Daffodil Chronicles

Hold it!

If you're not on Facebook then you will have missed my announcement that not only have I gained 10 pounds since deciding to get married but those 10 just turned into 14!  Those of you who know me oh so well, know that I usually am pretty much the same weight and am kind of on top of it with the running and such.  (Okay minus after the divorce where I guess I lost a ton of weight and Jame affectionately referred to me as Skeletor and not in a good way) Somewhere along the way, in a time we will call "AmG" meaning "After Meeting George", I fell off the Obesessive Watch Every Single Thing I Eat wagon because I was in love.  And that led to being adored, complimented and invited to keep up with him and his appetite.  Hm.....36 and 21 year old metabolisms don't really process the same way, rather HIS got rid of every ounce of fat on his body and MINE?  Well mine likes to keep it all, I guess.

In the time of AMG, I also accepted his proposal of marriage, planned my reunion and headed up a Hood to Coast Team.  I really didn't think it would be that big of a deal, I was WRONG.  Not only was I to spent that going to the gym felt like torture and a cruel thing to ask my body to do, I frankly never had a spare moment, okay....except in the early mornings but I don't do mornings.

So here I am and all those events are behind me.  After Hood to Coast, I took a week off of running and ate like I was George which equals to 14 pounds farther away from where I want to be. 

Yesterday, I decided that diets really aren't for me, I can't afford Nutri System AND feed my family what they want and so I'm doing it the old fashioned way.  Eating less (ahem....drinking less) and excercising more, watching what I eat and being sensible.  (I sound like a commercial) I'm on day 2, sure I want a glass of wine tonight but no can do, that's special for the weekends. 

I belong to 24hour fitness and love all their classes, oh, minus the step classes, I tripped over a step and have never been back.  I took a weights class Monday and Pilates today.   My ass already feels tighter and my abs hurt which is good because now I know they are under there somewhere. My legs hurt so bad today because my pilates instructor had to have come from the friggin' army, she YELLS at us and when someone drops the hold, she makes us all hold the pose until that person gets back there, uh yeah, no hiding in her class.  I was horrified and pleased all at the same time, okay happy now that it's over. 

Oh right....yes I did marry a personal trainer but I don't belong to the gym he works at (long story) and he's taking 20 credits this term.  He promises when school is out, he'll join me at the gym, until then it's Ali screaming at me to "hooooolllllllldd it!"

"Movies You Can Watch Over and Over Again"

I've been talking a lot lately when out with friends about those movies that you can watch over and over again even when you catch them in the middle.  My favorite is catching them on HBO where there are no commercials and most love it when I catch them in the beginning. Some of these would have the sub-category of "If someone walked in the room, I might be embarrassed to be watching and might change the channel", so when you see one of those just move along, don't judge me.  Here we go:

Bring It On (just this one though, the rest are horrid)

Legally Blonde (yes both of them)

Jarhead (I love military movies and Jake Gylennhal)

The Jane Austen Book Club (move along people)

In Her Shoes (and I cry every time)

The Break Up (I dont' know why)

Object of My Affection (yes we are entering a Jen Anniston phase)

Sixteen Candles (and know most of the lines)

Breakfast Club (classic)

The Outsders (okay just see my last post and include all those) 

Untraceable (it's scary and gross but filmed here)

Fear (Mark Wahlberg and Reese - love it - thanks Nathan)

When A Man Loves A Woman (depressing yes, but I love the end)

St. Elmo's Fire (again, what's not to love about this movie)

Sex and The City (for obvious reasons)

Juno (the wit)

Knocked Up (I quote this movie a lot)

Resevoir Dogs (I love the scene with Michael Madsen dancing to Stuck in the Middle)

October Sky (Jake LOVED this movie as a kid and so does Cole)

Brokeback Mountain (shut up and move along)

The Perfect Storm (Just love it every time I see it)

Sweet Home Alabama (Reese and Josh Lucas such a good match)

Under the Tuscan Sun (Italy, 'nuf said)

Unfaithful (horrible premise but its like a train wreck for me)

Must Love Dogs (I love John Cusak)

Say Anything (Speaking of John and that song was in my wedding)

Just Friends (stupid movie, on alot lately, but I love it)

Walk the Line (has to be an all time favorite)

I think I'll leave it at that but know that there are more and I feel like I probably missed a really big one but.... there you have it.  What are yours?

