Wonder Women

I feel Like Wonder Women! Dewey and I just ran Fitgers 5K this morning. I feel great and my biggest supporter is a fantastic coach. Secretly I think Dewey got some tips from Jillian from the Biggest Loser (don't tell anybody but he looks forward to Tuesday evenings)

We headed down town this morning. Most roads were closed so we ended up parking several blocks away. It was 8:54 and with the gun going off at 9 WE BETTER RUN! I think I ran a 6K.

It feels good to challenge yourself. I spent several months thinking of exercising. I was proud of myself for wanting to feel better. Then I spent a couple more on the WII Fit. Two weeks ago Dewey said "Honey, are we gonna do this or what?" Absolutely Baby! I started my training. Would I be doing this if Dewey was not giving me a little push and big encouragements? I don't really know, maybe not. But I do enjoy the companionship and how he challenges me. You hear people say "He makes me a better person" then you want to 'gag' but really it feels good to be challenged by someone who loves you and wants the best for you.

I expect a challenge from him and I sometimes (most of the time :) expect him to know when it is a good time to challenge me.

Take last year, my very first 5K. We had stayed up the entire evening before -waiting for a teenage daughter to come home- we find out around 6:30am she had been in a car accident. We were still in our honeymoon stage, 7 months in. Dewey certainly never thought to be anything but supportive. We picked Maddy up at the Highway Patrol Department. The car had rolled three times, the deputy informed us "She is lucky to be alive" We were shook up to say the least. We sent up many blessings thanking God for keeping her safe but we knew very well we needed a healthy way to express our feelings (kids!! Yikes!!) so we took off for the Fitgers 5K.

I was exhausted! Half way I was already gassed It felt like I had lead feet! Dewey was giving me a lot of "come on baby" and "you go girl" but I just looked at him like he was the enemy-I wanted him to be quiet but I was too tired to tell him. (that look you give while giving birth - that look that says "You are gonna pay!!!") I wanted to punch him, I wanted to cry, I wasn't sure if it was because I was finishing this race and proud of myself or that I was a mother of a teenager and just wanted to cry. (or that Dewey did not know his cheers were not working today)

I finished!!! Yeah! He was very proud of me.

This year I asked him to cheer me on the last 3 - 4 blocks. I looked over and flashed my biggest fan my biggest smile!! I love him and I am glad we are a team. Dewey is solid

Love Lots Jennifer

How to Dance In The Rain

How to Dance in the Rain
It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
On exam, it was well healed, so I got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning,

As he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health.

He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.

He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'

He smiled as he patted my hand and said,

'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought,

'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.

True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

Should I call the Plumber?

This is what I saw when I came home yesterday.

Dewey's head was under the sink fixing a leak and the dryer was pulled out to clean the vent. "Honey, I am trying here, this is not my gifting but I 'm trying for you" Dewey said. I told him that he was doing GREAT! He got up , greeted me with a kiss then we ran to Menards - he had already been there four times. We did a bunch of cleaning and then relaxed for the night. big sigh....it was a very nice evening. Uneventful. That's how we like it.

Vuoi PER PASTIFICI

You want Pasta? Dewey woke up this morning playing the Italian lover - he did the whole voice and hand gestures. I was smiling so big my cheeks hurt. It all started when I asked him if I should make pasta for him to go with the Chicken and Alfredo sauce he made earlier this week. We also made Ravioli and The Big Sexy made pasta for the D team. (Dewey's crew at New Page) So Dewey says he turned Italian over night. He spent 15 minutes playing an Italian lover he did this whole improvisation thing. He is so good at that. He sure keeps me laughing. A girl likes an accent for sure. When he started talking Minnesotan - he saw the disappointing look on my face - I guess I really got into his character I love You Dewey

Home Made Chicken Soup

Maddison has been ill. Who do you call? Grandma - asking her to make her chicken rice soup Yummy! I have memories of walking in the door from grade school and smelling that chicken soup , fresh laundry and homemade cookies. My kids are enjoying this soup just the same. My wonderful mother would make this for Maddy in a heart beat but this week she was not up to it. "Jennifer" she said "you will have to do it" "I can do it" I repeated to myself trying to believe.

I have raised children for 18 years now- wow! that surprises me every time I say that out loud! I fed them - of course - but I never really got the hang of real cooking - like the meals my grandma and mother make- they can look in the fridge and say "I will whip something up quick, if you want to stay and eat" They would call us to the table 35 minutes later with chicken and rice and potatoes and squash and cucumbers and carrots and bread and they will even pull out dessert. For me to do that takes planning and shopping and calling my mother to ask her - what goes with rice?

My mom raddled of the recipe - boil a small chicken for an hour - remove and cool- use the juices for the stock - "stock?" put onions (make sure their small so the kids will eat 'em) carrots - celery - beans -any veggie you want really. Take the meat off the bone- put the meat in the soup add brown rice and cook for another 45 minutes.

Wait a minute....take the meat off the bone? This is really going to be made with LOVE!

Ok...If I am going to do this I want to do it right. Maddy has been sooo sick. feverish- extremely tired-swollen glands-stomach ache and nausea. If she is craving grandmas soup then I need to make grandmas soup. I went to the grocer , bought all the ingredients and started in. I was chopping green onions, yellow onions , celery, yellow peppers, carrots, fresh green beans, I even grabbed squash. I called to check in with my mom to tell her how I was doing "leave the squash out" my mom said....everything else sounds great. It sounded good to me - mom says it is a little too sweet for this soup -


Maddy was hesitant of my cooking abilities. She was watching me and keeping me company - trying to stay awake and she was drooling over the thought of fresh hot soup. She was sure to critique my every move- grandma does not do it that way. She even called my mother to check on the recipe. "Do you put green beans in your soup?"

After 2 1/2 hours of boiling and peeling and grading and chopping and slicing it was done!

Maddison took one bite and said "YUM!" "fantastic!" "what did I hear?" O nothing-with a gigantic smile on her face.

I will post the recipe...It is delish

That felt good - I think I can handle this one again. We have eaten it for two days and froze several containers too. Dewey woke up just when I was finishing up around 10 am. He was on nights and was on his way to read at Pdogs classroom. Sounded like you were chopping down a plastic tree for about an hour. I tilted my head and smiled " You could hear that honey?"

He leaned in and kissed me - That's my 'Puddin :)


We then headed for the doctor and found out she has Mono hmmm?
Love Jennifer

Track O Rama

Pdog received a second place ribbon for the 50 yard dash in the All-Area School Track O Rama. It took place at UWS. GO Pdog! We are proud of you!