day 5

Today started with breakfast on the Quiggles' deck. The weather was beautiful even though I did have to move into a bit more shade before attempting to eat my oatmeal. After breakfast we watched some old family movies and laid around like slugs. After the movies I split for my a.m. run which was phenomenal. It was sunny with a cool breeze, perfect weather for running. When I got back to my parents' house my dad was doing yard work and I could smell fresh cut grass. sigh.

I talked to my best girl Nattie for the first time since we arrived in Erie and it made me miss home. Apparently little miss E has begun rolling over in earnest which is yet another step out of babyhood.

We were invited to a bbq at the Hartmans' with many friends and even more burgers. Seriously, Neil's cheeseburgers are FAR superior to any I've ever had. I got to hang with Erin who I haven't seen in a while as well as Autumn and new baby Emma and big boy Owen. Good times.

Now I'm chilling watching CSI Miami, my brother just stopped by to do his laundry, and mom just left for a walk with Emily (the leggy blonde labrador). Dave's having a basketball rematch with his dad and brothers and we're meeting up for Pizza Plus dinner in a bit. My taste for Pizza Plus pizza is definitely not matched to the Quiggles' but meals with them are so much more than food. The conversation is some of the best and funniest.

My Bean is not exactly being sweet to me these past two days. I'm not sure if she's just overloaded or if she doesn't want me around while she's bonding with family, but whatever the reason is it hurts. I can tell she's more interested in her other family than she is in me, which is actually a lucky thing since I'm leaving in two days, but it's distressing. I was already feeling the pangs of leaving her (extra early this time) so her attitude of late makes me extra sad. This year it's harder than ever to leave her here. Dave says it will probably only get harder as the years go on. I feel sick thinking about it. I guess I'll just have to sublimate with a lot of shopping, brc's, and time with Tiny E.

day 4, reviewed from day 5

I was too pooped to blog last night about the day's events so this is a retrospective. The day began with a Snyder-supreme breakfast as per the usual. I love waking up to the smell of percolating coffee and waffles. After breakfast we made our way down to the Penninsula and walked along the shore, skipped stones, and admired the lighthouse. I love the beach so much, I wish it was more accessible in California. Here it's 20 minutes away through mild traffic.
After the beach we went to Dave's parents' house to hang with Grace and Dave and Debbie. Another great day with family.

day 3

The day in bullet points: (because my eyes are really burning)

one emotional second wedding
dozens of bottle rockets launched out of a pvc bazooka
one large helping of sausage and peppers polish style
one very awkward conversation with a "how you doin'" type of 51 year old
one grandmother-does-jello-shot photo op
two walks on the bluff with davey
one true blue sky over a sparkling lake
one Brig Niagara sighting on the bay
two cream filled choco cupcakes
one well-behaved sweetheart of a 6 year old
two perfect uncle bear hugs
two sort of 'new aunt' hugs (in a good way)
one having to drive back for a forgotten purse
one hot dog with mustard at quiggle headquarters
three spoonfuls of ambrosia
one hilariously suggestive 'fireworks' joke by gram and pap
one drive by our old house
24 wolf pack sparklers
9 chairs on dan and carly's front lawn
one decent fireworks display
many cups of coffee
3 swedish fish
5 "see you tomorrow"s
one sleeping father
6 creaky steps
one comfy bed

day 2

Day 2 of vacation shaped up to be another feel-good day. A glorious morning run through a wet, green cemetery and a late steak and eggs brunch with mom and dad fed right into accidental hang time with the Hartmans. We toured their new home (first home!) and talked finance for awhile before realizing it was just about dinner time and we were all pretty hungry. A quick jaunt over to McGarry's Pub for lunch then Dave and I picked up Bea and headed to Quiggle Headquarters for a bonfire and s'mores. We were almost rained out but after 3 bouts of downpour and frantic running for the house the rain finally let up and we were able to sit around the fire as a completely whole family: davey, me and bea, dan and carly, grace and tj, joel and meagan and dave and debbie...familiar conversation punctuated by neighborhood fire works, flaming marshmallows and B's 'hilarious' knock-knock jokes.
One sad side-effect of the traveling and climate change is that B has come down with a hacking cough and runny nose. My biggest fear is always that her small illness will turn into something major like pneumonia or bronchitis...which has never yet happened. Sometimes I wonder if it's possible that my feelings about her being sick are so much worse than how she's actually feeling. When I listen to her coughing in her sleep my stomach knots and my eyes fill with tears and I silently chastise myself for everything I let her do today that could possibly have exacerbated her condition. It's only natural, right?
Tomorrow we'll be making our way east to the Goat Festival, weather and cough permitting. In the mid-afternoon is my uncle Kenny and Pam's wedding. Another day packed with family, and this is the way it should be.

best. vacation. ever.

