A little bit silly

The other day I received a card in the mail from my sister-in-law Heather. It was a lovely thank you card and included some photos from her wedding. These were pics from the disposable cameras that had been passed out for the guests to use. Most of them were of my brothers looking so handsome in their tuxes. I was looking through them and having a totally gushy, sentimental moment until I got to the last two pictures, which were of my husband being way too silly. I started laughing, showed the pics to Brian, he started laughing, and commented that he remembered posing for those and that Emily (my 12-year old niece) had taken them. I'm not sure we are setting a good example but that is probably a conversation for another day. Anyway, Brian looks at me and asks "Those are going on your blog, aren't they?" I responded that they should go on my blog, but since I would have to scan the photos, I wasn't sure. He said I should definitely post them. Well okay, if you insist.

These photos are what I started viewing. So nice!



Here is the shocking finale!

Yes, that is me in the corner covering my face with my hands. I'm sure I was probably shaking my head back and forth, too.

No, wait ladies - I saw him first. He's all mine! Actually, Brian's silliness and sense of humor is one of the things I love about him. We definitely had a good laugh over these photos.

Lucky Coin

I realize my posting has been really lite this month - honestly I don't know where March went. This year just seems to be flying by. I haven't been super motivated to write lately, but I'll try to do better. Anyway, I have about 7 unfinished posts going back to November that I hope to finish up. Some of the events happened a while ago so things may seem kind of random. Then again, those that know me, know that I often seem to be a somewhat random person. Let's just say that I'm rebelling against the concept of linear time. Humor me.

Different cultures and ethnicities have a variety of traditions to ring in the New Year. It is an old Greek tradition to bake a coin in the New Year's Cake. Whoever gets the piece with the coin in it is supposed to be blessed with good luck for the entire year. My mother has carried out this tradition as long as I can remember. Since my family is rarely all together at New Year's these days, Mom prepares the New Year's meal as part of Christmas. She bakes it inside a dish called tyropita - or cheese pie. My family scarfed down the pita this year and by the time I got a piece it was over half gone. No one had gotten the coin yet and my mother was warning everyone to be careful not to bite into their pieces too hard. Someone made a joke that they could use the coin to pay for their broken tooth, and at that moment I bit down on the coin. Fortunately I did not break a tooth. As I announced that I had gotten the coin, my sister remarked that this was a good year for me to get the coin since I'm doing Ironman. Good point. Let's hope that the luck holds true.

Everyone wanted to know when I has gotten the coin last. I couldn't remember but I knew it hadn't been that many years. Mom was very concerned that I had saved the coin - it's bad luck to spend it before the year is over. I assured her that I had saved every coin I had gotten as an adult. In fact, I was pretty sure I still had them somewhere. When Brian and I returned home from Maryland, I went looking for the one coin I knew for sure I had saved - it was an antique coin from my father's collection - and found it in a box with two other coins that I vaguely remembered getting in other years. I can't say for sure if the years I got the coin were particularly good years, partly because I'm not entirely certain when I got the coins. I do know they weren't bad years - mostly because I'm an optimist and it would take a lot for me to say it was a bad year. Mom has a habit of getting new coins for this tradition so I can make some assumptions based on the dates on the coins - 1993, 1999, 2001, and 2008. Now 1993 started out fairly crappy, but since I met Brian that year I'd say it ended on a pretty good note; 1999 was the year I got my wisdom teeth removed, but it was also my first triathlon, and the year ended with our first trip to Mexico with Joey and Rachel - super fun!; 2001 saw Brian complete his PhD. and get a job at Duke, the birth of Olivia and Jordan, and another super fun trip with Joey, Rachel, and Jordan - this time to the Florida Keys. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what 2008 brings - let's hope the luck holds.

I tried to take pictures of the coins since they are pretty cool - 2 gold dollars, a silver dollar from 1885, and a 50 cent piece -but it didn't work out so well. Here are pics of all four together.

Front

Back

I want......

...to be here,
but I guess this isn't too bad either.

Mmmmmmmmmm!

I started writing with every intention of talking about mine and Brian's recent weekend in Jacksonville, but I'm having a hard time concentrating so I thought I'd just share my lovely morning. Today I had a hot stone massage. I've wanted to try one for quite some time but I've never gotten around to it. Last time I was at my spa, I decided to go ahead and schedule one. I loved it! I get regular deep tissue massages, but this was completely different. I can't even describe it. If you've never had one, I highly recommend it. I've had a couple of really hard workouts this week and all the heat from the stones just felt so good. I was so relaxed I probably shouldn't have been driving.

