Walking is Optional Right?

So in my quest to maintain a regular workout schedule through the season I made a deal with Prairie Dad.  The deal was that on Wednesday nights I would come home late so I could make it to a class at the gym.  This of course is only on days when I don't have rehearsal and if Wednesday isn't the only night for the three of us to have dinner together.  Basically that means this week and next week...

The rest of the deal is that I get to take the same class on Saturday morning because I will be done in plenty of time to get Baby Chang to gymnastics (that is of course if I don't have rehearsal).  Why does work take up so much of my life?  Oh right I like to eat and not live in a cardboard box and I still haven't won the lottery.

The class I have made the deal for is HIIT high intensity interval training.  Otherwise known as good luck walking tomorrow or I'm going to punch you in the face if you say burpee one more time.  For about two days after each class I am sore.  You know that good workout sore the one where walking is painful.  Yes I said good and no I wasn't being sarcastic.

I have discovered over the summer a couple things about me and a workout.  One is that a goal isn't really enough to motivate me to workout, if it was I'd be a size 2 and have run multiple marathons by now.  The second is that I need someone to push me or I wimp out really quickly.  A personal trainer would be perfect but sadly I haven't won the lottery yet (I think I may have mentioned that before).  Third I need to see results pretty quickly to stay motivated.

This class perfectly fulfills two and three.  There is a kick-ass instructor who is encouraging but pushes you to your brink.  I quickly saw results and saw them melt away when I wasn't working out for a bit.  It also helps that a friend often takes the class with me.  Therefore I don't have to talk myself into one hundred push-ups and burpees, which is good because it's way easier to talk myself into a margarita.

So tomorrow morning if you hear a loud scream, don't worry I'm just trying to get out of bed I'll be fine by Friday!

New Year Resolutions

Ok so it isn't January 1st but it is the start of the school year.  My entire life I've lived by the academic schedule.  Both of my parents were teachers (otherwise known as saints) so when I was little their work schedule was the same as our school schedule.  As an adult I have always worked for a Performing Arts Organization whose schedule also followed the time frame of an academic schedule.  The season typically runs September to May with the summer months off or at least different employment for June, July and August.  So September always feels more like a new year and time for fresh starts.

Thus this time of year always leads to a few personal and sometimes professional resolutions.  Many of which I fail to complete just like the average New Year's Resolution.  Research has shown that telling people about your resolutions will help you keep them so I'm sharing them all with you (in no particular order).

1.  Workout during the season:  Usually once work ramps up my workouts become non-existent.  Well now that Baby Chang has to be at school at 7:45 a.m. (yep Baby Chang is in Pre-School don't' ask me how that's possible I DON'T KNOW) it means I can be to the gym by 8:00 and to work by 9:15.  This summer I have been averaging 4 workouts a week right now my goal is to just maintain that...

2.  Cut back the amount of Diet Soda I drink:  I don't drink coffee and I'm not a huge fan of tea so soda is my go to caffeine source.  I'm not ready to completely cut out caffeine but I wouldn't mind giving up the chemicals in diet soda.  Over the last couple months I have cut back but not nearly as much as I'd like.

3.  Find Me Time:  As a working Mom I often have guilt about taking me time when I have so few hours with Baby Chang.  However, I know I'm a better parent and a better partner when I make time for myself.

4.  Create a Realistic Budget:  Having and following a budget are things I've attempted multiple times but I don't think it's ever been realistic.  So I'm working to find a balance.

6.  Nurture Friendships:  Like my workouts, friendships get a little left behind during the season.  I have been lucky to make new friends this summer which I don't want to see fade because of my work schedule.  It makes it easier that they all have daughters Baby Chang's age, that allows me to combine time with Baby Chang and time with my friends.

7.  Blog More:  Enough said!

This should be enough until the New Year at least.  How about you does your New Year begin with the start of Fall?  Have you ever had any success with resolutions?

End of Summer

Do you remember as a kid how summer used to drag on forever?  By August you were so bored you couldn't possibly think of anything else to do so you were wishing for school to start.  Ok maybe that was just me...

