Should have got up

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Warning: What you are about to read is nasty. Very nasty. 

Last Saturday morning around 3:30 a.m. Shiloh began panting and pacing the bedroom.  All I could do was roll over and hope like hell she would go back to bed and this was all a dream.  Around 4 a.m. I could hear dog farts and the room smelled.  Really bad. Enough to make you gag.

I tried to wake Michael up but he’s pretty useless in the middle of the night.  Kind of a hard sleeper and very difficult to wake up. So I took it upon myself to get up and let the farting machine outside to poo. 
Little did I know that when I would step foot out of bed I would step directly in a pile of straight liquid poop. That’s when I realized I should’ve have just got up when she warned me a half hour ago.  But apparently I’m a bad doggy parent and sleep was more important.  I have learned my lesson. 
I’m not going to spare you any details because if I had to deal with it then you have to as well. When I turned on the lights I found that my poor big sweetie had a blow out all over the bedroom.  All around the bed.  Liquid form.  A mess to be cleaned up for sure.  My guy THEN proceed to let her out after my screaming and cussing and I began to dig in on the cleaning process of our brand new carpet at 4 am on a Saturday morning.  Just what I wanted to do. 
I scrubbed and went through more than a dozen old towels.  I gagged.  I scrubbed.  The process repeated over and over.  Dog poop is the smelliest.  
Neither of us could go back upstairs to sleep because the smell was that bad.  So I decided to take over the couch first and he proceeded to lay on the floor with Shiloh after I tried to convince him she should just go in the garage until we know for sure her “illness” is over. He won saying she would be fine and he would let her out if she got up.  Why I ever believed that I have no idea. I love him to death but he wakes up for nothing.  Not even the doors all blown open in the house because of a storm and it is literally raining sideways in the house. True story. 
Sometime in the next few hours I moved back upstairs in the spare bedroom where it didn’t stink too bad because that door had been closed and drifted off to sleep.  The couch was too awful on my back. 
At 8 am when I woke I knew instantly that I was right and she should have went in the garage. Now her blow out was ALL over the house. Up the stairs. Down the hall. In the living room, the front room, the kitchen…….everywhere. 
So rather than spend my Saturday morning at the farmers market like I had planned I cleaned up more poo. New this isn’t a typical way to spend your Friday night or Saturday morning. Because of that I really felt the need to share. So you don’t feel left out of my life….at all. 
Since then you’ll be happy to know that Shiloh is no longer ill. She had many days of rice and boiled chicken. Her tummy is finally back to normal.  The culprit: the entire can of trash she had eaten 48 hours prior which included pizza, steak, potatoes, onion, coffee, peas, and pretzels.  She ate it all.  
Siloh and I have had several long discussions regarding karma and how eating the trash results in an upset tummy. Hopefully she has learned her lesson.  
Faithful Believer in Karma, 
Fortunate Gal (other than cleaning poo) – Ashley

Round 2 of 13.1

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Round 2 complete of the Indy Mini Marathon!

Weeks leading up to the Mini I kept telling myself that this was it.  I was never going to do this again.  I just couldn’t even find the time to train and it was too stressful.  I was going to complete this year because I had paid the money and signed up….but never again.
Miles 1 through 6 I kept telling one of my best friends (who I walked with) that I was definitely going to do it again because there was no experience like it.  It felt amazing.
At about mile 8 I changed my mind pretty quickly.  We had just stopped to use the restroom at the Speedway track and I honestly sat down on that toilet and thought, “wow this feels amazing.”  I did NOT want to get back up.  Once I sat down my feet hurt immsenely worse and it was really tough to get back in the groove I had just conquered moments before.
The track was awful.  It was last year.  I’m guessing it always will be for as long as I do the Mini.  It’s incredibly long….and boring.  It’s nice to have the cheerleaders from local high schools to cheer you on.  It was nice to kiss the bricks and be in a place where so much action happens in May.  But it wasn’t nice enough to take away the misery.

A recap of the mini…

Start – Took us 26 minutes to get from corral Y to the start line.  Slow and crowded.

Waiting to start!
Almost to the finish line….about 26 minutes after it started!
A great group of ladies to do 13.1 miles with.  

Mile 1 – Momma and baby elephant at the zoo were so cute.  A few humans dressed as zoo animals to greet us.  Runners yelling at us walkers to move over.  People sprinting and me laughing at them when later they were passed.

America!

Miles 2 through 4 – Passed some interesting people.  There were some amazing kid bands and music.  Lots of people cheering us on. A few places that creeped me out.  Security like crazy that made me feel bertter.  Even got passed by the guy in the lead….that makes you feel PRETTY slow!

