My girlfriend Lori and I have been friends since Kindergarten.  Now, back in the ’70s when we went to school, you went to Kindergarten when you were five, there was no Junior and Senior, there was just Kindergarten.  Not that I am very good in math or anything, but it would make it about 33 years that we have known each other.

Thirty Three!  THIRTY THREE!!!  Can you freakin’ believe that?  Well I can’t, because some of the memories I have seem like it was yesterday.

Lori had the designer clothes before I ever knew what designer meant.  She had and still has gorgeous naturally curly hair.  Oh to have those curls.  I used to sleep in those hard spikey rollers all night long to try to achieve what Lori was given so naturally.  I think we were in most (if not all) classes together from Kindergarten through Grade Six.  Then we were apart for Seven and Eight. And back together in High School (I went to French Immersion in between).  We were in some classes together again but what stands out the most is that we were Cheerleaders together.  Oh how I loved Cheerleading.  For a year my grades weren’t good enough. But, I squeaked my way in the next two years after.  And I think I was in the best shape of High School while I was Cheering.  It was great.

After High School, Lori and I went our separate ways.  I moved to another Province and back again and we would bump into each other now and then.  Then, through another friend I found out Lori was married and living in Texas.  One day I will make it to Texas, but I have yet to get there.  We have seen each other only once in the last ten years, but we chat now and then through email. And cheer each other on in our different adventures.

Lori has been doing fabulously, she is a personal trainer, gym teacher and body builder.  She recently got back into body building and has been winning her fair share of tournaments (I think they call them tournaments).  She also just got her website up and running, so I thought I would take this opportunity to share this with readers because I think I have a few that are in Austin and that is where Lori is based.  If you feel like getting back into shape or just being inspired, stop by Lori’s website Amped Up Fitness With Lori Pavesi .    I know that if we were in the same city, I would be her best client and my before and after photos would be up on that site.  For now, I remain a before picture, and only dream of getting back into such great shape.  One day, my friend one day.

Thank you all for your comments on my up coming Blogiversary.  I will do the draw on Wednesday and post the Winner then.

I often think about how blessed I am to live in our Nation’s Capital and to live so close to nature and farms while still living in suburbia. The problem is.  I rarely get a chance to enjoy the nature I live so close to.  We are always whizzing by it in the car.  So many times I want to just get out and take pictures or walk along the paths that skirt the edge, but there never seems to be enough time in the day.

When Hubby started running a couple of years ago, I kept asking him why he didn’t take the route along the farm.  We drive by it almost every day, it is beautiful and you feel like you aren’t running through the community.  He figured it would be too boring.  So for a whole summer he ran on sidewalks, dodging garbage cans, going up and down curbs, waiting for cars to go through the stop signs.

Then one day he needed to go for a long run.  The ones that I wouldn’t be going along with the stroller and rollerblades.  He decided to pass by the farm.  And what joy he found in watching the beautiful horses and the calmness of the fields.  Part of the path goes through a forest and all sorts of animals come out to see you (including the wolves, only once so far).  And of course, I was jealous.  By that time I was pregnant with Apple and could barely walk, let alone rollerblade through nature.  And all winter long I longed to go and see the horses and on foggy mornings, I wish I could take photos of them, but so far all the foggy mornings have happened during the week.

Then Father’s Day happened.  And Hubby wanted us all to come along for his run.  I didn’t mind, it was only an hour and although running for an hour still scares me, rollerblading for an hour is nothing.  All I wanted was to bring my camera though.  Well, I got off a few shots before J was yelling to keep up with Daddy and Apple was getting antsy thinking we were done. J finally got out and ran for a while and I caught up to everyone after taking my shots.  I will have to go back though.  Alone.  But, it was finally wonderful to enjoy some of the nature that is so close to me.  And the best part?  We were home by 9:30am and swimming in the pool.

Along our little route this is what we passed (nature wise): two strawberry farms that are almost ready to open, the corn fields, the horseback riding farm (I have no idea the name of it or how to find them other than to knock on their door, but they have a riding school), a local veggie stand, a local nursery and the forest where we saw bunnies and chipmonks. There were other not so natural things we passed like the grocery store and the gas stations, but those are all but forgotten when you see such natural beauty.  Now how to get Hubby to run along the boardwalk by the river, which again, is only five minutes away.