Cold - I Am Outta Here!

I am so done with cold! Cold and I just do not get along and why I ever thought we would is beyond me. We have nothing in common - at all. Snow is pretty and all, but snow always has cold tagging along with it so therefore I have a hard time with snow as well: dislike by association.

Now sun... sun I can do. The sun is so freakin' hot that I dream of it at night. Heck, I even am willing to take my clothes off for that gorgeous ball of light. I sometimes find myself daydreaming about all of the wonderful things sun brings into my life. It makes me feel all tingly inside and brings me a happiness that cold can never provide.

Cold, I want a divorce!! I want to leave you for that amazing, beautiful and insanely hot sun!

The Behind Look At My Behind

"You are so lucky!"

I hear this a lot, along with: "You got it easy", "You don't understand, cause you're skinny", and "You must be able to eat whatever you want". Oh-my-gosh, if only all of those people really knew! Here is the behind look at my behind".

There is a picture going around FB right now, with different themes attached, "What My Friends Think About Me". Here is one example:

I am now going to take this a step further and let you inside my head a little:

Here is what my friends and family think I look like

Here is what my husband thinks I look like

Here is what I think I look like

Here is what I Actually look like

Okay, so here are the few things that have been on my mind as of late. 

The first is, I am NOT lucky! If everyone who made a comment like that to me knew how incredibly hard I actually work they would die and think I was completely crazy..... two hours a day - every day - 6 days a week most weeks! 12 HOURS A WEEK. That is a lot of miles, crunches, arm curls, jump ropes and push ups. It is NOT easy and anyone who thinks otherwise is crazy. What people don't realize is that I am totally a fat person in a skinny body and I have to fight that away one barbell at a time.

I also have to watch what I eat so carefully that it is dumb sometimes. I feel like Cathy Bates in "Fried Green Tomatoes" all of the time when she said... "I wish I could just get brave and get really fat and get it over with". If I just look at a piece of cake I gain a pound. If I actually take a bite, well then it's two.

Here is the fine balancing act that I play every day of my life: how to keep thin, fit and healthy but still be able to have an enjoyable life. Remember that first picture?

This is what I would LOVE to look like!!! Wouldn't it be so wonderful to have flat, smooth abs like that? I have a deep dark secret. I have considered, on numerous occasions, getting a tummy tuck. When I think about having a tummy that looks like that.... well, it becomes an obsession with me. To have a tummy that didn't sag over the top of your jeans when you sat down because it is so saggy. Now, that would be something.

Here's the thing though. I earned every single one of those stretch marks. Every kick, jab in the ribs, contraction, and pain I went through gave me the right to wear them. My stomach is stretched out because it was once the safe haven for my children. I lovingly carried around each one of them for 9 months while they grew and became developed and strong enough to live on their own. I have that kind of stomach because I am a mother.

I am trying very hard to come to terms with that. I will continue to run, jump, squat and lift for as long as my body will allow me to. It enables me to do so many things with my life. Hike to the top of a mountain, run a marathon with friends and fit into my size 3 jeans. I am trying to love every part of my body as much as my husband does (though that is asking a lot ;o). I am trying to look at it for all it can do, not for what I wish it was.

It is taking me time, and I hope to be there one day: one step at a time. Maybe some day I will even see myself like Aaron sees me.

Maybe.

My Raving Rantings

We have a little friend who has taken up residence in the water tower property behind our house. Now, when we first started hearing the soft "Hoo-Hoo-Hoo" we thought it was kind of cool. When we laid there at night, getting ready to go to sleep, it gave us the feeling like we were out in the country and we liked it.... however, at 3:00 in the morning it's not so amazing. It's crazy how something so quiet can actually wake you up, and keep you up. It's a good thing we have a fan set up in our room for such such occasions - drown out background noise away. I can say though, I would rather listen to that little owl Hoot than the stupid dog next door bark!

