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Varnish

When I think of varnish, I think of the stains and varnishes that litter my garage.  Fortunately, most are currently closed so the overwhelming odor of varnish isn’t present.  When my Hubby is working the garage with varnish or even outside, the scent is omnipresent and overwhelming.  A good varnish brings out the grains and uniqueness of each piece of wood without covering it up.  The Hubby does an exquisite job picking the right varnish for each project he does.  Consequently, the finished product is amazing.

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Like a fine piece of wood, the more varnish we put on, the more our true nature is highlighted.   I love this quote from Charles Dickens’ Great Expectation, “”No varnish can hide the grain of the wood; and that the more varnish you put on, the more the grain will express itself.”  Meaning the you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.  In the end, one cannot hide their true nature indefinitely.  In the end, one’s true nature always reveals itself.

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Usually one’s true nature reveals itself when someone’s back is against the wall.  Conversely, other’s are full monty out in the open with their true nature.  Ebenezer Scrooge, from Dickens’ great novel A Christmas Carol, was unapologetically mean, inconsiderate, and a  scrooge.  He pulled no punches and operated without pretense.  Of course, in the end Ebenezer Scrooge found his heart and a moral compass, but that’s not always how these things work out. The question is, what would more varnish reveal about you?

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As we edge closer to Christmas, I look forward to watching some of my favorite Christmas movies and specials.  Who doesn’t love watching Rudolph and Frosty this time of year?  Of course, there are several great move versions of A Christmas Carol.  One of my favorite versions is A Muppet Christmas Carol.  Whether or not you have kids, this move is enjoyable and well done.  Plus, the Dickens’ quote provided the perfect opportunity to plug a Muppet’s movie that I’ve loved since childhood.  What could be better?

Lastly, I wrote briefly about a mother’s worst nightmare last night.  Tonight this family is in need of our support during an imaginably difficult time.  If you are able to, please consider helping this family.  Here is the link: Youcaring

Tonight’s song is “Christmas Eve/Sarejevo” performed by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

 

 

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Gut Punch

Today was one of those days that was akin to a gut punch.  The kind of day that brings you sorrow, angst, sadness, and grief. As if we haven’t already been here enough in 2017… Ugh.  This year has been tough and the last 24 hours indicative of its toughness. Unfortunately, my SIL lost her mother last night.  This is one of those times its tough to be here because we’re not able, as a family, to be there for her, my bro and their kids.  Right now all of us wish we were there with them.

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Meanwhile, in another corner, a mother’s worst nightmare is playing out in a horrific way and we’re all powerless to help.  If anything today has reinforced, the delicate nature of life and its unpredictability.  Life, our days on this earth, are not promised. We can choose to exist, which most do, or we can choose to live.  We can choose to make a positive difference in the lives of those around us regardless of our circumstances.

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Nonetheless, today left me wanting to do nothing, but gorge on Neuhaus chocolate tonight.  I’m proud to say that instead I went to aerial yoga.  This was definitely the healthier way to work through today’s sadness and grief.  Tonight’s class was a bit difficult as I hurt my hip some how, so I had to be careful with my left side.  Incidentally, the inversions are getting much easier with each class.  Additionally, my alignment in handstand/headstand is much better in my mat classes now.  Aerial yoga is definitely improving my practice.

Tonight’s song is “How Great Thou Art” performed by The Pentatonix.

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Saintly Advice

Tonight’s blog is full of saintly advice meant to lift the spirit and encourage the reader.  Undoubtedly,  it has been a long, arduous week (although the sinus infection has abated) and it’s only Wednesday.   I’ve written before about getting caught up in life and forgetting to feed our souls.   For me, my yoga practice has been key in re-centering my mindset and my focus.  Here are some wise words to inspire your practice or your day.

“Fortitude is the disposition of soul which enables us to despise all inconveniences and the loss of things not in our power.” –St. Augustine

“Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.” –St. Teresa of Avila

“A scrap of knowledge about sublime things is worth more than any amount about trivialities.” –St. Thomas Aquinas

“Joy is a net of love by which we catch souls.” 
-Mother Teresa

“It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”  -Saint Augustine

I love these quotes that focus on perseverance, humility, joy, love and knowledge.  Mother Teresa’s quote is fantastic and easily incorporated into every day life.   Make it a point to make someone smile. It could be through a compliment, a simple smile or a good deed.  I guarantee you making someone’s day brighter will fill you with joy.

