Sunday was a beautiful winter day, blue skies, sun shining, and invigorating with a brisk wind. Herman and I decided to drive over to Monument Avenue, in Richmond, and take a walk. It was a perfect day to wrap a scarf around your neck and pull your gloves on and step it out. Only one problem, I forgot my gloves, but I didn't forget my camera.
Monument Avenue is considered one of the most beautiful boulevards in America. Lined with century old trees, it's the only street in the United States that can boast the distinction of being a National Historic Landmark. It runs through the heart of Richmond's historic Fan District. The architecture is as beautiful as it is varied, ranging from English Tudor, Colonial, Georgian, Spanish Jacobean to Italianate. These beautifully kept homes stretch down the avenue on both sides, secret little alley ways between their massive three and four story facades, with a wide median in the center of the avenue.
In just a few weeks tender spring foliage will begin to sprout on those ancient oaks, and dogwoods will be blooming once again as spring returns to Virginia, and she always puts her best foot forward when her dogwoods decide to show off. Monument Avenue will be even more beautiful then, but I was there Sunday, and I couldn't resist taking a few pictures.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Carytown
On Sunday, after our walk down Monument Avenue we went over to Carytown, a quaint little neighborhood, populated with boutiques, art stores, antique shops and restaurants.
Bear's Big Blue House
Jacob loves Bear and his Big Blue House. It's one of his
favorite videos. Who knew that I would find Bear's Big
Blue House in Carytown, but I turned a corner, and
there it was, right before my very own eyes. You can
imagine my surprise, all this time I thought it was in
Woodland Valley. There it was, sitting right in the
middle of Carytown,blue as blue can be.
Monday, February 27, 2006
love that wine
i love wine. yes, i do. dry, red wine especially. i love pasta, any kind of pasta with almost any kind of sauce. tonight i'm going to have linguini with clam sauce and a green salad for dinner, but first i'm going to have a nice, generous glass of red wine.
how much wine is too much?? not that i have to worry. since this weight watchers thing i've hardly had any wine, but if anyone out there is wondering about this, i found a chart on sensible drinking that shows the worldwide recommendations on alcohol consumption. it indicates the standards of safe drinking recommended by a number of countries, how many drinks a day each country finds to be sensible and safe.
i'm not passing judgment here, but let's just say that some of us may want to consider moving to France or Italy. um hum! they're jelling out over there. Italy's standard allows a little less wine per day than France, but i give them some slack because they also have pasta, and know how to cook it better than any other country in the world, and the men know how to appreciate women of all sizes. you have to love a country like that.
ok, i'm off to get my wine and put the water on to boil for the linguini.
how much wine is too much?? not that i have to worry. since this weight watchers thing i've hardly had any wine, but if anyone out there is wondering about this, i found a chart on sensible drinking that shows the worldwide recommendations on alcohol consumption. it indicates the standards of safe drinking recommended by a number of countries, how many drinks a day each country finds to be sensible and safe.
i'm not passing judgment here, but let's just say that some of us may want to consider moving to France or Italy. um hum! they're jelling out over there. Italy's standard allows a little less wine per day than France, but i give them some slack because they also have pasta, and know how to cook it better than any other country in the world, and the men know how to appreciate women of all sizes. you have to love a country like that.
ok, i'm off to get my wine and put the water on to boil for the linguini.
to all the mommies
Oh, my gosh, I found this on a blog a few minutes ago.
"moving on
Last night, after the kids had baths and brushed teeth, Quinton and I were cuddled up together on the couch watching some silly show on TV. His head was on a pillow on my chest so I could smell his freshly washed hair, and as we were just there being mom and son, I had the thought: "I'm halfway done with him." He's 9, and in 9 more years, he'll be on his way to college and a legal adult (well - able to vote and join the military but not drink which is a whole 'nother rant). I was lying there and nuzzling his little boy tousled hair thinking that right now, I am his everything. I am the center of his world. He is old enough to be a unique, thinking, intelligent person with wonderful thoughts of his own, and I am still his world. He loves me beyond reason right now, this amazing person. And my job for the next half of my time with him is to make it OK for him to stop. From here on out, I will become less and less of his world. My job is to make sure that I start to disappear. He is supposed to start needing me less and needing others more. The times when I am the first person he wants to share his joys with, and when I am the one he needs and calls for when he is scared - these times are almost done. When he doesn't need me like this anymore, I will know I have done my job well. This job is the most heart wrenching and most wonderful job I have ever known. When he is grown and a man with his own family and life and ambitions, I will be so proud and happy, though a part of me will mourn the loss of the baby/child that orbits me now. But I suspect we are wired such that the bigger part of me will know that the moving on is natural and right and good. It's all OK. Isn't it?"
