Princess Buttercream

Vacation Bullets

2010-08-17T03:50:30Z

Together – For the first time in 3 years, my husband and I are taking vacation time together. Over the past 3 years we’ve each taken vacation time apart, but this is the first time we’ve had more than a long weekend together in that time. We’re not doing anything “special”, it’s a Staycation, but it’s not the where that’s important. Down time together, quality alone time, is just what the doctor ordered.

Expendable – For the first official Staycation event we went to see The Expendables. It was everything we expected to be – a non-stop action movie with little to no plot and lots of unbelievable stunts and explosions. Seriously, the explosives budget alone for this movie had to be several million dollars. It was a fun movie that just lets you turn your brain off and enjoy. Stallone is something else for being 64 years old!

BlogHer – I didn’t go to BlogHer, and I don’t know that I ever will, but each year after it’s over I get to reap the benefits in that I’m introduced via bloggers I already follow to new bloggers (new to me) I haven’t read before. I’ve stocked my Twitter stream and Google reader with more new people in the last two weeks than in the entire last year. I love finding new people to love, and I’m getting a lot more confident in putting myself out there to interact with them. Someday I might even work up the nerve to go to BlogHer myself, but honestly I’m not sure that I’d ever fit in. We shall see. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the new reads and if I haven’t introduced myself to you yet I will soon.

Home Gym – Jason and I have been building quite a home gym, but we’re running out of room. We’ve reached the stage where we have to get rid of something to bring something new in, and wouldn’t you know it – we found something new we want. I’d link it, but I can’t find it anywhere online. It’s a smith machine with cables and junk sort of like this one only way better. The problem is that we have a 1,000 SF house. It’s small, but it’s good for us, at least until we try to fit this kind of stuff in here and not have the whole house look like a gym. So far we’ve been able to fit everything into the garage with the exception of my treadmill which is in the office, but now something must go. The other problem is that my husband is a bladesmith and still uses the garage as his shop, and all of this exercise equipment is slowly choking out the knifemaking equipment. That smith machine is hugantious, and it’s going to make knifemaking difficult. A 370 lb anvil doesn’t exactly scoot in and out of a corner very easily. It’s a puzzle that we’re working on, trying to decide if it’s worth it.

That’s all I’ve got! I guess I have 4 bullets left for when the madness comes, LeSombre style.

So How ‘Bout That Colon?

2010-08-11T17:07:33Z

So today was the Big Day.

Despite my fears, the actual procedure was a walk in the park – I have vague recollections of something, but nothing clear, and already even the vague thought has faded. Prior to the main event they had me all hooked up to monitors and IV’s, and I could literally watch my blood pressure rise by the minute I was so nervous, but it ended up being a nice nap after being up most of the night before with operation Flush the System and I woke up in recovery when it was all done.

The day before though? I’d love to erase that from my memory.

Let’s just say that I’m very glad I won’t be doing that again anytime soon and it has nothing to do with my fear of fasting. The potion they make you drink that will clean you out like Liquid Plumber has been sent directly from the bowels (haha) of hell. I fired up the Googler to find ways to make it go down easier because there’s a gallon of the devil liquid and it doesn’t like to go quietly.

Colonoscopy Tip #1: Get the Elixir of Evil as cold as humanly possible without actually freezing it and chug it. A little brain freeze is better than instant bodily rejection. Also? Mary Poppins was right – A spoonful of sugar, or in this case Crystal Light, really does help make the medicine go down.

I did learn, during my hours of quality bathroom time, that if there is nothing for it to mix with except clear liquids, green Jello comes out the very same color it goes in. This was knowledge I did not have before my grand adventure with alien probes, so I’m chalking the whole thing up as a learning experience.

Colonoscopy Tip #2: when they tell you no red or purple liquids, take my advice and avoid green as well. The shock just isn’t worth it.

Oh, and you totally know I weighed myself this morning because I wanted to know just how full of it I usually am, and it turns out exactly two pounds worth.

