Dingos Run Walk Dance Box Pose bike and Swim into 2013 - Page 3

[Geofizz]

Do the YO and slip the next two.  What you're describing is YO, K, SSK. 

I'm wondering about the window into the mud room as well.  How effective is that?  Does that mean a lifetime of looking at my kid's shoes while cooking?  Of course, the mud room will hopefully mean I can stop tripping over the blasted shoes while I cook. houzz has done the dangerous thing of suggesting that the laundry could go in the mud room as well.  Options....  Too many.  Paralyzing....

Also, what does this do to airflow?  We open windows/doors 2/3 of the year.

Hopefully the architect friend can sort this all out.

[kerc]

Originally Posted by Geofizz 

Hopefully the architect friend can sort this all out.

yes, indeed. I'm wondering if you want windows high on the wall in the mudroom, and a 2/3 or 3/4 height wall between the mudroom and kitchen, allowing light to filter through up high. Maybe it won't work though. I can't recall enough about where your kitchen is. It's only been 3?4? years since i was there :P

We just had the same kind of conversation, lower budget, about the basement. Turns out that to do everything we want the basement to do we need like 600 more square feet. and hey, if we had 600 more square feet we wouldn't need the basement to be playroom/guestroom/bathroom/mudroom/laundry/storage/furnace/office/ski waxing space. Maybe just furnace/laundry/skiwaxing.

Not sure the mudroom is the place for laundry for me. I'd love to have a big sink in a mudroom, but my MIL has laundry right by the backdoor and I'm not sure its a bonus.

[poppywise]

I caved and called my dr office, just to see if he was in today - he is not in until Tuesday I requested that someone else there call me with the results today or Monday, if they come in. Not sure if they will.

Still feeling confident, but you know, would love to put a nail in this already! Headed to an art museum to take my mind off of it.

Real - I agree with Plady, you need a break and soon! I think your body is really tired and possibly sending out some warning signs. I think anything recurring like that is not normal and I hope you can solve it soon.

Sparkle- Geo's right, if you were to knit the next stitch, it would be YO, K, SSK instead of YO SSK. Hope that makes sense, I am sure it is lovely however it is knit (sometimes mistakes make better patterns!)

[Geofizz]

Originally Posted by kerc 

Not sure the mudroom is the place for laundry for me. I'd love to have a big sink in a mudroom, but my MIL has laundry right by the backdoor and I'm not sure its a bonus.

Can you tell me why it doesn't work?  DH and I both avoid and forget about laundry with it in the basement.  Going up and down the stairs 15 times each Saturday is a royal pain, and it would cut a lot of the rag/towel management problems we have in the kitchen.  I'm also liking the idea of being so close to the clothes line in the summer and not inadvertently stepping on DH's sweaty soccer clothes on my way down the stairs.

I was thinking about a lower-than-full-height mud room and then windows high in the kitchen as a light problem?  Not sure how it would look, but we have a lot of vertical wasted space.  Half-height between kitchen and mudroom won't work with the kitchen goals.  Or at least I don't think so.  And it would require heat in the mud room, which I wasn't planning on for cost reasons.  Argh, too many options!

Right now we have two windows east facing (one in the back door) and one window north facing (into trees and neighbor) above the kitchen sink. 

Going swimming again tonight.  I've finally put together that I get these not-ear-infections-but-damn-they-hurt-like-ear-infections when I'm stuffed up and I swim laps.  I got ear plugs to try tonight.  Wish my ears a pain free week.

[loftmama]

Finally catching up. It's been so busy just recovering from the trip, cleaning while watching kids - and I'm still living out of my suitcase. Tomorrow. But I just finished a great run. I was eager to see if my Vibrams would be as awesome here as they were in the SJI. They were! They are! So nice run done.

Mel38, I bought this pair of Vibrams. Before these I ran in the Vibram Performa Janes. What a different shoe! The Janes were one of the first pair they made. The fabric is super thin and porous with minimal coverage - which meant gravel on my dirt road was constantly getting in the top of my sheos - so annoying. I never thought they were uncomfortable until I tried on the new Komodo Sport shoes which make my Janes seem downright scratchy and uncomfortable. These new ones are just so springy with the wetsuit-like material and the non-porous sole. I them.

MelW, I had such a hard time working out when I had a 3yo. If my dh wasn't around, it just didn't happen. I like the babysitter idea if you have one they like and it keeps you sane.

