Snow!

It's amazing how fast you get used to the climate you're in.

We were in the San Diego area for 9 days and returned to snow and below freezing temperatures. Ugh. And, I have to drive on the highway today to run an errand for my Mum (who, along with my Dad, is slowly making her way back from San Diego via automobile).

I will post some pics from the trip soon, I am currently working on organizing my backlog of photos. Needless to say, we did and saw a lot, and realized just how much there is to do down there. "That's something to do when the boys are older." we'd say.

Among the highlights...SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, the pool and hot tub, Easter egg hunts, spending time with my parents who will have been away over 6 weeks by the time they return. They are quickly becoming snowbirds, and have earned every day of it.

A quick rundown: flew into Palm Springs and drove through Cathedral Ciry, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert, over the mountain to Ramona, passing Anza and Saint Ysabel on the way. Stayed in Ramona for 7 days, doing daytrips to Carlsbad, Escondido, Temecula, La Jolla, San Diego, Coronado and San Marcos. Drove through many suburbs and small towns. Got lost a little, but always found our way back. Saw some amazing homes, sights and countryside, tried some fabulous food and discovered some great shops, chains and local. Then, drove back to Palm Springs to stay overnight before flying back to Calgary.

Plan to do it all again next year.

Spring Cleaning

Last night we let the night air into our bedroom. It has been unseasonably warm here lately and it feels as though spring is on the way. So this morning, with vigour and excitement, I started spring cleaning. I started in our bedroom. About an hour in, I realized that it's going to take some time. But I'm willing to persevere. I could not believe how good it felt to declutter and organize. I didn't even get to the actual cleaning part today. Babies don't nap that long. I haven't actually finished organizing our room yet, I still have the closet to tackle. But, even with what I did get done, I was so excited for hubs to come home and be in awe of all my hard work.

I am a little frustrated that our budget is so tight I really shouldn't go buy shelving and nice boxes for the closets and cabinets to help with the organizing part of it, but those will come in time.

Just out of our bedroom, I found 1 large garbage bag full of clothes to donate to the Cerebral Palsy Association, and 8 books to take to the used bookstore, plus several small baby items to donate and give away.

I think I'll start documenting the process in pictures. How satisfying would that be?

Perhaps My New Book is Timely

It hit me. I thought I was going to escape its clutches, but this morning I woke up with a stuffy nose and barely able to talk.

The boys are just getting over their colds that hit them last week. What is it about kids that allows them to keep going when they have a cold? You would never know they were sick by their energy levels. I, on the other hand, could barely get out of bed this morning. Bleh.

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I just finished reading "Dish" by Barbara Moses, PhD. An interesting read about women in midlife, but I think I could not relate to a lot of it. I think because I have reached some of the viewpoints in my 30's that some women reach in their 50's and 60's, and because a lot of what I was reading seemed very self-indulgent. But, I know that if I read it again in 20 years, I would probably have a different reaction to it.

So, I have now plunged whole-heartedly into "Healthy Aging" by Dr. Andrew Weil. And so far I am loving it. It has the perfect blend of science, theory and spiritual outlook for me. He doesn't talk about how to stop aging (not possible, and not desirable, in his view), but instead how to bring our physical bodies and spiritual minds and selves through the aging process in the best condition possible to as to shorten the actual decline in the end. The idea is to live as healthily as possible as long as possible and quickly decline, as opposed to living with years of age related illnesses.

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I will be spending a lot of the next week getting ready for our trip to California for Easter. Any tips on how to keep a 2 1/2 year old occupied in an airport and on a 3-hour flight? Eeep!

A Return

I spent most of February trying to get some things done around the house and not play on my computer very much, but I feel as though I failed miserably. I keep so much of my daily information on my computer, I found it hard to shut it off during the day. Phone numbers, lists, banking, all of it tied to this little black machine.

So, I have revised my February resolution into a new one for March...instead of cutting myself off completely during the day, I will set a timer for 10 minutes at a time. However, I am only awarded this 10 minutes after doing 20 minutes of work around the house (also regulated by a timer).

I will also be returning to my weight loss efforts that I started back in September. I lost 10 pounds and then got derailed, and have almost gained all those pounds back. But I'm not just interested in losing weight. I am hoping to work on a lifestyle change that will include eating more healthily, being more aware of my portion sizes, and exercising more (sorely lacking in this department!) Now that the weather's getting better, part of that will include training for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer.

I am now off to visit some of my favourite places and catch up.