Category Archives: life

March 10, 2012

Traumatized

By rhonirenee

Did you know that spark plugs can work loose & fly out of the engine while you’re driving?

I was on the way to church tonight when a loud pop/bang occurred & suddenly I heard what sounded like a large diesel truck without a muffler. I looked over at TheKid & calmly said “Hmm. Perhaps we should pull over. “

Ok. Actually I yelped in a rather panicked & strangled voice “IS THAT MY CAR MAKING THAT NOISE?!? “

I did pull over onto the next side street and proceeded to shake just slightly less than violently. Because if something breaks on my car, we’re going to end up homeless on a street corner. Its just there way it works. Car trouble equals a bajillion dollars that destroys us & leaves us destitute and without transportation.

Does it make sense? Absolutely not. We have 2 vehicles & live within biking distance of work & school. Do those facts prevent the shaking? Nope. But I didn’t burst into hysterical tears so THAT’S progress.

Thankfully my husband was behind me in his truck. And he took one look at my car & knew how to fix it…for a total cost of less than $50. I’m terribly grateful for him (& his patience with me).

1 comment | posted in life

February 7, 2012

RIP Kitten

By rhonirenee

I pulled into the driveway last night just as our roomie was walking out to her car. She ran over, hugged me and said “I LOOOOOVE you. Remember that.” My immediate reaction was to look at her suspiciously and ask “What have you done?” At that moment My husband came running out the door. He grabbed the back of her sweatshirt as she was desperately trying to escape and made her break the news. Our cat, Kitten, (shut up it fits fit him) was killed by a car.

She was home alone and the first hand account of her reaction coupled with my husband’s input on what she sounded like when she called him (near hysterically to hear him tell it) was, perhaps inappropriately, quite amusing. And so I giggled. Until Jon started describing the body to me.

Still. I haven’t had the emotional reaction that I expected. They obviously were looking for tears from me but I was removed enough from the event that it doesn’t seem real. Intellectually I understand that he’s dead and in a gruesome manner. Functionally though – he’s just gone. He went outside and hasn’t come back.

Oh I’ll miss him. I’ll miss his cuddles and his loud purrs and his head butts to the face. He was a good kitty.

1 comment | posted in life

January 31, 2012

Let’s hear it for the boys

By rhonirenee

Jon and I have three kids. I grew up with two sisters so although I never exactly planned on kids, I don’t think three is “a lot”.  Besides, we live in Idaho and our kids attend Catholic school. And I don’t want to offend anyone…but…well…Mormon and Catholic families trend towards more than three kids. So  most people don’t react much when they find out I have three kids.

Then they find out it’s three BOYS.

And two of them are teenagers. A mere year apart.

I’ll admit that I might have researched the legalities involved in duct taping bodies to bunk beds. Or walls. Or inside closet doors. But hey, duct tape is COOL now. Have you seen the variety of colors and patterns? It’s not so bad if you let them pick it out…right?

Moving on…

The truth is our teenagers are pretty great. They make me laugh…maybe as I’m throwing (soft) fruit at their heads…but they crack me up. They have, for the  most part, chosen to fill their lives with quality relationships. And they’re remarkably angst free.

Last Tuesday the school parking lot was slick when I dropped off the younger two. I watched as the 13 yr old unobtrusively held the handle of LilBit’s backpack so he could catch him if he slipped. He did it subtly so LilBit wouldn’t get upset and he did it unprompted.

Sunday, the 14 yr old told me he wanted to start helping with dinners because “I’ll be moving out soon & will need to know how to cook. And I can also help so you can do school stuff.”

They get along really well. TheKid refers to TheBoy as his “voice of reason”.  And TheBoy seems to get more than a little enjoyment from telling TheKid when he’s about to do something really stupid. We are constantly telling them to SHUT UP AND GO TO SLEEP ALREADY but at the same time, I am grateful they enjoy time together.

So yeah. We have three boys. And two of them are teenagers. And yes life IS fun. For real.

Just, please, quit making comments about having two teenage boys driving at the same time. *shudder*

Leave a comment | posted in family, life

January 27, 2012

Bug vs Windshield

By rhonirenee

“Some days you’re the windshield. Some days you’re the bug.”

My limbs feel like they’re infused with lead. My head feels like it’s filled with helium. I was standing in the dining room earlier and just suddenly…fell over…just kinda stumbled into the wall. My brain…it was apparently soaked in a numbing agent over night. And my tear glands are only working sporadically – and then secreting kerosene.

I just looked at my ringing phone and growled “I don’t WANT TO TALK TO ANYONE.” At work.

I know it’ll pass quickly though. I’ll be right as rain tomorrow*.

Unfortunately that stupid bug vs. windshield phrase will still be around. Here’s the thing. I’m not a windshield. If I feel like a squashed bug on occasion, it’s because of a self inflicted schedule. I don’t want to be the windshield to someone else’s bug. And I don’t particularly want to “slam life” either. I will conquer obstacles and fears and endure (or power through) rough spots. But those “less than ideal” aspects are just that – aspects of an overall wonderful life. They’re simply pieces of a whole without which there would be no growth or improvement or change. A static life is a boring life. (The same might could be said of people).

