I and my kids just had our very first white Christmas ever. And it was every bit as magical as all the songs describe it, as all the Christmas cards pictures show, and all the talk about it. It snowed on Christmas Eve, and it was just like a Norman Rockwell painting. We were sitting around the tree in our living room, fire in the fireplace, the dog curled up in front of it, our three cats sacked out in varying places around the room (one under the tree among the presents). I took some pics and we all just for a moment, watched the snow coming down outside the window, and just took a deep breath, taking in the whole beauty of the moment. We laughed and wondered how the heck we ended up here, but glad we were. Then we started tearing open the gifts--and the magic of the snow was soon relegated to back burner status.
We are one month into our first winter here in Wisconsin, and so far so good. We are actually enjoying the snow SO much, the kids and I all commented that we can't imagine not living where they get snow in winter! Seriously! We have a huge backyard, 1 acre, and we have a little hill that's great for sledding. The kids spend hours outside sledding. They have gotten very creative, making jumps and icing their sleds so they'll go faster. Ian took the wheels off his skateboard and made a make-shift snowboard, and he's gone from crashing constantly to being able to stay up all the way down without falling! We think he's ready for the real deal. Jenni has a need for speed and begged us to take her to a REAL hill, so Tim found a couple challenging ones. We all piled in the car and went together. It was snowing hard, which made it even more spectacular. I don't think I've ever had more fun in my entire life than I did that day, watching my kids scream down the hill, sharing a sled with my daughter, seeing Tim on a dinky sled with the biggest smile I've ever seen on him, it was just so so so much fun.
The view from my kitchen and living room is breathtaking. We still don't have any curtains or blinds, so everywhere you are, there's nothing but windows and white snow. We traded palm trees for evergreens, and honestly, I've never seen a snow-covered evergreen that wasn't fake flock. Even Ian can't stop marveling at their beauty. Every time we get in the car, we just still gasp at the beauty of everything covered in white.
I am proud of how we've acclimated. Myself actually. When it's around 24-32, it's comfortable. I'm still wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and just a light jacket. I have traded my Converse for a pair of Uggs, and that's the outfit. Perfect. We've realized that snow, as it's coming down, is not wet like rain. We hate rain now. We prefer snow. Also, when it's snowing, you don't need to use your windshield wipers. It just bounces off the car. And let's face it, snow-covered cars look soooo cool. Like Jenni said, "Mommy! We live in a snow globe!!" That's exactly how it feels. Well said darling.
Now, wind chill is another thing entirely. I have gotten so acclimated, I can guess the temp. We came out of the movies yesterday and it was colder than when we went in. I said to my daughter (who loves to check them temp on her new iPhone), "Hmm, so it's 24 right now? Feels like 15 with wind chill." And guess what??? It was 12! (insert smug face here). Wind chill means if you don't have your gloves on and every inch of skin covered, you will be a popsicle in less than 15 seconds. I had no idea what frozen fingers really felt like. Yikes!
Ian only covers up when he's going outside to play in the snow. He looks absolutely handsome in his knit cap, jacket, ski gloves, ski pants and boots. His white teeth sparkle and he's got the happiest face i've ever seen on him. Jenni's beauty comes alive with her adorable peach hat with braided dangly things bobbing as she flies down the hill. She's fearless.
Ian turned 15-1/2 in November and got 100% on his driver's permit test, and so guess what?? He's driving! It's been soooo surreal. Any parent who's been through this stage knows exactly what I'm talking about. It's all new to us, and it's exciting and scary. Ian's is a good driver, although he's got his mommy's impatient streak. I gotta work on that myself. It's a reminder how kids really take in what they see and hear on a daily basis.
Driving in snow, no problem. Driving 3 days after it snowed, after a sunny day that melted some of said snow, not so easy. I have been afraid of black ice since we first knew we were moving here. Tim versed me well in how to cope with different driving situations, but it's not till you actually are IN those situations that you learn how to cope. I was careful, going way under the speed limit, and I saw other cars spinning out of control. It was soooo scary. I only slid once, going downhill to a stop sign. I was already breaking, going like 3 mph, but still my car wasn't stopping. I just came to a stop inches from the other car's bumper so that was scary.
