Time keeps on slipping, slipping...into the future.

For some reason I thought when I was out of school for the summer I would have all this extra time to blog.

HA! 

I was kidding myself.  Since my last day of school on Tuesday my summer has looked something like this:

-wake up
-eat
-head to barn (where we are hosting a horse show this weekend)
-while there ride horses, mow, trim bushes, paint signs, hook up bush hogs, haul rock, unload said rock into ditches and holes, bathe horses, feed and water horses
-go home
-eat
-sleep
-repeat with addition of mowing at home and a marathon trip to Sam's Club with Mom to prepare for aforementioned horse show's concession stand

Needless to say so far summer has been anything but relaxing.  I have a sore back and shoulder, various bruises on my legs and bright red lines snaking across my allergy riddled eyes. 

On the bright side I sweated off a pound this week from all the manual labor + 2 Zumba classes.  Then I probably gained it back tonight at PF Chang's with Mom-chicken lettuce wraps, you are my Achilles!

Pretty sure I am going to bed now so I can get up and:
-ride horses
-prep them for show
-load them up
-sweat off another pound or two (fate and the gods be willing...) in the 90+ degree heat in my three piece polyester show suit-yes, it is absolutely as sexy as it sounds.  Be jealous-be very jealous.

Here's hoping next week brings pool lounging, novel reading and sun bathing!

Over and out.

Facebook Hiatus

Sometimes I think a Facebook hiatus would be the best thing in the world for me.  Lately it seems that every time I log on I read something that annoys me, infuriates me, disgusts me or is just generally too much information about someone.  And if I weren't deeply addicted to FB and all it's flaws I would take a break.  But I can't.  My name is Lindsay and I am addicted to FB. 

It's has its uses for good too.  It is nice to keep up with family, friends that I wouldn't normally get to see or hear from.  And boy, oh boy is it eye opening in regards to peoples true colors.  There are people that I once might have considered friends that have proven beyond a shadow of FB doubt that they are not.  Good to know.  People I had thought were kind or intelligent that, again, have proven that is not the case.  Most often though FB proves (glaringly) that some people, have NO CLASS.  Or dignity.  Or sense of privacy.  Or decency.  Or grammar.

But it's like so many things in life that are bad or awkward or gross or whatever.  You just can't stop looking at it.  As badly as you need to or want to or know you should you can't turn away from the train wreck that is FB.  I am guilty.  I've accepted it. 

Dead Air

I don't delude myself into thinking that there are thousands out there wondering why I haven't posted in a several days-in fact according to my Blogger stats it looks like I've got about 3 readers and I'm pretty sure they're friends/family. 

Anyway....the reason for my absence would be that the final week of school is crashing down upon us complete with field days, parties, awards programs et al.  It's exhausting.  Last night I was up late making a cookie cake for our party and putting together end of the year gifts for my kids.  But today and tomorrow then ...FREEDOM.  I'm not sure who is more excited-me or them.  My money's on me.

So after this week and the three teacher work days that follow my life will be filled with more than ample time for blogging.  Prepare to be entertained or bored to tears.  All three of you.

Instagram

So I'm blogging....I Facebook...I am a Pinterest addict.  I recently signed up for Twitter even though I still don't really get all the hash tagging and what not.  So I figured I might as well go for broke and do the Instagram thing too.  I want to try to take more pics this year just in general-the perfect way to capture memories in action.  So here is my first attempt at being artsy fartsy...try not to laugh to hard.  I present...bubbles...a study ;)



Follow me on Instagram if you are on there-lwoliver.  I promise it will get more interesting!

Must. Shop.

No the title of this blog is not a desperate cry for help from a shop-aholic.  Quite the opposite really.  Don't get me wrong-I enjoy shopping-I'm a girl aren't I?  But as shopping un-necessarily tends to put a strain on one's finances I restrain myself and generally shop very responsibly.

But that's going to have to give and the shopping spree that will result will, in fact, be out of necessity.  The necessity of not looking like a homeless person in 98% of the pants I own.

