It Takes a Treadmill Village

Once again we braved the packed gym for my Fitness Challenge workout today.  I have never seen so many mini-vans at one place in my entire life.  And just for recording purposes, it looks like the Honda Odyssey wins over the Sienna in my neck of the woods.  Mini-vans as far as the eye can see...

I decided to jump on the treadmill for a long winters run.  Today I ran for an hour and logged 4.8 miles and burned 648 calories.  Not bad, but I could be faster.  I'm getting there little by little.

A curious thing is when I stay on a treadmill for more than 20 minutes, you get to see the treadmill styles of others around you.  I find it quite amusing.  It's a little like bird watching, except, you are one of the birds.

Some folks, we will call them the roadrunners, jump on their treadmill and ramp up the speed really fast only to jump off after 10 minutes.

Then others get right beside you and try to race you to the imaginary finish line.   You know, you speed up, they speed up, back and forth..

Then there was treadmill talker.  The entire time he talked on his cell phone on a business call as he walked briskly.  I know entirely too much about his meeting tomorrow and his holidays.

There are also readers, music boppers, and my personal favorite the treadmill grunter.  Yes, sometimes in a treadmill race, a good grunt is all you need to finish off your opponent.

Watching the village of treadmills around me provided enough entertainment to take my mind off of my own heavy feet, red face, and the sound of a little voice in my head that kept saying,  "Stop and go to the sauna, head to the sauna"....

It truly did take a treadmill village today to get me through.

Your Mama

Well, my fitness challenge is going much better.  Yesterday I did some Zumba to ring in my 45 minutes of cardio.  My 2-year-old son had fun trying some Salsa moves too.  I love Zumba and for any of you who might be thinking of a new exercise routine.  This mix of latin moves, strengthening, and dance just might be for you.

Today was a pamper mommy day.  For the first time in a long time, I had the entire morning and afternoon to do what I wanted.  The day started with a coffee and a not-so-fitness challenge-of me- chocolate croissant.  It was from Whole Foods.  Does that count as wholesome goodness?
 
From there a massage to treat my neck and shoulders which are out of whack from coughing.  It really helped me feel better and ready to tackle another day of staying healthy and on track for the fitness challenge.

Then a wonderful lunch with my hubby sans any little person asking to go to the bathroom over and over.

While cleaning out our Explorer at the car wash before carpool, I realized I couldn't find my cell phone.  My mind went to such places as to picture me throwing it away in that big communal garbage can.  Yuck.

Just then I noticed a young guy debating over which air freshener to buy and walked over and asked him if he might call my cell phone so I could locate it.  He looked at me sort of puzzled, laughed, and said, "Sure."

He called and it rang at the very bottom of what is the abyss of my purse.  I thanked him and he said, "No problem, that is just like something my Mom would do."

Whoa now, your Mama? ...and then it hit me.  He thinks I look old enough to be his mama or near about.  Oh wow.  In my minds eye, I am still looking pretty hip and happening, but who am I kidding stretch pants rarely lie.

Back to the fitness challenge and to my closet to throw away any mom jeans I might own.  Here's to good health and the occasional chocolate croissant.

New Year Fitness Challenge

 

My gym is so crowded right now.  The exercise room is filled with everyone who usually only uses the pool in the summer.  The classes so full you can barely turn to side kick and yet, I know, in just two short weeks it will thin out and return to optimal breathing room.

Why do many of us make resolutions to get healthy, but never keep them?  For many January 1st signals a call deep inside that this year things will be different.

This week I embarked on a Fitness Challenge with some of my college friends.  It gives points for exercising at least 30 minutes a day and you get points for weight loss.  Two years ago I won this friendly contest and this year isn't going as expected.

First an asthma-like coughing fit threatens to ruin my chances at the prize.  Then there's just a busy life that takes a lot just to get from Point A: school to Point B: work and then back to Point A and then maybe go to Point C and don't even get me started about Point D.

