My Trip So Far with Tom

It’s always nice to have help when you’re taking a trip. Help to tell you when to turn or where to go. That’s why I took Tom (for short) with me on my trip to NC.

First day didn’t start off very good, Tom started telling me where to go..... when I had written directions right in front of me. Although I wanted help I guess I was stubborn. I ended up shutting him out.

Second day was the longest day traveling and I knew I was going to need help. But every time I listened to Tom, it was like listening to a foreign girl and it was starting to bother me. I began questioning if I really needed help.
After awhile the conflict between the two ways of going got us lost TWICE!! How does that happen? Once Tom took us down a dead end street and then I took us north instead of south once. BUT in the end Tom did help me out of both situations.

Long story short I do appreciate Tom. Tom is quite interesting and I plan on getting to know Tom. BUT if I hear Charlotte pronounced one more time "share-a -lot" Tom's out of here.

Signing out....ME and TOM TOM®

ROAD TRIP!!

771 MILES and counting!

1 (long) car ride

7 CrossFit Afllitiates

2 Days of seminars

2 Great days with friends

1 Plane ride home

ALL IN 5 DAYS, 3 HOURS......

(I've been told by many that that is VERY ambitious)

You know what I say?

AWESOME!

God be willing I'll be home safe and sound on Monday...

with LOTS to share about CrossFit (training) and about other CrossFit communities.

Check back for more to come.

All work and no play...

...I don't think so.
What else would you rather be doing?
CrossFit Total wasn't in the picture so.... how about making a lifting platform?

Gather the materials.....


Two coats of porch and deck water sealant.



Let it bath in the sun. (while I mow the lawn)


Start the creating. Three layers, glued, deck screws all around and one final coating on top platform...... AND there you have it an outdoor lifting platform.


Now how do I keep the dog from peeing on it?

Being Grateful

Sometimes you just need to reflect and be grateful.


This is my morning view from my office desk....


Don’t take life, love or friendship for granted.
Things pass, opportunities pass, life passes and we miss the love that is right there in front of us.

2009
I lost my 44 yr old brother in-law whom I knew since he was 15
I lost my husband and partner of 28 years
I lost my german shepard and running partner of 14 years
and we won’t talk about losing my shoulder


I say that because today when I thought I lost my adopted (brother in-laws) dog. The dog whom my daughter says is the only tie we have left. (of Steve and Mikie)
YES, the one I complain about all the time. I realized once again not to take things for granted. (dog was finally found 4 hours later)

Today was a morning at ACF I did not take for granted! It was clearly a morning filled with love, life and friendship.
I loved seeing everyone working hard and eating good.....
....I cook and serve, because I love to, I love to share and I love to give.
I don’t do things to receive anything....”I” received more than you can ever image....

And I am so glad you all had a horrible time and finally found out that my cooking is the worst! That makes me happy.

I don’t take Morning Mayham for granted nor do I take the love and friendship that it has grown into.

We are one of a kind! And I love and appreciate everyone there. (yes Dave, that means you too)

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

with love and appreciation,
Joy Marie

P.S. Bill, Mathew, Laura(who we should all be proud of for being so so good at a party last night!), Nick, and Mike we missed you today. See you all Monday.










Share life, love and happiness with someone today.

Weighted

WOD
3 rounds (w/20# weighted vest)
50 walking lunges
100 air squats.
Time: 20:02

Things in Common

What does leathers, bibles and motorcycles have in common?
Grace Fellowship's Bikers, Tuesday Night Bible Study Group.
What else?....
Tonight was my first night going and I meet a great group of people.
It was fun and educational. It was a blast.

New Beginning?

I thought 2010 was a new beginning!? When you think things couldn't get any worse....it does.
Or is that just one persons perspective?
After a string of events last year...this year was going to be different. How so? Are bad things really good things? Can tragedy work out for the best? Can what seems to be on the outside a lose or a gain?
I believe good things come to those who believe onto the Lord. And I can certainly attest to that. I truly believe I have been blessed ALL my life. Regardless of what people may see or even what I may see to be bad...really turns out to be good.
I'll stop the ranting and tell what has been the most recent string of events that "may" look to be horrible events. But I have found positive in each case.

Thursday, January 28, 2010 on of my tenants decide to cook using charcoal on the small porch on his second floor apartment. Did I say small, frail, hunderd year old house?
Friday, January 29, 2010, 3:00pm while home making way for a pool table I receive a frantic call "there a fire next door"
3:30pm the whole back corner of my two story apartment building is on fire.
4:30pm fireman are riping down clap board siding, knocking out windows, kicking in doors, tearing through walls and floors with saws as I cried saying "I just renovated that, I just put those windows in, I just did that bathroom over. - I don't have insurance!" A shock to all. I had always gone with what my husband said, that we didn't need it...it won't pass inspection, we won't get it. I had told tenants upfront when they moved in that it was their responsiblity to get renters insurance that I was not cover - everyone declined. I am now and will always have insurance for these apartments I have hired a contractor to fix them and I will make it a profitable business and second income. I have worked too hard on those buildings to give up now.
Thankfully it was got in time and no one was hurt and there is minimal work to be done.
Two bathrooms, two kitchen partial walls and flooring, two windows, porch floor, clap board around side of house. The worse was my favorite 100 year old tin ceiling in almost perfect condition! I loved that ceiling.... I guess it wasn't perfect but I still loved it.



All because of a charcoal that burned a hole through the corner of the house one night, the coldest night of the year while winds wiped around keeping that coal alive long enough to start a huge fire.


Saturday January 30, 2010 walking out the front door with a chair a trip and sprain my ankle...swells up... but gets better by days end.

Sunday, January 31, 2010 10:30am I get a call from my son...but I am in teaching sunday school,
12:30pm a call from my daughter.... "when are you coming home"...."soon"
1:00pm I arrive at home to see that look, you know the one, the look something is terribly wrong.
My son was in a car accident and was at the hospital. I got to the hospital and thankfully he was alright. They originally thought he broke his collar bone and his leg...but he didn't. He was just very bruised up. Unfortunately the new car is totaled.

Good news. I will have nicer apartments then I had. With insurance and leasing that say no grills, candles or open flames in or on the porches. AND heat must always be on, even if you are away. (another issue two weeks ago-frozen pipes)
Stephen will save money without a car payment for awhile.
Not sure what came out of the swollen ankle excpect to be more careful.

FUN STUFF HAPPENING!

I was home Friday cleaning out the dining because I am making my dining room into a pool room. I had told my husband for years that's what I wanted to do. I was brought up with a pool table and through college I played alot a pool hall on Central Ave. and the play alot of pool for drinks at the local pub. I never had to bring money............ :)
I found a dirt cheap table (too big for the dining room but it will have to do until I make the living room the play room instead)
and I was going to put it in last Sunday... but my string of events took place instead.