Make You Wonder

Well the secret's out now. I. Am. Wonder. Woman.

As in, I do a lot of things that make you wonder!

Of course, it's fun to pretend I have super powers. Especially in kickboxing class when we are punching, kicking and deflecting our invisible attackers. I could save the world on a good day. Believe in me.

Since I was out of town this weekend so I missed the open house and demonstrations at my kickboxing place. I guess there was a great turnout and new people signed up for class. That's awesome. Tonight the veterans got the night off so our instructor could orientate the newbies. I figured I better get a workout in so I hopped on the treadmill after work.

Talk about things that make ME wonder! I wonder why I signed up for a 5-mile race in just a little over a month.

I am grateful that my WONDER-ful friend Chris is sort of in the same boat. We agreed we are eliminating the word "race" from our vocabulary. It's a 5-mile "fun run." We will be running it with plenty of walk & talk breaks – that will be the "fun" part. And when we finish – because, well, you have to finish – we will definitely feel like Wonder Women!

Right now, I am appreciating that we are gaining daylight so hopefully I can get some running done outside. I despise the boring "dreadmill," but it was too cold and snowy today. And since we'll be back to below zero later in the week, I suspect I better make friends with Mr. Treadmill.

Don't worry, Mr. Deck Chair. Even in the winter, nothing will come between us. Come spring, I just don't want you to wonder if I ate my way through your hibernation.

Not so Wonderful.

Ol' Kris Kringle

As a full-blooded Scandi-hoovian, I pretty much keep my allegiance to the Swedes and Norwegians. But today, I let the Danes in.

Typically, we celebrate St. Lucia Day in this house with a small gift and homemade, fresh from the can to the oven, cinnamon rolls. However, since my BFF lives in the Racine "home of the Kringle" area during the week for work, she brought me an Almond Kringle this weekend.

Oh my favorite! I had to wait a day for St. Lucia Day to share it with the guys. Apparently somebody besides me likes it, because the ring on flaky, frosting-ed flavor is just about gone!

Guess it was a hit. Will put that info in the St. Lucy Vault for next Dec. 13th.

Was also an atypical Christmas celebration when our area was under a flood watch today. Not a winter storm watch. Nope. A 100% chance of rain in nearly 60-degree weather type of flood watch. Still raining.

Since I was stuck indoors and really didn't want to work – on anything – I jumped at the chance to go to a movie with previously mentioned BFF and her niece and nephew. Saw Mockingjay Part 2.

Here's my opinion because you didn't ask... Mockingjay Part 1 was much better. Mockingjay Part 2 was sort of lame... sort of like the book, in fact. Not an impressive ending to either. But I still enjoyed reading the series immensely and liked 3 of the 4 movies. Plus, I had good movie theater popcorn for lunch. Can't beat that, either.

Came home and did a little work, did some grocery shopping and walked on the treadmill. I discovered if I check out "large print" books from the library, they are pretty easy to read while moving on the treadmill. Well, pretty easy to read, period.

Since the new treadmill is quieter than the last one, I can watch Hallmark Christmas movies while walking, too. I only saw one today. Should probably go get more steps...

Just Say NO-vember

Well thank goodness NO-vember is coming to a close so I can quit saying "no" to everything. Because you know I was so good at that!

At least Carter was diligent. Although the dress code at Assumption prohibits facial hair, the senior boys were allowed to participate in No-Shave November if they donated to St. Jude's Children's Fund. He donated and let it grow. He wouldn't let me take a picture to show his final progress. In other words, it wasn't much. He could grow some mean mutton chops some day but that's about it.

So glad he shaved tonight. I love seeing his clean face!

Although I was the queen of NO progress as well, I decided to finish strong for real. Although I forgot this weekend to wear that FitBit I HAD to have on Black Friday, I did remember today. I took a walk break at lunch and tonight tried out our new treadmill that was delivered today.

Guess who has 10,000 steps? That's right. It isn't that hard to do if you put some effort into it. Too bad that great idea didn't come to me a month ago!

I dread changing the calendar to December, though. It's a terribly divisive month. Half of me wants to make up for all those New Year's Resolutions I did not keep the previous 11 months. The other half wants to sit around and enjoy some Schwan's Peppermint Stick ice cream and Hallmark Christmas movies and start again in January.

I think you know which way I tend to go. But can I break the vicious cycle? It's not like I used up my supply of NOs in November. I'll have to check with my carrier to see if i can roll them over to the next month.

I know I never run out of excuses. Maybe I should switch my plan.