The best laid plans...

...never survive the first encounter!

My menu (dinner meals): original - what happened
Monday: pasta and maranara - check!
Tuesday: tacos - did't happen, ended up going caving and eating two wonderful meals at a friend's parent's house (not out to eat, good!)
Wednesday: short ribs and egg noodles plus veg - we'll see, but as I have a 5:30 appointment 30 minutes from my house and these take 3 hours in the slow cooker....I'm thinking we'll adjust to leftovers or frozen pizza
Thursday: leftovers plus apps at New Year's parties - if we eat the leftovers tonight, we'll do the tacos tomorrow so we're full enough we don't gorge on apps
Friday: Chicken pizza - NEW RECIPE! - I have off, this should happen
Saturday: Pot roast & fixins' w/ homemade bread and homemade ice cream for dessert
Sunday: Spiced pork loin w/ peach sauce - NEW RECIPE! (also a starch and veg)

Friday - Sunday breakfast/lunch meals w/ be eggs and toast or french toast or pancakes. Generally make one meal at brunch and then have dinner.

I think I need to work on eating more fish and turkey and lean meat.... I have a fish cookbook...some of those 52 new recipes are going to be fishy!

Almost the end of the decade...

We are less than a week to the end of 2009, and the first decade of the 2000 era. Hrm. Makes a person think, doesn't it? In my own personal little history, it makes me reflect on the first almost three decades of my life. All doldrums aside....it's been a pretty good first 1/3 of my life.

But, as it's also almost new year's eve, I got to thinking about resolutions, and hopes for 2010. I do have a few resolutions:

1. Get Fit.
2. Landscape my front yard a bit more to my liking.
3. Eat healthier by cooking more at home, specifically try one brand new recipe a week for 52 weeks.
4. MAKE, and eat more ice cream.

Fit. I changed the title of this blog, and it's purpose sometime last year. I got the ball rolling, and then it rolled to a stop. There wasn't a wall or a hill that stopped it....more of a loss of momentum. So I need to get back on track. Specific goal is to go to the Y my 12 times a month 10 of 12 months this year. I'd say 12 of 12, but that is entitlement....W/ trips and such, I'm hoping to hit 10. So, guest passes, friends with Y passes...this is a call to action. Classes, lifting weights, training for races...let's hop to... I can do it alone, but I'd love company when I go.

Landscaping the front yard. I really, really hate that very small rock. It will take some time, some preplanning before spring, and some muscle to get rid of it, but I want to at least make a DENT this spring/summer/fall. Along with that I'd like to reclaim my grass from the weeds that are my lawn, and make sure my garden(s) flourish again this year!

Eating better...sigh. Part of getting fit, but hard to do with limited time. So, this year I will find the time to make dinner. I started this week. Today I made a menu for the week. Tomorrow I will go shopping for things I need for the rest of the week. This week's new recipe: Spiced pork loin w/ peaches. The rest of the week has recipes to use up what is in the cabinets and offset w/ some other things.

Last year I resolved to eat more ice cream. I failed miserably! I didn't eat more, I barely ate any! But, there is hope! For my birthday this year I have been given an ice cream maker as a present, and so far I have made two batches ice cream. This bodes well for next year's resolution... Make and Eat more ice cream!

ANd now, I have been up way to long, have to go to work tomorrow after a week off, it's time to go to bed.

Tis the Season!

Tis the season of Christmas, and I find myself with an over-abundance of holiday cheer. I very much desire a Christmas tree, decorations about the house, warm cookies and hot cocoa. Yes, today I officially began 'hot cocoa' season with a lovely cup whilst at work. Today is <20 F our, and tomorrow and Wednesday we are expecting snow. A true early winter blizzard and walloping, if one believed CNN, which I don't. After all, CNN has become a sensationalist news entertainment channel/website/organization anyway. I don't doubt some areas will have a nice blizzard though, and I certainly wouldn't mind the beginning of snow season.

Tomorrow, hopefully before the snow flies, the Window Guys will be coming to finish the install of our front window (read fixing a factory oops), and installing two others. I certainly hope they finish the front window tomorrow, because then I can pick out a christmas tree and make w/ the decorating!

I am trying to decide what has caused this plethora of good cheer and good will towards my fellow man (most of them, anway). I think part of it has to do with finishing my CIH exam, but also, I think I'm just due for a non-bah, humbug type of year.

Studying Marathon Complete

I have completed my studying marathon. My test has been taking, preliminary results show I have passed. Sunday I didn't know what to do! It was time to study, but there was no need! I could have read a book, but that was like studying - even a fun book...it was just to soon. (don't worry, I'm over that now).

I didn't clean, I didn't do work; I played a video game and watched football. Yup. I was a lazy bum. I did go to the climbing gym and climb the walls for a few hours. My hands and arms are now very sore. But work? Nope. I don't get another day like that until....Christmas break? Don't know. Felt weird, but good all the same.

This week is grind week at work, and I have to start pulling my house back into some semblance of order. We're hosting Thanksgiving, so must to have the house and foods ready to go! Gives me something to work towards...though at least I don't need to be staying at work an extra hour every day and studying all weekend anymore.

A marathon of a different sort

I haven't posted in a while. This is not because I didn't want to, but rather because most non-work moments for the last month have been occupied with studying.

Later this month - no, I will not tell you when, though you might already know, I will be undertaking a marathon of a different sort...the CIH exam. The CIH exam (Certified Industrial Hygienist) is like the PE exam for engineers....8 hour test, lots of material covered, you are never really ready for it...etc.

So, this last month I have studied and studied. I didn't study well the first part. In fact, my studying was poor. But I have buckled down. Tonight I took a practice exam and (though these mean nothing) squeeked by (aka passed). Does this mean I'll pass the 'real' exam? Heavens no! I have to get much better on some of my subjects. It did give me an idea on what i need to focus on for the remainder of my study period, however.

So, back I go to studying. 30 more minutes or so. Then to bed, then another day at work, then to studying again! I am at that point where I do not wish to study any more, but yet I have to. I'm to that point of my marathon where only my willpower is keeping me going. Soon, soon it will be over, but not yet. Right now, I have to stay the course.

I will be So Very Glad when this is over.

What comes next?

Softball season is over, so is (for the most part) golf season. I'm sure we'll hit the links yet this fall once or twice, but it won't be every week. The Rollerblade Marathon is over, and the leaves are starting to fall, making outdoor rollerblading dangerous. Soon we'll be able to blade in the metrodome, but not yet.

So - what now? I haven't been going to the Y with the frequency I desire. Tonight I can't as I have plans, but tomorrow is a new day (and a new month - eep!) and I will get back into that.

