Live Simply, Simply Live

Quick share

Came to upload a quick card and this is what I find in my browser box.... Jones and friends. Think someone has been on my computer?! And hmmmmm, her pics are way better than my scans. Maybe I should look into that.

List update

Sorry, ran out the door to work and forgot this part.

1. No yummy food. Yeah. Right. I was in Seattle yesterday... how could I say no to Ivars? And we found this awesome burger place, Hamburger Harry's, on Market in Ballard, Still, I've been sorta good and I've lost 2 pounds. 3 more to go and then maybe another 5, just to have some wiggle room.

2. Hair cut and color. Check and check. Plus an eyebrow wax thrown in for good measure.

3. Well, some of the clothes got washed and I'm not going commando (eek. Just grossed myself out with that one) so good enough for now. Besides, the wash thing is an endless, insidious cycle.

4. I did go grocery shopping. Really. But all the kids were home yesterday and they all had friends over at various times so Mother Hubbard is once again in good company.

5. Gas. Got that. Helped on the drive to Seattle. More on that later.

Bless you!

Had my hiney handed to me...

and then some! Little miss cocky, that WAS me. Thought I was in pretty decent shape because I can, fairly easily, ride 50 miles or so. In the colder months I used the gym at work, doing 3 or so miles on the elliptical and then 100 sit ups on the exercise ball, added with some push ups and various other exercises. But when it's nice, I ride. And really, I ride a lot. Or at least as much as work and time allow. So, when I hit the gym the other night I figured I could get a decent work out in, just like a few months ago. Yikes! Iwas out of breath for 20 minutes and had to MAKE myself finish the last 10. Note to self: keep using the gym a few times a week.

Not sure I should do this after the last stellar example, but I'll try again. Maybe I'll get lucky and the scan will come out OK.

My List

Geez, bet you all can't wait for another stunning card share, eh? Size, cropping, color, print... all just horrifically poor. Sorry about that. I promise, the card is truly not that hideous IRL. I do believe I need to polish some computer skills. Anyway, onward.

Before I get into it, how the h-e-double hockey sticks did I gain 5 pounds?! FIVE?!!!! My eating hasn't changed and if anything I've put in more miles lately. Must be these stupendous muscular thighs of mine. All that muscle-weighs-more-than-fat thing. Right. No treats for me for a while. List item one: no more yummy food.

Hair... how did mine get so shaggy and grey? The ends are just yikes and the grey, well, you can't even tell that it was ever blondish brown. List item two: hair cut in the a.m. then a box of color before work.

I just overwhelmed myself. I realized how many things I need to/should do before Brian and I head up to Seattle on Saturday to ride the newly connected Burke-Gilman/Lake Sammamish trail. Gulp. Maybe I'll just go with the top five (no eating, deal with hair, wash clothes, buy tasteless food and feed car) before Saturday. Oh yeah, and I work 32 hours between now and then.

Bless you all!

Three in a row?

What's the world coming to? I had a bit of time this morning and scanned a few of the cards from my stash.l My hope is to share them here, as a reminder to post. Then again, this darn thing is so slow that frustration may get the best of me. And I really should learn to utilize my scanner. Poor thing does it's best, I just don't provide proper direction. Ah well, it is what it is. Super simple card, all from scraps and stash. Have a blessed day!

iN AN ATTEMPT TO DO A BIT BETTER....

Sorry 'bout that. Caps lock= off.

Thanks for all the emails about my latest post. I appreciate the comments and concerns about my mental health :) Once again I'm at work so I can't share the pictures that go along with the many, many posts I want to make so I'll go with plan B and copy Becky. And yes, we did ride today. We picked up my sis and her bike Penelope (penny for short) and we rode the Springwater corridor from Gresham to Portland.... just over 25 miles (from our start to our finish) round trip. Sissy likes that ride because it is flat. And I do mean flat. Absolutely no hills. She really, really likes no-hills-riding. And we stopped at YO Cream on the way back. She liked that part too.

Can you fill this out without lying?
Ummm, I sure hope so :)

What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
Iced non-fat white choc mocha. Yum.

Have you ever kissed anyone named Matthew?
Oh yes. Many, many times. (He was exceptionally cute when he was little)

Where was your profile picture taken?
Gulp. Still working on a profile picture.

Can you play guitar hero?
Nope, but man can Jones and Tim go at it.

Name someone that made you laugh today?
Auntie Sissy.

How late did you stay up last night and why?
0200. I got home from work just before then.

If you could move somewhere else, would you?
Maybe. I "think" I need to tour the entire country to test that theory.

Ever been kissed under fireworks?
Yes!

Which of your friends lives closest to you?
Probably Melissa. She lives straight east.... about 175 blocks.

Do you believe ex’s can be friends?
Absolutely.

How do you feel about Dr Pepper?
It's just great. In someone elses cup.

When was the last time you cried really hard?
When we put Cali to sleep.

Where are you right now?
EDE (work)

What bed did you sleep in last night?
Same one I always sleep in. Mine (I'm a kind wife and I allow Brian to share it with me)

What was the last thing someone bought for you?
Sissy brought me a mocha last week. Good sister.

Who took your profile picture?
Still working on that.

Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Tim. I think.

