What BOY?

Here’s a little ironic tidbit for you…one of the main ladies who worked at my last gym works out at my new gym. Hows that for an obvious answer to the best place to work out. It made me laugh when she came in today. “Even you don’t think a 30 minute circuit is good enough?” Just a funny thing to see thats all. Today was my third spin class. So far it was the hardest of my three classes. I finished well though. I took a circuit class yesterday. I thought it would be good to get myself acquainted with the rest of the gym and the equipment and everything. I got there a bit early because I woke up early. So I thought Id use the elliptical for a while. I spent almost half an hour on the ellipse and then I was just about ready to call it quits, but a lady asked my if I was in the circuit class and for some reason I said yes. Having worked out at curves for a year I figured I’d do just fine with the circuit. Then mostly older women were in my class so I thought “This isn’t the class for me, I need a tougher one I think”. Wrongo! My arms still hurt as I’m typing a day later. I thought it would be about a half an hour class. Nope. Wrong again. and hour and a half later I was stretching and cooling down. By the time I got home Morgan was starting to worry about me because I’d left more than 2 hours earlier. My abs feel like I got beat up. My legs feel like rubber, and my arms feel all shaky if I pick up anything heavier than a pencil. Well they did yesterday. It’s better today, but my abs still hate me. So after all that I think I’m going to go again next week. It feels good to work so hard. It helps that all the older ladies had no problem with the circuit. One of them could be my Grama and she held the plank for 3 minutes. I think I made it 30 seconds.

I had a frustrating night last night because I got a mark on a paper I’d worked really hard on and I wasn’t happy with the mark. I’ve become such a perfectionist. I’m ace-ing Psych, but Ive got a C+ to a B in English and it’s bugging me. I think its kinda funny that I’m bothered by that. Anyways. I think I’m going to get one of my friends who is an English teacher to look over my final paper. Just to give me tips and stuff.

To finish off todays blog I’m going to give you a few conversations we’ve had with Emily in the last few days. One of them even made me cry.

Conversation over breakfast:

Em: I prayed for Wendy.
Me: Yep, you did. Wendy is with Jesus now sweetie.
Em: I want to see her.
Me: You will one day.
Em. She’s sleeping now. She’s hugging Jesus.
Me: *Choking tears.* Yeah. She is sweetheart.

Conversation at bath time:

Em: I’m going to see the boys.
Morgan: What boys?
Em: Not THE boys. A boy.
Morgan: What BOY?
Em: At church.
Morgan:How about you see the girls?
Em: Nope, I see the boys.
Morgan: Say no dating Emily.
Em: No dating Emily!
Em: I’m making waffles!

Conversation with a telemarketer offering to lower our interest rate:

Morgan hands the phone to Em
Em: Hi Nanny!!
Telemarketjerk: *Click*

Conversation on the way to loon lake:

Bubba talking to auntie Roxy with Emily interrupting them.
Emily: That was a boat. *pointing at boat*
Roxy talking to Bubba : What?
Emily to auntie Roxy :TTTHHHAAAT WWWAAASSS AAA BBOOAAAT  AhTee Woxy!!
Everyone: *Laughing sooo hard*

Easter Adventure.

It’s becoming an annual event. One year we went to Bella Coola for the Fam Easter adventure, one year I had a baby and we ended up in Kamloops, last year we hiked at marble canyon, and this year we went to loon lake. We weren’t intending on going to loon lake. We just went south and maybe out of habit, that’s where we ended up. We stopped at the cordial cafe again this year for lunch. The waitress was no better this year, but they put in a bathroom, so I’d say that’s a vast improvement. She refused to walk around the table and kinda chucked our cutlery at us. And when she came to take our order she just stood there and looked at us. Either she was mute, or she didn’t like us. Emily and I played at the playground while we waited for the rest of the fam to finish eating. At some point while we were gone an actual destination was picked. Loon lake here we come. Oh but first we had to get some snackys so me and Dad stood around on the street helping mess with numbers for the Clinton game. Then we noticed that there was a great place to take a family picture on the main street. A little scenic spot with strategically placed stumps for us to sit on. It was perfect because it was right in from of the Liquor store. So after an impromptu family photo that turned out good enough for next years Christmas cards, we headed out again. I forgot to note that all six of us were squished in the truck. Mom and Roxy were watching a DVD in the back with Emily. Why didn’t they have that technology when I was little??

The road in to Loon Lake was pretty good. The field was a bit mucky, but nothing like when I got stuck stuck last summer. The other side of the lake was really really snowy still. It wasn’t easy going in the truck. We made it through the gates and Morgan earned a new nick name. Poop-shoes. It is a much more fun nick name than what my dad and sister have started calling me. Tall-Not. So Poop-shoes got the gate and made it through the copious amounts of cow doo doo and we had to stop at the red gate. One of the problems with having no destination in mind when you head out is a lack of things like…keys. So Mom and I walked in to the cabin. She walked the keys back out and I lit a fire because it was colder in the cabin than out. We were a bit worried about a nest in the chimney, but I kept checking the chimney for any weirdness. At one point I tried to make sure the flue was open all the way and things got a bit smoky for a while, but otherwise things worked out grand.