What are my goals?
1. I still need to work on the mass issues. I have plateaued, and not at the mass I desired to maintain constant at. The good news is I haven't regained that awful, horrid, high mass I started with. The bad news, I'm only halfway to where I want to be. To address this I have taken a look at my eating habits, and discovered alarming trends. I am working on fixing those. The problem is I don't want to. I like the convenience of eating out. I like the food I eat when I eat out. I like it so much I do it too often. This adds useless calories. Solution: Eat at home more! Succinct goal: Lose 10 lbs by end of calendar year.

2. I need to maintain my exercise routine now that I do not have my sports to fall back on as exercise points. I am not in any organized sports from now until...?? who knows. Solution: I have a Y pass, and there are plenty of things to do at the Y. Succinct goal: Go to the Y 3 times per week from now until the end of the calendar year.

3. I am feeling more stressed out than I have in a while. I try not to talk about it, but there it is. I have increased job responsibilities (this is a good thing, but causes more work). I have a professional certification I'm studying for in mid Nov., and my house is not in the order that I would like it to be. I also have a lot of 'outdoors' things I would love to get done, but thinking about them adds to the stress level because I don't know when I'll have time for them. Solution: Trickier, this solution, because there are things I'm not willing to do. In summer, for example, I wasn't willing to give up softball or golf. Also there are things I can't do. My job responsibilities are my job responsibilities. They are not 'too much', but I do need to learn to time manage better. There are also things I have to do. I have to study for this exam (and part of the stress is that I need to study more than I am). So, solutions include better time management, making lists and sticking to them, prioritizing, and making sure I do take "me" time, even if it feels like I don't have time for it. Succinct Goal: (again, tricky) Create a sustainable scheme for time management that I will stick to that will help lower stress levels and that includes 'me' time and maintain it through end of year. Secondary: Learn to say no and not feel guilty (or as guilty).

I think three goals is enough. More than enough or I'm going to make #3 worse, not better. So Erin - I will be joining you at that Y more often. Katie, Jenni, Jenny, Chris and anyone else who has to study or desires to do a group study session, or work on quite work or read a book - let's set some up! Meet at a coffee house, we all study and help each other stay on track. Don't feel bad if I say no to socializing, at least through my test date. If I feel working on studying or one of my other goals will help lower stress, I will say no to a big social event, but I will explain why. I also hope that after my exam (hopefully a successful exam) I will have less stress and will be better at prioritizing the things I have to do so I have more 'me and friend' time too.

Race Complete

I have finished my rollerblade marathon in one piece. This is a good thing, as the last time I did it I cracked a tailbone and injured both my elbows bloody! I finished in 2 minutes slower than the last time (4 years ago, and I was 4 years younger and skating 3 times a week!) 1:49:21. This is not too bad, but I can do better!

There is a rollerblade marathon in Baxter, MN June 12, 2010 that I am considering! Also the Dome marathon, but I think I'd do the half for that, b/c it's hard going in circles that long! Next year the NSIM is on the day after our golf banquet. Selfishly I'd like to move it back a week (the banquet) so I can skate the race. We'll have to see.

Today I'm not too sore, but I am sick. I don't know why, but i seem to have a very sore throat, and also some tummy ailments. I'll finish my work and then take some sick time....if I have time!

Wheels - rollin

Saturday is the big day! I have skated this last month enough that I know I will not die, but will not be perfectly happy, after the race. I have skated up to 18 miles at once (this past Sunday) and I made that, though my bones in my foot felt as though they were being smashed together and my ankle hurt. Typically, I'd like to get one skate at or longer than marathon distance before the race, but being that we're less than a week out, this isn't going to happen. Oh well. I did my best w/ my time limitations, and I'm actually skating it, not backing out, so I have that working for me. I'll do more training for the next one. If I said I'm not doing it based on training, I'd never do it cause there is no level of training that is 'enough' for me, really..

I'm in wave 4...which is what I qualified for based on my time from 2005 (yes, 4 years ago). I am no longer that fast, and I hope I don't tick anyone off as they fly past me :P I think it will take me close to 2 hours to finish, 15 minutes slower than 4 years ago, but not bad considering I have trained maybe...7 whole outdoor skates over 6 miles for this all summer! Still, I did 18 yesterday, and if I can go 18 I can go 26. I know that sounds strange, but trust me, it's true.

Later in the weekend we'll likely go climb farther north in the UP. Much fun will be had by all! And on Monday next, I'll be typing and complaining about how very sore and tired I am!

So, Saturday I will race, more against myself and a finish line than anyone else actually out on the course, and I'll have the satisfaction of knowing that I did it.

Time for a little R&R?

It's almost the end of summer. Truly? Yup! Fall ball starts Wednesday...and thanks to a rain delay, actually we'll play 2 days into fall! Coming up fast is also the State Fair - always a good time, and the Rollerblade Marathon - ooh, I really do need to skate more!

Also on the winds are friends blowing in from out of town, on their way to Someplace Else. Taking Friday off to hang out with just such a friend. A weekend of fun and play! Almost unheard of. Then next weekend is Labor Day, and I'm taking another day off to have a 4 day weekend then! Fun and play, fun and play!

Somewhere in all this fun and play I have to buckle down and get a few long skates in for the race. Also I have to really buckle down and start studying for the Big Exam I'm taking...sometime soon!

Oof.

Wheels - Rolling for 26.2

Who's with me!? With me on what? The Northshore Inline Marathon, of course - who wants to skate it with me? 26.2 miles of gorgeous Nothern Minnesota scenery, skating away from Two Harbors towards Duluth, finishing by the DECC and that Big Boat, mostly following the Grandma's Marathon route.

The price goes up after July 31st, and I'm going to register before then...but if I know I'm skating with people and they have an approximate time/wave, I'll make sure we try to get in the same wave.

Whee! Skating again! It's been far too long since I've rollerbladed with any frequency. I miss circles around the lakes, and the gateway trail, and I miss my roller-partner. Perhaps she will also train and plan to do this event with me???

5 minute break

OOF! Who knew cleaning to my old 'cleaning mix' of music could be such a good workout!? When I'm not scrub scrub scrubbing the floors or the counter or the sink or the bathroom or putting things away, I'm grooving to Blue Man Group, Cake, Beck, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and a rash of techno! I'm thinking this is a better workout than I got at the Y earlier. Good thing too! I need to get back on the workout and eating right bandwagon. Naughty self found a side path that was far to interesting not to tred...involving eating out and vacation...but I will get back on! Starting with shaking my bottom and scrubbing that toilet - the one right there, that I'm staring at and not cleaning as I take my five minute break from cleaning.

