My 100th Post!!!

This is my 100th post on my blog!! I thought I would do something a little different today. I keep seeing these lists on Facebook and in my email inbox...where people write 25 known/little known facts about themselves. So...here we go....25 facts about Jeanine!

1. I actually love to watch golf on tv...I have never really played it though, I also really like golf video games!

2. I love to watch movies, especially foreign and independent films, but I hate watching movies more than once...although Lee loves to watch movies over and over.

3. I am totally in love with the series Long Way Round, Long Way Down and Road To Dakar, these three series chronicle motorcycle rides made by Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman around the world.

4. I have a huge coffee mug collection...but I really only use about 5 of them.

5. My sock collection rivals store displays....I pretty much have socks for every holiday now. Funny note...I found my Seattle socks in a shop in Ferndale.

6. At any given time there is usually 3 different types of shampoo and conditioner in my shower...not to mention a bunch of body washes...current fave is my Margarita body wash by Philosophy.

7. I love different perfumes...but I always go back to vanilla...which I have worn since high school.

8. I still like the same band...The Babys... that I liked in high school. They were also my first concert...in Oakland, and I still cannot believe my parents let me take BART into Oakland with my friends...at only 15!!!

9. I could probably eat pizza every day of my life!!

10. I have classical music and even some opera on my Ipod....and I listen to it often!!!

11. I have photos of family and friends all over the house, it makes me feel like they are always with me!!

12. I have tons of Mary Englebriet stuff in my kitchen...most of what I have are gifts from my mom and friends.

13. I love, love, love candles......I think there should be a 12 step program for this...because I need help!

14. I love when a new cleaning supply debuts....I will try it!

15. I miss my mom like a fat kid loves cake...which explains why I love cake so much too!

16. I have had a fantasy about traveling in an RV, to all of the states the Coast Guard has not sent us to.

17. I have a phobia about toilet paper...one of my biggest fears is running out...so we always have a ton in the closet.

18. Snapdragons are my favorite flower.

19. I like to try new foods...but I totally HATE mushrooms....which my dad loves to tease me about.

20. I am fascinated my stories of Middle Easter women....their stories remind me to quit my bitching about the small stuff.

21. I have always...since I moved out on my own...had bells that hang from the door knob on the front door. The bells I have now, are from Bahrain...Lee bought them for me knowing this is what I would use them for!!

22. I am pretty anal about my truck...I don't even let Lee work on it.

23. When I drive the Corvette, I still feel Lee's dad's presence in there. I cannot believe it has been 5 years since he slipped away.

24. I have often thought I wanted to be a midwife...and help women deliver their babies.

25. My most adored sound is the sound of my guys laughing....when all three of them giggle, it is music to my ears!!!

Ready....Set.....Go!!!

The Finish Line

Getting ready to start!

Me and Lee

My official number!!

Last Sunday, Lee and I completed our first walk/run.....we walked it (it was only 2 miles)!! We did the Waterfront Run, along the water front in Eureka. It was an area I had never really driven through, so I was quite distracted at the old piers and lots...wondering what history they held. Since we were walking it...we were a little slower....although, we were not the last ones to finish and we did pass a lady and her screaming baby. It was a little bit defeating, when the people who ran 5 miles passed us up...but I was thrilled that we walked the course in less time than I thought we would. I have another walk next month...it is an all woman's walk...no boys allowed!

I am still hitting the gym...Lee and I went together today. I like the treadmill and he loves the elliptical. After we had finished with those, we hit the weight room together...something I never really thought we would do. I really enjoy that we are doing this as a team...it really keeps me going and motivated. It is a good hobby to have together...especially since the other ones are eating and watching movies!

I guess I should finish and hit "publish", I can hear Lee waiting on me...we have errands to do before we pick up Elliott at school this afternoon.

Happy Anniversary to Jeanine's Crap!