"moving on
Last night, after the kids had baths and brushed teeth, Quinton and I were cuddled up together on the couch watching some silly show on TV. His head was on a pillow on my chest so I could smell his freshly washed hair, and as we were just there being mom and son, I had the thought: "I'm halfway done with him." He's 9, and in 9 more years, he'll be on his way to college and a legal adult (well - able to vote and join the military but not drink which is a whole 'nother rant). I was lying there and nuzzling his little boy tousled hair thinking that right now, I am his everything. I am the center of his world. He is old enough to be a unique, thinking, intelligent person with wonderful thoughts of his own, and I am still his world. He loves me beyond reason right now, this amazing person. And my job for the next half of my time with him is to make it OK for him to stop. From here on out, I will become less and less of his world. My job is to make sure that I start to disappear. He is supposed to start needing me less and needing others more. The times when I am the first person he wants to share his joys with, and when I am the one he needs and calls for when he is scared - these times are almost done. When he doesn't need me like this anymore, I will know I have done my job well. This job is the most heart wrenching and most wonderful job I have ever known. When he is grown and a man with his own family and life and ambitions, I will be so proud and happy, though a part of me will mourn the loss of the baby/child that orbits me now. But I suspect we are wired such that the bigger part of me will know that the moving on is natural and right and good. It's all OK. Isn't it?"
Sunday, February 26, 2006
down one size
i'm back home after going to weight watchers this morning. it's cold outside but still a beautiful day, blue skies and sun shining.
herman has lost ten pounds since we've been doing weight watchers, and has gone down one size in his jeans. he says he feels more comfortable and he looks great.
since it's so pretty outside we're off to do something fun for the day. i don't know what yet, but what ever it turns out to be we have a perfect day for it.
herman has lost ten pounds since we've been doing weight watchers, and has gone down one size in his jeans. he says he feels more comfortable and he looks great.
since it's so pretty outside we're off to do something fun for the day. i don't know what yet, but what ever it turns out to be we have a perfect day for it.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
nothing much going on
herman is watching "The Last Samurai", starring that crazy kid, tom cruise. i'm not very interested in it. i thought i'd come in here and update since i haven't done so in a while.
nothing much going on. going to weight watchers tomorrow and then maybe a drive down to my father's, but not too sure. i wish i had something more interesting to write about, but i just can't think of anything lately. that's it. maybe something exciting will happen soon. hope everyone has a great weekend.
nothing much going on. going to weight watchers tomorrow and then maybe a drive down to my father's, but not too sure. i wish i had something more interesting to write about, but i just can't think of anything lately. that's it. maybe something exciting will happen soon. hope everyone has a great weekend.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Friday, February 17, 2006
Bec
Bec is the daughter of my best friend of 36 years , Patsy. She and her brother, Mike, grew up with my son, Brandon. She is 28 years old now and just as beautiful as her childhood photo, shown below. She has a two year old son, Jacob, who is the best person I know.
When they were little, Brandon's personal mission in life was to make her miserable. I think that was when he first realized that he could be successful at something. It helped to build his self esteem. Hey, ya gotta get it where you can.
She now works while attending college and is just a few credits away from achieving her degree. She does all this while simultaneously doing the million other things necessary to raise Jacob, with the invaluable help of her mother. At the present time, potty training seems to be of paramount concern, ranking right up there with learning to share. Personally, I think he does fine on both counts.
I just wanted everyone to see the "Bec" I'm always talking about. She means a lot to Herman and me. She doesn't disappoint, does she?
When they were little, Brandon's personal mission in life was to make her miserable. I think that was when he first realized that he could be successful at something. It helped to build his self esteem. Hey, ya gotta get it where you can.
She now works while attending college and is just a few credits away from achieving her degree. She does all this while simultaneously doing the million other things necessary to raise Jacob, with the invaluable help of her mother. At the present time, potty training seems to be of paramount concern, ranking right up there with learning to share. Personally, I think he does fine on both counts.
