out of shape

I'm out of blogging shape! I'm out of shape in a lot of ways but mainly I let this go too far. And I've been meaning to update this for at least 3 weeks but the period key on my keyboard broke and I kind of hate typing now, or moreso ending sentences. I'm biting the bullet. I'm getting back into it, because darn it all, I've only got two months left of the Year of the Martini and then what?! No really, then what?
The month of May and bit of June took a lot out of me. I ran another race, traveled to and from Portland about 20 times, attended visitations and funeral, bought a house, bought a lot of stuff to go in the house, tulip time, martini nights, said goodbye to some friends for the summer and I'm sure plenty of other crazy little things I can't remember at the moment.
So I have a pretty good memory but without any notes, I'm not sure I can remember well the martini nights of two months past. But I can tell you what I had and what I thought of them. They're as follows:
Tuliptini coming in at a low 2.7. To think that I saved this one for almost 9 months to consume specifically during Tulip Time and it was such a let down. I am going to suggest that they make it taste better somehow because what will the tourists think!? In late May I had the Appletini which I was positive I'd had before but somehow I can't find any info on it. This time I gave it a 7.7 because it was a bit tart, could have been a tad sweeter but it's a good staple, a good choice to fall back on if they ever run out of watermelon pucker.

Now that life is settling down more, I'm going to be back here much more. Consider it a warning.

sigh.

i haven't felt much like blogging lately. i feel like i can't really express what's going on in life well enough to even try. i am at least two posts behind but i won't be doing those now. thank you to those who allow me to just sit, without words, without explanation.
find rest in Him.
i am so very blessed with an amazing family. and amazing friends.

thank you.

two.

Today I found out two substantial things:

I am one very large step closer to being a home owner

               and

they finally figured out which cancer my Aunt has now, Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Let the battle begin, again.

today....

I got chased by a dog today. I was minding my own business, just starting out on my easy 3 miler around the block and suddenly this thing that looks like this:

starts on after me! Ok. I realize it could have been much worse but it was not a puppy. And it definitely left the yard and followed me and barked a lot! Good thing I yelled go away at it and it listened. Phew, dodged that bullet.

Luckily today was Wednesday, which meant day off, which meant my weekly visit to the Feldpausch home. This could be the last time I go there with only 2 kids. They're getting so big!

and now to the Brewery. Good day off.

peculiar happenings

I feel like weird things are happening to me lately. Things like this:

I love the dentist. I love getting stuff done, and feeling tough and clean at the same time. Plus my dentist is amazing. If he wasn't, I wouldn't still drive to Portland. For some reason, my jaw still hurts from the shot I got 8 days ago! What's up with that...shouldn't it be gone like hours later? I was shopping the day after getting my wisdom teeth out...this is unusual.

So I'm at Amy's and I try to do a dance move I've done plenty of times before and given, it does cause some pain though well worth it, this time it literally burned my foot. Wood floor burn on the top of my foot. Has anyone ever done this before? I doubt it.

I got chinese takeout today in Detroit and it took 40 minutes. FORTY! For chinese food? Seriously, did you have to kill the chicken first?!

Two months ago I had a leak in my tire in the valve and yesterday as I'm leaving to get my haircut, I hear a hissing...from the other tire. Same thing, different tire. Really? Seriously, is my car sitting on four faulty valves? I guess now just waiting for the other two...


And last but certainly not least. I just received my first issue of Get Married magazine. This would be sweet if I had requested the subscription. Or even better yet, I was getting married! just once more....Seriously!?



I wonder what's next.

drought

I am in the midst of a blog drought.

I don't know what it is. I've technically missed two posts, each of which had blog worthy notes. Not to mention I have 3 martinis to report on. I keep writing something and then thinking, that's lame, and erasing it. I know I need to post but I'm just not feeling it. Cut me a little slack if it doesn't make sense, flow or is just plain lame, because it means I stopped erasing and I'm moving forward despite my drought.

I had a very busy yet very enjoyable couple weeks. I had the opportunity to work 8 days straight, have four days off and then work another 7 in a row. I hope you picked up on the sarcasm. This made life difficult but I made it through. These are things that helped: birthday celebrations with my mom including the best cake ever, a movie in 3d and the successful meeting of "the sales rep" without my knowing. Linzo coming into town and experiencing Holland and all its glory, mainly martini night. Completing my 9 mile run and feeling good about my upcoming race. Michigan State in the Final Four and an awesome championship game. A muy fabuloso Easter Family dinner with wonderful people.
And then it happened. It was April 3rd and time for martini night. Like a delayed April fools joke, I got the news. My menu was nowhere to be found. And it was real this time. Didn't I just go through this? I lamented with my fellow attendees and decided I was going to be ok. Luckily I have a good memory. So here are the ratings on the three I've yet to report:
Hurricane: 7.9
Melon Martini: 7.1
Chocolate-tini: 8.9

I have to end there. Mainly because I feel like there are other things I want to be writing about but I can't because I'm behind. I'm hoping that the rain starts soon and the habit comes back...

thanks to those that continually come and fellowship.

joy comes in the mo(u)rning

today was the 5 year anniversary of my grandpa russman passing. it didn't occur to me until this afternoon but when it did, when i realized the similarities of life around me, it came back stronger. i remember watching my spartans play some great basketball and getting that call from my mom telling me to come home. i remember being there at his bedside talking about basketball and how much i loved him and that we'd all be ok, he could go. and i remember seeing that last breath. that's an odd moment to live through. and from there i remembered how much our family has been through in the past 5 years, how if we all hadn't had such wonderful examples of what it means to love, we wouldn't be where we are. there is no stronger bond. i love my family.