The realization that I'm getting older never seems to come upon me in a gentle, gradual fashion. It's usually less subtle; the kind of oh-crap moment where I stop mid-stride and wonder why, exactly, I ever had to discover that I wasn't actually the coolest person on the planet.
As I was shopping tonight (childless!), I went to Old Navy in search of some shorts. Have you SEEN how short the shorts are this year? I mean, seriously! I'm no prude, but I'm also not in college anymore and nothing that short should qualify as anything but a swimsuit. My oh-crap moment? After I sat back down in my sensible Volvo sedan and realized that my mother was right when she told me that one day I wouldn't want to wear the short shorts I thought were perfectly appropriate at age 18.
Not five minutes later did my next senior moment come. After flipping through every channel available to me at my fingertips, I lit on the *perfect* jam-in-the-car song. I lost myself in rose-colored nostalgia and sang myself up to the next stoplight. My oh-crap moment? When I looked over and realized that the guy in the car next to me would probably laugh himself into a stupor if he could hear me belting out Jessie's Girl in real time. (please note- I was in the first grade in 1981)
The nail in my coffin? I gave Rick Springfield the boot and found myself singing (with equal vigor) Elton John's Saturday Night's Allright for Fighting. My oh-crap moment? When I started to laugh.
JLB
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Recent quotes
Here are a few one-liners recently heard at our house that probably won't be making the cut for the newest edition of Bartlett's.
"Wanna come watch me poop?"
You betchya! Strangely, this is one of my current passtimes that brings me the most joy. Anyone near the potty-training years will understand.
"I love you very much- do not get my iPod."
Makena to Reese. Posession is a big thing around here. Unfortunately for Makena, Reese's height is also becoming a big thing which means all the safe havens Makena had found for her most prized posessions are slowly but surely being discovered by Reese. More unfortunate for Makena is the fact that Reese is turning out to have quite the set of sticky fingers.
"Reesey dooo it!"
Reese to anyone. Autonomy is also a big thing around here. Everyone wants to do everything without any help. Except for fixing the baby stroller, wiping bottoms, refilling milk cups, retreiving lost things from under the couch, picking up toys...the list goes on.
"Come here, handsome boy!!!"
Oh no- not yet! Makena screeched this little gem while chasing our friend Luke around his living room. She's not even three and has a thing for younger men.
JLB
"Wanna come watch me poop?"
You betchya! Strangely, this is one of my current passtimes that brings me the most joy. Anyone near the potty-training years will understand.
"I love you very much- do not get my iPod."
Makena to Reese. Posession is a big thing around here. Unfortunately for Makena, Reese's height is also becoming a big thing which means all the safe havens Makena had found for her most prized posessions are slowly but surely being discovered by Reese. More unfortunate for Makena is the fact that Reese is turning out to have quite the set of sticky fingers.
"Reesey dooo it!"
Reese to anyone. Autonomy is also a big thing around here. Everyone wants to do everything without any help. Except for fixing the baby stroller, wiping bottoms, refilling milk cups, retreiving lost things from under the couch, picking up toys...the list goes on.
"Come here, handsome boy!!!"
Oh no- not yet! Makena screeched this little gem while chasing our friend Luke around his living room. She's not even three and has a thing for younger men.
JLB
Friday, April 18, 2008
Running - Part Deux
Okay, I guess I might as well take the plunge and add to this here blog thing.
Since my wonderful wife has started us down this path, I will continue. I once enjoyed running, even had aspirations of running an ultra marathon one day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultramarathon (can you say "nut job").
Anyway, having recently celebrated my 39th birthday, I'm realizing that things that didn't hurt are starting to hurt more and more: Drinking too much, lifting heavy objects, and running any distance at all. I still, like most middle agers (yes I'm now considered middle aged), think I'm still young and can do the stuff I used to, then the next morning comes around and I crawl out of bed wonder why in the world I do this to my body.
