Well, compared to yesterday, walking today was like taking a stroll in the tropics.. sort of. It was still cold and windy but not like yesterday..I added a few blocks to my treck today..Why??? Not sure.. I was even able to walk most of the way without my hood and therefore able to make the following observation. CHRISTMAS IS OVER PEOPLE!!!!!! Even the twelve days of Christmas are over. Take your decorations down. At the very minimum there is no reason to still have a wreath on your front door. You walk by it every day so you can grab it and at least throw it over in the corner. And those wire deer with the lights on them?? Put them in the garage.
Now the following statements will probably get me a little flack but I think it needs to be said. There are some decorations that need to be permanently stored or better yet, taken to the Margrace trash dump. Aluminum wreaths.. In any color. Gota go.....Icicle lights, so 90s.
After making these few observations in my neighborhood, I headed on up the next road. I must have hit it just right for heavy traffic time. I guess the high school kids were a little late leaving or were on their way to their part time jobs or something, because they sure were in a hurry. Do they know how to slow down? Do their parents know they drive like this? When you see old people walking, you a) slow down or b) at least move over a little. There is only so far the walker can get over without being on the front porch of some stranger. And most people really don't want walkers in their yard. I know I don't.
I'm really a very nice person. Seriously, I am kind, considerate, understanding, patient, compassionate (dang, I sound good.) but there are a few things of my you just don't mess with. My family, my money and my things....My things include my front yard and my grass that we have spent a fortune on trying to get just right. One day I came home from work and there was this big truck parked in front of my yard and the men were cutting down a tree across the road. Now, the truck parked on my side was a little annoying in itself but the worst part was the idiot changing the oil in the chainsaw in my yard!!!! That's right, in the grass in my front yard. Who the heck did he think he was? I immediately came in the house and called hubby. He couldn't come help me so I was on my own. I very sweetly walked down to the man and kindly asked him to get the heck out of my yard with his nasty chainsaw work. He just laughed at me. I turned around and went back in the house, as my blood pressure began to slowly rise. 10 minutes later he was still there and I repeated my request. Finally, I saw the name of the company on the side of his truck and called the company. The man I talked must have though I was some kind of idiot because he had the nerve to tell me that the state had so much right a way to my yard..I then asked him that if that was the case, did that mean I could come over to his house and have a picnic in his front yard.? He hung up on me and the man left my yard.
Anyway, my walk was good and I did manage to get a little running in. That is one sure way to warm up your legs, run.......
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Week 3 - Tuesday
OK..... I battled the elements and walked my three miles today..And let me tell you mister, it was COLD.. My head still hasn't thawed out.....
I have decided that you can always tell when someone is going to run over you from the rear by the sound of the engine being gunned. No, I didn't get run over today, but I certainly decided to be very much aware of the noise from the rear. I was so bundled up that I couldn't turn quickly to watch from the rear so my sense of hearing had to step up a notch. And, it's a good thing I didn't fall or anything because I don't think I could have gotten myself up. When you are bundled as I was, you are not very aware of your surroundings. I felt tlike that kid, Randy, from "A Christmas Story". In the beginning, I was walking with my head covered tightly with my scarf and my hoodie and just keeping my eyes on the curbing as my guide. That is until I walked right in the path of the high school driver's ed car. OOOPS!!! Sorry!!! Well, I guess I was contributing to the driver education of some poor 15 year old. Now he knows how to slam on breaks to keep from hitting one of his former teachers. I'm not sure who the driver was but I did recognize the poor terrified kid in the back seat. As a matter of fact, I can recall that same expression of horror from enduring some of my lessons. Oh well. Live and learn.
I knew it was going to be cold and I had planned how to dress for the event. Never mind if my turtle neck didn't match my pants, or that my hoodie didn't match my turtle neck, or my scarf didn't match my hoodie, or my gloves didn't match my scarf....BUT I did have my lipstick on, by gosh...
