Runs Out of Rain

On behalf of the family I want to thank everyone who attended my grandmother's funeral. The large attendance was a testament to the woman my grandmother was. To those of my friends who did not have the chance to meet my grandmother I wanted to leave some words in hopes you may get to know her.

I am sure everyone there has their own stories about what my grandmother meant to them.

Some may have remembered her days as a flapper, sporting a bobbed haircut and dancing to the latest musical craze.

My grandma was a bit scandalous, how cool is THAT?!?

Many may have remembered her fabulous smile as one of her sheep, thier lamb, won yet another ribbon at the Nez Perce County Fair.

WE remember her as the backbone of the Andrews family.

Hilma Irene Andrews was strength and independence before I knew what those words meant. After her husband Leo died in 1979 she raised kids, grand kids, corn, and sheep all on her own.

I am the last of the granddaughters, raised around four male cousins and one brother, and I cannot be more proud of this legacy.

She may have failed to teach me how to play the piano, but she did succeed in teaching me how to live my life and not be defined by the men in it. For that, I say "thank you" and "I love you".

Grandma Hilma was strong in faith, body, and mind.

She was most proud of our Swedish heritage. In the basement of the United Methodist Church she dressed first my cousin, Leeann, and then me in a white robe and red sash. She then adorned our heads in a wreath of white candles in celebration of St Lucia.

The wreath was SO heavy and scratchy!!

Thank goodness when it was my turn she found an electric wreath! The poor cousin before me wore candles of melting wax!

Regardless of our comfort level, for Grandma, we read the story of St Lucia and handed out saffron rolls to churchgoers after mass.

It wasn't only those saffron rolls she could cook. I am most thankful she taught my father how to cook vegetables. In fact, on days I am particularly homesick I search for recipes she made when we were kids, such as her favorite Impossible Taco Pie.

Her recipe book was Pinterest before Pinterest. She loved to find new recipies and try them out oun her family. Just like Pinterest recipes there is occasionally a fail. Hilma's fail was her attempt at what I THINK was polenta. Let me just say, NO amount of apricot jelly could save that mushy dish, but FreightTrain, SandPile and I finished ours, for Grandma.

As she fed our bodies she also led as an example of what living an active lifestyle can do. Up until August of her 88th year she fed the sheep on her own every day. During our summers living in the house at 433 Thain Rd she never stopped moving. She understood, and taught us to understand, work never ceases needing done, so why stop doing it.

She not only exercised her body, she exercised her mind. If someone were to ask me to say the first word that comes to mind when I think of our grandmother I would say "crossword".

Hilma LOVED her crossword puzzles. Her kitchen was always full of crossword clue books. Every time Shane and I went for a visit she would be sitting at the kitchen table slaving over that morning's crossword. I'm proud to say that is a habit I picked up a few years ago. She claimed that was how she fought off Alzheimer's, because she constantly used her brain.

I tell these stories as a way to allow you inside the life of a woman we all knew and loved. I also tell them to illustrate the impact she had on my life. I am the woman I am today in part because of her. The model she provided was irreplaceable.

There will be an empty chair at our Christmas morning breakfast table this year, and she will be missed more than some of us can fully express.

I hope her family and friends are able to take solace in the fact she is finally at peace. Her body and mind were tired from all that exercise and she earned a long nap.

FreightTrain told me his view of Heaven is saying good things about someone after they've passed and never forgetting the lessons they taught. If that is Heaven I am sure Hilma is there right now, as the last few days have been spent sharing and retelling stories of her life.

Keep her spirit alive by smiling at strangers, and never stop moving. Don't stop moving your body and never ever stop moving your mind.

If you take a nip of spirits this holiday season, and your nose starts to tingle, know that is Hilma saying goodbye in her own little way.

Inspiratation song, Runs Out of Rain by Gary Allen

I realize this is an odd choice for an inspiration song, but I couldn't help feeling it appropriate as her body finally ran out of pain.

We Are Family

We are Family

I saw this picture posted by a friend on FB the other day. I had to laugh, because that is totally how I feel.

Have you ever done something or joined a group that changed the way you look at everything??

I've actually written a few blogs, but haven't been able to get them posted about this subject. The subject of how my life has been revolutionized in the span of two months.

I have never spent so much money on anything in my life and not felt guilty one second about it. Jeep...defined as "Just Empty Every Pocket"

I haven't felt this interested in a subject since I was a student athletic trainer...in high school.

If you are one of my oldest and dearest you have no idea what the man is saying in the picture, because I didn't two months ago. Don't worry, I'm not done with you, but if you're new to my life and don't get it, well, you don't get it.

For the novices, those initials are all types of Jeeps. I'll admit it, I'm a nut. Trainer A thinks I joined a cult. I sort of did. Can I offer you some koolaid?? Purple or red??

Since the first weekend in July I have spent countless amounts of brain power learning about my automobile and myself. I have a list that grows everyday with something to make Beevo look or perform off-road better. I started small, but am now moving on to some major modifications. I consider them major, others think its cute and pat me on the head!

