The Dynamic Duo

Happy New Year, everyone. So far the year has been great. We celebrated the last day the UltraYoungestSons would be with us by going into Elko to have a great lunch buffet at the Red Lion Inn. Joining us was sister-in-law Pat, who is recovering nicely from her surgery and will be back teaching school tomorrow. After we had all eaten as much prime rib, chicken cordon bleu, roast turkey, mozzarella sticks and berry tart & ice cream we could hold, I went to pay the bill with the Christmas money gift from UltraUncle Dan and Aunt Mary. Looking at the amount, I realized I had been charged for only 4 lunch buffets, not 5. Instead or pointing out the error, I decided to make up for it by rewarding our excellent server with a $12 tip. Then it was time for a little video poker. The guys staked out three machines in the nickel area, so Pat and I found some penny machines with the classic matching line play. I quickly lost my dollar, so wandered back to the poker machines. Johnny spotted me a dollar, and after 10 plays or so, I hit a royal flush. I netted $12, just the amount of my generous tip! Cool, huh?
During this vacation, Jimbo and I have been involved in a little competition I like to call “The Battle of the Elliptical Calories Burned”. He gets on the giant elliptical machine that takes up some major real estate in my living room, and shakes the whole house as he works up a massive sweat. The net result one day on the elliptical readout was 1.2 hours and 700 calories earned. He was throwing down some smack, so I had to outdo him, sort of….my note back, after working til my feet were numb read “Hey Jim, wassup? 1.30 hours, 11360 strides, 770.4 calories burned!”
The next day I got a note back, “Ok, but here’s what it takes to compete with me: 1.10 hours, 12640 strides, 810 calories burned.” Hmm. Somehow, he manages to burn more calories per time than his mother….......but still I have my pride. I hopped back on it tonight, thinking I was going to have to give up on the record, but still planning a good workout. But with a little more trash talk from the boys, I stuck with it. My next note? “So, Jim, but here’s how girls do it: 1.45 hours, 14064 strides, 900.5 calories. BooYa!” I just hope I am able to walk tomorrow.
Of course, the biggest, happiest news of this New Years Day is Boise State University’s unexpected and heart-stopping defeat of Oklahoma State in overtime in the Fiesta Bowl. With two avid fans in my house, the game was emotional and lots of fun to watch, at least until Boise, leading most of the game, let Oklahoma State come back in and tie, then take the lead with less than 2 minutes to go. I’ve gotta admit, at this point I kind of gave the game up as lost, and went into the kitchen to work on some chores, while watching the rest of the game out of the corner of my eye. But the stalwart UltraSons stayed right in front of the TV and cheered their team into a game-tying touchdown and point after. In overtime, Oklahoma quickly made their TD and point after. Boise had a tough fight to answer back with a TD of their own, and then, to everyone’s amazement, went for two instead of kicking for the nearly-certain one point. When they made it, for the win, there was pandemonium in my house, let me tell you. Text messages and phone calls were exchanged with friends and fellow fans. We are all envious of Jim’s friend BJ who was in Arizona attending the game in person.
Tomorrow its back to the grind. The UltraBoys are leaving. It will be sad and lonely for the UltraParents for a while. UltraMom has Jury Duty, work, and WeightWatchers, in that order. UltraDad has a day off, which will hopefully be spent in a little R & R.
So, Happy New Year. I just know that 2007 will be a great year for all of us.

UltraMom

On New Years Day