Clearing the Air

Today has been an eye opener for me and that's all I'm going to say about that.



I do want to point out one thing to all my readers, those that comment and those that don't.� My blog posts are not always up to date.� Godaddy has this really cool thing called "Timestamp".� Basically what this means is that when I write a blog post, I can timestamp to be posted at whatever time I chose.� You are not always getting to the minute information. Often, on the eve of a busy day, once kid's lunches are packed, homework is complete and dishes are done, I will blog my post for the following day.� But as I post Monday through Friday, if I already have a blog up for the current day, I will timestamp my new post to go live at whatever time the next day.� Often when I do this, I simply change the P in PM to A for AM.� So if I am blogging at 10:06 PM, I will change the timestamp to 10:06 AM.� Just easier to do as my only desire is it post the next day.



For example, I am hurriedly writing this right now at 5:20 PM and I have to leave for kickboxing soon.� I am going to timestamp this to post at 7:01 PM, when I will be walking out of class, dripping wet and feeling stronger.�



So that's how things work around here.� Just so we are all clear.� When I go on the mission trips, if you are a regular reader, you will note that most days there is a post.� On the mission trips, I have no access to internet or even a computer.� So before I leave for the trip, I set up my posts, whether they be mine or a guest blogger, one to post each day of the week.� I love this feature.



So, finishing up now at 5:22, set to post at 7:01.

How is it Possible...

...that today is the last day of school?�



Tomorrow begins the Great Kim Juggling Act of balancing kids, exercise and sanity.� It is always a challenge.� Ugh.� In some ways, the kids being off school is easier (I am looking at this purely as a logistic thing.� I know the kids love their summer vacations and I am not denying them that.� I loved them when I was a kid too.� But being a parent, summer vacations from school take on an entirely new dimension.� Just sayin'.) in that I have no more lunches to pack, or kids to wake up and get moving in the morning.� I am not as anal about bedtimes during the summer providing they are amusing themselves and not being all in my face after 9:30pm, which for me is adult time, ie. not time to be mom.� I love them, but most parents will tell you that kids can be all consuming every waking moment and the parents who deny this, are liars are not being honest with themselves are better people than I.



So anyway, my goal is hit the pavement three mornings a week in one way or another.� One way would be by getting my butt out of bed at 6:00am. The "another" way would be anything but that in the event I cannot haul my lazy ass out of bed.� I'm thinking I can pull it off a few days a week.� The kids would still be asleep, the temperatures outside would not be up yet and I can then come home, shower and get ready for work.� Doable right?� Totally, right?



We are now less than three weeks away from our mission trip and I would love to have a few guest bloggers in my absence.� Wanted to put it out there to see if I get any volunteers before I ask people directly.� Ya'll know the kind of stuff I talk about here; health, fitness, exercise, surviving summer school vacations.� So, let me know if you are willing to write one and what your topic will be.� Then you can email me at kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (really need to change that.� What's a knitting needle?) with your article and I can get it set to post on one of my days away.� I will be gone June 27-July 3rd.� If I don't get volunteers I will have to go hit up a few of the blogs I have stalking, and those girls are much more famous than I, so I'm not sure if they will give me the time of day or not.� Just sayin'.� I just hate leaving the blog empty for that long.� I know the world will not cease to exist with no boring little blog entries from me, but it just makes me feel better to know my little corner of the internets is being looked after.



My eating has been much better this week�with the exception of some Milky Way minis...damn whoever brought those into my world this week!��I am feeling much better about the whole thing despite how...ahem...no one...*cough* gave me any ideas for healthy snacks.� I know ya'll have 'em, so cough 'em up.�



I also know ya'll are out there, so while I am asking you for stuff today, leave me a little comment and let me know you still exist.� See, in�case you are not a blogger, we love comments.� We love to hear what readers have to say as long as it is polite (I get really annoyed when bloggy friends are attacked rudely by people who don't agree with them.� You can disagree, but really, dudes, can we be nice?) and it actually inspires us to blog.� If we didn't like comments, our journals would not be out there for all the world to see, but still in pretty little spiral bound notebooks with flowers all over the covers.� I like pretty little books actually but still prefer to type my thoughts and occasionally add photos to them without the use of tape.



Lastly, theater people.� I have a question, and Tod, you have already answered this one, so you are excused...from this...not from commenting.� Anyway, if a director says to you "Stand upstage.� I want to hear your diction.� Finish the sentence 'You won't believe this but on the way here...'" does that mean to improvise an entire story about monsters or tornados attacking your car on the way to auditions?� Please keep in mind, this is what I was told and I was first to have to do this.� What comes to your mind when someone wants to hear your diction?

