Pentagenarians &Beyond: W/B 12/1/13

Good morning,

Another night of waking up at 3:00 and not being able to get back to sleep. It's like there is an alarm clock in my head or something. I got up and did a KCM workout, (the tabata one) and my legs felt like lead.

Valerie, yes some states require breaks after a number of hours of working ( NY being one of them).

Judy, funny you should mention Michigan and state laws, we have an office in Romulus and they do not have to take a lunch, so for example someone can come in at 8:00 am and work right through to 4:00 if they want to, but in NY we have to give employees that work 8 hours a minimum of a 30 minute lunch break. Believe it or not, most employees would rather work right through and get out earlier, but it is not allowed. It really is difficult to schedule a 3 shift operation with that requirement.

Garance, you are very lucky with the employer you had. I feel lucky too, 41 years with the same company, however it was sold/purchased twice during this time. As for the jumping in the new KCM, I don't do the jumping, I just modify with stepping etc. It's not bad and my heart rate gets up there anyway without jumping. The format is great and the time just flies by.

Lori, I feel for you! Maybe I should drink wine at night too ? :) Do you stay asleep with that? Yes, those are the 2 newest KCM's.

I think I will be skipping agility class tonight..it could be dangerous :(

Take care,
 
Hi Deb, Josie, Valerie, Lori, and Judy--

This morning I did Burn Sets bis and tris (37:35), a short one because I had my semi-annual teeth cleaning.

To continue the conversation on jobs. The recent bankruptcy decision on Detroit could be devastating for public employees who are now retired and dependent on their pensions. Apparently banks and bondholders get the lion's share of payment on the city's debts, and pensioners may get as little as 16 cents on the dollar. There was a time when I thought being a public employee was really a good deal because I have friends in Minnesota who worked for the state and retired at age 58 and then had a pension equivalent to their salaries. I think they still do, but other states, municipalities, and cities in financial straits are now trying to cut back on pension benefits, arguing that previous politicians made too many promises they couldn't keep to the unions. I don't know what to think about this because I have heard so many stories about people with outlandishly padded pensions and incredibly early retirements. I don't have a pension, but a TIAA-CREF portfolio. I don't think I will be taking my social security until I'm 70.

Deb, I wish KCM had a modifier like she always did in the past. Sorry about the sleep pattern. I have heard that the first deep sleep cycle is about 4 hours long, and then the next sleep cycles are both shorter and less deep, so maybe you get that first solid cycle.

Lori, I never read the Wizard of Oz, but I loved Wicked and would really like to see the musical. I am reading Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch. It's over 700 pages long, but it's pretty good, especially for a first person narrative. She wrote the Secret History which was a detective plot.

DH is off tomorrow with his brother and brother-in-law to talk with the ADAs prosecuting the case against the girl who killed his sister. Should be interesting.
 
continuing with the job business, I worked for one company for 17 years. ( wow, 40 years Lynda!) I was happy and would have stayed on if they had allowed it. most things were good but a law was passed in 1988 that no one ( at my level anyway) interpreted correctly at the time, signaling the end of lab procedures in smaller clinics and physician offices. all the companies involved in products that sold to the "smaller" market ended in a few years. we also were the first company to introduce home blood glucose monitoring to the public but devices are easier to use now and consumers are more sophisticated. totally ended an entire field with not much warning.

I got a pension from the company and also started drawing my SS at 65. I could have waited but chose not to. It's just so scary when I think of all the people who haven't saved anything, have no pensions, and need to survive on SS alone.

we went xc skiing this morning. not enough snow yet but OK. went for 2 hours up/ back. someone with gigantic balloon tread tires had driven up the road further than we ended up going. we have a normal car with snow tires, no way would we try to drive that far. a road that had been "let go" was maintained sometime & brushed out this year so when the snow gets deeper it will be fine for us to ski and WAY too much snow for any kind of tire. hopefully this person won't return with a snowmobile. every year we need to go check out what roads are usable for skiing and sort out what will work. .
 
Good evening ladies...

