Lurker Invitation September 2009

[Shadowpup]

Good morning, all, and welcome back Shoegal! I do remember now that you were going to be on vacation. Kind of lost track of when. Sometimes we all need those vacations when we're just plain having fun! Just consider it an "active rest week" And, please do post those waterfall pictures. The whole area sounds really nice, especially being able to bring the pups along for hiking.

All, yesterday was mostly alternating sleeping, planting, and I did do Insanity rather than STS. Couldn't get my printer to print the workout card, and it was getting to be 40 minutes til dinner ... so I grabbed Insanity Pure Cardio as being my most intense calorie burner that wouldn't get in the way of a back/chest workout tonight. It was great! I was exhausted going in, and exhausted going out, with many calories burned to a crisp in the middle. No horse riding, alas. Too cold for that, but perfect for bulb planting. I'm now at 1531 in the ground, more 660 neatly inventoried and waiting in the garage, and literally thousands in boxes being shipped towards my home. It's a race! Will I get them all in the ground before the snow? Will the ground be soft enough to dig in the spots I've planned? Do I remember all the spots I've planned ... ???? And will I get STS finished up, so as to shift back to the shorter workouts that fit better while I'm doing BulbMax2009 ?

And, we learned that my DH did well in our local county fair! He won People's Choice in the brisket bbq contest, the okra and pattypan squash got blue ribbons, and the birdhouse gourd got a red. He did great!

Hi to all and more personals later; it's a work day, planting day, and a getting caught up at home day

 

[MDolfiniReed]

It's good to have everyone back again.

I've been doing Cathe's Circuit City rotation from Sept 2007. This morning was MIC--ugh. I did a modified MIC--no hi/lo aerobics, only the step and blast. It's still 43 minutes of very intense stepping and I swear I was as sweaty as if I'd done the whole thing.

Shoegal: sounds like a great vacation and you all had some really good weather. Wind can make boating more exciting that you want it to be, that is for sure. DH and I have gotten caught in the Chesapeake Bay in some real blows. We try not to do that but sometimes it happens. There have been many times when we've turned back to the dock because of the wind. Safety first.

Shadowpup: I agree, you are definitely our energizer bunny. You must have 36 hour days where you live. The county fair sounds like fun. I haven't been to a county fair of the state fair since I was a little girl. Always enjoyed those. Somehow, I don't think I could convince my DH to go with me.

Janie: as long as you had fun, so what if you didn't catch any fish. Sounds like you learned some new things about fishing and to me that's what makes life interesting: learning.

Joe is doing better. He says his leg doesn't ache like before, although it still seems very red to me. The swelling is not as much as before either. Of course, the wrist is still on the mend. He sees the orthopedic doc again tomorrow.

~michelle

 

[janiejoey]

All, yesterday was mostly alternating sleeping, planting, and I did do Insanity rather than STS. Couldn't get my printer to print the workout card, and it was getting to be 40 minutes til dinner ... so I grabbed Insanity Pure Cardio as being my most intense calorie burner that wouldn't get in the way of a back/chest workout tonight. It was great! I was exhausted going in, and exhausted going out, with many calories burned to a crisp in the middle. No horse riding, alas. Too cold for that, but perfect for bulb planting. I'm now at 1531 in the ground, more 660 neatly inventoried and waiting in the garage, and literally thousands in boxes being shipped towards my home. It's a race! Will I get them all in the ground before the snow? Will the ground be soft enough to dig in the spots I've planned? Do I remember all the spots I've planned ... ???? And will I get STS finished up, so as to shift back to the shorter workouts that fit better while I'm doing BulbMax2009 ?

And, we learned that my DH did well in our local county fair! He won People's Choice in the brisket bbq contest, the okra and pattypan squash got blue ribbons, and the birdhouse gourd got a red. He did great!

Hi to all and more personals later; it's a work day, planting day, and a getting caught up at home day

Deborah, You must be feeling much better with all the work you are doing. The race between the bulbs and snow. Thinking the bulbs will win out. You are one determined woman. I can't imagine any other outcome.LOL Ah, the local fair. I would love to see pictures of the gourd birdhouses. He must be so proud of his accomplishments at the fair. That is so cool. Enjoy home!

It's good to have everyone back again.

I've been doing Cathe's Circuit City rotation from Sept 2007. This morning was MIC--ugh. I did a modified MIC--no hi/lo aerobics, only the step and blast. It's still 43 minutes of very intense stepping and I swear I was as sweaty as if I'd done the whole thing.

Janie: as long as you had fun, so what if you didn't catch any fish. Sounds like you learned some new things about fishing and to me that's what makes life interesting: learning.

Joe is doing better. He says his leg doesn't ache like before, although it still seems very red to me. The swelling is not as much as before either. Of course, the wrist is still on the mend. He sees the orthopedic doc again tomorrow. ~michelle

Michelle, Congratulations on MIC. Very tough workout, you did great. Sounds like Joe is doing much better. Thank God! I think if the swelling is down, it means it is healing. Did the doctors ever figure out exactly what was causing that? Let us know how things go after the orthopedic doc sees him.

To All:

I did have fun trying to catch a fish and you are right, I learned a lot in one day about fishing in the river.

When I first got there, there were nets set every so far from each other all the way up and down in the river. I found out that the Indians have the right to do this. Anglers, like myself couldn't fish 100 feet from these nets.

The Indians had a great technique on how to get the fish into their nets. They would use a power motored dingy and go on the sides of the river and pound on the boat and shout to scare the fish into the nets. Then they would leave and come back every two hours and inside their nets were about 10 fish. Then they would repeat that process throughout the day. There was always one person that stood on the bank while the other person checked the nets. WOW!

