I am not playing hooky; but I am home from work today.
My boss knows.
I have the NCAA basketball first round games on the TV in the background. I LOVE this tournament.
I'm not home because I want to watch the games; well, I do, but that is not why I'm home. My son has a bad tooth and we are waiting to leave for the dentist. That - getting an appointment to the dentist - on a Friday was eight calls in the making (actually it was far more than that, I'm not counting the numerous calls I made and received the answering machine AFTER the time it told me they would be open).
Oh my. Do not have to see a dentist on a Friday! My son's tooth started hurting pretty bad last night so he would have to be seen today because we didn't want to wait through the weekend. And really, why should we? So I called his dentist and the recording told me they opened at 7:00 am. Great. Called a few minutes after 7 and called a few more times and every time received the answering machine. The office is a block away, so we decided to drive over. Maybe they forgot to turn off the machine. Nope. Nobody in. As we left, I saw a girl walking into the building and thought maybe that was an employee. Got back home and called again. Yes, she was the worker, but didn't know how to reach the dentist and she was going to be the only one in. After a few minutes she saw a note that had the on-call dentist's number. OK, now we are getting somewhere. I call him. Nope. He is closed and I can call his home number. I call and leave a message. (He did call me back about 2 hours later.)
I decided to call my dentist. Guess what? They were closed. The recording said if I had an emergency I could call the dentist's cell phone. I did. He answered his phone. He gave me a few names to contact. He actually would have come in to see my son, but had previous plans and was leaving town.
I tried the first two names.
And - they - were - closed.
I called the final option he gave me. It's the office next to his. A live person answers the phone. Yes, they can see him. We set the time. Oh, by the way, the office near you is closed. We are located across town. Do you still want to come in? Are you kidding?! You are the only ones open. Of course I'm coming in!
So you now get to read about my frustrating morning trying to get into a dentist while I wait for our appointment. I get so see a bit of basketball, my boss said to take care of my baby and he'll see me Monday (I have the best boss) and my son should be feeling better soon.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
I Splurged
When you see that title do you think dessert? Or maybe a new outfit? Or shoes? Maybe something for the house? The last option is close. I did splurge but I don't think you will ever guess on what. Get ready.....I splurged on.....hangers. Yup. I bought new hangers.
My bedroom closet is a double size closet, with one end at an angle so we lose some valuable hang-able space. It could be much smaller and I am truly grateful for what we have, but our clothes are crammed in that closet. I like to hang most of my clothes (partly because we have only one dresser for the both of us). Yes, I probably have other issues when I have so many clothes. Let's ignore that for the time being.
Back to my cramped closet. I can barely move the clothes to take out an item or put one back. Take a look yourself.
I've seen TV promos for space saving hangers but was skeptical. Really, just changing out hangers is going to give that much more space? Ha, I scoffed.
I saw some of those hangers on sale at a local store so I decided to try a few, just to test it out. There were only two packs of hangers left and I bought them. I switched out the old hangers for the new and it did seem to give a bit of room. Hmm. Maybe there really is something to this. I counted how many items we have (I'm only going to say it hit three digits) and went to the store's website. There I found a good deal on the hangers and even qualified for free shipping.
They arrived last week and I switched out my hubby's clothes first. Wow! There really is more room. I have more clothes than him, so my side will really be the test. I switched out my side tonight and I can say I am impressed. I can actually push clothes to one side and there is more than a fingers width of space.
I now want to get the pant/skirt hangers for the final items (those were sold out). Not only do I have more room, but the clothes look so nice hanging on all the same type of hanger. I think I had every type of hanger imaginable: wire, tube, clear plastic, nicer store quality with the sticky edges. Now I have all the same style and my hanging items look so nice and neat.
Out with the old and in with the new.
Now if I can only get the shoes looking so organized I'd be set.
My bedroom closet is a double size closet, with one end at an angle so we lose some valuable hang-able space. It could be much smaller and I am truly grateful for what we have, but our clothes are crammed in that closet. I like to hang most of my clothes (partly because we have only one dresser for the both of us). Yes, I probably have other issues when I have so many clothes. Let's ignore that for the time being.
