It's Been a While

Um, hi there.  It's only been... two weeks since my last post.  Life and school get in the way, ya know?  You can see what keeps me so busy here.

It's been a while for an exercise log too.  So let's see.... I don't remember :)  I've been trying to keep up with doing Jillian or Wii Fit every day, but with school, it just doesn't happen.  I did run a mile Thursday night - first mile in over a month, I made it in 11:50.  I was ready to die when it was over, but I pushed through and finished it!

According to the Wii Fit, I've lost 3.7 pounds since Wednesday.  It yelled at me because I hit my goal too quickly!  I think it's because I have been a little stressed - a lot going on everywhere.  I don't mind losing if it's coming from the right places!

The First Week

The first week of school is over.  This is the first time in months that I haven't had a crazy weekend - and it's kind of a letdown.  I'm sure it's exactly what I needed this week, but it's still disappointing after the weekends over the summer.  I just got used to going going going!

My schedule didn't change after Monday, which made the rest of the week easier.  I have a new MacBook, which I am pretty excited to learn to use.  I am excited to finally have iWeb to make a school website.  It's nice - my fourth year of teaching, and I finally don't have the oldest computer in the school!  I have a laptop that will actually run without being plugged into the wall :D

I finished the 6th Sookie Stackhouse book today, "Definitely Dead."  I can't wait to get the next one!  I'm still working my way through the "Sword of Truth" series as well, but Sookie is easier to read during the school year.  As far as TV goes, I'm still watching TrueBlood every week (I'm totally addicted).  Josh got me started watching "Pillars of the Earth" last night through NetFlix - I want to see the rest!  I wouldn't mind having the NetFlix on demand - I've watched Firefly, part of Dresden Files, and now Pillars through it at his house.  It's really a cool feature, and now that I have a Wii, it would be possible!

Really nothing new to update on.  Need to get to work finishing up a baby blanket - I think the baby might be coming any day now.  I'm pretty close to finishing it, only 2-3 more squares and putting it together, it's just sitting down and doing it.  Actually, I think I might just try to do that today - I have a load of laundry to hang to dry, then I could stay in the A/C and crochet.  The combination of heat and allergens has been killing me lately, I don't go outside unless it's absolutely necessary!

Post It Note Tuesday

Exercise Log 8 - and a new purchase

I know, two logs in less than a week.  I shredded thursday and Friday, but on Friday, I made a new purchase!


I bought a Wii and Wii Fit!  I had been doing this when I was at my parent's house, as they have them, but I lost that when I moved.  I am so excited to have this option again!  I did it yesterday and today - it's a great way to get some cardio in without the impact.  And it's way more interesting than doing the exact same thing every day!  Very excited if you couldn't tell :)

School starts tomorrow for us teachers, and Wednesday for the kids.  I have to work hard to get my routine back in order - the first two weeks will be the toughest, just because I've gotten used to sleeping as long as I need/want to.  Early alarms, here I come!

Exercise Log 7

I feel like I should be starting over.  I've not done NEARLY as well with this over the summer as I had hoped.  I let myself take a break, and just never got re-motivated to stick with it.  I've averaged a few days a week, but haven't made any progress.

School started next week, and I go back to my structured lifestyle.  I am hoping that will help me get back into an exercise routine as well.  I have a lot of people encouraging me to run a 5K - if I could find one in the right timeline I would go ahead and sign up, because then there would be no backing out.  I know I won't be out to win it, but to finish would be an accomplishment.

I have been doing the Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred a lot.  It's gotten easier, but it's definitely still a push!  It's also great when you end up injured.  We went canoeing on Saturday and got swamped.  It happened to be on rocks where there was a current, and I'm pretty bruised from the knees down.  Can't wear gym shoes because they hurt, so it's good that I usually do Jillian barefoot!

Post It Note Tuesday

My Favorite Toy

Josh and I finally went to see Toy Story 3 yesterday.  It was so good!  I truly enjoyed it, and yes, the ending made me cry (I won't spoil it in case you haven't seen it yet).  We started talking about our old toys when we got in the car, and I've been thinking ever since.

My favorite toy that went everywhere was Baby.  That was not how she arrived though.  I won her in a baby show, and I haven't been parted from her since.  Baby would have been sold as Raspberry Tart, one of Strawberry Shortcake's friends.  I've actually found one in near perfect shape so that I remember what she used to look like.  She actually even smells faintly of raspberries!

I wasn't very creative in my naming - I probably didn't know at the time she had a name.  She's been Baby ever since.  When I was a thumb-sucker, I had one of those blanket puppets in the shape of a rabbit.  His name was Bunny, lol.  He was retired when I quit sucking my thumb - he was too much a part of that habit to stay.  Baby always had a place in the crook of my arm, but I didn't give her up.

Baby has been there through good times and bad.
She traveled with me, and has been to Arizona, Colorado, Virginia, Florida, Canada, and other places that have been forgotten.  My mom always made sure she was back in the car before we left - she was never packed.  As I grew older, Baby didn't have to be present all the time and everywhere, but she was always on my bed waiting for me to sleep.
She kept me company through many sicknesses - the flu, pneumonia, the chicken pox in Kindergarten.  She accompanied me to the hospital when I had my tonsils out in fifth grade - because of her make-up, she was even allowed in the operating room with me, so I was never separated from her.  She was there for me when I had to have an MRI done - even though I was in high school and should have outgrown the habit.  It was quite a humorous experience: to be sure that she was not metal and could be in there with me, they took her in, turned the machine on, and threw her in!  Since she didn't stick, she could go in as a comfort, always nice when you are stuck in a long tube.  She went with me to the hospital when I needed an IV for a migraine.
Baby was there for me when I needed to cry and didn't want anyone else to see.  She's soaked up tears and been there to hold.  When my parents told me we were moving to Indiana, Baby was the comforter when I was afraid of what the experience would hold.  She even went to college with me - I have no shame.  She was such a part of my sleeping habit that I could not have gone without her.
I've thought of retiring Baby, but I think she still needs me.  She's showing signs of her love - threadbare holes on her face, lack of stuffing in her limbs, dirty spots galore.  Jager (my dog) encountered her when I first got him - I was heartbroken to see him gnawing on one of her feet.  A friendly sewer made her some shoes to help cover the damage.  Years and years ago, we took Baby to our friend who is a dry cleaner.  He told us that he would wash her if we insisted, but that he feared she would fall apart.  She's been spot cleaned and loved instead.

Baby still has a special spot on my bed.  I think that when I get married, I will have to find a spot for her in my new home - I can't imagine not having her around.  Even knowing what happened at the end of the movie, I could never do that for Baby.  She'll be with me for a very long time, even if her purpose in life has changed many time!
Photos are personal photos taken by me.  The first is the "like new" version, while the second is my well loved Baby.