Week 51 of 52

            Christmas morning found Adam, Aaron and I running the Joyful 5K around Como Lake in St Paul Minnesota...it was only 4 degrees when we left the house and I think it had warmed up to a whopping 6 degrees by the time we started to run...we had to run almost two times around the lake...

                                                                our souvenir bib...

                                   and we are off and running...Aaron...Angela...Adam...

                                                           Aaron first time around...

                                                            Angela first time around...

                                                            Adam first time around...

                                                           Aaron finishing in 27.39...

                                                           phew...finished in 33.51...

Adam finishing...

Week 50 of 52...part two...

Wednesday 19th December...

            Have you ever been so sure that a decision is the right thing to do...then as soon as you have done it you wasn't so sure any more...I had a few emotional days this week...after eleven years at Hallmark and quitting a few years ago only to be talked into staying...yesterday I gave my two weeks notice...I felt so sick and nervous all day...our district manager spent the day with us and I didn't want a confrontation with him and my manager so I left my notice in our communication book at the registers as I was leaving for the day...yeah I chickened out from talking to my manager...and I still haven't talked to her...she was off today...I work with her tomorrow...

            I didn't sleep last night...but nothing new there...all night I tossed and turned...did I do the right thing...is it the Christmas season that's making me feel like this again...for the last two or three years around this time I swear I am not going to work work another holiday season...I am going to be 60 years old in just a few weeks...and to be honest I just don't want to keep climbing ladders...I am getting to be afraid of falling off onto the cement floor...and I don't want to keep hauling heavy boxes around...and the customers...did I mention the customers at this time of the year...some of them can be brutal...

            I worked today and was still nervous about my decision...but as the day went on I knew I had done the right thing...I am very comfortable with my decision...

            What I am going to miss is my coworkers...I have made some good friendships over the years...from my little high school girls that graduated and went off to college and came back on breaks...to young moms and to more mature ladies like me...I am going to miss some of the regular customers that have been shopping at the store since we opened eleven years ago...

            I know it is going to be an adjustment being home everyday...but I think I can do it...I know I can do it...it's very emotional right now and I don't know what it is going to be like leaving on that last day...but I will be okay...

Thursday 20th December...

            I worked with my manager today...long story short...I am now unsure what to do...I am considering just stepping down from my position and working a couple of days a week...

Friday 21st December...

            ...after another conversation with my manager...step down...less money...same work...THE DECISION STANDS...my last day at Hallmark will be December 31st...I will be okay...

Week 50 of 52

          ...a busy week this week trying to get Christmas together for the family...a very emotional couple of days of decision making...more of that in my next post...

                                                    working on it...but not too far yet...

Week 49 of 52

 

 

                  A little bit behind with this post...but that is the story of my life at this time of the year...we got the house decorated for Christmas...inside and outside...the Christmas tree only fell over once so that was good...only broke one ornament...don't know which one until we pack them all away after Christmas...I found a little lantern on the floor...that's the clue that one broke...

 

                Got my work schedule for the next week or so...looks like I only have four days off between now and Christmas...that's right four days to get my act together and get Christmas organised for everyone...it's no wonder I get so stressed and cranky at this time of the year...I always feel that I do everything at the last minute...this working retail at this time of the year depresses me...we see the greed and the crankiness of our customers...and the closer it gets to Christmas the worse it gets...what happened to Peace and Goodwill to all men...

 

I know that I will get everything done...I always do...

 

A few photos of Christmas at our house...

This is my next project...going to refinish this wooden rocking chair...

Week 48 of 52

            Just a little project for this week...I have taken the kitchen stools and re-finished them...I used Zinssers Cover Spain Primer again...the same product I used on the coffee table I re-finished a few weeks ago...I still need to give the stools another couple of coats of paint...

                                                                    original stain...

                                                    Used Zinssers Cover Stain Primer...

                                                                  second coat on...

first coat of black paint on...

