Isn't the weekend for resting?

I'm exhausted! We've been having trouble with our heat - long story but the tech has been here twice in a week - well, we still had heat last night, but the registers were clanging, rattling, etc so bad that we had the tv turned all the way up and couldn't hear it. This morning I called again and got a nice on-call guy on the phone. He thought we could adjust the pressure over the phone, so he talked me through it and told me to call him back if I had any more problems. An hour later I checked the furnace and the room had about 1/2" of water on the floor. Yikes! I called him back and he came over. Turns out that there is a leak in the pipe that heats the basement, which is also where our landlord's apartment is. He shut off her valve, bled the air out of our pipes so they wouldn't make any more noise, and said he'd put in a ticket for the pipe to be fixed and re-routed. It's buried under the cement floor so they have to make a new connection. The water literally comes up through the floor.

To top that off, the water softener wasn't working right - the tank was bone dry, so I had to reset that, put 5 bags of salt pellets in (I had to go to the store to get more) and hopefully that's all working nicely now.

Grocery shopping, got home and amanda's friend called so I dropped her off at her house, now here I am. Whew! I was going to work out today but I think I've made enough trips up and down the stairs that I don't have to.

I ran yesterday morning at the gym - my legs are sore today, but it was good. I had no trouble getting up and out on time - I just started to hit a wall at work around 3:00. Nothing a little coffee didn't cure.

I picked up my pass at the mountain yesterday, too, so after they open on Wednesday I'll be cruising on my snowboard. Can't wait! The mountain looks so pretty when it's white.

Can't even think about Thanksgiving yet - I bought a turkey today but that's as far as I got. Ugh.

Now I'm going to go take a nap!

Tomorrow it starts...

I did it. I re-joined the gym. I left the comfort of the cushy spa that I never had a chance to use, and joined up at my old no-frils but better-for-lifting gym. I will begin to reestablish my routine at 5:30 tomorrow morning. I will go every weekday morning after that. I've always said it takes 2 weeks to establish a routine and make it last, so that's what I'm going to do. With mike getting up at 4:45 am anyway, it makes it easier for me to get up too, rather than try to go back to sleep. I might as well be doing something productive instead of fighting to sleep for another hour until I HAVE to get up.

So I will get stronger, leaner, and firmer, but hopefully not bigger. I like my frame the way it is and I don't want to bulk up like I usually do when I lift. We'll see...

Update on the bike

I just checked my blog after almost 2 months and saw the comments regarding my last post. I just yesterday sent my aunt a check to purchase the bike, and asked her to keep it stored for me where it is for the winter. Now I just need to learn how to ride it! lol

The explorer is gone - we had that repair done, and it was running ok, but clearly getting older. Mike's friend who works at the ford dealership called us and told us about a 2003 that had just come in as a trade. He had the salesperson hold it aside for us and we went in to look at it. It only has 16,000 miles on it and it practically looks brand new. We brought the price down a little, had them wash and vac it and fill the tank with gas. I love it - it's so smooth and quiet.

So that's my vehicle update.

More later on the rest of my life - nothing too exciting - finally!

I had a plan...

The plan was to buy my uncle's Harley, get a used Wrangler to drive on rainy days and in the winter, give little Mike my old Explorer, and big Mike could trade in his truck so we could have a larger pickup or some sort of family vehicle. It was perfect. Then the Explorer heard about the plan and let us know how she felt about it - she cut out completely, right on the interstate. Now she's in the shop, waiting to get some expensive work done, while I drive the totally awesome F-150 quad cab that the dealer gave me to use until I get her back. I still want the Harley - I still want my plan to come together. I've always wanted a Jeep, with the top off, hair flying in the wind and the sun on my back. I've always secretly wanted to drive a bike too - now I can. My uncle was short, just a little taller than me, so I'm pretty sure I could handle his bike. Hmmm...now where to get the funds? That's another plan, one that I haven't totally come up with yet. But my aunt knows that I want it and she won't sell it to anyone else. It will wait.

