"Wake Up! " I rolled over. "Wake up Mommy!" I rolled over again as I must have been dreaming. " Can I get up?" Converse was still asleep. I glanced at the clock. 4:40am. I mumbled, "No one I know would wake up at this hour." Then I remembered....no one would be up this early except for Nike Girl on the day of her annual spring field trip. This year her class was headed for the zoo. I volunteered to help out. Nike Girl was ready to go before the sun could even come up. I was excited too, but I had no problem sleeping through my excitement. Nike Girl was not going back to bed so the day started. Just don't wake the baby quite yet!
Field trips are so exciting. Somehow a smashed sandwich in a baggie smothered in mustard rather than mayo (because all people know mayo will go bad) looks better when you are on a field trip. Let me digress for a moment....does mayo really go bad or is that an urban legend? Come to think of it our family doesn't even eat mayo it is Miracle Whip. What is Miracle Whip? It says it is a salad dressing but would you put Miracle Whip on a salad? I think not. Since I don't really know what Miracle Whip is and mayo reportedly goes bad in a hurry I always stick to mustard. So we packed our mustard sandwiches and water bottles. Lathered on sunscreen and headed out the door for an adventure.
As parent volunteers we were asked to follow the buses with our own cars. Smart thinking, no bumpy rides and no screaming. I turned up the tunes and followed along, and kept driving, singing out loud occasionally, planned supper for that night in my head, thought about life, kept driving.....thought about chocolate, thought about running, kept driving...wait the school bus I had been following was turning to go toward a suburb north of the city. Apply brakes, merge, exit, head back the other direction. I had been following the wrong school bus. So, that is embarassing. Justified it by saying they are all yellow.
Finally arrive at the zoo with my group of kiddos waiting along with another mom. Let the fun begin!
The girls in our group loved watching the sea lion show, most enjoyed feeding the lorikeets, and everyone enjoyed their "mustard" sandwiches we ate at 10:30 am. We ventured into all parts of the zoo looking at lions, tigers and of course monkeys. Lots of monkeys. The first group of monkeys in the refuge were quite friendly. They swung on the limbs and sat and looked at us. They chased each other around. One cute little fellow even sat on a limb and decided nature was calling. He just couldn't hold it any longer....another monkey, Curious George, started licking up the urine off the adjacent branch. Move right along girls. No need to take photos here, there are still lots of animals to see. Where are the turtles? Turtles seem to stay out of mischief.
Fast forward a couple hours. The girls were getting tired and decided to stop at yet another monkey exhibit in the cool shade. One little mama monkey came up to the glass and obviously had been nursing babies. Wow that poor mama looked tired. The girls became a little fixated asking lots of questions about the mama monkey. So the other mom was quick on her toes. "Oh girls look at the cute monkey in the tree....eee," she then shouted, "Oh my goodness!" All eyes darted to the boy monkey in the tree who was very well endowed and was swinging "the goods" in the air like a lasso. Quite impressive stupid pet trick. David Letterman would be proud. We both were actually in awe, seconds turned into minutes it seemed. Then one of the little girls yelled, "Oh my goodness, he is playing with his weiner" ....she has older brothers. Nike Girl was just staring eating a gummy worm with her head tilted to the right then the left. She took two steps back and said, " There is a lot to write about at the zoo." Great. The other mom and myself looked at each other and froze for a second. Fight or flight response actually. "Who wants to go to the gift shop?" When in need with girls, throw out the shopping trump card and it will work most everytime. So off we walked speechless as Cowboy Bill continued to impress the crowd that was gathering. I have never ever seen anything quite like that....EVER! and I grew up on a farm for crying out loud.
So there is our adventure, a field trip to remember. Now I am just waiting to get Nike Girl's April journal back. Lions and tigers and Monk...eeks....Oh my!
Peace.
The "New Balance" Girl
Running Report: Bought new shoes to train in. I went with a stability shoe vs. a cushioned shoe. I always buy a size up as your feet swell as you increase your distance. My feet must have grown when I was pregnant. I bought a size 11.5 and they fit. That is funny! This weekend we went on bike rides, played at the park (Weebok loves the slide now) and ran. The temperature was crisp in the morning. Perfect. So I ran 7 while Converse rode his bike along side me. Great time to spend together talking and enjoying all the things God has given us. Usually the girls are with us but Nan and Papa were in town visiting... so nice! It was one of those runs that you could have kept going forever. Plans this week include to start speed training on the treadmill and continue the Shred. I know I have said it before but the Shred with Jillian Michaels really makes a difference in core strength. Love it. Hope you enjoyed your weekend, too!
