I don't think it surprises many people out there to learn that I, for the most part, don't swear. I have my moments I am human, but most of the time I keep it clean. Last night while watching the Red Wings play, after the words fellas, stop playing with fire, and butthole escaped my lips I realized that I am actually quite funny. (I am at least funny to myself since the only one around to listen to my awesome remarks was my husband, and let's face it he wasn't listening.)
I have been known to use the words: fellas, shenanigans, jeepers, fresh and swell on a regular basis. There is an even longer list of words that I use occasionally that includes but is not limited to dude, a drag, sharp, bees knees, dork, and wicked.. As I sat on my couch laughing at myself it occurred to me that I use a lot of "old-timer" words, and I would like to bring back some of those words. I get this I think from my Mom's mom, aka Nanny. My Nanny has been known to call herself a dumb dora, tell me my outfit is sharp and refer to restaurants as the bees knees. See! It is in my genes to use words like that!
Here is a list of words that were used in decades past, and then my two top picks for what to bring back.
Groovy
Fellas
Sharp
Cornhole
Swell
Fresh
Bogus
Dork
Wicked
Gnarly
Dweeb
Jeepers
Shenanigans
Shucks
Daddy-o
All that and a bag of chips
Aiight
word
banging
slammin
sickatating
ghetto blaster
sock hop
aces
clam-bake
making whopee
fuddy-duddy
rug cutter
threads
bird brain
fly
hip
screwin the pooch
square
a gas
dip stick
have a cow
a drag
far out
going steady
heavy
I have chosen to bring back the following: tomfoolery and poppycock. I think those words fit into the categories of funny and useful. I can use these words while parenting on a daily basis, my kids can laugh, and I can get my point across.
What "old-timer" words are you going to bring back?
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Joggers thoughts.
Running is not my thing. I love cross training, cardio, yoga, weight training, and I love pushing my body to the limit, but I HATE running. I feel like I need to get into running because I think I would really love it, and it is a great calorie burn.
Ok, so what is stopping me from running?
1. No one is with me, and I used to walk/jog with my mom so I was used to having someone to talk to.
2. My ipod shuffle is in need of a charge, and a redo on the song list.
3. I need to push myself far enough that I will actually achieve a runners high.
4. I need to have the confidence that I can do it.
I know it seems odd that I would be mentioning confidence, but I am getting to that part.
Last week, I recharged and reorganized the song list for my shuffle. I was really excited to use it, and yesterday I dusted off my outside sneakers and hit the pavement. First, Bill and I went for a walk together it was nice to just get on the road with him and get a chance to talk. Then after that I grabbed my ipod and went out for a run on my own. Before you get too excited I only jogged 2 miles. But I did it I jogged.
I started off jogging for a few minutes and then power walking for a few. My power walking is more like power dancing though since I have a dance jog. You can ask my mom, she always said I was really sporty but I ran like a girl. I am taking that as a compliment. :)
Two songs in I start to think. That is right, I completely miss the point of getting lost in the music and pounding my feet into the pavement. I think. I have a complete philosophical conversation with myself about confidence levels in myself and people around me. I realize with a huff that although I have a lot of confidence in a lot of areas in my life this is one place where I apparently need some. This conversation with myself only lasts one song before I realize that I need to just do this. I gave myself a goal of two miles and I am going to do two miles.
I start going a bit faster pumping my arms to the beat, and I am off. Step, step, step, step. The cold air is stinging my lungs, my eyes and my nose. A few songs later I am home, and glancing at the clock. 22 minutes, 2 miles.
Ok, so I didn't get a runner's high, but I didn't hate it.
Ok, so what is stopping me from running?
1. No one is with me, and I used to walk/jog with my mom so I was used to having someone to talk to.
2. My ipod shuffle is in need of a charge, and a redo on the song list.
3. I need to push myself far enough that I will actually achieve a runners high.
4. I need to have the confidence that I can do it.
I know it seems odd that I would be mentioning confidence, but I am getting to that part.
Last week, I recharged and reorganized the song list for my shuffle. I was really excited to use it, and yesterday I dusted off my outside sneakers and hit the pavement. First, Bill and I went for a walk together it was nice to just get on the road with him and get a chance to talk. Then after that I grabbed my ipod and went out for a run on my own. Before you get too excited I only jogged 2 miles. But I did it I jogged.