Back in the saddle again

Let's see - since my last entry, what has gone on in my life? Well, we went to the funeral - it was very nice. My uncle was in Vietnam so the Air Force Honor Guard came and did the whole flag presentation ceremony, played taps, etc. Very impressive. There were a lot of people, many of whom I haven't seen since I was a kid. It was neat to be able to introduce them to my kids. I got a lot of "I'm sorry about your uncle, and your mother...". Afterward we went back to my grandmother's house and lots of people came back - there was lots of food - Italians always bring food. :) My uncle's friends had so I grabbed one - it had been a long day. Then I went down to the basement to see my uncle's bike - he has an absolutely magnificent harley. He kept it in pristine condition and it was breathtaking to see it up close. I hope my aunt keeps it or at least sells it to one of his friends.

On the way home I took the kids to Staples to get their school supplies. $200 later we headed north for the long ride home.

I've spent the weekend puttering and re-hanging the things that we had to take down for the painters. I cleaned out our closet because I could barely walk through it. I took little Mike driving today - he's getting more comfortable. I'm starting to settle in again.

Work is good so far - still figuring things out, and I have a lot to learn. It will be a good thing, though.

I posted a picture of my new tattoo on my flickr page. It's finally just about healed and it looks great. I love it. :)

Back to reality

It's Sunday evening and we're back from vacation. We had a great time - would have liked to stay longer. The kids start school tomorrow, I start my new job tomorrow too, and we're trying to get the house put back together now that the painters are finished painting. We moved all the furniture back in that we had stored in the garage all week, but hanging pictures, etc. will have to wait. I sat down at the computer a little while ago and got a handle on how much money we spent on vacation and what our finances are like going into the new week, and I went to the store to get basic groceries for the next few days. The dog has finished throwing up (hopefully) due to his transition from my friend's house back to ours, and the cats have realized that their time of lounging and running free gleefully through the house has ended now that he's back.

When we got home I was checking messages and got one from my grandmother - telling me that my uncle died on Friday. I had talked to him right before we left, and told him I was coming to see him in 2 weeks. He said he would wait for me, but he needed to go sooner. He was in so much pain and had suffered silently for so long. The service is Wednesday, so I'll need to tell my new boss tomorrow that I need Wed & Thurs off...I'm sure he'll understand, but I still starting this way. Still, though, my grandmother and my aunt need me there and I want to say goodbye to him. The kids will probably come too - they'll just make up their work at school over the weekend. He's at peace - up in heaven with my mother - his sister and only sibling. My poor grandmother has had to bury both her children - that's just so wrong. She was with him when he went, though, and was able to hold him as he went. She didn't get that with my mother - I don't know if one is better than the other - sudden al s or long, drawn-out ones. She is such an incredible woman - I've known that since I was a little . I just dread the day that I have to say goodbye to her too.

Now I'm off to prepare for tomorrow - *deep breath* - it's going to be a busy week...

Blueberries...mmmmmmm....

Yesterday Amanda and I went blueberry picking - there's a man in town who has 6 acres of blueberry bushes, most are 20-25 years old. He can't possibly pick them all, and he sells them to local markets and co-ops. He lets locals come up and pick, and for every 4 pints you pick you get to take one home for free. You can also just go buy some, but the picking was fun. We picked over 20 pints and took home five. We polished off three pints last night! They are HUGE and so good. The kids want to go back today but right now it's pouring rain. We'll see how the weather is later.

He said they will keep coming until the first hard frost. Looks like we've got a lot of picking in our future over the next month or two. It's great to be able to help this old man and get something in return at the same time. :)

good news

Mike's dad came through his surgery ok, and is feeling better. It's amazing what a little flow to the brain can do. ;)

My boss also agreed to pay me for my vacation next week - she was going to try to weasel out of paying me, saying that I wasn't eligble to use my comp time because I was leaving - we talked about it and she remembered a conversation that we had back in the fall when I explained that I was working 9-hour days as opposed to 8-hour days so that I could save up time to be paid for that vacation, even though I wasn't officially eligible for vacation until September. She backed down without a fight - whew!

He got it!

Another milestone was reached yesterday - little Mike got his driver's permit. I think I was more nervous than he was. I watched him intently through the glass as he took the test, like I was sending him telepathic good luck. Amanda thought it was a riot. Everyone that came out before him after getting their results, I could tell if they passed or failed. Three people failed in a row, then one passed, and another, and I told Amanda the tables were turning...lol. Then one more passed, then Mike came out. We waited in anticipation as the man at the counter scored his test. I watched as he ticked off the wrong answers. One, two, three...then he stopped and said "congratulations, you passed"...woohoo!