I also didn't know that WALKING was dangerous!! Jennifer had lost her cell phone out sledding in our backyard, and we knew we'd never find it till spring, so we stopped looking for it. Then we had a big rain, which washed away lots of the snow, so smart me decided to go look for it. I never found it (of course) but while I was looking, my boots slipped on the icy snow and just like a cartoon, they whipped me flat on my butt. Which, if you didn't know this, your butt has a little bone in it called a TAILBONE and let me tell you it HURT LIKE A MF!!! OMG I never knew how important that little bone is to a multitude of activities. Like sitting down!!! Sitting anywhere (use your imagination). Not to mention doing my ab crunches. Yowch!!! It'll be weeks before I can do those. I Googled "broken tailbone" and it says there's no treatment, just basically take Advil 24/7 and it'll fix itself. Psshhhh wonderful. What a dork I am. I can't even walk without hurting myself.
So now, forget fear of driving. I'm scared of walking!!! I look for ice everywhere. Getting out of the car and going to a store or wherever I shuffle like an old man. Pathetic. The farthest I really ever need to walk is the mailbox and the newspaper, and most of the time I just drive to it anyway. Works for me. Will my life really be that affected if I skip reading it a day or two?
Well, it's the end of December, and we've made it this far. When we get back from California, it'll be January, and we've been told the worst is yet to come. That "first snow" is the soft, pleasant snow, and that the rest is going to be cold and miserable. All I can say is, thanks for the heads up people. I'm taking it one day at a time, one snowfall and one icy driveway at a time. This lifelong California girl is doing the best she can, trying to stay optimistic and try to find the joy and beauty. Would I be me if I did it any other way??
Me
Me
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Stuff I Swore I'd Never Do (or Buy for that matter)
As we say goodbye to Halloween, hello to Thanksgiving and "OMG I have to start Christmas shopping!?", we Kuckelman's have been busy little bees getting ready for THE SNOW. Yes, we know it's coming. Last night Tim and I sat with our mouths gaping open, not breathing, watching the news report about the 8 inches of snow Minneapolis got overnight. Now, Minneapolis is not far away from us, five hours driving, an hour flight. This was a sign, not from the gods, but from hell, as in, "when hell freezes over". Now this isn't the first time we've seen people shoveling snow and scraping ice off their car windows. We've seen plenty of video of cars sliding on icy highways and watched something called "snow-blowers" on our TV screens from the warmth and comfort of our California house. But this time, it was different---this was happening in Minneapolis, yes--but in a matter of weeks, this will be us.
Last week we bought a new 4-wheel drive car, which I'm under the impression is nothing short of a tank and will protect me and my children from all dangerous driving conditions. (here's where you laugh). I had to take said new car back to the dealer to have a remote start installed. What is that you ask? It's a cute little remote control button that when you push it, your car automatically starts, without you in it. This is very popular out here, and soon I'll appreciate how neat a remote start really is--like when I'm pushing a 75-pound grocery cart from store to parking lot in a blizzard. That little button will magically warm up my car, inside and out, and literally save my life. (it won't, however, unload my bags--pronounced "bee-aggs", remember---into said car. I will still get covered in snow and my ears will freeze).
When I took the car in, I got a "loaner" car to drive. This loaner car belonged to the dealership, but was being driven by the salesman. He gave me the keys, and as I opened the door to get in, there was a very strange contraption in the back seat. It was a long, red stick, about 3 feet long, with a little squeegee thingy on one end. Next to it lay a pair of heavy winter gloves. Hmmm, I marveled to myself, what an interesting thingamajig. "....wonder what the heck that thing is!" I chuckled to myself and dismissed it as a "guy" thing, you know, some sort of stupid "guy" tool.
It came to me watching the news last night when I saw that some poor shmuck was using a long, red stick exactly like the one in my back seat!! He was scraping the ice off his car windows, and I swear it looked like he was getting a really intense workout. I was quickly adding up how many calories he might be burning, and thought, hmmm, maybe I can skip the gym if this happens to me. But then I thought, Oh My God, am I going to have to scrape ice off my car windows???? Add this to the list of things I thought I would never do.
And going the hardware store to buy one of these stupid ice scrapers is definitely on that list.
