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Monday: Bodysculpt class - it’s quite interesting what a difference the instructor makes.  This one didn’t push us very hard.  To extend this workout, i walked another mile around the soccer field.

Tuesday: Managed to get myself up early, and i’m glad i did.  70 degree weather was pretty nice.  I was pretty slow, but i’m just glad i got these 3 miles in.

Wednesday: I got to the gym for the Step aerobics class and realized i had forgotten my sports bra.  I hate that - you get all motivated and physically transport yourself from sitting on your ass all the way to the gym.  And then, kaput.  I didn’t make up for it.

Thursday: Didn’t have time to make up for yesterday.

Friday: 2 mile run and then Bodysculpt class.  Yay, back on track.

Saturday: I should have done something today.  Does shopping count?  My mom and i must have walked a few miles at least.

Sunday: 5+ miles around Shelley Lake.  Fall is near; i could feel it in the morning air.

Others writing the Sunday Somethings: Kerry

Something that made me happy this week: About a dozen people will be giving blood this week, who otherwise might not have, because of a speech i made in Toastmasters.  Also, two people asked me if i’ve lost weight.

Something i struggled with this week: Passive aggression.  It is wearying to deal with.

Something tasty i ate this week: Green Beans w/ Potatoes and Bacon.  It’s still an evil recipe (translation: superb), but this time i used turkey bacon instead of the Real Thing, so perhaps it was a little less evil.

Something i learned this week: If your dog is scratching, you can take it to the vet and get Magic Pills that really will work overnight.  He is a happy dog again.

Something from the bridge table: I played no bridge this week.

Some things i am doing towards my goals: Nothing specific, though my ongoing goals continue: Toastmasters, running, family.

Something i am reading: Kushiel’s Avatar by Jacqueline Carey

Something happening around the house: We are fighting mold.  Somehow one of the windows upstairs was left partially open, and the heat/humidity mixed with the air conditioning must have created the right conditions for it.  It is splotched halfway across the ceiling in that room.

Something i am thinking: We only have one TV in our home that is set up for regular use.  Sometimes i think i want to get a second one so i can watch the stuff i want to watch, especially during baseball and poker season.  But then i think about the two of us sitting hypnotized in different rooms, just so we can watch different things.

Something i am looking forward to next week: Movie night with the book club crowd.  And getting ice cream before the movie.  And Friday is the last day i have to work for ten whole days! And we get to host Lance’s family for a night.  And Ohio State plays its first football game Saturday.  And then we go to the beach!!!  This week is so exciting, i can hardly hold it in.

Something i am hoping: That the week passes quickly but vacation passes slowly.

Something random: I hate mosquitoes.

Something captured: A happy moment at home.  (I have tried to resize this picture; if it appears too large, i apologize.)

I don’t know about everyone else, but the health care debate has slightly overwhelmed me.  I haven’t been paying attention and i don’t know the details.  I do hear weird things about “death panels” and then people say it’s ridiculous that anyone would come up with that.  I hear that the government gave up on what they really wanted and are already compromising.  I hear that we have to do something because our current system is unsustainable.  I hear the right saying nothing needs to change.

Understanding the health care debate became a lot simpler when i found The Back of A Napkin.  He describes the whole thing in four simple posts, complete with pictures of napkins.  I’m sure it’s oversimplified, but it definitely gave me what i was looking for - a better grasp of what the debate is about in our country.

Napkin 1: The health care equation

Napkin 2: It’s not about health care

Napkin 3: The plans on the table

Napkin 4: What’s it mean to me?

I have a fondness for napkins.  We are constantly using them to write down bridge hands or illustrate points.  And now i’ve learned about health care from them.

Monday: Running on very little sleep, i still went to and got my ass kicked at the Bodysculpt class during lunch.  It’s basically a weight-lifting class, with the focus being on high reps at slightly lower weights than you might otherwise use.  Wore me out.

Tuesday: 3 mile run planned.  First real run in months.  Brilliant me set my alarm… for 6:30 pm.  So of course i slept until my normal 7:30 wake-up time, and i didn’t have time to run in the morning.  Instead, i went at noon, in 90 degree heat.  Other than the heat & humidity, i felt strong.  I haven’t been running lately, but i have been working out, and my breathing was mostly even and my legs never gave out.  A good first run.

