Jennifer Apodaca's Blog, page 9

Friday Five

TGIF! I didn’t do much this week, well, I did do stuff but it was all boring chores and errands. But I’ll try to come up with five things to share about my week, then it’s your turn!

Wizard’s still dealing with his cold, but definitely feels better than he did the first couple days. So far, no cold for me.I’m loving my plants in the back yard! I want to do more, but I’m kind of waiting to see when Youngest will be able to do the decking. He’s finishing his backyard by putting in sod this week. He and his wife have turned their back yard with a pool into a lovely outdoor space! They did all the work themselves, but worth the effort! The stuff in my backyard can wait, we are really enjoying it as is.In less than exciting news, I bought 15lb dumb bells, slowly and steadily increasing the weight in my weight lifting program. Oldest suggested I pyramid sets, which means I start with a lighter weight with more reps, and work up in weight with each progressive set, lowering my reps with each increase. Doing this has reduced my fatigue and joint pain, which I had no idea would work. I don’t know the exact mechanism of why it works, but I’m happy it does. I know this is boring for the rest of the universe Wizard and I went to a big box home goods store yesterday, where we brought a few things, including a throne (aka a plant stand) for Prince (the orchid). I named him Prince for the song Purple Rain This weekend, we are going to take Turbo a RC racecar Wizard built for him. There’s a slight chance that I won’t go with Wizard if Youngest would like my help putting in the sod in his backyard. We’ll see what he says, but my kids tend to be squeamish about me doing lift and carry work even if I can do it and don’t mind. Plus I’m torn, go see my grandson Turbo or get dirty and sweaty helping youngest? Hm…  I’ve missed seeing CeeGee this week, but I really didn’t want to share Wizard’s cold. My poor daughter in law fought that cold for three weeks, she really doesn’t need a repeat of that.

That’s my boring five. I’m pretty sure you all can show me up sharing your five things! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

The post Friday Five first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Wednesday Reading

I finished THE GIVER last week, and I generally loved it. However, I didn’t love the ending. It was abrupt and ambiguous. Literary Fiction does this a lot, and in certain contexts I have no problem with it. In this one, I felt too invested to have a sudden ending. It could be that I was reading it on Kindle, and the device told me I was only 80% into the book so the quick ending was unexpected. The reason Kindle told me 80% was the author had included other material in the back of the book and I hadn’t realized it. I’m going to say what I really felt: For such an intense, well written book, I thought the ending was lazy writing. Tons and tons of readers will disagree and that’s okay. We all have opinions All that said, I still highly recommend the book! The viewpoint of an 11 or 12 year old boy really gives an interesting perspective on a dystopian (or highly controlled might be a better description) society. Totally worth the read.

I’m listening on and off to a mystery, THE GUILTY ONE by Kiersten Modglin. I like it, and the twists are pretty good so far. I do find some parts hard to listen to due to subject matter. But I’ve been also listening to various podcasts, so that helps me disengage for a bit when I need a break. That may be weird, but that’s me, LOL.

What are you reading or listening to?

The post Wednesday Reading first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Weekend Roundup

It was a decent weekend. I had a nice Mother’s Day, including a lovely breakfast with Youngest and his wife. They then came by the house so Youngest could look at the spot where I want him to build a deck. He’s going to try to do it this year which makes me so happy. Oh and they brought me a stunning purple orchid plant I’m terrified of killing   I shall research spells to keep it alive and thriving!

Also youngest daughter in law talked about a (inexpensive) girls trip. We talk about this often but don’t do it — that needs to change! Life is too short to not do it.

The downside of the weekend, Wizard is sick with a cold that’s been going through our family. Two grandkids really help spread viruses, LOL. Who knows if I’ll get it, right now I’m way more focused on Wizard — three colds in six months tells me his immune system is rundown. I seem to be doing fine, so even if I get the cold, it’ll pass in the normal fashion.

How was your weekend and Mother’s Day?

The post Weekend Roundup first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Friday Five

TGIF!! I don’t know how it happened, but Friday is here again! Let’s get right to sharing five random things about our week. Here’s mine:

Monday vanished into a coffee date with my sister, laundry and assorted mundane life tasks that no one else does. I’m really need a full staff of invisible and unpaid workers to take care of boring stuff for me…is that so much to ask?Tuesday was more stupid stuff like grocery shopping, my crazy need to wash, sort or otherwise organize everything I bought to make the rest of my week easier. Then we had an appointment with out lawyer for bail…just kidding…we were updating boring documents to make life easier for our kids one day, a very, Very, VERY long time from now See? Very mundane.Wednesday was a quick routine trip to the vet for Maggie, then I wisely stopped into my hair saloon to discover to no one’s surprise that my appointment was still wrong. But my stylist is back from her health issues and immediately sorted it out so I have a real and confirmed appt with her on Friday. I’m happy with that, and for the record, I don’t hate my gray hair slowly growing out so far! My day got even better as I packed up lunch and headed out to babysit CeeGee while Daughter In Law went to an appt. So fun! Then the trip home…sucked. But it could have sucked much worse. Wizard alerted me to the 91 freeway being shut down completely due to an accident involving a cement truck and spilled fuel. I was able to go around it by a series of other freeways that only took me just under three hours to get home. But…I didn’t get trapped on a closed freeway so I call that a win! Plus Wizard finished cooking what I’d started that morning in the crock pot for dinner and opened some wine for me. All in all, the day was good, just a tad longer than expected. But this little face made it all worth it! Thursday, NO APPTS!!! I worked out, ran some errands, just did things as I chose to do them with no time pressures. I even bought some socks I’ve needed for weeks (Mundane, yes, but it made me happy).Today, I’m getting my hair cut, then maybe shooting out to Trader Joes. Saturday, Wizard is hoping to go to the track to practice his RC cars which gives me time alone (I love time alone now and again!) and Sunday Youngest is taking me (well us) to breakfast for Mother’s Day. Always nice! It was a good week, but dang, I have been going nonstop since last Thursday or Friday and looking forward to a low key few days!

That’s my five, now I’d love to hear yours! Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! And I hope everyone has a great weekend!

The post Friday Five first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Weekend Roundup

So I finished the Nikki Haley book. I did learn some things about the way the UN works. Otherwise, the book didn’t excite me much, but it was worth a read since I am interested in geopolitics.

This week, I started a book I’m loving. It’s an older young adult dystopian novel, and I’m hooked. The title is THE GIVER by Lois Lowry. I wouldn’t have found this book if I hadn’t seen it on a display table when I was waiting for my sister at Barnes and Nobles. I meant to pick it up and buy it when I left (after we had coffee there), but for various reasons that include laziness, I didn’t. I did however remember the title, and bought in on my Kindle later that night. Technology has its advantages. And we do buy a fair amount of books from B&N too, so I don’t feel too bad about that.

What are you reading?

The post Weekend Roundup first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Weekend Roundup

Despite dreary, drizzling weather, we had a good weekend!

Friday, we went to play with CeeGee. Can you believe she’ll be 8 months old in four days? Time is flying! She’s at such a cute age, and we had a blast playing with her until she fell asleep on me. Both CeeGee and her parents are getting over colds, but nothing dims CeeGee’s bright happy spirit.  And aside comment here: Middle son, his wife and CeeGee are the ones we’re “camping” with in July — by camping, I’m mean they’re glamping in their amazing trailer, and we’re staying in an Inn connected to the campgrounds. That’s going to be fun to spend a bit more time with middle son doing something he really loves.

Saturday, we did a quick vacuuming of floors and headed off to Turbo’s baseball game. Turbo did great, and wow the teams defense skills are really building now. They might not get the runner out, but they’re making the correct play and that’s the whole point. At bat, Turbo ducked one pitch and his bat actually hit the ball. It was the craziest play I’ve seen, LOL. But he still got to first. I think he got one hit, and another time he walked for getting hit in the shoulder ( he was fine). While we were enjoying the game, Maggie made several friends, including one of her favorite types of people — a little girl about three years old. The new friend that cracked me up with a big tough guy who sat next to us, and pet Maggie for quite a while. She’s normally a bit more cautious with men, but clearly they had a connection.

Sunday, Wizard’s race was rained out, but he stayed home. I met Oldest son at his house. As I predicted, his wife and Turbo were still sleeping We went to breakfast. Also for the record, his wife told me at the game they’d probably stay home so I could have one on one with Oldest. I thought that was really sweet. I would have been just as happy either way, but I love her thoughtfulness. When Oldest and I returned, Turbo was up. First I watched him play a Hot Wheels Racing video game, then he wanted to show me his RC trucks, so we went outside for a while to drive those. That’s always fun! After that, I went inside to chat with Special K — and we are both obsessed with her kitchen remodel plans. Finally I left so Oldest could get a bit of work done.

All told, I must have clocked well over 300 miles of driving or riding in the passenger seat this weekend! But it was fun, and worth it.

Today, I’m meeting Biker Witch for coffee because I haven’t seen her in a while.

How was your weekend?

The post Weekend Roundup first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Friday Five

TGIF!! So it’s that time again! Here’s my five random things about my week:

I made bread, and at some point, Wizard snapped a picture of me and posted it. He never asks But anyway, someone mentioned that my kitchen looked cleaner than hers did when she baked. Ha! She should have see it the day before when I started the bread! The pic was the second day after it had bulk fermented overnight in the fridge, and therefore less messy. She should have checked in a few hours later when I was making enchiladas and the kitchen was a total mess!The weather keeps changing from warm to rain (humidity) and my joints are unhappy. I told Wizard I’d take a week off lifting…but between you and me, I wouldn’t take that bet! I am going to try to go through the weekend…maybe. I have really been enjoying the weight program that me and ChatGTP designed. While Wizard is going to a gym, I have no desire to do that again at this point.I had hair drama. I love my hairdresser but she’s been having health issues — that I totally understand. The salon is changing appointments for her and messing up mine. So I show up and there’s no appointment on the books, and my hairdresser is off this week for a procedure. But I have a text confirming I had an appointment — no one can explain it. I am annoyed. I’m not sure if I’m going to hang in there or go somewhere else. I know this is a pretty small problem to have, I’m just venting!Today the plan is to go see our granddaughter CeeGee. We haven’t seen her in a couple weeks now. I can see by pictures she’s already getting bigger and changing more.Turbo called Grandpa so excited — he hit a homerun in practice on Wednesday night. Wizard and I were super thrilled! Then Turbo was just as exited to tell us his friend hit one a bit later in their practice game — and I loved that he was just as happy and proud of his friend as himself. And speaking of Turbo, Sunday morning, Wizard plans to go racing and I have tentative plans to go to breakfast with Oldest, and most likely Turbo and his mom will go too. Turbo and his mom are quite as early risers as Oldest and I are Then we’ll all hang out for a bit. We may make it to Turbo’s game on Saturday too, we’ll see. All the plans depending on last minute schedule changes because that’s life these days.

That’s my five, now I’d really like to hear yours! I hope everyone has a great weekend.

The post Friday Five first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Reading Desert

It really frustrates me that I read so much less than I used to read. I’m pretty sure streaming videos and podcasts are my reason, plus the reduced attention span that comes with cell phones and short videos, and possibly even age. The age part has to do with not having time for things I consider annoying or dumb anymore

What’s so stupid is there’s a lot of books I want to read, and I generally have some discipline. But somehow, reading has just fallen off my priority list. For instance, I got half way through the Nikki Haley book then just stopped for a week. Some of that was life-interruptions and those happen. But seriously, I can focus better than that!

But clearly I’m not.

I think I’m going to have to set some goals for myself. Well first I need to start a list of books I want to read, then arrange them in categories and then set goals to read X number of non-fiction and fiction books a month. Right now, I’m reading one or two books a months.

But will I do it? Maybe…I mean I really like the idea, but my follow through is a little slim when it comes to reading lately! But I do have a notebook I could use so that’s a start! (yeah, I know, a notebook is old school but that’s how I roll.)

So how’s reading going for you all?

The post Reading Desert first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Weekend Roundup

Saturday, the electric shade was installed, and…it rained We haven’t had a chance to test it with the sunshine, but so far, we’re very happy. It started to rain half way through the installation, but they toughed it out and finished. We should have some nicer weather this week for the final review.

Talking about weather, it’s been so pretty, with interesting cloudscapes over the hills. The views are beautiful!

Saturday night we went to Youngest’s house. They made steak, cilantro rice and green beans — so good! They had some cookies for dessert and Wizard loved it all. The boys had beers, while I brought some wine for my daughter-in-law and me We had a good time. While there, youngest had a good idea for the one strip of dirt we haven’t done anything with at the very edge of our yard. I’m excited by the unique idea, and hope he’ll do it! Well I’m sure he’ll do it, but it’s a matter of when he has time to do it.

Sunday, we didn’t go to Turbo’s because he was had a playdate at a bounce house. Instead, I baked cookies for youngest because they gave me empty containers form the last time I gave them cookies and suggested I refill them. But haven’t told him yet because I haven’t felt like taking them over to him, LOL. I may get around to it on Sunday after I write this blog…or maybe I’ll drop them off today.

So how was your weekend?

 

The post Weekend Roundup first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.

Friday Five

TGIF! Time to share five random things about our week. Here’s mine:

I got flowers this week! Our neighbor brought over some beautiful roses from their backyard. No reason, they are just thoughtful like that. We had some family stuff going on that worries and stresses us (not our kids, extended family), so these day brighteners are so appreciated!I’m sore from increasing my weights…by two pounds. Go ahead and laugh! But I have gained some muscle by being consistent and lifting as close to three times a week as I can. I’m happy with that, and feel like I’ve regained some of the strength I lost over two years of health stuff. Unfortunately soreness is the price for muscle overload. As long as I don’t injure myself, I’ll accept the muscle soreness.Oldest and Youngest had an amazing time in Vegas. They went to see WWE wrestling and had incredible seats. The boys watched WWE since they were kids, so it was cool even just hearing about it. On the flip side of that, Turbo told his dad all about coming out to our house, and his favorite part was going with Grandpa to drove his R.C. race car. I love so much that Turbo and Grandpa are bonding over some things the both really enjoy. It’s great for Wizard for various reasons and just makes me happy to see it.Yesterday, I went to Kohl’s, tried on armfuls of clothes and shoes, and came home with a pair of cheap pajamas. I looked for clothes to fill in around what I already have and I need to replace some very old semi-dress shoes.  I couldn’t even find socks I liked, LOL. But I’m getting started and at least I got the PJs.This weekend, we are getting our shade installed which is much faster than expected! It’s really going to help this summer. And we’re going to dinner at youngest’s house for a late birthday celebration for Wizard. Sunday I may go out to Turbo’s and hang out too, we’ll see on that. Now that tax season is over, Oldest and Youngest are much more available.

That’s my five, now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

The post Friday Five first appeared on Jennifer Lyon.