Our new patio door is in and stained. Because everything was out of the way for that to be installed, I got a good mopping of the dining room floor just now. That is why I'm so darned sweaty! Feels good, though, and I'm looking forward to my nice refreshing beverage when I'm all done with this!

Climbing Up

This Thursday we leave to go to the Needles to do some rock climbing. We've been climbing 2 days a week or more in prep. I still don't think I'm ready. I've also been lifting weights every time I go to the gym. Sometimes that is all I do (probably tonight will all be weights again), and sometimes it's just abs or arms after a run. We have our list put together of what we need to bring....now we just have to pack.

I haven't camped - truely camped, in a while. This is going to be fun, but I know we'll forget something and have to get creative like using the marshmallow fork to pick up the pots from the fire, if we forget a hot pad.

We'll leave after work Thursday and arrive early Friday. We'll climb Fri,Sat, Sun and maybe some of Monday and then drive home the 10 hours or so back home, and then to work on Tuesday. A whirlwind vacation.

Lifting

The Y I attend has new weight machines, and they are very nice. I lifted in high school, took a recreational lifting after school program to learn the technique, but I haven't done much serious lifting since then. I'd do it now and again during college, and now, but with no serious frequency.

I really like these new weight machines though. They are Cybex brand, and grey/silver. I forget the model. They are more adjustable, and shiney (yes, this matters for some reason), and the free squat machine is set up such that I can't drop the weight forward on myself! I have now lifted on the new equipment twice in one week, and am enjoying getting back into lifting. Will this be a perminant addition to my workout routine? Don't know. But I do like their abs and hip ad/abductor machines as well as a good portion of the arm and leg torture - er- machines I've tried so far. I think I might try to keep up with it.

To Kick, or not To Kick

Tonight is Kickboxing (cardio variety) at the Y. I think it starts at 4:30. I told myself I'd go to the Y 3 times a week all month. So far, so good. Secondary goal was to 3 classes this month (w/ the theory that about 1 a week would be good). So, a good choice is to the Y with me for the 4:30 Kick class. The trouble, I'm tired, and it's nice out! Most of me wants a nap (this could be because I just had lunch). The rest of me wants to play outside, with my plants! So...I could compromise, go to the Y, but not to kick...run 2 miles or do 30 min on the eliptical stepper runner thing, and then get home and play outside! I could even go home and play outside, then go back and go swimming later....hrm - but I think I'll not do that option.


Likely I'll end up doing some form of the Y first, then home, then outside. The lawn needs mowing, the weeds need pulling, and I need a trip to Target and Menards too to get outside things. Maybe I need to consider waking up earlier (yuck) and going to the Y before work (yuck) so I can get home on some nights to do things around the house (yuck yuck getting up yuck). Maybe I shouldn't blog about excercise when I'm having the lunch tummy tireds!

Update on improving softball swing: My form is getting better, but I'm still hitting so-so. Last night (we won both games of the double header - yay) I had a good hit, a good but scooped hit, and a swinging bunt that I hit so hard it only went 2 feet before stopping. I made it to base OK. There was also a walk, and getting out once or twice. I scored a few runs. The weather was lovely. More batting cages need to happen!!

Improve Thy Mood

Have you ever had a day where you become crabby about something? What about when you are crabby about something that you can't really tell anyone why you are crabby (those involved, anyway) because your crabbiness will seem petty? What if, even if it IS petty, you have a right to be crabby? A catch-22 is it not?

Usually I give myself a stern lecture in the mirror about being crabby about things I can't change, even about being crabby in general. Being crabby changes nothing...and I try not to give into letting myself be crabby for the mood's sake, or letting a crabby behavior feel rewarding. (this is the path to the dark side, children)

Today, however, I've have given myself a time limit. I'm allowed to be crabby until tomorrow morning at 8AM. Yup, 8AM - but only for this specific reason (sorry I'm being cryptic, but no I will not write it here) and not at anyone or anything else. Then, I have to take a deep breath and let it go. I'll find a mirror if required. Because I really can't do anything, and in fact, that would make it worse.

It doesn't help that I was sick all last night and have the worst headache and backache right now. I think that is exacerbating the issue. Note to self, "chin up."

Sleep

Sometimes, I push myself to hard. "Sometimes?" Ok, much of the time. This weekend the last few months caught up with me. I had zero energy. Saturday I managed to sleep til noon, go on a few errands, feel like crap, take a 3 hour nap in the afternoon, watch a movie,and then go to bed. Sunday, I felt a bit better...and we managed to make it to the Y to go swimming for about 1/2 of 1 mile. I also managed to do laundry and a few other household chores, but nothing like what I had wanted to accomplish....

Perhaps I need to be more realistic in what I can accomplish in one day? Nah! That would mean giving up the things I want to do so I can finish all the things I need to do. One has to have some fun. This weekend is 'shower' weekend with a baby shower one day and a bridal shower the other. So far - I have made my goal of going to the Y 3 days a week this month. Only one week in, but it's nice to have made the goal the first week. This week I'll try to go Tuesd/Thurs/one day this weekend.. I don't know if I'll go tonight - the pool felt so good yesterday. I think it will depend on timeing. I'm going to go to the batting cages after work and try to improve my softball swing.

Other things I should do this week:

• Weed the garden(s)
• Clean the office
• make bread
• grocery shop
• prepare for the two showers
• train the birds
• the Y (3X)
• Climb (1-2X)
• sleep - goal is 7 hrs per night!

Oh, and study! I need to study and I need to finish my app for my certification exam! Crap, almost forgot that one.

"Here, Mushroom Mushroom!"

This weekend I went home for a long weekend (Th - M) and then up to Door County. My brother was home from CO, and much fun was had by all. Some highlights:

• Seeing my brother! It's been far too long. We hung out, made fire, played minigolf (I lost big time, but it was great fun!)
• Fire! We had a bonfire Fri-Sun nights. Love bonfires. Saturday we had a bunch of people out for brats over the fire - which I cooked.
  
• Morel Mushroom hunting. We 'caught' over 20! My little cousin Max, who will be 3 at the end of the summer, had particular fun calling 'here, mushroom Mushroom!" for them. He helped us find 3!
• Taking pictures of the apple blossoms and the trilliums and the lady's slippers. Also finding the lady's slippers. It took 3 days of walking over and over and over the 20 acres my parents own, but eventually we found them! There were 6!!
• Spending time with cousins; my cousins who live in IL were up and two of them, along w/ myself ran the 2 mile fun run at Maifest in Jacksonport.
  
• Running the Maifest fun run. I hate running. Hate hate hate! But, I had a lot of fun w/ this one. Only 2 miles, and I finished below my goal time. I didn't win a thing, but it was fun to spend time w/ my cousins.
  
