Trek Pics

I don't have much to say. I'm back at work this week and after observing one training session, I gave my first one on Thursday. But it went well. I had them laughing and they asked a lot of questions, which means they were listening. No nodding heads or yawning, thank goodness! I was really nervous, but afterwards, I felt great.

School starts Monday. Whew, the time has flown by. Oh, and I'll be working Friday's starting this week for a month or two again. But we need the money, so I'm happy about it.

Below are some Pioneer Trek pics with my girl in them (she's in the yellow bonnet and purple skirt) and they actually crossed the Sweetwater River 3 times, just like the pioneers did:







I see these pics came out pretty small. I don't know how to make them bigger. Clicking on them doesn't do it. I'll work with this and see what I can do about it.

My Baby Girl Sent This To Me Today

Made me cry. I love that daughter of mine.

Taylor Swift, The Best Day:

Love...This...Song

Koop Island Blues with Ane Brun:

Switching Gears

My last few posts have been about a man other than my husband. Maybe I ought to switch gears, eh?

Rachel went on the trek in Wyoming only a couple of weeks after getting home from Girl's Camp. She enjoyed it much more than she had Girl's Camp, though she wasn't getting along with one of the 3 new friends she'd made. Apparently with good reason as that particular girl insisted on repeatedly smacking her, despite Rachel asking, then demanding, that she stop. The report I had was that she had some trials, but we could be really proud of her because she kept at it and did an amazing job. That was from her "family" grandpa. A couple of other people from our ward told me she did great until the last day, then had some tears but kept going and was an example to them because of her strong testimony. This Sunday, our Fast and Testimony meeting, two different people who had been on the trek - one adult and one pretty much an adult (18 and on her way to college soon) mentioned the example she set and what an amazing person she was. I was so pleased, but I also know how strong she is in her faith and what a wonderful girl she is. She is my best ever blessing. She's happy to be home and doing her own thing now.

Jay got a second part-time job and has trained a lot the last week and a half. His normal hours at this 2nd part-time job will be Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to midnight. Then a couple of days ago, he was asked to add 2 more days to his other part-time job, so now he's working 6 days a week. A couple of days before that, I took a call for him while he was at work and he's been signed up for testing in a couple of weeks for a full-time position that will be very good pay and good benefits. I'm praying that will come through. It's time. But the best part is that this has completely changed his mood and confidence. He's the guy I fell in love with and married again. It's been really wonderful to see him smile and laugh again, hear him speak positively about himself and his job prospects and the brighter countenance when I look at his face. Nine months was a long time for a man not to feel he was taking care of his family. Now he is. Good things. I am most grateful to Heavenly Father for these gifts.

Mr Gorgeous

I am LOVING the gym. Rachel is, too. And I can't think of a better support system than my daughter. It's been a bonding experience and it's been a good, healthy treat for both of us. Yes, I said a treat. Because it is. We went the first day and there were only a handful of people in there working out. We checked out the treadmill first, to see how it worked. Then we actually worked out on it! Then we tried the stationary bike, recumbent bike and the elliptical. The elliptical and I are not friends. I found it difficult, maybe because I'm a klutz. Whatever the reason, it's not something I'm pushing to achieve.

We worked out 2 days in a row and took the weekend off. On the following Tuesday, we had one of our two free trainer sessions. That's when we met him. Ah, yes. The memory lingers....his white teeth and endearing smile. His dark, slightly wavy hair. His muscled - but not too muscled - body. bbbrrrrruuuuppppptttt **Sound of scratching a needle across a record as I come to my senses**
I am clearly old enough to be his mother. And on the plus side, he is too old for my daughter. But I have deemed him Mr. Gorgeous or Mr. G for short. Just not to his face. Can you imagine?

He earnestly wants to help me get healthy and is surprisingly knowledgeable about physiology and skeletal structure. He nailed my physical issues without any hints from me just watching me do some squats. "You turn your feet out to the side. That's from poor hip rotation. Your right leg is slightly shorter than your left because your hip is up (here I explain that when my back is out, as it has been for some time, that's what happens). Your right shoulder is weak and range of motion poor, has it been injured? (Yes, I admit, from my ribs popping out of place on that side). All of these things lead to poor posture. We're going to work on that." And so we do. In my two sessions with Mr. G, he's given me exercises that have strengthened my core and my back. My posture is already improving. In addition to those targeted exercises which take about 20 minutes, I do cardio of some kind, usually the treadmill. Rachel does all these with me, then pushes herself on the treadmill by running in intervals. Sometimes, she said, she might go do the bike which I'm not fond of because it hurts my backside after about 10 minutes. But it's been fun and while she was on her trek with the youth of our church and some adult leaders/helpers, I went to the gym by myself. It was a little tougher. I definitely missed her. But I did it! Monday we'll get back in the swing of things by going every day next week.

Now, if I can just find someone to join this gym, I'll get 3 more free trainer sessiions, I just found out Thursday. I'm looking.

