grocery thursday

While in Krogers this morning (with reusable bags and coupon binder mind you)

I made a startling observation of my shopping habits....

I buy healthier food items when I go shopping in the morning.

Anytime before the hustle of traffic and emails - I am hopeful and full of energy.  I imagine that the grocery store food is there, simply for me to enjoy.  I linger in the produce area just enough time to touch as many oranges and celery stalks that it takes to make the restocking employee feel uncomfortable.   The organic section calls my name to tempt me to buy fun snacks for the kid that are still healthy.   In the day, right before I have to work or take care of other responsibilities, the cereal aisle reminds me of the amazing amount of choices that I have.  The time spent in the baking lane allures me with walnuts and flour and tubs of prepared icing. 

Maybe pre8am shopping isnt for everyone, but I see a startling difference in my post 6 pm shopping trips.   For those late shopping trips - There is longing for comfort food to soothe away the stress of a dissertation obligation, cheese to satisfy the palate of richness, and chips to encourage my appetite for a beer.  

As for me - I will choose the time when the birds are singing - inviting me into Krogers so that cashier #42 Tom is ok with coupons, reusable bags and the water that I still need to pay for that is half gone.

If you get into trouble....

 

If you get into trouble at the Allenger/Epling household -

you will always first loose your phone privileges.

You will then loose all electronics and trips to the mall.

 

But our speciality is a chore list that must be completed. 

This chore list is 2/3 punitive and 1/3 kinda funny.

 

 

 



Waiting for the sun to return

Another day, at home working to finish chapter 2 -

I am wondering where the sun has escaped to. 

Did it travel south to honor to retirees?

Did it travel to the north to celebrate with the polar bears?

Well - I am making a personal invitation right now.

Dear Sun, I have missed you. 

I understand that I have frequently taken you for granted, and even fussed at the heat.

But I take it all back - I will only be appreciative. 

I promise if only you will return soon.  

I am the house with the Yellow Ribbon tied around the front tree.

with love and optimism,

Mindy

I've poured out my bucket list this summer

I had to either pour out my bucket list or simply allow it to run over.
The things that I have checked off this summer are somewhat humbling and somewhat ridiculous.

- remodeled a kitchen (with the help of wes and louie
- vacationed without kids (perfect sandy beaches with just the hubs)
- ate musssels in white wine sause (just because julie from california did)
- started running (working toward my first 5K soon)
- completed chapter 2, twice (only to be back to revising it)
- danced the salsa with elizabeth (everyday)
- brought a dog into our family (named ripley and already has my heart)
- wrote letters to afganistan on a daily (actually not daily, maybe weekly) basis
- fell in love with an espresso martini
- listened to jake emerge as a reader (that simply makes me smile)
- fix a wing on a lego airplane (chance said that I did it completely wrong, but the wing lasted)
- danced with rod stewart (actually with missy, carol and chaela, but we were in the same field)
- watched elizabeth put together a front porch swing (I thank her each time I hear it squeak)
- started playing tennis again (with the wall at St. Albans high school)
- grew enough tomato plants to be able to pick at least one tomato each day
- did not teach a summer class which was high on the bucket list
- broke an iphone (front and back)
- welcomed home my best friend from a deployment

the many faces of E

Elizabeth is fourteen going on twenty one -

 she watches mature thememed television shows such as Dexter and House Wives of OC

Elizabeth is fourteen going on sixteen -

she loves to drive the car around the block at every opportunity

Elizabeth is fourteen going on eight -

she loves being silly with the boys to make them laugh

Elizabeth is fourteen going on thirty three -

she made twenty two patrictic pens to give out when Nate came home

Elizabeth is fourteen going on seventeen -

she helps out with the sunday school children

Elizabeth is fourteen and going on twenty two -

she can put makeup on and look like a Kardashian

Elizabeth is fourteen and going on fifteen -

she will try any sport with enthusiasm

Elizabeth is fourteen and going on sixty-three -

she can relax and enjoy the moment

She is fourteen and absolutely amazing!

I could not be more proud of the wonderful person that she is at every age.

134 days later

My world suddenly came back into focus. 

From a blur that my new daily dose of zoloft couldn't combat.

From a blur that an extra glass of wine in the evening couldn't push away.

From a blur that my kids sweetness couldnt warm up.

From a blur that time with friends couldn't laugh away.

I needed Nate.

Out of the haze of sadness, walked Nate back into our lives.  

what was I thinking?

All of my life I have felt quite capable.  I knew that with some preparation and hard work, I could accomplish most things that I set sights upon.  I don't know how that 'can do' attitude was curated and refined, yet I have rarely been at a loss of how to get something done. 

Until this dissertation... the greatest challenge of my life lays before me in a stack of 57 pages that is littered with revisions, notes, suggestions, demands, and "I would never write that again if I were you" comments.  I submitted chapter 1.  chapter 2.   chapter 3. to my chair last week.  Today I got back a new stack of revisions, notes, suggestions, demands, and "I would never write that again if I were you" comments.  

But I will finish this.   Even if I die trying - dramatic I know - but the feeling is genuine.  

A quote that I love from Eleanor Roosevelt expresses it best when she says that we must do the one thing that we think we are not capable of.  Or something like that.   It is also the new motto for Weight Watchers, so either I can lose some weight or write this paper.

Oh, I will finish and publish this paper if only to be called Dr. for a day!