After the massage, I went in search of lunch. I wanted something substantial, since I was starving. I've actually been constantly hungry for almost a week, but very much so the past few days. I definitely haven't been eating enough. I always eat a good breakfast, but sometimes during the day, I get busy doing things and I just forget to eat. I snack while I'm riding but don't always get around to having a real meal. I'm trying to do better. One of the ladies at the spa recommended a little breakfast/lunch place just around the corner called Sisters for Breakfast. All their food is locally grown from the farmers market and organic if possible. The place smelled so good! I ordered a spinach salad and a chicken pot pie to go. Unfortunately, they didn't have pecan pie. I just finished eating and let me tell you, this was one of the best chicken pot pies - it was a puff pastry covered with a thick gravy with white meat chicken and fresh, crisp veggies - not mushy. It tasted like it had just come from the oven. I'm totally relaxed with a full tummy and about 1 step away from a coma. My only regret is that it's absolutely gorgeous out and I would love to go for a ride, but I don't think I'm alert enough to deal with traffic. Maybe in a little while.

Feliz Cumpleanos Jose!

I was so abysmal last year at getting most people their birthday presents on time that I have decided that everyone is getting a birthday blog post this year. Hopefully that will help me be on time AND remember everyone's birthdays. I love celebrating birthdays. I really love giving presents to the people I love - especially since I rarely get to be with those people on their special day.

Today's topic of discussion is Joey. That's right - it's Joey's birthday. I will refrain from saying lots of nice things about Joey that will likely embarrass him - if you read my blog regularly, you know he is a truly awesome friend, and I'm rather fond of him. I'll just stick to wishing him a Happy Birthday!

Interesting events, besides Joey, that occurred on March 5, 1970:

• Dubnium, Element 105 on the periodic table, a radioactive synthetic element, was first detected
• The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty went into effect; interestingly March 5, 1946 is when Winston Churchill used the phrase "Iron Curtain" in his now-famous speech

Other events that occurred on March 5th:

• 1963 - The Hula Hoop was patented
• 1960 - Elvis is discharged from the Army
• 1953 - Joseph Stalin dies
• 1821 - James Monroe inaugurated
• 1864 - the first Oxford vs Cambridge track meet
• 1982 - James Belushi dies
  
• 1997 - North and South Korea meet for peace talks for the first time in 25 years
• 2004 - Martha Stewart convicted
  

Some other interesting people born on March 5:

• 1113 - King Henry II - First Plantagenet King and father of Richard the Lionheart
• 1836 - Charles Goodnight - Texas Cattle Rancher, started the Goodnight-Loving Trail, invented the chuckwagon, and founded the JA Ranch - the oldest in the Texas panhandle
  
• 1908 - Rex Harrison, actor
  
• 1955 - Penn Gillete, magician
  
• 1958 - Andy Gibb, member of the BeeGees
  
• 1966 - Michael Irvin, Pro football player
  
• 1974 - Eva Mendes, actress
  
• 1977 - Wally Szczerbiak, Pro basketball player

2008 Chinese horoscope for those born on March 5, 1970 - The Year of the Dog:

2008 is the year of the Rat. 58% (8 favorable and 4 unfavorable months) This year may be a bit more challenging than the last, but it still has the potential to be very favorable. The Dog is more comfortable with the Pig, which symbolizes endings, rather than the Rat, which is associated with new beginnings. If you are willing to leave your comfort zone, you can make significant progress towards your objectives and also achieve one or more notable successes. As with most things, your attitude is likely to determine just how well you do.
Career - If you have been considering a change in occupation, this could be the year to try something different. This is a time for action, not delay, so be decisive whether it is change you seek, or simply advancement in your current role.
Relationships -You will find the most comfort in your family relationships this year, be it with you parents, children or loved one. There is a chance someone in your immediate circle will need a good friend and you will need to find the time to step up and take care of them.
Health -Be alert for signs of increased stress or burnout. This will be an active year for you, which means you are at an increased risk for physical injury. Always be sure to exercise proper caution when out and about and you should be just fine. Your health, in general, should be good as long as you avoid stress related issues.