Soon the troop returned from the truck. I wondered why they were walking back from the landing because I thought they’d drive in further than that. When they got to the cabin I was informed that the truck was…um…stuck. So Dad and Mom headed back to the truck with a shovel and we looked around for some food for just in case. I think secretly we all hoped it’d get stuck and our adventure would continue, but alas it was not to be. The truck wasn’t really stuck that deep.

We even found the old playpen for Emily, but that didn’t work out so well. Morgan heard a tinkling sound and went back to find Emily playing with a pin cushion she’d found on the wall. Nothing like childproof toys huh? That’s what makes ya grow up big and strong I say. Eating sewing needles.

All in all our adventure was great. Emily slept half the way home and we listened to some funny old songs. Here I am. Home again, home again, still wishing our adventures could last so much longer.

Iced Rooiboos Tea

So I’ll admit I’m a bit more sore today than yesterday. Got a bit of bike bum going down. Needless to say I have been seeking out comfier chairs today. Still looking forward to my class on Tuesday morning. We had a nice good Friday service with the other churches at Horse Lake Church. They have a beautiful new building. I got to play my Djembe with Rick and Pat. It was pretty fun. Except at one point in the service one of the pastors came up to share for a couple of minutes and the worship team stayed on stage. Rick and pat moved way back from where they were standing, but there wasn’t anywhere for me to go, so I sat in my chair. Feeling all awkward and kind of on display. Some one even asked Morgan if I was speaking today. Thats how in the open I was. Then this girl kept looking at me. She is a friend of a friend and I’d met her before, but every time I’d look in her direction she was looking at me. I started to get nervous. Um teeth check, fly check, wearing clothes check. I’m starting to think I must be a heretic by something I’m wearing or doing. Because all the other churches are there I’m wondering if something I’m doing would be considered inappropriate for them or something. I mean I even dressed nicer than normal and put in earrings so my gaged ears weren’t noticeable. AND I did my hair because maybe some churches would have issues with my bandanna. So WHATS UP???Finally the pastor comes up to speak and I get to go sit back down. He shares about the phrase Jesus says “It is finished” and what that meant. He even said that same phrase was found on documented tax papers from the same time period with the same phrase Jesus spoke. That way it still meant “Paid in full”. cool huh? The rest of the service goes just nicely until we go back up on stage to play a last song. And there she is again. Looking at me. AHH. Whats wrong with me. So as we are packing up and getting ready to leave I’m carrying my Djembe and we pass this girl. She looks over at me and points her finger. “Great bongo playing!!”. I smile and say thanks and crawl back into my embarrassed mind that is making fun of me for my perception. Makes me wonder how wrong I’ve been every time I try and figure out what people are thinking when they give weird looks or scowl. Chalk that up to another weird story for me.

So now I’ve officially been a Vegetarian for 1 week. I think I am some what similar to a baby in that regard. I keep saying dumb things like “Is shrimp meat?”. Morgan is being really supportive of my change in diet and I’m really grateful for that. It would be really hard if he wasn’t. I borrowed some cook books from Georgia. I kinda need to relearn my cooking habits. I’m still going to cook meat for Emily and Morgan, but I’ll just have to find a way to not make two meals for dinner every night. Last night worked out good. It was pork strips with veggies on rice. So I just cooked the veggies first and took some out and then fried the pork for Morgan. The funny thing is that so far everything I’ve made for Morgan thats meatless, he’s really liked. He says I’m making this pretty painless for him. I’ve been changing other little things about how I eat too. I’ve been cutting back on salt, trying to use a realistic amount of cheese and I think I’m going to have to stop drinking aspartame. I already know I’m allergic to it, but its one of those things Io end up drinking anyways. I prefer the taste of diet Pepsi. I haven’t had any pop for a few days either, and it’s felt really good. It helps that I’m eating so much healthier that I don’t choose pop I choose water. I think I’m even enjoying salads again. I’ve been trying to be more creative with them.

In honor of the first day of spring I made a jug of Iced Rooiboos tea! YAY for summer and Iced tea. I made some licorice tea and it’s in the fridge too, so we’ll see how that tastes and I’ll get back to you. Here’s my recipe for iced rooiboos just so you have no excuses not to try it.

ICED ROOIBOOS TEA
Fill a juice jug with boiling water and add 2 Rooiboos tea bags. I use loose leaf tea in a tea sock, but my second favorite is Madagascar Vanilla Red.I think it’s celestial seasonings. Let it steep for a few minutes until its a pretty reddish colour. Then take out the tea. Let the jug cool for a while before putting it in the fridge. I can’t remember why, but its a good idea. Then when it’s cold pour it into a tall glass with a couple ice cubes.(remember to make ice.I always forget) Then squeeze a few drops of lemon into your tea and 1 drop of Stevia sweetener. You can use 2 drops, but I find it too sweet then. Then I make it all fancy and add a lemon slice to the side of the cup. So there you go. easy peezey. Zero calorie tasty treat. Thirst quenching too.

