Don't Tread On Me

Goal: Exercise 2x (30 min each)
Sitrep: Sun - 30 min swimming, Tues - 40 min treadmill, 20 min abs/thighs. Thurs - 30 min treadmill.

While a great slogan from the revolutionary war, "Don't Tread On Me" was the perfect motto for me last night at the gym.

There's a rule at my gym that you sign up for the treadmills and cross trainers, and limit yourself to 30 minutes, during the busiest times of the day. Well, 7pm at my gym is not the busy time. There's usually a handful of people working out. If that.

Last night I was about fifteen minutes into my planned 30, and I noticed this couple come upstairs. I paid them no mind. Until about five minutes had passed and I realized the guy was standing nearby staring at me. Then he walked up to me. So I took off one of my ear pieces. He asked if I was almost through. I said no, I was doing 30 minutes and had 10 more to go. He then said he had that treadmill reserved for 7:30pm. Well, I hadn't signed up when I got there, because there was nobody using any of the treadmills. Now there were 2 others in use. But there were 5 free treadmills. I looked around to be sure, and then said to the guy that there were five others free. He just looked at me like I was nuts. And said "This one is faster." Excuse me? There were three other treadmills the exact same model not being used. I just said I would be done in a few minutes, and put my headphones back on.

After a minute, he walked away and got on one of the bicycles. Five minutes after that he was back, wanting to know how much longer I was going to be. Becaue he had that treadmill reserved. Now, if there were no other treadmills available, I would have gotten off at 7:30pm. Granted, if it had been that busy I would have signed up on the log to start with. But seriously. I told him I just had 2 minutes left and I'd be done. He then said I could finish on one of the other treadmills. To which I replied he could start on one of the other treadmills. Then I repeated I'd be done in 2 minutes, and went back to listening to my iPod. He walked off and then stood there staring at me. He walked back and stood there for the last 30 seconds of my workout. Wouldn't even let me wipe down the machine when I was through. What an idiot. The whole time I was watching my heart rate keep climbing and climbing...

Anyway. Totally spoiled the good vibe I usually have after working out. Jerk. Little Sis picked up on that fact when we were in the locker room changing to leave. I told her what happened and this other lady that had come in as we were talking spoke up and said he never would have done that to a man. Which is probably true. She told me she was glad I'd stood up to the guy. Anyway. Little Sis and I had a good laugh over it. Even her mom thought it was funny. Said he sounds like her clients (she manages a group home for developmentally disabled adults!) who can't handle change. Have to sit in same chair, etc., or they freak out. But this guy seriously didn't know what to do when I wouldn't get off that particular treadmill. His girlfriend, on the other hand, had hopped onto one of the other treadmills as soon as she got there. [rolling my eyes].

Moral of the story: don't interrupt my time on the treadmill if there are other treadmills free!

Bits & Pieces

Goal Status: 1x Exercise (30 mins - NYC Ballet Workout 1, excercises 1-5)

My mind is jumping around like it's the star in a game of hot potato. The last two nights my dreams have been filled with natural disasters. (Thank you news media for endless coverage of the Haiti quake). I guess my brain retained enough sensory info from the 8.0 I experienced as a child in the Azores to vividly fill my night time hours.

It's also been a really busy week; the issue with my friends 15 yo relative (she has been removed from her home during CPS investigation & is now living with an aunt) taking center stage, with two nights at dog training class, and Mom having outpatient surgery on her hand, rounding it out.

Mom is doing well at last report.

Max did well at training last night, relaxing enough to take treats from me. He wouldn't do anything that required he leave my side, though. Hopefully that'll get better. By the end of the hour, he was laying on the floor with his head on my shoe, exhausted. Poor fella.

Have a bone to pick with my Dad. He got me addicted to Kell.ogg's Cra.cklin O.at Bra.n cereal. I eat this stuff like it's candy. While it makes a good snack, the way I scarf it down can't be healthy. Thanks, Dad. ;)

Tuesday I tried a new workout. New York City Ballet Workout. I saw it at Has.t.ings and it intrigued me. There are times I just feel like doing pirouettes across the room. Don't ask me why. Sometimes for no reason I'm in a good mood and just feel like doing so. Of course, it having been 25 plus years  since I took ballet lessons, I can't really remember how to do pirouettes. Interesting side note: I was in the Azores when I took ballet. Sheesh. Two reminders of the Azores in a week is a bit odd. Wonder what's up with that?

But I digress. I rented the first DVD through Ne.tfl.ix (best subscription I've ever had!). Watched it through once. Then tried the first 5 excercises. One through three are warm-ups, four is stretches and five is abdominals/leg darts. One of the reviewers on Ama.z.on said there was no cardio; don't know what DVD they did. My heart was beating pretty hard. And that was on the warmups. Guess I'm just too out of shape.

Like any workout, there's a learning curve to getting the sequence of steps right. For me, I just am not coordinated enough to watch and do arms & feet at the same time. So I go through focusing on feet first, and then once I have that down I'll figure out the arms.

I do like it. Especially being able to select from two different sound tracks: Classical or contemporary. Best workout music I've ever heard! Love that classical. Definitely felt my abs right away, and the arms/shoulders. One drawback: audio recording not balanced. Music is as loud if not louder than the narrator giving instructions.

I'm going to keep trying this one, alternating with Perfect Cardio. Should be fun. I'd like to be more graceful, like a ballerina. Maybe I'll even be able to do those pirouettes.

What's in a name?

Sitrep: No exercise since last Thursday. Ackk. Tonight is a gym night, though.

And PERFECT CARDIO is now launched. For those of you who've been reading my blog for awhile, this is the latest and greatest from BodyRev, the workout I've been so successful on these last years. Check out their site. http://www.perfectonline.com/store/index.php/cardio_home (Don't forget to read the testimonials.)

I'm being reminded there is quite a bit to choosing names. And that there are way too many choices. I'm having troubles choosing a name that fits my new puppy. I've been calling her Leia, but it's kind of an "eh" name for her. Not like Max, whose name came to me while I was thinking of him, and everyone agrees is his name. But Leia...eh. I'm used to calling her that. She doesn't come to it half the time. Max has come to his name from the get-go.

She is a sweet, loving thing, and looks like a little bear. So I've tried several incarnations of that. Little Bear is too long. And my neighbor's dog is Bear, so there'd be some confusion. The Spanish version is Osita, but the beginning is awkward.

