Saturday, September 30, 2006

See Ya September

Well... the final day of September has arrived. It's a beautiful fall day and I'm gearing up to get some work done around here; buying and planting fall flowers, pulling out my fall decorations and cleaning. We've been planning on covering the pool all week but never got around to it after work so that's likely on the agenda for today.

Last weekend was jamming with plans.. thankfully this one isn't as bad. Jake's game was afterschool yesterday and we naturally went to the club at night to eat. Other than that, I've got nothing else planned except getting caught up around here with cleaning, shopping and organizing... speaking of which, I need to pull out my fall clothes if I can get to them in that disaster called a spare room.

So, the first month of school is behind me and it's had it's ups and downs. Mostly good but behaviors are starting to wind up which makes it stressful.... Still, nothing at all like last year! Not even close, thankfully!!

I'm disappointed that the frequency of my running has slowed down a bit since being back in school, but not expected. This past summer, I was able to run everyday if I wanted to, except during camp, but I still squeezed it in quite a bit. It's already noon here and I've got too many other things on my list today but I plan on starting the morning off with a run tomorrow... :-) I've gained a couple of pounds but not many so I'm going to nip it in the bud NOW! Tailgate season is always hard for me... but I'm determined not to pull a Football Fifteen this year!

Sigh.... podcasters are away at the PME this weekend and I would love to be there.. but it's definitely not in the cards for me... another story for another time...

Well... the sun is shining so it means one thing for sure... I'm going to take advantage of some of the last "hang it on the line" days while I can!

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Busy Weekend Ahead

Thursday night... and suffering from website server woes... gosh, I continue with my love/hate relationship with technology! Work has been going well and although one of my boy's behavior has been a challenge, I love what I do and look forward to seeing those kids each day :-)

This weekend is gearing up to be a busy one, with plans on Friday, Saturday and Sunday! I hate weekends that are so jam packed that you go to work on Monday needing a weekend already! Athough we're doing fun things: Mamma Mia at PPAC, a CF scholarship fundraiser, nice dinner at Casserinos, and the Pats/Broncos Sunday Night game it's way too much crammed into 3 days. Add to that two haircuts, shopping, and typical laundry and cleaning...whew!

The weather has still been beautiful here and I've still been faithful with my running which makes me feel good both physically and mentally. It's a good feeling to stick to a commitment and I actually look forward to hitting the pavement. I haven't been able to work it out to run in the morning because of the tight shower schedule here but I've been going after school which so far has worked out well.

It's just about that time to hunker down under the duvet... and get a good night's sleep under my belt before embarking on the whirlwind weekend.

Monday, September 11, 2006

This Ol Bod :-)

First off... It's hard to believe that it's been 5 years since 9/11... Like most Americans I can recall the exact moment when I heard...We were at school and I had to try to explain the unexplainable to a group of special needs kids. Not an easy task to do, to re-assure them that they were safe and would be ok, when even the adults were frightened and so very sad. Taking a moment to take inventory and be thankful for each and every day...

So, I'm a few days into being alone with Al overseas... I spent Saturday at Jacob's game and worked around the house and yard waiting for The World Travelers to call home and let us all know that they made it safe and sound. The call didn't come until Saturday evening and everyone is fine and Al said it's very HOT there. Saturday was actually gorgeous here as well... 80s!

The game yesterday went well and Jake and I pulled it off in terms of the tailgate and getting everything done. It was nice to be back with the regular crew and a Pats win (no matter how ugly) is always welcome!

Today is cool and feels like fall... (last night was actually cold... 40s!) I'm not ready for that yet!! Just got back from a nice double loop run in the Monastery on the trails there... As I was running I was thinking about how lucky I am to have this 42 year old body that treats me so well... Granted the bod doesn'tlook like the one I've had my whole life but honestly.. it still works really well! I'm so lucky to be so healthy and able to do most everything. I've especially been thinking about this as a very good friend's wife is having health issues and even in my own immediate circle I have loved ones that have so many things going on all the time. Short of the rare migraine and occasional cold sore... I'm healthy as a horse. (Geesh... I really should be quiet lest I jinx myself... ) But, seriously... I might only even get one cold every couple of years...

Of course, I DO try to take care of myself and my biggest sin is my daily can of Diet Coke but I'm very lucky to be free from many of the things that others have to deal with on a daily basis... Thank you, God!

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Season's Change....

Whew! Just where DID that summer go?? This certainly has been a quick one and a superbusy one at that... Quite emotional... seasons change.. and we're right back to school again.

I planned on blogging straight on through but hey... life gets it the way I guess. It was a very unique summer to say the least. We got out of school extremely late, then I worked for two weeks in July which was very intense and involved quite a commute. My brain hurt during those weeks.... and I was totally spent in more ways than one. July brought my favorite weather, HHH, and I spent just a small bit of time in my usual summer mode of hanging around here keeping up on the laundry, house and yard work.. then all of a sudden, I was at Patriots Training Camp every day!

Once camp started, it meant multiple trips back and forth to Gillette and an increased intensity with back to back double sessions for the first time since they moved camp from Bryant a few years back. It was tons of work this year and many nights I only got 2-3 hours sleep trying to keep it all together with the reports, website and podcasts... Weather was gorgeous...just the way I like it.. and I sported my "summer uniform" of shorts, flip flops, tank top for most of the summer except when I donned a Bruschi Jersey to head to camp.

Once camp finished, we immediately headed to NH for our vacation... I was incredulous at the speed in which the summer flew by and felt like I hadn't even relaxed yet and totally stressed over knowing that once that week was over it was back to school and the grind for me. Unfortunately, I was a total wet blanket there... unable to do the one thing that I enjoy the most about Abakee, park myself on the dock with a book in the sun to veg out for a solid week. The weather was cold and windy which didn't lend itself to beach weather.. It was GREAT to have the whole family (minus just one) together for the week but after just a couple of days of sitting around I was antsy and wanted to come home... I felt unconnected from everything without having easy access to the internet, I began thinking about all the things that I needed to do at school and home and just had too much down time to sit around and do nothing... Total Culture shock for someone who's used to having so much on her plate. Not surprisingly I had a real bad "let down" migraine for the first time in about a year... sigh...

Once we got home, we had the Redskins game that night, a wedding the next day and I've been back to school since... Thankfully, I have a great class at school this year and although scheduling things are just getting worked out now, it's been a pretty smooth opening...

So, some parts of me are ready for fall, routine, football and normalcy, other parts of me are unsatisfied as my favorite time of the year has come to an end... so many things that I yearn for and things left undone. Looking back, there were many things to be thankful for and I've grown this summer.... my goal of losing 10 pounds was met and exceeded as I lost 15 when I took up running again and made good choices for me... I've met incredible people and am thankful for all of those friends who touch my life and make me smile... I have the most awesome family and am so lucky to love and be so loved... sigh....

And now, I'm off to Jake's first high school football game in a little while and Al is just about touching down halfway across the globe, spending time with much of family in Madeira.. It should be a very different couple of weeks for me.. going solo, not something that I'm used to. Tomorrow is opening day of the Pats and I'll be together with my cronies... seasons change... but some things don't!

One thing is for certain... I love life and all it has to offer and I'm glad to be a "feeling" person rather than a numb person, even if feeling isn't always easy... and I'm taking it on Full Tilt Full Time (just like my boys Zip and Tedy B!)