Two Shoes

I recently started wearing the most fashionable "boot" prescribed by my foot doctor for a stress fracture.  This "boot" is so fashionable and comfortable I think every one should get them.

See?  Its LOVELY!

Finally after 4 weeks of hobbling around in the "boot", I am back in two shoes!  YAY!

Now to start getting back to normal stuff, like bike riding and walking the dog.

Bike Riding Tips

I have been riding my bike fairly regularly since spring.  I've gotten on it more this past month than I had been.  I am feeling pretty good!  Neicy and I got together on Sunday and did 12 miles.  It was a great ride!  Not only did she and I have time to gossip and chat, but we pushed ourselves a bit too. 

Love my Bike

I have also been tracking my weight and inches.  The weight coming off isn't as exciting as the inches that I have been loosing and how my clothes are fitting me.  I have lost 3 inches in my waist, 2 inches in my hips and only 1.5 inches in my chest.  I love wearing jeans now because its not a circus act to get them pulled up!

Anyway, I just got back from an awesome ride and wanted to share some tips with you.  Mind you these are what works for me and is not to be considered professional advice!  And they could be REALLY skewed because I'm on an exercise endorphin high!  

1. Interval training is THE BOMB.  Start out slow and hold that for a while.  When the buzzer sounds, kick it into high gear and hold that for a while. Lather, Rinse And Repeat for however many times you chose.  I did it 7 times tonight and traveled 5.5 miles in 20 minutes.  My top speed was 16.9 mph.
2. Bon Jovi is KICK A$$ for interval training.  "Wanted Dead or Alive" has the perfect beat for holding at 11.5 mph during the low interval.
3. Singing is not recommended on the high interval YET.  Singing on the low interval is do-able.
4. Water is a MUST.  Put lots of ice in but don't worry. By the time you stop, you'll have plenty of water and very little ice.

After I got home and got a little water, I grabbed Jaxon and his leash and went for my cool down ride.  Jaxon did .5 miles in 10 minutes.  His top speed was 7.3.  He's asleep in my lap already.

So, who wants to join me?  I'm always up for a partner and I'll take it easy on the beginners.

Tidbits

Just a few quick thoughts to share......

From the news:

Do we really care that the Gov. of NJ had weight loss surgery?  I don't.  Now that I know, I'm glad he's doing what is necessary to make himself the healthiest person he can be.  I wish him luck.

Did you know that Jim Thorpe's kids and grandkids are fighting over where he's buried?  The kids want him moved from the town of Jim Thorpe where he has rested for over 60 years.  If I was Jim, I'd come back and haunt my son's for moving me.

So happy those women who have been missing for so long have been found!  I'll be following the story for more details.  They certainly are blessed.

From ME:

I am sick and tired of writing mental health policies at work.  This means I have to read the boring regulations necessary to be able to write the policies to fit into my agencies business.  I'm so bored!  And need a mental health vacation.......

Things with AZ and I are going well.  I've started making some decisions about this portion of my life but I need some input from my therapist so I can finish.  There is time for finishing.

I went for a bike ride yesterday.  I wasn't going to but AZ reminded me I should.  It was a great ride!  The gears worked wonderfully and it felt great to stretch my legs and just breathe......  Thanks for the push, AZ!

Jakes called me yesterday!  I hadn't heard from him in about a week.  He made me happy just by calling. Guess I'll be seeing him this Mother's Day Weekend.

I still have a couple of the songs from the concert bouncing around my head.  I'm so sick of being in my head right now.  The songs are fun, but not after three days.......

When is it time to go to the beach??  I am so looking forward to a day of sitting in the sand with a book in my hand.  Soon!

To my friends on the East Coast: stay dry and check with your local emergency services for the nearest Ark!  There's a massive storm dropping lots of rain up and down the coast.   Be Safe!

Busy Weekend

Oh my! What a busy weekend!  I was so busy I almost wished I was at work so I could relax. 

The quickie:  There was two trips to the bike repair store.  Two trips to the local college for singing in my concert.  A trip to the parents for a visit.  Grocery shopping and a little work on reclaiming my flower bed.

Details:  The concert was fun, as always.  We sang a selection from Rogers's and Hammerstein's Carousel, Braums and some other spiritual songs.  Our Director sang a solo and it was the first time many of us had heard him sing.  He has a wonderful voice!

The trips to the bike repair shop was unfortunate because some people have to borrow my bike and break it.  But of course, its never their fault and they are never made to make good on it.  But the bike is now locked up and I am the only one with the key to it.  I did make a stop at Starbucks which was almost on the way to the repair shop.  Love my Frappichinos!

