It's over!

The Christmas Blizzard has moved on, thankfully!  But in its wake is a whole lot of snow.  Hubster finally made it home around noon today but couldn't get in our yard with the truck. There's a 5ft snow drift the entire width and length of our driveway.  Thankfully our young neighbor - Tony - came with the industrial snowblower on the tractor.  Yeah!! 

I spent yesterday rearranging my office/spare bedroom, cleaning out papers, organizing files, and getting ready for year-end stuff.   I tried to get things ready today to actually do year-end, but just couldn't find it in my mind to focus.  So, I did some more cleaning and organizing. ~L~  I have the cleanest, most organized office that I've ever had! (hope it lasts).  

I think my New Year's resolution is going to be "Be Organized!"   My good friend Becky said, "yeah, let me know how that works out for you!"  Snot! ~LOL~ 

Seriously, I had a stack of mail on my desk that was at least a foot high.  Crazy!  In my "perfect world" I would think I should be able to take a piece of mail and handle it - be it pay it, file it or toss it - just deal with it.  But nope, not me.  I deal with it, then lay it down, and stack more paperwork on top of it.  It's a vicious cycle. 

So yes, my New Year's resolution is "Deal with it" AND "Be Organized."   (Check back with me in three months to see how I'm doing on that!)

Ok, on a lighter side...since hubster wasn't home last night either, I went surfing on Amazon.  Oh My GOSH!  My wish list just grew by TEN books!  I seriously think that AFTER I get organized, I'm going to have to take a little winter break, order some books, and just plain READ for an entire week.  Seriously, there are sooooooooooo many good books out there that I'm salivating as I type.      Next to yoga, reading is my favorite thing to do.  I tend to get a little bit sleep deprived though as I just HAVE to finish "one more chapter" - which ultimately turns in to two or three more chapters.   

Diana Gabaldon's new book is out in hardcover - the latest installment in the Claire and Jaime Fraser story that spans generations. I cannot wait until it comes out in paperback!  This is a love story that had me at the 2nd page, despite the time-travel between centuries.  The author writes the characters with this sense of humor that has me in stitches one minute, then crying the next.  This book is the 7th book (?) in the storyline.  It's gonna be good, I just know it!

I'm also a fan on werewolves, vampires and fairies...(I know!)...so there are some new books out by Karen Marie Moning and Sherilyn Kenyon that I want to order. For all you literature snobs out there, despite what you may think, they are well written and DO have a good plot and storyline.  The characters - once you get past the fact that they are werewolves, vampires and fairies - are quite entertaining.  (Acheron is my absolute favorite!) 

OK...first things first ......get ORGANIZED, then play! ~S~

How I Spent Christmas

1. Alone - except for my cat, Boris.  Hubster spent the day at main ranch and tended to the cattle.
2. In a Blizzard.
3. Talked to every one of my siblings and wished them and their families a Merry Christmas.
4. Watched "Rachel Got Married" - a good movie about a dysfunctional family.  Love Ann Hathaway's work in this one.
5. Had toast for Christmas dinner.  Splurged and put PB & J on top!  
6. Did yoga.  Yeah!!! 
7. Searched for friends - and found a few - on FB.  (Double cool).
8. Chased Boris around the house.
9. Talked with various people on the phone, like good friend Becky and mother-in-law Ella.
10. Took a hot, leisurely bath and shaved my legs (ok, too much information I know, but it's what I did!).
11. Searched for fun and unusual sights on the internet.  Didn't find anything that tripped my trigger.
12. Read other people's blogs.  There is some hilarious stuff out there. (Blase, keep writing hon!)
13. Did my nails.
14. Thought about doing some bookwork....then stopped that thought right quick - it was Christmas for heavensake!
15. Paced between the frontroom window and kitchen window hourly trying to decide how much snow we were getting and if was any worse out from the last time I made the trip.
16. Checked http://www.weather.com/ often to make sure that yes, we were STILL in a Blizzard. 
17. Made some popcorn and hotchocolate - cuz that's what you do in a Blizzard when stormed in at home, alone.
18. Alphabetized my cd collection by artist and title. 
19. Searched Amazon.com for some books I want to order.
20. Fell asleep thankful that everyone I love was safe.

Merry Christmas!

It's the afternoon of Christmas Eve.  It's a time for families to come together to celebrate the holidays, for friends to wish each other well and give thanks for the special bonds that bring them together.  A time for reflection on all the good things in our lives and to remember those no longer with us who have left their imprint on us. 