When I first brought Beevo home my intention was to have something I would look good driving in while wearing short shorts and a tank top. He was cute with his stock tires and full bumper. A little calf.

Once I met the HJP and TJ groups I realized cute is another word for dull and tiny!

My first move was to get bigger tires. That made him look tougher.

The second move was to "shorten his mustache". This involved shortening his front bumper after he got his first trail dimple.

**dimple on driver's side bumper

 

**shortened bumper

Man, now he's starting to look like a roping steer rather than a calf.

We had a bit of a snafu this last week. After a course of terrible events I did not have the energy to put the back windows on Beevo before going to work. Well, September has been a bit of a b-word and so Mother Nature joined in on the fun. She decided to throw sideways wind and rain into my beloved. I got to the Jeep Friday night to find easily two inches of water on my front passenger floor board. That is just what I was able to see, in reality my entire carpet was SOAKED.

Again, terrible events collided and I was unable to deal with the situation until Sunday. Outlaw helped me cut out the carpet and it's drying in my garage. I'm not sure if I will put it back in. I want to rubberize the flooring instead. I may put the carpet back on top of the RhinoLiner.

More money...oh well, in the long run it will be better. So many things will be better. Seriously, my list grows everyday.

I love it. I love learning a new term or about a new part. This is something that is so completely mine. I didn't ask permission from anyone. I was in a situation this summer where I had a little extra cash to get started. I am not doing it to please any one person. I'm doing it for me.

My dear friends don't understand that every conversation must start with "so in the Jeep I was". My students laugh at me, but the guys kind of get it and let me ramble. The girls just think it's cool I have a Jeep.

I've learned the names of individual people don't matter, they go by the name of their Jeep. How awesome for someone who writes a blog?!? Automatic nicknames!

I am also quickly understanding that no one is alone in this world. I used to think I needed to do it on my own. Now I know I can't, I don't have the knowledge, Beevo isn't big enough yet, and it's just unsafe. If I am in trouble I must and am able to ask for help. And when I do, it is right around the corner, even if it's just a question posted on Facebook or a text message.

I have seen a lot of south and central Texas in the Bull. From our pre-HJP/TJ trip to Padre to College Station. Beevo and I have put 6000 miles in together since June 1, with more to come! Saturday we will go back to College Station and Brazos Valley Off-Road Ranch. In November we will take our new longer legs to Arkansas of all places. Have you ever heard me say it would be fun to go to Arkansas? Except for a friend in East Texas, has anyone?? However, there is an off-road facility there and a large group of people are going to convoy up and play for a couple days.

Gas prices suck, I know this, but so does sitting at home. I don't sit well. I need to be outside. I need to be around people.

In two months I have allowed myself to splurge and do things I never in my life thought I would. I never thought I would seriously spend two days hammering over the different types of lifts I could get. That's what I did this weekend. If I'm not driving my Jeep I am doing something to make it better. There is no end to this game. As Outlaw says "Wheel what you got until it does not do what you want. Then We can build it up as a team and make it do it !"

Notice the "we" is capitalized.

You've heard it said, "it's a Jeep thing". It's true. It's a group of people sharing a common goal of getting out and testing our self and mechanical limits.

We are family!

Inspiration song...We Are Family by Sister Sledge

Barefoot Blue Jeans Night

I know I wrote last week about my love for yoga pants. Call me fickle, but I am also in love with another material item...its name is Beevo.

Beevo is my Jeep Wranger Unlimited. Beevo gets his name because he is "University of Texas" orange and looks like a bull. There was no other fitting name!!

I mean look at it...

It's definitely not taking any crap from anyone!!!

If you are a forward, well “backward” thinking person you know that copper is the original color of The University of Montana. I like to think of my Jeep as a throwback rather than supporting UT.

Beevo is not just an automobile, it is my first “car love” realized. The only automobile I have ever wanted of my own is a Jeep. I told Mighty when we were on a family trip my fifth-grade year I wanted a Suzuki Samarai. He said "If you’re going to get anything like that it will be a Jeep" yep, QUOTE!

He’s regretting it a little now…

When I was ready to get a car of my own there weren't any inexpensive and good condition Jeeps to choose from. I ended up with the Gray Ghost, a 1989 Toyota pickup. The Ghost lasted me through college and two years in Seattle, as well as umpteen years with Trainer.

Since the Ghost I have driven a 3/4 ton Chevy 4x4 and three Nissan Xterras.

I liked my first Xterra, LOVED my second, but could not get over number three being a replacement. Number two has the best story I will tell at another time.

After last year being so miserable I have looked for any way to cleanse the bad mojo. Clifford (number three) was an easy target. He was gained due to unfortunate circumstance and was never really my friend. In fact, I HATED driving Clifford.

Last year I HATED to drive anywhere. Now I’m like a teenager begging for a reason to get out of the house. Shell gasoline has made a mint since June 1!!!

