Last Monday, John watched Autumn and Luke play at the big Tree house in the University Mall while Amanda and I shopped. This is John's story.
Autumn, ever the fantastical fairy tale princess, chronically falls asleep and needs a prince to wake her up. Evidently Luke must be the prince that does the kissing trick, and that just wasn't good enough today. As John told Luke to be that prince and go wake up his sister princess, she looked around and saw a sweet two-year-old boy, pointed, and exclaimed in a commanding tone to uncle John, "No, I want that ONE!" (That's not what uncles are for Autumn...)
Later on we drove over to the ReStore, a second hand parts store operated by Habitat for Humanity. John and I had decided to make that the last stop of the day so that we wouldn't bore the kids. Basically we would part ways before going to the store. However, it turned out Amanda needed to guide us to the hidden store. Since they were there Amanda and Autumn went in and used the bathroom while John looked for pieces of molding. Somehow I must have told Autumn during the day that the last stop would be at a junk store, but I don't remembering saying that. When they came back out to leave, Autumn asked politely if she could go with me into John's Junk Club. Hee hee. Of course, John, you have a junk club! (And she liked it...perhaps she's got the makings of an artist in her...no doubt).
So that didn't end up being the last stop, we then went to Harbor Freight Tools and I waited in the car with the kids while Amanda and John ran once last errand. Amanda had purchased some nail polish that looked just like ice cream cones. Of course Autumn wanted to "see" them. But the kicker is I wanted to "see" them too. We both refrained from opening up the bottles in the car and painting nails.
During this time an old man with a full gray and white beard drove up and parked in the handicapped spot right next to us. I thought he looked like Santa Claus and because kids amuse me I asked Autumn, "do you think that man is Santa Claus? You should ask him". Not sure what she'd do with this suggestion, I watched. First, she started tapping on the interior window with the ice cream cone polish. I stopped it right away, no need for a broken window. But the man did not see her, nor was he getting out of his car. I didn't see how she was going to get his attention short of getting out of the car and tapping on his window, an option I wouldn't allow. I let the idea go.
He finally got out of the car. Quicker than I could think or realize, Autumn had the power window down, and politely asked, "Mister, are you Santa Claus?" It was so sincere and polite and the word MISTER? where did that come from? The man was pleasant and said that would be his secret. So she rolled up the window apparently to think about the answer. Then as soon as it was up, it came down again and with her you-really-gotta-tell-me voice declared, "You sure looked like Santa Claus, are you sure you aren't Santa Claus?..." I didn't hear the rest of the conversation that continued, because at that moment John and Amanda had returned. Thanks a lot guys. I was having fun.
Okay another day. The Espersens came out to our house for the Nativity Night we did on December 21, 2010. They were getting ready to go over to stay at great Grandma Blacks house for the night when she cornered John in the following conversation that I eavesdropped through a doorway and observed.
"Uncle John, can I borrow this (referring to a costume item from that night)"
NO
"I will bring it back, I only want to borrow it"
"NO Autumn its not mine to give."
It was my item and she had done a good job of convincing me, I would have capitulated, but this was John's conversation. Then she started pointing to other items asking the same question with similar intensity. Her plea continually met with a NO. I observed no whining, no crying, nor pouting. This was sheer negotiation. With her body erect and hands in a hip power position, she said, "Well, there's got to be something you don't want". At that moment John's mischievous wheels were turning as he matter-of-fact said there was something he didn't want.
Never to outguess John, I had to follow them to the patio where John was storing the remnants of that weekend's remodel project. He grabbed a long piece of metal electrical conduit and said, "you can have this, Autumn" (He thought he had her now).
Ever the creative girl and in full sincerity and excitement she exclaimed "WE CAN BUILD A TENT!" Luke realized the greatness of the find and hoisted the other end of the pole above his head and without hesitation she and he started toward the car. Never mind that the pole was not going to fit in the car, spatial relationships don't apply when you are given something great. John, had been bested.
Rest of the story. Obviously moms don't like Uncle John gifts, so John quickly took the conduit and told them he would store it at our house for them to play with. Fortunately, that worked.
