Life on Spin Cycle

I looked at my calendar the other day and sighed. The entire summer is booked solid between work, conferences, travel and the kid’s activities.  When the kids were little, summer used to stretch out before us like an idle odyssey. I remember when the biggest event of the day was dragging out the swimming pool and filling it up for the toddlers to splash in. My neighbors, Barb and Denise, would bring their kids over and we’d sit in the backyard and chat for hours. Some days, we would order pizza and sit out and talk until the bugs drove us inside.

Barb moved away to California and the kids are now teens. Denise and I both work from home, so we try and grab a gab session here and there, but our visits are far too few lately.

I don’t know how this happened, but life has ramped up to spin cycle. 

Like a washing machine, it started out so slowly that I almost didn’t notice it.  I picked up one part-time job, then a full-time job– added a book club, another women’s group, a couple of writing assignments and then volunteer work. To top it off, I started writing a book.

 

And like the washing machine, I found myself smack dab in the middle of spin cycle and wondering how to hit the “off” button.  The problem with going around and around in a circle is that you can’t stop yourself. You’re spinning so fast that you’re glued to the walls of the machine. The thing is, if you don’t get out of spin cycle, eventually something is going to wear out and stop working. 

I stuck my hand out recently to try and stop the spin. Sitting in my inbox was an invitation to a committee that three years I ago, I would have jumped at to be involved in.  After a lot of thought, I graciously said no and actually felt good about it. I also said no to some volunteer activities and some other requests for my time.

Unfortunately, my calendar is still booked for the summer and there isn’t much I can do about what I’ve committed to. Work has to be done, the kids have to be driven here or there, and there’s the graduations and weddings to attend.  Fortunately, I’ve booked in some fun, some barefooting and some enjoyable writing.

Now I just have to figure out how to slow the spin down to a gentle tumble. 

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Barefooting– Accomplished!

Monday, March 29– definitely a fun day that I’ll always remember.  But before I explain, let me back up a bit here.

Last fall, the hubby sent me a link to the TODAY show featuring Judy Myers, a 66-year-old gal who took up barefooting on a dare at the age of 53.   This was not long after my 44th birthday when I was feeling a little down and discouraged.  As I watched the video, I started feeling that old excitement about barefooting, a feeling that I had long ago given up on.  It had been ten years or so since the last time I barefooted.  Heck, if a 53 year old gal could take up barefooting for the first time and compete at the age of 66, why couldn’t I get back on my feet in the water again?

I got in touch with Judy and before I knew it, the plans were falling into place.  The hubby and I arranged a spring break vacation and I set up plans to join Judy at the World Barefoot Center run by Keith St. Onge and David Small in Winter Haven.

I was pretty excited when I arrived and right off the bat, I spotted Judy.  What a great gal, I felt as if I had known her for years.  Keith welcomed me with a big smile and then introduced me to the three other skiers, Rick Meskers and his son Brody and another kid, ten-year-old Devin.  Rick is a show skier up in Wisconsin and nine-year-old Brody is a competitive skier who has won the Nationals three years in a row and going for his fourth this summer.

Brody and Devin went first– I was in awe of what these kids could do at their young age.  Rick went next, and he worked on a backwards deep water start and after about his fourth start, he was nailing it.  Judy practiced some tumble turns– take a look:

And then it was my turn.  Gulp.  Keith and I had gone over some pointers on the dock and I was reminding myself of those tips as I slipped into the water.  I had never used a boom before and the grip felt thick.  I wrapped my legs on the cable and looked at Keith and said, “Ready.”

And 25 years after becoming deaf from barefooting, there I was barefooting again.  And it felt so good!

More on Judy Myers:  Judy Myers Inspires Deaf Mom

Brody Meskers in the news: Meskers Joins World Barefoot Center Team

More on barefooting and why The Best Years of Life are Still Ahead

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Deaf Mom’s Goal for 2010–Yes, I’m Gonna Barefoot Again.

I turned 44 last August and I wasn’t too happy about it.  Forty four.  It had an omnious ring to it–one step closer to “middle age.”  I was feeling pretty much like my best years were behind me and I reflected on the years past.  Why-oh-why didn’t I appreciate my youth when I had it?  Why didn’t I enjoy my size-10 figure when I had it?   Why didn’t I run away to Florida and apply for a job as a show skier at Cypress Gardens when I was nineteen?

Fast forward to fall of 2009, and the hubby sent me an email with a link to Judy Myers, the 66-year-old gal who was featured in a Subway video, Fit to Boom and on the Today show.   The videos aren’t captioned, but go take a look.  That’s right, that 66-year-old is skimming along the water on her bare feet.  She looks pretty darn good, doesn’t she?

That video got me all fired up.  If a 66-year-old can barefoot, then I surely can do it again.  Heck, Banana George didn’t retire from barefooting until he was in his 90’s!

So I decided that 2010 was going to be the year of getting back on my feet on top of the water.  That’s right, I’m going barefooting again.  I got in touch with Judy Myers and we started chatting back and forth via Facebook.  She will be in Florida in the spring and I’m going to join her for a day of barefooting in March.

The last time I barefooted was about ten years ago– I lasted about one minute on the water.  I attempted to barefoot last summer but sank in both times.  So the last time I was really in shape and able to skim on the water was about 20 years ago. 

Last week, I had a dream, and in the dream, I did a deep-water start with my legs wrapped around the rope– skimmed on top of the water on my butt and got up barefooting.  The last time I did that was in 1984.

Stay tuned to the end of March to see if I can do that again.

Karen at sixteen

Karen at seventeen

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I’m a Loser Mom

It’s official.  I’m a Loser Mom.

