And Now For The Really Important Postings! All About Stevie!
The party on Saturday was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who came out (and reads this) and represented for the family. The party was at her dad’s house, which is way out South in the cornfields of Illinois. As is illustrated by the graduation girl and the 25 pictures she took of herself in said cornfields. It was a hike for some, so the extra effort was appreciated. The rain held off out there it seems, or it was just like, forget it, we ARE not going that far down 57, because it was torrential as we were driving north at 11:30 that night. It stopped once we got near home, and it’s all good for the sod. The sod. The sod. All we can concentrate on is that grass and keeping it alive everyday. But I digress. Here is the cake:
And here’s the girl. She doesn’t like this picture, but it is the only one I have of her actually doing a party thing. So I will bury it at the bottom of this cake post. The rest of the pics are all of her in the corn and against the sunset with her cousin. I will give those the next headline post (actually above this one because that’s how they fall unless I backward time them and I’m just not) so she can look at herself if she wants to for the rest of the day when I go to work.
The Curve Challenge. So Many Great Shots Out There. I Need To Seriously Step Up My Game For The Future.
And we just lost internet for the last hour. The BF saw the AT&T guy doing something to the lines behind our house at the same moment our internet blinked out and he literally, got in the car and drove to go get him. Happy ending! He fixed everything! No problem.
So, I see all these amazing pictures and I am humbled. I am splashing around at the water’s edge of a giant ocean of talent. I need to swim out farther or go lay down in the sand and watch the adults play. Speaking of water…I have the underwater shots too. My daughter sent me something else I can use but I was having trouble getting it to download until this morning. That’s coming up later. I have to go get a cake and some chicken and head over to the par-tay. Sun is peeking out. Temperature is rising. Things are looking up. Here are some various curve pictures just to throw out there for fun and then I will stop and go back to my clouds and rain pics that still haven’t made it here because I type too much. Have a hot and steamy afternoon if you are anywhere in the Midwest right now.
Now Where Was I? Weekly Photo Challenge: Curves. And The Sprinklers.
Because I just realized that all these pics are curved in some way. But I don’t want to start posting just based on themes. The sprinkler “system” above and just a curvy hose below. I was going to put this up next anyway, but I got distracted with the bigger blog world. The same way I have been distracted already with the blue jay, the little baby rabbit, and the momma rabbit in our yard, the sprinklers, the sod and the tree fauna we have growing out of our gutters. Of course I have pictures. I took 20 pictures of the baby rabbit just sitting on a log. Same position. Same zoom. I can’t stop myself. Anyway. I need to eat. So I am taking a quick break. We went and got the new sprinkler so I think the grass might have a fighting chance now. Plus it’s trying to rain out there. I was wrong. Any plans you made, based on my weather predictions are probably gonna get rained out. And the sod is still viable. Double fail on seeing the future. My daughters grad party is today too, so, like you, I will also be taking shelter in a garage somewhere. But I will be telling my daughter, “Everything will be fine. Rain is good luck! It’s still a great party!” Later.
De-tox complete from the other night and on to today. Maybe.
Sister is having a combo party. She is kind of famous for them. This time is a triple dip although I am only bringing one food item.
Her son, turning 6…happy birthday!
My other sister’s son, turning 4…happy birthday!
And a Crawfish Boil….happy…whatever. That’s not like an official party thing. I think. I think it might have gotten thrown together kind of last minute. Not really sure because I don’t really eat the buggers. I am not a fan of eating things that require getting them out of small bony bodies. Crustacean shells. Exoskeleton. However you want to describe it. I’m not eating it.
That’s really beside the point because we are under tornado watch again, even though the weather was supposed to be clear now. The black stretch of severe thunder and lightning and tornados is scaring the bejeesus out of me. Especially since we are supposed to be driving more into it and it’s heading for where my children already are. They already had a terrible day and night of rain yesterday and it only looks like it’s going to get worse. I don’t think 3 hours of cloudy weather in between horrendous storms makes for a fun weekend. I say chuck it all and come home and be warm and dry while watching the storms from the living room couch. That may have to be my plan. Half an hour and then we’ll see.
