Search and you shall find

I love the Interweb!

Plagued with solving the puzzle of figuring out how many plastic playpen balls will be needed to fill the kiddie pool we are using for a treasure hunt at work in a few weeks, I was once again reminded that Google is the provider of all things info.

I found this. An online calculator that will show you how many playpen balls it would take to fill an apartment.

YAY!

From desired packing density, to number of balls to cost to fill the room. While not nearly impressive as the amount shown in the diagram - I now know that I need only 200 playpen balls to do what I need to do.

Random - yes. Useful - yes, yes! And to boot, the cartoon that inspired the development of the calculator - also fun.

Check it.
Cartoon courtesy: xkcd

Hey Smart Ass!

Yes, still playing with the bathroom.

After waiting at home while Jason made four trips to the tile supply store and a lot of me just staring blankly at the wall, I was bored. And when I'm bored, I get feisty.

Jason, "Draw me a picture..."

Dani [shrug], "Ok."

My smiley guy with the 'hee hee' comment resulted in the paper and pen being taken away from me, but we both got a good chuckle out of it.

Built to last

This is it.

Left leg upgrade is now complete. It was January last year when this adventure began. I think of the whirlwind of emotions, complications and victories that have filled me since my decision to have the hip replaced and I'm finally able to look back and say, "Yup, I'm glad I did that."

However, with great upgrades, come great responsibility.

The other day while driving to the grocery store I noticed a man struggling to limp across the crosswalk in front of my car. I silently reminded myself I have been given a remarkable opportunity that freed me from my battle with pain - I need to not take it for granted. But I have, because I know I can do more.

So I'm writing this note to myself...

Dear Self,


Push more! Stop talking about all of the activities you want to do and DO THEM. Finish building the foundation you need to overcome your fear and get back into the activities you love. You have the green light to do whatever you feel you can physically tolerate, so get out there and hit it. You are stronger than you think and are not going to get hurt again. If you don't - you're letting it all go to waste.

Thank you,
Ms. Back-to-Badass-Dani

The frosty side of SLC

My back's a bit tired and the left side of my ass is frozen from the inside out, but I found the cold, quiet of the evening a much needed end to a busy day.

From opposite sides of the driveway come the sounds from Jason and I with our shovels...

Scrape, ka-thud.
Scrape, ka-thud.
Scrape, ka-thud.
(Pause, stretch, switch)
Scrape, ka-thud....

I looked up to see the tops of the trees and the mountain behind seemingly glimmering from the reflection of the clouds and city lights. Amazing. It's the beauty and quiet of a snowstorm that slows me inside a bit. I'm cold, but I'm calm and that's what I really need.

I am the ADHD poster child

Somewhere between remodeling, trying to directly influence company revenue and holiday functions galore this season, I've had just about enough energy to remember that it is the exhale that comes after the inhale as I breathe.

I do it every year. Play too much, work too much and inevitably decide to take on something new during the holidays to try and make me feel like I'm having more fun. This year, I donned myself the baker which resulted in nothing short of the Betty Crocker bomb going off in my kitchen. In a frenzy I surrounded myself with pounds of peppermint candy, zucchini apple bread, rice krispie treats (which the cats helped themselves to after finding the treats on the top of the fridge ) and enough cookies to feed a small army.

So now that two of the big three holidays are passed, I find myself looking to prioritize and plan new direction. I'm making a list for myself - and no, I won't call it any sort of new year's resolution - because that is cliche and quite frankly, is the only sure fire way to guarantee it won't get done.

1. Finish the bathroom - Like, NOW
2. Fill my punching bag with the 100lbs of sand that is sitting in the garage
3. Get back to my kata
4. Finish the stack of books that are half read on my nightstand
5. Find a new gym - or yoga studio - or some place where I can go sweat and not leave feeling pissed off and inadequate
6. Unpack the box that has been sitting next to my dresser since September
7. Try snowshoeing or cross country
8. Pull the Pranayama CD out of the wrapper that I bought months ago
9. Finish the computer upgrade I started months ago

As I put this together I see the common thread - Finish that which you start. Maybe I'm looking more at a new mantra instead of a task list. My epiphany, in this moment of typing, is that the scattered feeling inside is coming from running around doing a lot of different things, but not taking the time to see them through. I'm going to tackle this so I can feel a clearer path of direction set before me.