HunBo's Blogs

It's raining, it's pouring...

2009-11-20T03:51:00Z

our MinBo is snoring... It's wet outside and very "Norman Rockwell" inside here at the house. I spent the morning running errands and am now sitting in front of the fire with the dog snoring (and farting) away. The kitchen is filled with fresh fruit and veggies for the week, the Eagle project construction is done (before the downpour - yay!), and the soil will be perfect for tomorrow's planting. Perfect timing.

The one thing I am looking forward to today is planting amaryllis for the holidays. Hopefully, if I start them today I will have flowers and not just phallic stems for Christmas! (Yeah, Tobe, that door is wide open...take it away)

Thanksgiving is just a week away and I do not have to cook this year. We are bringing a pie and fresh cranberry-orange sauce to my mother-in-law's house. That means I can get ready for Christmas decorating instead of messing up the kitchen this year! It's the first time in a very long time. We are also invited for Christmas to my brother's, so no cooking again! Yay! I'll just focus on baking gifts for people. It should be fun.

OK, so I am off to plant - and dig out a rosebush. Wonder how many calories that burns...especially in the rain?

Peace and joy ~ Shannon

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a planter box!

2009-11-19T10:58:00Z

OK, too tired to tell the story tonight, but SonBo's Eagle Scout project - Phase One - is complete. Planter box built and cemented.

Saturday is elephant poo compost day...yippee!

Nighty night!

Peace and joy ~ Shannon

Another upside to the Eagle Project

2009-11-18T12:40:00Z

There is a huge aura of accomplishment around SonBo's being these days. His stress level is definitely reducing and, today, his buddies from high school are coming en masse to help him finish the main part of his project. These are boys and girls who will be there through thick and thin. I love these kids. So, by the end of today, we should have a planter box ready for compost delivery and plants.

What's the upside for me (other than the obvious)? Well, HusBo and I have a little dilemma in our front yard. I will call it the "rose bush" in order to be pleasant, but that isn't what I call it most days. Anyway, we have this pale, climbing rose at the front of the house which I do not love. In fact, sadly, I do not love roses in general. So, we have agreed to donate the rose bush to the Eagle Project. Subsequently, we will find another climbing rose that has a more robust color (for me) but is still a rose (for him). It's a decent solution for everyone...the animals will not care what color the roses they eat are. Plus they don't mind thorns! Gee, I am a happy camper!

So, it is off to the site again in a couple of hours. When this day is finished we will have results...and that is a very good thing.

Peace and joy ~ Shannon

Is this day almost over?

2009-11-17T11:36:00Z

Another day...loads and loads of laundry (catching up from the weekend), back to the tool lending library, off to buy work jeans for SonBo, other errands...I am exhausted.

Tomorrow our "boss" (SonBo) has us at the Eagle Scout site drilling a few more holes and then in the afternoon his crew from school will join us and we will complete construction of the planter. On Saturday it will be compost and plants - and digging one more very large hole for a tree. The end is in sight.

I am still sore and today's non-stop chores didn't help. Luckily, it will all be better after tomorrow. Looking forward to that!

Stayed 100% on plan today...tonight is hot tea and water...winter is coming!

Peace and joy ~ Shannon

The Eagle Project, continued...

2009-11-16T06:25:00Z

There is not an inch on my body that isn't bruised, or cut, or aching. The Eagle Project is one heckuva workout! SonBo planned this project, but there were so many details that changed at the last moment and so many challenges that the first workday left enough unfinished to required a second workday (and the cancelling of my much-needed massage - boo hoo). The second workday still left enough undone to require a third workday before the next weekend. Hopefully, on Friday, the strong kids will show up and the planter can be put together in 2 hours. Once it's in, then it's all about planting.

There were a million SNAFUs. SonBo was calm, cool, and collected, but as his mom I knew he was about to have a major meltdown. HusBo and I almost killed each other (imagine the exacting engineer and the go-for-it carpenter...BAD COMBO, my friends). On day two I fell into a posthole. Nothing is broken, but the bruises are spectacular.

Food-wise I was abominable. I fell into the worst of my bad habits - not eating. I went practically all day on Sunday without food or water. I was in "work mode" and when that happens I just don't stop. Yes, I know better. Yes, I am paying for it today. No, I probably will never break that habit...but at least I am now aware of it and I did make up the water.

Today HusBo and I went back up to the site to widen the drill holes so everything will fit together better. It's a wise idea. Maybe one more trip mid week to get everything ready for Friday...I'm sure I have someplace without a bruise...

Peace and joy (and wish us much luck, please!) ~ Shannon

Putting on my drone face...

2009-11-12T11:48:00Z

This weekend is the first weekend of The Eagle Project. To SonBo this is the culmination of years of scouting - the big project that he runs to earn his Eagle Scout rank. To me it means becoming a worker bee for the next two weekends...doing what I am told, when I am told, how I am told...with a smile on my face!

The smile will be easy, because I am very proud of our son and very proud of the way our family worked together to make his project happen. It's incredibly difficult to not to take over a project when you see someone you love struggling. In our case, SonBo was just overwhelmed with the details. Luckily, we have the ability to walk him through the steps and prod him in the right direction. Here's the upshot: he got ALL of the materials donated. ALL OF THEM. It was a total cost well over $750.00. We bought 8 connector plates for 63 cents each...our big contribution. We either already owned the tools needed or borrowed them from the tool lending library. This is going to be way cool.