Just keep spinning…

Well I think I am as crazy as I think I am. My spinning class this morning was great. I got up at 5:30 am and grogilly threw on some shorts and stuff and walked across my parking lot while it was pitch black out with a huge almost full moon up and everything. Nice hey. I was like “They said this was a morning class, not a middle of the night class”. It was stinking cold this morning too. I normally wear sweatpants over my shorts to the gym, but today I couldn’t find them. Even my seatbelt was stinking cold. I think my gym has the only non-street lights that are on at this point in the darkness. My instructor showed me how to set up my bike and adjust everything and wear the towels and water were and kept telling me “Now, these people have been doing this along time, so you just forget about them and do what is comfortable for you ok”. Then her says a few words I couldn’t forget. “It you want to quit after half an hour thats fine, you go ahead”. I was like…”oh no you didn’t challenge me like that. If you think I’m getting off the stupid bike now, you are wrongo.” about now some of the others in my class start to arrive. Great. I’m the chunky kid. Although shortly after I felt better about myself because seriously I understand them, but guy biking shorts are funny.

So I thought about it for a bit and know I’m happy with my decision to leave curves and join this gym. I think partly it comes down to my quest for novelty. Secondly I think I’ve discovered something about gyms. Maybe they don’t want you to know this. If you go to a gym where the majority the people are larger than you(not that I’m the smallest one there)…chances are you are at the wrong gym. Because then you are already winning the skinny butt race and you have no one to race against. So now I’m at a gym where wit the exception of the weird guy who was lifting weights when he should be dropping some weight before adding muscle, I’m the bigger one. Perhaps I should feel badly about this, but I’ve decided to consider it a challenge to myself to be one of the fit people at my gym. Hard work is gonna feel good. Lastly I’m excited about my new class because I don’t hate it already.It ended and I wasn’t out the door in a flash, I was smiling and feeling good. My legs felt a bit funny off the bike, but overall I was actually quite happy with everything. AND I never had a push yourself to keep running “I hate this.I hate this.I hate this!!!” moment. I never stopped pedaling. I may have sat down for more than the class did, but I never stopped pedaling. Ooo stretching afterward felt sooo good.

So then I’m home at 7am. Cool I have time for my new organic granola I picked up yesterday and some coffee. A little devotional time too. Spending some time wrapping my brain around the book of Hebrews. Which leaves me at 7:50am. No one is up. So I go back to bed for a nap nap. Ahh. The wonder of having a toddler who both sleeps in her own bed and sleeps through the night. So know its 10:30. The sun woke up and I am enjoying my regular morning coffee and email checking. Emily is singing to herself in bed and enjoying it, but I think it’s time to get her up and start the daylight portion of my day.

Spinning Class and Veggies

In an effort to get more in shape, I’ve gone and done something drastic. I signed up for 6am spinning classes at a new gym. AHH. What’s wrong with me. 6 am is ridiculous. Seriously. I’ve just been getting a bit crazy needing exercise and feeling all psycho without it so there we go. The last time I signed up at a new gym it helped me knock of some good weight, so I’m hoping for some more success again. I’ll step on the mean old scale in the morning and report back with the Courtenay Weight exchange, which I’m glad doesn’t affect finances because Id never put it down when things aren’t going so well. I had planned on running a marathon this summer, but that got knocked out of the picture after a few short runs and a big dose of “I hate running”’s so now we are working with biking, which I really do like. Maybe for Emily’s birthday someone will get her one of those strollers that goes behind your bike. Those nice ones from MEC. That’d be cool then because I’d already be conditioned for biking. YAY. So here’s hoping this is helpful to my goals of being fit and eating good.

Speaking of eating good. Man it has been nice to be back home and not eating out for every meal. As part of my eating habits changes I made one large change to my diet. Morgan and I were driving along and I said “Honey, theres something important I have to tell you, and I’m not sure if you should be driving while I do, but I’m just going to say it anyways”. He got all nervous like I was going to tell him something crazy like Id killed someone or bought a puppy or something(odd analogy I know). Then I said “I want to be a vegetarian”. So there I said it out loud. Or out type. I haven’t told many of my carnivorous family, but I will one day. I decided to be a vegetarian and see where that takes me. It’s a bit weird at this point in my life to make such a big change, but thats what I’m doing. It might not be forever, and I might be a bit of a hypocritical Vegetarian once in a while, but thats life. So there you go. Wow what I typed doesn’t even sound like me. a 6 am cycling class and a vegetarian. hmmm…I may have been abducted by aliens or something…I dunno. The best thing ever is that every time I typed vegetarian (haha including this time) The spell checky said I spelled it wrong. haha. Typical. Well anyways back to school I go.