Summer vacation was ALWAYS the most sacred and holy time of the year… when kids of all ages get to run free and have fun until the sun sets. Swim during the day, let the sun bake your skin (well, minus the fear of UV rays and skin cancer), play or ride your bike until your mother screams into the night for you to come home (or else)… only to start over in the morning.
That was when *I* was a kid.
My kids? A bug climbs up their asses (in intervals) and makes camp and will usually remain until September, when they start a new wave of bitching-and-moaning because summer ended TOO quickly.
The day after school ended for #1 and 2 sons, I went out with a few moms of #3 son’s class (he still had school)… and when I returned (with #3 son), I am greeted with a cranky 17-year-old sitting in the chair… showing signs that he had not moved since waking up.
“I’m bored.” What a declaration.
“Go DO something then,” I said.
“But, I’m bored,” he whined. Again.
“If you’re bored, I’ll find something for you to do.” And, with that, he took got up, mumbled about how evil I am, and disappeared down the stairs (and, probably into his room).
A weekend of having stuff to do hasn’t changed his perspective.
“I’m bored,” he said, “What are you going to make us do today?”
Hmm… let me think. What sorts of DISGUSTING and NASTY stuff can I make them do? I’ve got it!
A HAIRCUT (for #2 and 3 sons) and FOODSHOPPING! If that doesn’t put him over the edge, I don’t know WHAT will.
And, as usual, I gave him an option– go with or stay home. “If you go with us,” I sternly warned, “then there’s no bitching and moaning.”
“Ugh…” he said.
That was all I needed to know that TODAY is going to be P-A-I-N-F-U-L.
THREE times en route to the barber (15 minutes away), I have to listen to meaningless questions… like, “Where are we going?” “Are they getting their haircut?” “Where are we going again?” “What else are you making us do?”
After the first question, I stopped answering. Why bother. It’s apparent that he’s not listening…
“What??” he lurched, “what did I do now??”
You woke up, for starters. Then, well, you opened your mouth and started to complain. You know, as soon as you woke up this morning.
I did well this morning. I was up before 8am (Hey, it’s MY summer, too!)… and actually did an exercise video (one of five that I paid an ungodly amt of money for… ugh) in its entirety… showered… and preparing breakfast.
I’ve learned that squats burn and crunches hurt — for now. I’m determined to do something with myself to improve my health. As a matter of fact, I have an appointment with a dietitian this week. I want to at least make an effort at exercising (even though I hate it more than that rhino scope my allergist jammed up my nose) and making myself more limber (because APPARENTLY, getting OFF of the floor isn’t as easy as it used to be)… if it kills me. And, after 10 minutes of squatting and crunching (to the tune of a ridiculously happy skinny woman who now has my money in her sweaty little hands), I had an epiphany…
This is my EVERY morning for the next 6 weeks (it’s a 6-week program). And, if #3 son would ONLY sleep until 9am (like he tries to do during the school week), I would actually have… QUIET TIME!
Apparently, the exercise program (in one of three books telling me what to eat, sort’ve… how to exercise, sort’ve… and how much water to drink) wants me to punish myself a 2nd time today? (Oi, my achin’ thighs…)
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I found something interesting: google docs.
I was trying to find something else to use in place of my “likes to crash when I need it NOT to crash” MS Word. I despise Word Perfect as it is a gigantic pain in the tush. So, while reading a Time magazine, I saw something about Google docs.
I’m hooked… and plan on using it during the semester for students to view and create.
Because I’m all about free stuff that actually WORKS. This works, and while I use Mozilla/Firefox, I experience less crashes than IE.
Anyway… I’m off to continue my google doc presentation. I will be looking for volunteers to look at what I’ve created to see if it’s easy to understand and not overwhelming. (Keep your eyes out… you don’t have to be a gmail person to access it, either.)
Ok, I’m off… tah!
Posted by boXx on June 16, 2008 at 9:14 pm
GO HER STORY YOU CAN DO IT! I’m so proud of you for exercising. The treadmill is something I do *just for me* and EVENTUALLY the weight and inches do come off. One of my problems was I was so busy always doing things for others that I neglected to take care of ME. NOW I come first and I don’t feel guilty or selfish. I’m better able to deal with the daily demands after I do something for me first.