An email that made me smile...

This week has been pretty good. Solved some issues a couple of which were just really weird. But this email today cracked me up.
Last night as I was leaving another APU faithful employee was getting into her car. She seemed to be as tired as I felt. We exchange a brief conversation and got into our cars. I really like this person and felt bad for her and how tired she looked on a Monday.

This afternoon she sent me the following email...

Holly….you made me chuckle so last night….and I have passed on your comment to a few friends today….

I haven’t given your name, just that “my friend said”….

“Today was pretty productive, I feel like I might have made a difference in the world…..last week, I think I was pretty much a burden on society.” I’m still laughing (smiley face didn't copy)

I'm really glad she included what I had said... for the life of me I couldn't remember.  This short term memory lost is really starting to bug me.

I'm glad I made her laugh.  She's another one of those "neat" people that I don't see nearly often enough. She has a great husband that works at the University as well and a brother-in-law well...  her brother-in-law total other story.  We tended to "fight" with each other on band trips until he made some "smart" comment, "You're starting to sound like my ex-wife!"  At that point Mr. Wolfe, the band director, was ducking for cover!  Ah yes... the memories of high school band trips!

But I digress... again...

So thanks to for sharing the email and making me smile.

For you a little Mannheim Steamroller - Joy to the World!

On the 5th day of December

This weekend was quiet compared to the week. I was busy yesterday but doing fun things, like spa pedicure and manicure.  Went with a really obnoxious green on my toes and a very lovely red on my nails.  Don't ask me why, I really don't know, but I'm thinking I won't be posting a picture of my toes this time!

Had a great work out at the gym yesterday as well. Yes, I'm sick, but I really love working out.  I always feel so much better afterwards.  Of course, I want to eat everything insight.

This year I had made a goal to read the Bible through and it looks like I'm going to make it.  As of today I'm on December 16th! Another goal was to read 52 books this year, sadly I won't make that goal.  I've only read 37 books. I have a couple that I'm working on so I should be last years 39 books.  Even though I've only lost about 10 pounds this year (so far), I'm in a better place than I have been in a long time.

I'll start thinking about next year's goals over the next couple of weeks.  I just made reservations for Mark and I to go to San Diego on December 30th and 31st.  We'll do SeaWorld on the 30th and LegoLands New Year's Eve Rocking Good time on the 31st.   Of course, at Legoland New Year's is celebrated at like 6 PM.  But that's OK, it will be fun and we'll hang out at the hotel and watch movies.

However, in the meantime, I'll going to enjoy what's left 2010.  And to help you enjoy it as well here's a little Trans-Siberian Orchestra:

Personal Trainer = Co-dependency?!?!

So, a couple of weeks ago I received a flyer in the mail for the Fitness 19 gym opening in Covina. $14 down $14 a month.  Sounded like a great deal and better than I had found at 24 Hour Fitness in Glendora.  Since it wasn't opened yet I called to see if anyone was around and sure enough, there was.  I went over to check it out and figured unless I absolutely hated it,  I would be signing up. I didn't hate it, it seemed to be a nice set up with lots of cardio machines and strength training machines.  The $14 down was a LITTLE misleading, it turned out you pay, first and last month plus  a "fee" to hold your $14 a month.  Turned out to be a start up cost of $91.  STILL significantly cheaper than when I joined Bally's.   Plus, I really liked the manager, Tucker, seemed like a down to earth guy.

The gym officially opened last Friday the 19th, so I got in there last Saturday. I was there Sunday, missed Monday (thanks Tim!), was there Tuesday night, Wednesday, Thursday, and again today.  Must say it feels good to be a gym rat again.  I use the treadmill setting to do either Fat burning or cardio.  These are nice because they constantly monitor your heart rate and make adjustments to keep you on at the target heart rate. Which has been important since the current blood pressure medicine tends to cause my heart to be a little high.  (Really looking forward to being OFF the blood pressure meds!!) I've also been working the machine to hopefully help the legs and arms.

