Today was a beautiful day. It was great to get out in the open air and breath. Cassidi and I played tennis for a couple of hours. She has now progressed to the point of being better than me. She whipped up on me pretty good today.
That's not really a great feat, as I haven't played in years. But for a person that didn't like the sport and had never picked up a racquet before a month ago, I'd say its' pretty amazing. We now spend most of our time on technique and positioning. If only she had been playing the last four years. But again, this is a "just for fun" sport. I have to keep reminding myself of that.
When we got home, I didn't want to come inside. Tony and I cleaned up my car and enjoyed the warmth a bit more. I hope I don't jinx the weather forecast that is calling for a gorgeous week. I'm going to try and spend quite a bit of time outside this week if possible. I have a lot of projects to get accomplished, but maybe I can steal a few minutes here and there.
I'm ready for spring, for warmth. I sure hope Mother Nature is ready to stick with this nice weather. Sunshine is a GREAT thing!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Road Trip
Today I was taken hostage against my will by Tony. He had a coat made by his favorite store in Boone where we went to college. They had contacted him recently to let him know it was in. He was just biding his time to catch me off guard to go.
The town has changed considerably since we were there. Today we drove over the road they put in over the place we once lived. It was hard to think that a place we called home at one time is now gone. But that's progress, I guess.
Boone holds so many memories for us. We were so young when we were there. We had no family and knew hardly anyone. Tony has a friend that he made where he worked that he has kept in touch with all these years. His daughter recently had a baby. We got to see her. Adorable.
It's hard to believe that 27 years ago we were in her shoes. Young, newly married, and a sweet baby girl. We never go to Boone that we don't walk down Jennifer's memory lane. She was such an adorable little girl and such a BIG part of our Boone journey.
Going to Boone is like going back to the beginning. Every time. It never fails. That's a road trip I don't mind, even when I have been kidnapped.
The town has changed considerably since we were there. Today we drove over the road they put in over the place we once lived. It was hard to think that a place we called home at one time is now gone. But that's progress, I guess.
Boone holds so many memories for us. We were so young when we were there. We had no family and knew hardly anyone. Tony has a friend that he made where he worked that he has kept in touch with all these years. His daughter recently had a baby. We got to see her. Adorable.
It's hard to believe that 27 years ago we were in her shoes. Young, newly married, and a sweet baby girl. We never go to Boone that we don't walk down Jennifer's memory lane. She was such an adorable little girl and such a BIG part of our Boone journey.
Going to Boone is like going back to the beginning. Every time. It never fails. That's a road trip I don't mind, even when I have been kidnapped.
Friday, April 5, 2013
180 Degrees
To clarify yesterday's post, you have to cut and paste the link in a browser to go to the "old" story I wrote about snow. So, here it is again:
http://mtnangel.blogspot.com/2010/02/snow.html
Anyway, while yesterday was April 4th and we got two inches of snow, today was beautiful. I don't know if we reached 60 degrees, but we got close. The sun was shining and you would never have been able to tell what the previous day had held. CRAZY weather.
Cassidi had a rescheduled tennis match that turned into a double header. I unfortunately had to miss it. But Tony got it on tape! She won the first match, but lost the second. She has some bad attitude problems to work out. She didn't beat her racquet on the ground, but body language says a lot. We have some work to do!!
The weekend was supposed to hold a road trip, but I don't know that I'm in the mood. We'll have to see how it goes. My party animal husband is currently passed out again in his recliner. I know if I didn't wake him and shoo him to bed, he'd lay there all night, maybe even all weekend. I just might do it to teach him to fall asleep on me :)
I need an energy boost for sure. I hope to get out in the sun at some point this weekend. That would probably rev my engine a bit. I'm glad it's Friday and I don't work tomorrow. Rest is exactly what I need. And obviously what the snoring cow beside me needs, too!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Snow
In honor of the bizarre weather today, I thought I'd recycle this story. My Mom loved spring and all the flowers. To see my daffodils covered in snow definitely reminds me of her. She'd be very angry at this snowy day today. I'm going to be very angry tomorrow when the snow melt from the roof has demolished my spring flowers.