Darling kids. So creative and optimistic.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Taking the bus
I cried this morning. No really, like a baby, or more like a two year old. When the watch alarm laughed me out of bed around 4:30am (John had tried to snuggle me out of bed at 4am, with zero success), I wailed. I can't do this! NO NO NO
John, just changed his class schedule to have a 7:30am class, which, when we do the calculations means he had to catch the 5:39am bus and NO later. I had enjoyed Monday and Tuesday catching the later 6:41 and 6:21 buses with John, but this was too much. 5:30 is usually when I get up, not catch a bus. NO NO NO
Aside from that, I still didn't have my class supplies in order. Somewhere in the house, there was paint thinner and gesso, my receipts, and a coupon for 30% off a regular priced art supply. How was I to get that all together...it was now 4:39am, John was in the shower and I was only tittering onto the wood floor. "Why John, do you have to retake Calculus I? Is this necessary, I whined, I don't want to be in school for another 3 years. Our school debt is compounding and I'm getting worried. Maybe if you are going to play this game, you can get a job and go to school too.? I whined and whined. I mean really...would you retake Calculus I if you got an A the first time. I told him the other classes would just build off of it and he would remember the stuff, but he's certain that he's got to have a very strong foundation and understand this stuff inside out. I told him it reminded me of learning Spanish. I don't understand it inside out, talk like a 4th grader, but still got employment as Spanish interpreter because I knew more then 90% of the people at work. I'm still whining (now at 4:24pm) and feel exhausted from that chipper chirping watch. I think John's been feeling the stress too and threathened? to quit school and go back to work...what? as a bus driver?
Let me tell you about buses. So I had to catch the bus all by myself. Not so pathetic, but I've been toting around my carrying on luggage to transport art supplies and the seats and overheads simply don't accommodate. I got to the bus stop and realized I had forgotten my gloves and the base I was going to use for my sculpture this morning. It was 2 minutes to bus time. I dashed back and forth with success! Really overall a good experience. But yesterday was harder. I had my carry on suitcase, two large portfolios and a lunch bag. Fortunately, I had John to drag my luggage. And fortunately, I only had one large portfolio to take back home. But unfortunately, as I got off of TRAX from my return commute from the University of Utah, the 451 Tooele Express bus pulled up to the bus stop right across the street from where I was at! What was I to do? This was downtown Salt Lake lots of traffic after work rush hour and I didn't have the light to cross the street. I screamed, but to no avail. Well, maybe all I said to about 10 construction workers waiting to cross the street to the park-n-ride was, HEY! THATS MY BUS. OH SHOOT. THATS MY BUS. ANOTHER ONE DOESNT COME FOR 40 minutes! So not a horror story exactly... But inconvenient enough to make me cry this morning to have to do it all again. Run, run, run. Wait wait wait. Fortunately, I sat on my luggage and used my large portfolio as my back to the chair. Not so bad, but 40, okay it was only 30, minutes in the cold caused me to get excited at the first bus I saw that I thought went to Tooele. The bus driver just looked at me with my bags and somehow knew I was headed the wrong direction. "Where are you going?" Tooele. "I just came from Tooele. If you want to catch the Tooele bus, its across the street". And I got off. Should I cross the street and just take the bus? Why had I subjected myself to sitting in the cold for the Express Bus? Well, it actually all ended well.
But today I had to catch the bus to buy more art supplies. Oh yeah, I had to print out the routes this morning before John left (yet another thing to do). Had to figure out bus stops when I got to school. So this is the flow. 11:30 get out of class. 11:36 bus comes. Takes me 15 minutes to get to bus stop so I didn't try that one. Next bus comes at 11:51. I think I'm on the right side of the street, but again, watch the bus drive away without me. I waited for another 10 minutes and started to get out my ID to take the bus. What! I didn't have my ID. I had left it in my locker. The 12:06 drives away without me. 11 minutes back to my locker. Get my ID. Try to get back but I know I won't be able to: the 12: 21 leaves without me. I wait another 15 minutes. Yeah, the 12:36 picks me up. I grab a schedule and give myself a scare when I read it wrong. My return bus wasn't going to come back until 1:53 and 3:31, but my next class was at 2! Panic, quick contingency planning, panic, about to make a fool of myself....and I saw it....the other schedule. Ok. Phew! I would be able to take the bus back at 1:20. That means, I calculated in my head, I've got 20 minutes to shop, check out, and catch a bus. Panic. But I'm amazed, kick me hard enough and this mule runs. I am going to be in shape this semester.
So far all is well. I'm in the library waiting for John to get out of class at 5:30 and then we will catch TRAX and the bus together. I imagine it'll be another adventure since its another route and time John nor I have tried before.
...
It was an adventure. I ended up waiting again for 1 hour in the cold before catching the slow bus which took over 80 minutes to get back to Tooele. But the next day was worse. John decided to try yet another route. We sprinted, I mean sprinted hard for one block from the Trax to the bus stop. We were yet again on the other side of a busy street when the 451 got stopped at the light. I started running across the street, but John yelled in a panic to "Stop" the light was almost green and cars were moving. I swear they weren't but he swears I was going to get hit. So we tried flagging the bus from across the busy street. He/She didn't she us. We waited another half hour. I hate hurry up and wait. And besides, it was a pollution red day and the air just made me sick. North DAkota air pleease.
John, just changed his class schedule to have a 7:30am class, which, when we do the calculations means he had to catch the 5:39am bus and NO later. I had enjoyed Monday and Tuesday catching the later 6:41 and 6:21 buses with John, but this was too much. 5:30 is usually when I get up, not catch a bus. NO NO NO
Aside from that, I still didn't have my class supplies in order. Somewhere in the house, there was paint thinner and gesso, my receipts, and a coupon for 30% off a regular priced art supply. How was I to get that all together...it was now 4:39am, John was in the shower and I was only tittering onto the wood floor. "Why John, do you have to retake Calculus I? Is this necessary, I whined, I don't want to be in school for another 3 years. Our school debt is compounding and I'm getting worried. Maybe if you are going to play this game, you can get a job and go to school too.? I whined and whined. I mean really...would you retake Calculus I if you got an A the first time. I told him the other classes would just build off of it and he would remember the stuff, but he's certain that he's got to have a very strong foundation and understand this stuff inside out. I told him it reminded me of learning Spanish. I don't understand it inside out, talk like a 4th grader, but still got employment as Spanish interpreter because I knew more then 90% of the people at work. I'm still whining (now at 4:24pm) and feel exhausted from that chipper chirping watch. I think John's been feeling the stress too and threathened? to quit school and go back to work...what? as a bus driver?
Let me tell you about buses. So I had to catch the bus all by myself. Not so pathetic, but I've been toting around my carrying on luggage to transport art supplies and the seats and overheads simply don't accommodate. I got to the bus stop and realized I had forgotten my gloves and the base I was going to use for my sculpture this morning. It was 2 minutes to bus time. I dashed back and forth with success! Really overall a good experience. But yesterday was harder. I had my carry on suitcase, two large portfolios and a lunch bag. Fortunately, I had John to drag my luggage. And fortunately, I only had one large portfolio to take back home. But unfortunately, as I got off of TRAX from my return commute from the University of Utah, the 451 Tooele Express bus pulled up to the bus stop right across the street from where I was at! What was I to do? This was downtown Salt Lake lots of traffic after work rush hour and I didn't have the light to cross the street. I screamed, but to no avail. Well, maybe all I said to about 10 construction workers waiting to cross the street to the park-n-ride was, HEY! THATS MY BUS. OH SHOOT. THATS MY BUS. ANOTHER ONE DOESNT COME FOR 40 minutes! So not a horror story exactly... But inconvenient enough to make me cry this morning to have to do it all again. Run, run, run. Wait wait wait. Fortunately, I sat on my luggage and used my large portfolio as my back to the chair. Not so bad, but 40, okay it was only 30, minutes in the cold caused me to get excited at the first bus I saw that I thought went to Tooele. The bus driver just looked at me with my bags and somehow knew I was headed the wrong direction. "Where are you going?" Tooele. "I just came from Tooele. If you want to catch the Tooele bus, its across the street". And I got off. Should I cross the street and just take the bus? Why had I subjected myself to sitting in the cold for the Express Bus? Well, it actually all ended well.