My mind turns to my family on this day and the special memories the holiday holds for me.  I'll be going to my sister's (Peggy) tonight - weather permitting - to celebrate with her and her daughters (and son-in-law).  Very few Christmas Eves have gone by that I haven't spent  them with Peggy.  It all started back in the 70's - my parents and I would spend the evening with Earl and Peggy - eating, drinking, driving around and looking at Christmas lights or going to Christmas Eve services.  My parents and Earl are no longer with us, but the night holds us close to them and their memories.

I want to extend a warm, heartfelt wish to everyone to enjoy their Christmas - hold family members tight and enjoy their warmth and love.

A White Christmas

I’m dreaming of a White Christmas, but seriously…I don’t want THAT much white! 

Yes folks, we are going to be in the grips of a winter storm/blizzard through the Christmas holidays.  This is going to bite big time!  

Though I don’t have to travel far – just to town on Christmas Eve and less than a mile on Christmas Day – I do have two nieces scheduled to come in from Minneapolis.

My husband already informed me that if it gets as bad as what they are predicting, he may not be home for Christmas, opting to stay at the ranch to make sure the cattle fair through the storm relatively unscathed and still inside the corrals.   The cattle are our livelihood so he makes sure they are cared for.  He’s a lot like my father in that respect. Dad always said, “you can judge a man by the way he treats his animals.”

I’m already thinking ahead  - do I have enough milk, toilet paper, and bread on hand JUST in case I get stranded at home.  (Those essentials, you know!)    

I remember many a blizzard at home while growing up.  Dad would say, “as long as we have food and electricity we’ll be fine.”  Most generally we were.  Dad would wear out the carpets pacing from room to room looking out the window (gee, I wonder where my brother Ron gets that from!) to make sure everything was ok.  He was always worried about fire in a snowstorm.  Honestly, I worry about that too.  

So, IF (and I hope that I am not) stuck alone during Christmas, or even if hubs is home, I’m going to hunker down in my favorite chair, watch some good movies or read a book, maybe even play on the computer, and talk to my siblings to make sure they (and their families) are all ok and safe during the storm.

It may be a lonely Christmas for many people if their families cannot make it home.  But, I’d rather people be safe in their homes than stranded out on the road ways. 

Stay safe everyone and remember….Christmas is in the heart, blizzard or not.  ~S~ 

Sherry

The countdown is on....

If you haven't gotten it, wrapped it, baked it, written it out, mailed it.....  GET TO IT!  ~L~

I had every intention of writing out Christmas cards last night, but it was hubster's birthday so we ended up going out for supper to The Grille...and I just didn't feel like doing them when we came home.  We watched a rather stupid movie called The Seeker...but it was entertainment AND I got to eat lots of buttered popcorn.  So....Christmas cards have just turned in to New Years cards! ~L~

Had a good day though yesterday and today. It's so pretty outside with the frost covering the trees. Here are a couple of pics that I snapped on my way in to the gym yesterday morning.   They are pretty enough to put on a postcard!

I spent the afternoon with Peggy and Blaine.  They were doing their annual "Peggy does the baking and Blaine does the wrapping" date and they "decided" to let me in on the fun!  And fun we had!  I tell you what, I laughed at the way Blaine was wrapping those caramels.  He has the "Schulz" flip of the wrist down, just like dad used to do.  I even got in on rolling Krumme Kakka (spelling?).  It was great!  Love that stuff.  Peg wanted to send some home for Tom but I told her "don't bother, they won't ever make the trip home."  ~L~  Tom would never see them!   

I am having an absolutely difficult time with self-restraint. I want to eat everything in sight it seems ~L~  Soooo much good food out there!   Every time I turn around I hear of another good receipe.  Like tonight, talking to a girlfriend, she says..."Oh, this is supposed to be good...cheese covered popcorn covered in almond bark."  Oh YUM!!!   ~LOL~  I'm still thinking I'm going to make a batch of mint balls..  sounds easy enough: cream cheese, crushed mint oreo cookies and chocolate almond bark.  Three ingredients!  I MIGHT be able to handle this one folks!

OK....so...now that I've got myself super hungry...at 9:56pm at night......I'm gonna log off, raid the kitchen, brush my teeth and fall in to bed and in to - hopefully - a deep slumber.  Lots of ground to cover tomorrow and I needs my sleep!

