The Latta Family

I recently heard this phrase- and it really amuses me.  What does it mean?  It's means something's bugging you, irritating you, causing you frustration, somewhat annoying.  It's grinding your gears.  You know what has really been "grinding my gears lately????"  Here are a couple of super random things:  1. We're doing a walking competition at school- with any teacher that wants to participate.  I am participating.  The app we're using to calculate our distance "grinds my gears."  It does more than grinds my gears- frankly it infuriates me!  Initially we were told it would synch with our smart watches.  It does not.  I was so pumped because last weekend I worked like a maniac in the yard and KNEW I was going to have a crapton of steps.  Guess what?!  I HAD NONE!!!!  My watch did, in fact, NOT synch with the dang app.  How disappointing.  Then Doug and I went for a walk.  He was calculating 4 tenths ...

 Well so much for being on a blogging roll.  I was consistent for about a month, and then I fall off for a month.  While I wouldn't say I was busy in January- I did have stuff I was doing.  It's been a pleasant mix of grown people things, trying to get some consistency with healthy habits, and fun.   1. Grown People Things:  I cleaned out a bunch of old bills, and I started a notebook with important information in case something happens to myself or Doug.  Things in the notebook: the contact info for our finance guy, login information to different accounts/bills/bank, copies of: birth certificates, marriage certificate, social security cards.  This whole notebook thing started because my mom has been organizing all their stuff- in case something happens to them.  At first, I was like, "Mom!!! For Pete's Sake!!! I don't want to hear about it!"  But then . . . if something happens to Doug, I have no idea how to pay most of our bills. ...

I have been doing several sewing crafts over break.  Honestly- I had almost cleaned out a good majority of my craft supplies- thinking I was done with that activity. I hadn't sewn- as part of a craft in years.  I'm not sure why I stopped.  Then one day about 2 months ago I saw a Reel that led me to more Reels and then I just decided to get the old sewing machine back out and try a few projects.  I have also been trying some hand embroidery.   I am sick and tired of Doom Scrolling through social media.  Seriously.  When I was young- Nintendo came out.  My mother declared we could not have one in our house.  She thought it was going to brainwash us- and make us stupid. I thought she was ridiculous for years.  Now I realize she was ahead of her time- and right.  Because I didn't want to sit on my couch, doom scrolling all break- I started sewing. Something that is nice about being a crafter is that- I have random supplies around. ...

The closer I get to 50 (in 3 months)- the more I am thinking about the habits I have and if I do them because I actually like them or if I do them because I am supposed  to do them.    I went swimming yesterday morning.  Somedays when I start swimming, I feel this sense of urgency to swim as fast as I can. I have this compulsion to swim fast because that's what I am supposed to do, right?  I will burn calories and hit my target heart range, and then so I can hurry up and get home.  Today I decided, "Why rush?  To go home and vacuum?  I might as well take my time."   While I swam, I thought about why I don't slow down and take my time more often.  Today's swim was lovely.  My swim boyfriend one time said, "It perfectly acceptable to have a slow pace, and swim for a longer period of time. You'll still burn calories." Except, aren't I supposed to be aiming for peak heart rate?  I mean . . .  that's what they say....

I LOVE Cinnamon Rolls.  Like . . . . LOVE. They're so comforting with their soft warm dough, and cinnamon sugar butteriness.   However- they're so stressful to make.  The whole time I am making them I am in an Armageddon is descending on my kitchen type of mind loop.   I am wasting ingredients because these stupid things will never turn out.  I am making the most gigantic mess for absolutely no reason because I'm probably gonna just have to throw everything away anyway.  Since I don't really have an internal monologue anymore- I am mumbling horrific swear words and rage sighing.  The moment I get them in their pans, it's an immediate labor and delivery type feeling of euphoria.  I do not remember the rage of potential disaster literally 60 seconds ago. I only see their perfection as they're nestled in their pans.    I have a favorite recipe.  Except it IS the MOST annoying recipe.  Everything about it is extra.  ...

Okay this is gonna be a slightly controversial opinion but . . . . it's my blog and I can be controversial if I want.  I don't like the Christmas season.  Specifically, I do not like the additional mental load of the season.  I wonder often- "How I can feel more overwhelmed by the overall "more" now?" My kids are older and not needing me as much. When they were younger and I was battling them to clean up after themselves, and eat, and bathe and brush teeth, and taking them to multiple events and remember all the accessories they needed to have for those events.  I mean now . . . . I do not do any of that for Andrew.  (I am almost belligerent in my "I do not remember anything for you" as I treat him as the young adult he is.)  And Alexa is so self-sufficient I do not really have to do that for her.  Sooooo why now do I feel so overwhelmed by extra decision making????  It's probably age and frankly . . . cell phones (as trite as it may be to blam...