Susan's Slim Down Journey

Fitness and Fish???????

Weekends are crazy around my house. Each young man has an agenda, especially my 14 year old. Saturday I wanted to get in a quick spin class, at 8:15am, before my son's social calender kicked into full gear. I rushed to Hyannis, knowing I had to be back to Chatham to take my youngest to the Annual Town East Egg Hunt by 10:00. While stopping home to get one of three, the oldest tells me to please hurry back, he and some friends are going fishing down the street. "OK, I'll be right back".
Easter Egg hunt did not go as planned, there were 12 secret hidden eggs containing numbers; those eggs entitled the finder to a prized Easter basket. My son did not find one. Disappointment was running down his cheeks the whole ride home. Somehow there are not words to comfort a little boy, who tried, but failed to find the golden egg! Good thing the Easter Bunny was coming tomorrow.

When I arrived home, its now time to get to the bait store. While the boys are in the bait store making their purchase, I dial my usual weekend call, my friend Melinda; I have labeled it our Seinfeld phone call. Two women who talk for 30 minutes about absolutely nothing. So great to have a friend like that....... Back to the bait store........
I see my son and his buddy leave the store with a bag of fish. LIVE FISH. Now bait to me means worms, even at that, the thought of sticking a live worm through a fishing hook is gross. Upon further questioning, I am assured they needed these 4" long silver fish to catch bigger fish. Did I mention they are in a clear trash like bag, tied securely, at the top, by a knot?
Back to the house for son #2 who wants to go paint balling.
Rain pouring down, the 2 fishermen now want a ride to the pond. I begin driving the car, not realizing the 27 silver fish have now gone from a secure plastic bag, into two uncovered beach sand buckets. At the time, the buckets did not immediately set off a red flag, I was more concerned with the snow shovels the boys had chosen to use as oars to paddle out in their boat.
Fast forward to the pond. I park & turn around to help get things out of the back seat. Suddenly one bucket, which no one is paying attention to, tips over! 15 LIVE FISH FLAPPING AROUND IN MY CAR, WATER EVERYWHERE. Fish under my seats, behind my seats and between my seats.
I have a self diagnosed case of "PARENTAL TURRETS". I had no recollection of the verbiage I used, however my sons' friend Helbling said I yelled out a few expletives! This condition also occurs during my sons hockey games, when an opposing team player slams him into the boards I tends to yell with out the expletives.

I require an immediate fish head count, how many are left, how many have been rescued from certain death if they don't make it back into the bucket. My worry is the stink factor, we are traveling to the south coast soon, the scent of hot fish rotting is not something I want to inhale for 18 hours if one fish is left behind!
The Rescue is complete except for one, he is stuck way under the seat, the end of his tale is barely sticking out, still wiggling, "Mom you grab it, you have fingernails!" I comply, saving fish face from certain death due to lack of water. Back in the bucket he goes!

The moral of this story....Daily work-outs are important for me, not only for my weight loss goals but in an effort to keep my sanity while raising three active boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!