Night all!

How to eat during Christmas

This email arrived in my email this morning and I couldn’t help but chuckle.  These days, I’ll all about healthy eating, watching the calories and exercising like a mad woman.  BUT, there was a day when I followed each of these 10 steps and had a good time doing it.   

 

So, with nostalgia, I’m forwarding them on to everyone in hopes that maybe you’ll indulge in one (or 10) of them and have an absolutely fantabulous Christmas season! 

 

 

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. if something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. as for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip:   If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read these tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Have a wonderful Christmas season!!

 

 

 

This made my day!

I was setting up the training room this morning for another round of staff training classes.

 

In doing so, I asked the instructor whether he showed a movie with his course. 

 

His reply was priceless:  "I AM the movie! The good, the bad and the ugly all rolled in to one!"

 

I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing!   

 

What a wonderful way to start my day!

 

Christmas Memories

Almost every radio station I listen to these days is in full Christmas music mode.  I am loving it! 

 

Every song I hear is bringing back some absolutely wonderful memories of my childhood.  

 

When I was a little mite, my grade school would have Christmas pageants. Those pageants consisted of beautiful homemade costumes, poor acting and  lots of Christmas carols sung off-key by hyperactive children in 1st - 6th grades. 

 

It was a big event for us.  We started practicing in November and December, every afternoon during the week.  We learned our lines, or tried, sang about jingle bells and the twelve days of Christmas, and had a lot of fun skipping out on classes in the afternoon and misbehaving while we were not on stage.   We had a lot of work to do in order to be ready for the grand event the week before Christmas and somehow managed to pull it off, much to the delight of our parents.   

 

One particular Christmas pageant had me cast as a Christmas card (one of six). I believe I was in either 2nd or 3rd grade.  My costume was two pieces of tag board strapped together.  A scene having to deal with Christmas needed to be prominently displayed on front and back. 

 

 Luckily for me, my father was a self-taught artist who loved to dabble in oil paints.  Once he learned what my costume was to be, he spent hours sketching a design he thought would be appropriate for a Christmas pageant.   He would disappear for hours during the evening to work on this very involved project.  

 

 He wouldn't let me see what he was sketching in the "cooler" (his term for the basement where he had his office).  I even tried to sneak in to his office get a glimpse, but the door was conveniently locked - locked doors never occurred in our home. 

 

This was getting serious.

 

Every time I would ask what it was, he would just smile and say, "it's a work in progress."   

 

The day of dress rehearsal came and I needed to have the Christmas card costume at school with me, but he wouldn't let me take it on the school bus.  He promised that he would bring it to school in time for the dress rehearsal.  He did as promised.  When it came time for me to suit up, he was the one there (along with mom) to place the card over my shoulders. 

 

The front of the card was a beautiful,  snowy, forest scene with trees of many sizes and shapes off in the distance.  In the foreground  was a small evergreen brightly colored with lights.  A star was brilliantly displayed on top, it's glow reaching up to the heavens.    

 

The back of the card was equally as beautiful and of the same design, but with a manger scene showing beside the brightly lit tree.  

 

Everyone was ooo-ing and ahh-ing at the card.  I was the envy of all of my classmates. All I remember is the feeling of pride I had at wearing something that my father had made for me.  I was over the moon. Even more so when, on the night of the pageant, I stepped out on stage in my Christmas card costume and heard the gasps and claps from the audience. 

 

The love of my father was put in to that Christmas card costume.  I'm not sure who was beaming more, him or me. 

 

That memory can bring tears to my eyes to this very day.  

 

It is not the biggest, shiniest, most expensive gift that matters.  The  handmade gifts made and given out of love are the ones that are most remembered and treasured always. 

 

Sherry

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am blessed

As I sit and reflect on my life, I realize how incredibly lucky I am. 

 

There are days that life seems to be a complete struggle.  You know the ones; those days where you get screamed at by ungrateful shrew on the other end of the phone, a co-worker that has a chip on their shoulder and is unrelenting in their vision of the world, or the unpleasant store clerk who would rather shoot you than help you. 

 

Then there are days when you realize that everything that may cause a hiccup in the day - is just that, a hiccup.  In the grand scheme of life, those small things are insignificant. 

 

I hear of others in our community (and the nation) going through hardship and I look at my life and count my blessings. 

 

Those blessings help me to get through the difficult phone call, deal with difficult or unyielding staff, smile at an unpleasant clerk at a store, or hold my tongue when a family member hurts my feelings. 

