Fifi the Five Foot Vampire Goose

We have a lovely walking route, and if we do the whole thing, it is about three miles in length. It goes up hill, down hill, and past a beautiful park/golf course.

We often wait until the evening and walk it as a family after dinner, but on Mondays I go to a small group in the evening, so the kids and I have been trying to walk it in the afternoon.

Yesterday, we started down the street, it was a beautiful day, 75 degrees and sunny. The boys had brought their bikes and Kylee was running up ahead with them, while Faith and I were walking at a quick pace right behind them.

About five minutes into our walk, as we were walking by the beautiful golf course, I looked up ahead and saw three giant geese sitting by the sidewalk. As the three kids up ahead got closer to the three geese, one of the geese got up and looked quite upset.

The next thing I know she (the kids have dubbed her Fifi) began squawking and with her head low down to the ground she charged the kids!

Kylee, Seth and Joshi turned themselves around and took off back towards Faith and me. This crazy Fifi chased them down the sidewalk and even bit Joshi's tire!

By the time the three kids reached us, Joshi was in tears and they all suggested we just turn around and go down the other side of the street.

Well, I was not about to let a goose tell me I couldn't walk down the street!!

So, I told the kids we were just going to walk straight down that sidewalk, right past Fifi and we would be just FINE!

Meanwhile, Fifi had not taken her eyes off of us. We very determinedly walked back towards the three geese, and when we got about halfway there, she began screaming and charging us again!!

Okay, I admit it, I ran.

This Fifi meant business.

I decided we were going to have to just go out into the bike lane of the very busy street, and walk very quickly by this very scary avian menace.

We waited for traffic to clear and I grabbed Joshi's bike. He and I ran as fast as we could down the bike lane and got past Fifi to the other side.

Victory!!

I turned around to cheer with the other three and realized they were not behind me, they had gotten scared and were cowering on the sidewalk, being yelled at by a very angry Fifi!

I told the kids to just do what I had done, wait for the traffic to clear and run!

The girls made it.

Now, Seth was trapped on the other side of gooseland and Fifi looked like she really meant business.

She was on to our game, and at this point there was no guarantee that she was not going to follow him right out into traffic this time!

I decided to try and distract her by coming towards her from the other side, the safe side, which seemed to work. She quit giving Seth the bird-eye and came after me, which in turn made all the kids on the safe side scream.

Seth got out into the bike lane and made it to safety, and Fifi turned her goose tail and walked off towards the golf course.

We ended up stopping at a friend's house instead of continuing on our walk. By the time we got to our destination, the boys had morphed Fifi the goose into a five-foot vampire beast with huge fangs and a troll like voice.

Do you think they are going to need therapy?

Kristen

Doing a Little Shuffle

Got my new iPod shuffle yesterday (thanks Dad!), and Mike filled it up for me last night from our itunes.

One of the advantages to having a Creative Arts director for a husband is the amount of new music I have access to! Awesome.

Anyways, the cool thing is that I put my little shuffle on shuffle and it mixed everything up. And yes, my Mp3 player did the same thing, but it was funny little shuffle seemed to play just the right music at just the right time. Okay I am being a little wacko here, but it did put together the best work out music. It's like the ultimate mix-tape. ( You know you all used to make and listen to mix tapes)

My newest addition to my musical listening library is Blake Lewis' new CD. Yes, American Idol Blake Lewis. I love it!! So fun to work out to. Don't know if I would want to sit around and listen to it and am certain that the kids shouldn't be listening to it but it is great to work out to.

So me and Blake, The Bravery, Kelly Clarkson, All American Rejects, Linkin Park, Hillsong United and yes Depeche Mode, completed our 45 minute elliptical workout.


What are you listening to?

Kristen

Ouch! But I did it!

This machine kicked my rear today. Mike and I got to the gym and there was only one treadmill. I had really wanted to try this machine and thought this was a great opportunity.


The first two minutes no problem.


After five my legs were on fire.