I had the opportunity to talk with them and learned what kinds of fish are in the river. These fish were huge! Salmon of course, steel head...all about 12 to 15 pounds each.

An hour before I left the river, I also met a few people going by me as I was telling them that I was here all day long and didn't once have a nibble. They looked at my set up and made all kinds of modifications. Gave me some much needed things/advice and left me on my merry way to continue fishing. I gave up after about 7 hours. However I decided to go again the next day with my new set up. Pole in hand with added new stuff from a stop at Walmart, and off I went again.

I found my new friends there while they were taking the fish out of the nets. Same guy there on the bank as before. But this time I realized it was a woman taking the fish out of the net. Said hi to the man on the bank, jabbered a bit and walked down the river in my favorite spot, 100 feet away from the net. The guy also looked at my rig and gave his approval.

While I was fishing and when they were done collecting their fish , they asked me to come over. I did, and they gave me this 12 pound male salmon. I thanked them profusely, for I thought I would never catch one anyway. We talked a little more and away I went to my spot on the river and used my stringer to put the fish onto and hold the fish in place. Soon the woman came to me and gave me a slip of paper with writing on it. "1 King Salmon male about 12 lbs given to by Skokomish tribal member Jennifer Williams." She said the limit for me is two, but with this salmon and the note, I, myself can catch two with the addition of this one. That was so kind of them.

I'm going to try to get her address and give her a thank you note and perhaps a book marker I crocheted, to thank her one more time. It was so generous and kind of them to do that. I had a warm heart from that simple act.

While I was still fishing, the Indians left. The fish was dead and was fresh for now, but I thought about going home to get it into the fridge before too long. So, I did go home. On the way I saw all these fisherman on the bank looking down off the semi cliff watching the process of the Indians collecting their fish. The anglers were not happy at all. They said it was a depressing year and they were upset because no one can catch their limit of fish, let alone have a chance to fish with all the nets and sound effects.

I then realized why there was a lone person on the bank of the river while the other person would collect the fish. He was a kinda guard to protect the collector of fish. I understand that there are treaties and I think this might be one of them. Of course it changes every year, and the anglers say that maybe next year will be a better year for anglers.

Anyway, I decided no more fishing for me this year or perhaps at this time. Felt the tension in the air (when I realized what was happening) and I don't want to be in the middle of it. Although I did have a great time, and met very interesting people. I do wish people could get along, I just loved what I learned so far, and was yearning for more.

Well, I've got to pack up for the ocean. We'll leave early tomorrow. Want to clean a little in the house, so when I get home, things at least are put away and semi clean. I can't wait to bring home massage stones as big and probably bigger than my fists. YEAH!

I'll check in later today to see how ya all doing.

Janie

 

[Shoegal]

Yesterday evening - decided to do all cardio - and did PowerMax for the first time!! Liked it a lot - lots of power in that step routine. The arm motion makes me tired though - not sure if tired is the word - I think step has evolved and instructors (Cathe included) don't worry too much about making the arms do something unique or supposedly fun with every step and I prefer that. I don't want to clap either. I was mucho sweaty afterwards. My DH went to bed early since he was going to travel today - but I stayed up and enjoyed just being home.

Shadowpup - glad you got over the flu - and I see you are on a major bulb planting rotation. Hope that goes well. I can't imagine planting that many - you must have a system. My problem with the bulbs is that they don't die quick enough - I want to plant my annuals or the canna bulbs and the spring ones are still hanging around. I bet it is gorgeous there when it all comes up - definitley jealous of that. And congrats to your husband on winning all those awards - you aren't the only talented person in the family I see.

Michelle - So glad that Joe seems to be doing better - my goodness- that was quite an ordeal. I hope that wrist heals up quickly and everything heals with no more complications (including that bruise) so you don't have to worry anymore. You both seem to be very proactive with your medical care - and that is a very good thing. Good job on MIC - I'm curious as to why to skipped the hi/lo??? I have to tell you that when I did that workout I found it extremely tedious to do that portion. I used to be big into hi/lo - did all of Kari Anderson's workouts like that and loved them - it felt like dancing to me then. Now - I can't stand it. How things change!!!

Janie - wonderful story about the fish and the Indians - sounds as if you had a fantastic time. Meeting new people and learning new things - can't beat that - especially in something that you are interested in. You certainly put your time in - 7 HOURS - WOW!! That salmon sounds really good - got a good recipe for that??? Did you go alone or did Joey come along too? Well - have a great time at the ocean -hope you come back with another great story.

Laura - Sounds like you are doing extremely well with P90x - what is the fitness test like - is that on the DVDs or was that in some of the paperwork??? The last time I did Drill Max I thought it was super tough - you are in better shape than me. I have lost a lot of strength I think and cardio capacity (too much vacation). I recall you saying somewhere that you don't need weights for P90x - or was that just the arm portion where you do all those push ups and chin ups?

They put the marker on my father's gravesite. I went to see it yesterday and to put some fresh roses there. Seeing his name - well - can't describe how that felt. It was too real to see it - I don't really didn't want to see proof that this actually happened.

Well - not sure what I will do tonight - I will check the rotation - but what a lousy job I've done at it this month - I'm getting back into things now and am looking forward to long consistent workout weeks.