Beautiful foxglove in Romskog, Norway
Beautiful foxglove

I’ve peppered tonight’s blog with pictures of saintly places both natural and man-made from our Norway trip last summer.  I hope you enjoy the photos as much as we enjoyed experiencing the places.

 

Tonight’s song is “Halleluja” performed by Pentatonix.

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Christmas in Florida

This year we will celebrate our 13th Christmas in Florida after relocating to the area in 2005.  It seems like just yesterday that we moved South with Jake going into 1st grade and Goalielocks as a toe-headed toddler.  The Mayor was but a twinkle in our eye when we moved South.

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Our first couple of Christmas’ we headed back North to Minny to celebrate with the family.  This only lasted a couple of years because the holiday dinner circuit was exhausting.  It was tough only being in Minny for a couple of weeks because it never felt like we got enough time with everyone.  Inevitable, someone always ended up mad because we hadn’t spent enough time at their house or with their family.  It got old quick.

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While we were stressed, the boys loved the snow and being home with family for Christmas.  At least until Christmas of 2007.  We headed northwards for 2.5 weeks.  The weather when we landed was perfect, but that quickly changed.  In a mere 72 hours, the balmy mid-20 degree weather was gone and the temperature was well below zero. Damn Alberta clipper!  For the remainder of our time in Minny, we were homeward bound.  It was far too cold to take our boys out in the subzero weather.  Consequently, as we prepared to head back to Florida, I informed my parents that we wouldn’t be heading north for Christmas anymore.

Since 2007, we’ve spent Christmas here in Florida.  It’s significantly less stressful for us and more enjoyable.  In 2009, we started sending the boys to Minny for the summer, so they got ample time to spend with our entire family.   We miss seeing our family and the beautiful snow, but the novelty wears off far too quick now.  Plus, we’ve headed Northward for the last 5 years for out of state hockey tournaments.  We’ve had no shortage of winter weather.

Several years ago, we started a tradition of a Christmas brunch with my bro, his wife and friends.  I bake my caramel rolls, while the Hubby makes an amazing cholesterol bake.  Mimosas and presents about and everyone is happy.  In addition, we grew our tradition to include paintball.  Its amazing how much better you feel about all the caramels roll you eat after playing paintball for hours in the heat.  We conclude our Christmas with Chinese food.  Its not the most traditional Christmas, but it’s our Christmas.

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There are a couple of places I would love to celebrate Christmas..  My list of places includes: Norway, Germany (Christmas markets), France with my French family, Hawaii, Iceland and maybe even another Christmas in Minny.  If you could celebrate Christmas anywhere, where would it be?

Tonight’s song is “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlmen” as performed by The Pentatonix.

 

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Hockey Mom Holiday Goals

I’ve been thinking about the holidays for a couple of weeks now and thought it might be time to make a list of my hockey mom holiday goals.   Hockey moms, given our crazy schedule, take a little bit of a different approach to the holidays.  As much as I’d love to go crazy decorating the house, I have neither the time nor the money.  After all, Goalielocks already needs a new set of leg pads.

Here’s my list:

  1. Put the Christmas tree up before Christmas and take it down before Valentine’s Day.   So we’ll definitely get the tree up by Christmas, but Valentine’s Day feels a bit aspirational given our January/February schedule.  The oddsmakers have the odds at 25:1 for tree removal before Valentine’s Day.  Coincidentally, the Mayor will be taking bets….                                                                           images (34)
  2. Try not to gain the holiday 10 on top of the hockey 5.  This one will be tough with holiday parties, hockey games, cookies and drinks galore.  But, hey at least I have goals.                                 e4bef8c4247a68cf899b9d503ba10787
  3. I will try to bake Christmas cookies before Christmas and hide them so we have cookies through Christmas.   At least, I’ll have some awesome cookies from BG to tide me over until I can bake mine! 10._SugarCookie
  4. Spend less money on things and more on experiences.  There isn’t a gift in the world that can compare to the fun we had as a family in Norway.  Truly our Norway trip was the best gift we ever gave ourselves and our kids.  I’d go back any day to see that beautiful place and the beautiful patina on its statues and metal work.  Of course for the cost of Goalielocks’ leg pads, I could buy a ticket to Oslo… (I’m only kidding Goalielocks.)IMG_0274
  5. My goal is to stay in the gym, on the running path and on my mat throughout the holidays, so I can stay sane.  Yes dear hubby, this one’s for you.  This should also help with goal number 2.
  6. This year my goal is to create a Christmas card on Shutterfly and order it in time for Christmas.  However, there is a slight chance here that your Christmas card may be delivered with your Valentine’s day card.  Christmas cards
  7. My last goal for this holiday season is to enjoy the time I have with my family and friends.  These are the people that make my world go round and I couldn’t imagine life without them.

Tonight’s song in keeping with the holiday theme is “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey.

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Beach Training Day

Today the Mayor’s team held their beach training day at Phipp’s Park in Palm Beach with Coach Mike and their Coach Preston.  It was a remarkable day on the water with temperatures in the low 80s and nary a cloud in the sky over us.  The water temps were a bit cool for me at 78, but my son quickly reminded me how spoiled I’ve become.

For their training day, they did almost 90 minutes of off ice training in the sand and water.  Chiefly, Coach Mike put them through the paces with a number of exercises that you might see in a circuit class or at the gym.   Since I’m usually the one at the gym, it was nice watching the Mayor be put through paces.  Truthfully, some of those exercises are tough enough in the gym, so  I can’t imagine how much harder they would be in the hot Florida sand.

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Some the exercises, like the wheelbarrow race, relied on teamwork as they raced uphill in the sand.  It was quite fun watching these kids navigate the exercises together.  In between different modules, the kids would break for water, reapplication of sunscreen and then hit the waves for a bit.  Unfortunately, one kid did have a run in with a jelly fish as we started the day, so they didn’t go in too deep.  Fortunately, the jelly fish only slowed him down for a spell and he went on his way through the exercises.

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As their time on the beach winded down, they ran a race on the sand in the surf.  Once they finished their laps, they set up for their final exercises.  This exercise hails from Navy Seal training.   The kids sit  linked arms in the surf and have to stay connected.  Since there was jelly fish in the water, they sat right where the waves broke.  In the face of the surf, they had to stay strong and connected as a unit.  Truly, it was awesome to watch.  I look forward to Goalielocks’ team’s day at the beach.

Consequently, the sinuses are starting to feel a bit better.  My stomach still does not appreciate the antibiotics, but hopefully some yogurt will help that situation.  Fortunately, the beach is one of the best places to be when your sinuses are running afoul.  The salinity in the air is therapeutic and brought relief to my sinuses.  I do, however, look forward to finishing my course of antibiotics.   Once we got home from the beach, we went about the course of our day.  I wished I could hang the towels from a clothes line with some tenderhooks, but since I don’t have clothing line my shower will have to do.

Tonight’s song in honor of the “cold” water and the cold rink where we live is “Cold, Cold, Cold” by Caged the Elephant.  Enjoy!

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Snippet of My Saturday

Here’s a little snippet of my Saturday so far.  We started our morning off at the rink bright and early, which is always fun.  My stomach was not loving the antibiotics, so that was fun.  I hate that nauseous feeling, however, my sinuses and head are feeling much better this today.  Moreover, since the antibiotics are doing there job and I’ll just have to deal with the nausea.

I had quite a few visitors to the box, which made for an interesting third period.  In the end, the boys came up with the W in a solid team effort.  The beautiful thing about youth hockey/youth sports is that life lessons abound.  Things aren’t always as they seem.  Someday I’ll  expand on this is in much greater detail.  Nonetheless, one of the reasons we love hockey is that it teaches lessons that will last them ages.