If your weather is better…have a great weekend, but if you are in the crap belt like I am, be careful, watch the weather, take shelter as needed. And that’s not just me saying it. That’s the advice in the advisory. Watch the sky, stay away from windows, take shelter. See you on the other side.
So, where was I??
Let me go back to my P90X notebook (yes, I have a separate notebook just for the X–don’t laugh, you really need one or you can’t gauge the process) last time I was here was….Day 10? Well, I guess I’m behind. Here it is already Day 21. I’ve done the sequence three times now and it’s a tiny bit easier. I say that with emphasis on the tiny bit. Let me re-cap, but quickly:
Day 10, I finished my arms and abs and went running. I discovered a better way to train. Use the Random setting on the treadmill. It’s got inclines and all that. I started with a level 10 of 20 just because I didn’t know where to go. Did 30 minutes. Started slow. Like, walk/jog slow and worked up to actual running. I increased speed every few minutes. The BF says I don’t work hard enough and that may be true. I like the feeling of running not the feeling of winning. I only have to do five miles in less than 55 minutes. That’s my goal. Very achievable at the slow ass rate I run on the treadmill. So that’s that. I highly recommend some extra cardio with the P90X, especially if you have the time and if you are like me and not eating perfect. Plus it makes you feel darn good and so strong.
Anyhoo…I have to hurry because I told the BF I would run with him today at the gym and I really don’t want to…I really brought it today to make up for me NOT bringing it the last three days. Blah. Here’s the fast version:
Day 11 thru 20: I ran thru the schedule just as written. I think I missed a day or two, but nothing drastic. Still hurting. Still can’t do all the Abs to save my life, but I can do all 25 of the first exercise. Ten more to go at the same rate. I am using my pull up bar and it’s good. The day I can do unassisted (without the chair) is going to be a highlight. Push ups are moving along. Still on my knees…uh huh…but working toward on my toes. You people are sick.
The best news is that I actually lost 2.2 pounds and did not alter the diet super dramatically. I will say that I am eating far less than I was and I try to make the good choices but I am not there yet. I feel better in my skin even though the jeans still fit the same.
This week, my kids are gone again. 😦 They get another vacation with their dad which I am happy for, but sad because summer is flying by and we have to start the grind, and I love having them around me all the time. But I am taking this week to clean up my diet. It’s easiest when there is only you to worry about.
Day 21. This is today. Felt really out of it because I skipped Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Lazy/Fatigued (thanks monthly cycle—it hits me harder some months than others, damn aging), Birthday Party (happy b-day to my double nieces born on the same day, Elexa and Jesse, 8 and 15), Pierogi Fest (the Polack in me must go eat bad foods and drink the hootch). So after getting up to move the car for the BF and assessing the monthly situation…I went right back to bed. And after sleeping my once a year, 12 hour nap, I was ready to get up for good.
I picked Plyometrics as my choice workout. It gives me the best feeling of working and the most fun and activities. Then I added in my own push-up/ab/arm exercises to finish the burn and punch out that last little bit of strength I had. The sweat is unbelievable and disgusting. I like to keep the air off for that extra bonus “heat” effect. Glistening. Anyway it’s not nearly as hot as it was outside so it’s saving money too.
Now it’s about 6:30 pm Chicago time, and I am dreading the phone call to meet at the gym. I am trying to clean out my body today. Nothing bad in. Water (and coffee–I’m not a superhero) and I ate blueberries and a banana. One day of “sort-of-fasting” is not going to kill me.
For tomorrow, Day 22, I am adding in one more week of Phase 1. I feel I need an extra boost with these exercises and a nice clean lead in to the rest phase and the next weeks to come.
I’m going for alot this week. Exercise, complete catch up on this site, complete school reading before the new stuff comes, an I-Tunes/I-pod updated player and lists, money–in and out, the never ending always waiting laundry and housecleaning. Yuck to the yuck. I’m even gonna go workout special with my friend Beth on Friday—so I really got to work it this week. And I’m gonna help my sissy with her garage sale for one day—I’d love to help all three, but…no I wouldn’t! Sorry Amanda!