• Relaxing. I needed a few days away from the frantic pace I've been living my life at. The only problem is - it's so hard to go back to 'real life'
• Seeing Roommate. B and E came and spent the night last night, teaching me a new board game and showing me the pictures of their trips over the last few months. Great times!!

Moving Forward

So, I did my 5 mile race. That was almost a month ago. What have I been doing? Not running much - which is bad, I should stick with it. I have been playing sports, and doing yard work. Golf started the week after our race, and Trev and I have been busy with that. This whole keeping in shape over the winter thing has helped my golf game! I am down 2 strokes already this year with my handicap! I hope it keeps getting better, but that scares me, too. What if I suddenly get worse again!? Softball is...softball! I've been playing a combination of positions this year, not just catcher, and I'm still scared stiff about the outfield. What if I miss? I'm hit or miss (pun intended) with my batting. Still, I have lots of fun! Climbing is going well, although I feel like I've hit a plateau and need to break it.

So with all that, my running and going to the Y time has been less than 100 percent productive. I need to fix that. June is my 'get in gear' month. Time to make a good habit! It helps that my mass is steadily dropping, although I've hit a bit of a plateau on that as well. My goal for June: Go to the Y 3 times a week each week, rather than not much at the beginning of the month and a lot at the end. Secondary goal: try some of the group exercise classes. Counterbalance - do not miss out on too much sleep, or stress myself out with unacceptable expectations. Along with eating healthier - my new garden will help that I hope, when it matures - this should help the mass to decrease again.

I planted a garden these last two weeks. We are putting grass back where the old garden was, and the new garden is around the landcaping of the house in the back. We'll have from plants I bought last weekend:

• Tomatoes: Red, Orange, and cherry varieties
  
• Peppers: Red bell, Green bell, and Jalapeno varieties

We'll have from seed if they grow:

• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Acorn Squash
• Zucchini
• Green Beans
• Herbs: Rosemary, oregano, basil, lemon basil, cilantro, parsley, lavendar (EEP I've forgotten to plant thyme!!)

And I've planted some flowers and moved some hosta. Much has been done, but there is SOOO much left to do!

• 
  

Running Wild

It was a dark (as night is wont to be) and stormy-ish night. It was a slightly lighter, but much stormier morning. The morning of the Crazy Legs Classic dawned full of rain, lighting and thunder. The four of us running woke up and those who drink coffee had some; I had peanut butter toast and water. We dressed and we determined how to put on our single use timing chips on our shoes. We watched the rain pour like so many monsoons. "Are we really doing this?!" "yes."

We drove to downtown Madison and parked. Where we parked made it a 5 or 6 block (long blocks) 'walk' to the capital building. The race started at capital square. We hopped awning to awning to avoid the deluge. "Are we really doing this?!" "yes."

We hunkered in the State Capital building, doing our stretches and taking our potty breaks. The boys found the sweat truck. We were dripped on by many wet racers and spectators as we sat for 20 minutes debating if we were heading outside. "Are we really doing this?" "Yes."

Finally, it was time to go outside, drop the extra clothes bags at the 'sweat truck' and find our place in line to run. The line was long...19000 runners. One of us was running in wave 'S'. The rest of us started in 'll' (yes, they were going through the alphabet for waves, and yes it ended at 'nn', so what!?) It was only drizzling. Then it was only dripping, Then with a "CRASH" and a flash, it was a deluge again. Three of us (those starting later) were able to hide under an awning. our "S" companion was not so lucky. Wet him, lucky us. "Are we really doing this?" "YES!"

Finally, after 30 minutes of starting wave after wave (start of race to us) we are up to the front. No more hiding in the Capital, no more hiding under the awnings. Our shoes are tied, gosh we hoped our timing chips were working. The nice UW atheletes have given us high fives, and there was the start. "Are we really doing this??" "YES! Here we go!!!"

The race was on. Our rain jackets stayed on, because it rained the whole time. The lighting flashed over the lake, the thunder rolled, the pitter-patter of 19,000 pairs of feet running 5 miles teased the thunder, taunted it. It rained harder. Down little hills, up a big one, around the path, and amidst the croud we ran! A few brave souls stood in the rain to cheer us on, mostly race volunteers or Greeks. Those who had houses w/ porch covers were more brave. Some had music. I heard the Rocky Theme played a few times, as well as other songs. The most memorable Rocky Theme came right at the end, with my favorite quote of the race, "Let me see your Rocky Arms!!"

At last, the Stadium! Up a small hill, and down, and around and in. Look - there we are on the Jumbotron! "Ready? Let's finish this!" and across the finish line, hand in hand, we went. The two boys had finsihed long before. Did we care? NO!

The goals: Finish, not be last. We finished..in the hoped for 1 hour time. We were not last We finished int he 10,000s of 19,0000. We were wet. We were cold. We were....triumphant!

Ah, Spring at last

I'm still not feeling 100%, though my 'sick' post was almost 2 weeks ago. I think, now that I look at the calendar, that yes - normal people do take sometimes 2 weeks to get over an upper respiratory thing. Grrr. I hate being normal people! Usually I am sick, and then better, or not sick. It has been a while since a true upper respiratory something whacked me! The chest is still tight, and I think I'll use the inhaler for a while yet before working out. It just makes sense.

I did sign up for the Crazylegs Classic in Madison next weekend (the 25th). Have I been running much in the last two weeks? Nope! Stupid cold! I did try on the 6ths and have a horrid horrid case of hives happen. This past weekend, being Easter, didn't make for much working out. Still, I have a week and one weekend, I'll get in at least 3 more runs of various lengths before the 'big event'. At least I have gone the distance recently, and know I can. Slow and steady may not win the race, but it gets it finished, and (hopefully) without a giant case of hives during!

Tonight is the official start to summer sports, with the first softball practice. We'll be playing on 1-2 softball teams this year, and one golf league. Additionally there will be climbing 2 nights a week (or on the weekend), and perhaps even some waterskiing. Also the yardwork. This makes for lots of time spent in the out of doors, not a bad thing. SOMEWHERE in all that I'll need to make my 12 times a month at the Y. Daunting, but I should be in good shape by September! The last two weeks have been slacking off w/ the eating healthy and the working out at regular intervals. I'd blame Easter and being sick, but those are just conditions, symptoms, whatever of my underlying problem. In a nutshell - I'm tired. I need to recharge the batteries. Adding new activities, while it will make my body more tired, means I'll be outside again, and that always makes me more energetic. It also means less time at home, and with the friends who don't participate in said activities, but I'll work to make time, be in on 'free' nights or weekends, so I don't lose touch. I'll have to fight the urge to just hide on nights where nothing is going on...but I'll work on that, too.

