Musings Magnificent & Mundane

So this bug had me in need of a nap this afternoon. I think I *maybe* nodded off for all of 15 minutes. The reasons for my inability to get a decent nap are as follows:
• bed-hogging cats
• phone ringing 2x (by the caller ID it appears to have been telemarketers. That "Do Not Call" registry is a load of bunk)
• kid dumping Lego all over the floor, asking me if I'm sleeping (duh...not if you're talking to me, I'm not), and popping a balloon and then adding commentary (WTF?)
• cats careening around the house in hot pursuit of a squirrel...yes, a squirrel (we've had 2 bats in this house and numerous mice, but this is our first squirrel). *sigh*

So I locked the cats in the basement, cornered the little rodent in our bathroom, and then opened the back door and figured he would make for the yard. But no sign of the little demon. How in the hell did he escape?! I think I can hear him scuffling about in the walls, again, but I haven't a clue how he got out of the bathroom....

No more older than dirt houses. This is nuts. House I grew up in was also old and we had at least one snake in the walls of that place.

k

Blah...I just have felt run-down and "off" for most of the week. Like I'm on the verge of a cold, but it never fully materializes. I ran yesterday and did my weights workout today. I feel sorta weak and am not sleeping well (last night due to a dry, tickle, hacking cough thing), so I'm sure that has a lot to do with the general malaise. meh. I think I may go take a nap.

Oh, and today is DH's birthday. So he's old, again (we spend 10 days of each year the same age). Ha, 5 more years until he is officially "over the hill!"

:p

k

At least I've felt sorta off for the last couple of days...like I'm getting a cold. But so far nothing too severe has come of it. I've had this a couple of times in the past year...start feeling a little under the weather, but never really get any full-blown cold or flu. I almost think maybe all the running has strengthend my immune system.

Or maybe the bringing my kid to and from school 5 days/week. I know that back in college and during my subbing and retail days that I rarely got sick--my immune system was in top gear. Then in the early years of Dane's life we didn't get out much and I would get sick much easier. His first year of preschool was the worst. That was his first experience around a variety of people and he spent the first 3-4 months of school with back-to-back colds. Of course, he'd pass them along to me.

Though he's honestly the only 6 year old I know who has never been on antibiotics, never had an ear infection, and only has run a fever once in his life. People think I'm pulling their leg when I tell them this, but it's the honest truth. I have never seen a kid with a better immune system (behold the power of a year of breastmilk, baby!). He hasn't missed a day of school this year to illness. The most he's had this year is a mild runny nose and some sniffles, but nothing worse.

The weather is finally improving by leaps and bounds, here...or at least it's finally "normal" temps for mid-Feb. and the sun has been out a lot. Of course, this would be when I feel crappy. I couldn't have been sick when the weather was all to hell for several weeks solid.

And, even though I haven't been feeling 100%, my appetite for paczis was not abated in the least. I ate 3, today. It's no wonder I felt so crummy all day. I'm sure no virus was to blame for my carb coma. I don't think I've eaten anything "vegetable" today, unless the oil the pastries were friend in counts. I don't think it does.

k

34 big ones. Woot. Today mostly felt like a regular day. I got my son off to school, ran almost 7 miles, did some errands, picked my son up, got gas, took the car through the car wash, came home and ate leftovers.... Thrilling, huh? But the weekend was busy with belated celebrations for Dane's birthday that sort of ran into supper out for mine last night, and we had 2 days of cake leftovers, so I'm good. The scale wouldn't agree with that assessment, but so be it.

Now I have some birthday money. Some will go on bills, but maybe I'll pick up something for fun. I have my eye on a new Cathe Friedrich workout DVD--something with some more upper-body work. I like the visible muscle tone that my arms are starting to show. Now I just need to get my body fat down (it's currently ~25%) so that my muscles will show a bit better. I also got a $15 iTunes giftcard from my hubby that is burning a hole in my pocket!

:p

k

Yesterday schools area-wide were mostly back in session after our Winter storms. Temps are still really cold with windchills hovering around 0. I'm really looking forward to the "warmer" temps predicted for next week--windchills above 0. Spring can start making its presence known ANY time, now!

Yesterday also marked my son's 6th birthday. The official anniversary of the event took place at about the same moment that we were sinking our teeth into pizza--his birthday meal of choice (in addition to lunch at Arby's, his favorite fast food joint). We will probably be doing cake tomorrow night. My MIL had planned to drive here on Tues., but the weather postponed her travel plans until today, so we will wait to do the cake thing until tomorrow night. I am going to make a simple sheet cake (confetti) decorated with lemon-flavored frosting tinted to look green, like grass. On top of the cake will be a rally car course made with "Fruit by the Foot." We didn't have much luck finding rally car models from the selection of Hotwheels and Matchbox cars at Meijer, so we got a bit creative. There will be a Ford Mustang, Honda Civic Si, and Mini Cooper on his cake...no AWD race cars, unfortunately.

Shopping for his cake materials yesterday was really a treat. In the past taking Dane with me to Meijer was an exercise in insanity...mostly on my part while trying to keep him under control and with me through the store. Yesterday he stayed by my side during most of our shopping, didn't beg for every shiny object he saw, and chose cars without incident. Low dose Ritalin has really made such a difference in his ability to control his actions and behavior, as well as our level of pleasure in dealing with Dane both at home and at school. His teacher is also positively astounded by the drastic improvements it has produced in his academic performance.

k

Arghhhhh.... So it's too cold to run and now my son's school is cancelled for tomorrow (everything for the past 3 days has been cancelled...school, sporting events, church services, etc.). Ack, I haven't been out of the house since Friday. 3 days cooped-up indoors. So I'm extra antsy and can't even get it out with a few miles of running. Bah. I think kickboxing will be on the agenda, tomorrow!

:p

k

Today: Periods of snow showers with widespread blowing snow. Steady temperature around 11. Wind chill values between -8 and -13. Windy, with a west northwest wind between 25 and 31 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Sunday: Snow showers likely with areas of blowing snow. Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 6. Wind chill values between -15 and -20. Blustery, with a west northwest wind between 20 and 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
~~~~~

I like doing my weight and kickboxing workouts, but I'd much rather be running...looks like Monday might not be a good day for a run, either:
Monday: Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 9. Blustery, with a northwest wind 25 to 28 mph decreasing to between 16 and 19 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

OK, Mother Nature, you're #1 on my shit-list!

:p

k

Thanks for not seeing your shadow. Early Spring on the way, woot!

:D

k

Took DS to the auto show last night as sort of an early birthday present--kid has been obsessed with cars since before he could talk. We had a good time and really liked checking out the new models, some VERY high end vehicles (Porsches, Maseratis, Ferarris, Aston Martins, etc.), and some cool concept cars (loved the Jeep Willys 2).

DH's favorite vehicle was the Honda Fit. I have no doubt that if we were looking to buy a new car, that would be his #1 choice. Cute, but really spacious for such a small, efficient car. My favorite car--by far--was the Mazdaspeed 3. We have a 2006 Mazda 3s. On the outside and interior there are only cosmetic differences between our car and the Mazdaspeed model...but under the hood there's a difference--to the tune of 100 horses and a turbo-charger. NICE! The only negative to that car (aside from increased price, substantial reduction in fuel efficiency, and increased insurance premiums) is that a sunroof/moonroof is not an option (to help keep the frame as rigid as possible). I'm not certain I'd be willing to sacrifice my hole in the roof for the extra hp...especially considering our little 5 door is already pretty zippy for our needs (I can still leave any mini-van drivin' soccer mom in the dust).

Not sure what Dane's favorite car was. I think he actually liked the Dodge Sprinter van (can haul about a dozen occupants) best...goofy kid. We had a hard time getting him out of the Mustang, too. Can't really blame him--it IS a hot car!

I guess I'm officially a "browncoat." A while back we rented the movie, "Serenity." I liked it, but because I had never seen the "Firefly" TV series I think a lot was lost on me. For Christmas my little brother bought us the entire series (ie the one season that was produced before the asshats at FOX cancelled it). WOW. I am SO hooked! We are through the pilot and all but a couple of the episodes...I am already dreading finishing the set and knowing that there aren't any more episodes. Hubby also bought the "Serenity" DVD, this week, so I do look foward to watching that, again, once we watch all of the TV series.

Oh...and I have the biggest crush on Capt. Mal! He's so charming and snarky!

It's nasty cold here. I did get a run in this AM, but not the 10 miler I had originally planned to do. With windchills ~0 I decided that 5+ was enough (especially as the roads were still very snow and ice covered and not all that comfortable to run on for long). Hopefully I can get a long run in next weekend. This cold snap looks like it's not going anywhere in the near future, though. BTW, did that groundhog see his shadow, or not? I'm so ready for Spring!

k