The other day I flipped on the TV and happened to catch a segment on
Rachel Ray's show with Tyra Banks. I'm not sure why I had turned the TV
because I only had a few minutes but it was long enough to watch Tyra
Banks give a quick tutorial on smokey eyes. The following day, I woke
up, and feeling all inspired by having watching Tyra's tutorial, I
actually put on some make-up.
But within five minutes I
realized I had a rare opportunity to go for a quick mid-morning jog
because my mom happened to be there and could watch my youngest. I
switched to running clothes and went for a little 4 mile jaunt, pretty
eye make-up and all. When I got home I took a quick shower because it
was now time to drive my mom to the airport. As I was headed out the
door, I glanced in the mirror and realized that I now had magnificent
smokey eyes. Though I do have to admit my method took a little more
time and effort than Tyra's.
Tuesday, October 11
Wednesday, September 28
Daytime Sky
Annika informed me that this was an x-ray of birds in the sky. Those dots are bugs they've eaten.
Triathlon
I haven't really mentioned this too much on here...probably because there hasn't been much mentioning going on, period *lowers head shamefully* - but this summer I have been on an exercise mission. After school got out for the summer, my friend Norma and I got up early every morning and we for an hour's bike ride. I was already participating in a beginner triathlon swim class at the gym so I continued to do that twice a week. Once in a blue moon I would also throw in a small jog for good measure. Eventually Norma and I started adding a longer bike ride on the weekends.
This was primarily prompted by my desire to get back in shape. Plus we had been talking about an Engen vs Prouty triathlon race. You may recall that last year I was part of a relay team at last year's Giant Acorn Triathlon. I did the swim leg and pretty much sucked because I didn't really know how to swim. But my teammates were good sports about it and I actually had a good time despite the chagrin of not being a very speedy swimmer. My awesome husband and father-in-law came down to support me so that's how the talk started. *ahem* I may have possibly challenged their family in a head-to-head competition.
Initially we thought that my brother Danny could swim against Justin. And then Bruce and I could go head-to-head on the bike. And then Dwight and my dad would meet on the running course. But then things got switched around. In the fall I took swim lessons. After the triathlon, I realized that I wanted to learn how to swim correctly - with my head in the water. It was so cool when it finally clicked for me and I started swimming laps and kinda looked like a swimmer. And then my brother got a road bike for Christmas. In the Spring Justin confirmed that he wouldn't be able to make it. So, it eventually morphed into this:
Swim: Heather vs Dwight
Bike: Danny vs Bruce
Run: Bob vs Mark
By the time I got our two teams signed up, I had decided to do the entire Sprint on my own. (The relay is for the international distance and the sprint is the following day.) In August I started training in earnest. Since then, six days a week, I've been biking, I've been running, I've been swimming, and sometimes two of the above (known as bricks, in the triathlon world). Two weeks ago I bought a used road bike. And now it's here - the big weekend. I've already picked up our wet suit rentals. On Friday we'll drive down to the house where we're staying for the race. Very exciting!
For a while Dwight has been teasing us that a Team Prouty win would also be a Team Engen win since he's been paying for my swim lessons and Danny's bike was given to him by Engens as well. So I designed some t-shirts, in that spirit.
By the way, I called our team TRI for 60 because my dad turned 60 this year and it's a special treat for my brother and I to get to spend some time with him.
This was primarily prompted by my desire to get back in shape. Plus we had been talking about an Engen vs Prouty triathlon race. You may recall that last year I was part of a relay team at last year's Giant Acorn Triathlon. I did the swim leg and pretty much sucked because I didn't really know how to swim. But my teammates were good sports about it and I actually had a good time despite the chagrin of not being a very speedy swimmer. My awesome husband and father-in-law came down to support me so that's how the talk started. *ahem* I may have possibly challenged their family in a head-to-head competition.
Initially we thought that my brother Danny could swim against Justin. And then Bruce and I could go head-to-head on the bike. And then Dwight and my dad would meet on the running course. But then things got switched around. In the fall I took swim lessons. After the triathlon, I realized that I wanted to learn how to swim correctly - with my head in the water. It was so cool when it finally clicked for me and I started swimming laps and kinda looked like a swimmer. And then my brother got a road bike for Christmas. In the Spring Justin confirmed that he wouldn't be able to make it. So, it eventually morphed into this:
Swim: Heather vs Dwight
Bike: Danny vs Bruce
Run: Bob vs Mark
By the time I got our two teams signed up, I had decided to do the entire Sprint on my own. (The relay is for the international distance and the sprint is the following day.) In August I started training in earnest. Since then, six days a week, I've been biking, I've been running, I've been swimming, and sometimes two of the above (known as bricks, in the triathlon world). Two weeks ago I bought a used road bike. And now it's here - the big weekend. I've already picked up our wet suit rentals. On Friday we'll drive down to the house where we're staying for the race. Very exciting!