I just wanted everyone to see the "Bec" I'm always talking about. She means a lot to Herman and me. She doesn't disappoint, does she?
what about the desk?
we've all heard about that list. you know the top ten stresses in life. loss of spouse, loss of child, loss of job, moving to a new place, so on and so on. well, i have a friend that has experienced number three on that list, not once but twice in the past three years.
she had a great job that she had for over seventeen years. one day the projects that she had been working on no longer existed so they no longer needed her services....kaput.....poof......one day the desk that she had been working at for all those years sat idle, no one to sit their coffee cup on it, no one to use the phone , no one to use the computer that sat upon it's surface. how do you think that desk felt? no one ever thinks about the abandoned desk.
my friend is very good at what she does and she eventually found another job. not immediately though. it was tough and she's not a kid. believe me, age discrimination is alive and well. so, it was a struggle but she prevailed.
the company that she went to work for kept hiring people, people they didn't need. she used to say, "We don't have enough work for all the people they're hiring." she could see it coming, and sure enough, a few weeks ago they had a lay off, and guess who was told to go home. yep, that's right, my friend. go home, we don't need your services anymore....bye, bye.
once again, her poor desk had to say good bye to her, meanwhile, my friend is at home cleaning the toilet, pulling stuff out of cabinets and organizing everything in the house, vacuuming, and dusting like her life depends on it. the whole time, her desk sitting alone, wondering where she is.
this morning she has an interview. do you think they will be smart enough to hire her? i don't know. i hope so. she has managed not to curl up in the fetal position so far, which is more than a lot of people could do.
go get 'em girlfriend. i'm thinking of you.
she had a great job that she had for over seventeen years. one day the projects that she had been working on no longer existed so they no longer needed her services....kaput.....poof......one day the desk that she had been working at for all those years sat idle, no one to sit their coffee cup on it, no one to use the phone , no one to use the computer that sat upon it's surface. how do you think that desk felt? no one ever thinks about the abandoned desk.
my friend is very good at what she does and she eventually found another job. not immediately though. it was tough and she's not a kid. believe me, age discrimination is alive and well. so, it was a struggle but she prevailed.
the company that she went to work for kept hiring people, people they didn't need. she used to say, "We don't have enough work for all the people they're hiring." she could see it coming, and sure enough, a few weeks ago they had a lay off, and guess who was told to go home. yep, that's right, my friend. go home, we don't need your services anymore....bye, bye.
once again, her poor desk had to say good bye to her, meanwhile, my friend is at home cleaning the toilet, pulling stuff out of cabinets and organizing everything in the house, vacuuming, and dusting like her life depends on it. the whole time, her desk sitting alone, wondering where she is.
this morning she has an interview. do you think they will be smart enough to hire her? i don't know. i hope so. she has managed not to curl up in the fetal position so far, which is more than a lot of people could do.
go get 'em girlfriend. i'm thinking of you.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
film at eleven!
i know i've been boring lately but nothing earth shattering is happening in my life recently. maybe that's a good thing. sometimes boring beats drama.
maybe i'll talk about the fact that something has changed in me in the last couple of years. there has been a shifting of my core, and it seems to be getting more pronounced as each day passes. i used to care a lot about keeping my house clean and neat. i've suddenly become indifferent to housework. i think i should have taken this new stance when my son was small, and spent more time enjoying him instead of cleaning out the fridge. now, when i have no pressing obligations, and could actually pick up the vacuum occasionally, i simply don't give a hoot.
i wonder if i'm going to turn into one of those people you hear about on the 6 o'clock news, "heart attack victim found trapped in house, EMTs can't get in to help, film at eleven." somehow i just can't bring myself to care. if my sister didn't come twice a year i would never clean again. maybe what i need is a maid to come in twice a month to do a little something, but again, i just don't care.
well, you know nothing exciting is happening when i write about something that i don't care about as opposed to something that i do care about. there ya go. that's the sad state of affairs.
have a good day everyone and don't bother with that grape jelly on the kitchen floor, the ants will get it.
maybe i'll talk about the fact that something has changed in me in the last couple of years. there has been a shifting of my core, and it seems to be getting more pronounced as each day passes. i used to care a lot about keeping my house clean and neat. i've suddenly become indifferent to housework. i think i should have taken this new stance when my son was small, and spent more time enjoying him instead of cleaning out the fridge. now, when i have no pressing obligations, and could actually pick up the vacuum occasionally, i simply don't give a hoot.