We went to the other counter and Mike got his picture taken and left with a nice shiny new permit. I offered to let him drive partway up our road to the house so he could show off to his dad, who was home waiting...but he declined. He wants to start at a parking lot...smart kid. :)

Death comes to us all...

This is a quote from a movie, but I can't remember which one - maybe a Dracula movie, perhaps, but it doesn't matter. This is what comes to mind when I think of my uncle. He's about 60 years old and he's in the final stages of liver cancer. He's stopped eating. He's skin and bones. I saw him at Christmastime and told him how he was special to me and what I remembered most about spending time with him when I was a kid. He's a private guy, and doesn't like emotional stuff, but I told him that I had to tell him that. He's my mother's only sibling, and she died a little over two years ago, so this really hits home even more. My grandmother is taking it really hard - "a parent shouldn't have to bury her children" I believe were her words. It kills me to see her so sad. She's in her early 80's and the type that I thought would never get old - well, now she's getting old. She was like a mother to me. Still is. I love her so much but I'm so far away - I can't do much for either her or my uncle. Now they're just waiting - he said the other day that he was ready to go. He and my aunt had a motorcycle wedding - I was probably 6 or 7 years old but I still remember it. All their friends came on Harleys and they did too. My uncle used to make bikes in his shop in my grandmother's basement and I would hang out and watch. He wanted to take me for a ride but I was scared. Now I want that ride more than anything and I'll never get it.

Death comes...to us all.

ME? FAST? You've GOT to be kidding...

Yup, I couldn't believe my ears last night when someone at softball told me that. I used to be fast - when I was a kid - I could outrun all the boys on the playground. Then I grew up and got slow. Running the bases last year, I was slow. Not painfully slow, but certainly not fast. Maybe losing 15 lbs helped...

Either way, it was a great compliment. I'm also playing catcher this year instead of second base, which at first I was bummed about, but I actually like it because I'm involved in every play of the game, and my arm is getting better. I should count how many throws I make in a game - it's good. Sure, sometime I'd like to get back on the field, but for now this is fine. I can relax, talk to the pitcher, take the throws that come to me, and just get up and hit...and then run really FAST! :)

Enjoying summer...

...if only work wouldn't get in the way! We had a great weekend, spent time swimming, watching softball, and I ran and biked both in the same weekend. I really need to get my exercise regimen back on track. Saturday I felt like such a slug - tired from the week, bored, just blah - so I got up and put my running stuff on and went out - I focused on the music on my cd and I felt so much better. Sunday my husband was playing softball at a field about 20 miles from our house, so I decided to ride there. I've done that ride before, and it's pretty hilly, but I was up for the challenge. It was great :)

I woke up this morning and didn't know what day it was - I thought it was the weekend for a second, then realized it is only Tuesday. That pretty much ruined my morning. lol

Nope...

I didn't get the job. They hired someone who was more qualified, but told me that if she doesn't work out that I'll be the one they want. I thanked them for the opportunity and told them that I would still be interested if the new didn't work out.

I didn't have my heart set on this job, and I also knew that I wasn't totally qualified, but I still was a little disappointed. The energy at work these days has been pretty negative, and I can't help but be affected by that. The good thing, though, is that now I know what I need to learn more about in case this job comes up again, or even another opportunity in the same field. And, in the meantime, there are still good things about where I am and I need to focus on the positive.

New job?

I applied for a job managing an e-commerce website. They approached me and asked me if I was interested in talking to them about it - I had an "interview", then they went on vacation. I don't know if no news is good news or if they went ahead and hired someone else before they left. I'll see them tonight because we play on the same softball team, so I guess I'll ask what the scoop is then...

My son got a gig as a roadie...

He's been asked to work a concert this Sunday night, lugging equipment, from noon-4:00, then again for 3 hours after the show. It will be hard work, for sure...but it pays $100! He agreed to do it, then said to me "that's SEVEN HOURS!!". I said HELLO!!! THAT'S A HUNDRED BUCKS!! If you don't want to do it, I'LL do it!" He's 14, almost 15 years old - and at his age I'd be jumping at that kind of money. I think he's too inexperienced to grasp the concept of how much people actually make. Maybe there's a slight chance he's also a tad spoiled - lol. I got my first job at 14, and by age 15 I had three jobs. Times are different now.

