Thursday, June 29, 2006

Workout 6/29

Ha! Hahahahahaha! and a nyah-nyah-nyah! I exercised already today, so now I can sit on my lazy butt and not feel guilty about it. :) What did I do, you ask? Well, only this: jogging 5mi.... uphill....both ways (OK, not as much uphill on the way back, but still).

Took the canyon road this morning. I almost didn't, due to the fact that the sun was up, shining brightly at 7am which meant that it was already warm. But it's Summer and it ain't gonna get any colder, so I sucked it up and left around 8am (after a light breakfast). Man, is it nice up there. This canyon road is 2miles of up, past avacado ranches and a horse farm or two and very popular with the local cyclists (hello, Lance??). Then there is about 1/2 mile of down, then turn back to 1/2mi of up and 2 miles of down! Yee-haww! Took me 67 minutes today. Not sure why it took so long (ummm....hills?), but I felt great doing it!

Earned enough activity points (don't worry-it's a WeightWatchers thing) for a plain burger and fries for lunch. Yummy. Still plenty of points left for dinner and a snack.

Yay, me!

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Go, Yoga

I've actually done quite a bit of exercise since my last post before I remembered saying that I would keep my workout diary online. Oh, well. If it fizzles, then it fizzles.

Today I did a 35min FIRM Sculpt dvd. Very proud because I did it before breakfast! *whew* What a workout! It's a good workout--get to use my arms and legs in a different way. Then, I did 60min of yoga with Tim and some of his coworkers. I'm still amazed at how challenging yoga is!

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Workout 6/25

Here's the deal-my hubby keeps a blog on which he records all his workouts. It grew from keeping track of his activity so he can tell his physical therapist when they discussed his back.

I think it's a good idea. That way, you and I can keep track of my workouts and I can write down what worked or didn't, how was it good or bad, how am I feeling, etc.

Today is the last day of the workout week. It's scheduled to be "stretch and strength-training," so I did one of my FIRM DVDs. It was 50 min of weights and step-aerobics, so a good workout. I felt good doing most of it. :) However, I am now feeling it in my shoulders, which is good 'cuz I haven't really done much for my upper arms lately. My legs got a good workout, as they got used differently today.

Well, not exciting, but there you have it. Tomorrow, 5 mi jog.

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Chocoholics Anonymous

The rats are total chocoholics. I gave them their first pieces of chocolate the other day. After they were finished, Monkey Rat and Fat Rat both jumped onto my lap, begging for more. I gave them another small piece each (I mean, come on, they are sooo cute. I can't help it.), but it wasn't enough! Especially for Fat Rat. She was on a mission...a mission for CHOCOLATE.

I think chocolate means "rat crack" in Esparanto.


***While I don't have a current of Fiona (aka "Fat Rat) on the Internet, here is a picture that reminds me of her.

Happy Days Are Here Again!

Hooray! The biggest, bestest news in the world is that JANOLA RAT IS STILL WITH US. :^) I'm not kidding, it was real close. In fact, Tim and I were in the car, rat in hand (in her travel basket, actually) when he turned to me and remarked on how perky Janola has been and maybe we shouldn't put her down today? I was so relieved to hear that because I had noticed that as well. We both decided to let the vet look at her and base our next step on her observations.

Well, the good dr. looked her over, weighed her, and listened to her heart and lungs. She stated that it was very difficult to know what was best for Janola. Her tumors (yes, lots) were very large and she had pretty much lost the use of one of her back legs due to them. I've already told you all her troubles in the previous post, and the vet pretty much said the same things. She also added that if we were to put her to sleep that day, no one would blame us. But if we wanted to keep her, that was also good. It does mean keeping a very close eye on her, making sure she is still able to get to the food dishes and continuing to bathe her regularly and checking her tumors for open sores (oooohh....yummy. Hope you aren't squeemish.) With that, we decided to keep her with us. :) Of course, neither she nor her "sisters" have any idea how close she came to.... I think she was just happy to be back home, as evinced by the long, comfortable nap she took that evening.

I love all my rats.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

More Sad

Sadly, Tim and I have decided to put Janola to sleep tomorrow. Her tumors are numerous and large, going anywhere is a struggle for her, she can't bathe herself very well, and she's starving. Her tumors take all of her nutrients, that she's a skeleton of a rat. :( (She's been that way for a month, but no matter how much I give her, it isn't enough.)

I will miss her. :(

The Sounds of Summer

More like "The Absence of Sounds"! For instance:

1)No alarm waking me up before dawn
2)No children playing in the school across the street from our apt.
3)No one saying, "Hello, Mrs. Newsome"
4)No intercom announcement interrupting my instruction
5)No phone calls either, for that matter
6)No one around during the day, as they are all at work! (The coffee houses are all empty...hooray!)


Anyway....

Well, school is out for Summer, which means I survived another year in the trenches of education. :) It was a very good year-the kids were great! I feel like there is so much I want to improve on for next year: more writing, more observation practice, more student-centered learning (project-based learning-style), and the list goes on.

Right now, I'm concentrating on getting ready for my half-marathon in July. I can't believe it's coming up!