This morning was T25 total circuit and tonight was xtrain ch,bk,sh burn sets. I really like the weight workouts in xtrain they are a great length. I loved sts and plan to do another round soon but not looking forward to the length of some of the workouts.

My husband and I are not banking on ss when we retire thats for sure! I was listening to the news this morning about Detroit and it is so sad and devastating to so many people.

Lynda...I will look onto the Goldfinch. I have heard Wicked is really good also...both the book amd the show. Is that a well know case in massachusetts? I do not recall hearing about the murder. When was it?

Deb...sometimes the wine does help but unfortuantley it makes working out the morning after harder. :eek:. Good for you working out at 3am. Don't think I could do that.

Valerie...I love cross country skiing and have all the equipment. Unfortunately my husband does not enjoy it. So it has been years since I have been. I do miss it and the girls and I have talked about going for a weekend but have yet to make this happen.

Hi to Judy and Josie!
 
Hi Everyone,

This morning I did a Spinerval hill climbing workout for an hour and 20 minutes. My legs are very sore tonight. Tomorrow is strength and core. I may choose an upper body workout, and leave my legs alone.

Lynda, it's funny you should ask about employees quitting. That chain of stores must have one of the highest employee turnover rates. They constantly have "Help Wanted" signs on their doors and are almost always understaffed. I have been pretty close to walking out myself, and it could still happen:mad: The thing I have going for me is that I only work part-time, and I am in the office working on paperwork and ordering. That is much less stressful than working on the floor with the customers. Even so, there have been times when I have been extremely close to quitting.
You are very lucky to have had 40 years at the same place.

Lori-I hope things get better at your workplace. I remember working in the 80's-90's, people were more relaxed and tended to take breaks more. On Fridays a group of us would almost always go out for a long lunch too.

Deb-I hope you get more sleep tonight :(
You are right about people wanting to work through lunch. The owner requires everyone to clock out for 30 minutes for a lunch break if they work over 6hours. He doesn't want to pay for lunch breaks and he thinks if they don't clock out, they are probably still taking a break to eat. If they don't clock out, they get docked 30 minutes pay, unless the manager submits a report saying that the store was so busy, the employee couldn't take a 30 minute break.:confused:

Valerie-I was at the water company 17 years too, 1987-2004. I have a pension (if there is anything left of it) that I can get when I turn 55, so 4 years. I've heard they are having some funding issues with the pension. I am hoping to be offered a buy out, so I at least have something from those years I worked there.

Hi to Josie,

Judy
 
Hi Ladies,

No workouts for me so far :(. I have been chauffeuring the kids back and forth to school. One starts at 8-3:00 and the younger one starts at 11:30-3:00. My DB and I have been exploring Fresno in between chauffeuring. I don't remember kids having so much homework when they were little. The 4th grader has at least 2 hours worth of homework ever night :(

I'm so lucky to have worked for the same university for 32 years. I also don't plan on working part time any where else. I plan on volunteering a few hours per week at the AIDS Life Cycle office and maybe the USO. In California employees have to take two 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch.

Deb, I also hope that you get some sleep :(

Judy, those spinerval workouts sound hard. I can ride for hours outside, but indoors I can only do an hour.

Garance, keep us posted on the case.

Hi to Valerie and Lori!

Josie
 
Good morning,

I slept a little better last night but still woke up at 2:40 for some reason. I was able to get back to sleep until the dogs woke up and John took them downstairs, then woke up and got up at 4:30. I got a Melatonin spray that I started to use last night. I hope it does something.

Garance, keep us posted on what happens with the case against that person. That is so horrible, I hope she is put away for a long time. The teachers here have it great. They get about 70% of their salary when they retire and health care until they go on Medicare. These 2 new KCM's are really easy to modify, and except for the one section in Shape up where she jumps on and off the step, there really isn't another one that I can think of that I modify.

Valerie, X-country skiing is very hard, I give you a lot of credit for going out and doing that!

Lori, I found in the past that wine makes me fall asleep, but I end up waking up a few hours later and not able to go back to sleep. STS was great, but Meso 3 breaks between exercises too long. I used to fast forward the DVD and take about 30 second breaks.