As part of joining the gym I got a free one-hour training session with a personal trainer.  So today I met for an "hour" with David.  Was more like 40 minutes since I was on the treadmill for about 15 minutes "warming up" while he was working another client.  He did a good job of asking me all the health questions and my goals.  Then we went to work on the machines.  I learned how to use some the machines that I didn't know about as well as the specifics of their equipment.  Being a true personal trainer he is sadistic.

Once we finished we went back to the desk where personal trainers turn into salesmen.  Don't get me wrong he's a good personal trainer, he's a former Army Ranger and he going to school to become a physicians assistant and if I were independently wealthy I would go for it, sadly, I'm not independently wealthy so...  But he informs me that I can't do this on my own and that I need to meet with him two times a week for the next 12 weeks.  Seriously?  I know I've put on WAY too much weight over the past 6 1/2 years and I weigh more now than I've EVER weighed in my life.  However, so much of what has happened has been because I've been in a self-destruct mode allowing circumstances in my life to dictate my self-image. In August I came to terms with the junk and realized I was only hurting myself and I wasn't handling things the way God would want me to.  Since that light bulb came on, I've been loosing weight I feel better about myself.

So, for now at least, I'm going to pass on the personal trainer for now, in the future maybe, we'll see.  I'm going to move forward with regular exercise, continue to eat better and trust God to continue the much needed healing of my heart. The reality is, I can only control my actions and my reactions.  I have to trust that God is in control.

Today's video is one of my favorite U2 songs, of course, I have found what I'm looking for, but this is still a fun song.  Enjoy!

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

And here I sit in a coffee shop in Glendora while Mark is in Art Class. Just had some hot chocolate since I don't do coffee.  It's a relaxing evening even though I've had an ANNOYING day.  Long story short, my phone won't access my APU Email.  Which is not necessarily a bad thing, other than it also won't access my calendar and until I moved my contacts over to my personal Gmail was a HUGE pain.  Trying to decide whether just to have my contacts live in my personal account since most of them are just that.  Personal.

Once Mark is done with class and hopefully has a painting to show, we'll go home and I'll fix a nice lasagna dinner with garlic bread and probably corn on the cob (so there's at least one thing that Mark will eat)  Hopefully, my dinner will settle quickly and I can go off to the gym again tonight.  Since I realized it opened I've been to the gym 3 of the last 4 days.  It's been good.  I realize it is sick and demented of me, but I enjoy a good work out.  Last night I did the 'cardio' setting on the treadmill and it felt really good.  Then I hit the machines to do some upper body work.  The nice thing, is I feel that I did some work but I don't feel like I killed myself.

Tomorrow we have a late lunch with my in-laws which means really good food.  I'm hoping that the weather is nice enough to take our Christmas Card photo.  The past couple of years we've done the picture at the church. But I want to do something different this year, hopefully everyone will cooperate.  I know, novel idea.

As it has become my tradition, I would like to share a video.  Since it is the night before Thanksgiving I wanted to share this Don Moen song, "Thank You, Lord"  we all have so much to be thankful for, I know there's a lot of junk in our world, but God's grace is truly sufficient and as a friend of mine shared last Sunday, His Mercies are new EVERY morning.  Great is God's faithfulness.

So enjoy this song, and remember to be thankful for all God's gifts in our lives.

A Winner in Every Sense of the Word

Winner of the 2nd picture competition, was a former co-worker and still great friend, Chris Copeland. And as he promised, he sent me a picture with his prize!!!

Chris, thanks for playing! Thanks for the picture but most of all thanks for your friendship.  I miss our talks, but I know you are right where God wants you and it's obvious that he is blessing you and your family.

