Our 40th Birthday Gift

Happy Birthday, Buli!

2009-11-20T14:48:00.000-08:00

It really isn't so bad. I hope that you have AT LEAST 40 wishes come true today. :) Have a very happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, T!

2009-06-08T20:57:00.000-07:00

This is very belated (11 days!) but I want you to know, I actually have been thinking of you on every single one of those days, wondering when life would slow down enough to let me write a nice chatty letter in your birthday card! That still hasn't happened (your card is still sitting by my bed) so I thought it was about time I AT LEAST gave you happy blog wishes! I hope it was a wonderful day for you. And your card will be mailed... eventually. Sending loves.

I'm almost 40!!!

2009-05-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

So in just over a week it will be the big 4-0! I feel fortunate to have such good friends near and far! You'll never believe it, but to celebrate - my girlfriends (who are all turning 40 this year) are going to go to boot camp starting next week. We have all signed up, so every Monday-Friday for the next month you can find us at 5:30 A.M. just down the street from my house at the high school getting our rears kicked by Carlos :) Lucky for me, my alarm goes off at 5:30 on my work days, so I'm feeling too stressed about the early hour - my friends however are - and if you are late, it's extra push-ups! So I will definitely be on time...or early :)

Hope all is well with everyone. We are settling into the new house and have our garden going which is nice.

I have some new photos up on the website

http://theonesilove.blogspot.com/

Shannon are you on facebook???

Love to all,

Tanya

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-09T20:08:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone - Happy Mother's Day to us all! I hope everyone has a wonderful day with their families.

love to all,

Tanya

MAY you have a good day/week/month!

2009-05-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

Hello girlies! I just had to post because I feel like I have been so totally out of contact with you. I have not posted any mileage in... oh shoot, I don't even know. I haven't given up on it entirely - just been very sporadic and can't find my step counter thingamabob. But all of those summer clothes are fitting much too closely for comfort, so I will have to get serious again... soon! I have been completely tied up in volunteer activities, and I have this pet peeve about exercising after I have already showered. But I know - I must get over it!
Anyway, how are you all? (Or at least you two who read this?) I hope things are just super where you are. Just wanted you to know I am thinking of you. Don't give up hope - I won't be making it all the way across the US, but I will be back on the trail. :)

Happy Birthday Wendy!

2009-03-30T07:09:00.001-07:00

Hope your day is special and filled with wonderful and fun memories that will last you for the next four decades!

What's Up

2009-03-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone - how are you all doing? I just got my new laptop, so I'm back in business :) I'm currently chairing the month-long Read-A-Thon fundraiser at Rose's school - so I've been a bit busy. Things should settle down at the end of the month. Then we'll be up in Seattle for a few days after Easter to celebrate Carole's 70th b'day and also to go and meet my new niece, Valentina (Heather's baby girl)! Hope all is well with everyone!

love, T

I'm back

2009-02-03T23:04:00.000-08:00

Hey Ladies - I'm back. Had a little computer meltdown this past week - and Rose was home sick with the flu for a whole week!! Hope you are all doing well. I'm currently borrowing Curtis' laptop, until I get a new one.

Happy Belated New Year

2009-01-13T06:53:00.001-08:00

Hello girlies and happy belated new year. I hope 2009 finds you happy, healthy, and busy filling your heart with great memories of alife well ived. The countdown is now on to W's big 4-0, an event that doesn't necessitate cheesy black balloons but rather fun, festivities, family, and friends. I am struck by the interesting events of the closing of 2008. Of life beginning (my new job!) and life closing (bless Nonny), of reconnecting (us) and disconnecting (???), of improving health (us hopefully) and declining wealth (perhaps)...but through it all we hang together. I am reading the Middle Place (written by the author in the video link post). Excellent read.

To us

2008-12-22T11:19:00.000-08:00

A must listen for all of us

Nonny

2008-12-21T23:13:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone - I was hoping that you all could keep Karl and our family in your prayers. Nonny (his mom - she was at our graduation) had a stroke on Thursday morning and has quickly gone downhill. She has not been conscious since then. They brought her home today with the help of Hospice and they have been told that it won't be long before she passes. Karl is down there now and has been since Thursday night. Karl has lost both his twin sister and his older brother in the past couple years and is now the oldest of the 3 remaining boys. We're all praying for a peaceful passing. Thanks and love to you all this Christmas!
Tanya

2008-12-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

Because I can share this here - freely - and not there - publicly- I choose to share it here.