Beevo has brought back my enjoyment of Texas Country as well. Driving down a Texas highway listening to Red Dirt Music cranked up over the sound of the wind is pure. For a few minutes/hours everything is right in the world.

The best part of owning Beevo is that it can literally change my mood in an instant.  If I am cranky and someone asks me about my Jeep I smile and express how much I love it! I can’t help it. I could be ready to kill someone and BAM! It’s like being hit over the head with a happy stick. It is probably the best stress management tool I’ve ever invested in.  

The evenings in the last couple of weeks have blessed Southeast Texas with incredible weather for a Jeep girl.

After two weeks plus of solid rain it was about time!

One night last week, after a night with the girls, I realized the air was fairly dry and cool, so down went the top. Believe it or not, but I actually woke up the next morning with a smile on my face for the first time in days. I can't get over how great it feels to have the wind in my hair. I don't even mind the tangles anymore. Of course great hair products help.

I have been blessed with so many great things in the last 34 years, but being able to make my own dream come true is something I am most proud of.

I didn't ask permission. I actually didn’t tell anyone until I had the keys in my hand.

In all honesty, I would have been happy driving a Jeep when I was younger, but I appreciate the fact I have worked hard and earned this bit of happiness for myself. It wasn’t just handed to me.

Hopefully I can drive Beevo back to the Northwest next summer and then Mighty won’t regret his statement so many years ago.

I jam the inspiration song for this blog it in the evenings driving around Texas. I always have my blue jeans on and my toes are unoppressed (new word) by shoes. Ok, I have flip flops on, but you get the visualization!

Here is to the last few days of summer for most of us! I hope you can find a simple joy that brightens your day with just a mention of its existence.

Inspiration Song…Barefoot Blue Jeans Night by Jake Owens

Pants on the Ground

I'm in love!!!

No, it is not a man. Although there is one man that given the chance I would (another story for another day).

I'm in love with yoga pants. Yes, yoga pants.  

I never in my life thought I would ever say those words. They were always for “skinny” girls. My legs and bottom would “never” look good enough in a pair of yoga pants. Then I started working. I literally worked my hind-end off and feel comfortable sporting a nice pair of workout pants.

There really is nothing like a good pair of yoga pants to lounge in, to exercise in, or just to be in. Thank you Nike for sparking the flame towards women’s workout gear and the dri-fit era.

There are companies popping up all over with comfortable-fit gym-appropriate clothes. Shoot, Tide laundry detergent has even teamed with Febreeze in a line of soap to help with the sweat smell in workout clothes (I use it regularly, daily)

This may come as a huge surprise, but I am not a huge fan of Lululemon. For me the brand seems made more for the smaller breasted women. Obviously this is not a problem I have. I know I said yoga pants and not tops, but I needed to throw my two cents in about Lulu. I have not tried on a pair of pants. Mostly because I’m scared I will like them. I already have a fabulous love with another brand.

Before that I need to mention Lucy. Lucy is a great brand for a couple reasons. The clothes are super comfortable AND the tops have a little extra fabric that acts to suck in the gut! It’s a nice bonus for those just starting out and not 100% comfortable with their bodies yet. I was fortunate that TMAM was able to hand me down her old pants and tops. This speaks to the quality, because they survived a year with her and a year with me. I am sending them on to SandPile and I have no doubt they will last with her.

My biggest love of the exercise clothes/yoga pants is Athleta.

Let me repeat, I LOVE Athleta.

Their tops have a lot of support for larger women and are just plain comfortable. I have (gasp!) even used a couple tops without a bra. Maybe a little TMI, but they really do hold up. I wouldn’t try running without a sports bra, but for just chilling out, not problemo.

The colors are fun too; lots of purple and turquoise. The fabric stretches, but maintains the natural shape of the body. Some might not like this, but it’s in a flattering light. Even my ginormous calves and legs look good in these things!

It doesn’t hurt that Athleta is tied into Gap Co. and in turn Banana Republic. If you know me at all, you know I have an addiction to BR. So, when I can use my BR card, which has always been figured into my monthly budget, it is a win-win.

Some think it’s ridiculous to spend a ton of money on workout clothes. My argument is this…I LIVE in them. I am fortunate my job allows me to wear workout pants to work. And as much time as I spend in the gym or lounging around I need quality.

The clothes I buy need to hold up to sweat and movement and infinite washings. The fabric has to be sturdy to not stretch out at the first sign of water. Nothing more embarrassing than pulling your pants up while running 6.5 mph on the treadmill!

No, I think of spending money on my exercise clothes as an investment. You wouldn’t think twice of spending $100 on shoes, right? That is important equipment. The clothes are the same. Yes, it’s mostly a vanity thing, but as I said, you don’t want to be pulling up your pants while running!

NO PANTS ON THE GROUND!

Whichever brand you choose wear it proudly. You work hard. You have put time in on your body to make it better today than it was yesterday.

Find something that you feel comfortable in and make it a motivator to get your hind-end up and moving. Ok, obviously your health should be the major motivator, but a pair of pants never hurts.

Have fun my friends! Wear bright colors and express yourself! Love yourself! Treat your closet!