Jooj and Plady, it's great to hear the W30 is going so well. I plan to start next week when I've had a chance to fully recover and plan. But, I'm not sure about the no wine thing. I kinda like Mel38's version - no sugar and very limited grains. But have yet to plan so maybe...

Oh and Plady, btdt. Changed it in college and just a few months ago, ds1 wanted to learn how to do it and asked if we'd pay him instead. But due to the make of our car and the disposal of the fluid and the cost of the oil - yikes. It turns out the local yokel, non-chain service station does it for what may have been cheaper than we could have done it. So no lesson learned for him. Yet. He was bummed. But the station owner is a homeschool dad who had his son learn all the ropes about servicing cars and I think would welcome a new kid to teach. He turns 13 soon and I think that might be just the right time. Though he's a bit too hardcore/survivalist/dogmatic for me...

Real, that infection doesn't sound good. Mine have always gone away with an intense dosage of cranberry juice. What a trip! I know you're ready for some down time.

Sparkle, speaking of time by yourself, the main challenge I have with homeschool is not getting enough "head" time or "off" time in my own home. As they get older, it gets easier to enforce stay-in-your-room for x amount of time so I can have it to myself and mine are finally old enough where I can leave them at home to run by myself. So it's actually getting easier as they get older though the academics are definitely getting harder!

JG, I hope that MRI gives you some answers. It has been a frustrating journey and I can't imagine living with the pain. I'm ready to get back to normal, too.

Kerc, I also thought it was the game and tried to imagine you playing it and what cut it. For some reason, I just see you fitting in skiing this time of year. As it should be. May your finger heal quickly.

Geo, paralyzed is my de facto m.o. (Does that even make sense?) Good luck with the options. It's a good problem to have, right?

MommaJB, I had to laugh when you wrote something about being inspiring - and go back and look at my post. Not seeing anything inspiring but thanks! Speaking of inspriing, um... you're running a half in, like 3 weeks? I'm not sure if I have any races left in me.

TMI: I am having to go to the bathroom far too often for the amount of water I drink. I can barely make a 30-min run. I wonder if 45 is the age when I should be doing lots of Kegels before the bladder's busted.

As I type this I am still wearing my Vibram Komodos. I always take off my shoes immediately after running and put them in a comfy pair of Uggs to wear on our cement floor. But dang, these things feel better than going barefoot. I feel like actually wearing them out in public just b/c I don't want to take them off. Serious love. Will look for a trail-running version and see if they're as comfortable as these. That would be fun!

[kerc]

I'll answer up here....

crap collects on the washer (less of a problem on a stacking version). But they have a top loader. Then there's the stacks of dirty laundry -- when it's the entry/exit to the house, there is no laying the week's towels on the floor and comng back when you're ready to handle it. My laundry MO when I'm home is a load a day. When I'm working: I was 10 loads (it seems) on saturday. What do I do with the clothes/towels/rags in the down time?

Originally Posted by Geofizz 

Can you tell me why it doesn't work?  DH and I both avoid and forget about laundry with it in the basement.  Going up and down the stairs 15 times each Saturday is a royal pain, and it would cut a lot of the rag/towel management problems we have in the kitchen.  I'm also liking the idea of being so close to the clothes line in the summer and not inadvertently stepping on DH's sweaty soccer clothes on my way down the stairs.

You also mentioned swimming. One thing to try it to use a hairdryer to dry out your ear each time you're done. And/or try the drops they sell for swimmers' ear (basically some sort of alcohol solution, but it usually comes with a reasonable sized bottle with an applicator that might make it worth $4).

[loftmama]

Poppy, X-posted with you. Hope the museum visit helps. Wish I was there to go with you.

[JayGee]

Poppy ~ hope the museum gets your mind off things.  I hate that waiting... Thinking of you today .

Geo ~ I like having a mudroom/laundry room.  Ours is right off the garage, so shoes all go in bins there (one for each kid/parent), I have a basket of dirty stuff on top of the dryer and a basket of clean stuff to be folded on the floor. It does get a little backed up at times, but having it RIGHT THERE, makes me more likely to stay on top of the situation.

lofty ~ those shoes sound wonderful.  You should do commercials!!!

