Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Call Me Crazy!

I think it's well documented that I'm in somewhat of a mid-life crisis.  Well to be fair I don't really think of it as a crisis...maybe more of a growth spurt.  I'm learning so much right now it's overwhelming, yet fabulous. 

I'm sure you've heard in the blogosphere of others doing 30 before 30 or 40 before 40.  Well I'm working on a 50 before 50 list.  I will be 45 in December, and there are a bunch of things that I want to accomplish before I turn 50.  I will post the full list at some point, when I feel the time is right.  But in the mean time let me say...I'm taking a swimming class.  When I was a child I took years of classes.  Because of fear caused by poor vision in the pool, I never learned to swim proficiently.  I can swim enough to be safe for sure, but I want to swim well. 

Last night was my first class.  It was an experience to say the least.  Courtney(my teacher) has 3 students, 2 young 20 somethings, and me.  She began by asking what our goals were, what we hoped to accomplish.  The girls start excitedly explaining that they want to build endurance because they are participating in a triathlon in August.  They just learned to swim in March.  I sheepishly explained that I would like to learn "Swimmer's Breathing", and to do that fancy flip at the end of the lane for starters. 

She has us start with the kick boards taking several laps working on our kicks.  I was happy that I held my own, and my kick though it could use some tweaking, it was not too bad.  Then she had us show her our crawl stroke.  Well...off the girls went in what looked to be pretty great form. And then it happened.  I put on my goggles as we were discussing the breathing and she says quietly.  "Well, first, your goggles are upside down."  As I threw my head back and laughed I thought...Is there a difference???  A right side up?  :)  Too funny!  I'm so thankful that I can laugh at myself...otherwise I would spend my life sad and uncomfortable.  I almost couldn't practice the breathing because it really amused me.

So 15 laps later the class was over and I was still sputtering in effort to not panic, but just to breath in and out.  It just seems so unnatural.  I kept telling myself...You can totally learn to do this.  It feels unnatural now, but in just a few classes you will have this.  You can do this.  I hope that's true.  :)

I had a blast!  I'm so thankful that I stepped out of my comfort zone to learn something that I have wanted to master for literally my whole life.  I will let you know when I get it, and then it's on to that flip.  ;)  Oh, and this is not the only new thing I am going to learn in the next 5 years...stay tuned!  J.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Impulsive Decisions

Last week I went to the my hair stylist to get a hot oil treatment.  The appointment had been scheduled for 6 weeks, but on the day, I decided to get my hair cut instead.  Impulsively I had her cut it all off.  I don't regret having done it.  If I were being completely honest I would say that I may have gone a little too far...but that said I like it a lot.  Timothy really, REALLY likes it...and that makes me very happy.  

P.S.  Look at that girl's smile!  Too cute!

Happy Birthday Kesa - 21 6/14/11

Hannah, Jeanne, Laura, Kesa
Kesa turned 21 and of course we had to celebrate.  Notice how the bottom half of our faces look the same.