An 80's Hearthrob

Patrick Swayze died yesterday at the age of 57 from pancreatic cancer.  This news saddened me very much as he is one of my favorite actors - I've always loved him and the following are my absolute favorite Swayze films with a little description of why (these movies also fall into my other category which is whole 'nuther post "Movies I Can Watch Over and Over Even If I Catch Them In the Middle"

The Outsiders (1983) "Darrel Curtis" - The Outisders has to be one of my all time favorite movies, it's an ensemble cast including C.Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon and Rob Lowe.  Patrick Swayze played the responsible older brother Darrel "Darry" Curtis to C. Thomas' Ponyboy.  Even though Swayze wasn't the central character he had a strong and masculine presense throughout the movie rounding out the story of orphaned teenagers in the 1950's.  Don't watch this movie with me in the room, I know every line in it and it's really irritating.

Red Dawn (1984) "Jed" - While I haven't seen this movie in a really long time, it's on the list because I was so stricken by it, it actually scared me.  I was 13 when I saw this movie in the theater and I thought "Wow - could that really happen?" and who doesn't remember the original battle cry way before Gerard Butler's "SPARTANS!" The teenage boys crying out "WOLVERINES" while defending their town is classic.

Dirty Dancing (1987) "Johnny Castle" - what is not to love about this movie and Patrick's portrayal of the bad boy with the loving caring heart who helps transform a teenage girl into a dancer with confidence.  He was so incredibly hot in this movie, it was insane.  Could be the year I fell in love with him and thought his wife was the luckiest woman in the world.  Probably because in 1987 I was 16 and drempt of going to a summer resort and having an affair with an older man?  Probably. Oh and Jennifer Grey is one of my favorites, no one puts her in a corner (it HAD to be said)

Road House (1989) "Dalton" - Dalton.....wow.....nothing better than this kick ass movie set in the south but with a ton of martial arts in it, yes the fight scene at the mansion of the bad guy was a wee bit cheesy with the big monster truck, but I'll sit through that any day to see Swayze work out in his loft and court the local doctor.

Ghost (1990) "Sam Wheat" - One. Of. THe. Best. Movies. Ever. - while Demi Moore DID cry a lot in this movie, wouldn't you if you lost the man who loves you more than anything in the world and TELLS you?  I think so.  This movie was sad but also had humor which I loved and who doesnt' want to take up pottery as a hobby after this movie?

Point Break (1991) "Bohdi" - How fun it was to see Patrick with long blond hair, a tan and that surfer way of talking.  Again this was a movie where he wasn't the center of attention but the movie would have failed miserably without him.  You wanted to hate Bohdi for robbing banks and shooting people, but he had such a good heart and such a GOOD argument about WHY. He didn't really want to shoot people and he was just stealing money from a bank, not old ladies or anything.  Plus he was SOOOOOOO hot in that movie and you believed that he really did like Johnny Utah, he wanted to be friends.  I think this is one of those movies that you either hate it or love it, I love it.

That's my list of my favorite Swayze movies.  I had a teenage crush on him that lasted until my adulthood, he was devoted to his wife, a terrific actor and a respected man.  He left us too soon, but I'm glad that I can see him in all the movies above over and over again.

H2C '09

Last weekend I ran the Hood to Coast Relay Race for the sixth time.  I love this race so much, its one of my favorite things to do because I get to run this race with people I've worked with for over 9 years.  This experience creates so much commaradarie and strong friendships, a couple of the people on the team work with me but we don't really ever cross paths in a work day, we have become great friends through this adventure every year. 

If you're not familiar with the Relay Race its a race from Timberline Lodge to Seaside, covering 197 miles broken up into 36 legs run by 12 teammates.  We usually finish the race in about 30 hours staying up all night and having the time of our lives.  Sleep deprivation and fatigue especially at about 4 or 5 in the morning makes for some fantastically funny moments, we get punchy and quite giggly. 

I adore the people that I run with and most especially running it with my husband is the greatest part of all.  I love sharing this activity with him, seeing how proud he is of me when I come into an exchange point and me of him.  Fun and healthy stuff like running is so much more fun to do when you have partners and I have great ones, one of my best friends, Michelle and George.  They make running as fun as it'll ever be. 

Thank you to all of you on the team for making this H2C'09 one of the best we've ever seen.

Mark, Dean, Mary, Danielle, Matt, Michelle, Lisa, Me, Nathan, Brad, George, and Dale

Danielle and I in our cool socks!  We got a lot of compliments on them :)

The Arrival of Kai

Last weekend my grandson was born!  Kai Elijah Warner weighing in at 7lbs, 5oz and measuring 20 inches long.  He was born on August 24, 2009 at 2:58am.  I couldn't be more proud of Jake and Katie if I tried.

We went to the hospital on Sunday around 5pm bearing food and games and movies, Jake told us the nurse thought it would be awhile.  We had a false alarm on Saturday morning at 4am where Katie just wasn't dilating so they sent us home later that morning.  George and I hung around, napped and waited for the next phone all which came at 2pm on Sunday that they were going to the hospital again.  They finally admitted her at 5pm so we headed over there. 

