·:[ The Healthy Mom ]:·
• • • • •

So, after the race, we went to Colorado City Creamery for ice cream with my dad.  He and I worked on the plan for the boys closet this morning, and we wanted to go to Home Depot to get the supplies.

So, we get a bunch of stuff - and then Zander decides he needs to go potty.  So I take the ZBoys over while my dad get the wood cut for one of the shelves.  After Zander goes, Zevan decides he needs to go to.

So we go to the handicapped stall, and he stands on my feet.  then I go potty.  He says he wants to flush.  So I pick him up and let him reach over to flush and we see that it is an automatic flush.  I start to put him down and the keys fall in the toilet

And then the toilet automatically flushes.

I actually start to reach in, and then, whoosh, my keys are GONE.

 

Zevan immediately starts crying, “Now we can never go home…  how can we get home?”

Oh, it was heartbreaking. He was hysterical.

I was totally in shock.  We run out, I find a Home Depot employee, and she calls her manager.  I call Doug.  He’s not home.  Neither of us have seen the spare key in a while. 

So, while waiting for the manager, I go out to the van with Zevan and see if the spare happens to be in there (I’m pretty sure it isn’t).   thankfully, I forgot to lock it.

Zevan is happy that we are able to get in the van.  I call grandpa to see if he has a spare (it used to be his van).

nope.

Doug calls me back, and I tell him to just pick us up, and I’ll come home and we can both look for the spare.  he does.  It’s fine.

We get home and tear the house apart.  He keeps asking me if *I* have checked all *my* purses and coat pockets.  Yes, I have.  I haven’t needed the spare keys in a long time.

After an hour of looking, he mention that he used the keys about 6 weeks ago.   

” Did you check your car?” I ask

“Let me check my car again.”  he says simultaneously.

He found them.  On the floor of his car.

Normally this would piss me off to no end.  Today, I am just mildly annoyed and mostly relieved that we have a spare set.  He takes me to Home Depot to get my van.

First of all, I am quite sure this has only happened to me.

Second of all, I am glad to report that I did not lose my temper or my cool or my head the whole time.  Which is surprising to me.  A couple of months ago, I would have been SO pissed off at myself, annoyed that Zevan was hysterically crying and angry that Doug implied that I must have the keys when it turn out he did.

I’ve been off my depression meds for 2 weeks now.  So I’m keeping calm on my own.  Yay for me!

I so enjoyed the race today. 

I have never felt that way about a race before. I just really had fun and pushed myself just enough.

It was so cool to have Candy and Paige to race with. And the times that Matt and Mike waved and took photos was a great distraction and ego boost.

I started out with the girls, to warm up (since I don’t do that before a race), and as we each found our pace, we separated.

There were two bottlenecks I had to endure, and while some slowed down as they got close to the line, I sped up to ensure a better place in line.

Two times, on uphills, I cheerfully yelled,”Pick it up!  Pick it up!” - I’m sure I annoyed a few, but there were more who needed the encouragement and used it.

There was a small stretch in the single track where I was behind a woman carefully stepping, hardly running.  There was no room to pass, and she annoyed me.  I dogged the guy between us until we reached a clearing where I could pass, and I left them behind.

The final 1/4 mile to the creek was the worst part of the race - it seemed long, there was tricky footing, and we were watching the faster runners go up the creek.

The creek was as expected. I really took my time and watched my footing. No sprinting here, but I did run where the water level was relatively low. I even passed a few people. One guy took a header right into the creek, and got up. Turns out he was physically pushing himself past the woman in front of me and that’s when he fell. Hmmm - dude, meet Karma…

Just as I finished the creek portion, my iPod coach tells me, “You have reached 45 minutes.” So, I think, there’s no way I can beat my time from last year (48:25). I was kind of bummed.

This old-timer was in front of me after we got out of the creek, and I was having trouble catching up with him.  As we got onto the grass, I told myself, “No way am I going to let this guy beat me to the finish line.”  And I started sprinting. 

