It's mine so hush...

I am trying to become a bike commuter. I started last friday. It went really well. I made it into work with no problems. It only took me 30 minutes-ish, which really isn't much longer than the bus and I didn't have to fight anyone for a seat! ;) After many suggestions from my fellow fatties on how to make the ride better, I was really excited that I didn't hurt after. It was a pain to have to drag extra clothes and such, since I really didn't have anything to pack them in. Fortunately this weekend I was able to purchase panniers for the bike. I bought nice bright red ones that hook easily on to the back. When I shoved off yesterday morning, I felt like a real bike commuter. I actually rode to a doctors appointment and then to work. 6.5 miles of burning thighs and wind on my face. It was great! I still feel a little discombobulated when I am getting going or locking up. I am never quite sure how to lock up my bike. Blue Bell is a big girl, and doesn't s...

Last weekend Team Mongoose headed south to Eugene to celebrate Pa's birthday. We were supposed to go camping, but Pa was fighting an allergy/asthma attack, so we decided to take it easy. Gage did get to do some fishing with Pa. Pa loves having his grandson around. They get on well together. Nena and I cleaned up around the house and prepared for an afternoon barbecue.

I read this article yesterday about why 'weight diversity' activists are standing up for the right to be fat . The writer interviewed an amazing woman that I have had the chance to meet and work with during my days of FatGirl Speaks, Marilyn Wann. I am really ambivalent about the article. On one hand, it was completely skewed and did a poor job representing MW. She is a brilliant activist, and knows her stuff. The author didn't seem to be writing an unbiased piece, but more of a personal opinion piece with quotes from people she interviewed. And on the other hand, that's how lots of people think. They truly believe that people like me are disgusting, slovenly, unkempt 'takers.' I did find some of her (the author's) comments interesting... First Rule of Fat Club: fat people are not all living in shame. Second Rule of Fat Club is clear and an accepted fact by all: fat people are not always fat because they eat a lot. Consider also genetics, depressio...

Between school, internship, work, being a wife, mother and friend I haven't gotten to do all the little things that I really love. I've given up bi-weekly pedicures for movies with the kiddo, getting my hair done for dinner out with the hubs, 50k a year plus benefits for the hope of a career I can do for a lifetime. I am really ok with my choices. I'm the kinda girl that understands that this is just temporary. In two months from now it will be different and two months after that, again there will be change. Knowing that I was missing out on "me time," I specifically changed my school schedule this term to negotiate a bit more face time with my hubs and a little time to myself. It's been nice so far. I have Tuesday night to hang out at home by myself and do whatever I want, which most nights is homework and Thursday night as a date night with my sweetie. I have decided that on "me night," I am going to try one new recipe a week. I feel like I ...

After hours of feeling like I was going to die, I decided that needed to get some fresh air. Yesterday morning, moments prior to the onset of "the sickness," we hit up the gym and then Freddie's annual spring flower sale. They had all sorts of pretty flowers out and if you brought your planters with you, they would make you gorgeous basket arrangements. I had forgotten mine, plus - I like to get my hands dirty. So I got some lovely dark/light pink geraniums and a few little flowers to make a hanging basket. I also got a pretty Gerber daisy to pot in my window seal in the kitchen. At the last minute I also decided to re-pot my two unruly jade plants into one big flower pot. Hopefully my green thumb is in working order and everything survives the transplant!

i don't have any idea what happened this week/weekend. i was sooooo sick. my internship has norovirus going around. i apparently managed to catch it. it came on Saturday morning and wiped me out. i was up all night. no good. i am heading back to bed now.

Pa shows us his true colors! Always quick to smile and laugh. Alan and Nena working their geo-cashing skills Team Mac Pac Mongoose celebrating their geo-cashing find! Gage finds a nice place to sit in the water. He even finds a fort! Alan trying his log rolling skills. Gage catching a little nap in the sun. Nap over, time for adventure! After a long day of adventures - Team Mongoose passes out on the ride home!

What a week! When I am in school the days sometimes drag out, but the weeks fly by!! Then weekend arrives and the kiddo with it. We never seem to have enough time to do all the things we want to with him. Last weekend we headed up to Hills Creek, just outside of Oakridge. We were checking out the camping options for opening day of fishing season in April. That is also Pa's birthday, so we will do a little celebrating as well. We had a good time. The kiddo was having a bit of a rough day, behaviorally, but all in all had a really good time. We did some geo-cashing, which is always fun. We found both of the geo-cash stashes. We decided that we were going to make one and stash it when we go camping. We did some hiking around the lake. The water was still really low, but Pa and Nena think it will be better when we go in April. It was a gorgeous day with not a cloud in the sky. This weekend we are sticking close to home. The boys are out at the gym. They have taken to pla...