Dear Santa…

17 Dec 2017 1 Comment

by Joyce Stath in Christmas, Empty Nest, Family, Holidays, Middle age and women Tags: , , ,

Dear Santa:

I realize I’m not some cute little blonde kindergartner; I’m a no-longer-cute, 50 year old menopausal nana. After years of making sure everyone else has a perfect Christmas experience, complete with decorations in every room, cookies baked months in advance and tucked away in the freezer, and perfectly chosen, beautifully wrapped gifts, I’m exhausted. I’ve decided it’s my turn. Hell, I’ve been exceptionally good this year; I deserve my own visit from Santa.

I know you’re a busy guy, so I’ll try to make things easy for you. The following is my grown-up Christmas list, in no particular order.

  1. Please make these hot flashes go away. They are not very sexy, although my husband kind of likes them since they typically happen at night and I end up stripping. However, I prefer to maintain a tolerable body temp and to keep my clothes on. Most of the time, anyway. I am trying to stay on your ‘nice list’ afterall.
  2. Santa, since I’ve turned 50, I keep gaining weight. I can hardly eat a slice of bread without seeing the needle on the scale inch toward the right. I would really like to have my 30-year-old body back – the one that could eat pizza and ice cream and not gain weight. I wouldn’t even complain about the stretch marks. Just let me eat some bread, dammit!
  3. I would like a new bathroom mirror. Every time I look in mine, my mother is looking back at me. It’s really creepy, Santa. All I see are crows’ feet accentuating squinty eyes, lines criss-crossing some old lady’s forehead, and the down-turned corners of my mother’s mouth. When I inquire, “Who’s the fairest of them all,” my mother peers back and replies, “Sure as hell not you, Sweetheart!”
  4. While you’re at it, I also need a new full-length mirror. Please make it a high quality one, not some cheap piece of crap like I currently own. The one I have adds at least 15 pounds. Seriously. They don’t make those things like they used to.
  5. I could really use some magic joint cream (not a magic joint; I’m too old for those now). I’ve noticed when I am wrapping all those gifts, it takes me much longer to get up off the floor. And it hurts. What’s up with that? Is that why old people resort to gift cards? They can no longer sit on the floor to wrap gifts in the glow of the tree lights? Well, now that I think about it, maybe a joint would help these aches and pains – or at least make me not care. Medical marijuana is a thing, right?
  6. You know that crepey, saggy skin you brought me last year? Take it back. I don’t like it at all. It totally ruins my cool nana image, and, well, it just doesn’t look good at all. It’s a little embarrassing to be in a plank position in yoga class, and to see my skin touching the floor.
  7. Santa, let’s talk boobs and ass. Not in a ‘Santa is a pervert’ way, though. I realize there isn’t much to talk about, but mine seem to be heading south. Could you just drag them a little northward with you? You’re already heading that direction, so it shouldn’t be a big deal. I just want some perkiness. Is that too much to ask?
  8. Something is happening to my eyes. Could you please bring me a new pair of eyes? I just want to be able to read menus in dimly lit restaurants without pulling out my Iphone flashlight. For some reason, that embarrasses my kids. And any font smaller than 12 is also impossible to decipher, even with my trusty bifocals.
  9. I’d like my own elf. You seem to have plenty at the North Pole, so surely you could spare just one. My elf could decorate my house, buy and wrap all the gifts, bake the cookies, plan the meal, clean my house, and just bring about overall Christmas cheer. I could actually sit back and enjoy the holiday season instead of always feeling like I’m behind. I could attend holiday parties and drink wine; I could sit and gaze at our perfectly decorated tree and drink wine; and I could watch Elf and drink wine. Imagine what fun that would be (okay, I’ve done that, and it really is fun!). I would even be willing to put out cookies and wine for you on Christmas Eve. Wouldn’t that make your trip more interesting?
  10. I’d really appreciate a smaller house. I know most people ask for bigger and better, but I want just enough space for my husband and me because people keep moving in. It had been daughters moving back and grandsons taking up residence; we’ve housed a German exchange student and a college friend of our youngest, but now our empty nest is full because of my brother. Our life is like some bad comedy where the crazy uncle moves in. We finally get rid of all the kids and have four glorious months of having the house all to ourselves, and boom! Once again our nest explodes. Think one bedroom, Santa.
  11. Finally, Big Guy, my list seems a little self-centered, so in the spirit of Christmas, I’d also like to ask for something for my neighbors near and far, both democrats and republicans. Please, PLEASE, cancel Trump’s Twitter account.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