When I saw the clock was just over 47 minutes, I sprinted harder, wanting to get under last year’s time.

20/24     Maida C Scott             38    Colo Spgs        CO    0:47:27
26/31     Paige Figi                34    Colo Spgs        CO    0:50:22
24/24     Candice Jackson           36    Colo Springs     CO    0:55:46

3 guys between the ages of 60-64 were within 20 seconds of my finish time!!!  These dudes gave me a run for my money! I only hope I can be as fit at that age.

I did beat my time from last year!

When I finished, I grabbed some water and went back along the course to see if I could see Paige and/or Candy. As I was heading down, I saw Zander with Doug and called out to Zander. He ran to me. Doug looked surprised and asked me when I finished. I said, “like 2 minutes ago,” He’s so sweet. He wanted to bring the boys for my finish. But of course, Zevan stalled enough to miss it.

I saw Paige first, and encouraged her for the last bit - she gave me the look - so I went farther along to see if I could see Candy. I did. Right after she got out of the creek. She looked a bit in shock after the water, and I told her she was in the home stretch. I jogged along side her to the finish, Paige joined us and as we got closer, she started booking. So cool!

Totally fun!

Hmmm, maybe I’ve been uber gung ho about the routines and organization lately.

(For those who don’t know - Zander refers to his loveys, which are assorted pillowcases, as baba.  Obviously he was never attached to a bottle as baby, but he loves his blankies)

Yesterday, Zander says, “The baba on the chair is my daytime baba.  The baba on my bed is my nighttime baba”

 

I can see the smoke from our balcony.  Here’s a couple of pictures I just took a few minutes ago:

http://picasaweb.google.com/maida.scott/InclineFire

There is a wildfire in Manitou, right next to the Incline.  May, Candy and I did the Incline this morning.  Candy and I were at the top around 10 AM, and got back down at 10:55 AM.  It started at 11:30 AM.  We just missed it.  Crazy.

One thing I find totally suspicious is that there was a group of people when I got there, and some of them were SMOKING!!!    All I remember is that these two girls were in a little dark Honda-like car that had a Cuban flag hanging on the rear view mirror. I always check those out since so many Filipinos have the Filipino flag. They were with a guy in a beat up van with a broken window on the drivers side who also had a Cuban flag on his rear view mirror.

Candy beat her first time up the Incline by 10 minutes!!! I finished right around 49 minutes, which was actually 2 minutes slower than my best time. But I was okay with that.

I’m going to be so bummed if the Incline isn’t hikeable after this

So, I am finally getting it - I am a mom of boys who go to preschool and can occupy themselves while I work at home.

As I got Zevan ready this morning, I looked at him, sitting in the Thinking Chair in his school clothes. I said wistfully, “You are really a boy, aren’t you? You are not a baby at all.”

Wow.

Zevan has been great going to school all week. No tears, just “Bye Mom!” I’m so happy about that.

After I dropped them off, I went for a long run in GOG - 8 miles. My first one over 5 miles since the Ascent. I started early and ran back to meet with May. She ran with me for the last 6 miles.

Today I had to take the ZBoys with me to my physical therapy appt. Normally I would dread that. But I still have the portable DVD player that I borrowed from May, so we took that, along with a School House Rock DVD. They were great. Not disruptive at all. I even stuck around to talk with Mary about making a Massage Menu poster for her, and it was okay. I’m telling you, 6 months ago, it would have been IMPOSSIBLE.

We planned to go to Chuck E Cheese for a little birthday celebration for Elijah. We got there just before 3 PM. We had tokens, played games, but we didn’t see anyone else. Then I saw on my phone I had a message from Candy. At that very moment, I realized that I was at the wrong Chuck E Cheese. In the past year, they built a new one near Tinseltown that I completely forgot about. One that is MUCH closer to our house, and now I am WAY across town.

I called Candy and confirmed I was at the wrong one. Of course, Shanyn doesn’t have a cell phone, so I can’t call her to tell her about the mix up.