For his birthday, he gave me three ideas of what I could get him (I had to push and prod to get anything out of him) - an ipod or dellpod (because a dellpod is cheaper), a new $180 bat, or that new sony playstation thingy that plays music, games, movies, etc. for $200. I bid on an ipod on ebay. He's not getting the other things - he knows he's only getting one. He can put his $100 that he makes lugging band equipment toward his new bat. He's going to work for it!

I'm such a mean mom.

Nothing like a baseball game in summer

Last night we took Mike to see the VT Expos, which is the Nationals' single-A team, formerly part of the Montreal Expos organization but just moved this year.They were playing the Lowell Spinners, which is the Red Sox single-A team. I couldn't believe how young these guys were. Mike said at this level they're often right out of high school, age 18-22 mostly. It was fun. Rain threatened all day, but then the sun came out and it turned into a nice evening. There's nothing like hearing that crack of the bat in person - you just can't get that from TV. The kids ate and ate and ate - sausages, fries, chicken, dipping dots (little tiny ice cream balls in a cup that look like styrofoam packing), fried dough...I admit I had some fried dough too. Mike and I split one - it was yummy but sat like a rock in my stomach for the rest of the night.

Mike and I actually had a beer together - wearing our bracelets that told the world we were of legal drinking age - we laughed at that - it's been so long since we've been out and I've had to wear one of those. We laughed as the mascot drove around on his ATV and waved, pulled kids on top of the dugout to dance to Elvis's "Hound Dog", and all the silly, terrific in-between-inning games that get the fans involved.

We left in the 8th inning - we had a 45 minute drive home and it was late. It was Mike's father's day present - good family QT.

Nice long weekend

Sun, sun, and more sun was probably the theme for this past weekend. Saturday was cool, but Sunday and Monday were gorgeous, and with Monday being the holiday I didn't have to work.

Saturday was busy - the kids and I went up early and mowed my dad's lawn, then Michael wanted to clean his room (*gasp!*) so of course, I agreed to help. We spent lots of time talking about how to organize things, what to get rid of, how he could put things in storage without getting rid of them, and just keep out the things that he liked and used the most. He asked for a metal bed frame, because since we got him a queen mattress set it has just been on the floor. I agreed to go to the store and get him one, which we did. He went to town vacuuming, cleaning, etc., and really did a great job. We set up his bed, and he spent the rest of the afternoon puttering around getting settled. I took a few things to the dump, then while I was out I hit one of the local 4th of July ski shop sales and found a great pair of snowboard pants at a good price, and some gloves for Amanda. Still pricey, but about half the cost of what I would have paid. Now that's out of the way and we all have gear for the winter.

Sunday we all just lounged around, I read "Angels and Demons" on the deck, and we went to see the fireworks at dark. They were really amazing this year. The town went all-out and this was probably the best display I've ever seen. The kids got a bunch of glow-in-the-dark necklaces and when we got home we put them on the dog, shut off the lights, and played with him. He thought they were fun, I guess. It was funny.

Monday we went to a local pool and hung out - it was hot and sunny, and what better thing to do on a day like that? We stayed there for a few hours then took the dog to the brook so he could cool off.

Just a lazy summer weekend - my favorite kind - it was tough to come back to work today...

Ironic, isn't it?

Over on LCT I just this morning posted about falling asleep at my desk - and how I've been starting to get bored with this job. It has a few important perks, like free skiing and a fair amount of flexibility - both of which are really great and hard to find, but the pay is low and we're all overworked and micromanaged...I work with a lot of unhappy people. Even though I think I have the best of anyone, I really think my anxiety started after starting this job - there's just a lot of stuff to keep track of.

Anyway, about an hour after I posted that entry, I ran into a local business owner who I know, and he asked me what I do at my job. I told him pretty specifically - he's been advertising for someone to run his e-commerce website - and I had a feeling he was going in that direction. I was right. He said he had planned on getting in touch with me today to see if I was interested about talking about the job. I said absolutely, I would love to talk with him about it. That will give me a chance to find out more details about the job itself, if I'm even qualified, possibly pay, benefits, etc. The ad did say that they would train the right person, so that's encouraging.

Just thought it was interesting...we're going to talk after the holiday weekend is over.

