Hurricane Irene

This is what I'm dealing with at the moment!

It's 10:30pm and we are getting pounded with heavy rains and winds as part of the early feeder bands from Hurricane Irene.  She is expected to be over South Jersey around midnight tonight.  So far, it hasn't been too bad because the power is still on!  Hopefully it stays on but I highly doubt it!

After living in Florida for six years, I had my fair share of hurricane experience.  It all started with two storms named Frances and Jeanne in 2004!  I was pregnant at the time and the storms came back to back with a large impact to our area each time!  I was living with my parents at the time of the storms.  For the first one, since we were all hurricane-virgins, we decided to evacuate and go across the state to Tampa!  Bad idea!  The storm came right across the state and knocked out the power in Tampa too.  So my storm-chasing father decided we would drive THROUGH the hurricane back to the house because he was convinced that if something would happen to the house, people would be out there looting our stuff!

Fast forward two very uncomfortable weeks with NO power and quite a mess to deal with and we were prepping for hurricane #2 - Jeanne!  Of course this time, we did not evacuate!  We stuck out the storm with mom and I huddled in the walk-in closet while dad slept soundly in the bedroom next to us.  At one point he went outside "for a walk" and had pine needles sticking in his eyes!  Not the smartest move!

So when I saw that Miss Irene was heading our way with a potential of a Cat 1 or 2 when she reached South Jersey I thought to myself "I got this!"  I feel like I have enough experience to get through a hurricane on my own now.  At the same time, it is nerve wracking!

We just went through a tornado warning!  I had about 10 texts from friends in the area telling me to go to the basement because of the tornado warning.  I went down there and filled an air mattress 'just in case'.  I'm typing this from the couch because it is too loud and scary on the third floor where my bedroom is located.  I think I'll camp on the couch tonight.  I'll update again later or tomorrow after the storm.

Stay safe and keep dry!

UPDATE: 9:15AM Sunday the 28th
Right after I put up this post I decided it was time to get some sleep.  I was camped out on the couch uncomfortably but luckily, I was able to sleep alright last night.  I woke up a few times to the sound of wind and rain hitting the house but nothing frightening.  Around 6am I heard the power flash back on so I decided it was time to sleep in my bed for a few hours.  Around 8am I got  up and turned on the news.  We didn't get any damage at the house at all.  No water in the basement, no tree limbs in the yard, nothing!  I might venture out in a bit to see how the town made out.   All in all, not a bad storm at all!  

HOT Yoga

Awhile back during a wonderful massage in Florida, the masseuse recommended to me that I should try Bikram Yoga.  What is Bikram yoga I asked?  The girl explained it as a yoga class in a very hot room.  Hmm....let me think?  No thanks!  I'm not a yogi at all and actually have never even taken one yoga class!

Fast forward two or three years to my friend Shannon and I sitting at the local pub talking about yoga.  Shannon is a yogi!  She practices 3-5 times per week at local studios and at home!  So I thought, who better to ask about "hot yoga" than Shannon.  Turns out, she had done it once and loved it!  She explained it to me as a series of 26 poses each done twice in a very warm studio.  Ok, a HOT studio!  Right there at the bar we decided to go to a class together.  I think I may have also committed to coming to a regular yoga class with her.  Maybe the alcohol was talking some?

Our plan was to jump right in and go to the studio near us that only does hot yoga.  It's called Laughing Buddha Hot Yoga studio.  I should have known from the ominous title that this was going to be 'no joke'.  I did a little research before we went so that I wouldn't look like a complete fool.  I actually found a few very helpful posters like this one below that show each of the 26 poses:

It made me feel a little better prepared but I was still nervous that the instructor would be calling out positions like "Downward dog" and "pigeon pose" and I would be standing there clueless.

Our class was at 7:45pm on Tuesday night so we arrived early as instructed to get "adjusted" to the temperature in the room.  As we walked into the studio I kind of wondered what the hell I had gotten myself into!  But in I went!  The room wasn't as hot as I had imagined it - at least not while the door was open.  Shannon and I stood there chatting a bit before class started.  Once the instructor came in I immediately told her that not only was I new to hot yoga, I was new to yoga in general!  She was very excited to have a newbie on her hands.