 

[janiejoey]

Yesterday evening - decided to do all cardio - and did PowerMax for the first time!! Liked it a lot - lots of power in that step routine. The arm motion makes me tired though - not sure if tired is the word - I think step has evolved and instructors (Cathe included) don't worry too much about making the arms do something unique or supposedly fun with every step and I prefer that. I don't want to clap either. I was mucho sweaty afterwards. My DH went to bed early since he was going to travel today - but I stayed up and enjoyed just being home.

Janie - wonderful story about the fish and the Indians - sounds as if you had a fantastic time. Meeting new people and learning new things - can't beat that - especially in something that you are interested in. You certainly put your time in - 7 HOURS - WOW!! That salmon sounds really good - got a good recipe for that??? Did you go alone or did Joey come along too? Well - have a great time at the ocean -hope you come back with another great story.

They put the marker on my father's gravesite. I went to see it yesterday and to put some fresh roses there. Seeing his name - well - can't describe how that felt. It was too real to see it - I don't really didn't want to see proof that this actually happened.

Well - not sure what I will do tonight - I will check the rotation - but what a lousy job I've done at it this month - I'm getting back into things now and am looking forward to long consistent workout weeks.

Shoegal, Sounds like your workout was a good one. Love PowerMax! Big time sweat fest for me too. I'm looking for some long consistence workout my self. Much needed.

There is enough food from the fish for us for 5 meals. It was heaven. Just put lemon on it and roasted it. Delicious! I was by myself fishing, just me and my pole. Didn't feel threatened at all while fishing.

I have loved ones that are gone: 4 sets of grandparents, and a brother. Don't know what I'll feel when my parents pass. Don't even want to think about that right now. Too sad. I feel for you and you have lots of (((hugs))) your way. Do take care.

Janie

 

[Shadowpup]

Deborah, You must be feeling much better with all the work you are doing. The race between the bulbs and snow. Thinking the bulbs will win out. You are one determined woman. I can't imagine any other outcome.LOL Ah, the local fair. I would love to see pictures of the gourd birdhouses. He must be so proud of his accomplishments at the fair. That is so cool. Enjoy home!


I did have fun trying to catch a fish and you are right, I learned a lot in one day about fishing in the river.

When I first got there, there were nets set every so far from each other all the way up and down in the river. I found out that the Indians have the right to do this. Anglers, like myself couldn't fish 100 feet from these nets.

The Indians had a great technique on how to get the fish into their nets. They would use a power motored dingy and go on the sides of the river and pound on the boat and shout to scare the fish into the nets. Then they would leave and come back every two hours and inside their nets were about 10 fish. Then they would repeat that process throughout the day. There was always one person that stood on the bank while the other person checked the nets. WOW!

I had the opportunity to talk with them and learned what kinds of fish are in the river. These fish were huge! Salmon of course, steel head...all about 12 to 15 pounds each.

An hour before I left the river, I also met a few people going by me as I was telling them that I was here all day long and didn't once have a nibble. They looked at my set up and made all kinds of modifications. Gave me some much needed things/advice and left me on my merry way to continue fishing. I gave up after about 7 hours. However I decided to go again the next day with my new set up. Pole in hand with added new stuff from a stop at Walmart, and off I went again.

I found my new friends there while they were taking the fish out of the nets. Same guy there on the bank as before. But this time I realized it was a woman taking the fish out of the net. Said hi to the man on the bank, jabbered a bit and walked down the river in my favorite spot, 100 feet away from the net. The guy also looked at my rig and gave his approval.

While I was fishing and when they were done collecting their fish , they asked me to come over. I did, and they gave me this 12 pound male salmon. I thanked them profusely, for I thought I would never catch one anyway. We talked a little more and away I went to my spot on the river and used my stringer to put the fish onto and hold the fish in place. Soon the woman came to me and gave me a slip of paper with writing on it. "1 King Salmon male about 12 lbs given to by Skokomish tribal member Jennifer Williams." She said the limit for me is two, but with this salmon and the note, I, myself can catch two with the addition of this one. That was so kind of them.

I'm going to try to get her address and give her a thank you note and perhaps a book marker I crocheted, to thank her one more time. It was so generous and kind of them to do that. I had a warm heart from that simple act.

While I was still fishing, the Indians left. The fish was dead and was fresh for now, but I thought about going home to get it into the fridge before too long. So, I did go home. On the way I saw all these fisherman on the bank looking down off the semi cliff watching the process of the Indians collecting their fish. The anglers were not happy at all. They said it was a depressing year and they were upset because no one can catch their limit of fish, let alone have a chance to fish with all the nets and sound effects.

I then realized why there was a lone person on the bank of the river while the other person would collect the fish. He was a kinda guard to protect the collector of fish. I understand that there are treaties and I think this might be one of them. Of course it changes every year, and the anglers say that maybe next year will be a better year for anglers.

Anyway, I decided no more fishing for me this year or perhaps at this time. Felt the tension in the air (when I realized what was happening) and I don't want to be in the middle of it. Although I did have a great time, and met very interesting people. I do wish people could get along, I just loved what I learned so far, and was yearning for more.

Well, I've got to pack up for the ocean. We'll leave early tomorrow. Want to clean a little in the house, so when I get home, things at least are put away and semi clean. I can't wait to bring home massage stones as big and probably bigger than my fists. YEAH!

I'll check in later today to see how ya all doing.

Janie

Hi Janie, I'm off to BulbMax, but wanted to say hi before you leave. What a day you had! Thanks for sharing. I'd heard about the tensions between the tribe fishers and local fishers, but not from anyone who had been part of of the fishing crowd. It is so difficult to balance the needs and desires of all.