Dad and ESM were having issues with some spam from their email account so I stopped over to help out with that.  Of course, it became more involved than I anticipated.

I am working on reclaiming a flower bed.  Its all grass so I have to cultivate it, scoop out the grass and roots, then cultivate it again for anything I can't get out by hand.  BUT I did find Tulips and daffodils in there which I think I will transplant.   I will work some more on that tonight after work.

Grocery shopping needs no details.  I still can't figure out why it takes 2 hours to get through the store.....  But if you are trailing a teenager that might explain some of it.

At least the sun was shining and it was warm!  Overall, a good weekend!  Tell me about yours!

Friday Rambling

Daddy got good news from his heart Dr. He passed his stress test and can have the aneurysm fixed via a stent procedure.  He has an appointment with another specialist on Tuesday.  Fingers crossed that its in a place that can be reached by stent procedure.

Going to the beach tomorrow.  My wonderful friend, Janet, is hubby and kid-less tomorrow (which doesn't happen often) suggested that we go and just relax.  Love that idea and I'm SO there!  I just hope it's not too crowded and we can have a water view.

Jakes is upset with me because I'm not going to get him for dinner tonight.  I just don't feel like fighting the holiday/Friday traffic.  And considering the last time he left the house, he was so angry with me that he didn't even say good-bye before he slammed out of the house, I'm not very inclined to go.

I've found curtains for the kitchen and the sliding doors which is good and bad.  Good that I am making headway on decorating the house, bad because it means I have to paint the kitchen.  I'm so over painting!    Maybe AZ will prep the walls for me while I'm at the beach, then I can get right to painting.  And it depends on how I feel after relaxing at the beach.

Things with JR are more annoying to me than I thought they would.  He "borrowed" my bike without permission and returned it broken.  He also doesn't know how it happened.  Nice.  But his father has said he will be paying me back for the cost to fix it.  I took the bike to the shop yesterday and it will be there for about 2 weeks while they get the part in.  Nice.  Guess Jakes and I won't be riding the Dam for the next couple of weeks.  Boo!

There are other things happening that involve him that are causing problems. I am hoping that AZ and I can work together to make things right, for us and for JR.  Only time will tell.

We've put our camping trip off for now.  Things have come up that is keeping us home for now.  We will definitely get our weekend away.  Hopefully soon, very soon.

I hope everyone enjoys their last weekend of the summer.  Relax!

My Kid Takes Me to the Best Places......

Jakes wanted to take me to a new place for a bike ride.  He said I would love it.  Its so pretty and the trail would be ok for my bike, maybe a little bumpy but not bad.

The weather was perfect. I loaded the bikes up, left the house early to miss traffic on a Friday evening and picked up Jakes. 

He gave directions for each and every turn we had to take.  He was right, it was a very pretty drive there, once we left the interstate.  Right along the Susquehanna River, through Port Deposit, Maryland and to the Conowingo Dam.



Here's the Dam.
I'm told that last August, after Hurricane Irene, where I'm standing was under 35 ft. of water!

Jakes and I unloaded the bikes and I realized that I should have brought my camera.  I did have my iPhone camera but that just doesn't cut it.


The trail ran over an old rail line that was used to deliver supplies and workers to build the Dam

The trail was probably about 2 miles long, one way.  We rode through the trees, catching glimpses of the river as we went.  Jakes was in the lead.  He abruptly stopped because of a deer in the path.  So cool!  And the deer didn't go far off the path away from us. Guess they are used to seeing people.



taking a break

At the end of the trail we took a break and wandered around a bit.  Would have drank some water but I left it in the car.  DUH.



The Boat Launch

We mounted back up and rode back.  In the parking area, we watched the river flow around rocks and fishermen.  We also watched an eagle soar.  There are many nests in the area.  I can't wait to take my kid back there for more riding and with my camera!


Scooter People

Dad was approved to get a scooter because of his health problems.  Of course, the kid in him wouldn't allow him to get any old scooter.  He had to get one that ROCKS!

This Bad A$$ machine was clocked at 18.5 miles per hour by ME chasing him on my bike.  I could have beat him if I didn't let him have such a strong lead!  HA!

WAY to far ahead!

He decided that he would meet Son at the bus stop and took the Tricycle along so Son could ride back with him.  Here is what he did:

Unfortunately, Son was at Music Lessons and didn't take the bus home.  Tomorow is another day!