Zumba

I have started doing Zumba.  Tonight, I did it for the 3rd time. Each time there has been a different instructor so it's a little different each night. It's pretty fun but at first my hips are kind of achy. There are a ton of people that go and tonight I was thinking how it's so weird that I am a gym goer. I say that because in school I hated gym.

I was always the last person chosen when their was teams and probably because I have two left feet and can't play sports. I hated gym twice as bad when I made it to middle school. I hated the shower thing. It's funny that now I can't imagine not taking the shower at the Y. It's part of the appeal. I love the sauna and find it nice to get dressed and not worrying about my sons walking in on me. I don't like closed doors so I can take my sweet time.

Well, I better get thinking about bed. 

Today, was my long day at work. I have a daytime client and second shift client. I have been with the second shift client the longest and honestly she is my favorite. Don't get me wrong the other lady is nice and we have good moments and it's a lot better now that I only see her three times a week instead of four.

On the way, to the second client, I stopped and got Subway. Basically, I shared my dinner but I couldn't eat a foot long sub anyways. It was a turkey one with tons of veggies. I am not sure how my job would feel about me bring food to her but I have never been told no. I have bought pizza from the grocery store a few times. The fun part about her and not sure if it's an elderly thing or just her. I think more of an elderly thing cause once with the other lady when her family member brought us fast food she got all weird and thought no way the family member could afford that. It was too funny. If I could afford it then so could she. But how do you say I am under paid and I can afford it.  Well, anyways, it just doesn't take much to make the elderly happy.  I call it interactive caregiving.  I need to remember to bring Titanic cause she keeps saying she wants to see it again.

Well, it's late and I better get to bed.

Is bigger and fancier always better?

I got to go with my client to see the Nicholas Conservatory this week.  If I remember right a family donated one million dollars to build it. I think that was awesome but honestly I think the money could have been spent better.  Since, I was with my client, who can't get around very well, I wasn't really able to check it out compared to if I had gone on my own.

From what I saw of it. It was pretty and very relaxing. It wasn't as big as I imagined because when you first walk in there is a lobby and a gift shop. They even have a cafe for people to get snacks.

I remember a few different times walking through the old conservatory and pretty sure it was free. It wasn't anything that a person might want to spend more than 15 minutes or so looking at. Honestly, I still don't think the average bear would want to spend that much time there. You can only walk around looking at the plants for so long and eventually your going to see it all. Again, I wasn't on my dime so I know I missed out on some stuff.

I wanted to write about the cost. It's six dollars to get in. I know that's not a lot but if a family of four wants to go then that's 24 just to walk through looking at plants. I know in the grand sceme of things that 24 isn't much but with so many people struggling I wonder how many families from the Rockford area can come see it.

I have to wonder what was wrong with what we had? Do we as a society always have to get bigger and better? I know Faith Center wanted to get bigger and better and fell on their ass trying to do it. Now, they are running the risk of having the whole chuch and grounds taken from them. This could also affect the building down town that helps the homeless and other programs like the tutoring programs. Let's settle for what we have people.

Back to the plants. Now, I know people drop 6 per person for lots of things so it's not totally unheard of that families could spend money on something like this. However, if people are having trouble we want the best bang for our buck. Do I want to spend 6 to see plants or would I rather sit in on a movie for two hours? I could probably come up with a better example of how I could think of better ways to spend my time and money but it's late.

I should add that they have a free day once a month. But to me stopping in to walk thru the Conservatory wasn't planned. I would be walking on the bike path and just decide to walk through it. I would admire the fish the turtles and the plants. I didn't have to plan to have cash on me or plan to go on the free day. I wouldn't have to feel like I have to stay as long as possible to get my money worth cause I didn't pay.

By the way, I pay taxes to the Rockford Park district so even though I never paid to walk in to see the plants I did pay because I own my home. Even renters are paying cause the landlords are paying taxes. I noticed that they have been offering some "classes" there and saying a fee does apply.

Last spring, we went to a gardening event that was held by the Rockford Park District and I won a earth box and everyone was given free starter flowers and veggies. A fee didn't apply and everyone poor, middle class or rich had a right to go and could go.

Now these classes that say fee applies just makes it seem like they want to attract a certain type of people. It's like they are saying your kind of people stay away from here. Not that we are poor. We are probably more lower middle class. We have money and bills paid but not a lot of cushion.

Good night. It's been a long day.

I love Saturday nights because I know I get two days free of taking care of the elderly. I am happy that I really like my job and hours are going strong but nothing is better than having a couple days home with my family. Of course there is babysitting at the church and babysitting for MELD. Then, there is my trip to the Y two or three times a week. I stay way too busy and sometimes I just want to sit home and do nothing. What is odd is that I am not comfortable doing nothing. I feel nervous if I don't get a walk in or take sometime to go life weights in the basement. I don't like to walk when it's dark. It scares me. I always bring Ann but not sure how she would react to bad guys. I like to think she is on the aggressive side if she needed to protect her Mommy.