Sweet Friday

Never thought this day would arrive.  I am still suffering from intense insomnia that begins promptly at 2:00 am and fades away allowing me to fall back to sleep around 3:30.  Totally annoying and I am hoping it has something to do with eating a small handful of Hershey Kisses before going to bed.  I have sworn myself off of them tonight (I will actually be glad when they are GONE) so we shall see how it goes.

I discovered something rather important and awesome today.  Fitbloggin is apparently something similar to Blogher but for folks who blog healthy stuff, which is what I have more or less become.  What's really cool is the conference this year is in Baltimore and the bad news is that is $100 to attend. It would be awesome to go but maybe it will be nearby another year in the future. I have spent time tonight perusing the blogs under the "Whose Coming" tab.  I love finding new bloggers to read. 

No workout today as I had big fun lunch plans with Pook, BFFF, BFFF's roomie and PK.  BFFF's roomie is soon heading on his cross cultural for college to Guatemala and then Mexico, going away for a total of four months.  Though he is the newest edition to our group, I'll miss him while he is gone, but he is going on our mission trip with us this summer.  Probably just as well no workout today as I am dragging the ground a bit, to the point my throat feels a little sore.  But this could just be that I'm overly tired as sometimes tiredness presents itself as borderline illness with me.  Would like to get in some kind of activity this weekend but it is going to be cold (Spring, if you could maybe just hurry up a teeny tiny bit, that would be swell.  kthanks.) and we have already discussed my love of that.

And in other news, in a moment of some kind of annoyance back in September I applied for a job as a substitute bus driver, just to bring in a little extra play money.  Got a letter back before Christmas that they had filled the job I applied for and had honestly forgotten I had applied for, so I didn't think anymore of it.  Today, I get a call from the Board of Ed asking if I was still interested, so I have an interview on Thursday.  I figure it would not be an every day event and it might even be a bit fun.  I'll keep up to date on any progression.

Well, my goal is try to blog Monday-Friday and take weekends off.  I'm not promising anything though.  You could get a blog entry on a weekend if I get inspired or there could be weekdays I can't be bothered or am uninspired.  But I have missed the blogging world during my sporadic break from it the last two months and it feels good to be back into again with some regularity.

So if I don't see you all again till Monday, have a happy and safe weekend and those of you in the cold states, keep warm!

My Chains are Gone!

So it was not until I was on my way to work this morning that I realized it.

I completely forgot to blog yesterday.  For the first time since January of 2008, I did not blog.

Wow.

I felt both weirded/freaked out and surprisingly free.  All the times I had waffled about continuing to blog every day and the decision was made by a simple lapse of memory.  We had this fabulous weekend of boating on Saturday (and see the bear!) and then a swim party on Sunday, and I was way tired last night.  We got home around 7:30 and I chatted online to Deyse till about 10:30 and then got ready for bed.

Never gave blogging a thought despite the fact that I was on the computer!

Wow, freaking wow!

So my oldest son is dating.  Officially.  And he is dating one of my youth girl's younger sister.  They've known each other for probably close to three years, but when they were together all week last week, both helping with VBS, something started to click.  Now, I'm not seeing marriage, but maybe that first love  (I'm not saying they couldn't marry, but with one being 13 and the other 14, waaaaay too soon to speculate!).  They went to the movies tonight and things seem to have gone well.  I told him if he was not a perfect gentleman, I'd kill him, figuratively speaking of course. 

In other news, The Brit got me a new phone and I am in love with it.  I just need Rachel (another of my girls) to name it.  My last phone, she named Tess and she named my ipod Fernando.  Rach names all her small electronics and nothing is more amusing than hearing on a mission trip, "Has anyone seen Tammy?  I can't find her anywhere!" 

Tammy is Rachel's hair straighter.

No Excitement

Today was really low on the Stuff To Blog About scale.  It was essentially work, ship broken camera back to Canon, outlets for refills for my room smell good stuff, home to mow the yard, clean up the deck and do some container gardening.  Take a second shower, go to new seafood place for dinner with The Brit, come home for Fire Pit Frenzy with Robyn and the youth group. 

So seriously, nothing blog-worthy tonight.

Tomorrow we are picking up the boat and giving it a good clean and I want to get some flowers for another container garden. Excitement abounds around these here parts, lemme tell you!

Happy weekend, peeps!  Stay safe! 

Peace out!

Ignoring My Own Blog....

I'm ignoring my own blog to blog for Kim again!!  It's a shame Kevin Spacey isn't in London at this time..because she would have to be chasing him down for me - lol!!

