Not Happening.

I tried. I can't seem to get the words out or make my thoughts flow off the ends of my fingers onto the keyboard.

I'm not going to be doing the blog anymore. It seems to forced. Too fake.

I'll check out other avenues of expression. The spark went out of this one for me.

My apologies to my faithful and loyal follower, my Dad.  Your funny little comments were my favorite. I promise to try to write you more often.

thanks for the ride.

punch it

The time clock at work. I may be working in 1952.

Thankful

Thanks to the thoughtful and generous gifts of some fine folks over the holiday season one huge expense we take on with a family of five was lessened.

I'm pretty frugal with spending for the most part. Having had to rely on food banks and Christmas bureaus for their charity over some of the rougher holidays when the kids were younger I came to become very strategic at the grocery store.

Through the years, with a lot of hard work and life changing decisions I have been blessed with the comfort of not having to worry about filling our shelves and freezer with food.
 I always told Terry that I will not overspend on things and fluff but now that I don't have to worry
 (so much) I don't want to have to count every penny when buying groceries. I wanted to shop with out a calculator!
 I still watch my prices and shop around. I won't buy when I know I can get it elsewhere for a dollar or more less. I use coupons when I remember and stock up on an item when I see a 'blow out' price.
I'm not a millionaire!!

For Christmas we received some gift cards towards restaurants we have enjoy as a family on occasion and towards groceries at our regular shopping stop. It has been such a treat stopping for a quick meal some that someone else cooks for us and even cleans up after.
Going to the grocery store in the last couple of weeks and having to dish out very little dough from my own pocket has been a delight.
 I am very proud to be able to provide my kids with a cupboard full of food with out much worry but right now I am also very thankful for the generosity of others who helped lesson some of the load of it.

don't kick the bag

It is very very cold here today. A good day to hide.

Note to Self

I know how (but do not always execute) to stay fit and active. I now know how to self motivate in the gym, I have come a looonnnng way believe me.
The one thing I cannot seem to figure out is mental strength.

I have been told plenty over the years that I could be better at ....*insert job title here*...if I would just show more confidence. Is there a magic pill for this confidence? Where do you just get some more?

I have tried the ol' tell-yourself-you-are-and-you-will-be trick. Mind over matter they say. It's all in your head they say.
Well, then what? It's all in my head but where do you find it? How do you get it out?

I don't know. 

Does anyone have any 'advice for newbies' on how to improve your mental health in your 40's so no one gets hurt?

I woke up this morning telling the world to F-bomb right off.
At the moment I'm counting the hours to my next work out. At least there I'm in control.

Side Note to Self:

You're stronger than you think.

Advice For the Newbie

One of the top resolutions people make heading into the new year is to get healthier, lose weight, start a work out routine.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/27/new-year-resolutions-2014-canada_n_4507431.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-business

As a former New Years resolution-er myself looking to make the change and get in shape (circa 2003) I feel I am in a position to share some advice with those looking to go the journey through joining the gym route.

I first joined the gym as 2003 rolled in.
It wasn't always an easy road. I had many ups but mostly downs at the beginning. I was also just heading into another new roll of becoming single Mom.
I did stick with it, though it wasn't easy. The gym is a very intimidating place for the new. Your not going to be met with open arms and helpful veterans of the gym. Your dedication will be tested and your passion to succeed will be pushed to its limits.

My best advice for those going in fresh is quality over quantity.
Start small, start light. Your first goal from the get go should be 21.
21 is how many days it takes to form a new habit. We are all creatures of habit. We are so stuck in our ways that committing to such a huge step that is outside of our ordinary routines will open up our vulnerability causing us to take any out or make any excuse to postpone that comes along.

Go to the gym at the time that suits you best, I'll tell you that between 5pm and 7pm is a nightmare with Monday to Wednesday being the worst.
Try to go at off times in the beginning if you can. Friday nights and Saturday and Sunday mornings are my favorites. I promise you will find more patients and less stressed out beef necks at these times.
When you first go I highly recommend asking for a tour, it's free, take a walk around with one of the staff, get to know the place before you start. This way your not wondering around like a doe in headlights.