For a while Dwight has been teasing us that a Team Prouty win would also be a Team Engen win since he's been paying for my swim lessons and Danny's bike was given to him by Engens as well. So I designed some t-shirts, in that spirit.
By the way, I called our team TRI for 60 because my dad turned 60 this year and it's a special treat for my brother and I to get to spend some time with him.
Thursday, September 22
Photography
Yesterday a strange thing happened to me. Actually, I'm jumping ahead of myself. Let me back up a bit and explain what's been going on.
We're a few weeks into school and lately I can't help but think and wonder about the next chapter in my life. My kids are growing up. Yes, yes, yes, I know my youngest is only three but I have no doubt that before I know it, she'll be headed off to school and I'll be left wondering where the time went. Not to mention, I think I'm a little restless to figure out a plan for what comes next. Remember, I'm a planner.
I had started to toy with the idea of graphic design. I have no doubt that's something I would enjoy. So I considered going back to school and then trying to get a gig as a freelance graphic designer. But I realized that trying to jump straight into freelance work was probably ambitious. I had the good sense to talk to a graphic designer friend and I quickly realized graphic design would not be a good fit for a busy, mother-of-four. We all sat around and brain stormed and once again, my friends encouraged me to pursue photography.
So, I've been thinking more about it and trying to figure out why I hesitate to throw myself into this and really pursue photography. In the meantime, a friend had contacted me about taking some photos for her club and while I was discussing the details with my husband I made a comment about a future point when people might start contacting me to take photos for them. Dwight said, "Heather, that's happening now. People you don't know want you to take photos for them. You need to start charging people."
And I realized with a shock that he's right. And then yesterday I had a moment. I was driving home from exercising and once again thinking about my future and mulling over photography as a career option. I picked up my kids and then happened to notice that my phone was blinking with a message. Someone had called while I was out exercising. I listened to the message and it was someone calling to ask me about taking photographs. Suddenly I felt like maybe the universe has been trying to tell me something and I keep ignoring it.
I love taking photographs. Why am I fighting this?
I'm sure it won't be easy. I'm sure it won't provide the most steady income but hey, something is better than nothing, right?! And maybe it won't work out. But I think I should give it a try. Fortunately I still have lots of time to ease into this.
And did I mention that I love taking pictures?
Today I took step one and started putting together a web site that I can refer people to. Check it out and tell me what you think. http://heatherengen.wordpress.com/
We're a few weeks into school and lately I can't help but think and wonder about the next chapter in my life. My kids are growing up. Yes, yes, yes, I know my youngest is only three but I have no doubt that before I know it, she'll be headed off to school and I'll be left wondering where the time went. Not to mention, I think I'm a little restless to figure out a plan for what comes next. Remember, I'm a planner.
I had started to toy with the idea of graphic design. I have no doubt that's something I would enjoy. So I considered going back to school and then trying to get a gig as a freelance graphic designer. But I realized that trying to jump straight into freelance work was probably ambitious. I had the good sense to talk to a graphic designer friend and I quickly realized graphic design would not be a good fit for a busy, mother-of-four. We all sat around and brain stormed and once again, my friends encouraged me to pursue photography.
So, I've been thinking more about it and trying to figure out why I hesitate to throw myself into this and really pursue photography. In the meantime, a friend had contacted me about taking some photos for her club and while I was discussing the details with my husband I made a comment about a future point when people might start contacting me to take photos for them. Dwight said, "Heather, that's happening now. People you don't know want you to take photos for them. You need to start charging people."
And I realized with a shock that he's right. And then yesterday I had a moment. I was driving home from exercising and once again thinking about my future and mulling over photography as a career option. I picked up my kids and then happened to notice that my phone was blinking with a message. Someone had called while I was out exercising. I listened to the message and it was someone calling to ask me about taking photographs. Suddenly I felt like maybe the universe has been trying to tell me something and I keep ignoring it.
I love taking photographs. Why am I fighting this?