Our neighbors have been bugging us to get our own SnowBlower. Yeah, right, like we're REALLY going to go out at 5 am and blow our own snow off our driveway?? Pssshh right!! Not the California Kuckelman's!! Yes, we are smarter than that, silly Wisconsinites. We hired someone to do it for us!!! Yay!!! So, as we sleep, the Snow Blower Fairy will come to our humble abode and nicely get rid of all annoying and misplaced snow for us!! Ain't that amazing??? I am deeply grateful.
We had our first foray into snow last night, as we got what's called "snow flurries". Now, these are nothing like the McFlurry's you get at McDonald's. They are so NOT like McFlurry's, I honestly have no idea why they are called that. Jennifer and I got SO excited when we found out we were going to have "Snow Flurriess" we did a happy little dance around the kitchen. Then we realized we had no idea what "snow flurries" were so we had to Google "snow flurries" to find out.
It had been a cold rainy night when said Flurries were due, so with baited (and possibly garlic) breath, we kept gazing out the front door hoping for a glimpse. Yes!!! Finally said Flurries were falling from the sky!! We ran out the front door and did another little happy dance and hugged as we experience our very first snow together. I ran back into the house screaming, "IAN!!! COME QUICK!!! IT'S SNOWING!!!" Ian struts his manly strut towards the door in his usual outfit of wife-beater shirt and shorts, barefoot, and takes one look out the front door and grunts, "That's not real snow", annoyed, and turns and goes back in the house. Jennifer and I were nonplusssed and continued our happy Flurry dance. There weren't enough flurries to make any snowballs, and so we got bored and went inside too.
There's no snow in the immediate forecast, but that's good cuz it gives me time to accept that I've got to go buy a thingamajig-ice-scraper-thingy. And, actually hand over money for it, and keep it in my backseat.
Just in case.
Last week we bought a new 4-wheel drive car, which I'm under the impression is nothing short of a tank and will protect me and my children from all dangerous driving conditions. (here's where you laugh). I had to take said new car back to the dealer to have a remote start installed. What is that you ask? It's a cute little remote control button that when you push it, your car automatically starts, without you in it. This is very popular out here, and soon I'll appreciate how neat a remote start really is--like when I'm pushing a 75-pound grocery cart from store to parking lot in a blizzard. That little button will magically warm up my car, inside and out, and literally save my life. (it won't, however, unload my bags--pronounced "bee-aggs", remember---into said car. I will still get covered in snow and my ears will freeze).
When I took the car in, I got a "loaner" car to drive. This loaner car belonged to the dealership, but was being driven by the salesman. He gave me the keys, and as I opened the door to get in, there was a very strange contraption in the back seat. It was a long, red stick, about 3 feet long, with a little squeegee thingy on one end. Next to it lay a pair of heavy winter gloves. Hmmm, I marveled to myself, what an interesting thingamajig. "....wonder what the heck that thing is!" I chuckled to myself and dismissed it as a "guy" thing, you know, some sort of stupid "guy" tool.
It came to me watching the news last night when I saw that some poor shmuck was using a long, red stick exactly like the one in my back seat!! He was scraping the ice off his car windows, and I swear it looked like he was getting a really intense workout. I was quickly adding up how many calories he might be burning, and thought, hmmm, maybe I can skip the gym if this happens to me. But then I thought, Oh My God, am I going to have to scrape ice off my car windows???? Add this to the list of things I thought I would never do.
And going the hardware store to buy one of these stupid ice scrapers is definitely on that list.
Our neighbors have been bugging us to get our own SnowBlower. Yeah, right, like we're REALLY going to go out at 5 am and blow our own snow off our driveway?? Pssshh right!! Not the California Kuckelman's!! Yes, we are smarter than that, silly Wisconsinites. We hired someone to do it for us!!! Yay!!! So, as we sleep, the Snow Blower Fairy will come to our humble abode and nicely get rid of all annoying and misplaced snow for us!! Ain't that amazing??? I am deeply grateful.
We had our first foray into snow last night, as we got what's called "snow flurries". Now, these are nothing like the McFlurry's you get at McDonald's. They are so NOT like McFlurry's, I honestly have no idea why they are called that. Jennifer and I got SO excited when we found out we were going to have "Snow Flurriess" we did a happy little dance around the kitchen. Then we realized we had no idea what "snow flurries" were so we had to Google "snow flurries" to find out.
