Iron Women and such...

How are things? Things are somewhat busy here. Shocking, I know. But fun busy. Busy doing fun things for the most part. I love this time of year-lots of time spent with family and friends, lots of opportunities to be creative, spontaneous and generous. It's just a feel good time.

Unfortunately the un-fun things like laundry and cleaning remain, boring and steadfast and ever growing no matter how much I try to ignore them.

And then they grow and they grow, and that does not make me feel good. It does not make me feel good like a good mommy should. Why can't these things take a holiday now and then? When will the clothes fold themselves? Never, that's when. (Sorry fresh from reading Dr. Seuss.)

Sometimes I start to feel a tad resentful about having to clean what was just cleaned, organize what was just organized, feed what was just fed. But then I am inevitably ashamed of myself when I remember that:

a) my job has amazing perks, and there are lots of people who would love to have it. As I've said before, time is money. (Not to mention I have lots of help from my sweet husband doing it.)

b) all that keeps me from doing my chores is laziness, and there are people out there who would give anything to be able to do what I procrastinate doing, if only their bodies would let them. And others who overcome great pain and physical obstacles to do what I moan about doing perfectly painlessly.

*Image: Nie-nie dialogues

If you have not been following the story of Stephanie Nielson, I hope your cave has been cozy. Here's her story. A very well written 2-part article which is absolutely worth the read. (You can go now, but do come back because I have something you need to vote on at the end of this.)

If ever there was a person with a million valid excuses not to do housework, to be irritable with her children, not to exercise, to feel sorry for themselves, it is her. But excuses wont give her the life she wants to live, so she has no time for them. I so admire people who embrace the circumstances they have been given, and adapt their attitude and the things they do have control over in order to create a life that they love. These are my heroes.

Next time I inwardly groan about putting away a pile of laundry I will remember how blessed I am that my fingers bend without pain. Next time I feel like I'm too tired to exercise, I will remember the blood on the yoga mat, next time I feel as if my job is drudgery I will remember the enormous luxury and blessing it is to be able to be here to take care of my family.

In other news but keeping with the "can-do" theme. I have become mildly to moderately obsessed over the Community Center fitness Throw-Down. It consists of various activities (push-ups, pull-ups, mile run, sprints, wall-sits etc etc) . The idea is to take up the gauntlet, do some or all of these things, be timed and get the best time. You then get the huge and glorious glory of having your name and time written whereupon it is velcroed on...dun.dun..dun... The Leader Board.

{Reverent pause for contemplation}

Competition freaks me out and I do not perform well under pressure, yet I am compelled to participate. It is a horrible combination of traits. However I have found that it has stepped up my training intensity to have a real goal and a sense of urgency in completing it. I hate it! And this is a good thing.

Yesterday I completed The Circuit (1 mile bike, 2o push-ups, 3o bench dips, 200m sprint and 60 sit-ups) in enough time to take my rightful place on the leader-board for what will no doubt be a brief reign of glory. I am now obsessed with defending my recently overthrown "wall-sit" record. It was overthrown by 30 seconds. (Do you know how brutal that is?? I now have to squat against a wall for 3 minutes. I can drink a cup of tea in that length of time.) I am also determined to beat the cute little Pilates instructor's record for "the plank. But nobody tell her. I need her to be unsuspecting if I am to stand a chance.

I know. It's a disease. It is. Oh! I can't believe I almost forgot! Did you know that I am the community center pull-up record holder??? I am! With...wait for it....... ONE WHOLE PULL-UP. Applause please. Thank you, thank you very much. I guess I have intimidated everyone else too much to try to beat me.

Anyway apart from taking the opportunity to brag about my superior (to really old people and pregnant women) athletic pursuits, I was thinking of instituting a Momedy Throw Down of sorts here. With more then just bragging rights. With prizes. Real prizes. Non-chocolate prizes, but prizes all the same.

Now of course since I can't be there to time you with a stop-watch and check your form, we'd have to rely on the honour system. But y'all seem like the honest sort so I don't think this would be a problem. Is this something anyone would be interested in? Rock hard abs for the new year/decade anyone? Thighs of steel? Michelle Obama arms? Bragging rights? Prizes? I say yes please! Let me know if you want me to pull something together. I think it could be big fun. Yes? No? Maybe so? Let me know! In the comments below! Yo!

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