life, you should do it. And do it now. Not wait for a new year to begin. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Having said that, I’ve decided that NOW, conveniently, I’d like to focus on some things for the upcoming year. [What can I say . . . sometimes I also like to change my mind. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Garamond; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Garamond; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> ]</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">My friend Erin and I often talk about trying to find balance, living in a new town with a new job. [Yes, I know that I have been here now for just over a year, however, the job is big, so I’m giving myself two years to call it “new” . . . deal with it.] </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It seems as though we can do one thing outside our jobs – we can work out, be social with other human beings, or we can manage our life [clean our house, cook good meals, do our laundry in a timely manner, organize our closets, etc.]. But, apparently, we can’t do it all. Something, and often, TWO-things, always fall off the plate. I have spent the last year attempting to have a social life, which worked out for the most part, but I also tried to do that other stuff, thus, seemingly failing at much. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s okay, however. I’m going to let it go. But for 2012, I’ve decided that, per my usual self – I do want to try and do it all. I’d like to get up early and work out in the mornings so I can be social in the evenings – and maybe cook, clean and organize a little in there, too. [But not too much – let’s be real – I can’t completely change who I am!!!]</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In addition to working on balance, I also want to blog more. I enjoy the process of writing, but haven’t made much time in the last few months to make that happen. I had originally thought I’d try to blog every day – but who really wants to read a post every day? So I’m going to come up with a more manageable goal – but I’m going to be more intentional about writing. I’ll also share at least one weekly quotation and photograph to mix things up a bit. I’m working on some catchy titles for those now. (If you have any ideas, feel free to toss those my way!)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">To start the new year off right, I’m going to share both with you today. This picture is an amaryllis I got from my aunt for Christmas. It bloomed yesterday. What better message than a brand new flower in a brand new year?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltMfSSpOjuzceDlQc23_gl6F-btAEyHwg9svhjut9ExwtmlXdRy6vVNjz77N5ikoF0Nup3mSzzbyW0S3iK3VH9tOTdrApdTdb57kcOPs1cVwOiq1EUjK1juDnYZwHC2wq89lfUwpV-vE/s1600/amaryllis1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltMfSSpOjuzceDlQc23_gl6F-btAEyHwg9svhjut9ExwtmlXdRy6vVNjz77N5ikoF0Nup3mSzzbyW0S3iK3VH9tOTdrApdTdb57kcOPs1cVwOiq1EUjK1juDnYZwHC2wq89lfUwpV-vE/s400/amaryllis1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> - </span><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif";">Edith Lovejoy Pierce</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAYakGIbzQrtBloRYNUnrvAizPjuLJuCECfQhbHyUKZWjLpB-jX2-YTsICbDZ8RS7Ns6fEuv1Kcoi2HfrDrbEeyYVN2KYe14kGlRQV2VjVrnuWspdy-idgsZW3XrkiQ52wIXzLAfhSFY/s1600/amaryllis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAYakGIbzQrtBloRYNUnrvAizPjuLJuCECfQhbHyUKZWjLpB-jX2-YTsICbDZ8RS7Ns6fEuv1Kcoi2HfrDrbEeyYVN2KYe14kGlRQV2VjVrnuWspdy-idgsZW3XrkiQ52wIXzLAfhSFY/s400/amaryllis.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276144881395120928.post-86838188051757339962011-12-30T00:40:00.001-05:002011-12-30T00:43:01.475-05:00My baby sister: All Wholesome and Shit<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">While home for the holidays, some of my fam and I attempted to watch <em>The Change-Up, </em>a comedy with Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s not even remotely a holiday film. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In fact, it was pretty bad. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So bad, we stopped watching it. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Probably not soon enough. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We might have even traumatized my mother. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The best part happened later, when we were getting ready to go to bed.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Scene: All tucked in our beds</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Me, randomly, to my sister: I can’t believe you made mom watch that terrible movie!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Sister: What? You said it was good! (I had dozed through the flick late the night before. When asked for an assessment earlier in the day, I might have given it a “good” rating.)</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Me: I don’t know what kinds of movies you like. You rented it. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Sister: I don’t watch THOSE kinds of movies! I watch movies that are PG – not R!!!! I watch Santa Buddies – that’s rated G!!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Me: Burst into hysterical laughter, followed by tears and a mega-coughing fit. Which I attempted to remedy with some magic cough syrup and my inhaler for my ‘sensitive’ lungs. And then promptly got out my notebook to write that quote down. [And, because I'm a good sister, asked Hunter for permission to share her hilarious comment with the blogosphere. You're welcome.] </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Good times. </span></div>kelarioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15882115104657112298noreply@blogger.com0