Speaking of Kevin Spacey, he has a new movie coming out (several actually, but this one looks very good):



And that's my post.  Been moving into a new office the past few days - extremely tired.

Laura

I Like to Share

Today was a so-so day.  Nothing major happened.  Did get in to see the doctor and she told me my throat was a little red and a little swollen (yeah, I figured that since it has been hurting).  So she gave me some Allegra D samples and a sample of a nasal spray and I have felt a bit better.  So what do I have exactly?  Allergies?  Sinus issues?  Never really got a diagnosis.

Walked my two miles around the park despite not feeling exactly great, which is why I didn't go to the YMCA.  It has been chilly here the last two days!  Hello?  It's MAY!

I found a blog today I really liked dealing with RNY.  Her name is Pam and her blog is here.  In reading through some of her posts today, I was reminded of a few things...like why not only should I not eat and drink at the same time but why NOW I should actually wait 60-90 minutes after eating to drink.  Also was reminded of a few logistics of my pouch.

Though I have not had time to look at it yet, Pam also has a Protein Recipe Book on her site from things she has learned and/or accumulated from others.  I plan on checking this out in the next day or so.  There is also plenty of other information and perspective on her blog, so check her out!

This is why I love the blogging world.  Not only is this my journal where I vent or cry or rejoice, it where I can share with others who also blog and who also share with me their stories and lessons learned.  It is, in my opinion, one of the truest ways of getting to know someone.  On a blog, real life, such as phone calls, kids, doorbells, or homework, do not suddenly interrupt a story.  You get the whole thing.  I have cried with people, prayed for people (can we discuss how many blogger friends I have placed on our church prayer list?) laughed with them and celebrated with them.  We are a community and though we don't always agree with each other, I believe that most bloggers (not to be mistaken as just blog readers) have the ability to disagree with another blogger with dignity and respect.  Don't misunderstand, I love my blog readers, but though this has not affected my blog, I have seen other bloggers come under attack for their personal beliefs by blog readers and I don't understand that at all.  Bloggers are giving the public permission to read their diaries, for heaven's sake.  At least be considerate and mature if you don't agree with something.  We never care if you don't agree; we care about how you chose to voice that disagreement.

Anyway, check out Pam and please keep Liza and her husband in your prayers.  Her hubby is having some health problems that are hopefully not serious but we don't know yet.  They have the potential to be serious, but they simply don't have answers yet at least as far as her last post shows.

YAY for Awards!

I love fun nominations!

Laurie, a fellow C&P girl who blogs at Gastric Girl, gave me an Attitude of Gratitude award.  Thank you, Laurie!  I like you too!

Here are her instructions:

 

* Put the logo on your blog or post

* Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an an attitude of gratitude

* Link to your nominees within your post

* Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award

* Share the love & link to this post & the person who nominated you for the award

* Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude

I am going to attempt to nominate ten bloggers who have not already been nominated, but Gah!

In no particular order:

Heather over at Heather's Roller Coaster
Laura over at Strat's Garden
Amber over at Weight Loss BattleLisa at Lisa, Lost and Found
Crystal at Boobs, Injuries and Dr. Pepper
Kim at Big City Girl
Jaime at Bren go Daaka Marel Yelana Go Nava (phew!)
Amber at Working on Freedom

My attittude of gratitude comes from a surgery that gave me my life, family that is always supportive, friends who are unwavering and God who makes it all possible.





 

Healthy Dose Friday

I'm not sure how healthy this is going to be, but it has been a dose and I really need to say it here where only my readers can see it.

I don't think I'm in any immediate danger, but I am in a scary place.  My eating has been bad the last two weeks.  My exercise has not been what it should be.  Yes, I'm getting some, but not enough and not the intensity it needs to be.  I've been snacking more and not on things which I should be snacking.  I've been too sedentary the last week especially; afternoons watching television instead of doing something physical.  I need to improve and I need to do it now.

This is scarier now.  Scarier than it ever was before surgery when I'd diet and lose a handful of pounds.  Now I have made the physical changes drastically and I don't want to go backwards.  Ever.  EVER.  I have not been back on the scale since the gain to see what is what.  I know at least part of it was from my period, whichI just finished up, so I am giving my body a few days to readjust again before getting back on the scale. 

I don't like this.  It feels frightening and out of control.  I keep telling myself it is only a bump in the road and I will work it out and get over it.  But it needs to be soon.  It needs to be now.

Okay, with that confession out of the way, I am putting out a call for blog help.  Here's the deal.  England...three weeks in June.  I'm hoping Laura may help me cover in the event I miss any days.  Other than that, I have a mission trip at the end of the month (June) where I will have NO computer access from June 26 to July 2nd.  I would have to have some guest bloggers type up an entry this month and then I can get it in here and dated to post on one of those dates.  It's a chance to give your own blog a shout out and for my readers to meet you.  It is also a huge help to me!  So leave me a comment if you can help out.  I don't need you to post it yourself; in advance I can take care of that.

