one week in

I went out running this morning.  Let me just clarify that I don't run every day.  I only run a couple of days during the week and usually Saturday mornings.   During the week, I'm up and out before the chickens and typically don't see much more of humanity - other than my ex, the milkman.  Such a player!

But on Saturdays, I'm out when it's a little later and a little brighter.  WHO were all those people this morning?!? 

It's time for the resolution runners.

It started with a guy going up the hill across the street from me, not far from my house.  I heard him before I saw him.  Huffing, puffing, hacking, and spitting.  He didn't look (or sound) like he was having much fun, but he kept at it. 

Next was another guy dressed all in black.  Black wind pants, black hoodie, even black shoes I think.  He was actually moving at a pretty good clip.  On second thought, maybe he had just knocked off the Western Convenience store and was not a resolution runner at all.

There were various others.  Some with dogs.  The dogs seemed both happy and befuddled, wondering what was up.   It wasn't "jam packed" by any means, but considering it was pretty chilly out and relatively early, it was noticably more crowded.  Just like last year.  And the year before that.  And the year before that.  And... well... so on.

So, good for them.  But I hope they don't feel bad if they don't stick with it.  I've known people who started running and eventually it just became, in their words, "drudgery".  I know I've had good days and bad days, but I've never experienced "drudgery".

I think I've mentioned this before that I've run for such a long time not because I'm particularly disciplined.  I just like to do it.  I don't track a bunch of statistics or use a bunch of the latest gadgetry - heart monitors, pedometers, gmaps, etc.  I don't even wear earbuds.  As silly as it sounds, I just like to go out and put one foot in front of the other, quickly and many times.  Some people knit...

I wonder how many will join me next week. 
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grounded

Happy Illustration Friday on Saturday once again.  First one for 2012!  This week's prompt is "grounded", and I decided to draw an airplane.  On the ground.

I wanted it to be a pretty airplane.  It may be strange to think of a warplane as "pretty", but the Red Baron Fokker, I think, is rather pretty. 

About a year ago or so, we watched the movie.  Prior to that, when I would hear "Red Baron", I usually thought of Snoopy and/or pizza.  I liked the movie, though.  I probably wouldn't have chosen it, but the guys wanted to see it, so I watched along and enjoyed it. 

Similarly, I appreciate how these Illustration Friday prompts get me to draw or paint things I might not normally draw or paint - like this little Fokker.
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in the sea

Anita is a blog friend who, in my preference, doesn't blog nearly enough.  But when she does, it's always something interesting and thought provoking.  She's done it again in writing about being the LBW (Lone Black Woman).

She ends by asking her readers:
How often are you the lone (fill in the blank)?


Before I was a mom, I was an engineer.  More specifically, a mechanical engineer.  More specifically, a manufacturing engineer.  I truly enjoyed my job, and did it for about 10 years.  But once the babies came along, the whole thing sort of lost its luster, and I hung up my factory toys when Chaco was 3 and Wolfgang was 18 months. 


<-- Amy from "Big Bang Theory".  She's awesome!

But during those years, and certainly during my time in college, I was often the lone female at meetings, on design teams, etc.  I honestly didn't think about it that much.  I suppose that growing up in a neighborhood full of boys had amply prepared me for my academic and professional lives. 

And, I think it's safe to say, that the majority of the men I worked with had no problem with me either.  I know it was awkward for a few at first, but once they got to know me, all was fine. 

At the last place I worked, when I was a new-hire, I was assigned a "mentor" to work beside while he showed me the various ropes.  He was older - in his early 60's - and close to retirement.  We became very good friends.  Later, he confessed to me, that when our boss told him that he would be training me, he "wanted nothing to do with it!".   He confessed this to me at a company picnic, after he'd had a few beers.  He went on to say what a blessing our working relationship had turned out to be, and I wholeheartedly agree.

For the younger guys, those closer to my own age, I never felt like it was an issue at all.  We all worked side-by-side, not "genderless" by any means, but simply comfortable with each other.  The whole "lone girl" thing would sometimes come up as just a fun aside. 

I do remember one guy, though.  I think he was just uncomfortable around women in general.  He was  mid-40's at the time.  We were at a design meeting discussing certain components.  Parts that fit together are often referred to as "male" and "female" for obvious reasons.  This man stopped, mid-discussion, looked at me, the lone female,  and asked, "Does it offend you that we refer to these as 'male' and 'female'?"