 

My Father used to say, "the grain crop was good, the cows are producing milk, the chickens are laying eggs, we have a roof over our head, food to eat, and our health.  What more is there." 

 

Indeed.

 

 

 

Be The Match

On November 18, 2002 I took the first step to help save someone's life - I signed up to become a member of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry.   

It was quick, painless, and it made me feel good about myself; I was doing something worthwhile that just may save someone's life.

For many patients with life threatenting diseases such as leukemia, a bone marrow transplant is their best or only hope for a cure.  Many do not have a donor match in their family and need to rely on people - such as me - to help save their lives.

I often hear that being a donor of marrow - if called upon when matched - is painful.  I've heard the stories, the ones where they need to drill in to the hip bones to extract the marrow.   But you know what?  A little pain on my part isn't anything compared to to the pain of someone going through cancer.  I can - and will -put up with the discomfort in order for someone to have a 2nd chance at life.

I urge anyone interested in becoming a donor to visit the following link: http://www.bethematch.org/ to find out how you can help.  

Namaste'

Every once in a while...

 

I just have to laugh.    I was at the gym last night sweating my bootie off.   After sucking air on my last pass on the treadmill, I decided it was time I'd had enough.  

 

While I was putting on my sweatshirt and bundling up to keep that "post workout heat" going in the frigid temperatures, a gentleman that I've seen (but have no clue what his name is) through the gym circuit for a couple of years was getting ready to head out the doors as well. 

 

He was lamenting the fact that he'd just left warmer temperatures to "come back to this!"   A group of us were gathered around the door and were laughing that this was just the start of it and he should "suck it up and deal with it."  

 

 He just laughed, reached in to his bag and drew out a fresh mandarin orange and tossed it to me. 

 

 He proceeded to say, "try that on for size....I have an orchard full of them; beats anything you get in a can."  

 

As I'm thanking him, he laughs and says, "Know what's the meanest thing anyone can do to a person"?  

 

When I ask what that would be, he smiles and says, "Give someone just one fresh mandarin orange and tell them you have an orchard full of them and will be going there over the weekend." 

 

Everyone lost it and nodded their heads.

 

Yep.... he got us!  ~LOL~  

 

 

 

 

The Day After..

Oh my gosh!  I did it up good yesterday.  I now have to let my belt out another notch!  It was all sooooooooo good though.

I stayed up on Wednesday until 11:30pm getting the kitchen set up, stuffing made, table set, and everything ready to go so all I had to do on Thursday was get the bird in the oven, turn on the stuffing (crock pot), and finish up with some last minute cooking.  

We had 8 people at my house: brother-in-law Bill, his wife Jackie, their daughter Amy and her partner Nick, Mary - Jackie's mother, and Ella, my mother-in-law, and of course me and hubster. 

The food was delicious, if I do say so myself.  Most importantly, the gravy did not have lumps!  (That's because I've finally found out that it is less headach to just go by the premade stuff than to keep apologizing for the lumpy gravy!) ~L~

My in-laws are ranchers - so by 3:00pm, everyone was gone.  My first year I cooked Thanksgiving dinner, I was just SURE that they hated me because they didn't stick around and visit.  I grew up in a family where everyone shows up at 10am and leaves at  10pm.   But, after so many years with my in-laws, it's become second nature for me to have the table cleared, dishes washed and put away, leftovers stowed away in the frigdge, and me sitting on the couch  watching football or a movie by 4pm. ~LOL~

Today, the day after, is a casual day.  Instead of going to the gym as I had planned, I pulled out my mat and did a full hour of yoga - down dog and all!  I was a little worried on how it would feel after gorging myself on food yesterday, but it was a piece of cake.  It felt good to move, breath and stretch out, and just get inside my head and let  the outside world fall away from my thoughts.  

I do plan on going in to town later though - doing some shopping (as little as possible!), and maybe catching up with some friends later on.  My mother-in-law and I are going to watch the Holiday Razzle-Dazzle parade on main street - hopefully from the comfort of indoors!  

I hope that everyone had a good Thanksgiving and is surviving the Black Friday hustle and bustle.  

She kept a good house...