i wonder if i'm going to turn into one of those people you hear about on the 6 o'clock news, "heart attack victim found trapped in house, EMTs can't get in to help, film at eleven." somehow i just can't bring myself to care. if my sister didn't come twice a year i would never clean again. maybe what i need is a maid to come in twice a month to do a little something, but again, i just don't care.
well, you know nothing exciting is happening when i write about something that i don't care about as opposed to something that i do care about. there ya go. that's the sad state of affairs.
have a good day everyone and don't bother with that grape jelly on the kitchen floor, the ants will get it.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
shopping and eating
yesterday i went to the outlet malls in williamsburg with two friends, maria and patsy. maria decided that shopping and lunch would be a good way to ring in patsy's 50 something birthday. we left around 9:30 AM and returned around 5:30 PM. patsy and i jellied ourselves out of the car and into the house, for we were quivering masses by the end of the day. well, i'll speak for myself, i was a quivering mass.
maria, however, i'm convinced, could have gone on indefinitely. in the world of shopping, she has set the gold standard for which all must strive. the girl is a master. i enjoyed watching her shop in the same way some people enjoy watching Tiger Woods. it's pure entertainment to watch a pro at the top of their game, doing what they do best. fun was had by all.
maria treated patsy and me to lunch. patsy and i got the salmon with black beans and steamed vegetables, and maria got a salad with a quesadilla, and then we all shared a dessert with the words lava and molten in the name, or something like that. it was a small chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream on top and chocolate and caramel drizzled over it. it was a winner.
we all had a great time. it was so much fun to spend a "girl" day together. happy birthday patsy and thanks maria, for the entertainment and the lunch.
maria, however, i'm convinced, could have gone on indefinitely. in the world of shopping, she has set the gold standard for which all must strive. the girl is a master. i enjoyed watching her shop in the same way some people enjoy watching Tiger Woods. it's pure entertainment to watch a pro at the top of their game, doing what they do best. fun was had by all.
maria treated patsy and me to lunch. patsy and i got the salmon with black beans and steamed vegetables, and maria got a salad with a quesadilla, and then we all shared a dessert with the words lava and molten in the name, or something like that. it was a small chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream on top and chocolate and caramel drizzled over it. it was a winner.
we all had a great time. it was so much fun to spend a "girl" day together. happy birthday patsy and thanks maria, for the entertainment and the lunch.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
winter white in virginia
virginia awakened to a winter white world this morning. last night we had one of those light and fluffy snows, clinging to every branch, looking soft to the touch. the world is a quieter place today, every sound muffled, a ghost of it's former self, and the bright red cardinals can't find a place to hide. they can be seen a mile away. beautiful!
the sun is on it's way and everything will be dripping soon. don't you miss those wonderful icicles that were suspended from the roof of your house when you were a kid. it doesn't stay cold enough for long enough to make them anymore. now we have gutters, and houses are built to avoid such destructive things at all cost, but i miss them.
i had a weird dream last night. i dreamed that my friend's daughter, bec, found my password for my blog and deleted everything. what a brat! i'm still harboring rather bad feelings towards her. i'm sure it will subside as the day goes on.
the sun is on it's way and everything will be dripping soon. don't you miss those wonderful icicles that were suspended from the roof of your house when you were a kid. it doesn't stay cold enough for long enough to make them anymore. now we have gutters, and houses are built to avoid such destructive things at all cost, but i miss them.
i had a weird dream last night. i dreamed that my friend's daughter, bec, found my password for my blog and deleted everything. what a brat! i'm still harboring rather bad feelings towards her. i'm sure it will subside as the day goes on.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
springtime in february
last night we went to the annual maymont flower and garden show at the richmond convention center. as usual, it was beautiful. we went with our favorite peeps, patsy, bec and jacob. we go every year, and it's so nice to see beautiful flowers and blooming trees as the winter comes to a close.
jacob and herman spent all their time at one exhibit. they had built a small pond and stocked it with beautiful koi. jacob absolutely fell in love with them. he couldn't take his eyes off them as they seemed to put on a show just for him, their brightly colored bodies in constant movement, much like jacob. if herman hadn't kept his hands on him at all times he would have joined his new friends in the pond. i see a gold fish in one little boy's future. after all, mom, they don't bark, shed or cost a lot to feed. they make the perfect pet, if i do say so myself.
