August 30th I declared it finished!
(if I've counted correctly)
I've made it through peri-menopause, menopause and can now say
that I am no longer a breeder.
And I feel like a 10 yr old again :)
It might not seem a big deal to the guys out there, but then
they haven't had to purchase, use, and dispose of 41 yrs. worth
of sanitary products.
(I have definitely done my part to support the economy..)
Having your period is like getting the flu every four weeks, for
seven days at a shot.
You know it's coming, and you know your going to feel like crap
when it does.
You can count on it.
Like the mailman showing up with a boat load of bills right
before Christmas.
And it can ruin your day.
But not anymore!!
Lol
Though I am thankful to be a woman, and I loved being pregnant
and raising my son, it's a joy to have moved past that part of
things and on to the next stage of my life!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Sunday, September 7, 2008
It's Back
Indoor skating practice!
Well, once aweek.
Saturday mornings with the Whitehall team is the only practice
I can get to time wise, but I am delighted to be getting back
to work :)
The Bethlehem portion of the SOS Team, whom I normally train
with, is still working and racing solely outdoors, with several
big races to attend in the coming weeks.
They'll go back in the rink next month.
After Nationals this July, I pretty much gave up skating
in favor of taking a break.
It was the right thing to do.
Oh, I put in 6 miles here, and 9 miles there, but my heart
wasn't engaged.
Taking a brief pause from serious training helps keep things
from turning into a grind.
At least it does for me.
And somehow, I dropped a jean size in that time frame...
:)
How?
Without my son living at home, I'm no longer buying Oreos,
or half gallon containers of mint chocolate chip ice cream..
lol!
Well, once aweek.
Saturday mornings with the Whitehall team is the only practice
I can get to time wise, but I am delighted to be getting back
to work :)
The Bethlehem portion of the SOS Team, whom I normally train
with, is still working and racing solely outdoors, with several
big races to attend in the coming weeks.
They'll go back in the rink next month.
After Nationals this July, I pretty much gave up skating
in favor of taking a break.
It was the right thing to do.
Oh, I put in 6 miles here, and 9 miles there, but my heart
wasn't engaged.
Taking a brief pause from serious training helps keep things
from turning into a grind.
At least it does for me.
And somehow, I dropped a jean size in that time frame...
:)
How?
Without my son living at home, I'm no longer buying Oreos,
or half gallon containers of mint chocolate chip ice cream..
lol!
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes
My son graduated Air Force BMT two weeks ago and stood proud
in Flight 529 of Training Squadron 326, the "Bulldogs".
(in this BMT group there were twelve "flights" of approx. 48
young men or women from 3-4 different squadrons).
His received not only the title of "Honor Flight" but they were
also awarded special streamers to carry on their guidon during
that Saturdays graduation ceremony.
One each for Academic, Fitness and Drill excellence.
A rare achievement for any single training flight..
It was so good to see him after almost 7 weeks!
And yes he had changed, and thoroughly embraced the Air Force
way of life, which is as it should be.
Ensconced in the Tech School "pipeline" for the next 4 months
at Keesler AFB in MS, he was disappointed that the start of
classes had to be postponed for a week due to hurricane Gustuv
rolling through.
Keesler literally sits right on the Gulf and is the Air Forces
largest joint training facility.
Now that he can use his cell phone again, I've recieved a few
calls, but his life has changed and I will never play the role
in it that I did a short few months ago.
So goes the way of raising children into men and women.
in Flight 529 of Training Squadron 326, the "Bulldogs".
(in this BMT group there were twelve "flights" of approx. 48
young men or women from 3-4 different squadrons).
His received not only the title of "Honor Flight" but they were
also awarded special streamers to carry on their guidon during
that Saturdays graduation ceremony.
One each for Academic, Fitness and Drill excellence.
A rare achievement for any single training flight..
It was so good to see him after almost 7 weeks!