Sometimes you just feel all alone in the world

That's how I felt this past weekend. Mike talked to his friend "T" who runs our softball teams (the - team that we played on until this year, and the men's team that Mike still plays on...well, until the other day, that is). It turns out that our team members who thought that Mike played too hard, in reality said that if Mike played on the - team they would quit. We were stunned. These are people that we have played with and hung out with for the better part of the last 10 years...some have come along later than others, but we've had this team for that long, and we've had some really fun times. Our kids have grown up together, we've laughed, competed hard, won, lost, sweat, partied, fought, and then laughed some more.

I had stopped playing this year because I was told by another on the team (T's friend) that others were bad-mouthing Mike, saying he played too intensely, but I had NO idea that they had formed a revolt. This just blew us both away. Yes, Mike plays seriously - he's a player and has been since he could pick up a ball - but he doesn't criticize, he's the first to help and encourage someone, he doesn't lose his temper, he doesn't throw bats and gloves like a few of the other guys, he doesn't argue, he doesn't drink during the games and after a game he usually has just one or two if that, he's just GOOD - REALLY GOOD.

Well, he waffled back and forth about how to handle this situation. We talked about it Friday night. We decided he had three options: He could continue to play on the men's team, be a really big jerk and sarcastic (which we both decided wasn't the right way to handle it), he could play even harder, like he used to years ago when he was on more competitive teams - and when they complained about it he would say "and you thought I played hard BEFORE?", or he could call another team that he knew wanted him and play for them. T was really torn up about it and isn't going to sponsor either team next year because he's sick of being in the middle all the time. Note, however, that he didn't tell them all to go pound sand when this group staged the revolt - a true friend would have said that Mike had been on the team longer than any of them, and who the hell did they think they were to make such a demand - but he didn't - he didn't have enough of a spine - not because he didn't want to stand up for Mike, but because he couldn't risk people not liking him. Mike called him on that fact - and asked him what he would have done if Mike told him he still wanted to play. T avoided the question. Then Mike asked him what he would do if he were in his situation. T said he would quit - and that he wanted to play with Mike next year - and that he would play with him anywhere. I do believe that. He's not a bad guy, just got put in a bad situation.

So Mike called the other team and asked if there was still room for him, and told the quick and dirty story. The response was "my guys would give their left nut to play with you" - lol. The deal was done. He felt better that he was on a team that wanted him, but the fact of the matter still was that our "friends" turned on us and hung us both out to dry. We have no idea why. We didn't do or say anything to any of them. We don't even see each other all winter long. We know that some of them did start to hang out more toward the end of last summer, and things were getting cliquey (sp?) but why target Mike? And last Sunday at the game we got there and there was a big tent with lots of food and it turned out that it was someone's birthday. No one called us and asked us to bring anything - I would have gladly contributed. I went up and talked to a few of the women (this was before we knew all of this), then I put my chairs near theirs, and everyone congregated on the other side of the tent. I sat by myself for the entire time. It was so blatant that I knew something was up. Even my friend who ALWAYS sits with me sat with the others.

Well, Saturday I was overcome with an intense feeling of grief. Just loss and loneliness - and strange, because these people were people we hung out with twice a week in the summer and fall, but not close close friends who I would tell my deepest secrets to. Still, I just felt overwhelming sadness. After carting the kids around and grocery shopping, I escaped for a few minutes and went to my mother's gravesite. I knelt next to her stone and the tears just came. I leaned on the stone and just sobbed. It all was just so wrong. Things had come full circle. Mike and I started our life together in Boston when we first got married with awesome friends - his friends from high school & college and their wives, and they were great. Then everyone, including us, moved away and we were alone in Vermont - then we made new friends, not the same quality, but still friends, and now we feel alone again. I'm glad we have each other but it makes me wonder why we were thrown out in the cold the way we were.

Sunday I biked the 23 miles to Mike's game - his new team is great. The atmosphere felt like that of his old team a long time ago. The guys' friendly heckling was refreshing and reminded me of years past. There were few women - only one other, actually - I introduced myself and watched the game with the kids. I cheered the guys on - and we had fun. Then we went for chinese food and went home. It was a good day.

I'm not sure how I'll be when I see the others around town. I'll probably just look away. If they come up to me and act like nothing happened then I'll have to be prepared with something but I'm not sure what. We'll see, I guess. They hurt us both - very badly. I won't forget.

What makes a defining moment?