Inspiration song…Pants on the Ground by General Larry Platt

The Smile

I am NOT an English major. Contrary to what a friend thinks, not all people who teach are English majors.

No, I'm a gym rat. I watch sports for a living.

I'm partial to fiction if there is a good love story involved...50 Shades of Gray does NOT count...

I'm too literal to really understand many works of literature.

It may be surprising that I do, in fact, have a favorite poem.  It should come as no surprise that I found the author to this poem from a movie about baseball.

I think we can all agree that one of the best baseball movies is Bull Durham. Susan Sarandon and Kevin Costner nail baseball in the minor league!

My sophomore year of college I could not go to sleep if I hadn't watched BD. I was in love with Crash Davis. I even named my goldfish after Kevin Costner’s character.

There is a scene where Annie, Susan Sarandon’s character, barges in to Crash's house and they have a huge argument. This is a key point in the movie and one of my favorite scenes. She flips an ironing board over for goodness sakes!

During this argument, and before she admits her true feelings to the handsome catcher, Annie quotes William Blake. Now, I don't remember the quote, but I certainly remember William Blake.

Stay with me, there is a point, I promise.

That same sophomore year I flew to Portland to stand outside the Mormon Temple while a friend from high school got married. I was technically a bridesmaid, but since I'm not Mormon I had to wait outside with the other non-Mormons, including the bride's parents. It was pretty crappy, but I held her mom's hand and acted silly to keep everyone happy.

After the "ceremony" the non-Mormons toured Portland and ended up at a used-book store. With William Blake's name in my head I decided to see what he was about.

I flipped to a couple poems, but I saw one simply titled "The Smile". I was drawn to this as one of my best features at the time was my perpetual smile.

The poem follows:

There is a smile of love,
And ther is a smile of deciet,
And there is a smile of smiles
In which these two smiles meet.

And there is a frown of hate,
And there is a frown of disdain,
And there is a frown of frowns
Which you strive to forget in vain;

For it sticks in the heart's deep core,
And it sticks in the deep back bone.
And no smile that ever was smil'd
But only one smile alone,

That betwixt the cradle & grave
It only once smil'd can be;
But when it once is smil'd,
There's an end to all misery.

I was recently reminded of this poem and read it for the umpteenth time. It is so lovely.

Yes, there are many smiles and a certain Cheshire Cat I know definitely has the market on the two Smiles meeting.

The frown of frowns is interesting, because whether you are the cause of, or the one bearing the frown  you try to forget but it lingers.

But there is only one smile that ends all misery. And the beauty is that ONE Smile is different to each person. I like to think of it as the smile when you are with a person who fulfills you.

TMAM may think to the first time she saw her beautiful children smile.

Regardless, it's the smile of true love.

So many of my friends are struggling with that smile lately.

There are fantastic men who feel like parts of them are dead because of a woman. I really REALLY wish it was one, but I pluralized "men" for a reason.

As a single girl I used to think it was men who “sucked”. Now, I’m not so sure. People can be cruel regardless of sex. I will say the few women I have in mind for my fabulous male friends really do stink as human beings. However, I think it’s just that guys don’t deal with the crap as well. They don’t talk about stuff that bugs them. They are taught as little boys to “suck it up” and “deal with it like a man”. Some things you just need help with. How do you get your smile back when all you think about is the hurt?

I am the biggest supporter of therapy and talking feelings out. I am fortunate to have an amazing network of friends who help me by listening and offering strong advice when I am ready to hear it.

Everyone should have that.

Everyone should have an outlet for the crap.

As Mr. Blake promises there is a smile. It will be smiled, and when it is there will be an end to the misery.

Heads up my friends! Talk about the crap when you need to. Let people listen…

And until you do find THAT smile...fake it.

Inspiration poem...The Smile by William Blake

Eyes Wide Open

Experience is a funny thing. For the most part it's an educational tool.

When we were younger we learned by doing things. If it didn't "give hurt" (a phrase used by Jack London in Call of the Wild) and it worked we knew to repeat the same process. If, however, we ended up getting punished or it didn’t work we adapted and tried another approach.

How many times do we have to make mistakes before we make those adaptations though??

It should come as no surprise I am now going to segway into my seemingly endless task of trying to find another human being to share my life.

Here it goes.

You can say I have a "type" and follow certain patterns. In my 20's I only wanted to be around rodeo cowboys. I was young and single and not horrible to look at. They were young, for the most part single, and not sticking around very long. I was not interested in settling down.

How could I be when every night was a party?!?

That part of my life was fun and exciting! I lived an impulsive lifestyle and don't regret a single moment of it.

I realized a couple years ago the drifter lifestyle needed to be shelved…or did I?

So now my newest “type” seems to be a divorced single dad. Oddly, they have all had sons, not a daughter among them. The second oddity is the son’s name usually starts with a C. This is consistent to the fact that two out of three dads share the same name.

(I really thought I was more adventurous than this)

The two with the same name have been well documented on this site and I don’t feel like rehashing at the moment.

There is a third, and this one cracks me up because he is literally every man I’ve ever known rolled into one tall handsome package.

I could be tempted to fall back on past behavior and really like this guy. However I have decided my job is to learn from past experience and not make the same mistakes.

Such.a.tall.order.

Not that tall…

He lives five hours away. Apparently I like my men not only emotionally unavailable, but physically as well.

I know where this will end.

I did this to myself.

I knew I would like this man.

I knew leaving him would be hard.

I still did what I wanted because that’s who I am.

This is where I realize why Sweetness changed and went POOF. It was a way to prepare me for this latest adventure. If I had not had my experience with him I would be inclined to really screw up.

Women have a natural tendency to want to talk to the object of our affection…a lot. That is probably one of the reasons Sweetness vanished. It was too much. I was too much. I didn’t back the EFF off.

I have to rely on my past experience and not make the same mistakes. I have to play it cool. Let the cards fall where they may. I still want to maintain a friendship with this man.

I did not walk into this situation unknowingly. My eyes were wide open. All the negatives were standing tall among all the positives.  

The great thing about waking up every morning is we have a chance at something great every time we do it. Maybe this is the experience that will propel me to a bigger and better adventure…

Inspiration Song…Eyes Wide Open by Gotye

Have I Made and Impact???

A friend once told me she was at a point in her life where she "needed to be needed". Of course this was as she was showing me how to take care of her athletes because HealthSouth decided to pull six athletic trainers from the Seattle public schools this leaving her out of a job.

At the time I didn't understand it, but it made an impact as I am talking to you about it almost 10 years later.  I knew there would be a time in my future where I would feel the same way.

That time has come.

One of my New Year’s goals is to be a better friend to those who love me. I need them to need me and want me around. I need to add value to their lives and do better by them. I hope to this point in the year some would argue I have, but I feel last night I did something far greater than just being a better friend.

If God has me on this planet after almost being crushed to death then I feel there is a bigger plan for me.

If I don't get to live the life of a white picket fence and 2.3 kids there BETTER be a bigger purpose for me to be on this planet.

Maybe last night was a start.

May 22 finally arrived.

The night of the Be the Match registration drive.

The drive I have been talking about so much.

The drive to see if by chance someone in our community could be a bone marrow match to BigBrother.

It's just as important now as it was six weeks ago when BigBrother was first diagnosed. See, his numbers have improved a great deal. His good blood cells are starting to come alive on their own, and the bad blood cells (blasts) have decreased 10%.

Yay, right?

Not so much.

He still has a tough road. He found out today he will have to go through a second bout of chemo. Blech!

I know his body will respond positively as it did last time. We knew this road was going to be hard. There is no "instant fix" with cancer.

He, most likely, will still need a bone marrow transfer. The Community of Langham Creek stepped up last night as they have so many times already. We registered FIFTY, that's 5-0 people!

That is fifty chances to save a life!

Fifty more people in the world who could make a major impact on another person.

I used to joke that by surviving being crushed meant I was going to save a life one day. I would love the opportunity to be the person who had their narrow sucked out, but if I helped someone by getting a person registered or if by talking openly about it I am able to, then RAD.

My life meant something.

I was needed.

To those of you unable to make it to Langham don't fret you can still register. Please go to www.bethematch.org and click on "Join the Registry".

SWAB + DNA = SAVE A LIFE

Share this blog with your community. Post it on your facebook or any other social network site you prefer. Open the lines of communication.

To date 52 people have registered through Be The Match just in my little world. Think of the impact we can make if we all shared a little!

Inspiration Song…Have I Made an Impact by Steve McConnell

Be a Winner

There are so many things I need to tell you Blogosphere world!

Such as how I am able to wear a size 8 short and take them off without unbuttoning them.  (Super Rad)

The cute guy from the apartment complex finally noticed me and introduced himself at the pool this last weekend. (Rad)

And that this journey is definitely not without some setbacks. (not even a little Rad)

I’m not going to spend much time on those things today. I want to talk about my brand new exercise machine!

Have I told you about the ElliptiGo?

Oh.my.goodness!

What in the world is an ElliptiGo?!

The ElliptiGo is newish exercise equipment on the market. There are three levels depending on how many gears you are looking for; a 3-gear, an 8-gear, and an 11-gear. I won the 3-gear ElliptiGo.

     **Here it is sitting in my driveway!

I will tell you this honestly, the ElliptiGo is probably the hardest thing I have ever done!

I spent five minutes on it the first day and was seriously out of breath. Last night I gutted up and went around the apartment complex for 30 minutes and my heart rate got up in the 140-155 range, same as being on a spin bike or running on the treadmill.

The selling point to the ElliptiGo is the fact it simulates outdoor running without the high impact on joints. My friend at a local University uses a couple for rehabilitation on track athletes who are unable run. The athletes are able to get outside, but not sustain further repetitive impact injuries.

There are some limitations to the build. I won’t be able to use it when I am working contract athletic training gigs, it can only be used on paved surfaces, no gravel or grass. You have to have good balance to work this thing. Turning is really hard with a shallow wheel base and standing on a rickety surface. I think that will come as I get more comfortable though. I’m not comfortable taking my hands off the steering bars just yet either. I tried…I fell.

Before I go on any long rides I will have to get a helmet to protect my coconut. Even though I am only 5’6” it is still a long way to fall and hit my head.

I am excited to bring it to school next week and show off. I am finally comfortable enough not to look like an idiot.  

So how did I end up with one of these crazy things?!?

I WON IT!!!

On either the iPhone or Droid there is an application called “Be Fit Stay Fit Challenge”. It’s a free application that allows you to track the number of days in a week you exercise.

Key word…challenge…

Here is how it works: Say you go for a 30-minute run on the treadmill on Thursday. That is now your start day of the week.  Log that activity in the application and you have had a “successful day”. My favorite part, one of the icons at the bottom of the screen turns from green to yellow! I cannot stand to have any green left at the bottom of my screen.

     **There is no extra credit by doing more than one activity during the day, but it’s interesting to track how many hours you are actually doing activity, so I log everything.**

Now, if by the next Thursday you have five successful days you have earned a successful week.

A successful week enables you to be entered in a drawing for various prizes. Prizes include a TRX strap, a scale that measures weight and body fat, a home exercise kit with some exercise tubing and an exercise ball, or the now explained ElliptiGo.

I have no idea what week I actually finished and earned my name being in the drawing. I opened my Yahoo email account in early April and there was an email claiming I was a BFSF winner and the prize was an ElliptiGo 3C. All I had to do was send my shipping information. No credit card, not payment information. The company was sending me a free machine! All I have to do is take a picture of me on it and tell people how I earned it.

Here I am telling you about it Blog-o-world, now I just need a picture of me ON it. I have a picture of me. I have a picture of it, not me ON it. That will come.

All this came from trying to find a way to track my exercise and keep motivated. I NEVER thought I would actually be a winner. Now I can boast I am not only a winner, but a winner of the top valued prizes (it runs a cool $1,800).

I have logged more than 102 hours of activity since I started this in February or March. It’s a great way to track the different activities I complete. Also, I hate leaving a week with any green icons at the bottom of my screen, so my motivation stays high. If there is a week I haven’t been able to make it to the gym and its Thursday and there are not athletic events that night I make sure I get my hind end out and do something.

The beauty is the “something” can now be in my own apartment complex and not inside on a treadmill!

I highly recommend you checking out the BFSF Challenge on your smart phone or tablet. You never know if you will be the next winner. I didn’t think I would be!

Whatever your dream…be a winner…

Inspiration Song…Be a Winner by Hunter Hayes

Karma

I have been trying to write a post based on this song for quite a while...and I really want to be more positive with my posts.

We all go through down times and I appreciate you sticking with me through mine!

Here's the good news, things are looking up...

No, Sweetness hasn’t mysteriously come back into my life and I haven't heard if Jerkface has caught a disease that gives him boils all over his face.

I just feel like getting back to myself.

Here is a breakdown of some awesomeness:

I was able to talk to BigBrother today!! He is tired and fighting multiple side effects from the chemo, but sounds pretty good. I wish I could do more to help. Hopefully the Bone Marrow Registration drive May 22 (put it on your calendar) will help.

Raising awareness AND finding a possible match can’t be a bad thing, right??

I’ve been talking to BabbyMamma quite a bit this week. She is due any day now! I appreciate that she is honest about the fact she hasn't enjoyed pregnancy as much as she thought. Some women just don’t like it that much. She’s not the first mom to think that. I admire her so much for this journey she's on. It's not easy, but she is smart and young and STRONG!

I'm selfish that I just want to hold little man and spoil him rotten!!

Yes, things are good. I can even feel the coaches relaxing around me. It may have helped that I actually had some drinks with them the last couple of weeks.

It’s about time…I've been in my job for eight months.

A few years back a cousin told me the first six months of any new job are the hardest. If you get to six months you will feel everything click into place. As great as I felt at the beginning of this school I know that is absolutely true. The last few weeks things have “clicked”. The coaches know me and more importantly I know HOW to talk to them. Since communication is the key to everything, learning how to do it is the first step!

I surround myself with constant reminders of my positive attitude and life changes.

And keeping with the theme of the post...I wear a new “Karma” bracelet that reminds me what goes around, comes around. I know the good things I have done and am doing in my life will be rewarded in the long run. It’s pretty too, which helps me feel pretty, which in turn makes me feel better.

The other thing that makes me feel GREAT is a bit of knowledge I received on Tuesday…I am officially down to my goal weight loss of 20 pounds and my body fat has dropped 5% since January.

Huge numbers!

If that isn’t a reason to be excited I don’t know what is!!!

I’ve decided not to stop here. I still have 5% body fat to go and hopefully another 20 pounds, but I look pretty damn good in jeans.