RR ~ nothing, per doctor's orders

NRR ~ last day of winter break so we ran a bunch of errands and tonight DH is taking me out to a wonderful local steak restaurant that serves grass fed, locally raised beef. I'm on Day 4 of Whole30 #5 and feeling wonderful.  It seems much easier this time for some reason.  No headaches, no crabby mood. DD1 has figured out on her own that wheat gives her a stomach ache, so she's been gluten free for the last few days.  I swear I am seeing improvement in her moods already!  She can be so angry and unhappy sometimes.  It would be great if taking wheat out of her diet cured both her stomach aches AND her moodiness!

Off to take DS to swim team.

[sparkletruck]

Geo - I had a laundry in the basement once and hated it, for the reasons you mentioned. Is the mud-room the entry-way, meaning that you'd have a pile of dirty laundry in view when guests come over? Or is it an alternate/rear/side entry? We had a mudroom that was the back entrance and the laundry was there and it was great, also for the reasons you mention; ease of throwing in/taking out laundry as you pass through, and ease of hanging on the line. Personally, and if it weren't too energy inefficient, I'd have full windows in the kitchen and mud room. I can see how the mud-room view wouldnt be ideal, but natural light takes priority.

Poppy - you are taking it all in stride so gracefully!

[zubeldia]

Hi Dingoes,

Hope it's okay to drop in and even be a more regular member... It's been such a crazy year but we welcomed baby Charlie into the world almost 12 weeks ago and he's such a lovely, lovely boy. I miss you women, though it's lovely to keep in contact via FB.

Anyway, mostly I wanted to pop in and send Poppy lots of love. So sorry I missed this before now.

Can't wait to catch up here.
 

[Plady]

Hi Zub!  Welcome back, whenever you can be here you know you're welcome!

Geo - Sparkle's right, it's awesome to have a mudroom laundry if it isn't your main entrance to the house, but if it is, it could become overwhelmingly annoying to have piles of dirty this and clean that and general detritus being dumped on top of machines etc.  Of course, as the empty-nesters say, it all goes by so quickly, one day you'll miss all that stinky laundry spilling into the kitchen, so maybe make the most of it while the kids are young?

JG - I'm hoping for the same reaction with my dds.  I think I can expect it but I've been out at work or they've had friends over so much since we started that I can't gauge it yet.

MelW - I hope you can work a babysitter into the mix, a month of solo-parenting w/o one sounds like a bad idea for everyone's health.

RR: nope, still fighting the cough which I can tell wants to get lots worse.

[Geofizz]

Visitors would use the front door, but family mainly goes in and out the back where the mud room will be. 

The ear plugs while swimming were awesome.  The made swimming go from something to tolerate in the name of exercise to almost enjoyable.  No water running into my ears every time I want to do something silly like breathe.  This gym membership won't turn me into a swimmer, but hopefully ear plugs will keep us going.  DH had a great racket ball game, and the kids exhausted themselves in the pool. 

Hi Zub!
 

[1jooj]

Geo, I suppose I am just like Lofty; listening to your issues and options made me go, "um, er, well...I guess it's a good thing I'm adaptable, because I have no flippin clue." Wherever stuff already is tends to be my best option. There are things I am creative about, but that is not one. As long as laundry's not second-floor (ahem) it's fine. Been there, will try never to do that again. But I have a kitchen with no natural light right now and you know what? I cook a lot less. Might not be the cause, but definitely correlates. It also has not seating, and the wifi doesn't reach there, so those contribute. As others have said, though, as long as that entrance is the private entrance, OK. And if it buys you a place for the shoe pile, this will likely gain value as the children get older (and they wear more and larger shoes). A wall's worth of shoe shelving is hardly enough in my own experience.

Lofty, my ds has those Vibrams and he loves them too. Like, prefers them over sandals a lot of the time. I like mine, but not as much as he seems to like his. I just like it that he does a lot of miles in his because he has flat feet like mine and I like the idea that he might be strengthening them instead of casting them and suffering from pain like mine was (though, to be fair, I was an obese kid and he is not). I would love the opportunity to have my kids learn all about fixing and maintaining cars, minus any prepper/anti govt/religious stuff. 

Hi Zub! I just love how much little C looks like his big bro already. What sweet kids you have! Welcome back!

poppy, I hope art was just what the doctor ordered. Hope you're past it all in the blink of an eye. Sucks that you have to wait through the weekend.

