5 am

5 am- Wake up

5:03- Make coffee - stand and stare at coffee maker in a stupor

5:05 pour coffee

5:06 drink first sip

5:07 finish first cup

Oh my I am tired this morning-

5:07:30 remember that I have new grand child- pictures to come

Relive some of the Breaking Bad binge that I had last night.  I am seriously hooked on this show.  So glad I don't have to wait for "next season".  Thank you Netflix.

5:15 Get another cup of coffee and remind self to use the biggest cup in the house tomorrow.

I am so so sleepy today.  There is really no GOOD reason why, I slept reasonably ok- but there is this getting back into the gym and spending time on the cardio machines, thanks to the cold weather.....  ugh.  I need to hire someone to either stand next to me and talk or hop on the next machine so the time goes faster.  Even the podcasts I listen to don't distract me from the fact that I want to leap out of my skin while doing that mindless stuff.  I would much rather be outside.  But winter....


6:00 decide I will leave my 3rd cup to later when I get to school, but the coffee maker is speaking to me- make it stop.

So yes, I have a new baby grandgirl.  I will write more about it later.  She is still so new!  Put plans are being made to go see this new little wonder!  She was named partially after ME!  :D  I can't tell you how touching that is.

I have been spacing out in front of the laptop and the TV and I realize that I need to still dry my hair and make my lunch, so

6:21 post blog and get dressed for work!

Make this a joyful day everyone!

Bittersweet

So the school's gorgeous and beautiful gym just opened yesterday and it really is spectacular.  The facilities are beautiful, the machines and weights are top of the line. It is a good space, and for the winter- there are even the icky brand new and beautiful cardio things. ( I hate doing cardio inside, can you tell??)

So why would I find this situation bittersweet you might ask?  If you think for a moment and have followed along at all, I miss my old gym.  I miss the people, I miss the facilities- it was like my second home.

The school doesn't have extensive hours- it is after all, a school!  I hope at some point they can add a few weekend hours, but we shall see.  While they have a lot of great things, there a few things- like a cable cross and smith machine- that they don't have.  But I will certainly adjust.

No, the thing about this is that I feel slightly disloyal for going to a different place.  Of course this probably doesn't seem logical, but you ALL know that isn't usually my gig anyway.  I somehow deeply feel the loss of my dear friend Lori  (and Brian and their kids) even though  she is doing well.  I wish that things didn't turn out like they did, because I would rather be going to Triple B.

Fortunately, I got to talk to and hug quite a few of my gym buddies last night!  It was like a homecoming. I hope to see more of them tonight and as the weeks go on.  It is the people who made that old place so special, and while I can't see some of the most special ones, I am so happy to be reunited with so many of the rest of them.

I feel the workout that I did yesterday from my shoulders to my toes, and it is a good sort of sore.  Almost all of us are starting from square one again. I have been going to a less than stellar place at a local establishment, so I am a little ahead of the game.  It was SO freaking amazing to replace the duct tape ridden Rocky Balboa type room with this well equipped gym.  Little angels were singing in my head!  But there was one or two little angels that I wish were still in my daily life....

So, I will be embracing my new place with the idea that I can't stay and over train.  I have to get in and out in 45 min. or less.  I can't have the constant carpal tunnel any more, that is too hard on this girl.

Well I better scoot and get ready for work, I just had to write this out.  And now I can go on and hit it hard.  But not too hard, and I will be remembering the joys that began at a different place across the river.....

A weight lifting hiatus that needs to end

Today was the first day that I got back upstairs to do some weightlifting- such as it is- since I was sick almost 2 weeks ago.  I feel exhausted from both the day and the extra bit of energy you can give to lifting when you haven't for a while.  These last 2 days before Christmas break are killers. NO ONE wants to be there, and let me tell you, contrary to what the kids say, we ARE doing something at school.  Don't believe them if the say that they didn't do anything all day.  That is bogus.

