Exercising....and Motivation

When it comes to the subject of exercising, I lack one thing....motivation.  I don't find it fun, or freeing, or refreshing.  There are other activities that I've found that rejuvenate me just fine.  The only motivation I am left with is one of trying to magically turn back the clock or fight gravity and that seems like a losing battle.  Too bad it's not as easy as DST and we've all seen those ladies that deny their age and just look ridiculous.  Obviously, these are the justifications I use that aid in my lack of exercise commitment.

Today is different.  I am going to exercise....my right to vote.  Trust me, I have had times that I lack motivation.  I live in a predominately red state, which means that no matter how I vote, it really doesn't seem to matter.  I have a busy day planned and taking time to go vote seems, honestly, kind of pointless, yet I have never missed a vote since 1992 - even if it's just local elections (which I actually feel I have a say in).  

So why do I keep doing it?  Mostly because it is my right and privilege.  I think back to the images in Iraq of those risking their lives just to cast their ballot and embrace a freedom that I am granted on a regular basis.  I do it for those women who are still deemed less than equal and are not given a voice.  I do it because whether it counts or not, it is also my duty and I feel a very real sense of "country" when I exercise my right to vote.

This year, more than others, I also have a motivation to see this election cycle end and casting my vote is a part of that closure.  Seeing politics through the lens of social media is a study in social and human psychology for sure.  I have seen more divisiveness, grand assumptions, and name calling than ever.  Words like "liar", "tyranny", "lazy", "stupid", and others have been used in an attempt to sure up one's point of view as they share it with others.  Phrases like "I can't understand why" or "it's just so crazy" to describe points of view that don't align with one's already held.

All of this talk is very disheartening to me.  It makes me lack hope in humanity.  I am sure these statements cross party lines.  Of course, I am only inundated from one direction, but I am not so naive that I don't understand that there is enough name calling to go around.  Right now our country is pretty much split down the middle when it comes to voting - or at least that is what the polls are saying.  So when one claims that "those who vote for **** are just plain stupid"  or "a vote for **** is a vote for tyranny" I have to question that person's own thoughtfulness.  To simply disregard one half of our country's citizens in that manner is less than wise or respectful.  

The beauty of America, in my opinion, is that through diversity we move forward - diversity of cultures, diversity of thought, diversity of perspectives.  If we only surround ourselves with people and perspectives like our own, we are never challenged and likely to never see any kind of change.  So, to blatantly disregard anyone or any thought that challenges our own is naive.  To never see the value in an opposing thought is to refuse understanding and it's through understanding that we also move forward.  It's not that we have to embrace all points of view, but to disregard diversity of thought is just as silly.

As for diversity, it will find it's way onto my own ballot as I really don't align myself with any one party.  I try to look at individual issues and vote for what I truly believe is the best, not just for me, but for my fellow citizens.  I also believe that not any one candidate is the magic fix to all problems.  As humans we are all flawed.  We also all have our own strengths. So I will prioritize my issues, look at the strengths that are brought to the table and vote....whether it counts or not.  And, if my vote isn't the same as yours, well, let me assure you, I am not lazy, stupid, a tyrant, or lack love for my country.  I am an American citizen and like it or not, it's my right.  I will embrace it, celebrate it, and yes, I will exercise it!!

My Celebrity Crush

Anyone who knows me very well at all knows that I am, maybe, a little unconventional. This applies to many aspects of my life, including my celebrity crush.  I may seem a little old to be talking about, let alone, admitting that I have one.  You see, it's not some young, hot new actor - the ones you see and can read about in the celebrity gossip magazines.  It's not one of the hotties from back in the day, like Tom Cruise (a little too unconventional, if you know what I mean) or Brad Pitt (a little too pretty).  There is just something about a nice guy.  The one who is sincere, funny, and won't break your heart.  One with a great smile.  (As I type this out, it all makes more sense).  This is the guy who I would love to meet in real life!

Yes, it's Steve Carrell.  Not only does he usually play the nice guy in most movies, he also does in life. He's married with two kids - a real family guy.  How can you not love him?