Wednesday: Cross training day.  I have a step aerobics class that meets on Wednesdays, so most weeks this will be my cross training.  The instructor set the music way too fast, and i wasn’t the only one tripping over my bench trying to keep up.  Going too fast makes for a good workout, but i can’t say i enjoyed it like i usually do.

Thursday: Rest day.  Needed it.  Last night i conked out on the floor in front of the TV at about 10:15 - way earlier than my usual bedtime.

Friday: I was supposed to do a 3 mile run plus strength training.  I only had time for a 1.5 mile run before the Bodysculpt class started.  I may have felt strong Tuesday, but today i felt extremely weak.

Saturday: A run or cross-training was planned, but i did nothing.  I was quite sore from Friday’s weight-lifting class, and last night i did not “sip wisely” at the bridge party.  Plus it’s raining.  Tons of excuses = no workout for me.

Sunday: I knew i was supposed to run today, so i put in 4 miles.  It turns out the schedule calls for 5 miles.  Oh well.  At least i got out and did something.  The weather was decent - cloudy and in the upper 70s.  Still humid, but we’ll be putting up with that for at least a few more weeks.

Others writing the Sunday Somethings: Kerry

Something that made me happy this week: A text i received: “i couldn’t make it without you have a great day.”  Melt my heart!

Something i struggled with this week: Internet connections randomly dropping from the computers on our network.  The brand new computers.  I thought i had worked aroundthis problem by buying new computers.  We don’t understand it fully, and it’s not the network.

Something tasty i ate this week: Chicken, Wild Rice & Mushroom Casserole.  Better than i remembered, but it was very time-consuming to make.

Something i learned this week: How to assign static IP addresses on my home network.

Something from the bridge table: Seeing Through the Cards - (column not quite ready)

Some things i am doing towards my goals: I began training for another half-marathon.  I completed most of the workouts this week.

Something i am reading: 2004 World Bridge Championship Book: Istanbul.  Kushiel’s Chosen by Jacqueline Carey.

Something happening around the house: We “de-cluttered.”  Meaning we spent two hours doing nothing but throwing shit away and clearing off the various tabletop surfaces that serve as dumping grounds for any and everything.

Something i am thinking: I’ve noticed my fancy new camera always starts over with numbering the photos each time i download photos.  This has the potential to cause name collisions when i’m uploading photos to share with you all.  I haven’t yet looked into how to resolve this, but i’m hoping there’s an easy way.

Something i am looking forward to next week: Seeing my parents, who will be staying with us for 3 days.

Something i am hoping: To find new motivation to eat well and exercise.  It’s getting hard.  I’m in my 10th consecutive week.

Something random: Every day i try to park in a spot that will get the afternoon shade.  If i’m going to the gym in the morning, i look for a spot with morning shade and try to get a shady afternoon spot afterward.  It’s still hot inside the car, but this way i avoid the singed-lungs feeling.

Something captured: A picture of me and Lance at Emerald Point last weekend.

Dear Girl-Who-Tried-To-Ask-Me-Work-Questions-In-the-Locker-Room,

Just because we attend the same aerobics class and sweat together and you see me in the locker room does NOT give you permission to talk to me about work stuff.  When I go to the gym, it is all about ME.  It’s stress relief.  And while you may be surprised to learn it, you are a source of stress!  Yes, you!  So if you are going to talk to me, be a good girl and talk about the weather or your glutes or some other drivel but you are not allowed to talk to me about work!

Love,
podrey

Dear Guy-Who-Sent-An-UnUnderstandable-Email,

I’m so glad that i am not the only one who forgets to proofread email messages.  You sent an email that kept referring to a “he” and no one had any idea what or who you meant.  Thank you for making me feel normal, because i do this all the time.

Thanks!
podrey

Ever wonder what they really mean when someone refers to the Bible Belt?

This map originally appeared on a site called Strange Maps - click through to see their full analysis.  This map is colored by which religion has the most adherents in each county.  If you can’t read the legend:

• red = baptist
• light blue = catholic
• yellow = christian
• brown = latter-day saints
• orange = lutheran
• pink = mennonite
• green = methodist
• turquoise = reformed
• gray = other

The red swath is the Bible Belt.  Southern Baptist overload.

