I am not ready to go back to work tomorrow. Not one little bit, not in the least. We have started the reclaimation project, and all that is left are the outside lights and the tree itself. (Note to self, those cardboard boxes with the dividers a 12-pack of beer come in work great to hold ornaments. Need an excuse to go crazy buying beer??) We've cut into and eaten Matthew's cake, and there are Legos strewn about all over the house. The wrapping has been recycled, the boxes broken down, the Thank You notes written.
Christmas is over.
I am sitting in my living room, looking at my rather anemic tree, listening to the boys (there are 5 of them outside, 3 of mine and two neighbors) playing their own game with a soccer ball that they are lofting at each other like a football. Even Christopher has gotten into the game. There are laughs and yells (the good kind) and cheers bouncing back and forth between the houses. It is good.
And it is over. I felt as if I was spinning my wheels to get ready for Christmas, then we spent such a truly wonderful holiday together, and then we whisked ourselves away to Disney where we spun a bit more... then home and more spinning to get things cleaned and put away. I feel as though I have not stopped spinning. Even though, for the last two days, I have physically done very little, I am exhausted and feel as if I have not rested. Have I spent enough time enjoying what is going on around me? Have I really taken it in? How on earth will I manage to get my sorry, tired tush out of bed before 6am tomorrow?
In all liklihood, this is our last Christmas in this house. I am generally OK with that, but when I really think about it, what it means is there sits out there, somewhere in the future, the unknown of change. Change can be, and will be good, but change is change, and that means not knowing. Will the boys find other boys with whom they can play and make up their own games? Most likely, but it is not guaranteed. But then, is anything?
I guess I am really more contemplative and meloncholy than sad. It has been a really nice two weeks. I just could really use just one more....
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Saturday, January 02, 2010
NSV!!
Also known as a Non-Scale Victory!!
I have lost about 21 pounds since the start of 2009, and while I have a way to go before I get to my Happy Weight, and even though the scale has not BUDGED in nearly a month, I do have a small victory to share...
Levi's (have not worn them since I was in college, and even then, they didn't fit me all that well)
Photographic Proof:
I have lost about 21 pounds since the start of 2009, and while I have a way to go before I get to my Happy Weight, and even though the scale has not BUDGED in nearly a month, I do have a small victory to share...
New Jeans!
Levi's (have not worn them since I was in college, and even then, they didn't fit me all that well)
Photographic Proof:
Still a bit snug around my ample thighs, but I'm pleased nonetheless!!
Friday, January 01, 2010
Another year older, but are we wiser?
They say that with age comes wisdom. I am now officially "in my 40s", at the ripe old age of 41, and wonder when, if ever, that wisdom will show itself. Really... I'm waiting anxiously. I could use some of that stuff!!!
While Wisdom may be ellusive, boldness seems to be arriving right on schedule. I went out into the madding crowd yesterday with Christopher in tow to buy 3 things. I needed some new jeans, some 'unmentionables' and I wanted to get a cake for today... my birthday. We went to Kierland Commons, a local shopping area with very upper end shops, and plenty of snotty customers gracing said shops... but they have all the stores I needed in one place, and I was too exhausted to drive all over town.
Parking was more horrific than it was before Christmas, what with all the last minute "get this stuff out of here before we have to count it for Inventory!" sales going on. I circled no fewer than 4 times before I spotted someone getting into their car. I put on my blinker, and I waited. Patiently, I might add....
As the car was pulling out, an older couple began crossing the street in front of me, so I was forced to wait. While I was waiting, with my blinker on, and these old folks crossing the street in front of me, a woman in a Lexus SUV dashed around my left side, narrowly missing the older couple, and STOLE MY PARKING SPOT!
I was incensed. I called her all sorts of wicked names, including names I detest. I was bold enough to pull up along side her, and sat there, waititng like a lion. She finally realized there was another person in her world, and rolled down her window. I told her "I was waiting for that spot! I had my blinker on and everything.. I was waiting for the two old people you nearly hit to cross the street!"