And yes he had changed, and thoroughly embraced the Air Force
way of life, which is as it should be.
Ensconced in the Tech School "pipeline" for the next 4 months
at Keesler AFB in MS, he was disappointed that the start of
classes had to be postponed for a week due to hurricane Gustuv
rolling through.
Keesler literally sits right on the Gulf and is the Air Forces
largest joint training facility.
Now that he can use his cell phone again, I've recieved a few
calls, but his life has changed and I will never play the role
in it that I did a short few months ago.
So goes the way of raising children into men and women.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Nationals 2008 Part #1
I went, I raced, I cheered my team mates on, and I achieved 96%
of the goals I'd set before leaving for Lincoln, Nebraska and
the 2008 Indoor Speed Skating Nationals held at Pershing Center.
Unlike last year, I didn't fall once!
And there was even some bumping going in a few corners when three
or four of us wanted to be in the same spot at once.
Lots of women fell in front of me, and even one behind me,(she
was unconscious for a good 5 minutes), but none of them caused
me to lose my balance.
Thrice, unfortunately, I swung too wide after passing around the
obstacle in my path, and couldn't get my legs working as soon as
I'd wish to get back on the track quicker, but live and learn,
I was on my feet and still racing!
The goal of staying closer to the cones was the one I didn't get
100% of the time, but still, it was a big improvement over last
year.
Nerves played a hand in my 1000m...simply put,I didn't skate to
my potential.
Having diverted my focus from self appointed internal goals, to
an external one, I lost before the gun went off..
Another live and learn moment.
of the goals I'd set before leaving for Lincoln, Nebraska and
the 2008 Indoor Speed Skating Nationals held at Pershing Center.
Unlike last year, I didn't fall once!
And there was even some bumping going in a few corners when three
or four of us wanted to be in the same spot at once.
Lots of women fell in front of me, and even one behind me,(she
was unconscious for a good 5 minutes), but none of them caused
me to lose my balance.
Thrice, unfortunately, I swung too wide after passing around the
obstacle in my path, and couldn't get my legs working as soon as
I'd wish to get back on the track quicker, but live and learn,
I was on my feet and still racing!
The goal of staying closer to the cones was the one I didn't get
100% of the time, but still, it was a big improvement over last
year.
Nerves played a hand in my 1000m...simply put,I didn't skate to
my potential.
Having diverted my focus from self appointed internal goals, to
an external one, I lost before the gun went off..
Another live and learn moment.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Ready... Set... Go!
He's been sorting.
Sending a few things up to the attic, and many odds and
ends out the back door into the garbage.
His closet has had a once over, with a handful of items
going to the Thrift Store.
But most of his clothes still reside on the various hangers
they call home.
He's even cleaned out, and vacuumed, under his bed!
The haven of who knows what, including used dryer sheets,
and massive experimental dust bunny colonies.
(Is there alien life on a dust bunny ?)
His one carry on bag is packed lightly.
Just encase his Flights TI likes to play "pick'em up put'em
down".
Everything inside is plain, selected with care so nothing he
wears will call attention to himself.
TI's love it when you stand out..
He's spent the last two weeks going out every night with
friends, saying goodbye.
Sometimes to the wee hours.
That was new.
Five hours from now we both move forward into new ways of
living our lives.
Still mother and son, but different.
We are ready.
Sending a few things up to the attic, and many odds and
ends out the back door into the garbage.
His closet has had a once over, with a handful of items
going to the Thrift Store.
But most of his clothes still reside on the various hangers
they call home.
He's even cleaned out, and vacuumed, under his bed!
The haven of who knows what, including used dryer sheets,
and massive experimental dust bunny colonies.
(Is there alien life on a dust bunny ?)
His one carry on bag is packed lightly.
Just encase his Flights TI likes to play "pick'em up put'em
down".
Everything inside is plain, selected with care so nothing he
wears will call attention to himself.
TI's love it when you stand out..
