I like action

Just Call Me Demolition Girl

November 26, 2012 by Kristin Glasbergen 8 Comments

Almost three months after we’ve moved in I’m still struggling to figure out where to put all our things and how to make do with the current décor until the time comes to rip down all the walls and renovate the whole place. Easier said then done.

I was making my humble Christmas list this week and sure, there’s a whole lot (a real whole lot) of fancy things I could list, but what I really want more than anything is a new laundry room. I might of said that on Facebook and it might have become quite controversial. To be clear, I would like a new laundry room for Christmas, the rest of you good people can ask Santa for whatever your hearts desire. My laundry room dream does not and will not affect what’s under the tree for you Christmas morning. Okey doke?

Still a new laundry room isn’t a traditional Christmas present but I have good reasons for asking. Very good reasons.

Exhibit A – The laundry sink

This beauty is the sump pump. From what I gather it’s needed to pump the drain into the septic tank because this sink is below grade. Whatever, it’s freakin’ ugly and I don’t want any part of it. There’s no automatic feature on this model, I need to stand there and activate it until it empties the sinks. Excellent use of my time.

It’s important to note that this pump has live wires on the top. Live wires in the sink, with water. I know this because one day when I was cleaning paint brushes I flicked the stick with my wet hand.

I won’t do that again.

Exhibit B – The fake bricks

I get that some people have different ideas about what makes up a pretty home. But I challenge anyone to agree that fake bricks have a place inside a home.

I should be clear, some of this bricks are real but they are like a brick front, like a tile of brick. Some of these, most of the white ones, are plastic with a wood back. All are glued on and grouted with cement. It’s so very pretty.

There is no place in my laundry room for fake bricks.

Exhibit C – There’s no heat.

I don’t have a picture of the non-functioning radiator. I am planning a sewing table and a craft station in the laundry room and I think heat would make big projects more enjoyable. I do live in Canada.

I rest my case. You fine jurors can decide for yourselves, is a laundry room makeover a worthy Christmas present or not?

Whatever your decision I am renovating it anyway, in fact I’ve already started. I took off a few bricks as an exploratory exercise and the next thing I knew I was throwing around a hammer and a crowbar and standing in a pile of rubble.

Yes Kristin there is mouse poop in those walls.

This archway was a nasty bit of work. The fake bricks were glued and nailed in, plus it was above my head. I couldn’t wear the safety googles with the dust mask because they fogged up. I was forced to decide whether to protect my eyes or my lungs. I went with lungs, currently I am flushing 14 lbs of cement dust out of my eyes. I also had to master the tricky work of using a hammer and crowbar above my head.

I managed but I haven’t been able to lift my arms since.

A good day’s work. Next up I’m getting a dumpster and recruiting a demolition team, there’s A LOT more bricks left.

Lesson Learned: catch up on your laundry before you decide to make a dusty mess of the the washer and dryer.

Filed Under: I like action, Moving to a new house

Remembering Why I Run

June 25, 2012 by Kristin Glasbergen 5 Comments

Remember when I was a healthy blogger and leading the healthy parade?

When I retired Peace, Love and Muesli I might of also retired many of my strict healthy eating guidelines. I might of also started eating potato chips with abandon and given up all forms of exercise.

I have a really good excuse.

I was emotionally bereft. I couldn’t possibly exercise my body while all my energy was being used in mending my broken spirit. Right?

But then my pants stopped doing up. I can’t admit that I enjoyed that. So I started running, again.

And it hit me. I wasn’t running because I was a healthy blogger, I was running because it makes me feel good. And capable and smart and fit. Running is also excellent for healing a broken spirit.

I believe those are called AHA moments. Especially gratifying when they come with the added benefit of doing up your pants.

Last year at BlogHer in San Diego I signed up for and ran the 5K, both mornings. This year my BlogHer conference goal to stay up past 8pm and maybe even do a little dancing. I decided there would not be enough room for running shoes in my carry on suitcase. Dancing shoes only.

Then I remembered the high fives from the hardore runners while I completed my first 5K run and the friends I met during the run. It’s not dancing but it’s a pretty fun time.

Move over dancing shoes and make room for my sneaks.

Just to be sure I wouldn’t change my mind I joined Run. Blog. Give. with Jamie from Chosen Chaos, she’s encouraging us to collectively run the distance from San Diego to New York City. And to donate money per mile or kilometer to a charity of your choice. There’s no losing!

If you are coming to BlogHer join me and log your kilometers with Jamie.

Now if only someone could do something about this heat wave.

P.S. I just finished reading Ashley Judd’s memoir and she had great things to say about Women for Women International, a charity supporting women survivors of war. I’ll be donating my money there.

Filed Under: I like action

Take Me Home For A Rest

June 18, 2012 by Kristin Glasbergen 6 Comments

As a rule I avoid crowds. In the warmer months that rule becomes strict, if I am sweating I am best a solitary creature. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve lost conciousness from heat exhaustion at summer time gatherings. For winter time events I’m there, I will happily sit through sleet or snow bundled in my long underwear for the Santa Claus parade. Just don’t ask me to sit in the sun.

This past week my mental health support team challenged me to wake up each morning and tell myself what I wanted to create for that day. Like an affirmation, today I want to create a sense of peace.

This past weekend my city was hosting it’s annual Sound of Music Festival, a free music festival complete with marching band parade. I’ve happened on the parade in the past but was unable to enjoy it due to heat and crowds. This year I was determined to find myself a shady spot to enjoy every pipe and drum band from here to Cape Breton. And Spirit of the West was playing. There was no holding Ken back from an afternoon concert remembering his younger days.

All this in the heat. With people. Insane amounts of people because there was a rumour going around that Justin Bieber was going to show up. Spirit of the West themselves helped spread it.