well, it may have been springtime last night at the convention center, but it's all about old man winter today. yes, it is. we've had some snow this morning and we're expecting more as the day goes on. it would be nice to get a good snow before spring truly arrives.
hope everybody has a good weekend.
jacob and herman spent all their time at one exhibit. they had built a small pond and stocked it with beautiful koi. jacob absolutely fell in love with them. he couldn't take his eyes off them as they seemed to put on a show just for him, their brightly colored bodies in constant movement, much like jacob. if herman hadn't kept his hands on him at all times he would have joined his new friends in the pond. i see a gold fish in one little boy's future. after all, mom, they don't bark, shed or cost a lot to feed. they make the perfect pet, if i do say so myself.
well, it may have been springtime last night at the convention center, but it's all about old man winter today. yes, it is. we've had some snow this morning and we're expecting more as the day goes on. it would be nice to get a good snow before spring truly arrives.
hope everybody has a good weekend.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
the world according to bex: ugh the day after the super bowl
the world according to bex: ugh the day after the super bowl
if you want to get some advice from a personal trainer on healthy diet and exercise, check out "the world according to bex". she writes about her personal pitfalls, as we all have, and the inherent challenges of being a single mom, working and attending college while trying, trying, trying to get back in shape. all of it is done in good humor and liberally laced with witty insight.
if you want to get some advice from a personal trainer on healthy diet and exercise, check out "the world according to bex". she writes about her personal pitfalls, as we all have, and the inherent challenges of being a single mom, working and attending college while trying, trying, trying to get back in shape. all of it is done in good humor and liberally laced with witty insight.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Watchdog Sex Offender Registry
I received an email from a friend in Maryland with a link to the Family Watchdog sex offender registry site. Most of you with children have already been on one of these sites. I like this one. Just key in your address, and it displays sex offenders living in close proximity to your house, represented by dots. If you click on one of the dots it offers information and sometimes a photo of the offender. The Family Watchdog Sex Offender Registry site is listed on the "Links" list to the right of this post.
Monday, February 06, 2006
that man of mine.....
i never, and i mean never, weigh in after a night of sin such as i participated in last night. pizza, a beer (i only drink beer when i eat pizza) and two cinnamon sticks. (i only eat cinnamon sticks when i eat pizza) do you see a pattern forming here?
i heard herman moving around in the bathroom this morning. then i heard that noise the scales make as he dragged them away from the wall so he could step up on them without bumping his head into the wall. unbelieving, i said, "are you weighing?" he said, "yea." then i felt the pressure....peer pressure. he came out of the bathroom and positively flung the challenge at me, "i only gained a half pound, not bad, huh?"
don't you just hate men. they can lose weight so easily and gain it so slowly. the truth be known, this is only one of many things that i'm jealous of herman about. his ability to sleep anytime, anywhere is not the least of them. then there's that exercise thing. he looooves it. i haaaate it. but the quality he possesses, of which i'm most envious, is his ability to allow stress to roll off his back. like water droplets are repelled by the feathers on the back of a duck, herman's spirit repels sadness, stress and fear of the unknown. things have to be extremely bad in order to see herman sweat. i've only seen it a couple of times in over thirty-six years, and only i have ever seen it.
i'm married to a man that is water. he flows over and around the obstacle. he wears it down with time and he makes a new path when the old one is blocked. hmmmmmmmmm.
as i'm sure you've guessed, all this BS is to delay the inevitable. by now you know that after he challenged me i did the unthinkable. i got on the scale. i was not horrified. i only gained a half pound. i didn't think that was too bad.
i won't weigh again until sunday. by then my tiny obstacle will be in the past. i can see it now, in my minds eye, the water is flowing, flowing, flowing over it, around it, eroding it, dissolving it and washing away the fat. i'm visualizing it as i am writing this. hmmmmmmm. i'm feeling so very calm. hmmmmmmmmm.
i heard herman moving around in the bathroom this morning. then i heard that noise the scales make as he dragged them away from the wall so he could step up on them without bumping his head into the wall. unbelieving, i said, "are you weighing?" he said, "yea." then i felt the pressure....peer pressure. he came out of the bathroom and positively flung the challenge at me, "i only gained a half pound, not bad, huh?"