Seriously, talk to a trainer even if its just for one session. Your goals and fitness levels are not going to be the same as your cousin Sally so don't think just 'working in' with someone will be OK. You risk getting hurt and even frustrating yourself self right out the door because you feel you can't keep up with Sally.

Get your brain programed to the fact that the changes will come in time. Not in a week or even a month. Just keep moving, no matter how small the movement, form the habit and build from there.
You have a 21 day goal. That doesn't mean go 3 times in 21 days....it means go 21 times as often as you can until you find the times and locations that work for you
 Join a beginner class of anything for just once a week. You will be surrounded by other like minded individuals where you will feed off of each others excitement for the changes your making. This will help hold you accountable.

The hardest part is getting there, just go. By the time you finish your session and walk out the door you will be so thankful you did. Trust me.
If you are looking for the energy to get to the gym you will find it surprisingly at the gym. every time you go it gets stronger.

Most of life is routine - dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration you'll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.
 Ben Nicholas 

And for those making a go of it at home on your own. It's the same deal. Try not to set your goals so high at first. Jillian Michael's is tough. I have heard of 5 different people starting with the 30 day Shred recently. This is hard for anyone.
I suggest using her video, or others like hers, as a part of your weekly routine. Once or twice a week would be perfect. To know your going to start making changes and thinking this is what you have to do to get there will only be setting yourself up for defeat. That type of intensity is hard to keep up for even the seasoned.
Try not to beat yourself up to much. Start in first gear, because starting in third will only cause you to stall.

You've got this right? You want it. No excuses.

Who Will Care?

I really enjoyed Blogging way back when.   I loved trying to be witty, even funny at times. I'm not so sure I always pulled it off but there was just something about writing.
  I loved the feedback and the banter some blog posts could create. So what happened? What suddenly changed?
  My job changed.... drastically changed in the last year, the last TWO years really.  It's been quite a journey I can say that for sure. I think I'm pretty settled into a job position I can handle now that challenges me physically but not as socially as I need.
 It's interesting where life's turns take us.
Our home has changed, also quite drastically and quickly, we went from a calm, beautiful stroll in Canmore one spring weekend day to selling our house in three months and finding ourselves homeless by choice. Thanks to my very patient and generous in-laws we were tucked snugly into a make shift basement suite in their home for the time it took for our new home to be built. It was quite the trying time on me with the new living situation breaking up our comfortable arrangement for the kids between our house and their Dad's. This transition was tough on us all, some more then others. We came through it all a little bit changed and a little bit wiser. Some a little more independent.

 I want to try something different now. I want to incorporate my need to blog about useless shit and my desire to take pictures of equally useless shit (unless its pictures of my kids, family or friends of course, love you :) into one tidy package.

So here today I am starting a photo blog. Sometimes it will have words included, thoughts of my daily adventures and misadventures. Mostly just pictures and most likely pictures just from my iPhone because I know me pretty well and I know how I dislike wasting time in front of a computer.

The title of this blog post is 'who will care'. I titled this post as such because these are the words that popped directly into my head when I decided to blog again and post pictures of my daily happenings. The answer is, I will care. I want this.

I predict you will be seeing a lot of pictures from work. I am the shipper/receiver at a heavy duty industrial shop. I deal mostly with engine parts and oil and gas industrial items. It's dirty and physical and I love it....my other job is associate photographer and support to Michel over at Ampersand Grey. http://www.ampersandgrey.com   That's a super fun job, between the two jobs sometimes during peek wedding season I am quite busy and on the go. I am hoping this summer I can slow down a bit and get some hiking in. Shipping/receiving will take the hit.

Also in this coming 2014 year we are focusing on moving into this house of ours. I mean REALLY moving in. Hang some pictures on the walls, put up some selves, cozy it up a notch. We were so excited just to get back into our own space and get our little family back together that we just plopped down some furniture and that was it. Now we make this house our home. Our biggest project coming up this year will be creating a back yard out of a postage stamp and a pile of dirt. Thank God for my talented husband and his visions. I truly believe I was put on this earth as a support system. That is my lot in this life. Support the talent and help them grow.

My picture for Jan 1st 2014....a stack of pallets from work.  :)  I am looking forward to this!

                            

Happy 2014 Everyone!