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We Play Hard

My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the tornadoes and storms in Oklahoma over the last couple of days.

One of my best friends just moved there a few weeks ago.  I was unable to contact him for almost 18 hours and was very concerned for his safety.  Thankfully, last night he finally had cell service and was able to let me know he was okay.  He also sent me a text this morning to say he is okay this morning.  Grateful.

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Some days are just not the best of days.  Even with the best of intentions.  Take Sassy’s Ring Pop.  It came out of the package as one smashed together mess.

But don’t think that mess stopped her from eating it.  It didn’t.  Not one bit.  And she enjoyed it.  Every single smushed piece.

It seems our family likes to play hard and we are definitely paying for it lately.  But don’t think we didn’t enjoy every single minute of what we were doing at the time.  And I seriously doubt any of us will avoid doing our activity of choice just because it ended in injury.

  • Over the weekend my nephew, Fin, broke his collarbone skateboarding.
  • Less than two weeks before that, his brother, Guy, broke his arm when he fell off playground equipment at his preschool.
  • At the end of April, another nephew broke his shoulder when he jumped off a swing.
  • And then there’s me.  As most of you already know, I broke my ankle (fibula) on a trail run in March.

I LOVE trail running.  When I started casually running 6 years ago it was on trails.  I loved it then and have never looked back.  I have been asked multiple times if I will continue to trail run given what has happened.  If you are a runner, you can guess the people asking that question are not runners.  They don’t get our addiction, our need to run.  Not going back into the woods has never even crossed my mind.  It is the thought of being out there again that keeps me focused on my recovery.  It’s what makes me do my physical therapy exercises at least 3 times a day.  I tear up at the thought of not being able to run again.  I HAVE to run again.  And I have to run trails in the woods.  It is where I feel the most at peace.

Where do you feel the most at peace?

How do you play hard?

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A Man & His Purse

Wednesday was my nephew, Kick’s, 18th birthday.  On his birthday my three your old niece gave him a gift card for miniature golf and a note asking him to take her the next day.  He can’t tell her no, so Thursday night he arrived at the miniature golf course to find 20+ of his friends and family there for a surprise party in his honor.  (We missed the surprise part because my daughters both had softball that same night.)

miniature golf

This course has been here for years.  I remember coming here as a child.  The original owner would be there night and day working on the gardens.  It was beautiful.  She has since passed away and you can tell the current owners don’t care as much.  Everything looks a bit run down and the gardens are pretty much non-existent.

miniature golf

Some players were so good, they didn’t even need to look at the hole while putting.

Hoppy’s got mad skills.

miniature golf

Well, until she had a flip flop incident.

miniature golf

But she rebounded quickly.  She was actually more interested on playing on the landscape rocks.

miniature golf

My dad was having an off day.  He was making some great shots, but being denied over and over again.  This shot below is a perfect example.

miniature golf

The ball stopped just a couple of centimeters from the hole.  The kicker?  The ball stopped on a HILL!  How does that even happen?!

But don’t feel sorry for him.  He did make a hole in one!

You should feel sorry for me because as I was walking by the green he was putting on, the ball ricocheted off the obstacle and hit me on the leg!  NOT a hole in one.

This is Hoppy feeling sad for me.  That or she was smart enough to protect her face from incoming balls.

It was a very competitive game and some people may have resorted to illegal tactics, such as blowing on the ball.

Others were more helpful.  Like my brother carrying his wife’s purse through the course.  I had fun teasing him, especially when he kept losing it.

He said he didn’t care if people saw him carrying a purse.  I took that to mean he wouldn’t mind if I shared this picture with you, my bestest friends. :-)

Do you like to play miniature golf?

What did you do for your 18th birthday?  I don’t remember.  :-(

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Living the Random Life

My life is all about the random lately.  I feel like I am still trying to get into some sort of routine.  Girls and I moved into our new house almost two weeks ago.  That should help.  At least we will feel settled once the unpacking is done.  Man, I dislike moving and unpacking.  But it is getting done.  Slowly.

My work schedule is changing constantly.  You may remember my jobs in Oregon allowed me to set my own schedule.  Loved that!  Now I have a schedule that I have no control over.  And that schedule changes often.  Drives me nuts.  But I am grateful to have a job.

My foot.  My surgery was eight weeks ago today.  Supposedly, I have four more weeks of recovery.  I started physical therapy last week.  I have been twice now.  I will do a post about it soon.  But in the meantime, as the weather gets nicer, there are more and more people out running, walking, and biking.  I find myself getting more and more jealous.  I want to be out there.  I am trying really hard to be patient.  But this cast feels like nothing more than a torture device most days.

Since my life is so random, I thought I would share some recent random photos.

OMG Becky was relieving her days as royalty.  Did I ever tell you she was Miss <insert business name> at the Oregon Chocolate Festival a couple of years ago?

princess

Sometimes she likes to wear her crown and look down her nose at us.  It’s like she forgets I am also a princess.