It had been a cold rainy night when said Flurries were due, so with baited (and possibly garlic) breath, we kept gazing out the front door hoping for a glimpse. Yes!!! Finally said Flurries were falling from the sky!! We ran out the front door and did another little happy dance and hugged as we experience our very first snow together. I ran back into the house screaming, "IAN!!! COME QUICK!!! IT'S SNOWING!!!" Ian struts his manly strut towards the door in his usual outfit of wife-beater shirt and shorts, barefoot, and takes one look out the front door and grunts, "That's not real snow", annoyed, and turns and goes back in the house. Jennifer and I were nonplusssed and continued our happy Flurry dance. There weren't enough flurries to make any snowballs, and so we got bored and went inside too.
There's no snow in the immediate forecast, but that's good cuz it gives me time to accept that I've got to go buy a thingamajig-ice-scraper-thingy. And, actually hand over money for it, and keep it in my backseat.
Just in case.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Sex, Deer, and Other Crazy Things About Wisconsin
Part of the fun of moving 1500 miles to a new place is making fun of just how different the new place is. We have been here in Wisconsin now 2-1/2 months, and although I think the hardest part is behind us (being new, finding our way around, getting lost every single day) each new day seems to smack me in the face somehow and remind me, Lauren, you're not in California anymore.
I was driving Ian to school at the usual 7:15 am time this past Monday, the day after Halloween, and we saw a subdivision that was already decorated for Christmas! Ian and I gasped and guffawed at the sight. "Wreaths and garlands up the day after Halloween? OMG" we clicked our tongues the rest of the drive at the ridiculousness of it all. I mean, we still have 2 skeletons hanging that we haven't taken down yet (ladder needed) and someone's already putting up wreaths and garlands?! What an atrocity! What happened to waiting till after Thanksgiving???
And it doesn't matter how long we live here, we will NEVER stop laughing at the way they talk here, especially at the grocery store. In California, you hear, "paper or plastic?" and here they say "paper or plastic bag?" but the bag has 2 syllables, more like "bee--agg". You have no idea how many times Tim has asked, "do I want a what??" and he truly has no idea what they're saying! It's the one accent I really can't imitate. It's just, well, odd.
*****
The next time you're driving on one of California's crazy freeways, say a small prayer for us Kuckelman's here in Wisconsin, because it's a miracle we're not dead yet. I have come to realize that California drivers are indeed some of the BEST drivers in the world. Stop laughing!!! You obviously haven't driven in Wisconsin before if you're laughing. I don't know what it is about them, but they don't get the whole, MOVE OVER INTO THE EMPTY LANE PLEASE SO I CAN MERGE ONTO THIS FREEWAY YOU IDIOT!!! This is what they'll actually do--they will drive in the outside lane where you need to go to merge onto the freeway and they will just stay where they are, completely blocking you out. They don't go a little faster to let you in, nor will they slow down to let you in, or move over to the EMPTY lane next to them to let you in! It's insane. You have no idea how many times Tim and I have almost gotten completely squeezed out and rolled down embankments. It's not funny.
The other completely irritating thing we've experienced is the constant highway construction that goes on during summer and fall months. Basically, 24/7 if the weather's permitting. They've been repaving the same 4 mile stretch of highway since we moved here, and today, the onramps were STILL closed so I had to take a detour to get Ian to school! (will they EVER be finished?????) I am so sick of seeing orange barrels!!! I actually accidentally hit one last week, guess how???? (pause for your answer.....)
YES!!!! TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY!!!! Some jerk wouldn't let me in so I accidentally smacked one of those stupid orange barrels with my right rearview mirror. It snapped shut close to the car and I was so freaked out. I was happy that it hadn't done any damage after all--it just snapped back into place. WHEW!
I also don't think they like people from California. Tim didn't believe me when I told him how it seemed I kept getting tailgated. I had several rednecks in stupid Ford trucks with their stupid John Deere hats on try to run me over, honk their horns at me, and then swerve around me and flip me the bird. For doing what I ask you?? I have no idea! I mean, come on, you guys know me, you know how I drive. I usually go faster than everyone around me, I'm always late wherever it is I'm going. So for someone to tailgate me and get THAT irate at me really is beyond my understanding. I have concluded that it's because I have California license plates. I have been threatened, stared at, and seen the eyes roll and the fingers pointed from inside car doors going 65 mph. I have proof I'm right---we just bought a new car that has Wisconsin license plates, and guess what?? No one's tried to run me off the road. No roled eyes. We've become one of them. Hmmph.
