Three Years… Really?

Today is our third wedding anniversary. How crazy is that? In some ways it feels like much longer – all right in ALL the ways it feels much longer. But I don’t mean that in a bad way, with a sidelong glance at my partner as we think about how rough it’s been… I mean it in the way that even before we were married, we felt married. The wedding was just a big (and expensive!) party with our loved ones to celebrate a commitment we had already made to one another. It was a big deal (I mean I know few brides who just don’t care about their weddings or don’t put their “everything” into it) but in some ways it had nothing to do with our marriage.

The last three years have been full of ups and downs for each of us, and 2014 really kicked our asses – I had a major medical blow and some other stuff, and Roy (my husband) was in the midst of an unexpected career change. Still, all of the problems that have come at us – it’s like us against the world. We don’t turn on each other, we don’t falter and we are able to be in tune with each other – mentally and emotionally. And it’s kind of funny seeing how we are total opposites in every sense of the word. Roy’s favorite foods I hate and vice versa. We like different kinds of movies, books, interests, stores, how we see the world, activities, political parties and even how we process things. We are as different as two people can be. I’m a planner, and he hates planning. I’m Type-Triple A and he’s Type-Triple B. I could go on and one, but really I’ve already blogged about just how different we are and how we make it work for us – just take a look.

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The Invitation

Getting an invitation is never a nice thing when it comes to my family. I’ve decided this. It’s either an empty gesture, sometimes received after the fact or it is genuine, but that is even worse. Because then I have to figure out if I should go (never say never, but so far I have not) or more likely, how to say no and what the proper etiquette during and after that “no” is most appropriate. On my mother’s side of the family it is easier, because they’re all nuts. So it is always a “no,” and because of their particular brand of crazy, I don’t have contact with them. So, I don’t have to RSVP or really do anything. Of course, these invitations are rare because the “no contact” is not new and has been accepted or my mother’s side just realizes they can’t convert me to their exhausting (and usually violent) crazy ways, and I guess “sane” isn’t that much fun in a room full of crazy… My father’s side on the other hand, is another story.

My dad’s side of the family has no shortage of its own dysfunction, but it isn’t a disease that affects every single member. And it’s never violent. But depending on who you’re talking about – it’s still pretty fucked up. My dad has three siblings and all of them have one to eight kids. I’m not close with any of my cousins, but I also don’t have anything against them, so I let where I stand with their parents dictate my rules for interacting with them.

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Confessions Of A Bookaholic – Guilty Pleasures Edition #82 – Sweet Valley High #71 – Starring Jessica!

I have to admit that I’ve been kind of down on Sweet Valley lately. I mean this is a series that is so bad – the fact that I love it, read it, and laugh at it, that it makes me feel guilty, and I wear that guilt with pride. But lately, the books have just been bad. I’ve felt that I needed a break, because life is too short… and then I read this. This book is so ridiculous and moronic and “Oh my God!” that it was a scream to read. I loved it! Just when I began questioning my love for one of my guilty pleasures, the next book serves as a reminder of all of the reasons I love these books. Prepare yourselves for mean girl feuds, TV spots, a nationally-broadcast talk show, twin switches, high school schemes, police, a humor column, and all kinds of other foolishness. The best Sweet Valley High book that I’ve read in months – and thank God, because I was really starting to waver…. 😉

“Starring Jessica!”

svh_staring_jessica

Sweet Valley Scale: 4.5 out of 5 Twins

When national TV talk-show host Eric Parker comes to Sweet Valley and announces a contest to find the perfect American teen, Jessica Wakefield vows to win the coveted spot as Eric’s special TV guest. After all, she’s meant to be a star! But when Jessica’s best friend, Lila Fowler, announces she’s going to win the spot, the contest becomes a battle of wills and wits. With the help of Bruce Patman, who has his own score to settle with Jessica, Lila devises a brilliant scheme to ruin Jessica’s shot at stardom. Will Jessica have her moment in the limelight, or will Lila succeed in stealing the show?

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Getting Fit With Fitbit Part 2 – “Actively” Living

Yesterday I faced facts about my eating habits and how they’re not so good… and now I’m looking at the other component to that – being active, exercise… you know that stuff. This was something I wasn’t going waste any time on, because I consider myself to be an active person, but I can’t ignore that even if I cleaned up my eating habits, it’s not going to matter if I’m not doing what I need to do to stay active, or being active in the most productive ways. And to be honest, I was curious to see how I measured up.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been called the Energizer Bunny. I was always peppy and spirited, organizing groups to walk a few miles to pick up litter when I was seven and by the time I was fourteen, organizing political or activist marches across my fair hometown of Omaha. In college I didn’t just pull all-nighters, but three or four in a row (let it be noted – I do not recommend this) without the help of Red Bull or caffeine pills. When I’m sick, I don’t lie down – I’ll organize something or clean the house or walk the dog. I hate being still.

On the other hand though, I don’t play any sports. I have a brittle bone disease so it’s not like I can suddenly take one up either. I don’t go to the gym (though we have a space downstairs that just needs the equipment to have our own gym at home) or use any equipment. In fact, any exercise I do is usually limited to walking (I have always been and will always be a hardcore walker) or light exercises like squats, double crunches, twists and arm circles. I used to dance to music for thirty minutes, which was great cardio, but still adjusting to my new deafness, I can’t hear the music to dance to it. So beyond getting equipment for our space in the basement, I’m not sure what kind of exercise I can do beyond what I already do.

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Getting Fit With Fitbit – You Are What You Eat

Last month my husband (Roy) surprised me on Mother’s Day and got me a Fitbit. It had been something we both talked about doing, but I was genuinely surprised when he did (you can read about it here). I never expected it to change anything, which is kind of funny. I’m the person who keeps track of exercise, water consumption and so many other things already in Excel, and yet I didn’t think I would become as obsessed with what I’m putting into my body as I have over the last four weeks. Right now it’s not so much creating a diet plan as it is making me aware of what I eat and even more so… how I eat.

Now make no mistake, I was never in denial about being a bad eater. I love baked anything – cookies, cupcakes, sweet rolls, donuts and my greatest vice in the world is chocolate. I consume many sweets on a daily basis – they are my fuel. And regardless of what my eating or activity inventories show me, I’m not going to give them up – EVER. But that doesn’t mean I can’t cut back or limit how much I have per day. As much as I am against deprivation, I’m all about moderation. But now that I have imported the data for the last 28 days into my go-to Excel, I’m a little like – crap.

Some things came as a surprise and others just confirmed my supposed-to-be-shameful habits (I’m sorry, but I am quite shameless in regards to my love of sweets). Let me start with what I expected…

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