What's the project? Well, he is building an edible plant garden at the zoo. This means the project must be completely "green." Nothing from the building materials can leach into the soil. So he decided to use Trex and managed to get a company to donate not only the boards, but the posts - all Trex! Then another local lumber company donated all of the concrete (Qwikrete green), carriage bolts, nuts, corner brackets, washers, etc. Once the plot is constructed, he will fill it with compost, and then plant only edible plants. It's a pretty big project for an Eagle candidate. He thought the whole thing up himself...and then we helped with the details.

So, bring on the work, SonBo. I will follow orders and do my best work on your behalf. Thanks for making us so very proud.

Peace and joy ~ Shannon

Oh, and our dog was chosen to be on the local TV station as one of their special pups! It's a great week!

Perhaps another photo?

2009-11-11T04:55:00Z

It was very cold the night we were in Virginia City, NV. We had channeled our inner saloon girls, shopped for fun souvenirs, eaten a wonderful lunch at a local restaurant, walked ourselves silly, and then we all saw "Pondo." Pondo is a 7 month old St. Bernard named after the saloon called the Ponderosa. She is a sweet dog with the biggest paws we'd ever seen on a puppy! We called after her walker and just petted her to pieces. The guy walking her said that she'd be back at the Ponderosa in a bit...well, it was cold...so we opted for a warming drink.

Now I am pretty sure you all want to see the dog, so I am attaching that photo. However, if you want to see us at the bar you will have to go to my page! ;-)

Peace and joy ~ Shannon

I think one photo says it all...

2009-11-10T02:57:00Z

Hello Everyone!

Rose, Tobe, Suzanne and I convened at Lake Tahoe from Thursday until Monday. I cannot adequately express in words the fun, love, insight, and admiration shared over these days. These women are beautiful, witty, brilliant, unbelievably low maintenance, considerate, delightful human beings. Plus, I am pretty sure none of them ever took a bad photo in her life!

Together we danced, walked, toured Virginia City, checked out local points of interest, had some amazing meals (man, can those gals cook!), and a few cocktails were consumed (but then there was also a monumental amount of water drunk). I am pretty sure we are responsible for the low lake level at Tahoe. LOL!

We talked about weight loss and our personal obstacles...for a bit...but mostly we laughed as we talked about just everything else under the sun! We discovered new and interesting facts about our lives. We determined we each have the ideal husband. We decided we are lifelong friends and will gather at the very least annually.

Here's what I think. It is great to meet other NS friends. However, just as in the regular world, some people click better than others. If you are going to meet a NS friend, make your initial meeting short and sweet. Have an healthy lunch or dinner or go for a walk. Figure out if you are compatible people before you make a longer commitment. Remember that you are not going to get along with everyone. But when you meet those people who really rock your world, hang on tight! Don't be afraid to meet others beyond that either! We are so lucky to be exposed to so many people all over the country. There are bound to be some incredible friendships formed. If you are going on a trip and there happens to be someone from NS you would like to meet in that city, suggest it. But don't be offended in any way if someone doesn't accept your invitation...we only know about each other what we share on the site, so you may not know someone's personal circumstances. We're not all super social creatures.

I hope anyone who desires it gets to have a NS weekend. Sometimes bigger gatherings are organized...I understand there is a tattoo party in Texas this weekend...

Hope you all enjoy the attached photo as much as we enjoyed having it taken!

Peace and joy ~ Shannon

I know what I will be doing in 24 hours...

2009-11-04T05:20:00Z

One short day from now I will have Rose, Tobe, and Suzanne in my car and we will be headed to Tahoe. There will likely be squealing and laughing and all sorts of frivolity. I can't wait. These women have become important people in my life.

Are there going to be pictures? You bet your sweet bippy there are. Are we going to post them? Well, the ones that are fit for public consumption will make it to the site.

So how is it possible that four women from different parts of the U.S. are getting together for a chick fest? Well, first off, we have amazing husbands who can stand to let us go for a long weekend. Secondly, we are lucky as heck to have been able to form friendships through this web site...and then even more fortunate to have been able to visit each other. I went to them first, and now they are all coming to me! It's fantastic.

Another reason I am so eager to meet with the gals is that I have been lax on program of late. I got back into going to the gym, got closer to program again, and took an honest look at what I am doing wrong - because I am making some very conscious mistakes. It's going to be good to have some women to talk to to help me sort through some of my issues (and theirs). I miss my mom so much and I think that these friendships have somehow filled that space.

You know what else? I am really looking forward to going without any obligations. I love my husband and son and dog with every fiber of my being, but you know, I need a break. I need not to be doing something for someone for a bit. I know these next 5 days of respite will energize me for the holidays. Maybe it's what I need to get back on track and find my mojo.

Well, I doubt I will do much blogging until next Monday night, so here's hoping you all have a great weekend!

Peace and joy ~ Shannon

Halloween was a HUGE success!

2009-11-02T11:06:00Z

Gee, I had a great Halloween! Our party was fantastic - lots of dancing and silliness. The fog machine worked amazingly well - it fogged up the "graveyard" and then the fog wafted across the room looking very eerie. We didn't serve alcohol (teenagers present) and there was food everywhere...but here is something I remembered...where there is dancing and food I am only interested in dancing! I danced the entire time. It was such fun!

I put pictures up on my page, but I am attaching the one of HusBo and me as Cruella and DeMon DeVil. We had a blast. I made the costumes.

So, now there are three more days until my pals get here from all over the country for our mountain trip. THREE MORE DAYS! I highly recommend that you meet some of the people you get to know on this site - they are wild and wonderful.

Happy November, Everyone!

Peace and joy ~ Shannon