Do you know the way to Wendy's?

Have you been to Wendy's lately? Well, I know fast food is not the best thing for you, but let me tell you...you can feed a family of five for less than 15 bucks and STILL eat your veggies!

Holy cripes, I'm not kidding! A side salad is just one US dollar....and they aren't skimping here....fresh cool cukes, plum tomatoes, julliened carrots and greens! A side caesar with DARK GREEN LEAFY romaine and the right amount of dressing to still be healthy.

HAVE i MADE IT CLEAR THAT I AM EXCITED, HERE?

who out there likes unsweetened fresh-brewed iced tea? I know I do. you can get one for a buckaroonie.
you can even get a little junior burger with cool lettuce and tomatoes that aren't warm and gross.

YOU GUESSED IT. ONE DOLLAR.

guess what? you can get a baked potato with delicious brocoli on top......how much does it cost? a freakin'buck!!

I'm pretty sure that I am not the norm here, but just because you are at Wendy's doesn't mean you have to eat a triplebacon monster "baconater"

HOLD ONTO YOUR WALLETS HERE>>>>>>>> Fresh chili with tons of yummy beans and bright red tomatoes.

ONE GODDAMMED US DOLLAR!

Now, I don't need anyone telling me that this is how they rope people in...dollar menu is evil...blah blah yaddah yaddah..... DON'T BE SO STUPID...EAT THE GOOD STUFF AND YOU WON'T BE CLUTCHING YOUR CHEST AS YOU TRY AND DIGEST 6 PIECES OF BACON AND 15 SLICES OF CHEESE, FOR CRY-EYE-EYE!

Jeepers, those frosys are good too. We all shared one and jeff-poo had a frosty rootbeer float.

sorry, kids the floats cost 1.99

Now THAT"S how they getcha!

How much does happiness cost?...About 98.50!

What a lovely day it has turned out to be. Come to think of it, anyday that you are still breathing is pretty good, right? I guess I will quote one of my favorite guys again..."As long as you are still breathing, there is more right with you than wrong with you" ( That's Mr Kabat-Zinn talking)

I had come home from another nice day at work today and things just kept on getting better as the day progressed.
Everyone I worked with today was in a pretty good mood, and I went about my ususal business at SBUX ...It's nice to pick a ridiculous song and make everyone sing along. Today I decided we (my fellow starbuckians and myself) should sing "2 legit...2legit to quit!" randomly throughout the day. Nothing throws people off more than to be waking up to a cup of Cafe' Verona and a little song and dance before 7 a.m. '

Anyhows, I had a lovely day at my job, as per the usual, and I got to come home to my little housey in cedarburger. What a nice little house! My father-in-law had been over the previous day and done a little yardwork with Jeff. He left me his electric trimmer so I could borrow it for a few days. Let's just say trimming the bushes makes me happy. (Strange, but true)

As a sidenote here, anyone who has known me for a bit knows that I LOVE to work in the yard. Maybe it is the "beaner" in me, maybe I just love the outdoors, but I have been know to invite myself into someone ELSE'S yard (yes, to do THEIR yard) when I did not have a home of my own.
So, I came home and hung out with Furgzilla for a bit, he decided to go play ball with a friend, and the kids were asleep so what does that mean?......

stop.TRIMMER-TIME!

i proceeded to trim my little heart out until I began to hear little goos and gaas from inside the baby's room. Jane was playing in her room and just chillin'

I knew I wanted to keep on trimming, but children have needs, so I put my little friend back in the garage. ( I also decided to name Mr. Trimmer "Jorge" since I have NO Hispanic friends or anyone to speak spanish to.)

By this time I was completely shiny with smelliness, so I figured it was time to hit the pool. Jane and I got into our suits, and Mallory got into her little swim diaper. We all took the plunge and it was WONDERFUL!

Who knew a cheap little pool that costs 98.50 could bring sooo much joy. THe kids are happy, I'm happy, we are surrounded by birds hopping from treetop to treetop, tweeting and chirping away. Jane and I became very still and looked upwards into the blue blue sky. Mallory was lounging on a baby floaty like the queen of sheba whilst sipping on a warm bottle of milk.

I can honetly say I have never enjoyed another swimming experience as much as I did today. And all it took was a garden hose and 98.50

I've spent more on trips, waterpark tickets, airfare, bus time, packing/unpacking, hotels, blahblahblah. Silly, silly me.

all this time the answers were right there in front of me in my own backyard.

Perhaps when I am 92 and slowly sipping some tea on the back deck with Jeff, it will be a memory I can call upon again and again.

Just in case you are feelin' down and out, swing by wauwatosa ave. and honk the horn. Chances are, we'll be home....bring your suit, we'll supply the towels.

Peace.

Can a big gal TRI?