My mom was to meet me at my house at 4:00 this afternoon..WIMP...she decided it was too windy for her..You'd never catch my mom in a hoodie that didn't match her sweatpants. Oh wait, you wouldn't catch my mom in sweat pants either. I guess when you get to be 71 years old you can walk or not and not answer to anybody. So I walked alone at a very, very fast pace. I did run some of the way home. Simply to stay alive...
Until next time.....
I have decided that you can always tell when someone is going to run over you from the rear by the sound of the engine being gunned. No, I didn't get run over today, but I certainly decided to be very much aware of the noise from the rear. I was so bundled up that I couldn't turn quickly to watch from the rear so my sense of hearing had to step up a notch. And, it's a good thing I didn't fall or anything because I don't think I could have gotten myself up. When you are bundled as I was, you are not very aware of your surroundings. I felt tlike that kid, Randy, from "A Christmas Story". In the beginning, I was walking with my head covered tightly with my scarf and my hoodie and just keeping my eyes on the curbing as my guide. That is until I walked right in the path of the high school driver's ed car. OOOPS!!! Sorry!!! Well, I guess I was contributing to the driver education of some poor 15 year old. Now he knows how to slam on breaks to keep from hitting one of his former teachers. I'm not sure who the driver was but I did recognize the poor terrified kid in the back seat. As a matter of fact, I can recall that same expression of horror from enduring some of my lessons. Oh well. Live and learn.
I knew it was going to be cold and I had planned how to dress for the event. Never mind if my turtle neck didn't match my pants, or that my hoodie didn't match my turtle neck, or my scarf didn't match my hoodie, or my gloves didn't match my scarf....BUT I did have my lipstick on, by gosh...
My mom was to meet me at my house at 4:00 this afternoon..WIMP...she decided it was too windy for her..You'd never catch my mom in a hoodie that didn't match her sweatpants. Oh wait, you wouldn't catch my mom in sweat pants either. I guess when you get to be 71 years old you can walk or not and not answer to anybody. So I walked alone at a very, very fast pace. I did run some of the way home. Simply to stay alive...
Until next time.....
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Vol. 2 - Week 2 - Saturday
I feel like such a failure...haven't walked the past two days. Too cold. Maybe it will warm up this week and I can get back out there. It's hard to believe that the holiday break is coming to a close. Back to work on Monday...I guess I'm ready to return to the routine of work and home..I might as well be ready..
Over the past couple days I have been thinking about all the goodbyes that have crossed my mind and lips. Of course there are the obvious goodbyes...2009, Christmas and it's decor, holiday food. But it's the other goodbyes that have had an effect on my psyche. Daughter and son-in-law have moved to Charlotte and I have had to say goodbye to that cute little house on Dilling Street Oh, we still own it, but others are moving in soon. I won't be able to just drop in and walk around the old yard and of course, they will be gone. After a visit to my aunt and uncle in the nurshing home yesterday, I had to say goodbye. They don't ever want anyone to leave. It is very hard to say goodbye to them, almost tearful....
Saying goodbye to Addie after her week-end visit is always hard, but now that they have moved, it's even harder. My sister and her family left for a week cruise today...Goodbye..
Had to say goodbye to my favorite sleep shirt today.....and I managed to somehow crack one of my favorite casserole dishes in the oven yesterday..goodbye. My most comfortable shoes had isues on the toes...goodbye..Goodbye to friends who came to visit from out of town..Goodbye to lazy days home alone.....Goodbye to sleeping in in the middle of the week...Goodbye to Christmas music on the radio...Goodbye to Christmas hymns at church....Delicious pumpkin spiced latte..goodbye...Christmas shows on t.v...bye..
Goodbye...
Over the past couple days I have been thinking about all the goodbyes that have crossed my mind and lips. Of course there are the obvious goodbyes...2009, Christmas and it's decor, holiday food. But it's the other goodbyes that have had an effect on my psyche. Daughter and son-in-law have moved to Charlotte and I have had to say goodbye to that cute little house on Dilling Street Oh, we still own it, but others are moving in soon. I won't be able to just drop in and walk around the old yard and of course, they will be gone. After a visit to my aunt and uncle in the nurshing home yesterday, I had to say goodbye. They don't ever want anyone to leave. It is very hard to say goodbye to them, almost tearful....