But today I had to catch the bus to buy more art supplies. Oh yeah, I had to print out the routes this morning before John left (yet another thing to do). Had to figure out bus stops when I got to school. So this is the flow. 11:30 get out of class. 11:36 bus comes. Takes me 15 minutes to get to bus stop so I didn't try that one. Next bus comes at 11:51. I think I'm on the right side of the street, but again, watch the bus drive away without me. I waited for another 10 minutes and started to get out my ID to take the bus. What! I didn't have my ID. I had left it in my locker. The 12:06 drives away without me. 11 minutes back to my locker. Get my ID. Try to get back but I know I won't be able to: the 12: 21 leaves without me. I wait another 15 minutes. Yeah, the 12:36 picks me up. I grab a schedule and give myself a scare when I read it wrong. My return bus wasn't going to come back until 1:53 and 3:31, but my next class was at 2! Panic, quick contingency planning, panic, about to make a fool of myself....and I saw it....the other schedule. Ok. Phew! I would be able to take the bus back at 1:20. That means, I calculated in my head, I've got 20 minutes to shop, check out, and catch a bus. Panic. But I'm amazed, kick me hard enough and this mule runs. I am going to be in shape this semester.
So far all is well. I'm in the library waiting for John to get out of class at 5:30 and then we will catch TRAX and the bus together. I imagine it'll be another adventure since its another route and time John nor I have tried before.
...
It was an adventure. I ended up waiting again for 1 hour in the cold before catching the slow bus which took over 80 minutes to get back to Tooele. But the next day was worse. John decided to try yet another route. We sprinted, I mean sprinted hard for one block from the Trax to the bus stop. We were yet again on the other side of a busy street when the 451 got stopped at the light. I started running across the street, but John yelled in a panic to "Stop" the light was almost green and cars were moving. I swear they weren't but he swears I was going to get hit. So we tried flagging the bus from across the busy street. He/She didn't she us. We waited another half hour. I hate hurry up and wait. And besides, it was a pollution red day and the air just made me sick. North DAkota air pleease.
Monday, January 10, 2011
GAME ON
Here is a copy of an email that I sent out last night. If you want to join us, let me know. I seem to be missing emails.
Dear Family and Friends,
I have a challenge for you! Its a game I played last year with some co-workers, not only did I have fun, but I lost weight and have kept that particular weight off.
Now, this isn't exactly a weight loss game, but it can be used that way. Its called The GAME ON diet. Like...As in when you taunt another person and say YOU'RE ON or Get your game on... It comes from a book of the same name written by Krista Vernoff and Az Ferguson. (I wouldn't recommend buying the book because its language is inappropriate--don't ask why--but if you can borrow it or check it out from the library, there's lots of good food nutrition info worth seeing). Here's a website instead. It gives the general idea...http://www.thegameondiet.com/.
The game typically goes for 4 weeks. You work in teams. And then you can do it again...maybe this time a different challenge against different teams. You get points for activities you do and bonus points for achieving certain fitness goals (ie 1% weight loss or running the mile 15 seconds faster, doing more situps in a minute, increasing flexibility in that week.) If you need to loose weight, 1% weight loss is the standard bonus. If you are training or already in shape, declare the goal to the scorekeeper and your team ahead of time (beginning of score week). You also get 10 points for reporting your score to your team scorekeeper on time.
Here are the categories: (Use attached spreadsheet for tracking)
5 Meals (6 points each): The goal is to eat more frequently and avoid binging. Our bodies need constant fueling. The guideline here is to eat each meal not more than 4 hours apart. The meals are around 400 calories each but that's approximate. Ideally the food should be a healthy balance of carbs, proteins, fruits, grains, dairy etc... If you are using weight watchers, jenny craig, or other weight loss programs, following those programs the way they are set up counts.
Exercise (20 points): 20 minutes a day, preferably in the morning to kick start metabolism, but not necessary. Just find 20 minutes and get the heart rate up. You don't even have to leave the house!
Sleep (15 points): Extremely important to get 7+ hours of sleep a night. If exceptions may need to be considered such as nursing mothers, or shift work, talk to the teams and the scorekeeper before the game begins.
WATER (10 points): Challenge to drink 3 liters of water daily. That's about 13 cups of water. You may find yourself going to the bathroom a lot at first but by week 3 the body gets used to it, you have better skin, and think about all the toxins you are flushing out of your body!