Now THAT is a silly question! If ever there was a bigger gal to prove conventions wrong it would be MOI. I know I am not what most people think of as FIT or TRIM or SKINNY or any other word you can think of to describe the typical athlete, but guess what? ME VALE MADRE'! (translation: "I don't give a bleeeeeeeeep!") Somewhere along the road TV and magazines decided to hide away all of the people who can't shop at the store "2 4 6" and tell us we are not worthy of love, admiration or anything good in the world if you are not a slim, trim barbie doll. To heck with that nonsense!

Ever heard of the tortoise and the hare? Well, I am the tortoise in the Bugs bunny cartoon that outwits the super-cool snide little bugs bunny who thinks he knows better.

You may be asking yourself where I am going with this, no? Well, let me let you in on a little secret....I AM A TRIathlete. There could be no better title for it, becasue I TRI to be an athlete. Let me let you in on something else...It isn't the exercise that is hard, it isn't how hard the work is that is hard.....it is all the old voices in my head that have taken up residence for far to long.

what do these voices say? "you are too fat." "you are....

OLD

UGLY

DUMB

RIDICULOUS

SLOW

NOT LIKE WHAT EVERONE ELSE IS LIKE

NOT GOOD ENOUGH

BEING LAUGHED AT.

Well guess what...I'm not afraid to admit to these guys that they may have ruled my world for 30 plus years, but I have officially served them with an eviction notice!

That's right evil-twin negative thoughts, you are no longer valid...do not pass GO, do NOT collect 200 dollars. Want to know why you are no longer welcome, and are no longer a threat, and are no longer going to rule my life, my thoughts, my everyday existence?

BECAUSE I HAVE PROVED YOU WRONG.

I can run longer, swim longer, bike further, kick butt at kickboxing, give birth without so much as a TYLENOL, and put out a forest fire BETTER THAN ANY NEGATIVE THOUGHT could anyday. I am SUPERMIFF....I have 2 things that many people who would say I can't do it don't have....

perserverence and indominatable spirit.

LAUGH ALL YOU WANT BUGS BUNNY. GAFFAW AS I CREEP UP BEHIND YOU AT A SNAILS PACE. butremember this...

THE TORTOISE ALWAYS FUCKING WINS.

yep, that's right, I have love handles, a spare tire, junk in the trunk, and mom-arms....but guess what? there are muscles beneath the surface that can run miles, lift small vehicles, and move pianos all by myself.

That is me in a t-shirt and undies.

TAKE THAT, NEGATIVE THOUGHTS!

To my fellow friend in the TRI-world, mel....keep on waddling down the path, I'll be right there behind you.

Yes, I'm a blog virgin

There's this new thing all the kids seem to be doing these days...I hear it is called blogging or yogging, with a soft "Y". (sorry, I couldn't reisist the reference to "anchorman") Well, anyhows, I am not one to follow most mainstream trends, but some things cannot be denied forever. I tried to not have a cellyphone, but alas, it seems that my phone bills are actually CHEAPER if we have one.
I also tried to NOT have Cablevision on the television, but then I cannot view reruns of Three's company at my leisure....enter DISHNETWORK. I feel I have somehow outsmarted these trends by using them for my own needs....I use DISH because I can use DVR and not have to watch another commercial EVER AGAIN. I use the cellphone to have cheaper internet/long distance and also so I never have to memorize my home phone number. You may say this is all silliness, but me thinks it is best to have a reason (however strange) to justify that which I am opposed to ethically or otherwise.
That being said, I have decided to begin the blog. It is similar to my cellyphone use..now I will never have to try and remember anyon else's blog addresses or how to find them because I can link them to my own.
Being of the Bipolar persuasion (technically "cyclothmic"...whatever..nutty is nutty, no matter how nutty you want to call it)I have no shortage of racing thoughts and ideas that the brain would like to share with WHOMEVER may or may not be listening. There is only so much idle chatter my hubby can listen to before he gently makes the "sushy" sound to let me know I have prattled on for long enough. Besides. I am tired of being out of the loop with some of the fun and interesting people I have come to make acquaintence with in the past year or so. Namely, it would be nice to check in with some like-minded individuals who are gently treading their way through this life.
Lastly I make this blog not for my hubby or friends or even the kids...it's for me, dammit, because I deserve it! Life was pretty hard the first 30 or so years, and now I am living my best life....truly enjoying each day by trying to remember to do one thing and one thing only...."pay attention, in the present moment, non-judgementally, as if your life depends on it." A wise fellow named Jon Kabat-Zinn put it pretty well, and I am trying to put it into action, moment by moment. So enjoy this blog, chana as you look back on it 50 years form now with the children gone and grown, and the grandkids laughing at how strange their granny is. look back and laugh at yourself, the rest of you out there who may or may not be reading...try some laughing yoga and see how silly worrying about anything is.
Life is good, life is easy, and the universe has everything in the world you dream of...you just have to ask for it!