Trying to re-energize

Facing 2008 has been weird. I mean, I had a pretty crap ending to 2007, followed by some amazing things immediately following in January. I filmed my first movie, I went back to the gym and fit once again into the evil "Day after Thankgiving they fit just fine" pants, and mastered a sunwheel swing. Yeah, it's a pole swing. If you're really nice, someday I'll demo it for you. I just can't seem to shake the funk of December. I think I'll try to do it now, just by listing all the cool things that are going to happen this year. So indulge me whilst I try to break the funk.

~ We are facing the very real possibility of the first female or African American President. I was hoping it'd happen in my lifetime. Now it looks like it really could, sooner than I could have dreamed. Obama '08, baby!!

~ My Blue Moms' Group will hopefully expand way beyond it's current 53 members to a really active group that creates change.

~ This is the year I get fit. Really fit. Not just the pole dancing. The eating. The cardio. Whittling the fat and reducing the cottage cheese that has decided my thighs are it's Mecca. I intend to get stronger and leaner and not ashamed of my body this year. I also intend to start looking for a really good surgeon to take care of that post baby flappage going on over my beltline.

~ We're getting active in our amazing, progressive church. I have joined the Membership Board, we're marching in Gay Pride again this year, and I'm parcipating in church dramas that aren't embarassing and weak.

~ My mom and dad will finally be able to visit Indianapolis again. They haven't been down in more than 18 months, and I miss my mommy.

~ A ski trip, a family wedding (The Prince is going to be ring bearer!), two campouts with our closest friends, a weekend at the beach and a family road trip to Denver are just a few of the fun things already planned this year.

~ I'll shoot my second film this summer, as well as (hopefully) participate in another play before the year ends. Mama's getting her groove back.

Did I mention the pole?

I'm really quite obsessed with this thing. It's so much fun. Everyone should have one. Get your own at Lil Mynx Poles.

So yeah, I guess there is a lot to look forward to in this year. Sure, my job barely pays for daycare. And I hardly see my husband except as ships passing in the night. And my kids make me mental on a weekly basis. And the Boy STILL DOESN'T SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT.

But my life is good. And getting better all the time.

Happy New Year, everyone.

My movie has a trailer!!

Check it. I'm sooo famous. :)

What's up at the Pole?

Poling has taken on a whole new meaning to me in the last few weeks. I've been practicing new spins, sits and tricks up in the playroom.

Yes, yes, the pole is in the playroom. Where my children play. It's not a SEX playroom, as I have been asked. My kids monkey all over this thing, and understand mommy does it for excercise, not a job.

I had to explain to the princess about why we don't go to school and talk about spinning around mommy's pole. She totally got it. Of course, when we have her slumber party this spring we may need to take it down. I don't think I need her little girlfriends going home to their moms and sharing that my daughter taught their daughter "the Fireman".

I win once again for best.mother.ever.

New Year, better intentions

Yeah, yeah. I know. I suck. Whatever. I've been busy. :)

Here's the year end rundown, for those not already heavily involved in my personal life.

The good:

I finished my play with great reviews. It was voted one of the top shows in Indy in 2007 by the Star.

I got cast in and filmed a short movie that is going into production this month. It was my first film, and opened up some great networking. I got offered a role in a film later this summer, which I happily accepted.

We met new friends this year through my Blue Moms Group and started hanging out with with them in earnest. It's been great having grown ups to do things with again.

I got the most awesomest, wicked Christmas present from my husband. I can now practice my pole skills every day, if I want to. Because I got my own pole. :)

The bad:

Doing such a downer show put me in a funky mood that I'm having a hard time shaking. I was a grouch, quit going to the gym, quit eating right, and subsequently gained back EVERY SINGLE POUND I LOST IN 2007. How exactly does it take 8 months to lose 15 pounds but a solitary month to gain it all back?

Because of said gain, half of my new Christmas clothes, purchased around Thanksgiving, no longer fit.

I'm going back to the gym. Have I mentioned what a drag the gym is??

A very good friend of mine found out she is in the fight of her life against Multiple Myeloma. A bone cancer that I don't know much about, but know it's really scary to be facing alone. Luckily she has an awesome network of family and friends. I just hope she chooses to lean on us.

The Ugly:

I lost my dearest uncle (my godfather) just before Christmas. He fought a 9 year battle with illness and finally lost. In the final years, my mother, father and grandparents cared for him in hospice, not allowing anyone to aid them. They were the real casualties of that war. It's been a terrible road for them, and when it was over, the sigh of relief mixed with the wails of the grieving were just surreal. Then there the elephant in the room at Christmas, combined with unopened gifts from my Uncle Patrick sitting under the tree. It was almost too much to bear. The holidays pretty much sucked. And I can't seem to figure out how to grieve.

But, new year. New intention. New motivations.

Moving on.