Venus Musings

Another Year Older

So it's my birthday today. How did I get so old? I must ask myself this every year, but it's true. I don't feel old, until I watch things like the Olympics and realize most of the athletes are the same age as kids I used to babysit in high school. Recently I learned I'm two months older than Jon Hamm from Mad Men, whose birthday is in March. Sigh.

Speaking of Jon Hamm/Donald Draper ...

Thanks to Netflix and various clips on Jezebel I've become thoroughly addicted to Mad Men. But that's another post.

Here is the book I'm currently reading for book group, and since it's based on a true story of the husband and wife who operated the zoo in Warsaw at the time World War II began I'm expecting it to be an excellent read.

I've been in my current book group for over a year. I joined an existing group of women who've known each other for years and host each meeting with lovely homecooked meals and plentiful bottles of wine. From time to time friends with older daughters bring their girls' hand-me-downs to share, which has resulted in some new playclothes for Anna's wardrobe. I'm scheduled to host in April and have been assured that if I don't feel like cooking it's quite acceptable to just order pizzas, so I have a feeling that may be what I do this time around.

What will year 39 bring? So far, we've planned a trip to Disney World for March, and Edwin is planning a solo trip to Holland at the end of June. I'm not sure if I'll be taking any other trips, I still haven't been to Annapolis for work and wouldn't likely go too far in the summer months. So we'll see.

I've been running again, mostly on the treadmill at the YMCA. I'm quite spoiled in that I go during quiet times and spend an entire hour on the machine. All of their machines have televisions built into them which helps fill the time immensely, and keep my mind off the aches and pains. My clothes are fitting better and I'm hopeful that by spring I won't be embarrassed to break out the shorts and skirts.

More another time.

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

So It's Been a Long, Long Time

Wow, August. My thoughts have even turned to the State Fair. As usual, time flies.

I'm now on Facebook, so for anyone reading this who knows me, feel free to "friend" me out there. I check that website far more frequently, and as soon as I can figure out how to update via my new cell phone I expect to be out there even more.

Summer is generally my busiest time of the year work-wise. This year hasn't been as bad as the last two--I haven't been bringing work home as much and all the tasks I have going on are under control. So this time around I haven't been desperate for help from colleagues, my work is just about wrapped up for the 2009 legislative session (for Maryland).

This week I'm excited to take a trip to Denver to visit my good friend, Dana, who lives there now. Excited, but I have a feeling I might cry on my way to the airport as it will be the longest time I will have ever spent away from Anna. I'm leaving very early Thursday morning and returning Sunday afternoon. Before this, we've only been apart for a weekend while Edwin has taken her and Sasi camping. Sigh. I'll write a note for her to read when she wakes up.

Trip to Como Zoo and Conservatory

A couple weeks ago, while Edwin and Sasi were busy for the day, I took Anna to the Como Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul.

Of course we took a ride on the carousel ...

And eventually we found the gold fish pond at the Conservatory ...

Recent Photos of Miss Boo

Trip to the Children's Museum

Giving Clifford a high five

Sweeping the kitchen floor is more enjoyable when done in a tutu

Keeping still for a close-up

We giggled for a long time over Anna's blue tongue

By the way, still not drinking pop

I took a couple sips of Anna's Sprite the other day, otherwise I haven't had any pop since giving it up for Lent this year. I can't believe I've been able to give it up this easily, wow. The biggest difference I've noticed is that it feels like I can control my snacking better, that I have more days where I haven't snacked at all between meals. I'm hopeful that over time this will make a difference weight-wise, we'll see!