I round the boys up and explain what happened. They totally took it in stride. They finished up their snack and game, and we got back in the car for a long drive. I popped in an audio book, and they were happy to hear the next book.

Zander is increasingly logical, and responsible and so so sweet when he wants to be.

Today Zevan was very good - only one little mini tantrum. I know there are more tantrums to come, but today was just really good.

Zevan has always be so cute and cuddly and sweet.  Now Zevan is being physically aggressive and unresponsive to my disciplining methods.

He deliberately does all this stuff that he knows he should not do, and he just grins at me like it’s funny.  I actually have to tell him, “ o not smile at me like it’s funny.  It’s not funny to <fill in offense here>.  I need you to listen to me.

He won’t stay in time out. 

If I try and keep him in time out he says, “Bad Mom!” and hits me and kicks me and scratches me. 

His first instinct is to hit when he doesn’t get his way. 

If I threaten to take stuff away, he says, “I don’t want it.” 

He is so stubborn with a mean streak.  This has been going on for 3 weeks now and I’m getting nervous. 

Zander did this, too, but he never directed it at hurting me with the intensity that Zevan does.

Doug says, “What did we have to do with Zander?  Don’t we just have to wait it out?”

*sigh* “Yes, but I lost my will to parent him while I waited it out.  I don’t want to do that again.”

Today is apparently my venting day.   

Surely that means I have some smooth sailing and blue skies ahead, right

So I’m driving the boys to Grandma’s after school today.  We’re driving down Uintah, and come to the tricky intersection in front of the D11 Admin Bldg, the car in front of me is going right, and the car in front of the car next to me is going left.  We both do that curve out to go around the cars, and we get close.  Dude shoots me the WTF? look, and I just shrug at him.  Whatever.

So we are getting to the intersection of Palmer Park and Uintah, I start to get in the left lane, and he cuts me off and jumps in front of me.  Nice. (that’s dripping with sarcasm for those who don’t know me well).

We get on Palmer Park and he rides in the middle of the two lanes!     He finally moves to the left lane, and I cautiously try to pass him on the right, wondering if he is going to try and cut me off again.

I speed up to put distance between us and pass several cars.  He’s frakking following me!  Great.  Some psycho road rage dude is following me with the kids in the car.  Fan-frakkin-tastic.

So, he rides my ass all the way down Palmer Park.  I turn off a block early, and he doesn’t follow. Okay.  I come around the block and get to Doug’s parents house and he is WAITING across the street. 

Thankfully, Doug’s dad was in the driveway, so I just worked to get the kids out of the car as soon as possible.  He starts yelling out of his car window, calling *me* a psycho driver.  Hello   I didn’t follow *him* for 4 miles. 

I admit, I let my anger get the best of me, and called him pathetic, and expressed how incredulous I was and what a loser he must be that he followed me for FOUR miles.  To yell at me about *my* driving?!  He starts addressing Doug’s parents.  Poor grandma & grandpa.  They yell at him to get lost.  He continues to yell out his window at me.  I tell him to go away or I will call the police.  I say some choice words like “Road rage!  Stalker!”  He keeps stopping the car like he’s going to get out, but he doesn’t.  He just yells out his frakkin window.

I am VERY unhappy that he knows where Doug’s parents live.  I want to file a police report or something. I have his license plate number.  He was driving a white Subaru wagon with his dog(s) in the back.  Can I do that?  But then he’ll know it was me, and he probably memorized my license plate number.

I shouldn’t have yelled at him, but I was already have an emotional day with Greg’s final hours, and worrying about two of my friends, both of whom are dealing with some very emotional issues.

   I’m so irritated, I could SCREAM.

An old, dear friend of mine, a mentor, really, has been battling a rare stomach cancer since July 2005.  He’s been enduring all sorts of radical treatments and surgeries that have battered his body.

I have been following his trials through CarePages.com.  Mostly lurking, posting comments in his message board every once in a while.