*Since we’re discussing cliché phrases…okay *I’M* discussing them…I’ve never found a satisfactory etymology for “right as rain”. Seems it’s just one of many “right as…” phrases that have been around since medieval times, none of which really made sense. But it’s also pretty much the only to survive, perhaps because the alliteration is catchy. There’s just something soothing about it to me; maybe because in my head it’s always uttered in The Oracle’s voice and accompanied by the scent of fresh chocolate chip cookies**.

**If you don’t get this reference, I don’t know if we can be friends. Well we can. But I’ll need to educate you on The Matrix. And by educate I mean force you to watch it with me. Multiple times.

Leave a comment | posted in life, me me me

January 23, 2012

Why I’m not tweeting so much

By rhonirenee

You might have noticed I haven’t been on twitter much lately. Or maybe not. I certainly haven’t posted here but THAT’S not unusual. But I don’t expect to my twitter time to increase in the future either. Don’t get me wrong. I love twitter. I love the ease of receiving information. I love the glimpse into lives that would otherwise remain a total mystery. But. But. There are just as many reasons to limit my time over there:

  • It’s much too easy to log in just to vent. Someone irritates me? Bam – instant audience to commiserate with me. And while the support is appreciated, 99.9% of the time whatever I’m fussing about is trivial and not worth any more of my attention. I certainly don’t need to feed that irritation by sharing and then further discussing it. Not to mention, everyone following me doesn’t need that kind of extra negativity in their lives.
  • When online communities have my focused attention, IRL relationships and responsibilities suffer. I tend to communicate with people that are not truly part of my life  and I am so distracted that productivity suffers at work and at home. (The irony that I’m writing this at work is not lost on me. So. Moving on.) It’s FUN. But it’s not necessarily where I need to be committing time and energy. It’s too easy to get overwhelmed by all the potential friendships and worthwhile communities and activities. It’s for this reason that I’ve started avoiding message boards and forums. I just don’t have the time or energy to support multiple online communities and relationships. (My sisters at heart are IRL relationships no matter where they’re currently located)
  • Speaking of time…I started classes last week at BSU. I’m only taking six hours – one class online and one in person – but it’s an adjustment. I commented yesterday that I was impressed with people who work full time and take a full class load because just six hours is such a change in time management for me. It wasn’t a complaint, just a comment that followed me saying I was glad to be in classes and enjoying them. But someone listening in was quick to point out how she had worked four jobs while going to school full time and parenting a two year old. I know. I get it. I’ve got it EASY. I’m spoiled.  I only work 40 hours at a low key job that I love. I’m only taking six hours. My kids are older and I have the full support of my husband. But I still have to re-examine how and where my time is spent. And if something has to be cut, online will be the first thing to go.

Bottom line is that I have my priorities: (1) time spent with God (2) time spent with & serving my family (3/4/5) school/(real) friends/peer counseling people (interchangeable depending on need, deadlines, etc), everything else – working out, reading, piano, etc…and way way down at the bottom of that list is online participation.  Hey – I’ll always respond to texts!

Leave a comment | posted in life, me me me

January 3, 2012

Annnnd we’re back!

By rhonirenee

Not that I post regularly ANYWAY but I deliberately took a break over the holiday. The fabulous, fabulous holiday.  See – my husband and I *both* get just over a week off for Christmas. He was off starting the afternoon of 12/21. I was done on the 23rd and neither of us had to come back until, well, today.  The kids were out of school and so we had a stay-cation of sorts. So – what did we do?

Nothing.

Yep.

Nothing.

Oh I went and had coffee with my mentor. (Yes this is a new development). And TheKid was cat sitting so I took him to check in there. And we had family dinners and cleaned house. We had a Harry Potter movie marathon one day (made it through SIX of them) But mostly, we just existed. And it. was. marvelous.

 

Leave a comment | posted in life, me me me

December 13, 2011

Day of Awesome

By rhonirenee

Wow. I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since my (da da dummmmm!) DAY OF AWESOME!

I had originally planned to take the afternoon off to decorate The Queen’s apartment for her birthday which would have been cool in itself. But then some friends asked if I wanted to go see the new Twi!ight premier with them. And while I’m not a *huge* fan (disclaimer: I did read all the books), I’m always up for a girls night. After further researching and planning we discovered the theater offered the “marathon” option….ie…we could purchase tickets to watch all 4 movies in a row. Which meant we would have seats reserved and would be in the theater around 3:30. Which meant no waiting in line in the cold for hours. Score.  So I decided to take off the whole day and take The Queen to breakfast before she went to work and I ninja’d her home and then watched hours of bad film. And THEN another friend won the opportunity to bowl the first game at a new family friendly bowling alley and asked if I’d join her.

