Heat Wave

With the temperatures rising to 30-40 degrees, the Midwest is having a heat wave and the snow is starting to recede. I was able to make my first outside run for the year. It was heavenly. Believe me it's been a really long winter here. I haven't ran outside for over 3 months. I think this might be a record. My relationship with the treadmill is rocky these days. We needed a break.

Once I was outside, the caged in feeling was placated. The dirt on the side of the road was perfect. Soft and not too muddy, almost pillowy-like. As you can image, the softness of the dirt makes the impact feel  like you're running on a cloud. I love it.

Afterward, I felt great. My lungs were a little sore, but manageable. The cooler air tends to cause me to hack up a lung after a run, but I view it as cleaning out the dust from the inside environments I'm forced to be in throughout the winter. Transitioning from cold to warm is a killer on the lungs.

We won't think about the next day because that's when the muscle soreness sets in. Of course none of this will deter me from jump starting my running routine outside every year. The temperature and ice can only delay me. I refuse to be caged in.

Live, love, and enjoy! Go for a run...or walk.

Serious Conversation

Child #2: "Mom, when I brush through my hair, the ends are really ratty."

Mom: "That's probably from the chlorine. I'll trim your hair after your swim lessons end this week. The chlorine kills your hair."

Child #2 "So we shouldn't swim then?"

Mom: "It's no big deal. I swam competitively for 8 years and my hair recovered."

Child #2: "Is that why your skin looks like that? Because of the chlorine."

Mom: "Are you saying I look old?"

Child #2: "No, just your skin."

Mom: "You mean I have wrinkles on my skin?"

Child #2: "Yeah. It's all wrinkly. You probably should use an iron."

This conversation was said in all seriousness until I couldn't hold it anymore and I busted out laughing. Child #2 followed with a chuckle or two. Maybe her thinking isn't too far off. We have an iron to iron our clothes and we have flat irons to iron our hair.

Mistaken Identity

Mornings aren't always my best time of day. It's hit or miss. This week I woke up late one day, but I was able to quickly put myself together in a blue top, black blazer, and grey slacks with my new Mary Jane shoes that I bought online a month ago. In my haste to get out the door, I didn't exactly check myself in the full length mirror. I was able to get to work on time and start my day.

On further inspection under the brightly lit fluorescent lighting in my office, I discovered my new shoes were purple instead of grey. For some reason, when I bought the shoes, I thought they were grey or maybe I was dreaming about grey shoes. I don't know what happened, but it was quite hilarious when I realized the shoes didn't exactly match my outfit. Oh well, next time I'll just switch out my blue top for a purple one. It's all good. I enjoy making silly mistakes. It keeps me grounded.

Have a great week!

Musical Notes

Apparently singing releases feel-good chemicals from the brain called endorphins. Who knew? So we can assume someone who is singing or humming a tune must feel happy inside, which makes sense since I enjoy singing along to the songs on the radio while I'm alone in the car.  It's relaxing and fun. It's a moment in time where I can put aside all worries or concerns of my day to enjoy a simple song.

Now is the first statement true when someone else sings?

Most of time it doesn't bother me if someone else sings (even out of tune), but when you wake up to three different children singing three different songs it's not exactly relaxing or fun. Especially if they are trying to compete who can be the louder singer.

Maybe it's just old age, but the louder the volume gets in my house the more I just want SILENCE!

On the flip side, maybe I'm doing something right in raising my children to be happy people. They are comfortable and confident enough to share their singing voices with the world. Not sure if the world will be as comfortable to receive their voices, but who cares as long as their happy. Right?

Wonderful Trip

I had a wonderful trip this morning. Metaphorically you may think I'm talking about a dream, but early in the morning I wasn't sleeping. Listing all the things I needed to do for the next day wasn't helping my situation either. Though I do enjoy relaxing in my bed on a cold winter night, I wasn't getting anything done. As I'm laying there I'm thinking if I get up now, I can leisurely go about switching the laundry out, make the brownies I promised Child #2 for her school birthday treat that I was too tired to do last night, and finish the bills instead of rushing through the morning trying to accomplish everything.

Of course, I decide to get out of bed and try to accomplish something. At 3:30 am, the house is dark and cozy. I find my way down to the basement without turning on any lights that would disturb the rest of the household. I successfully switch out the laundry and start a new load. Tracing my path back through the house still will no lights on, I make it to the hallway that leads to the bedrooms and begin my journey except something stops my foot from moving forward. I feel myself falling. It's still dark. I've lost all depth perception until I hit the floor. 

After realizing what just happen, I try to move. I tripped over the dumb baby gate that we use to keep the dog out of the bedrooms (she still eats everything in sight). The funny part is when I got up to go do the laundry, I hurdled it with no problem, but on the way back I completely forgot about it. Apparently, I wasn't as wide awake as I thought. To top it all off, I discovered the dog was in Child #2 and #3's bedroom sleeping soundly on Child #2's bed. They must have snuck her in last night after I fell asleep.

So now I have a busted baby gate along with a fresh new busted lip. I think I bit my lip when I hit the ground. Oh well, it's another story to add to my digital legacy I'm leaving for my children.

Have a great day!