NEW HABIT (10 points): This isn't about just fitness, but lifestyle changes. Give yourself 10 points for each day you follow your new habit goal. This goal is established at the beginning of the game and told to all teams and the scorekeeper.
OLD HABIT (10 points): Give it up now! Find a habit you want to break for life and use this game to jump start the habit. Don't be a dork and quit cold turkey on something if it'll make you miserable and just go back to the habit after the game is over. Be careful, you lose 50 points if you decide to change this goal.
Communication (5 points): Whats more fun than doing this in teams and letting your teammates know how you're doing and drawing on each other for moral support? Tormenting the other by team about it! Five points for every day you contact at least one person on your team face to face, by phone call, by text message, email, etc and ALSO at least one person on another competitor's team. Yeah baby, bring on the Trash Talk.
There are also penalties in this game which you can see on the spreadsheet.
The game isn't so brutal. It levels the playing field for all: fit and fat, male and female, young and old Your team totals the points and takes the average, so pick a good team! I got stuck with a team that screwed up their points the first week and we were always in last place.
PICK A PRIZE: Pick a prize that everyone would want. Or a penalty that could hurt. I ponied up $10 to enter the competition and put $50 on the line for a charity. We lost and I kept my word and made lunches for the Tooele Relief Center. Other people give trophies, go to dinner, do side challenges... This prize is decided by everybody before we start.
DAY OFF: You can have a day off! What does that mean? It mean every category can have one miss during the week and still receive full points. These misses do not have to be all on the same day. This is a wonderful thing about the game. You may screw up the night before and not get 7 hours of sleep, but can still have an awesome day. You would use the free day (one miss) for the sleep requirement and keep going.
Or it means you can have a whole day where you throw everything out and screw up. But if it happens again, no more points.
Side note: For those using the 5 meal idea, I counted my meals as meals 1-5 and allowed one miss for every meal. So say I usually eat Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Snack, Dinner, but on Monday I didn't eat my brunch snack. I would count it as my free miss and award the points, but if I also didn't eat brunch on Tuesday, I would get no points etc.
MEAL OFF: This is the special meal that you've been waiting for. Its the big 2 hour social that you can't pass up. Its the mandatory business meeting, the wedding, the birthday party. Save this free meal for a social time. You have up to two hours to eat and enjoy whatever you'd like! But remember, just because you can doesn't mean you'll lose the weight or that its good for you.
So what else am I missing? OH YEAH.... TEAMS. If you are interested, please email me right away. I'd like to start this game next Tuesday, January 18--right after Martin Luther King Day.
Please send the following information:
Name
New Habit
Old Habit
I had lots of fun with this last year, but its super hard to compete against yourself or your spouse so I haven't done it again since last January. I know that I need the motivation of a social network and competition. I sent this email to family first, but feel free to organize into teams of close friends or family member not emailed. If you create your own team, please tell the team name, the names of the people and the goal information. Plus include email addresses and any other contact information. Teams should typically be 4 people and not more than 6.
Love to all and Let's get the Game ON!
Kimberly and John Leisek
Dear Family and Friends,
I have a challenge for you! Its a game I played last year with some co-workers, not only did I have fun, but I lost weight and have kept that particular weight off.
Now, this isn't exactly a weight loss game, but it can be used that way. Its called The GAME ON diet. Like...As in when you taunt another person and say YOU'RE ON or Get your game on... It comes from a book of the same name written by Krista Vernoff and Az Ferguson. (I wouldn't recommend buying the book because its language is inappropriate--don't ask why--but if you can borrow it or check it out from the library, there's lots of good food nutrition info worth seeing). Here's a website instead. It gives the general idea...http://www.thegameondiet.com/.
The game typically goes for 4 weeks. You work in teams. And then you can do it again...maybe this time a different challenge against different teams. You get points for activities you do and bonus points for achieving certain fitness goals (ie 1% weight loss or running the mile 15 seconds faster, doing more situps in a minute, increasing flexibility in that week.) If you need to loose weight, 1% weight loss is the standard bonus. If you are training or already in shape, declare the goal to the scorekeeper and your team ahead of time (beginning of score week). You also get 10 points for reporting your score to your team scorekeeper on time.