Saying goodbye to Addie after her week-end visit is always hard, but now that they have moved, it's even harder. My sister and her family left for a week cruise today...Goodbye..
Had to say goodbye to my favorite sleep shirt today.....and I managed to somehow crack one of my favorite casserole dishes in the oven yesterday..goodbye. My most comfortable shoes had isues on the toes...goodbye..Goodbye to friends who came to visit from out of town..Goodbye to lazy days home alone.....Goodbye to sleeping in in the middle of the week...Goodbye to Christmas music on the radio...Goodbye to Christmas hymns at church....Delicious pumpkin spiced latte..goodbye...Christmas shows on t.v...bye..
Goodbye...
Friday, January 1, 2010
Vol. 2 - Friday - Week 2
Welcome to the new year!!! Am I the only one who has trouble believing it is 2010...Imagine, Two Thousand and Ten.. I can remember so well when it was going to be 1974. I have a very strange reason for remembering 1974. I was 12 and there was a game show on t.v called "Match Game 1973", and I remember thinking how weird it would be for that show at the beginning of the new year and what would happen to the show title. Well, on January 1st, 1974, they changed the name to "Match Game 1974". Problem solved..
That was the same year I started at the Kings Mountain Junior High, the same school I now teach at. How weird....I would never have believed that I would be teaching, period, let alone at that school. The school that I do not recall with very fond memories. Oh well, our life can turn out to be very different from our plans as a child. I never really wanted to teach school. I wanted to do some type creative work, like designing clothes for my Barbies or coloring for a living or making chocolate cakes in my Easy-Bake oven for all the world...
So now it's 2010 and here I am with a job that I really do like, a fabulous hubby, two remarkable daughters, a half!@# son-in-law, a precious granddaughter, another baby on the way, making chocolate chip pancakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse and watching Wonder Pets, coloring a picture of Olivia the pig, and hemming a pair of pajamas. Who would have thought......
Hey wait a minute, isn't that all I ever dreamed of??? cooking, coloring, sewing?????
Walking today may be a challenge...Rainy (never stopped me before), cold (done that too) and baby here..Stop making excuses, I know.....ok..I'll get out there and go..I love walking. About half way up the hill, I get my second wind and feel like I could walk forever...Then I start thinking of all the things I need to do a t home. I really need to get over that and focus on the present.. Who cares if my house is not as immaculate as some, who cares if dinner is 20 minutes later than planned, who cares if hubby has no clean panties (well, hubby cares) and who cares if I don't get to everything on my list????
Anyway, Happy New Year to all. May God continue to bless and keep you in his tender care....
That was the same year I started at the Kings Mountain Junior High, the same school I now teach at. How weird....I would never have believed that I would be teaching, period, let alone at that school. The school that I do not recall with very fond memories. Oh well, our life can turn out to be very different from our plans as a child. I never really wanted to teach school. I wanted to do some type creative work, like designing clothes for my Barbies or coloring for a living or making chocolate cakes in my Easy-Bake oven for all the world...
So now it's 2010 and here I am with a job that I really do like, a fabulous hubby, two remarkable daughters, a half!@# son-in-law, a precious granddaughter, another baby on the way, making chocolate chip pancakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse and watching Wonder Pets, coloring a picture of Olivia the pig, and hemming a pair of pajamas. Who would have thought......
Hey wait a minute, isn't that all I ever dreamed of??? cooking, coloring, sewing?????
Walking today may be a challenge...Rainy (never stopped me before), cold (done that too) and baby here..Stop making excuses, I know.....ok..I'll get out there and go..I love walking. About half way up the hill, I get my second wind and feel like I could walk forever...Then I start thinking of all the things I need to do a t home. I really need to get over that and focus on the present.. Who cares if my house is not as immaculate as some, who cares if dinner is 20 minutes later than planned, who cares if hubby has no clean panties (well, hubby cares) and who cares if I don't get to everything on my list????