After some really tough times these past few weeks, he decided to stop all treatments last week.

This morning, I read this update:

September 25, 2007 at 04:02 AM MDT
Greg was admitted into in-patient Hospice at around 4pm on Monday.

We do not anticipate that Greg will be with us much longer.

 

I got the update when I was getting the kids ready for school, and after what happened when Logan died, I wasn’t ready to have an emotional morning that I had to explain to them.

I told Doug about Greg, and we both kind of buried it for the kids.  I took them to school and then went grocery shopping, for almost 90 minutes, wandering around the store.   

When I got home, I found and find all these wonderful cyberhugs and loving, peaceful energy for Greg. from the West Side Moms. Thank you so much.

Greg was one of my teachers at UCCS in the engineering program.  On his door, he had his office hours posted, and he listed Old Chicagos Happy Hour on Thursdays as office hours. 

I caught a lot of prejudice at school - other people thinking that I wasn’t working hard or that I wasn’t smart enough to get an electrical engineering degree.  Mostly from spiteful women who envied that I was “one of the guys” or “old-fashioned” men who didn’t believe I had a place in that field.  I actually lost out on a job after graduation because of a woman who was petty and prejudiced.  She graduated a year before me, so she lied about my abilities to the people who interviewed me.  Although it was frustrating at the time, it turns out, as it often does, that it was the best thing for me because the job I did get is still the favorite job I ever had and set me up with the skills I love and use now to work at home.

I digress.

Greg never made me feel that way.  After graduation, we saw each other often, and I will always be grateful for his encouragement and support and belief in me.

I’m so frustrated and angry because a couple of years ago, I lost another old friend to non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and he was 36.  These were both men who were healthy and vibrant and so loved.  I just don’t get why life has to be so cruel sometimes.

Okay, I need to quit crying before I pick up the boys from school…

Please send prayers and energies and thoughts of peace for him in these final hours. 

I have been STRUGGLING ever since Zevan was born. When Zander was an infant, I was able to work out hard EVERY DAY, and I bounced back to even thinner than my pre-pregnancy weight.

Zevan was born in April 2004. In Jan 2005, I started a weight loss program and bought BalanceLog. I lost 10 lbs by May of 2005, and was at my lowest weight in 10 years!

7 months later, I gained 6 lbs back, and then another 8 months and I gained another 6 lbs.

I know that these sound like ridiculously small numbers to some of you, but these are big numbers to me. At my size every pound counts. It doesn’t help that my best friend, who seemingly is the same size and shape as me, weighs 10 lbs less than I do.

But, c’mon, I trained from the frakking ASCENT! I worked hard on training for that. You’d think I could lose *some* weight doing that. Or at least a pants size. C’mon! I shopped at H&M while I was in NJ, and had to accept that I needed to buy size 10 to have pants that fit.

I don’t know how to increase my workouts more than I am. My long run now takes me 1 1/2 hours. I need to run even longer while I train for the marathon.

I have made some really bad food choices since the race, I will admit that. So, I’m tightening up on that. I just got BalanceLog started on my computer, so I think I just need to suck it up and start logging again.

I think if I just buckle down I can do it. I just want to do it BEFORE the holidays!

09/03/07 135.6 Starting Weight

09/10/07 134.6 Week 1 Weight

09/17/07 134.0 Week 2 Weight

09/24/07 135.6 Week 3 Weight

10/08/07 130.6 Goal Weight

Crap!  I gained back all the weight I lost the past 2 weeks while I was in NJ.  A wedding, a birthday party, cheese steaks, Filipino food and NO running at all.   

I know that 1.6 lbs doesn’t sound like much, I worked pretty hard to lose those. The 5 lbs I’m trying to lose is 3.6% of my total body weight.

So, now I need to lose 1.7 lbs a week for the next 3 weeks.

Time to get serious.