In the lead
An awesome kid band

Mile 5 – Heading into Speedway and Allison Transmissions reminds me that we’ve got 8.5 miles to go.  Thanks a lot!  Starting to get the groove and feeling good.

What a cool little town.  So much has changed.  It’s a beautiful place.  
This is basically a fake smile. 

Miles 6 through 9 – What I thought was going to be the worst part.  Amanda danced with the Chik-fil-a cows which was hilarious.  The track is dreadful (as I said before) and awful and terribly boring.  My feet hurt.  My hips really hurt.  I wanted to take my shoes off and lie down.  Not an option.

Going under this tunnel is a pretty cool feeling. 
Kissing the bricks.  First time ever!

Miles 10-12 – Looking forward to the Cliff Energy shots we knew were coming.  Then realizing they were out except for one flavor, Mocha.  Yuck.  Apparently you have to be a runner to get the good stuff.

Miles 12-13.1 – Smiles are back on our faces because we are about to the bridge which means we are truly almost there.  I’ve decided at this point that I hurt so bad there is no way I’m ever doing this again.  Amanda tells me I am.

Finish Line – Get the medal.  Get a slim pickins on snacks because (again) we are walkers and I guess if we wanted the good stuff we should have walked quicker or ran a bit.  Our time was 3:34.  I only added 12 minutes from last year when I wogged it.  Half walked half jogged.  Guess I must have been jogging pretty damn slow last year.

My trainer and one of my other best friends.  She finished quite a few minutes before me.  I am so proud of her.  Her first mini in the books!
Blue Seas gym babes

Overall the weather was perfection for a little Saturday morning walk.  Slight breeze, nice and cool…just plain perfection.  MUCH better than last year.  I’m telling myself that if I had yesterday’s weather the year before that it would been a totally different story last year.  I would have been under 3 hours like I really wanted.

I will always remind myself of this.  Only 3% of Americans have done a half marathon.  I’m a part of a pretty small group of Americans that can mark that off their bucket list.  That can say “I did it.”  I did it slow.  I did it at my pace.  But guess what?  I did it when 97% of the rest of America was sitting at home or cheering me on the sidelines.

I DID IT!

  Extremely sore today,

Stressed, Busy, and Blessed

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It’s been way too long since I’ve written to you.  As usual spring is here and life is busy.  The boy is busy with work again.  I am just busy with life….and a little stressed out at work.

Since the last time I’ve written you…

1. A dear friend got married.  Her wedding was gorgeous and I’m so happy she’s in love.

2. I’ve spent every ounce I can outside when the weather permits.  We’ve played at the park.  I’ve taken some long walks to try and prep myself for Saturday’s 13.1.  We’ve been eating dinner occasionally on the back deck…gazing longingly at the pool in hopes we can open it sometime soon.

3. We celebrated the oldest little’s 9th birthday.  He got a haircut…on accident.  He’s getting tall, smart, and handsome.  He gets all of that honestly I suppose.

4.  I’ve been working with some pretty amazing people getting prepped for this years Relay for Life…only 17 days away!  Currently I’m working on my own personal fundraiser by making little key fob wristlets that I can sell at the event where the proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.

5. The downstairs remodeling is FINISHED…besides a few little touches like caulking, molding, etc.  I’ll do a post another day about the remodeling process and what I would and would not do if I could do it all over again.

It is getting to be that time of year where every weekend is packed full of events.  I am counting down the days until school is out.  It isn’t because I don’t love my kids this year.  I am counting down the days because I’m looking forward to life slowing down a bit.  Or maybe just having 7-3 to enjoy the outside even more.  It seems like the time after work just isn’t enough time to really enjoy life.

Maybe life will slow down in June?

Then again, maybe not.

Stressed, Busy, and Blessed…

It’s her.

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There have been sign all around me this week that my mom is right here with me.  Signs everywhere.

The past three days that I’ve come home there has been a beautiful cardinal on Michael’s truck when I pull in the drive.

It’s her.

I was completely full of worry and doubt this evening when something unexpected took the weight off my shoulders.  It made me sad.  It made me wonder if I should ever be happy about it.  In the end it is completely her way of being here with me and helping me rid the worry.

It’s her.

Then my sister sends me a text telling me I need to download a new song….by Pink called “Beam Me Up” and it speaks every feeling I have about missing her.

It’s her.  Even if it’s through my sister.  It’s her.

Can I just be beamed up to see her again?  A place where nothing breaks and nothing hurts.  I just need a minute.  Not sure what I’d say to her at all.  No idea.  Just beam me up.

 “Let me lighter I’m tired of being a fighter”

“There are times I feel a shiver and cold.  It only happens when I’m on my own.  That’s how you tell me I’m not alone.”

“Happy just to be there holding your face.”

“So when I need you can I send you a sign?  I’ll burn a candle and turn off the lights.  I’ll pick a star and watch you shine.”

What I wouldn’t give to just beam me up….

Thankful for signs all around,

If you’ve ever lost someone you love….I highly recommend downloading the song.  Give yourself a box of Kleenex and some time alone and just have a good cry.

That question

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We have come to a point in our relationship where everyone wants to ask “that question.”  We have been together for well over two years.  We are both at the age where it’s acceptable.  We live together (in sin, yes).  All the above.

When are you guys getting hitched?  When is he going to pop the question?  When is it your turn for a bridal shower?  When will you guys be getting married?

It’s all the same question, really.

And I’m over it.  Officially freakin over it.

So then I decided that from now on when someone would ask me “that question” I would punch them in the face.  And sooner or later people would stop asking that question for fear that I would knock them out.

Then I realized that violence probably isn’t answer, regardless of how bad ass it might make me feel.  Or how much better I would feel about “that question” after releasing some anger through my fists.

For the longest time I’ve thought to myself when asked, “Don’t you think I would have told you if I knew when it was going to happen?”  It’s not like the whole world wouldn’t know.  I would announce it from the rooftop.  I would probably be flooding your Facebook feed with joy, happiness, and pure overkill.

It obviously hasn’t happened. And I’m not gonna lie.  It has absolutely tested my patience.  It’s not like I’m not ready for all the beautiful things life has to give us.  A wedding.  A honeymoon.  Little people.

However, this past week I spoke to a few people who really helped me realize that it’s all part of a plan that I don’t have a map or guidelines too.  It’s all part of the surprise that both Mike and God have in store for me.  They are working together to make this thing truly magical.

Patience, Ashley….patience.

The wise words that I continue to re-read go something like this, “He is worth every tear, joy, scowl and hug.  The post-it note moments far outweigh the waiting on a silly ring.  Just wait….it’s a lesson that God is teaching you right now.  Trust His faith in you is just as strong as His faith in Mike.  Good things come to those who wait regardless if it’s three years, or five.”

I hadn’t thought about it as a lesson.  I thought I was just getting pushed to the limit.  Maybe I am.  Hopefully I can remember that the limit is a lesson.  A lesson of patience and faith in so many things.

This post isn’t a promise to you that I will always remember that.  I’m human.  I tend to mess up and forget at times.

Hopefully if you’re a fellow reader and you ask you won’t allow me to punch you in the face.  Maybe you’ll just help remind me that it’s a lesson in faith and patience.  It’s not like I’m waiting for “the one” anymore.  I found the one.  I found him and since we met it’s been a completely different life and love story.

Practicing Patience Daily,

Get over it. Move on.

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I’ve always hoped my children will enjoy playing sports.  Even if it is just being a part of them when they are younger to stay active and figure out what they like and don’t like.

Recently I have figured out that maybe I, as a parent, won’t be cut out to handle sports.  I’ve realized that I am certainly not suited to coach their team, though I wish I could contribute.  My patience and blood pressure simply can’t take it.

I’ve watched almost every single one of my nephew’s Saturday morning basketball games.  This is a fun league, no try outs, everyone pays to play.  I’ve enjoyed watching him play, have fun, and learn some new things.

5 things I’ve learned from this experience:

1. I am harsh and unsympathetic to crying over a game like basketball.  I get it.  Your heart is in it.  Everyone wants to win.  But, guess what?  Not everyone can win.  Get over it.  Move on.

2. I will not be a coach so that my children will still love me.  If I did decide to coach I’m afraid I would embarrass them terribly and everyone would probably leave in tears.

3. Some men/women who are coaches must have been those who were cut from their high school teams and still have not gotten over it.  Again, get over it.  Move on.

4. If it’s a club where there are no tryouts and everyone pays the same amount for their kid to play then everyone should play the same amount.  That’s only fair.  It doesn’t mean play the kid who can score the most just so you win.  It means play them all about the same amount as you can so that everyone gets the same experience.  That same experience might equal loss.  But you’ll have to get over it.  Move on.

5. Not everyone should get a trophy.  We didn’t all get trophy’s when I was a kid and I’m pretty sure we turned out alright.  In fact, maybe better than most kids these days.  Teaching children that everyone can win just isn’t right.  Guess what?  Not everyone wins….and it is OKAY!  If we teach our children that everyone wins then I feel like we are growing a society of brats who think they are entitled to everything.

Now, you may disagree with my statements from above….and I’m okay with it.  We all have the right to our opinion.  I realize that some may think I’m not entitled to an opinion regarding children when I don’t have any of my own.  My thoughts and views on things just might change when I become a mother and I’m well aware of that.  If they do you’ll be informed of that when it happens.

Until then just enjoy some photos of my super cute nephew in action with his amazing hair.  He’s pretty awesome and improved tons over the course of the season.  He didn’t cry when he lost.  He never threw a fit when he got pulled out of the game so another team member could play.  I’m proud of him.

Learning new things every day….

Remodel {1}

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It’s been almost a month since we moved into the new house.  I have yet to update y’all on the remodeling process.  Mostly because we aren’t completely finished.  We still have four rooms left.  Four rooms that I feel like are taking forever.

We gave ourselves a goal.  Get the house completely done by the time we can open the pool.  So, we do have some time to get it done….but I just wish I could snap my finger and it would all be over.

The bathrooms need to be finished and the kitchen/dining and front room are still to be done.  I did accomplish getting two of the four rooms primed and ready to go for my guy’s return home.  Of course, I had the help of my pops….but I was still glad to get that done last week.  That way when lover boy returned home I could put him right to work and get to painting!  Ha!  He hasn’t come right out and said it…but he and my dad both (I can tell) feel like I’m a great prep painter but I should never be allowed to paint for real.  But you know what they don’t know?  They don’t know that I’m actually amazing, but I hate it….so I pretend like I suck.  That’s my dirty little secret for today.

So, today I’ll reveal to you the before and after of our bedroom.  It’s the only room that is completely finished.  There are no open walls to hang things so it makes it very nice and easy to say it’s done.  Furniture is in it.  Curtains are up.  New bedding is on.  Done.  Complete.

Before

Before

and…..

After!
Please ignore the laundry basket.  It’s dirty clothes.  And ignore the fan.  It gets blazing hot upstairs with the wood burning stove.  And ignore the humidifier in the background.  We also have crazy static despite the fact that our carpet warranty said ANTI STATIC.  Bunch of darn liars!
The duvet cover came from Target.  Only $60!  First time duvet cover purchaser right here.
I actually like the fact that I can wash it much easier than a queen size comforter with probably less wear and tear.
Plus the down comforter inside it feels amazing.  

The man of the house had to take apart the bed frame for both beds that went upstairs.
Talk about a pain!  I watched, and adored him, and giggled at his frustration.
The stairs don’t allow for a queen size bed frame to go up them….so it was either this or sleep separately on two twin beds.  
Well I should probably get to work on grading papers.  I have put them off long enough.  We had an expected 3 day weekend and besides cheering on our hometown girls basketball team (SEMI STATE CHAMPS!) I have done absolutely nothing.

Unless dusting for about 5 minutes counts.

Does it?

Eh….whatever.

Happy Sunday!

willpower

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Willpower isn’t something that I always have.  However, I have caught myself lately literally talking to myself and saying, “You can do better.”  It’s all about food. 
I want to lose weight, but I don’t always make the right choices to actually want to lose weight.  I’ve been stuck at this same number for quite some time.  I’m not shy to share it….175.  I started at about 185 when I first decided to work out and eat better.  I got down to less than 170 when I trained for the mini last year.  Then I put some pounds back on over the winter.  Then I started again in January and said I was going to quit drinking beer and quit eating French fries and potatoes and bread. 
The problem is….I haven’t always had the willpower.  Therefore, I am stuck around 175.  Just yesterday I got under at about 174.6.  Losing over 2 pounds in one week made me thrilled, but my first thought was how badly I wanted a double cheeseburger from McD’s.  I have this problem every time. 
But then I remembered the willpower I had been working on.  I drove right past McD’s and went home.  I cooked dinner at home, for myself and chose the healthy route.  I wanted a beer when I got home, especially after finding out we had a two hour delay but I remembered that I was going to a Pacer’s game tonight and out to dinner on Saturday night….so I chose a Vitamin Water instead.
Compromise and willpower. 
I say compromise because I will continue to enjoy life.  Which means that every once in a while I am going to have a beer.  I love Blue Moon.  I mean….I drool when I see a cold Blue Moon with an orange on top.  Also, I may occasionally eat at McD’s and enjoy a double cheeseburger….but it has to be less often if I truly want to lose the weight.  If I can go home and eat, then I need to choose that option.  If I know that I’m going to want to drink a beer when we are out with friends or family, then I’m going to have to say no to a beer in the fridge at home.  Otherwise, I’m going to continue to struggle and sit at 175. 
Right now my goal is to get under 170.  If I can reach that goal then I’ll shoot for 160.  I’m focusing on 10 pounds at a time.  Sure, I’d love to be a size 6 by the summer, but let’s be real here.  Maybe a size 12 instead?  Size 14 looks good on me, I’m told by my wonderful man.  He could care less what size I am.  I think he enjoys my curves.  But with a pool in our backyard I sure would feel better in a swimsuit without a few pounds attached to these rubbing genie thighs.
Here’s what I’ve done so far to try and get there….
  
