Wordless Wednesday

Speaking of back to school, if you want to laugh until you are rendered useless, check out my friend Ann’s spot on memory of the first day of school circa 1986.
“You might wear your brand new jeans and turtleneck and wool sweater from the Menswear when it is fall but it is 85 degrees.”

This last weekend was all that I hoped it would be; crazy, fun, and surprisingly educational.

From the past four days I have learned the following life lessons:

• While sitting in great seats at the ballpark, make sure you sit next to the guy with a baseball glove. Yes, cracking open peanuts is an important task but so is paying attention to the game.
• You know you are marrying the right man when he immediately hands over the first foul ball he ever caught to your kid and is thrilled to do so.
• The Jumbotron adds 10 pounds. Rejoice in being on the Kiss Cam not at how fat you look.
• Even though you might be tired, never underestimate the energy of two ten year old boys stuck in a car for over an hour. Never again forget the hand held video games.
• Roller coasters were fun over a decade ago. Now they are just painful, bumpy and scary as hell. Hang up that hat.
• Driving slow and careful on a Go Cart track doesn’t give you “Safe Driver” benefits on your car insurance. That pedal on the right is the gas. Use it.
• The soccer mom crowd might not appreciate your excitement for the upcoming Bachlorette party. Details on how many plastic penises will be on hand perhaps isn’t the best half time talk.
• At said Bachlorette party remember that wine at 3pm will haunt you at 3am. Water is your best friend.
• Cameras don’t bounce.
• Even though you’re going on three hours sleep, it’s probably best to shower the next morning. That palm tree you and your friends were grinding on has seen more action than Charlie Sheen.
• On the way home, while nursing your Diet Coke and counting down the miles until you see you loved ones (a.k.a your bed) relish the fact that even though you’re an almost 40 year old mom, you still got it.

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Congratulations to RC for winning the 8th Continent Soymilk giveaway! Thanks to all who entered and to 8th Continent for giving away enough milk for RC to bathe in.

Since this summer has been non-stop we thought we would send off summer 2010 with a grand finale; sort of like the end of a great firework show.  However, not just a picnic, or a day at the beach will work for the Mikkimoto’s.

Pa-Leeze!!  That stuff is for sissies!

I’ll show ya how it’s done.

Thursday the three of us, plus a friend of Ben’s, are headed to Milwaukee to catch a Brewer game.  Nothing says “Bye summer! We’ll miss you.” like a Thursday afternoon at the ballpark.

Usually a Brewer game is enough of an activity for a weekend. But “usually” doesn’t cut it for this end of the summer send off.

So Friday we pile back in the car with a different friend for the boy (Hey, all you kids out there! Make friends with the guy who’s an only child.  No one ever gets just three tickets to anything.  You’re a shoe-in for a good time!) and head in the other direction up to the Wisconsin Dells for a day at Mount Olympus.

If it’s anything like our day at Noah’s Ark earlier this summer I can’t wait. Although this time I’ll remember that hours in the sun + lots of water = reapply sunscreen often.  I think my skin just did a happy dance.

But wait! That’s not all! For the low, low price of $0.00 we’ll also throw in a soccer tournament for the kid Saturday morning. For no extra charge, immediately after the last whistle blows you’ll get, a dashing-off-mother-to-a-Bachlorette-party back up in the Dells.  (I swear I’m not having an affair with Wisconsin Dells and I also swear this blog isn’t sponsored by that small Wisconsin town full of chlorinated water.)

If you call right now we’ll add a going away party for a friend moving to Chicago on Sunday afternoon.  Because really, after four days of going non-stop who doesn’t want another excuse to party?

By the time this weekend is over I’ll either give my liver over for the benefit of science or be so brain-dead future posts will look something like, “We saw dog. Dog was yellow. I like dog. Me want dog.”

Since I might not make this weekend out alive, I would like to give one lucky reader something to remember me by. Like ya know, Soy milk.

So head on over to my review blog to learn more and enter!

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost been six months since I heard those three words that forever changed my life, “You have diabetes.”

I can’t decide if it feels like I’ve been diabetic forever or it was just yesterday. I guess it doesn’t matter. What does matter is how far I’ve come from that crying petrified woman in the doctors office on March 2nd.

Almost EVERYTHING in my life that I have started, I’ve quit. You name the sport, I did it. And then subsequently quit.