Starting in May, I need to ramp up my studying for my professional certificate. So...if there is anyone out there who likes going to coffee shops, bookstores, or just setting up study nights, let me know!! I need encouragement, and someone else being there, working on something else - with occasional breaks will help. I can't study ALL my sessions in that fashion, but I can definately do some. I'll be testing in October/November timeframe, and by the end of august I'll be studying 2 nights a week and part of a weekend. Plenty of opportunities :)

Sick

This whole being sick thing - does NOT agree w/the training schedule. I'm doing the Crazy Legs Classic w/ Karin on April 25th weekend. This means I should be running at least 3 times a week...have I been this last week? NO! I've walked twice, and climbed once, but no running. Why? Because I'm sick. The achey, stuffy head, sore throat kind of sick. The worst part is I have had no day I can take a sick day for this kind of sick. I would have in a heart beat if I had no meetings (b/c I am rather not happy to be feeling this way and want to sleep and get better). Unfortunately I had a meeting each day that was a 'miss only if you are dying, near death, or so contagious everyone will hate you' type). Therefore, to work I went, and by the end of the day, a serious workout was not going to happen.

Tonight I took the night off of working out. Did some training with the boys (see their site) and made dinner. Now, I think I'm to bed!

Crash and Pippin

Can you believe it?! Those Tiels have talked me into their very own blog! They would have done it all by themselves, but they haven't quite learned to maneuver mouse and keyboard yet. See their adventures here, or click their link in the Friends Blog section.

Things going right, things going wrong

Today was an odd one. I woke up and got ready for work and was about to jump in my car and head out; but opening the garage door made a funny noise. As I put my bag in the back seat I went around back of my car to take a peak. Sure enough. A beer bottle - smashed - had rolled into the garage from where it had been resting on the closed garage door. I leaned over to pick up the piece and see where the other pieces were to pick them up to (before driving over them) when I realized I wasn't dealing with just one bottle. I leaned into the house and called to Trevor.

The end result - last night our house was vandalized. There were broken beer bottles all over the driveway, shattered in such a fashion that it looked like they had TRIED to cover every inch of pavement with glass shards. There was broken glass jar of spaghetti sauce strewn all over the driveway. I got out the shovel and shoveled the 1/16 in. snow to the side of the drive and moved the glass with it. When the snow melts, we'll vacuum up the glass pieces w/ the shop vac. Then I looked back at the house. Somehow the spaghetti sauce has made it to above the front door on the siding. Oh, and the siding above the garage has been broken by a flying bottle, likely. At that point, I called the police.

A nice Cottage Grove police officer came out, and met Trev (I had to go to work) and told him what I though he would say; that it wasn't an isolated incident. and here is the report number. We'll clean off the sauce tonight or tomorrow so it doesn't stain. The trickier part will be finding a piece of siding to match our house, as the house's siding was replaced after a hail storm 7ish years ago and we don't know what company did it. I hope the siding has a brand name written on the inside when we take a piece down. Good thing I know how to install siding...

A neighbor was vandalized a few weeks ago (hence the not isolated). Kids pranks are all part of growing up, but this was malicious, and it's time they grow up. I hope they're caught, but I bet they won't be. If they are, I'll be first in line asking the judge to make them do community service with an organization like Habitat for Humanity, so they can see first hand what goes into building and owning a house.

On a positive note, I received an award at work today. Odd how life balances itself out, isn't it?! And I ran 5 miles yesterday (yes, I still can't believe that). Climbing tomorrow, and I'll try out the running again on Sunday, to see if it was a fluke.

Happy first day of Spring, Everyone!!

Bragging

Yes, this post is to brag. Usually I don't brag, but today I'm going to. I'm just extremely proud of myself. Today I ran/walked for 5 miles. I went to the Y, and I walked a warm up, ran 20 min straight, walked for 5 min, ran for 20 more min, and then walked for 10 min. In that time I went exactly 5 miles. Yes Karin, this means I can do that race with you...as long as you are OK w/ taking 1 whole hour to do so.

The farthest I've ever ran myself at once is 3.2 miles. The farthest I've ever ran/walked myself has to be around 4 miles (in recent history, I'm sure when I played soccer in high school I might have gone farther.

So, yay me! It shows that hard work does begin to pay off. I will not lose ground, I will keep pushing this! On another subject...the scale says I'm going in the right direction again, the software is working.

Back on the wagon

..and by wagon I mean software.

In 2006 I had my RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) calculated to determine what amount of calories my body needs just to exist. This came out to 1640. Throw in walking about, and we're likely at about 1800 a day. I haven't had this done in a while, likely it's changed some, but not drastically. Recall most people/commercials etc say 'based on a 2000 calorie diet'? Well, If I don't excercise daily, that will gain me one pound a week. No wonder I gain weight like I'm standing still............

Along with doing the RMR, I bought a software program called Balance Log to track the calories of what I was eating. I started in Sept of 2006, and lost about 10 lbs. Then I stopped, and gained the weight back, though bad habits. I tried again, and again lost some weight (though not the original 10 lbs). I lost interest, and over time, I went to that mass that indicated my need to change my blog, and my lifestyle. As of Monday, I'm back on the software. This time, I've already lost 5-10 lbs on my own (depending on time of day/month etc of weight measurement). But then, I stopped losing. I haven't gained any back, since November, but I'm not making progress either. So, along with my new outlook, I'm going to try the software for a while to track what I'm eating, learn and SEE my bad habits, and be able to work on them. My goal for the software is 20 lbs by July 4. Will I make it? Dont' know. Don't care if I get that low, but 10 is absolutely necessary. Why? Because I did 10 on my own, I need to do 10 w/ the program. No other reason, just that.

So, I put in accurate information for myself, and I've kept track of what I'm eating for 2.5 days. I already see a trend, and it's one of laziness - or perhaps a consequence of being too busy. I need to work on adding more fresh veg and fruits, and less packaged food. Translated - cook my own food more.

As the weather turns nicer, and the sunlight is out more, I will have more motivation I think. Also, I will be able to grow my OWN fruits and veggies, and that will help. Right now I just have to adjust to turning the clocks ahead one hour. It hit me much harder this year than most, or I'm just more tired lately. Either way, I think 'daylight savings' needs to be banned, by court order, at the soonest possible opportunity.

So, track and hold self accountable for calories, go to the Y my 12 times per month, and cook more homecooked foods. That's where I'm going from here.

Tricia, Trevor and Oriole go snowshoeing!