We did a few warm up breaths and then we got started.  The first pose involves linking your fingers under your chin, breathing in and out and trying to fold your elbows up to the top of your head.  HA!  My elbows were parallel to the floor as opposed to the desired perpendicular position.  Shannon of course was able to bend and contort herself into this odd position.  In the back of my mind I was reminding myself of my inability to flex or be flexible!

As we moved on to the second pose, I became more confident.  The instructor was extremely helpful and would correct me when needed.  I was thinking how Shannon had said when she had done hot yoga before she didn't remember sweating in the class but she was soaked with sweat when she left.  As we went into the end of the second pose where you fold yourself forward and hug your forehead to your CANKLES, I realized I was dripping with sweat!  Literally, sweat was dripping off of my head and onto the mat!  At first I was a little embarrassed until we rolled into the next pose and I realized every one of of the other 6 ladies in the class was just as sweaty as me.

We continued on through the first 13 poses without too much difficulty.  There was one pose (#7 above) where I was able to get fully into position and my taller, leaner friend had a little struggle.  (I quietly patted myself on the very sweaty back!)  As we transitioned to the seated poses I realized we were half way or 45 minutes through the class.  At that point I started to feel a little fatigued and light headed.  I sat out one pose to just compose myself and catch my breath.  I didn't feel nauseous but I also didn't want to get to that point.

As the class finished, the instructor graciously opened the door and windows and a rush of COLD air came flowing in!  I wanted to get off my sweat soaked mat and make out with this woman!  I've never been so hot or so sweaty in my whole life!  Oddly enough, half way through the class I thought to myself "this is how sweaty I would be if I had sex all night long without a single break!"  I don't know why that is what I was thinking about as I was drenched in sweat - but I like where my head was at!

We left class in relief and both agreed to do this again!  We loved it.  I loved it!  I was shocked.  I expected to tolerate it enough for the class and I hoped that I would like it but I was surprised with how much I really, truly loved it.  Maybe it was the "high" from being so dehydrated after sweating profusely for 90 minutes.

I expected to be a little sore after hot yoga and I was.  Yesterday I felt sore in my neck and back but I'm used to those areas being sore after almost any physical activity.  I was more exhausted than anything!  I couldn't believe how physically exhausted I was!  And I still am wiped out from the class.  Today I felt a few more muscles become sore.  Muscles I was sure didn't even exist in my pudgy little body!  It's not a painful sore but a "I got a good workout" kind of sore!

Overall score for Hot Yoga - B+!   I could do without the exhaustion that follows (and I hope it goes away after a good night's rest tonight) but all in all, I can't wait to do it again!   So if you get a chance, go try it for yourself and let me know what you think!  

Week One

Without Cooper went a little something like this:

Monday - Gym (2hrs)
Tuesday - Sushi date
Wednesday - Gym (2hrs)
Thursday - Shopping at Target (and being SAD)
Friday - Hair appt. and Bar tour
Saturday - Gym (2 hrs), hair appt again, work (1hr), dinner and a movie
Sunday - Gym (1hr), weeded flower garden, cleaned 3rd floor and 3 bathrooms top to bottom, shopping, made a yummy dinner and cookies for the office and now maybe a movie

Can you tell I am trying to fill my schedule so I don't have time to worry about Coop or miss him too much.  I have to say it was nice to have a day to myself today from start to finish.  I slept in and did just what I wanted and when I wanted to!  But I'm pretty sure I would trade it to have my little man here with me.  I've called him once and checked in a few times during the week.  I tried to call tonight but my grandma didn't answer her phone!  My sister and her family were up there this weekend so I know that he is having fun!  I just miss him!

I'm also learning a lot about myself this week.  I've been on a few dates with a boy and I'm realizing that I am VERY used to being alone.  It's very hard for me to give up this time alone to be with someone else who wants my time.  It's almost ironic that all I've wanted for and asked for is to find someone (anyone) to be with.  Now that I have the chance, I'm a little less interested than I thought I would be!  I honestly thought I would jump all over the very next live body that came along.  And here I am with a nice guy who is VERY interested in me - but it's not enough.  If he's not the one and I know it - why should I settle?  I am so independent and so strong in my own right that I almost need someone who is equally strong and independent!  I'm noticing that it's not just anyone who will sweep me off my feet.  My feet are pretty well planted and very grounded in who I am and who I expect in a partner.  Maybe too much so!

