Ouch

We joined a modest fitness center earlier this month and I finally got around to going on Wednesday. Suffice it to say it's been way too long since I've exercised and I'm feeling it now.

I rode the recumbent bike for a bit to warm up, worked with weights, then rode the bike again to cool down. I was pretty pleased with myself for sticking it out for longer than five minutes, but I forgot to take into account that the fitness center is on the second floor of a gymnastics studio. No elevator. Trying to maneuver down the stairs on my now-jello legs was a workout in itself.

I'm supposed to go back tomorrow but I'm pretty sore. (I'll probably go, but I'll take it a little easier than I did yesterday.)

I'm no longer a Weight Watchers member. I hit a plateau before summer started (I had lost 18 lbs). I haven't gained any back since then, but I think I've lost all I can just by portion control and counting points. It's time to - gasp! - exercise! Ironically, I did lose two pounds since quitting WW three weeks ago. Go figure.

It's Been a While...

Over a week since my last post (sorry!). It's been one of those busy-doing-not-much weeks. You moms know what I mean. Dear Hubby spent three nights in Cleveland on business which threw our usual routine off.

Then there was the Cub Scout Family Camp Out this past weekend. Dear Hubby is cubmaster so he was obligated to get there early. My cub scout, Son #2, didn't arrive until mid-morning Saturday because he had a baseball game. (His team won 9 to 3.) Oh and I had to go vote before the game. I arrived at the state park around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday with all three sons.

Since the state park is only two and a half miles from our house, I opted to sleep in my own bed. "Lights out" is at 9:00 p.m., which is simply too early for a night owl like myself. Considering that most people don't start waking until 6:00 a.m., those nine hours sleeping on the ground would just be too much for my aching back. I left the campground after the campfire so I didn't miss much - except for the whole sleeping on the ground thing.

Today I was "summoned" for jury duty but I wasn't selected. While I was sort of curious as to what it's all about (and I didn't want to be one of "those" people who would try to wheedle out of their civic duty), I *am* relieved. And a tad disappointed. All the trials this week were scheduled to be criminal cases, which might have been interesting. I do enjoy my Court TV.

However, had I been selected, it would've been a challenge to get all three kids off to school in the morning (did I mention that all three attend different schools?) and still make it to the courthouse on time. I had already lined up a relative to meet the kids' buses in the afternoon, but that's moot now.

So I have my week back. I'll spend it helping Son #1 with his science fair project, and doing room mom stuff for Son #3's kindergarten class (Red Ribbon Week is Oct. 29 - Nov. 2). I did just join a fitness center. It might be nice to actually go to that.

So, as I said. Busy doing not much.

"A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her."

A friend sent me an email the other day. It was one of those fowarded to a friend of a friend of a friend deals. The message was nice enough - intended to be uplifting - but it wasn't particularly memorable until the final line, which I posted above.

Wow. If I had only learned that 25 or so years ago, I could've spared myself a lot of heartaches (not to mention headaches). I thought, if I had a daughter, this is something I would want to share with her. But I have three boys. I'm sure there's a lesson there for them as well. Perhaps it would be to seek the woman who isn't trying so desperately to seek attention.

What do you think?

250th Post!

We live in Louisiana where our counties are called "parishes." This past weekend we went to our Parish Fair. We had a nice time. We went on a few rides - not many, though, because ride tickets were expensive (in my opinion). Sons #2 and #3 went on their first ferris wheel rides with Dear Hubby. I don't like heights so Son #1 and I walked around.

Sons #1 and #3 went with me on the spinning strawberry ride (similar to the tea cup ride at Disney). We get to control how fast we spin, which means we spun fastfastfast!

We also checked out the 4H exhibits. Below are some more photos.

Ready for Parenthood?

My sister sent this to me in an email and I thought it was funny. And sadly, true. ;-)

MESS TEST
Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there all summer.

TOY TEST
Obtain a 55 gallon box of Legos (or you may substitute roofing tacks). Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a blindfold. Try to walk to the bathroom or kitchen. Do not scream because this would wake a child at night.

GROCERY STORE TEST
Borrow one or two small animals (goats are best) and take them with you as you shop. Always keep them in sight and pay for anything they eat or damage.

DRESSING TEST
Obtain one large, unhappy, live octopus. Stuff into a small net bag making sure that all the arms stay inside.

FEEDING TEST
Obtain a large plastic milk jug. Fill halfway with water. Suspend from the ceiling with a cord. Start the jug swinging. Try to insert spoonfuls of soggy cereal into the mouth of the jug, while pretending to be an airplane. Now dump the contents of the jug on the floor.

NIGHT TEST
Prepare by obtaining a small cloth bag and fill it with 8-12 pounds of sand. Soak it thoroughly in water. At 3:00p.m. begin to waltz and hum with the bag until 9:00p.m. Lay down your bag and set your alarm for 10:00p.m.Get up, pick up your bag, and sing every song you have ever heard. Make up about a dozen more and sing these too until 4:00a.m. Set alarm for 5:00a.m. Get up and make breakfast. Keep this up for 5 years. Look cheerful.

INGENUITY TEST
Take an egg carton. Using a pair of scissors and pot of paint, turn it into an alligator. Now take a toilet paper tube and turn it into an attractive Christmas candle. Use only scotch tape and a piece of foil. Last, take a milk carton, a ping-pong ball, and an empty box of Cocoa Puffs. Make an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower.

AUTOMOBILE TEST
Forget the BMW and buy a station wagon. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there. Get a dime. Stick it into the cassette player. Take a family size package of chocolate chip cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car. There, perfect.

PHYSICAL TEST (Women)
Obtain a large bean bag chair and attach it to the front of your clothes. Leave it there for 9 months. Now remove 10 of the beans. And try not to notice your closet full of clothes. You won't be wearing them for a while.

PHYSICAL TEST (Men)
Go to the nearest drug store. Set your wallet on the counter. Ask the clerk to help himself. Now proceed to the nearest food store. Go to the head office and arrange for your paycheck to be directly deposited to the store. Purchase a newspaper. Go home and read it quietly for the last time.

FINAL ASSIGNMENT
Find a couple who already have a small child. Lecture them on how they can improve their discipline, patience, tolerance, toilet training and child's table manners. Suggest many ways
they can improve. Emphasize to them that they should never allow their children to run wild. Enjoy this experience. It will be the last time you will have all the answers.

Favorite Quotes

I don't really have much to post about today, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorite quotes:

• "A little rebellion now and then is a good thing." Thomas Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson has obviously never met my kids.)

• "You are who you are when no one else is looking." Unknown.

• "What lies behind up and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson

So, here are just a few of my favorites. What are your favorite quotes? Leave me a comment and let me know.