Her reply?? As she was deftly applying makeup to her finely Collagen-ed lips, and checking her coiffed hair, was "Oh, welll..."
I hate North Scottsdale for a multitude of reasons. This lady, and I use the term euphomistically, embodies nearly every single reason!
I left her a note on her car. I refrained from using the word which I detest, but so clearly sums up my feelings toward this self-important piece of work... but I did call her a self absorbed b*tch and hoped that the next time she was so rude and careless about laws like PEDESTRIANS HAVING THE RIGHT OF WAY, there would be a cop there to throw her rich, entitled ass in jail!
While Wisdom may be ellusive, boldness seems to be arriving right on schedule. I went out into the madding crowd yesterday with Christopher in tow to buy 3 things. I needed some new jeans, some 'unmentionables' and I wanted to get a cake for today... my birthday. We went to Kierland Commons, a local shopping area with very upper end shops, and plenty of snotty customers gracing said shops... but they have all the stores I needed in one place, and I was too exhausted to drive all over town.
Parking was more horrific than it was before Christmas, what with all the last minute "get this stuff out of here before we have to count it for Inventory!" sales going on. I circled no fewer than 4 times before I spotted someone getting into their car. I put on my blinker, and I waited. Patiently, I might add....
As the car was pulling out, an older couple began crossing the street in front of me, so I was forced to wait. While I was waiting, with my blinker on, and these old folks crossing the street in front of me, a woman in a Lexus SUV dashed around my left side, narrowly missing the older couple, and STOLE MY PARKING SPOT!
I was incensed. I called her all sorts of wicked names, including names I detest. I was bold enough to pull up along side her, and sat there, waititng like a lion. She finally realized there was another person in her world, and rolled down her window. I told her "I was waiting for that spot! I had my blinker on and everything.. I was waiting for the two old people you nearly hit to cross the street!"
Her reply?? As she was deftly applying makeup to her finely Collagen-ed lips, and checking her coiffed hair, was "Oh, welll..."
I hate North Scottsdale for a multitude of reasons. This lady, and I use the term euphomistically, embodies nearly every single reason!
I left her a note on her car. I refrained from using the word which I detest, but so clearly sums up my feelings toward this self-important piece of work... but I did call her a self absorbed b*tch and hoped that the next time she was so rude and careless about laws like PEDESTRIANS HAVING THE RIGHT OF WAY, there would be a cop there to throw her rich, entitled ass in jail!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A Christmas Letter
I am very proud to announce that the very last (I hope) of the Christmas cards made it into the mailbox today. Hey - I got them out before Christmas, so I consider myself having mastered the near-impossible! I did not include a letter this year, feeling as if there was really nothing worth retelling this year. 2009 will come to a welcome close in a few days and I hope that 2010 holds better things for the Jensen family. Not that 2009 has been bad, but it could have been better on many accounts.
The economy took its toll on everyone around here. Arizona had seen a meteoric rise in all things financial a few years back and was kicked in the teeth pretty hard as a result. The good news for us is that we are both still employed, thank goodness, but it has made for some frustrating times in both our jobs. Fewer sales and larger class sizes come immediately to mind.
This spring, Parker played baseball again, and is getting really good! It warms a parent's heart to hear folks in the stands wonder when they will put Parker in to pitch, because he is good! He loves every moment of the game, and was even invited to play Fall Ball this year - a first for him, and a very fun honor. Even with a fall sport, he managed to get all As and Bs for the first 2 quarters of school!
Matthew continues to amaze us with his love of science, and space, and you can now add architecture to the list. Legos have replaced Thomas the Tank Engine as his addiction, (given his age, this is a good thing) and there are more Legos around this house than one can imagine. He builds what he is supposed to build with whatever kit he has, then he takes it apart and builds something totally unique.
Christopher left the care of Nada this fall to venture into the big world of Preschool. He goes to Laguna with his two older brothers, and loves every minute of it. His only complaint is that he is not old enough to ride the bus!! He is reading (way too well - we can no longer spell things we don't want him to know about because he can figure the words out!) and doing math and making new friends.