And thus ends the TMI section of our program.

Note: I wrote this yesterday but hesitated to publish because of the yuck factor. Who really wants to hear about my experience with the colonoscopy? But then I realized that it’s because no one initiates these conversations that we’re afraid of this kind of thing. The more we bring the scarier but necessary parts of life into the open, the less we fear them. At some point everyone goes through this, and if I can reassure one person that the actual doing of the thing isn’t nearly as bad as they were thinking I’m ok with a little ewwwieness here.

Fast Times

2010-08-07T14:23:23Z

Tuesday I have to have a colonoscopy.

This post could end right there and I think you would still understand exactly how I feel about that. I don’t know of a single person that says “Colonoscopy! Wooo!” The colonoscopy cringe factor is pretty universal.

Before you ask, I am perfectly 100% healthy, I just have a very slight issue. An issue that, in my book, doesn’t warrant a colonoscopy because in MY book, the book of everything reasonable and sane, nothing short of a kidney falling out of your ass warrants anyone putting anything…there.

But if I were being completely honest, while the idea of the whole procedure doesn’t make me do backflips, it’s the prep I’m dreading the most.

I have to essentially fast for 24 hours.

Anyone who knows me knows I have food issues. The idea of only having clear liquids for an entire day does weird things to my head. It’s not that I think it’s going to be that terrible, it’s just, you know – I can’t even describe it.

I’ve joked with my husband that I must have starved to death in a previous life because the thought of no food freaks me out so much. I can’t stand it when the fridge starts looking too bare. He can, and does, fast for days at a time. I can’t even wrap my mind around that, which I guess is entirely the point of that kind of fast – wrapping your mind around it.

So Monday I will be wrapping my mind around it. There will be Jello and clear liquids and I don’t know how this is going to go, but we’re going to find out.

We’re not going to talk about Tuesday just yet. Just be glad they’re going to sedate me or I’d live-tweet the whole thing. I’m not even kidding.

Because the Best Part of a Muffin is the Top

2010-07-26T02:41:09Z

Hey I’m over here today talking about kicking butts. Come check it out!

I Am…

2010-07-09T04:32:53Z

…comfortable in my own mind. I have very definite opinions and, while I will listen to yours, I won’t agree with you for the sake of agreeing. You may try to convince me of something with valid arguments, and if I can see my way around to your point of view I might even change my mind, but I am not afraid of having an unpopular opinion.

…pro-choice. Your body is not my body. What you do with your body is your business, for whatever reason. There is no justification necessary. The end.

…quiet when meeting new people. I prefer to sit back and let new people show me who they are before I expose too much of myself. Perhaps it’s a defense mechanism that goes along with trust issues I have.

…genuine. Rest assured that when I do interact with you, and we become friends, you are seeing the real me. I have no need or desire for pretense or masks, and quickly tire of those who do.

…a gun owner. After being afraid of guns for years I learned how to shoot, and I’m actually pretty good at it. Owning a firearm is a responsibility to be taken seriously. Every single safety precaution must be taken to eliminate accidents, but safe, responsible gun owners are not the problem. Taking guns away from those people is not going to solve the issue of gun violence.

…a democrat. Mostly. Sometimes.

…opposed to weakness. I don’t like to be held back by fear. It’s the reason I learned to shoot, and it’s the reason I like to do things that are hard or outside my comfort zone. I like to push my limits, and to encourage others to push theirs.

…a little ruthless. A close co-worker told me “You go into every new situation with people with a positive attitude and giving of the benefit of the doubt. People are innocent until proven guilty with you. But once they really screw it up, they’re dead to you.” It’s true.

…sometimes too independent. People need to be needed and I don’t do that very well. I am working on it, along with making sure people feel appreciated.

…an artist at heart. I don’t like to make cakes because I like cake. I couldn’t care less about cake. I like making cakes that make you ask “Is that really cake?” I also paint and draw, though I don’t do either nearly as much as I used to.