Back to my cramped closet. I can barely move the clothes to take out an item or put one back. Take a look yourself.
 |
| Trust me - trying to push the clothes to the side to make room was nearly impossible. |
I've seen TV promos for space saving hangers but was skeptical. Really, just changing out hangers is going to give that much more space? Ha, I scoffed.
I saw some of those hangers on sale at a local store so I decided to try a few, just to test it out. There were only two packs of hangers left and I bought them. I switched out the old hangers for the new and it did seem to give a bit of room. Hmm. Maybe there really is something to this. I counted how many items we have (I'm only going to say it hit three digits) and went to the store's website. There I found a good deal on the hangers and even qualified for free shipping.
They arrived last week and I switched out my hubby's clothes first. Wow! There really is more room. I have more clothes than him, so my side will really be the test. I switched out my side tonight and I can say I am impressed. I can actually push clothes to one side and there is more than a fingers width of space.
 |
| This was NOT possible with the old hanger! |
I now want to get the pant/skirt hangers for the final items (those were sold out). Not only do I have more room, but the clothes look so nice hanging on all the same type of hanger. I think I had every type of hanger imaginable: wire, tube, clear plastic, nicer store quality with the sticky edges. Now I have all the same style and my hanging items look so nice and neat.
 |
Out with the old and in with the new.
Now if I can only get the shoes looking so organized I'd be set.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Missed Opportunity
Do you ever look back and realize you could have handled a situation so much better than you did?
I do. Actually, I just did.
Here's the basics. An opportunity came up that we were overlooked for. It was completely out of our hands and our control, but consideration should have been given. We found out we were never in the mix, though others had planned on including us. Those others weren't given the chance to represent us. This was a big deal.
So how did I handle it. Not well, I have to confess. I had anger, lots of anger (and tried to justify that it was righteous anger because we had been wronged). I was frustrated, to say the least. But mostly, my heart ached. I ached for the lost opportunity, an opportunity that should have been. The what if's and could have been's. I admit, I shed a few tears.
I knew God wasn't surprised by this. I knew we were in His hands. I knew this was such a small blip in the big picture. I knew all this. My heart didn't care and my emotions (i.e. anger) took over. I didn't do anything stupid, but I sure didn't hide my feelings. I also let a few others around me know how we were wronged and looked for support and confirmation that I was justified in my anger.
I always hope I can stand apart as different in this me, me, me world. I hope I can show the grace and love of Christ through my actions. But for about 24 hours, I acted like a whiny baby. I asked God to forgive me and apologized to those around me for my behavior.
Isn't the real test of who we are displayed in our response and actions when troubles (of any kind) come? I have a long way to go.
This time we "took one for the team" and because of it we have prompted change. I wrote a firm email (it was an appropriate email that I would write again today) and let those in charge know that they need to correct their process. The response back was an apology and confirmation that they will come up with a more formal and better system for their nomination process. Unfortunately, it doesn't help us, but it will help everyone else in the future so another family doesn't have to go through what we did.
Next time I hope to keep it between God and me. I can still shed tears, but I don't want to be the whiner I was. If I need to take appropriate action to instill appropriate change, then I pray I will do it with a grace-filled heart towards those I need to address.
I do. Actually, I just did.
Here's the basics. An opportunity came up that we were overlooked for. It was completely out of our hands and our control, but consideration should have been given. We found out we were never in the mix, though others had planned on including us. Those others weren't given the chance to represent us. This was a big deal.
So how did I handle it. Not well, I have to confess. I had anger, lots of anger (and tried to justify that it was righteous anger because we had been wronged). I was frustrated, to say the least. But mostly, my heart ached. I ached for the lost opportunity, an opportunity that should have been. The what if's and could have been's. I admit, I shed a few tears.
I knew God wasn't surprised by this. I knew we were in His hands. I knew this was such a small blip in the big picture. I knew all this. My heart didn't care and my emotions (i.e. anger) took over. I didn't do anything stupid, but I sure didn't hide my feelings. I also let a few others around me know how we were wronged and looked for support and confirmation that I was justified in my anger.
I always hope I can stand apart as different in this me, me, me world. I hope I can show the grace and love of Christ through my actions. But for about 24 hours, I acted like a whiny baby. I asked God to forgive me and apologized to those around me for my behavior.
