Saturday Scavenger Hunt: Zephyr

Noregrets chose the word. I had to cheat.

zeph·yr
n.
1. The west wind. A gentle breeze.
2. Any of various soft light fabrics, yarns, or garments.
3. Something that is airy, insubstantial, or passing.



I'll attempt one of each.

1. Anything more than a zephyr would have knocked over my fruit-laden apple tree with its stretched roots' underbellies exposed.


2. The swags were zephyrs draping the gymnasium walls to create mood.


3. A delicate flower becomes many zephyrs in the woods.

Trying the gym

I went on Tuesday for my introduction to paperwork. I also got weighed and measured. I tried not to weird out too much, but it was all done by another PTA mom whose had a daughter in J's class the last two years. She knows all the goods now.

By doing this, I am enrolled in a Bay.lor Univ study. It is four weeks of exercising three times a week and costs $30. I will be weighed and measured at the end, too. I am supposed to watch my diet and generally behave. I guess it being a study will make me take it more seriously. I went back yesterday and today to officially begin.

Their style of exercise is different than what I've experienced in the past. You're allotted 30 seconds on each of 13 machines. Then in between you do 30 seconds on a mat in which you just keep moving. The next machine is generally opposite muscles from the previous. You go around the circle of machines twice. They say it works, but nobody there looks like it works. I know, double edged sword there on the clientele being normal and not looking particularly fit.

I guess as a newbie I must waste a lot of time maneuvering. When I finally get set on the machine, I get about four reps before time is called and I have to transfer to a mat. I've begun sneaking in extra reps to reduce the stupid mat time, if nobody is behind me.

A different lady has been teaching me the equipment and following me around. She is very helpful, although I am finding it difficult to be chatty as I snake myself around the room.

While I figure I will appreciate some progress in these four weeks, I am not confident that the routine will feel exactly right. Of course, no exercise routine feels right to me, but a girly one isn't exactly my modus. Not that any kind is. Alas, I will figure this out in a few weeks. They'll give me the spiel in the third week.

Battlefield antics

Today was busy. I played chaperon to four boys from the fourth grade field trip. J was told to pick the kids for me to chaperon. I could beat him about the head and shoulders for choosing Joseph, perhaps the most challenging kid of all the classrooms. Joseph reminded me of how grateful I should be for my calm, well-behaved kid. Joseph and I got along well, but he kept me on my toes to where I couldn't enjoy the museum or reinactor's talk as much as I would have wanted to. Joseph also interrupted, ran, hid, bled, elbowed me in the nose, kicked me in the head with his shoe, and generally was as annoying as a kid could be. I did not beat Joseph about the head and shoulders, either, but I could have the teacher, who left him to me as she enjoyed her lunch and various gab sessions with the other teachers. This further reinforces why I have cut back on volunteering.

We went to a famous battlefield. I'd walked around there several years ago with someone I won't mention and he was a tick magnet. I was like a hound on keeping those kids out of the tall grass today. In fact, I made J wear long pants in anticipation of it.

Here are others way to sort of describe the day.

I believe I can fly

Update on where I am

I'm going to call her Lyd, as in short for Lydia, but not really.

We talk several times a day, plus message, meet in chat, IM, email, etc. She's even begun two blogs which relate. I'd call us good communicators. I'd call her smitten, but she'd say it's more. Again, I warn against U-Hauls pulling up to my door.

We she visited just over a week ago, she met my son at the airport and had brought him gifts. He fell for her immediately. She's covered in tattoos and has the mouth of a sailor, but she has such a gentleness about her that he picked up on. The other day, he piped up during another IM session, saying, "You must reeeeeeaaaaallllllllly like Lyd!"

I had told her that I was considering a cruise to a new place in August. I want to go, in part, because I know my son soon probably won't want to go places with me. She suggested visiting her in CA and she's show us everything from the deserts to the cities. I am tempted, just not quite yet.

She is coming to the Mid-West and East Coast in June/July, visiting lots of friends and relations. She'll hook up with folks in this area again, too, two of whom know about us.

The other day she was talking about a butch butch and the concept of such terminology entered my head. I asked if she considers herself butch butch and she said some could consider her butch butch, but she thinks she's a soft butch. (I don't see the soft part, but then she doesn't wear a mohawk, either. It was funny to see people in the mall last week look at her; she literally wears herself on her sleeve.) She volunteered that I am a bicurious femme, but I modified that to be bicurious moderately femme, as I don't really do pink, as you now know. I asked her if she's always attracted to femmes, she thought for a moment, then replied that she probably is.

I'd be the first to say that she's not my type. First, Lyd's a she. Second, she had graphic tattoos. Third, she has a mouth and a temper. Fourth, she doesn't yet have a career. Fifth, she still lives with her parents. (Fourth and fifth relate to her being a caretaker for them.) Sixth, I'm not really attracted to her body. (However, I do want to make her feel good.)

Mostly, I am attracted to her being. I accept her completely about the other things.

For today

My kid chose for me to buy this kind of shirt for him the other day. What great taste! He plans to wear it to the ballgame.
This is for e-e's mom.

I selectively downloaded a bunch of other pics for friends, but they would not upload back. My Mom's a Veterinarian for Val; My Mom Buys Shoes for Stiletto; My Mom's an EMT(ish) for brite. Could not find My Mom's a Hospital Drone for DD. Or My Mom's a Cool Blogger or My Mom's a Cool Blog Reader for the rest of you lovelies.

Others I couldn't upload were geared toward things it would be kind of funny to hear my son say. My Mom's Got More Tattoos than Your Mom. My Mom Puts Out. My Mom's Single. My Mom's a MILF. I Love My Moms.


So this post is a mere shadow of what it was meant to be, doesn't reflect the time I put into it. You get the sentiment at least.


