Ten on Ten - March 2011

Last month I saw a really cool post over in Suz's corner of Blogistan. It is called "Ten on Ten" and it is hosted by Rebekah Gough. Rebekah's blog is tremendous and I'm glad I stumbled upon it. Thanks Suz! And, thanks for coming up with this neat idea, Rebekah!

The post is called Ten on Ten. You take 10 pictures, 1 picture per hour for 10 hours, on the 10th of the month. The pictures are a snapshot depiction of what may catch your eye as beautiful in that moment, or of what brings you joy. What might have made you smile, or feel grateful? It is a story of your day. Exactly 10 seconds worth of it.

Before I begin my very first Ten on Ten, I want to first write that today is a bittersweet day for me. It is my sister K's birthday today. Her relationship with our family has been rocky for a few years now, and oftentimes, I get dragged into the midst of her drama. She has a lot of resentment and anger in her. I wish she didn't.

K is the next oldest after me, and we were very, very close. I miss her. I miss who we used to be, as sisters, as friends. I don't know if we'll ever return to that place in our past. I hope so.

I have 3 sisters, I’m the oldest, and yet only my youngest sister and I seem to get it. Get what? Well, get the fact that life passes us by faster than we think. The days we allow to pass without the love and company of those most important to us never return. Sometimes I see a picture in my head. A picture of the four of us crazy Afghani sisters out to lunch together, sitting a table, laughing, talking, loving. I see that picture as clear as day. I hold out hope that it may still be possible.

Someday.

In the meantime, I wish for K a happy birthday. May her friends fill the void I know she feels when she is far from her family, even though it is by her own choice. I love you, K.

Ok, enough of Debbie Downer! Time for my very first Ten on Ten! :-)

My day begins early. I'm a spin instructor and only teach early morning classes. At 4:45 a.m., these 2 hooligans below are bleary eyed and yawning....but they don't let that get in the way of their favorite morning snack...a banana. Yup. You read that right.

Every single morning, Laverne & Shirley share a banana, go potty, and trot right back to the bedroom. They're fast asleep again by the time I head out for the gym.
Before 6 a.m., we've already covered a few miles. Sweat, fun, camaraderie, health, and fitness. My favorite way to start the day.
It's just before 7 a.m. now. Did I mention sweat? :-) I know, gross, sweat! Sorry. But, this sweat reminds me that I'm alive and I'm healthy, and I never should take that for granted. It makes me joyful and I'm high on life.
I drive home & it's on to the daily morning walk with the pups! Our neighbor & dear friend, Dan, always stops to say hello to my babies, even if it means stopping his truck on his way to work and pulling over. He scratches their heads, rubs their muzzles, and gives them kisses and cookies. (Cookies before breakfast!? What about me!? I want cookies, too.)

Friends like Don bring joy to my life.
Feed pups, shower, change, and it's past 8:00 now. Time for steamed milk with coffee. Mmmm, my favorite. (It's called a Misto Americano at Starbucks.) I make it at home, in my favorite mug. This mug makes me *smile*. Ed brought it from Denmark for me while on a work trip. I love it. The handle is wide and tall, my short, wide fingers fit right in! Milk is the BEST post-cardio replenishment. Perfect balance of protein, carbs, and sugars. Ask your doctor. :-)
Little past 9:00. Lunch fare for breakfast rocks! I love a herbed turkey & cheese on whole wheat and some fruit for breakfast. Tangelos made me happy this morning.
The skylights in our office are gorgeous. Natural light is so uplifting and energizing. A little past 10:00, the sun on my keyboard brought me warmth and some of that energy I needed. (Reading legal code can be a snooze fest at times. (((snore))))
Red makes me very, very happy. One of my favorite colors. Just past 11:00 and I give you my red camera reflected in my red phone.
The noon hour and my tummy is rumblin'. My absolute favorite lunch at work, hands down. We have a kitchen in our office and I whip my soup together. A requisite side of yogurt, because as you know, I am a yogurt ADDICT. Yum. Yum. Yum.
The last 1 o'clock hour and I'm feeling the need for speed (or caffeine)...Starbucks China Green Tips tea! Taking a walk to our corner Starbucks, I delighted in the warm, fresh air, the palm trees, and the super *green* mode of travel by trolley. Working in downtown San Diego was another reason I smiled today. So grateful I'm not buried in 3 feet of snow, Amen.


That's it! 10 seconds of my day for you in 10 pictures! I can't imagine how bored you must be haaaaaaaaahahahaha! Nonetheless, I appreciate you taking the time to visit, read, and/or comment. Please check out Rebekah's blog to see links to others joining us today. Their photography is FAR superior to mine. I used my mini-digital camera all day.

Before I go, a little video snippet of my spinnin' babies to share with you. I see my riders 5 days a week, and they mean the world to me. Their energy, dedication, and friendship are priceless. We've been together for many years.

These videos were shot towards the end of class, so some riders had left already. I did not include faces to protect their privacy. The green balloons are on Jan's bike, it was her birthday! Happy Birthday, sweet Jan! I apologize in advance for the shaky video. My hands were damp and sweaty and the camera kept slipping. Oops.

XOXO