But determination prevails and plans to continue on my quest to kick some booty and lose a little booty are in effect.  Plans to continue to eat whole foods, drink more water less coffee, and exercise everyday are in reach.  (I really love coffee, this could be hard) 

As parents we owe ourselves and our families a healthy parental unit full of energy and ready to take on what our days of the new year have to offer.

Bring it on 2011! Who's with me?
  

Oh Holy Fight

I love the song Oh Holy Night. It is absolutely one of my favorite Christmas songs. My good friend Carol sang this song at our December wedding in 1998.  It just brings back such wonderful memories for me.

Now, I have a new memory.
Today my five year old decided to change the words to Oh Holy Fight.  Here's his new rendition.

 
Oh Holy fight
The stars are bright and tooting
It is the night of a night to fight

Long lay a girl
She fights to fight a Power Ranger
The red one, a Power Ranger and Santa too.


This boy song has not ruined my favorite carol, but how did we get from Oh Holy Night to include a Power Ranger, Santa, and they all fight it out?

I will never completely know.  This is my world.

General Sideburns

This is who we sent to school today.  His name is General Ambrose Everett Burnside and, yes, he is quite imposing. 

My Hubby Bee did a great job creating Burnside's outfit and famous facial hair.  (Yes, hubby is the one who uses the sewing machine and he uses it well.)

The thing about General Burnside, as Union Civil War generals go, he was sort of, well, so so.  My little guy wanted him to be grander.  I explained we really couldn't rewrite history and Burnside is what he drew from the hat.

While researching old Burnside we came upon some fun facts about this man.  He was known for his interesting facial hair.  His muttonchops did battle with every other muttonchops and so the term "sideburns" was born.  It really was quite the impressive facial hair.

But this man who someone noted had a "bigger heart than head for leading a great army" was kind, compassionate, and rather congenial.  Not exactly what Lincoln may have needed in the Battle of Fredericksburg.  But his kindly demeanor served him well as the Governor of Rhode Island and later a U.S. Senator.

Even though historians have Burnside down as one of the failing Union Generals, he did not fail in life.  One account of his funeral said it was one of the grandest shows of respect for any Rhode Island citizen.  Now there's the grandeur.  Plus, those sideburns were awesome.

Elf on the Shelf

He knows when you've been sleeping, he knows when you're awake...

So the song goes, but some children do wonder how Santa monitors their behavior, especially when it's down to the wire. So some families have enlisted the help of a little pixie-elf who shows up usually after Thanksgiving to watch the naughty and niceness of the household. 

Well our little elf is back this year and I wanted to share again the story of how this popular Christmas tradition got started for many families across the country and the world.

You see this at the stores as a kit called The Elf on the Shelf 

Read the rest of the story >>

"Thankfuls" for Thanksgiving

As we wind down our Thanksgiving celebrations, one can't help but feel extremely blessed for family and friends.  We trekked to Tennessee for Thanksgiving this year and when I say trekked, I mean it.

When you have three boys, a large dog, and two adults in a Ford Explorer, you kind of feel a little on safari, wild animal noises and all....

We were blessed to see both sides of grandparents and to see high school and college friends this time around.  What a wonderful time of laughter, story telling, and sweet comfort that comes with common ground.

It doesn't matter how much time has passed, true friendships always pick up right where they left off.

We missed some of our family who could not be with us this Thanksgiving.  Some who live far away and those who have left us for another place.

The memories of loved ones lost always seem to be freshest at the holidays, no matter how long since the passing.  Their presence is felt in little things like a photo or a favorite tradition. 

As I put away my scarecrows and harvest decorations this morning with help from my littlest blessings, I could not help but wonder how they will count their "thankfuls" when they get older.  As my five year old stated, "I have many "thankfuls"  mommy, and I have to count them all this week."

I count my "thankfuls" abundantly.

No matter what is going on in the world or how hectic daily life may be, what is most important is not just in front, but beside and behind, nudging us to make the most of opportunities to revel in abundance, be blessed, and count those "thankfuls".

No worries if the trek to get there is a little bumpy, noisy. and tinged with a faint smell of dog breath.  I count myself thankful and hold on for the safari ride.