My oldest and only nephew Michael moved back in with him mother. He spent his high school years living with his father. He needed that, especially during those days where a father figure is needed most as a role model. These days, Mike is in college.
His mother, my sister Angela, lives next door to me. Lucky me (and I do not type that with sarcasm) I get to see Mike and my nieces most days.
Yesterday was no different. Expecting just Mike to come over to use my internet connection, he brought the girls too.
It was sudden madness.
Roxy was barking. When Kris wasn’t sitting reading a book, she was balancing delicately on my whicker chest. She walked around proudly in her cheerleading shorts three hours before gymnastics practice. After Alexis and I finished her math homework, she started riding my bike. (I keep it sitting on the trainer in the kitchen.) Then both the girls were riding my bike at the same time. Kris laid her belly on the bike seat and was flying.
Yeah, I want to be the “cool Aunt” but I had to draw the line. That’s my bike and I do not want it damaged or them in the emergency room. How would I explain that to their mom? Part of me wanted to take a picture of them but the rational side of me thought that I should not encourage their behavior.
As quickly as the madness started, it was swept away as they run out my front door.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Friends?
Lord, HELP ME!
You may have picked this up from my previous posts, but I have been divorced for six years. My ex and I have remained friends, or somewhat friends and were speaking every now and again. The conversations were more about me being his friend them him being mine. It was a hard break up because we were together for nine years and it hard to let go of him while we watched the other grow professional, individually, and spiritually.
Not long ago, my ex and I got in an argument. We were yelling at each other, over the phone, about something that happened SIX years ago. So, I am mad at him and do not want to talk to him. I am not ready to be friends again. (Yes, I know. This sounds ridiculous but he did something REALLY bad and hurtful to me.)
And then today….. I found him on Facebook. Do I want him to be my friend? Should I wait for him to find me? He has the link to this blog but I do not believe he reads it. On Facebook, he can really know every detail of my life. I think I am not ready to be friends again.
And then… I read my horoscope. It is the one posted on msnbc.com, under the entertainment section. Ya know, because it’s just entertainment. Right?
This is what it reads for today:
It's time to make up, mend fences and break bread. Whatever you want to call it, be sure you do it. This minor dispute has been going on for long enough, hasn't it? Now it's time to do the adult thing and put it to rest. The heavens are in the perfect frame of mind to help you out, and your place would definitely be the best venue for the event. Ready? Now grab that phone and start dialing.
I can’t do it. I can’t call. I am not ready to be friends again. No matter what my horriblescope says.
You may have picked this up from my previous posts, but I have been divorced for six years. My ex and I have remained friends, or somewhat friends and were speaking every now and again. The conversations were more about me being his friend them him being mine. It was a hard break up because we were together for nine years and it hard to let go of him while we watched the other grow professional, individually, and spiritually.
Not long ago, my ex and I got in an argument. We were yelling at each other, over the phone, about something that happened SIX years ago. So, I am mad at him and do not want to talk to him. I am not ready to be friends again. (Yes, I know. This sounds ridiculous but he did something REALLY bad and hurtful to me.)
And then today….. I found him on Facebook. Do I want him to be my friend? Should I wait for him to find me? He has the link to this blog but I do not believe he reads it. On Facebook, he can really know every detail of my life. I think I am not ready to be friends again.
And then… I read my horoscope. It is the one posted on msnbc.com, under the entertainment section. Ya know, because it’s just entertainment. Right?
This is what it reads for today:
It's time to make up, mend fences and break bread. Whatever you want to call it, be sure you do it. This minor dispute has been going on for long enough, hasn't it? Now it's time to do the adult thing and put it to rest. The heavens are in the perfect frame of mind to help you out, and your place would definitely be the best venue for the event. Ready? Now grab that phone and start dialing.
I can’t do it. I can’t call. I am not ready to be friends again. No matter what my horriblescope says.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Slump
These days I seem to be in slump with my blog posts and the subject of each post. Leigh, my friend over at Leigh vs. Laundry, introduced me to a new world of blogging. These ladies and gentlemen are true writers and left me feeling inadequate. My life does not seem exciting or maybe it is my writing that does not articulate my world in an interesting or comical fashion.
It might be that things are going well with nothing new to report.