***
Now, lastly, I have to say up front that I love deer. I don't get how hunting is such a big effing to-do out here. How Neanderthal! The first time we saw deer crossing the road in front of us, I was driving Ian to a friend's house, and a family of deer was crossing the road literally right in front of us. They absolutely came out of nowhere. Fortunately, I was in a 25 zone so I was going slow and had no trouble stopping quickly so I wouldn't hit them. Ian and I gazed at their beauty, and marveled at "how cool is it to see deer?" They floated across so quickly if you'd have blinked you'd have missed them. We then went along our merry way just mesmerized.
THEN----- we took a family trip to Kansas this weekend, yes, 10-ish long hours in the car (one way)and dozen of deer carcasses later, I'm scared of seeing any more Bambis. The first time I saw a dead deer off the side of the road, we all sighed and said collectively, "Awwww, poor thing", and the car got quiet as we all felt anger at how we city people have driven them from their native burroughs to the point that they cross dangerous roads in search of food. Evil evil humans!! How dare we???
Then Tim told me how it's not food that drives them to cross highways streaming with cars--it's SEX!! Seems the male deer are always chasing the female deer, and like most horny men, will risk life and limb (or should I say, all four limbs) to get a little action. So, what ends up happening is the male deer will be chasing the female, and she's scampers across the highway safely. I don't know why this is, it's just what Tim was told by someone who's an expert on this sort of topic. So the male (buck) is running after her, tongue wagging, saliva dripping everywhere, and he's not really paying attention to the cars whizzing by. He's looking at her cute little white tail, and BOOM he's dead. Doesn't even see it coming. Meanwhile, she's safely trotted off to the other side of the freeway, having a little nibble of grass on the other side, wondering, "why did Romeo stop chasing me? Oh well, must've been that pretty doe over there by the Kuckeman house-- he's been staying out late every night this week and I'll bet cha he's doing her". She doesn't give him another thought because her tail is so white and cute it's not long till another cute buck comes along and starts chasing after her. And so on it goes.
So the moral of this story is, if you see a deer daintily cross the road, please don't accelerate and think the coast is clear. A very aroused buck will soon appear in front of your headlights and you won't see his eyes because he's looking at the previous deer's tushie. There might even be two or three if she's really a hottie. Give the poor guys a break. They can't help themselves. It's just nature. And isn't nature beautiful?? Awwww........
I was driving Ian to school at the usual 7:15 am time this past Monday, the day after Halloween, and we saw a subdivision that was already decorated for Christmas! Ian and I gasped and guffawed at the sight. "Wreaths and garlands up the day after Halloween? OMG" we clicked our tongues the rest of the drive at the ridiculousness of it all. I mean, we still have 2 skeletons hanging that we haven't taken down yet (ladder needed) and someone's already putting up wreaths and garlands?! What an atrocity! What happened to waiting till after Thanksgiving???
And it doesn't matter how long we live here, we will NEVER stop laughing at the way they talk here, especially at the grocery store. In California, you hear, "paper or plastic?" and here they say "paper or plastic bag?" but the bag has 2 syllables, more like "bee--agg". You have no idea how many times Tim has asked, "do I want a what??" and he truly has no idea what they're saying! It's the one accent I really can't imitate. It's just, well, odd.
*****
The next time you're driving on one of California's crazy freeways, say a small prayer for us Kuckelman's here in Wisconsin, because it's a miracle we're not dead yet. I have come to realize that California drivers are indeed some of the BEST drivers in the world. Stop laughing!!! You obviously haven't driven in Wisconsin before if you're laughing. I don't know what it is about them, but they don't get the whole, MOVE OVER INTO THE EMPTY LANE PLEASE SO I CAN MERGE ONTO THIS FREEWAY YOU IDIOT!!! This is what they'll actually do--they will drive in the outside lane where you need to go to merge onto the freeway and they will just stay where they are, completely blocking you out. They don't go a little faster to let you in, nor will they slow down to let you in, or move over to the EMPTY lane next to them to let you in! It's insane. You have no idea how many times Tim and I have almost gotten completely squeezed out and rolled down embankments. It's not funny.