Judy, do you mind telling us the chain you work for? In NY you do have to give at least a 20 minute break if someone works a straight 6 hours, it doesn't have to be paid.

Josie, it sounds like you had a busy time with the G'kids. I don't think it is right that kids that young have to spend 2 hours after school doing homework. They need to play and be kids!

Off to get ready, take care,
 
Hi Deb, Josie, Valerie, Lori, and Judy--

This morning I did All Out Low Impact Hiit + Core 1 (49:22).

Lori, my sister-in-law was killed riding her bike in a 100 mile annual ride in New Hampshire on Sept. 21. She had an enormous piece written about her in the Boston Globe because she was the CFO for the Boston symphony. The driver was on drugs with no license and slammed into 4 cyclists, killing 2 and badly injuring two others. DH and his brother and brother-in-law (her husband) are talking with the ADAs who are handling the case. I suspect there will be some kind of plea bargain because she was also speeding on a bridge, at least 30 miles over the 30 mile speed limit. No way can she plead not guilty and expect to get off.

All of the job stories are interesting. Judy, I hope your pension comes through. You would think the owners of this chain would figure it out that training new people all the time is expensive and having a happier work force might help with sales. Phew!

Valerie, did you get a lot of snow for XC skiing? It's almost 60 here today, and I keep waiting for at least one significant snowfall so we can go snowshoeing. Unfortunately, it's hunting season now, and DH is furious at some numbnut on our land who has no permission to hunt and he heard 5 shots going off this morning, scaring pigs and Max. DH said he yelled something like, "You must be a lousy hunter and a moron if it takes 5 shots to take down a deer!"

Josie, you and I are probably lucky to work for academia. Once I received tenure, anxieties about losing my job were over. Getting tenure, as you probably know, was not so easy, but I published a prize winning book and had very good student evaluations and managed to get along with my colleagues (most of the time, although some of the old guys were absolute pigs).

Deb, I think I will wait on any more workouts right now. I am still hoping for another Pure Spice from Christi Taylor, or something dancy from Kari Anderson. Right now I am enjoying my little rotation and am still not bored with its repeated workouts.
 
Our snow cover is pretty variable so far. some places have quite a bit, others not much. has a lot to do with higher elevation. the big volcanoes generate their own weather, and hold more snow. the higher ski areas are open but we don't usually ski there. we use mostly forest service roads. our access depends on how high we can drive on an unmaintained road. then we park and ski from there. unfortunately snowmobilers and 4 wheelers can access the same roads and are not good companions! I've never been a big fan of "formed" tracks for skiing, like they make at ski areas. my feet are not far enough apart to ski comfortably.... my knees get very tired from the strain. If it's fresh snow and you set your own track, they can be as close together or far apart as you like. and you can cut turns coming back down, rather than stay in the track. we snowshoe the same way.
It's been very cold here like 25 degrees ( don't laugh!) for here, that's cold! It was 60 here a week ago, so this is a shock to the system. has not warmed much during the day. a real battle keeping my hummingbird feeders liquid. I bring them in at night, and re-hang them at sunrise. the last few years we've had one type of hummer ( Anna's) overwinter here, something they started doing the last few years. I've had them come to the feeder before I even could hang it up. they're happy to see me!

so far yoga only today, but will do something else this afternoon. I'm with Josie... I'll ride for several hours outside, but indoors an hour is all I can stand.

Lynda, some people either can't read, or don't bother looking for signs of private property. always scary to hear shots that close. Keep us all posted on how things go in court.
 
Good evening ladies!

This morning I ran for 30 mins. Worked late so no workout this evening.

Lynda, I am so sorry. Never meant to be insensitive. Yes I remember about your SIL. What threw me off was your husband talking with the ADA. For some reason I read it as some brother killing his sister. I thought this odd but figured it happened before I joined our group. Again my apologies. I hope justice is served. As far as the signs posted I think people can be rude and just ignore the signs.

Valerie...We have had a dusting of snow this year and that is it and just fine with me! I had heard it was nice today in Mass but never made it out....worked thru lunch and worked late. Gee sounds like our conversations.

