So...

I joined Jazzercise (yes, you read that right, Jazzercise) as part of my "Getting Fit" campaign.

My friend told me I looked like a marionette with my long arms and legs flailing aimlessly around the room.

I am scared to think what the other fifty women thought.

No explanation needed

Calla lily

I had never had success with calla lilies until recently. I always managed to make them die. Quickly. Apparently, the key to success is ignorance. Over the fence, my neighbor gave me root cuttings one afternoon. The only empty pot I had didn't have any drainage holes but I filled it with soil, threw in the cuttings and hoped for the best. Then I left on holiday for two weeks. When I returned I was stunned the plant was still alive and better yet? Growing! Then January and February were filled with rain which constantly made my drain-less pot overflow and sit with lots of water. I would pour off the excess water and shake my head certain the lilies would rot. The plant didn't rot, but thrived. Come spring, I have been rewarded with bloom after bloom and am amazed with its beauty.

Get well soon

My dad had another round of brain surgery yesterday. Since flowers didn't seem right, we sent him a Craftsman baseball cap and some new tools as a get well gift. I picked some pink sweet peas from my garden as a get well bouquet but since he lives about 3,000 miles away they are going to stay on my table and I can think about him every time I admire them. Get well soon Daddy!

You may start singing now I don't mind

Yesterday was my 29th birthday. For the first time ever, I was not looking forward to a birthday. I love birthdays, especially when their mine, but the thought of turning 29 made me taste some vomit in the back of my mouth. I began making all sorts of concessions to avoid the fact that the day was approaching. I told Thomas not to get me a card, I didn't care if he got me a gift, I just wanted to go out to dinner. But as the day crept up on me I slowly got more and more excited. A gift from my parents arrived, cards came in the mail.

I was surfing around the net one afternoon and came across Dooce's style post about a fabulous Angela Adams handbag. Not only was the bag so cool but it was also on sale! I quietly sent an email to my beloved saying, "If you really haven't picked anything for me yet, I might like one of these..." A few days passed and Thomas grumbled something about not supporting my "ridiculous habits."

And then, voila! A new handbag, just for me!

I love it. I quickly swapped everything into it and then proceeded to carry it around on my shoulder while still wearing my bathrobe. Ridiculous? I think not!