…a dog person. My dogs are my second and third children. Cats are ok in someone else’s house.

…an animal lover. Except for snakes. I can’t…I just can’t.

So tell me…what are you?

The Very Best Part

2010-06-22T05:35:36Z

Today I got to partake in the very best part of blogging – spending time with people you meet through blogging. Marty Mankins and his lovely wife Reba came to Reno during their vacation travels and I was the lucky one who got to have lunch with them. How cool is that? Both Marty and Reba are great people and I really enjoyed spending time with them.

Even better, it was their anniversary. Happy Anniversary Marty & Reba! Thank you for spending some of your day with me!

Remember

2010-06-21T04:58:26Z

With love and thoughts for Dawg on this day.

Sunday Bullets

2010-06-14T03:06:40Z

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme: I finally planted my herbs! It seems like the cold weather has gone on forever, and I didn’t want to plant them only to have them freeze so I waited. Hubs and I mixed up a lovely concoction of soil, compost, manure, and peat and I planted them. It makes me happy to have fresh herbs growing outside my kitchen window. I still need to get some tomato plants, but that and some flowers are going to be the extent of my gardening this year. I’m just too busy and I’m concentrating on other things.

Alone Again, Naturally: Hubs is gone again for the week. I have to say I’m not a fan of out-of-town jobs. We work together, so we are together ALL the time. Most people would hate that, but we’ve made it work. This? Is the opposite of that. I know there are people who do this all the time and it works for them, but I used to be a military wife and would go through this for months on end. I’ve done my time.

9 to 5: Speaking of work, Staycation is over and I’m going back to work tomorrow. I’m not looking forward to mucking out my in-box, but I have to say that deleting my work email account from my phone during vacation was the best plan ever. I actually took time off without looking at or thinking about work stuff. I highly recommend doing that if you’re going on vacation and your personal phone is also used for work.

10: The first three months of the fitness plan are over and I crossed over the 10% mark this weekend. If you’ve ever done Weight Watcher’s you’ll know what I’m talking about. They give you a key chain for losing the first 10% of your starting weight, and old habits die hard. It’s a milestone I’ve been looking forward to for the past few weeks when the scale seemed to have a mind of it’s own, so it was nice to reach it at the 12 week mark. It seems to tie everything up neatly with a bow. Now I just have to do it 3 more times, but I’m not looking at the big picture right now. Smaller goals like this keep me going.

Help: Avitable posted a story about Mindy this weekend and she needs our help. Please go read her story. Anything you can do will help. I know you may see this on many blogs across the internet, but that’s one of the best things about blogging – the ability to get the word out when necessary.

Have a great week everyone!

Staycation

2010-06-11T01:17:06Z

I’m on vacation, bitches!

It’s been a long time since I took more than a long weekend for vacation that didn’t involve knocking me out and crutches, so this week I said screw it I’m taking some time for me. Hubs is working out of town and the boy is hardly ever home anymore now that he has wheels and a debit card. It was the perfect time for some real alone time, which for me never happens. Like in 20 years, it’s never happened.

I had all these grandiose plans of things I could do like a really thorough spring cleaning, painting the hallway and living room because I’m tired of the color, or a lot of yard cleanup that needs to happen.

Who was I kidding? This is me we’re talking about. While my house is not cluttered or dirty (dusty does NOT count as dirty), it’s not a candidate for the white glove treatment either. I am not June Cleaver, and no amount of free time is going to turn me into her. It’s just not a priority for me, and I can think of 1.000 things that would be better uses of my time.

What did I do instead?

Ok, I cleaned a little. But only my drawers and a little of the closet. Things were getting entirely out of hand in there and I needed to cull the herd of holey underwear.

I bought a bike.

I’ve been running, but my knees reminded me that while I’ve lost some weight, it’s not nearly enough for them to be happy with being the bearer of high-impact me. I remembered that I weighed about 20 – 25 lbs less than I do now when I started running the last time, so I need to be patient and wait.