Well, somehow I have fallen into a job where I still have a school schedule and I'm not even a teacher!  Let me tell you summers as an adult don't drag on nearly long enough.  Though I really enjoy my job I am not ready to go back (I still have a couple weeks but somehow that seems like it's too soon).   There are too many things I want to get done and not one of them involves listening or watching opera!

We've had an amazing summer.  Prairie Dad has been home for most of it, which is unheard of.  We bought a house in December and have been slowly working on the yard, removing bamboo (if you ever have to do this start with a chainsaw and a pick axe it will save you and your back), planting orange and cherry trees, still designing a garden.  The summer has also been filled with ballet lessons, gymnastics, hours and hours at the pool with new friends, potato festivals, sunflower festivals, llama rides, pony rides, blueberry and raspberry picking.  So you might be wondering what else could there be to do...

SLEEP that is what there is left to do.  I want nothing more than to disappear for a few days with a good book and a comfortable bed where I can sleep until noon ALONE.  Yes ALONE.

Instead we will be finishing the paint job inside the house (hopefully), cleaning out the junk room otherwise known as our guest bedroom, school shopping, research for a project I hope to write about soon and spending as many hours with Baby Chang's friends as possible.

Maybe, just maybe I'll find a few precious hours alone, with a good book but I don't think sleeping until noon is going to happen anytime in the near future.

Wisdom of a Toddler

Baby Chang turned 4 in May.  I'm not sure how that happened exactly.  Okay I know how it happened but I have no idea how four years have gone by so quickly.  Everyday something she says makes me laugh out loud.  There are so many times I wish a camera was rolling because no one will ever believe it or more importantly I won't remember it.  So I'm trying to remember to write more down.  Here are a few memorable favorites...

Baby Chang  "Ow it's hurting me!"
Prairie Dad "What's hurting you?"
Baby Chang "Your face!"

Baby Chang "Get me a knife"
Mr. Chang "Could you ask a little nicer?"
Baby Chang "I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU HOW TO GET A KNIFE"

Baby Chang "This is not a problem"
"This" refers to anything we don't want her to do.

Baby Chang "Everyone knows the rule mom!"
Mr. Chang "What rule?"
Baby Chang "The rule I just told you."
Mr. Chang "Umm I think I missed something."
Baby Chang "The rule that when I get home I need something sweet and juicy and that is NOT a banana!"

Baby Chang "Thats bisgusting!" (or perhaps disgusting)

Baby Chang "Your rediclious!" 
Usually screamed at the top of her lungs when she doesn't like something we've done.

Baby Chang "Knock, Knock"
Mr. Chang "Who's there?"
Baby Chang "Banana"
Mr. Chang "Banana Who"
Baby Chang "Banana Baby Chang can I come in?"

Happy Father's Day!

It has been an interesting day to scroll through my news feed on Facebook today.  You can learn a lot about your friends on a day like today.

There are the numerous posts about having the greatest Dad in the World or husbands who are the most amazing fathers.  All of course to be expected.

Then you have the posts from people whose fathers have passed away these are always hard for me to read.  I have been to more than my share of funerals but am thankful that none have been for my parents.  In fact, whenever I consider a day without them I am paralyzed with the thought of that grief.

Yesterday I spent time with a new friend who is not yet on my Facebook feed.  We met about a week ago in the locker room at the YMCA as we both struggled to get our kids dressed to head home.  She has twins the same age as Baby Chang.  Much to my delight her girls are also in the ballet class Baby Chang is taking for part of the summer.  To our surprise they were at the pool yesterday when we arrived.  While the girls splashed, swam and got to know each other in their four year old way we got to know each other better too.

She told me how they are here because her husband is going through treatment for Colon Cancer.  It was caught very late and had metastasized to his liver, lungs and lymph nodes.  He is continuing chemo to keep him alive for the next six months.

It got me thinking about her beautiful girls and how their memories of their dad will be of this time when he is desperately ill.  How lucky I am to have gone through treatment at a time when Baby Chang will have few memories of how sick I was.  I was thinking even more about how lucky I am that Grandpa Chang made it through his treatment with few side effects and he is here to celebrate another Father's Day.

Today I will celebrate this special day by remembering how amazing my own father is (and of course calling to wish him and Prairie Dad -- who is traveling -- Happy Father's Day) while thinking of those who may not have gotten as much time with their own fathers!