don't you just hate men. they can lose weight so easily and gain it so slowly. the truth be known, this is only one of many things that i'm jealous of herman about. his ability to sleep anytime, anywhere is not the least of them. then there's that exercise thing. he looooves it. i haaaate it. but the quality he possesses, of which i'm most envious, is his ability to allow stress to roll off his back. like water droplets are repelled by the feathers on the back of a duck, herman's spirit repels sadness, stress and fear of the unknown. things have to be extremely bad in order to see herman sweat. i've only seen it a couple of times in over thirty-six years, and only i have ever seen it.
i'm married to a man that is water. he flows over and around the obstacle. he wears it down with time and he makes a new path when the old one is blocked. hmmmmmmmmm.
as i'm sure you've guessed, all this BS is to delay the inevitable. by now you know that after he challenged me i did the unthinkable. i got on the scale. i was not horrified. i only gained a half pound. i didn't think that was too bad.
i won't weigh again until sunday. by then my tiny obstacle will be in the past. i can see it now, in my minds eye, the water is flowing, flowing, flowing over it, around it, eroding it, dissolving it and washing away the fat. i'm visualizing it as i am writing this. hmmmmmmm. i'm feeling so very calm. hmmmmmmmmm.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
confessions of a dieter
omigod! i have to confess before i go to bed or the mind monsters will show up in the middle of the night again. my best friend, patsy, came over to my house tonight, uninvited. unbeknownst to me, she ordered a deep dish pepperoni/ cheese/green pepper/olive pizza.
when it arrived she ripped the top off the box, sat on my chest and stuffed it down my throat, one greasy piece after another. i cried, i screamed, i begged, but did she give me any mercy? no!
as if that wasn't bad enough, she then stuck a long neck in my mouth and poured the contents down my throat. i can still feel the searing pain as the amber liquid found safe passage down my sizzling esophagus . pizza and beer! how disgusting!
just when i thought it couldn't get any worse, she slathered a cinnamon stick with sugary icing, and started squealing like a hyena as she chased me around the room until i collapsed, and when i was at my weakest point she taunted me with some crazy poem that went something like this.
yum, yum. lick your lips.
it's already on your thighs and hips.
then finally, putting me out of my misery, she jammed the sugary confection into my mouth, and held my jaws closed until i swallowed. it was a nightmare. as i sit here remembering it now, i quiver with humiliation.
when it arrived she ripped the top off the box, sat on my chest and stuffed it down my throat, one greasy piece after another. i cried, i screamed, i begged, but did she give me any mercy? no!
as if that wasn't bad enough, she then stuck a long neck in my mouth and poured the contents down my throat. i can still feel the searing pain as the amber liquid found safe passage down my sizzling esophagus . pizza and beer! how disgusting!
just when i thought it couldn't get any worse, she slathered a cinnamon stick with sugary icing, and started squealing like a hyena as she chased me around the room until i collapsed, and when i was at my weakest point she taunted me with some crazy poem that went something like this.
yum, yum. lick your lips.
it's already on your thighs and hips.
then finally, putting me out of my misery, she jammed the sugary confection into my mouth, and held my jaws closed until i swallowed. it was a nightmare. as i sit here remembering it now, i quiver with humiliation.
muscle weighs more than fat!
i got up at 5:30 again this morning. i actually woke at 5:00, but i lingered there under the toasty comforter for about thirty minutes, floating in that in-between place, a vague awareness nibbling at my outer consciousness. finally I got up and went into the bathroom to weigh.
today is Weight Watchers day. i always weigh on sunday mornings. this morning,after i'm dressed and ready to go out the door, i plan to weigh again in an attempt to get a better idea of how my scales compare to the W/W scales. i'm kind of confused about how much i've lost this time because i didn't go last sunday, but i had to go to the doctor on friday, and i hadn't lost as much as i thought i should have. it may be because i'm not sure how long it's been since i went to the doctor, or it could be because i haven't lost as much as i thought. we'll see and i will tell the truth in this blog later today. i'm hoping to lose three or four pounds. that would be a good two week loss for me.
i'm off to get my coffee. i'll be seeing the wwgg soon. wwgg (weight watchers girlie girls) good luck willoughby. (she gained 2 pounds last week) she says it's because she worked out that week and muscle weighs more than fat. for now we're all just going with that. kay?