I caved and bought the new Amy Dixon Breathless Digital download today. This is the 3rd Breathless DVD and I have the first 2 so I felt the need to buy it. It is another HIIT workout so I am sure I will love it. She does have a modifier if anyone is interested.

Judy...I agree with everyone about the length you ride indoors. The time you do is phenomenal. I wish I had the stamina you do on your bike!

Deb!!!! Yeah on the sleeping!!! Never tried the melatonin spray. Will look into this.

Josie...sounds like the kids are keeping you busy!

Have a great night!
 
Hi Everyone,

I think I did a Cathe triathlon today-I did Core Max, workout 1 (no equipment), Muscle Max, and Pedal Power-Timesaver Premix. My Cathe dvds came yesterday and I had to try out Pedal Power. I loved the premix, so I'm sure I'll love the full workout. Very challenging. Unfortunately, I did something to my foot, probably standing on the bike. It is really sore, and I have been limping all day. I'm icing it now. I'll probably go get it looked at tomorrow if it isn't any better. DH wanted me to go to urgent care tonight but I'd rather wait until tomorrow. He's also upset with me for working out too much. He wants me to take 2 weeks off. That doesn't sound like a good plan to me, but he probably has a point. Maybe the Spinerval challenge is going to be too much for me this year.:(

Deb-I work at the Better Health Store. It's local to Michigan. They have small vitamin stores (were I work) and larger market stores, that are similar to Whole Foods.
I'm glad you slept better:)

Lynda-I hope the pension comes through too. It won't be the end of the world if it doesn't but it would sure be nice to have it.

Josie, Valerie & Lori-thanks, I've always enjoyed indoor cycling, so it doesn't seem that long to me. I love to ride outside too, but I don't get to do that very often.

Lori-I'm going to have to look up the Amy Dixon workouts, I'm not familiar with her.

Good night,

Judy
 
Good morning and Happy Friday to all the "non-retired" gang out there! LOL :)

The dogs got me up at 3:00 to go outside, I am telling you, I'm not destined to sleep for some reason. Maybe tonight since it's Friday.

Garance, It would be great for you if she did put out another dance type workout...do you have the one that I have, ( you knew the title, I had forgotten)?

Valerie, I am going to laugh at 25 being cold! LOL...:) but hey, you get rain right?

Lori, never heard of that workout, will check it out, and hope that I don't like it..:) .I have too many workouts that I don't do now. LOL

Judy, I hope the pension is there for you too, any little bit helps. I never heard of that store, but wouldn't if it is local. We have a few of local ones here too.

Hi to Josie,

Work, then home to relax, that's all I can manage today...tomorrow will be better.

anyone have any exciting plans for the weekend?
 
Hi Deb, Josie, Valerie, Lori, and Judy--

This morning I did Flextrain (56:36). Also took Max for a 2 mile walk late afternoon because DH was not around to be followed for the evening chores.

DH says the ADA, a woman, working on the case is going for 2 counts of manslaughter and 2 counts of aggravated assault. It will probably go to court, while negligent homicide would not, and she believes precedent on negligent homicide ends up with a fairly light sentence. Manslaughter, on the other hand, implies a degree of "selfishness" (the ADA's term) on her part and while it is not premeditated, she saw a policeman directing traffic, she knew there were cyclists on the bridge, and it was absolute recklessness for her to be speeding or driving at all without a license--not just negligence on her part, but malice. DH was pretty impressed with the ADA (Assistant District Attorney). He and his brother bought a couple wreaths to place at the site on the bridge because he said, the wilting flowers there just seemed so wrong. One of the cyclists injured is a total wreck with so many broken bones that he may never fully recover.

Deb, as usual, we will probably do Comfort Sunday. Other than dinner out, nothing much going on here.

Lori, I will look at the clip (if there is one) for Amy Dixon. I don't think I have ever seen her. A modifier is always a good sign.

Valerie, if you still have hummingbirds, that's amazing. The weather seems to be doing some really strange things this year. It sounds the usual 'awful' in the Midwest with wind chills of minus 40 and snow in feet, but it's also cold in places like Dallas.

Hi to Judy (your husband may be giving you some good advice) and Josie!
 