Whew.

So the schedule was:

  • Wake up around 7
  • Realize I’d missed a call from our roommate saying the car had died leaving her stranded on the side of the interstate. (Thankfully her friend rescued her but the car was still there)
  • Meet The Queen for breakfast
  • “Drive” the car while hubs towed it to the mechanic. (This part was NOT AWESOME by the way)
  • Return to my car, meet my friend at the bowling alley.
  • Attempt to bowl while socializing and taking pictures and laughing
  • Get a text from Missy saying she’d forgotten to leave the back door unlocked.
  • Finish putting together The Queen’s gift basket and drop it off at her work instead of bombing her house with streamers, balloons and confetti.
  • Meet other friends at theater. Settle in for ten hours.
  • Giggle and debate Team Edward or Team Jacob and explain to one of the teenagers that having a guy sneak in and watch you sleep is NOT ROMANTIC IT’S CREEPY EVEN IF THEY GET MARRIED. Eat lots of random snacks. Talk and laugh and talk and giggle.
  • Stumble to the car, somehow drive home and collapse into bed thankful that it’s Friday and the office expects you to be a zombie.

Day. Of. Awesome.

 

1 comment | posted in life, me me me, Random

December 2, 2011

I have not been living this…

By rhonirenee

I should have read this yesterday*. I might not have laid on the couch all night. Granted I felt pretty crappy…still do…but I was still being exceedingly lazy.

From “The Art of Expressing The Human Body” (about Bruce Lee)

“Bruce had me up to three miles a day, really at a good pace. We’d run the three miles in twenty-one or twenty-two minutes. Just under eight minutes a mile [Note: when running on his own in 1968, Lee would get his time down to six-and-a half minutes per mile]. So this morning he said to me “We’re going to go five.” I said, “Bruce, I can’t go five. I’m a helluva lot older than you are, and I can’t do five.” He said, “When we get to three, we’ll shift gears and it’s only two more and you’ll do it.” I said “Okay, hell, I’ll go for it.” So we get to three, we go into the fourth mile and I’m okay for three or four minutes, and then I really begin to give out. I’m tired, my heart’s pounding, I can’t go any more and so I say to him, “Bruce if I run any more,” –and we’re still running-”if I run any more I’m liable to have a heart attack and die.” He said, “Then die.” It made me so mad that I went the full five miles. Afterward I went to the shower and then I wanted to talk to him about it. I said, you know, “Why did you say that?” He said, “Because you might as well be dead. Seriously, if you always put limits on what you can do, physical or anything else, it’ll spread over into the rest of your life. It’ll spread into your work, into your morality, into your entire being. There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you. A man must constantly exceed his level.”

 

*(Originally found at Blog of Impossible Things

Leave a comment | posted in health/fitness, life, me me me

November 10, 2011

Jack Frost: arch nemesis or friend?

By rhonirenee

I think I’ve established that I’m not at all a fan of winter…or more to the point, I’m not a fan of being cold. But there’s a lot to like about this season really: the fuzzy/soft sweaters and cute boots, the warm drinks with yummy pumpkin or mint seasoning, the lights and parties and general good cheer and yes, even the crisp pretty snow and snowball fights and rosy cheeks. (And I would really LOVE to learn to ski. I’ve wanted to do that since 2005 but it’s just doesn’t seem to be in the cards anytime soon.)

I really only have one beef with winter – inefficiency.  It takes twice as much consideration and time to get dressed.  Even if I’m already dressed, there is no grabbing my keys and going. I have to put on socks and shoes and a coat and (sometimes) gloves and a hat and scarf. And as CUTE as those hat/scarf/glove combos can be…they take time to put on/take off.  I can’t just get in the car and leave. The car has to be warmed up and/or defrosted so it’s safe to drive. And forget about a quick jaunt to the grocery store. Even that is transformed into an exercise of hyper vigilance with slick roads and other drivers who don’t seem to realize that sometimes it’s necessary to slow down and pay attention.

But I also have to wonder, is this God’s way of slowing us down? As our calendars start disappearing under the slew of holiday events and all the accompanying baking/decorating/shopping preps, is it possible that He designed this season into our lives as a natural pause? Instead of seeing perceived delays, perhaps I should focus on the opportunity to weave quiet moments into my life, to appreciate the everyday joys.

Leave a comment | posted in lessons to learn, life

November 9, 2011

Bursting at the seams

By rhonirenee

That’s an apt description of our life right now…bursting at the seams. This week we have something every. single. night. Every evening full of friends and laughter and music. But as much as I enjoy the laughter over warm drinks and meals shared with too rarely seen friends and live music,  as great as that all is, the experiences are enhanced because I get to share them with my husband. Everything* we do this week is together.

I kinda like that.

*There is one exception to this statement that will be an experience within an experience that a friend has asked me to share with her. I’ll tell you about it later. Probably Friday.

Leave a comment | posted in life

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.