I wrote this while I was awaiting the other participants in a lunch meeting that they called:

I wish for calmness

I wish for clarity

[I then crossed out wish and scribbled in 'pray' in its place]

I pray for calmness

I pray for clarity

I pray for direction and purpose

I pray for closure and restoration

I pray for faith

I pray for stength

I pray for forgiveness and a forgiving heart

I pray for leadership

I pray for perseverance and resilience

I am a valuable asset

Help me become a vessel

This is a bright new day

filled with new possibilities

new directions

new futures

new challenges

new experiences

new opportunities

new leadership

[and in walked my new boss with a career change in hand...]

-Bu

Tech Support

2008-12-08T17:06:00.000-08:00

Alrighty after scouring the MSN Health Vault website I have come up empty handed on a troubleshooting link or a link to ask a question, such as why can't my friends log their miles like I can. So here are two ideas: 1) change your password to something mundane and email me your username and password and I will try to log you on from my computer or 2) cancel your account and ask me to send you an email for a new invite.

2008-12-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

I hope this picture (of our mantle) says it all and that you are heading in to the Christmas season filled with joy and peace. Remember to do something good for yourself each day (like exercise) so that you can do more for those around you. If you neglect your own wellbeing you are likely to be less than 100% for those around you. Top off your reserves today with a quick walkabout!

Mailing Addresses...

2008-12-01T13:26:00.000-08:00

Hi there everyone - can you all post your current mailing addresses? Also, Shannie - where should I send a card to you mom and poppa?

My new mailing address is:

Thanks and love you guys!! Shannie your tree is awesome! We're getting ours this weekend before Rose goes to her first Father-Daughter's Dance :)

Love to you all

2008-11-28T11:55:00.000-08:00

Happy belated T-day. We're back on the road here in just a few minutes. Had a good time at Carole's and was quite pleased to be able to get out and do some walking, despite the rain and thunderstorms. Hope you are all doing well and I'm so thankful for your friendship. Have fun shopping today...for those of you who will be logging in those mall miles. I'll try to stretch my legs along the 11-13 hour drive home :)

thankful

2008-11-27T19:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving, girls! I am thankful for you and for your friendship for the past - wow - 21 years. I have been spending too much time in the house getting ready for turkey the last couple of days... good things there's miles of shopping to do tomorrow! :)

Happy Turkey Day Early

2008-11-21T23:08:00.000-08:00

o.k. girlies - I am hitting the road early tomorrow morning for our drive to Arizona, to have Thanksgiving at Carole's new house (the winter one - she still lives in Seattle). I'm not sure what kind of connection I will have access to there, but I'm taking my odometer and am going to enjoy the lovely weather! I'm hoping that by the time we get back next Saturday, I will be to 100 miles (can't wait to get my surprise Buli). Enjoy time spent with family & loved ones.
love, Tani

My birthday gift

2008-11-20T19:22:00.000-08:00

So I jumped headlong in to my 40th year with a fabulous adventure with my good friend Kari as we continued our lumberjack lessons on the dead trees that litter her property about 30 minutes outside of Walla Walla. After a day throwing the limbs of the trees we cut down Tuesday into their industrial size wood chipper, she insisted that I ring in my 40th year in grand style by taking down the tree pictured here. Our day was brighten even more by our enjoyment of the first snowfall of the year! I am blessed with great friends, good health, and the freedom to be myself. If today is any indication, my 40th year is going to be a blast!

Happy Birthday, Buli!

2008-11-20T12:41:00.001-08:00

Welcome to your 40th year! Thank you for including all of us in the year long celebration. :)

Push-Ups

2008-11-19T06:58:00.000-08:00

Arm type not boobie type. I have added 39 or 40 push-ups to my program every day as a way for me to pay it forward to a future in-law. On Oct. 30, I stayed over at B's mom's house with her, because she needed supervision following a nasty fall (she moves in to assisted care next Tuesday). As I wrote in my 10/31 post on my other blog, there is nothing like watching your 71 yo, make a bathroom stop at 3:30am, while you are resting on a walker that she couldn't hold herself up on (hence the need for supervision) to remind you that you are going to do something different for your kids and their families. So since that experience I have added in 39 push-ups each day. I do them bent knee style to keep my shoulder from popping. It doesn't take me very long 30 seconds to a minute, which over the course of the week equates to about a 1/2 mile of activity. So the challenge continues - not only am I challenging you to get moving, I am also challenging you to not short change your upper body strength.

