Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Be Safe - You Need All Your Fingers and Toes

Tonight is our neighbors annual 3rd of July party.  Brian and I are very much looking forward to going.  This will represent 4 years since the first time we slept in our house. 

Sorry about the doom and glum message earlier in the week.  I have decided that, even though the decisions that have been made are not my decisions to control, I am still not going to endorse or condone them.  I think it would be easier for me to accept if everyone involved was happy, but that is definitely not the vibe from any of the involved parties. 

Today's special note:  if you have to lie to anyone, in any way about the relationship that you are in, you need to take a BIG step back and look at things.

Monday, July 1, 2013

It's Not Always Easy

It has been a challenging year for "family" in our house.  One of Brian's brothers is making some decisions it is very difficult for me to support.  We want everyone to be happy - but the thing is, he gives "lip service" to being happy, but doesn't seem like himself.

Brian's grandparents have moved to Assisted Living and the family has spent the last 8 months selling the business antiques and boxing up the family antiques.  Brian and I don't really want or need anything, but that is often seen as rude - so we have tried to participate, but we love people, not things - so it has been a challenge.

Everything feels super strained to me.  I am struggling with family decisions about living arrangements, what people are supporting or not supporting, and most of all, a level of unrest with those not in our home.  It's funny, you would think all of this undercurrent would strain Brian and I as well, but we feel closer than normal, to me.  It is difficult - while I am enjoying having my "little family" home together for the summer, preparing to celebrate Brian's completion of grad school in August and mine in March I am really struggling with the outside influences on our lives.

As many (most) people know my first marriage was very difficult and painful.  By the time that we had reached the 4 year mark, I knew I had made a terrible mistake.  Brian and I will celebrate four years of marriage in a little more than 2 months.  These have been the best, easiest, happiest, most loved four years of my life.  Even with our current struggle and my dissatisfaction with extended family I am so happy that we are together; I just wish that there was some acknowledgement of bad decisions elsewhere.

As announced a few weeks ago during a church service - love is blind and marriage is an eye opener.

Friday, May 31, 2013

Not a Baby Anymore

Erik turns 19 today.  It seems almost surreal.  I swear he was a baby just a few weeks ago! 

Tonight we are taking he and his friend Nick up to Council Bluffs to see Public Enemy, Ice Cube, De La Soul and LL Cool J.  It should be a really fun night! 

This weekend Brian has a 25 mile scout ride, we have many church responsibilities and it is finals weekend for school.  Brian only has one class to finish and he'll be done with his MBA - the time has REALLY flown and his parents are so proud of him for going back and finishing his education and pursuing a masters.  It will be exciting to see what the next 5 years holds for us.  I'm sure there will be many adventures!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Two Spoiled Dogs Live in This House

Brian is working out in North Platte this week and the dogs and I are on our own.  Usually they will sleep through the night for me, although they RARELY offer him that luxury.  Last night they decided to push the envelope.  At 2:30 Cache woke up and barked for 10 minutes at FULL VOLUME - so we all got up, both dogs went out for a potty break and we marched straight back to bed.  No discussion.

At 4 Roo Roo woke up and started whining at full volume then proceeded to throw every single toy and treat out of his kennel in a show of protest.  At 4:30 we all got out of bed and went outside.  When we came back in we tried chew time but instead Roo Roo decided he would rather bite holes in my socks while I got ready for work.  The dogs went back outside while I packed my lunch and Roo Roo practiced his middle of the night howling and barking and refused to come in the house.  At 5:30 both dogs went into their kennels with treats and started barking all over again.  I hope it was hot enough that everyone has their air on like we do so they didn't wake up the whole neighborhood.  Tonight we're going to play outside, and we'll see if my knee is strong enough for a walk to give them some sniffing time.  We will have to break the middle of the night socialization and investigation habits so that we can all survive! 

