Weekend and Diet Book Update

James and I made it back from a whirlwind of racing.  I'll post pictures soon, but I will tell you it was a good weekend.  We had great weather yesterday - not so much today.  It was COLD today.  I'm pretty sure we've established that I am not really that happy in cold weather....we've got to be getting to the end of it.

In addition to racing, we were able to visit with very dear friends of ours - the Phillips and the Heggems.  The Phillips are like my family, but not blood relations.  They took me in when I was in school and let me wash clothes or sleep over.  They gave me keys to their lakehouse so I could have a quiet (and beautiful) place to study.  Jim got called more than once when I had a car issue.  (If no one ever tells you to put water in your battery and it's the kind that needs water, it just really doesn't turn out very well.)

I first met the Dave half of the Heggems when I was a senior in high school - it was my Honors Day.  Obviously, he is getting to be an old geezer to have been traveling around for the Admissions Department for the University of Alabama way back then.  He and Paula became dear friends over these many years.  They have two incredibly beautiful daughters (thanks to Paula).  We always really enjoy visiting with both families and are very fortunate that Tuscaloosa hosts a bike race because we don't go many places that don't host bike races.  

It was quite noticeable that only #3 of the Friday Fav Five that was commented on.  (For those of you who are only getting the blog via your e-mail, you really should check into the site itself and subscribe to the comments - you're missing some good conversation.)  Any way, I have read quite a ways into the book, which I am not quite ready to recommend since I haven't lost the first pound yet.  I haven't lost the first pound yet because this women feels the need to explain a million and ten things about why this is going to work and why this is so important.  I'm a bottom line kind of gal and I'm starting to lose patience.  

Ok.  I must confess - I did skip a whole bunch of pages last night to get to the diet.  It's start with a four-day quick start.  It seems simple enough except I didn't really see any chocolate in this part.  Four days without chocolate??  I don't know.  I feel shaky already.   I will start this as soon as I'm not traveling four days in a row.  Surely I can make it four days.  Then, surely the chocolate begins.  If not, I'm going to want that sweet hubby to get his money back.

Y'all have a good week.

Friday's Fave Five

The last time I did Friday's fave five it was kind of fun so I decided to try it again. 

1.  #1 has to be the comfort I got this week from hearing of the faith of a friend from church who just found out he had a terminal illness.  He originally thought he had a year to live - he passed away yesterday.  Those closest to him tell of his faith and his love for Jesus right to the end.  His death is incredibly sad, but I am finding his faith incredibly encouraging (and also great perspective).

2.  It's Friday so that means I don't have to travel away from home tomorrow - well, almost.  James and I travel to Tuscaloosa tomorrow for two races, but at least I have some family traveling with me.  I'm looking forward to some good, quality car time :)

3.  My sweet hubby brought me a surprise home from BJs.  He's rewarding me with a new camera when (not if) I lose 10 pounds.  He brought a diet book home focused on avocados, something and CHOCOLATE!  A very thoughtful guy.

4.  CBT asked today if he could have a buzz cut.  He knows I hate them, but I thought it was very sweet that he would ask.  Not sure what he would have done if I had said not.  I am just going to pretend that he would have complied.  

5.  Speaking of...last, I think we're making progress as parents understanding what makes at least one of our boys tick.  Now, just to learn how to deal with that, but hey, baby steps, right?

If you want to participate or see Susanne's Space where the idea for this began, click here.

Check out CBT's Blog

CBT has decided to start his own blog.  This should be a hoot.  It took us several sessions to get this first done.  One to carefully select the pictures and then a couple for him to dictate.

He was dismayed to find out it had my profile shown on it, but showed a smirk when he realized it was on the internet.  I have no idea how often the urge will strike to update it, but I am looking forward to helping him with it.

I hope you will check it out!

The Scavenger Hunt

A few weeks ago, bffM (aka Molly) kidnapped me for a day for a belated birthday present.  We took a vacation day from work and escaped to Dahlonega to take pictures.  It sounded like a great idea.  Face it, anything not at work these days is a great idea.

Little did I know that her scheming little mind had some devious intent.  Mind you the all-you-can eat buffet that included fried chicken and fried okra offset any evil intent, but when she handed me the list of scavenger hunt items I became a little concerned.  But then again, I wasn't at work. 

