I turned 37 last month, and whilst I was contemplating what sort of post I ought to write about that, the month went away. Again. Shoot, that just keeps happening. A person who blogs now and then is still a blogger, right? Regardless, I present 37 things from my life this year.
1. I love summer.
2. I am tan this year.
3. Because I have spent the first half of the summer gardening and playing with my kids, in that order.
4. I want to spend the second half playing with my kids and gardening, in that order.
5. I really do have eleven kids.
6. I have given birth to eight.
7. When I tell people I have 11 kids, they look me up and down as if to decide whether they think my body could have done that.
8. This bugs me beyond words, and I want to slap them. Even the nice old ladies.
9. I grew up with eight sisters and six brothers; my kids have 100+ cousins.
10. I really like all those people; I love having a giant family.
11. But I am actually kind of a loner; I revel in solitude.
12. Solitude is in short supply in my very busy life.
13. My kids gave me a kayak for my birthday.
14. It only has one seat.
15. But now I have to learn to roll the thing.
16. I have always been terrified of water, so this freaks me out.
17. As a child, I sometimes had panic attacks in the bathtub.
18. But a solo kayak trip down a quiet river would be worth overcoming this.
19. Besides, I would get great arms.
20. I have always wanted Linda Hamilton Arms. You know those arms she's got in Terminator? Yeah those. I gotta get me some arms like those.
21. And then I should color my hair
22. But I can't really afford a quality color-job right now.
23. Yeah, that "afford" thing is the very reason I need hair color... Before my whole simultaneous have-a-newborn/run-a-major-business/crash-course-retail thing, I had no grey.
24. Now I have kind of a lot.
25. I usually don't mind.
26. But I will mind less when I drop ten pounds and get Linda Hamilton Arms.
27. I typically bike, walk or just be busy for exercise.
28. I don't like going to the gym all that much.
29. Feeling great and having energy are much more important to me than weight.
30. I am [generally] happy with how I look.
31. But I'd like to be "tougher."
32. (Although my kids say I'm tough.)
33. But I'd like to do a bike tour or a race.
34. Or a nice long kayak trip.
35. And as nice as solo is, Jonathan is invited.
36. I think that would be even better.
37. As long as I still have my own boat.
It looks like it's been a great adventure, from the photo ... and it sounds like it from this past year.
Happy birthday, and congratulations on the kayak! I love mine; it's mid November and I'm getting ready to head out. I have to admit I don't know how to do an Eskimo roll, but a wet re-entry is easy enough to finish in about three minutes. You should have a self-rescue kit with a bilge pump and a plastic (PVC) bag that goes over the end of one paddle spoon, then you inflate it and attach the other end of the paddle to the boat, usually using the bungee cords behind the cockpit. Now you have an outrigger; put your foot on the airbag, and climb back in the boat - then use the pump to get the water out.
Good luck, and have fun!
Posted by: Forrest | November 09, 2008 at 12:55 PM
That is a sweet post.
When and where on the picture? I was thinking Whitney, but it looks more like the Wasatch...
Thanks for loaning your kids to me for the Grand Teton - it was the best - as you well know, they are AWESOME company...
I'm a lucky, proud uncle.
And thirty-seven isn't so old - I'm thirty-five, you know. And there are a few gray ones on my head, too.
Posted by: Rex Vallis | August 11, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Loved your post. Looks like a scrapbook page to me. You should just come scrapbook that this Friday at 7:00! I think I'll skip the kayaking as I'm not good in the water and go to the gym, which I really like especially now I've met my first goal of dropping 10 lbs. Feels so good I think I'll do it again. I may have to make my own list to scrapbook. Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Danielle | July 09, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Happy belated birthday. You look great in your picture, no way do you need to drop ten pounds. Have fun kayaking.
Posted by: Sher | July 09, 2008 at 12:50 AM
Great post!
You make me LOL re/Linda Hamilton Arms!
Wish I had 'em instead of the grandma-arm-dangles that I have now.
Aging is not kind. Nope...not at all.
I remember playing with my grandmother's arm dangles...and now my grands do the same to me.
Sheesh!
Keep workin' on your Linda Hamilton's, girl...
And happy belated birthday!
Posted by: Dawn | July 08, 2008 at 08:49 PM
I'm a loner too! Let's be loners together. Kayaking sounds very, very perfect. I Love, love, LOVED your post (and the comment by that jb person). You are so cool.
Posted by: dona | July 08, 2008 at 06:50 PM
Happy birthday to you... now go get in that kyak and have some fun!
Posted by: Liz | July 08, 2008 at 06:06 PM
This isn't even a drop in the bucket of what you could have listed for the 37 things. (And, by the way, you already have Linda Hamilton arms, and Ginger Rogers legs, and...) Inspiring post. Your husband is a lucky guy!
Posted by: jb | July 08, 2008 at 03:46 PM
I LOVED this post! So fun to read 37 things -- and so funny that you are a loner in such a large family!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | July 08, 2008 at 03:29 PM