Total Annihilation

One (wo)mans hobby is another (wo)mans pure and total annihilation.

Several years ago I decided I needed a new hobby and for some unknown reason I picked weight lifting. I thought it would be a good stress reliever (it is) and I thought it would make my body look better (it does) Plus, seriously, I could only use that excuse about how having two kids ruined my body until the kids were so old-after that, it's no longer the kids fault.

When I started I picked an awesome trainer, Matt:

who pushed me until I wanted to sacrifice him and everyone in his family to the Gods of Pain. But two days later I would return. Faithfully. Every week for two years. Stupid.

At some point Matt started trying to convinced me that, at the ripe old age of 35, I should step out on stage in a tiny bikini, showing off my hard earned muscle to be judged, and participate in the sport of competitive bodybuilding. To which I responded (for many months) laughing hysterically and walking away.

He's just a little boy-what did he know........He's nearly 10 years younger than me, so I mostly dismiss everything he says. Truthfully, I mostly do it because he is a boy, but him being 10 years younger doesn't help his standing. That's a joke people, lighten up-he calls me old all the time. We are very close truth be told. We have long since moved out of the trainer/trainee relationship and became training partners-until he moved away on me, a few weeks ago.

I guess it became inevitable-at some point he wore me down and persuaded me to get on stage at the only all natural (drug tested) event in St. Louis-The Show Me Naturals. (It was the only one at that time. Now there are a few.)

I cannot even express in words how scared I was.


But then, I stepped out on stage and an addiction was born. The thrill of being on stage. Showing off the months of deprivation and training. It is unlike anything else I have ever experienced.

One might compare it to having kids: the journey was torture. But now, I barely remember that. Being on stage?......I'll NEVER forget.

This was my first show. I've done a few more since then and am contemplating another this year with 40 bearing down on me like a freight train.

I have begun the grueling training regimen, but the thought of the diet sends me to a bag of chips every time. I'll get over it. I always do. I just don't know when.

If you're wondering, yes, I am a winner. I have never taken less than second and even have an over-all to my name. If you don't know-there is no higher place than Over-all. That means you were not only 1st in your class, but you beat out all the other first place class winners at the end for the "Over-all" trophy.

People often ask me why I spend so much time at the gym; why do cardio every day; why 5 am......or "What is your deal lady?"

This is what motivates me. This is what I'm thinking.

What's in a name......

This is my stab at a "lifestyle" blog. (I already do politics HERE.)I just recently heard that term and I like it. For me, being a mom to teenagers immediately disqualifies me from having a "mommy" blog....in my mind anyway; I'm just too old. But a lifestyle I have. That, I am qualified to drone on and on about.

I like to think that I might have something to contribute, so here it is. It also occurred to me today, while waiting as my 16 year old baby tried and achieved this weeks goal of independent driving, time is flying by and while I don't have much time left with my girls (at home, I'm not dying or anything) I don't want to miss a second. Plus, even teens are hilarious some days.

For today I just want to share a few bits with you, like my title....why "Cover it with trim"? This has somehow become the mantra of my marriage and my life. We say it all the time around here and it is said with the same feeling as "Don't sweat the small stuff." or "We'll work it out."

My husband and I do a lot of home projects ourselves. He is awesome at constructing and I am awesome at designing, bossing, and then, gophering, when the actual work is beyond me physically. We work very well together most of the time. For some strange reason, we really enjoy doing these things together.

But......the title. One of our first projects was adding an office and bedroom with walk-in closet to our partially finished basement about 8 years ago. We had done some little projects here and there, but this was our first major undertaking together. If you know anything about construction and tiny, 60 year old homes, you know there are some things that just cannot be made totally level or totally square and maybe even totally right. It soon became the running joke on that project (and every project since) that an uneven cut, misplaced hammer swing, or unattainable square corner, that we would "just cover that with trim". Of course, had that reined true our entire bedroom would have be made of trim. Have no fear, the actual project turned out fantastic. I sit in my office, typing this today.

The statement says a lot about my marriage and my outlook on life though, especially where my family is concerned. Have no doubt, I am fierce. I am strong and bullish. I don't take any crap off my teens, my husband, or anyone really-but I don't sweat the small stuff. My husband I and rarely fight; we try to resolve our differences through give and take; loud words are hardly ever needed. I had that in my first, very dysfunctional and abusive marriage; I wasn't going for that the second time around.

I have come a long way baby. Over the next weeks, months and years you may come to know that about me.

So just remember, the next time things are not quite going your way or something won't quite fit in your life just "cover it with trim". When it's done, the trim only covers the parts that you have no control over; the rest looks just the way you want it to.

Father's Day '09

We host a Father's Day barbecue every year at our house. This one was special because we finished our most awesome patio and were very excited to share it with everyone.....


(We're still working on the sidewalk to the back patio and the grass, so don't look at that stuff :)

I can't even cook without my technology :-) That laptop sits on my counter all the time. It runs my recipes, broadcast HD TV, DirectTV DVR'ed programs, iTunes and streaming radio. I like to be entertained while I cook, what can I say.

Cheap but cute. Bought specifically for the patio.......


The surest sign my two favorite guys had a great meal........