Stop and Smell the Flowers

(Originally written July 29, 2008)

Sorry sooo long since last update. Been very busy. No time to sit. Things going well. About two weeks ago I had a rough day but didn’t last to long. Really was antsy to get cars. Finally got and feel more settled but then I thought oh @#$% this is for real WE are here for good. Kind of thought I was on some long vacation in a really nice house, nice neighborhood, surrounded by exceptionally nice people. Kind of like I was in the movie Edward scissorhands. Anyway, been really enjoying the gym I told you about. It is actually hilarious-the set up. It has valet service for the mom’s which I think is good but really I think it is because in the winter the rain is such a pain in the you know what, but for now I’ll see it as some great luxury. I am still doing the running group which is totally kicking my booty. These girls are in such great shape and there is no jogging. I am running. Up hills, down hills, forwards, backwards, up bleachers, down bleachers, over highways, through neighborhoods, off to grandmas house we go. Ha ha.

I am meeting all sorts of women. I have put my foot down, however, and do not run over 4-5. I recently hooked up with one girl, very laid back, has 3 kids, lives not too far, friendly and helpful and funny enough she teaches pole dancing, yes, that is what I said. Sooo here I am jogging along side and thinking how do I ask her, w/o sounding too judgmental, because I was not, “so why do you do this? With comic relief her answer was really good exercise and it is a way for women to just let lose. So as I was thinking “don’t think it is something I could do (although paul would get a kick out it) who knows-couldn’t you see me now? A couple of days later, with a chuckle, she gave me her card. Ha ha. But good thing is her mother is a very good seamstress so I do have that going for me. Sooo today I decided to do a sports conditioning class that the running leader convinced me to try so I’m thinking workout stations..blah blah. Oh no, the first 15 minutes was some sort of basketball game then stations with running/toning then the last 15 minutes was a hockey game. Yes that’s what I said so yes I played basketball and hockey. I am sure you can only imagine that. Needless to say being fit is big here and we could not be at a better gym that is is sooo family oriented. The kids enjoyed the rock climbing camp.

So there is Bryant Woods near us. A place to walk through with a path, if you call it that. Soooo we decide to go. A little girl goes with us with her baby sitter-next thing I know K and A are sucking on some purple flower and yes I freak out. But the little girl says “oh its ok it is honeysuckle” and I am thinking “yeah so my kids are gonna die” then she says “you can suck on it and it is sweet”. Babysitter confirmed, but after about the fifth one I put the stops to it thinking “ok, who knows with my luck one of non-natured kids will have some sort of anaphylactic reaction”. Sooo then K decides to randomly put other things in mouth-go figure. So the saying goes “stop and smell the flower” but let’s not eat them. The things we have done here have really allowed me to slow down a little and watch kids and enjoy seeing new things through their eyes. Good thing that came out of the woods is a babysitter “Kayla” who I have used 2 times now. Age 17 and very responsible-lives 4 houses down.

So I have been told there are coyotes that have been in people’s backyards recently. Greaaaat, I think something to look forward to especially when paul is gone because you that is when it will happen to me. Speaking of animal, we were outside a couple of days ago at the bottom of our street and Dylan is running down to us and from the top of the street comes a deer running right behind Dylan- you should have seen Dylan’s face when we told him to look behind him-too funny for words. There are many deer. The same eve Kyra wants to walk down the street to see a friend and as we are walking we see a small snake –she thinks it is cool. I am about to pee my pants for I had had enough animal excitement but instead I keep a tough upper chin and say “oooh yeah so cool” as she then asks to pick it and I quickly say no and ask to move on.

Three other funny things then I will continue later. I go to pump my gas having great difficulty getting it to work-realizing at last minute-oh yeah cannot pump own gas in Portland, it is full serve everywhere so feeling like total idiot plus ran risk of huge fine I quickly get back in to my car and take the dirty look I received from the attendant-will not do that again.

Sooooo few days before I had bad sinus headache-no problem-go get my handy dandy awesome claritinD, that has a little kick to it, but could not find so the norm thing to do is ask pharmacist who looked at me in a horrified way as if I was some criminal who was drug seeking-which clearly not-even though the stuff works great-or was I?? anyway, I was definitively told that is not over the counter!! Feeling 1 inch tall I settled for Sudafed non-drowsy.

One last thing. I am driving down the road and up ahead I see a woman in a leotard-OK I think to myself-people do not really wear those much anymore, but who knows the 80’s are coming back and then she turned around and it was a thong leotard over tights I had to bust out laughing and then I thought oh boy where am I? so I had to ask my neighbor if that was common here she said “absolutely not!” I thought “thank god.” She is training for a marathon and is a mother of 4 and works full time as a nike exec for children’s apparel. She is very nice and we seem to have a lot in common. She has even offered me, which hope to use soon, a nike employee coupon for the employee store which gives me 50% off any nike item. You know that made my day. I hear since addidas and nike corporate offices are here there is no need to pay full price for any of that stuff. The employee stores are huge with the same items in the retail stores. Score!!!! I love nike apparel, as you all know. By the way the latest thing, if you did not already know, is running skirts, so I will be getting some of those. Gotta look cute while running.

Oh, for safety sake, I hope I did not offend any of you that may still wear the leotard??

To be continued,