Isn't the real test of who we are displayed in our response and actions when troubles (of any kind) come? I have a long way to go.
This time we "took one for the team" and because of it we have prompted change. I wrote a firm email (it was an appropriate email that I would write again today) and let those in charge know that they need to correct their process. The response back was an apology and confirmation that they will come up with a more formal and better system for their nomination process. Unfortunately, it doesn't help us, but it will help everyone else in the future so another family doesn't have to go through what we did.
Next time I hope to keep it between God and me. I can still shed tears, but I don't want to be the whiner I was. If I need to take appropriate action to instill appropriate change, then I pray I will do it with a grace-filled heart towards those I need to address.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Live Fit
I'm motivated started working out again. Since I know I could put together workouts, but don't and just winging it doesn't do it for me, I started following a 12 week program found at bodybuilding.com. You can find the one I've started here. I've just began week 4.
Here's what I have learned about the workouts so far. I am feeling much stronger than I have in a long time. This is a good thing. I have been trying to eat healthier (not that I was real bad before, but trying to be a bit more conscientious). This is also a good thing. I haven't lost any weight. This on the surface seems like a bad thing, but I do think I am burning some of the fat and converting it to muscle. That's what I'm going with and that is a good thing. Unfortunately, it must be all the inside fat because no surface fat seems to be smoothing out. OK. Too many descriptive words? Well, it is what it is. I did take measurements so after phase 2 I plan to measure again and hope to see some results that way.
The first phase (four weeks) is all weight work. Cardio is added beginning week 5. I think this is where the trimming down will come. I am hoping! I decided to add some cardio this week anyway. Part of that reasoning is I purchased some new "running" shoes. Actually, they are treadmill joggers. I don't get out much. This has helped inspire me to want to move again.
Besides the workouts, the site also has recipes and I've made two of them: turkey meatloaf muffins and pumpkin protein bars. Here they are.
Turkey Meatloaf Muffins
Serving Size:
Women: 2 muffins
Men: 4 muffins
Pumpkin Protein Bars These are SO good!
Nutrition (with walnuts): 1 square = 63 calories, 2.3 g fat, 8 g carbs, 4 g protein
Thanks, Jamie Eason for these great recipes.
I hope this gives you some snack ideas.
Here's what I have learned about the workouts so far. I am feeling much stronger than I have in a long time. This is a good thing. I have been trying to eat healthier (not that I was real bad before, but trying to be a bit more conscientious). This is also a good thing. I haven't lost any weight. This on the surface seems like a bad thing, but I do think I am burning some of the fat and converting it to muscle. That's what I'm going with and that is a good thing. Unfortunately, it must be all the inside fat because no surface fat seems to be smoothing out. OK. Too many descriptive words? Well, it is what it is. I did take measurements so after phase 2 I plan to measure again and hope to see some results that way.
The first phase (four weeks) is all weight work. Cardio is added beginning week 5. I think this is where the trimming down will come. I am hoping! I decided to add some cardio this week anyway. Part of that reasoning is I purchased some new "running" shoes. Actually, they are treadmill joggers. I don't get out much. This has helped inspire me to want to move again.
Besides the workouts, the site also has recipes and I've made two of them: turkey meatloaf muffins and pumpkin protein bars. Here they are.
Turkey Meatloaf Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground turkey (or chicken)
- 3 egg whites
- 1 cup quick cooking oats
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp dry yellow mustard
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp chipotle pepper spice (I didn't have this exact item so I used just under 1 tsp. cayene pepper. If you do that, only use about 1/4 tsp - it definitely added some kick to the recipe)
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp garlic powder (2 cloves minced)
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 2 celery stalks (finely chopped)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Spray muffin pan with canola or olive oil.
- Mix all your ingredients together in one large bowl.
- Roll the mixture into balls and place in muffin pan. Muffins should be about the size of a racquetball.
- Bake for 40 minutes.
Serving Size:
Women: 2 muffins
Men: 4 muffins
Pumpkin Protein Bars These are SO good!
Nutrition Facts:
Nutrition (without walnuts): 1 square = 47 calories, .7 g fat, 8 g carbs, 3.7 g proteinNutrition (with walnuts): 1 square = 63 calories, 2.3 g fat, 8 g carbs, 4 g protein
Ingredients:
- ½ C Xylitol Brown Sugar Blend (Ideal) (I used regular brown sugar)
- 1 - 4 oz. jar baby food applesauce
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ tsp. ground ginger
- ½ tsp. ground clove
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 4 large egg whites
- 1 - 15 oz. can of raw pumpkin
- 2 C oat flour
- 2 scoops vanilla whey protein
- ½ cup almond milk
- ½ C chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Spray a 9 X 13 Pyrex dish with non-stick spray.
- Combine first 11 ingredients and mix well.
- Add the final 3 ingredients (4, if adding walnuts), and mix until incorporated. Spread batter into the Pyrex dish and bake for 30 min.
- Makes 24 squares.
I hope this gives you some snack ideas.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Oops! She did it again.
And I don't mean that in a good way.
Club volleyball has ended before it even began. Last week, my dear daughter was hurrying to get to her meeting before school. She parked, got her book bag and then reached back in to get her tea. That's when she conked her head on the door jam and guess what? Yup, she got her 4th concussion in less than a year. What are we going to do with her?
We are NOT allowing her to play club volleyball, which is just starting up for the season. This was going to be her last year and I was looking forward to watching her play at a higher age level and with stronger players. I really love going to the all day tournaments. Yes, they do get long sometimes, but I love the sport and enjoy watching the team play. And I have made some great friends along the way.
We have been telling her since the car wreck that if she gets another concussion, she will have to stop playing. It isn't worth her health or her future for a short pleasure of volleyball. She handled it great! I told her she accepted that so much better than I would have at her age, and I honestly think I had the hardest time accepting this.
We do believe this door is closing for a reason. We may never know for sure why, but can trust that God has something planned, or a protection we will not need to worry about, now that she is no longer playing this sport.
Now we move forward with weekends free and evenings available for homework. And my dear daughter has grown and is better for it because of this abrupt change and her ability to handle it so well.
2013 is starting off a bit challenging, but when is life NOT a challenge? I really don't think I want to live a life where I'm not being challenged in some way. But sometimes I'd like the challenge to not be so hard.
Club volleyball has ended before it even began. Last week, my dear daughter was hurrying to get to her meeting before school. She parked, got her book bag and then reached back in to get her tea. That's when she conked her head on the door jam and guess what? Yup, she got her 4th concussion in less than a year. What are we going to do with her?
We are NOT allowing her to play club volleyball, which is just starting up for the season. This was going to be her last year and I was looking forward to watching her play at a higher age level and with stronger players. I really love going to the all day tournaments. Yes, they do get long sometimes, but I love the sport and enjoy watching the team play. And I have made some great friends along the way.
We have been telling her since the car wreck that if she gets another concussion, she will have to stop playing. It isn't worth her health or her future for a short pleasure of volleyball. She handled it great! I told her she accepted that so much better than I would have at her age, and I honestly think I had the hardest time accepting this.
We do believe this door is closing for a reason. We may never know for sure why, but can trust that God has something planned, or a protection we will not need to worry about, now that she is no longer playing this sport.
Now we move forward with weekends free and evenings available for homework. And my dear daughter has grown and is better for it because of this abrupt change and her ability to handle it so well.
2013 is starting off a bit challenging, but when is life NOT a challenge? I really don't think I want to live a life where I'm not being challenged in some way. But sometimes I'd like the challenge to not be so hard.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
It's a New Year-Thank Goodness
The calendar may read December 29 but to me that means a new year. No, not 2013. It's the beginning of a new year for our family. On December 28, 2011 my father in law expectantly passed away. That was the beginning of a pretty cruddy six plus months. QUICK recap: my father in law and dad died; head on car crash; multiple concussions. The year finished much better than it started. QUICK recap: vacation to Montana; daughter driving; son accepted to first (and only) choice for college; family feeling better.