That’s right.  I’ve joined the 2nd Loser Mom contest, thanks to Devra Renner, who made me realize that I really couldn’t continue to hide my spare tire under those sexy Lanz of Salzburg nightgowns.

The contest is a timely one, as I’ve been so tired of carrying around 60 pounds of unhealthy weight.  With my son’s friend Aubrey as a witness, I’ve climbed on the scale and registered it at two hundred and one pounds.  Yes, I’m almost ashamed to say it.  I’m packing some major flub on my 5′ 4″ inch frame.  What better way to be accountable than to blog about it for the whole wide world to see?

At least I have a bunch of other Loser Moms to hang with during the next couple of challenging weeks.

And look at my skinny Mom– doesn’t she look sexy in that flannel?

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Deaf Mom’s Good Stuff of 2009

I was going to wrap up 2009 with a round up of posts before it turned 12:01, but I was a little busy fake-cleaning my house for the last-minute New Year’s Eve party.  Better late than never.  But before I amuse you with my posts, take a look at the fun we had saying goodbye to 2009:

We connected with Natalie from Florida via the Z-340 and had a blast sharing the party with her. It’s hard to believe that yet another year has flown by.

Here are some of the posts from 2009 that have stood out:

Chicago Moms Blog, Behind Barbed Wire

Chicago Moms Blog, Deaf on the Field

Chicago Moms Blog, Embracing my Deaf Self

Chicago Moms Blog, Messy Houses (syndicated in newspapers)

Chicago Moms Blog, The Honor of Attending a Birth (syndicated in newspapers)

Chicago Moms Blog, Life is too Short to Pout All the Time

Deaf Mom World, The Older I Get, The More Adventure I Want

Deaf Mom World, Fashionable Hearing Aids

Deaf Mom World, Dad Beats Cancer!

Deaf Mom World, What I Learned from Laughter

Deaf Mom World, Lessons from a Sea Doo

Deaf Mom World, Zvrs, The Next-Best Thing to Being There

Deaf Mom World, Are You In the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Closet?

Enjoy!

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Move to Florida, Or Not?

Last week, we had to contemplate a decision of whether to move to Florida so that I could work as a VCO Account Executive or stay put in Chicago:

At a Career Crossroads.

Yes, I know I’m going to regret Florida in the middle of a brutal Chicago winter and y’all can razz me about that in mid-February.  But at least summer will come around again and I’ll be here:

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Scentsy Makes My House Smell Nice

My friend Diana sells Scentsy– the wickless candle with the fabulous, chic holders.  I volunteered to host a party to get her started in her new business but my first attempt ended in a canceled party two weeks ago — very few gals were able to come.  But last night, we had a good turn out and a fun time together.

My daughter came up to me in the middle of the party and asked, “Mom!  What did you do?  The bathroom smells great!”

I guess she noticed the Vanilla Walnut wafing from the plugged in Scentsy instead of the usual boy-mis-aims-and-leaves-a-scent that usually permeats the bathroom. Needless to say, that was one of the scents I selected for my purchase.

You know what that means?  The next time my Mom comes to visit, I can mask my lack of cleaning skills by simply plugging in the Scentsy and popping in the Pomegranate Ice.

Diana demonstrates.

Roberta, Lori (The Facebook Queen) and Lisa.

Jane ponders what scent she’s going to pick.  Or maybe she’s wondering if there’s any Tuscan Lemonade left?

Come on girls, it’s important to choose the right scent.  Concentrate!

What’s a gal’s night out without some Tuscan Lemonade with limoncello?

Next time, don’t leave so early, gals or you’ll miss out on our group picture!  It was 1 or 2 a.m. before we called it a night.

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My Mom’s View of my Birthday

“Ok, Mrs. Griffard, you’re going to have this baby soon,” said the nurse as she moved around the bed and pushed back the sheets.

“This really hurts!” Mom said.  “When is the doctor going to put me out?”

“Oh no, we don’t do that anymore.”

“What do you mean?  I was put out for my other four!”

“No, you’ll have to help push this baby out.”

“You gotta be kidding.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! This hurts! Ow, ow, ow!  I feel like I’m going to be split apart!  This is painful!”

And that’s how I came into the world 44 years ago.

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Yes, I Have a Messy House

Today, my blog post from the Chicago Moms Blog was syndicated in several newspapers across the U.S. 

Now everyone knows I have a messy house.  I’m making the kids clean it.

Sacramento Bee

Family Wire, North Carolina

Centre Daily Times, PA

Lorain County Moms

But hey, come on over for a visit!  Just be sure to wipe your feet before you enter.

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Breathe In… Breathe Out

I’m going nuts.

I’ve never been one who is organized, but one of my big, BIG goals this year is to have everything o.r.g.a.n.i.z.e.d.  I’ve never needed it more than today, because I’m running around trying to find the flight info I printed and put in a “safe” place.  I discovered that I left my phone at Panera Bread…

Sunday night.

I spent all day yesterday looking for it.

Why, oh why, didn’t my Mom’s organization genes pass on to me?

Why?

I’m bound and determined to conquer this state of disorganization.  Even if I have to fly Alex Fayle out to Chicago.  Speaking of Alex, check out the interview that he did with me recently:

Learning to Ask for Help: Karen Putz Interview

You’ll also have to go over to TechMama’s blog and check out: Looking for People Friendly Media Technology.

And then go hop over to Amy Derby’s place for a captioned video:  Conversations with Strangers.

I’m signing off and dismantling my computer to make way for a new desk.  I’m tossing out the folding table. 

It’s a start.

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