So we packed up a picnic and suncreen and headed out for a day of music in the sunshine. But before I left I told myself ”Today I am going to create a fun family day.” And I did. I sat in the grass of the waterfront park with a whole lot of people, mostly parents encouraging their kids to enjoy a healthy dose of Celtic drinking music and I had fun.

Until I got home and the magic spell wore off and my feet hurt up to my ribcage from marching around the city four times. I lay in bed after all the excitement and I said to myself ‘Tomorrow I am going to create a day of rest with my feet up.”

P.S. Justin was a no show. He’s probably scared of crowds and heat.

In case you are unfamiliar with Spirit of the West I will remedy that for you. Please enjoy Home for a Rest.

Filed Under: I like action

I Ran And Ran And Ran, Then Ran Some More

May 2, 2012 by Kristin Glasbergen 7 Comments

Saturday morning I woke up crazy early, like 6:30. Which after a day at Great Wolf Lodge is pretty close to torture.

The ever helpful Mandi offered to pick me up, so there was no hiding under the covers. Darn. Saturday morning brought a chill and I had to wear Ken’s really nerdy windproof hat. No laughing please.

From left to right: Mandi, me in pink (with nerdy hat), Laurie and Tobias.Watch out for Tobias, he’s about to do some big things. Don’t let his ‘crazy’ face fool you.

Team run like stink before the race. That wasn’t our real team name or anything, I just made that up. But we really did run just like stink. From left to right: Mandi, me, Agnes, Tobias, Laurie and Bryan. Agnes joined us for a 5K warm-up and then went on to do another 10K as she gets ready for a marathon.

See? There I am running and stinking. That’s Agnes’ hand reaching back to pull Laurie and I on. Cause that’s what marathon runners do, encourage. This is not the first time I’ve run 5K with hardcore runners and every time I’ve been overwhelmed by their support and encouragement. Good people those marathoners.

We survived and finished and the sun even came out for us. Mr. Tobias finished his 5K in 27 minutes! Faster than all of the ladies and faster than his dad. My time was 44 minutes.

This is the third 5K run I’ve done. The other two I trained for and was ready. This one, not so much. I just went.

The scariest part was when they handed me a timing chip and I realized that this was a race. Uh oh. Turns out I run way better unprepared. No doubt a team of friends helped too.

The race was in aid of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Laurie was the top fundraiser at the race, raising over $1500. A pretty special moment.
Visit Laurie’s blog, finding my inner me, to read her account of the race. Her first one!

Pictures were taken by Mandi and Michael. Thanks friends for letting me share them.

Filed Under: I like action, Life as I know it Tagged With: I am a runner, they gave me a medal

The Bike Show, Fun For Everyone. But Mostly Boys Who Like Bikes

March 7, 2012 by Kristin Glasbergen 13 Comments

Last Saturday I was treated to an extra special day at the Toronto International Bike Show. It’s a good time. A crowded room full of bikes and bike gear and bike parts. The kind of date any woman would like.

Not a potato chip in sight for good spirits. And I really searched.

On the upside, I did get a new bike. It’s a Marin something, something, with 10 speeds. I haven’t owned a bike in some years and I was more than wobbly trying it out on the tight cornered track at the bike show. Also I had to dodge every manner of serious bikers riding serious bikes. No, there’s no pictures of that.

Ken did most of the testing for me. Both at the show and at home. FYI- he got his own new bike. Why is he riding mine? Good question.

My girls are pretty confident on their bikes so they saddled up to show me how it’s done. I was told that I must pedal. Sounds hard.

Jiggs, our dog, wanted in on the biking action but he’s recovering from surgery. Be thankful the shadow from his ear is hiding the 8 inch franken-incision. He’s whining his face off because Ken and the kids are biking on the street and he’s stuck with me, he hates to be left behind.

Finally it was my turn. I’m pleased to report I mastered turning around. Then my fingers froze and I packed my bike away until the spring.

Filed Under: I like action, Life as I know it Tagged With: ride my bike

Practising do

February 24, 2012 by Kristin Glasbergen 6 Comments

Once upon a time a very wise friend taught me a lesson. It was the lesson of do. I don’t remember where or when, I suspect it was in response to some lamenting and carrying on I was writing about. But I remember the lesson.

Only I don’t always remember. It seems I needed a refresher. And I got it. Hooray for friends that don’t give up on your when you don’t learn something the first time.

That great friend, Sara from My Points of View, provided a much needed refresher this week to do. On Tuesday’s “oh poor me, I hate cleaning up” post, she commented-

I am one of those tidy people who loves to clean. Sorry. Part of it might have to do with having a PT job for 8 years (as a teen) that involved A LOT of crazy cleaning (at a vet clinic). Since then nothing has seemed as gross or bad

I divide my tasks up and since I got pregnant have enlisted kid/DH help. Mondays I dust, Tuesday’s I do bathrooms (all four), Wednesdays or Thursdays I vacuum and mop all the floors and twice a week I tackle a big job (purging one room, baseboards on one level). I clean the kitchen after every meal and do any task I see that takes less then 5 mins when i see it. And I agree with Heather Anne – regular/massive purging makes it so much easier to maintain!!!

Since Tuesday I have been going about my house cleaning business thinking “This is a 5 minute or less job, I’m going to do it”

And you know what? That doing, it’s energizing. It makes me feel in control of my house. I am the boss of my house.

Practising do, who else wants to do?

Also, my dog has been to the vet twice in 3 weeks to have a cyst drained- ugh and yuck, cleaning up that mess would be enough to make me laugh in the face glitter and barbie shoes. But I am not brave enough to actually do that.

Filed Under: I like action Tagged With: practising