Spring into Summer....Gettin' that Heart Rate Up!

Summer is just around the corner and I'm so unprepared. Leading up to our wedding in the fall, I was a fat-burning machine. I was so strict with my diet and exercise that once the hoopla was over, I jumped right into the comfort zone. My fitness regimen deteriorated from 6 days a week to two (if that) and my nutrition was allowed to fly free from restriction. Enter miscellaneous poundage...

"Dear extra pounds, while you've obviously enjoyed your stay on my hips, thighs, buttocks, tummy, and arms--you've overstayed your welcome and it's time to make an exit."

A month ago, I knew that my arms and legs were far from "Spring Ready" and now summer is knocking on my door. Therefore, I've started a food journal and gotten back on the bandwagon of fitness. Now it's up at 5:15, hit the gym for an hour or so, then head to work where I do my best to avoid all of the yummy temptations surrounding. I adore my co-workers, but why are they all fantastic cooks?!?! And the baking! Don't even get me started on the baking...

It's also good for me to get back into softball, even if it is slow-pitch. All those years I said I'd NEVER play recreational slow-pitch and here I am, playing 3rd base every Monday night. Never say never...Between the batting cages and weekly games, it's a good form of exercise and the players on the Angry Beavers co-ed team are a lot of fun. Yoga is also a new love of mine. Thanks to Aly and Kate, I'm stretching, twisting, holding, breathing, and contorting in positions I've never dreamed of...........and being quiet at the same time! It's truly a miracle.

So it's back to getting healthy........then comes sundresses, sitting on patios and drinking mojitos, and laughing with friends. Bring on the summer....

Home Invader

Well we had an exciting evening. I got home from work before Shawn, parked in the garage as normal, and then entered through the kitchen. Groceries in hand, I left the door to the garage open while I unloaded the bags and freed Brisket from the captivity known as her crate. God bless the inventor of the crate by the way. Even though it's the size of a small shed and denounces any opportunity to contribute as a design element, it has allowed us to keep our sanity. She sleeps in it at night AND stays in it during the day when we're at work. It's her home, her safe haven. A boxer left alone to roam is like Britney Spears unsupervised in a frappaccino factory - nothing good comes from it.

So I freed the beast and as usual, she busted out of her crate like a bull out of a rodeo gate -- spinning, jumping, and licking everything in sight. I was escorted by both dogs to the master bedroom where I changed clothes, unknowingly still leaving the back door wide open. Moments later, we walked back up the hall towards the den and all of a sudden, something flew by my face! Terrified AND shocked, I immediately screamed and ran to the back of the house. Thinking our 52-pound boxer would check it out, I was disappointed to see her leap onto the bed and let out a cry that would rival a newborn baby. Poor Halley was so confused, she just started pacing.

At this point, I was convinced we had a blood-sucking bat in our home. The fact that it was 6:30 and still sunny outside did nothing to deter this assumption. Therefore, I did what any normal 29-year-old woman would do - I coaxed Brisket down the hall and encouraged her to find whatever was flying around our house. This turned into me pushing her across our hardwood floors against her will while I shouted, "What is it Brisket Louise? Go find it!" Needless to say, Brisket Louise was NOT amused or the least bit interested in humoring my antics.

Accepting the dreaded truth that I was all alone at this point, I let her run back to the bedroom as I grabbed a softball bat from under the bed (hey, I was a single girl living alone for a long time and old habits are tough to break) and slowly walked down the hall. As I peaked my head into the den, I saw something fly by again and land on the ceiling fan. I got closer and discovered that a tiny (and I do mean TINY) bird had accidentally flown into our home.

By this time, Brisket and Halley reappeared and as Halley walked around on her 2 back legs trying to get a closer look, our poor boxer ran back to her crate and whined. What a guard dog! After opening the french doors leading to our backyard, the baby bird finally escaped as Halley chased her outside and thankfully, no one was hurt. When Brisket did get the courage to come back out of her crate after all of the commotion subsided, I couldn't help but laugh at the look of shame in those droopy boxer eyes. Note to self -- closed doors make for peaceful evenings.

Spring Cleaning for Easter.......or so I tried

So our Easter weekend went by pretty fast. I spent Friday night with my mom in Fort Worth. We made dinner (and by "made" I mean defrosted a BBQ chicken pizza) and watched Mamma Mia - it was pretty great. I returned home Saturday morning and did my routine cleaning that I've come to enjoy. Since Rock works most Saturdays, it's just me and the girls..........Brisket and Halley.

As usual, Brisket was in an overactive state. I wonder how much faster I could get things done without her "participation" in household chores. Here's a quick rundown of how my Saturday morning went...

- I sweep the floors. Brisket chases the broom, simultaneously spreading the collected dust, hair, etc. back to where it came from.

- I Windex the mirrors and glass doors. Brisket runs off with the roll of paper towels, shredding them faster than a wood chopper.

- I take out the trash. Brisket attacks the Hefty bags, ripping them open to admire her new treasures of coffee filters, juicy meat packaging, apple cores, and junk mail.

- I vacuum the rugs. Brisket rips the electrical chord out of the wall and proceeds to play tug-of-war with me...........good times.

- I load the dishwasher. Brisket attempts to furiously lick each and every dirty item loaded while I swat her away yelling, "No Brisket Louise......No!"

- I fold laundry. Brisket carefully selects a special item to grab and escape to the backyard where she drags it through mud, grass, leaves, etc.

How our house ever gets clean I'll never quite understand. Eventually she tires out and sleeps while I "redo" everything she interrupted. If this isn't preparing us for parenthood I don't know what will. And still with all the craziness, I take one look at that incredible square face and hand her a new toy and kiss all over those ridiculous cheeks.

By the time Rock gets home, the girls and I are cuddled up enjoying an 80s movie. Christie & Chuck and Betsy & Jason came over and we ordered pizza and laughed hysterically at episodes of Eastbound & Down.

We met my parents early Sunday morning for church. It's a bit risky to try a new Church on Easter Sunday. Rock and I have been looking for a new church home since moving to Richardson. We loved Irving Bible Church so much and contemplate driving to Irving every Sunday. But we haven't given up hope that we can find the perfect church for us that's not far away. Unfortunately, the church we tried Sunday was not a match. A bit too funky with the music and not enough substance in the sermon for our taste. So the search continues...

We did enjoy an amazing meal prepared by Beth and it was so peaceful to just sit in their backyard once the weather cleared. Not a bad Easter for 2009...