Happy Monday!

I had my two *usual* grandkids for most of the weekend. Yesterday, when I wasn't out in the alley playing basketball with Caleb, we were riding our bikes to the big park by the zoo. I have a pretty cool bike. I got it for Christmas year before last. At a glance this bike appears to be an old fashioned one with no handbrakes or speeds. It is actually a three speed and has what you'd call an automatic transmission. When you get to going fast enough it kicks up into the next gear on it's own. And drops down a gear when you slow down. Friends, I don't know if this thing can be adjusted but I had to work SO HARD to even get into second gear for five seconds. My feet were going AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND and I was all hunkered down...trying to get some speed going. Caleb said I looked just like Miss Almira Gulch on her bicycle with Toto trapped in the basket and hellbent on vengeance. Except I had Madison in the seat behind me patting me on the back like, "Go, Grandma, Go!" Between the laughing and the pedaling...wheeee! that was a workout! I woke up today, amazed that I wasn't achier, wondering, "Just how far DID we ride?" so I drove to the park to clock the mileage. And to take pictures for you.

 

This beautiful park on the edge of old growth redwood trees is right in the heart of Eureka. Seriously; it's bordered by standard sized lots of neighborhood homes.  I couldn't even get the full height of these trees in the frame. And to give you some perspective, those dots in the bottom of the photo

 

are people. Pretty cool, huh? And in case you too were wondering; it was 2 miles on the nose. ONE WAY! What a workout. And back on the homefront Papa John put the new basketball hoop WAAAY the heck up there at regulation height...even tho' Caleb is seven and I am old. But we actually end up feeling even better about the shots we do make. I was thinking today how very fortunate I am. I think that every day, believe me. I thank GOD every day for my many blessings. But to hang out with these kids as often as I do... it makes me sad to think of the small joys and minor miracles I would be missing out on without them. And I guarantee you I wouldn't be throwing my hands with all my might way up over my head fifty times in fifteen minutes. ;-)

So for all that exercise I treated myself at the grocery store a while ago and bought beer and a small bag of Easter jelly beans. :-) I truly am my own worst enemy. If it weren't for these small cheats just about EVERY DAY I'd be losing a lot more than a pound a week, but that IS what I'm continuing to lose (as of today's meeting) so I'm still moving in the right direction! (psss; Sharon--that was my weekly report!)

UPDATE ON THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY BANNER

I am loving all the stories about your favorite birthday memories! Getting some good ideas, too! I sooo wanted to respond to each and every one but I can already tell; it's not going to happen. :-(  Please don't think I'm rude. I'm laughing and enjoying and giving each of you a big ol' virtual hug. But I can't pull off that many emails in my short time off from the grandkids. Also, if you read that post earlier in the day, you may have missed that I decided to give away both of the banners shown. So--your chances have doubled...be thinking about which one you might like best!

take good care.

Comments

[BrendaLou]

what I want to know is did you eat the jelly beans while drinking the beer? I only like green, yellow & black jelly beans. Probably the black ones best. Give me a stale peep and I'm in heaven!

[Sharon]

That's a wonderful post Jen. Your so lucky to have those adorable grandkids. I love that tree photo too. Just beautiful.
But really............beer and jelly beans??? lolol