The other completely irritating thing we've experienced is the constant highway construction that goes on during summer and fall months. Basically, 24/7 if the weather's permitting. They've been repaving the same 4 mile stretch of highway since we moved here, and today, the onramps were STILL closed so I had to take a detour to get Ian to school! (will they EVER be finished?????) I am so sick of seeing orange barrels!!! I actually accidentally hit one last week, guess how???? (pause for your answer.....)
YES!!!! TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY!!!! Some jerk wouldn't let me in so I accidentally smacked one of those stupid orange barrels with my right rearview mirror. It snapped shut close to the car and I was so freaked out. I was happy that it hadn't done any damage after all--it just snapped back into place. WHEW!
I also don't think they like people from California. Tim didn't believe me when I told him how it seemed I kept getting tailgated. I had several rednecks in stupid Ford trucks with their stupid John Deere hats on try to run me over, honk their horns at me, and then swerve around me and flip me the bird. For doing what I ask you?? I have no idea! I mean, come on, you guys know me, you know how I drive. I usually go faster than everyone around me, I'm always late wherever it is I'm going. So for someone to tailgate me and get THAT irate at me really is beyond my understanding. I have concluded that it's because I have California license plates. I have been threatened, stared at, and seen the eyes roll and the fingers pointed from inside car doors going 65 mph. I have proof I'm right---we just bought a new car that has Wisconsin license plates, and guess what?? No one's tried to run me off the road. No roled eyes. We've become one of them. Hmmph.
***
Now, lastly, I have to say up front that I love deer. I don't get how hunting is such a big effing to-do out here. How Neanderthal! The first time we saw deer crossing the road in front of us, I was driving Ian to a friend's house, and a family of deer was crossing the road literally right in front of us. They absolutely came out of nowhere. Fortunately, I was in a 25 zone so I was going slow and had no trouble stopping quickly so I wouldn't hit them. Ian and I gazed at their beauty, and marveled at "how cool is it to see deer?" They floated across so quickly if you'd have blinked you'd have missed them. We then went along our merry way just mesmerized.
THEN----- we took a family trip to Kansas this weekend, yes, 10-ish long hours in the car (one way)and dozen of deer carcasses later, I'm scared of seeing any more Bambis. The first time I saw a dead deer off the side of the road, we all sighed and said collectively, "Awwww, poor thing", and the car got quiet as we all felt anger at how we city people have driven them from their native burroughs to the point that they cross dangerous roads in search of food. Evil evil humans!! How dare we???
Then Tim told me how it's not food that drives them to cross highways streaming with cars--it's SEX!! Seems the male deer are always chasing the female deer, and like most horny men, will risk life and limb (or should I say, all four limbs) to get a little action. So, what ends up happening is the male deer will be chasing the female, and she's scampers across the highway safely. I don't know why this is, it's just what Tim was told by someone who's an expert on this sort of topic. So the male (buck) is running after her, tongue wagging, saliva dripping everywhere, and he's not really paying attention to the cars whizzing by. He's looking at her cute little white tail, and BOOM he's dead. Doesn't even see it coming. Meanwhile, she's safely trotted off to the other side of the freeway, having a little nibble of grass on the other side, wondering, "why did Romeo stop chasing me? Oh well, must've been that pretty doe over there by the Kuckeman house-- he's been staying out late every night this week and I'll bet cha he's doing her". She doesn't give him another thought because her tail is so white and cute it's not long till another cute buck comes along and starts chasing after her. And so on it goes.
So the moral of this story is, if you see a deer daintily cross the road, please don't accelerate and think the coast is clear. A very aroused buck will soon appear in front of your headlights and you won't see his eyes because he's looking at the previous deer's tushie. There might even be two or three if she's really a hottie. Give the poor guys a break. They can't help themselves. It's just nature. And isn't nature beautiful?? Awwww........
Friday, October 22, 2010
The Wheels on the Bike Go Round and Round
Have you ever done something new, and thought, Gee, this is fun, how did I not know about this fun thing?? Well, Spin class was that for me. Over a year and a half ago, I joined Xcellerate gym in Reedley and as a long-time runner, I had never heard of Spin class. I loved running outdoors--and competing in 5K's and 10K's. My friend Bethany pushed me to give Spin a try, and one day I reluctantly agreed to give it a whirl. I had no idea what to expect and I was quite intimidated by the machines and Bethany's seeming knowledge of it all. It didn't take long for me to realize that for the first time, exercise could be FUN! and not just hard work!
