Milestones!

It's almost time for another reprieve from reality. But so far reality hasn't been too bad in general.

On the health front: I have been using the FitBit app to track my exercise and food intake. Well, the food seems to be spot on, but the exercise tally almost doubles the calories expended rather than reality. As such, I am altering how I am working on it. That also means that for the past monthish I have been taking in far more calories than I need. Not horrible, as I am still a good two to three pounds lower than when I got back from Indiana, but still not ideal.

As for that over-tallied exercise, I have managed 30 minutes of brisk walking every day since the 27th of August. That makes it a habit at this point! I just have to remember not to eat back all that I expend--the evenings are my downfall, but I have taken to walking more then instead of in the morning (unless I am hiking and avoiding heat/rain). Also got a tv for above the treadmill for excuse-free walking. And it died within the first day. So I'm taking it back and will get a new one once I get back from my trip. It really helps to have something to distract me from plodding along!

And I am killing the treadmill at my parents' house. After 23 years of mostly disuse, it is finally showing its age by falling apart. I am now saving up my pennies for a good mid-level machine to take my abuse. It is looking a lot like how much I spent for my little vacation! Luckily the current one still works for the most part so I will run it till it dies/gets unsafe.

It's that time again, a vacation--the last one of the year. I'm looking forward to being up in mountains and trees again. Trying a different place this time and I may have goofed on my choice. As it turns out it is located in a little community of rental homes instead of out on its own like my previous two places. Also no dog run, though that will be fine eventually once dog realizes that he has to do his duty on a leash. Eventually being the main word there.

Speaking of the dog, he's an unhappy pooch. He tried to eat a hole in his tail last week and I have been treating it at home...not particularly well since I used the wrong bandage. Called in to the doc and he says to bring him in tomorrow for a test and looksee at it. Poor pooch is none-too-pleased to once again be back in the cone-of-shame. Also found out that about 2 miles is the max Link's joints can really tolerate. Went for a walk out by the volcanoes by Mom and Dad's place and it was even mostly level. So over the next week I will have to really watch how far we go, especially if there are hills.

I know that I am going to come back to a sizeable amount of work given that it is in the first week of the month, but that's okay. It will keep me busy for a couple days. I will be on-call for computer/connectivity issues while I am out there (on-email? cell doesn't work well), so that should be interesting. No calls last month, so I am expecting something to break this round. 

And now all I can think about is food. Joy. It's going to be a long last-day-before-vacation.

Always Has to Be Something!

Never Can Run Completely Smoothly

I do believe that the trip was a success, with only one hiccup. It was good to see the family and watch a few games with the kids (and my big brother's softball game as well). Just catching up was nice and it was a relaxing trip. I managed to walk (and even jog for short spurts) every day and was fairly mindful of what I was eating. Enough so that I actually lost a little weight while I was out there! 

Now for the hiccup:
The flight home.

I was supposed to fly from California to New Mexico on my way back home. The weather was a mess in Phoenix--my layover--because we had to circle Las Vegas for a good hour before landing to refuel. We were on the ground for three and a half hours. During that time there was a lady who decided to cuss out and threaten to hit one of the stewardesses. Needless to say, that woman was escorted off the plane and probably barred from traveling on Southwest for the foreseeable future. The captain came over the speakers explaining that someone had acted like a child and we should all just take a chill pill and sit nicely like the adults we are. Only a couple kids on the flight and they had no problems out-performing the ejected woman. Had to overnight in Phoenix since there were no more flights home Saturday night and most of the hotels booked up because of other people in the same boat. Finally made it home safe on Sunday evening, but boy was it an ordeal.

So that was fun.

Now that I am home I have been slogging through the work carried over from last week and decided to finally take my lunch break. Whoops, rather late, but better than never. 

Next up: Next week Friday--away I go again, but this time no airplanes, thank goodness. Up to the mountains where there are actual trees. No really, TREES!

Got Downtime?

    

 Walking and *gasp* Jogging!