 

This is a different perspective.  I also have a shot of the entire wall of Coke bottles, but this perspective is obviously from the side.  I also laid down on the floor and took a shoot up through a glass shelf some ceramic stuff.  That one was totally weird.  (Bet you didn't know that, Molly?)   

I started to include the entire list, which had things like a clock tower (there was none), tacky souvenirs (I found some), a movie scene (there was a lovely black and white photo of a Gone with the Wind scene of which I took a picture) but decided not to make any more fun of my bffM. 

I have actually loaded many, many more photos, but got too lazy about explaining it all so you're getting just the more interesting or what she didn't include on her blog already :)

Local color.  I think this is fairly creative.  Dahlonega is home to the first gold rush in the U.S.  I am pretty sure this wasn't what she had in mind, but I was trying to use the other side of my brain for a change.

Put on your imagination cap.  "Do what the sign says."  I do know what she was thinking or smoking when she put this one on there given that we are both well beyond the age to act out anything these days.  Again, I definitely think extra creativity points, especially when you think of who was coming up with it.  Come on, work with me here.

Adding this one is probably slightly unfair, but since I am totally jealous of her new 40D all's fair I figure.  This was her first day of playing with so she fought with it all day.  Couldn't resist the shot because it was such a key element of our absolutely perfect day together...fried chicken and all.  Thanks, Molly.

A Little to Do About Nothing

Hmmm.  It's been a really long week and I haven't had a spare moment to post a thing.  NY on Tuesday, Chicago on Wednesday and Milwaukee yesterday.  By the way, it is still very cold in Milwaukee.  It's a lovely place mind you, but I am still not getting why people choose to live there.  My mom reminded me that I have a cousin that once quipped they have two seasons there, July and winter.

Any way, by the time you do that traveling and you see your family for two minutes you are just too darned tired to blog much of anything.  Of course, I have some ideas and I am behind on a few topics.  I think I even snapped a shot or two traveling this week, but I cannot remember for this life of me.  Maybe this weekend I'll figure that out.  Maybe not.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  Mine should be better than normal.  James is spending the night with a friend on the cycling team (for a birthday party).  His parents, saints or insane - unknown which, volunteered to take him to the 50 and then to the 20.  Awesome.  Of course, that would mean CBT's baseball game would be the first one so a) we can't sleep in and b) it would be 35 degrees.  At least it's close.

I will endeavor to get those scavenger hunt pictures up....did I tell you guys about that?  That was a good day.  If I didn't, I'll end with a cliffhanger :) 

Memories of Warmer Days

The gang called it quits on the 50 today.  It was raining.  Again.  It was cold.  Again.  The quote of the day was, "I can do cold and I can do rain, but it's really hard doing both."  Amen, brother.  I don't do either any more.  I think about half stopped around 20 miles and then a few of the crazier ones went on to about 31 miles.  (Guess who was in that crazier group?)

While we're inside trying to stay warm and dry I am still on my quest to finish cropping my 2007 pictures.  I will finish.  I will finish.  I will finish....that power of positive thinking thing is just really not helping.

Any way, one of today's projects is the PCNM Triathlon from 2007.  Enjoy looking at everyone being obviously HOT.  It will be hot here again.

James sprinted out the final steps of the .6 mile run after biking about 3 miles and a 100 yard swim.  This was his 3rd triathlon of the summer of 2007.  He was really into tris that summer.

It showed.  He was 9-years-old and won the 10 and under division in addition to winning his age group.  A pretty big accomplishment.  (This was obviously before my photography class - and I'm too lazy to crop it for you - but if you look closely you can see a huge smile.)  He killed the field on the bike leg.  This was the beginning of love of affair with cycling.  I'm just noticing how skinny his thighs look compared to now....he's gotten so strong.

He had a pretty amazing cheering section.  What amazing friends to get up early enough to show up before 8:00 am on a Saturday morning when neither one of them live very close by.   We really appreciated, BAW and Jane.  Christopher is always good cheerleader for his big brother (well, when he's paying attention) - this day he was awesome.

Warm summertime wishes.