It was so wonderful to sit with Jake, Katie, her mom Kim and stepmom Cindy.  We all chatted and got to bond just a little more through watching our barely adult kids take on this new life change.  Jake was so touching to watch, his interactions with Katie were so loving and he just doted on her all the while.  Katie was the strongest mom I've ever seen, she was so focused through her contractions and just a calm mom to be.

Around 2am we were all dozing a bit and the nurse said she was dilated at 8!  We were told that it might not be until 7am on Monday but after her epidural, it really sped things along.  We all got up and were so excited.  Kate pushed 8 times and in 14 minutes we had the arrival of goregous Kai.

Thank you my lovelies for letting Nana and Papa G be a part of this joyful experience.  We love all three of you so much!

So Taxing

My brain hurts....no I'm SERIOUS....this week has been absolutely insane at work.  My boss (whom I adore) is leaving for a week next week and we are slammed with a ton of things to do; most of which I can't discuss in detail because a) its confidential and b) it's boring. I was really frustrated yesterday when I was asked to give an opinion on some memos that are floating around the legal department, to which I replied "You want MY opinion?" with my mouth hanging open.  Opinions come from lawyers not paralegals so I was a bit surprised and then sick to my stomach because I don't know how to do such a thing.  A leeeetle background for you, my boss does these things on purpose because according to him he just KNOWS I can do these tasks, I've learned a great deal from him and it's amazing to me that after nine years of working together he is still doing it and I still never see it coming!  I digress, so he shoos me out of his office and I slump down in my chair to figure this out, I go back to him a couple of times when I get sidetracked and know I'm going off course.  By the end of yesterday I had redlined quite a bit of his memo that he wrote and I felt pretty good about it but still felt like I didn't do THAT great of a job so I said as much this morning.  He said "Remember when you didn't know how to even write a memo?" and I said that I did and then he says "Now you're tackling opinions and you always jump in with both feet, it's why I give you this stuff, you like the challenge but you think you don't"

How does he know me so well?

So after he's proud of his analysis of my work personality he says "Oh I have another one for you, can you research this employment question for me?  I need it in two hours before I leave for vacation."

"Um..yeah totally" My elation at geting the opinion done was shortlived.

This question was most difficult and I again almost gave up and then I found it!  Proudly exclaiming that I did find it and he just smiled and told me to go up to HR and explain it to them.  "But I thought you wanted it" he replied "No you can do it" He's sneaky like that.

I also had to write four memos this week describing different technologies and their place in the marketplace, some were almost 20 pages and when I printed them out and looked at them, I couldn't believe that all that work came out of me! My job isn't exciting (and frankly neither is this post) but I like it and even though its fairly solitary I think it suits me.  It would have to after nine years. :)

So after my week of very taxing projects that I felt were to hard for me, I guess they weren't afterall. Although like I said my brain still does hurt.

The Brewery Tour Honeymoon

Last month I took a glorious two and a half weeks off of work for the wedding and our honeymoon.  I can't remember the last time I had more than just a couple of days off work so this was heaven to me.  The first week after the wedding, George worked but I took that week and spent it with Cole, we had the best time!  It was that super hot week, so Cole and I went to the pool every single day, we have this cool outdoor pool just about 10 blocks from our house, so we would bike (or drive on the 100+ degree days) and hang out for a couple of hours.  One day we went to the Lewis River in Washington, George's dad knows of a small swimming hole up there.  It was so nice to spend a week with Cole just doing things here in town.

The following week we dropped Cole with his dad and headed out to the coast, we had a very loose plan of what we were going to do and we liked it that way.  We drove to Astoria and our plan was to drive south on Hwy 101 until it was time to go home.  We had to be back by Saturday for a friend's 40th birthday party. 

Astoria: We stayed at the Commodore Hotel, a newly remodeled re-opened hotel.  I highly recommend this place for its very affordable and the staff is incredibly nice.  The rooms are small but very comfortable.  We walked all over and even got a morning run in, running along the coast is really nice.  We ate at the Wet Dog Brewery and then at Fort George.  (Our trip was geared by brew pubs) Fort George was hands down the best beer.

Pacific City: We decided to look for a campground along the way but a big attraction was the Pelican Brewery in Pacific City.  Pacific City doesn't have much to offer in the way of camping, shops or restaurants.  The beach access right next to the Pelican was nice but that was about it.  The Pelican is extremely popular and we had to sit at the bar or wait a half hour for a table at 3 in the afternoon.  See....I said there was nothing else to do here.  We liked the Pelican but still Fort George was the front runner.