I started off jogging for a few minutes and then power walking for a few. My power walking is more like power dancing though since I have a dance jog. You can ask my mom, she always said I was really sporty but I ran like a girl. I am taking that as a compliment. :)
Two songs in I start to think. That is right, I completely miss the point of getting lost in the music and pounding my feet into the pavement. I think. I have a complete philosophical conversation with myself about confidence levels in myself and people around me. I realize with a huff that although I have a lot of confidence in a lot of areas in my life this is one place where I apparently need some. This conversation with myself only lasts one song before I realize that I need to just do this. I gave myself a goal of two miles and I am going to do two miles.
I start going a bit faster pumping my arms to the beat, and I am off. Step, step, step, step. The cold air is stinging my lungs, my eyes and my nose. A few songs later I am home, and glancing at the clock. 22 minutes, 2 miles.
Ok, so I didn't get a runner's high, but I didn't hate it.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Winner
I have to take a moment to share with you the sheer genius that I am.
Today is "that day" we have all had these days, but today is mine. I already knew before I went to bed last night that I was in for the long haul today. It is my turn to take all the kids to the bus stop, I have work, I have to go to the store, I have to go to Phebe's school to meet with her teacher, and then I am helping lead the girl scout meeting. By the time I get home we will have just enough time to eat and finish homework before the kids have to head off for showers and bedtime.
I showered last night because I wanted to sleep in today, I was very excited that I did not have to get up until 7:00. For most of you 7:00 is not sleeping in, but for me it is. If I get to sleep until 7:00 without interruption it is going to be a good morning.
7:00 didn't happen. I woke up at 6:05 as soon as Bill got out of the shower this morning. He was not being particularly loud, the fan was on, and he was even thoughtful enough to close the bathroom door all the way before he turned the light on, but despite that I was up. For a moment, I thought I have a busy day today, I should get up and workout. I have the time. But that thought was fleeting, and instead I just stayed in the warm cocoon of covers. I did spend a good 20 minutes just praying, and that was time well spent, but then I turned on the tv and watched a few minutes of The Real Housewives just because it was on, and I think that might have negated the praying.
Samantha rolled out of bed at 7:00, bounded right into my room and we got our morning going. We got everything done in more than enough time. Phebe even got up right away. I made it to the bus stop with time to spare, and I even had time to stop for a decaf coffee on the way in to the office. I start to think that my day is looking up, but here is where I decide to make my life harder.
I spill my coffee all down the front of my white shirt. I now have to tackle two meetings and girl scouts covered in coffee.
Don't panic, I am thinking, there is a sink here, and even bleach, and soap. This is something I can take care of. I slip into the bathroom and put on a zip up hoodie I happen to have, and zip it up all the way. (and yes, I feel naked and slutty, but I am the only one here today so I can deal with it.) I wash all the decaf off of the shirt, bleach a few spots and towel dry it the best I can.
Back in my office, I set my shirt on the heating vent, and in about 30 minutes it is dry, and I am excited. I am even feeling a little smug. I tacked that problem, and I tackled it well. I pick it up and..... it is covered in dead ants because I am a genius and I forgot that we sprayed that corner for ants last week. Great, now I am stuck in this awesome hoodie until I can get to the store and purchase a new shirt before I go meet with Phebe's teacher. Let's hope I get out of work on time to get a shirt.
My only consoling thought right now is that Charlie Sheen would probably still call me a winner.
Today is "that day" we have all had these days, but today is mine. I already knew before I went to bed last night that I was in for the long haul today. It is my turn to take all the kids to the bus stop, I have work, I have to go to the store, I have to go to Phebe's school to meet with her teacher, and then I am helping lead the girl scout meeting. By the time I get home we will have just enough time to eat and finish homework before the kids have to head off for showers and bedtime.
I showered last night because I wanted to sleep in today, I was very excited that I did not have to get up until 7:00. For most of you 7:00 is not sleeping in, but for me it is. If I get to sleep until 7:00 without interruption it is going to be a good morning.
7:00 didn't happen. I woke up at 6:05 as soon as Bill got out of the shower this morning. He was not being particularly loud, the fan was on, and he was even thoughtful enough to close the bathroom door all the way before he turned the light on, but despite that I was up. For a moment, I thought I have a busy day today, I should get up and workout. I have the time. But that thought was fleeting, and instead I just stayed in the warm cocoon of covers. I did spend a good 20 minutes just praying, and that was time well spent, but then I turned on the tv and watched a few minutes of The Real Housewives just because it was on, and I think that might have negated the praying.
Samantha rolled out of bed at 7:00, bounded right into my room and we got our morning going. We got everything done in more than enough time. Phebe even got up right away. I made it to the bus stop with time to spare, and I even had time to stop for a decaf coffee on the way in to the office. I start to think that my day is looking up, but here is where I decide to make my life harder.
I spill my coffee all down the front of my white shirt. I now have to tackle two meetings and girl scouts covered in coffee.
Don't panic, I am thinking, there is a sink here, and even bleach, and soap. This is something I can take care of. I slip into the bathroom and put on a zip up hoodie I happen to have, and zip it up all the way. (and yes, I feel naked and slutty, but I am the only one here today so I can deal with it.) I wash all the decaf off of the shirt, bleach a few spots and towel dry it the best I can.
Back in my office, I set my shirt on the heating vent, and in about 30 minutes it is dry, and I am excited. I am even feeling a little smug. I tacked that problem, and I tackled it well. I pick it up and..... it is covered in dead ants because I am a genius and I forgot that we sprayed that corner for ants last week. Great, now I am stuck in this awesome hoodie until I can get to the store and purchase a new shirt before I go meet with Phebe's teacher. Let's hope I get out of work on time to get a shirt.
My only consoling thought right now is that Charlie Sheen would probably still call me a winner.
Spring cleaning arrives a bit early
There is nothing better than the eminent arrival of Spring to make you want a cleaner house. I have no idea why Spring makes me want to be cleaner. I am already a very clean person. My whole house is cleaned, scrubbed, dusted and disinfected every week. But this week I am cleaning out all the closets, getting bags ready to be donated, reorganizing the toys, catching up on laundry and mending. You name it, if I haven't had time to do it, or I lacked the motivation to do it over the winter, I am doing it now.
I think that all of this cleanliness is also in preparation for my least favorite thing about Spring.. I love that in Spring the air warms up and that crisp, cold winter air slowly becomes warmer, more balmy. I HATE the mud, everything in spring starts off so brown and muddy. My kids drag it in the house, my dog drags it in the house, and I spend 2 long months cleaning the front room over and over again to get rid of the mud. I have decided that I really need to clean out my garage so that we can set up a mud room in there this year. I would love to have a place where my kids can hang up their snow clothes, and leave their boots before they come in the house. I can see it now, the thought of a mud room makes me extremely happy.
This is all of course a preliminary to other things I do every spring like clean out all the kitchen cupboards and scrub the windows down inside and out, and of course wash the curtains and stuff.
I know it all sounds a little crazy, but I love it. You know what they say, a clean home makes you happy, healthy and more productive. Let's hope that the productiveness stays all summer long!
I think that all of this cleanliness is also in preparation for my least favorite thing about Spring.. I love that in Spring the air warms up and that crisp, cold winter air slowly becomes warmer, more balmy. I HATE the mud, everything in spring starts off so brown and muddy. My kids drag it in the house, my dog drags it in the house, and I spend 2 long months cleaning the front room over and over again to get rid of the mud. I have decided that I really need to clean out my garage so that we can set up a mud room in there this year. I would love to have a place where my kids can hang up their snow clothes, and leave their boots before they come in the house. I can see it now, the thought of a mud room makes me extremely happy.
This is all of course a preliminary to other things I do every spring like clean out all the kitchen cupboards and scrub the windows down inside and out, and of course wash the curtains and stuff.
I know it all sounds a little crazy, but I love it. You know what they say, a clean home makes you happy, healthy and more productive. Let's hope that the productiveness stays all summer long!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
A word about grieving
Grieving is a tricky thing. Everyone has to grieve at some point in their lives, and we each grieve in our own way. There is no one right way to grieve, and there is no circumstance, in my opinion, where grieving is not an option.
Grieving I realize, is a very strong word, but I am using it loosely here. Maybe you are grieving the loss of someone, maybe you are lamenting that your job is terrible, maybe you are angry that you were slighted. I think that all those things fall under some sort of grieving. The only other word I could use is complaining, but I don’t like that word. Complaining is always viewed as negative and a waste of time, whereas grieving can be cathartic and even healthy.