I spent several hours in Barnes & Noble & Borders last week looking up names in baby name books and in pet name books (only one, but they have it!). I've also looked online. Came up with a list of names that I liked. Only they fell flat when I came home and tried them out on her. Names sure are different when you say them out loud.

Names I liked but failed: Osita (little bear), Fala (a crow in Choctaw & also the name of FDRs dog), Lucy (light), Mina (strong willed warrior, blue glass/gem, or south), Mhina (delightful), Olivia, Livvy, Trixie (bringer of joy)...

That last one almost worked. I like the meaning of the name, and it's also the heroine of one of my favorite book series as a kid "Trixie Belden Mysteries". I was going to go with Trixie Belle. Just calling her Trixie. It's still a contender, but is only just above or tied with Leia.

Here's the latest list: 

• Zoe (life)
• Sophie (wisdom)
• Bella (beautiful)
• Esme (Spanish, from Emerald)
• Michi (Guarani, means "little, small", commonly used to call cats in Paraguay).
• Flora (for flower, and for the Skunk in "Bambi". That always tickled my funny bone, and her markings are upside-down skunk; also one of the fairy godmother's in "Sleeping Beauty")

Right now I'm leaning toward Esme or Michi. Will have to try them out verbally later. What do you think?

Fait Accompli

Sitrep: 10 min bicycle, 20 min treadmill.  Edited to add: Just read yesterday's post on Charlie Mike. Ouch. Was this post spot on for me or what??? I am so glad I worked out last night.

Yay! I did not get dessert last night. Although I did have most of a 10oz steak. But I opted for the rice pilaf instead of the potatoes. Is rice better than potatoes? I thought it was. But I digress. Got back to the hotel and made myself go work out. 10 minutes on the bicycle for a warm up and then 20 minutes on the treadmill. Did a 20 minute mile. :) That's good for me!

And sheesh, just looked over the last post. Boy, was I in a bitter/cranky mood or what???? Not today. Today I get to go to the bookstore: Barnes & Noble here I come!!! Books, glorious books!

Backward Steps

A local State Farm agent gave away free pedometers at my gym recently as part of the 50 million pound challenge. I managed to grab the last one, and used it for a couple of days. Until the novelty of it wore off and the itchiness of it attached to my waist band broke through.


But it got me to thinking. About how many steps forward I’ve taken over the last 3 years or so regarding health and weight loss and living a healthier lifestyle. And how in the last 7 months I’ve taken as many steps backwards.

I’m putting back on the weight, feeling sluggish, and eating poorly. It’s a vicious cycle. And while rock climbing is back on again, it’s hard to get us there every Tuesday and Thursday. Especially with being sick, my parents in town and doing home renovations, and what not.

I have GOT TO get my motivation back and start working out again. At the gym, and at home. Especially at home. Thanks to a good friend, I have an advance look at a new workout. Watched it, looks great. But even that I'm having a hard time getting motivated for!

Pilates...Or Not?

Goals: 1x Swimming, 1x Pilates Class, 1x BodyRev Bootcamp, 1x Rock Wall Climbing Sitrep: 1x Swimming, 1x Pilates Class (60 mins)

Last night was my first ever Pilates class. It was a beginner's class. I was, uh, a bit disappointed. It's basically the floor exercises from an aerobics class. Is that typical Pilates? If so, I think next week I'll check out the water aerobics class. Last night was murder on my hips. Especially the right one. Darn arthritis. It burns like mad today, and now the rest of the leg is tingly. (sigh) Amazingly, I find myself getting re-motivated now that Fall "is here". Maybe it's that "going back to school" mentality. [g] Or maybe I'm just like Scully...cold air makes me frisky. LOL. Now there's an image. I'm so not feeling frisky today. Distracted & tired. Cranky. Those are words that come to mind. Although overall mentally I'm feeling better. The exercise last night, no doubt. But this morning. Sheesh. My Little Sister is "sick" today. It started last night, when they got home from running errands (that started directly after school) at 10pm. Insane. She'd been doing her homework in the car between stores. I'm sure that didn't work real well. [rolling eyes]. She was fine when she got home until she was told she'd have to finish her homework then or get up at 5 am to finish. She chose 5am, but not 10 minutes after crawling into bed she started complaining of being sick. Did the same thing this morning. So her mom let her stay home. I blame her mom in this instance. What was she thinking, keeping the kid out so late? Why didn't she drop her off at home to do homework while Mom went shopping? And she blew off a meet with her middle daughter, the almost 18 year old (we're kept informed of the count daily), to get her homecoming dress. At least she called her (KT was at work) to let her know. But late; KT had been waiting for her for hours. (She works at M.acy's, also where she's getting the dress). Poor kid was crushed. Found her in my bedroom at 10pm bawling her eyes out. (sigh) Oh, and when they did get home they had Shanni's stepdad's 7 yr old grandson with them. I knew they were picking him up for the afternoon since it was C's b-day. But I didn't realize that meant keeping him overnight. Since I'm short on bedrooms, beds and sofas, C slept on the floor with Shanni...in my room. Guess who needs the light left on all night??? I'm starting (!) to sound cranky, aren't I? This morning Shanni was curled up on the sofa acting anything but sick, Izzie is continuing her stare-down challenge with Scully, Michelle let the big dogs in the house (they are too rambunctious that early in the morning), her work kept calling, she kept trying to get Steve to listen to her instructions about the pet groomer coming to pick up Aria for grooming, and he kept playing with the 7 year old grandson. Who got a new toy for his birthday: a remote controlled car. Joy. Not. Man, I'm turning into a cranky old woman. I had to leave the house ASAP or I'd've cracked that car in two. And tossed Shanni into the shower with a "I don't care if your homework's not done you're going to school." As it was, I managed to restrain myself to "Don't drive that into the living room furniture....Don't hit the furniture it's new...don't bang the furniture, it cost a lot of money...don't bang into that, it's from Japan...don't hurt the furniture...not the furniture from Japan...don't bang into ANY OF THE FURNITURE!" At that point I left before doing bodily harm. ;)

Making Dad Laugh

Sitrep: 1/2 Lawn mowed, ~2 mi Walk

So I called my parents this morning to see how they fared with Tropical Storm F.ay, since the eye apparently moved quite s-l-o-o-o-w-l-y over them last night. Dad answered (nice surprise, it's usually Mom & I've talked to her and my sister the last two days.) Considering it was early for me on a work day, Dad should have been surprised it was me. But since I've called 2 days in a row to check on them...not so much. Really it's just an excuse to call! And yesterday I figured was the best chance to catch my sister not in the pool! But when I started with "The weather channel reported 51 tornadoes in [ ] county, are you guys ok?" Dad couldn't help but laugh. A real belly laugh. I think I really tickled his funny bone. Turns out it was one tornado, with 51 homes damaged. And not near them. My poor beleaguered brain apparently condensed the report and scrambled it about a bit. [g] But hey, at least I made my Dad laugh! I think it's quite humorous that they've had no tropical weather this season until the week my sister visits with her family. Lucky them - trapped for 2 days in the house with a 4 and a half year old who lives to swim. [g] While on the phone my BIL in the background hollered "Send snorkels!" LOL. So far all's well at the house. Streets around the neighborhood that flood with regular rainfall are flooded. But nothing beyond that. The last few days have been busy for me. But finally our 2-day annual seminar for a local company is over and the instructor in on his way home. Had to do the hostess thing the last 2 days, and eat out. Bummer. Last night we walked from the downtown hotel he stayed at & up to the walking mall and a local eatery that used to be a brothel. Big Dorothy's. [g] Good steaks and fun atmosphere. It's about a mile from the hotel one way. The weather cooled down considerably, and it sprinkled a bit. But it was a nice walk. On the way back we got ice cream. It's a good thing we walked! Saw the chiropractor again today for a status check. All looks good. A few more adjustments today and that's that unless I'm in pain again. He told me again not to baby my right hip for that arthritis, to keep moving so it stays lubricated. Which I'm doing. Sort of. :) I have got to get back into REVing. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Just a lot of hips and butt. [groan, I know]. Oh, and I'm buying a new (to me) camera. It's a smaller digital camera I've been wanting. Not quite a pocket point and shoot, but smaller by quite a bit than my digital SLR, and with a really good optical zoom. It's going to be my "around-town" camera. One I can carry with me and not worry about leaving in the trunk of the car. Not like my "baby", my D SLR. [g]

Grease Monkeys

Weekly Goal: 1x Bootcamp, 1x Qigong, 1x Mow Lawn

Apologies in advance if I sound cranky...I'm very tired; slept poorly. Not inclined to parse my words for mood. [g] Dreamt last night I was on the phone with Shanni and she was sick; started with a cold and got worse. I was irritable because she wouldn't tell me the symptoms and I was feeling sick in my dream. Maybe my subconscious is trying to tell me something? Like if I don't get off my butt and exercise and eat better I'm going to get sick? Saturday was an uneventful day for the most part. I motivated my sorry self out of the house around noon to go get Shanni. We'd planned to work in my yard, putting in the new flower bed borders and starting on the back "deck". Except it pretty much boiled down to a quick run to the cell phone store (she locked her SIM card therefore blocking all but 911 calls) and then to the store to buy a bulb for the car headlight. We had to get someone to help us as the number bulb I needed wasn't on the shelf...the guy told me to bring my car around and they could change the bulb for me. For $5.00 (plus cost of light bulb). I guess I'm cheap, because I didn't want to pay someone to do something I can d0 - and have - myself. Shanni was quite dubious. Once at my house I looked up the instructions quickly online (to make sure I didn't unplug some necessary wires). I had a little trouble getting the cap off. I didn't want to use force (been there, done that, broken a few things!) so first tried finessing it off. Went with force. ;) To make a long story shorter, we changed the bulb. I had a bit of trouble lining the bulb up with all the grooves. Hard to line things up blindly. But finally got it in. At one point during the process Shanni went "Don't you have any guy neighbors we can call?" Pfffffttttt. I also heard "Ooooo...you're dirty!" (Funny coming from a girl who just a few years ago was happily catching frogs in the irrigation ditch by her house.) I said what I usually say, "I'm washable." She was pretty proud when we finished - and the light worked. [g] I also made a point to show her how to check the oil and washer fluid, and where the anti-freeze (coolant) goes. And the battery. I guess I'm going to have to show her how to change a tire one of these days. The rest of the afternoon she kept calling us "Grease Monkeys." So I didn't exercise last week. Went to the chiropractor for my hip Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. By the evening after the second adjustment I felt great! Wednesday was a final adjustment and also to review the x-rays of my hips. Turns out I have very early signs of arthritis in my right hip. Surprise. Not. It's always bothered me, and I figured eventually I'd have arthritis there. Just not at 35. [g] The doc said I can keep on exercising and walking/hiking is okay. I'm just not to take up running. In one of those "did I say that out loud" moments, I went "Please. I just took up walking. Running's not even an option!" He looked a little startled, but laughed. So. Now I really need to lose that extra 20 pounds. Just more motivation! I was afraid he was going to tell me to stop exercising all together. But from what he told me, and from some research I did at the library, I'm okay to continue. Just need to wear really, really good shoes. He told me where I can get some good orthotics (not custom made) for about $50. I think I'll try those before going the orthopedist route again. So. Onward and upward. And it's nice to know I'm not hallucinating the aches in my hip, or the pain when I sleep on my right side. [g] And yesterday I managed to motivate into the garden. One flower bed out front now has a new border - two years after removing the old one. ;) It's that generic plastic border you bury except for the edge, but it works for me. Got 50 feet of it for $5.00. Gotta love procrastinating until the end of the season. Hah. The veggie garden is not making much progress...tomato plant is all played out. Carrots are finally coming up and I thinned them out. Green onions aren't getting taller and browning on top. Lettuce is struggling. But it's getting much cooler. I actually wore jeans out to dinner Saturday night. The Chives and Basil are hanging in there. At least the lime trees are looking wonderful! Not much else to report, except that Shanni keeps getting herself grounded. So far she's lost going out one afternoon, her cell phone for 2 days (oh, the inhumanity! lol) and now our outing to Ga.tes of the Mo.untains Saturday with BBBS. Heh. Poor kid. NOT! I keep telling her about the time my mom dragged me home from a friends birthday slumber party because I hadn't finished my chores. I was 16 at the time...

I Summited Mount Helena

Last Week Sitrep: 3.4 mile hike
Goal: 1x Bootcamp, 1x Qui Gong

Shanni & I finally made it to the top of Mount Helena. And I have the aching muscles and chiropractor bills to prove it. [g]

Plan of Attack: Prospect Shafts Trail (1.5 mi) to Hogback Switch Trail (.3 mi) leading to Summit; 1906 Trail back to the parking lot (1.6 mi).

