Just Another Day

Had to set my alarm on Sunday to be sure to be up by 7:00. D and M were going to be at my house at 8:15 for yet another race. I of course scurry around the house picking up the messes left from the night before - not sure why because more will be there by the time I get back. D & M are always right on time so I don't finish my breakfast and head out the door with the new halloween costumes I made for the three of us. I don't think D's son was upset I didn't make one for him. D & M didn't mind even wearing them - that was pretty good. At least I didn't cover their faces or make them wear wigs or makeup. We were all M&M's. The race was a nice run but truely not one you can 'PR' as they call it, since we had to wait for other running, take turns passing folks, slow down for the very slippery bridges which I think one was a mile long. It was however fun and Me and M stayed together and chatted. I felt really impressed with M when she asked me how I was doing as she ran with a box of tissues - always thinking of every one else. It started raining at the end of the race but we were in the woods at that time so didn't really get any of it. After we finished we found out it was hail and it decided to do it again a little later. It was a nice run, my friend P who joined us for the race took first place in her age group and D took first in hers (they were in different groups). M and I are just there for the bagels!. We did a quick trip to the mall and home. I did an even quicker trip in the shower to head to walmart for a bday gift and Chuck-e-cheese for a party. After that back to Walmart for snacky foods for an evening with my parents. Rush home and hope to pick up the house again but not in time for my parents and brother and his family to walk in the door. My Mom was so nice to comment how I didn't pick up my pile of cloths off my bedroom floor. Of course she is referring to my stanky cloths from my early run. I was planning on throwing them in the wash but just didn't have time. That is the life of a "Fast" paced Mom. I am sure M can relate and D and P have been through it also! I fixed things for lunch and at 8:30PM when the chillens should be fast asleep counting sugar plums, my oldest comes down and says Mom I need index cards for school tomorrow - hence a third trip to Walmart. It cost me more in gas for those darn index cards than they cost to buy them. You think she could of mentioned it the other two times we were there ---- NOOOO.

Envy?

There are so many things I can do, but much more I can't. I am also not strong in many areas - don't ask me about names of actors/actresses or movie titles (although I love watching them). I love music but can't tell you artist's names. I can't knit or crochea, play piano, can't do electric, or plumbing. I really would love to knit or play piano some day but as for the others - not really interested. I think the more you know how to do something the more you get involved in doing them. I am the trick of all trades but the master of none. I guess my best would be baking. I think I learned to sew out of neccessity. That is probably how many people learn the things they know how to do. Probably how most men get into doing car work. I find with sewing I have to be in the mood. I think I like making costumes because they are fun and enjoyable when done. Baking - I could do it every day and I don't think I would get bored or out of the mood. I guess you call that a passion. So now I am off to make costumes for myself and my running buddies - it will be funny when we are running the "Halloween Run" on Sunday. I don't know how we will have a good pace - we will be laughing all the way to the finish - since it is only a 5K.

Eastwood is very pretty in the fall

The 1st Annual Eastwood Park-to-Park Autumn Run was great. It was a 5 mile run through Eastwood. They even had chips. They were only for the finish but that was a lot better than no chips at all that I've done on some races this summer. The run was beautiful since we were at peak for our fall colors but the path brought us by some beautiful houses and the volunteers and folks that cheered us on were the most I've seen for any race. The hills were the ONLY downfall, I would do this race again in a minute - well maybe in a few weeks. I have to admit I have thank D for helping me have a much better pace than I would have on my own. She tries to tell us she doesn't push but she does - those darn long legs, she just can't help it. If M or I needed to slow down I am sure she would have but I think she pushed us just enough. M asked me a couple times if I was ok, maybe I looked hot, it was very thoughtful but I was to winded to say thank you then, but thank you M for your support. The weather was absolutely beautiful and I don't think I've ever seen such blue skies in October. I just wanted to sit in the grass and enjoy the warm sun the rest of the day but at last M said it was time to go. Oh, and our time was 54 minutes which I am so happy with (even with hills!). I look forward to next fall and doing this again.

P.S. I blogged my race because M and D said I had to. I am glad I did. Thank you.

Dreams of Lice!