I've had many "defining moments" in my life - moments and events that helped to shape the person that I grew to become. I can remember events back as far as preschool age. The interesting thing is that most of the moments that I consider defining moments were negative...in first grade when I lost my rhythm stick in our class's stage production of the school assembly and my teacher blamed me for ruining the whole thing in front of everyone...in 5th grade when I was followed and harrassed by my peers constantly, all because I wasn't allowed to watch rated R movies (I couldn't see Jaws because of the woman on the poster)...being slapped by my high school boyfriend when I was 15, being raped by a senior football player when I was a junior and not telling anyone, finding nude photos that my father took and not telling anyone because I didn't want him to get in trouble, and more things that follow the strand of humiliation, secrecy and shame. As a result I've spent the better part of the recent years of my adult life digging out of that hole and finding out who I really am and becoming strong.

When trying to think of ONE defining moment in my life that I could identify as one that truly altered the path of my life, I remembered an incident way back in High School. My parents were very protective of me as a child, so much that once I hit high school I pretty much cut the cord and did what I wanted. My dad didn't like it. I stayed at friends' houses on the weekends, I went out basically when I wanted, (my parents didn't enforce a curfew, as long as I was home at a "reasonable" hour) I started working because I didn't want to rely on my dad for money - I wanted my independence, even at that young age of 14.

On this particular rainy night I wanted to go to a dance and for whatever reason my father decided he didn't want me to go. Hmph. I was going. He said no, I said yes. I picked up the phone to call a friend and he ripped it out of the wall. We started screaming at each other, which we did often, and I grabbed my coat and walked out the front door. From a parent's perspective, some would say I was a rotten spoiled brat with no respect. From my perspective it was all about getting out from under his thumb because I knew the monster that he was - he didn't respect me, he didn't respect my mother, and I was not going to let him control me. Looking back and comparing me to my own son who is now 14, I'm amazed that I had that clarity of thinking at such a young age. Even then, I had been waiting for years until the day when I could get a job - I wanted my own money, control over my own life, as much as I could have it so I didn't have to depend on him.

It was pouring rain, I ran down the street. I could hear my father in the car following me. I ducked through backyards and down sidestreets to avoid him. I made it through our neighborhood and the next. I got to the main road, and ducked into the backyard of a boy whom I knew but didn't really know that well. I hid behind his trash cans in the rain. A few minutes later his mother came out and asked if I was ok. I said "I'm fine - I'm just hiding from my dad." (okaaayyy) She asked if I wanted to come in and I said no - I'd be leaving in a minute. When I thought the coast was clear I got up and started walking down the street. The familiar headlights pulled up along side me. I kept walking. He said "Come home". I said no. He said "Please come home - for your mother. She's worried sick." I stopped, and without looking at him, got in the car and we went home.

At home, I talked to my mother, I talked to my father, and though I don't remember what we talked about, I remember going back out. I won.

This event reminds me that from that very young age I was an independent, strong, stubborn, determined, driven person that could get whatever she wanted when the stakes were high enough. I was also not unrealistic and could be tender when I was needed by the right people. I didn't hurt people - even when they hurt me - I was not vindictive - I only protected myself. Sometimes I guess that could hurt people, but they had hurt me first.

The relationship with my father over the years has gone up and down, backward and forward, and backward again, and my other personal relationships have done the same thing. Sometimes I have been a doormat and forgotten about that drive that has always lived inside me. When my children were little I didn't trust my judgement and thought I was doing everything wrong, so I felt awful about that. I had body image issues. I couldn't take criticism. The list goes on and on. My self esteem was crushed for so long until recent years, and only now am I becoming a stronger person. It's been hard, and it's still a work in progress, but I'm stronger than I've been since I can ever remember, and this exercise has helped remind me that I have had the strength in me all along.

Two months later...

I can't believe it's been almost exactly two months since I've checked in here. The weather has finally gotten warmer - I got some sun over the weekend, which felt great. I went for my first bike ride and played my first softball game on Thursday. I've been running twice. Ironically, running this year seems easier than last year. Is it because I've lost some weight? It's more likely because I'm eating more carbs. Either way, I'm not complaining. I went out after not running for an entire year and ran 3 miles without stopping. I could barely do that last year when I was running 3x/week.

The kids are huge. Little Mike towers over me and finishes his freshman year of high school next Friday. Amanda is finishing up her first year of middle school and we can just about share clothes. She wore a shirt yesterday that's a little too tight for comfort on me, and is nicely loose on her but fits well. Wow. She has boobs too - she'll be 13 in October. Her dad's in denial. :)

Nothing else is really different, but even in my most hectic moments I'm trying to be peaceful to myself. I'm trying to have fun and be true to myself. It helps bring me closer to Mike, too. He's a lifesaver.