Reality Check: We set out at 9:30 am, reaching the top around 11:30 am. Yep. Took us almost two hours to hike the 1.8 miles to the top. I'm thinking that's a pretty abysmal pace, but hey. It's me. This trail is supposedly less step than the 1906 trail we attempted last year. I'd have to agree on that, although others don't. It's longer, and winds around more. Gorgeous sneak peeks of the valley along the way, and plenty of shade, make this a rather nice hike. If you can forget about the fact you're hiking, that is.

About twenty minutes down the trail, we came across a picnic table and Shanni wanted to stop for a snack. I brought sandwiches for our lunch later, along with cheese sticks, carrots and granola bars. Not to mention tons of water. (Two 32oz bottles for each of us.) Let's just say that cheese sticks are not a good option on a hike unless you have a cooler or thermal lined backpack.

Just across the way from the picnic table is what's called the Charcoal Kiln. We took pictures. It looks like the remains of a tower or something made out of rocks. Pretty neat. Then we started back up the path. It was about this point that my right hip started to irritate. Like my sciatic nerve was getting pinched or something. Not too unusual.

About 1.5 miles up the Prospect Shaft's Trail we switched onto Hogback Switch Trail. Now, it was getting rather steep already, and I was hoping we'd already hit Hogback Switch. Nope. I wanted to cry when we saw the sign. Shanni was great, very encouraging. I was struggling by this point; not sure how much farther I could go. I'd forgotten to wear my heart rate monitor, but could tell whenever I got too high out of my target zone. I'd stop in the shade for a few minutes (usually moving around a bit, just not going up.) Anyway. Shanni coaxed me those last .3 miles to the summit (yes, it was .3, at least that's what the map down below said!)

The top was just craggy rocks, but the view was amazing. I took some pictures. Not as many as I'd've normally taken. But exhaustion and no shade make for poor photographer incentives. [g] We wanted to take the 1906 trail down, which I thought connected to the Hogback trail further back. Ooops. That was the first wrong step of the day. So we had to go back up. Oh, joy. At least it was only fifteen feet or so...someone else pointed us the correct way down. Only after a few minutes the trail started to split into 3 directions with no signs/markers. Peachy. Figuring I was being intelligent, I said "Those 2 look like they're going back up, this one is definitely going down. Let's take this one." Heh. Turned out to be not so intelligent after all!

After about 10 minutes of pretty steep and rocky progress down (I'm pretty sure this is where I really started to screw up my hip), we began to wonder if we'd passed the Devil's Kitchen (large cave in the limestone face), and how'd we mange to do that? Thankfully we came across a mother-daughter pair hiking up. They kindly told us we were on the Powerline Trail, not the 1906. Shanni was disappointed and wanted to go back; I wanted to know if this trail ended in the parking lot. They laughed, said yes, but then told us they (veteran hikers) wouldn't go down this trail. Apparently the Powerline Trail is a pretty ugly downward climb. (My chiropractor confirmed this.) So we had to go back up. {whimper}

Shanni ran ahead with them; I kept having to stop. Although I pushed myself harder than I previously had. That whole ego thing. Didn't want to look bad. Like being red-faced and breathing like a bellows while the top of your head explodes doesn't look bad, and tears stream down your face, doesn't look bad! By this point I kept telling myself "The only easy day was yesterday"...not sure why my brain picked that quote. I certainly didn't help! "You gotta want it bad enough" and "Body obeys the brain" would have been better motivators, I think. But we made it back up (nearly to the top, where the trail split in 3 directions) and they showed us the 1906 trail. You actually have to walk down that path a bit to see a) it goes up slightly then down dramatically and b) the signpost. Sigh. So really. I summited several times. ;) That whole side-trip added thirty minutes to the day.

Going down was lovely. Much easier. The first few minutes the world spun crazily in my peripheral vision - Vertigo - but that evened out. The Devil's Kitchen is neat; it's basically an extremly large and wonderfully cool shallow opening in the limestone cliff face. We stopped there about twenty minutes or so and ate lunch. I didn't even eat half my sandwich; my body started giving me the "going to be sick" signals. But we'd snacked several times on the way up, with my choice being carrots. (love the moisture in them.) I stuck to sipping water the rest of the way down. At this point I was 1/3 of the way through my second bottle of water.

The 1906 trail down is rather steep, mostly shaded, and also provides great views of the valley. My hip really burned by this point, and I could feel every step in my lower back. But we did it. We made it. :) At 1:05 pm we were in the car.

FWIW (for what it's worth): The 2 ladies that we met on the Powerline Trail caught up with us on their way down. The Powerline Trail is not on the map at the parking lot.

The Aftermath: I woke up Sunday with the expected pain. Legs so stiff, calve muscles in agony. Didn't do much throughout the day other than walk around the house and stretch my muscles, etc. Was going to mow the lawn as a method of loosening up my legs, but it rained. Soaked at least 40 minutes in hot water. Felt much better, except for my hip. Oh, my hip! It was late afternoon when I realized that every time I stood up, when I put my rut foot down and walked in a straight line, my right foot was pointed right (not forward!). Uh-oh. My feet turn outward normally, but not that much.

So yesterday I missed work and ended up at the chiropractor for the first time in my life. I felt silly as I wasn't in any pain. Just discomfort, but when I stood to show him how I was standing, he goes "oh yeah, that's not right." LOL. A quick, little adjustment later and my foot was pointing straight. My right hip was too far forward or something. He had me come back today for an x-ray to take a look at the hip joint (I told him I had to wear splints/casts on my leg as an infant) just to be sure since I've always had issues with it. (No side leg lifts - agonizing burning pain!). His wife took the pics today, and per her the hip looks normal...radiographer needs to give the "official" word. I got another adjustment and feel much better. I no longer feel lopsided. [g] One more adjustment tomorrow, and then a follow-up on Monday to make sure I'm still in alignment.

Funny thing, after about 10 minutes or so of walking after the first adjustment, the calve muscles in my right leg no longer hurt as much. They were much much more sore than the left leg. Guess it was the additional strain of how I was walking. [g]

So. That's the grand adventure on Mount Helena last weekend. The Hike That Lasted Three Days. :) But we made it!!!!

Lucky Bookstore Find

Sitrep: no Mount Helena tomorrow. :(

So yesterday I drove to Butte with my little sis and her family. It was bankruptcy court date, and their car is in the shop. Of course. So I "volunteered" to take them. It's only about an hour away, and a pretty drive. I didn't have a clue where we were going, but Steve said he knew, no prob. Riiiiight. Ya know, when a person is driving down the interstate at 75 mph, and you're the navigator, you really have to tell them it's their exit coming up before you pass it!!!!

He said he could get us there taking the next exit, and foolishly I listened instead of just turning around like I wanted to. Sigh. We had 10 minutes to get to the courthouse by the time the attorney had given them (thank goodness he told them to be there 30 minutes before the hearing start time!!!!). I was not exactly happy as I thought they were going to be late for court. Not a good idea. I think judges tend to get irritated by that kind of thing.

Anyway. Steve & Michelle were doing the usual couple-bickering-over-asking-for-directions thing, KT telling me to just "Google it", and Shanni was uncharacteristically quiet. Smart kid. [g] I'm going how the hell do I "Google it" when I'm driving? I don't exactly have the Internet in my car...that's when KT (in that teenager tone - you know the one) informed me that I can text Google for directions. How the heck am I supposed to know that? I usually Google it BEFORE I GO. To put an end to the madness I just pulled over, grabbed my cell and called a coworker that lives in Butte. She told me how to get where we were going and we were there just in time to meet the attorney.

Oh, did I mention that downtown Butte is something like 4 blocks by 4 blocks? Turns out where I pulled over was two blocks from the courthouse, which we could see from where we were. I even pointed to it and said "is that it?" Hah.

After that was done, we ate lunch, and then went shopping. First store was this great little used book store. I spent $25 there. I found a copy of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Listen, the Wind" which I've been wanting for a long time. :) Happy happy. And it was only $5.00. Joy, joy I had the worst time figuring out where they put her books. The owner said his wife insists on shelving AML in the classics section. He lead me to the right book case, and I saw it first. I almost knocked him over trying to get it off the shelf. LOL.

Then we hit a couple of antique stores, took the girls to the mall, and came home. It was a good day! Except for when Steve lost his patience and went to haul the girls out of Claire's Boutique. He was a pretty amusing sight standing there in the midst of all that girly stuff. And suitably threatening, as the two made their choices ASAP when they saw him.

Happy, happy, joy, joy...that was me last night fondling my new-to-me books as I tried to read them all at once.

P.S. - Shanni forgot she's babysitting all day tomorrow, followed by an school friend's slumber party, so no hike on Mount Helena. Too bad I promised her months ago that I wouldn't go up there without her. Stupid me. So it's Boot Camp with Alden this weekend.

P.S.S. - Almost forgot! They weren't there last night when I watered, but this morning the onions are peeking through the surface...a whole 1/4"! Whoo-hoo!

Ostrich

Sitrep: Che Caique...( loosely translated from Guarani - "Without Want". No motivation!)

A lot of things lately have made me think humans are a bunch of ostriches with our heads in the sand. I read a great Thurber quote (I'm re-reading a bunch of his stuff. The "Flood" story from "My Life & Hard Times" can still make me laugh helplessly.) Anyway. I read a great Thurber quote that brought ostriches to mind (I'll post it later) and was kind of my ah-ha moment that brought together a lot of things I've been musing over the last few weeks.

1) Discovering my little's mom has been paying interest-only mortgage payments for ten years. OMG. It took a lot of doing to get her to understand why she's upside down in her house...with the girls looking on. I just wanted to shake her and yell at the girls that if I ever catch them doing something so stupid...Not once in those ten years did she add up what she'd paid, or even look at the balance remaining on her mortgage statement...

Thwump...there goes her head into the sand.

2) News story on giving cholesterol to children as young as one year old if high cholesterol/obesity runs in the family. Apparently that's considered safe. WTF? Are they serious? Geez. Both my parents have high cholesterol, yet aren't obese. I'm overweight yet my cholesterol is excellent. So instead of actually implementing programs such as incentives for parents to exercise with their kids from a young age, assistance for poorer families to buy fruits/veggies, insisting on physical education in school, nutrition classes in school (can combine into all sorts of other classes as well, like math - you use math in recipes, figuring out calories, etc). Do they actually think putting these kids on cholesterol meds as young as one years old is the right thing to do? What potential side-effects would that have!

Thwump...there go all our heads into the sand.

3) Tom's post the other day on Charlie Mike. I've read it a few times and each time I feel like I'm hearing this giant THWUMP. Me sticking my head in the sand. [g] In particular the last few days I've been focusing on his last line "what lifestyle do you want to be trapped in?" Judging by the last few weeks, one of indolence and food. [sigh] But that's not what I want to be trapped in. I used to say to myself (and others) that if only I lost 20 pounds, I'd be satisfied, I'd be healthy, etc. Well, the truth of it is that I've lost - and kept off for over a year - those 20 pounds. And I'm not satisfied. I'm happy, very much so, but it's not enough. There's another 20 pounds for me to hit the healthy mark. I think where I've been stumbling is that I've been setting short-term goals. Things like "this is what I'm doing this week". Which is good, but without having that larger goal beyond the smaller one, it's too easy to lose focus. I want to be trapped in a lifestyle where exercising several times a week is normal, part of my routine. A lifestyle where I have energy and am healthy. A lifestyle that my little sister can look to and think she can do it too.

So this ostrich is pulling her head outta the sand and taking a look around.

My goal: lose 20 pounds by July 15, 2009.

I think that's a pretty decent amount of time to get this accomplished in. Short term steps to get this done are to get back on Spark People. Daily journaling of my food/exercise helped. A lot. I'm also setting weekly goals and monthly "rewards" (ie, Starbucks, Books, Music) for meeting those goals. This week's goal: climb Mount Helena.

Triple Review

Sitrep: 1/2 Lawn Mowed (rain rain, go away...)

Three reviews today: My Arms, A Book & A Movie. I've been busy. [g]

My Arms

So I've done Boot Camp twice (with one weight each time) in the last two weeks. And the week before that I did arms & abs. I've also mowed each week, and weekend before last I used my new trimmer/edger on my back yard. That sucker is supposed to be light at 5.5 pounds (at least, in comparison to others.) Then there's all the lifting and carrying I've been doing the last few weeks at work. Last night I noticed that I can feel my biceps just rubbing my hand up and down my arm. I don't even have to do the muscle pose to see/feel them. How very cool is that?

A Book

Another good book recommendation from the bulletin board: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. Bought & read it in one day last weekend. :) I don't do that too often. It's a very good first book, I think. Different from my usual reads. Easy-going, a little enchanting.