Against the advice of my saner self, i have signed up for another half marathon in November. The OBX Marathon and Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, November 8, and i will be there.  12 weeks of training starts today.  Along the way, i will also compete in the American Tobacco Trail 10-miler.

To be honest, i’m not sure how enthusiastic i am.  I initially signed up for this half marathon because there was a group of my bridge buddies who were all planning to do it.  We were going to rent a house for the weekend and bring the families and cheer each other on.  I was psyched, and signed up immediately.  Unfortunately, they are now all doing a golf weekend together that same weekend and can’t make it.

So, i’m going it alone.  I suppose i need to reserve a hotel room for myself since there be no big beach house rental.  Sigh.  I’m not really bitter about it.  I’m just staring down the barrel of a long training regimen and am having a hard time finding the motivation that caused me to sign up in the first place.  I seem to remember telling myself i would never have to do another half…

Snap out of it, self.

You can do this.

As i did for the 15K i ran in the spring, i am posting my training schedule.  This will mostly be a way to hold myself accountable, not because i think anyone truly cares.  I may also post a weekly log of how the workouts went that week, we’ll see how it goes.

Others writing the Sunday Somethings: Kerry

Something that made me happy this week: Girl date with Kerry!  We went to dinner, ate ice cream and saw Julie & Julia, which was cuter than i anticipated.

Something i struggled with this week: I took my car to a new service place since i fired my old one.  The customer service experience was mostly fine, but i felt like i was being sold a package of fear - here is a list of things we think you need to fix, totaling over $1K.  I was able to identify one or two things on the list that i knew had already been done, so why are they suggesting that i do this?  And yes, i’m aware that one of my tires is newer than the others, does that really mean i HAVE to replace the other three?  No thanks.  I wonder if i sent Lance in there if they would try to sell him stuff that isn’t necessary…

Something tasty i ate this week: Cold Stone Creamery ice cream.  I was introduced to the Birthday Cake flavor of ice cream - omg it tastes just like cake batter!  (i have to admit, i once actually made cake batter in order to eat the batter instead of making the cake.)

Something i learned this week: If you install the Release Candidate of Windows 7, you can have it for free until June 2010.  But in March 2010, your computer will start shutting down every two hours.  I thought this was hilarious.

Something from the bridge table: A hand from Bridge Master 2000.  Dummy: Axx xxx xx xxxxx Your Hand: Kxx AKQJT Axx Ax.  You land in 4H after you left-hand opponent oppened 2D.  The lead is the KD.  What’s your plan?  Answer: win the first or second diamond and lead your third diamond, but do not ruff.  Instead, pitch a spade.  When you get back in, pull two rounds of trump and try to ruff the third spade in dummy.   This is infinitely better than trying to ruff the diamond in dummy, when RHO will almost certainly be able to over-ruff.

Some things i am doing towards my goals: Made my own laundry detergent!  We have a nice big bucket of slime in the garage now.  We’re working on the first load of laundry using it.  By the way, you can find washing soda at Kroger.

Something i am reading: 2004 World Bridge Championship Book: Istanbul and Summer Knight by Jim Butcher.

Something happening around the house: Setting up new computers, cleaning up old ones, watching some baseball, doing some laundry.

Something i am thinking: Our culture seems to be a bit vampire-crazy right now, what with Twilight and True Blood and I am Legend and Blade.  But maybe we always have been.

Something i am looking forward to next week: Another money bridge game.  Bring it on!

Something i am hoping: That the change in diet we’re trying for the pupton will help his extreme itching of late.  Poor thing.

Something random: We went to the Wet ‘n Wild water park for a good part of the day.  The water slides are great, but my favorite part is the Lazee River.

Something captured: Nugent found an interesting tangled-up position to cuddle with me that we caught on film before he ran away from the camera.

There is 5% less of me than there used to be!

I’ve been trying the Weight Watchers thing for 8 weeks. I have to say, i am pretty proud to have stuck with it this long. The points plan, and in particular, providing me with a notebook designed to track those points, really works for me. It’s a major relief to have finally hit the 5% goal, as i’ve been flirting with it for a few weeks. WW sets two automatic initial goals of 5% and 10%. After you meet those, someone will talk with you and together you set a lifetime goal.

So. I am thrilled. And motivated to keep going. I feel healthier and have more energy. And i can see 10% just around the corner.

My parents are coming to visit next weekend. I wonder if they will notice? (-: