Staycation - Day #1

We had a heck of a thunderstorm come through last night and the lighting was so intense, the thunder loud and the wind fierce that I had a hard time sleeping. Woke up earlier than I would have liked, but took advantage of the time because it was icky and dreary out, so I played in my scraproom most of the morning.

Connor came home from his sleepover mid morning and I could tell he'd been up late and had slept in his clothes. Even worse....the ass of his short had a big brown stain that looked like he pooped his pants, but it was from his fishing excursion yesterday...great....he slept in them.....boys...

I dragged him along with me on a couple of errands and then we had lunch at "The Sugar Shack", a local ice cream parlor that has excellent french fries, sandwiches and malts.

After lunch, he decided to go to our local aquatic center. Well, THAT didn't end well. He had his bike stolen. His $150 Haro that he helped pay for 2 summers ago. His best friend also had his Haro bike taken 2 hours earlier than Connor. He says he locked it up, but we call BS on that....had he locked it up, the theives would have no chose but it either cut the cable or take it with them. It was untouched....but hey, we can't afford to buy him another one, so it looks like he's going to be hoofing it until he gets his driver's license when he turns 16.

The police said they had one taken yesterday and two taken today. Fred and I are convinced it is probably adult meth heads looking for the expensive bikes to sell because I can't imagine parents not questioning their child if he/she came home with an expensive bike that you know isn't theirs.

It's a tough lesson to learn, I feel bad for him, but he did have some responsibility in this. What Connor doesn't know is we have a saving account for him that is for discretionary spending. This type of thing would fall into it, but I'm torn. So I need to think about if for awhile.

While Connor was at the pool and his bike was being made off with by meth heads, I puttered around the house and yard. It was HUMID today and I decided I didn't want to go over the pool, in fact, I was going to go for a walk, but it's too humid for that also. I think I'll go to the gym in the morning.

Update** Just got off the phone with my sister and she just saw the Altoona Police detaining a bunch of young boys and bikes outside of the car wash by her apartment on her way to the store, when she headed back home, she noticed that 2 of the police cars had bikes in their trunks. Maybe we'll get a call tomorrow. Connor's bike has a serial number on it and his name was dremeled onto the underside.

Picked our very first harvest today also.....sugar snap peas....

Something you might find interesting....

I think this would be a VERY informative movie to watch.

I'm going on a quest to try to "eat only what you can grow" and I don't mean vegan, just that I can't grow a Pop Tart or a package of Ramen noodles, although I can grow potato chips....LOL..

Yea! Last Day for a while

Today is my last day at work before I very much needed vacation. I've taken a day here or there since January but I haven't taken a whole week yet. My time starts tomorrow and goes through next week. I'm leaving for St. Petersburg, Florida on Sunday, June 28th (which also happens to be our 22nd wedding anniversary) for a business conference and will be down there until Thursday, July 2nd, but I'll still have a few days afterward before heading back to the office.

Yesterday was hard. I had a really bad sinus headache all day and even with taking my meds, it hung on. I made it through the day but I wasn't very productive and it was hard to concentrate. I was proud of myself for getting home and NOT using it as an excuse to NOT go to the gym....so off I went. I did a 35 minute cardio workout on the elliptical and 50 crunches. That wiped me out and as soon as we finished dinner and clean up, I crashed.

On the iPod playlist:
Driven to Tears - The Police
Dance with Me - Shaw/Blades
Machinehead - Bush
Use Me - Hinder
Stay with Me - Train
Silver, Blue and Gold - Bad Company
Gel - Collective Soul
Got No Shame - Brother Kane
No One Else on Earth - Wynonna Judd
Going Under - Evanescence

It looks the weather is going to start getting hot and humid, so I think the Aquatic center is going to be foremost in our plans the next few days.

Later.....

A Lazy Weekend

Scrapbooked this weekend at Memory Bound with a couple of my friends and had a good time! I got 9 pages completed...Yoo Yoo!, had lunch at Palmer's Deli (I'm addicted to their spinner salads) and talked my head off with Gina and Joellyn. Jenni E. stopped by to see us and have lunch and it was good to see her.

Scrapbooking for 12 hours must have taken it's toll on me, because Sunday, I was a worthless excuse for a wife and mom...lol! I got the grocery shopping done, but that's it. I was pooped and I did nothing but lay around and watch movies.

Finally had the time to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and LOVED IT! I've always loved Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett is one of my favorite actresses, but the "look" and "feel" and story of this movie is sublime! No wonder it won the Academy Award for Art Direction.

I also watched a little known true story movie from 2008 starring Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Chris Pine (for all you Star Trek fans) and Freddy Rodriguez (from Six Feet Under fame) called Bottle Shock. It takes place in 1976 when California wines beat French wines in an international blind taste testing event for the first time and put Napa Valley on the international map. The Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena now sits in the Smithsonium. If you're looking for a feel good movie to watch, this is it!

4 more working days to go before vacation!

Fathers Day Book

Here's a book that Connor and I put together for Fred for Father's Day. We received the actual book last Friday and both of us loved it! I think he will too!

Click here to view this photo book larger

TGIF!

and I really mean it! Heck of a week, but it's over, I've had a beer, dinner and I'm up in my scraproom packing some supplies to take to the Summer Crop at Memory Bound.

I'm happy to report that I finally stepped on the scale this morning and I'm down 5 pounds. It only took 6 freaking weeks. #@&^*$$@%!!!

Finally gave in and went to my podiatrist yesterday. My left foot has been suffering from a terrible flare up of plantar fasciitis and even with the custom orthotics I had made at The Good Feet store, the foot has been killing me if I don't have those on at all times and hey, I'm sorry, they do not fit into every shoe I own nor do I wear them when I am sitting or sleeping......anyhoo.....

Dr. Albrecht said my left foot is a mess, the right is a bit better. She's concerned with my bunions on both feet, but they are the least of my problems at this point. We have to get the inflammation under control and we need to brace my ankle because I also have tarsal tunnel (think carpal tunnel of the ankle), so for the next 4 weeks I have to wear a ankle stocking/brace, 20 minutes of ice every night, heel cord exercises every morning (I've been doing those), an hour long foot rub from Fred (did I just say that outloud?....lol) and a round of anti-inflammatory. The worst part was the cortisone shot I got in the side of my foot. FUCK that hurt. Sorry, but there is no other swear word to describe it. I had one previously about 6 years ago, but like childbirth, you forget.

On a good note, although the foot was sore as hell last night after the anthestic wore off, this morning was the first time in months that I was actually able to stand on both feet, equal weight while taking my morning shower. I find that encouraging.

The only restriction I have is no more treadmill for awhile. I can walk, bike or use the elliptical, but the treadmill puts to much stress on my foot and ankle. I'm glad because I've been really good about my workouts this week. I've been to the gym twice and a nice long bike ride once. If the weather would decide that it's finally summer, I might be able to get a walk or two in during the day also. What is UP with the weather lately?

Finally, just wanted to share a journal I put together for myself a couple of weeks ago. I absolutely love the journals that ecojot makes and I've owned a couple of smaller version. This is one of the larger sizes that I use for to do lists, goals, sketches, scrapbooking ideas, home projects etc. I used a Basic Grey book plate and American Crafts thickers to personalize it.



Enjoy your weekend! I know I'm going to.............

Raining while Sunny??

Got up this morning and hauled my ass to the gym. I haven't done any strength training in about 8 days and I needed to go work the muscles. Also got in a 30 minute cardio session and did about 50 crunches with legs elevated (that freaking hurt).

As I as driving home, it was pouring down rain while the sun was shining brightly. I think it's so weird when it does that. But I do love the rain. It means that all of my gardens are being properly soaked and I don't have to water.

On the iPod playlist today:
I'm the Only One - Melissa Etheridge
Testosterone - Bush
My Last Breath - Evanscence
Peace In Our Time - Eddie Money
No Time to Lose - Tarney Spencer Band
These are the Days - 10,000 Maniacs
Thorn in My Pride - Black Crowes
Space Trucking - covered by Telsa
Give It To Me - 3 Doors Down
Drops of Jupiter - Train
Somebody Told Me - The Killers
For You - The Outfield

Once back from the gym, I had my DH help me put some hair color on my hair. I was LONG overdue and this time I used a Clariol product. It came out pretty red, but that's okay. I have some natural red in my hair anyway and I'm not too fuzzy about it. Besides, I'll have to do it again in another 6 weeks and can change the color then if I want.

I have tomorrow off (my regular flex day Monday), but I've offered to watch my niece and nephew for my sister so she can go to her clinicals. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can get the sprinkler out and the kids can play in the sprinkler. My nephew loves the water and we will be able to put him in his wheelchair and run him through the sprinker......he loves that!

8 more working days til my vacation.......

Pet Pages

Done at my friend Cheri's crop she hosted a few weeks ago. 4 pages in 6 hours....not bad.

I've been a bad blogger and blog reader

Haven had much to say or share, nor have I had much time to read the blogs I follow....too busy at work, too busy at home.

Had a successful garage sale last weekend, this weekend we are going to clean it up.

Hoping to get the the Farmer's Market tomorrow morning and I may come down to the East Village on Sunday for the 1st Annual Flower Power Market. Don't ask me what it is, it just sounded fun!

I do have some new pages to share and maybe this weekend, especially if it's going to rain most of the weekend, I can get those uploaded.

Later.....

THESE are cool bikes!

Please click and check them out. I was afraid of even looking at the price.