SPOILER ALERT - SCROLL PAST THE NEXT BIT - YOU'VE BEEN WARNED
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
While I really enjoyed this book, and there were several lines I found myself trying to remember because they were so funny, I was left feeling a little at loose ends when it finished. Things were developing quite nicely with all the characters. Then all of a sudden Claire's hero stopped getting fleshed out - there wasn't a lot of development there. Almost as if his falling for her was secondary to her falling for him, a given, so why write about it? There were several mentions made of him needing someone like Claire to keep him organized, grounded, etc. (He had to leave notes to remind himself to eat.) But not much was made of that...not sure Claire ever found out about that in the book. I was a little unsatisfied at how that was resolved. First 2/3+ of the book devoted to Claire pushing him away, then in a few pages, she changes? And we lost him about halfway through the book...his perspective, etc. Claire got together with her hero, and that was the end of them until the last pages - focus turned to other characters.

Then there was the later introduction and development of Fred & his partner (whom we saw once? twice?) And the way that was tied up...uh, wasn't too thrilled with that. Didn't have so much to do with the two main characters, who I thought were the sisters.

I liked the relationship with the sisters (Claire, Sydney) themselves. That was well written; combined with the magical aspect of the book, this was the best part for me. Funnily enough, I hadn't read any reviews about this book, just new the title and that several ladies on the BB really enjoyed it. The night before I found it at Wa.lmart, I dreamt in depth about my sister and I. Funny, huh?

The niece/daughter was "off" in tone for me. I liked her character, would like it if she had her own book (that would be a trick - she's 5 in this book). Her age is what was "off" for me. She read more like a nine year old to me.

Sometimes throughout the book I kept thinking about the movie "Practical Magic". Not a bad thing in and of itself, but I guess I was wanting more? I'm not sure the purpose of Fred, or Evanelle, the cousin who has to give things to people. Things could have been tied together without all of that, in my opinion, leaving more page time for the two sisters and their relationships - with each other, with the daughter/niece, with the love interests, with the one sister's past, with the town...

I just felt a bit at loose ends, slightly disappointed when I finished it, even though I felt it was a good read. After all, it kept me reading all day. And I'm going to get her next book, which has just been published.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
END SPOILER

A Movie

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

I loved the Chronicles of Narnia books when I was young. At least, the ones dealing with the Pevensie children. Loved Lucy. I've tried to get my little sister to read them, but she's not interested. She'd rather read the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series by Rick Riordan. That's cool. I'm not going to force books on her...just give her suggestions when she asks for them. But in 2005 we went to see the first one, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, when it came out. (Yes, it's the FIRST ONE. I'm a big believer in reading this series in the order it was written!!!) We had just gone to see one of the latest Har.ry P.o.tter movies the week before, and it was fun seeing her different reactions to the two. For HP, she enjoyed the movie, etc. In LW&W, she was literally on the edge of her seat. And when ***SPOILER*** one of the main characters died ***END SPOILER*** she sank back in her seat with a startled "Ohhhh".

It was the same for the 2nd one, Prince Caspian. After the first 10 minutes, she was enthralled. I think it's the way the stories are told, the slower pace. And the low amount of special effects, if you think about it. I haven't read the HP books, but they're much longer I think than the C of N series. And the HP movies I've seen are high paced, heavily loaded with special effects. There's no time for the story to sink in. She loves HP, yet she enjoyed the C of N more in the movie theater. I'm not sure why, other than the reduction of special effects. Or maybe it's the talking animals???

Anyway, I really enjoyed this movie. I'm actually going to get the first one and this one on DVD. A good addition to my miniscule DVD collection. Simple, fantastical, fun. And Good wins out over Evil. How can I not like that?

It's Never Easy

Goal (5/4-5/10): 2x Abs, 2x Arms, 30 minutes Miscellaneous
Sitrep: 1x Lawn Mowing - 30 min

Arghh. I've been trying to blog for several days now and never seem to get to the "publish post" part. :) Very busy at work right now, although it's tapering off, thank goodness. I like to be busy, not slammed.

And it's those darn little projects that kill me. What I thought would take just an hour yesterday, ended up requiring the better part of the afternoon, and multiple phone calls for quotes. What is this grand project? Getting us away from an actual fax machine and to Internet Faxing. Turns out if you want incoming faxes actually routed to people, it's more complicated than just signing up. Sigh. But I still think it'll be cheaper than having a fax machine, dedicated phone line, toner, maintenance on the machine and paper. We'll see what the higher ups decide.

I've managed to stir the waters at work...I asked in our staff meeting this morning if everyone can please send a staff email when they plan to take a different lunch than usual. Twice last week when I started to head to lunch I discovered I was the only one here. Delaying lunch isn't that big a deal. Being the only one here to answer calls for an hour is. And one of those days I had an appointment that I - luckily - could reschedule at the last minute. Literally. Good thing I walked to the back to let them know I was leaving for lunch, or I wouldn't have known and just blithely walked out the front door! Of course, now I'm getting snippy comments. Tough shit. There's such a thing as common courtesy.

Anyway. Sorry about the cursing. I'm in a cranky mood, frankly. Probably has something to do with the rainy day oustside. Or the constant headache I've had for days. Now I remember why I like Spring, yet dread it's arrival.

On a positive note

I used my heart rate monitor this weekend while mowing the yard. Turns out that little push reel mower is quite the workout. [g] No wonder I always feel like my head's going to explode when I get done...I'm working too hard...way over my target heart rate zone. So mowing my yard took 30 minutes. Twenty of them in my target heart rate zone. And I burned 465 calories. Nice. I might look at this as a workout instead of a chore from now on! Which is good, because that crazy grass that took over last year seems to thrive no matter the conditions. Hot, dry, cold, wet...it grows. Fast. I've mowed twice already this season, and there was snow on the ground just three weeks ago!

On the Exercise Front

Last Week's Goal: 3x Arms & Abs, Gym Night
Debrief: 2x Arms, 3x Abs, 20 min Basketball (Gym Night)
Goals (4/7-13): 2x Arms & Abs, 2 nights finishing bedroom floor (scraping, sanding)

I just wanted to pop in with a post on my exercise for last week. I feel much better, almost made my goal. Only short one Arms workout. Also got in some stair climbing via the bleachers at the dinner on Saturday. And does it count that we stood in line for several hours? In the "bitter wind and snow" to quote the local paper? It was cold when the wind blew. Enough to make a person move around alot. But I did the layers thing which was smart. Because it was darn hot inside. At least up in the bleachers. Too many politicians campaigning on the floor. ;)

Will download pics to my computer today from the rally, and compose a post. Lots to think about. It was an amazing evening. Left me completely exhausted yesterday. Managed to hangout with Shanni and KT though. Watched "Sweeney Todd" (excellent, if bloody - had to make Shanni cover her eyes for some of it), and "Enchanted" (fun, different.) I guess it was a day for musicals of a different color...ST is on my "buy" list for DVDs now. Hint, hint. (Hey, someone has a birthday coming up in oh, ten days?)

