Hint, hint

I hope that by adding a link (below) to his burgeoning blog, Superman will be inspired to keep up the great writing.

Grabbing life by the horns

The terms "grab life by the horns" and "jump right in" always conjure images of risk and reward in my mind -- positive images.

I'm not a thrill seeker in the bungee-jumping sense. But I believe in taking not-so-calculated risks in the way I live my life. Without them, afterall, I'd be seriously lacking in some grand rewards, none the least of which is my ab-fab husband.

Admittedly, I have little to no understanding or empathy for people who don't share my thinking in this area. The words "playing it safe" send unwelcome shivers down my spine. Why? What's the point? Especially when one's current circumstances leave so much to be desired. If you're unhappy at Point A and a happier Point B is attainable, why the heck aren't you moving in that direction?

I should have more patience for people who aren't like me; Lord knows all the long-suffering folks who have to put up with my own weird quirks. But it's just so difficult to grasp, this refusal to take chances and change one's situation. Sure, after talking to individuals like this, I find out they have taken risks in their lives -- who hasn't? But their years on this planet are better characterized by often unhealthy decisions that seemed safer at the time.

I think it must be closely related to the Martyrdom Syndrome: As you watch a good opportunity approach, it does so slowly, like a float in a parade. You have all the time you need to think up reasons for not jumping onboard. By the time it's right in front of you, your only choice (or so you think) is to wave and breathe a sigh of relief when it's passed. "Well, too late now."

That's no way to live.

Who am I to say what's the right way to live? No one, really. I only say it from experience, limited as it is. I've really screwed up a few times when I took a leap before looking. On the other hand, I can "safely" say some of the greatest parts of my life wouldn't be there if I didn't pursue the unknown wholeheartedly like a belly-flop off a cliff.

So jump on in -- the water is fine. But why take my word for it?

Year of the Underdog

What an intriguing year it's been thus far...

Last day

Last Thursday was my last day at a couple of things: Babysitting The Little Smiler and working out at Gold's Gym (at least for the next few months). I said goodbye to TLS without any tears...most likely because I'd gotten them all out in bed the night before. I miss my little daytime companion; three and a half months was a good run and I can only pray his next caretaker loves on him even better than I did!

As with most things in life, the timing on both of these changes was divinely providential. No sooner had the first day after the holiday weekend dawned than pregnancy began to soundly kick my butt. The details aren't important, but I suddenly find myself the kind of immobile that prevents me from being either a great babysitter or a great gym rat. So here I stand--or sit, rather--on the home stretch and feeling fairly worthless. But I know the time that remains will fly, and that's just fine by me.

In the meantime, a little something to commemorate the things that helped occupy my spring and early summer.

Things I will miss about The Little Smiler:
• That face--how could anyone not miss that face?
• The way his mouth would contort into a "Wallace and Gromet"-style smile when he was overly excited.
• That he could just sit on my lap for an hour as long as sound effects were involved.
• His crazy cowlicks.
• Hearing him attempt to use our door knocker every morning.
• The unpredictable and instantaneous switch from minor meltdown to burst of laughter.
• Touching foreheads and giggling.
• Spontaneous, unsolicited cuddles.
Godspeed, little man!

Things I won't miss about Gold's for the next few months:
• Seeing just how much stomach my favorite showoff can display without giving away the farm.
• The old guy who sits at a reclining bike watching sports without moving a pedal the entire time I'm there.
• Being a captive audience to whatever VH1 crap "reality" show is playing on the single TV set in the lady's weight room.
• Spotting my husband lifting some obscene amount of weight--ouch!
• Not being able to break much of a sweat or burn too many calories because I'm pregnant--just seems unnatural at a gym.

If you like sports and breastfeeding...

...you'll appreciate this blog. Finally Superman has flown into the blogosphere!