On to week #2 ........  24 more days without my baby boy!  The love of my life!   I miss you baby!

Dear Cankles

I have not forgotten about you and NO, (unfortunately) you have not been replaced by skinny ankles!  It's just that after I spent a week with you on the beach hobbling around with a pulled inner thigh muscle, I feel the need for a little "me" time.  Cooper has left me for his month in the mountains and I'm a little sad.  But don't worry - I will be back with you shortly!

Much Love
Mama Cankles

Random Recap

It seems like there is so much going on lately!  So here is a random recap on all things "Casey":

WORK is finally busy, busy, busy which I love!  The days have been flying by which is a nice change from the days when I would be bored, look at the clock and it was 9:32AM!  If you don't know what I do for a living, I sell oranges to Walmart.  Literally!  So please, this is a shameless plug for my job: GO BUY ORANGES (or Clementines or Minneolas) at Walmart.  Don't worry, I won't blame you if you hate shopping at Walmart - so do I!  In fact, the only time I do shop at Wally World is when I am doing "store checks" for work.  A "store check" is a fancy term for "I'm bored and going to drive 30 minutes to the nearest Walmart so I can wander aimlessly and maybe while I'm there I will wander into the produce department and scope out the competition"  But if you can, please go buy lots and lots of Clementines this summer at your local Walmart and report back to me on the brand (name on the bag), flavor and price.  I don't really care but you can tell me anyway!  haha

RUNNING has been going really well!  I have been running 4-5 times a week which has been really refreshing.  I'm actually desperate to get running every other day.  I am so excited to be able to run outside more when Coop is away!   Unfortunately though on Sunday after my run at Kelly's I came back and had a very sore inner-thigh muscle.  It wasn't bad but it was uncomfortable.  On Monday it was still sore so instead of running I did the "Climb the Hills" thing on the treadmill.  Then yesterday I ran a very nice, fast (for me), fluid 2.25 miles!  When I was done I actually had time to do a proper cool down walk and then I left the gym to get Coop from Summer Camp.  In the 9 minute drive from the gym to summer camp something bad happened because when I opened the door to get out of the car I could barely move my left leg.  Then, trying to stand on said leg, was nearly impossible!  I was in tears by the time we got home!   So, needless to say, I am going to let that heal a bit before running again.  But I can't wait to RUN!  It is such a refreshing change from my usual lazy attitude!  

VACATION is only two days away!  Somehow this year my sister quickly and quietly convinced me to pay an astronomical amount to go in on a "shore house" with her.  Someone needs to please explain to me why the beach is the "shore" in Jersey.  It's a beach house anywhere else in the world and it's a beach vacation and it's called "going to the beach".  But here in the lovely Garden State it's all about "going down the shore"!  Anyway, we have a "shore" house from Saturday to Saturday and I am a 50/50 mix of excited and anxious.  I'm excited to get a week long vacation on the beach!  I'm anxious because my brother-in-law's entire extended, gi-normous family is also going to be "down the shore" for that week.  They are big, they are loud, they love to drink and more than anything - there are SO many of them.  I can't even tell you how many people will be there.  In Kevin's immediate family alone there is 11 adults and 5-6 kids.  I'll try to do a head count at one point during the week so I can report back on just how ridiculously over populated this family is!  In addition to the obvious anxiety that many people would cause, I am also getting very nervous about letting Coop leave me for a month.  Immediately upon our return he is going to head north and leave me in his dust!  So I'm going to try to suck up every single second of his time while we're on vacation.  I think my niece will be competing with me for his time but I'm bigger and I will take her down!  He's MY baby!  