JayGee, good luck with dd. Mine is a moody monster too (9yo). I should pay closer attention. I think it's sugar, though. It's usually at the tail end of a long day of crap food-like products. You make W30 sound so easy! I am having an easier time of it than it seemed I would. There seems to be a switch in my brain. My biggest issue is eating out on weekends. This has been one of those weekends where no meal comes from my own kitchen. I am, in that case, lucky to be where I am. There's always baba ghanoush, good vegetables and even grilled lamb chops somewhere, even in a food court.

So yesterday we went to the local zoo. The animals had good, clean enclosures and I wanted to eliminate every single human on the premises except of course the workers who cared for the animals. Every single other human being there needed to not be there. I just don't like people to begin with, and people in the context of animals, even worse. But there was an awesome camel who attacked strollers, freaking out every stroller-pushing mother or maid in the place (hilarious), and there was a very sweet and gentle tapir I swear I could have taken home with me. There were also a few tigers, which after seeing Life of Pi, dd got to think about accompanying in a lifeboat for the better part of a year.

But did I mention I don't care for people? There is a specific mix of ethnicities that, when all in one place and not given a lot of extra space to walk, brings out the worst of my human-dislike. And that happened to be the mix. It's not personal, but has to do with their public behavior and how they move in herds. Not good.

So what do we do today? Why, head to Dubai, of course. Dh made dental appointments for all but me (I refused), and we're going early so we can spend a little time. I am packing the laptop to write while waiting, since there are multiple cafes near the office (my old hood). Also put in my request not to go to any malls, but maybe to go down to the Creek. I need a new set of prayer beads since I gave my old ones to my FIL, and I'd like to visit the Hindu temple if I can.

And in the "my dh rocks" category, last night I listened to him tell the ILs--who have been dogging him to buy property where they live (not the village, but the "big" town), so all the siblings can (I $h!t you not) build adjoining houses--tell them we're not in. He explained that we will never live in a city should we move to that country; we'd need several acres and our own place in the countryside. But the kicker is, he explained that Americans have to pay for higher ed, so we have bills ahead of us they could never even imagine, and we want to try to help our kids...etc. and that it would likely be close to a decade before we could ever consider moving back there anyway. This was a G!d moment for me. Angels singing, light from the sky, the works.

OK, off to steal a very short run before this day happens.

[tjsmama]

jo~WTG to your DH! Hope your visit to Dubai is a good one.

Alex~

poppy~So sorry you didn't get the answers you needed today. Sending you lots of love and strength to get through the weekend.

kerc~Ouch! I sliced the top of my thumb off cutting carrots for baby food...lots of blood, a couple of hours in the ER, and two stitches later....the flap fell off anyway. 5+ years later, it's just a scar, but nonetheless, I hope yours heals better!

mel38~Can you put the Loveland Lake to Lake Olympic Tri on the list for me for June 22?

We are back home in Colorado, ahhh. It really was a good trip, but it's so nice to be back in our own place. Now, if only someone could come and do some cleaning, unpack and put away stuff, do our laundry...oh yeah, and take down all the Christmas stuff. Sigh. So much to do. Good thing I don't go back to work until Wednesday, I guess. Tomorrow starts the climb back onto the regular workout wagon, and back to more healthy eating.

[Realrellim]

zub--it's always good to hear from you!

geo--good luck with the mud room stuff, and happy to hear the ear plugs worked. I usually wear some when swimming for that reason.

1jooj--glad to hear your DH pull through for you in that conversation.

Nick--sorry I didn't see your post on the December thread, but if it's any comfort, we weren't anywhere near Massachusetts. Amenia is kind of in the middle of nowhere, and only close to other small Connecticut towns (it's about 5-10 minutes from the NY/CT border). After that we headed north to Plattsburgh, NY. Maybe this summer, if we fly into Boston and try to visit my uncle near Worcester--though we may try to fly into Montreal and do some sightseeing there instead.

poppy--crossing my fingers for you that Monday will give you good answers.

RR: got back on the wagon and ran 6 today, with a 2x2M tempo and .25 recovery in between. Wasn't feeling inspired, but it was outside, light out, and I'd had plenty of rest time. Also, Bally's really will be $10/month. I'm so there.

NRR: thanks for the tips. I read up on BV and it may well be that. Interesting. My garlic was raw though it's good to know about spacing out garlic and probiotics. And yeah, I've done the internal bit--the relief is soooo much better than the weirdness. Things are seeming better down there but it would explain so much. I'm going to try to make an appointment next week.

