18 laps, some angry housewives and a sleep study

I ran 18 laps today!!! Another personal best for me. It was a bit slower than usual today, my feet, hip and knees hurt a bit, but I did it!

I am having "PTA" related issues. Some people are in the position that they appear to have no life and therefore need to find something to bitch about. This week, that something was me. I sent out an email, nicely worded - trust me, I asked for 4 people's opinion! - about getting some help with a thing at school. I got "told on" by 3 people because that was not the right process in which to ask! Really??? This is what your life has become? Get a hobby! Get something to do. When you have so little to do that you need to bitch about an email asking for help, you need to find something to fill your time. I am currently the VP of the school council, and it is a possibility that I could, at some point, step into the presidential position. My worry is dealing with all those morons - do I really want or need that in my life? But if I'm in control, maybe I can take honesty to a whole new level. It'll be honesty all the time, no more PC pussyfooting around! Ha ha ha!! (evil laugh) Because honesty is the new evil.

On to the sleep study. I have an overnight study booked for 2 weeks from now. I get to go to the clinic at 9:30 pm, get hooked up to a bunch of electrodes and have people watch me while I sleep. Why yes, it does sound a bit creepy! I also have to stay until 5pm the next day! My husband thinks its crazy, but I have gotten to the point that I need to find out what my problem is so that I can get on with a fulfilling life. Not a life filled with tiredness and naps. My husband actually left our bed last night, in the middle of the night, because I was twitching out and making it impossible for him to sleep. Poor bugger. I hope they find an answer to my issue and we can get it resolved. My dream is to wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and awake. Is that too much to ask? I hope not!

17 laps - 3 pounds = progress!

I ran 17 laps at the gym yesterday - a personal best...again. I am one upping myself every time I run to get my endurance up. Last year I wasn't even able to run one full lap - so I'd say that's pretty good progress. The girls on my team have noticed my progress as well, it made me feel awesome to have people tell me that I have improved.

I was also surprised to see a 3 pound loss on my scale. I was hoping for it, but I didn't really expect it. I have been so good - trying new ideas, keeping the calories in check. I am going to pig out on some Chinese food tonight though. I'll keep working hard, but without a cheat day, what's the point of living?

I am in desperate need of a soccer game however. I need to run and I need to bash someone into the boards...I don't care who. I am still having PC related issues and I need to blow off some steam. I have a game on Sunday, and then more coming up. The 2 weeks hiatus was a bit too much for me. I can't wait to get my butt out there and, well, kick some butt!

Beware - I'm on a rampage!

I am sick of living in this PC world - I am not PC. I am saying it here, loudly - because this is where I can say whatever I want (within reason of course - I'm not evil).

I sent out an email to get some help with a supper put on for the teachers of our school, by our social committee with the help of parent volunteers. Apparently my email offended someone, or many, so I've heard, no one came to me directly of course. I was polite - to the point, I asked for help because we weren't getting any. I sent it to people I had on my email list and asked the to forward my message. So let me ask - What the hell is wrong with that? I wasn't rude, I didn't tell all the parents that do nothing to stand up and do something for once! We have over 600 kids in our school and the same 10 people do the work every single time we have a function! Do the other parents just not care???? I know people are busy - I get that. I don't currently have a job - but even when I worked full time, I made sure that I helped out at school when I could. I'd go as far as taking my son to daycare just so I could go on a field trip with my daughter. Did I ever complain? NO!! Do you know why???? Because I care. I care about my kids, I care about their school, I care about what they are doing in school and I WANT to be a part of it. That is also another reason that I don't work - so I can be there for the kids. I know that isn't an option for all people, but I know at least 2 Moms at the school that work full time AND help out when they can. They do it because they care. They love what they do - they have career's, busy ones, and yet they find the time to help. Not all the time - that's unrealistic, but they help when they can fit it in.

Where the hell are the rest of the parents?? I think a lot of people are happy that they can send their kid to school so that they can forget about them, know they are being taken care of, and that's the end of their commitment. Maybe I am self righteous, maybe I am wrong - but in my heart, I know I'm not. I had kids because I wanted to love them and nurture them, be part of their lives.

I can't change the world, I know that. But I can stand up for what I believe. I do what I can for my kids, I try to help out other's when I can, I donate to organizations, I volunteer my time, I canvass for charity, I buy from fundraisers - because I am in a position to do so. It is my desire to help. All I expect is for people to stand up and do what THEY can. Stop being lazy asses, stop being 13 for one day and realize that YOU are the problem, not me! Stop complaining about how I offended you and ask yourself why you are offended. Do you know it's because I am right and you are too damn stupid to accept that or admit it? One person in particular should read this - but I know she won't. She is the one that's nice to my face and then turns on me and calls people to complain behind my back. She is the one that drives everyone crazy and no one can work with her. It's not us lady - it's all you! We're not the problem, the fact that you have no life and just live to create problems for others, that's the problem. You came to me because you couldn't work with the others - you had them ousted and put me in charge because you thought I'd be a pushover. Well surprise - I'm not! And I'm not going anywhere!

Now I feel much better. I'm glad I got that off my chest. I am never going to stop doing what I am doing, so either accept it or stay the hell out of my way!

Cause for celebration!