Anyway, Happy New Year to all. May God continue to bless and keep you in his tender care....
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Vo. 2 Thursday, Week 2
Yesterday was an amazing day. I spent the whole day alone, except for my trip to the grocery store and my visit to my parent's house. I loved it.....I walked my two miles...uneventful..but cold. Then I worked in my yard. Oh, how wonderful that was. Nothing like pulling up dead weeds and blowing debris around to make a woman feel whole!!!
I found several interesting things in the yard yesterday. It is amazing what one kind discover when not even looking. I guess it is just being aware of your surroundings that makes things available to you. This is true in all areas of our lives, I think. I found some beautiful, tiny pine cones down in the woods behind the shed. I don't have any idea what I can do with them but, I have them in a safe place anyway. I also discovered some things growing in my mulch pile. Just laying on top of the ground. Garlic, onions, and brussel sprouts were all rising from the heap. How amazing!!! I'm going to keep watch and see what happens to them. I had never seen more healthy brussel sprouts in my entire life. Perfectly round and the most delicious color of green imaginable. I have decided to try to grow carrots this year. A first for me. But I have fallen in love with carrots. Oh, I've always like them but now I love them!!! (Remember, fall in love with something everyday.) I am going to try to find new ways to prepare them. I have two new cookbooks that I received for Christmas. Hubby gave me "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". I think he got it for me because he thinks I'll never go to Paris to cooking school. But mark my words, I am going someday......
The most disturbing thing I found in my yard was the dirty baby diaper in my flower bed near the road. I was pulling up spent flower stems and was respreading the pine needles when this diaper appeared. Thank goodness I had on gloves, which is very unusual for me. I like to get my hands in the dirt. I guess I just feel connected to the earth that way. Anyway, I am going to believe that some strange, unruly dog, (not my precious terrier or oversize labs) found it and decided to bury it in my yard. GROSS!!!! What type person leaves these things accessible to animals. Don't all mothers have Diaper Genies.
Well, I'm off on today's adventure....walking, then movies, then baby wrestling.....I love my life...Thank you God....
I found several interesting things in the yard yesterday. It is amazing what one kind discover when not even looking. I guess it is just being aware of your surroundings that makes things available to you. This is true in all areas of our lives, I think. I found some beautiful, tiny pine cones down in the woods behind the shed. I don't have any idea what I can do with them but, I have them in a safe place anyway. I also discovered some things growing in my mulch pile. Just laying on top of the ground. Garlic, onions, and brussel sprouts were all rising from the heap. How amazing!!! I'm going to keep watch and see what happens to them. I had never seen more healthy brussel sprouts in my entire life. Perfectly round and the most delicious color of green imaginable. I have decided to try to grow carrots this year. A first for me. But I have fallen in love with carrots. Oh, I've always like them but now I love them!!! (Remember, fall in love with something everyday.) I am going to try to find new ways to prepare them. I have two new cookbooks that I received for Christmas. Hubby gave me "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". I think he got it for me because he thinks I'll never go to Paris to cooking school. But mark my words, I am going someday......
The most disturbing thing I found in my yard was the dirty baby diaper in my flower bed near the road. I was pulling up spent flower stems and was respreading the pine needles when this diaper appeared. Thank goodness I had on gloves, which is very unusual for me. I like to get my hands in the dirt. I guess I just feel connected to the earth that way. Anyway, I am going to believe that some strange, unruly dog, (not my precious terrier or oversize labs) found it and decided to bury it in my yard. GROSS!!!! What type person leaves these things accessible to animals. Don't all mothers have Diaper Genies.
Well, I'm off on today's adventure....walking, then movies, then baby wrestling.....I love my life...Thank you God....
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Vol. 2 - Tuesday, Week 2
Well, I guess I am officially, or unofficially, back to my walking/running program.
Even though the temperature was below freezing this morning, I did venture out into the elements. Back in the summer months, I made a deal with myself that I would not walk when the temperature was over 93...Now, I am making a deal with myself not to go out when the weather is below 30.