So, why am I touching on this subject today? I am not particularly having a bad day, I don’t have complaints about my life. I have a beautiful, wonderful life. (are you sensing the but here?) BUT, I did go to a funeral last night, that was one of the saddest and most tragic funerals I have ever been to, and I had a Relay for Life meeting. We also have had to make several hard decision in our lives lately, and for some reason I was feeling guilty about grieving. All of those things started me thinking, and for me thinking leads to blogging.
To further explain this rant, I have to give you an example. If a man breaks up with a woman because she is not the one, I still give him full rights to grieve. He can be sad, and miss that woman even if breaking up with her was the right thing to do. If a woman makes a decision to not have any babies, or another baby she still has full rights to grieve. She can be sad that she won’t experience those things even if she knows it is the right decision for her. If you hate your job and you need to grieve the fact that you do. Fine, do it.
I am not the person to condemn the griever. In fact, I really dislike it when people do just that. I realize that there is always someone out there that has it worse than you, and there is always someone out there that has it better than you. I think that goes for every single person on the planet. That does not take away your right to grieve things in your own life.
So, why the blog? I am giving myself, you, and everyone else out there the right to grieve. No one gave me that power. I just sort of took it. But if my subconscious that is filled with some pretty awesome irish-catholic guilt has the power to take away my right to grieve I most certainly have the right to give it back.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The actual Snowstorm
I am sitting with my daughters who are both happy and playing together which is a miracle in and of itself. I have a few minutes and I want to blog, but I find that I have a lot of little things to say today, but not one specific goal. I like to blog about something specific, to take a stand, or make a statement. Today, however, I will not meet that goal. I am happy just to have a blog done.
Let me start off by saying, I am really glad Phebe is home today, but I did not see a reason for a snow day at all. The roads are fine, and the bus could have easily gotten through the subdivision. I do not understand at all what happened with all the snow. This was the actual snomageddon. Last time just prepared us for this. Back to Phebe, I am really enjoying having her home. She has been an incredible big sister the past few days, and has been playing with Samantha, and even helping to watch Parker when he is over. I love to hear her laugh, and have her around the house. I really miss her during the school year.
Having the kids get along so well frees up a lot of time for me to get stuff done. I want to edit my novel, and start to cultivate ideas for the next one I want to write. I want to blog, and read interesting blogs, and read a book. When it comes down to it though, I am doing the laundry, and re-cleaning the floor that I just cleaned because someone else dragged mud in, cooking meals, and cleaning stuff up.
I have given myself a goal to edit 1 Chapter this week, and finish reading 1 book. The editing that I have to do this week is all content based. Then I have to go back and edit overused words, and whatnot. I am reading 3 books right now. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Dante's Inferno, and Mrs. Dalloway. I think that my goal this week is to finish Dante's Inferno, I am close to the end of this one, and then I can cross it off of my list. :)
Speaking of lists.... I am off to make one!
Let me start off by saying, I am really glad Phebe is home today, but I did not see a reason for a snow day at all. The roads are fine, and the bus could have easily gotten through the subdivision. I do not understand at all what happened with all the snow. This was the actual snomageddon. Last time just prepared us for this. Back to Phebe, I am really enjoying having her home. She has been an incredible big sister the past few days, and has been playing with Samantha, and even helping to watch Parker when he is over. I love to hear her laugh, and have her around the house. I really miss her during the school year.
Having the kids get along so well frees up a lot of time for me to get stuff done. I want to edit my novel, and start to cultivate ideas for the next one I want to write. I want to blog, and read interesting blogs, and read a book. When it comes down to it though, I am doing the laundry, and re-cleaning the floor that I just cleaned because someone else dragged mud in, cooking meals, and cleaning stuff up.
I have given myself a goal to edit 1 Chapter this week, and finish reading 1 book. The editing that I have to do this week is all content based. Then I have to go back and edit overused words, and whatnot. I am reading 3 books right now. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Dante's Inferno, and Mrs. Dalloway. I think that my goal this week is to finish Dante's Inferno, I am close to the end of this one, and then I can cross it off of my list. :)
Speaking of lists.... I am off to make one!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Snow
I don't particularly have anything going on right now. Things always seem quiet in January and February even when I am busy. Something about the snow and the cold that just makes everything seem slightly different. Last week, I had an extremely bad virus which rendered me completely useless. Basically, I spent several days not able to move, and then the rest of the week I was miserable, but still going about my days.