I remember growing up, my mother would make a comment about a neighbor lady and say something like, "she keeps a good house."   It seems that woman's status in the community was judged by the way she kept her house, cooked, or baked.  You know, the ultimate housewife and homemaker.  I used to think it was so funny, but not so much when mom would have me doing the spring AND fall cleaning.   This wasn't  the usual dust and vacuum.  Nope.   This was the all out get on the hands and knees scrubbing of walls and floors.  And lest not we forget the turning of the mattresses, washing of bed linens, and polishing till I was blue in the face.

I try and keep up with the fall and spring cleaning, but in truth, I admit that I get at it only once a year.  That deep down, crevace, actually MOVE the furniture and vacuum, polish and shine and wash everything down.   I feel good that I do it, but chastise myself that I don't do it like "mom used to do it."  

Then in a moment of clarity,  I slap myself on the forhead and mutter loudly , "but she did not work outside the home."    Not that this is an excuse mind you, but I work a full 8-9 hours at my day job outside the home, I teach yoga 2-3 nights a week, and I exercise (to combat the genetics given to me by my parents) 2-3 nights per week. 

I do what I can.  I'm not living in a pig-pen by any means - it's clean, just a little cluttered.  I like to think that my house has the inviting, warm, lived in feel to it  I don't care if people take their shoes off when they enter the house, or sit down on a chair with their dirty clothes on.  I'm just happy that people come to visit me.  I have been know to say, "please excuse the mess" as I'm shoving old newspapers to the opposite side of the table so we can sit down, have a cup of coffee, and catch up on life's happenings.

Mom, bless her heart, lived for family.  Though I know she didn't mind the messes we all made, she was right there with a rag in her hand cleaning up spilled milk, or wiping the grease from the stove as she was frying pork-chops for a crew of 8 or 10 (depending who was home for the weekend). 

No, I'll never be known for "keeping a nice house" but that's alright.  You want a cup of coffee and stimulating conversation with lots of laughter......don't mind the mess and you're welcome any time. 

Showing Signs of Life...

 

Now that the weekend is here, I'm definitely showing signs of life!  Funny how that happens.  :-)

 

This was an unusual week in that I had two Mondays in one week....and we all know how I hate Mondays!   I enjoyed the day off on Wednesday in observation of Veteran's Day, but coming back on Thursday was a killer!    Add to that my yoga nights were on Monday and Wednesday this week instead of Tuesday and Thursday.  Let's just say that I'm a little off kilter!  (Some would say that is normal for me though!) ~L~

 

I had a great training session with Levi last night.  He once again put me through my paces and had me sweating in no time.  My heart rate went from 112 bpm to 152 bpm in one minute!  Yow!  I felt good though.   I keep reminding myself that everything that I'm doing now to keep me strong and healthy will help me in my later years.  I don't want to be one of these people that sit in a rocking chair at age 60 and watch life pass by.  I want to live and I want to have a good quality of life while I'm doing it.  

 

Look for me....I'll be the little ole' lady doing yoga at age 89!  :-)

 

Have a great day everyone!!

 

Sherry

Ahhhhhh...

....that's me rejoicing that I made it through "hump day" and Friday is looming ever closer. I don't like to wish time away, but I do so love my weekends! (Don't we all!).

It's been a whirlwind of a week so far, but I'm loving every minute of it. Monday started out with yours truly attending PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics) class for 8 hours. PPCT is a great class for self defense out in the world.....but inside a prison setting it is used to "take down" an uncooperative inmate with nothing but your bare hands.

Now, I want to remind you that I'm five foot nothing, I'm in fairly good shape, I'm limber, flexible, and really a good sport. I was looking around the room at my co-workers and thinking..."you want me to do what?" Talk about stepping outside the comfort zone. ~L~

Travis (instructor) was fantastic at explaining things in detail, and very patient with this particular desk jockey. At one point, while performing the clavical notch on a co-worker, he laughed and asked me if I was giving a massage! ~L~ And folks...do you KNOW how sensitive that area is right where your nose and lip meet? Yeah, well...have someone shove their knuckle in there and then try to scalp you with it! NOT my idea of fun! ~L~ (Darn thing STILL hurts!) BUT, I did take down someone MUCH taller and heavier than me with a sweet little tacticle move called a hmmm "straight arm bar take down"(I think - need to check my notes on that one). Hint: It's ALL in the wrist action).