I'm sure it won't be easy. I'm sure it won't provide the most steady income but hey, something is better than nothing, right?! And maybe it won't work out. But I think I should give it a try. Fortunately I still have lots of time to ease into this.
And did I mention that I love taking pictures?
Today I took step one and started putting together a web site that I can refer people to. Check it out and tell me what you think. http://heatherengen.wordpress.com/
Friday, September 2
Lace up your Running Shoes
This summer my kids participated in a running program. My one daughter really takes to running. This past Sunday they had a mock track meet and she walked away with two first place finishes and a second place finish. My other daughter is also fairly speedy, though less competitive. When she would pass me during her races, she would slow down to wave at me and smile. She still managed to get a third place ribbon despite her casual approach to the whole thing. But my proudest moment was actually with my son.
He is *not* a natural-born runner. It's not his passion, it doesn't come easily for him and to be honest, he doesn't even really like it. When the program started, he would run short distances and then stop because his knees were hurting. And he was never enthusiastic when it was time to leave for track practice. But I loved that he always had a good attitude while he was there. He'd run around the track with a smile on his face and my heart would be bursting with pride for this guy who is such a good sport.
At Sunday's track meet, the kids were allowed to sign up for a max of three events and the younger kids were encouraged to sign up for the shorter distances. My little runner signed up for the 100, 200 and 400. The other two were content with the 100 and 200. They all ran their races and they all did great but afterward, my son seemed to have some regrets that he had not tried the 400. So I encouraged him to go do it and I would wait. So he did. He ran around that track by himself, just to prove to himself that he could. And that my friends, was my proudest moment of the entire day.
He is *not* a natural-born runner. It's not his passion, it doesn't come easily for him and to be honest, he doesn't even really like it. When the program started, he would run short distances and then stop because his knees were hurting. And he was never enthusiastic when it was time to leave for track practice. But I loved that he always had a good attitude while he was there. He'd run around the track with a smile on his face and my heart would be bursting with pride for this guy who is such a good sport.
At Sunday's track meet, the kids were allowed to sign up for a max of three events and the younger kids were encouraged to sign up for the shorter distances. My little runner signed up for the 100, 200 and 400. The other two were content with the 100 and 200. They all ran their races and they all did great but afterward, my son seemed to have some regrets that he had not tried the 400. So I encouraged him to go do it and I would wait. So he did. He ran around that track by himself, just to prove to himself that he could. And that my friends, was my proudest moment of the entire day.
Sunday, July 31
ISO: An organizational mentor
I want to purge and simplify my life but I'm having a hard time getting started. Well, that's not completely fair. To be honest I've gotten much better about purging the last few years. But now I want to really go for it...but I can't quite seem to actually do it. I wake up with great intentions, sometimes, for example, I even make it down to the playroom, the site of my greatest intentions. The other day I even grabbed a trash bag and threw a few things in it. And then I stalled. Every time I try to start, I stall. HELP ME! I really, really want to simplify my life. I'm so tired of my house always being a cluttered disaster. How do I do this? Has anyone else been here? How do I begin?
Sunday, July 24
Whose dream is this anyway?
Hey guys...I've got a few minutes so I thought I would post a little something on the bloggy blog. It's been a busy summer. We've been doing a lot of swimming, some traveling, a lot of exercising (for me) and some soul searching mixed in (also for me). I think I'm at a weird stage in my life. I feel very "in between" these days. The kids are not little but they're not big either. Next year all the kids will be off to school...but only part time. I'm wondering when I should go back to work and what I should be doing when that happens. (Right now I'm leaning towards pursuing graphic design, in case anyone's wondering and wants to share their opinion.) I could ramble on for a bit about all the various ways that I feel "between" things, but I'm short on time so I won't. Mainly because I want to get to the point which is that I think I'm in the midst of a mini little mid-life crisis...of sorts...okay...maybe not a crisis but a minor mid-life scuffle. I live such a blessed life - I *know* that - but it's still not exactly what I thought it would be or even what I want it to be. So I'm trying to figure all of that out.
Oh...too funny...I just IMed with my friend and told her she was living the dream. She responded, "Whose dream?" That perfectly sums up what I'm feeling at this instant. And with that, I'm off to go retrieve my kids. Back to the grind.
Oh...too funny...I just IMed with my friend and told her she was living the dream. She responded, "Whose dream?" That perfectly sums up what I'm feeling at this instant. And with that, I'm off to go retrieve my kids. Back to the grind.
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