4.14.2010
I Want Swimming Pool Hair
When I was born the first thing the doctor said was "Wow! Look at all that coal black hair, there is tons of it." I am thankful it was only on my head and not on my back or arms. I have learned over the years that most babies lose the coal black hair and become pretty little blondes. But not me, I am one big dominant gene, an anomaly, who has fought this hair, that is neither curly or straight, for four decades now.
I use to joke with Converse and say someday if we ever have kids, the good Lord will know that we need boys. First we aren't exactly the most petite people on Earth , boys are more equipped to be linemen and second I can't fix my own hair let alone a little girls doo. Well, God has a sense of humor. Two little girls later, I have had to learn. But God knows just what you can handle as they do not have this mop. I seriously look like their nanny rather than their biological mom. They have beautiful straight brown locks and big blue eyes and so far hair that dries smooth without product and tools. They have great swimming pool hair.
As gals, you know what I am talking about...great swimming pool hair. Those girls you look at from afar who can twist their hair up in a cute little bun in back and even stick a pencil in it to hold it. One time Converse and I were on an airplane going to who knows where but it was humid and hot a recipe for hair disaster. One of "those girls" sat down in the seat in front of us. She did one of those subtle leans to the right and then the left, swiftly bent forward and sat back up with a perfect bun held together with an ink pen. Converse looked at me, grinned. The challenge was on. I flipped to my left and flipped to my right and bent forward, grabbed his pen and came up with a bun. That held together for 2 seconds, the pen fell on the floor rolled to the back and I was left with bigger hair than ever and no pen to do our Soduko puzzle. Don't challenge me bud!
One of my worst hair memories was in seventh grade. My mom took me to the "in place". Everyone seemed to rave about this place. Remember I grew up in small town America. Looking back there were several red flags.. it was in a converted garage by the railroad tracks in the country. I would sit in the chair and a train would blow by scaring the daylights out of me and the stylist. Not a perfect scenario with scissors. Another red flag, it was the early 80's, we were on the verge of the big hair revolution! Don't trust just anyone with your hair.
I wanted a perm, Teen magazine and Young Miss said it was hip and in style. So roll it up and perm it! Oh how I wish the sylist would of said, "Honey you already have that hair no need to perm." Three hours later I emerged with hair that was so kinky and frizzy, my mom even shed a few tears. My farmer dad who really didn't pay attention to hair exclaimed as I walked in the door. "What happened?" My mom called the stylist back and there were long pauses followed with the words ,"Well we will try it." I was hurried into the bathroom and sat on the toilet as my mom spread mayo on my hair. Feeling like a ham sandwich, I rinsed and towel dried. I was told do not use the hair dryer! Result... more frizz. I was an 80's poster child! Two days later after refusing to go to school we went to another stylist and got a summer doo in February that took 6 maybe 7 months to grow out.
So here I sit on the eve of requesting a loose curl perm to put some shape into my shapeless coarse hair before pool session begins. I do not have time to use hair product and flat iron this mop any longer. I am hoping for the best. All I want is swimming pool hair. I will let you know the result. I am a bit nervous.
Peace.
The "New Balance" Girl
Running Report: The weather has been beautiful! We have gone on family bike rides, shot some hoops, and played outside every single day. It has been awesome. I have been running very consistently lately outside which feels good. Weebok sleeps so good in the jogging stroller. Nike Girl rides her bike along side, she wants to be in the stroller. Longest runs have been 7 miles. Slowly building back up. I am doing a half in June. I am narrowing down my marathon choices.
I use to joke with Converse and say someday if we ever have kids, the good Lord will know that we need boys. First we aren't exactly the most petite people on Earth , boys are more equipped to be linemen and second I can't fix my own hair let alone a little girls doo. Well, God has a sense of humor. Two little girls later, I have had to learn. But God knows just what you can handle as they do not have this mop. I seriously look like their nanny rather than their biological mom. They have beautiful straight brown locks and big blue eyes and so far hair that dries smooth without product and tools. They have great swimming pool hair.