The next class is next week and I'll be doing more take downs AND handcuffing. Sweet! Travis did caution me however, that I needed to bark out the orders to "back away" with much more force than I did. I believe his direct words were, "Sherry, you don't say 'hi' and shake their hands with these moves." My thoughts were, "I'm a yoga instructor for crissakes, this goes against that 'do no harm' philosphy I try to have. ~LOL~ Oh well...in a prison setting, if one is gonna get harmed, I'm gonna be the one DOING the harming and not be the "harmed". ~S~

I'm going to share some pictures with you that were taken at the Schulz Octoberfest (these were taken before we all got sick ~L~).

The dynamic six!

I'm in good company with the young ones!

My lovely nieces: Joan, Lori, & Shelly

Karen (niece) and Me... can you see a family resemblance?

The next generation!

A Repeat...

Once in a while I receive a request to "repeat" a blog post. This is one of the repeat posts that I hope you all enjoy the 2nd time around. It was originally posted in May of 2008.

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Greetings Everyone,

I received an email about 9 years ago from a far-away-friend that touched me to the core. It was entitled "Life's Lessons." I printed it out and tucked it away to read when I needed some inspiration. I ran across it awhile ago and, not surprisingly, it touched me as much now as it did then. So, to my friend Lee - wherever you may be, thank you for sending me something so beautiful and for thinking of me. Be well My friend.

Life's Lessons
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, they serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be; your roommate, neighbor, professor, long lost friend, lover or even a complete stranger who, when you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you and at the time they may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, will power or heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, if they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life and the successes and downfalls you experience, they are the ones who create who you are. Even the bad experiences can be learned from…those lessons are the hardest and probably the most important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about you. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen, let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it.

Happy Halloween

Goodness Gracious.....it's the time of year that the ghouls, goblins, and monsters come out and play their trickery on us poor unsuspecting folk.

I've always enjoyed fall - many of you know that by now (I keep saying it enough). With Autumn, comes the holidays of Halloween and Thanksgiving. Although Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite Holiday, Halloween holds a special place in my heart, mainly due to one person - my friend and coworker Bob Holzworth.

"Sniper Bob" - as he was affectionately known by his co-workers - LOVED Halloween. Bob started planning for this event months in advance. He scoured the thrift stores looking for the "perfect" costume to wear, decorations for his yard and his home, and material with which to build his "spooks." He was known to have decorated - and undecorated - his yard every night because he "didn't want vandals to destroy his handiwork". His Halloween parties (in celebration of his birthday also) are legendary to this day. He loved to laugh, to dance, to joke, and was a true delight to be around. You couldn't help but smile in his presence.

Bob was taken from us far too soon two years ago due to his fight with lung cancer.

I'm pretty sure that Bob, even though he is in a heavenly place now, may be celebrating his love of Halloween in his own particular fashion.

Happy Halloween My Friend.

Yoga cancelled for tonight 10/27/09

I'm covering all my bases and posting yoga information on this site as well.

Due to instructor illness, yoga classes have been cancelled for tonight, Tuesday October 27, 2009.

Students: Information has been emailed to your email accounts on file, posted on Twitter, www.newsdakota.com (local announcements) and also www.betterlifethroughyoga.blogspot.com

I appreciate your understanding and apologize for the inconvenience.

PS: The 1st night of the November session is Thursday, October 29th.

Namaste'

Sherry

It's gonna be a good, good day!

I have happiness in my heart today.

I get to spend the day with my lovely family for the 9th annual Schulz Oktoberfest!

Every year my siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews,and great nieces/nephews spend a day in October gathering together reminiscing of days past with our childhood memories of Mom and Dad, life on the family farm, and sharing stories and tales of "the good life."

We share food, drink, laughter. I'm proud to witness the love we have for each other. To share in the laughter of happy times, to share the grief of lost loved ones (Mom, Dad, and Earl) through shed tears, and to celebrate the future of our family as we watch the young ones play together and make the start of their own 'shared memories of family'.

Pictures are taken for prosperity sake to document the passing of time and the growth of our lives and family.

Whomever can make it, does - as there is no pressure to attend. And we miss those that cannot attend due to living out of state or life obligations. I know they are with us in spirit and we hope they'll be able to attend the following year.

I've been blessed to have wonderful family.

It's gonna be a good, good day.

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future. - Gail Lumet Buckley.

Just another Saturday

I got up early and hit the gym for turned out to be an awesome workout. I had the place to myself so I didn't have to wait for machines or weights. I even spent 15 minutes in the sauna! LOVE feeling the heat!

