Some Tough Decisions

Lately I’ve been struggling with several things and trying to figure out the best solution.  I keep telling myself that if it causes stress I need to just let it go but that is easier said than done!!!

Hunter playing his cello
Hunter playing his cello

You probably already know that Hunter plays cello.  He plays at school but he also takes private lessons and that has been a great experience.

However, his teacher just let all of her students know that she is increasing her rate by $5/half hour.  Since she is already higher than most of the private music teachers in town we are having a hard time going along with the rate increase.  (We drive to her and buy our own music.)

Hunter loves her as a teacher and has learned a lot but we are trying to decide what is too much!!!

Ultra Running 

You might remember  that I have tried (twice) and failed (twice) to complete a 50 mile race.  Well, this weekend I’m actually supposed to go to Illinois and meet up with a blog friend (Carmen) to run an ultra on Saturday.

The problem is that we have day events, night events and a weekend wedding at the venue and I have been stressed for weeks trying to figure out how to get everything done (cleaning, set-up, ironing…) and still drive to IL without arriving at midnight or later Friday night.

Blogging

And, the thing that I’m really trying to figure out the most is my blog. I hired someone to help me make the switch to self-hosted but ever since he switched it from Go Daddy to whatever it is now, I have had nothing but trouble!!!  I spent most of last week avoiding my blog because it was causing me so much stress!!!

I told Chris the other day that as much as I love blogging I know it takes up a lot of time that I could (and probably should) spend on the venue and some other things I’ve committed to lately.

Being the super smart man that he is, he told me to just keep going with my blog – he knows that if I gave it up I would regret it in a very short time!!!  

Cello lessons, ultra races (in a different state), blogging…..time to really figure out what is most important!!!

Do you go back and forth between what you WANT to do and what you know you SHOULD do?

Happy Monday!!

Kim

A Week of Fun (7/27-8/2)

This week the 44s were all about having fun!!!

Sunday 7/27  44 sets of 10 jumps on a Pogo Stick!!

So, I did a total of 440 jumps (plus some more just because it was so much fun).  Jordan and Hunter also tried the Pogo Stick – Jordan was a natural and Hunter struggled to get more than 2 jumps but has practiced during the week and is up to about 30!!!  Chris jumped once and said that was plenty!

Monday 7/28  44 “hopscotch” jumps – start on right foot – hop front to both feet – back to left – front to both – back to right for 1 rep.

This was fun even though my balance was a bit off!!!

I started the Lean Circuit in Chalean Extreme and did Lean Circuit 1. This is the circuit that really pushes you as far as lifting heavy for more reps – I have been pretty sore this week!!!

It was also a run day – 6 miles in 41:58 + 2.25 easy miles.

Tuesday 7/29  44 power skips with a step back.  Skip by pushing off left foot then stepping back with left foot.  

Jordan did the video and totally cracked me up!!!  He said, well you do it – so I did even though it was afternoon and I had on real clothes!

I did 44 with my left leg and then 44 more with my right.

This was another run day – 6 miles in 40:55 + 1 easy mile.

Wednesday 7/30  44 Carioca – right over left – right behind left for 1 rep.  Do all reps with right leg leading then another set of 44 with left leg leading.

Back to heavy lifting – Chalean Extreme Lean Circuit 3.  I didn’t realize that I did circuit 3 instead of 2 until later in the week – oh, well!!!

Thursday 7/31  44 shuffle jacks.

I did 44 sliding right and then 44 more with a left shuffle.

It was also a run day – 5 miles in 34:27 + 1.9 easy miles.

Friday 8/1 – 44 front – back hops.

I loved this move – it went fast but it was a great way to move and have fun!

I did another round of Chalean Extreme – Lean Circuit 2.  I thought it was supposed to be circuit 3 and then realized I had done the wrong one on Wednesday – it doesn’t really matter though – they all got done!!!

Saturday 8/2  44 fun run step.  Run front – back with right foot and then do a set with the left foot.

Even though I look like a goof, I loved this move – super fun!!!

And, I ran again – 8.3 miles in 59:24 (I wanted to see what I could do in an hour without killing myself!) + 1 easy mile.

This week was a little different – I had to shorten a lot of my workouts (the actual time) because I worked enrollment for the school and had to be showered and out the door by about 6:40.  Thankfully the boys all helped me get my videos done later in the day!!!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

People Watching

This week I worked enrollment for our school district.  For the first time we had centralized  enrollment which meant high school, middle school and all of the elementary schools would come to the high school to enroll.

I thought it would be a complete mess but it was actually very smooth.    It helps that elementary students don’t really need to come because all of their enrollment can be done online.

 

I worked the early shift (7:00 am -11 ish)  every morning and there was plenty of opportunity to people watch!!!!

One of the things I noticed is how many people try to ignore others.  The table of cheerleaders was just across from where I was and they were trying to give people tickets for a car wash.  The tickets are free and then they can just make a donation when they come to the car wash.  

Over half of the people ignored the girls when they tried to pass out the tickets – it was like they were in Vegas ignoring all the people handing out fliers.

 

I don’t understand why people aren’t willing to at least take a second and get the little FREE ticket!!!

It is also fun to observe some of the family dynamics.  Some people bring the entire family to enroll and that often involves young kids fighting, babies screaming and tempers flaring!!!

Some of the middle school and high school kids are all about wondering around and catching up with friends.  Others (like my Jordan) just want to get in, get through all the lines and be done!!!

I saw people all dressed up, girls in shorts that barely covered their butt checks and people in the equivalent of pajamas!!

My favorite part is to just watch people’s faces  – some of everything!

 

I’m always amazed when people flat out refuse to return a smile – especially when you are just trying to help them!!!

Do you like to people watch?

Happy Friday!

Kim

Door-to-Door Sales or Scams?

Yesterday evening I had a weird experience.

Our doorbell rang and I was the one who answered.  A young guy was out there and when I walked out he said, “Whoa, you are the white Halle Berry.”  umm…OK

He was all about piling on the compliments and fluff.  Then he started his spill and told me no less than 25 times that he was from Chicago and saw dead people on a daily basis in his neighborhood.  Part of his line was that he was selling – Screen Shot 2014-07-29 at 8.47.34 PMScreen Shot 2014-07-29 at 8.49.39 PM

So, the entire presentation was about this cleaning product.  And, he demoed and demoed and demoed.  Our garage door was open so he started getting things out of the garage (Chris’ golf shoes, Jordan’s old running shoes, many parts of my car) – he cleaned part of the driveway, doors, windows, a UT rock……..

Then he went on and on about all of our neighbors who have dropped $200, $500, $300……on these products.

He said that he has sold to Bill Gates, Ellen, Michael Jordan and many other celebrities.

I told him I needed to get my checkbook.  I did but I also took the flier to Chris who googled the product and found it on Amazon 

ADVANAGE 20X Multi-Purpose Cleaner

When Chris came out and asked him some questions the guy started spouting all kinds of things and his story started changing – kind of weird!

He said that Chris had questioned his integrity because he asked questions about the product.

It was overall a weird experience and when we went in I called across the street to our neighbors because the girl who was selling the same product was headed over and I wanted to warn them not to answer the door!!!

I bought 2 bottles (I’m a sucker to people with big stories!!) to use at our venue but after doing more research tonight I’m hoping I don’t regret writing a check to this company (T & B Sales).  

Ever been taken in by a scam?  Do you think these companies are legitimate?

Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim 

BTW – the lack of pictures is thanks to my ongoing blog issues – I can’t upload pictures right now for some reason!!!!

The Good and the Bad = Life

If life was all good we would get bored!!  And, if life was all bad we would probably give up.  Thankfully, life is a mix of good and bad!!!

Good:  My boys are following in my footsteps!!  They both enjoy running!! And, this summer they have been helping around the house and they like things organized just like I do.  Yesterday Hunter alphabetized all of his books – I was so proud!!!

Jordan is right behind me in the light gray
Jordan is right behind me in the light gray

Bad:  My blog has caused me stress every day for several weeks.  I thought that I had it all under control with the switch to self-hosted but instead I have issues every single time I try to access it!  Tech stuff isn’t my favorite!!!

Good:  We had a really great garage sale this weekend!!  We got rid of lots of stuff and made a nice chunk of money – plus we had fun hanging out and working together!!DSCN1647

Bad:  I slept less than normal this weekend – gotta get the lack of sleep under control!!!  Not sure why I can’t sleep – I know I’m tired!!

Good:  The other night we walked over to return something to our neighbors and ended up hanging out catching up with them – always fun!!!

Bad:  It is really  hard to find reliable people to do jobs of any sort (even when you pay them up front!!!).  We have had a hard time finding someone to do some maintenance work at our venue!

Good:  It’s the start of a fresh new week and the possibilities are limitless!!! 

Life really is pretty good right now – the bads really aren’t that bad!

What is good/bad in your world right now?

Happy Monday!!!

Kim

Fitness – Food – Fun