PS i've returned from W/W. i lost 3.8 pounds. (that's over a period of two weeks) everyone else is doing great. bec has lost over 25 pounds. yea, bec. she's the big loser. patsy is only ten pounds from goal and you can tell she has lost. christine had a minor gain, less than a pound, but she's only one pound from goal so it's not a huge deal. willoghby was a no show.
today is Weight Watchers day. i always weigh on sunday mornings. this morning,after i'm dressed and ready to go out the door, i plan to weigh again in an attempt to get a better idea of how my scales compare to the W/W scales. i'm kind of confused about how much i've lost this time because i didn't go last sunday, but i had to go to the doctor on friday, and i hadn't lost as much as i thought i should have. it may be because i'm not sure how long it's been since i went to the doctor, or it could be because i haven't lost as much as i thought. we'll see and i will tell the truth in this blog later today. i'm hoping to lose three or four pounds. that would be a good two week loss for me.
i'm off to get my coffee. i'll be seeing the wwgg soon. wwgg (weight watchers girlie girls) good luck willoughby. (she gained 2 pounds last week) she says it's because she worked out that week and muscle weighs more than fat. for now we're all just going with that. kay?
PS i've returned from W/W. i lost 3.8 pounds. (that's over a period of two weeks) everyone else is doing great. bec has lost over 25 pounds. yea, bec. she's the big loser. patsy is only ten pounds from goal and you can tell she has lost. christine had a minor gain, less than a pound, but she's only one pound from goal so it's not a huge deal. willoghby was a no show.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
rain or shine
i rolled out of bed this morning around 5:30 AM. after going downstairs and putting a pot of coffee on i checked my email while waiting for it to brew. when i could smell it i went back down and poured myself a cup. i did a few more things on the computer. after sucking down a second cup of java i pulled on my sweats, laced up my new and fabulous sneakers, and headed off to the gym, for i now had enough caffeine in me to accomplish the task ahead.
i hit the button and watched the garage door rise. i had not so much as peeked out a window this morning, and i was surprised to see the rain pouring down. i turned myself round and headed right back into the house. i took my brand new shoes off my feet, and put them in a plastic bag. i dug my mukluks out of the closet and put them on.
there's a huge puddle that forms right in front of the gym every time it rains. past experience has taught me that walking through puddles creates a permanent squeak in your sneakers. forever after, while working out, you're doomed to listen to a repetitive squeak, squeak, squeak. no more mud puddles for me.
i had a great workout this morning, although the place was packed, and i wasn't ready for that. it must have been sunday when i went up there last weekend, and it was dead. i loved it, i worked out completely by myself while all the little burbies were sleeping snugly in their king size beds. i guess saturday is another story. they must be trying to work off their friday night wine and cheese.
the stepping class was in session. step, step, step. right over, left step,...right over, left step.....bright lights everywhere. geese, haven't these people ever heard the word subtle. i know, it's the energy! gotta have that great energy in a gym. still, i can't help but wonder, "why can't they do it quietly?" i know i'm such an old crab.....really, i know i am, but shouldn't i embrace my crabbiness? huh? i'm feeling so zen this morning.
i can hear herman in the workout room. he's winding down to Billy and his Taebo workout. soon he'll be giving the bands a workout, then sit ups, and on and on and on. he loves working out. something is wrong with that guy! i wish i could be that way. i do it because i feel better, not because i like it.
my young friend, bec, has helped me immensely. as i've mentioned before, she is dragging me, kicking and screaming into the world of good health. i think she has actually found something that works for me. i can't believe i'm saying that, but it's true. i am feeling better. it took a few weeks before i could feel a difference, but i swear i can feel it now. i can't stand those idiots who say they feel better after working out for two seconds, but i really do. kay?
i went to the doctor yesterday and i had the lowest blood pressure reading that i've ever had in my adult life. i was shocked and so was she. she actually took it twice to see if it was a fluke and it was even lower the second time. i was astounded. so, bright lights or not, chirping aerobics instructor or not, rain or shine, i'm hanging out my sign, "gone to the gym".
i hit the button and watched the garage door rise. i had not so much as peeked out a window this morning, and i was surprised to see the rain pouring down. i turned myself round and headed right back into the house. i took my brand new shoes off my feet, and put them in a plastic bag. i dug my mukluks out of the closet and put them on.