The usual errands had to be done - the weekly trip to Walmart - then home to clean house. I am definitely not a fan of housework, but if I don't do it, certainly no one else will.

The best part of today is the sun! It's out! We haven't seen sun around these parts for a looonnnnnnnnng time. It's amazing what it does for the disposition. Tomorrow is supposed to be super nice - temps in the high 50's - so I'm thinking I may go running outside and let the fresh air shake the cobwebs loose from my brain.


Namaste'

It made me smile...

Every once in a while someone says something to me that causes me to beam from ear to ear.   I was recently told that my blogs are a source of sunshine and laughter. 

 

Imagine that.  I wouldn't have thought that my writing about my every day trials and tribulations would be of interest  but it seems that I have been mistaken. 

 

I like writing, I always have.  My high school English teacher said I had a gift for words and encouraged me to pursue writing further.  I always thought she was slightly off-center, but maybe she was on to something.  I should have taken heed.

 

I've kept journals since high school.  Almost everything that has happened in my life has been written on those pages.  The good, the bad and the ugly.  

 

In times of great heartache, it was liberating to let it all out on to the paper and not worry about being judged about what I was feeling or thinking.    Words bring clarity and a sense of profound relief at being able to let it all go; put it all out there and let the chips fall where they may.

 

In times of great joy, words are a celebration of accomplishments, triumph, laughter and love.

 

Writing is enjoyment for me; the pleasure of seeing words come together to portray an event, an emotion, and the sense of being part of the bigger picture.  Words paint a picture in my mind and leave an impression in my heart. 

 

While my heart beats, I will always take comfort in words and paint a picture with them.

 

Namaste'

 

Sherry

 

 

Another day in paradise!

I just spent 20 minutes on the phone trying to explain to an individual that they were a security risk and were not allowed in to the facility.  

 

In the course of the conversation, the individual said to me, "the application said to be honest about my crimes; I was honest and now I'm denied.  I shouldn't have put anything down and then I could come see my brother. You people are untrustworthy." 

 

 Huh?????  

 

When I explained that the recent nature of the crimes and the shear number of crimes that came up in his background check was enough to get him denied, he went ballistic on me. 

 

Lemme see:

Mother - denied for attempting to bring drugs in to her son (who is in prison)

Father - denied because he's on probation for drugs

Sister - charges pending for drugs.  

 

Do I see a pattern developing here?

 

Yes, I am untrustworthy and out to destroy the lives of all the fine upstanding citizens with criminal histories longer than the length of my arm.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gym Night!

Good afternoon good peoples!

 

I hope everyone is doing fine this day.   I'm tired today after staying up a little later than usual on a Monday night, but all is good.  I didn't have to be in to work until 8:30am this morning (flex time for wellness), so I had a little extra time to ease in to the day and shake the cobwebs off. 

 

I did some yoga, drank some coffee, took a wonderfully hot shower and started the day with a smile.  The smile bit the dust at 8:31am!  Oh well, I had good intentions.

 

Today it seems like everyone wants everything yesterday.  I have had to continually fight the urge to retort "Lack of planning on your part does NOT constitute an emergency on my part."  But then someone says, "I come to you because I know you'll get it done for me." or "You are my go-to gal."  It may be a bit of sucking up on their part, but it works!  I'm not above the adage "Flattery will get you everywhere!" 

 

I taught yoga last night (note to yoga peeps - look at the schedule on the other blog), so tonight is gym night. 

 

I haven't been there for a few days- okay...three to be exact! I'm a little anxious to get back at it and put my body through the paces.  I'm starting to run on the treadmill again and trying to build up endurance.  I need to get the hang of breathing for longer distances and finding a pace that works for me.  I haven't found it and seriously doubt that I will.  It's something to strive for though.   I'm proud of my niece Lisa.   She makes marathon running sound fun (figures running and fun shouldn't be used together).  Then I read her FB post in which she said she had the "worst run of her life on Saturday" and it may be time to "hang up the sneakers".  Say it isn't so Lisa!!     It was cold, snowy and yucky!!  Three great excuses for bad times.

 

Anywho, it's gym night!  Yeah!  I've got some kicka** tunes loaded, my protein drink ready to go, Levi's (workout) program in hand and a extra towel for all of the sweat I know I'll work up.  All I need is the clock to hit 4:30 and I'm outta here!