My favorite Scotsman is coming to town this weekend as well. I can’t believe it has been THREE years since we went camping in the Davis Mountains. It does not matter what name you give him; friend, brother, whatever, I canNOT wait to see his wonderfully ugly mug back in Texas!

So, there you have it. Although I try to put a funny polish on things and have worked to maintain a positive attitude some days have just sucked. Now it is time to take the sucky days and push them aside.

It is time to count the blessings. Every night I write one thing about the day that was positive or a “win”. It’s amazing there is always something positive to say about the day.

I think today's will be "I was able to write a second blog in the same week!"

Inspiration Song...Karma by Alicia Keys

Come and Take It

I am proud to say I can actually fit into a size SMALL t-shirt. It really doesn't look half bad and is comfortable enough to sleep in.

I love sleeping in old t-shirts. I hate the baggy ones though. I hate getting hung up on too much fabric. I had an aunt who insisted I wear a nightgown to a sleepover…worst night ever. Love LindaLou, but not her choice is sleeping garb.

So what is so special about this particular shirt? Well, it's supposed to be worn by Sweetness at this very moment.

You see on our fabulous four days in Central Texas he told me he wanted a t-shirt of the Gonzales Flag. It's the one that says "Come and take it" with the cannon and lone star.

So how did this come to be MY new pj shirt?

The last day Sweetness and I talked was April 10, his birthday. I was so excited his gift was here and he was so not excited because he "doesn't really celebrate his birthday".

Here we are a month later and I guess he really wasn't kidding!

A little backtrack…On Friday I received my Just Pruitt t-shirt in size medium. It fits well, but a little baggier than I remember mediums fitting. I don't care, I wear it proudly in honor of BigBrother, but it got me thinking. What if I'm ready for another step down the fashion sizing chain?

The Gonzales shirt has been sitting on my desk staring at me this whole time. On Saturday I decided it was a waste for something so great to sit and wait until January when my inevitable sighting of Sweetness will occur. I'd already told him in an email that I couldn't use the gift, because I didn't in my wildest dreams imagine my shoulders and chest and stomach could fit into a SMALL. Since he wasn’t claiming it I thought what the Hell???

Feeling silly I tried the shirt on. I didn't have to hold my breath or suck anything in! The arms were actually loose! I love there isn’t extra fabric…not getting hung up!

So now I have a new shirt. It is a reminder of a fabulous time in my life and makes me feel good to wear it.

Who doesn't like to sleep in something with that description?!?

I started thinking about other things men have left in their wake in and out of my life. It's a silly list, really.

Let’s start with LSU football. I love anything purple and gold with a tiger mascot. That was determined when I grew up in Lewiston, ID. But my true passion for Louisiana's team happened when a boy asked me to visit Baton Rouge to tailgate and watch a game.

Such an awesome experience!!!

As a college student I always worked games, so tailgating wasn't an option. The “Red Stick” welcomed me with opened arms and I hope there will be a day I can make a return trip!

The best leave-over turned into half of the best Christmas present EVER for Trainer…

A Fossil watch!

This is a family show, so the details are simply; I had a date and a watch ended up staying.

The boy did not.

Not a loss...

When I was trying to figure out what to get Trainer for the Holiday I found the watch! It was big and silver and Fossil (all his favorite things) and FREE (my favorite). There was also an Aflac bobblehead duck, but that is a different story to tell.

The list is much longer; some items are material, some are feelings, some are bars, some are music.

Any of the men could have had any of the items returned if they’d just come and taken them. However, the lesson is  learned that people (in this case men) leave marks in our lives when they pass through...if we're lucky that is...

I am so glad my experiences have exposed me to so many great things. Not a one would I replace.

So, I maintain the same stance those 168 men and women had in Gonzales, TX in 1835. Come and take it!

Inspiration Song…Come and Take It by Delbert McClinton and Rusty Wier

Crazy

Life has been pretty crazy lately. In truth, the life of a high school athletic trainer often is crazy. There is no “off-season” for us. From August until May we are virtually 24/7. So, by nature we can handle the crazy. So don’t take this as a complaint. It’s just the fact of life as I know it to be true.

We are currently at the beginning of the end. The school year is winding down. The big TAKS test was completed last week and End of Course (EOC) exams will be sporadic over the next two weeks. Add to that the AP exams starting Monday and the kids are at the end of their ropes.

Just.three.more.Mondays!!!

In my little world we have spring football and playoff baseball to look forward to.

Spring football is not a new concept, but I have never done it at the 5A level in Texas. It consists of not one, not two, but FOUR weeks of full-contact practice four days a week. So far there are some kinks to be worked out. There are some injuries that need attention and some students who need to make the switch from Junior and follower to Senior and Leader.

The morning treatments are the hardest for Doc and I. Out-of-football-shape kids are hitting for the first time since November. The training room is FULL!! Treatments begin at 615am. Have you ever tried to get a high school boy up and out of the house to put ice on his body at 615am? I personally think Doc and I are miracle workers for that alone!

They ALL come.

Crazy!