Week 47 of 52

            Last week when I wrote about signing up for my first 5k I never thought that I would be saying what I am about to say...I DID IT...I RAN A 5K...my goal was to at least run some of it...so I achieved my goal plus some...

            Aaron made it home for Thanksgiving and Aaron, Adam and I joined my friend Pam and her two daughters Brooke and Rachel and participated in the Minneapolis Turkey Trot...Aaron has run a half marathon and Brooke is a cross country runner for Eastview High School so a 5k was no problem to them...Adam and Aaron started together...Pam and I walked up to the start with thousands of other runners/walkers etc...16500 other runners/walkers...as we were getting to the start we could see people beginning to run...we walked for an extra minute or so to make sure we were warmed up enough...then we started to run...not very fast...we wanted to pace ourselves...lots of people were passing us but we didn't care...we have both only just got started with this thing called running a few weeks ago...we didn't want to push ourselves neither one of us wanted to get hurt...

            When we passed the 1.0 mile marker we couldn't believe that we had run a mile already...it gave us a little boost of confidence...we started passing people...we recognized some of these people that passed us at the start...now they were walking and we were still running...we continued on our ramble through the streets of Minneapolis and along the river...and before we knew it we were at the 2.5 mile marker...I got an adrenaline rush and wanted to push on but Pam and I had decided we had started this journey together we were going to finish together...we turned a corner and there it was in sight of us...the finish line...we had this we were going to run our first 5k...step by step side by side we ran over the finish line...

            We thought we had better make our way back to the car...we figured Adam and Aaron would be long done with the run and we agreed all to meet at the car rather then try to find each other in all those thousands of people...we got to the car and there was Joe and Aaron but no Adam...Pam and I went back to look for him thinking he was socialising somewhere...we didn't find Adam but we did find Brooke and Rachel and chatted with them a few minutes and took some photos...we headed back to the car again and this time Adam was there...apparently he came in behind us...got beat by his Mom and her friend...

            This was so much fun...the weather was a mild 50 something...it could have been icy cold and snowing...it was fun to see the costumes people were wearing...there were all age groups...from babies being pushed in strollers to elderly couples holding hands and walking...there were dogs of all sizes...and of course there were Adam...Aaron...Brooke...Rachel...Pam...and me...who would have thought it...

                                                           Aaron...Adam...Angela...

                                                     Adam...warming up pre-run...

                                                                 Angela...Pam...

                                                                  Brooke...Pam...

                                                       here we go towards the start...

                                                           getting closer to the start...

                                                                 2.5 mile marker...

                                                   after the run...two very happy tired girls...

Some of us are now thinking about doing a Christmas Day 5k...and Adam is thinking about doing the Moustache 5k in Minneapolis next Saturday...I think we have caught the running bug...

Week 46 of 52

 

            This week I have been continuing with yoga...I started another class...yoga with weights...so I am now taking two classes a week...I really didn't know what expect in this new class...but so far so good...we only use weights in some of the poses so it wasn't too hard to take...

 

 

           I have finished week six of my 'Couch to 5K' program...that is also going good...ran 22 minutes straight...had a foot analysis and bought some running shoes from a running store...and guess what...I signed up for my first 5K...yep that's right...I am going to be participating in the Minneapolis Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning with a very good friend of mine and her husband and her two daughters...then surprisingly Adam decided to join us...he signed up today...now if only Aaron could make it home and join us...he is the real runner in the family...he has already completed a half marathon...The Minneapolis Turkey Trot is a fun run/walk...through the streets of Minneapolis...it's not timed so no pressure...my only goal is to at least run part of it...

 

                                                                      MY BIB #

                                                                 ADAM'S BIB #

            Next weeks goal is to blog and post photos from my first and hopefully not my last 5K...

weeks 40/41/42/43...week 44...week 45...of 52

            weeks 40 to 43...vacation

            Where do I even start...do I talk about the villa and how it didn't quite live up to expectations...and how we moved to our friends condo...do I talk about the 64 year old man from Michigan that died on the beach...the same day as we witnessed a fire at a restaurant in Puerto Vallarta where there were fire trucks and police and military running around all over...the first week of our vacation was quite the experience..