He's spent the last two weeks going out every night with
friends, saying goodbye.
Sometimes to the wee hours.
That was new.
Five hours from now we both move forward into new ways of
living our lives.
Still mother and son, but different.
We are ready.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Passages
Some are easier than others.
They come and go, marked by candles and celebration,
or tears and grief.
But you step into them, ready or not.
My son and I are both ready now. And excited at the
big changes coming into his life.
I am very proud of his decision to join the Air Force,
and that he stayed the course over this past year in
the Delayed Entry Program.
One of our dogs became sick really yesterday while I
was at work.
Racing home after I received the call, he passed
before I got there.
My son on his own accord, gathered shovel, pick and
post hole digger and went out in our backyard to dig
Mr. Tubbs a grave.
And it was a nice one, with squared edges and sides.
Sweating in the afternoon heat, long legs knee deep
in the ground, dirt coloring his ankles, I saw clearly
the man inside the boy.
Our relationship changes even now.
Life is good.
With it's comings and goings.
And I ride the swells life brings to me..
They come and go, marked by candles and celebration,
or tears and grief.
But you step into them, ready or not.
My son and I are both ready now. And excited at the
big changes coming into his life.
I am very proud of his decision to join the Air Force,
and that he stayed the course over this past year in
the Delayed Entry Program.
One of our dogs became sick really yesterday while I
was at work.
Racing home after I received the call, he passed
before I got there.
My son on his own accord, gathered shovel, pick and
post hole digger and went out in our backyard to dig
Mr. Tubbs a grave.
And it was a nice one, with squared edges and sides.
Sweating in the afternoon heat, long legs knee deep
in the ground, dirt coloring his ankles, I saw clearly
the man inside the boy.
Our relationship changes even now.
Life is good.
With it's comings and goings.
And I ride the swells life brings to me..
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Turnabout
What goes down must come up.
I reminded my self of that little saying last week
when I was feeling low.
Didn't work any magic then.
There are the times when words can turn your mind
around, and set you up on a different track.
And there are times when you just have to live in a
uncomfortable place for the time being.
Kicking and screaming doesn't change your situation.
No matter how much energy you put into it.
It was my turn at the bottom of the wheel the past 10
day, and the only way out, was to wait it out.
Not good for me or the people around me, but it's the
way I am wired.
God didn't want this model to be able to hide behind
a false smile, so if I'm feeling it, there it is, in
plan view, for the world to see.
For better or worse.
It can be bad..
There is no hiding behind a social mask.
I don't own one.
Man, there have been so many times when I wished with
all my heart that I could paste a look on..
Often the best I can do to rein things in, is walk away.
How often I have used that tactic...
Well, the good thing is the worst is over.
I have mourned the passing of a way of life, like a
death in the family.
It wasn't pretty, real grief isn't made for TV.
Time to appreciate that life's wheel is always turning,
and for now I'm on the up swing.
I reminded my self of that little saying last week
when I was feeling low.
Didn't work any magic then.
There are the times when words can turn your mind
around, and set you up on a different track.
And there are times when you just have to live in a
uncomfortable place for the time being.
Kicking and screaming doesn't change your situation.
No matter how much energy you put into it.
It was my turn at the bottom of the wheel the past 10
day, and the only way out, was to wait it out.
Not good for me or the people around me, but it's the
way I am wired.
God didn't want this model to be able to hide behind
a false smile, so if I'm feeling it, there it is, in
plan view, for the world to see.
For better or worse.
It can be bad..
There is no hiding behind a social mask.
I don't own one.
Man, there have been so many times when I wished with
all my heart that I could paste a look on..
Often the best I can do to rein things in, is walk away.
How often I have used that tactic...
Well, the good thing is the worst is over.
I have mourned the passing of a way of life, like a
death in the family.
It wasn't pretty, real grief isn't made for TV.
Time to appreciate that life's wheel is always turning,
and for now I'm on the up swing.
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