When Working Out Doesn't Work Out

I've had trouble sleeping this summer. Maybe it's the heat. We don't have AC. Maybe it's the constant busyness, despite the fact that I am "off" for the summer. Maybe it's the major growing pains that both kids are going through or the sudden barking of neighborhood dogs or the fly that keeps sneaking in through the back door.  Or maybe I just need to burn off some more steam, get rid of some of this energy.  

Hey, I know! 

 I'll start working out more.

  I've got time and support. 

  When my mom was visiting, we walked together almost each morning, since she was still on Florida time and waking 3 hours before the rest of us.  I woke up with her and off we went, in the cool quiet calm of a La Habra morning.  We walked up Euclid, way into the hills, and marveled at the lovely, spacious homes.  We sprinted when the mood was right, and walked the rest, but mostly we talked and planned how many of those homes we would buy if we won the lottery. Since she could only visit for a week, I immediately missed my walking partner.  No fun talking to myself about those homes.  

Then Brian introduced me to PANDORA.  WOW! The music lover in me just about lost her mind as I searched for many a favorite station.  Yesssssssssssssss. THIS. WILL. WORK.

Then, Brian told me how he not only uses Pandora for music, but he types in our favorite comedians as well, and the world of entertainment opens bigger yet.

OHHHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. THIS WILL SURELY WORK. 

I set Jim Gaffigan, and Brian Regan on the favorite stations and was ready to enjoy killing two birds with one stone-working out and listening to great stand-up.  

Not. A. Good. Combination.  

While I absolutely LOVED the great rotation of stand-up comedy looping through my iPhone, I could not control myself when I heard these skits.  I would laugh out loud, sometimes crying because it was so funny, causing neighbors to wonder/worry what was wrong with me (from a distance, it was not evident that I must have been listening to great comedians).  I would trip while walking down hills, miss curbs, and hold up traffic while crossing streets because I was laughing so hard at these men. Can't really call it "working out" if you aren't "working" very hard.  I even stopped getting honked and whistled at, people just stared like I was a maniac or something.  

And then, if I heard a really funny skit, I had to stop to KIK Brian or Heather, both major lovers of the same comedy.  Then I would laugh and giggle and their replies and pretty soon, I was not really working out at all.  Instead it was just a long, silly walk around town with my phone in my hand.  

If I ever decide to take this more seriously, I might have to ditch the comedic stations and stick to the hits and classics.  Until then, if you notice any change in my physical appearance at all, it will probably be all in the facial muscles-from laughing so much!:)

Familia Licona 2012

With my mom visiting, we wanted some updated family shots and we had no intention of making an appointment and sitting in some store taking turns perching on a wooden box with our feet behind the white line.  That's why you need a talented photographer in your life who makes house calls, like Sara.

 I love this one because my Grandpa Bobby is front and center and Benedict just sat down perfectly after watching us play musical chairs.

 A picture does tell 1,000 words...words like: silly, brat, uncooperative, and goofy. All words to describe Valentina during this shoot. You would never guess, though.

 Sweet girl.

 Sweet boy.

 Ok, my first thought when I saw this photo of David and Valentina is that I can GUARANTEE they will take this exact shot in 30 years when she gets married.  Like after their first dance or something, right???  So, when I loaded it into my iPhoto, I laughed because for some reason, my dates are all wrong now with each import, and the date for this import literally read July 3, 2036.  Valentina will be 26 years old.  Sigh....

 Proud Sita with her grandkids.

 Familia Licona 2012

Flashback to Familia Licona 2010.

Sara, I am gonna ask you right now to keep the first week of July open in 2014, unless we are in Brazil for the World Cup, which will surely happen if I win the lottery. 

Summer Fun with Sita 2012

 Another wonderful summer visit from my mom!  The kids loved having her here, as all of us did!

We shopped, cooked, cleaned, reorganized, shopped more, went many places, ate a ton of food, and shopped a bit more.  It was wonderful to wake up with her here each morning and to kiss her goodnight before bed.  

 We did much more than what these pictures show, but some are on other cameras and iPhones. We can download and share those later.  We went to California Adventure for mom's birthday and we saw my Aunt Lisa and ate cake and ice cream every night (and day).

Family meals were our focus and we enjoyed many!

 We went to the Discovery Science Center again. And we saw Madagascar 3.

 Spent the day in San Diego with the Padres and the newest recruits for the U.S. Army.

 Out to eat at Portillo's. YUM!

 David and Salvatore wearing their Italian pride (before they lost).

 We always let Salvatore take his own photos. These are his.

 Sita (my mom) and her parents.

 Super Sita (my Sita) and Fred with Valentina.

Mom, we can't thank you enough for all that you shared with us!  So sad to see you go, but that only gets us planning our next vacation together!  We love you so so much!

 Also happy to note that my step-sister Beth, and her boyfriend Bobby, will be out to visit us next month!