Gyming It

So I was cleaning the pit up a couple of weeks ago and went to throw out some trash when this flyer ad for a fitness place came up. It said it was $3.00 a week?!?!!?!?! Well, I'm thinking, "there is NO WAY. Just no way." I set it on my desk and looked at it every day for a few days. Then I noticed it had an expiration date on it. I called. "Yes," said the woman who answered, "It really is $3.00 a week. Yes, it's got equipment in it to work out on. Yes, it's a real deal. Can I set you up for an appointment with Ross?" I stammered, "Well, I...I...guess. Maybe. Is it busy around....well, in the afternoons around 2:30 or so?" "It's practically empty!!" she said, with more enthusiasm than I would have expected. From anyone. My suspicions immediately grew. "Are you sure?" "Why, there's practically no one in here that time of day!" she said again with fffeeeellliinngg. "This will sound like a strange question, but is everyone in there all fit and thin and stuff? I mean, I'm obese, okay? And I don't want to feel uncomfortable or anything," I said. "No, no, no. We have all kinds of people come in here - very fit, just beginning - the whole works" "Okay. I'll come by and check it out." Faster than I could finish my sentence, she asked, "Is tomorrow at 2:15 p.m. a good time?" "Yeah, sure," I said, not feeling sure at all. I went to work the next day and mentioned it to my co-workers. "Oh, that place is ALWAYS jam packed. I've never seen it empty any time I've driven by." I felt my heart sink a little. Because I really need something to push me to exercise every day. It's hotter than a skillet on the blazing fire in our house these days and I just CAN'T workout in that heat. Shoot, I can barely stand it sitting still with a fan blowing on me. But I can't afford to go back to Curves which had really done some great stuff for me.

That afternoon, I hurried to my car about 5 minutes later than I intended. So I arrived about 5 minutes late. I hate that. I like to be a little early to everything. When I pulled into the parking lot, I saw a bunch of people in the windows working out. Okay, well not a bunch, but I could see a good 15 or so there. I sat in the car thinking I should leave. Then I told myself, "What the heck? If I don't go in, I'm letting myself and Rachel down," because I was planning to sign her up, too, since it's so cheap. And I deserve something....something for myself from the money I make, right? So I got out of the car.

On approach, an older woman, maybe early 60's and about 40-50 pounds overweight, came walking out the door. I felt my confidence lift just a bit. Inside I saw a woman working with a trainer who had probably 80 pounds to lose. Then there were you usual 20-somethings, maybe younger and mostly male, lifting weights (while they watched themselves in the mirror). That part made me want to laugh.

The run down - no amenities, just exercise equipment - treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes and recumbent bikes (which don't hurt your backside), some sort of torture equipment....I mean stairsteppers....and both weight machines and free weights. I was sort of impressed. I was told it was a high volume day since it was the 1st day after a holiday weekend and people feeling guilty were in to work off their sins. Funny, I thought you had to pray for forgiveness for that. Anyway, The $3.00 a week/$12.00 a month was for limited useage/days, but I wheeled and dealed and we're both in for $24.00 a month now with 2 personal trainer freebie sessions thrown in with the cute, although young enough to be my son, trainer Constantine. We've been twice, plan to go all next week. We both love it and I'm feeling good.

I'd Exercise My Artistic Side in The Dust....

But I think I'd better just exercise my body and then just clean the house.

While Jay's been out of work these past eight months - well, giving him credit, he is working a part-time job two days a week and picks up an extra day whenever he can - he's been responsible for keeping up the bulk of the housework and cooking some meals. On the sadistic side of myself, I'm really enjoying the role reversal. On the realistic side of things, there's enough dust on the TV screen and other surfaces to paint the Mona Lisa and frame it. So today I just decided to bite the bullet and get this house in order before I pull my hair out.

First, we sold our piano which had been sitting in our house, rarely touched, for about six years. Now an accomplished musician owns it, we have a little extra cash to put toward bills and our bedroom has a lot more room in it. Jay helped me rearrange it and I gave it a good, thorough cleaning this morning. I've managed to clean the living room which looked something like the house in the movie "Night of the Living Dead" after the zombies broke in. Then it got HOT.

Well, from my previous post, you know how much I just love the heat. As crankiness creeped up on me, I decided to call it quits until the evening storm and subsequent coolness overtook the house. So, after I finish my post here, I have the kitchen, dining room and powder room to clean. That's not really so bad as I did a lot of picking up on those rooms last night and some this morning. Maybe another hour and a half or so on them. Jay cleaned our bathroom and will do ALL the floors in the morning. Rachel cleaned her bedroom and bathroom - after I helped her polish her dresser and nightstand ridding them of their inch or better of dust. Apparently, when not being checked up on, certain locations in her room don't get touched very often, either.

What this will all lead to is a house that will be clean until sometime tomorrow afternoon. And will allow me several hours of satisfaction, a few precious hours of that "clean" smell - which for me is bleachy. What can I say? Bleach is where it's at for me. But maybe I can let people in my house then without feeling that red of embarrassment creep up my face. It's worth spending my time off cleaning. Really it is.