Partaking With The Parkers...

I'm amazed I am even able to function right now...
After a full Thanksgiving day of decorating, eating, and family-bonding that inevitably ended up in slightly offensive dinner-table-talk, I rolled straight into a night of shopping with the girls.  Oh but it didn't stop there. 
In bed by 5am, up by 9, and then back out again.
...At this point its a sick tradition that ultimately leaves us exhausted and me cursing the public and/or myself at 3am.  This year at 3am I was in the toy section of Target with Kimmy trying on football gloves and contemplating testing my grip skills on the nearest wall.
I can't possibly explain this.
I am not spiderman, and yet sleep deprivation apparently fuels my inner superhero,....and delusions.

Thanksgiving dinner was nothing short of entertaining in the Parker house.
Sparkles was practically squealing with excitement, dad was showing us the latest house project, and I thought Jan was about to deliver a child right there between the the yeast rolls and mashed potatoes.
Nothing says "I'm thankful" like some amniotic fluid....
Baby girl Bella will be here in less than 3 months and I can hardly contain myself.
I need to spoil another niece...asap.

The food was amazing, and yes, I do eat all the "normal" Thanksgiving foods.  Funny how so many people ask me that.  The only time I ever really stayed pretty strict was when I was training for a show.  Yesterday, however, was stomachache waiting to happen.
Like clockwork every year.
Its not necessarily the amount, but all the sugar and what not basically makes my body hate me for about 24 hours.  It wasn't 30 minutes post-turkey that I was digging through Jan's purse for some Tums.
She carries 2 industrial size containers around with her all the time.....So if 600 people all of a sudden came down with horrible indigestion or gas pains, she is fully prepared.
My girl.
I was more than ready to eat plain food today. 
...my pancreas is still twitching.

Tomorrow its back at it...a few clients in the morning and then some much needed bonding with a dear friend.
She deserves an award.
I may give her a damn trophy tomorrow, who knows...

All in all, a wonderful Thanksgiving...I'll leave you with a few pics from one crazy gene pool...

Oh, and Payton was the local artist for our place settings...
Love it.

Freezing in a Pseudo-Muff

Wow, what an amazing forecast we had rolling today here in 'ol NC....40's, rain,...with a 70% chance of depression.  Sweet.  Everyone was in a great mood and ready to workout, believe me...

I was so cold all day. 
If I could have balled up in the dryer and been sure I'd escape injury-free, I would have seriously contemplated low-tumble-dry for at least 5 minutes....or until I was just shy of second degree burns.  Yes, I was that cold, and once again a hoodie was my saving grace.
Whoever invented that front pocket is a genius.  Period.  The hood is just a bonus.
My guess is that it was a guy who realized that putting your hands in your pants for warmth is acceptable on the field, but eh, "frowned upon" on the subway.  The "what am I supposed to do with my hands now?!" question arose, and boom there ya go.  Add some fleece and a built-in ipod pocket and you've got yourself a pseudo-muff party right there below your bellybutton.
Amazing.
 
It was a pretty standard day in the gym with the exception of college kids back in town.  Tyler showed up at 4pm with some surprise Starbucks. 
Day.  Made.
I don't question it, I just roll with it and take it to the face like a champ.  It was great to see him, meet the official GF, and catch up.
The fact that he is turning 20 tomorrow makes me feel old....considering the fact that when he first came to the gym he'd only recently stopped thinking girls had cooties and/or some version of an incurable rash.
Time flies.
And Tyler, thank you again for the Starbucks...it was perfect timing!!

Tomorrow is a short day for me and then I will start getting my mind right for Thanksgiving....which may or may not involve meditation and preventative doses of pepto bismol.  Am I the only one who thinks pepto and gas-x taste like candy?...Explains quite a bit, I know...

Well, on that note I better hit the bed.  A short, but absolutely packed day tomorrow...
Hump day here we go.

Holiday Creeper

I woke up this morning in a pseudo-intoxicated state wondering what day it was, where I was, and if I was running late.  I was a mess for the longest 22 seconds of my life until I realized it was Tuesday, I was in fact in my bed, and 4:16 was right on schedule.  Unbelievable.  Nothing like an early morning freak-out to get the day rolling.

This work week has been a quick one.  I've got 2 golfers tomorrow and then I am "done" until Sunday. 
Honestly, I need to try and get some rest this week, but am well aware that there's a greater chance I'll be up cleaning something by 5am most days.  Those of you who are in bed and in deep sleep I curse you....am envious, but I curse you just a little.


On a Thanksgiving note...

Its been a topic for the last week or so in the gym as people gear up for family events and meals that could feed a small village in most countries.
I am always amazed by the number of people traveling for the holidays, and usually dreading some aspect of the whole experience.  Either the travel...or the actual people awaiting their arrival.
Ha....laugh to keep from crying....or drinking heavily.
Its the holidays folks.  Strap on a helmet and hang on for dear life.
We are fortunate enough to have our entire family within a 25 mile radius.  Which should scare the hell out of everyone else in that same area.  We're like a reoccurring bad rash.
While we are always expected to be at every event, its nice not to have people stay with us for days on end.  No offense to my family, but the last thing I want to see at 5am is the face of someone who is forced to use my toilet and drink my water for the sake of a holiday but secretly wishes we weren't related.
I get it.
Perhaps I'm scarred from the days when my dad would wake me up with a video camera in my face while mom sang soprano.  This was my Christmas morning.  Pretty sure its not what Jesus envisioned. 
It only took him 20 years to figure out people actually get arrested for that crap now.
Creeper.

In all seriousness though, I think its extremely important to actually LIVE in a state of thankfulness.  Its sad that we put such emphasis on it for roughly 1 month out of the year and then go on to live our hectic, nose to the grind lives. 
We miss the daily blessings. 
We miss the moments that come to define us.
We become overwhelmed by things that do not matter. 
I genuinely hope amidst the craziness of unruly relatives and sugar-hangovers, we can learn to pause and appreciate the seemingly little things that make life enjoyable, comforting, and a personal journey.

Well, I'm going to get my mind right for the next 3 days.
By Friday afternoon I will not be allowed in public.  I will have been out all night shopping and trying to refrain from using judo-moves on anyone before 3am.  After that, fair game.

Night folks!