I am putting the time I have on vacation toward making myself healthier. I have made it a point to get in exercise, especially in the morning since it is much cooler. Swimming one morning with granny-aerobics, the rest with walks and...gasp!...Jogging! I have been trying short bursts of jogging for a while but always end up with the dreaded shinsplints. Today I fought back. Jog till it really hurts. Walk till I can't feel it anymore. Rinse. Repeat. By the time I was done and 2.4 miles later I was able to jog till my endurance ran out instead of till I couldn't stand the pain. Success! (Mind you, that jogging was still only for short stints, but it was better than nothing.)

So I have that as a plus. In other times when I am not catching up on sleep I have been poking the second book with a digital red pen. I made it another round before leaving home, but I want to keep working on it since I have already found issues with the last run-through. If I have learned something from the last book it is that it will never be enough and I will have to shell out money for another round with someone who does this for a living. Lessons learned. But it won't stop me from wanting it as good as I can make it! This run's biggest focus: Time and Space. How long does it take to get from point A to point C and what season does that make it. Continuity--very useful.

By the by, traveling on 9/11 was a breeze. Very few people in the home airport and not insane people in Phoenix for the plane change. Uneventful is just how I like it. But now I think that it is time to down some meds and take a nap. Naps are good. Especially on vacations.

Here's to Habits!

At least healthy ones.

I have been exercising daily since the 1st, with all but one day over 30 minutes. I know that this doesn't sound like much for most people, but it is a far leap for me from being on the couch or driver's seat for all hours.

One problem: Vacation.

I am hoping that either I am active enough to negate the problem or that I can sneak away and manage something on my own. With two active kids I think something will happen most days--I just hope I can keep up with them while somewhat ignoring the couch! 

Other potential stumbling block: food. I know that it is hard for me to turn down foods like rice/desserts and I know that it will be a struggle for me. Hoping that my willpower holds out. And if not, see problem above that may take care of it. Laps around the baseball field perhaps. It can keep my rear from getting sore on bleachers. 

Onward to more pleasant things! One more workday till I am outta here...well...plus a day. Yesterday was full of beating computers into submission and today so far has been paperwork and server issues. Probably cooling down to basics now that everything is caught up from yesterday. Here's to a calm Thursday.

Milestones! Death to Weeds!

The Beginning

Today I did something that I had never done in my life: Mow the yard. In all my decades I had never pulled a cord to get that power running. For most of my non-childhood years I never had anything approaching a yard. Gravel and desert scrub was as close as I got. Well, that changed. Now, instead of needing a brush-hog twice a year, my dad bought a real mower for the house. He has been running most of the yard maintenance, so I never learned the ins and outs of the machine. But Dad's out of town. And it's monsoon season.

It was my turn. Now, I know how to run most hand tools just fine, but gas and oil powered things? Not so much. 

After a few false starts, like any gas powered tool, I got it done. It ain't great or something that I could charge money for, but I managed! Some of those weeds were taller than the dog!

The Final Product

So it's done. One-to-two-foot-tall weeds taken down to a reasonable height. All because I learned how to use a pull-cord!

 

Worried With Cause

 

To the Skies--Eventually

I have a week and a smidge before I head off for another trip. Only problem that's on my mind: it's on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. I am leaving plenty of time for extra security measures and planning on everything to be late. I'm not superstitious, but I am aware that the danger of flying goes from microscopic to slightly more than that. I remember to the road corner I was when the first flight hit. The very step I was on when I heard about the second. But that was 20 years ago. I suppose that is the same reaction that people had when Kennedy was killed. Just a different generation. And more changes to life in general than the president's passing. But I do know this: I'm not letting that stop me from traveling.

On the other side of things, COVID-19 is making me nervous. I have had several families I know that have come down with it, vaccinated all. I'm just going to have to be incredibly careful on my travels, especially in the airport. The planes have good air circulation, but the airports are less so. Lots of hand washing and mask-wearing. I'm not sure what California's regulations will be for weekend after next, but I may just wear the mask to be careful anyway. I know that I wear one here for all trips, so I see no reason to not follow those recommendations while traveling.

So those are my two concerns for today. Worried? Maybe. But with cause.