• Am I a Prima ballerina for the New York ballet? Nope.
• Am I a gold medal gymnast or equestrian? I can’t even do a somersault and haven’t been on a horse in 25 years.
• Hey, where is that flute I played? Piano?
• How about that stint joining the crew team? Trained all winter indoors on a boat in a pool and never made it out on the water. That was my father’s personal favorite.
• I was a three time loser with Weight Watchers. Wait, maybe four. Hi Jenny Craig. Bye Jenny. Hi Nutri-System. Goodbye to you too!

However, there are four things in my life I haven’t quit. This here blog, Matt (he’s impossible to quit), being a mom (never did leave the kid on social service’s door) and now my pursuit to kick this Type 2 Diabetes in it’s big marshmallow butt.

After six months I’m proud to say:

• I still haven’t had a single bite of a candy bar or any candy for that matter. Not even the bank mints touch my lips.
• I haven’t eaten a doughnut. Not even one doughnut hole.
• No cookies.
• Not even a taste of cake.
• I’ve stayed away from all juice. Even a tiny testing sample at Trader Joe’s.
• The only ice cream I’ve allowed myself is sugar-free and even then I check and double check that I got the right one.

I now know what happens to me when I drink something that has real juice in it (on accident), or eat too many carbs without protein.
I also know how with each step down in my blood sugar it takes my body a few days to adjust. Those days remind me why I do what I do. Because after all I still am diabetic and feel it when I’m not vigilant.

There has only been two weeks since March that I haven’t worked out at least twice. Mostly it’s 3-4 times a week. I now get antsy if it’s a day off. I feel guilty and scheme to see how I could get a quick walk in.

I walk faster than I ever have. I can climb up mountains hills without passing out. And even though it’s not regular, very new and quite ugly, I’ve begun to run.

Sometimes I think, “Wow, I’ve really stuck to this…” but I guess it’s easy to do when you see such powerful, in your face results.

I’m down 25 pounds. It’s been slow but steady. I have a lot more to get off but losing 10% of my weight is a good start.

Especially when I look at pictures of myself from last fall and now.

September 2009

August 2010

My blood sugar in the mornings are in the low 120′s. This morning it was 118. Six months ago I was at 274 for a fasting blood sugar.

The reason for this post isn’t to get compliments or praise.  And it surely isn’t bragging as I have a long way to go.

But I wanted to write this to give an update on my health since I don’t often talk about my diabetes, least you think I went into a diabetic coma or fell off the wagon and have taken to bathing in chocolate milkshakes with whipped cream for bubbles.

It was also to show that we are all in control of how we manage our lives.  And solely in control of what we decide to quit or what we set our minds to complete.  If the girl who ate Peeps and BBQ chips before 10am can turn her life around, ANYONE can.

Some might read this and think, “Well that’s great for six months but we’ll see how you are in three years.” To which I would say “So you’re going to be at the finish line of my first marathon to see me then?”

I may have quit the diving team at Shorewood pool in the early 80′s, but I have no intention of ever quitting this new happier, healthier life of mine.

One year ago today I went, with butterflies in my stomach and hope in my chest, on The Best First Date Ever. (re-reading that post makes me teary eyed…)

Today I’m planning my wedding to the Best Fiance Ever.

It has been a year filled with love, laughs, change and perfecting the art of the self protrait.

Happy anniversary, Honey!  Thank you for the happiest year of my life.
Wanna do it all over again next year?

For those of you who still don’t believe in the power of the internet and the true friendships that can come from blogs, this story’s for you.

A couple months ago, one of the blogs I read regularly had a giveaway on her site.  Ellie is not only an amazing writer, she also makes beautiful jewelry. Every month she gives away one of her pieces to a lucky reader.  This particular giveaway was celebrating Ellie’s “One Year Blogoversay” so she gave away a $50 gift certificate to her Etsy site.

Of course I entered, (in fact I was the first one to comment – dork, right here) with this comment:

Becky said… AHHH!! I would die to win! OK I wouldn’t really die but you know how much I love your stuff.
My favorite item in your shop is the robin egg ring. Which I’m thinking of getting as my “something blue” for my wedding!

I didn’t win but was thrilled to find out that my friend Ann did.

Ann, or Zeghsy as she is known in the blogsphere, was one of my very first readers and she would comment on a regular basis.  I started reading her blog, we began to email often (complaining about our horrendous dating life) and then finally met, IN REAL LIFE PERSON, last summer.  She was even better in person than on the computer screen.

(Ann, big pre-diabetic me, Cousin Sister Amy 8/31/09)

A few weeks ago Ann and I were emailing back and forth, as we are wont to do, when she wrote:

I wanted to have it be a surprise, but I couldn’t figure out how to find out without you finding out. So, I won the gift certificate to One Crafty Mother’s Etsy site. I would love to give you that Robin’s Nest ring for you something blue. Please tell me what size to order and where I can have it sent. It’s my special gift to you.

Ann is a single mother who works her butt off for her daughter and herself.  If ANYONE deserves a gift of pretty jewelry it’s her.  Not me!  After I picked my jaw up from my desk, I tried to talk her out of this but um, one thing about single mothers?  They are strong willed.  And this one WOULD NOT take no for an answer.

Yesterday I received a package in the mail.

And smiled knowing was in it.

Inside I found this card:

and The Ring:

which was perfect.  In so many ways.

In this one ring is so much.

In this ring are three little “eggs” (Matt, Ben and me) that symbolize our new life together.  As close to each other as baby eggs in the security of our nest.

This ring was handmade by a woman who, in her own right, is so strong, so creative and filled with inspiration to so many.

And perhaps most importantly, this ring will always remind me of a gesture of sheer selflessness.  Of someone truly wanting to do something nice for someone else with no strings attached, no hidden agenda.

Whenever I wear this ring, on my wedding day and on every other special occasion AFTER my wedding (it was very hard to be a big girl and put it away for seven months), I will think of sweet Ann and this act of pure kindness.

Sunday morning when I got home from dropping Ben off, Matt and I looked at each other and realized we had a whole day! With no plans! And no where to be!

We did a chest bump, yelled “ROAD TRIP!” and ran out the door.

Or did this:

Matt: We should just get in the car and go.
Me: YAY! I’ve always wanted to do that.  But I need to change. I’m not wearing road trip worthy clothes.
Matt: And I should put my contacts in.
Me: I’ll get some snacks.
Matt: Where’s the GPS?
Me: I need to pee.

I’m pretty sure that’s how Thelma and Louise left the house.

Once we got a flippin’ grip and actually OUT the door we headed Southwest to Mexico! Or Mineral Point, Wisconsin.

Mineral Point is a ridiculously cute town tucked into the hills of Southern Wisconsin.

We stumbled upon a quaint little brew pub and knew we had to stop there for lunch.

Well that and I was hungry and had to pee again. Traveling with me is gem; much like traveling with a two year old.

This place was awesome and so was the food.

Any sandwich that has a pickle standing at attention needs to have it’s picture taken.

Shortly after I took the food shot, a certain “tomato accident” happened.

Also like a two year old I spill pretty much every time I eat. If I’m wearing white, you can bet the house that a good portion of my meal will end up on my shirt. Or pants. I don’t discriminate on what article of clothing gets fed.

Let’s all pause and think for a moment about the color gown I’ll be wearing next March.  I wonder if they make Bridal Bibs?

Turns out Mineral Point is not only cute, it’s an art mecca. Who knew? So after lunch we decided to wander the streets looking for a new shirt for this slob great treasures everywhere.   Once we got our fill of pottery and antiques we hopped back in our car and headed down the road.

We stopped in Platteville but let’s just say Platteville, Wisconsin is not only nothing to write home about it’s nothing to blog about.

MOVING ON!  To another state.

Not only are road trips fun, they are educational.  Guess what? Iowa is very close to Wisconsin! Just across the Mississippi River in fact.

Neither of us had ever been to Dubuque so we were eager to see what this old river town had to offer.

Apparently, Dubuque had to offer us one very windy river walk:

(this picture is truly heinous but makes me laugh every time I see it.  Look at my earrings. We look like dogs with their heads hanging out a window…)

and casinos.

I do not gamble. I am very fond of my money and don’t feel it necessary to hand it over to someone wearing a snazzy uniform.  Burning it for heat would be of better use.

But when in Rome. Or Dubuque.

So we went in and proceeded to lose our $40 (we both agreed on a limit before we entered the cave of smoke and lights) in the time it takes to sneeze. Thus proving my great disdain for casinos and $40 “free” Diet Cokes.

After that frugally painful experience we decided we had seen enough of Iowa and began to curse every Iowan, as we made a beeline back to the safety of Wisconsin, who had a souped up car. “That dude has my money!”

Nothing cures massive irritation like finding someone else more grumpy than you.  Like this dude.

Since we ate at a brew pub for lunch we thought it best to not shock our systems by eating anywhere else.

PEOPLE!  If you have never been to the Grumpy Troll in Mount Horeb Wisconsin, stop reading this now and GO! Matt’s Rib-eye steak sandwich and my artichoke cakes were some of the best food we have had in a long time.

With full bellies, an empty gas tank and cramped legs we found ourselves back in Madison nine hours later.

It turned out to be a very fun, spontaneous day and just what the doctor ordered.  Even new relationships can get stale as the crazy of life whizzes around you.

There is nothing like the scenery of farmland, visiting greedy neighboring states and eating all your meals at breweries to bring that special sparkle back.

Wordless Wednesday

Like last year, on Sunday morning Ben went along with my parents for their annual trip to Washington Island.

Like last year we both cried a little when he left.  Even though there is someone else in the mix, my kid and are still very close; like sticky gooey tape on paper.

Unlike last year we didn’t worry about whether he’d have fun.

Unlike last year I wasn’t consumed with dread and panic on how I would fill my week of childless quiet days.

However just like last year it wasn’t easy to say goodbye and let go.

As my boy continues to grow and become more independent I know it’s inevitable that the day will come when it’s his time.  His time to find his own voice, his own path and his own crooked messy corner of this big world.

And just like the past ten years, this mother of that boy isn’t ready.  Not yet.

Thursday can’t get here fast enough.

A couple of my recent Wordless Wednesday’s have been pictures from the engagement shoot my dear friend Lori did of Matt, Ben and I.  It was a good beginning for when we are rich and famous and have to deal with the paparazzi.

I have known Lori for over 25 years.  (No need to start doing the math there, Bub.)

We knew each other in middle school, and were friends in high school.  Although she ran with the slightly more popular crowd than I.
She was always nice and never called me “pizza face.” (I’m looking at YOU Chris Simmons. Don’t think I forgot it either!)

In late 1999, when a pregnant single me moved from Minneapolis back to Madison, I started work at a phone company.

I’ll never forget my first day when my new boss said, “Lori is going to train you.  Let’s see… where is she? I’m sure she’s gabbing to someone somewhere.”

When we came up behind this woman who turned around and it was Lori!  We both started screaming like sorority girls who just got asked to Homecoming by the hottest frat boys.  There may have been jumping too.

I grabbed on to Lori that day and never let go.

She began taking pictures as a hobby in the 90′s and then in 2006 started her photography business, Apple Tree Images.

I have been so proud of Lori and how she has grown this dream.
When Ben was about four she came over and took pictures of him then to expand her portfolio.

She was so easy behind the camera and great with my shy boy.  Then again she knew Ben since he was hours old and used to sit for him while I went out on one bad blind date after another.  Part of her babysitting duties included being my wing man as she would call mid-date, and if necessary I’d do the Sex and the City, “Something terrible has happened? Oh no! I have to go! You see, something terrible has happened!”

So when Matt and I got engaged it was obvious who would photograph our wedding.

Part of her package was engagement pictures. With Benjamin of course.  Hey we are all getting married.  Plus the kid is cute.

Lori made the photo shoot so easy and relaxed.  She suggested we go start out at the Memorial Union since that’s where Matt and I first met and then end up at the park we live on.

It was such a fun afternoon.  So fun that the boys forgot to complain about me insisting they wear jeans and black shirts on a very warm summer day.

When I got the proofs back I teared up looking at the pictures Lori got.

Some were better than others…

And some were meant for the recycling bin.  Looking directly into the sun doesn’t make the prettiest of pictures.

She quickly moved us.

And clearly I am NOT the photographer as this was MY idea to take a picture by the paddle boat swans:

Who look like they would enjoy a dinner of Matt and Becky.

But most of the pictures are so wonderful I know they will be framed in our home always.

Thank you, Lori for capturing my little family just as it is.  Goofy, happy and real.

I love you so and can’t wait until March!