Gail? Teri?

2008-11-18T21:19:00.001-08:00

Any progress on these fronts?

Observation

2008-11-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

A sick child (even if he is 13) and a fitness goal do not mix. Sigh.

Comment Link???

2008-11-17T17:59:00.000-08:00

Hey Buli -where did the comment link go? I looked in settings and thought I had fixed it, but nothing happened. So I changed it back.

Shanni - sounds like you had fun. Loved the photo on your site. I remember that photo of you and Wen. I think I have that one too :)

guess where I was this weekend?

2008-11-16T22:01:00.001-08:00

Bronte and I went to visit a friend in Spokane! I hadn't been there in 15 years... a lot of things have really changed, but a lot is the same. I took a picture of our old Stewart window (remember lowering Spunky out the window to Tony P?) and BJ. There are new signs, but I had Bronte take a pic of me sitting on the BJ one. But I was missing Wendy... check out my fam blog to see the snap.
Weird to be there with out you girlies, but it made me feel so grateful that Julie had this BRILLIANT idea, and that we are all in touch again. And I wore my pedometer while we shopped on Saturday, and racked up over 4 miles! Yee haw!

Don't let the destination scare you from the journey

2008-11-16T09:32:00.000-08:00

Hi girls! I hope everyone is having fun getting reconnected and doing something good for yourself. I was really struck by the number of mommies (and daddies) that drug their kids to the variety of activities in the name of keeping them healthy, but who when asked what they did for fitness seemed dumbfounded. So here is another way to get those miles or minutes in. When you drop you kidlets off for practice, rather than taking a seat in the fold up chair you carry about in your trunk, walk laps around the field, gym, building, block, etc. I clocked 2.5 miles with my friend Sarah while our boys were at practice. And we still had time to watch the end of practice. Depending on how many practices you are partaking in an average week -- you could add several miles to your routine. I know Kings Gate, NC is a long ways away -- but don't let that scare you away from the journey. Set small goals and let's work together to arrive at 40 & maybe 41 healthier than when we arrived at 39. If you need help either getting going on the blog or on Router Tracker, please let me know.

Yeah!

2008-11-13T17:11:00.000-08:00

Yeah for cool prizes! By this weekend I should be to the halfway mark to 100 miles! Tonight is a bit off for me as I have my bunco group and won't be getting to the gym. We're taking a break tonight from the game and are going to watch Sex in the City. What are you all up to for fun away from the kiddos these days?

Did I mention there would be prizes?

2008-11-13T16:40:00.000-08:00

Alright what is a proper challenge if it doesn't include prizes that scream of awesomeness. So for each of you who can get your tail across the 100 mile mark - there will be a prize waiting for you. Can't quite decide what it will be, but trust me it will clearly mark your accomplishment and will serve as an inspiration for you to do the next 100 miles. One of the great things about the Route Tracker site is that any of us can create a prize for any variable. So jump on, get moving, and let's arrive at our 40th birthdays like the bunch of hotties we know we are!

Yeah for Rebecca & 3-columns

2008-11-12T14:57:00.000-08:00

Yeah for Rebecca's arrival! Hopefully Gail and others will be soon to follow! After much confusion, the HTML fairies finally had mercy on me and have magically converted our little old 2-column template in to a fabulous 3-column template which means more room for pictures, countdowns, the route tracker map, posts, etc! If you have pictures you want to add either email them to me or add them yourselves (everyone has admin priveleges). I thought I would update the Route tracker map once a week and since we started just a few days ago, I will mark our first week's journey (11/14) with the map. I would like to add litle birthday countdown tickers so that we can keep track of everyone, but if you would rather I not include one for you...please let me know. I hope all are well. I was once again reminded about the importance of investing in our individual and collective health by accompanying B's mom again today (she also had three appointments yesterday) to her daily doctor gauntlet. After I dropped her off, I came home and promptly did 50 push-ups and jumped on my treadmill desk for a quick jaunt. (p.s. I will add the pink back in after I get back from doctor's visit #3)

Busy day

2008-11-11T16:40:00.000-08:00

So girlies - the day is not yet over and I have been busy. The kids and I walked (or should I say walked/jogged to keep up with Max) to get a sandwich for lunch. It was fun walking through the new neighborhood and checking out all the fall foliage. Then I did some major gardening in the backyard, trimming back a wall of ivy, planting bulbs, turning soil and adding compost. I worked up a good sweat, so I decided to take Buli's advice and look for a physical activity converter. Did you do that too Shanni?? Below is the site I used. What do you think Buli? Do you have a better site/suggestion? After dinner tonight - I will be heading to the gym and hopefully will long another 2-3 miles before the day is done.

http://www.gethealthyclarkcounty.org/walk/miles_activity.htm

As soon as I figure out...

