Celeste--I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas. It is so much fun when the kids are still young and you have lots of family to share the time with. Enjoy!
Thanks, Kathy! I hope you had a great Christmas also!
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Originally Posted by foodfromafar
Cracking up, Anne! I knew a young man who thought telling a female friend she had "thunder thighs" was a compliment. He didn't understand her negative reaction until we clued him in later.
I beat the "cougar" guy up today with my ski pole --he kept saying, "it was a compliment! It was a compliment!" It was a pretty funny scene!
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Originally Posted by foodfromafar
Merry Christmas, Celeste!!
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Originally Posted by jenofthemountain
Merry Christmas!
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Originally Posted by Flab of Steel
Awesome job on your DLs! You've got me beat. I've maxed out at 165. You go with your cougar self!
Hope you had a great Christmas!
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Originally Posted by Karen411
Hope you had a very Merry Christmas, Celeste!
Thanks, everyone!
Okay, since I have no workouts to post (rest week...), I have a Christmas story. My little guy, Micah, is really the epitome of materialistic, I hate to admit. He is always counting his money and looking on amazon.com to find something he can buy. Whenever I have him do a job around the house, he asks to get paid (no, I usually don't...). Even asks Grandmas and Grandpas if he can work to earn money. Anyway, the other day, my mom was over, talking about her work at the food bank run by our church. She was concerned because so many people have been coming that we don't have as much food as usual, but she wasn't really making a big deal or anything, just making conversation and talking about her plans for the next day. In the middle of this, Micah came downstairs with his big box of dollar bills, quarters, and pennies, and said he wanted my mother to buy food for the people that come to the food bank. My older son counted it and it was over $30! (And, no, my kids don't get a huge allowance--Micah's is about $1/week...) I talked with him for a while about what it meant to give money away, just in case he didn't realize it would be gone for good. He was really adamant, and my mom and I were in tears! So she promised to take the money and spend it on more food for people for Christmas food.
The great ending to the story is that she ended up going to dollar general (I guess people really love it when the food bank has spam, who knew?) As she was checking out, she apologized for how long it was taking her to count out the change, and told how her grandson had given all his money. ALL the people in line behind her (5 or 6) went and bought boxes of chocolates for her to give out as well. Just when I despair, I realize I haven't failed too badly as a mom!
It's a good story, especially others chipping in at the store. It's a catch-22 when you've got little to no money. You can't 'buy extra' when stuff is on sale. You can't 'batch cook' and such. All the things we do to save money are almost impossible when you have none (or limited).
My niece is always saving her money for charity. She's 8, and it amazes me how generous of a spirit she already has. It always makes me tear up, too!
Recently, she spent the weekend with me and we were at the pet store and she found a ten dollar bill on the ground. She picked it up with really big eyes and then immediately looked all around and she saw a man standing nearby and went up and tapped him on the leg and said "did you lose this?". He was so surprised! He said, "no, I believe that must be yours!". She was very excited, so we went to the craft store to get something to make. When she got the change, she said she was going to save it, but when we went to Wendy's, there was a change box at the checkout for some charity and she insisted on putting all of the change in the box. Very sweet.
Awwwwwwwwwwww!!! That is a wonderful story - thanks for sharing. You are an AWESOME mom!!!
One of the things my son studies for his bar mitzvah (and my daughter did for her bat mitzvah) is charity - two concepts of tzedakah which is giving to the needy, and tikkun olam - saving the world. It's so important for kids to realize that, while we try to give them everything, there are others who have nothing... My kids have worked at soup kitchens and battered women's shelters, made sandwiches to give out, etc etc... my daughter's cut off her hair twice for Locks of Love and my son will donate a portion of his bar mitzvah gifts to charity - he wants to donate to the APL since our dogs are adopted...
Sorry to hijack - I just feel so inspired when I hear about kids doing things to make the world a better place!
It's a good story, especially others chipping in at the store. It's a catch-22 when you've got little to no money. You can't 'buy extra' when stuff is on sale. You can't 'batch cook' and such. All the things we do to save money are almost impossible when you have none (or limited).
Anne, really good insight here. I haven't thought of it that way, because I've always been in the "saving money" mode--but you're right, you can't do many of the things that the middle class takes for granted when you're really scraping to make ends meet.
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Originally Posted by stingo
I think Mr. Dickens would approve of your story greatly. As do I. Very nice.
Tom, you are always so poetic! Merry Christmas!
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Originally Posted by missjane
Celeste, that is just WONDERFUL!!!
My niece is always saving her money for charity. She's 8, and it amazes me how generous of a spirit she already has. It always makes me tear up, too!
Recently, she spent the weekend with me and we were at the pet store and she found a ten dollar bill on the ground. She picked it up with really big eyes and then immediately looked all around and she saw a man standing nearby and went up and tapped him on the leg and said "did you lose this?". He was so surprised! He said, "no, I believe that must be yours!". She was very excited, so we went to the craft store to get something to make. When she got the change, she said she was going to save it, but when we went to Wendy's, there was a change box at the checkout for some charity and she insisted on putting all of the change in the box. Very sweet.