Was yesterday better than today?
Both have been very good.

Can you live a day without TV?
Bahahahaha! I never, ever watch tv. So yes, absolutely.

Are you mad about anything?
Not really. But if you bring up a few key issues I've no doubt I could work up a good head of steam.

Are you upset about anything?
Nope.

Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
Undoubtedly. Just have to carefully choose the ones you put the most effort into.

Are you a bad influence?
I try really, really hard to be.

Night out or night in?
Night not at work is more like it.

What items could you not go without during the day?
Coffee, toothbrush, shower, book, clothes... that's about it.

Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
Sheila, goodbye female issues!

What does the last text message in your inbox say?
Don't know. Haven't checked it in a bit.

How do you feel about your life right now?
It is what it is. Busy, going too many different directions. But good. Strong. Solid.

Do you hate anyone?
No.

If we were to look in your facebook inbox, what would we find?
Request from Kelli Noto to be a my friend. OF COURSE!!!! Just haven't had an at-home chance to log in and say YES.

Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass?
Yes. And tomorrow and the next day and the next...

Has anyone ever called you perfect before?
Yes, but I'm thinking they meant it tongue-in-cheek.

What song is stuck in your head?
"aye, aye, aye... I'm stuck on a feeling and I'm high on believing that you're in love with me" (Thanks to Peter's ipod).

Someone knocks on your window at 2am, who do you want it to be?
Nothing good happens at 0200. Nothing. 

Wanna have grand kids before you’re 50?
NO!!!!!! That's only 6 years from now and my kids aren't ready for kids. Nor am I ready to be a grama. So again, NO WAY!

Name something you have to do tomorrow?
Work. Ride. Breathe. Deal with DMV :(

Do you think too much or too little?
Depends on the topic.

Do you smile a lot?
I probably don’t smile enough.

Who was your last missed call on your Mobile phone?
Brian.

Is there something you always wear?
Underwear. Unless I'm in the shower or in my swimsuit. But yep, unders.

What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Working.

Did you have an exciting last weekend?
It  was good. We hiked and rode and worked. Can't ask for more than that!

Have you ever crawled through a window?
Yes.

Have you ever dyed your hair?
Yes. And I so need to do it again.

Are you wearing a necklace / Chain?
Nope. But I do have on an absolutely adorable pandora bead bracelt (I'll snap a shot and share it sometime)

Are you an emotional person?
I'm a girl. 'Nough said.

What’s something that can always make you feel better?
Jamoca ice cream from Baskin Robbins.

Will this weekend be a good one?
It's been great. Lots of riding. No cleaning.

What do you want right now?
New windshield for the car. Jones' school clothes shopping to be over and done. A day off work.

Have you ever worn the opposite sex’s clothing?
Heck yes. I wear Brian's shirts all the time to sleep in.

Have you ever worked in a food place?
McDonalds was my first job. I also worked for a great catering company in Larkspur, Red Robin, throughout college.

Whats on your schedule for tomorrow?
Work. Ride. Dmv (blech)

Does anyone know your facebook password?
Brian. Prob'ly the kids too. It's not tough.

Sometimes I feel like a failure

I have such GOOD intentions. Really I do. There is so much I want to share with all of you. Cards to create and crafts to make and pages to complete. And then there's the stuff I've actually COMPLETED that I want to share. Plus there are stories and tales and adventures just bursting to get out of my fingers.

Yet I get side tracked. A lot. Many times it's work. Honest Injun. I've worked so many extra shifts and sick calls lately that I honestly don't remember the last time I had a day off. NOT that I'm complaining mind you. In fact, I am extrememly grateful for those extra shifts. With two in college and two in high school (now how in the hell did that happen? When did I get old enough to have TWO kids in college?!!) the extra money comes in very handy. In fact, it just gets sucked right down into the never ending vortex of must-haves and really-needs and the occasional dollar-scoop-tuesday at Baskin Robbins.

But, truth be told, it's the darn bike that really messes with my good intentions. Brian and I have started ride-sharing. He loads his bike in the car and drives to work, then when he's off he pulls out his bike and rides home (he is mostly always off before dark. No riding after dark for us. Just too darn dangerous). I, on the other hand, ride my bike to work (I load the car with my shower bag, clothes and lunch bucket before Brian leaves in the morning so I don't have to add that extra weight to my bike... and because a front-basket-heavy bike can be a scary thing), lock it up and toss it in the car for the ride home at o-dark thirty. Works out nicely. We both get to ride, neither has to ride in the wee or late hours and we only take one vehicle to work.

But sometimes I ride BEFORE I ride to work. A little extra. And then I just keep right on going to work. I love to ride to go dumpster diving. (More on that later. My new favorite hobby). I love to ride to do chores and errands and pick up the occasional item from Costco. But mostly, when the sun is out I just love to ride.

Hence the dirty house and ratty children and bare cupboards. And the reason I don't post nearly as much as I would like to. I'd love to be able to say "I promise, I'll be better". But the truth of the matter is that it's August, it's absolutely gorgeous in the Pac NW, Tim is playing football and is doing a ton of volunteering for Servant Festival, Jones has dance and cheer and youth group, and Bug leaves in just under 3 weeks for Gonzaga (yet another post in and of itself) and, well, I love to ride.