            The villa we rented for the month was a unique looking building and decorated in authentic Mexican style...we knew there wasn't any AC in the villa but it was right on the river over looking the beach we were told to expect cool breezes...but it was so hot...also it was right against the hill side of the jungle so we were sharing the villa with numerous bugs...hey lets be honest here...I don't like sharing...and besides I looked like I had chickenpox with all the bites I had...we were living next door to a local family...they did their laundry right outside taking water from a rainwater barrel and one day we saw the children go into the river with a bar of soap and wash themselves up...we were in a little fishing village and we sat on the balcony watching the life of the locals..staying in this villa really opened our eyes to the way of life for some people in this World...we have so much in The United States...and some of these Mexicans have so little...but they seem so very happy...are we truly happy with all that we have...doesn't seem like we always want more...

                                                        kids bathing in the river...

                                              loading up the boat with furniture...

            One day we were sitting on the balcony watching a few people taking photos and having a good time after they had been out on a fishing boat...these people ordered a drink and went out to swim..we walked across to the beach and we were sitting having a drink when there was such a commotion...a boat had gone out into the ocean and brought a woman and two men back to the beach...the next thing we saw was someone doing CPR on one of the men...he died right on the beach just a few yards away from us...

            After one week in the Villa we moved to our usual condo in Mismaloya...our friends very graciously let us use their condo again...the difference between these two rentals are like night and day...

            We had a wonderful time on our vacation...found some new places to eat and drink...I even had my first mojitos...yes that's right...plural...two for one that day...we didn't do a lot...we walked and swam and just relaxed and enjoyed each others company...isn't that what vacation is all about...

Week 44...back home

            We arrived back home on Sunday October 28th...I went back to work on November 1st...straight into holiday season....not quite so wonderful...but it was fun to see my co-workers...

Week 45...back on track

          This week I started a zumba class...I don't know why I even signed up for this one...when I started yoga at the beginning of this year I bugged a friend of mine to give it a try...she finally did and she is enjoying it...she has wanted to try zumba...I kept telling her I didn't want to do it...I am not a dancer...she signed up and I felt that she gave yoga a try so I should be fair to her and give zumba a try...big mistake...we thought that the instructor was already in the room and everyone was lining up...but nothing happened...a few minutes later here comes a woman dancing and bouncing through the room...she puts on the music...runs to the front of the class and here we go...it was so fast right from the beginning I don't think I ever caught up...I hate it but I am not a quitter...okay I am a quitter...my assistant manager has wanted to try zumba...she told us if she had known we were going to take this class she would have gone with us...so I am quitting and giving my place to her...I feel bad that I am quitting...when the boys were younger we always told them they could sign up for any sport...but if they didn't like it they still had to finish the season out they could'nt let their team down...now here I am quitting...shhhhhhh...don't tell them...I am sticking to running and yoga...I start a new yoga class this week...

Week 39 of 52

                                                                                        

JOE'S RETIREMENT... 

 

            I never thought I would see the day when Joe would decide to retire...he has talked about it for the last two or three years...but this week after 44 years with the Toro Company he did it...It is official...Joe is retired...we spent a very emotional day with his Toro family as Joe calls his co workers...there was a luncheon at Toro and also a Happy Hour at a local bar...

 

 

                                                       Kris Lindstrom...Joe's boss

                                                   Kris makes a speech and presentation

                                                CEO Mike Hoffman...telling some stories

                                                Bob...Dennis...Courtney...Wendy

                            Don Masini flew in from Michigan to celebrate with Joe                          

                                        Don had some good stories from Wheelhorse days

                                          Don Masini...making another presentation to Joe

Mike Hoffman...retired CFO Steve Wolff...Mike Stuber

 

I didn't want to be too much in peoples faces with my camera so this is all I got...I didn't take any photos at the evening get together...