 

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Here we go again…

08 Jan 2015 Leave a comment

by Joyce Stath in Aging, Biggest Loser, Exercise, Fitness, Getting my Mojo Back, Holidays, Inspirational, Inspirational, Middle age and women, New Years Resolution, Women's Running Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Well, it’s January. Once again, we have a chance to start all over. We can make resolutions, start a new fitness plan, set goals. The year is ours; we can make it the best year ever. “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.” Blah, blah, blah. Why is we start the new year off with great expectations, work towards those goals, and then our enthusiasm fizzles out as the year progresses.

Working in a gym, I see this trend every year. In January when resolutions are made, there’s not an empty treadmill or elliptical in sight, and classes are jam-packed with enthusiastic newbies. We are excited! We are going to lose weight and get buff by summer. We’re going to finally get that washboard stomach, get rid of our jiggly arms, and hell, we’ll just run a marathon while we’re at it. And then we discover it’s hard work. And it isn’t quite as fun as we thought. And the Bachelor is on, and it’s so much easier to sit on the sofa and watch these already buff young women drool over some egotistical man with finely tuned abs and great hair. We’ll go to the gym tomorrow. But then Idol is on, and the kids have homework, and…well…maybe the gym just isn’t for me. Who really wants to sweat on purpose? By February classes are full, but not packed, and by March it’s back to normal. We might have a few newbies who found they enjoy the results of their hard work. They realized that those rock-hard abs and Michelle Obama arms take time, and they’re willing to work for it.

Those who stick it out make it through most of the year maintaining our routines; we run races, go to classes, watch our diets, and encourage our friends to join us in the new healthy lifestyle. Then the holiday season hits. And it hits hard. Personally, I held it together really well until November 2; November 1 I ran a half marathon – I was in optimal (middle-aged-nana optimal) shape. After that I cut back on my running, but continued to teach Tabata and HIIT. Along comes December: parties, baking, and dinners…oh, my! I was still teaching and running a little (very, very little), but I was eating everything in sight. I begin baking Christmas cookies in mid-November, and I eat them as they come out of the oven. Somebody has to make sure they’re fit for human consumption. The cookies bring pounds. The pounds bring chub. The chub brings tight clothes.

This year was particularly rough. My father-in-law was very ill over Christmas, so we spent our time either sitting in the ICU waiting room or making the 2 1/2 hour trek to the hospital. My plans of running every day of our break went out the window. Cafeteria food, fast food, and cookies went in my mouth. One day I was feeling especially frisky, so I managed to walk a mile worth of laps at the hospital. I got some strange looks from the staff, but I needed to move. It still amazes me that it takes so long to get in shape and feel comfortable doing squats, burpees, and push-ups, but take one week off and I have to start all over.

It’s now 2015, and like many Americans, I have vowed to get back in shape. I run the Biggest Loser competition at our school, and the first weigh-in is tomorrow morning. I ate chicken bacon ranch pizza for dinner. Four pieces. That was totally unnecessary (but gosh, it was GOOD!). I’ve gone to the gym every morning before school, even a morning that I didn’t teach, so I could’ve slept in. (On a side note, I find it completely depressing that I now consider sleeping until 6:00 am sleeping in.) I am not going to be on a Biggest Loser team, but I am going to do the weekly weigh-ins and try to get to where I need to be. I am going to try to eat healthier (I say that every year). But really, 2015 is going to be the BEST YEAR EVER. Until December, and then 2016 is going to be the best year EVER!