That's right folks-I am 27 pounds down and the clothes that went from fitting snugly to fitting comfortably have now gone to not fitting at all.  At least not in an attractive way-I, for one, do not consider a saggy butt to be attractive- but that's just me.  As I am rather...um, buxom?...most of my tops still fit because unlike the majority of the people women who have lost weight have shared with me, I seem to not have lost any weight in the chest area.  If that is good or bad I have yet to decide.  Jury's out.

So shop I must.  How sad (insert sarcastic tone here).

But here's the catch.  I don't want to spend tons of money and buy lots of clothes that, hopefully definitely will be too big soon as well.  And so I face a conundrum.

Alas, responsibility (dang it) wins again.  As FABULOUS as it would be to have an all-out shopping spree in my new smaller size I vow to restrain myself and only buy a few necessary pieces to get me through and keep me looking respectable.

But boy, oh boy, look out stores and credit cards when I reach my goal weight...

Kindergarten Quotable Quote

"Ms. Oliver, can we do the "Farmer and Adele" song and dance again?"

That would be "Farmer in the Dell" for those who don't speak kindergartener.

A Chance Encounter

I was at Orange Leaf this past Saturday with my friends (for those of your that don't know Orange Leaf is the most fabulous self serve soft serve frozen yogurt IN THE WORLD! It is a dessert wonderland!).  I had filled my cup and was standing in line to add some toppings (yes, you heard me, a do it yourself topping bar with EVERYTHING imaginable!).  The guy behind me in line was standing a little too close for comfort but as the world is filled with those with no personal space boundaries these days I didn't think much of it.  And then he leaned in close and quite literally breathed the following words on to my neck:

"So...what toppings should I get?   I just got strawberry and vanilla ice cream?? What would be good?"

At first I thought, well this is an interesting approach, if somewhat inappropriate.  I turned slowly and was about to answer when upon seeing my face he...

...leaped back, turned five shades of red and exclaimed "Oh my God!!!! I am so sorry-I thought you were my wife!  Oh my God-I really need to open my eyes!"

He promptly retreated, all apologies.  I told him it was fine, laughed it off and proceeded to turn five shades of red myself.  I, of course, walked right over to my friends and told them the story.  I could see him doing the same and I when I heard his wife say "Which one?" I just waved and smiled.  I can only hope she wasn't offended. :) And I can only be thankful he didn't do worse than breath on my neck :)

Life is Short

We know this.  We've heard it, seen it, in some cases even experienced it firsthand.  And yet sometimes we still take it for granted.  Until it hits painfully close to home.

I lost a friend this week.  One of those, grew up with you, could go months, years without seeing you but still fall into the same happy rhythm when you do see them kind of friends.  There are very few of my childhood memories that he was not a part of.  He worked for my father for several years and took a typical big brother role of me and my brother-teasing, protective.  And I think he always saw me as a little kid-once when I was about oh, 25, he started to tell me I was too young to have a drink before he caught himself and realized that I was an adult now too.  :) And he was a complete and utter character.  There are about 1,000 stories I could tell and they are all hilarious. 

He was 34 and was genuinely one of the happiest people I've ever known.  And he died from choking on his lunch.  Doesn't that seem ludicrous?  So senseless and so sad.  He left behind a little girl, his parents and, from the looks of the line at the funeral home Sunday night, countless friends.  I consider myself lucky to be one of them.  And everyone I talked to at the funeral home or spoke to elsewhere that knew him said the same thing I did-he was always so happy.  Always laughing, smiling, cutting up.  I honestly don't think I ever saw him or spoke to him when he didn't make me smile, or, more likely, laugh hysterically.

And isn't that a beautiful legacy to leave?  The more I've thought about it, and that's been a lot over the last few days, the more I hope I am blessed enough that people would say the same of me.  That I was always happy, always smiling.  That when they think of me they think of how happy I made them, how I gave them the gift of laughter, of a smile, of support and love, of joy in the small things, of fun and friendship.  That the stories they tell are all about crazy adventures, funny incidents and none of sad times or wrongs done. 

Sitting here now I wish I could write this better.  That I could better express the feelings that have been swirling around inside me since I heard the news.  I wish I could understand the whys and answer all the what ifs.  But I can't.  No one can.  I can simply say Curt, you will be missed.  By me.  By so many others.  And that the legacy of love of life and of laughter that you left is an example to all of us to live life everyday to the absolute fullest.  Like you did.