 

Namaste'

 

Sherry

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had tears...

in my eyes as last night as I said my goodbye to Wendi. I tried to be strong and I was, right up until the point where I gave her a hug and looked in to her eyes. Mine filled with tears as did hers. All I could say was, "I love you sweetpea". I hope she knows that.

My brother had an open house yesterday for his daughter, inviting both sides of the family to come say farewell and good luck. It was a wonderful day filled with laughter, good food, good drink, and even better company. I was able to see four of my five siblings (Ron is in Mexico). My niece Lisa was able to attend as well. She stopped in on her way back from Fargo after running a 1/2 marathon.

The following are some pictures from yesterday.
This is Wendi, the guest of honor

And this is me with my marathon running niece, Lisa Marie.

This is the three "Schulz" girls together.

Wendi will do fine, I know that she will - she's a Schulz, and we Schulz girls are pretty strong individuals - sometimes to a fault. We take charge of our lives and make things happen, be it right or wrong. We stand by our decisions and make the best out of life as much as we can.

Wendi, here are some final words from me to you.
1) Take each day as it comes. Don't live beyond today and deal with each moment with strength and character.
2) Never be too proud to ask for help. Our strength gets us through the tough times but sometimes we just need a friendly shoulder to lean on. It doesn't make us weak, but all the more strong.
3) Approach life with laughter in your heart. (Laughing through the tears make them less painful).
4) Don't forget who you are, where you came from, and the values that your family has instilled in you. You come from a strong, stubborn German heritage. When the going gets a little tough, those stubborn German values and work ethics will get you through.
5) Never forget that you are loved, unconditionally.
6) Be true to yourself, always - for in the end, you are all that you have.

I love you Wendi girl...

October

In celebration of the hard freeze, the crisp morning air, and the grace and beauty of the falling leaves upon the gentle days breeze,  

 

 Namaste'  Sherry

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October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
~George Cooper, "October's Party"

One more thing on the schedule...

 

This will be posted on both blogs...

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I had an interesting conversation with some of my students tonight before class started.  We were talking about how hectic life is (becoming) and how stressful it is when "one more thing" gets added to the schedule. 

 

I can appreciate this thought as I, too, often have to breath and take a step back to evaluate the important things (priorities) in life. 

 

I'm going to address this as coming from the "female" point of view, as I do not have men currently enrolled in my classes.  So men, please be patient.  If you have thoughts on the subject, feel free to comment.

 

As women, we are the caregivers of our world.  We make sure that everyone is fed, clothed, the laundry done, homework done, the household is running smoothly, and - in many cases - we work full time jobs outside of the home.   We put others needs and wants before our own.  We are often the first person up in the morning and the last to go to bed at night because, "I can do one more load of laundry" or "I need to get this 'one' thing done for tomorrow."  

 

When it comes to scheduling time for ourselves however, we tend to put ourselves on the backburner until everyone else is "taken care of." 

 

And when we do schedule in time for ourselves, whether it be yoga class, Pilates class, the gym, a massage, a manicure, etc., we oftentimes feel guilty for taking the time away from our other responsibilities or family.  

 

It's a difficult tight rope that we walk everyday, and it is often stressful on us. 

 

I often hear comments of "I didn't want to come tonight, but I sure feel better now that I have" as students are walking out the door. 

 

Ladies, it is important that we take care of ourselves. 

 

Our mental, emotional, and physical health is essential to our wellbeing and also to those that we "take care" of.    How many times have you been sick with a cold or flu, and your family still looks to you to "take care of them"? 

 

I understand the difficulties of finding the time for yourself as I have some of the same issues.  But throughout the years I have come to learn a lot about myself.  If I don't take care of myself, certainly my husband, family, friends or coworkers won't either.  I am in charge of myself.  

 

I urge you to find the time - it doesn't have to be much (15 minutes, 20 minutes, 1/2 hr or an hour) - to do something that you want to do for yourself.  Exercise, read, cross stitch, have coffee with the girls, watch a movie, anything -  just do something that brings the focus on to you.  Then  schedule it in so that everyone knows "this is your time."   Everyone in my life pretty much knows that Tuesdays and Thursdays are Sherry's "yoga nights" and the "I'm Busy" sign is out and displayed proudly! ~S~

 

Think enough of yourself to put yourself first.  

 

Namaste'

 

Sherry

My Resignation

I ran across this last night on the internet and thought it worth sharing.  I know that we've ALL felt like doing this at some point during our lives.   Enjoy the read and smile.  And.....Tag! You're it!

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My Resignation