Last week, I told my Mom that things were going wonderfully that I afraid something bad was going to happen. It is the way of life. For every positive there is a negative. Don’t get me wrong, I do NOT want anything bad to happen but things are going so smooth that it is almost unbelievable.
Training is on progress. This is the fourth week of 5AM bike rids on my trainer. Roxy started waking up with me and lies next to me or stands next to me as if she is coaching me. There are days when I am too tired to make myself dinner or drive myself to pick something up. I end up not eating or eating poorly. Luckily for chocolate milk, I can recover quickly.
They say that practice makes perfect. So, I continue to practice blogging, building relationships, and getting my miles.
It might be that things are going well with nothing new to report.
Last week, I told my Mom that things were going wonderfully that I afraid something bad was going to happen. It is the way of life. For every positive there is a negative. Don’t get me wrong, I do NOT want anything bad to happen but things are going so smooth that it is almost unbelievable.
Training is on progress. This is the fourth week of 5AM bike rids on my trainer. Roxy started waking up with me and lies next to me or stands next to me as if she is coaching me. There are days when I am too tired to make myself dinner or drive myself to pick something up. I end up not eating or eating poorly. Luckily for chocolate milk, I can recover quickly.
They say that practice makes perfect. So, I continue to practice blogging, building relationships, and getting my miles.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Barbara Ann
People often ask me if “Barbie” is my real name. My given name is Barbara Ann. I joke saying that my parents are Beach Boy fans.
Actually, my mother wanted to name me Brenda. However, there is no Spanish translation for Brenda. Since both my grandparent’s first language was Spanish, my parents wanted a name that would be easy for Spanish speakers to say. That is how Barbara came about.
It turns out that my grandfather, on my father side, called me Debra for two years, until he passed away. To this day, my mom says they should have left my name as Brenda.
Curiously, I asked my mom why they started calling me Barbie. There was nothing I did or nothing I said that made them call me Barbie. It just always was. As a baby, my parents called me Barbie.
Barbie stuck through elementary school. In middle school, I wanted to sound grown up and insisted that people called me Barbara. By high school, my friends would come to my house to hear my parents call me Barbie. It’s been Barbie since.
I can’t figure out why most guys like to call me Barb. They just keep shortening my name. I tell them the story about how Barb makes me feel old because it was the name of a school friend’s grandmother. A few people will stick with Barbie or Barbara but there are others that still call me Barb. I can name these people on one hand. I let them slide.
My friends and family call me Barbie. They say the name fits me.
Actually, my mother wanted to name me Brenda. However, there is no Spanish translation for Brenda. Since both my grandparent’s first language was Spanish, my parents wanted a name that would be easy for Spanish speakers to say. That is how Barbara came about.
It turns out that my grandfather, on my father side, called me Debra for two years, until he passed away. To this day, my mom says they should have left my name as Brenda.
Curiously, I asked my mom why they started calling me Barbie. There was nothing I did or nothing I said that made them call me Barbie. It just always was. As a baby, my parents called me Barbie.
Barbie stuck through elementary school. In middle school, I wanted to sound grown up and insisted that people called me Barbara. By high school, my friends would come to my house to hear my parents call me Barbie. It’s been Barbie since.
I can’t figure out why most guys like to call me Barb. They just keep shortening my name. I tell them the story about how Barb makes me feel old because it was the name of a school friend’s grandmother. A few people will stick with Barbie or Barbara but there are others that still call me Barb. I can name these people on one hand. I let them slide.
My friends and family call me Barbie. They say the name fits me.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Yoga
It’s been about two years since I started practicing yoga. At the beginning, I never really like it but forced myself to go so I could stretch. After all, I never stretch after bike rides or work outs.
About three months ago, I started going to the 1PM yoga class here at USAA. Connie teaches and she is amazing. She has gotten me to bend and fold into new posses that I would have never imagined before.
Another reason why I enjoy yoga so much is because it is not competitive. It is what you can do for that day. Every day is different. You accept the day for what it is and appreciate what you can do, for that moment. If you are practicing yoga, you are doing yoga.