Here are the categories: (Use attached spreadsheet for tracking)
5 Meals (6 points each): The goal is to eat more frequently and avoid binging. Our bodies need constant fueling. The guideline here is to eat each meal not more than 4 hours apart. The meals are around 400 calories each but that's approximate. Ideally the food should be a healthy balance of carbs, proteins, fruits, grains, dairy etc... If you are using weight watchers, jenny craig, or other weight loss programs, following those programs the way they are set up counts.
Exercise (20 points): 20 minutes a day, preferably in the morning to kick start metabolism, but not necessary. Just find 20 minutes and get the heart rate up. You don't even have to leave the house!
Sleep (15 points): Extremely important to get 7+ hours of sleep a night. If exceptions may need to be considered such as nursing mothers, or shift work, talk to the teams and the scorekeeper before the game begins.
WATER (10 points): Challenge to drink 3 liters of water daily. That's about 13 cups of water. You may find yourself going to the bathroom a lot at first but by week 3 the body gets used to it, you have better skin, and think about all the toxins you are flushing out of your body!
NEW HABIT (10 points): This isn't about just fitness, but lifestyle changes. Give yourself 10 points for each day you follow your new habit goal. This goal is established at the beginning of the game and told to all teams and the scorekeeper.
OLD HABIT (10 points): Give it up now! Find a habit you want to break for life and use this game to jump start the habit. Don't be a dork and quit cold turkey on something if it'll make you miserable and just go back to the habit after the game is over. Be careful, you lose 50 points if you decide to change this goal.
Communication (5 points): Whats more fun than doing this in teams and letting your teammates know how you're doing and drawing on each other for moral support? Tormenting the other by team about it! Five points for every day you contact at least one person on your team face to face, by phone call, by text message, email, etc and ALSO at least one person on another competitor's team. Yeah baby, bring on the Trash Talk.
There are also penalties in this game which you can see on the spreadsheet.
The game isn't so brutal. It levels the playing field for all: fit and fat, male and female, young and old Your team totals the points and takes the average, so pick a good team! I got stuck with a team that screwed up their points the first week and we were always in last place.
PICK A PRIZE: Pick a prize that everyone would want. Or a penalty that could hurt. I ponied up $10 to enter the competition and put $50 on the line for a charity. We lost and I kept my word and made lunches for the Tooele Relief Center. Other people give trophies, go to dinner, do side challenges... This prize is decided by everybody before we start.
DAY OFF: You can have a day off! What does that mean? It mean every category can have one miss during the week and still receive full points. These misses do not have to be all on the same day. This is a wonderful thing about the game. You may screw up the night before and not get 7 hours of sleep, but can still have an awesome day. You would use the free day (one miss) for the sleep requirement and keep going.
Or it means you can have a whole day where you throw everything out and screw up. But if it happens again, no more points.
Side note: For those using the 5 meal idea, I counted my meals as meals 1-5 and allowed one miss for every meal. So say I usually eat Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Snack, Dinner, but on Monday I didn't eat my brunch snack. I would count it as my free miss and award the points, but if I also didn't eat brunch on Tuesday, I would get no points etc.
MEAL OFF: This is the special meal that you've been waiting for. Its the big 2 hour social that you can't pass up. Its the mandatory business meeting, the wedding, the birthday party. Save this free meal for a social time. You have up to two hours to eat and enjoy whatever you'd like! But remember, just because you can doesn't mean you'll lose the weight or that its good for you.
So what else am I missing? OH YEAH.... TEAMS. If you are interested, please email me right away. I'd like to start this game next Tuesday, January 18--right after Martin Luther King Day.
Please send the following information:
Name
New Habit
Old Habit
I had lots of fun with this last year, but its super hard to compete against yourself or your spouse so I haven't done it again since last January. I know that I need the motivation of a social network and competition. I sent this email to family first, but feel free to organize into teams of close friends or family member not emailed. If you create your own team, please tell the team name, the names of the people and the goal information. Plus include email addresses and any other contact information. Teams should typically be 4 people and not more than 6.
Love to all and Let's get the Game ON!
Kimberly and John Leisek
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