Aaron actually had to call the neighbors the other night because their dog woke us up. 11:00 p.m. it starts barking and continues to bark for 20 minutes. REALLY? Is there a reason why you think that's okay?! I don't hate people. I'm a total people person, I kinda have to be with the job I have. It bothers me greatly when I have hateful feelings toward another person, but I have to say I am having some pretty unkind feelings towards these neighbors of ours.

Why do people think it's okay to let their dog bark for hours on end, to bark at 11:00 at night or 5:00 in the morning? Do you not hear it, or do you just not care that you are bothering every person in the neighborhood? How can one person be so inconsiderate and just not care like that? I don't get it.

Of course, all of this is accentuated by the fact that I have had raging cramps for the last two days. Every time I would finally, really get to sleep last night, something would wake me up... mostly the little hooter outside our window. Once I was up, I would be up for a long time because I hurt to bad to be able to go back to sleep. Oh man, how I wish that just had a switch that you could just turn off when you weren't using it!! I was done having kids over 19 years ago, what the heck do I need that for now other than to make 1/4 of my life miserable?

Well, the good thing is that in a couple of days at least on of the three problems will be taken care of.... for a while anyway. Maybe I'll have Alex take care of the other two: he is a bird hunter after all.

Portland

Now we had the whole day to do whatever we wanted. No schedule, no specific place to be, and just time together. So, exploring we a went.

Our first stop, by the recommendation of Michelle, was the "Byways Cafe" in downtown. It was featured on "Diners, Drive Ins and Dives" a while ago, so we had to check it out. (You can see the video on it here - YouTube). 

It's just this little dinky cafe in the middle of downtown. If you don't know where you are going you will be very lucky in deed to even see it. We got there about 11:30 a.m. and there was a line waiting to get in. It's so small that everyone waiting is standing outside. After about 20 minutes we were seated. It is almost like a curiosity shop inside with all the nick-knacks inside. The people were ultra friendly and food was pretty decent..... not as good as Cheyenne Cafe in Joseph Oregon, but still decent.

Next stop - the famous Voodoo Doughnuts. The line here was long as well - all to get a doughnut. It was worth it though. What a fun little shop!! I love supporting the local little guy, and this place had more character than Robin Williams! Loved-it!

Can't go to Voodoo Doughnuts and NOT get a Voodoo Doughnut

Awesome!!!

 

With all of those calories weighing us down now, we headed off for a hike. We have driven my Multnomah Falls a couple of times, but have never stopped. Now was as good a time as ever. Wish we would have brought better hiking clothes, cause those trails go on forever up there! Very beautiful, and if you love waterfalls this is your place. There is an amazing one around every turn.

 

23 Years Together!!!

We needed a break and some time away. When you are not in, or around, your house it's easy to ignore all that needs to be done and that's just what we needed: it's always fun to go explore a different corner of the world too.

We started our day out with a great game of racquetball. It's a good thing we are so evenly matched! We ended up tying our games and that's always a good note to end on.

After quick showers and throwing a few things together in a bag, we took off to Portland. We have driven through Portland on a few occasions, but have never actually been there, so here was our new corner to explore.

When we finally got there it was dinner time, so we drove through town looking for something that caught our eye. We LOVE to eat at local places WAY better than food chains and are always looking for places with character. We found this awesome little pizza place, "Old Town Pizza"  that looked busy (always a good sign if the locals fill it up) and decided to stop. Good choice. It was put into an old fire station and had a very coffee house feel to it.  The-best-restaurant-salad I have ever had! And delicious pizza to boot. perfect!

 

After filling up on our deliciousness, we headed over to "Trails End Saloon" to watch a friend of Aaron's, Kevin, play. He is the bass player for the most famous Jimi Hendrix cover ever, Randy Hansen. Randy has been doing the do for over 20 years and is very renound. It's a good thing we know Kevin and he put us on the guest list! The cover for the night, since Randy was playing, was $15! Again, fun to watch music with Aaron by my side!