Depoe Bay and Beverly Beach: The people at Pelican suggested Beverly Beach for camping so we headed that way after a quick stop in Depoe Bay, I can't even recall the name of the place we ate but it was terrible. We grocery shopped and made our way to Beverly.  The campground said "Full" but we tried it anyway and scored a spot!  Beverly Beach is a fantastic campground, quiet and tons of trees.  Great place to go with kids too.  We liked it so much we stayed two nights.  We played Bocci Ball on the beach, laid in the sun and played games.

Newport: I have to say, I've never spent much time in Newport but it is CUTE!  As you can guess, the draw here was Rogue Brewery where we had lunch when we arrived after finding a kitchy little motel called the Whaler.  We checked in and just walked all over the town, we shopped and looked at all the boats in the harbor and then spent the afternoon at Rogue.  Rogue had the best food of all the pubs and my favorite beer which was the I2PA, they just called it I Squared.  After more walking around and relaxing we changed and got ready for dinner (the weather was turning chillier) The server at Rogue suggested a place for dinner overlooking the harbor.  George and I had the best time sitting over a long dinner looking out at the bay and the Newport Bridge.  The next day we checked out and made our way back home - ending our brewery tour at none other than our favorite - Hopworks. :)

 

Back to Life, Back to Reality

I'm back!

I got a little sidetracked with the wedding and my high school reunion and that damn facebook.  That thing is a time sucker and such a distraction! A couple of people have commented that they miss reading my blog (I can't believe its that entertaining or informative) but upon some urging I did go back and read some of my old entries and it was so AWESOME!  I read about Jake moving out and the snow storm last year so it inspired me to keep this up because its SO nice to look back on what I wrote.

My Reunion was really fun, it was so much work to put it together but I also reconnected and gained some friends through the planning process that are dear to me.  I think we put on quite a party all weekend - so that was really satisfying.  The middle picture is the Reunion Team! I love them all.

You may have heard that I got married!  Yes, two weeks after the Reunion I got married to George.  It was at Mt. Tabor Park and was so gorgeous.  My mom and George's step mom and some friends did all the flowers and bouquets, my bridesmaids were amazing for the several months that I was planning this event, I'd be lost without you lovlies.  And most of all, George was so helpful and wonderful through the whole thing and I'm lucky to be his wife.  A few pictures ....

ps - I'll be MUCH better about posting almost every day now..... I'll blog about the honeymoon tomorrow.

10 Reasons To Sit on an Excercise Ball at Work

I recently mentioned that I'm sitting on an excercise ball at work instead of a chair.  I seriously sit on this damn thing every single day, all day.  Even when co-workers laugh at me and they do with witty little comments about what is going to hatch, you get the idea.  So I noticed during this busy week, I have yet to go to the gym save for one time on Tuesday and I'll be damned if I'm not getting more toned by sitting on this stupid ass ball.  So I looked online to see if that could be true and sho' nuff!  I ran into this article which helped me with my Friday List.

http://www.gearfire.net/10-reasons-to-use-an-exercise-ball-as-your-chair/

1) Spine Alignment (my back hurt the first day or so but now strong!)

2) Frequently change positions (you have to bounce when turning around to see people or answer the phone)

3) Fitness at your fingertips (I don't use it for excercise, I work in a cube and they laugh at me enough as it is)

4) Improve balance (SO true)

5) Get that 6 pack (well I never have a 6 pack unless its called IPA)

6) Improves your circulation (I like this one although haven't noticed)

7) More energetic (yes, TRUE!)

8) Burn up to 350 calories per day (jigga WHAT??  Seriously??  I LOVE THIS)

9) Really cheap (mine was FREE from someone here at work who couldn't handle the ridicule- Bring it!)

10) It's FUN (okay I think this journalist ran out of items and he really wanted 10 but yes its bouncy and fun and actually makes me feel kinda cute)

The Ball

Friday List: Really?

Things that Make You Go "Really? really?"

1) Justin Long pontificating on the inappropriateness of Johnjay and Rich asking him about dating Drew Barrymore again.  I'ts an INTERVIEW. Pompous, much? You're not Brad Pitt.

2) Jon and Kate on the cover of my US Magazine for 5 weeks in a row.  Really?  I'm beginning to hate them.

3) Donut Friday here in my office.  Really?  Can we have fruit or yougurt or something else?

4) My Blackberry rolly ball that doesn't let me roll to the right so I can't lock it therefore it calls people from my purse.  Sorry, April.

5) My favorite white cargo pants that used to be too big and now are just too tight.  Really?  Come on.  Can't some of that weight just fall off, please?

6) Four Day work weeks that feel longer than the regular Five Day.  Really?  How in the world? 

7) Me promising you guys that I'd blog every day.  Sorry, I'll be better.

Happy Gorgeous Beautiful Friday!