I'm hearing your messages about pushing too hard too. DH also suggested that it may be a sign my system is overloaded, between travel and stress and the cat hair and all. It's probably true. I'm going to think more about that as we keep organizing this weekend. I've started reading the life organizing book again, and hopefully that will help guide my next steps.

[Plady]

Lofty - These pix are for you just to show that we do sometimes have blue sky and sunny days! Also, the beach is where we saw the foxes and the sea lions when you can see the mountains I was talking about.  The ones behind the schlumpy guy, the lighthouse and the eagle are the Cascades and the other one is Mt. Rainier which is about 150 miles away.  I could not believe this is what you missed by a day!

Jo - So awesome of your hubby! 

Real - Glad your dh has also noticed that you're overloaded, maybe he could take up slack to help you?

[Shantimama]

sparkletruck - "Do the YO and slip the next two.  What you're describing is YO, K, SSK. " was a perfect explanation. When you aren't sure, just do exactly what each piece of the pattern says and trust it. I am glad you are happy with how your scarf turned out. Lacework requires more attention than a lot of other knitting and I tend to do less of it because I hate paying attention 

Jo - wow! What your dh did is wonderful and huge progress from a few years ago!

poppy - I hope all is well and that these days pass quickly for you.

Yesterday was a very rough day. I am glad everyone gets back to routine next week so I can have a little time alone, even if I have a dozen things to do each day. Things are going to get better at some point, aren't they?

Making baked sweet potato chips and black bean burgers for dinner tonight. I am also trying to stay sugar and grain free but I find I just can't quite give up legumes altogether. Dairy is a comfort food to me so I am treating it very carefully, not cooking with it and when I have a slice of cheese or a latte I make the most of every bite/drop. I treat it like a "treat" food instead of a staple and only have it when nothing else will do. 

RR - lots of yoga and walks these days. My lungs still aren't working that well so that is as much as I can handle but it still helps.

[loftmama]

Grrr, internet problems - my 3rd time to try to post.

Plady, love those pictures! I look forward to returning!

Zubeldia, Congratulations and Hello! :flowers I suspected as much but since I'm off FB I wasn't for sure.

Geo, lots of great ideas here I've never considered but that I like entertaining.

Jo, something you wrote resonates. I wonder if the very poor lighting in my kitchen contributes to my distaste for being in the kitchen. It's very dark and depressing. When dad built it, he put in 1 small-ish window per room. Tiny ones upstairs and small-medium downstairs. The ceiling is low. Some of the cabinets are unless we pull them all out, it's not fixable. And mom isn't okay with that. She gets emotionally upset easily. So dark kitchen. Low ceilings. Cement floor. Poor lighting. No dishwasher. Just wondering if that contributes to my distaste for cooking. I might stop saying "I don't like to cook." and just say "I don't like to cook here." I get where you are. Home all time. Kids hungry all the time. I just need to leave and like it when someone else makes the food for me. Though can be particular. All the light in Plady's kitchen was heavenly!

I am very inspired by all you no-grain, no sugar people. I am working up my determination to be there, too. We could all use that kind of leveling around here. May I add I've been particularly bitchy?

eta - returned to edit too distraught, too long post.

Looking for Naughty Dingo. Apparently my dog was chained up the whole 10 days and left outside through storms and all with minimal shelter and tried to chew his way through the chain, damaging his lower teeth. He is bleeding and it's very swollen and will need to have teeth extracted. I am just so upset, so angry, so sad and so mad all at once. Would appreciate any dingo love this way toward my beautiful sweet & loving dog.
Edited by loftmama - 1/6/13 at 6:12am

[Nickarolaberry]

Oh, no, Lofty. I'm so sorry. That is so terrible. I don't have a clue what to say or do about it but  to you and doggie. I don't get people, I really don't. Where, oh where, is compassion? For children? For animals? For anyone?!

[loftmama]

Quick update since I've been so dramatic! Just got off the phone with Naughty Dingo who helped and reassured and gave me great verbal hugs over the phone Thank you, ND. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I'm just so grateful for this group of women. Everyone here has something that is special and unique and wonderful. If I can ever do anything for any of you, I hope you'll call me. Though I'm not sure I have the talents, gifts or knowledge the rest of you have, I offer curriculum help for after-school or homeschool and anything else I can pull out of my hat. You are all wonderful and I'm so honored to be a part of this group.
Edited by loftmama - 1/5/13 at 7:08pm