I almost wanted to laugh.  I almost wanted to make some sarcastic p*nis/v*gina remark.  In the end, I just assured him that no, I was not offended.

We're all just people.  I included the pic of Amy (not a mech. engineer, she's a neurobiologist, but fits the stereotype just fine) from "Big Bang Theory" since, despite my disinterest in most of TV, I do enjoy that show.  Probably because I can relate to all of the characters, and it makes me reminiscent of my working girl days.  I'll end with an Amy quote:

"Sheldon, sometimes you forget, I'm a lady. And, with that comes an estrogen-fueled need to page through thick glossy magazines that make me hate my body."

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action!

My day of hopeful productivity went pretty well yesterday.  China and I made a friendly visit to the vet’s and she’s inoculated against rabies for another 3 years.  I’m feeling a little more protective of China these days – maybe we all are- since she’s the last of our furry pets since the cat went to the other side.  And she’s getting on in years.  Her mentalness keeps her young, though.

Between that and some tutoring, I embarked on a bit of a cleaning frenzy, but certainly nothing serious.  This was only to be interrupted by the UPS guy delivering our new helmet cam – WEE! 

I’ve thought about getting one for a while, and Chaco knew a little about them too since he’s the gadget guy / bicyclist.  So it arrived yesterday and naturally I had to squeal and play with delight learn the various functions and test it for any defects. 

I went on a highly HIGHLY covert mission inside the compound.  OH, it was covert!  Notice how I was practically able to lodge the thing up Meego's nose before he was on to me!  And I'm quite sure the fish, intelligent as they are, were unaware of anything. 

In the ManCave, Wolfgang begins spilling secrets without even knowing its All Being Recorded.  Chaco slept through the entire mission!

Now I look forward to taking it on the road!  Not to worry, though, as this will not become a vlog.  I enjoy typing too much.

And I mention the interrupted cleaning frenzy (including Chaco's computer guts from his latest "upgrade" project) for, well, y'know... excuse the mess...
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back to abnormal

I was up at the "usual" time this morning. I've been decadently sleeping in - about an hour longer - on most days during the winter break, but today I was back at it and up at a respectable time. Later this morning, I'll take China to the vet's, then I've got some tutor biz in the afternoon. The kids are still out of school for two more days, which means I'm off from crossing guard duty until Thursday. We wouldn't want to be TOO responsible just yet.

I had an enjoyable run this morning while it was still dark. Most of the snow from that Christmas week storm has finally melted off, so my pathways were crunchy-free. Plus, I think I'm finally over the post-flu clumsiness and feeling like my usual running self again.  There aren't too many "resolution runners" out at that hour, but I've been seeing them around for the last couple of days.  Happens every year.

So, what to do with all of this responsible vigor?  Well, for one thing, facebook Judy shared this brilliant calendar:  The 2012 Declutter and Organize Calendar! 

Just do one little activity each day and you too can be clutter free by year's end!  Maybe sooner!  I despise clutter, I love this concept. 

As I peruse it, I see there are probably some days I can skip.  Like "Put all your cans together on a can shelf".  Cans?  Can shelf?  Then I see "Clear out one pile in a hallway".  Actually, that task shows up on a few different days.  Are there piles in your hallways?  We have occassional piles in the hallways which I routinely clear by shouting "HEY, get yer crap outta the hallway or it's goin' in the trash!"

Several years ago, while in college, I was looking at prospective rentals.  One was in a fourplex and the landlady met me there, only to find that she didn't have the key to the one that was available.  We knocked on one of the adjoining units and asked the woman inside if we could look around, as the layout was the same as the one I would possibly rent.  She said, "okay", and invited us in.

It looked like the aftermath of a hurricane!  I remembered when my mom used to look at my bedroom when I was a kid and say how it looked like a typhoon or cyclone had gone through it (Mom being Filipino was familiar with typhoons/cyclones rather than hurricanes).  But this... THIS really did look that bad!  Clothing strewn about, dishes and eating utensils in almost every room, random documents and piles of who-knows-what everywhere...