I pushed through it and made it for about 43 minutes, Yes, I gave up at the end. But, I think I really like this better than the treadmill. It definitely made me work harder.


And I need to give myself a little pat on the back because I have continued my work out even through the horrendous time change. I do not adjust well to time change. Maybe it's because I spent the first 20+ years of my life never falling back or springing forward. Maybe it's because it is stupid, unnatural and completely unreasonable to all of a sudden, out of the blue decide to CHANGE time.


Who do we think we are super man?

Kristen

Could It Get Worse?

Mike and I got up bright and early, grabbed our gym shoes and I grabbed my charged mp3 player and headed for the gym.

Got there, gorgeous day out by the way, put on my shoes and jumped on my treadmill.

Turned my mp3 player on....

Turned my mp3 player on....

Oh man, it won't turn on!! It chose today to die. It is only a year old. Batteries charged, it just decided it had had enough.

So I got to listen to Married with Children with "old sitcom lady" today. A few minutes into it I just put the sound proof earplugs in and listened to my heart beat.

I did my 45 minutes and figured God wanted me to be quiet for a while.

I came to that AFTER I got over my rage.

AFTER I almost chucked the stupid little electronic thing out the paneled window.

And AFTER I put the ear plugs in my ears to block out the nonsense.

Aside from all that I feel so good. I have a ton more energy and I have even been eating breakfast. Okay, it was just some fruit, but I am eating something which is a huge thing for me, since I am not a breakfast girl. And my jeans are fitting not so snug, so I am happy.

Kristen

Work Out Day 2

Mike had a staff outing and had to be at the train station too early to work out with me this morning, but I went on my own. I am feeling pretty committed to this right now and that feels so good! I don't want this to become a burden or something that I have to do.

Mike bought me these really great ear buds for my mp3 player. Not only do they fit my super small ear holes, but they totally lock out all other sound!!! What better way to listen to the All American Rejects? (Which I highly recommend for keeping you going while your working out.)

And I am so glad I have them because there is this older lady who gets there right before me and takes control of the t.v. Now I am all for distraction while working out but her taste in shows while working out is not ideal. I mean old, old, old, sitcoms that really should no longer be on t.v. are not work out material, they are what you watch at midnight when you can't sleep and you need to!!!

Whatever.

Kristen

I Feel Great!

Okay, so Mike and I had a little walking thing going last summer and it went pretty well. We were pretty committed. But then our lovely Illinois weather took a turn for it's usual and the bottom dropped out of my exercise plan.

Been talking all winter about going down to our clubhouse, right down the street from our house, which we pay for because it is part of our home owners dues, and working out in the morning. But I haven't been too motivated.

Until now. After the entire winter of being pretty much sedentary I feel like a mother bear that has been in hibernation. No, I am not over weight. I just feel soft, like I have a protective layer insulating me from the cold. And it needs to go. Now.

Any ways Mike and I got up this morning and went to the clubhouse and walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes, which, I think, is a great start.

I am glad we are being healthy and I am glad that I am going to get rid of my insulation.

Kristen

Walking is Great!

So, Mike and I decided that we should start trying to get out and exercise a little in the mornings...There is a fitness center in the clubhouse that we can use but we just can't seem to do it. But while it is nice out we are going to start with walks outside. Maybe these walks will turn into jogging and when it gets cooler we may go ahead and use the fitness center. Who knows!!!

We decided to start yesterday.

Now, I am not a morning person, I don't love to get up early and see the sun rise but when I wake up I am up and ready to go. Mike, like me, is not a morning person either, but he is definitely not up and ready to go right after he wakes up.

But somehow we got up and made it on our first two walks. We walked about a mile each time at a fairly fast pace. I am proud of us and hope we can keep it up!!

The best part about it is that I get to do it with my very best friend!! It is great that I get to spend this time with him and even though I don't love the sweating and achy muscles, yes, I know I am out of shape, I love getting to spend time with him first thing in the morning. He is so fun, we always have a great time whether we are hanging out with friends, going out on a date, or going for a walk!!!

Kristen