COOPER is such an amazing little bundle of perfectness!  I am shocked each and every day to realize that it IS possible to love him more!  I look back over the last 6 1/2 years with him in my life and I just cannot believe it!  It sounds so cliche (and gay!) but he makes me ME!  I love it!  I see so much of myself in  him!  From his insanely annoying sense of worry and hypochondria to his overly generous and loving inherent nature.  He is so kind and gentle with the kids at school or at camp whom he views as scared or less privileged or sad.  I've seen him take a kid under his wing and try to distract him while their mom slips out the door quietly to avoid a crying scene.  He is very aware of other people's emotions - almost to a fault!  He is also extremely dramatic!  If he gets the tiniest scrape on his finger he will go on and on about how his finger hurts and he needs to be "extra careful" because he doesn't want to hurt his injury!  It cracks me up!  Coop is also a born performer!  He has been a sucker for an audience since he was an infant!  If he has even one witness he will start a "routine".  I often find myself saying "stop performing" or "don't talk to strangers" because he has no shame!  I hope that isn't a subliminal sign that he is desperate for my attention and that, as a single parent, he is acting out in hopes of being the focus of my attention!  I'm sure a psychologist would have a similar perspective but in reality, I think he just likes to be the center of attention!  Probably because he is - and always will be - the center of my whole world!  What am I going to do without him for a MONTH?  Have I asked that yet?  

There is a short recap on what's been going on with me.  I will try to get back to more interesting posts soon!  Until then...........

A month of without......

My Cooper!

My grandparents have graciously offered to take Cooper to Coudersport with them for a month!   For the entire month of August.  A whole month.  As in 31 days - maybe more if I were to look at the calendar which I am not going to do because I'm already freaking out about A MONTH!

Last summer Cooper came up to Coudy with them for a week and even that was difficult.  Don't get me wrong, I am excited and so, so grateful that they offered to take him!  I know he will have a great time and I think it is good for him to experience the Coudy way of life!  I'm more worried about what I will do for a month by myself.  Cooper and I have been together for 6 1/2 years now.  Even when he's away for a night I don't sleep well or like the feeling of an empty house.  We have our little schedule and routines and when he's gone, half of me is missing.

I am a mix of anxiety and excitement right now!  I'm worried about what to pack for Cooper and I'm worried about what to do with 30+ days to myself!  I'm also a little worried that it will be a lot for my grandparents to have him for so long.  They have him "farmed out" to a few relatives for different events though so I'm sure they will get some breaks when they need to.

So, I'm asking for input on what to do with my time?  Here's what I've come up with so far:

- I can run outside in the morning or after work
- I can go to the gym after work instead of at lunch
- I want to visit a few friends who are in the city
- A night out in the city!  I haven't done that yet since moving back here!
- I could go to the beach for a day and just lay in the sun by myself!
- Sleep in on weekends
- Eat sushi without someone complaining that they don't like it!
- I WILL save almost $700 by not paying for summer camp (it's all going to credit card debt!)

What else?   Help me fill my time please!  I'm taking any and all suggestions.  And I am sure I will be counting down the days until my little baby gets back to me!

Blueberry fields forever

One of the best parts, I'm finding, about living in South Jersey is the ample fresh produce!  From Jersey tomatoes to Jersey blueberries, I am literally surrounded by fields as far as the eye can see.  On one side I can see the city skyline and on the other three it's a bounty of yummy fruits and veggies!

Today we ventured to Mood's Farm Market in Mullica Hill - just down the road.

They were having their annual Blueberry Festival so we thought we'd check it out.  What a great find!  This cute little roadside stand boasts fresh produce, homemade donuts and jarred goodies like blueberry jam and peach honey!  We scoped out the festival part complete with a blueberry bake-off:

We didn't stick around for the contest or better yet - the taste-testing portion of the day.  We had to move on to pick our own blueberries.........

Cooper ate about as many as he picked but he had a blast doing it!  He kept saying it was the "best day ever" which is nice to hear!   It took us about 20 minutes to fill up our containers and about 2 seconds to wish we had brought bigger ones or even 10 more!  All these berries for only $4.50!   When a pint is $1.99 at the store it was well worth our time and so much fun to get our very own berries!

I've already put some to good use by making this recipe from Skinny Taste!  I can't wait to try it!

As a member of the produce industry and an avid supporter of local produce, I encourage you to explore your own neighborhood and surrounding area for what's fresh and in season!  And if you're in South Jersey - be sure to check out Mood's Farm Market and their Blueberry Festival!