Travel

No wonder I stayed slightly screwed up.  A neurologist once told me that people with migraines have bodies that don't adjust well to changes in diet, sleep patterns, stress levels, caffeine levels...well, levels of just about anything you can imagine.  So, when the weather starts getting erratic and crazy I tend to start having issues.  I mean headache issues - there are some issues that just can't be explained :)

For example, last week (part of the time it was cold in Atlanta) I was here:

This is the beach at San Diego, California.  We were staying here:

It's the Hotel del Coronado, a very old but famous hotel.  Kind of cool.  The hotel not the weather.  Then I came back to Atlanta and it was a little warmer.  Then, it snowed over the weekend.  Then, it started it warming up.  It got to the 80s and guess where I went?

Right.  To Snowbird, UT where it was getting down to 12 degrees and it had gotten 18 inches of snow the night before I got there.  Now for anyone who hasn't caught on, I do not like cold weather.  CBT saw this picture and said, "Heaven."  I kind of thought of the other place, which is kind of ironic when you stop and think about it.  Traci, I really don't know how you guys do it.

So, a few of us decided that we should take advantage of the fact that we were at this great ski resort.  None of us were going to ski, but we could take the tram to the top of the mountain.

Do you see any differences in the next two pictures?

Exactly.  We didn't have ski caps on.  Oh, and we also didn't have ski boots on.   This is not a good thing when you have to walk over patches over ice.  (It also results in a kind of funny exchange when you ask the concierge if you can walk to the tram.  She walks around the counter to look at your shoes and she says, "Oh, no.  Not with those shoes.  You'll need to take the shuttle.")

It was worth the $12 and the cold nose to ride up, stand outside in the cold for 10 minutes and ride back down.  The views were spectacular, but I was kind of glad that I wasn't skiing all day.  No wonder those folks look kind of dried up and wrinkled.  It's dry and cold up that high.

There's also not much oxygen at the altitude.  I'm surprised BAW didn't have a few wisecracks for me up there along those lines.  He's usually pretty quick and witty - maybe he was suffering from oxygen deprivation himself.

Good idea, BAW and Lori.

Any way, I get back home to very warm weather, which immediately turns to cool, rainy weather and I wonder why I have a migraine...but just look at what all I got to see.

Is That Mr. Lincoln?

One of James's assignments this year was a 5 paragraph research "paper" on a historical figure.  He chose Abraham Lincoln.

After re-writing, refining and polishing those paragraphs, the kids had the "opportunity" to present their writings to the group and to their parents.  It was a very big deal and James was quite nervous.

We didn't start on his costume until the last minute.  We quickly learned he had such particular expectations.  After a few visits/calls to local Party Citys, we successfully located the perfect costume.

All the kids looked great.  

The best was seeing him with black hair.  He looked totally different - no one recognized him.  (The hairspray was thanks to his brother, who is the king of dress up and costumes.)

I think the best for him was when it was all over - what a relief.

Family Secrets

Some secrets are just better left untold, but since when have I ever known when to keep my mouth shut?  I pulled out a coat I own back when it was so yucky cold and snowy and was reminded of a story that I just had to share.  I'm not sure who it tells on the most.

It begins with Christmas at my paternal grandmother's sometime when I was in high school, I think, maybe early college.  Just look at her.  This is much later than at that Christmas, but you can see that she is a very caring person.

This particular year, at least the way I recall it, my cousin brought a girlfriend home for Christmas.  This was not an uncommon occurrence and said girlfriends always got very special attention, especially from my grandmother.  She didn't have a gift for said girlfriend so my gift was shifted.  (Or there was some shifting of gifts - I could be getting my Christmases confused.)

Any way, somehow it came up that I didn't have a great coat.  Next thing I know, Grandmama is giving me my brother's gift, which was a coat.  A nice bright yellow (and warm) coat.

My brother stormed out in a huff and hasn't spoken to me since - it's been 40 years.  Our family has feuded ever since.  It's been quite tragic.  But, I do still look good in this coat, don't you think?  I mean, it does keep me warm.

Besides can you imagine this guy really wearing this bright yellow (but warm) coat?  He would look horrible in it.  His coloring is all wrong.  Really, who would hold a grudge about that all these years?

Not my brother!  He really didn't storm out.  It's been a great joke all these years, but he took it in stride.  And, now that I think about it....I think Grandmama may have taken Daddy's shirt from him to give to Tony.