On my non-run days (T/Th/Sat/Sun), I plan to do some serious calorie cutting.  The same breakfast (boiled egg, slice of bacon, slice of toasted raisin bread, 6 oz juice), the same lunch (lean ham and cheese on pita bread with light mayo, and carrots/celery/snap peas on munch on, and then an uber sensible dinner (tomato soup and grilled cheese or a burger with no/half bun and salad).  One snack of a piece of fruit and one ounce of cheese.

These days I need to do some pilates or T-Tapp or strength training.

I did run today - a 50 minute tempo run without the gauge of my Nike+ iPod (dead battery).  I ran for 50 minutes without stopping or slowing to a walk.

People watching comments:
Totally cute long haired guy on a bike with a nice smile…
Two guys on the trail who looked like muppets - Animal and Beaker, in particular

Lunch

Park with the cousins - Ash, Zander and Zevan

Ice cream - Sponge Bob flavor

Dinner

SLEEP!

I had the boys’ stuff packed over the weekend, down to the shoes. Our first trip with no diapers or pull ups! And packed my “diaper bag” with a potty ring, the DVD player that May lent me, ColorWonder books, some Sesame Street magazines, the toddler wipes - my “bag of tricks” Yesterday I tracked down car seat, booster, potty ring. And packed my stuff. I snuck in a quick T-Tapp TWO+

I am going about my business, when I realize. CRAP! It’s 11:00 AM! I was supposed to pick up the boys at 10:40 AM!

I rush to the car and drive like a maniac, wondering why no one has called me yet. Bad mom! Bad mom!

This after Zevan has such a bad time going this morning. :crap:

As I get to 19th and Uintah, my cell phone rings. I answer it, “I’m on my way. I’m so sorry. I totally lost track of time.”

I screech to a stop in front of the school, and race across the street.

I get to the office, still apologizing, and Zander and Zevan are in the doorway of the nurse’s office, on the floor. Zander is sitting, Zevan is laying with his head on his backpack.

Bad mom! Bad mom!

They both exclaim, “Mom!” when they see me and get up.

I apologize to them profusely. “It’s okay, Mom,” soothes Zander. “Mama, mama, ” Zevan hugs my leg.

Maybe I’m not SUCH a bad mom - how did I get such caring kids

---

I take them over to Grandma & Grandpa’s for lunch, then I have to rush off for a lunch meeting with Mike and May about working together to get more clients and share the workload (which was really great!).

I come home and finish up some loose ends with work on clients’ sites and then continue packing.

Lisa stops by with Enrique to pick up the Wonderoos. I am amazed at how much he’s grown and how long it’s been since I’ve seen them both. It’s a nice visit.

---

The boys come home and we start preparing for the trip. They choose special toys and snacks for their backpacks. I pack my snacks.

We have dinner, I load up the car. Our plan is to leave between 8:00 - 8:30 PM for our red-eye flight at 11:55 PM.

I put them in front of a show. I wax my legs, eyebrows, etc. Something I wanted to fit in, and can’t believe I actually have enough time to do it.

We all load in the car. Zander says, “ on’t forget the Ready Beds!” Crap. I shove them in the bag with the carseats.

---

TO THE AIRPORT
About a mile from the house, I realize I don’t have my thyroid meds. I turn back to get it. We’re off again. We tell the boys to sleep. They say they can’t. They finally fall asleep around Castlerock. Despite some long traffic slow downs, due to highway painting, we get to the airport right at 10:00 PM.

I’m wishing now that I brought the double jogger because the boys are asleep. Doug drops us off at the ticketing counter (no lines for the red eye) with the luggage and goes to park the car. Zander is NOT happy about having to wake up. The boys and I sit on the floor waiting for Doug to get back. Twice, a Frontier airlines person comes to see if we need anything. I tell them I’m waiting for my husband. I spend most of my time trying to soothe Zander, with both boys in my lap.

Doug arrives, and we check in. They give Doug a special pass so he can help us to the gate (love that option!) Things go pretty smoothly through check in, security and the train to the gate. Now we’ve actually got quite a bit of time before the flight leaves. We try snacks and other distractions, finally, I just put Madagascar on the DVD player until its time to board.

