Travellin'

Last year I traveled quite a bit. I traveled enough to know I didn’t want to travel as much this year. I’m not planning to do as much. The only glitch in that plan is than I’m travelling again on Wednesday, which seems like a continuation of last year. The good news is that once I’m back from that trip, I’ll be home for awhile. 

But let’s get back to this trip. Of course it’s to Disney World. Of course it’s two trips in one. The first trip is for Disney World Marathon Weekend. And no, I am not doing all the Run Disney races this year – that was soooo last year! I am doing the 5K, the 10K, and the half marathon. Molly is doing the Dopey again (all those I am doing plus a full marathon – she’s young so she can do it all again). Steve is doing the half marathon, and Lynnette is doing the full marathon (I am providing marathon support for Lynnette and Molly). So the first part of the trip involves running (or some form of ambulatory progress in a forward direction).

Steve, Molly, and I will fly down at the crack-o-dawn on Wednesday. On Thursday, Molly and I will do the 5K and Lynnette and Lindley will fly down that afternoon. On Friday, Molly and I (and Katie, our cruise/race co-enthusiast) will do the 10K and Maribeth and Everley will fly down that night. On Saturday, Steve, Molly, and I (and Katie) will do the half marathon. And on Sunday, Molly and Lynnette will do the full marathon and Sam and Adam will fly down.

On Monday, we will board the Disney Dream for a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas. It’s Lindley’s 5^th birthday, so technically it’s her birthday cruise (I can justify going on any cruise – just let me know when your birthday is!).

We’ll party and celebrate until Friday, when the majority of us will fly back to Nashville. Except Steve and Molly, who will be flying to California to run in the Star Wars half marathon weekend at Disneyland. I am not going there, which makes me very happy – not only for not having to do another half marathon so soon, but also not having to fly cross-country!

Anyhow, once I’m back home after this trip, I plan to stay put until February, when the Donna and Princess half marathons are scheduled. I hope to train a bit, clean up my house a bit, get rid of a whole lot of clutter in both my house and my life, and just generally do the stuff that I need to do at home.

Yup, travelling is great and a great blessing. But mostly, it gives you the opportunity to realize and appreciate how great it is to stay home. And I have to admit, even as much as I have to accomplish at home, I’m looking forward to having the time to do it!

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Today is a gift because: getting stuff packed for vacation

And Then It's January 4 ...

Okay, so maybe you don’t have a January 4. Maybe you don’t have that day when the reality of a new year whacks you in the face. Maybe you don’t have that day when all that enthusiasm and all those intentions (notice I did not say resolutions) for the new year seem to go up in flames. Maybe you don’t. But I do.

Unless you are absolutely amazing (okay, so yes, some of you are), there’s got to be that day when you realize that all of those great hopes and dreams of smarter eating and daily exercising and consistently reading the Bible (and okay, daily blogging) are not materializing. The crushing blow is when you realize that day is about four days into the new year. You realize that not only are you not doing any of those brilliant plans for having an unbelievable year, but you have yet to begin any of those great plans. And so you sink into a funk. Happy New Year, indeed.

And so this is where I find myself today (or whatever day you and I both really know it is). Have I already failed myself and 2015? Is this year really going to be no different than last? Am I really never going to change my life like I want to?

So I have to start over. Again. I have to recall that old saying of “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” I have to convince myself that 2015 may have started a few days ago, but my new life can start today. Or tomorrow. Or whichever day I choose, if I make that day the day I want it to be.

I have to convince myself that change does not mean that every day is perfect. Every day will not look like the ideal day I have in my head. Every day will not proceed exactly as I believe it should, as I want it to be, or as I imagine it could be. At least not in my world of uncertainties.

But there will be a day that I will do the things I want to do, in order to make changes in my life. And maybe if I do them on that day, then maybe I can do them the next day. All I can do is one day at a time, because that’s really all I have to work with.

Happy to 2015, The Year of Change – whenever it begins!

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Today is a gift because:  CF brunch with Udderly Pinkers  Bruce, Sharon, KB, and Molly; Lindley time

Party Planning - Take Two

After our very productive meeting yesterday, Lynnette came up with a three-page document listing everything we have, everything we want to do, and everything that is listed on the internet for us to study and duplicate. Today became a very busy, and thus very productive day. Here are some of the highlights ...

Lynnette found instructions on making an Elsa braid using yard and ribbon. She's going to make one for every guest attending the party (thank goodness there will be only five - wait ONLY FIVE TO MAKE, PLUS LINDLEY AND EVERLEY - THAT'S SEVEN TO MAKE?!). As you can see, it's perfectly adorable, as is the wearer of the braid.

Lynnette also found pictures of Olaf and Wandering Oaken's sign that she duplicated on cardboard (technically cut from large boxes) that she did freehand. My contribution was to cut them out using a box cutter (hey, we all have our talents - I'm just wondering if I cut through my rug). Olaf will be used for a "pin the nose on Olaf" and the sign will be a part of the photo booth, which should be a hoot.

Molly spent most of the morning making copies of signs, labels, tags, coloring sheets, photo booth props, and various other printables that were suggested by Lynnette. And then cutting them all out.

And my contribution, other than cutting with a box cutter? I filled the treat bags for the guests to take home (with five guests, that didn't take long). I found supplies like glue and paper and scissors and box cutters. And I went out and got lunch. And got Everley and Lindley down for a nap. And got out my trusty legal pad and make some more lists. As I've said before, everyone has a talent.

Anyhow, the party is going to be a blast - bet you wish you were invited!!

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Today is a gift because: party planning fun; Lindley and Everley time; McAllisters lunch and Papa Johns dinner; finding a solution for the gutter leak

Party Planning

Lindley's birthday is coming up, and she decided she wants a "Frozen" birthday party. She will be five, and since that's a pretty important birthday (kindergarten looms), her mom decided to grant her request.

So, the Davidson Party Planning Committee has started planning. Technically, the party will not be until January 18. But we have to get it all planned because the family is going to Disney World for the January Disney races and then on Lindley's birthday cruise. We will get back to Nashville on Friday before her party on that Sunday. In other words, it's now or never to get this stuff together.

As you can see, we have lots of supplies. We're just not sure what we're going to do with them. Which is pretty typical for a Davidson shindig. Since this is the first meeting ever of the Davidson Party Planning Committee, we are busy making lists. Molly and Lynnette are busy studying Pinterest. Or Etsy. Or a combination of both. Plus Amazon. And probably a bunch of other websites. I am attempting to make lists on a legal pad (the other two are using their computers for list-making, but I am old-school). Anyhow, we (actually they) are getting lots of great ideas - we'll just see how they come to fruition.

In the end, as long as we have food and games and a cake, I think the guests and the honoree will be happy. We'll just have to figure out who's going to return all this extra stuff to Target!!

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Today is a gift because: Lindley and Everley time; sloppy joes for dinner; lots of party planning

Happy New Year!!

Yes, I cooked. Hoppin' John, to be exact. I studied several different versions before settling on this one. And I didn't even use canned black-eyed peas. I used dried peas, which meant soaking them forever before cooking them forever more in the crock pot. But in the end, they were delicious, accompanied by some cornbread (made from a mix, thank you).

Anyhow, at some point during the day we looked up all the meaning behind the dish and all the good luck monetary symbolism. And we also found out that if you eat the leftovers on January 2, it's called Skinny Jenny. Which I plan to do, because I'm hoping that will mean  that not only will 2015 be a good year for me money-wise, but also perhaps skinny-wise! Hey - it's a new year, ready for new dreams!!

Happy New Year's Y'all!!

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Today is a gift because: Hoppin John for lunch; Lindley and Everley time