They Did

I saw a man teaching a woman how to ride a bike the other day.
They were 30 years old or so ish.
It was such an uplifting sight.
A definite 'oh yes you can' moment that is now stuck in my head.

I saw them in the park.
The patient instructor and his nervous student were on the grass.
Seems the 'what if I fall / safe landing factor' was well thought out and debated before they began.
So adorable.

I walked pass, unnoticed.
The determined couple was completely absorbed in their lesson.
She was squealing with glee
& he was holding on tight.
Words of encouragement were being whispered in her ear.

"How fun !" I thought as I walked by
& So Darn CUTE.

It was my first go around the park.
I figured the happy pair would do their thing and be long gone by the time I made it back to the learning spot.
& so, I tucked this scene away in my thoughts and continued along.

After a two mile, approximately thirty minute gap I came upon the couple again.
They were still very much involved in the teaching / learning process.
He was handing her encouragement.
She was giggling with excitement.
But, he wasn't holding on quite as tight or as long anymore & she was riding.
Riding in short, interrupted intervals but, riding it was.
YaY for them !

As I walked by, I couldn't help but think ...

Determination.
      +
Encouragement.

What a wonderful combination of 'oh yes they did " ! !

:)





 

Land of the Duds

I was at my dad's the other day.
Little sister was in town so I scurried over there for some much needed visiting.

I knew Dad was planning on Christmas decorating.
& sure enough, when I arrived, the tree and lights were up and boxes of ornaments were scattered about the living room.

Dad, sister and older brother were hunkered down watching football.
Nobody looked too concerned about the ornaments.
Ok...!
Cool...!
I found a spot and hunkered down too.

Every once in awhile Dad would comment about finishing the tree trimming.
& as the day went on, his hints were becoming more obvious.
Apparently not obvious enough for his children though.
Neither of my siblings or I jumped up to volunteer our ornament hanging services.

My excuse was that I had just finished decorating my own Christmas tree.
Every person has their own, preferred way of hanging ornaments I halfheartedly insisted.
I didn't want to mess with Dad's ornament hanging style.
Yeah.
That's it.
Ornament hanging style.

Dad didn't buy my well thought out excuse.
The hints kept coming.

Finally, after he fed his non-volunteering son and daughters a delicious Sunday meal, Dad said
"I'll do the dishes. You three do the ornaments".
Gee Dad, who knew you were so against ornament hanging ...?

My brother ran for the hills.
He's pretty fast when he sets his mind on something.

It seemed my sister and I were stuck with the festive task.
& so the opening of the ornament boxes began.

Sis and I soon fell into a surprisingly happy little pattern of ornamenting.
It wasn't long until we realized we had put all the not as pretty as the other ornaments toward the back part of the tree.
The part of the Christmas tree nobody notices unless you happen to have your face plastered against the front window.
My sister and I were thrilled that we unintentionally made a little village of not so pretties.
We named our village the Land of the Duds.
YaY Duds !

We soon discovered we had actually formed a few different ornament villages.
The heavier ones, aka The Heavies, live at the bottom of the tree.
The prettier ones, aka The Pretties, are scattered amongst the villages, happily showing off their prettiness.
& the just darn cute ornaments, aka The Just Darn Cutes, are front and center because they are just so darn cute.
We even found a couple of twin ornaments.
We called them The Twins but, separated them.
Figured they could use some time apart.

Eventually, Dad wandered in to check on our ornament hanging skills.
Yes.
He was pleased.
Very pleased.
I think he realized his daughters had created a community of ornament perfection.

YaY for us.

YaY for Christmas tree decorating.

YaY for Christmas....!....

&
Dibs on hanging ornaments for Dad next year.

YaY

:)

  

Fess Up Full

I ate way, way, waaaaaay too much yesterday.
Portion control ? What's that ?!?

Yes.
It was a holiday but, c'mon ... really ?
Really ??

Really.

I'm sitting here thinking of all the food that entered by body.
Entering once would be enough.
But, it was Thanksgiving and I was very thankful.
I chose to have multiple pieces of everything.
Many multiples pieces.

Coffee cake
Crackers, cheese, pepperoni
Olives, green peppers, carrots
Sauerkraut and sausage
Mashed potatoes
Corn
Fruit Salad
Stuffing
Pie # 1 - pumpkin
Pie # 2 - chocolate
Apple Crisp
Doritos

In hindsight, I'm wondering why I had to throw Doritos into the mix.
It seemed so right last night.

My total calorie count is off the charts I'm sure.
I don't even want to go there.
So, I won't.
Yay.

I usually step on my scale every Friday just to see how the numbers are looking.
Uh.
Not today.
No way.

What's the point of my food consumption confession ?
My Friday Fess Up of course !

I ate everything and then some but, somehow I missed the turkey.
How I missed the main event ...?... I do not know.
But, I did.

Incredibly, my brain is insisting I must find that turkey today.
My belly is saying "Think about fitting into your jeans woman. Think !!"

At the day's end I KNOW I will have found that turkey.
And then some.

Fess. Fess.

:)




 

Push ! 2

I'm so happy !

I donated plasma yesterday and I did not beep.
Not once.
What a relief.

For those who are asking what the heck is she yappin about now ?
Here's a recap....

I donate plasma once a month.
Been donating for about a year now.
I love it.

btw ... I highly recommended a visit to your local blood center....
Give them a pint.
You will be glad you did.