Anywho, I have a lead on a semi acceptable gym that I sort of forgot about at one of the motels in town.  I am going to go and check it out, but I plan to continue using my home gym, as the convenience of being home is hard to beat.

I have to say that there are some good things that I have discovered being without a gym for a while.  First, my hand and arm numbness is pretty much gone- so no waking up not able to feel my hands.  Next, knee pain I had been having is gone, too.  I have been able to do some good low squats using the big kettle bell for extra challenge.  Another plus is I have been able to really pack a lot of workout into a short period of time, so I've been able to get a few more things done at home during the week.

BUT I miss the people, I miss the challenge and I miss the workout.  I NEED to do some hard core bench pressing, some lat pull-downs, and bar work.  I need to get back to it.

Unless something else opens up here (note to anyone interested: there is a void here and it needs to be filled!) I will have to make due with my own little setup and hopefully can fill in the gaps with the equipment that the motel has.  Better than nothing, let me tell you.

On that note~ look hard for the joy that has been missing in your life!

And birthday month marches on...

I am kind of sad that it is already the 25th of July!  My goodness, time flies. 

Birthday month progresses well!  I did get more weeding done,  a walk in and after watering my tomatoes tonight it DID rain a bunch, which we needed (not amused that it came during the END of Project Runway and nearly spoiled the end)

 AND have gotten in some really great workouts!!

For instance:

Back Day (today)

Warm up

then- (all things today were 3 sets of 10, except for the first one,which was 5 sets of 10.
Bent over row- 45, 50 and 55 pound dumb bells
Lat pulldown- crosspull machine 100lb front facing and then 2 sets of 10- 80 lb
lat row- crosspull machine- 110 lb
lat row machine - 50 lb
pullover machine- 100 lb

(I forgot to do the barbell row! Boo)
In between I did some quick practices:

Bench press:
4 sets of 3 @ 95 pounds

Deadlift:
4 sets of 6 @ 95 pounds

Then Lori and I did a circuit of 5 squats, 5 pushups and 10 bicycles/abs for 2 sets.  WHEW!  I was wiped out after that! But, I actually could have done more pushups and squats!

Anyway, I went in to the eye doctor recently and today I got contacts.  I lasted 2 hours in them before I had to take them out.  My eyes were so tired I could barely make lunch!  I am really thinking itll be easier tomorrow.  I am trying out mono vision- one contact for reading another (or none) for distance.....  The first day was marginally successful.  I have hope though!

Tomorrow I MUST clean upstairs a bit for my dear SEESTER Rose and Emily who are coming to visit.  Have to spiff and neaten a little. YAY for the adventures yet to come.

I've been thinking about the Boundary Waters- I was there a year ago.  And the memories are clear and vivid and I've been reminiscing a lot this week.  Summer is in full swing, and I am worried that it will suddenly end too quickly and I am trying to savor every moment of birthday month!

And I am very tired now, so off to bed I go, to take a walk and go to the gym and make some food, clean some house, weed some garden and find some joy.  Sweet dreams, y'all!

Going into the weekend....

So there is super good news on the reno front, as just discussed in my previous post- just scroll down, sweetheart, and now I am looking forward to a pretty good weekend.  I have a lot to do, but have scheduled my sanity time into it:

(sanity time highlighted in red!)

Saturday:

*Drink coffee and relax a bit!
*Fetch black paint for stage from the Builders
*Get myself to the gym for a back and biceps workout
*go to grocery store
*go to Seed and Feed
*go to lunch
*go to school to paint stage black
*go home!
*walk or snowshoe 
*have dinner at some point

Now that sounds like an interesting Saturday!  I'd like to scavenge a card table somewhere in there, but I am not sure where to find it.....  one of my mad friends certainly must have one I could use for a week.

Sunday:

*Drink coffee and relax some MORE
*putter around in the house
*Get myself to the gym for a chest and tricep workout
*Go home and make lunch
*Do whatever the hell I please!
*Cook some stuff
*Walk and/or snowshoe, and TAKE PICTURES!!!
*oh shoot- go to Shopko and get makeup for the play....

This is my plan and I am sticking to it!!

I am thrilled about the progress of the house, I was so happy to do over an hour of cardio last night!!!  I am delighted to be done (mostly) with scenery painting and I do NOT have to sew a pair of witches legs for the play, as they have been purchased!!  Of course you know I will promptly find the old ones I had sewed many years ago.  I know they are at school somewhere.

Play week is next week and it will be insane- but it is what it is.  And I need to relax and enjoy this weekend instead of worrying about the days after that.

AND I am ignoring all talk of snowstorms for Monday too.  I just won't have it!

Until next time, be a joy giver!!!  And enjoy your weekend!

Just Wednesday....

I don't have any outstanding things to report- nothing earthshaking, inspiring, sad, thrilling or any other extended emotional diatribe.

Fairyland!

It is WEDNSDAY, and as usual I am happy to have made it through Tuesday intact.  Tuesday is a hard day for me.  So, being only somewhat exhausted today is a win.  I have been working with the High School kids getting the scenery painting started, it has been an interesting beginning........

But regardless, I have been to the gym, and I am physically tired thanks to the usual workouts plus the addition of pushups and burpees and kettle bell swings.  oy.

In school we are almost to the end of our clay unit, though I suspect that the kids would enjoy continuing on with it for a few more weeks.  I have enthusiastic clay artists this year, which is so much fun.

I have gotten some pictures lately, but not nearly as many as I would like.

I am starting to get my maintenance issues figured out, and am doing a pretty good job of fueling my workouts.  We shall see what today brings with good old leg day- #givemestrength

This may be a sort of non event of a post, but we can't have thrills and chills everytime, right?

Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day- we are having a day of working with technology all day long.  In a more creative and intuitive way.  There are people, both STUDENTS and maybe an adult or two, who are all negative about this.  I think they should maybe give it a chance and see what happens. I swear sometimes the kids are more close-minded than older people.  Maybe it is their young brains rebelling at the thought of stepping outside of their semi-comatose school day norm....  Lol, who knows.  But it is true! Snap OUT of it people!!  Enjoy the change!

Oh hey and rumor has it that it is Valentine's Day tomorrow, not that I will do anything but gather and give away some less than healthful candy items and some very cute Valentines cards (I won't give away the cards- no worries) .....  Tax season and Valentines Day do not add up to anything special for the Mad-Art Teacher.......  Hmph.

So, anyway, that's all for today, I hope to do a photo post soon, when I have a little more time.  I have to gather my stuff and get ready for work.

Have a lovely day and be a JOY GIVER today!  and everyday!!

the gym

This is something I found on the loseit website- posted by one of my friends:

The gym knows me,
the gym understands me better than anyone
all the feelings, the growth, being comfortable with discomfort, the pain, it is always open to me and it always challenges me to accomplish the unthinkable with determination, consistency and persistence living in the moment and accepting the results, with patience that might come !

It definitely nails my feelings!

Pull-ups or reinventing myself- yet again

I want to say that I was almost crying during my back workout today, and did tear up a little.  This is because I did something that I NEVER imagined I could- a simple pull-up.  Raise your hands if you thought you sucked in high school because you couldn't do a pushup, climb a rope, do a hand stand or head stand, do a cartwheel, run the dreaded 600 yd dash.... all with out f***ing training.  The more I think of it the more pissed off I get.  Did anyone in gym class work on gradual progression of pushups to get stronger to do the rope climb or do an interval run/walk to build up to the 600 yds?? NO!!!!  I guess just because you are under the age of 18 you should be strong and fast and able to leap a tall building with a single bound.

Anyway, I walked into the gym this morning, and Lori the gym owner and my dear dear friend- who I trust implicitly was holding the feet of a gal who does pullups every week  on her back day.  This is to stabilize the person who is working out so they don't swing all over.  Anyway, Lori asked what I was doing today and I said back and biceps and she said good, you can do pullups, too.  I said, I can't do pullups and she said sure you can.  I said ( and repeated many times) no, I can't do pullups.....

FLASHBACK:  HS- 1970 something- Debi stands at the pullup bar and vainly attempts a pullup and gets a 0 for not accomplishing the task of doing EVEN one.  And then tries to do the flexed arm hang and also basically FAILS with a hang of maybe .15 mili-seconds. Head hangs in shame as she walks away to another station of the Presdents physical fitness test to do badly...... UP YOUR PRES. FORD!!!  Ahem, oh, sorry, anyway, another flashback to a month ago at sister's gym and trying to do a pullup on the assisted pullup machine.  DID NOT GO WELL.  Felt like a failure - again- conclusion- Debi can not do pullups.  "WEAKLING- OBVIOUSLY"


So go back to this morning, and Debi is not only skeptical, but totally convinced that she is right.  Can not do a pull up.  Been proven.
So I plopped down my water bottle on the counter and walk over to the bar to prove to everyone that I can not do pullups, I will try but I will not succeed. This is seriously what I was thinking.  I hopped up on that step stool and grabbed the bar and looked at her.  She gave me instructions.  Hop up and pull yourself up to the bar, then let yourself down but not all the way.  Don't let your arms over extend down. She will grab my feet to keep me from swinging.  Hmmm.  fine

So I hopped up and then I pulled myself up for the first time- wow that must be Lori helping me by pushing up my feet, b/c that was easy. then I pulled up again and it was still easy.  I could feel her hands on my feet - still helping I'm sure.  Then I kept going- and finally I just thought I had better stop, because I think I had just done pullups!!!! 6 of them!!!!  And I could have done more. I immediately asked her if she helped me and she said technically she had because she touched my feet, but no, she did not push my feet up...... SERIOUSLY???

So I stood there shocked, and realized I did something I never expected to EVER do in my life.  I have crossed the line of where my formative years had put me and  have realized that you do not have to be what you expect of  yourself, you can be different than what you are expected to be.  Different than what everyone else expects you to be. And it is a wonderful thing.  Do NOT say you can't because you might be able to!!

YOU CAN!!  I CAN!!

I can't wait to see what I can't do, but really can, next!

Until next time, be a joy giver!

Gotta get in my walk!

It is looking very very HAZY this morning.  The fog has dropped down and I am sort of waiting for it to clear a little bit before I walk.  I have been having a little hard time motivating myself to get out in the morning early. I even opted out of a walk yesterday morning (gasp) and went to the gym for treadmill and bike.  I guess technically I still walked, but it was in AC!!!   HA!

I do enjoy my dawn extra strong coffee and computer session. It sets me up to have a good day!  However, it is going to be HOT today, so I need to get out soon.  So, if I move it along I can be out the door by oh, say 6:10 and back by about 7:30 or 7:45- in time to make our Sunday pancake breakfast, which I look forward to SO much!  Even if it is only one pancake, I LOVES it, with some Greek yogurt, fruit and real maple syrpal!!  :)

I will absolutely update this with a pic later!

I think I am going to go for about an hour and a half, that will do me well, as I think there will be canoeing tonight down the Flambeau.  One week from today I leave for Minnesota and the boundary waters.  I am a little nervous, but I am getting "stuff" in the mail and from UPS, so it is a hoot. This will be discussed at length this week I am sure.  My exercise plan is to do my weight lifting all early in the week, cardio until Friday, throw in abs class on Monday, Abs/glutes on Wednesday and I will be set to rest my muscles completely Saturday and Sunday to prepare for the canoeing on Monday morning bright and early.  That's the plan at least, I really should throw in stretching too!  Hmmm.  I guess I could get up at like 3 am and do that, nothing planned for mid-late night!

So, I better move it along!

Have a joyful Sunday!!!  muah!