An 'A' for effort?

I apologize to any of my neighbors who may have nearly fainted at the sight of me behind the lawnmower Saturday afternoon. It’s a sight you’ve probably never witnessed before and probably won’t again any time soon.

I was just trying to be nice to the hub who plans his weeks around his mowing- literally. Saturday was “the day” but he got called to help a buddy shingle at the last minute. I thought, I’ll mow this one time, just to be nice.

Not that I’m fundamentally opposed to mowing, I’d do it regularly if my life depended on it, but thanks to the hub, it doesn’t.  It doesn’t because the hub “banned” me from mowing nearly two decades ago. That’s right B-A-N-N-E-D.

At the time we were living on the farm and I was brand-spanking new to farm life and to the lawn mowing scene, especially a riding lawn mower. Our yard had a very low spot that was in the shape of a circle, so I did the only logical thing to do- I mowed in a circle. Apparently in my hub’s book of mowing regulations, mowing in a circle is a  “mowing violation” and I had just offended in a big way. The hub was not pleased with my mowing strategy and in a rather harsh tone, banned me from the mowing. After all, what would people think?

“Seriously? Did you just ban me from mowing?” I said laughing hysterically. “Maybe if you would have informed me of the “mowing regulations” I would have never violated the rules in such a drastic way.” The hub didn’t find this quite as amusing as I did. Gosh, my mowing days were done before they even got started- sniff, sniff.

We eventually moved to town and I have actually “gotten” to mow a couple of times- but only when the situation was absolutely desperate. He never forgot the mowing violation from years prior choosing to hire youngsters to mow when he couldn’t fit it in. Our own kids even got “the chance” to mow occasionally. It’s probably been a decade since I last cut the grass.

So, I planned my mowing strategy, started the mower and began. Boy would the hub be surprised...

Things were progressing rather nicely until I shut the mower off to move the fire pit rocks. That’s when the mower decided not to start again. Really? Oops!

I tried everything I could think of (which wasn’t enough) before I broke down and called the hub. “Hey, guess what?” I said. “I was mowing...” 

In a rather surprised and concerned tone he said, “What, you were mowing? Mowing?” (As if he didn’t hear me the first time.)

To make a long story short, the mower is now residing in the repair shop. Thanks to our neighbors who let the hub borrow their mower to finish the lawn.

Although he appreciated the effort, we reminisced about our discussion from so long ago...

“There is a reason you don’t mow,” he said. There sure is honey, there sure is!

Will it ever end?

As I write this, the wind is howling, the rain is bordering on turning to snow, and it’s just plain miserable outside. The forecast for the next week or so doesn’t look a whole lot different than the one for today. A day here and there of warmer temps and glimpses of sunshine. Will it ever end?

I remember penning a cheery column back in February regarding the soon to be ending winter. Boy was I wrong.

I had actually packed my winter stuff away a few weeks ago as I was sure I wouldn’t need it. Boy, was I wrong again.  At last week's ball games I sported my wool hat, mittens, and winter coat.

As I was about to start whining this morning when I looked outside I heard yet another report regarding the southern part of our country. Several states have been plagued by tornadoes and severe storms. Many people have died in these storms and the damage has tremendous.

I guess my winter coat doesn’t seem so bad in light of  what could be.

Say a prayer for the people in the states south of us and don’t forget to bundle up.

Year 42...

By the time you read this I will officially be a day into year 42 of my life. I honestly can’t believe I’m this old.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think people in their 40’s are old- it’s just that I never actually I imagined myself as a 40 something. In my head there are many days I’m still 18. Luckily though, I no longer act like it.

Every year I go through a mini depression around the time of my birthday. I beat myself up over the things that I haven’t accomplished yet. Things I thought for sure I would have by now.

This year though, I only let myself have only one day of mental torture before I decided to look at all of the things, by the grace of God, that I had accomplished in my life, choosing to look at the blessings in my life and not my failures.

I have been blessed with incredible kids, family, and friends. I have two really cool jobs that I am extremely thank ful for. I have a home and a car to drive.

I may not be at my “ideal” weight or in the financial position I thought I would be at 42 and I have some educational goals left to attain but I am learning to be okay with the fact that these aren’t failures but only things I have yet to accomplish. And you know what? I have vowed to keep plugging away at achieving what I have set out to. I’m carrying that positive attitude forward into year 42 and I’m feeling like it’s going to be a good one.

