WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM - Thank you Stephanie

Thank you Stephanie.  I'm glad I have Lucky, the wii, and Turbo Jam for my workouts!

WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM
Dear Diary,

For my birthday this year, my Husband (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Mario, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My husband seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
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MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Mario waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Mario gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Mario was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!

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TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Mario made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT!! It's a whole new life for me

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WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Mario was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Mario put me on the stair monster. Why the heck would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Mario told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other crap too.

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THURSDAY:
Butthole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late – it took me that long to tie my shoes. He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny witch to find me. Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.

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FRIDAY:
I hate that jerk Mario more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it. Mario wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the darn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?

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SATURDAY:
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.

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SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

First Lego League - Forest Grove Lego Brickmasters

This year Chandler and Henry both participated in the First Lego League competition, along with eight other friends from the area. These 10 boys, along with the Team's mentor, spent 4 to 8 hours a week for about 15 weeks preparing for the big event. Along with the Lego Robotic programing, they were also required to solve a transportation issue within their community. This solution had a formal and creative presentation, which they presented to a panel of judges.

Although they had a ton of fun meeting with their friends so often, it also required huge commitment for all involved. I was proud of all the boys and their desire to keep going. The reward...they won 3rd Place at the Regional Tournament in December.

January they competed at the State Tournament, which was a blast for us all! The motto for the day, "Cuz, that's how we roll!" I am probably too old to use that phrase but the boys didn't seem to mind. Unfortunately, they did not place at State, but the two teams they placed 3rd against at regional, are the two going on to Nationals in Atlanta!

During my visit to NY this summer, I came across my mother's copy of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul. There was one page marked, and this was the story on that one page:

Finding Her There

Every year my birthday followed the same ritual. My mother would come to see me, on that late fall day, and I would open the door. She would be standing on the step with wind swirling leaves around her feet.

There would be a chill in the air, and in her hands she would hold my birthday gift. it would always be something small and precious, something I had needed for a long time and just never knew it.

I would open this gift from my mother with great care, then I would tuck it carefully away with all my heart's possessions. How fragile these gifts were, from my mother's hands.

If my mother could come to me today on my birthday, I would bring her into the warmth of my kitchen. Then we would have a cup of tea, and watch the turning leaves press themselves against the windows.

There would be no rush to open my gift, because today I would know that I had already opened it when I opened the front door to find her there, with the wind swirling leaves around her feet...

Christina Keenan

February 1, 2010:

I am committed to restarting my blog. Today, I found myself struggling to remember my password, how to post, how to upload a photo, etc. Once I found the posting page, this post was waiting to be posted from last year. I imagine my intention was to post on my birthday, October 27.