We had one big, rather unpleasant surprise this fall. As we were planning our trip to Disneyland over October break, Matthew seemed "off". We decided to take him, one weekend, to the MinuteClinic at CVS. We have the nurse his symptoms, and she said she wanted to test his blood sugar as his symptoms sounded like Diabetes. His glucose levels were 474. In a very calm voice, she looked at me and said, "I think you are going to be going to the emergency room now...". Matthew was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. He is, so far, doing great with the whole thing... we still have the occasional "Whoops - forgot to test before I ate" but overall he has adjusted to this new way of living better than I would have, that is for sure.
We delayed our trip to Disney, and plan to visit the Land of the Mouse between Christmas and New Years.
May the blessings of the season be with you and your family this Christmas, and follow you into the New Year!!
The economy took its toll on everyone around here. Arizona had seen a meteoric rise in all things financial a few years back and was kicked in the teeth pretty hard as a result. The good news for us is that we are both still employed, thank goodness, but it has made for some frustrating times in both our jobs. Fewer sales and larger class sizes come immediately to mind.
This spring, Parker played baseball again, and is getting really good! It warms a parent's heart to hear folks in the stands wonder when they will put Parker in to pitch, because he is good! He loves every moment of the game, and was even invited to play Fall Ball this year - a first for him, and a very fun honor. Even with a fall sport, he managed to get all As and Bs for the first 2 quarters of school!
Matthew continues to amaze us with his love of science, and space, and you can now add architecture to the list. Legos have replaced Thomas the Tank Engine as his addiction, (given his age, this is a good thing) and there are more Legos around this house than one can imagine. He builds what he is supposed to build with whatever kit he has, then he takes it apart and builds something totally unique.
Christopher left the care of Nada this fall to venture into the big world of Preschool. He goes to Laguna with his two older brothers, and loves every minute of it. His only complaint is that he is not old enough to ride the bus!! He is reading (way too well - we can no longer spell things we don't want him to know about because he can figure the words out!) and doing math and making new friends.
We had one big, rather unpleasant surprise this fall. As we were planning our trip to Disneyland over October break, Matthew seemed "off". We decided to take him, one weekend, to the MinuteClinic at CVS. We have the nurse his symptoms, and she said she wanted to test his blood sugar as his symptoms sounded like Diabetes. His glucose levels were 474. In a very calm voice, she looked at me and said, "I think you are going to be going to the emergency room now...". Matthew was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. He is, so far, doing great with the whole thing... we still have the occasional "Whoops - forgot to test before I ate" but overall he has adjusted to this new way of living better than I would have, that is for sure.
We delayed our trip to Disney, and plan to visit the Land of the Mouse between Christmas and New Years.
May the blessings of the season be with you and your family this Christmas, and follow you into the New Year!!
Saturday, December 05, 2009
If you give a man a mission...
A Jensen Ode to "If you give a mouse a muffin..."
If you give a man a mission
of putting up the Christmas tree
First he will have to move furniture
and will see dust on the ground.
Then he will have to vaccuum,
and will see the window is not closed
Then he will have to take window out
and will see the screw stopping the window from closing.
Then he will have to get his toolkit out
and try to dislodge the screw.
Then he will have to find a way
to replace blinds without the screw that held them in place.
Then he will have to replace the window
only to find it still won't close......
Anyone want to guess whether or not we get the tree up today??
If you give a man a mission
of putting up the Christmas tree
First he will have to move furniture
and will see dust on the ground.
Then he will have to vaccuum,
and will see the window is not closed
Then he will have to take window out
and will see the screw stopping the window from closing.
Then he will have to get his toolkit out
and try to dislodge the screw.
Then he will have to find a way
to replace blinds without the screw that held them in place.
Then he will have to replace the window
only to find it still won't close......
Anyone want to guess whether or not we get the tree up today??
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