Overall, it sounds like many of those present were trying hard to be polite and helpful to newcomers. What a nice gift of an extra fish, and permission to continue to seek more. Although, Janie, I have a feeling that your kind spirit and genuine enthusiasm tends to attract the same from those around you ... just my guess. I'm glad you learned what you did, and enjoyed as much as you can, and probably I'd've decided not to try for too many days in a row once the tensions were clearer.

Enjoy your next trip, and we'll look forward to hearing all about it

Hi to everyone else and more later, after I get the day's quota in the ground!

 

[ladubose]

Good Evening Everyone,
Didn't have a chance to post yesterday, but I did do a work out. I taught my pilates class in the morning, had a private at the yurt, and didn't have my usual Monday night class as the Rec. Center was closed an extra day from their week long annual maintenance, due to some problems with the floor refinishing in the gym. So I thought I would do Kick Max. I had some wierd memory of it being 'easy' and I had not liked it as much as the 4 DS kick boxing or K,P, & C from the Body Blast series. I don't know what I was thinking! The boot camp portion felt real tough yesterday! Maybe it was because I had done Drill Max the day before? Anyway I enjoyed it a lot more this time, maybe being more familiar with it helped as well. Those leg drills at the end were hard!

Today I taught my Pilates class, did P90X Chest and Back, Ab Ripper X and a 20 minute run on the treadmill to throw in some Cardio!

Shoegal: welcome home! I remember you saying you were going on vacation but it seemed so long ago! Sounds like my kind of trip, vineyards, boating, hiking, friends! Nice! Please post photos and good job getting back in the saddle! Shadowpup is right, count it as an active rest week and you might find your strength, endurance have improved because of it.

Michelle. MIC is Maximum Intensity Cardio right? Well that just says it all about that DVD if it is called that by Cathe! I can't even imagine. Yes Drill Max is hard but not undoable and not as hard as I was imagining! I had really set that one up in my mind, as I find the other two bootcamp styles I have of Cathe's as pretty darn challenging. In someways I do think the Drills are easier in Drill Max, but the over all workout is longer and requires more endurance in that sense. I am glad that you and Joe were so ontop of his injuries and caught the infection before it spread further. Do they know how he go the infection?

Janie: lovely story about your time on the river, and you discovered so much out about fishing, not just the technique but in a sense the politics of Salmon fishing. I have a back ground in environmental studies and these types of situations are such a quadmire...I agree that your loving, energetic, and inquiring nature enable you to connect with all types of people! A true gift!

So I finally got my own copy of the full P90X and I am trying to see how I can work the full program into my complicated and busy schedule. I am not sure how that will work. I may have to modify big time, especially the days I am in Boulder, unless I can find a place to workout down there where I can pop in a DVD...

 

[ladubose]

Shadowpup! I didn't mean to leave you out! I am glad you are on the mend!
It is wicked cold here and still snowing, the weather is calling for another 6-12 inches all the way down to 6,800 feet! Although we normally get one snow in September it is usually a few inches and then melts the next day, then we get a nice long Indian Summer sometimes all the way until Thanksgiving. So this is unusual, especially the cold! I hope you get those babies in the ground! That is quit the undertaking, you and your husband do so many things! Does he work as well? Are you on the tail end of STS Meso cycle 3?

 

[MDolfiniReed]

This morning was weights and step #2 (SJP and Step Blast) premix from the Step, Jump, and Pump and Step Blast dvd. 61 minutes of sweat and fun. On this premix, Cathe combines the weight work from SJP with Step Blast. After the warmup, you start off with weight work, the the first routine from Step Blast, then more weight work, and then the Blast Challenge, ab work, and cool down. Doing the Blast Challenge without going through each routine first is well, a real challenge. I managed, kept messing up on the 2nd routine but kept pushing through. It's a good premix and I tend not to do the premixes so I was glad Cathe had one on the Circuit City rotation that I'm doing (it's from Sept 2007).

Shoegal: Love Powermax here too. All those cardio hits workouts are alot of fun. I just did the step portion of MIC, because hi/low aerobics is very hard on my achilles tendons. I'm still feeling my right achilles tendon a little from when I did MIC last month with the hi/lo and I've decided no more hi/lo for me. Just not worth the hurt. Speaking of hurt--visiting the gravesite of a parent or other close family member for the first time or two after the funeral may indeed be the hardest part of the loss. Somehow, I think the funeral process, while it lets you grieve, also separates you from the finality of what has happened. I don't know--big hug to you.

Laura: I heard on the news that someplace in the U.S. is getting snow. Guess you are where that "someplace" is. I can't imagine snow in September. We are still experiencing summerlike weather here in Virginia, with sprinkles of transitioning to fall.

Shadowpup: I hope you haven't dug yourself into a hole with your bulbs and that you are feeling better.
~michelle

 

[Shoegal]

Last night - I pulled out my fall decor - and got immersed in it - how did I get so much stuff!!! So the evening got away from me and I finally go in to exercise and then decided that I would decompress a little by watching a smidge of tv - big mistake - I got immersed in a movie. It wasn't even good - but I kept watching . . . and after awhile I felt that I invested this much time I might as well stick around to see the end. Then I decided that it was too late for a really long workout -(10pm) and I should do something short or maybe I could just skip it. Then I thought - I don't want to report that I did nothing on here. So this forum does it's job. I am reporting that I did HSC (the 51 minute pre mix). This workout has always been one of my favorites - the time flew by and I was again a total sweaty mess. It think I am sweating more now that ever before. Tonight 4DS: KB is on the rotation - the last time I attempted to do this I threw my back out so I'm a little leery plus you all know I'm not a big KB fan.