Love you Mom!!
http://mtnangel.blogspot.com/2010/02/snow.html (highlight the link, copy, and then paste into your URL. It will take you to the old story)
Love you Mom!!
http://mtnangel.blogspot.com/2010/02/snow.html (highlight the link, copy, and then paste into your URL. It will take you to the old story)
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Excitement
Excitement is contagious. When you see someone happy and smiling, you can't help but get all warm and fuzzy inside. I've been known to get a little too excited at times. And many times over nothing much at all. But I'd rather be that girl than the one frowning all the time and in a bad mood.
In my yoga class, I always encouraged my participants to share a smile with someone they meet on the street, in the grocery store, or any old where for that matter. Goodness knows they are free. But these days, you'd think they cost a million dollars the way people hold on to them.
Tony tells me the reason some of the strange (as in weird, not strange as in I don't know them) people I encounter, is due to my inviting smile. I always thought it was the flashing, neon sign on my forehead that reads SUCKER. But I can't complain. I meet a lot of really unique and interesting people along the way.
Tonight's excitement was in the form of Cassidi's very first tennis match of her life. She got "called up", because one of the top six players was out sick. Just getting to watch her play in a match format was exciting enough. But then she went and won the match! I was beyond thrilled.
To say that I get to live vicariously through my kids is an understatement. They have been to and done so many fun things in their lives. I try not to be envious of the opportunities they've been afforded, but sometimes I fail miserably. I would give just about anything to be a kid again and pursue tennis. But of course I'd get to take back with me all the knowledge I have accumulated. Oh the possibilities.
In the mean time, I'll just bask in Cass' glory. We're to have another match tomorrow, but the threat of rain might squash that. And who knows if she'd get to play anyway. I'm not wishing ill will or health on anyone, but I sure love watching her on that tennis court! Tonight I'm wishing for clear skies and a clear path for her to be the #6 seed tomorrow :)
In my yoga class, I always encouraged my participants to share a smile with someone they meet on the street, in the grocery store, or any old where for that matter. Goodness knows they are free. But these days, you'd think they cost a million dollars the way people hold on to them.
Tony tells me the reason some of the strange (as in weird, not strange as in I don't know them) people I encounter, is due to my inviting smile. I always thought it was the flashing, neon sign on my forehead that reads SUCKER. But I can't complain. I meet a lot of really unique and interesting people along the way.
Tonight's excitement was in the form of Cassidi's very first tennis match of her life. She got "called up", because one of the top six players was out sick. Just getting to watch her play in a match format was exciting enough. But then she went and won the match! I was beyond thrilled.
To say that I get to live vicariously through my kids is an understatement. They have been to and done so many fun things in their lives. I try not to be envious of the opportunities they've been afforded, but sometimes I fail miserably. I would give just about anything to be a kid again and pursue tennis. But of course I'd get to take back with me all the knowledge I have accumulated. Oh the possibilities.
In the mean time, I'll just bask in Cass' glory. We're to have another match tomorrow, but the threat of rain might squash that. And who knows if she'd get to play anyway. I'm not wishing ill will or health on anyone, but I sure love watching her on that tennis court! Tonight I'm wishing for clear skies and a clear path for her to be the #6 seed tomorrow :)
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Laughter
There is no medicine like it. If only they could bottle it up and give to people, it could cure most ailments. If I'm having a grumpy mood day, something funny happens and makes me remember my priorities. Laughter truly is priceless.
I have seen laughter in happy and sad times. On her death bed, Eleanor used it to help carry our hearts through the dark valley. I've seen Tony put a smile on our teenage daughters' faces when they hated the world. Seeing a group of people that love each other reminiscing and laughing fills my heart with joy.
It feels good to laugh. A vigorous laughing session has been proven to tighten and strengthen your abs. We also exchange more oxygen in our lungs even though we gasp for breath on more than one occasion. And the psychological relief it provides through diversion is immeasurable.
Tony tries to pull that trick on me frequently. The whole bait and switch game. He gets me fired up about something and then tries to act cute. Sometimes he escapes unscathed, sometimes not so much. But he's pretty good at extracting a smile even in some of my more furious tantrums.
Some laughter can seem inappropriate. But people process in different ways. Many people use it as a way of avoiding - avoiding conflict, avoiding the feelings that are welling up inside their bodies, avoiding the feelings welling up inside others. For others it's a way to hide their nervousness and anxiety. I try really hard not to judge someone that makes a joke in a difficult situation. I never know what is processing in their heart.