On the 21st and 22nd of February a bunch of people went snowshoeing. Everyone had met before, because we call go climbing, but we'd never all had an outdoor adventure together before. Plus, I've not been snowshoeing since I was...a Girl Scout, in 5th grade, I think! At first, I wasn't sure what to think of it...


"Seriously? We're going up that!? Yes, it was quite the climb. We started trekking in on a snow mobile path, and then turned into the Cedar Swamp. Much like the Fire Swamp, except instead of ROUSs there were TOUSs (Trees of Unusual Size). They were standing, laying down, a few even jumped out at me - really! After that part of the trek came the up, up, up. Otherwise known as Farther Up and Farther In. There were some serious pitches involved at that point, we were climbing a mountain, after all. Mt. Houghton! (No, Not Mt. Ripley, where the ski hill is IN Houghton, MI, this is about an hour NE.) We eventually made it to the top...

Above are Trevor and I, being cute and enjoying the view from the top, before we had to go back down! I discovered down is faster, scarier, and quite a bit of fun, when you get the hang of it. We stopped then for lunch, and I had to do damage control. The firs tpair of shoes I was using, or perhaps it was my boots, gave me the WORST blisters on my heels. But, Nexcare bandages and Duct Tape saved the day! Yay for 3M! Then it was out to Hungarian Falls, to look at the nice waterfalls. A much easier Trek, which was good, cause it was the same day!

Above are Adriane, Kelsey, and I pose for a scenic picture on the way to the falls. I had traded shoes with Adriane for the second trip, and was much happier (and more stable) in the new ones. YAY for falling down less! We tromped to the falls, threw snowballs, and then slid down hills on our way back to the car. I was getting better at sliding down hills, but when the oportunity to jump OVER this branch arrived, I had a much better idea...

Why not pose for a cute photo op! Yup, here I am, quite happy to be almost done for the day. Pickled Eggs anyone?! After the day of snowshoeing, we headed back for a shower, and then hit downtown Houghton for some beer and pickled eggs. I had root beer at the KBC, and it was quite delicious. We set a 2 egg limit per person, so as to minimize discomfort to our fellow cabin mates. The next day we headed to Red Ridge to play on the ice, and look at the falls. The falls were quite lolvely really, and Trevor is quite good at artistic photos. He crawled UNDER the waterfall to take this lovely shot ofrom inside of the tree hanging over the edge.

Yes, the orientation on the above is correct. Then, it was time for some serious snowshoe fun! Trevor found a nice ice ledge, and decided to play Abomitable Snowshoer while jumping off!

"Ooh! That looks like fun, I want to try!" says I. Off I go, wheee! I prefer the airplane method, myself...

Now, EVERYONE try it!!!

After Red Ridge, it was time to pack and head home. We stopped at the rest stop outside Duluth to use the necessary, and discovered that poor Oriole had taken the brunt of the snowstorm we had driven through out of MI that morning. Icicles in her wheel wells! When we safely dropped Adriane and Kelsey off, we took her for a bath, and for a well deserved rest in the garage.

OOF! What a weekend, but it was fun. The next week, Trev and I headed to REI and purchased snowshoes of our own! I bought these:


I've used them twice now, both times this past weekend. I like them muchly, and can't wait for next winter to use them again. Yes, next winter - let's have spring now, please!

A theory to decrease obesity

If everyone in the world were provided a drinking device outfitted with a straw, obesity rates would diminish.

That is my null hypothesis. I have discovered, through careful and not very scientific methods, that more liquid is consumed through a straw than in the absence of one. Logically, if one had a water bottle with a straw, one would drink - perhaps double the liquid in one day. Doctors tell us we should have 8 glasses of water a day. I also know that if one's tummy is full on water, one isn't as hungry. Therefore, If everyone in the world were to be provided a drinking option with a straw, and that drinking option was used to consume water rather than bottled sugary beverages, the calorie consumption of the worlds population would decrease and so would obesity.

(just a random though I had as I drank my second full cup water today through a straw)

Tomorrow is Climbing Comp Day

Tomorrow is Climbing Comp Day! I feel nervous, it's ridiculous! Why should I be nervous? I know I'm not out to win the thing, just see what I can accomplish and have a ton of fun....or perhaps that a tonne of fun. Trevor is doing it, and another of his coworkers. A different coworker is volunteering. We'll all spend the day together enjoying music, friendship, and climbing.

Tonight is organization night! We did move the bookshelf in the office from one side of my desk to the other. It does open up that space, like I thought it would. Right now we have a small file cabinet in that big space, but I think that might change. Uncertain. Tonight I have to put everything back on the bookshelf, and finish cleaning up the stuff on the floor and organizing it. Once that is done we can move some of the things in the upstairs to the downstairs, and while we're doing that we can do some laundry. I'll give the upstairs a good vacuum and dust and hopefully clean the bathrooms tonight too. After all, tomorrow is Climbing Comp Day, and I won't want to be bothered with cleaning when I return to the house, exhausted, at the end of the day.

Sunday I plan to do some more organizing, downstairs perhaps, and also some studying. Next week I'm taking a 40 hour review course for the certification exam (for Industrial Hygiene). I am eligible, I think, for the exam this fall. This test is to my field like the PE exam is for engineers. The test is very hard, and only about 35 to 40% of people pass on their first go-round. I intend to be one of those. So, from this weekend until November, I will be dedicating a good portion of my time to studying nights and weekends. It's going to feel like I'm back in school again. Anyone up for 'study dates'??!

Strange Head Day

I'm headed to the climbing gym in a few minutes. Today will be my last day climbing before the comp. If it works anything like when I would have a practice right before a golf meet in HS, I will do terrible. Strangely, that's not all that much on my mind right now.

I'm having a strange head day. I can see things with less internal fog today, but I'm driving a lot faster. Allow me to explain. The fog: many times I can tell in what direction a project or task needs to go, but I can't see the road to get there. I can see steps say, 1-3, but 4-10 remain blurry. Today, I am seeing 1-5 or even 1-6. The problem - my brain is driving faster. Usually my brain drives along at 30 mph, giving me plenty of time (with or without fog) to see the upcoming obstacles, plot a path around them, and continue. It also gives me time to process what I'm thinking about. Today - the brain is driving about 70 mph. The map also seems to have been thrown out the window. "Ooh, this road looks fun", I'll take a right here, a left there.. I'm seeing though that fog, but I'm not processing what I'm seeing; I don't have time to digest. The random paths my brain is taking means I've solved about 150% more problems today than normal, but I'll likely not retain more than 75% of that. The obstacles - I'm swerving, but instead of going around an obstacle and continuing down the road towards a solution, I swerve onto another project or idea altogether. The question is...does 75% of 150% leave me where I'd normally be??? It's a strange head day, and I can't tell if it is going to help me, or hurt me, somewhere down the road.

