The Dread of the First Day

Monday was my big day, I had to get up and squeeze into a swim suit. I was tired, bloated and way too comfy in my cave. In California spring came very late and I was getting way too used to being at home in my sweats and slippers. I have no pinching abilities, but I had to get into that suit by myself if it killed me. Dave took a sick day, but I would never let him witness my winter fat rolling into my "shaper suit." This suit is suppose to make your boobies perky, lift the butt and suck in the gut. The trick is getting those wobbly parts in the right areas of the suit. If I was truly brave, I would tape the event and send it in to "funniest Home Videos." I was exhausted by the time Dave arrived to help, but I was already in. My newly mowed legs were so white I had to hurriedly put my shades on...boy was I lily white! Yes, I whined and so wanted to stay home! Dave said I could stay home, but I knew he would be disappointed in me. He knows it's keeping me alive.

When I start I do an hour in a water workout class for people with medical stuff going on, three days a week. In two weeks I move to a regular water aerobics class for an hour, after my previous "easier" class. In another two weeks I work the machines inside on days I don't swim.
I go slow and drink a smoothie when I get home. The ALS people are still debating on if it hurts or helps ALS. I don't need no stinking medical trial to prove it, I already have.

When I arrived Monday I was greeted by all my "gym friends" with great enthusiasm. Happy to see me back for year 4. It's what will get me up out of bed in the first few weeks. Between them and Dave (my cheerleaders) I keep up the gym. In the picture above are a neat married couple, Doug and Chris. I'm going to take more pictures this year because when we move I will be leaving this gym. They will always remain my cheerleaders and I plan on visiting them when I come to town. I finished the "100 things about me" on top of my side bar. I've read a few and they were fun and enlightening. It was very hard and I tried to mix events up to keep you awake. TJ http://paisleyskys.blogspot.com/was once again my inspiration and Meg http://wingwoman.blogspot.com/also gave it a whirl.

Entry for WWWC- Expression for pic #10

FORGIVENESS

I no longer fear you.
You have no more
power here.

Your tongue can not
strike me down with
venomous words.

Your reign of terror
has slowly turned
from my mind.

I am no longer your
Daughter, desperately
Trying to please you.


I am a warrior who
longs to touch you.
You taught me well.

In death you are free
and in life you have
been forgiven.

by Tammy

Unfinished Dreams

Sassy at http://journals.aol.com/sassydee50/SassysWORD/ reminded us all to remember our dreams from a time before we put our families before all else. I had to go way back, but it was worth the trip. Do you remember yours?

I wanted to travel to Austria and twirl on the hills, belting out "Sound of Music."
I wanted a close, loving family.
I wanted to get a degree in Psychology and work with adolescents.
I wanted to work in the Peace Corps for a summer.
I wanted to live in the mountains and ski when ever I wanted, feeling the rush of clean crisp air on my face.
I wanted to be healthy and live to be old.
I wanted a job I loved and paid the bills.
I wanted to adopt a child.
I wanted to see far away places.
I wanted to go where Jesus walked.
I wanted to try acting.
I wanted to keep my perky high school figure.
I wanted a ranch with lots of animals.

The rest came true!

Have a great weekend!

Round Robin Photo Challenge- "Holy"

I think of God as most "Holy" but he refused to let me take a picture. I then thought of my daily chats with God and all the prayers he has answered in my life. Prayer is my view of the word "Holy." I staged a prayer, so as not to intrude on any prayers. My hubby was happy to be my "man in prayer." Since we are living proof of answers to prayer, I thought he would be perfect.

This topic was hard, but that's what made it fun. I finally got my new camera and I can't wait for the next challenge! Go visit the other entries, but give them a day to all post :)

Linking List: Robin... Search The Sea POSTED!Karen... Outpost Mavarin POSTED!Carly... Ellipsis...Suddenly Carly POSTED!Erika... Photographs Of My SoulTammy... The Daily WarriorJessica... QuickSilver DreamsPatrick... Patrick's PortfolioJulie... Julie's Web JournalSteven... (sometimes) photoblogConnie... Connie's Photo Pages POSTED!TJ... Photo Inclusions: Every Picture Tells A Story POSTED!Deslily... Here, There and Everywhere 2nd Edition POSTED!Here, There and Everywhere (AOL) POSTED!

Spring is Finally Here!

Dave has a passion for gardening, these flowers are "the other women" in his life. He brings home more bulbs every year. He is so happy when he is planting in the soil. We have had a few days of sun, but now the rain is back...Grrrr! Next week spring will stay and summer will be on its heels.

I will finally get back to the gym and get some strength back. Dave will be painting the house for curb appeal, but the better we make this house the less I want to leave. I have added a slide show of Dave's flowers and new pictures in flickr to kick off spring. Now we can bring out the outdoor furniture, put the top on the gazebo, turn the fountain on and BBQ...Yeahhhh!

Easter Celebrations

Do












you see any resemblance? That's me at the same age as TK. I had a great day spoiling my grandson and I was able to figure out how I could feed him.

I spent the next two days of my four day weekend with a migraine. I'm really glad Dave was out of town, so I did not ruin his Easter.

My oldest came up at the end of the weekend and we had good time. I even got an Easter gift from her (fancy Hydrangea plant). I think that was a first! She is preparing for a trip to Thailand with a group of friends. One of her friends is from there, so I'm not too nervous. I sent her all over Europe with a high school group at 16, I took her to the Bahamas, Cabo San Lucas and she has been on a cruise all over Mexico with friends. I think she will love it!

Dave had fun, but came home exhausted :) I really missed him, but we talked everyday at least once. I sent him his favorite thing, fudge. He got some great shots of his grandsons. I made him a t-shirt with a picture of his daughter and grandsons on it. I decorated it in a Easter theme and Ethan age 4 loved seeing his picture on papa's shirt. Dave is doing jury duty today and is not a happy camper, but he is not commuting :)

The Passing of a Hero

Pam at http://journals.aol.co.uk/his1desire/JustOneGirlsHeadNoiseUK/ was one of the first journals I followed. Pam had lung cancer and journaled 287 days of living with cancer. She passed on Easter Sunday, her suffering is now over. She taught me what having cancer and it's treatment felt like in a detailed daily journal. Cancer is so much more to me because of Pam, she shared it all. She fought every step of the way with whit, humor and strength. She was a single mom with a 15 yr old daughter and a son in college. She was a true hero to me and I thank her for sharing her soul. God is smiling because he has yet another angel in heaven. My prayers are for all who loved her! You will be missed! Please visit this journal, I promise she will make you smile.