As I mentioned baseball is also in the playoffs again this year. We are actually co-District Champions. I’m very proud of the boys and the coaching staff. They have done a great job staying motivated and focused on the big goal.

They won their first playoff game last night and have to wait until Saturday to find out who their opponent will be in the second round. Yep, the won one game and advance.

You see, our coach wanted to play a traditional 3-game series to determine who advances. However, the other team won the toss and got to choose. When Doc asked their athletic trainer why the coach opted for only a one-game series the trainer said “We aren’t that good, and are hoping to steal one from you.”

Wow, gamesmanship!

It almost worked. We played and uninspired game, but I feel a bounce back coming.

Our next opponent had their own little bout of gamesmanship. One coach wanted one game and lost the toss. So, the coach who won chose a three-game set starting on Friday night. Meaning they play Friday night at one location and Saturday at Noon at the same location. IF a third game is needed that would be played at the OTHER teams field at 7pm. Play three hours in Texas heat turn around and get back to your field to set up and play a third game in two days?

Gamesmanship. Well done coaches.

CRAZY!

I love spring time, new beginnings and whatnot. You just have to take the crazy with everything else.

The craziness does not stop once spring football and baseball are done. May 22 will be the annual spring sports physicals held on our campus. 350 boys and girls will file through our hallways getting poked and prodded and tested by athletic trainers, coaches, and doctors.

Because I didn’t think I would be busy enough that night I scheduled a Bone Marrow Registration Drive in honor of BigBrother at the same time! It will be one of my more taxing evenings and to be honest I am worried. Not because I don’t think it will go well, it will.

I just worry about things. It’s CRAZY!

I hope and pray we get people out and educated on Bone Marrow Donation. I hope there is someone who can be a match for BigBrother. I hope people can set aside their fear of the physical pain donation could cause them.

Maybe I’m not so worried as I am hopeful?? Whatever the word, my stomach is in knots.

In the long run I have faith it will work out. But I won’t relax until the night is over.

I’m a little crazy.

Embrace the craziness.

“Difficult doesn’t mean impossible. It simply means that you have to work hard.”

Inspiration Song...Crazy by Aerosmith

Move On

A friend recently told me that being around happy people annoyed her. She is going through some stuff and I understood exactly where she was coming from.

I've been in that place.

It's a brutal place to be.

A place where you don't recognize yourself because drastic things have happened out of your control and you can only miss the person you were or the things you had. The future is so freaking scary when you're looking at it alone.

The truth is unfortunate that in the four days since she said that to me I have become very not-happy. Not the unhappy I just described. The not-happy that comes with loss and illness of a dear friend.

I hope you read yesterday's blog, if not, please do! I outlined steps anyone between the ages of 18 and 60 can take to register for bone marrow donation. It's basically a cause I am not resting on for a while.

Sorry, but get used to it being mentioned.

I do not want to take away from the seriousness of that message, but I am going to move away for a minute. 

The loss seems silly at this point, but I should mention it before I allude to it at a different time.

It seems as if Sweetness has decided he and I are not to be together any longer.

He’s moving on…

I'm not sure what happened, but he decided not to return messages or respond to me in any way.

It sucks.

It sucks a lot.

I am sad, but know that no matter how much you want something and hope and pray it happens, if it's not meant to be it’s not going to happen.

He was in my life for a reason and I believe he taught me a great deal in our short time, mostly about what I want.

1. I want to be a wife and mom.

2. I want to go camping in primitive campgrounds.

3. I want to hike all over Texas.

4. I want to be treated like a princess.

5. I want to smile every day because a man truly cares about me.

I'm sure there's more, but that's the big stuff, and Sweetness taught me that.

Sweetness was someone I wanted in my life. He was easy to talk to like Cha$$hole, protective like Jerkface, and fun the way another ex always was.

He just felt he and I together wasn't the fit.

He’s moving on…have I mentioned that already??

One of his friends seems to think he is being a "fraidy cat" and is scared to pursue a relationship with me. This makes me think of the Sex and the City episode "He's Just Not That Into You". The "he's scared" excuse is an urban myth.

Sure, I would like to think I am so awesome he just didn’t want to end up not living up to my awesomeness. The truth is he just decided I wasn't worth it.

Ok.

Time for ME to move on.

I will always like him and wish him nothing but the best. I'm curious to see what happens next wrestling season. My enjoyment of the sport was not because of him, just heightened. I will still work all the matches and tournaments I am able. He will either be coaching or reffing, so we will be forced to spend HOURS in the same building together. I hope we are able to smile and chat and not have any ill will.

I know how my friend feels. I get pangs of jealousy when someone says they can't wait to see their husband or I see an adorable family and recognize how much they love each other. I miss that. I want that.

There is nothing I can do about the relationship stuff at this point. Until there is I will just keep putting one foot in front of the other, making sure the people currently in my life know how much I love and appreciate them.

There are happy things to look forward to. Crawfish boils, babies, weddings, the POOL!!!

Moving on…

Inspiration Song…Move On by the Warren Brothers