A ball of a time.

My new workout consists entirely of the ball. I sit on the ball to do weights. I sit on the ball to do sit ups. I lay on the ball to do back sit ups-- I am pretty sure that's the technical name for it. I LAY on the ball in a plank like formation to do more weights. It is not a graceful act. Scratch that... my BFF does it and she looks graceful-- therefor, it is not a graceful act for me. I tend to be cussing quietly under my tongue.. with a look of annoyance on my face.. and that takes the grace right out of the picture. My question is this: when did a ball become not fun? I look at balls now and my stomach immediately remembers to hold itself in. One would think with a giant silver ball to sit on, a workout would be fun! One would be mistaken. My scary trainer has us doing it on the ball because it saves time and works out several areas all at once. While this can be seen as a good thing, currently sitting here typing is making my abs ache.
All because of a ball.

Another day...

Today is Robert's birthday. Technically. For me, it is actually in the morning his day starts-- but he is halfway around the world from me right now and his morning sun is already bright in the sky. I sent him an email to wish him a happy day. I have no idea if I will be able to talk to him on this day. I did get the briefest of moments that I was able to IM with him, but it was cut very short by his Internet closing out. This could mean so many things.. but on this day I will only allow it to mean that there was a power surge and they lost Internet connection.
This is not the first time I have spent a birthday without Robert around. Life lessons assure me this wont be my last. However, this is the first time I have had to wonder what a birthday for my husband must be like when he has to wear an armored vest all day and watch where he steps as he carries a grenade launcher and rifle. I will never again complain about how heavy my purse is. This is the first time I cant call him a million times a day and sing to him in my best Marilyn voice and call him birthday boy.
And this is certainly the first time I have had to fear for his actual safety on his birthday. I guess like they say, there is a first time for everything.
And yet-- life goes on. I still have to wake up in the morning and feed the kids and shuttle them off to school. I still have to do the morning rush of activities and afternoon pick up chaos. I will still need to make dinner. And while he will certainly fill my thoughts throughout the day.. life still marches on. As he is so fond of saying-- its just another day.
Such is our life these days.
This is me.. clutching the Zen.

The weather ouside is frightful....

but inside is so delightful...
b/c I have a fire going!
Shall I make some cocoa? Come sit awhile?
Hey-- girls? How do I get your links on my page? I am so not a smart blogger...
Sigh-- I miss you all....

Boooo!

It's here.
Halloween is here! I love this holiday. Not only do you get to play dress up as an adult and not be looked at like you are crazy.. but it marks the start of the holiday season. Call me crazy, but I like the bustle of stores and people and music.. it is a whirl wind 3 months! And while, at the end, I am overcome with happiness that it is over, I really do enjoy it.
To add to all this, for the first year ever, my boys are up for being cool characters that arent on a tv show! This is exciting to me. After years of being Thomas or one super hero or an other.. this year they decided to be knights. I am doubly pleased with this because it makes my weekend trip to Vegas with the girls worth it. You see.. we stayed at Excalibur and I brought them home a set of knights and kingdoms from there. Yes, I agree.. it was a guilt present. HOWEVER.. they like playing with them so much that they chose to dress up like them for Halloween, making it somewhat educational. Hey, I will take it where I can get it.
I think I am going to go as Super Woman. Because what I do day to day fits me into her catagory. In fact, this is true for all moms. But for me, my cape randomly gets caught in the closed door. So I could use a reminder.. and a cool outfit serves as a great reminder. Plus, I can wear the cool bangle wrist bands.
So this year, I hope while I am out there with my cape flowing, and bangles flashing... I look across the street and see other moms and dads wearing their own capes, or their version of them. If we can all just start the season off remembering what it is to be youthful and fun and not afraid to dress up-- then there is hope it will be a good start to the holiday season.

Pass the Walker please..

When did I get old? I must have missed the memo.

I went to the movies on Friday night with my BFF for Girls Night. We went to see the movie "We Own the Night." When we got up to the counter to pay, I forgot what we were there to see. (ok- perhaps this IS a sign I am getting old) So I said to the kid-- baby-- child-- whatever-- taking my money.. "One for the Marky Mark movie."
And he said.... "who?"

Blank Face.

I mean come on! How do you not know who Marky Mark is? Has the Funky Bunch been banished to the archives with Mighty Mouse and the Fonze? Marky Mark doesnt sing anymore (ok, thank the heavens for that) but he is still around.. he acts!!! Frequently, in fact. Fairly well, in fact. Scrumptious , in fact. (hee hee) So really, how do the kids not know his self proclaimed nick name??
Because I am a well rounded woman, I was able to enjoy a good laugh over the whole fiasco with my BFF, but it still makes me a little sad. It seems, Marky Mark is a name that is now only known to the "older crowd", and I am a part of that crowd it seems.
Sigh.
Pass the Walker, and long live the Funky Bunch.

Just a reminder...

Mostly to myself... that I love my best friend on the planet. That I should not kill my best friend on the planet. That the fact that I have to use countless cups of caffine and toothpicks to keep my eyelids open is not really a good reason to fly cross country to smother said friend in my grumpiness.
You are a lucky man-- my best friend on the planet-- that you are waaay over there and not here.
And that I love you so very much.
But any more 4 am laughing phone calls -- and you may need to go into hiding.
Smag-- you kill me-- softly..
*manic tired laugh*

Phantom Vibrations?

No, this is not an ode to Bay Area earthquakes. Nor is it a spooky tale just in time for Halloween.. well perhaps it is.
There is an actual phenomenon going on right now over this so called phantom vibrations. The story goes, if you are addicted to your phone or blackberry, that you may suffer from feeling the phantom vibrations when there is in fact, none. When you see people looking at their phone, feeling their phone, etc.. it could be perhaps due to this. They believe they are feeling something that isn't there-- and it is due to over use of technology.
I read the article and laughed. How absurd. And then I realized.. gulp-- um-- yeah-- that's me. Just this morning, I am ashamed to say. When working out after drop off, I tend to keep my phone tucked into my sports bra for lack of anywhere else to put it-- (don't laugh-- it works) and I was sure I missing a text or call. I kept feeling my phone to see if it was vibrating or not.. when it occurred to me that it looked like I was feeling myself up.
On base.
In front of other mommies.
And Daddies.
Some in uniform.
GROAN. (OK-- laugh now)
Also, I regularly feel my backside when I have my phone in my back pocket to see if it is vibrating or going off, or just plain there.. and so I am sure that gets equal amounts of looks. When did I become so embarrassing to myself???
Turns out-- I am part of the phenomenon!! I suffer from phantom vibrations! And-- to add to the pot-- I also appear that I have some weird form of torets syndrome but opt towards feeling myself up in various public areas rather than scream out profanity. Perhaps I should add that to my pot-- the shouting of various profanity -- might as well be rounded out after all. *eyeroll*
It is now of no surprise to me that my oldest doesn't want me to walk him into school anymore. Look for him on Dr Phil. Airing his woes of me on public TV. I will be the one sitting next to him, feeling myself up.