Finally, it’s nearly time to board. Doug gets hugs and kisses and “I love you’s” from all of us. We take the early boarding option since I need extra time with my 2 kids under 5.

---

ON THE PLANE
Zevan takes the window seat, Zander goes in next, then me. I arrange all of our stuff, and let them watch Boomerang DirecTV preview time before take off.

We take off on time, I turn off their TV screens, and encourage them to sleep. Nope, it’s too loud. It’s too bright. Etc, etc

The drink cart comes, we get water and get some warm cookies that have a jet fuel aftertaste - ick.

We try several positions to sleep. No luck. I ask Zander to switch with me so I can be between them. He refuses. Zevan moves to my lap, Zander takes his vacant window seat, and then I move in the middle. They each put their heads on my lap. :happylove:

We have a family in front of us with one lap child and another barely older than 2 year old. They intermittently, and alternately, cry and fuss throughout the flight. I feel for them.

Somehow, sometime during the flight, we do get *some* sleep. First, with my head on the tray table. Finally, I actually lay on my side across the three seats, holding Zevan in front of me, with Zander laying on my legs. Of course, in our deepest sleep, the announcement of our descent wakes me up. Luckily I can get their seatbelts around them while they are laying down, and sit back up again. They sleep until we land, while I try talking them awake.

---

AT THE AIRPORT
We wait until nearly everyone is off the plane before we get disembark. They are awake enough to walk and pull their wheeled backpacks. I’m grateful for that.

As we walk to the baggage claim, Zevan all of sudden decides that he wants to drive in HIS car when we go to Uncle Fran’s. A long walk of crying and me expaining that our car isn’t there.

We get to baggage claim, and I call my dad. They haven’t left the house yet! We arrived 30 minutes earlier than he thought. Great.

Our luggage comes quickly, of course. We load it up on a SmarteCarte and we find a bench to sit on. After 30 minutes, we head outside to where they will pick us up. They do. I put the car seats in, and we’re off.

---

We pick up breakfast at Burger King. We get to my brother’s house, just as they are all waking up. We have hellos, we eat. I head up to the room and blow up the ready beds. Ash, Zander and Zevan jump on our air mattress.

Fran and Kimmie head to work, and we convince them to leave Ash with us instead of taking him to daycare.

The boys and I lay down to sleep. Zander is restless and says he’s not tired. I tell him he can go play with Ash IF he will nap when Ash goes to nap (at 11 AM). He agrees and is off. Zevan lays with me for 10 minutes, then HE wants to go play. He gets the same deal. He’s off. I go to sleep. Some hours later, they crawl into bed with me. I sleep until 12:30 PM. They sleep another two after I get up.

It’s 3:00 PM. And now we’re finally awake enough to start our visit.

09/03/07 135.6 Starting Weight

09/10/07 134.6 Week 1 Weight

09/17/07 134.0 Week 2 Weight

10/08/07 130.6 Goal Weight

I totally blew my eating this weekend with chili and pie. But I did stick to running 3 times did 1 T-Tapp workout.

This week will be a BIG challenge, travelling with the kids AND eating east coast foods AND Filipino foods. I need to pack some good snacks for the plane. Fruit, cheese and nuts…

I didn’t finish the Incline yesterday (ran out of time, couldn’t find my Nike+ Ipod transmitter), but I did hike to the bail-out point and back down. I need to T-Tapp TWO+ today.

I finished one week on the new dosage of Armour Thyroid, and am feeling more energetic for sure. I didn’t involuntarily fall asleep in the middle of the day yesterday, like I usually do. So that’s good.

Crap. Is this going to be an every other day thing?

All the way to school, Zevan claims he is not going to school, and that “We are going to pick Zander up from school.”

“Yes, after you and Zander go to class today, we will pick you and Zander up.”

“No! We are going to just pick up Zander!”