I am currently just finishing up with my day. The kids are in bed, the snow is rapidly falling outside and I am just about to watch The Biggest Loser with Bill all cuddled up on the couch. I just thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to update the world on my New year's resolution list that I posted a month ago. I have not forgotten about my lofty goals, and I have actually started on all of them already.
Here is the list again and you will find my updates in blue.
1. Learn how to rewire an outlet and a light switch. I read about this online and learned what to do. I am sure that I will actually KNOW what to do once I can do it myself. Hands on always helps you retain the information better, but at least I researched it.
2. Learn to speak Italian, and Gaelic. I know 4 words in Italian and 3 in Gaelic. This doesn't count.
3. Keep yoga in my workout regime at least once a week. So far so good!
4. Finish Nanowrimo again.
5. Finish editing my first two novels.
6. Have a baby.
7. Paint my kitchen, hallway, and bathrooms.
8. Finish the downstairs bathroom.
9. Sell some of the stuff in my house that I really don't need, or donate it to someone who does need it.
10. Read the entire bible through again. Thus far, I am caught up in my One Year Bible!
11. Live my life with intention every moment of every day. This is a good one, I am glad it is on here. :) I must have been thinking that day.
12. Write 10 poems that are infinitely better than the ones I wrote in high school.
13. Pray everyday for at least 20 minutes. Done.
14. Enjoy the small moments with my kids while they are still kids.
15. Eat healthy, and workout. It is my me time and I deserve it.
16. Read at least 12 books off of my lofty, and snobby book list known as the SRP list. I have read 4 books since the last week of January, but only 1.5 of those have been of my SRP list so far.
17. Streamline my life. This is done, but I have to make sure it is still streamlined as the year goes on.
18. Try a few new recipes each month to add to my list of favorites. This month I tried this new Italian chicken crock pot recipe that was both delicious and very healthy. I loved it.
19. Learn how to use my sewing machine. FINALLY.
20. Take a road trip somewhere.
EDIT:
21. Finish at least 1 scrapbook.
22. Give up diet coke. Done, I have not had caffeine or diet coke in 2 weeks, I don't want it, I am not craving it. I am OVER it!
23. Find the perfect desk organizer.
I am currently just finishing up with my day. The kids are in bed, the snow is rapidly falling outside and I am just about to watch The Biggest Loser with Bill all cuddled up on the couch. I just thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to update the world on my New year's resolution list that I posted a month ago. I have not forgotten about my lofty goals, and I have actually started on all of them already.
Here is the list again and you will find my updates in blue.
1. Learn how to rewire an outlet and a light switch. I read about this online and learned what to do. I am sure that I will actually KNOW what to do once I can do it myself. Hands on always helps you retain the information better, but at least I researched it.
2. Learn to speak Italian, and Gaelic. I know 4 words in Italian and 3 in Gaelic. This doesn't count.
3. Keep yoga in my workout regime at least once a week. So far so good!
4. Finish Nanowrimo again.
5. Finish editing my first two novels.
6. Have a baby.
7. Paint my kitchen, hallway, and bathrooms.
8. Finish the downstairs bathroom.
9. Sell some of the stuff in my house that I really don't need, or donate it to someone who does need it.
10. Read the entire bible through again. Thus far, I am caught up in my One Year Bible!
11. Live my life with intention every moment of every day. This is a good one, I am glad it is on here. :) I must have been thinking that day.
12. Write 10 poems that are infinitely better than the ones I wrote in high school.
13. Pray everyday for at least 20 minutes. Done.
14. Enjoy the small moments with my kids while they are still kids.
15. Eat healthy, and workout. It is my me time and I deserve it.
16. Read at least 12 books off of my lofty, and snobby book list known as the SRP list. I have read 4 books since the last week of January, but only 1.5 of those have been of my SRP list so far.
17. Streamline my life. This is done, but I have to make sure it is still streamlined as the year goes on.
18. Try a few new recipes each month to add to my list of favorites. This month I tried this new Italian chicken crock pot recipe that was both delicious and very healthy. I loved it.
19. Learn how to use my sewing machine. FINALLY.
20. Take a road trip somewhere.
EDIT:
21. Finish at least 1 scrapbook.
22. Give up diet coke. Done, I have not had caffeine or diet coke in 2 weeks, I don't want it, I am not craving it. I am OVER it!
23. Find the perfect desk organizer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)