Michelle - It is very wise of you to avoid hi/lo to prevent further wear & tear on your achilles. Last night in HSC when we hinge forward to do rows I was very cautious or I just simply didn't do it. I, like you, didn't want to risk the hurt - it is best to modify. Your Step Blast/ SJP premix sounded fabulous - makes me want to ditch KB for it.

Laura - WHAT???!!?! Snow - I can't believe it. W. PA has been unusually mild this summer - hardly any 90 degree days and I'm concerned that our autumn won't be as warm as well. On the bright side I am thinking that you probably have a fabulous winter wardrobe.

Shadowpup: How is bulbmax going???

Janie - you take care too - I wish I had your capacity for strength. You are so optimistic about everything - I find it rubs off on me. I was just thinking that last night. I have to be confident that I will acheive my goals - that it will all come together in time.

Ok - well - gotta go. I am on my DH about overhauling the bathroom downstairs - nothing major - but everything is such a project. At first it was just paint - now it is a new light fixtures, moving the medicine cabinet - new towel bars - doing all the little things that weren't done before when it was originally put in - so let's see how that goes.

 

[Shadowpup]

Hi all, long day, but I didn't want to skip the check in!

I did get STS in today, feeling better though not 100 percent yet. It's my next to last in Meso 3, week 4. I decided to do biceps/shoulders/triceps today, and save Legs for last. It's been a great series and I am sorry to see it ending, in a way, but it will be easier to have the option of shorter workouts for awhile ...

BulbMax is going well. I did my rotation yesterday and today. I may have a day of 'active rest', because I actually got the 3000 that have arrived so far all in the ground. But ... my email tells me that over 150 pounds of bulbs have now been put into packages with my name on them, and they are headed here ... so tomorrow there may be inventory again. Do you know how many crocuses and muscari it takes to make 150 pounds??? I do, and I wish I didn't Anyway, cross fingers for me that the shipments won't come until Friday or Saturday; my horses miss me and I would also like to rest my back up a day before STS Legs

Laura, snow???? Amazing! Even we do not have snow yet, and it's actually gotten quite pleasantly warm. DH retired last year, and so he has much more time now. Of course, he immediately became active in the community, doing enough for both of us, which is nice on the one hand but I am not sure he works less now than he did before... Yep, finishing off that STS! One more to go. I see you're enjoying P90x; you are inspiring me to attempt a rotation of that after STS and Insanity!

Shoegal, I bet your place looks great! I have not even thought of decorating. Those house projects do tend to snowball, don't they! But, I bet you'll enjoy the new features once they are done and you no longer have the hammers, screwdrivers, bottles of glue, laser-levels, or whatever your DH chooses to keep around for in-progress building activities.

Michelle, I might not have dug myself into a hole, but I dug myself into a bank of sand bees! That's a first. It was pretty amazing, how the cloud of them swarmed on up with a tremendously angry buzz. Fortunately only one managed to get a sting in, considering I put a shovel through the middle of their home!

Janie, I'm guessing you're busily packing and maybe even gone - have a terrific time! Take pictures!

And Ironlady, hello where-ever you are; hope all is well with you, and DD Bet you are also suffering under the government fiscal year end. It will be nice when it's over, next week, that's for sure.

 

[MDolfiniReed]

I don't know how you guys manage to get so much done in one day. I'm still pretty sure that somehow Shadowpup has managed to stretch a 24 hour day to 36. Not sure how she does that. I'm feeling right now like I can barely keep up with work and the bare minimum at home (walking Ripken, exercise, helping Joe, cleaning, sleep). Guess that's life. This morning was Rhythmic Step. It was nice to do a workout that I'm very familiar with. This is one on my favorites and always a good workout.

Shoegal: let us know how long it takes to redo your bathroom and what you guys are doing. I have problems just with a paint job. Can't imagine a major redo. I'm assuming HSC was high step circuit since it was 51 minutes. It's a good even paced workout--kick up the weights a little and it works you a little more.

Hope everyone has a super day.
~michelle

 

[Shoegal]

Well - last night I put on 4DS- KB - and a positive attitude. I tried doing all the KB moves to the best of my ability w/o worrying how I looked doing it and putting as much energy as I could into the workout. I discovered to my shame and horror - that I was actually sore from my HSC (that was High Step Challenge - it was a timesaver premix that I did) workout that I did the night before. It was a good thing (I think I'm channeling Martha Stewart ). So my back didn't go out and I was pleasently surprised at how much I didn't dislike (double negative here) it.

I'm not sure what I am supposed to do this evening - I'll have to let you know. Right now I have to run out to the Home Improvement store to pick up items for the bathroom - it isn't major (although DH has turned it into an even more elaborate redo than I had envisioned.) We are painting, getting rid of the old towel bar (I use this term loosely - it is actually an old handrail for stairs he had converted into one - it is super long and I think looks ridiculous), moving the medicine cabinet - new towel bars, new tp holder - new light fixture - finishing off the ceiling - I'll have to explain later.

Hope everyone has a great day - and Hi to you all out there.

 

[ladubose]

Quick Post here and then I am out the door to teach Ski Conditioning....I seem to be able to only post every other day right now...

Yesterday I was in Boulder running errands for my girls 9th Birthday today!! How has 9 years gone be so fast? I am so happy and such a proud mom! Than back up the mountain where I had just enough time to do my P90X Plyometrics DVD before my Pilates class, it was lots of fun, I really liked that workout the best so far. After all the Cathe DVD's I felt like I was able to hang with Tony for this and really work the workout!


