See what happens when I give myself permission NOT to write everyday? It's been a week since I have written! Oh well. So let's see...what's been going on?
Since reading 34 Pieces of You I read a YA Supernatural/Ghost book. Though most YA ghost stories are fairly similar and quite predictable, I still find them entertaining. However, I was impressed with this one. It's called Bad Girls Don't Die and the ending did follow the standard, predictable ghost story ending. However, the first 3/4 of the book did not focus on the ghost story at all; instead the writing focused on the character development of the protagonist and that made for a much more interesting story.
Now I am reading a book called I Will Save You and so far it is pretty good. Much like 34 Pieces of You it begins with a big event that the reader can't fully understand and then, through flashbacks, the story slowly unfolds. If I like this one I may get some others by the same author. I'm heading to the beach on Wednesday for a few days so I should probably take a few books. Then again, my friend from Florida is coming with us so I may be more into chatting than reading.
But before discussing future events, let's talk about my very busy past week. On Wednesday Mimi and I went to Sky High, the trampoline place. They added a new "kid's room" which is a big carpeted area with tumbling mats and toys and books and one of those indoor play structures, like a mini version of what they have at PDX Playdate. Anyway, she wanted to check that out too so for three extra dollars she could jump on the trampolines and play in the kid's room. In the end she only jumped for about five minutes and spent the rest of the time in the kid's room. She didn't want to leave after an hour (you pay by the hour) so I decided to get her another hour JUST for the kid's room. BUT...if you are not using the kid's room in conjunction with jumping then the kid's room costs eight dollars an hour. So, the bottom line is, I paid a whole lot of money for two hours in a carpeted tumbling room, especially considering PDX Playdate is a flat fee and you can play as long as you want. Regardless, she had a great time and made some friends and that is what really matters. It was pretty funny when there were three boys, Mimi, and one other girl in the kid's room and Mimi was wrestling with the three boys. I just have to remember moments like that every time she asks me if she can have high heels or lipstick or a pink princess dress. Deep down she really is my child, it is just hidden behind pink, girly fluff.
On Thursday we went to the Children's Museum and I made a great discovery: Late afternoon is the BEST time to go to places for kids. Usually when I'm taking the kids somewhere like the Children's Museum I'm all about getting there as early as possible, thinking I will "beat the crowds" yet somehow it never works out that way. The truth is, ALL parents with younger children are getting up early and trying to beat the crowd so everything ends up being crowded after all. Getting there at two, however, was perfect. It was not crowded at all and Mimi didn't have to fight her way through exhibits or wait long minutes to get a turn. We were able to hit EVERYTHING in two hours.
Our trip to the zoo on Friday is more evidence to my new theory that late afternoon is best, though heat may have been a factor as well. We went to the zoo on Friday around 1:30 and it was not very crowded at all. It was awesome. We got to see both the penguins and the sea otter being fed and there was no crowd so we were able to stand right in front and watch the whole thing. Now, as I said, maybe the lack of crowds was due to the hot temperatures, but I'm still thinking late afternoon may be my new trick.
As I said in an earlier blog, Graham was at zoo camp all week. Zoo camp was great because it EXHAUSTED Graham. He was super tired every night. On Wednesday Graham's camp stayed after closing, until nine, and they had a nighttime scavenger hunt all over the zoo and saw a lot of animals active at night that don't usually demonstrate a lot of activity. When Graham got home that night, he was all glossy eyed and barely said anything to me before going straight to his room and falling promptly asleep. I think I got my money's worth with this camp.
Saturday the kids and I went up to Horsetail Falls to beat the heat. We hiked the 2 mile loop and it was very shady and pleasant. I was really impressed with Mimi as she hiked almost the whole thing herself and the first half is pretty much all up hill. She only asked me to carry her at the very end when we were heading down the steep trail to the road. I probably ended up carrying her .2 miles. Both kids were happy and cheerful, no complaining, and we hand a wonderful morning.
When we got home we broke out the kiddie pool and spent the afternoon in the sun and water. We got a new patio umbrella so now there is actually some shade in the backyard. Graham usually doesn't hang out back there with us as much because he really isn't a fan of the heat and sun, but now that he can sit in the shade he has been out there with us a lot more.