 

Double Cross Committee

Well, it's painfully obvious that my phone doesn't take the best of pics, especially in a dark bar as it doesn't have a built in flash, but that's okay - good enough to capture the moment.

After Aaron got done drawing my henna on me, something I think he enjoyed rather well ;o), we took off for the evening to start our anniversary weekend. We started with a great Mexican dinner (our favorite!) and took off to go see a friends band. It was super fun to go watch a band and actually be with Aaron for a change. Aaron is really starting to get into the music scene around here and I love to see him really excel in his element!

Jay Smith w/ The "Double Cross Committee"

To Tat or not To Tat?

If anyone knows me at all, they know that I have been seriously thinking about getting a tattoo now for a couple of years. With Jess getting hers, it has got me thinking even harder about it, but it's such a.... well permanent decision.

I needed out of the house today and did something I never do - I went shopping. Not for anything in particular, just shopping. I can't remember the last time I just went out by myself and did that. I spent too much money and really enjoyed myself.

One of the things I got was a henna kit. I wanted to see once and for all if I would like a tattoo or not, and if Aaron would like looking at me with one. I made up a design and then had that wonderful artist of a husband put it on me.

Now, I am going to live with this for a few weeks to see what I think. My initial reaction was complete love! If I did it I would move it down a little, I feel it is too high right now, and maybe a little smaller: but I have to admit I like the look of it wrapping around so that you can see just a tiny bit of it from the front.

I'll let you know what we think in a few weeks. 

 

Poo Poo Point

We have been blessed with a few amazing days around here. Warm? No. Sunny? Definitely! And we LOVE it. 

Aaron and I just coudn't pass up the opportunity to be outside, so we went to hike Poo Poo point. It's so close, and low enough in elevation so you don't have any snow, that it's easy to do this time of year. We ran into a little bit of mud, and it was pretty windy, but for the beginning of February it was amazing.

Chrome Molly at Baxters

Another weekend, another gig. Aaron is still having so much fun playing with the band - they are such a GREAT group to be with and we love all of them so much! I love watching him up on stage because I know that he enjoys it so much.

I do have to say though, that Baxters is NOT my favorite place in the world! It is pretty far away, and the crowd always seems to be a little on the rough side. I actually had someone come up behind me on the dance floor and started to pretend to rub up on me...... REALLY!? Did I say that was okay! Ugh - some men are so slimy. Thank goodness stuff like that doesn't happen very often.

These two are SUCH camera hams it's hilarious. It does make for some fun pictures though, and makes my job exciting.

Country Money

Aaron received a big fatty check in the mail today. There has been a guy in contact with him wanting to use two of his country songs for recording. Not only does he want to use the songs, but he also wants to use Aaron's recordings. He bought the rights to use Aaron's recordings in the studio so that all he has to do is lay down his vocals over the top of them. You can't see in the pic above the amount he received, so here is a close up:

Yup! Almost $1,000.00! I am thinking country is the way to go for Aaron. He is so good at writing that style of music, and that is the genre that people buy them.

I am very proud of him. He has been making some big things happen around here with his music and I am really enjoying watching him succeed. He is very talented, and has worked hard for a lot of years, so he deserves to finally be going somewhere.

Way to go sweetie! You're amazing!!

New Garage Doors

I think it takes years and years of living in a house to have it how you really want it, if ever - especially one as old as ours. Aaron and I have been plucking away at ours for 10 years now and have finally gotten to the garage doors. I think our doors were original hardware and they were heavy, clunky and downright ugly looking.

Here are our beautiful new ones!

It's so amazing listening - or not listening, because they are so quiet - to our new doors go up and down. It is so amazing now too that I don't have to open and close the garage door for Aaron any  more because we had another opener installed. It is a fancy keyless entry opener too, so we don't have to carry our keys with us when we go for walks/runs.

Oh, it's always the little things in life that bring you so much joy! I LOVE my new doors!