It's Hammer Time

New Toys!

"I'll fix that window Aunt Linda!"

Guess who is here!  Yup, it's Thursday... Noah day!!  We missed him last week because Linda wasn't feeling good.  It's been 14 days and he has changed so much.  He hasn't stopped talking since he got here.  Most of it is gibberish, but every once in awhile, Linda can catch a kind-of word.  Definitely "Kitty" and he says "Uuuupie" dragging out the "U" sound of my name.  Linda's friend Charity gave her two boxes of toys that her son outgrew.  Noah is loving them.  His favorite is a toy hammer.  He's been hammering everything, including trying to hammer me!   Linda put us outside for a bit until he loses interest in the hammer.  Linda is going to make homemade pizza for lunch since Noah loves it so much.  For dessert, she is going to give him a fig newton. 

Denim Addiction

These are not Linda's jeans.  she does not like them faded.

Linda is very excited about Tier's www.rubywoolovesyou.com upcoming blog posts.  She is doing a series called "Five Paychecks Away From Building a Better Wardrobe."   Linda has plenty of clothes.  Probably enough to never buy another thing article of clothing again in her lifetime and still never be naked in public.  But she often feels like she has nothing to wear.  Her closet is full of mismatched pieces and jeans.  Yes, jeans.  Ever since she can remember, she has loved buying jeans.  Whenever she goes shopping with Tierney (aka Ruby Woo), Tier says "MOM, PUT BACK THE JEANS!" in that yelling voice.  Tier loves buying lipstick.  It makes her feel hopeful.  It makes her feel like just for a minute, as you swipe that Russian Red across your lips, everything in the world is alright.  Linda feels that way when she puts on a pair of perfect jeans.  When the legs are long enough, the rise not too low, there is no gap in the waistband, the fabric has just the right amount of stretch and most importantly, they make her look thin... she has to have them in her closet.  Recently, she purged her closet and gave away about 1/2 of all her jean collection.  She made sure that she gave all the size 2's to a friend because Linda would often try them on and feel sad when they did not fit.  Now she is even convicted to give even more away and not buy one more pair for all of 2012!   Linda is going to follow Tier's advice because she is always spot-on when it comes to fashion.  The other day Linda wore a navy and white striped tunic with  leggings and a pair of leopard loafers.  Strangers were stopping her telling her they liked her outfit!  OK Ruby Woo, get typing. 

Say NO to Brain Tumors

That's Superwoman Carol in the Yellow Shirt

Race Update:  If you were thinking about making a pledge for Linda's race, you can now make a pledge in her name.  Go to this site:http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR.  Type in Linda Carr and you'll get to her page.  Her fund raising goal is $200, but she knows that's going to be impossible to reach because she never asks people face to face to contribute, donate or buy anything she is selling.  One time in TKD back before she owned the school, each student had to sell a box of candy bars to raise money to send a few of the kids to the Jr. Olympics.  Boy, after eating 24 giant size candy bars herself, she was off chocolate for months!  She couldn't even ask her friends to buy a $1.00 candy bar.  Anyway, if you want to make a pledge, that would be great.  Also, to read more about Carol's journey, you can visit her website at: http://www.adultependymomabraintumor.com/ 

Race for Hope

Every year, Linda runs this race in support of her good friend Carol Welsh.  Carol is an amazing woman who is a brain tumor survivor.  This years 5K race is on May 6th in Washington D.C.  If you would like to contribute, please go to http://www.braintumorcommunity.org. Under the donate tab, type in Carol Welsh.  Our team is called Friends of Carol Welsh.  If you would like to walk/run with Linda and her friends, you can talk to Linda or email her.   Linda and Carol are in this video at the 3:56 mark.  Just watching the video again made Linda cry.  All the survivors are wearing yellow shirts.  Watching the survivors riding in wheel chairs, using walkers and jogging is very emotional.  Last year, every time a survivor passed her during the race (some of the survivors are finishing in the top 10%!) she got choked up. 

One More Sleep Until Noah

Baby Noah.  This was before he even crawled!

The weather is still beautiful, but there won't be a walk tonight.  Linda felt great during her first 3 classes today.  No pain in her hip/back/leg.  She had an hour break, so she decided to lay down for a short nap before her afternoon classes.  Chimmie was outside on the deck, but I got up on The Big Bed with her.  Usually I lay next to her side, but today I decided to lay on top of her to nap.  I know I'm only 6 pounds (well, 6.4) but the pressure of my weight on her legs must have caused her nerve to pinch.  Ouch and double ouch.  She's been limping all afternoon and evening.   The pain is bunched up in her right glute and shooting down her leg.  Sitting in church was painful, but she prayed for it to be bearable so she could concentrate on the teaching. Tomorrow is Noah day so it just has to be better so we can take walks, play at the park and have fun. 

First Dog Park Visit of the Year

Chim's first dog park trip.  What a disaster! (Look, I'm bigger than he is!)

When Linda got in her car after her noon class, the temperature gauge read 80 degrees.  Yes, 80!  As she drove, it dropped down to 70, but that's crazy warm for February 1st!  Paul Walker took us to the dog park today.  The Big Dog side had a lot of dogs playing, but the little dog side was almost empty.  There was one pup there, but he had been there for awhile so was ready to go home after only 20 minutes of playing with us.  Chimmie did great, he wasn't scared at all.  If there would have been more dogs there, it would have been harder for him to relax.  All in all, (except for the excessive licking and his little problem with chewing things) he has turned into a very good dog.  Sure he's got lots of energy, but that's just his breed.  He actually listens on walks better than I do!  If I want to smell something, no amount of calling my name or tugging on the leash will get me to move.  You have to pick me up and move me from the smell.  Chim comes the second you say his name. 

"Save Me From These Killer Dogs!"

Special Delivery

I was warning baby Noah to stay away from Chip Cat.  (Chip actually loves Noah too and purrs when he is around.)

If yesterday was springlike, today will be summerish!  The temperature is going to be even warmer, maybe up into the high 60's.  It's February 2, isn't it supposed to be snowy and icy?  Linda turned the heat off yesterday and left it off all night.  Before she leaves for work, she is going to crack some of the windows to let some fresh air in.  Wednesday is our Paul Walker day because Linda has a lot of classes to teach.  The last two Wednesdays she has been home because she was sick, good for us... but really bad for her pocketbook.  (Oh no, Chip Cat is creeping along the carpet on her belly.  Chimmie  is sound asleep next to Linda's side. Chip likes to stalk Chimmie like she is a fierce jungle cat. She doesn't hurt him, she just likes watching him panic.  Bad cat.) 

The Bob Stroller should be coming today via UPS.  What is a Bob Stroller?  Well, it's this amazing stroller that is considered the Rolls Royce of all jogging strollers.  Linda recommended it to Taylor and Sarah because they both are runners and will want to be able to exercise with the baby.  It has a car seat adapter, a tray for your drinks and cell phones and even a weather shield (which they didn't want since neither one of them love running that much.)  Linda looked on Amazon where she ordered it and did not see an optional little dog carrier. That would be an awesome feature, don't you think? Taylor and Sarah tried the Bob out in a store and loved it.  He is very tall (6'5") and most strollers are too short for him to push comfortably.  This one fit him perfect and even accommodated his long stride. Sarah is 8 months pregnant now, it won't be long before we get a B A B Y!!!