The mess in the office is ridiculous! The office is the one room of the house where things are just thrown. Most of the things belong in here, but the 10X12 space is not big enough to hold it without some form of organization. Just...Not going to happen! Today - that slow, onerous process began. Trevor and I promised each other 1/2 hour work in the office each day until we have a sustainable system for keeping it clean. This will not mean it won't require major pick ups in the future...but right now there isn't a PLACE for everything we keep in here. We need a better closet organizer. I think I need a new desk! Maybe...maybe we just need a new arrangement. Dare I move everything around? Trevor would kick my ...er...chair!

Ok, I measured everything, and with the current furniture has to stay put - with the exception of the bookcase. Guess who's moving a book case! Not just because I can, but because then I can put more file storage and a plant stand there. That will make me happy.

Once this room is tackled, I think we'll tackle the under stair storage. These two, and the purple room have to be done before outside is playable again, because I have so much I can do there. And once we get outside this spring it will be a while before we come back inside again.

Good Weekend

This weekend I had much fun with the cooking of things I haven't made before. Friday night I made a quiche - which I have done before, but I made one of a new flavor; bacon, red pepper, mushroom, and cheese. This was dinner Friday night and lunch the next day. Saturday we used the remainder of the bacon to make BLTs. Sunday was the making of my very first pizza crust from scratch using my mixer w/ the dough hook. WHEE! I made the crust, and doctored up some pre-bought sauce. Trevor then was the pizza artist extraordinaire and made two pizzas. This was definitely an experiment that will have to happen multiple times, repeatability is key.

Exercise was also accomplished, with Cardio kick class on Friday night, and climbing on Saturday. I will also climb Tuesday, and then again for the comp on this coming Saturday - EEP. Sunday I had planned on going to the Y, but the major cleaning happened instead.

Socially I got to see peeps at climbing, after climbing, and for dinner and after dinner Sunday. I was able to sleep in a little, and recharge the batteries, although not quite enough.

Tonight I will go to the Y after work, and then go home and do my 1/2 hr assigned cleaning of the office space, and then study some for my CIH exam. Also, I will be IN BED with the Light Out! by 11.

Week 5, cont.

I haven't done much running lately, to my program. I have run 2 times w/ week 5 workout 1, and 2 times w/ no program, just running. Reason? I discovered the Cardio/Kickboxing class. Friday nights and Saturday mornings I can take myself to the Y and really be worked hard.

The other reasons?
1. Broomball - that means Wednesday have been run on ice rather than run in circles
2. Passion for Flashin - A climbing competition I'm going to be competing in on Feb 14th. I have been climbing 2 days/wk to prep for this. No, I don't expect to win, or even be 'in the medals', but I'm going to have a wicked good time.

After next week, broomball is over, and I'll jump into week 6, I hope!

Week 5

I hate running. Have I mentioned that before. Running is something I do because it provides results, not because I love some endorphin high. I wonder if anyone truely loves running. I know people who enjoy it - and I envy them. To enjoy doing something that keeps you in such good shape, something that produces results. Me? I hate it, but I respect it.

I respect running because it's one of the few things that will help me lose weight. I respect running because it works many muscle groups, and my cardiovascular system. I respect running because it's hard. Some say easy things aren't worth doing, but I disagree. Reading a book is easy for me, but enjoyable. Ok, perhaps that's not a good example, but reading exercises my mind!

Running. It's bleepin' hard work for me. I have exercise induced asthma - which is not an excuse, but it does mean I can't just jump in w/ both feet and run for hours. I'm still having trouble running for more than 8 minutes at a time....less than a mile, and I want to quit. My lungs hurt, my stomach cramps, my insteps cramp, my quads hurt...running is physically, emotionally, and mentally hard - a good challenge for me. Maybe that is why I'm sticking with it.

I started the couch to 5 K program, and at first I was just using a watch. Then I learned of Podrunner: Intervals from a friend. The First Day to 5K program put to techno music. Techno music at specific beats per minute, to be precise. This has helped me immeasurably! I have a terrible time keeping pace, this has helped. I'm now doing week 5. I started this in...November? It's been far more than 5 weeks since I began the program. I run on a week til it becomes bearable - not necessarily easy, and then move up. Week 4 was still a huge challenge when I moved on (yesterday running the first on on week 5). Week 5 has 3 separate workouts, and I'm doing the first. It was...easier for me than week 4s. Still a challenge, but I think the bpm and the intervals were such that my system liked it better. I'll do this workout at least one more time before moving onto workout #2 for week 5. Small chucks, small bites! (This is my personal note to self!)

The program online has nine weeks of workouts set to music. Theoretically by week 9 (translated to sometime in March or April, most likely at my rate of increase) I'll be able to run a 5K without stopping. A major accomplishment for me. I've run them before, also without stopping, but I'll be able to do so again - I have let my fitness slide a lot in the last 2 or so years. The other reason I'm doing this, decreasing my mass, that's working too. Running is one of those surefire things for me to do to lose weight. Odd, how something I hate so much can have such good benefits for myself. I guess the old adage, 'no pain, no gain' is correct in this situation.

Brrrrr

And we're back to either it's snowing, or it's below zero, or it's trying to do both very hard at the same time. There was a small reprieve near the beginning of the year and I thought both with happiness and sadness, 'oh, here comes the January Thaw'. Nope. BRRRRRR. I was happy about the small warm up, and even happier that it didn't melt all my pretty white snow. We didn't get mulch down in the gardens this year, and the snow came early and stayed - the best mulch ever. No as long as it melts and then stays warm, I should have very happy flower beds and soil.

Ooh, tea. I made tea and almost forgot! Ahhhh, wonderful warm tea.

An update regarding resolutions. I'm over 2 weeks into the new year and going strong! Thankfully, those who attend the Y have all decided which time they will now be going, and as they stick with it or drop out, the mad rush during 'my' Y time seems to have diminished. The parking lot is still full, but I'm able to get my run in without too much trouble. And run I do. I am on Week 4 of the couch to 5K running program. I have been doing this for 2 months. It takes longer than 1 week of workouts for me to move up a level. Asthma, and all that. Still, I've done the workout for week 4 2 times now, and it was easier the second time. Not easy - no! My teeth went numb about 2/3 through this time, instead of 1/2. (When my teeth go numb, or start to tingle like I've put them to sleep, I know I've gotten my heartrate up a bit too high....don't laugh, it's a good warning sign that I have to slow down.) I will do this one at least 2 more times before I move on to week 5. That has 3 different workouts and I'll be baced with the choice of how many times to do each before moving up and on. I ran last night, so tonight I'll climb. Tomorrow I'll run before broomball if I have time - I don't know when our game is. Thursday I haven't decided what I'll do (Thursdays somehow have become a rest day, it may be again). So far this new year I'm averaging 4 days a week of activity in 7. Over half. I'd like to have that up to 5 of 7 by the end of the year. We'll see how I do.