Talk about no spare time. The dreaded phone call from the school nurse to tell you your child has head lice has to be the worst. All the work involved runs through your mind. What ever you do, do not, I repeat, do not, look at lice under the magnifying glass. You will have dreams that truly haunt you. And to think these monsters were in my children's hair and in my house. I have not slept well in since the phone call. I am not embarrassed by it, but hated to call my friends and family to tell them. How is it that only two of my children ended up with it, who knows. Are the little beast particular or was my middle child just darn lucky. I was lucky enough to take a few days off work to keep doing laundry. I managed to go running this morning but just wasn't in the mood, my son keeps waking up at night, not sure why yet - is he having nightmares???

I am so worried that we can't get rid of these things. After spending two hours untangling my daughters hair which must be at least a foot long (I don't think I'm exaggerating). The first day back to school the nurse couldn't find anything in her hair, did I do all that cruel and inhuman treatment for nothing! The second day the nurse said she pulled two eggs out, did I say her hair is a foot long. So how am I supposed to find two eggs. So the question is now what should I do every morning to try to make sure they wonderful critters eggs don't hatch and we start the cycle all over again???? I am having so much fun. Boys are so much easier - I must thank whoever invented clippers.

Another Day

I've been busy lately from morning to night, with very little time to watch TV or read. I hit the pillow and start falling asleep after only a couple minutes. I think I watched about an hour of TV over the weekend and did start a new book - I think I'm still in the first chapter but I did start it.

This past weekend the family went to the Apple Fest and it was very nice. Then after shopping for hours - hockey gear and house maint stuff our day was gone. I spent the day in Albany with M and D. It was a very nice time. I would do it again, it was great watching them in pain!

Monday was a blur as some days go. I finally got to some of the apples we picked last week, and made a whole whopping five jars of applesauce last night. If the kids didn't like it so much I don't know if I would do that. I figure it took me about two hours, granted not full time but to only make five jars. I guess that is the thing about canning anything, it takes lots of time but it is cheap if you don't count your time. I think my time really should be counted since I have so little spare time, so if you figure $10 an hour, that is cheap. Those tasty jars cost about $4 a jar. I guess mass producing is definitely cheaper but my kids don't like store bought apple sauce.

I have so many things on my to-do list that are piling up on my. It always seems to happen in the fall. I am not sure if it is because school is back in and the kids start all their activities and the paperwork they bring home is just unreal. I still have to finish staining the house - started what a month ago it seems. I have one of six shutters primed - not even painted yet. Now of course it is a race with the weather. I have to do it between rain showers. How do I paint them outside with all the godzillion leaves that will be coming off my godtriplezillion trees in my yard?

I always seem to take on more than I can chew - doesn't everyone? I do think my friend M takes on more than I do but seems to come out smelling like roses in the end. Some day when our kids are grown we will look back and say "Dang, I can't believe we did all those things and rose decent kids" - or at least I hope we can say that. I may not have any hair or teeth left by the time that day ever comes around but I will probably still be running!

Time passes so FAST

The past two weekends we have been spending most of our time outside staining the house. It is a lot of work but the house looks brand new. When we get the roof done it will be a big difference (we'll hire that out). I will have to take a picture. We even bought new lights for the porch and garage. With doing all the house work I didn't notice it is October already and have to get the kids ready for halloween. I've already been thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I am finally back into my normal schedule and life is good. The two - three weeks of nights I did really took me a bit to get back into my normal schedule again. I started back running after not two weeks of nothing. It was amazing how much work it was to just run 3 miles. I've been running on my own a bit lately because my friend M has been busy. It was nice I ran Sunday with M and D. The time goes so fast and we are always laughing. We manage to always find something to talk about while we watch the disappearing sheep, dogs, and our friendly window watcher.

The leaves are changing so fast, the smell of fall is so unique - I really love it except it reminds me that winter is on its way. I saw something today about 1932 or around there, Niagara Falls froze completely because the winter was so cold. I hope that never happens in my lifetime!

I've made something like 13 jars of applesauce and had a friend at work, a contractor that is here helping us that didn't know what applesauce is. I will have to fix up a small jar. Isn't strange how we assume everyone knows what we do. I've made four apple pies now and haven't froze any yet - I have to go apple picking again before it's to late.