Swimming with the Fishes (Or the Frogs...)

My life is drastically different now than it was 2-3 years ago.  Since Emmalyn was born, I've noticed some very odd things about myself.  I've decided that I've turned crazy, but my dear husband thinks that I've always been crazy and I don't hide it as well as I used too.  

I'm not throwing the crazy term around loosely either, just so you guys know.  I mean I am starting to have serious anxiety/fears about (sometimes) stupid things....

Such as swimming with frogs....

Image Courtesy of a Handy Google Image Search

I've mentioned a few times that I run, and you see, that's really a lie.  I pretend to run.   I usually do more walking, and I hate it.  My preferred summer exercise is swimming.

It's perfect for me because I hate to sweat.  I hate being hot.  It's a period of time where no one can bother me.  It's amazingly peaceful under water.  I can't even listen to music.  I spend a lot of time in the water alone with my thoughts.  It's good for me.  It allows me to work through things in my head.

I swim in my dad's pool.  The location is good; the price is right.  My dad was out of town for a bit, so I was house-sitting.  One of the things involved in house sitting is fishing things out of this pool.

These items typically include leaves, bugs, and frogs.  One time, I even fished a swimsuit out of the pool.  That's a story for another day.  I've never been a big fan of frogs, but right now, they really skeeve me out.

During my first house sitting swim,  I did all my fishing prior to my swim.  A few leaves, a few bugs, and one ugly toad.  When I fished him out, I thought he was dead.  As soon as he hit that net,  he got back in that frog position.....

And I carried him in the net (attached to a 10 foot pole) to the edge of the woods and set him free.  

During my next swim,   I walked around the pool for a few minutes before hand with my trusty net (and the 10 foot pole, of course).  I fished out a few leaves and a few bugs.  I walked all around the pool looking carefully for frogs, and I saw none.

I started my laps, and just as I was about to hit my third turn, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye.

There....swimming next to me.....was a frog.  

I, a twenty something adult, with two small children, screamed under water.  I thrashed and hauled ass right out of that pool.  

After that, I calmly and rationally threw a small temper tantrum, retrieved my net and my 10 foot pole and fished the frog out of the pool.  

I finished my swim, but I never really felt relaxed.  The next day, I was needing that fix,  I headed out to the pool and carefully checked for frogs all around the pool.  

The frog was much nicer to me during that third swim.  He let me get 16 minutes, or about 22 laps in, before I caught that familiar movement out of the corner of my eye.  You'll be happy to know that I didn't scream under water this time, but the jerk swam up into the skimmer and teased me.  He sat right on the edge of the door to the swimmer, so I stood outside the pool and waited. 

and waited...

and waited...

And then I decided that I was being foolish.  I needed to finish this swim.   I got back in the pool and swam to laps with my head above water, you know, in case that old toad decided to attack.  

He finally came out and I removed him with my trusty net, and finished my swim.    I was so excited when my dad returned so I could relinquish frog fishing duty back to it's rightful person.  

This Life

Alternate Title: Why I don't blog like I want to.

Y'all, things around these parts have been a little insane lately.

It all started when my husband got man-sick, and all my spare time was sucked into listening to him whine and complain.  He also frequently referred to me as mean and without compassion.  Ok, I know you're sick, but unfortunately, life doesn't stop just because of illness.

And then, I got a new boss at work.  My job has been in constant change and chaos pretty much since I started, and my new boss is an old co-worker.  I have no issues with her as a boss, but she's the only other person that does my job, so it's put more work on my end. To be honest, I get paid by the hour, and I can use the money, so it's no big deal.

And then there's the greatest loves of my life, who seem to be more and more time consuming as they grow older and bigger.

And cooking and cleaning and laundry and dishes and bath time....

And this is just a crappy excuse post to say I'm still here, sit tight and I'll be back with more crazy, random blog posts and love for you guys!

I'm still thankful....

but sometimes life gets in the way.  I know.  Ridiculous.  I should be ashamed of myself.  I'm going to back track and update my thankful-ness. 

Day 17:  I'm thankful for great friends who throw good get-togethers.  The hubs and I had a great time at a barbeque hosted by our nearest and dearest friends.

Day 18:  I'm thankful for a superflexible work schedule.  I chose to work today, so I didn't have to work later in the week.

Day 19:  I'm thankful for my education.  I know my parents worked hard to provide me with an education with minimal cost on my part.  I've been pricing things out for HC's college fund, and ugh, I'm not excited, but I know it'll be worth it.

Day 20:  I'm thankful for my dear, sweet doggies.  We have 2.   They were our kids before HC and I adore them. 

Day 21:  I'm thankful for baby Tylenol which has made this day much more bearable.  Having sick babies is the pits.

Day 22:  I'm thankful for my amazing in-laws and extended family and all the people that we got to spend some time with today. 

Day 23:  I'm thankful that we can afford the gifts I want to get for my amazing daughter despite the fact that we missed them at black Friday.

When writing this post, I realized I've spent a lot of time being thankful for food.  That may be because I'm pregnant or it may be because I'm fat.  Either way, yum.

Also, let me follow up on a few things.  One of the reasons I haven't blogged this week is because I've been stupid busy.  Thanksgiving.  My husband has been off all week, and I may be a little jealous, but we've had a sick baby since Tuesday night.  She's been coughing and congested and had goop in her eyes.  It's really been quite sad. 