My new cable has music selections included with my other 200+ channels I got a heck of a deal on.  Today’s selection?  80′s.

cable music channel

Of course, this song totally made me think of my love of Duck Dynasty.  Yes, I am still obsessed with them and will listen/watch that show every time it is on.

I spotted the first sailboat of the season out on the lake next to our subdivision!

sailboat on lake

I think this means summer has official begun!

Our new house has a flower garden in one corner of the back yard.  Best part of it is this azalea bush.  Such a vibrant color!

azalea

There are a few other flowering things that will be allowed to stay.  But I’m pretty sure half of it is weeds and baby trees.  Should be a fun project once I get this cast off.  I’m only half sarcastic when I say that…

Another thing that has to go?  This tree that seems to thinks my air conditioning unit would like to hug it.

This relationship is not going to end well for one of them.

Okie as photographed by OMG Becky.

cat inside patio door

Looking none too happy that he is not allowed outside.

Sadly, the squirrels at our new house LOVE to tease our cats.  The cats will sit at our patio doors and the squirrels will run by, getting closer with each pass.

cat and squirrel

Today one passed by while I was by the back door.  I started talking to it.  It sat there and listened to me for the longest time.

squirrel

He shall be my new pet.  Just kidding.  Maybe.

Speaking of pets.  Half the time, OMG Becky’s softball team practices at one team member’s house.  She has her own softball field.  How cool is that?!  Yesterday, while I was waiting to pick OMG Becky up, I noticed something move out of the corner of my eye.  Chickens!

chickens

I miss having chickens like we had in Oregon.  Fresh eggs are the best!

There were also a few other critters running around.  At first, I wasn’t sure if this was a pig or a dog.

FYI – It was a dog.  But I’m sure you can understand how I could have been confused by this sight.

This dog wanted in on the action.

Put me in coach!

And this one loves OMG Becky.

As soon as we pulled up, she came running over to our car while barking at OMG Becky.  She circled our car in excitement barking the entire time.  I thought she was going to jump in!

So was this post random enough for you?

How about a tease about my next post?  A man and his purse…

If you have a cat, does he/she live indoors, outdoors or both?

Are you a squirrel whisperer?

What’s the most colorful flower in your yard?

What’s your favorite 80′s song?  Anything from Michael Jackson’s Thriller album.  Early Madonna!

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Chocolate Toffee Strawberry Trifle

As promised and a couple days late, here is the recipe to the trifle I made for Mother’s Day.

Chocolate Toffee Strawberry Trifle

Chocolate Toffee Strawberry Trifle

Ingredients

  • 1 (5.1 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
  • 1 package brownie mix for 13×9 pan
  • 1 large container Cool Whip, thawed
  • 2 Heath Bars
  • 1# fresh strawberries

Directions

  1. Bake brownies according to package directions. Cool.
  2. Crush Heath Bars.  I found it was easy to do by smacking the bars with a hammer lightly while still in the individual wrappers.
  3. Prepare pudding according to package directions; set aside.
  4. Cut the brownies into small bize-sized pieces.  Place half of the brownies in the bottom of a trifle dish or nice, large, glass bowl.
  5. Top brownies in trifle dish with half of the pudding, followed by half of the Cool Whip.  Next sprinkle one crushed Heath bar on top.  You can also add strawberries to this layer or wait to just put them on as a finishing layer (as in the photo above).
  6. Repeat all layers again.  Brownies, pudding, Cool Whip, Heath Bar, strawberries.
  7. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
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Donuts, Frappuccino & Trifle

Happy Mother’s Day!

Today has been great from start to finish.  First we went to church.  Eleven of us in two pews.  It was awesome.  (Our church offers five different services.  So we don’t always end up with that many of us at the same service.)

On the way to church, OMG Becky had asked me if we could go for donuts after church.  I told her no, probably not.  Then as soon as we get into church, she asked my dad if he wanted to go for donuts after church.  Of course, he says yes!  I told her I couldn’t believe she used her grandpa to get her way.  (Actually I can.)  She said he was her sidekick, her wingman, her pardner in crime.  Brat.

I think everyone else had the same idea for donuts because when we arrived at the donut shop, the line was out of the door.  Luckily, it was a nice day so we didn’t mind the wait.

We each ordered our donut and then they offered my mom and I our choice of a free donut for Mother’s Day.  Score!

donuts

No, your eyes are not deceiving you.  Those long johns and maple bars are as long as the food tray.

My German Chocolate Cake donut and free chocolate glazed.

German chocolate donut

I managed to eat half of the big donut and then had to pack up the other half and my free donut it to go.  Guess that means I will have to eat donuts tomorrow.  Darn.  ;-)

I think everyone else enjoyed their donuts, too.

donut shop

Then we had to get home so I could finish up the dessert my mom had requested for our Mother’s Day dinner.  She wanted a trifle and she wanted it chocolate.

chocolate trifle

I think this fit the bill.  Recipe to come tomorrow!