Be back later with info on Montana's O.C. ;)

Oh, Woe is me!

Goal: 3x Arms & Abs, Gym Night
Sitrep: 2x Arms, 1x Abs, 20 min Basketball (Gym Night)

It's starting to look like I'll be spending my summer "vacation" in FL at the parents house; odds are my siblings and their families will be there as well. Math might not be my strong suit (I did okay until we hit fractions), but even I know that Florida + June = Significant Pool Time. And Significant Pool Time =

Oh, the horror! The past few summers I have managed to limit swimsuit time to one afternoon. That is just not going to be possible this summer. The kids live for the water. So does Mom. I will be out in the water. Pool, beach...it's all bad. ;)

I'm really going to have to amp up my workout routine...got to flatten that lower belly some more!!! I guess next week I'll start the Boot Camp DVD again. Oh, the things I do for my family!!!

And it's no coincidence that I got the Land's End Swimsuit catalog in the mail a few days ago. The universe is out to get me. (Not that I'm paranoid or anything!)

It's all about your Reputation

Goal: 3x Abs & Arms, Gym Night
Sitrep: 1x Abs & Arms, 20 min Basketball (Gym Night)

"Don't get my kid kicked out of the White House."

That's what I woke up to at 7am this morning. Well, okay, I was awake at 6:15, I just kept hitting the snooze button. Man, did I dream a lot last night. All I can remember of that is something was being torn down or deconstructed or taken apart. It was not a good night. So when the phone rang as I was putting in the first contact lens, I'm pretty sure I swore. Popped the second lens in and ran for the phone.

It was Shanni's mom. Yesterday was the big family meeting for the upcoming Washington D.C. trip. Apparently the kids get to meet with the delegates from their states (delegates as in our states' congressmen). Each kid has to come up with a question for our representative/senators, along with a solution, on important issues facing MT. Well. Guess who's gotten tasked with that? Not that I really mind. [g] Of course, I was sitting there going "What? Why didn't she ask me last night when we were hanging out together?" (Shanni has a really bad habit of leaving homework/reports to the morning of the day they're due.) I was a wee bit irritated because I'd specifically gone over her homework list with her last night! Turns out it's due on Monday. So then I asked why not have Shanni come up with it? Because really. I don't think like a 12 year old. At least, not all the time! They'll be able to tell we're feeding her lines. ;)

I bet Shanni can come up with a good one, and a suggestion for a solution. She's smart enough, definitely creative enough, and let's face it; the poor kid has been around me long enough she's not exactly in the dark as far as current events and politics go. And from what I gather there have been more than a few heated arguments at her Dad's house between him and her older sisters...Dad is a staunch conservative, his girls are more on the liberal side (as is their mother).

Jeez. A girl lets her hair down once around this family and they never let you forget it!!!! ;)

Last night's foray to BBBS' 2nd Gym Night was fun. No volleyball available, so it was more of a free-for-all. Shanni & I shot hoops for a while, and then I challenged her to play some one-on-one with me. She scored more baskets than I did, even though she grumbled at first that she didn't know how to play. We did that for about 20 minutes, until it got too crowded on the court. I think our case manager got some shots of us. I didn't give Shanni any quarter....I wanted that ball and was determined she wasn't going to score. That girl is fast, and can turn on a dime!

But I got to beat her at air hockey. Three games in a row. Hah. And then we played checkers. Can you believe she's never played checkers before? Shocking what kids nowadays aren't exposed to. ;) I explained the rules and we started to play. Apparently she didn't quite get that you can jump more than one checker in a row as long as there's an empty square on the other side and you're headed in the correct direction (unless you're a King, then you can go either direction). The first time I jumped two of her pieces I thought she was going to swallow her tongue, she was so startled!!! It was absolutely hilarious. I don't think I have ever seen her look so surprised and shocked...

Now I can add to my reputation - at least with BBBS - that I'm a ruthless air hockey and checkers player. I will give my chosen victim no quarter! ;)

Jedi Mind Tricks

Debrief (3/24-30): 1x Arms, 1x Abs, 20 min Walk (w/the Dog!!)
Goal (3/31-4/6): 3x Arms, 3x Abs, Gym Night (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
Sitrep: 1x Arms, 1x Abs

I'm sure any one reading this is aware by now that I've been seriously slacking on the exercise and eating the last three months. I'm slowly getting back into REVing, and noticed something. Even if I haven't exercised for weeks, about 5 minutes into the workout I start feeling slimmer, more compact...I look at myself and look slimmer, more toned. I've been pondering this for awhile now and think it's one of two things:

1. A Jedi Mind Trick (hey, I'm no Toydarian, I'm susceptible.)
2. I'm actually seeing myself as I really am

As much as I'd rather believe there are Jedi in the world, I'm thinking it's the latter choice. [g] All kidding aside, it's a very strange phenomenon. I know that I don't see myself as I really am when I look in the mirror. It's something I've struggled with since high school...when I was a size 7 and thought I was fat. Now I'm a size 12/14 and am semi-okay with that. (Oh, the irony!!!) But when I look at myself while I'm exercising or just after working out, I see myself as I really am, I think. Oh, I'm not saying I'm in super shape or model thin. But I'm not some big giant blob either. Yes I'm still out of shape. Stamina, muscle tone, weight - all need work. But I'm not Jabba the Hutt. ;)

It's kinda weird, and I wonder if this happens to anyone else? It's almost as if when I work out, the blinders are lifted and the inner me and the physical me are more aligned, fit together better. It's like when my equilibrium is messed up because of fluids in my ears. I bump into walls because I don't know where I am...where I think I am is not where I am at physically . But when the fluid goes away, my equilibrium returns, and my mind and my body are in balance. I am physically where my brain thinks I am. I hope this makes sense.