Hey, Tony - it's still a warm coat.

Belated Happy Birthday

Day before yesterday (when I started, it was yesterday but blogger has not been my friend) was the birthday of one of my very best friends from high school.  He was actually one of my best friend's all the way from 5th grade.  I lived through all his girlfriends with him (and even made it to 3rd on his list once).  

Any way, a few weeks ago we were watching a recorded special on Fox News about Gary Sinise going to Iraq to visit the trips.  I wasn't paying that much attention - I had watched the end of it already with CBT.  

It had some pretty neat stuff on it, including some of Saddam's palaces.

Keith was watching it while he was recovering.  He suddenly started calling for me to come watch.  I wasn't in that big a hurry because I had seen it.  He was calling pretty urgently so I mosied in.  He seemed to recognize one of the soldiers.

I didn't see it at first, but when I heard the guy talk I could tell.  It sounded just like Scott Rainey.  Keith had only met him once before, but he was pretty sure.

We played that section over and over.  

Yep, there was no doubt.  None at all.  I would know that face and voice anywhere (and apparently so would Keith).  Happy belated birthday.  You keep yourself safe, ok?

NaNaNaNa....Batman!

I don't remember exactly how many NaNa's there were in the song.  It was the late 60s and I wasn't born, yet.  Ok, I was born, but I was really little and  I loved Batman.  

I would run around the house with a towel pinned around my neck and jump off the furniture singing NaNaNa...Batman!

Imaginary Batman has come a long way.  The things I could have done if I had these kinds of props.

What's With This Kid?

Insane?  Just a single screw loose?  Or is it just a fierce need to compete?  I am not entirely sure.  This morning when my alarm went off at 5:30 AM (after CBT went down the hall at lightning speed at 3:30 going only God knows where because he doesn't remember, but is sure it wasn't a dream), I was pondering all those questions and more (like what am I doing?)  My son, the same one who was determined to go through the entire winter without ever wearing a pair of long pants, had another race this morning.  At race time, it was supposed to be 39 degrees, raining and be at a "it feels like" temperature of 32ish.  I think that is a mark in the insane category.

To be able to compete or practice on the weekends, he must have his chores done, his homework done and he must go to the Saturday worship service if it's a Sunday morning race.  Oh, and get up and whatever ridiculous time without a lot of pulling, dragging, begging, etc.  That may be more in the fierce need to compete, but I'm not sure.

Here's the gang just before the start.  He's in the blue jacket third from the right (with his number duct-taped to his jacket - unconventional to say the least.)  James said the race was as miserable as it sounds like it would be.  (Actually, he said his upper body was not too bad, just he knees hurt with every pedal stroke.  To be clear, it sounded so miserable I wouldn't have started and if someone had forced coaxed me into it, I would have abandoned immediately.)  As we established yesterday, he dad had duty today (but somehow got pace car duty - good for him) so I missed it.  From all accounts James had a great race.  He won the 10-12 age group race and came in 3rd for the 10-14s.  He would be quick to comment that our best 13s and 14s were racing in a men's race later, but still I think he did very well.  

Frazier kids swept the 10-12 podium.  He doesn't have all his screws loose - he did finally put on some long pants - so maybe it is a combination of a need to compete and a few missing screws.

Guess What??? SNOW!!!!

Sweet Christopher has been hoping for snow ever since it snowed last January.  We all figured his chance for this winter was over.  We were WRONG!!

Just look at these glorious, super large snowflakes.  The ground was wet and cold so it started sticking quickly and like crazy.

The boys immediately went outside to play in it.  It thundered once.  When I got outside Christopher was counting.  He got to 40 and stopped.  He quite emphatically stated that the storm was 40 miles away.  I asked if he saw lightning.  No.  How did he know when to start counting?  When it thundered.  How did he know when to stop?  When he was ready to.  Works for me.

This one just finished a race a few hours before.  He had been hoping for weather like this for his race.  It was just a few degrees too warm for actual snow.  After actually racing in very, very cold rain, I think he decided that was cold enough.  I have a separate post about that in a bit. 

We're just all very glad we have snow this winter so we don't have to go through the entire summer hearing about how a certain someone didn't get to see snow this year.  Thanks to the God of so many blessings - big and small.