As gals, you know what I am talking about...great swimming pool hair. Those girls you look at from afar who can twist their hair up in a cute little bun in back and even stick a pencil in it to hold it. One time Converse and I were on an airplane going to who knows where but it was humid and hot a recipe for hair disaster. One of "those girls" sat down in the seat in front of us. She did one of those subtle leans to the right and then the left, swiftly bent forward and sat back up with a perfect bun held together with an ink pen. Converse looked at me, grinned. The challenge was on. I flipped to my left and flipped to my right and bent forward, grabbed his pen and came up with a bun. That held together for 2 seconds, the pen fell on the floor rolled to the back and I was left with bigger hair than ever and no pen to do our Soduko puzzle. Don't challenge me bud!
One of my worst hair memories was in seventh grade. My mom took me to the "in place". Everyone seemed to rave about this place. Remember I grew up in small town America. Looking back there were several red flags.. it was in a converted garage by the railroad tracks in the country. I would sit in the chair and a train would blow by scaring the daylights out of me and the stylist. Not a perfect scenario with scissors. Another red flag, it was the early 80's, we were on the verge of the big hair revolution! Don't trust just anyone with your hair.
I wanted a perm, Teen magazine and Young Miss said it was hip and in style. So roll it up and perm it! Oh how I wish the sylist would of said, "Honey you already have that hair no need to perm." Three hours later I emerged with hair that was so kinky and frizzy, my mom even shed a few tears. My farmer dad who really didn't pay attention to hair exclaimed as I walked in the door. "What happened?" My mom called the stylist back and there were long pauses followed with the words ,"Well we will try it." I was hurried into the bathroom and sat on the toilet as my mom spread mayo on my hair. Feeling like a ham sandwich, I rinsed and towel dried. I was told do not use the hair dryer! Result... more frizz. I was an 80's poster child! Two days later after refusing to go to school we went to another stylist and got a summer doo in February that took 6 maybe 7 months to grow out.
So here I sit on the eve of requesting a loose curl perm to put some shape into my shapeless coarse hair before pool session begins. I do not have time to use hair product and flat iron this mop any longer. I am hoping for the best. All I want is swimming pool hair. I will let you know the result. I am a bit nervous.
Peace.
The "New Balance" Girl
Running Report: The weather has been beautiful! We have gone on family bike rides, shot some hoops, and played outside every single day. It has been awesome. I have been running very consistently lately outside which feels good. Weebok sleeps so good in the jogging stroller. Nike Girl rides her bike along side, she wants to be in the stroller. Longest runs have been 7 miles. Slowly building back up. I am doing a half in June. I am narrowing down my marathon choices.
4.06.2010
This is Supercell... Over and Out
Thunder in the distance, lightning flashing while cumulonimbus clouds are gathering, I get excited! Oh how these are a few of my favorite things. Weather has always been a part of my life growing up in Tornado Alley. Being farmers, we were very in tune to the sky as it could make or break the kind of year you had. I was 6 when I experienced my first tornado. Rushed outside in the early morning hours to the cellar in my Strawberry Shortcake PJ's. We all filed down the little ladder one by one with my dad being the one to close the door. My mom tried to calm me as my older sister and brother kept talking about how cool it was going to be when we were sucked out of the cellar. I remember my dad kept peeking out of the cellar door to see what damage was being done. Each time he closed the door and crawled back down the ladder he gave a report. I remember how he had little pieces of gravel stuck in his forehead. That can't be good, seriously. When we finally came out of the cellar, I saw a double rainbow. The tornado took a grain bin and part of the roof of the house. We were lucky. From that moment on, I was hooked on weather.