That said, I don't enjoy running so much any more. Granted I too am trying to get in shape for the Grand Canyon trip. Oh and by the way did I mention that Joe Pay and I decided, for some stupid reason, to run a half marathon on May 3rd, just 12 days before leaving for the Grand Canyon. Just thought it would help me get in shape (good logic there huh???). Anyway, I've decided in my aged wisdom that I just don't like running any more. Right now its just a means to an end. But if I had my choice, give me my mountain bike any day. Later I may trade that in for a walker, but now I'll keep my mountain bike.
Oh and by the way, if I had my choice I would rather watch the "The Real Housewives of New York City" instead of the Kardashians.
BDB
Since my wonderful wife has started us down this path, I will continue. I once enjoyed running, even had aspirations of running an ultra marathon one day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultramarathon (can you say "nut job").
Anyway, having recently celebrated my 39th birthday, I'm realizing that things that didn't hurt are starting to hurt more and more: Drinking too much, lifting heavy objects, and running any distance at all. I still, like most middle agers (yes I'm now considered middle aged), think I'm still young and can do the stuff I used to, then the next morning comes around and I crawl out of bed wonder why in the world I do this to my body.
That said, I don't enjoy running so much any more. Granted I too am trying to get in shape for the Grand Canyon trip. Oh and by the way did I mention that Joe Pay and I decided, for some stupid reason, to run a half marathon on May 3rd, just 12 days before leaving for the Grand Canyon. Just thought it would help me get in shape (good logic there huh???). Anyway, I've decided in my aged wisdom that I just don't like running any more. Right now its just a means to an end. But if I had my choice, give me my mountain bike any day. Later I may trade that in for a walker, but now I'll keep my mountain bike.
Oh and by the way, if I had my choice I would rather watch the "The Real Housewives of New York City" instead of the Kardashians.
BDB
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Running
Running has never been a favorite activity of mine. I have always said I would only run voluntarily "to the bathroom or when being chased".
Back in my younger years I could have added "between bases or after a ball of some sort", but considering my athletic peak was when I was 16, those two are no longer valid.
Now I find myself using running as my primary form of preparation for our trip to the Grand Canyon next month. Brett, Dad, James and I are planning to do a two day, rim-to-rim hike with an overnight stay at Phantom Ranch (http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/phantom-ranch-704.html). I would love to give details of the distances and elevation changes but I find myself not storing that data in my long-term memory; possibly as a means of denial. Rest assured: it's a long way down and a long way back up and all the running I could possibly squeeze in between now and the middle of May will not be enough to get me into acceptable shape. Regardless, I still run...and I'm starting to like it. Maybe it's the temporary respite from diapers and tantrums. Maybe it's the enjoyment of listening to my own music at deafening volumes. Maybe it's running along the streets that line the golf course at the country club. Whatever it is, it's growing on me.
(If I heard correctly, I believe I just heard both Democratic candidates promise they wouldn't raise my taxes if they are elected. All politicians are the same no matter what side of the aisle they sit on. I'm going to go Keep up with the Kardashians now. They're more believable.)
Back in my younger years I could have added "between bases or after a ball of some sort", but considering my athletic peak was when I was 16, those two are no longer valid.
Now I find myself using running as my primary form of preparation for our trip to the Grand Canyon next month. Brett, Dad, James and I are planning to do a two day, rim-to-rim hike with an overnight stay at Phantom Ranch (http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/phantom-ranch-704.html). I would love to give details of the distances and elevation changes but I find myself not storing that data in my long-term memory; possibly as a means of denial. Rest assured: it's a long way down and a long way back up and all the running I could possibly squeeze in between now and the middle of May will not be enough to get me into acceptable shape. Regardless, I still run...and I'm starting to like it. Maybe it's the temporary respite from diapers and tantrums. Maybe it's the enjoyment of listening to my own music at deafening volumes. Maybe it's running along the streets that line the golf course at the country club. Whatever it is, it's growing on me.