I guess anytime you can say that you have celebrated another year of life (considering the alternative) it has to be good right?

Great tuna casserole recipe!

QUICK AND EASY TUNA FISH CASSEROLE

Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,178,133179-255192,00.html Content Copyright © 2011 Cooks.com - All rights reserved. 1 or 2 cans tuna 1 tsp garlic salt to taste just a shake of salt just a shake of pepper a little over 1/2 cup of Italian bread crumbs 3/4 cup Ranch dressing 1/2 bag of egg noodles Boil egg noodles until done; drain.Drain water from tuna and place in a bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Be sure mixture has a creamy enoughconsistency, and taste to see if enough garlic salt has been added. If mixture is too creamy, add more bread crumbs, and vice-versa (Ranch Dressing). Stir in cooked egg noodles and serve immediately or place a couple slices of cheese (of your choice) on top and bake in the oven JUST for a couple minutes until the cheese melts. Overcooking will make tuna dry. Enjoy! Submitted by: Jennifer Smith

Life moves pretty fast...

Ferris Bueller said it best, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Those of you with kids know exactly what he’s talking about. Life moves pretty fast.

There comes a point in many families where everyday life becomes a blur of ortho appointments, piano lessons, sports practices, homework, games, meetings- the works. It seems like one minute your kids are running around at your feet, the next you’re just plain running them around. Just when you think you may have time to breathe, somebody else needs a ride, has a game, needs help with their homework, has a piano lesson, gets sick, has dance practice... life can be downright exhausting. Some days you just need to take time to breathe, you need to stop and look around before you miss it, but if you do that, you’ll be undoubtedly be late picking somebody up from somewhere.

There were times when my kids were at their busiest that I would have given my right arm for one minute, just one, to not be on the road to somewhere. One minute, just one, to breathe. One minute to stop and look around before I missed it. Life moves pretty fast.

Oddly enough though, I began to love life on the road. I began to secretly cherish the time in the car with my kids. For a few minutes of every day we got to be together before they were off to their next event. Better yet were the times we trekked to the cities or someplace farther away then one of the MACCRAY schools-- we always had the best road trips. Those rides in the car became my time to breathe.

Then suddenly, it seems, the kids were off to college. Life really does move fast. Wasn’t it just yesterday they were telling me how they didn’t want to leave home to go to college so they probably weren’t going to go, unless of course I could drive them there? I remember telling them that by the time they were old enough to go to college, they would actually want to be leaving the house. They looked at me like I was a crazy lady.

The hub and I have been pretty fortunate so far as the kid’s college choices have been in close proximity to our home, two at Ridgewater and one at Northwestern, only a few hours away. Life is still moves pretty fast as the two youngest are active in collegiate sports but we have always felt blessed that we can travel to watch them most of the time. We get to see our kids quite often and absolutely love the rare times that the whole family is at home (I completely understand now why my parents don’t care when we invite ourselves over for dinner) yet we still have a bit of time to ourselves. Empty nesthood for us has quite frankly been a breeze, that is until a couple of weeks ago when the biggest road trip of our lives changed everything.

Our daughter, who has attended Ridgewater for the past two years, got an offer from a college in New Jersey. After several hours of research on the college and even more conversing with one of her soon-to-be coaches and a few future teammates, she made up her mind that she was going to transfer next fall, she just needed to visit the college and see the area to be absolutely sure.

So, the youngest, the daughter, and I took off for Bloomfield, New Jersey, a 2,600 mile road-trip in all. We left on a Thursday morning and were back by Sunday night. Four straight days with two of my kids was a dream come true. We had the time of our lives during those four days cruising across the country, checking out the college, and spending a whirlwind day in New York City, which is only about 15 minutes from Bloomfield. 

We all fell absolutely in love with the area, the college, and the Big Apple. My daughter was bursting with excitement when she made the official commitment to attend college there next year. I was bursting with excitement for her! Life moves pretty fast... I suddenly really needed to take time to breathe.