 

Now we move on to the next chapter in our book of life... 

Week 38 of 52

            SHORT AND SWEET...

            This week we have been doing some fall clean-up...emptying flower baskets...flower beds and window boxes...we are getting ready to leave for our vacation next weekend...who knows what the weather will be like when we come home after a month in Mexico...we are hoping it will still be mild enough to do more fall yard work but this is Minnesota after all...

            I have also decorated the house for Fall and Halloween...

                                                little guy leading up to the front door...

                                               front door step all decked out for fall...

Update....Week 37 of 52

 

        September 16th 2012...today I planted 90 tulip bulbs in one of our summertime projects...not that you can tell...but take my word for it...they are in there...

Friday May 17th 2013...here is a photo of the tulips blooming in the project from last years week 37 of 52...success..

 

 

Week 36 of 52

            This weekend found us in South Bend Indiana...we did something some of us had never done before...we went to a University of Notre Dame football game...I knew that Aaron had wanted to see a game for a long time but I didn't know how important it was to him...Aaron and his brother Adam were born in South Bend but we moved to Minnesota when Aaron was only two years old...every visit to South Bend we had to go walk the campus and visit the book store and get new tee-shirts...and on one visit we got to go into the stadium...

            Aaron told us that attending a Fighting Irish football game was right up in the top two things on his bucket list...and that he might cry...it was that emotional for him...I honestly thought it was a long way to go for a football game...

            We met up with Edwin and his friend and we did some tailgating...never tailgated before...that was a fun time time thanks to Edwin...Adam would have enjoyed this but he already had plans for this weekend and didn't travel with us...photos from this adventure are on FB...

            We went to watch the players walk from the library to the stadium...I took a few photos here...Aaron kept saying get this person...get that person...to me they were just a bunch of guys in suits...so I stopped taking photos and put my hand out like the rest of the crowd...the next thing I knew Owen Wilson was high fiveing me...yes that's right the actor Owen Wilson...Vince Vaughn was also there...when I looked through my photos I had one with the two of them on it...way in the background...I will have enlarge it...needless to say I was very happy at this time and was glad I had made the trip...don't know if it was the tailgating that had made me happy or Owen Wilson...

            It was good to see Notre Dame win...it made Aaron's first Fighting Irish game an experience to remember...I some how think this is not going to be his last game...

        

                                                   July 1999...Aaron...Joe...Adam...

                                                  A little boys' dream turns into.....

                                                       ....a young mans reality....

                                                 September 8th 2012...Aaron...Joe...

the now famous tickets...kept as souvenirs...

Week 35 of 52

            "You don't stop running because you get old. You get old because you stop running"....a quote from the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall...

           I just finished reading 'Born to Run'...what an inspirational book...you don't have to be a runner to enjoy this book...I am by no means a runner...I would like to be a runner...but this old body of mine seems to think differently...as you know I started a Couch to 5k program a few weeks ago and sprained my ankle in week 2...here we are 4 weeks later and my ankle is beginning to feel normal again...

            For years I have wanted a treadmill...I used to run on one at the health club that we once belonged to a few years ago...so here it is Angelas' new toy...I must admit I am a little afraid of starting to run again...but this time I am going to take it very very slow...I think I pushed it too hard last time...what is the hurry...I have the rest of my life to become a runner...

                                          You are never to old to try something new...

Week 34 of 52

            This weeks 52 of 52 wasn't a project but something fun to do....Joe and I spent a few hours at the Minnesota State Fair...we haven't been for a couple of years...we left early after talking to Joes' twin sister Pat...wishing her and Joe a Happy Birthday...here is our day in photos...

                                                                        tickets....

                                                 trolley ride...which we did not do...

                                                    foot long corn dog....mmmmm....

                             my favorite area...the horse barn...still want to learn to ride...

           Dominic Guadious...playing guitar and the diggery doo...still want to learn to
                                                                play the guitar...

                                 Minnesota State Fair flying the British Flag...got to love it...

                                                                   Fun at the fair...