Completely Exhausted

Wednesday is generally my longest day at work. I got out a few minutes later than usual yesterday, raced to my inlaws where Brian had finished snow removal, went to my mom's and shoveled her house and her neighbors, came home and while Brian went to town with the snow blower I shoveled our driveway, the back sidewalk and the steps from the sidewalk to the house then went in to make dinner and start laundry. After dinner I went to the basement for a ballet balance workout. It was only 15 minutes but that's good because I'm not sure I had the patience to go any longer. This morning my shoulders are a little sore. The workout had a lot of core/ab work but I'm not noticing that as much. At 8:30 I put the last load of laundry into the dry and climbed into bed. I feel more refreshed this morning. Hopefully this weekend I can get back onto our regular schedule. I feel like we are still in holiday mode having a few parties left to go.

How We Met a Bulldog Named Chuck

Yesterday when I got home from work the sun was out and the weather looked to be fine for walking dogs. After a funeral visitation and a long day at work it was a great chance for me to have a few minutes with God. We set out for our usual 3.5 mile loop and during the last 10 minutes found a lovely English bulldog named Chuck. At first we thought he was out with a jogger and just happened to be off leash, but then she passed him and he looked at us with interest and determination. After looking both ways he crossed the street and joined our walk. I was nervous because both Cache and Root have a lot of trail anxiety but since he was about their size (just a little fatter) they didn't mind him walking with us. Soon his owner raced out of the house full of apologies and calling his name. While I had planned to start the Tracy Anderson series I still needed to make dinner and do lots of reading for class, and a walk is good exercise, especially dragging the two of them. Hopefully I can work out with Tracy on Thursday.

Of Course I Want to Look Like Gwyneth

This year for my birthday I asked for a couple Tracy Anderson videos. Tonight will be my first adventure working out with the fitness mogul and I confess, I'm more than a little nervous. I read about Gwyneth Paltrow and her efforts to perfect her body with Tracy Anderson a year ago and then read about the trial of the Anderson method by a columnist over the summer. While I'm sticking to my regular diet - 1300-1800 calories a day with plenty of water, hot tea and exercise - I decided it would be worth trying a few of the targeted workouts. Hopefully I don't hurt myself =) Erik is home with us for one more week and then Brian has a bunch of road time and Erik will go back to school so I'll be able to buckle down for the last few weeks of classes. It's hard to believe graduation is just around the corner. I mailed the invitations on my way to work this morning. One of my very favorite parts about our marriage is our ability to work as a team and to achieve our goals in tandem. 2014 will be an amazing year for our family!

High Tech Workouts

Training is going well. Mostly! We have changed the technical options at our house. Brian got Google Chromecast for Christmas and I wasn't that excited simply because I had NO idea how cool it is. Riding the trainer Saturday morning I watched the first hour of Guilt Trip - which is a combination of very funny and very sad. I also talked Brian into buying me Wii Zumba. I did my first workout last night and was stopped 20 minutes in by a calf cramp, that I still have. Tonight is back to the trainer and maybe by the end of the week it will be warm enough to walk the dogs. In addition to those fun pieces of technology I got a FitBit for my birthday (really, this is 37?) and it is happily reporting it's opinions on my movement and exercise. I will confess it makes me want to walk around more and take extra trips so that it knows I'm not just sitting around! Here's to the Jetson's workouts in the basement!

In 2014 I Will

I'm a planner - it's a blessing and a curse!!! I have a big list of plans for this year. Among them is returning to the blog! In 2014 I am planning to: Run my first ever half marathon - with my friend Susan - my training schedule starts February 9 - while we are on vacation1 Complete in my first ever triathalon - with my friend Susan - my training schedule starts in March =) Purge my old bedroom at my mom's - we have been married almost FIVE years now - I think it's pretty permanent. Purge Erik's old bedroom at my mom's - he has ougrown all the clothes - and almost all of the toys. Purge our garage - if it's been in a box for almost 5 years chances are good that I don't need it Purge our laundry room - old clothes - I'm looking at your - someone will appreciate and wear you! HAVE a MASSIVE Garage Sale - probably during neighborhood garage sale weekend. Graduate with a Master's - the ceremony is January 25 - the date classes end for me is March 1 - Brian is already done! Take a weekend trip to Minneapolis - because I need training clothes - and more shoes! Take our annual family summer vacation to Ely - this year with NO TEXTBOOKS! Celebrate my mom's 65th birthday - in Lincoln and with any luck in Orlando Florida Spend time with friends - I have had the joy to nurture a number of new and old friendships and I love spending time with my girls! See a movie, in the theater - once a month! This will be a killer challenge for me. I am not big on movie theaters but Brian and I loved them when we were young - any recommendations for January? Finishing landscaping our house - including new sod - oh please be a nice spring!!! Paint our office - since we have been in our house almost 5 years - and I have the paint - and the curtains - all I can say is that college is hard! That's it! Read a stack of paperbacks - I have already purchased them! Join a book club - socially or at church - I'm just ready for some personal books! Serve my last year as a deacon - we have two parishes right now so that will take some time. Celebrate happy hour with Brian once a week - at home or a bar! Cheer for the storm - every time that Erik wears their uniform. Start Paying off Student Loans Move into a new career - either with the hospital or somewhere else. I am looking forward to the change!

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.

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.