Kyle made on awesome dinner on the grill: chicken and a vegetable roast...YUM!
Last time I made a blog entry it was weigh in day and I had lost two pounds, which I was feeling pretty good about. The thing is, everything is so psychosomatic. I really think that what we see literally changes based on what someone said or what the scale said or the size of pants we do or don't fit into. Anyway, in the last week I have seen three different people that I haven't seen in awhile who genuinely complimented my looks. I say genuinely because all three said it in an almost surprised way, or like they were in awe. I guess I could take that as a put down like, "Oh my god! You have always been such a fatty! I can't believe you look trim!" But I don't really take it that way. I just take it that I look noticeably different to them than the last time they saw me to my benefit.
So anyway, that makes me feel good and I start thinking, "Hmmm, maybe my body is showing my weight loss/fitness more than I think it is. I mean, we are our own harshest critics, right? Everyone knows that we all have fucked up body images of ourselves, right?" But then again, I was wearing shorts all three times.
Here's the thing, people always ask me if I have lost weight when they see me in shorts for the first time, or if they haven't seen me in shorts in a really long time. I have really thin, muscular legs. I think people see those legs and think, "Wow, she must have lost weight," when really my legs always look that way regardless of how fat I am. I just look better when I can show off that not fat part of my body...which is why I prefer summer and hate pants.
Based on the scale and the compliments I thought I started seeing some changes in the mirror. The problem is when I start believing that I'm really thinning up and looking good I go too easy on myself. With food, that is. Never with fitness. So, I have not been great with food the last week. I wouldn't say I have been horrible, but certainly not religiously following the foods and portions I had planned for myself. Over the course of the week I have looked at myself in the mirror many times and seen different things depending on the moment. In the morning I think, "Yeah, you are looking pretty good," then after lunch getting into the shower it's all "What the hell happened? Four hours ago you looked good, now you look all blobby again?" I'm telling you, it's all in the head and I'll probably never really know what I look like to others.
The good news is, I have been working out religiously and I finally went on that long, lone bike ride I've been waiting to go on for a few weeks now. Sunday morning I drove out to the Banks-Vernonia trail and parked at the Manning trail head. I biked from there to Vernonia and back for a total of 36 miles. Not a huge ride, but still a lot more than I have had time to do lately. It. Was. Wonderful.
I had never ridden the trail before and I was worried about doing a semi-long ride on such a hot day especially since I didn't even get started until 10. But the trail is shaded almost the entire way! It is amazing, like someone just bulldozed a trail straight through an evergreen forest. I was riding between huge, towering trees much of the time thinking "I am in the middle of the forest!" which wasn't exactly true but...it felt good, it smelled good, and it looked spectacular.
Vernonia is an adorable little town. Once you get to Vernonia the trail leads to a little lake called Virginia Lake and continues all the way around the lake. I saw people fishing and lots of birds and it was very tranquil. On the other side of the main street is another park with a really cool, old-school swimming hole. The main street has lots of cute little shops and restaurants and I stopped at the Bear Creek Pub (or something like that) and had a beer and a BLT before heading back. What a wonderful ride! I am really hoping that my husband will let me go on a long, solo ride at least once every two weeks, if not more. I'd like to try to ride a few more miles each time and build up my stamina to what it once was.
So, not too shabby in the fitness arena; we will see what the scale says tomorrow. I'm crossing my fingers for being the same as last week, hoping the exercise countered the food and I didn't gain anything.
After I got home from my bike ride I took a shower and cleaned up in order to go on a date with my little man to The Addams Family musical at Keller Auditorium. I love when Graham and go on dates to plays or the ballet together. The show had a great set and was very funny. Both Graham and I enjoyed ourselves and it was a great end to a great weekend.
Now I'm just getting ready for my friend to come into town tomorrow night. Kyle and the kids are heading down to the coast tomorrow afternoon and then my friend and I are going to drive down Wednesday morning. We are staying in Rockaway until the 5th. I'm excited to spend the 4th in a little beach town and expose my friend, who lives in Florida, to what a beach is in the Northwest. Not sure when I will get a chance to check in again, but I will try not to make it a whole week this time.
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