Fall Service Project 2010

We have something called the Hero Program at my work. Every year we find a project to do in the community. Employees, family and friends sign up to be volunteers for a day(or more). The store supplies all the materials and the volunteers do all the work.

Last year we worked fixing up Kiwanas kiddie land. We painted, fixed the roof, did some landscaping etc,. It was a big job and took numerous days to complete.

This year we worked at the Merced Homeless shelter. We cut wood to fit under the mattresses to support the beds. We built shelving racks and picnic tables and donated umbrellas. We were even written about in three local newspapers.
It wasn't hard hard work...but I think the bed supports alone will make a huge difference.
The beds look very uncomfortable. Many of them had layers of cardboard under the mattresses. I don't know how to describe it but some of the beds were sunken in. The metal frame was coming apart in some areas... Anyways, the wood under the mattresses are going to add support and make them more comfortable(if a thin mattress on a bunk bed is comfortable)
As you can see, I'm wearing my cycling gloves...not sure why I have sunglasses on indoors..

Bedtime Stories

I was remembering, tonight, my bedtime ritual when I was little. I would beg my dad to tell me a bedtime story and he didnt want to -he just wanted me to fall asleep. His story always went like this..."once upon a .... time ....(yawn). there was a little girl...(yawn)..and she was very ... very... tired... (yawn). she was so. tired ...she was soooooo tired she wanted. to go..... to sleep (yawn)"
-like the yawns are going to rub off on me. He told that one so much it must have worked. I would scream "no! I want a real story"
-Then when my mom would read me a bedtime story she would read a page and fall asleep and I would shake her and try to wake her to read more..every page she would pause and start to fall asleep or she'd yawn every other word.

...uhhh. My torturous childhood..deprived of a descent bedtime story.

So tonight as soon as I laid down on Rileys bed to read to her I started yawning. I had to flip over and read on my stomach so I wouldnt keep yawning. We read Junie B Jones book and once I started reading I was fine because of how funny the book is. I was laughing and Riley was laughing.. so we got through a few chapters.

Wicked the book

Finished reading Wicked. I enjoyed this book...although I'm not sure I enjoyed it enough to read the next book in the series. The musical didnt follow the book...it had some similarities but there was alot that was completely different. Some books made into movies have alot that is just left out..Like in Harry Potter, Hermione is involved in Spew..to help the plight of the house elves. That is completely left out of the movie and it was a big part in the book. No..this book turned musical things were completely changed and I was like, "hey, that character Avric is changed to Fiero in the book??...but not in the end""hey Madame Morrible trained Elphaba to do magic..oh, wait, she doesnt do magic in the book?" "but, Elphaba made the shoes magic...not glinda?..."> Actually I still liked the book even though it was changed.

Anyways it felt like the author is so pissed about society and is writing a book to bitch about how things are...he had so much in there Im sure he could pay a psychologist to just read his book and diagnose him with out having to go to therapy.

Saw these in my photos...so cute I had to post them

These photos were taken just before we moved back to Merced...
It never seems like 5 years have passed until I look at pictures of my babies. I'm always overwhelmed by their cuteness...they ARE still cute to this day. But look at those faces!

Group ride

Most people at my work know I like to cycle. It's been mentioned a fw times that there should be a group ride. Saturday I told Priscilla that we should plan a ride, she said yes.. And we looked at the schedule and Monday worked. Even though it was only 2 days away I posted a sign that there would be a group ride (out and back) all were welcome.
Monday I worked 10-4 ... The ride was scheduled for 5pm. Priscilla texted me that we were still on.
Guess how many showed?

2 - it was just me and her. But today more people asked about it and said they'd ride with us..if there was more than a day warning . So we decided next tuesday would work and I put a new sign up. I wonder if more people will show. I was always envious of the bike club that rides around merced intheir kevins bike shop jerseys and bike shorts. I've always wanted to ride with a bike club. I just don't want to be the slow overweight one 2 miles behind everyone else. I remember last year riding the bile trail and seeing a group of bikes and people. I was excited because I thought I found a bike group that hangs out in the park...then. I got nearer And saw the baby trailers with bags of recycling and bed rolls and back packs with worldly belongings..my heart sank a bit. I wonder what they would have said if id have peddled over and said "hey, can I ride with you guys?"

so, because it was only Priscilla and me we planned to meet at rahiley park. We rode to the lake and back. It's a good ride...I was worried that Priscilla would hate me today...but I saw her and she said she wasn't reall sore much..but is happy for the weekto rest before our next ride.

Here I am again watching gymnastics class. Riley is on beam. Walking backwards. I have had alot of work to dothis week. Yesterday I worked 2 hrs over...but it's only 1 1/2hr or because I ce home for lunchand I'm always 10-15min late +we are scheduled 15 min past the hour 7-4 is just 7:15 - 4.
My ear has also been stuffed all week causing me some dizziness.
That plus that means I haven't been doinguch fitness. I have been doing better with my nutrition. Most of the day I've been good-perfect. Then the evening hits and i don't do as well. I'll eat too much or not enough good stuff. I'm planning a yard sale so I won't bike tonight but maybe I'll plan for tomorrow. I want to have my sale tomorrow but I'm not ready and I already feel tired thinking about everything I want to do tonight/early morning. We were supposed to camp with Williams parents..but they planned their camping trip for the weekdays and were only off for the weekend. Will goes back to work sun night so were just staying home this weekend. I hope I can get this sale together because I've been wanting to do this for a long time