We had presents this morning with Breakfast and than I ran them down to school, rushed back up the mountain and met with that weight loss support group, than off to teach my Pilates class.


Michelle: that premix sounds really. really good. I like both Step Blast and S,J, P so I will have to remember that one for the future. I hear you on feeling like you are barely keeping up on the have to's same for me, just trying not to drop any balls everyday!

Shoegal: remodeling how fun! And lots of work! I eventually want to redo our downstairs to make it feel more period to the home, 1850's but I have a really special hummingbird painted sink in mind that sits on top of a cabinet in a basin that is a pretty penny in and of itself, so right now it is a dream...
Good job on those workouts. I love 4DS KB it is one of my favorites if I am short on time and want a little cardio action

Shadowpup: Well girl it will be worth it once it is all done! Are you going to have us all over for a retreat, a little horseback riding, hiking, the likes while the fruits of you labor are in bloom?? I guess I will be content with photos, but can't wait to next spring to see them. Do you need new bulbs every year? Don't they rebloom? So what are you going to do after STS? My plan is 90 days of P90x than in Jan. doing a 6 month STS and Shock Cardio rotation, that will take me through next summer! Hard to believe..

 

[Shadowpup]

Hi all,

Well, today was another busy one! Work was hectic, but not terrible, and I started earlier and ended on time, for a more normal workday. And no bulbs arrived! If none come by Saturday, I'll be sad, of course ... but since this is an active rest day, I used the evening for fun things. Harvested a tub full of plums and practiced making fruit rolls and prunes in my dehydrator. In 24-36 hours we'll discover if I did it right

Took my kid horse out - Sierra, the one who fears ducks. I'd thought to take one of the others ... but what happened was this. I walked towards the stable at the usual time. The older two horses just stood around at the top of their hill and watched. I've been digging bulbs and not riding all week, and it's pretty hot now, so they've taken to finding a good place where they can eat grass and watch me at the same time. Sierra is an optimist, though, and he came cavorting down the hill to the gate. He's been doing that all week, and looking really disappointed when he figures out that I've only got a pat and an apple, and not a halter to take him out.

And I thought ... well, all that determination deserves a reward ...

So I opened up the gate between paddocks, buckled the halter on, and we slipped out before the others could crowd around us.

You should have seen the looks on all of those faces! The two left behind were incredulous. If horse jaws could drop, that's what they did. Eyes were definitely bugging out. They were absolutely aghast at having been left behind. Sierra, on the other hand, was delighted. He very carefully walked next to me like a perfect angel - or, maybe more like Dennis the Menace on his best behavior.

We had a nice ride, though it was variable. Sierra was alternately being on his absolute best behavior, and jumping around when we'd go near something interesting. On the plus side, he decided that riding past the wild apple tree was fun, since we stopped to test the apples for ripeness (they were almost but not quite ready). On the minus side, he decided that deer probably ate horses, and since the deer are so used to me now they did not run far enough away to make him comfortable, poor boy, and were usually somewhere watching us. That might be why he was so jumpy. The owl, he thought was fine, which was puzzling to me. The quail - those were bad news. We had a lot of leaping when those flew up in our face. Still, both of us had fun

Picante took out his frustration by chasing my poor quarterhorse Atreides all of the pasture, herding him from corner to corner and periodically neighing his complaints to the world. I could hear him half a mile away. They'll get their turn tomorrow or Saturday.


Michelle, if I could add another twelve hours to the day, I could certainly use them! It would be a nice trick. But you get a considerable amount done yourself! Boating, time with your niece, all those workouts which you do even ON THE WATER, your busy job - which I'm guessing has the same hectic feel right now that mine does with the fiscal year closing soon, caring for your DH just now ... you must be exhausted, honestly, and I don't see how a person could do more. Speaking of workouts, that Circuit City you devised is really something! How are you liking the circuit approach as opposed to separating the cardio and strength training?

Shoegal, we are always in the middle of remodelling projects, so I feel your pain (and excitement). This one sounds like quite the production, bet it will be gorgeous ... And, glad you liked 4DS KB. How did you like those leaping power kicks? I fell the first time I tried that but it is fun now. And we are all waiting to hear about your ceiling ... I have visions of a big hole, waiting for a light fixture ... but maybe you are panelling it? And ((hugs)) to you also, visiting your father's gravesite ... so hard that must be.

Laura, congratulations on the girls' birthdays! Nine - a neat milestone. They are such cute kids. I hope your whole family had a great time tonight celebrating. My next rotation, I'm not sure yet. Probably I need to do a bridge rotation of some kind, and I'm half serious about doing something novel involving my bosu for balance, barre for lower body, trx or kettlebells for upper body, and Insanity for cardio. That's probably good for two weeks. I have never done P90X as a full rotation, and could do a virtual part-rotation with you if you're still on it for awhile? After that ... STS over the holidays, perhaps one of those undulating rotations on the STS forum. Might as well put those extra calories to work building muscle, eh? Perhaps we can connect on the STS part if P90X doesn't synchronize.

It *would* be fun to have all of you visit - we could pick daffodils, share dvds, and the horses would have be delighted! But at least I will post pictures. And yes, these are the reblooming kind, and they naturalize/spread too. It's just that there is a lot of space in the seventeen acres of woods and I have this vision in my head of daffodils and crocuses and hyacinths and other flowers coming up around the paths, the trees, all in amongst the wildflowers. Can't seem to shake it, and so I order thousands of bulbs in the spring, forgetting how much work it is; start enthusiastically planting in the fall, get to the point where I wonder WHAT on EARTH I have done (that's right now), and then finish it off, and wait to enjoy the flowers. I have been doing this since 2002.

