Exercise Update

I have a success and a "failure" to report....

Failure first (so I can end on a high note):
- On December 2nd I noted that the dogs and I would walk every day. This hasn't happened. In fact, this has rarely happened. I heard on the radio that this January is the coldest on on record since 1977. I has been in the teens most of the month (getting down into single digits - and staying there - for a number of days). There has also been wind and tons of snow. I think I have about 3' sitting on the ground in my front yard (and this is AFTER it's been packed down).
- I have tried to keep the kids busy... we play hide and seek inside and I learned a new game to play with them where you hide a treat under a towel and have them find it. It gives them a little mental stimulation when we can't get outside. Still, the poor things are getting bored. Fortunately, the weather people say it's supposed to warm up tomorrow - into the 30's - so we'll hopefully have a chance to go outside then (for longer than 15 minutes).

OK - on to my success!
- Around Thanksgiving I started the 100 push-ups challenge. It's been about 2 months and I've continued the program faithfully. Even when I was away at training and a sales meeting, I kept up the workouts. When I started I could do about 15 alternative push-ups in a row (that was my max) and yesterday I did 66. PLUS, many days recently the sets have totaled over 175 push-ups! I am very proud of where I am, in fact, I'm going to try to reach 100 on Sunday. I may not make it this first time around, but that's okay with me... I'm going to keep working till I can do it.
- BTW, I'm on my own with this... Matt dropped out when I was at training in December.
- One more thing... I plan to start this program over again doing "regular" push-ups once I reach 100 alternative. This will be the REAL challenge!

25 Random Things About Me

There's a new thing going on in my Facebook world... friends of mine are publishing notes listing 25 Things about themselves that people may or may not know about them. I have been "encouraged" (somewhat forcefully) to participate.

Hey, why not.

I haven't given much thought to more than 3-4 things I tend to share with people... not sure I have 25 in me, but we'll see. Guess that's why they're random - they will spring from my mind willie-nillie as I type along.

So here it goes...

1. I love my life. Though there are always challenges that come along, I am happy to be alive and in love.
2. My family is my world. My husband completes me - he is the Yin to my Yang.
3. I will never be without animals in my life... today it's two wonderful pups - but down the road, who knows what 4-legged furkid the future brings.
4. I wish I could do more Geocaching than my schedule currently allows. It's like the perfect activity - outdoors (in the woods) with friends & family, hiking. What more can you ask for?!
5. I love the smell of The Forestry!
6. I started the 100 Push Ups training program a few months ago (11.24.08)... I'm in Week 6 (again) and hope to complete it soon. Earlier this week I did 185 "alternative" push-ups. Once I complete the alternatives, I plan to start the program over again doing regular push-ups.
   
7. Every couple of months I send care packages to US Soldiers overseas (Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, etc) - 99% of which I've never met, nor likely ever will.
8. People say I live "in the middle of no-where"... next time I move, it's further out.
9. I like hanging out with my animals more than some (most) people.
10. Some day I want to own/raise/show/sell Alpaca!
11. I have visited 4 out of 7 continents (N. America, S. America, Europe, & Asia)... I'd also like to see Australia & Africa someday.
12. I don't have a favorite band (tho I LOVE music)... but my favorite line from a song is "drive by body pierce" from Beck's song "Loser". It's such a great visual!
13. Long pause before #12... what else to write... OH, here's something. I am an excellent photographer. I'm not bragging, I've been told a number of times that I should print/sell my photos. I just got a new printer, so maybe I will.
14. I sometimes sleep on the floor with my dogs. TaterBug makes the BEST body pillow. Mackie sleeps ON me - UGH!
15. My life would have been much different (I suspect) if I pursued an degree from the NY Culinary Institute. Cooking is still a passion for me... my hubby is so lucky!
16. I love learning new things. If you have a skill or talent in something.. please show me how!
    
17. Chocolate & caramel are my weaknesses - especially if they're together with something crunchy. Bad bad bad.
    
18. I believe in fate... I try hard to do the right thing in my day-to-day activities, but at the same time, there's much I don't control and it's funny how life plays out sometimes. "Everything happens for a reason." Right?
    
19. In 2007 I started blogging - a few months after joining Bookclub. Two things I would have never expected of myself.
20. My favorite time is 11:11.
21. This year - 2009 - my hubby and I celebrate our 20th year together.
22. I still wear my retainer at night. My orthodontist would be so proud of me!
23. Four more to go... hmmm, what else? OH, I am fascinated with Wind Power... I drive past the "Wind Farms" often and can't help but stare in awe of these awesome machines. I want one!
24. The book "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy had a profound impact on me. It was depressing & disturbing, but it proved to me that I am "carrying the fire".
25. Last one.. better make it a good one... I hope to leave this world better than I found it. I live my life helping those who can't help themselves, caring for those who care about me, and trying my best to have fun along the way.

That's it! Maybe I'll make one of these lists next year to see if anything has changed. Maybe not. Who knows.

Cheers!

It's been a while

Wow... the month of December absolutely FLEW by and I have to say, as bad as the month started, it finished up quite nicely. Here's a quick recap.

Dec 1 - Lost my job - Oh SH*T!
Dec 5 - Got the offer for my NEW job - YAY!
Dec 9 - Got the official "It's yours" with a seal of approval from HR - YAY, for real!
Dec 10 - Training, training, training
... till Dec 19th (including a week in Jersey)

Had a couple normal work days in there, then
Dec 24 - Jan 5 - VACATION!!

Well, not really.
Well, sort of.

I didn't go to my job... but I worked hard those days. In addition to getting all the Christmas stuffs ready (food & gifts), I decided to tackle painting the spare bathroom which, until now was a horrible, horrible horrible mix of pink and green. Here's a link to the photo set I took to document the transformation. It's not done yet, but it's getting there and it's a LOT easier on the eyes.

Now, I just need to find time to seal the floor and put the toilet back in place so we can actually USE the room. ...Soon.

12-of-12: January 2009

I was starting to get nervous that I wouldn't be able to get 12 shots today. Today was a Monday, a work day, which meant my creativity level was pretty low, and unfortunately, I didn't see much during the day that inspired me.

That was until I listened to The PodCacher Podcast (show #199.9). On the show, they talk about a website called "The Human Clock" - here, for each MINUTE of the day, there is a posting of a photo of the time, submitted by fans of the site. (Here's a link to the site - it's pretty cool, you should check it out.) Sonny mentioned something about having a photo for each SECOND of the day... kinda crazy, Sonny, but it got me thinking.

This concept of a photo for each minute of the day gave me my idea for my 12-of-12. Since I had only taken 2-3 shots during my work-day today, I decided to scrap those and try to get 12 "good" ones (at least) in 12 minutes. So, at 7:32 I started the timer and off I went around the house to see if I could complete the....

12 of 12 in 12

It's not my most creative set - by far - but it give you all a small snapshot of what goes on after work on a "typical" Monday evening.

Hope you like it!
- Jill (aka TotalNRG)