Follow me here if you care, and give me your comments and advice and any other thing that crosses your mind. I know I can ramble with the best of them.
Just because I love it, I’m putting pictures of the Pierogi Queen and her Babushka Brigade around all these words. Just a bunch of Polacks having fun!
House party explosion all over the ground! New feature! Back-to-school Special!
These are the odd things we found on the ground walking to school. They seemed so random to me that I had to take the pictures coming home.
Just think of all the fun we could have with this for the next YEAR!!
I’m always thinking of you guys! Where else on the internet can you find pictures of things that make absolutely no sense whatsoever and have no meaning to anyone at anytime in any life???
Candle Number 1
Spoon. Just laying in the street. I know. It's weird.
Candle Number 2. A block away. Carried and dropped? Or...?...what?
Kid Key. It's a baby toy. Stevie says her new brother Gavin has one. All by itself in the grass. Sad baby.
Wacky Water Weekend With… / Saturday Swim
The Birthday Pool Party!
What a nice day! Not too hot, not too sunny…although I got pretty scorched along with my brother-in-law, that semi-cloud cover can be deceiving…
They belong to a Park District Pool where they live and Elexa’s B-day Party was there! Friends, family, food, fun…the usual.
This place had many pool areas: a party room, snack bar, diving boards, a drop chute, water slides (2) open/semi-closed, slow/fast, kids or adults. Nothing crazy. Some Lily Pad jump things, Dumping Buckets of Water, and Sprays. The kids loved it.
(I did the slides, the drop chute and the high dive, making me the coolest mom who participated and didn’t just sit on the sidelines…their words, not mine.)
One more time:
Happy Birthday Elexa!
Happy Birthday Jesse!
Birthday girls (to the left) and an extra to the right
The high dive
The drop chute
Lily pads with slides in the background
Better water slide shot with extra ACTION!
Party food
Party kids
Party Over! See you next year!
Birthday Wishes!! Shout Out for Jesse and Elexa! July 24!
This is just a quick HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my two nieces! My only two nieces! Both born on the same day!! How cool is that??
Jesse is 14 and Elexa is 7!
We will see you both tomorrow at the pool!! Party!! Let me see if I have any cool pics!
Love you guys! Aunty L.
One more day of crazy schedule…Video is coming
Hang in there with me. I’ll get the video up tonight, but I have family obligations that will take me away from the sweet hum of the computer all day.
Need to go get dressed, get my girl packed–her clothes are in the dryer as we type–pick up a champagne holder-thingy and drive to a party with my sister-in-law. Then go to my sister’s where Stevie will stay for a few more days. Mason and I will get our hair fixed, maybe grab a bite, and hopefully get home before it’s too dark and late!
My body is just a bit achy, and my ankle feels a bit sore, but other than that…not bad. The Warrior Dash was a good thing!
Check back here for video later, and definitely check out the Facebook Page for more comments and possible video and pictures. It looks so fun you know you are going to want to do it next year too!!
I just posted some random pics to keep the site visually interesting. That’s just me. Still from the dash, but not really about the race!
Mason Spectator
A couple more years and he can run too!
Baby frog on the field!
Butterfly Party! With cake!
So the party was a success. We had food and drinks and cake and butterflies! What more?
I do have some sad news though. It appears that we may have lost three of our little caterpillars. The ones that were still hanging never opened. It’s been 21 days and the temps have been brutal. For our very first time taking care of butterflies, I would say that eight out of eleven is pretty darn good!
The pics below are of the last three chrysalis. On the 18th and then today. There seems to be a hole in the side of one, and it looked hollow inside.
The pic above is the cake.
The video is the last two butterflies being released. The camera is a little jerky, and once they go, you really can’t see them. Also we are all talking way too loud and over each other. It can be annoying. But stay with it.
When the first butterfly actually picks up and flies away, the kids’ reactions are worth the time.
Still look viable.
And now, 5 days and 90 degrees later, not so much.
We did a good thing.
just shy of pretty 