Time to Re-Group, Re-Focus...

Okay, not sure where to begin...

I'll start with the fact that I consider myself organized. Organization has always come easy to me. I think it was my way of keeping things in check, a control factor [imagine that?!] If I was organized then I could plan more, better, etc. I was also recognized, early on, in a positive way for my organizational skills. Maybe that's why I am having a hard time with the fact that no matter how many lists I create these days, I can't seem to stay on top of them.

I have lists for work, for home, for myself, for Rick, Connor and MaKenna's schedules/activities. I have to do lists, must do lists, be here, go there lists, work out/ fitness lists, grocery lists, gift shopping lists, send card lists, birthday, anniversary , celebration, thank you lists, update blog lists, send pictures lists, volunteer lists, need to touch base with, need to visit lists, need to let this person know how important they are to me lists, need to show my appreciation lists.

My children are more and more self-sufficient and yet it seems like there is no more time to get the lists done! Maybe it's because the more self-sufficient they get the more activities, and to-do items creep onto their lists? Which loosely translates to my list.

Maybe I have reached my own maximum capacity for the whole more, better plan thing. Maybe I just cannot cram another thing into the time constraints that I have? Maybe that's it... maybe it's not an organizational thing but a time thing?! I am envisioning a thermometer on a hot day... remember the cartoon images? all of a sudden the mercury explodes! Well, I think that I have exceeded my "temp." time capacity!

Seriously though, how many of you have thought about your days from start to finish each day? Am I alone in this struggle? I take the deep breathes and try to polish off the "S" [or is it a "W" - yeah right] on my chest and accept the fact that I am a person who will always struggle with the concept of "did I do or accomplish enough today?!" It's a tough balance between making the most of the days you have and being a busy bee!

Another realization... no wonder I "crash and burn" a.k.a. get run down sometimes!
Top of my next list... Do what you can and accept the fact that you cannot control time!
Time for bed... because along with my value of organization I value sleep almost as much!
Thanks for reading!

Remember When?

back to some toys...
Originally uploaded by dogboneart

I was browsing through some photos and came across this one. It made me smile. We had this toy when I was young. My favorite part was the car elevator. If my memory is correct, when you cranked it to the top the bell would ding and the elevator floor would lift and cause the car to roll out and onto the track. My favorite "people character" was the dog.
Fisher Price has always made some cool toys! This piece was pretty "advanced" for the 1970's.
I look at the FP toys that Connor and MaKenna have had and they are awesome. MaKenna will still play Little People. She loves it when we have a rainy day and we haul the tote of FP Little People gear up to the living room and set up the town. I am even allowed to play along. If I had to pick my favorite set in the current collection I would chose the zoo set. It's fun to use your imagination... even if you're just a kid at heart!

Random thoughts, updates and more...

Just thought I'd take the opportunity to ramble to anyone who's willing to read.

So it's been 6 months since I started on my fitness journey[check some of my first posts on this blog or the links on the right of this blog to my fitness blog...working it out] and the motivation started to seep away a few weeks ago. I came down with a nasty cold and it wiped me out. I kept up with my normal routine until I realized that I wasn't getting any better and decided to cut back. Well, the cold got better but my drive was depleted. Not a good thing for me. I have accomplished a lot so far. I am proud of every pound that I have lost [24# to date], every muscle I have built - getting some definition back, every sweat that I've broke, every puke [yes, I said puke and yes, I've done it more than once] and every last rep that I have eeeked out! But, like I said in the beginning, I have accepted the fact that this is more than reaching a certain weight or fitness level, I have decided that this needs to be a way of life for me. And, while I know that if I am truly going to make this a way of life I need to accept that I am going to have the ups and downs that are just part of every person's lives. Let's just say that's easier said than done for me!
I work out with 3 great women and a hard-ass trainer. She is not a yeller like Jillian on the Biggest Loser but she will push you to your breaking point and still want more! Can you see the determination on my face yet??? You all know how I love a challenge! Enough said! We do a great job of pushing one another and motivation is another plus.
After this week's workouts I think my "drive" is back! On Tuesday, our trainer came in at 5:45am, big smile and announced that we were going to do 30 Man Makers [if you really want to know what these are, check out the Cross Fit Link to the right and search Man Makers] for time. We all looked at her and waited with eager eyes and baited breath for her to say "April Fool"...
no such luck! OMG! It was a hard workout! And never fail, Bethany did not disappoint us today. 100 jumping jacks, 50 sit-ups [straight legs & touch your fingers to your toes], 50 supine hip extensions using a physio ball. 5 rounds for time. My abs will be burning, burning, burning [Sarah & Rob relate there]! And if that wasn't enough, I went for my 3 mile loop walk when I got home from work. It was a gorgeous day and it felt good to be outside. I think that I'd better have my mojo back after those work outs!