Reflections on Friendships Part 1

Last night was Homecoming at APU and the final home football game of the season.  Sadly, we lost. The team did a great job and worked hard, a couple of mental mistakes, but Humboldt was just very tough team.  This season I had the opportunity to get some great shots and photo credit on several articles on the Athletics page.  The highlight was being able to use Ken's Nikon D3 and his big bad boy lens.  Got some AMAZING shots with it.  Someday maybe...

After I got home from a long day (marched the Azusa Golden Days Parade in the morning, finished writing my paper and the game) I tried to unwind so I could get to bed and get much needed sleep. As I thought about this past season one thing stood out.  I made a new friend during the season.  Another one of the photographers that we just hit it off.  I can't express in words the impact he had.  As I was thinking about how he encouraged me I started thinking about the many others that have impacted me throughout my life.  Here is my feeble attempt to express my gratitude to the many people that have touched my life in amazing ways.  I won't mention names because there's such a danger in that.  I'm bound to forget someone and I would never want to slight anyone.

I'm thankful when I think back to my two friends in high school who gave me my first surprise birthday party.  The times on basketball trips and cleaning classrooms after school. I grateful for my dear friend whose birthday is Friday (which I do plan to call you!!!) and the times that we've talked and each time it seems like we can pick up where we last left off.

I'm thankful for the summer of red heads. In one month I met 3 red heads. One was a co-worker and I don't remember his name.  (that seems to happen more and more).  One indirectly pointed me to the college I would later attend. The third one had the most immediate impact of the 3.  He taught me that I was "Something Good" because I belonged to God. (and yes, I still have the pin you gave me when we were sitting in the swings at the park next to the County Courthouse).

I'm thankful Bartlesville Wesleyan College that brought a new group of friends that challenged me, encouraged me, and made me laugh. Whether a roommate or one of those many trips to Pannekoeken (I think that was how it was spelled)  House for ham and cheese omelets and when we were too broke for that a walk around campus or the surrounding neighborhood. I'm thankful that one of those acquaintances is becoming better friend now. I've enjoyed our chats even if I'm a tad gullible sometimes and you tend to exploit that!

I'm thankful for friends that have demonstrated their faith. One who took the leap of faith and moved with his family to Ireland to live among the people and make a difference. It's neat that he and his own family are back in the states to make an impact in a community here in the states.

During my time at APU there have been so many people who have impacted my life in so many ways.  The family who rented me a room, yet were so much more than a landlord.  You have been a dear friend for so many years.  I'm sorry I don't keep in touch better.  There have been many lunch buddies. I'm thankful as I think back to the day when we were identified as "regulars"  at that little place on the corner of Barranca and Foothill.  I'm thankful for the reaction when I realized that after 8 1/2 years I was pregnant and just a little bit shocked.  (You never stopped typing and never looked up!) I am thankful for the one who helped me support my son's musical interest by restringing his guitar and our many talks. So thankful for the group who took me to lunch for my birthday when my own "group" didn't acknowledge me.  I'm so thankful for the laughter especially when we parked your car on the lawn outside registrar's office.

I'm thankful for my friends who are there for a hug and recently was there to let me cry on his shoulder over the death of a dear friend. For the friend who reminded me that there wasn't anything they wouldn't do for me.  Friends that I can share my ideas with and just hang out and be myself. I have so much more I could say, but I doubt anyone is still reading. So I'll just say, "I have such amazing friends."

I realize I've rambled, but there is so much more I could say about the people that I've encountered over the past 45 years (ok, probably about 40, the first 5 years of my life I only encountered family and extended family).  Maybe later I'll share about the students that I have had the privilege to work with, they're pretty amazing too.

So, to my "newest" friend to my "oldest" and all those in between, THANK YOU!

As it's become my habit lately I've added a YouTube video.  Michael W. Smith's Friends, originally released in 1982.  Leaving high school and later leaving college this song spoke to me so much.   It did get over used, but hey that was almost 30 years ago!  It's fresh and new now right!??!   I do like that this video, it's Michael W. Smith playing piano and singing, very simple.  Michael W. Smith is one of my favorites!