Since January I have had two scrambled eggs and coffee for breakfast.  My trainers tell me I must eat breakfast.  I hate taking time to sit down and eat in the morning…I’d much rather sleep longer.  But it seems the protein in the morning helps to get my metabolism going. 
Also since January I have started a new lunchtime meal.  It has saved me so much trouble, and I’m still in love with it.  Meet my new lunch time favorite….
yummmmmy
Healthy Life bread (one slice) only 35 calories.  Bear Naked Maple Pecan granola 1/8 of a cup is 65 calories.  Colby Jack cheese cubes or cheese square around 80 calories.  Natural Jif creamy peanut butter 2 tablespoons 190 calories.  Apple slices around 90 calories.  Total for my daily lunch is 460 calories.
This is all according to MyFitnessPal which I have also been using daily to help me keep track of my calories and try and stay under 1300.  Most of the time I am under 1200 or even 1100, but my dearest trainers gave me a goal number of 1300. 
Right now the scale is back and forth.  It’s annoying.  Really annoying. 
But I was really proud of myself last night, AND again today when I passed up McDonald’s and came home to eat something healthier.  I’ve got to stop making excuses.  And I have to stop eating the junk so when I do go out to eat at a nice place, or out to enjoy a sports game, I can really enjoy a beer and some junk food because I have actually been good all week. 
Wow….as I just read back through this I cannot believe I’m telling y’all my weight and laying it all out there.  I guess I feel like writing it down helps hold me a bit more accountable.
Fighting the Scale, 

One on One

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Last weekend I had the opportunity to spend some one on one time with my mini me.  At first I tried to convince her momma to give me both kids because she deserved the break, but she expressed that mini me wanted it to just be me and her.  I’m sure glad she spoke up.  We needed that bonding time.  I realized it’s probably hard for her to always be overlooked because of her cute and smaller little brother.  He needs more attention, naturally, because he requires someone changing his pants and wiping his nose.

So we spent the day….just hanging out.  Nothing special.  We went to the other nephew’s basketball game.  We ate lunch at her favorite, Steak n Shake (and my favorite too).  We shopped at Menard’s and Home Depot.  She wasn’t too thrilled but she participated.  We hung out at home and made Valentine’s.  We went grocery shopping.  We watched those annoying lovely Disney shows.  We had a few disagreements.  

A few things I realized from my day with the princess: 
1. If I was anything like that (which I’m told I was) when I was little, then I want my mom to know I’m sorry for giving her such a hard time.
2. I would also tell my mom, “You’re welcome” for constantly making her giggle.  The girl knows how to spout her sass at just the right moment for a good laugh. 
3. Take the iPod away from the little before your day together to avoid all conflict. 
Overall, we had an enjoyable day.  I didn’t create any magnificent memories with her, but just the time together…a little one on one….was all we needed.  
Oh….and speaking of Valentine’s Day.  I can’t recall a day so wonderful.  My students surprised me with a bundle of treats that day.  
Your truly fortunate aunt and teacher, 

Relay Ready

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Relay for Kick-off at the end of January was a success.

First team captain meeting this week was a success.

We are on a roll people.  On a ROLL!

 Team Captain Kits and Bags are out…..

We have 15 teams already and many of them are new!

Our team has the theme picked out…..CANCER COMMANDERS and we shall dress as the Robertson family.  Beards, bandanas, camo, and duck calls will be our apparel for Relay weekend.  Maybe some face paint?  As a new and true die hard fan of Duck Dynasty I am pretty darn excited about our theme for Relay.

The word is out in our community!

And when I received this from 365 Happy it had me immediately thinking of Relay…

This is Relay for me.  There is so much to hope for each year that we fight back against cancer.  There’s so much to do before May 18th.  I’m fortunate to have so many to love….and we are all in this fight together.  Being a part of Relay is simply amazing.  Being a part of Relay with those I love the most…..incredible.

Go out and find your something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for.  It is by far the simplest way to find happiness.

Truly Fortunate,