Emilee brought home her two roommates for the weekend and yesterday, I got to share with them my favorite Steve Carrell movie, Dan in Real Life.  It's a sweet, sad, comedy about a widower trying to love again.  Ever since I saw it in the theater a few years back, I end up renting and watching it at least five times a year.  Most of those end of being in the fall - not sure why.  If you haven't already seen it, you should check it out.

If you've already seen it, go rent it!  What could be more fun for a fall afternoon than reliving new love and all it's crazy quirks.

Ahhhh...November

Well, another October has come and gone.  I am a huge fan of the month, but to be completely honest - I really don't like Halloween.  I know that just sounds awful.  It's not because I think it's some kind of terrible worship of the occult, but it is just crazy.  I've spent so many years having to carve multiple pumpkins (since the kids were too little be handling knives), make multiple candy runs (since we can't help ourselves and we break into the trick or treat candy days before), and even though I have a lovely Mother-in-law that helps the little ones figure out costumes, someone has a come-apart every Halloween night trying to figure out a last minute costume.

This year was a little different.  All of the kids carved their own pumpkins.  I still had to clean out Lottie's since she can't handle the slimy pumpkin guts.  Overall, pumpkin carving was much easier this year, but only five jack-o-lanterns on the porch makes me a little sad.....

Here's the kids with their creations -

They did a great job! 

Not only was Halloween different when it came to pumpkin carving, it was also the first year that we just stayed home.  Steven went trick or treating with a friend, Herman didn't want to go alone, and Maren had a friend party in the basement.  The older girls got home from basketball tryouts and were more than content to eat party pizza and sit around the table.  We had no trick or treaters come to the house and we actually forgot to light our jack-o-lanterns.  Sounds pretty lame, eh?  Lame, maybe, but more relaxing and enjoyable for sure.  I will miss raiding the kids Halloween candy bags for the next week or so, but hey, I don't need it.  I have 120 of the "world's finest" chocolate bars in the house for some school science fund raiser.  By the way, need any more chocolate?

Aside from Halloween, October has been filled with basketball tournaments, family vacation to Washington, and putting the yard to bed.  All good things, but November means snow flurries, sweater weather, and Thanksgiving - yum, turkey!!  It also means that the kids can't get too mad at me for listening to Christmas music - not that I haven't already, but I now can without shame.

Ahhhhh....November!!

Finally Fall

My least favorite months are August and September.  August is just way too hot.  Plus we are so busy with fair and getting ready to go back to school that everyone ends up grumpy.  Now September has a cruel sense of humor.  With the tease of kids in school, fall sports, and cooler nights, September just taunts me with the thought of fall, but then hits me with the reality of days in the upper 80's.  I so love the cooler, sweatshirt weather of fall, that the summer lingering heat just makes me angry.  You think I would know better and just take September for the unstable weather month that it is, but I always hold out hope for a good hard freeze, putting the garden to bed, and the lawnmower away.

Monday was the first real day that it truly felt like fall to me.  The sky was overcast (my personal favorite) and I was content to work inside freezing the remainder of the beans that we'd picked from the garden over the weekend.  So I started my chore with a pleasant demeanor.  This slowly faded, as standing on my feet for three hours seemed to get a little mundane.  I took a break, sat down at my computer and noticed a message from my good friend, Paulette.  A bunch of us "sisters" have a trip planned in November to visit Paulie in Portland.  I simply cannot wait!  She wanted to inform us that a great band, The Devil Makes Three, was going to be in town the same weekend that we were and wondered if we were interested in seeing them.

I searched them on the internet, fell in love with their sound, and spent the next few hours snipping beans and listening to everything I could find on youtube.  Their sound is county/bluegrass/folk like. It certainly has hometown feel that added to that "fall in the air" feeling. Thanks for sharing Paulette!  You can check out one of their tunes here!

I am so excited to reunite with all my lovely friends and see this awesome band.  So see ya September, October you can hurry along, I am looking forward to November and the good times to be had!!