And if you don't or if none of this applies to you anyway, here's my gift to you regardless.

It's always nice to get you car washed.

Saturday Scavenger Hunt: Pink

The word this week is pink, a word that clenches my stubby pink toes, although it is probably perfect for Mother's Day weekend. Thanks not fainthearted. As always, thanks to evil-e for the inspiration.

We will begin with pink with an edge.

I would not be caught dead in a pink velour track suit. Although a stripped pink scarf borders on acceptable.

Call me sexist, but some things just should not be pinked up, although I look forward to my pink W baseball cap tomorrow. Okay, call me hypocrite, too.

Here are a couple Pretty in Pink.

I love how the reflections off the cloth and the pear are both pink.
Visions of pink from SeaWorld.

Pinks from our favorite butterfly exhibit.


Lastly, here are some tickled pink:

In action!

Recycling old GI Joes

(ex humor)

Rehash

Hopefully I can get the vid right this time. It's about two minutes long, but the first part gives plenty of the flavor. I love how their director gets into it. She can boogie. She is tough, but the kids love her. J's under the far left swag. I pause there as if...

Tuesday night, they performed for the parents. Today they perform for the school. There are so many kids, it'll be in three segments. J's gonna hate that much repetition. I was a bad mom and forgot he needed his concert attire for school today, too. He remembered late and shoved it in his backpack as he was running out to catch the bus. He'll change before they start. I am so glad I don't have to see those wrinkles! And that he's in the back row!

Concert night

We walked across the street to the school for the concert. Parking is always an issue and it is a short way. The two guys on the left are J's best buddies, the Pakistani brothers. They are both so bright and well behaved. The other guy is their cousin, who lives around the corner.

He's peeking out from under the far left black swag. I was so spoiled last time when he sat on the end. This time, the Beginner Strings brought up the rear, while the more experienced ones had front stage. I look forward to him moving forward.

This is called Happy Blues, very catchy.

As a demonstration of how far I've come, here's J with his sister - I wanted to say half-sister, but she is his sister. She and her mom sat with me for the concert. Her mom is basically a nice person, but she always manages to put her foot in her mouth about something pertaining to fertility. Never fails. I try not to be pissed and always hold my tongue. I mostly let it fall flat. Ba dum bum. However, she is raising a lovely daughter. And I guess my son, too.

Okay, I lied

I woke up achy and coughing. I know that many people would say that's just the time to get your ass to the gym, but I am not one of those people! So I rescheduled for next week, when I will find another ailment!

I am so excited that I bought baseball tickets online tonight for Mother's Day. I think of the holiday as Family Day, because what makes others happy also makes Mom happy. Two years ago, it was the orange bird team. This year, it's the new team in the newer stadium, our first time to the new digs. Can't wait. Hope we get there in time for the pink W hat give away, although I know some people thinks it looks too presidential. I got tickets at 3rd base, up one section. Have to bring a glove for sure.

Okay, late posting. I'm zonked. Too much time in chat will plum wear a body out.

PS - Tomorrow, the new strings concert pictures. I know you want it.

Going to the gym

I saw a commercial for Curves last month. It said that if you bring in three milk lids, you could get three weeks for free. It took a couple weeks, but I got together the caps. Then I checked the website and there was nothing about it. I called the local branch and they knew nothing. Alas. It's kind of funny.

Instead, tomorrow I will purchase 12 visits for $30. I will get their talk at the ninth visit. I don't have a feel for how long this process will be.

When the woman answered the phone, she was breathing hard and referenced one machine, what a good work out it was. I just laughed and said I don't want a good work out.

I am pathetic, but I will try tomorrow.

Saturday Scavenger Hunt on Sunday: Opportunity

It was fun having the opportunity to do some good.


Including Syl.vie, they all crave the opportunity to go outside.


I have never taken the opportunity to partake of my own nectarine tree, but I will try to remember this year.


This opportunity with him was priceless. I wish I could bottle it.


I really appreciate him having this opportunity in school, although my property taxes which fund the school sure could pay for a lot of private lessons!

Still paying

It is the next day (Sunday, retro post) and I am still paying this evening. It's not as bad as one would expect, considering I drank a whole quart or liter or whatever it was. [Edit: okay, I learned it was a fifth.] I rarely drink liquor. I had never had more than one or two Captain Morgans in an evening previously. I had never taken liquor as my BYOB to a party. I also had never before sat at a kitchen bar with my liquor bottle right under my nose, entirely too close. I know better than to do these things again.

However, the party was excellent. The host was the birthday girl. People flew in and many locals came, too.


The weekend was also excellent, exceeding expectations even. I felt very comfortable quickly and she did, too. We really get each other and can make each other laugh. I spent from Friday morning to Sunday evening with her and didn't really get sick of her. Pretty good for this introvert.


I think lesbian sex would take some getting used to, but that's not to say I wouldn't do it again. I don't think I could be on a strict diet of it. Basically, I like dick too much. And I kept flashing to an image of doing a gynecological exam. I know, not romantic. I guess I'm saying that I don't exactly understand what all the fuss is about, but I'm willing to keep investigating. For the sake of the team, of course.



As for us, she would probably have us be an us, but I told her not to drive up to my house in a U-Haul. I am a butterfly and do not want to be caught or caged. Not only do I not want a relationship, I really do not want a long distance relationship. Or one with U-Haul potential.

My therapist last week asked what my goal was for the weekend besides a new sexual OPPORTUNITY. I told her that wasn't even a top priority. My main goal was to show her a good time and see the sights custom picked for her viewing pleasure. In that, I was highly successful. We saw lots of landmarks and she was so incredibly appreciative. It was wonderful making her feel special. She's her family's caretaker, deserving of some TLC herself.

So that's the dirt, or part of it at least. Hope you all had life changing weekends as well.