Post-hockey the Mayor headed to paint ball birthday party.  Thankfully, my friend AL (funny right) is keeping an eye on the Mayor so I can keep out of the sun.  Apparently the antibiotics make my skin more sensitive to the sun, which is amazing because I’m already inclined to burn.  It looks like they’re having a great time from the pics she just sent me.  If I was feeling better, I definitely would have been out on those fields playing paintball with my boy.

As we move towards the evening hours, we’ll be headed back to the rink for another game.  Unfortunately, we’ll be down a man as we lost a guy to a broken clavicle this morning.  Please keep him and his recovery in your thoughts and prayers.  We’re definitely sending our well wishes his way.   I hope you enjoy your Saturday, I’ll probably check in after Goalielocks’ second game.

Today’s song is “One” by Metallica.

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Sinus Infections Suck

Tis’ the season for colds, the flue and sinus infections.  Honestly, I have to say that sinus infections suck.   And it is supposed to be tis’ the season to be jolly, a Hallmark movie or anything else, but being sick.  Ugh…. The brutal pace of the last several months has finally caught up with me and my sinuses.  I finally acquiesced and went to the doctor’s today.  Hopefully, after ten days of antibiotics, I’ll feel back to normal.

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To be honest, this has been going on for weeks, but I do not like being on antibiotics unless its totally unavoidable.  After four weeks, I finally waived the white flag of surrender and am now on antibiotics.  Sadly, my sinus infection didn’t disappear after only one dose. It really should, shouldn’t it?

If I was a prognosticator or a betting woman, I would say that the infection will clear out just in time for the boys to bring a new germ home from school.  Oh the mom life is glamorous, isn’t it? I can’t totally blame them I guess, I could have picked it up at work.  The modern workplace, much like our schools, is a veritable cesspool of germs.    The good news is I got a chance to rest today before diving back into the hockey/school/work craziness.

I’m hopeful that in a mere 24 hours, after having taken 3 doses of the meds, I’ll have my sparkle back.  Otherwise, it is gonna be a very long, arduous and busy weekend for me.  Tomorrow, while the hubby is working, Goalielocks has two games, the Mayor has a birthday party.  Sunday Goalielocks will be back volunteering at Learn to Skate, while the Mayor goes to the beach for a Beach Training day.

Tonight’s song is “Cleopatra” by the Lumineers.

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Time Heals

They say time heals all wounds, but I’m not quite sure I agree with that.  Tonight marks the 6th anniversary of losing my mother-in-law Sandy to Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  Her illness was quick, horrible, painful and for those that love her excruciatingly short.  In the turn of mere months, my mother in law went from living a normal life to hospice.

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Cancer is such an insidious, deceptive, merciless disease.  By the time, doctors discovered my mother in laws cancer, it had already metastasized to her lymph notes, arms, and spine.  In reality, her entire abdomen was riddled with cancer.  It wasn’t until she suffered from debilitating back pain that her cancer was discovered.  Unfortunately, as is the case with many people, her cancer was discovered in an advanced stage.

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Cruelly, until the onset of the back pain, there was nothing that suggest that something was severely awry.   Coincidentally, this is where I plug genetic counseling, mammograms, MRIs and pro-active preventative medicine.  Ladies and gentlemen, I’m here to tell you that these tests – mammograms, colonoscopy, PSA tests, breast and testicular self-exams are essential for your health.  Do not skip them!

Late into Grandma Sandy’s illness, my hubby spent most of his time in Minny with her while I stayed back in Florida with the kids.  During that time though, the kids were in school, so going to Minny for long periods of time wasn’t in our wheelhouse.  Honestly, it was one of the few moments, since moving to Florida, that I really wanted to be back home in Minny.  Truly, it killed us not to be there with her or with my hubby.

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Since the moment I started dating my hubby, Grandma Sandy was always in my corner.  Admittedly, she spoiled me and wholeheartedly welcomed me into their family.  The feeling was mutual.   She never doubted us or our relationship even when we got pregnant with Jake.   She supported us through the hardest moments from beginning to the end.  I remember going over to my Hubby’s house and she had gone shopping.  She probably bought Jake the entire store that day.  I loved everything she bought and in fact still have a lot of it.