‘Tis [Almost] The Season!

17 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by Joyce Stath in Christmas, Christmas Decorations, Christmas Too Early?, Holidays, Thanksgiving Tags: , ,

At this time of year, people often complain that we begin with Christmas festivities too early, and skip right over Thanksgiving. I am one of those who begins preparations in November, and that includes getting my Christmas decorations up. This is the third year that I’ve decorated opening weekend of deer season. Gary’s busy hunting, and I have the house to myself, so why not? I discussed this with a friend who says we are at opposite ends of the holiday spectrum. He’s just not into Christmas. As I decorated yesterday, I thought about why I enjoy getting into the holiday spirit, and why I start so darned early.

notchristmasyet1

First of all, the holidays are a lot of work, particularly for women. We decorate, bake, shop, wrap, plan, clean, address, and on and on. And this is on top of our regular schedule of work, kids, laundry, errands, and various sporting events and meetings. There have been years that I have dreaded Christmas because there is just so much to do. My husband helps, but ultimately, most of the work falls on me. Getting started early takes away some of that stress. The more I can check off my list in November, the more I can enjoy December. I spend hours decorating, and since I have the bulk of that done, it’s one less thing to worry about. I also have eight different types of cookies baked and in the freezer, and will bake several more over the coming weeks. Since I started baking early, I have time to try out new recipes and enjoy the process. There is nothing better than spending a Sunday afternoon listening to Christmas music and baking cookies. I have some gifts bought, which is actually necessary because we will have Christmas with our daughter Morgan and her family early in December, and many of our gifts need to be shipped.

christmas

But more than the practicality of getting ready early, I just love my decorations. Addison told her friend that I clear off every shelf and table and replace everything with Christmas. I’ve put up two trees, and we will put up our real tree Thanksgiving weekend. We are going to add a fourth next year (Hubby’s idea). My girls love our house during the holidays, and I love that they enjoy it. My holiday decor is meaningful, and as I take each item out, it brings back memories. I have decorations that were gifts from customers I had when I did hair, from friends, from my sister, and from my kids. I have Possible Dreams Santas I’ve collected over the years. I have two gorgeous nativity sets. One of our trees has all antique and old-fashioned ornaments, some of which were from Gary’s family. The tree that’s upstairs has all glass ornaments that Gary and I have been buying since we got married. Our traditional tree will have ornaments the kids have made, and our family favorites. Some of my most treasured decorations are Santas made by Ethel Mae Kleeman. For years Ethel Mae spent her time turning any piece of wood available into an old-fashioned Santa; they are beautiful. Because she no longer makes them to sell, I wish I had bought more when I had the chance. I have ornaments that were made by a local lady, and those are also irreplaceable.

So, while some might think it’s too early to get out the Santas or lights, I want to enjoy them as long as I can; I want to have time to cherish the memories. Since Christmas music really is my favorite kind of music, why would I only listen to it one month out of the year? We’ve been singing Christmas songs for a few weeks, and it makes us happy. Our love of Christmas in no way takes away from Thanksgiving. We have our own Thanksgiving traditions, such as going for an early morning run, watching the Macy’s parade, and eating too much. We are thankful for so much, the most important of which is the birth of Jesus, so why not have our nativity sets up on Thanksgiving? It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Fitness (that is what this blog is supposed to be about)…The 40 Days of Fitness Holiday Challenge begins this coming Sunday. It’s a good thing since I have skipped exercise the past four days! I haven’t skipped that many days in a row in months and months! And since I have been baking, skipping workouts is not advisable. The challenge will run Sunday through January 1. Anyone can join no matter where you live since it is run through our Facebook page. If you are interested, search 40 Days of Fitness on FB. Ask to join our page, and sign up. We can hold each other accountable for burning up those holiday calories.

Peace, Love, and Happy Thanksgiving!