Summer swimming

My kids have been going to swimming at the Merced College pool for the last four weeks. Riley and Liam both did a 2 week secion in the Advanced Beginner class(which was nice because they both went from 10 to 11am everyday). Liam moved up to the Intermediate class(at 11am) and Riley is in the Advanced Beginner class at 10am so we're doing a little more juggling. I love watching them swim- sitting watching their classes makes me want to get into the water and swim too.
The first day I took them I noticed a sign that said Adult lap swimming class: $75 dollars. I mentioned it to my husband that I was interested in signing myself up. I also mentioned it to my in-laws and they thought it was a good idea and offered to pay for it as an early birthday present to me. So I(because of work/life scheduling) have been going twice a week for an hour class each time. I like the 5 o'clock class better than the noon class. It's less crowded. This week I've been having ear issues and dizziness so I've havent been. I'm hoping tomorrow my ears will feel less stuffy.

Card I made for my sisters bday

I have 4 siblings and some of them have spouses...plus nieces and nephews. So we celebrate alot of birthdays. Last year a sister and a sister-in-law decided that we should stop giving presents for the adults birthdays. So for 2010 we are just giving cards. If I have the time I enjoy making my card..if not I'll ask Riley or Liam to make a card.
This is the card I made for my sister Carrie. Her birthday was on Sunday.

She was an 80's child(when the Care Bears cartoon was popular). Because her name is Carrie..we called her Care Bear as a nick name. So I found an image of the care bears online and using card stock..cut and pasted all the pieces and then used a fine tip marker for the outlines.

Mom made homemade Lasagna w/ garlic bread, green salad, fruit salad(which was more like desert because of all the whip cream)and cake with ice cream....It was delicious but definitely not diet food.

We played apples to apples... Liam and my sister Rachel were doing good..but Tim was the winner. I didnt have the best cards this time. -That's ok with me because I'm still the reigning Scrabble champion. Becky told me we should play 1 on 1...I told her I wasnt going to play her for a long while. I want to enjoy being the winner for a while.

Anyways...I wish my sister Carrie a very Happy Birthday. 30 was a difficult year for her so I hope 31 is much better.

Yes, that is sweat on my head

I did a very fast(for me) ride. My legs are warm and fuzzy feeling...I actually might have some soreness(better stretch &eat some protein now. Stretching is the best way to not feel sore later

Summary:
00:52:02
12.17 miles
54' elevation gain/loss
14.0 average moving speed
20.3 max speed
152 average HR
188 Max HR
387 calories

Help!

Help! I've fallen (off the wagon) and I can't get back on.
My diet is so bad. Mom made lasagna for my sisters birthday... And I ate it :(
my pants don't feel so lose any more - at least I can still zip and button.
The lasagna isn't the only slip. Desert at mimi's restaurant on my anniversary, cake, salami.
I am sitting watching Rileys gymnastics class and typing this on my iphone. Before this I was grocery shopping and I consciously only bought good veggies, yogurt nonfat milk ,healthy nuts, celery. I haven't had a great summer as far as fitness and weightloss is concerned.
I was hoping to finish my weigh loss by autumn- but I've slowly gained Back 10 lbs. that I've already lost...so now I get to lose those again. -joy.
Last summer I was so successful. I was okay logging so many hours away from my family. I felt that it was necessary because my health was in jeopardy if I didn't go out and exercise. I rarely ate with them --I had my nutriton plan and I'd cook meals for my family but I'd go out the door on my bike once they were fed....and if I didnt get in a bike everyday I'd do atleast 30 min walk or stepper.
Last year was about me getting healthy. This year has naturally reverted back to them. A few times I've gotten home from work thinking about going on a ride...and the moment I walk on I hear,"oh good Moms home - mom can we_____." of course my plans are forgotten because I've already missed them all day long. I feel guilty if I leave them home and go exercise. Now it's almost the end of summer and I am still wanting to be a changed person...it is really easy to eat correctly if I'm exercising 1-2 hours each day. I remember how I'd feel after a hard workout ..I didn't want to ruin it by eatting bad. I would've done all that work for nothin'.

Now I need balance! The only thing I've managed is lap swimming class twice a week for an hour and I really like it.

I'm listening to John Mayer free falling, and watching Riley do split leaps -she can't get the arm swing right, I just told her that I could've done that one better. (I could have too)
she's such a strong girl...but she doesn't always get the graceful part...has to be reminded to point her toes..
I love watching her- it's amazing the things she can do. But not today...she's flopping around and not focusing. A few months ago she was on the verge on moving up to level 3 and at every class she was super good. Now she made it to level 3 and it's alot larder than level 2. And it's twice as much gym time(3 hrs per week). Not sure how well adjust once school starts and girlscouts & catch are back...and homework. I've been wanting to take Liam to karate again.
For the last month both kids have been in swimming lessons, 1 hour each day. Monday thru Thursday. Plus Riley's 1 &1/2 hr gnastics twice a week. (and dont forget I work full time)-So we've been busy. -I guess you can see how little time I have had for my own activities.
I know this Blog post sounds like I'm complaining --or making excuses. I really do like keeping my kids busy. It's important for them to not spend the whole day in front of the computer, tv & video games.
Right now I'm trying to psych myself up for a long bikeride this evening - and since my husband is resting before work the kids will most likely be in front of the tv if I go...I think I should rename this the-busy-mom-blog or the-not-every-mom-can-do-everything-blog