Might be an overstatement, since it is only the end of day 1 of our vacation, but it's been everything I could hope for in a Pennsylvania visit. I haven't felt pulled in a million directions even though we've already been to visit almost everyone in the families. It's been organic and fun and relaxing AND I've even already been shopping. Scored a major pair of black and silver Nike running shoes and I can't wait to try them out in the morning. And an early morning run through the gorge will = best. day 2 of vacation. ever.
It's so amazingly green here. It's been raining nonstop for the past few days (not today!) and so everything is lush and full and pregnant with life. I can't wait to run through Winter Green Gorge in the morning and take in the views. So much better than staring at a plasma attached to a treadmill that shakes with every step I make.
This trip was ordained from the first moment of travel to be a very positive experience. Each and every plane was a smooth ride, no layovers, no turbulence, no delays. B was a delightful travel companion, as usual. And we've already spent quality time with all the family members save for 2. We needed this vacation so badly and God has so completely blessed us with happy travel and a great first day. I'm looking very forward to the rest of this trip.

The housewife's [half-hearted] lament

I am a clean person. I like my surroundings to be clean. I enjoy cleaning. I clean my house meticulously each and every Friday, no excuses. It takes me 4-5 hours to finish the job and by the time Saturday night arrives I feel the need to do it again. I have felt very little anguish over my iron-clad cleaning schedule and, in many ways, I look forward to cleaning day. However, this past Friday I found myself hating every minute of it. I love sliding into clean sheets on Friday night, but this past Friday I was loathe to strip the bed and put on the new sheets. I love the smell of Dr. Bronner's but last week's old-fashioned hands and knees floor scrubbing left me sweaty and miserable, curing at every dog hair I wiped up. In short, I am suffering from burn out. After 10 years of Friday evenings spent cleaning toilets and scouring bath tubs I am fed up.

I relayed my crankiness to Dave who plaintively said "You're burned out. You need a vacation." I, in turn, collapsed on the [freshly made] bed and curled up in the fetal position, "Yes," I said without emotion, "Vacation."

Sweet vacation is coming. I have to keep my eyes on the prize. You see, even though vacation only lasts one week, B is staying in Pennsylvania with family for the next three weeks, which means the house will get less dirty and I won't have to clean as much while she's gone. Although, I have to say that it tends to totally freak some people out when my house isn't spic and span. There has been a time or two when I'm lounging around like the proverbial pig in poop and a particular neighbor or husband will stick their head in the room and ask when B is coming home. Some people don't particularly care for my slovenliness and view my unkempt home as an affront to their sensibilities. All I know is that I'm looking forward to watching Top Model/Project Runway/My So Called Life marathons on Friday nights while the laundry overflows the hamper and the dishes petrify in the sink.

Welcome vacation.

freedom.

Dave just clicked the pay button on the last chunk of payment on his student loan. We are now debt free! Thank you, Jesus.

Now is the time for blogging. I have successfully completed two days of running "training" with Jill, who is a fitness goddess. She believed in me enough (or wanted a running partner enough) to convince me that she could teach me to run. I have avoided running for my entire life and on Tuesday, day 1, I felt like I was walking the Green Mile as I approached the treadmill. I'll just say that Tuesday was hell on a treadmill belt and leave it at that. The following day, Wednesday, I decided that I would do this 'running thing' for 3 weeks and then if I still hated it I would stop. Then Thursday came. We did the same program (see below) from Tuesday and miraculously my body seemed to have adapted a little already. It was a little easier which made me a little more positive, which drove me to 4 miles in just under 50 minutes!

I am amazed at the power of mind and body. And of course, the motivation that one person can cause in you just by saying "I know you can do it, you're strong." While we run Jill reminds me to breath, keep my shoulders down, keep my knees soft and my feet going heel/toe. Eventually she says she won't have to remind me, that I'll just remember those things on my own. The main thing about running is that you really do have to focus in on your breathing and your mental state. The minute I start thinking Two more minutes?! I can't do this. is the very minute I lose my breath. But if I just focus on the sound of my feet and my breathing the sprints go by much faster than I expect.

I'm still not convinced that running is the be-all end-all of exercising, or that it's going to be my 'new thing.' But I am Totally convinced now that I really can do anything...ANYTHING. Nothing is too hard...and so what if it is? I can still do it, and I might just do it because it's too hard.



Jill's Running Program:

fast walk - 5 minutes
INCLINE 2.0
med. jog - 4 minutes
fast jog - 2 minutes
INCLINE 15.0
walk long strides - 30 seconds
jog - 30 seconds
walk - 30 seconds
jog - 30 seconds
INCLINE 2.0
sprint - 1 minute
walk - 1 minutes

Repeat 2x until you get 4 miles
always sprint the last 1/4 mile