Converse knew from the beginning of our courtship that I was a little obsessed with the weather. But it wasn't until later that I realized he had been tolerating my obsession all along. We were driving on an interstate in the southern part of the US. Converse was listening to sports radio while I was watching the clouds. Nike Girl was asleep in the back with the pug. The clouds built up slowly and then there it was in all its glory, a very distinct wall cloud forming before my eyes. I simply said, "Cool, oh totally cool, a funnel is about to drop out of that any second." I took Converse a little off guard. "What did you just say?" About that time a funnel dropped out of the cloud and touched ground south of the interstate. There was a debris cloud. I yelled, " Step on it, we've got cows!" Do you know how long I waited to say that phrase? Converse was eerily quiet as the Rodeo's RPM's were maxed out. I was smiling ear to ear dialing people on my cell phone to tell them the news. Then I glanced over and saw fear like no other in Converse's eyes, white knuckled and drivin' like a Nascar champ. We stayed ahead of it and it disappeared a couple minutes later. He kept mumbling, this is the end of the road, you are insane, and a few other things. Later, he confessed that he really does not find humor in my storm obsession and asked me to not talk to him about any of it. I apologized and realized how insensitive I was being.
So today I try so hard to keep it under control around the family. I still managed to go to storm spotter class with middle aged men wearing vests covered in patches proclaiming their ham radio handle names. They wore outfits similar to a boy scout vest and tube socks. Converse said that it is the same crowd that camps out over night to get tickets to the newest Star Trek movie. I think he is a secret wanna be. I like my peeps. My call name is Supercell. I call in storm reports from the comfort of my home. Oh how I want to be out in the action but I am a responsible mommy. I have a family safety plan ready with bicycle helmets and flashlights ready to head to the basement if a tornado siren goes off this spring. We are prepared. Inside, however, I am ready for some action. I long for the day Jim Cantore sets up shop on our street ready to report live. Weird I know. This farm girl raised in Tornado Alley just can't help herself. This is Supercell over and out.
Peace.
The "New Balance" Girl
Running Report:
Enjoyed my runs outside over Easter weekend to counterbalance all the chocolate bunnies I ate. I love spring runs in the morning. The fresh air, cool breeze. Nike Girl and Weebok played outside all weekend long! Laundry has been fun. Great Easter holiday. God is good!
Converse knew from the beginning of our courtship that I was a little obsessed with the weather. But it wasn't until later that I realized he had been tolerating my obsession all along. We were driving on an interstate in the southern part of the US. Converse was listening to sports radio while I was watching the clouds. Nike Girl was asleep in the back with the pug. The clouds built up slowly and then there it was in all its glory, a very distinct wall cloud forming before my eyes. I simply said, "Cool, oh totally cool, a funnel is about to drop out of that any second." I took Converse a little off guard. "What did you just say?" About that time a funnel dropped out of the cloud and touched ground south of the interstate. There was a debris cloud. I yelled, " Step on it, we've got cows!" Do you know how long I waited to say that phrase? Converse was eerily quiet as the Rodeo's RPM's were maxed out. I was smiling ear to ear dialing people on my cell phone to tell them the news. Then I glanced over and saw fear like no other in Converse's eyes, white knuckled and drivin' like a Nascar champ. We stayed ahead of it and it disappeared a couple minutes later. He kept mumbling, this is the end of the road, you are insane, and a few other things. Later, he confessed that he really does not find humor in my storm obsession and asked me to not talk to him about any of it. I apologized and realized how insensitive I was being.
So today I try so hard to keep it under control around the family. I still managed to go to storm spotter class with middle aged men wearing vests covered in patches proclaiming their ham radio handle names. They wore outfits similar to a boy scout vest and tube socks. Converse said that it is the same crowd that camps out over night to get tickets to the newest Star Trek movie. I think he is a secret wanna be. I like my peeps. My call name is Supercell. I call in storm reports from the comfort of my home. Oh how I want to be out in the action but I am a responsible mommy. I have a family safety plan ready with bicycle helmets and flashlights ready to head to the basement if a tornado siren goes off this spring. We are prepared. Inside, however, I am ready for some action. I long for the day Jim Cantore sets up shop on our street ready to report live. Weird I know. This farm girl raised in Tornado Alley just can't help herself. This is Supercell over and out.
Peace.
The "New Balance" Girl
Running Report:
Enjoyed my runs outside over Easter weekend to counterbalance all the chocolate bunnies I ate. I love spring runs in the morning. The fresh air, cool breeze. Nike Girl and Weebok played outside all weekend long! Laundry has been fun. Great Easter holiday. God is good!
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