(If I heard correctly, I believe I just heard both Democratic candidates promise they wouldn't raise my taxes if they are elected. All politicians are the same no matter what side of the aisle they sit on. I'm going to go Keep up with the Kardashians now. They're more believable.)
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Things invented by mothers
Sleeping bags: folklore would have sleeping bags invented by war-worn soldiers trying to stay warm in muddy foxholes during World War One. The reality is that a mother who was exasperated at changing crib sheets and sheets on twin beds with saftey railings decided that she was done wrestling her bare-mattress-jumping children off the bed. Why fight that battle when you can throw a tastefully screen-printed, hot pink Dora sleeping bag on top of the perfectly made bedding?
Five Point Harness Car Seats: you thought these were a product of countless Consumer Reports' ratings and the Federeal Government's constant desire to keep your children safe at all times. Wrong. These were invented when spanking your children became a social no-no. I kid you not- when a friend's 2 year-old was not responding at all to time-outs, her pediatrician suggested taking an extra car seat, putting it in the furthest reaches of her home, and buckling the toddler in for her prescirbed 2 minutes. Just as soon as I'm convinced that CPS isn't going to come banging down her door, I might try it myself.
Mini shopping carts: this one I'm not so sure about. Makena and I had an "angry day" at Harris Teeter today all due to the fact that I mis-judged the size of the little cart versus the size of our "quick-trip". She was such the perfect little shopper- turning left and right correctly- concentrating on not running into other shoppers- until our last two items didn't fit into her cart. Melt down, produce section. Lord help us when we went to use the self-checkout and we didn't return the items back into the cart once we were finished. I'm not sure if she thought we were going to take the cart home (her spatial relations still need work if she thought that thing would fit in the Volvo) or if she just wanted to be allowed to wheel it through the parking lot by herself. Melt down, front entrance. *sigh* So- did a mom invent this one? Most likely, but probably the mom of an older child who didn't get immediately attached to strawberries and bananas.
Five Point Harness Car Seats: you thought these were a product of countless Consumer Reports' ratings and the Federeal Government's constant desire to keep your children safe at all times. Wrong. These were invented when spanking your children became a social no-no. I kid you not- when a friend's 2 year-old was not responding at all to time-outs, her pediatrician suggested taking an extra car seat, putting it in the furthest reaches of her home, and buckling the toddler in for her prescirbed 2 minutes. Just as soon as I'm convinced that CPS isn't going to come banging down her door, I might try it myself.
Mini shopping carts: this one I'm not so sure about. Makena and I had an "angry day" at Harris Teeter today all due to the fact that I mis-judged the size of the little cart versus the size of our "quick-trip". She was such the perfect little shopper- turning left and right correctly- concentrating on not running into other shoppers- until our last two items didn't fit into her cart. Melt down, produce section. Lord help us when we went to use the self-checkout and we didn't return the items back into the cart once we were finished. I'm not sure if she thought we were going to take the cart home (her spatial relations still need work if she thought that thing would fit in the Volvo) or if she just wanted to be allowed to wheel it through the parking lot by herself. Melt down, front entrance. *sigh* So- did a mom invent this one? Most likely, but probably the mom of an older child who didn't get immediately attached to strawberries and bananas.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
OK...so I caved
I have managed to avoid this building guilt for oh...a year and a half now. If you look at the "about me" section and the first two pictures posted, you will see that Brett created this blog sometime soon after we took the girls' Christmas picture in 2006. What you won't see is his claim that he created it "for me". I'm still trying to figure out what caused him to think that I have any semblance of free time that I want to fill with blogging. I can't find time to go to the dentist, get my hair cut and please don't look closely at my bathroom floors. Regardless...I'm not sure if it's the fact that all our friends are blogging now, the fact that I gave up on sending out monthly pictures, or the sunshiney idea that friends in faraway places really do stay up at night wondering what our family is doing...I'm going to give it a try. I promise nothing. Lucky for me, I'm only going to send the website to a few people at first thus severly limiting my accountability. I'm very good at that. Private school education. My parents are proud.
- JLB
- JLB
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