The vacation is over.

In blogging time, the vacation is over. The unannounced, unplanned, unpredictable blogging vacation is over. It has lasted since May 12th and I think it is time to get back to writing. Sally, my sister, checks this blog everyday....sometimes twice a day. Let's see if she is still checking!! Post a comment Sal, I dare you!!

We are getting ready to depart for boating vacation on Monday. I am very excited and full of fear at the same time. There will be seven of us: Stan, my mom, my dad, my uncle, Nate, Maddie, and myself all on a 42 foot floating pontoon boat. Who, am I kidding.....it will be awesome. I can't wait.

Identity Crisis/Pets

The dog arrived a few weeks ago and I have been very busy making sure that Gracie stays busy and doesn't make messes anywhere. She has done very well and is making great potty training strides!

The cats and dog are slowly becoming friends. They are good at sniffing each other and they are also eating each other's food~it is funny to watch. Cassie, the cat came out of the kitchen tonight smelling like dog food!! They don't growl at each other but it is quite evident that Tiger is the Alpha pet.

I am horrible at posting. It happens in May. Thanks for your readership, 3 people.

She is almost here!

I have been horrible at updating. I have been really busy! Here are a few pictures that I received in my inbox today. Gracie is coming in four short days! I better buy some dog food!

Personal Days

I took a personal day today. I decided that I needed a break from my students before I spent massive amounts of time with them touring Chicago on a chartered bus on Friday.

I have lost track of how many times the following scenario has happened to me. I decide to take a day off. I walk around feeling guilty for days. I then come to my senses, realize that I am only human and I fill out the sub form. I write out my lesson plans and leave them with the secretary the night before. After the children have gone to sleep for the night, I get around to telling my husband. And I specifically say, "Please don't tell the children". In the morning, I am awakened by a sick child. And my personal day becomes a mother/child sick day.

Nathan was home ill today. How utterly predictable.

The never ending circle of doom

I haven't been to the gym in 4 days. That is a long time for me. Here is a list of pros and cons to help you see my dilemma:

PROS
1. I feel good for the rest of the day when I go.
2. I am very energized.
3. I don't feel as guilty when I eat a mini candy bar if I have gone. (Just being honest).
4. Visiting the gym adds structure to my morning routine.
5. I have some nice workout clothes that I like to show off.
6. My sugar levels are better when I exercise.

CONS
1. I have been having some foot issues-ingrown toenails to be exact.
2. Exercising aggravates my toes~a lot.
3. My shoes may need some stretching out.
4. My feet feel fine when I don't go.
5. If I don't go, I feel fat(ter).
6. If I don't go, I feel guilty because I have spent all this money on a gym membership and I'm not using it! (Thanks, Dad).

As you can see, I am in pain when I go but I know it is the right thing. If I don't go, I feel good but I know that is the wrong thing to do. AND if I have my feet operated on to correct the problem, I am out of the gym for a minimum of 3 weeks. Grrrrrr why can't this be easier?

A day to remember

This week has been a good one. I managed to squeeze in 4 workouts, Stan received a big grant that will allow him to do free research at the British Library for 6 weeks this spring, and I received tenure at my high school. AND we have 72 degree sunny weather and have nothing planned for today.

I love this kind of a day. They don't come very often!
Make it a great one!

Puppy Power

I proudly present the new Pelkey Puppy girl with no name. She will arrive sometime at the beginning of May. The kids are so excited! (and so am I!)

Cleaning Clutter

It is embarrassing how long things have gone without being cleaned and organized. It never ceases to amaze me that when there is an "event" that is coming up at my house and it involves people hanging out in my living room for a long period of time, I am much more motivated to clean out the clutter that sometimes overtakes the corners of each room.

Tonight I tackled the eat in kitchen part of the kitchen. I started with a stand up pantry and moved my way around the room to each corner. I cleaned two bookshelves and then got to a basket that sits on the floor and holds my phonebook and various directories from church, school, etc. I noticed that it was getting a bit full of late so I went ahead and dumped out the contents onto the floor. Here is what I found:

1. One up to date phone book
2. A gardening magazine
3. Two different directories for Maddie's school friends
4. Two outdated church directories
5. One small packet of tissue covered with dust
6. Three outdated Schwan's flyers
7. My Favorite--A coupon for cereal that expired on 12/31/05

So, does that mean I haven't cleaned that out since I moved into this house 4 years ago??? Gross.

Well, I am off to tackle the next basket of junk. This one I have been dreading.

Heidi

An Easy Chair

What kind of chair do you think of when someone says "easy chair"? Personally, I think of a cushy, leather high back reclining chair that you sort of melt into when you sit down and then you don't want to ever get out of.

Today we sat in an easy chair in my Aerobics class. But it sure wasn't my kind of easy chair that I pictured in my head. Instead, that easy chair involved that dreaded yoga ball......if you have that ball, try the following:
1. Grab your yoga ball!
2. Place the giant ball behind the small of your back and lean against the wall with it behind you.
3. Now, slide down the wall, until your legs are in a sitting position. Comfy yet???
4. Lean back in your "chair" and cross your legs....just like your were sitting in the chair.
5. Awww, great! Let's do some squats. 48 to be exact. And then cross the other leg over and do 48 more.

Some exercises are not worth repeating. Or talking about anymore. YUCK.

Boys and Shopping

I took Nate shopping tonight. This is a blog worthy event because I don't remember him ever actually accompanying me on a clothes buying outing. He needed shirts and a pair of dress pants. Most of the time, I just go into the store, pick out a few items and then bring them home so that he can "choose" his favorites. I have noticed that the last couple of times that I have done this, my choices are met with great disapproval followed by rolling eyes, shaking of the head, and comments like, "I would NEVER wear that...my friends would laugh at me!".

So, tonight I beat him at his own game. I filled his belly with out-to-eat-food and then promptly turned into the Kohl's parking lot. Before he knew what was happening, I told him to get out and walk into the store. He protested but quickly realized that I wasn't giving up.

We made it to the boys section and I pointed out the following rules before he began to shop. Rule 1--you wear a size 14 in pants. Rule 2--you wear a size L in shirts. Rule 3---try to buy things that are on sale.

He trolled through the boys section and started picking out things that were "cool" and "awesome". He ignored all of my rules. He would pick up a shirt that he would like, not look at the price or the size and would throw it into the cart. I would quickly remind him to look at the size and he would pull it out of the cart, replace it with the correct size and throw it back in.

It fascinated me that EVERY SINGLE time he found an article of clothing, he would just throw it in the cart and not look at the price or size! Is this a guy thing???? Did he think that he was buying a toy and that all models are the same??

Anyway, after a $142 bill (yikes!!) and a plethura of clothes, he proudly walked out of the department store and proclaimed that he would be putting on a new outfit to wear when he got home. It was 7:45 p.m.

I can't help but love that boy!