According to Doug, this thread arbitrarily started at breakfast.

So, we take Zander to class first, and Zevan fights the whole way not to go to his classroom.

I sit with him in my lap to get his indoor shoes on. He keeps trying to take them off after I get them on.

Ms. Paula comes over and tries to talk to him. He’s not having it.

I tell him the usual stuff - I’ll pick him up, it will be okay…

I ask him what’s wrong. Why doesn’t he want to go?

I try to redirect, “Weren’t you going to ask Ms. Paula what your hamster’s name is?” “Are you going to do the moveable alphabet today?”

Finally Ms. Sheila comes over and takes him in her arms. He’s still crying.

As she carries him inside, I tell him that I’ll see him after class, and he’ll be okay.

What the heck? Is this going to be an every other day type thing

We’re leaving for NJ tonight, so it will be like the first day of school again on Monday when we get back.

Sigh.

So, we went to school today, and I told the boys that we were going to take Zander to class first.

“Because last time, we took Zevan first,” reasons Zander.

“And he cried, and Dad had to take you to class while I took care of Zevan,” I reminded.

“Maybe you should always take me to class first,” replies Zander.

I thank him profusely for being so nice and considerate. What a sweetie!

So I take Zander to his room, and we have the usual hugs and goodbyes. Then, I walk Zevan to his classroom, from the inside door.

This actually gives me an opportunity to help him to his coat hook and indoor shoes. He sits down to put them on, and I tell him that I’m going to sign him in and I’ll be right back. After I sign in, I come back and hear him saying, “Ms. Sheila, I need some help with my shoes.”

I need to get him new indoor shoes. These are a bit narrow for him, and hard to get on.

She tries to direct him to get them on, but it is difficult. I help him, vowing to get easier shoes to get on by the time we get back from NJ. I give him a hug, and say, “I’ll pick you up after school.”

“I’m not going to cry, Mom, ” he tells me bravely.

“It’s okay, sweetie.” I hug him, and Ms. Sheila takes his hands and leads him to circle time, telling him what a brave boy he is.

So, Doug and I attended the Winter Warlock Debut at Bristol Brewery with his sister and her husband.

It was a great night, we dinner at the Blue Star (again, ate too much), had great conversation and laughs all night.

I drove home, and as we were heading north on Tejon, to get on the highway, the light turned yellow for the car in front of me. I either had to slam on my brakes or go through, and I went through (normally I wouldn’t do that - particularly if the boys are in the car). Of course, as I went through the now red light, a cop went through the intersection.

Of course, he whips around, and as I am on the on-ramp, he pulls me over. “Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap…” and so forth, I get out my license, registration and insurance and roll down the window.

I’m a pro at this because I get a speeding ticket once a year. But I never do this kind of thing - honestly. I will heartily admit that I am a serious lead foot. “I feel the need. The need for speed.”

Anyway, he comes up to the window, and says, “The reason I pulled you over is because you did not stop at the red light. I need your license, registration and insurance card.” I don’t even remember if I said anything, I just handed him all the paperwork, and he headed back to his car.

So Doug and I take this time to talk about the hefty fees and the points. And I keep cursing myself because I never do that, why did I do that?

The cop comes back and says, “Can you tell me why you did not stop at that light?”

I say, “I don’t even know. I never do that. I guess I wasn’t paying attention. I wasn’t in a hurry or anything.”

He says, “Well, I don’t want to ruin your driving record. We’re out here looking for drunk drivers and you are obviously not that. But it is a serious offense, ” and he hands me my stuff back. No ticket.”

“Thank you, sir. I’m sorry, sir.” I say, hoping that I am not revealing just how SHOCKED I am. And he sends us on his merry way.

Holy cow! I NEVER get out of tickets. I don’t even know how to try. I always hear about people who can talk their way out of tickets or get off somehow, but in 21 years of driving, this has NEVER EVER happened to me (or Doug).

I just hope I haven’t used up all my karma for a year with this one…