A Farewell to Summer

 It's been awhile since I last posted.....a long while.  You see, summer for us is not the laid back, lemonade sipping, sitting on the porch time it is for some.  Summer on the farm is up at 5:30 a.m., pipe moving, thistle digging, sweating, fence moving, cow milking long days.  My job is to support all of the work going on and those doing it.  So, my blogging had to go on hiatus until some of the summer work had ceased.  Now with the kids in school and all of us on some sort of schedule, I can get back to blogging.  I thought I would just share some photos of the highlights of our summer.

What's more fun than jumping with a friend?

July 24th fireworks

Cousin Tate on the Gator

Grandpa's canal floating expedition

Pipe on the pastures

Fonnesbeck family reunion @ Saratoga Springs Wyoming

Family camp out @ Bloomington Lake - beautiful indian paint brush

Breakfast in the wilderness

Bloomington Lake

Summer is definitely one of our busiest times, but it's the time we learn to work together to accomplish big things.  It's the time we make memories together. It's when we see the best and the worst of each other and learn to appreciate our differences.  It's long.  It's hot.  But, I also wouldn't trade it for anything......well, except for a beautiful fall!  

Those Friends of Mine

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.  ~Elisabeth Foley

The past few days have been glorious!!  I was blessed to spend some time with my K-3rd grade best friend.  Her and her two kids had spent some time in Yellowstone and took a detour on their way home to come and visit me and mine.  Being together again was so easy and fun.  It was like time had stood still - other than we have a few wrinkles and more stories to tell, it seemed the same.  Strange how there are those people that you feel close to no matter how close or far apart you are literally. 

It was so fun to get to know her kids.  For city kids, they seemed to fit right in on the farm.  They loved driving the ranger.  Here's Maren with MacKenzie getting ready for take off!

LeAnn made some new friends with the baby calves.  

J.P. even got a chance to drive!

We ended our visit with lunch in the park.  It will probably be marked as the best time I had all summer.  I love that we haven't really talked in a few years, but we just pick up where we left off.  We still share our secrets, laugh, and listen.  It truly felt like I was 8 again and I had run down the street to spend a few hours with my best friend - all except I wouldn't expect us to get out the disco dancing dresses and put on a show!

It was kind of sad to say goodbye to LeAnn.  I am so happy that through technology it's much easier to keep up with each other.  I hope she knows that I am still just a few doors down... proverbially anyway!  

Lucky as I am, my sadness couldn't stay too long because it was only hours and one of my Jr. High pals showed up.  Tammy is an amazing woman.  She moved away from our home town shortly after Jr. High to Pennsylvania.  I was so excited when a few years back, she friended me on facebook.  We've shared a lovely friendship over the past few years.  She truly inspires me and probably feels like she also "fixes" me.  You see, she is a neuro-psychologist.  She is so accomplished and so lovely.  She did visit me once a few years ago.  It was so fun that I was super excited that she made time to hang out with me while in Idaho!  

We spent the evening at dinner together with our husbands and another classmate, Nathan, and his wife Linae.  We ate good food, definitely had some good laughs, and made some good memories.  I feel so lucky and blessed for all of my friends near and far......I just wish some weren't so far away.

For some reason, I foresee a vacation in my future......

Trailer Tuesday - Meet Gigi!!

This is Gigi - formerly referred to as The Red Lion.  Her previous name was given to her by the men who used to take her out on hunting expeditions.  Since she is going to receive a makeover, I felt like a new name was in order.  I now call her, Gigi, in honor of my Grandma Hedvig, who was the original owner....along with my Grandpa Weldon.  All of Grandma Hedvig's great grandchildren called her G.G. - for great grandma.  

Gigi's seen some better days.  Her once vibrant red paint has now turned orange and almost non-existent.  Her inside has some water damage and is in need of refinishing.  Since she's been in my care, I have wanted to give her a little T.L.C.  The time has come!

Here's an example of the water damage that needs sanding and refinishing - a daunting task, for sure!

I've removed the cupboard and drawer fronts for refinishing.  I'll put them back on after I sand her down and give her a  new coat of stain and finish!

Love the white appliances!  Along with the sunny yellow countertops and red trim, she will be bright and happy before long.........or probably longer than I wish!

I pulled out the old red carpet.  It was filled with years of dirt and straw from hunting trips and fair excursions!  I am super excited to blog about my progress and see the fruits of my labors.