Monday, May 13, 2013

A Mother's Day Mud Bath

Our mother's day weekend was a bit of a blur, with homework Friday and Saturday, a scout ride and a beautiful walk Saturday, and church, homework, lunch with family and then a tour of historical homes on Sunday.  Sunday during the home tour I slid down a muddy embankment and twisted my knee.  Today things are still pretty painful - but we're hoping for the best.  We'll see how training goes this week.  I had hoped to get a few longer runs in and was planning a bike ride with my mom Tuesday night and some yard work at all three houses. 

Monday, May 6, 2013

Spring Training 2013

My recovery after the hernia surgery really hasn't gone the way that I planned.  I am finally not tender on a regular basis and feel mostly like myself - so we are back to brick training =)  With 7 day a week exercise.  I will sadly not be doing the Norfolk triathalon in June but am hoping to do a women's only event in Omaha in August. 

Tonight I'm planning a bike ride with my mom and hopefully the weather will cooperate - although I know I should be training in all kinds of weather!  I am looking forward to getting in some training time with Erik since he'll be home for the summer in 11 days!

Monday, March 4, 2013

While Erik is Home

My workouts this week have been about housework - and they have created aches and pains in places I didn't know I had.  Friday I got off work REALLY early and spent the morning attacking the clutter and grim in my mom's kitchen.  With a little elbow grease, and my handy dandy broom I tackled everything and three hours later had Chinese for lunch and a little nap.  Then Brian and I spent the evening finishing finals for this term.

Saturday we got up early for groceries, Erik worked at the Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, I spent another few hours at my mom's dragging garbage out of my old bedroom and sorting through clothes to determine what will be worn again and what can be sent on to the mission.  We spent the evening with friends playing Dicecapades - which is HILARIOUS and were only slightly hungover on Sunday morning!

Sunday we spent the day cleaning our house and making Runza's.  I'm hoping to get a quick run in tonight and get a few more things done at my mom's house.  We are planning some new lighting and a new bathroom ceiling in her basement yet this spring and maybe this summer we'll be able to do new carpet down there for her. 

Full time work, full time grad school, training for a tri, taking care of our house, and helping our parents.  This isn't exactly what I thought my mid-thirties would look like but I confess it's pretty great! 

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

A Nice Walk and a Short Run

Yesterday afternoon it was nearly 40 degrees but with many low clouds and a brisk north wind it wasn't nice outside.  Brian and I took the dogs for a 2 mile walk and I did a short run in the middle.  I would have gone a little further but the dogs were terribly concerned about why I was running and they weren't and I didn't want to upset Root's toe any more than necessary.  After we got home we spent the evening on homework and had big bowls of split pea and ham soup.  Erik will be home on Friday and we're looking forward to his spring break matching up with ours. 

Monday, February 25, 2013

It Might Snow Again

The weather men are concerned about the state's immediately to our south.  This is my first week returning to Tri training.  I was hoping to swim today and run tomorrow but with the possibility of snow I think I'll take to the trails today and plan for indoor workouts Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Over the weekend I played Bunco for the very first time and then Saturday we spent the morning at church before taking Root to the vet for a dislocated toe.  He is on some medication which helps about 90% of the problem and he'll heal up soon.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Less than Expected

There was a LOT less snow than was forecast.  Lincoln is officially reporting 4 inches, but I think we might be closer to six at our house.  Brian used the snow blower at our house twice and his parents once and I shoveled at my mom's once early this morning - so it wasn't near as much exercise as I was anticipating.  I'm hoping that a little sun this weekend will improve the trails so I can get a few runs outside and so that Erik can get home safely for spring break.

This weekend is packed - tonight I'll try my hand at Bunco, Saturday is Presbytery at Church, Sunday bells ring for two services and it's finals weekend so we have to wrap up our projects and papers.  Hopefully all goes as planned! 

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Root's Toenail

I know - what an odd name for a post!  Last night when I got home it was still only 20 degrees - so I thought about bundling up and taking the dogs on the short walk around the neighborhood, except that poor Roo Roo was limping a little bit.  We checked over his leg and back and found that he has a cracked toenail on his left rear foot.  We are going to see the vet Monday to see if there is anything they can do for it - but it looks like he may have to tough it out.  A few weeks ago he got it caught in the vent in the kitchen and we thought it was fine, but he's pretty uncomfortable at the moment.  So there was no walk.