We got our new bed with part of our tax return and I feel bad that Ann won't sleep in our room anymore. I miss her. Well, I should probably get to bed. I love my sleep. I am a blanket hog though. I wonder if they have a support group for people married to blanket hogs?? haha Step away from my blanket and you can live.

just bored and nothing better to do.

I love my work week now. I go for three five hour days and I have 3 second shifts. I only have one day where I have to be gone from morning to night. I have had more time to spend time with family and friends and getting to the YMCA on a regular basis.  The only thing that I would change if I could get away with it would have one less day shift but that's not likely.
It was a pretty good work week. I got my day time client out of the house twice this week. Once was just to go joy riding and the next day was to go to the doctor and then we went to lunch. She got a pretty good report from the doctor.

It was my day off. My friend Rachel gave me a Magic Bullet and we used it for the first time to make smothies. They were pretty good. I can't wait to try some other things in it. I love how it could be taken to work and I could make my client a little treat.

Friday, I brought my client a pizza from the store and cooked it. She always gets so excited when I do it and says it's better than take out. I don't mind doing stuff like that because without her I wouldn't have a paycheck. I know I would have other clients most likely since we have been doing well but it's still something little I can do to make our night better.

Tomorrow, I will probably go to the Y and then I think volunteering starts back up with MELD. That's why I need one more day off to rest. I will probably only go to MELD biweekly still because I just need my time again. I love what they do but they never took my advice on how to make the daycare a little less stressful at times. I think the Mom's should rotate being in the daycare as a volunteer to see how things go in a setting of taking care of multiple children. If they seen the effects of babies being dropped off without diapers or a bottle then maybe they could see how important it is to bring the babies in clean and dry and with everything they need.

It's been a while since I wrote on this blog. I have been staying pretty busy. Luckily, I did gain my Saturday morning back so what if I get a few bucks less each week. I just couldn't do the two 12 and longer shifts anymore. I am doing the one okay.

I been trying to go to the Y a few times a week. On most weeks, I make it work. I gave up walking around the tracks for the treadmills, elliptical and even the video bike.

It was Tyler's 12th birthday. I went out to lunch and got my nails done. I figure I should get presents too. Tad tried to steal his birthday but I wouldn't let him.

Tad did get his own birthday though. Well, this is kind of boring so enough for now.

Amiah is starting to talk more. She is getting her requests met more with words compared to a few months ago. She will say cheese if I get cheese. She knows where are fruit bowl is and loves to share fruit with me. She thinks every cat is named Bella. She loves our doggies.

I think the sweetest thing she says besides "mommmy"  is when she says "papa" Especially if we are out and about and he is ahead or behind us and she says "papa" in the most adorable way.

Tonight, I kind of wanted to go to the Y again, but I didn't want to go because I like to have my good size towel for my shower. Plus, I worked early today and wanted to stay home. I did feel like I really needed a walk and it was too dark for me to go.
Tad said, he would walk with me around the neighborhood with the dogs. So, I talked Tyler into coming with us and we walked about an half hour. It was just enough to satisfy my craving to walk.
Tad is so sweet like this though. He always tries to go out of his way to do the little things to keep me happy.

I got my nails and feet done on Sunday and we went out to John's. We hardly ever get to sit down to a meal on our own. Mostly, we have kids and when I come home in the evenings it's just too late to eat together. Then, Monday, I got my hair done. It's so short and thin compared to normal. I love how Tad encourages me to do things that make me happy. I love him so much.

I love tax refunds. It's like Christmas for the grown ups. Last year, we bought the new floor and this year our major thing was getting Tad and me a bed. It's going to be so nice to actually sleep together again. I hope Ann doesn't get hurt that she can't sleep with me. She is still my baby!

We were able to pay up all our bills. It feels nice to start fresh with them. Hopefully, we can stay on top of them for a while.

Tomorrow, I am getting a pedicure and a manicure at Walmart.  I haven't been back there since Ashley moved away. I hope it doesn't make me sad. I really miss her. She just got a new job being a nanny. I hope she likes it. I think she will be good with the kids.

I called into work cause I am sick.. I been fighting this illness for over a week but it just got worse. I ache from coughing so much. Tad has been really good and taking care of me. He is so sweet. I hope I can make it to babysitting but if I can't then they will survive without me. I figure right now I just need to rest and not run here and there. I hate getting smaller checks cause I miss work but I can't help it.

I wish I could just lay down and sleep but I am feeling kind of achy from laying around too much.