Life is Sweet

Friday, July 23, 2010

Home Improvement

Have you been wondering what I've been up to the last few days? I didn't think so, but I'll share anyway.

Basically working my behind off. (Oh yeah, I don't have one. And I'm not bragging, because I wish I did. Instead, I have the kindly-passed-down-genetics for a non-curvacious back-side. Although today, that flat gluteus maximus is killing me. Because one of the things on Mauri's list of things-to-do-while-the-rest-of-the-fam-is-away was exercise with mom. Which we did yesterday. Today, the stairs are painful. Lunges are not my friend.)

I started a project. Don't ask me why. I should have taken my couple of days with fewer demands off. Lounged by the pool. Read a good book. Soaked in the tub. I, however, chose to push myself to the limit of working-your-hiney-off. I'm second-guessing that now, but I know I will be glad to have finished this project once it's... well... finished.

My niece is coming for a visit, which means she will most likely need to use a bathroom while she's here. And it's highly probable that she will use the bathroom Lex and Shi share. Do you know what two teenage girls (and their friends) can do to a bathroom? I hope you didn't guess "clean it." That would be incorrect. At least on a regular basis. So the bathroom needed some work, and I decided to git 'er done.

Good-bye hideous gold hand-towel rings! (This wall is really green... for some reason it looks like the color in the REST of my house. That awesome gold-tone must be very reflective.)

Good-bye ugly patched area on nasty green walls!

Good-bye crummy shower curtain rod that droops!

Good-bye natural oak finished cabinets!

Good-bye leaky AND ugly gold-and-chrome-toned faucet! And the ugly stain you leave behind!

Hello new toilet seat. Hello fresh coat of paint. Hello brushed nickel.

Since the project is still in progress (Bill is putting in faucets even as I type, and I really should go help), I will post completed pictures at some later date. Which will hopefully be sooner than later. Unlike my still unpainted (but primed) table in the basement.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Gone Baby Gone

I finally took all of this

here

and I only kept these

(I was a little more attached to my banana split dishes than I thought.
And yes, I have used them in the past year.)

I purchased this

because it reminded me of my Grandma Goldsberry. And I like it.

As of this moment, I have no giver's, saver's, or buyer's remorse. A good day.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Room Purge

A beautiful thing.

Cleaning, organizing, discarding, donating. Why does it feel so good?

Yesterday Lexee and Shilo participated in a room purge. I, of course, acted as director and supporter. Encouraging them to rid themselves of the unwanted stuff tucked in the dark recesses of their bedrooms. It was the perfect day to perform such a ritual... both girls were home (well, kind of... Shilo had physical therapy and Lex had gymnastics), and it was going to be the only day available to ready themselves for a new school year. (Seriously, from here on out their days are scheduled to the brim.)
And what better way to start than with a clean, organized bedroom.

Here's the donate pile.

Which is now ready to head to the Goodwill

(along with all the other stuff that's still in my basement).

The giant bag of discards left with the trash collectors this morning. And no, I didn't take a picture.
But can I just add, I love our trash guys. EVERY WEEK they put my garbage can up by our garage door after emptying it. I'm telling you, a tip at Christmastime can reap benefits all year long.

We repurposed a book shelf in Shi's room -- now a great place to keep her shoes. Oh, how I love an organized closet.

And Lex sorted her clothes by color. A girl after my own heart.

And, of course, there is always a treasure hidden somewhere under the bed or in the closet. Lexee found this one, and Mauri has worn it at least half the day. I suppose it's serving a useful purpose. Even if that purpose is solely to provide joy (and some style).

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Invasion of Personal Space

Yesterday was the Championship swim meet for our division. Lest you think I'm a braggart, this isn't something that happens every day around here. In fact, we've never been to a Championship swim meet before. Most years we have been out of town for the Prelims, which means there's no chance to swim at Championships. This summer, however, has been much different than the summers of the past. We I have been home the entire summer. The rest of the family has been here, there and everywhere. But since Youth Conference was a Mon-Tues-Wed (loved that it didn't cut into a weekend), and Girls Camp is this upcoming week (after the summer swim stuff - except for All Stars), we've been here for swim practices and meets, piano lessons, strength camp, and gymnastics. Lucky us.

Back to the meet.

So Shilo swam the 100 Fly and the 100 Back. Same as Prelims. Her only wish was to improve her time and place (if possible). To refresh your memory, she placed 5th in fly at Prelims and 3rd in back.

And, since you know I love to record such events, here is the 100 Back race:

She also placed 3rd in the fly, and her two relay teams placed 2nd (both by less than a second behind the 1st place team).

When we arrived at the meet, Bill and I found a nice covered area with a great view, right at the end of the pool, where we set up camp for the day. Then the whistle blew for the first event, and the invasion began:

I guess because we were in a covered area (which, by the way, was our team's designated spot), people figured it was only right and fair to have some shade too. There was plenty of room to watch the races in the sun, just inches away from the shade, but the day was hot, and the shade limited. So we spent the day with the backsides of strangers mere inches away from our faces. My toes were constantly trampled, and my knees were often touching the back of people's legs. Oh, the price to stay cool on a 100+ degree day. At least we had chairs.

And Bill had plenty of time to prepare his talk for the following day. Even with the invasion going on.

