The Wine Box

Since I have no soap box to stand on, I will stand on my wine boxes.

I am tired of society, to include my neighbors, strangers, and the media telling me what to do and how to do it.  So tired, in fact, I yelled in my sleep, “Go Fu*k  Y0ur$elf”.  Me and da mister laugh about it because somehow, in a deep sleep, I was able to get the words out clearly and loud enough to wake him from his sleep.

It all started when I was watching a news segment about a man who evaded a car crash by getting out of his car and running to a nearby house.  The lady at the house shot at the man, not once but four times, as if to stay, “Don’t even think about trying to break into my home and interrupt my time with my daughter.”  All I have to say is, girlfriend I like your style.

Over the summer, I was riding my bike in the neighborhood and Roxy was running along with me- the kicker is Roxy was not on a leash.  Truth be told, I do not always keep her on a leash because she loves to run and I cannot always keep up with her.  

She is super friendly. When she was a pup, I socialized her at the local doggie park.  The thing I have noticed is that it does not matter how my dog reacts, it’s about how people around her react.  The other thing is people who are afraid of dogs, want all dogs on leashes.  My thought is that if you run her over with your car or bike, it is my bad.  All of the time, Roxy sprints out of the way and there is never a collision.

On this particular day, there was a doe and her fawn hanging out at the corner house.  Roxy’s first reaction was to play with the fawn; after all, it was just her size.  The doe was not having it, and nor were the neighbors.   At a glance, it looked like Roxy was attacking the fawn.   I was afraid the doe was going to attach me and my pregnant self, so I was trying to also keep a safe distance.

This is where the yelling and the threats to call the police started. This is also where I wanted to say, “Go Fu*k  Y0ur$elf and mind your own business”. Instead, I dutifully picked up my dog and we walked home peacefully. 

Too many times, I defend my dog. People freak out when they see me running her, on a leash, running next to my bike.  They want to make sure she is rested and has plenty of water.  What on-lookers do not see is that she is very well taken care of.  She is given plenty of food and water.  Roxy gets regular vet visits and is groomed more often than a dog probably should be. 

People do not understand that she is a jack Russell terrier and she needs exercise or she gets bored.  She wakes me up at 5AM to play and requires constant stimulus to keep her entertained.  Too many times, I engage in seemingly friendly conversations to defend my actions, but I am sick of it.  Next time I will kindly say, “Go Fu*k  Y0ur$elf”.  

Manhood: How to Be a Better Man-Or Just Live with One

I once read that biographies are good books to read because if you want to be successful, read how other people have become successful. 

Another reason I read this book was because Mr. Crews was a guest on the Chelsey Lately show.  Not quite sure who he was, I kept watching because all they spoke about was his addiction to porn and how he overcame his addiction and continues to be a loving husband, father, as well as a thriving actor. 

You may recognize Mr. Crews from commercials where he portrayed the comical and muscular man, yelling about Old Spice.  You may also recognize him from The Expendables. As I read his book, I quickly realized how he is so much more.  He played college football, NFL football, and started doing television acting. 

What I love about Terry is his persistence.  He did not come from much, but with his perseverance he continued with his dream- at all costs. And folks, that is what made him successful. How can we not learn from that.

Long Mile Home

The Long Mile Home is written by Boston Globe writers Scott Helman and Jenna Russell and was published on the one year anniversary after the bombing of the Boston Marathon. The book follows the lives of five individuals, to include the bombers and their family, to give the reader an overall image of all those involved and affected by the bombing.  

As an athlete myself, I appreciated reading about the surgeon who ran the marathon and who was looking forward to a hearty meal for replenishment, but only had a banana to last him through the entire day and into the early morning hours of multiple amputee surgeries. 

As a spectator of many San Antonio Marathons, I know how family and friends anticipate the arrival of their loved ones to cross the finish line; and  the tragedy of being involved in the loss of a limb- just because you wanted to get a better view of your loved one while she ran her first marathon. 