Hi Ladies,

I have to vent :(. My peanuts are falling through the cracks at school. My DIL has moved several times and the kids have been in 4 different school. I have been sitting with the 4th grader every night doing his homework and he is very smart, but his handwriting is terrible. We have been working on it and the teacher said that she was so happy to see the improvement. He received an f in math because no one is checking his homework and a d in social science for the same reason, the rest of his grades are a's and b's. The six year old can barely read and it's because she is letting the sitter and the school do all the work. Her schedule allows her to have 4 days off and all she does is sleep and complain that she is so tired. I feel helpless!

I work with them when they come to visit, but the good habits are not reinforced at home :)

Josie
 
Good evening ladies!


Yeah it's Friday!!! No workout this morning as I decided to sleep in. Tonight I did x37 premix from the x10 workouts. It was the cardio blast followed up with the hi lo. I liked it and will certainly do this one again.

Lynda...wow I can see why your husband was impressed with the ADA. I agree with her 100%. The driver knew exactly what she was doing and what was going on with the riders.

Josie...Oh that must be so hard for you to see! When you are with them you can try your hardest but if it is not kept up at home than what you have taught is forgotten. This must be so fustrating for you! And how do you have a conversation with their parents? Not sure I would want to go there. This is very difficult.

Deb....I would be exhausted all the time if I was waking up most days as early as you. Don't know how you do it. I like Amy Dixon's style alot. Very athletic. Her 1st Breathless Dvd is a killer! She always offers three modifications...beginner, intermediate and advanced which is nice. When doing this workout I switch back in forth from the intermediate to advance depending on the move.

Judy...hope your foot is feeling better! I agree with your husband about resting. After hurting my self and not resting I ended up really hurting myself even more and being sidelined for several months. I now listen to my body and take the time to heal when necessary then jump back into things like nothing happened.

No plans for the weekend. House max tomorrow then if time permits I will go see Cathing Fire. Patriots are playing at 1pm Sunday so that will be my day!

Have a great night! Hi to Valerie!!!
 
Hi Everyone,

I'm taking 2-3 days off training and when I start back up I won't be going at the Spinervals as hard. I will do as much of the challenge as I can but I'm not going to injure myself. I went to the chiropractor and am feeling much better. I did have a hard time not working out today, but I am not going to do anything until Sunday or Monday.

Lori-I looked at the Amy Dixon videos and they look really good! Amazon has Breathless Body: The Ultimate Calorie Burn as a 7 day rental for $1.99. I think I'll give it a try.

Judy
 
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We spent the morning yesterday checking out our previous "ski" roads. all are forest service roads, only one was impassable. trees grow well here, and if a road isn't brushed out every few years , the alders grow and make it impossible to travel, even on foot.

many hummingbirds migrate south in late fall. one kind, called Anna's, stays all winter. they've been expanding their range further north slowly. ( global warming, anyone?) I used to keep track of the last hummer in fall, and the first one back in spring. for about 4 years, the Anna's stayed here. (they look a lot like the ones that migrate, rufus hummers) I read they overwinter in seattle and in areas closer to the water , but we are inland and at several hundred feet elevation. I keep feeders available all year now. need to bring them in to thaw every little while when it's so cold. it was about 20 last night, and that is close to "record" cold for here. I took the feeder out just before sunrise this morning and a hummer was on it instantly. there are 2-3 around. my neighbor has some too. not sure if they are the same ones. we rigged up a light bulb over one feeder to keep it liquid ..... usually it's above freezing, so generally a short term issue.

Josie that is concerning. you can set a good example when you visit but whatever happens daily is a much bigger influence. where is your son in this? moving is so disruptive for children..... I thought they didn't teach children cursive writing anymore, just printing? but of course, even that has to be legible. regardless .... you will be a good influence on them.

Judy... yes a few days off to regroup and heal. "too much" will bite you every time!

Deb, you have a lot of patience... I would be one unhappy dog owner by now!

Lynda I hope the ADA has support and nails her. these rides are so well publicized, and marked out and hundreds of riders.... how could anyone be so blatantly careless? such a waste of lives, and pain and suffering.
 
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