I was tense (nervous for Shilo's races), and claustrophobic. One of the teams had handed out mini cow-bells to every member of their team, and those hyper-active kids (and parents) went nuts with them. I wanted to stomp on them. I fumed to Bill about it, then resorted to glaring at the kids and parents ringing them incessantly. Talk about misery... super hot temps, 5 swim teams crowded around a small community pool, poor organization on the part of the host team (the meet went an hour and a half over schedule), loud 80's music (I can't get away from it... songs like I Love Rock 'n Roll and Shout), and at least 100 cow bells. All noise-makers should be banned at sporting events, in my opinion.

But we made it. After a day of rest (all except for the 2 hours in nursery), I can feel the positivity flowing back into my being.

Shilo was excited to be "back" in the back. More physical therapy this week... until girl's camp on Wednesday. Bill is heading to New York for most of the week, so it's me and Mar.
And you know how that girl keeps me busy.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

I'm a Believer

Yesterday Shilo started physical therapy on her leg. You know, the one with the rope burn. Since this was our first time EVER with such things, I didn't know what to tell Shilo to expect. I told her it might involve pain. And possibly tears. (I know, way to be upbeat and positive.)

They did all kinds of interesting things. Yes, Shilo confirmed, some of it was painful. She wanted to cry, but held it in. But let me tell you, it was extremely effective.

We went back today for some new therapies, and some of the same.

I am amazed that, after only one day of therapy, her leg was this straight. You can kind of see the lumps in the upper calf muscles... they are rock hard. The PT said it was most likely calcification of blood... muscle... tissue... something like that.

She started on a stationary bike, then had a nice calf massage. (At least it looked like a nice calf massage. Shilo said it was somewhat painful.) After some other exercises, Shi got slimed.

In preparation for ultrasound therapy.

Followed by shock treatment (at least that's what I like to call it).

They didn't have a big selection of reading materials, so Shi settled for the Good Housekeeping with an article on Rachael Ray. I just sat and listened to the bad 80's music playing on the radio somewhere. Songs like 867-5309 and C'mon Eileen. It makes me tense. You would think they would have soothing, relaxing, spa-like music drifting through a quality sound system to put their patients at ease. (Although that kind of music probably makes other people tense.)

Just not 80's. From a cheap radio. Intermixed with long segments of talking by uninteresting hosts. Shi said she's bringing her i-pod tomorrow. I think I'll bring one too.

So, the results speak for themselves. Shilo said her swimming this morning at practice was much improved. Her leg had more mobility. Flip turns were easier. Her coach had initially moved her down to a slower lane for practice, but then moved her right back into the fast lane.

She's also happy that the therapist recommended she not do the 5 mile hike at girls camp next week. No tears there. She's practically giddy at the fact that she can sit at camp and relax, while the rest of the girls are out traipsing around in the dirt and heat.

I am looking forward to saying good-bye to the gimp. Physical Therapy seems to be doing the trick.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Pet Peeves

Where did that phrase come from anyway? {Pet peeve} I have concluded that it means something that is highly annoying to you (the peeve), that occurs so frequently that you are constantly having to give it your attention (your pet), like when you have a dog that requires a concerted effort, and nobody but mom is willing to give it.
(Click here to read that sad but true story.)

So I have a few that have been rubbing up against my leg today.

Open cabinet doors. Wii stuff all over the place.

A warm blanket, no longer needed once the day heats up.
And if you look closely in the lower left corner you will find

a used glass and a half-eaten bag of candy. BTW, we have a "no food in the family room for people under 18" rule. Obviously not rigorously enforced enough to cause concern in the minds of ANY of my children.

And not far from that are sweat pants.

In the middle of the family room floor.

Hoodie and tee, no longer needed, resting on the barstool. Waiting for... laundry day?

A day's worth of parakeet mess, that most likely will roll over into two, possibly three.

A myriad of shoes, summer style. In cooler weather the shoes are bigger and more obtrusive (and there are more socks to accompany them), but whatever the season, they pile up until I order them loaded up in a laundry basket, and placed in the room of their rightful owner. More often than not, I fill that order myself.

These unwanted pets have hung around for years. Sometimes, after a mom tirade, they disappear. But only for a day or two. But (and as my sister would say, that is a big "but"), I wouldn't trade them for the alternative: no kids and a spotless house. I remind myself all the time that, as long as it's not too dirty, too cluttered, or too smelly, it really won't matter in the long run.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

No Tears

Following yesterday's very-bad stressful day (no one reason in particular, just a bunch of little things all piled up), today was full of good news.

At the Prelim meet, Shilo decided to swim two of her three events: 100 Fly and 100 Back. She had a respectable showing in both, and even placed 3rd (out of 5) in the Back. She was glad she competed, and is going to try to improve her time and possibly her placement in both events on Saturday at the Championship meet. There were no tears.

It also gave us hope that her leg is healing. She has a physical therapy appointment tomorrow... we'll see how that goes.

Mauri was hoping for the chance to swim in the Championships, but fell a little short. The great news is she did the best she has all season, and improved her time in every event. We chatted about how next year will be her year... she will swim in the same age bracket as she did this year, and will have another year's growth and experience on her side. We also found out that she wasn't (that's was not) DQed for her breaststroke on Saturday. Go figure. I was a little concerned about a DQ today because, as I was timing lane 4, the Stroke and Turn judge standing next to me was dishing them out left and right. Sometimes two at a time. Today, however, Mauri was near flawless in her stroke, kick and turn. Phew!

And Mauri entertained herself as she waited for me to finish my timing shift:

(Self snapshot)

(Cute hairy legs)

I was just grateful to be done. Standing for hours in 100 degree temps, sweat running in places I dare not say, is not my idea of a great time.