Tell Micah he did a very good thing!
Jane, that's very very cool about your niece. I love it when my kids show that innocence and selflessness--farther between than I like to imagine, but this is real life after all...I have been praying for and thinking of you these past few weeks. Thanks for taking the time to post when you're going through such a tough time.
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Originally Posted by Bytsi
Awwwwwwwwwwww!!! That is a wonderful story - thanks for sharing. You are an AWESOME mom!!!
One of the things my son studies for his bar mitzvah (and my daughter did for her bat mitzvah) is charity - two concepts of tzedakah which is giving to the needy, and tikkun olam - saving the world. It's so important for kids to realize that, while we try to give them everything, there are others who have nothing... My kids have worked at soup kitchens and battered women's shelters, made sandwiches to give out, etc etc... my daughter's cut off her hair twice for Locks of Love and my son will donate a portion of his bar mitzvah gifts to charity - he wants to donate to the APL since our dogs are adopted...
Sorry to hijack - I just feel so inspired when I hear about kids doing things to make the world a better place!
Hey, that's not hijacking, it's just spreading the joy! What cool stories! I love that so many of us are really teaching our kids to think of others--when the world seems so self-centered and hard sometimes. On a funny note, my daughter has gone in twice to donate her hair to locks of love, but the hairdressers won't cut it because they say even though it's really long, it is so thick and curly that it would really look like red afro if we cut it short now.
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Originally Posted by Flab of Steel
Aww...what a sweetheart your son is! Same with your kids, Bytsi!
Wow, I love the new avi! You seem to have lost some facial hair! For real, very pretty.
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Originally Posted by beesknees
I am late on this, but WOW on the deadlifts!
And what a great story about your son. What a wonderful thing for him to do! You are an awesome mom
Awesome, not, but I do love those glimmers that tell me I'm not a failure!!!
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Originally Posted by msmogreen
Celeste, thanks for making me laugh ("cougar" guy) and cry (the story about your son) all in the space of two minutes. Really, you are a great mom.
LOL!!! Kathy, you're so sweet!
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Originally Posted by jenofthemountain
that's cool about your son. I see a future philanthropist!
Thanks, Jen! The coolest part of the whole thing is that I worry so much about how he obsesses about his money and buying "things" almost constantly. He has so many catalogs earmarked and a full shopping cart on amazon.com! AND he knew how to count money before he was five years old. I guess it makes it that much more meaningful because he understands the value of money and what he did by giving it away.
Ugh. I just had quite the night. First of all, I caught a back edge on my snowboard while on the BEGINNER slope the other day and fell over backwards right on my (helmeted) head and pulled a muscle in my neck. It seemed fine the next day, but last night it hurt SO bad every time I tried to turn my head or turn over in bed, I had to lift my head with my hands.
Then at 2:30, a kid who will remain nameless wet the bed, and I had to deal with that... Micah is sick and I was up several times with him during the night, the new hamster got out and was running around behind people's beds, so he had to be caught and taken care of. Then to top it all off, Luke decided his night's sleep was done about 5:30 and was coming into my room about every half hour until 7:00. Now I'm tired... I got up at 7 to try to be responsible and get something done around the house before my company got up, but instead I've been hanging out on this forum and/or sitting on the bathroom floor with the poor sick kid.
Speaking of company, did I mention that my sister, brother in law, and their two kids came in from Boulder on a train? We've been having a great time skiing/boarding/doing inverted aerials accidentally, and hanging out together.
That's AWFUL Celeste! I've had neck issues many times, so I can relate to needing to lift your own head up with your hands - sorry - that hurts a lot!!!
As for the kids, hope Micah feels better soon... and be nice to that hamster - he was just checking out his new digs... might be my cousin, ya know?
Aw, thanks Bytsi! I think it'll improve quickly, it's just so annoying to have such a painful pulled muscle from doing something that I'm normally competent at doing. (Falling AND snowboarding, lol!)
For the hamster advice too! Bethany got him for Taylor for Christmas, and the funny thing was since we couldn't figure out how to keep it a secret, she paid for it and then I had to go pick it up (in Olean, an hour from here). But I mis-figured dates and such, and ended up rushing all over creation on the 23rd and making 6 adults in our family over a half an hour late for a Christmas dinner that was an hour away the OPPOSITE direction from Olean!
Posted this in off-topic, but I really want my own record:
Kid quotes:
1. My then 6yo son, Micah, was pondering his dad's great tanning ability. "Mommy," he says, out of nowhere, "is Daddy black?" (Ahem, sorry, but no.) Not that there would be anything wrong with it, but just tanned, honey.
2. Same kid, last night, was awakened by a strange noises coming from the space between his bed and the wall. He came to get me and we finally figured out it was the hamster, moved the bed, and returned it to its cage. In the morning, he complained of being tired "because the hamster was running around in my crack all night."