2008-11-11T07:29:00.000-08:00

how to convert this template to a 3-column I will. I hope to add some tickers to countdown to each of our special days along with other fun stuff. If anyone wants to add or wants me to add their personal blog to the blogroll let me know. I was also thinking about fun lists like "Must Reads", "Must Watch", etc. What else will we need to keep this party rolling from now through 12/31/09?

Starbucks walkin'

2008-11-10T15:41:00.000-08:00

So here is a great strategy -- set a date with a friend to walk from one of your houses to a coffee shop a reasonable distance away. Not only do you get to catch up on each other's lives, but you also reward yourself with good fitness, good conversation, and - if you are lucky - good coffee! I employed this strategy this morning with my friend Krista and we were shocked to discover that we had walked 5.44 miles roundtrip. It was so easy that I have set a date with my friend J who is in the midst of chemo to walk from work to the downtown Starbucks to enjoy Gingersnap Lattes (perfect to help combat chemo nausea). Let's share our best tips to inspire one another toward reaching our collective and individual goals!

Got to the Gym

2008-11-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

Yeah! I got to the gym a day earlier than planned. Curtis didn't have to run to soccer to early, so I was able to log in 2 miles before 8 a.m. Then came home and cleaned out the bunny hutch with Rose and have been busy going up and down stairs as we cleaned house. I plan to go for a walk later with my girlfriend who is coming up from San Jose to spend the night - depends on how hard it is raining though. It's drizzling right now and the wind is starting to pick up. Max and I are curled up in our bed in the cozy flannel sheets. I hope he falls asleep soon.

OK Buli - how do I make the photos larger so I can see them with my almost 40 year old eyes (actually my new prescription is less strong than the previous one - the dr. says that happens in the early 40's). On my blog I can just click on them to make them larger. Can you make them do that too? Thanks!!

Is Shanni maybe taking the picture??? Is that Diana Jenkins? She was a year ahead of us.

zowie!

2008-11-08T08:54:00.000-08:00

This is SO fun! Having a way to be back in touch with you all on a daily basis is making me so happy! Every time I log on here and see your comments I want to skip around my house singing a happy song and doing a happy dance. How about that for racking up some miles? :)

We need a pretty template

2008-11-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

Help! We need a fab template that is worthy of our journey. If you have a good suggestion either change it yourself or send me a template link.

Welcome

2008-11-07T19:24:00.000-08:00

HI there Wender Benders :)
Glad you are here. Now all we need are Bec, Teri and Gail!

Hi girlies...

2008-11-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Hi girlies (haha, remember who used to call us that?) - Juli, I am so excited that you thought of this. I have been needing a kick in the exercise pants for awhile now, and knowing that I am responsible to our challenge is just the ticket. Our weather has been WET the last two days, so I am heading to the fitness center to get in some walking. My biggest challenge right now is increasing my speed; I only have about an hour a day, and I need to pick up the pace to reach our goal.
You guys are awesome! :)

Checking in.

2008-11-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

This is exciting!! I plan to start on my routine at the gym...which is right next door...on Sunday. Curtis is out of town and so having the munchkins solo has put a bit of a damper on "my plans". I do, however keep a constant path going up and down the stairs. Max likes to know where I am, so if he's upstairs he calls about every 15 minutes and requires a visual on the mom. Have a great long weekend everyone.

Happy Birthday to Us

2008-11-07T11:14:00.000-08:00

During 2009, we will turn 40. We are wild women with fun, storied, and fabulous lives and histories. We have committed to one another to give ourselves the gift of good health and fitness. Several of us already blog pretty regularly so this can be another means of reconnecting, staying in touch, and keeping each other accountable to our group and individual goals. Yeah us! We are going to rock the world in our 40th year -- hope the world is ready!