Gettin' All-Primal in the Applachians page 2

[Crabbcakes]

Greetings, Journal!

That lack of splashing sounds two days ago, was, in fact, a lack of splashing sounds - I didn't hop into the pool. What I DID do was walk a few laps around the parking lot at Third's handicapped horseriding facility, though. I don't think I have ever, once, done that. Normally I choose to stay inside and kvetch with the moms and dads - my preferred activity. So Second and I did a few laps, nothing more than an amble. It was pleasant, as the riding facility is situated on a great piece of property, surrounded by not much else but open space. The wind was blowing, the other horses in the fields sometimes whinnying or making other horse-type noises. There is this great looong drive up to the arena, but you can't walk it without letting the riding instructor know you will be on the drive - the facility has strict rules about parents/guardian-types being within instant reach in case of a problem. Maybe I will do that soon, as Third has never had to get off the horse early.

(Every blue moon or so a kid gets pulled off of a horse for attempting to injure the horse, or a kid may have an emotional breakdown, or just whatever... the facility has fantastic instructors and facilities and training and horses and just everything, but sometimes the instructor makes the call to separate horse from kid for the benefit of both.)

For other news, I drank my last diet 7-Up yesterday. I do not plan to buy another 2-liter for the house. This will probably get ugly. I don't consider myself addicted to diet soda, but I was using it as a stop-gap in the battle against the Sugar Dragon. Growing up, we didn't have soda - it was Party Food, as in, if Dad bought a bottle of soda, you knew there was a Party coming. But Mom did buy tons of instant tea and Kool Aid - which we sweetened the shit out of. Then I grew up, and could buy anything I wanted, and drank a lot of sweetened fizzy waters and European stuff like that, seeing as how I was actually in Europe. I still take my herbal tea sweetened. Plain water is good, as long as it is ice-cold with so many ice cubes in it that it looks more like a melting glacier-in-a-glass. Even my wine tastes run that way - the sweeter, the better.

I am just more than a little bummed about this soda thing. I was secretly hoping to not have another Primal FOOD issue for a long time - five weeks of actual carb flu battle plus several weeks more of stabilizing, and here I am facing another one so soon. I could go buy another one right now; the car keys are right over there... - but I won't. I don't let the kids have it hardly at all, so I need to find the courage / conviction / whatever to get over this, too. Ratfarts (as the hubby says).

My last, other, crutch is dark chocolate. I don't plan on giving that up anytime soon. I think I would actually put myself in the psychological mindset where I would binge on something if I nixed soda AND chocolate. One thing at a time.

I think I need to get into the kitchen and make something liver-y. I bought some chicken livers, and they pep me up. I haven't eaten yet today, either. Might be most of my problem. Chicken liver sauteed in pastured butter, maybe some lacinato kale... hmmm. And maybe an organic veggie-tomato juice blend with some Greens-Plus - I have recently discovered a real liking for that combo. With some cod-liver-oil for dessert. And then a glass of buttermilk. Yeah - food it is.

We'll see how much meandering movement I can get up some enthusiasm for today. And, as is becoming my habit, I will let you, dear Journal, know...

[canio6]

Ah, a very nice journal indeed. I will have to up my word count in order to fit in I see. Dark chocolate can be part of a primal way of eating. Many people here eat it daily. As long as it is not derailing your goals or hurting you in other ways then why stress it? Soda, yeah, that is a different animal, but given my coffee consumption, I will be the last to cast a stone. You've figured out that it isn't good for you, and that is great. I salute your resolve.

Third's riding school sounds awesome. Do the other Crabbcake the youngers ride as well? Reading here and elsewhere it sounds as if you have a great grip on what the younglings enjoy. Was it two bookcases of library stuff? That is crazy sauce. That said, I imagine it blends well with the homeschooling. Kids that read are awesome as are their parents. Speaking of parents, I am totally stealing "Ratfarts." Thank your husband for me.

Good luck with your liver fest

[Crabbcakes]

Do the other Crabbcake the youngers ride as well?

They wish.

First and Second used to do lotsa dance and tae kwon do, and got costumes and trophies and tae kwon do belts. Then First, Second and Fourth joined gymnastics, which Second and Fourth still do. Then First, Second, and Fourth started to play piano, which all three still do. First, Second, and Fourth started lots of swim lessons at the Y... and between all of this, Third was getting beyond pissed. She wanted something to call her own.

Her school-based communication specialist was a volunteer at this horseriding facility, and told me about it. We went up there to check it out, just to do some recon, you know, and the rest is history. The facility is strictly handicapped-only, though. The only way you are getting on a horse there without being a client is to volunteer, and your riding chances are still slim, because they do so many clients there that the horses need a break.

We did get Third into a permanent handicapped private swim lesson at the same Y, though. So aside from therapies, she gets to go riding and swimming, all for herself. I would stick First, Second, and Fourth in riding lessons, but I myself do not ride, so I can't pick out a good stable/school to save my life. And the schedule just has to stop somewhere, even if the money held out, which it doesn't - you could spend a fortune on lessons for kids. The good teachers are so worth it, and I have done my homework so we have good ones, but still. Last I priced lessons, they ran $50 per kid per lesson. Hrmph. But it will be a good incentive for mine to get out there and work hard when they grow up - so they can afford this for themselves, you know.

[Crabbcakes]

Gruess dich, Journal!

I did some more WOMing today! I actually got my new-ish bike out and went for a spin on the dirt road! First was so incredulous, she actually asked me who I might be because the woman standing before her couldn't possibly be Mom. I love it! The Primal has me feeling so good right now that I am shaking up the old Mom paradigm! WoooHooo!