Grandma Sandy was fiercely proud of her family and her Finnish heritage.  Both of her parents were of Finnish descent with both sides of her family immigrating to the US in the around the turn of the 20th Century.   If you ask me, Goalielocks definitely looks like the Ketola side.  Of course, my family is mostly Norwegian.  I guess it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that everyone in Norway and on the SAS flight thought we were Norwegian.  My Mother-in-Law had a big, loving Finnish family that was and is an incredible support to her and to us.  We’re forever grateful for the great care they took of Grandma Sandy when we couldn’t be in Minny with her.

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I can’t speak for everyone, but I miss her love of Bingo, Barbies, all things Finnish, the Twins, the Wild, the Vikings and of course Dan Marino.  I’ll never forget watching the Vikings lose to Atlanta in 1998.  As the game clock winded down, her, the hubby and I found ourselves pacing nervously in the garage.  Of course, Gary Anderson would pick the most inopportune time to miss a field goal in a perfect season, but at the time our nerves were shot and full of hope.  (As an aside, it seems the Vikes can’t escape their kicker issues.)

Even though it has been six years, in some ways it feels like yesterday.   I think she’d bit surprised that I’ve allowed a veritable zoo in my house, but she probably saw it coming.  I certainly didn’t.  Additionally, I think she’d be super nervous about Jake driving, but also so proud of him.  She’d be proud of all the boys.  Certainly as we start to hit more milestones like Jake’s graduation, her absence is punctuated.   The truth of the matter is that she’ll never truly leave us.  She’ll always be with us in spirit, in the mannerisms my hubby and kids have inherited from her and in our hearts.

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Sometimes, she even shows up in my yoga class.  One Saturday morning, my favorite sub Kaye was teaching the vinyasa class, when her iPod randomly switched to Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” which was my mother-in-law’s favorite song.  My teacher couldn’t for the life of her figured out how it happened.  When we spoke after class, we figured it out.  So tonight in honor of Grandma Sandy,  hold your loved ones extra tight, forgive and forget because at the end of the day life is far too short.

Tonight’s song, in honor of Grandma Sandy, is Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.”  I love this song as it reminds me of her.

 

 

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Vikings

Tonight’s the night Vikings returns for season 5 on the History Channel.  I love this show, so I’ve been looking forward to tonight.  For the last several weeks, snippets of the 5th season have been showing up in my Facebook newsfeed.  I’m not into many shows, but Vikings is definitely one of them.  Fortunately, its also a show my kids love.   In fact, when we traveled to Norway this summer I made sure we incorporated some Viking themed scenery in our trip.  Although it would have been hard to avoid Viking related sights in any trip to Norway.

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Serene
Serene Fjord

In Flam, we took the boat out on the Aurlandsfjord.  This Fjord deep in the heart of Sogn Og Fjordane is sublimely serene and overwhelmingly beautiful.  As we boated around the fjord, we approached an outcropping from the cliff.  There was a grassy area on this outcropping, which was home to a Viking Burial.  It was pretty cool to see.  As an aside, Lagertha according to legends is from the Gaula Valley, which is in the northeastern part of the Sogn Og Fjordane region.

Now that the show has started, I’m writing during the commercials.  How fitting that Ikea is one of their advertisers, but I digress.  As an American of Norwegian descent, I enjoy watching a show about Norwegian/Scandinavian history.  My dad’s family emigrated to the US from Sogn Og Fjordane the very same region that Lagertha is thought to have come from.  Clearly, I was born to be a modern day shield maiden or Viking queen.

Our trip through Norway gave us a deeper connection to our Norwegian roots, heritage and Norway.  Now as I watch the Vikings, I long to go back and explore the Norwegian Countryside.  Additionally, I’d like to explore Ireland, where the show is largely filmed, and the U.K. retracing the Vikings travels.  While in France in 2011, we ate lunch at a small seaside Norman town.   As we enjoyed our crepes, our view was a replica Viking ship moored in port.  It was beautiful and imposing much like the authentic ships housed in the  Viking Ship Museum in Oslo.

Finally, tonight’s song, in keeping with my Norwegian theme, is “Take on Me” by Aha.  I know a collective sigh of relief went out as you realized I wasn’t gonna torture you with “What Does the Fox Say?”