Hi to IronLady, and good vibes to Janie as you travel!

 

[MDolfiniReed]

Good morning everyone! Today is a rest day for me, although it sure doesn't feel that way. Up at 4am, left the house a little after 5am, at work at 6am for a morning meeting at the Pentagon. So, where's my rest--that's what I want to know?

Shadowpup: love your horse stories. Your big 4-legged animals are like big pups--going for a horse ride definitely seems to be the equivalent of a walkabout for Ripken. It would be great if we could all get together some day. You just never know. The circuits have been fun. I think I sweat more on the circuit training, quite frankly. They go faster so you can't lift at your max. I'm interested to see how I'll feel doing gymstyle or S&H after a month of circuit training. But, the rotation has been really good and I did some workouts I hadn't done before (bootcamp for example, which I really liked). If you want to give it a go, it is the Sept 2007 Cathe rotation posted under the library of Cathe rotations on the rotation forum.

Shoegal: I thought you always had a positive attitude when you exercise? HS Challenge--not high step circuit--have to look at that premix. I like those HS workouts. What color is the bathroom going to be?

Laura: Up the mountain, down the mountain, up the mountain, down the mountain--I guess in Colorado that's the way things are when you are out and about. Ahhh, 9 years old--still young and sweet. No text messaging. My sense is that you provide a very balanced environment for your girls and don't have the technology tussle going on.

Hi to Ironlady. Good vibes to our Janie who is off having fun.
~michelle

 

[Shoegal]

Bathroom Report: The ceiling is hard to explain - and it isn't conventional. The building (as you all know) was an old boy scout camp (the dining hall) and had very high ceilings - high enough to make 2 stories. So we have a loft - (as our bedroom)and under the loft is the bathroom downstairs (& a few other rooms). The ceiling to the bathroom house these beams that hold the ceiling up. When he built the ceiling it was difficult to manipulate around the beams and bolts - so there are these weird crevices (nooks and cranies) that are up there. We spoke of using trim to finish where the ceiling meets the drywall and where the beams meet the paneling on the celing. (anybody bored hearing this??? ) The color is this weird green/gold color - I was trying to match the matting around these pictures we have in there. I'll have to send pictures. I am covering this very very bright yellow color that DH had picked many years ago. I had really thought that - you know - slap some paint in there - how long can this take??? He is now sanding the floor, repairing other things - putting tile on the floor of the linen closet - etc, etc, etc. I didn't want this to go for years like most of his other projects. This can't even be fun reading about it. I'll keep future bathroom reports much shorter.

Michelle - Boot Camp is my favorite Cathe workout!!! Love that one to death - you are right - it goes fast and it's fantastic. I think I'll give that rotation a go since I love circuit training - it is just a little bit of everything - and not too much of one thing. No rest for the weary - hope you have a good day - get home and take it easy. How is Joe doing?

Laura - Happy Birthday to your girls!!!! Tell them to enjoy this last year in the single digits - once their age the double digits - it stays there for quite awhile. Wow - that is wonderful - I'm proud for you!! You sound like you are whipping through P90x - and you sound as if you are enjoying it. You are making me super curious that I want to try one just to see how it is.

Shadowpup- yes - I love the horse stories too!!! I know I would just love, love, love them to death. Doesn't it break your heart to leave the other two behind? Sad that the bulbs didn't come??!! I would have been secretly grateful. Your vision for flowers everywhere sounds breathtaking. Here is a question I'm sure I know the answer to - but I'm just double checking with an expert bulb planter - why do you keep planting new bulbs every year? Many of them will make it next year - some do die - but almost every bulb planter I know plants a truckload each fall.

Janie - hope you are enjoying yourself - want to hear all about it - I'm sending happy, relaxing vibes your way.

I am going to babysit my sister's Golden (Harold) this week while she is away. Someone else gets her other puppy - Howie and that is ok with me - he is a handful!!! Hope everyone has a good day!!!

 

[Shadowpup]

Hi all,

Big day today! Drum roll, please .... I finished STS! That's one terrific program, and definitely one to do again And no bulbs came, so no digging. I harvested large quantities of plums instead, and hopefully those will become jam, or something resembling jam, tonight.

Bathroom Report: The ceiling is hard to explain - and it isn't conventional. The building (as you all know) was an old boy scout camp (the dining hall) and had very high ceilings - high enough to make 2 stories. So we have a loft - (as our bedroom)and under the loft is the bathroom downstairs (& a few other rooms). The ceiling to the bathroom house these beams that hold the ceiling up. When he built the ceiling it was difficult to manipulate around the beams and bolts - so there are these weird crevices (nooks and cranies) that are up there. We spoke of using trim to finish where the ceiling meets the drywall and where the beams meet the paneling on the celing. (anybody bored hearing this??? ) The color is this weird green/gold color - I was trying to match the matting around these pictures we have in there. I'll have to send pictures. I am covering this very very bright yellow color that DH had picked many years ago. I had really thought that - you know - slap some paint in there - how long can this take??? He is now sanding the floor, repairing other things - putting tile on the floor of the linen closet - etc, etc, etc. I didn't want this to go for years like most of his other projects. This can't even be fun reading about it. I'll keep future bathroom reports much shorter.