It's supposed to start snowing in Lincoln around noon.  This evening we'll take care of snow removal and I'm looking forward to a massage at 7.  I have been working on a commercial assignment to go along with one of my papers so I finished selecting photographs last night and tonight we'll add the music.... hopefully it will come out the way that I am imagining it.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

A Baker's Dozen

After a nice long weekend away in Twin Cities and a new car battery for Erik on the way home we are safely back in Lincoln.  I got a LOT of new shoes this year including new cycling shoes (this is my VERY FIRST pair) and new snow boots (which it sounds like I will use a lot in the next few days).  The forecast is calling for 6-14 inches of snow so we'll see what we end up with.

It is the last two weeks for this round of classes so our weekend will likely be spent on homework.  I am hoping to get a walk in with the dogs this evening and tomorrow my workout will be done with a snow shovel =) Hopefully it will all melt fast! 

Thursday, February 14, 2013

And That's Final =)

Grad school is hard work - which shouldn't be surprising to anyone =)  Brian is heading up to Bellevue this morning to take a final and he spent every waking moment yesterday studying.  When I got home the dogs were tired of their kennels and ready to burn off some energy so we walked for 45 minutes in the cemetery.  My incision site is sore this morning, and when I woke up I had a terrible leg cramp but it was a nice way to unwind for all of us!

I had the funniest dream overnight, full of people from my past, illegal drugs, Simpson College, indoor football and a strong expression of love for my husband, to a guy I haven't thought about in years.  Maybe I shouldn't have had that second serving of asparagus!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Make a List - Check it Twice

There was no formal exercise last night, we helped with a funeral at church, took my mom's harp home and put it away, let the dogs out, went to bell practice, picked up a few things on the way home, did homework, delivered a birthday gift, showered and slipped off to bed. 

Today I'm working at least 11 hours and hoping to squeeze in a walk with the dogs before it gets too dark.  This is supposed to be the last REALLY nice day for the week so we'll need to get out and enjoy it while we can.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Out and Moving

The temperatures in Lincoln have been up and down quite a bit the last few weeks and I've still been somewhat limited by what I can do.  Friday was the end of the 8 weeks of surgical restrictions so I am able to do anything I would like.  Friday afternoon Brian and I took the dogs for a walk, Saturday I went for a short walk with my friend Susan and Monday night I took both dogs out by myself for 45 minutes.  Before surgery all that tugging was a VERY painful adventure.  Last night, even though I was tired I didn't have any suspicious pain.  The rest of this week will be walking and then spending a weekend away shopping and playing in Minneapolis.

When we get home I'm planning to resume triathlon training.  I'm planning to journal all my training using this blog, much the way that I did when I was training for my 50 mile ride.  While that may be boring for all of you, it does help me to look back and see improvements and know where I need more work =)

So the bottom line is that I will be updating regularly again, but it might not be very interesting =)

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

And then it was 2013

What a whirlwind year!  Erik had a great football season.  We had a houseful for Thanksgiving as always.  We had a very Merry Christmas and a very quiet New Year - I think we were in bed at 10:30.  I had hernia surgery December 14.  We thought that there were 3 hernias and were surprised to learn there were 7.  I'm still recovering.  No lifting over 10 pounds and very limited work outs.  I am going to try water aerobics for the first time since December and it's almost February.

Classes are going well for all three of us and Erik is testing the waters at a small Presbyterian church in Indianola. 

We added a second dog in November - his name is Root (he prefers to be called Roo Roo) and he is all puppy still.  The best part about being released by the surgeon on February 8th is that I will be able to run with Cache and walk with Root and wear them both out a little bit.

Hopefully I can get back to regular posting - it can be hard to keep things interesting on a personal blog when it feels like many of the changes in our life are gradual.