The instructor reminded me a little of Susan Powter--remember her? In the 1990's, with her buzz-cut hair and loud, "Stop the Insanity!" scare tactics to get you off your couch and into shape? This Spin instructor mirrored Susan's enthusiasm without the scare tactics. She was singing along to the music, pedaling her heart out, and your basic fitness maniac but in a good way. She was having FUN! I can't speak for the rest of the class, but I felt motivated by her because it was more fun to be with this sweaty group of smiling women, riding to fun and inspiring rock and pop music than it was to run alone on a treadmill. I couldn't walk for three days after, but I couldn't wait to go again. Soon I was attending every Monday-Wednesday-Friday and lost nearly 20 pounds. HAVING FUN MIND YOU!!!
That was almost 2 years ago, and tomorrow I'm taking the 9-hour course required to become a Spin instructor myself! I'm nervous and excited. I realized that I could get paid to do something I love. I also realized that I love teaching, and since I've decided not to pursue substitute teaching anymore, I did need something to give me that interaction with people that I love, in a motivating way. I guess you could say I've become a little Susan Powter myself, hopefully leaving out the annoying part of her personality! I hope I'll be as inspiring as Dawn and Nicole over at Xcellerate, and I'll be the kind of instructor that make people flock to my classes. I love picking out the music, you know me, it's got to be a mix of my favorite rock songs and a few pop ones as well.
I'm no spring chicken either, most of these instructors are half my age! I want people to know exercise doesn't have to be something that you suffer through to get the benefits. My son loves grunting and groaning his way through weight-lifting and he looks amazing, but even he says if it wasn't fun to do, he probably wouldn't be as committed as he is. That's what I want to give to my future students--a fun thing to do three days a week that will help you not only get in shape, but make friends, have fun, get wild and sweaty and be something you look forward to, not dread.
Thank you Bethany, for taking me to that first class. Little did you know how much it would change my life. And thank you to Dawn and Nicole, for being my inspiration as instructors, and thank you to Melissa and Mary, my steady Spin partners for over a year. I miss you guys more than you know, and thank you for giving me the confidence to consider and complete the instructor course.
I'm nervous and excited--we're going to do 2 Spin rides as well as lectures and demonstrations. I've never done two rides in one day! I hope I survive!
Wish me luck!!
Wish me luck!!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Too Much of a Good Thing
They say that in parenting, kids model their behavior by watching yours. In my case, I think it has been the reverse when it comes to my teenage son Ian. He is by far the healthiest person I know. He hasn't had a soda in about two years. He guzzles orange juice like a pirate drinks rum, and he has gained about 30 pounds of muscle by going to the gym nearly every single day for the last year and drinking protein shakes daily. I never have to tell him to bathe, shave, or put on deodorant or wear clean clothes. Now I don't need to be told to bathe or wear clean clothes, but thanks to Ian, I have kicked my daily diet Coke habit for over a year now and we both drink so much bottled water, we buy it in cases now. I have a diet Cranergy to get my vitamin C and he and I both take our supplements. I'm so proud of him.
Which is why I was so concerned when he started just becoming sooooo tired. Now, he's a teenager, and everyone know teens need lots of sleep, and they hate getting up early. But Ian has been so great about getting up at 6:45 every day for school, and he's only been late once. So this seemed to be like a daily thing, him coming home from school and being so tired he can barely function. I thought maybe he was staying up late texting or going on his Facebook, but he said he was actually going to bed early because he was just soooo tired.
Which is why I was so concerned when he started just becoming sooooo tired. Now, he's a teenager, and everyone know teens need lots of sleep, and they hate getting up early. But Ian has been so great about getting up at 6:45 every day for school, and he's only been late once. So this seemed to be like a daily thing, him coming home from school and being so tired he can barely function. I thought maybe he was staying up late texting or going on his Facebook, but he said he was actually going to bed early because he was just soooo tired.
I decided to listen to my mommy's intuition that something just wasn't right this Monday when he begged me to let him sleep and miss his first few classes. That is not my Ian. So, I made him a doctor's appointment straight away. I was shocked at what his doctor thought might be the culprit---arsenic poisoning from drinking powdered protein shakes! He told us that there was a huge study done recently that showed most protein powders and shakes contain 3 heavy metals: arsenic, lead, and cadmium. He ordered an array of blood tests and we are awaiting results. (he's also being tested for just about everything---anemia, thyroid, and drugs--which I'm not worried about honestly). Ian is just as curious as I am, and he is FURIOUS. Furious that he's been doing everything he can to be as healthy as possible and here something that's supposed to be helping him is doing damage. We are hoping the damage is minimal and hasn't affected his liver or kidneys!
At this point, he's looking for a safter substitute as he's trying to gain weight (yes, I hate him) LOL For now, he is so angry, WE are so angry. He is looking into a class action suit against the manufacturer of the very expensive powder he's been using. We buy it at GNC and it's like $40 a container, and of course, they always talk us into buying two at a time because we "save money".
Here's the link if you're interested :
'Toxic' Report Has Big Protein Supplement Brands Under Assault
http://ori.cnbc.com/id/37577600
I'll keep you updated as we get Ian's blood test results in. And if you know anyone who's drinking protein shakes, let them know how dangerous they are. And let's call a lawyer!! (Tim????)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Toto, We're Not in California Anymore
You know what I miss most about California? (No, it's not the weather). It's the people. It's kind of like the Katy Perry song, "California Gurls", "there must be something in the water", or the air, the sand or the palm trees. California people are just, well, different. I'm used to people being friendlier, more open, kinder and honestly, less judgmental. That's harsh, I know. But you have to realize, I'm not your average middle-aged woman. I sing in a band--- I often have pink or purple hair. I have six tattoos, and I dress like a rockstar. I drive a cherry red Mini Cooper and with my California license plates, I stick out like a sore thumb. I'm used to being waved to wherever I go in my little car, as everyone knew me back home. I haven't made a single friend here yet, and although my neighbors have been really nice and my kids' friends moms have been cordial, it's still just, well, not the same. I miss my wonderful friends back home.
I do think I'm acclimating well though---we've been here about two months and I know my way around pretty well. I can get to the mall (oh yeah!), both kids's schools, several different grocery stores and the gym. I haven't gotten lost in a couple of weeks now so that's progress LOL Most of our stuff is out of the boxes, and the house looks lived in and happy. I am happy here now, getting settled and getting new routines. The kids have made friends, and with my husband we four have gotten closer than ever since the move. I know it was the right choice for us to come here for my husband's job.
Here's the thing--I don't mind being stared at. I'm used to it. I know I look different. I have always felt different. Call it the "middle-child syndrome", but whatever it is, the attention doesn't bother me. I welcome it. I'm a happy person who walks around finding the good in everybody and every situation if possible. I get stepped on a lot because of it but pop right back up smiling. What I don't get is why do people dislike me here just because I'm from California? I've nearly been dangerously tailgated several times, people laugh when I tell them I moved here from California, and they make fun of MY accent!
It makes me sad. I'm trying really hard to like it here and those kinds of things do NOT help.
Anyways, the weather's been great, feels just like fall in good ol' Cali, and yes, I do know winter's coming and I have no idea what I'm in for. I am actually so excited for the first snowfall I'm willing it to happen! As our Halloween skeletons and orange lights hang in our yard, I'm inside, lighting candles and feeling like the squirrels I've been feeding peanuts to. I'm getting ready for the cold months ahead. We got our stack of wood, bought a few warmer clothes, and had one of our cars "winterized". We are going to be buying a new car in the next couple weeks, a big SUV so I can feel safer driving on black ice and snow. I'm thinking ahead to starting my Christmas shopping as I'll be mailing a lot of gifts this year. Thanksgiving's just around the corner, and although our downstairs heater is still broken (another story, another day), my biggest goal in living here is simple--not to get fat! (I hear there's not much to do in winter but eat...AND drink....) I'm hitting the gym 3 times a week and actually getting my spin instructor certification this Saturday (if I pass the 9-hour workshop, and the written test). I'm also taking vocal lessons so when we put together a new band, I'll wow not only them but my audience.
I'm excited to be here, I really am. I have new goals, new dreams, and a new outlook. I'm proud of my hubby and my kids, we've had a really rough couple of months but it looks like we're gonna be ok after all.
Wisconsin better get ready for Rebel Girl, cuz I'm here, I'm loud, and I'm a trouble-maker!
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