The landlady didn't say anything but I could tell by her expressions as we walked around that her thoughts were bouncing between "welp, there goes the chance of renting that available unit today", and "I'm evicting these slobs immediately!"

In the end, however, I did end up renting the available unit.  It was a great location, had off-street parking, and the slob neighbors never used the community yardworking tools made available to us.  And they were quiet.

So quiet, I sometimes wondered if they were possibly trapped under mounds of debris.

Anyway, today's mission:  Declutter the top of your cabinets and dust.  Let's party!
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this year I'm gonna do it

I have this resolution that I've made for several new years.  I've also sometimes made it when it wasn't a new year.  Then I notice that it's gone and I need to resolve again. 

I'm going to cook.  Like real food. 

Now, I DO do this every once in a while.  Get out my cooking toys and prepare a real meal that the family actually likes and chows down.  But it seems like those occassions get few and far between or maybe just have some annual special occassion tied to them.


For instance, somewhere along the way, it was decided that we would have steamed crab legs on New Year's eve.  Here are some of the latest ones steaming away.  I don't remember how many batches I steamed, but they disappeared in a frenzy of flying crustacean exoskeleton garbage.

I'm not saying that we will be having crablegs every week.  But note that I do have a bamboo steamer - one that I enjoy using.  I hadn't used it since LAST New Year crabs! *sigh*

I made much loved scalloped potatoes on Christmas.  What is so special about scalloped potatoes!?  Well, for one thing, around here, they seem to only appear at Christmas!  *sigh*  While I like keeping the crablegs special for new years, I think I can manage some freaking scalloped potatoes once in a while other than Christmas!

And really, my recurring resolution isn't just about certain dishes to prepare, but it's the whole big picture.  Part of the reason I don't cook real food as often as I'd like to is because I don't plan.  As good cooks I know know, meal planning is our friend.

To help me, I read an article this morning titled "Eat Some Lucky Foods for a Prosperous New Year".  Well, prosperity!  That's inspiring.  It mentions a tradition of eating pork on new year's day since "Pigs are considered good luck because they root forward, symbolizing progress..."  I never heard of that and missed the boat this year as we just scrounged some boring food yesterday for the first of the year. 

Other tips include: 
Eating food shaped like coins (for obvious reasons)
Eating folded greens (looks like money)
Eating fish scales (symbolize silver)
Eating long noodles (long life)
Eating ring shaped foods (the year coming full circle)

Okay, so I am going to do this thing.  Or at least, I'll do it better, right?

Although I'm not quite willing to chuck my emergency stash of Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese just yet...
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new year silver liningness

Happy New Year! I've got a good feeling about 2012! Or maybe the theories about the Mayan calendar will ring true...

But at least it's been a nice holiday break.  And actually, the kids don't go back to school until THURSDAY, so there's still a few days of sloth left.  Despite that, we did manage to get in the first mile of the year at midnight.  It was a beautifully clear 25 degree night under a bright half-moon.

Fireworks popped off from all directions as we scampered around like weirdos - Chaco with the psycho balaclava.

So this past week was lull week, and I took full advantage by sleeping a little more, reading a little more, dealing with the house being trashed a little more.

We also enjoyed a few movies, so I will give my quick  At-The-Movies opinion summary:

Limitless was okay.  If nothing else, it has an interesting plot.  I will say, however that, apparently unlike much of the rest of the female population, Bradley Cooper doesn't do a whole lot for me. 

As a family, we watched Ping Pong Playa, which I actually rather liked.  It was a lot better than I expected.  I expected it to suck, though.

Never Forever was a drama about a woman who inadvertently becomes happier from actions meant to make her depressed husband un-depressed.  I thought it pretty good as it had an interesting theme.  The audience is in on her "evolution" mostly through camera-in-the-bedroom, so this is NOT one to watch with the kids.

Lethal Weapon (from 1987!) made it in as a token guy movie that I went ahead and sat through.  Young Mel Gibson in a monster mullet.  It stretchingly counts as a Christmas movie around here, much like "Die Hard". 

Soul Kitchen is German, so unless you speak the language, subtitle reading is required.  I enjoyed Every.  Single.  Minute of it. 

All in all, a nice rather low-key break to get charged up for the new year.  Happy New Year to all of my blog friends - I look forward to getting to know you even better in 2012!

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