I was to met Liz and baby in Charlotte at 1:00 so headed out around 10:30 for my 3 mile walk. My 3 mile walk today was actually only 2.8 miles. It only took me 36 minutes to complete this trip. Is that good??? My son-in-law said there is no way I can walk that distance in that amount of time. But I did. Now, I was pumping it. It was cold, remember....I didn't get to wear my good athletic socks Liz got me for Christmas, and believe me, my feet did rebel. Sunday evening when I walked, my ankles were frozen by the time I got home so today I decided on knee socks. I was going to buy some warmer pants but none of my shopping needs were met today.
I have a love/hate relationship with Target. More often than not, their pricing is not consistent with their prices and don't even get me started about their returns department....
At one point on my adventure this morning, I thought about becoming a mall walker. How old do you have to be for that? I just don't think Ican bring myself to doing that yet. I've also thought bout joining the local popular women's gym in town but have it on good authority that it is merely a front for local town gossip and I ain't into that stuff. Hey, I got enough issues of my own and absolutely don't want to hear about everybody else's problems.
Today's walk was good even with the low temp. I was pretty cold in the beginning but soon was able to remove the hood from my head. I really should have left it on. My hair was a mess, but I did have on my lipstick!! I'd like to hope that made up for the bad hair. I got cold again on the last few blocks home. The wind was picking up and coming down the home stretch was pretty chilly. I didn't have any hip joint issues. I have been remembering to take two Aleve before my walk and that has helped. Hopefully, I won't need to do that forever.
I really need to give some thought to a goal. You know, some event to enter with a deadline for conditioning. I'll give it more thought and do some research for a 5K sometime in the future..
Later.....
Even though the temperature was below freezing this morning, I did venture out into the elements. Back in the summer months, I made a deal with myself that I would not walk when the temperature was over 93...Now, I am making a deal with myself not to go out when the weather is below 30.
I was to met Liz and baby in Charlotte at 1:00 so headed out around 10:30 for my 3 mile walk. My 3 mile walk today was actually only 2.8 miles. It only took me 36 minutes to complete this trip. Is that good??? My son-in-law said there is no way I can walk that distance in that amount of time. But I did. Now, I was pumping it. It was cold, remember....I didn't get to wear my good athletic socks Liz got me for Christmas, and believe me, my feet did rebel. Sunday evening when I walked, my ankles were frozen by the time I got home so today I decided on knee socks. I was going to buy some warmer pants but none of my shopping needs were met today.
I have a love/hate relationship with Target. More often than not, their pricing is not consistent with their prices and don't even get me started about their returns department....
At one point on my adventure this morning, I thought about becoming a mall walker. How old do you have to be for that? I just don't think Ican bring myself to doing that yet. I've also thought bout joining the local popular women's gym in town but have it on good authority that it is merely a front for local town gossip and I ain't into that stuff. Hey, I got enough issues of my own and absolutely don't want to hear about everybody else's problems.
Today's walk was good even with the low temp. I was pretty cold in the beginning but soon was able to remove the hood from my head. I really should have left it on. My hair was a mess, but I did have on my lipstick!! I'd like to hope that made up for the bad hair. I got cold again on the last few blocks home. The wind was picking up and coming down the home stretch was pretty chilly. I didn't have any hip joint issues. I have been remembering to take two Aleve before my walk and that has helped. Hopefully, I won't need to do that forever.
I really need to give some thought to a goal. You know, some event to enter with a deadline for conditioning. I'll give it more thought and do some research for a 5K sometime in the future..
Later.....
Friday, December 18, 2009
o.k.....so, "Jingle Bell Run 2009" has come..........and gone. HOWEVER, that gives me 50 weeks to prepare for "Jingle Bell Run 2010". I have officially rested the hip joint for 10 weeks and can begin my new walking/running program. Weather permitting, I plan to begin said program on Monday. Yes, Monday!!! Hubby laughs at me everytime I say I am going to start something on Monday. Why not Monday? They already suck!!! I shouldn't say that. I am sure great things have happened on Monday. I just can't think of anything right now.
Updates to follow....
Updates to follow....
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