A friend let me borrow his wife’s bike and we went on a ride together to see what I thought, and I loved it. My hooch didn’t love it, it was angry for days and normally I wouldn’t be ok with that. But riding that bike was fun. And it got me moving outside, which is really important to me. I am a summer girl and the thought of spending my summer fitness time in the garage on my elliptical just about made me cry. I need to be outside because I don’t know if you noticed, but that winter lasted forever.

So I researched and shopped and sat on bikes and I finally picked one I liked and I brought her home and called her George. Well not George, she doesn’t really have a name yet except Bike. Bike and I have had two rides now, and I can tell you we are officially an item.

I discovered the Runmeter app for iPhone, and Bike and I have used it to track our rides. I didn’t know when I first used it that you can set it for different activities, so the results say “run” when they should have said “cycle.” But you get the idea. I am in love with this app! No more need to covet a chunky Garmin wrist GPS for running, I can just use the app. It stores all of your past runs/rides so you can compare notes on past rides. I haven’t tried it, but you’re also supposed to be able to run the iPod at the same time this runs in the background.

Yesterday I took a drive up to Tahoe. My original intent was to spend the day photographing the lake, but it was kind of cold and windy up there and I found I was just really enjoying the drive. I never get to drive up there because it’s pretty twisty and hubs gets sick if he doesn’t drive.

It was a beautiful day, if you were inside a warm car. I drove for hours and just listened to music and chilled. I love a good drive. I did discover that you can get from the top of Spooner Summit to the bottom in just about the time it takes for Iron Man to play if you aren’t afraid of going fast on the curves and you have to pee really, really bad. Thankfully the highway patrol was busy with someone else when I blew past him.

I still have tomorrow by myself and then it’s a regular weekend. This time has been good. I really needed it and even though I haven’t done anything really exciting, I’ve done exactly what I wanted to do at the time. That’s pretty awesome by itself.

Green Eyes

2010-05-05T15:28:31Z

Over the past few years I’ve done a lot of work in the personal growth department. I saw some character traits in myself that I wasn’t overjoyed to have to own up to, so I worked at change. It wasn’t easy, but then real change rarely is. Over time I’ve noticed a difference and I’ve been happy with how it has been working out so far.

One of the things I’ve worked hard at erradicating from my thoughts is envy. It serves no productive purpose and it fosters dissatisfaction with my life. It doesn’t motivate me to do things differently, it just makes me unhappy at what I may consider unfair. Envy is pretty much the opposite of everything I need to do to enjoy my current life path and to be a good friend and partner to those around me.

So far I have been really successful, and it has gone a long way in upping my happiness quotient. When the people I love tell me about great things that happen to them, my first thought is never “I wish that had happened to me.” I am geninely happy for them. I can go visit your beautiful new 4,000 square foot house and be so happy for you, and at the same time be perfectly happy to go home to my small house that’s only halfway remodeled. It doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t care about popularity or numbers of followers or what kind of car you drive. I really don’t.

Except for this one thing. I’m wrestling the green-eyed monster over one little thing and it’s pissing me right off. I’m pissed that I can’t get over it and just be happy for my friend. It doesn’t really matter what I’m jealous about, the fact that I’m jealous at all is what has me kicking my own ass around the block.

Don’t get me wrong, I am happy that this good thing has happened for my friend. It’s awesomely super fantastic in it’s awesomeness. But I want it for myself too. I am having a hard time with accepting, with this one little thing, that things are different for me and maybe it’s even ultimately all my own fault that they are.

And there’s the rub. It’s ultimately my own fault that it’s different for me. I have put myself in this situation, and maybe instead of being jealous I’m really just angry at myself.

Obviously I still have work to do in that department. Maybe I always will. But at least I can see how self-destructive this emotion is, and I’m working at changing it. I’m going to count that as a win.