Mammoth & More

We spent last weekend in Mammoth, which was mixed. The drive up sucked, the drive back down was pleasant... There wasn't enough snow the first day, there was too much snow the second day. It would have been perfect if we could have stayed a bit longer because there was a big storm that came through and dumped like 3 feet of fresh powder... GREAT conditions for snowboarding and snowmobiling... but the person who owned the condo we were borrowing showed up and we needed to leave. Oh well!

Jared also didn't last longer than 20 minutes in his ski class... that we spent nealry $200 on! Ugh! I did get snowboard for a couple of hours and that was fun... it was pretty icy, but still fun -- and certainly fast.

This week has been busy, but fun. It's been warm enough to play outside late and we even got to eat on the deck on Monday night. Last night we had our former neighbor, Jake over for dinner and that was a lot of fun. He always brings over a nice bottle of wine. I made chocolate-chocolate chip cupcakes -- a big hit! Later Jed and I snacked on smoked gouda and red apple slices -- the best!

This afternoon the kids have dental appointments followed by t-ball practice and dinner in the park... it should be another fun afternoon/evening!

Jed Works A Lot

Jed works a lot, which means I end up feeling like a single parent a lot. I feel slammed so much of the time. I leave work and go running on MWF. I run errands T/TH. Then I pick up the kids and feed them a snack. We go to a playground or home... and I rush around making dinner, packing lunches, putting away dishes, re-loading the dishwasher, putting away laundry, getting the kids bathed... cleaning up the huge messes the kids make... etc.

Yesterday we made little green cupcakes for St. Patrick's Day. The kids got all my decorating supllies and covered the kitchen floor with various shapes and sizes of sprinkles and colored sugar. They did not help decorate the cupcakes.

Jared also managed to destroy my newly planted sunflower seedlings with his remote controled car. "I didn't mean to mommy... the truck was supposed to go on the side, but it CRASHED!"

So the kids were nuts all evening and I did my best to run interference. Reading a bedtiem story to both of them at the same time is not easy... but I got them to bed with no major problems and spent an hour working on Jared's Birthday invitation before climbing into bed to watch some Ugly Betty!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

It's St. Patrick's Day. I made a corned beef brisket this morning (or something like it, I kinda made up my own recipe but I got all the nasics in there) and popped that into the slow cooker along with veggies, potatoes and cabbage wedges. Tonight I will make some Irish soda bread and help the kids make and decorate green mini-muffins. I'll probably skip the green beer. I'm trying to watch what I eat as our Spring Break trip to the Mayan Riviera is rapidly approaching.


Mia has a nasty cough, slept with us the last two nights and woke us and herself up periodically throughout the night. Nevertheless I managed to get up this morning and run 3 miles before getting ready for work (and making that brisket!). Yesterday I managed to squeeze in two miles. Jed is taking Mia in to the doctor in about a half-hour.

My coworker has a funny little saying... it's something like "yesterday I was a total FNF." HUH? Apparently this means she was a "fatty-fatty-no-friend" who couldn't stop eating all day.... of course this couldn't possibly be true as she actually weighs about 95 pounds. I, however, have been an FNF for weeks now... rapidly gaining back about seven of the 11 pounds I managed to lose since December. Very frustrating, because let me tell you, losing 11 pounds is really freaking hard, but gaining 7 pounds is really, really easy. Especially when you love to cook and eat!

Work is busy, I guess I better get back to it.

Canceled!

So I only had two big plans for the weekend: 1) Take the kids to a Birthday Party on Saturday afternoon and 2) Run in the Inaugural Pasadena Marathon (though I was just running the 1/2).

Birthday Party: Canceled due to illness.

Marathon: Canceled due to air quality.

Luckily, some unexpected happy events took their place. The amazing sky as a result of the smoke from the fires... a fuchsia sunset that started hours before it normally would have and lit up the whole sky. One of my best times in along time running the ghetto loop. Making breakfast for the family on Sunday. Whipping the backyard into shape. Catching up on Grey's Anatomy.

Here are the photos I took today... On my to the marathon, the deserted 110 Freeway at 5:55 a.m. The Canceled signs and me -- rolling with it!

Halloween's Coming!

Halloween is almost here and Jared is really excited about trick-or-treating. He's going to be the Dark Knight and Mia is going as a Ladybug. Really cute. Jared, Uncle Julian and Daddy all helped carve a really simple, and angry looking Jack-o-lantern last night.

Jed's friend has been staying with us since last week... he's in the Army and about to embark on his first tour in Iraq. He'll be stationed in Mossul. I'm pretty sure Jed has been enjoying the visit. They've gone goKart racing and hung out... we all went to the beach... relaxed a lot -- and we had a really nice dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. A piece of meat from there is always a real treat!



I've had that cold for 15 days now -- yep, 15 days! So I've barely been exercising at all -- which I really miss. I think I'll be able to get back into the swing of things by week's end. Jed's friend, Julian, has been staying in the room where my treadmill is so I haven't had the optio of jumping on in the mornings. He leaves on Thursday, so Friday I can hop back on. Yay!

I got to an old friend's Art Opening this weekend and see a bunch of people I haven't seen in years. Marina Kappos' show, Politicus, was inspired by the upcoming elections. It was really beautiful, incredibly clean and tidy work; she's extremely talented. Here's a link to an older show at the same gallery called "A Murder Of Crows." I saw an old schoolmate, Eric... he's doing well, successful and was as nice as ever. Then there was Becky Cox, who managed to exude the same smug disdain for all aura that made me dislike her back in Jr. High. Some people never change I guess.

I also got to see Marina's twin, Ronni... who not only is an accomplished artist herself (check out her beautiful jewelry) she also just got married in ana amazing wedding ceremony in Africa! I'm envious of the trip she got to take... there's a video of part of the experience, which I will try to add soon.. and it looks just amazing!

Getting Sick Was Just the Pick-Me-Up I Needed

It helped me lose a couple of those extra pounds I have gained since returning to a desk job!

Of course, I have felt like crap all week so I am SO glad it is Friday!

Update: It's Not My Fault

It is not my fault that I am gaining weight... there are forces acting against me.

At this very moment, the In-N-Out truck is stationed below my office window -- where it has been spewing out the hypnotic smell of double-doubles for the past hour.

It is only getting worse... the fumes having an opiate-like effect on me. If only I could have a cheeseburger I could go through the afternoon with little or no pain!