Speaking of blogging, does anyone have one of these:



Saw one in England and fell in love.  It's little, it's pink, it would fit in my purse thus not making me have a carry a big ole laptop bag, and it's on my Christmas list.  I'm not generally a lover of gadgets, aside from my ipod (which is also pink, btw), but this is too cute and handy and would make vacation blogging easy.  If you have one, what do you think of it? 

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Saturday Bliss

Today was rather nice.

I was up early; 8:00 and The Brit and I went out to get pavers for our fire pit which is on our deck (I'll take a picture as soon as we have some warmer weather as we now have our deck furniture too).  Then we headed to Gaithersburg to visit Whole Foods and Trader Joes; both very cool.  I think my preference was Trader Joes, though Whole Foods was its own brand of spectacular too. 

Okay, topic change....

I have great difficulty understanding individuals who want to comment on other people's blogs in a nasty manner.  I don't have much patience for them.  Sadly, the other Kim seems to be a magnet for these kids of people.  I can completely understand disagreeing in a respectful way with blogger, but to be nasty or hateful is completely out of bounds.  A blog is essentially someone's diary...READ as "someone's personal thoughts and opinions."  You don't need to be nasty with someone's opinion on a site they are possibly paying for, or maintaining.  If you don't like the person's opinions, don't read, dudes!  I don't always agree with the bloggers I read, but if I'm going to state my opinion and how it doesn't agree with theirs, I try to do it respectfully.  And for someone to pull the "She says she's a Christian so why does she feel this way?" card, is absurd.  Oh sorry, I forgot that Christians aren't supposed to have opinions.  Hate to break it to anyone but we are as human as anyone else.

All I ask is that people are respectful of my space and this domain is my space.  I would not allow a stranger to come into my home and be nasty, but would allow a stranger into my home who was respectful.  Same goes here, or on any blog you read.  If you feel the need to state your opinion in a nasty way, there are free blog sites out there; start your own on-line journal and go to it. 

I'm still waffling about Grease, but am leaning towards "no."  I really like my life right now and just don't feel the urge to mess with it yet.  I'll see my friend, the director tomorrow so my thoughts could change, but gotta tell you, the working out thing is a really big deal to me and not something I want to jeopardize.

Reminder!

Tomorrow is Q&A Friday, ya'll and so far, I got nuttin'!  Be nosy.  Ask anything.  There is nothing shy about me.

In a Nutshell

Spent the day in Washington DC today, had a great time, my cold is moving to my chest which I freakin' hate, I was just upstairs, meds taken, Breathe Right strip on my nose so I can breathe, Vicks rubbed on my chest, lying down on the brink of sleep and I realized I HAD. NOT. BLOGGED.

Not only am I sick, but I have a sickness.

More tomorrow....*cough* *sneeze*

Q&A

I think the post I have been working on (don't get excited ya'll because it is so not a big deal.  I don't wanna be like the movie everyone talks about that you have to see and then you are way let down when you do see it because the film did not add up to the hype) for the weekend when I have some time.

Today, I worked and then put in almost two hours at the gym because I had a 3:00 hair appointment that was very close to the gym so there was no sense in my going home in between, so I kicked my own butt today at the Y.  But hey, it's all good. 

Other than the fact that I think I am getting a cold so I am Zycaming myself to try to cure it before it gets started.  With trying to work out and a surgery one day on the horizon (maybe) I don't have time for sick. 

In amazing news, head on over to visit Jil and give her some love.  She had full body views taken of herself by a work friend and she looks incredible!  Jil has lost 187 pounds in the ten months since her surgery.  I love this C&P gal (and all my C&P girls) and we have a standing date to drink wine and eat cheese one day.

I am also going to steal an idea from the other Kim for this here blog (but it's okay, I asked her if she minded and she said no ).  Fridays are going to be Q&A day.  All week long, you can ask me anything you want to know and I will pick questions and answer them on Fridays; probably all of them as I don't really look to be assaulted with questions.  I'm pretty much an open book and not easily offended, so if you are curious about something, ask.  I always find it fascinating to learn more about people and have enjoyed Kim's Q&As so I thought with blog content somewhat hard to come by some days, this would be a good thing for me to do.  Just post your question in the comments and we'll see how it goes!  If I get any questions between now and tomorrow evening, we'll start tomorrow, otherwise, next week.

Okay, off to pick up youngest child from school!