Tuesdays with Diana

It’s About Time!

dianasworld — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:21:38 +0000

That title sums up many topics today. About Time that I started blogging again (I had to look at Andrea’s blog to even remember where mine was). About Time that I started exercising (started being the key word). About Time that I got creative again (maybe blogging will help, you know, the accountability factor). But mainly I wanted to see who has shared my exercise procrastination.

My employer offered a sweet deal: sign up for the gym, no contract, no initiation fee, just the opportunity to get healthier. Since I am the one who writes the staff newsletter and am the face of the company at various times, it seemed “About Time.” I signed up, toured the gym (it’s lovely, by the way). Not as many skinny women as I expected and that’s a good thing; lots of men of all sizes and that’s good, too, I suppose.

I was surprised, however, by how many excuses I could come up with and still feel that they were legitimate:

I was too cold.

Disclaimer: This is not me! (Photo credit: Simon Davison)
I was too hot.
I was too hungry.
I didn’t have a padlock for my locker.
I forgot my water bottle.
I was tired.
I don’t know how to turn on the treadmill.
I’m too embarrassed to walk in alone.
I forgot my socks.
I might see someone I know.
It’s too late.
It’s too early.

Seriously, I have used most of those. I’ve been doing really well the last couple of weeks. I have successfully reframed some of them in my mind and that’s helped immensely. The biggest one lately is that I’m so cold that I just want to go home and curl up to get warm. But I have realized that you really can’t get much warmer than the gym -especially if you’re exercising. Even if you want to fake it, you can always get in the sauna or hot tub. See how it works? One excuse that no longer works!

What about you? What is the most creative you’ve gotten for not going to the gym? The woman in the picture is excused.

I Still Feel Your Presence

dianasworld — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 05:00:52 +0000

This is a personal note to my very dear friend (who just happened to be my former mother-in-law), Ruth Olsen. Today is your birthday, October 10. Can you imagine if you were here to celebrate it? Oh, how much fun we would have! I can see you now: smiling, ever smiling. Do you know that you never really walked down the hall? You always kind of danced. Yes, that’s it. You danced.

I have needed your advice and friendship so many times over the last four years. But then I always seem to know what you would say anyway: be happy and yes, you can do it.

I miss you every day, Mom. Happy birthday!

My Personal Park Bench

dianasworld — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:44:50 +0000

This is the result of a digital storytelling workshop that I just finished. I’m very proud of it and look forward to doing more. I hope you enjoy it.

A “Found” Day Filled with Unexpected Pleasures

dianasworld — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:49:42 +0000

Trevor and I spent an unplanned day together and what a joy it was. I picked him up from his soccer game. I think he just likes to put the shoes on and run around. His attention span is short and it makes for great viewing fun.

He sure looks old, doesn't he?

We went to the store to buy him some pants and he was so appreciative. Yes, that’s our Trevor. He loves everything that you do for him and will definitely tell you. (Can we clone this in grown men?) When I would suggest a certain shirt, he might comment “I have a shirt kind of like that so that would be a waste.”

As we drove into Snoqualmie, I pointed out Mt. Si in all its splendor with the sun’s rays hitting it just right. Trevor started telling me what he had learned about mountains. “Nana, that mountain is made from one rock. Just one rock. When I read that, there should have been three or four exclamation points but there was only one! There should have been at least two and maybe three or four but there was only one!” When was the last time you were so excited and impressed with something you read?

We stopped for lunch at the local candy shop/café. According to T - “the best cheeseburger I’ve ever had” and “they sure know how to decorate nicely in here” – then headed up to the Falls.

Chillin' at the Chew-Chew Café

I had just finished my teaching lesson for the day about how there wouldn’t be alot of water because it hadn’t snowed yet and no snow melt/rain run-off,etc, when we came around the corner to maybe more water than I’ve ever seen there! Wow. Guess I’d better brush up on my weather patterns.

Trevor did not like the overlook at all, way too much water and noise. The overspray was amazing!

We headed back to see the train and treat ourselves to a pumpkin cookie – again “awesome” and found Halloween crafts table set up inside one of the rail cars. I enjoyed seeing Trevor’s immediate need to make something for his big brother.

Heading back on Highway 18, we exited at Hobart and discovered the Cedar River Naturalist Tours. As we got out of the car, Trevor said “Take your camera so we can tell the story to my family.” (Ahhh, mindful child of a scrapbooker – wanting to document every moment.) I was hoping to see many spawning salmon but alas, nary a one. Apparently they are staying in Renton according to the naturalist on site. But the river was beautiful and we had a lesson or two. I may head back up there tomorrow or next weekend because they’re offering tours of the dam and small power plant there before it closes for the winter.

Looking through the special glasses

Naturalist Fred tells us about salmon runs

All in all, just the kind of day that I needed to take the edge off these stressful weeks. Thanks, Trevor.

: Avery and Bryan

What Will They Be?

dianasworld — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:55:39 +0000

(I wrote this in August but apparently forgot to hit the “Publish” button.)

I spent a wonderful day with two of my favorite grandsons yesterday (the third couldn’t quite make it out of his diapers just yet) and as usual, they captivated and inspired me.

Gavin just turned 10 and all who know and love him also know that he is the creative talent, the genius of imagination. His birthday thank you to me was not only the text but a drawing of each of the presents that I had given him – in perfect detail.

Trevor, at almost eight years old, has the heart and gentle soul of a poet and the eternal optimism of . . . well, of an eternal optimist! His favorite phrase is “My life is awesome!” Yesterday we encountered very heavy traffic, so much so that we slowly made our way to the nearest exit and got back on the highway traveling in the opposite direction. When we crossed the overpass and glanced at the totally frozen line of cars for as far as we could see, Trevor exclaimed, “my eye can’t catch that far!”

That’s my Girl – IronGirl, that is.

dianasworld — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:59:00 +0000

Andrea ran the IronGirl 5K on Saturday. Congratulations, you did it!

Now Boarding

dianasworld — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:05:22 +0000

Have you told someone you loved them today?

http://nowboardingstaciann.blogspot.com/2009/02/story-from-flight-1549-accenture.html

It’s your day – do it however you want!

dianasworld — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:24:18 +0000

Happy Mother’s Day!

dianasworld — Mon, 11 May 2009 04:37:37 +0000

I had a delightful day today spent in the best way possible – with my family. Got to see Gavin sing at church (not his favorite thing to do, he told me), then went to Andrea’s house for dinner and time together with her family, Devin and Bryan’s parents. It was so nice. I love this kind of day and don’t get it often enough.

This is the video that Devin sent today. http://tinyurl.com/qu9xt2

Just remembered that I have a blog . . .

dianasworld — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:40:07 +0000

guess I should start writing again.