Before dinner we had a couple of errands to run.  First was Starbucks.  OMG Becky had finally clued into their frappuccino Happy Hour that offered half price drinks from 3-5 PM on May 3-12.  Since today was the last day, we had to go.

Starbucks frappacino

I had the new Mocha Cookie Crumble.  It was good, but not nearly as good as the Toasted Coconut they had last year.  But that’s probably a good thing.  Now I won’t feel the urge to go there all summer long!

Then it was time for fifteen of us at my parents’ house for dinner.  My dad fired up his new grill.  OMG Becky helped Hoppy finish up the last few bites of her meal.  Not sure why she was making that face.  Maybe because she hadn’t cleaned her own plate yet or because her frappuccino was all gone…

cousins

We enjoyed their new deck.

And then the cover came off the pool.  CANNOT wait for it to open!

A few of us got my mom a new swing for Mother’s Day. The men folk had the pleasure of putting it together.

image

My mom couldn’t wait to try it out.  But she wasn’t the first.  My oldest brother jumped on it.  He claimed he was testing it for safety reasons. Sure.

Did I tell you my nephew, Guy, broke his arm last week?  He fell off playground equipment at his preschool.  Poor little guy gets his cast put on tomorrow.  And my 13-year-old nephew broke his shoulder the week before by jumping off a swing.  We sure know how to have fun, don’t we?!

Guy and Hoppy are so cute together!  He tried to open the door with broken arm hand but couldn’t do it.  He finally let go of Hoppy’s hand, opened the door and then took her hand again.  Aw!

I hope your Mother’s Day was just as special!

Did you get your half price frappuccino at Starbucks?

Tell me the best part of your weekend.

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The Gun Show

Let’s start with a poll today for no other reason than I’m curious…

What did you think of when you read the title of this post?
Firearms
Arm muscles
“The Gun Show” song by In This Moment

www.poll-maker.com

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So what kind of gun show am I talking about?  Not firearms.  Not the song.  (Though I do like it.  Her voice is crazy!  I wonder if she will be able to sing like that for a long time or if it will eventually damage her vocal cords…)  I am talking about arm muscles.  More specifically mine.

You may remember I had just started working my upper body at the gym the week before breaking my ankle.  And because of that I had the idea to take a before picture of my arms.  The photos were actually taken just the day before my injury.  Two days later I was on crutches.  Though not moving around much the first three weeks.  I had to stay off my feet as much as possible with my foot up.  But the last four weeks has seen me getting around on my crutches constantly.  My arms are showing it!

Please excuse my poor flexing form…

Also, please overlook my gross bruise in the after photo.  Not sure what that is about.

bruise

I bruise easily normally.  Maybe due to my anemia?  But in the last five days I have gotten a couple of gnarly bruises that I have no idea where they came from.  I think my new prescription (gabapentin) may be the culprit.  Or the 800 mg of ibuprofen 3x a day, I was also prescribed.  Either way, these bruises are grossing me out.

Several people have asked me if the crutches made my arms, underarms, shoulders or upper back sore.  Nope.  I never felt soreness, pressure or pain from using them.  I’m glad I didn’t.  I had enough pain with the ankle to deal with, thank you very much.

What is your answer to the poll above?

Have you ever had to be on crutches before?

What type of arm workouts do you do?

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Ultrasound & Allergies

Friday morning, I went for an ultrasound on my foot to check for a hematoma/blog clot.  There was the fear that a hematoma might be the cause of my foot pain and swelling.

ultrasound

The tech took 20+ shots with two different cameras.

ultrasound

In a few of the shots, she highlighted my blood vessel with blue on the screen.  She told me my blood flow and vessels are normal and healthy!

ultrasound screen

According to her, no hematoma was found!  This means my foot issue is due to a nerve issue.  That will hopefully be corrected with the medication I started last Thursday and physical therapy.  PT starts this afternoon!  I admit I am pretty scared about what is going to happen there.  At this point, I can only move my foot up and down maybe two inches.  I am looking forward to more motion, but know it’s most likely going to involve pain of some kind.  :-(

Now let’s talk about something more pleasant.  Remember last week when I told you Sassy was on the roof with my dad?  It was 80-some degrees that day and they had to take a break for popsicles.  I dared to ask for one…

We are still working on our sharing as a manner.

My allergies have been crazy the past couple of weeks.  We wake up to our cars covered in yellow pollen.  And the ground cover below?

Not snow, tree petals!  This day it was another beautiful day in the 80′s.  And then the very next day?  Snow!  In May.

Criminy.

Love this billboard!

I couldn’t agree more, Wyoming!

Do you suffer from spring allergies?  I need to see if I can take some allergy medication with this new foot prescription…

What is your favorite flavor of popsicle?  Coconut, for sure!

When is the last snow of the season in your area?  This is the first May snow for us in like 100 years.  Crazy!