Shoegal, What a neat house! Sounds like you have done wonders with the structure. It was a surprise to me also to learn that there is no such thing apparently as just slapping paint on something and calling it good. No, usually a tool or three must be purchased - these tools pay for themselves of course - and there is measuring, taping, sanding, cutting and all manner of items that need to be handled so that it is perfect perfect perfect. I'm sure your DH and mine could get together, and have a happy good time talking about all of this sort of thing. The results are nice, and it is easier to stay out of the way of progress and simply nod admiringly, and lend a hand as needed, right? Or, sneakily handle the paint yourself and don't mention it's done. Might not work with bright yellow At least it isn't a gaping hole!!!

Shadowpup- yes - I love the horse stories too!!! I know I would just love, love, love them to death. Doesn't it break your heart to leave the other two behind? Sad that the bulbs didn't come??!! I would have been secretly grateful. Your vision for flowers everywhere sounds breathtaking. Here is a question I'm sure I know the answer to - but I'm just double checking with an expert bulb planter - why do you keep planting new bulbs every year? Many of them will make it next year - some do die - but almost every bulb planter I know plants a truckload each fall.


I am going to babysit my sister's Golden (Harold) this week while she is away. Someone else gets her other puppy - Howie and that is ok with me - he is a handful!!! Hope everyone has a good day!!!

Puppy-sitting is fun, but there are limits! Nice for both you and your own pups that you get the more civilized one! Sounds like lots of dog-walking is in order

It *was* very hard to leave two sad horses behind yesterday! Just not practical to try and bring others along ... I took Atreides out today, the quarterhorse, and he loved it. He was probably the saddest yesterday. Picante was at least as much jealous as disappointed (how come HE gets something that I don't get???), while Atreides was kind of moping around (I thought I was mom's favorite!). They are more like dogs than cats, very big dogs, though herd behavior is somewhat different from pack behavior.


In all honesty I think bulb planting is an addiction, and there is no real sense to it once you've gotten 'enough' of them planted. Probably therapy is needed It's true, nearly all of them come up each year, with almost no care except sometimes dividing them, which is one reason I like them. Some kinds, like tulips and lilies, gradually die off - but my favorites are the kind that get bigger and thicker each year. But every year there are more varieties and new colors, and the fancier colors tend to be least hardy. This year, I added a few more orange crocuses to the list - had my first batch of those last year, and they are striking! Also, there was a new variety of lily tree that's by the house, and one of the newer daffodils with a split corona went on sale this year, so I picked up some of those. And it always seems like there are new places to put them! Maybe that's the problem - "enough" is not a defined quantity In my case, I claim that there is so much area to cover it takes many years (think of entirely covering a hilly city block with flowers). I started with a few areas and have gradually spread out, so that now there are swathes of daffodils and such, up and down hills, rather than the neat smaller plots I started with. At this point, I'm really up on what goes on sale when, and who has the best prices on what, and pick up large quantities to get the best per-bulb price.

 

[Shadowpup]

Good morning everyone! Today is a rest day for me, although it sure doesn't feel that way. Up at 4am, left the house a little after 5am, at work at 6am for a morning meeting at the Pentagon. So, where's my rest--that's what I want to know?

Shadowpup: love your horse stories. Your big 4-legged animals are like big pups--going for a horse ride definitely seems to be the equivalent of a walkabout for Ripken. It would be great if we could all get together some day. You just never know. The circuits have been fun. I think I sweat more on the circuit training, quite frankly. They go faster so you can't lift at your max. I'm interested to see how I'll feel doing gymstyle or S&H after a month of circuit training. But, the rotation has been really good and I did some workouts I hadn't done before (bootcamp for example, which I really liked). If you want to give it a go, it is the Sept 2007 Cathe rotation posted under the library of Cathe rotations on the rotation forum.


~michelle

Michelle, in my book, if the day starts at 4am and includes a 6am meeting, then it is NOT a rest day! You're owed another one. Will the weekend be more restful?

Gymstyle is terrific - still haven't done S&H - and it will be interesting to see if you've maintained or increased strength with circuits. I'd bet you at minimum are improving endurance, though! Thanks for the pointer to the right rotation: I am still toying with what to do next. Decisions, decisions - having had STS for so long, it is a little like being a kid in a candy shop!
It would be fun to get together - well, maybe you and I will manage it. I'm looking at a possible DC trip in early November, though it is fifty-fifty.

Laura, hope your day is going well, post kid-birthday party! Brrrr .... snow .... hard to imagine, very hard.

Waves to IronLady and Janie!

 

[MDolfiniReed]

Well, DH and I went to bed at 9 pm last night. We were both wiped out. Didn't do another rest day today--have walked Ripken twice, done a little cleaning, and Butts and Guts this morning. Watching college football now. Got my Va Tech alumnae shirt on--Joe has his VT shirt on--we are ready to root for our Hokies later today.

Quiet day here at the marina. A little on the cool side, cloudy, and sprinkles of rain every once in a while.

Shadowpup: if you come in November, we will definitely try again. My schedule should be less hectic then assuming DH doesn't do anymore slipping and sliding around the boat. Congratulations on finishing STS. Sister and I are still planning on a Jan 1 start with STS. If you enjoy circuits, then you should like Circuit City. Definitely alot of variety in the workouts. You won't get bored.

Shoegal: Your house sounds interesting. I have a painting project that it is taking me forever to finish. This year it is getting done for sure. Of course, then I'll have to start another. I think I missed what workout you did yesterday--or did you have a rest day?

Okay--gotta go--DH needs me to do a few things for him.
~michelle