there's a huge puddle that forms right in front of the gym every time it rains. past experience has taught me that walking through puddles creates a permanent squeak in your sneakers. forever after, while working out, you're doomed to listen to a repetitive squeak, squeak, squeak. no more mud puddles for me.
i had a great workout this morning, although the place was packed, and i wasn't ready for that. it must have been sunday when i went up there last weekend, and it was dead. i loved it, i worked out completely by myself while all the little burbies were sleeping snugly in their king size beds. i guess saturday is another story. they must be trying to work off their friday night wine and cheese.
the stepping class was in session. step, step, step. right over, left step,...right over, left step.....bright lights everywhere. geese, haven't these people ever heard the word subtle. i know, it's the energy! gotta have that great energy in a gym. still, i can't help but wonder, "why can't they do it quietly?" i know i'm such an old crab.....really, i know i am, but shouldn't i embrace my crabbiness? huh? i'm feeling so zen this morning.
i can hear herman in the workout room. he's winding down to Billy and his Taebo workout. soon he'll be giving the bands a workout, then sit ups, and on and on and on. he loves working out. something is wrong with that guy! i wish i could be that way. i do it because i feel better, not because i like it.
my young friend, bec, has helped me immensely. as i've mentioned before, she is dragging me, kicking and screaming into the world of good health. i think she has actually found something that works for me. i can't believe i'm saying that, but it's true. i am feeling better. it took a few weeks before i could feel a difference, but i swear i can feel it now. i can't stand those idiots who say they feel better after working out for two seconds, but i really do. kay?
i went to the doctor yesterday and i had the lowest blood pressure reading that i've ever had in my adult life. i was shocked and so was she. she actually took it twice to see if it was a fluke and it was even lower the second time. i was astounded. so, bright lights or not, chirping aerobics instructor or not, rain or shine, i'm hanging out my sign, "gone to the gym".
Thursday, February 02, 2006
no, not oval.......elliptical!
i went to lunch with an old friend yesterday. after lunch we went to Dick's Sporting Goods to look at heart monitors and elliptical machines. we did this because at lunch she asked me what my heart rate gets up to when i'm working out. i told her that the elliptical machine at my gym says that my heart rate is in the 160s. i thought she was going to hemorrhage all over the spinach salad and crab/corn chowder. then she asked, "what's your target heart range?" i said, "whaaaat?" she said 160 sounds very high for you. i said, "how bad could it be?" i guess i embarrassed myself.
she and her husband are into sports, exercise and healthy diet. you can tell. they look better than most people "our age", shall we say? she does Pilates and aerobics. he plays basketball, works out in the gym, swims and runs. in fact, he swims the Chesapeake Bay every year. let's face it, at our age it's not so much what you do, but what you have done for the past thirty-five years. they have been consistently vigilant about their health. i, on the other hand, have not, hence my obvious ignorance about my target heart range. they are the most fit people i know, and it would be obnoxious, except they are also two of the nicest people i know.
after looking at the heart monitors, which she assured me, would keep me in something called the "zone" while working out, we checked out the elliptical machines. they were on sale. they weren't as much as i thought they were going to be. herman said i should buy one. i'm trying to think of a place to put it. i could remove one of the cabinets in the office and put it there. it would be so nice to have one to use anytime i want and not have to fight for it at the gym. i'm thinking about it.
thinking.....thinking.....thinking.
she and her husband are into sports, exercise and healthy diet. you can tell. they look better than most people "our age", shall we say? she does Pilates and aerobics. he plays basketball, works out in the gym, swims and runs. in fact, he swims the Chesapeake Bay every year. let's face it, at our age it's not so much what you do, but what you have done for the past thirty-five years. they have been consistently vigilant about their health. i, on the other hand, have not, hence my obvious ignorance about my target heart range. they are the most fit people i know, and it would be obnoxious, except they are also two of the nicest people i know.
after looking at the heart monitors, which she assured me, would keep me in something called the "zone" while working out, we checked out the elliptical machines. they were on sale. they weren't as much as i thought they were going to be. herman said i should buy one. i'm trying to think of a place to put it. i could remove one of the cabinets in the office and put it there. it would be so nice to have one to use anytime i want and not have to fight for it at the gym. i'm thinking about it.
thinking.....thinking.....thinking.
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