The Seasons they're a-Changing

I hate winter. Hate it, hate it, hate it. Every fall I ask myself why I live in this god-forsaken state where winter lasts from November through April, and Summer is really only July and August. I'm a summer girl, through and through. Love the sun, love the heat, would bask for hours if I had the time. Then fall comes, and I know that means months of cold, snow and ice. I get depressed and hibernate until May. I live in the "Ski Capital of the East" and I have only skied twice in the 11 years that I've lived here. I used to ski all the time before we moved here. Go figure.

This year has been different. I changed jobs, and one of the perks of this job is free lift tickets to the mountain. Before, the expense always held me back. At $65/day or over a month's rent for a season's pass, it wasn't realistic. Now, it's different. Another perk was free rentals at one of the local ski shops. Ok, it was time. The kids have been bugging me for two years now - their jaws dropped when I said I was going to learn to snowboard. I rented equipment and took a lesson. Then the rest of the season was spent learning how to make turns without taking catastrophic falls, learning to keep on an edge, learning how not to fall on flats, gaining confidence, turning on steeper terrain, gaining speed, learning to relax, and having fun. The kids took me on more and more trails - some trails I'd never even been on on skis. :) Every week was an adventure and we had a great time - we laughed, we threw snowballs at each other, the kids marveled at me when I would pass them on the hill and they had to catch up with me, then they'd chastise me when I was too slow. All in all, it was great QT.

The point of this entry is that now as the seasons are changing I'm finding for the first time since I've lived in Vermont that I'm actually sad to see the snow melt. I look at the mountain longingly as I see bare spots appear - their goal is to stay open until May 1st - if that's possible, then I have 4 days left of riding - but I think that's a little unrealistic with the rain and the warm weather that we're getting. Usually I'd be getting psyched up for riding my bike, running, softball, but I'm already mourning parting with my new purple K2 Luna - just thinking about it.

So, in a few weeks, I'll have to put it away - and bring my bike to be tuned, and when I get on it, the sun will be on my back, and I'll ride a different ride, and climb those hills, and I'll swing the bat and smash that softball, and I'll go to the ocean in August and bury my feet in the sand, and enjoy the warmth of summer while it lasts...until the snow flies again and I can ride the snow again. Crazy girl.

Weekend ended on a fun note

Saturday was pretty dull - trekked the kids around, took the dog to the vet to get shots, and the way things were scheduled I didn't have a good stretch of time in which to work out, do grocery shopping, or anything of substance. It was just kind of a blah day. We had pizza for dinner and Amanda had a friend over, then I took her home.

On Sunday we went snowboarding and it was GORGEOUS!! It was about 35-40 degrees and sunny, and the snow was perfect. It wasn't too crowded, because now we're getting into late season. The kids and I took three runs together, then I knew they were itching to go off and do woods trails so I told them to go have fun. I took another 5-6 runs by myself and it was great - I was able to concentrate on my form, focus, and have fun. I really did improve that day, and I had a lot of fun. It was just so great to be outside in that wonderful weather, flying down the mountain, feeling the sun on my face and just having a blast. I only fell a few times but they weren't hard falls. I'm getting better. :) I wasn't even tired when we left - I could have kept going, which tells me that I was doing better and not having to work as hard at it, even though I was doing a harder trail. Cool.

Last night we watched the Hall of Fame inductions - Bruce and U2 are two of my all-time favorites. They were so cool together! I stayed up way past my bedtime to watch. Even Mike enjoyed the show - I think we have a new U2 fan.

Ironic, isn't it?

I haven't been here for a while. I just redesigned my blog, and read through some of the last posts that I had written here. Aside from the job issues, some of the stuff that I'm dealing with is still the same. Dad is still a big thorn in my side - I read the comments here and they are still relevant. I will never change him. I wish I could just let it go. I wish I could either play the part of the "good daughter" or tell him to go take a hike. I'm stuck in the middle and not happy with any of it. It's taking up too much of my energy and I'm honestly trying to work through it and get to the point of acceptance, but it's not easy. My therapist is convinced that this is where the anxiety is coming from. She's probably right. So if my father just went away then my anxiety would too...wouldn't that be nice. Sad, huh?