The writers included many details from countless interviews, media, and law enforcement to ensure a complete and accurate account of the days leading up to and after the bombing.  As each character is introduced, you almost become that person and can feel that emotion coming through the book.

The book covers a sad circumstances; but I enjoyed learning more about the race and what goes on behind the scenes, more than I ever knew. 

The Divergent Trilogy

A friend from middle school, BJ (Yes, that is her real nick name.  It is short for Beverly Jane.),  is in a book club with her mother and she peaked my interest when she recommended The Divergent Trilogy.  She warned me that it involved a high school romance; but if a gal my age and her mother's book club enjoyed the read, then it was enough push for me to give it a read.

The collection details the make up of factions, or in our world, personality types.  You can be an intellect, a farmer, peace maker, truth teller, or adventure seeker. If you really get into each click, the book details throwing a party to entertain the different factions.

Tris, the main character, must choose which faction she will live with the rest of her adult life, even at the expense of leaving her blood family.  In Divergent, you learn about the choosing ceremony, initiation, and how each faction is different from the other.  

The first book, Divergent, sucked me into the trilogy.  I told myself I would only read the first book, but upon completion of book one, I purchased the entire collection (minus Four). 

Book two, Insurgent, has a lot going on and I often became lost in the multiple take overs and which faction was which.  

Allegiant, the third book, gives each of the characters a typical resolve.  The ending made me cry like the tooth fairy forgot to visit me and I hate to think of watching the movie with the same ending.  The thing about trilogies is that they are made to make the maximum profit out of the books and the movies.  I do not think I could bear to watch Allegiant turned into a movie. A few details from the movie Divergent were not as printed in the book (Isn't that always the case?)

Overall, I enjoyed imagining our country divided into factions versus the states that we are currently living in, where people think airplanes are a thing of the future. If you are into teen age love stories with future age fiction, then this trilogy is for you.

Month 5 Update

What is one to do when the doctor says, stay off your bike for nine months. 

She keeps her feet closer to the ground and reduces rides to a mile at a time, only to keep Roxy exercised, of course.

What does one do when she is used to the endorphin's of running.  

She runs until she feels dizzy and her doctor tells her to slow down because there will be a time when she does not feel good enough to work out.

What does one do when prenatal yoga is not as intense as the five year hot yoga practice she is use to.  

She swims a mile a day.

What does one do when the dreaded day of not feeling good enough to work out comes along. 

She sits around and feels sad. 

I wish I had considered this before because I never believed the day would happen.  But, it has. 

As I look through my NOOK, I have discovered that I have read nine books over the summer and have started eight books that need to be finished. This blog has always been about my bike rides and now that my bike rides have become non existent, it feels like I have lost my words and I ponder what I will write about next.  Like my fellow blogger, Mike K, he writes book and movie reviews. I may resort to reviewing books and movies, since that is all I am up for these days.

  

Week 15: My Pregnancy Progress

Hummmm.....  I am 52 days late and my fertility application say Saturday, May 24 is the day to test.  Once we started to try on April 1st,  it took me only 2 weeks to get pregnant.  This thirty-nine year ol' gal feels totally blessed and lucky. 

Week 5: Suddenly, I am not sure how to read even though three test confirm the same results.  

I need more proof like blood work and an ultra sound before I become a true believer. It turns our that I was and expecting mother on Mother's Day 2014.

 Week 6: I decided to start tracking my belly bump (above).

Week 10: We travel to North Carolina and I need comfortable clothes.  Do I really need maturity shorts yet?  Ugh, none of my bottoms button any more so I take the plunge with my first purchase. 

Week 13: A friend suggests that I take pictures wearing the same clothes to better track my progress.  

 Week 14: Most of my shirts are not covering my belly any more.  I have about a dozen shirts that still fit. 

Week 15: Woo Hoo- I can still see my feet!  I have gained 7 pounds and BabyBaby is the size of an apple.