Connor is helping out with the Varsity Lacrosse team's home games. He went tonight for the first game. Before he left for the game he asked me if I had a black sharpie marker. He wanted it so that he could ask "the guys for their autographs". It was so cute! It reminded me just how impressionable he still is and how excited he must of felt to be able to go "hang" with the "Varsity Lacrosse Players"! I remember when I was young and my father coached college wrestling. I loved to tag along to the practices and matches. I felt so cool when the athletes would acknowledge my existence. I also remember going to home college basketball games with my family. The players knew our family and would sometimes stop and chat with us. It was awesome to "look up" to them. It's nice to have heroes!

Thanks for reading!

I've been Tagged...

Okay,for Donna's sake I'll play along. I am suppose to list seven random things about myself. Then I'll tag 7 more people. Be a sport and play along, who knows, you may learn something neat about someone?!

1. I have a "need for speed" and in my younger, less responsible days had 11 points on my driver's license. This "milestone" prompted Governor Cuomo to send me a letter telling me what a danger I was to my fellow NY'ers.
2. I competed in the Nationals for my Division III college swim team and placed 6th in the Nation in the 200 meter butterfly and 10th in the Nation in the 400 meter IM. I swam the 200 meter butterfly leg of the 800meter medley relay team that finished 7th at nationals.
3. I had my belly button pierced until I was 7 months pregnant with Connor... then it became very apparent that it wasn't so hip or stylish anymore!
4. I want to learn to play piano and write a book before I die.
5. I'm just now starting to accept the person that I am and embracing myself and realizing that I am okay, even with my faults.
6. I wish that I could see my Dad [who passed away in 1992] again, even if it was for an hour. So much has happened in my life that he has not been a part of [directly]. Would love to see his smile, have a hug and share his wisdom.
7. I had my nose broken during an Intramural Broom Ball game in college.
8. My Senior year in college, while on Spring Break I got a tattoo.

So, I'll tag Mom, Rob, Bethany, Mer, Deirdre, Melis, Lynne

Welcome Home Sarah!

Just a quick note to let you all know that Sarah, my sister, is safely home from Iraq! I have been walking around with perma-grin and am so thankful that our prayers were answered. I have spoke with her and she sounds good and happy to be home with her hubby and dogs!

Thanks to all of you for your love and support!

A Love Hate Relationship...

That's probably the best way for me to describe my feelings about To Do Lists.

I love the fact that when I start to make the list it is a sense of relief to put it to paper. The items are "safe & secure",not to be lost in the busy compartments of my brain. The list always starts out very optimistic. Lots of items that range from the normal routine, daily chores to the "I've been wanting to get this done". The list also provides some sanity. Once I have created the list I don't have to continually say to myself "don't forget, oh, I have to remember..." over and over again.


I hate the fact that creating the To Do List is an another vehicle to contribute to my "driven" trait. It's also a form of control I suppose. And because it is written it is another way for me to measure whether a task has been completed or not a.k.a. success vs. failure. My lists tend to have lots of items with unrealistic time lines.

So with all of the above being said I am not willing to give up my To Do Lists quite yet! I'll take the bad with the good [isn't that how most relationships work anyways? Compermise!!!] I'll just try to be fair in creating my lists and maybe I won't cause unnecessary stress on myself. I have been busy creating my "mental" to do lists because of my return to the outside the home work force. I'll probably put it to paper soon as to not continue the Mind Olympics that is taking place right now.

1. Post a Blog Entry - done
2. Glue Drawers - done
3. Organize Mud Room Closet - done
4. Laundry/ Ironing - is ever done?

• I won't bore you with anymore.

Optimism?

"I know I probably should
have outgrown this by now, but somehow I'm always surprised when someone - or
something - lets me down. If you are constitutionally optimistic, as I
apparently am, you expect a certain something [call it quality functionality]
from the things and the people that surround you, which in itself is not such a
bad trait. But what accompanies sunny optimism all too often is the surprising
disappointment that comes when something - or someone fails you. You think
to yourself, Well, I should have seen that one coming. But you never
learn, and then it happens again.

The upside is that you start to develop The List.
That is, the list of people and things that don't ever disappoint. There is
something comforting about the old-faithfuls on the List; they bring their own
kind of order to a messy world."

I read this article of sorts in a magazine not to long ago and it has resonated with me. I can identify with so many of the statements above and dare say that I have spoken similar words before. I like the fact that the author or the above entry takes the positive spin on her trait rather than finding fault with herself. Truly an optimist, I suppose!

This made me wonder about my List. I'll share some of the List with you and please note that they are random, none more important than the other.

Seltzer Water - just enough carbonation, refreshing and thirst quenching & ZERO calories.

A Nap - if you get the chance to enjoy one, you're never disappointed in how refreshed you feel after one.

Baby Shampoo & Lotion - smells so clean and takes you back.

A Morning Cup of Coffee - so warm in your hands, comforting and a great way to start the day.

Exercise - say goodbye to stress, toxins and some calories all at once!

Swimming - my standby, head down in the water, quiet, alone in your thoughts, all while the water rushes and swirls around & over your body.

Blistex - love the stuff!

my Faith - this has grown on me - through trial and tribulation.

I'll stop now because the List goes on! Hope that I have left you will something to ponder.