Either way, it's a bizarre sensation, looking at myself and seeing myself differently. I might not feel that way a few hours later, but when I exercise again, it returns. And really. If I keep working out consistently, the blinders will stay off longer and longer, and hopefully, eventually I will always see myself more clearly.

Define: Ironic

Sitrep: 1x Abs Beginner workout

So I'm watching TV last night, and this commercial comes on with 2 models talking about their new clothing line (or lines) at Target. I think they were models, they said their names like the viewer should recognize them. They described the clothes as inspired by 1930's florals, but more 1970's, and "flirty", "fun", "ironic"...

Did I miss something? Is it those girl-genes I was born without? How can clothing be ironic? I understand flirty. (Sometimes). I understand fun. But ironic?

ironic
adjective
1. humorously sarcastic or mocking; "dry humor"; "an ironic remark often conveys an intended meaning obliquely"; "an ironic novel"; "an ironical smile"; "with a wry Scottish wit" [syn: dry]
2. characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is; "madness, an ironic fate for such a clear thinker"; "it was ironical that the well-planned scheme failed so completely"

Are they saying if I'm wearing the "flirty, fun, ironic" dress, I'm actually not flirty or fun? I'm confused.

I think it's more ironic that that SOB Mark got back on the Biggest Loser last night. Or that Ali (a girl!!!) BEAT HIM to be the Biggest Loser of the night. :) That made my evening. Although there wasn't far to go for it to get better, because it ticked me off when he got back on the show. It's more ironic that every Tuesday this year I stuff my face while watching the Biggest Loser. Now that's ironic. I think. Like I said. I'm confused.

However, I did realize something last night. I've been bemoaning the fact that I can't seem to get myself exercising again. All told, I've spent hours over the last 2 months thinking about why I can't seem to get moving again. Is is the fact that Alden no longer posts? Is is the slow down in Gator Patrols? Is it that it seems no one else is still working out? Well, Alden's posts weren't supposed to go on forever. Really. The man has a buiness, family, a life. And the Gator Patrol? I could start some of those myself, but I don't. No one else working out? Not true. I get glimpses of it now and then, in a post or two on the BB. What it really comes down to is this:

I've got to be able to sustain this myself, in the long run. That is the only way this will become a life-long habit. I've shifted tracks, moved onto a new phase in this journey of self-improvement and better health, mental & physical. I need to do this for me, because of me. Oh, that's not to say that having support from others isn't good. It is. It just can no longer be the only motivator to keep me going. I am the motivator. Me, and only me. Just like I am the only reason I've stopped. I am the only one being disappointed or hurt by my lack of action.

It hasn't just been lack of exercise either. There's been significant backward action in these areas:

1) Daily water consumption (some days are negative!)
2) Morning & afternoon snacks (amazing the difference that made!)
3) Controlling portion sizes
4) Choosing healthier ingredients/foods
5) Lack of journaling/tracking food & activity (on here, on SparkPeople)

All these tools I've thrown away. Well, no more. Isn't it ironic (stop singing, please) that my biggest stay-sitting-down-don't-move addiction, television, has given me such a big eye opener? It was Ali, on The Biggest Loser, that made me sit up and go "oh" last night. She was voted off in week 4, yet came back in week 11, having lost more (% of weight loss) than all the other eliminated females. Frankly, she's lost more than the women that made it through to week 11. She lost more than them, even though she was on her own for the last 6 weeks! 6 weeks in the real world, without Bob or Jillian, without her whole day at the campus focused on exercise and eating right. How ironic is that?

Modern Language Association (MLA):
"ironic." WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 12 Mar. 2008. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ironic>.

Is it Saturday Yet?

I'm on my second dose of liquid Dayq.uil since 8am. (I usually stay away from the stuff. Nyq.uil makes me hallucinate. The day stuff is just a step behind that.)

Ran out of Klee.nex by 10am, reducing me to using toilet paper. (Had to steal a roll of TP from the bathroom. Shhhh. No one turn me in, please.)

Santa can use me to lead his sleigh, my nose is so raw it's glowing red.

Every lotion I have makes my nose burn, even the stuff supposedly for this very thing.

Oh, and I did Abs Essentials Intermediate last night.

Tonight I'm going home and curling up on the sofa and watching Jane Eyre again. Too bad I no longer have a VCR. It would be a pefect evening for Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

Note to self: Add P&P to your wish list on Amazon...

And every time I scan this post, my eyes substitute "Satan" for "Santa". Repeat after me: step away from the Dayq.uil...

Reading slumps, exercise slumps, slump, slump, slump...

Ya know, if you say/write that enough it loses meaning; is awkward to say. Almost like a word you've just made up.

A "we never discuss books/characters" anymore post on the BB got me to wondering why we don't talk books as much. Truly, when I first started haunting the BB in 2001, it was mostly about Suz' books. Is it that the people on the board have changed that much? Or that it's a bunch of new/different people?

Somehow I think it's more because we all have such varied interests, and because the board has evolved from just a place to talk about Suz' books. It's become more of a community of people that love of books brought together. And then again, we've discussed Suz' books to death. Really, we have. I've never met a group of book-a-holics that could analyze an author's writings down to the smallest detail like these ladies can! It's cool, really. But there's nothing new on the horizon to get us all worked up or excited.

Which got me to thinking about how that's true for me in regard to reading, period. "Agnes and the Hitman" is the most enjoyable book I've read in a long time. And even that took me two weeks after checking it out of the library to even start, and a week to actually read. I liked it, it was entertaining, a fun, light read. But now what?

It doesn't seem to matter what type of book I pick up. Nothing captures my interest for long, or sucks me into the story, or sticks with me for days, or wends its way into my dreams. The last books that did that were the ones by Elizabeth Vaughan. It's been a year since the last one in that trilogy came out, and I dreamt about them the other night!

Maybe I need to go back and revisit some of those classic books that fostered my love of reading. I haven't read Wuthering Heights in years and years. Not since I was in Paraguay. I loved that book...used to read it at least once a year. And was actually finding the second half of the book, the part after Cathy & Heathcliff, was better than the first. (Probably because there's a "happy-ever-after" to it!) I've also been wanting to read "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" by Anne Bronte. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for years. Then there's "The Blue Castle" by L.M. Montgomery, and "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte.

Yeah, maybe that's what I need to do. Revisit some of the classics I haven't read in years.

And now I just need a swift kick in the butt to get me exercising again. (P Smith - if you're reading this - I lost your email address! That's why I haven't been emailing you lately. I hope you're doing better than I am at the whole REVing it up thing. )