In a newer story, we are also now having plumbing problems.  The kitchen sink won't drain and it's backing up into the dishwasher.  We're trying amateur plumbing techniques hoping to solve the problem, but so far we have been SOL.  Suggestions are appreciated. 

Sorry for the whirlwind.  I'll try to keep you guys updated!

Per my usual

I have fallen off the blogging wagon for a couple of reasons.  First off,  HC had her shots on Friday which made for a very cranky baby girl over the weekend.  Now, I'm sick.  Work has been crazy.  I'm envious of people who get their blogging done on time, but I think I've noticed a trend.  I think a lot of people that blog regularly, blog at work.  I don't have that luxury.  I'll try to come back soon.

Twenty-Something turns Twenty-Six

Today is my birthday.

This St. Patrick's Day 2012 is my 26th birthday.  I frequently don't own how old I am.  I tell people all the time that I'm 21 or 22.  I'm not sure why I do this.  I'm not ashamed of how old I am.  I guess I just don't want to get older.  For a long time, I've been content with where I am in my life.  I've stayed on track.  I've done what I'm supposed to do.  I damn sure don't want to be young enough to have to go back to high school.  Maybe college. 

I've been thinking about my birthdays. 

March 17, 1991  This is the first birthday I really remember.  I'm turning 5.  My visions are sketchy at best.  My grandmother (the good grandma) came to my house.  I tried to show her my cat, Lisa (Lester as we learned).  My grandmother hated animals.  She ran as well as she could.  I pinched her for not wearing green.  When she died, I told my parents it was my fault because I pinched her for not wearing green.  I still miss her, and wish I had time to know her better and appreciate her. 

March 17, 1992  There was a blizzard on my birthday in Florida.  Three people came to my party.  I got a pair of pink plaid tennis shoes.  I still remember this.

March 17, 1999  My dad picked me and some of my friends up from school in a limo.  We went to a resturant for dessert.

March 17, 2002  My 1997 white ford explorer showed up at my door.  It was my first car.  My first love.  It went on to be my brother's first car.  I'm not sure about his first love.

March 17, 2004  I turned 18.   I thought it was amazing.  I was an adult.  I could buy lottery tickets and cigarettes if I smoked.  I could vote for the president of the United States.  I was awesome.

March 17, 2007  I'm 21, bitches.  After all the pre-planning, the dreaming of this day,  I think I was too mature for myself already.  My now husband and I went and got my nose pierced.  My friends came and we went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner.  I drank 2 margaritas, and then went to a movie.  Awesome, huh?

After 21,  my birthdays became rather uneventful.  While I was in graduate school, several of my friends would take me out for dinner and we would have drinks and it was always fun.  My family does something for me and we usually have cake and ice cream at work.  I appreciate everyone taking the time to celebrate my birthday because I think it's pretty awesome.  I guess as I've gotten older, I no longer get excited about birthdays or look forward to them for days/weeks on end.  I now have difficulty generating lists of things I want gift wise for my birthday.

This year, I asked my mom for a programmable crock-pot and a cook book.  She also got me the new version of photoshop elements.  I had several editions ago, but when I bought my mac in 2009, I never replaced it.

I asked my husband for a new purse.  I've been carrying a Michael Kors purse that is soft and beautiful for a year, since my last birthday.

I'm still trying to figure out what I want from my dad.

My brother gave me a chick fil a gift card and a gift card for the App store. 

My birthday this year has been amazingly perfect.  And by perfect, I mean, I haven't done anything and that's the way I wanted it.  The hubs and I got up this morning and went to town.  We had to get my car fixed and we went to a plant sale and breakfast.  My dad kept HC.   My mom came over and brought me chocolate chip cookies.  I laid on the couch and sat up a new blog.  Perfect day.  

This Life

Many of you may not know this about me, but I'm a chronic blog stalker. I have a long list of favorite blogs and I thoroughly enjoy them, but I've always blogged with wordpress. I've noticed many other aspiring bloggers use blogger and there blogs are much cuter than mine. That may be because they know what they're doing, and I don't have a clue. I'm trying to become a more dedicated blogger, and I guess this is where I'm going to start.

For this life, I'm Lauren.
I'm a 20-something.
I'm married to the world's best.
I'm a mom to my awesome, HC.
We have 4 furbabies. 2 cats and 2 dogs.
I'm a professional.
I'm a wanna-be photographer.
I'm a wanna-be baker.
I'm a wanna-be stay at home mom.

I guess I'm just documenting my journey through this life.
This is my first official blog at this blog site, however, I am inputting some of my entries from my old blog. 

A New Blog

Confession 1….I’m a chronic blog starter…..and an equally chronic blog quitter.  It’s not on purpose.  I just have issues deciding exactly how much information to divuldge to the internet public.  I need a sounding board though.  I’m going through some things that I’m just needing to vent about so what better place to vent than a blog.  A secret blog…so shhhhhh…..don’t tell.

About me:
- 24 going on 25 (that number makes my skin crawl)
- Married for one year (12-31-09) to a pretty great husband.
-Masters Degree Aug. 2010. Working as a therapist in  in skilled nursing.  Not my favorite thing ever.  Missing time working with kids (which I never thought I would  want to do.) This is one of my problems that currently needs a sounding board.  Work = Drama.
- Pet Parent.  2 dogs and a cat.