Anyways, the last few times I donated I've caused the plasma ladies all kinds of grief.
Seems my veins are weaklings.
The ladies have a hard time finding a juicy vein and once found, my tiny guy makes the plasma machine beep.
The plasma crew has told me I need more fluids in my system.
I need to push, push, push the fluids.

I've been on a hydrating mission since my last donation.
I have been drinking water like there's no tomorrow.
It wasn't fun but, yesterday it paid off.
I didn't beep.

The plasma ladies were so thrilled !
I let them carry on with their "I told you so's" because they did tell me so.
They told me to push more fluids.
They were right.
All I needed was to push.
Problem solved.

I have become a new, true believer in hydrating.
It's really not all that horrible.
Not like it was those first few 'I can't drink another drop' days...!
My trusty cup of ice water is always by my side & the extra fluids in this body of mine do make me feel better.

The plasma ladies love me now.
Happiness filled that donation center when word got out that the beeper, aka me, didn't beep.
Who'd have figured a non beeping plasma device could cause such joy ...?!?
YaY for Everybody !

The last words I heard as I walked out the door were "Remember to push those fluids for the next time !"
 Don't worry plasma ladies.
 I'm a believer of the push now
 & I feel good !

:)

Blue Dots

There is an insect known as the Emerald Ash Borer.
Google tells me it is a green beetle native to Asia and Eastern Russia.
The Emerald Ash Borer made it's way to America in 2002.
An infestation of these green beetles is highly destructive to ash trees.

I am knowing this info because Emerald Ash Borers have entered my walking world. 
Big, blue, spray painted dots color the trees that must be cut down because of that gang of bugs.
Blue dots are everywhere on my walk these days and I don't like it !

My favorite stretch of trees have those ugly dots on them.
They are the best bunch of trees in the park.
Wonderful, proud, reaching to the sky old timers.
It will break my heart to see them go.

Yesterday, my blog words described my respect for the awesome power of nature.

Today ?
I am wondering what the heck point is there to an Emerald Ash Borer....?
I'm very angry at that part of nature.
Why did those thugs have to show up in my happy land and mess with my trees ?!?
why why whyyyyyyyyy ???????

I'll be stewing in this for a few days I'm sure.
That little insect is on my mad list.
& mad I am.
Mad I shall remain.
humph

I'll go to the park today, tomorrow, the next day, next, next and next ...because that's what I do.
& I'm sure I will witness the chopping down of my beloved trees.

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

But, come Spring,  I will also witness the planting of the newbies.
I can't be mad at the new guys.
It's not their fault.
And they will be so cute scattered amongst the remaining, giant trees.
So, eventually, I will get over my mad.
Eventually.

Ahhhh.
The slow, steady, wonderful healing process of nature.
You gotta love it.
I sure do.

But, you Mr Emerald Ash Borer ?
It's going to take me a very, very, very long time to love you.
humph.

:)

Up on the Roof

I was on the roof last week.
The gutters were full of leaves and it's easier to clean them from up there.
It's such a pretty view !
But, I have to admit, I have a few issues when it comes to being on the roof.

Issue # 1
Climbing the ladder.

Climbing a ladder that high scares the you know what out of me.
Climbing up.
Climbing down.
Yikes and Yikes.

Once I get my feet on the flat part of the roof I am fine.
In fact, back when my kids were kids, I let them climb up on the flat roof.
They loved it !
How I let my precious children climb up that long, tall ladder still puzzles me though.

So.
I cleaned the flat roof gutters and all was fine and fun.
....except for the scary ladder part.....

Then it was time for the slanted part of the roof.
I usually clean the slanted roof gutters from down below.
But, for some reason, this year I decided to clean the gutters from above.
That meant venturing onto the slanted roof.
Piece of cake ! I thought to myself before I began venturing.

Issue # 2
The slanted roof.

I was halfway to where I needed to be on the slanted roof when I discovered I was terrified.
It was quite an eye opener.
Yep.
I'd go so far as to call it an epiphany.

Why did I think this was a good idea ??
& NOW what do I do ?!?

I guess you could say I conquered my fear....?
I guess.
I maneuvered my way very, very slowly off the slanted roof.
& I vowed to never, ever do that again.

I made it back to the flat roof and considered doing a dance of joy, until I realized I still had to go down that dreaded ladder.

You'll be happy to know, I survived.

I touched the ground with overwhelming relief.
I was so very proud.
I faced a fear.
Hip Hip Hooray for me !

Come Spring, I will boldly climb back on that roof to clean those gutters yet again.
& I will be big, bad and brave until then.

Bring it, ladder.
I got this.

And you, slanted roof...?
Uh.
ummmmmmm.
I don't think so.

One fear at a time is enough for me.
One deep-seated  fear at a time !!

eek.

:)

  

Tailgating

There's nothing better than a tailgate ..!... according to me.
It's Happy Land for sure.

I'm talking a before the game tailgate.
The after game tailgate, win or lose, is a whole nother story.
woo woo

I spent yesterday morning at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL tailgating.
I didn't venture into the game this time.
This was a tailgate only and it was a blast.

It's just so wonderful seeing so many incredibly jolly people united for one cause.
Weeeeee....!
Yes, there is booze as far as the eye can see ...but, there is a togetherness level like no other.
Strangers become instant pals just because they happened to park next to each other.

Hello New Friend.

It's a landscape of joy and laughter.
& every time I experience a tailgate I think ...  'if only' ....
If only life could be this united.

People helping people.
People liking people.
People loving life.

You are my friend and you ARE special !
Now hand me another beer please ...

:)

Bears Baby ! ! ! ! !