Leave it to me to make yoga competitive. I find myself looking around the room to see how flexible everyone else in the room is. This so goes against all the principles of yoga. I look around any way. I get mad at myself when other people can cross their legs and place them on top of the other. My hips are too stiff and my legs don’t do this. On the other hand, I have crow down packed! I amaze myself when I end up with bruises on my triceps from balancing my knees on my arms.
These days my body is sore. Workouts two times a day, hurts my body. Yoga is getting harder. I don’t know if it is my body or if it is Connie pushing me to get better each time I practice.
About three months ago, I started going to the 1PM yoga class here at USAA. Connie teaches and she is amazing. She has gotten me to bend and fold into new posses that I would have never imagined before.
Another reason why I enjoy yoga so much is because it is not competitive. It is what you can do for that day. Every day is different. You accept the day for what it is and appreciate what you can do, for that moment. If you are practicing yoga, you are doing yoga.
Leave it to me to make yoga competitive. I find myself looking around the room to see how flexible everyone else in the room is. This so goes against all the principles of yoga. I look around any way. I get mad at myself when other people can cross their legs and place them on top of the other. My hips are too stiff and my legs don’t do this. On the other hand, I have crow down packed! I amaze myself when I end up with bruises on my triceps from balancing my knees on my arms.
These days my body is sore. Workouts two times a day, hurts my body. Yoga is getting harder. I don’t know if it is my body or if it is Connie pushing me to get better each time I practice.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Vegas Trip
To sum up the trip, Rob really loves to gamble. He told me that he liked to gamble, but really, he LOVES to gamble. All those “going out cloths” that I packed, stayed packed. That shopping I was planning on, didn’t happen. There was one day that we didn’t even see the light of day.
Seriously, I don’t get the addiction. Yea, you can win big but you have to try a bunch of times before you do. I would rather buy something and have something to hold in my hands then blow away money on nothing. I take that back, you pay money to sit in a smoke filled room making small talk with drunken strangers.
The highlight of the trip was the visit to Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. This pawn shop is featured on the History channel and the show is named “Pawn Star”. Well, I am totally into the show and we visited while they were filming. My pony tail or back may end up in the show. If you watch the show, keep your eyes out for a guy selling a photo album.
Next time I will plan the trip better. Either not go or plan to bike the entire time.
Seriously, I don’t get the addiction. Yea, you can win big but you have to try a bunch of times before you do. I would rather buy something and have something to hold in my hands then blow away money on nothing. I take that back, you pay money to sit in a smoke filled room making small talk with drunken strangers.
The highlight of the trip was the visit to Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. This pawn shop is featured on the History channel and the show is named “Pawn Star”. Well, I am totally into the show and we visited while they were filming. My pony tail or back may end up in the show. If you watch the show, keep your eyes out for a guy selling a photo album.
Next time I will plan the trip better. Either not go or plan to bike the entire time.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Sin City
We are off to Sin City… I will be taking my new netbook to stay connected to my internet friends but hopefully I will be enjoying my vacation too much to post updates until next week.
I am proud to say that my training has rolled over into this week and I will have three days of forty-five minute trainer workouts. Of course I won’t exercise while on vacation. This is a real vacation. No riding or hiking on this trip. I am not even going to pack workout cloths.
Thanks for the message, Edward. Let’s not let the cat out of the bag on mountain biking- to Robert that is. According to the guys at the shop, his cross trail has just enough to accept a mountain biking challenge if one is thrown his way. (Robert doesn’t really keep up with the blog so it is safe to post this. Unless of course, I e-mail him a post that I want him to read.)
Right now I don’t get many posted comments but I know you’re still out there reading because I do get messages or verbal comments. I love that so I keep posting.
I am proud to say that my training has rolled over into this week and I will have three days of forty-five minute trainer workouts. Of course I won’t exercise while on vacation. This is a real vacation. No riding or hiking on this trip. I am not even going to pack workout cloths.
Thanks for the message, Edward. Let’s not let the cat out of the bag on mountain biking- to Robert that is. According to the guys at the shop, his cross trail has just enough to accept a mountain biking challenge if one is thrown his way. (Robert doesn’t really keep up with the blog so it is safe to post this. Unless of course, I e-mail him a post that I want him to read.)
Right now I don’t get many posted comments but I know you’re still out there reading because I do get messages or verbal comments. I love that so I keep posting.
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