My desk, it's dirty. I'm going to have to clean it before I leave tonight. But it's at least an organized messy. Yup. I have piles. Piles have Post-It labels on them. There is the "to Do" "to file" "to find a file to put in then file" "Figure out what in the world to do with" and even a "find the time to recycle".

So, I'm back to those piles now. Also if anyone finds a missing Y pass that I think I dropped in the snow yesterday after using it to check myself in, please let me know. I have no idea where it went. Borrowed by Yeti's I spose!

Happy New Year

It's only the 7th! I can still wish everyone a Happy New Year! It's not that old yet! The year has started like the other one ended...cold outside, and moving way, way to quickly.

Today I've been thinking...It's odd the way we treat the changing of the day from 12/31 to 1/1. Many people make New Year's Resolutions, many go out dressed in their finest, many stay in w/ a special someone or group of friends, many make statments like 'Next year I'm going to...' or 'Next year will be different because...'. I want to know why this particular day, on that particular hour make people so enamored of change and betterment of self. Why not today? Why do we have to wait to start? Why do we, as a culture, feel like change must be some big, glamorous event that necessitates a kick-off..."At the beginning of next month I'm going to start to diet" or some such. I understand waiting to start til after a big holiday if one is right in front of you. Why start by feeling crappy about what you did that day. I understand waiting to start exercising at a gym for the beginning of the month (or whenever that special sign up is). I even understand waiting to hold yourself accountable to something until you've begun to make it a habit. Still-Don't wait to start at some big, glamourous moment, or in some big, fantastic way. In that path lies failure. Look at your portions NOW, even if you are doing something like joining Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers one the first of the month. Go for a walk NOW, even if you can't join the gym just yet for monetary reasons or reasons of special pricing (I love the no joiners fee special days!). We are odd as a culture - and I fall into this trap again and again.

Still, I see the point of resolutions, even though I think when you decide to change, you should start then, while you have the ambition. For example - I made some last year in this blog; and some I kept, some I didn't. At the beginning of 2008, I made these resolutions:

• I resolve to keep my desk clean at work, and hide my spoon every night.
  (this is to prevent it from being 'cleaned up' and thus causing me to purloin a new spoon from the cafeteria) I managed this one pretty well, but the desk got rather shabby some weeks. Spoon - success!!
  
• I resolve to keep my bird feeders full and my feathered friends happy. Well, the furry friends purloined the feathered friends food, leaving me w/ empty feeders more than I'd like. Darned furred beasts!
  
• I resolve to make a budget for myself and the house, and stick to it (boring one this, but it has to be done). I didn't. Nope, not a stitch. Mentally, yes I started keeping track of things, but I'm still not saving the kind of money I'd like. Work on it - and start now!
  
• I resolve to get. rid. of. the. ugly. grey. landscaping. rock! It's not really ugly, I just don't want it. Lance says he does, YAY! Ugly. grey. landscaping. rock...still there. Luckily, I did find Freecycle for my area, and next year if friends don't want it, I'm posting it there. Once the snow melts (Yes, I see a point to put a start date on this one, Noone wants to dig through 2 feet of snow to find frozen rock in below freezing temps.
  
• I resolve to hang things on the walls of my house. COMPLETE! Well, I'll always find more to hang, but I like the way it's shaping up.
  
• I resolve to clean and organize the shed and the garage, and to get rid of the washer, dryer, and range that are taking up space. (Anyone need an appliance? They are cheap for the asking!) Mostly Complete. The shed and garage were organized and cleaned (the garage needs it again, never ending cycle. Murphy's law rules the garage. The washer/dryer are gone...and there is a bite on the stove.
  
• I resolve to spend many relaxing and enjoyable hours on my motorcycle in the nice, non- snowy/salty/sandy streeted months I did this one pretty well too, although there is always room for improvement :D
• I resolve to redo the landscaping and plant a veggie garden (this is a multi year resolution!) This is indeed a multi-year resolution, but the garden did, indeed get planted, the fruits (and veggies) of our labor were eaten and shared, and we took a landscaping class to learn what to do with the house. This year we'll start w/ the more ambitioius Moving-Of-The-Volkswagen Bus Sized-Hosta(s).
  
• I resolve to hit the softball to the green-grass! I did it! I did! Even in Trev's Men's leage (when I pretended to be male long enough to sub for them in a few games) I did!
  
• I resolve to improve my golfing handicap. I also did this! It only went down like 1, then went back up, but I got more consistant.
  
• I resolve to eat ice cream whenever possible (we all know that resolving to eat it less will NOT happen!) You know what...I think I failed at this one! I think I ended up with an opposite day theory working. I resolved to eat more, and I think I ended up under my average. Crazy. I'll repeat this one in 2009 and mean it!
  
• I resolve to renew old friendships, make new ones, and treasure special times. This one goes without saying, but I wrote it down. I did pretty good, but again, room for improvement.

So, In 2009 - will I make resolutions? Yes, of course. I have to keep going on my garden/landscaping and ice cream ones, for starters. Those above that need improvement, friendships and motorcycles - yup, keeping those up as well. I also resolve to continue on the Path Forward. I'm going to try to write more, even if I'm the only one who reads it. I'm also going to keep working at all those things I'm doing that required me to change the name of this blog.

• I'm going to reduce my mass.
• I'm going to increase my fitness.
• I'm going to do some race of some sort that I a) haven't done before or b) haven't done in a while...liek the Korte, the North Shore, or a triathalon.
• I'm going to make that budget - it will better me as a person, and I'll explain if you really want to know.
• I'm going to try to be less cynical, sarcastic, and mean spirited about some things. No, I'm not saying what - that is for me to know. (just in case you wondered, the rant above is not an example of what I'm going to reduce :P)
• I'm going to write my Thank You Notes, and RSVP for things. I have bad ettiquette at this. Most of my generation does. It's time I improved.
• And yes, I resolve to keep my desk clean at work, to the best of my ability, and to continue to hang on to my spoon.

Keeping birdies fed goes for both indoor and outdoor birdies now...and I'd better or I'll hear about it from a certain Crash and Pippin. So, that's it. None of these are things I'm going to start now that it's '09. Well, no - the budget. That would be new. The rest though, I've been trying to work on for a while now. This is just the written reminder to self, and self's readership, that I AM trying.