3. #4 kid, Lukey, otherwise known as "birth control", entered the kitchen this evening as I was making dinner. "Mom, I'm about to be really sorry." he admits. This is what he was sorry for (yes, this is my living room floor):
Because he could? That part of the floor isn't nailed down--it used to be a floor furnace and we had someone cut boards to match the flooring we already had. He never "completed" the installation, and now it's the kind of thing that has been procrastinated on for so long that we never actually think of doing it. (Until someone removes them...)
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Originally Posted by stingo
I dunno, I'd go for #2 on humor, and #3 for the sheer audacity.
Yeah, well he didn't get in trouble this time but we made sure he knew it would only be funny once.
Won't you guys be glad when rest week is over and I have actual workouts to post?
Because he could? That part of the floor isn't nailed down--it used to be a floor furnace and we had someone cut boards to match the flooring we already had. He never "completed" the installation, and now it's the kind of thing that has been procrastinated on for so long that we never actually think of doing it. (Until someone removes them...)
Okay...I saw that last night before I went to bed and I thought OMG, what did that child do and why is he smiling in the picture??? LOL. Since they weren't nailed down...I can see how that would be tempting. I remember years ago when Crayola came out with Color Sticks...I thought they were really cool because they were strong and flexible (a little). I had just bought a box for my kids and was showing another mom how flexible they were in front of my daughter who was 4 at the time. When I wasn't in the room she decided to give them the flexibility test as she'd seen me do and broke every one of them in half. Yeah, yeah, not a big expensive mistake, but I was upset.
ROTFL Celeste! I agree with Tom on the humor, etc...
Glad to know they weren't nailed down
Although I did catch Micah taking apart a flashlight (like COMPLETELY apart) today right before his Uncle took all the kids to race camp. I didn't get a chance to find out if it was a new one or old one...
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Originally Posted by msmogreen
Okay...I saw that last night before I went to bed and I thought OMG, what did that child do and why is he smiling in the picture??? LOL. Since they weren't nailed down...I can see how that would be tempting. I remember years ago when Crayola came out with Color Sticks...I thought they were really cool because they were strong and flexible (a little). I had just bought a box for my kids and was showing another mom how flexible they were in front of my daughter who was 4 at the time. When I wasn't in the room she decided to give them the flexibility test as she'd seen me do and broke every one of them in half. Yeah, yeah, not a big expensive mistake, but I was upset.
I don't remember the color sticks, but it seems like something one of my kids would do!
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Originally Posted by nutbar
Oh, man, what cool kids you have!!!
Happy 2009 to your whole family!
I thought you'd like that... Happy New Year to you too!
So another ugh today. My neck was just STARTING to feel a little better today. I just decided to go out and get the mail as SOME activity since I've been sitting at my desk all day paying bills/balancing the checkbook. Well, stepping over the ice and snow was very effective until I managed to slip on the MUD and fall VERY hard on my left shoulder (holding the mail up in the air so it wouldn't get wet?). It totally jarred my neck again, my shoulder is sore, and my brand new jeans and ski jacket are covered with mud. Duh.
Anyway, this vacation is turning out slightly sad (mostly good, but disappointing for my sister and I). She has had the flu or bronchitis or something the entire time she was here, so has spent most of it sleeping. We're actually taking her to the hospital this afternoon. So she hasn't been able to ski, ride horses, or really do much fun stuff except for hang out. The rest of us have had a good time, but I feel bad for her, and I've missed doing fun stuff together. We were even going to go to the gym so I could show her the exercises for NROL4W! So they leave tomorrow and I will feel really bad if she has to ride on a train for 3 (2?) days very sick. It still has been nice to hang out and talk though...
Sorry about your sister - that sucks to be sick the whole time!
And OW on your fall... kinda reminds me of Diane (Nutbar) when she fell down the hill but tried to save her iphone (at the cost of her ankle, I think???)
Posted this in off-topic, but I really want my own record:
Kid quotes:
1. My then 6yo son, Micah, was pondering his dad's great tanning ability. "Mommy," he says, out of nowhere, "is Daddy black?" (Ahem, sorry, but no.) Not that there would be anything wrong with it, but just tanned, honey.
2. Same kid, last night, was awakened by a strange noises coming from the space between his bed and the wall. He came to get me and we finally figured out it was the hamster, moved the bed, and returned it to its cage. In the morning, he complained of being tired "because the hamster was running around in my crack all night."
3. #4 kid, Lukey, otherwise known as "birth control", entered the kitchen this evening as I was making dinner. "Mom, I'm about to be really sorry." he admits. This is what he was sorry for (yes, this is my living room floor):
Oh my!!!!
Sorry to hear about your fall - hope you feel better soon! And hope your sis feels better, too!
Celeste, I'm a bit behind in here but I LOVE the story about Micah giving his money to your mom for the food and the floorboard pic is hilarious! Sorry to hear about your neck and the fall at the mailbox. Hope your feeling better soon. And your poor sister. Sending good vibes your way!!!
He didn't understand her negative reaction until we clued him in later. 
It was a pretty funny scene!
I guess it makes it that much more meaningful because he understands the value of money and what he did by giving it away.
). It totally jarred my neck again, my shoulder is sore, and my brand new jeans and ski jacket are covered with mud. Duh.
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