I don't tend to dwell in the negative but, truthfully, I have been looking forward to today to begin a fresh start. Bring on the new year.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Almost Christmas
I guess I have to blame the holidays and work for staying away so long, at least that's what I'm going with. Sorry about that. Work keeps me busy, I'm glad I love what I do. Always something new to learn and put into practice. That's the way work should be, shouldn't it? Thankfully, I have that. I've been there for five years and have no plans to leave. I always tell my boss he is stuck with me whether he likes it or not. So far he seems OK with it. Smile.
Is it just me or is Christmas sneaking up on you too? During Thanksgiving weekend it seemed like Christmas was so far off and there was so much time to get everything done. Now, it's almost here. I did procrastinate a bit with my decorating. My daughter wasn't happy about that - she loves the house full of decorations. Usually I get everything out and up during the Thanksgiving weekend. This year I did get the lights up outside. Then within the week I got the tree up. Then a few days later most of the decorations were out (but I didn't put everything up as I normally do). Then the last of what I was going to put out finally went up about a week ago; that includes our toy tree, which you can read about here.
This week I can say I am caught up and ready for the holiday, except for the food. I still need to get our Christmas dinner prime rib and all the fixins'. But my shopping and mailing is complete and even my gift wrapping is done (I am ALWAYS wrapping Christmas Eve so it will be nice this year not having to worry about it). Don't hate me because I happen to appear organized one holiday out of my lifetime.
The kids love the tradition of opening one gift on Christmas Eve then they have to wait for all the others, and Santa's gifts (yes, Santa will always visit our home even when the kids are gone) until Christmas morning. This tradition started when I was a kid. My grandparents (Christmas Grandma and Grandpa as we called them - you can guess why) would come visit and the adults would open their gifts on Christmas Eve. They did this so they would have little to open Christmas morning (Santa always left them a few gifts too) and would be able to watch us kids open our gifts. We all had stockings (hand made by my mom and each unique and completely different from the others) with goodies as well. Of course, as kids, watching these adults take a couple of hours to open each gift, one by one, was excruciating. My parents relented and allowed us to open one gift. This was just to shut us up, I'm sure. My hubby and I don't open our gifts Christmas Eve, but we do allow the kids to open just one. Then Christmas morning is a fun time opening gifts, going through the stockings and listening to Christmas music. Later we watch football games and then eat prime rib.
I love the casualness of the day. We stay in PJ's and enjoy family time.
What family traditions do you celebrate at Christmas?
Is it just me or is Christmas sneaking up on you too? During Thanksgiving weekend it seemed like Christmas was so far off and there was so much time to get everything done. Now, it's almost here. I did procrastinate a bit with my decorating. My daughter wasn't happy about that - she loves the house full of decorations. Usually I get everything out and up during the Thanksgiving weekend. This year I did get the lights up outside. Then within the week I got the tree up. Then a few days later most of the decorations were out (but I didn't put everything up as I normally do). Then the last of what I was going to put out finally went up about a week ago; that includes our toy tree, which you can read about here. This week I can say I am caught up and ready for the holiday, except for the food. I still need to get our Christmas dinner prime rib and all the fixins'. But my shopping and mailing is complete and even my gift wrapping is done (I am ALWAYS wrapping Christmas Eve so it will be nice this year not having to worry about it). Don't hate me because I happen to appear organized one holiday out of my lifetime.
The kids love the tradition of opening one gift on Christmas Eve then they have to wait for all the others, and Santa's gifts (yes, Santa will always visit our home even when the kids are gone) until Christmas morning. This tradition started when I was a kid. My grandparents (Christmas Grandma and Grandpa as we called them - you can guess why) would come visit and the adults would open their gifts on Christmas Eve. They did this so they would have little to open Christmas morning (Santa always left them a few gifts too) and would be able to watch us kids open our gifts. We all had stockings (hand made by my mom and each unique and completely different from the others) with goodies as well. Of course, as kids, watching these adults take a couple of hours to open each gift, one by one, was excruciating. My parents relented and allowed us to open one gift. This was just to shut us up, I'm sure. My hubby and I don't open our gifts Christmas Eve, but we do allow the kids to open just one. Then Christmas morning is a fun time opening gifts, going through the stockings and listening to Christmas music. Later we watch football games and then eat prime rib.
I love the casualness of the day. We stay in PJ's and enjoy family time.
What family traditions do you celebrate at Christmas?
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