The CPAP machine is GONE!!! I know that for some people it works wonders, but it just didn't for me. I had to take a sleeping pill every night just to go to sleep with it on. After I took the pill, I'd have to wander aimlessly, take a shower, or do anything but go to bed. I had to wait until I could barely walk before I could fall into bed, put my face mask on and fall asleep. If I wasn't practically asleep when I put the mask on, well it just didn't last. Most nights I'd wake up in the middle of the night just to take the mask off.

So that's one therapy down - hopefully there are more to try. I know there is a mouth guard - but I'll wait and see what the doctor thinks my next step should be. I also bought a SAD light. I think that I should just live somewhere tropical that is always sunny, but my husband has to work. I could go without him, but then I'd really be sad!

Maybe I'll start tanning again too - that's a good light therapy. I'm not sure if I can hang on until we finally get summer! I'll have to fantasize about my vacation for now!

I was going to have a glass of wine to celebrate, but I had coffee instead. I am so boring!

1 week off + 16 laps = ouch

I have a feeling that I am going to be in some major pain tomorrow. I went and had Graston done on my feet - the Chiropractor was feeling particularly feisty this morning and dug in really deep. Then I had "therapy". They slap some electrodes to me and zap my body parts to get the blood moving. This morning I had therapy on my hip, which meant the therapy girl got all comfy cozy with me as she stuck the electrodes down my pants! I couldn't help myself from making snide comments about getting into my pants. She was mad at me because she couldn't stop laughing. What else do you do when a girl you barely know sticks her hands in your pants? That sounds so bad.

Then after taking all of last week off, I decided it was best to go for a nice long run at the gym. 15 laps was my previous best and I did 16 today!!! I did the last lap faster and even sprinted the last 1/4 lap! Why yes, I am amazing. It felt great. My feet are going to be mad at me later - especially if my soccer practice isn't cancelled. I may have to sleep with ice on my hip and foot.

Now I get to eat some lunch, take a shower and ....ug... work. I know, I almost never work, but I had a rush job on Friday that needs to be done today. I went out and took some pictures and got home, picked the ones I liked and ordered them. I got them back from the printers, now I have to frame them and put them up. The only minor problem was that I took a picture of a sign, and it has bird poop on it! I didn't even see it. I was going to edit it out, but I just don't have time. I'll just have to find a marker and color that spot in!

I didn't get a lot of sleep last night either, my daughter had insomnia which meant that I didn't get to bed until midnight. She came in my room just after midnight and I made her sleep with us just so I could sleep. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep. I also got stuck in the middle and almost sweated us all out of bed. That's Monday for you. Thankfully it's a short school week!

It is always possible to approach a goal by a detour.

Theodor Reik

My week off

I took this whole week off of my life as I know it. I was at the new Science Centre in Calgary for 3 days in a row on a field trip with my son's class.

I made good healthy lunches and breakfast's, I'm sure walking around, and going up and down stairs all day is some exercise, but this week was unlike my normal routine in many ways. This week I actually used my brain more than I have in a VERY long time! I did have to take a nap everyday this week after school, I was ravenous at night, I didn't get anything done around the house, and we ran out of things like hand lotion and school snacks. But it was worth it!

I am not the kind of parent that sits back and just supervises the kids. I sat with them on the floor, laid on my belly to write in our journals, made movies in the Open Studio and played with everything I could get my hands on. (I also got to meet the cute, tall weather guy off Global news that I watch every morning. He probably thought I was crazy!) The kids know that I am enjoying myself and I had such a good time! I made a bunch of movies with rocks....not rock movies....movies with rocks, and I made a movie with a pencil drawing. It was the most brain stimulation of that kind that I've had since.....um...maybe ever! I've never done these things! My son makes stop time movies with Lego people and clay all the time, and I never understood why it was so much fun. I get it now.

I have always been very creative, but technology was a little out of my grasp. Today I found myself telling some of the kids about the things I have created and that I am an artist. I've never called myself that, but that is the only way to describe me. The kids saw the journal that I was supposed to be writing in, I wrote a lot over the 3 days and I sketched things and doodled. They wanted to know why I drew so much, and I told them because that is how I think. I learned a lot the last few days, but I think I taught a lot too. One boy, I've known him to be a bit of a trouble maker, he showed me what a leader he could be. I had a little chat with him and told him that was an amazing quality to have and to never feel bad about being a little bossy.

We have a saying in our house - my daughter was given a pillow with a phrase on it that suits her to a tee! It says "I'm not bossy, I just have better ideas!". I like to think that my husband and I are creating leaders, not just bossy little kids. Some of the best qualities of adults are the worst to deal with when it's a child with that quality. Another little girl was VERY honest, and while it can be a little embarrassing to deal with now, it will be amazing for her when she is an adult. She decided to ask me all about topless sunbathing that I do in Europe when we were eating lunch and then she asked about my tattoos! I'd love to talk to this kid without the other kids around, I think they made have been a little weirded out by our conversation! But to talk to her alone, that would be a very interesting conversation! This girl, as a side note, loves that I am an artist and has asked me to paint a picture for her for her birthday. I am going to start on that right away! I feel honoured that she asked.

So it was a busy week. Tomorrow I have to pick up a bunch of things, like bread and other essentials, and I think I deserve a little lunch out. I've worked hard this week. Next week I'll go back to watching myself, but tomorrow, I've earned lunch and maybe something pretty!