 The reality that my little girl won’t be a few short minutes away anymore began to sink in this week.  It’s such a weird combination of emotions to be so incredibly happy and excited knowing that your child is going where they are meant to be and at the same time to be so absolutely terrified of not being able to spend time with them every week. I know I really need to put my big girl undies on to get through this-- she is doing everything I always hoped and dreamed that she would do. Besides, we expect nothing less of her than to take the opportunities given to her. We expect nothing less of her than to follow her dreams. We can’t wait to see where life takes her.


“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Thanks Ferris for your words of wisdom. Those of you with kids know exactly what he’s talking about...

All for five bucks...

      Surprisingly I am able to write this. There was a brief time over the last day or two that I wondered if I’d be physically able to. On Sunday I broke out a new workout DVD. Billy Blanks: Beginner’s Boot Camp. It was a beginner’s workout so no worries right?

     Last week during my weekly trip to Target I was cruising the back side of the store coming up in the electronics department, an aisle I’m usually not in. Much to my delight there was a combo-pack DVD-- one was the original Taebo workout, the other a four-workout DVD starting with the Beginner’s Bootcamp. It was an absolute steal at $4.98 for two DVD’s. I had scored the ultimate workout combo for five bucks.
    
     I admit I haven’t been a gym-rat for the last six weeks or so on Sunday I popped in the DVD vowing to start anew.

     And I did, for the most part. I don’t know who Billy was referring to when he made a tape for beginner’s as it definitely wasn’t somebody with my skillset and fitness level but I trudged through it as Billy promised my life and spirit would improve. I would get the life I always dreamed of. All this for five bucks. Thanks Billy.

     I muddled through the 55 minute workout and after I recovered I of course felt wonderful, until yesterday morning that is.
    
     I strained to get out of bed Monday morning and the aches and pains grew throughout the day. I went to the gym after work to try and loosen up. That was to no avail. I currently feel aches in muscles I forgot I had. I hesitate to do anything quickly and sitting down is not an easy task.
    
     But in a weird way I love the feeling. It reminds me that I actually got some much needed exercise and a start on my dream life. All for five bucks!

Shades of gray...

Shades of gray. What if everyone viewed the world in shades of gray? What if all the extremists in the United States (or better yet the world), the ones that can only see black or white, suddenly opened their minds and hearts to a different world view? What if there were no more hate? What a world it would be! What a glorious state our country would be in! What if?

Don’t get me wrong, if we all agreed on everything the world would probably be in worse shape than it already is, but I can’t help but think that if the far right and the far left would actually take their blinders off, open their eyes, and stop spewing hate, something could be done about the state of our country and the world itself.

And what if the far right and the far left actually quit blaming each other, accepted responsibility for their own actions, and looked at the big picture? What if the far right and far left stopped inciting hate and ignorance every time they opened their mouths? What if they stopped looking at the black and white, and looked at the gray? What if?

Call me crazy but a simple conversation that starts something like this could go a long ways in improving our “civilized” country, “Hi, my name is Far Left. I strongly believe that our country should look like this and I understand that you, Far Right, feel strongly that our country should look totally opposite. Maybe if we explain to each other the reasons we feel this way, actually listen to each other, agree to disagree, and find some common ground between us, we can COMPROMISE and make our country a better place.” 

Maybe it’s an Utopian concept to actually believe that our extremist elected officials could compromise based on the good of the people they represent instead of constantly streaming biggotry, criticism, violence, hate, and ignorance.

But, unfortunately it’s unfair to place the entire blame of the state of our country solely on our elected officials because, who are they elected by? Us! (and well, whichever side whines the loudest and throws the most money out there, but that’s another column for another day).

Maybe all of us that generally see gray should start to speak out? Maybe those of you that only see black and white should actually take your blinders off and realize that there is more to every “ideal” than your own perfect opinions. Maybe you will find out that there are many that actually may agree with you on some level but because you fail to see any possible reason why somebody might think differently, civility and compromise take a backseat to ignorance and hate. The blinders stay on and our country continues in it’s downward spiral with nobody really to blame but ourselves.

So I challenge everyone, myself included, to this: next time somebody disagrees with you, instead of insisting that you’re right and they are wrong, maybe you can ask them politely why they feel the way they do. Maybe you can politely tell them how you feel. Maybe you will find you have something in common. Maybe we will all begin to see beautiful shades of gray.

What if?