It is about nine-tenths of a mile from the garage door to the stop sign at the end of the dirt road, and I rode that up and back.
Well, let me clarify - I partially rode, and I partially walked the bike. Remember - we live in hilly country. But I got out of breath a bit, and I got slightly sweaty, and I got a whole lot of good mood out of that simple ride. I am still smiling - see ?

Wonder what I can get up to tomorrow... I still haven't conquered our pool yet. Perhaps...

And for those of you who like TMI - I had to switch jeans this morning. I put on a pair with a 36" waist, and had to trade down because I could actually slip them them over my bum without unzipping OR unbuttoning them! The smaller pair I chose is a pair I fit into a couple of years ago. I go into them otherwise well, but the waist was slightly pinchy - that was my back-to-earth-with-a-thump. But that is okay. I don't want to stop progress here. I don't mind being reminded of the work I still have ahead of me.

On the food frontlines, I had no soda today. Dark chocolate remains a daily part of the diet - the only kind I had in the house was Toblerone Dark, so I finished the big bar that I started a couple of days ago. I have never drunk coffee, but if this keeps up I may just end up with a theobromine habit. Salmon pancakes are a winner in this house. Third and Second both love them, as do I, and First decided to see what the fuss was about and stayed for a few more. If anybody wants my recipe, I would be happy to share - but you have to ask - I like talking to new people. So I think I have a permanent replacement for the sweet buttermilk pancakes that used to be served in the mornings sometimes.

I made myself known on another journal last night - canio6. Such a grumpy-ass guy, you wouldn't believe it (actually he is very sweet, but I don't want to ruin his street cred, you know?)! And a thread was erased. As I have mentioned, I am new to forum participation and didn't realize that could be done. Yesterday the discussion was raging, and this morning the whole, entire forty-three pages had disappeared into that place where Tron lives. Huh.

So, Journal of mine, off I go to stroll through the halls, corners and rooms of the MDA some more. Figlio di Moros and I are trying to best each other in the "worst non-Primal food ever eaten" category, and I think I might just have him with brewer's yeast non-dairy cheese sauce...

[canio6]

They wish...snipped but containing tons of cool kid stuff...

Okay then, so you must be the Queen of All Scheduling or is it Empress? I get confused. Speaking of confusion, I got lost somewhere around First, Second and...okay, were we swimming or gymnasticsing or...uh, yeah, this is why I would need a secretary if I ever had 4 kids. A secretary and a vasectomy.

It's great that Third has found fun things to do. Horse riding and swimming sounds like fun - not concurrently obviously, but you know what I mean. Your community seems very well equipped to facilitate those with special needs, which is very nice to see.

Also, given all the things One, Two, and Four seem to be up to, they can't really begrudge Third her time in the saddle. Heck, I am not sure they could fit it in even if money was free flowing for such things. $50 per lesson? Yes, little canio6 jr. might be earning those lessons mucking out stables. It does sound like excellent incentive for them to work hard.

I had no idea so much was going on in the Appalachians. Here I thought it was all folk music and coal mining. Shows what I know

[Crabbcakes]

I had no idea so much was going on in the Appalachians. Here I thought it was all folk music and coal mining. Shows what I know

Technically, you would be correct. I have to travel out of the county for these things. Here in the home county, there is folk music, deer hunting, gun collecting, tractor pulls, mining, tons of Utica shale fracking, corn fields, lotsa' hay fields, some beef and dairy cattle, long-haul truck drivers, and the Amish.

Yeah, I am pretty damn good at scheduling. Third has three therapies in the next city over, because a farm county like this one simply can't attract or support the high-powered sub-specialties we need to visit. So off to the city we go - and while I am there with Third, the other three come along and I drop them off at the Y and lots of other stuff that the city offers. It is a sad fact that the kids in this county have very little. Most locals think I am nuts for driving the way I do. It is just that this country house and land of ours is very therapeutic for everybody in this family - we had our eyes wide open when we bought it. And we come from NJ - one crazy friggin' commuting state, for sure. Ever meet anyone from NJ? They have iron in their asses - they will commute 4 hours in one direction just to go to an office job. My girls were born to travel, and we have it down pat. There is no such thing as "arrrrreeee we theeeeeere yet?" whiny nonsense. That got run out of them when Third started collecting diagnoses like snowflakes and we had to spend whole chunks of our lives at the children's hospitals and such. A one-hour ride into the city? Pfffft. Child's play.

Is there a caniojr?

[canio6]

Is there a caniojr?

Well, I was being more tongue-in-cheek that seeking accuracy. It's good you have patient (or well-trained, uh, raised) children who deal with the drive. Then again, a ride to a fun activity or a helpful one like a therapy appointment probably makes the drive less onorous. I know two people from NJ, though neither live their now, but since I have not done an indepth study of the make up of their asses, I will take your word for the iron content. A 4 hour commute one way? That would have to be the world's greatest office job, pay more than I could count, and have perks out the wahzoo.

Still, it is good you can appreciate a country type lifestyle and still have access to the specialists and activities your children need.

As for caniojr...no. I would not inflict myself upon an innocent child nor would I do that to the world at large. One of me is more than enough.

[Gravyboat]

Whiiiine~

Crabbcakes, the more I read from you, the more I wish I was one of your kids.

[canio6]

Whiiiine~

Crabbcakes, the more I read from you, the more I wish I was one of your kids.

you and me both

[Crabbcakes]

Whiiiine~

Crabbcakes, the more I read from you, the more I wish I was one of your kids.

(huge, red blush... thanks, you two!)