Happy Anniversary to my blog!! I started the blog a year ago today...but it took me a month to actually post something on it! I did not think anyone would really read it....turns out I was wrong....a lot of people like it and it has been pretty therapeutic for me as well. I have probably spilled more of my guts on here than I should have....but at the same time I get people saying...I feel like I know the real you so much better. I started it, knowing we were moving and I figured my dad would like it....he does and he is my biggest fan.

So...thank you to all those that take a moment out of their day to catch up on whatever thoughts cross my mind. I appreciate it A LOT!! I promise to keep this thing going as long as my laptop hangs in there with me!

Much love!

Doin' it 5 times a week!!!

Gee Whiz people....get your mind out of the gutter!!! The above picture is where I have been spending a lot of time.....at the gym. Believe it or not!! Even crazier, is that I like it. I broke out the credit card and bought a couple sessions with a personal trainer and she has kicked my butt the last three Wednesdays. It has been nice to have her show me the ropes. I am on my own now...and eager to keep the momentum going. I usually spend an hour on the treadmill three times a week, and do floor work and weights the other two. My goal for this month is to do one of the classes they have throughout the day....like yoga or even scarier aerobics!! I am grateful that the Coast Guard has this benefit, they provide our membership. I also have signed up for two walk/runs...of course I will be walking. The first one is this Sunday, the guys are doing it with me and the the is the Atalanta Women's walk/run in Arcata next month. Since that one is girls only...I am doing that one with my neighbor Cirrus.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that I can keep this going. It makes me happy and it really makes my doctor happy.

Holy traffic Batman!! The Coast Guard housing area we live in holds an annual garage sale and people come from all over to check out what everyone has for sale. We did not have anything to sell, because we purged so much stuff when we moved last summer. At 7:15 am the streets were filled with parked cars and people were mingling around...the garage sale was not supposed to start until 8am!!! It was crazy! Throughout the day, people blocked our driveway...thankfully we parked the Suburban out on the main road so we could leave our house if we wanted too. It was very interesting to people watch....people are pretty bold when it comes to garage sales!!

My mother's day was nice....very low key! I was spoiled by Lee and Elliott....they got me the DVD set of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's motorcycle trips around various parts of the world....yes, I wanted it....it is an amazing show! I also got Wii Fit Plus...which it a lot of fun! They also got me some chocolates and a really cool water bottle for the gym. It was a relaxing day and I did enjoy it.

An admission....

Sometime in 1991

Grandma spoiling Mason and Elliott 1994

This was right before Mike went into bootcamp, 1987

So, I have an admission.....I have come to hate Mother's day. This will be my fourth Mother's day without my mom....and the week before mother's day, I turn into a pouting little baby...walking by the cards...all pink and full of sentiments, make me cry....ordering flowers for Judy and Shirley makes me cry...all the commercials make me want to throw my arms up in a surrender. It is the week I miss her the most. It took a lot of heartache for my mom to become a mother. There were many pregnancies before I came into the world....and my mom always chose to celebrate me on Mother's day, it made me feel so special. She would send me flowers or some gift...and I loved it...my dad carries on her tradition and I get to buy a hanging basket every year, I always pick a flower that reminds me of her. I have come to the realization that I may never get over the loss of my mom....and I am ok with that. She was my best buddy, a confidant, my partner in crime (or maybe I was her's???), she was the one to remind me to laugh when I want to cry, she taught me about love and heartbreak, she gave me my love of reading and shrimp, she showed Mike and I the world without ever leaving the Bay Area, with trips to Chinatown, and other neat places, we were her world and there was nothing she would not do for us. It probably made my dad crazy! I really miss picking up the phone and calling her for the stupidest things....we would call each other and watch the same tv show...and make funny comments to each other, she celebrated the good and the bad and the big and the small with me.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM......thank you for making me feel like the most important kid on the planet, thank you for loving and protecting me the way you did...thank you for living on in such a huge part of my heart. I love you.