My little family tends to turn to laughter in most every situation. Tony is usually the ring leader. Cassidi isn't far behind him. Jennifer's humor is sometimes a little more cynical. You have to be smart to get her digs sometimes. I get labeled the serious one in the family. Meanwhile, most everyone else thinks I'm funny. I guess someone has to keep the circus under control.
I hope each of you finds something to laugh at on a regular basis. If you struggle with that, I recommend watching America's Funniest Home Videos. That show cracks me up every time. I don't know why it's funny to see people do dumb things and injure themselves, but it is. Seriously, if you haven't watched that show lately and you need a good laugh, find it!
As Charlie Chaplain said, "A day without laughter is a day wasted." Make your days on this Earth count. Laugh it up!!
I have seen laughter in happy and sad times. On her death bed, Eleanor used it to help carry our hearts through the dark valley. I've seen Tony put a smile on our teenage daughters' faces when they hated the world. Seeing a group of people that love each other reminiscing and laughing fills my heart with joy.
It feels good to laugh. A vigorous laughing session has been proven to tighten and strengthen your abs. We also exchange more oxygen in our lungs even though we gasp for breath on more than one occasion. And the psychological relief it provides through diversion is immeasurable.
Tony tries to pull that trick on me frequently. The whole bait and switch game. He gets me fired up about something and then tries to act cute. Sometimes he escapes unscathed, sometimes not so much. But he's pretty good at extracting a smile even in some of my more furious tantrums.
Some laughter can seem inappropriate. But people process in different ways. Many people use it as a way of avoiding - avoiding conflict, avoiding the feelings that are welling up inside their bodies, avoiding the feelings welling up inside others. For others it's a way to hide their nervousness and anxiety. I try really hard not to judge someone that makes a joke in a difficult situation. I never know what is processing in their heart.
My little family tends to turn to laughter in most every situation. Tony is usually the ring leader. Cassidi isn't far behind him. Jennifer's humor is sometimes a little more cynical. You have to be smart to get her digs sometimes. I get labeled the serious one in the family. Meanwhile, most everyone else thinks I'm funny. I guess someone has to keep the circus under control.
I hope each of you finds something to laugh at on a regular basis. If you struggle with that, I recommend watching America's Funniest Home Videos. That show cracks me up every time. I don't know why it's funny to see people do dumb things and injure themselves, but it is. Seriously, if you haven't watched that show lately and you need a good laugh, find it!
As Charlie Chaplain said, "A day without laughter is a day wasted." Make your days on this Earth count. Laugh it up!!
Monday, April 1, 2013
Check Marks
No words can describe that feeling when you've been able to accomplish something that seemed impossible. I've found myself behind more than my fair share of 8 balls in my life. Most of them have been self inflicted and very few of them have been life altering. But the experience of having something to do and then doing it provides such pride.
Last week I came to the realization that Cass will be graduating in less than two months. I haven't had my mental melt down over that yet, but the way I decided to avoid it was to get busy. I'm a list maker, because I do so much better seeing things in black and white. Once I have the full range of what's at hand on paper (or in this case my iPad), I can formulate my plan of attack.
And attack I did. In the electronic world I live in, I don't get to have check marks anymore. But I can delete items off the list. And when my list diminishes, I know I've made progress. It's so strange how the simple task of reducing a To Do list can provide such pleasure.
There is still a HUGE amount of work left to do. But I will go to bed tonight knowing I still have it in me to take care of business. I have a feeling I'll be dreaming about lists and seeing BIG check marks!
Last week I came to the realization that Cass will be graduating in less than two months. I haven't had my mental melt down over that yet, but the way I decided to avoid it was to get busy. I'm a list maker, because I do so much better seeing things in black and white. Once I have the full range of what's at hand on paper (or in this case my iPad), I can formulate my plan of attack.
And attack I did. In the electronic world I live in, I don't get to have check marks anymore. But I can delete items off the list. And when my list diminishes, I know I've made progress. It's so strange how the simple task of reducing a To Do list can provide such pleasure.
There is still a HUGE amount of work left to do. But I will go to bed tonight knowing I still have it in me to take care of business. I have a feeling I'll be dreaming about lists and seeing BIG check marks!
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