No Plans, No Problem

 

When I saw this, I gave myself permission to do as little as possible this long weekend. I gotta say, I'm getting pretty good at it!

I actually didn't want to do anything that would be stressful. So even though I had an opportunity to go Up North and back to see some cousins. Just wasn't feeling the "let's drive 9 hours in road construction and detour" vibes.

That would, however, have put a dent in this audiobook I just started. It's called The Calamity Club and it's like 28 hours! Better be worth it. So far I'm really enjoying it! Might have to increase the talking speed just a bit more.

So although I haven't been running in circles, I have been walking in them. Getting my 10,000 steps AND listening to this book. That will be the extent of multi-tasking this weekend!

Team Steps Challenge

We're having a companywide steps challenge at work in May. It started Tuesday but I didn't realize until today that my FitBit is no synched up with the new version of the work app. Darn technology.

Hopefully I got everything reset and reconnected so I didn't lose all of yesterday's steps and today's. Our Writers Assembling team needs me! 

This after for what was intended as fun, a small group of us from Marketing took a short walk across the street in Schmeeckle Reserve – this amazing 280-acre conservancy area technically on the campus of UW-Stevens Point.

I say "intended" fun because is turned out to be sunny.... but in the 40s and windy. B-r-r-r-r! (Side note: Hubby wore long underwear to golf league tonight!)

The fun part was coming across a small herd of what I could only call "domesticated city deer." 

I mean this dude (I shouldn't assume a dude just because he was very busy chewing on his snack with his mouth open, sorry) just looked at me and I was 5 feet away. No flinching or need to run away from a crazy camera lady!

And yes, my Up North brothers-in-law and nephews would be ashamed of me not knowing the difference between male and female deer. But this one looked like Rudolph's girlfriend Clarice. I obviously follow a different outdoors learning guide.

Anyway, it made for a fun little jaunt to get steps!

And now I better log off because I still need 145 steps to get to 10,000 today. Can't let the team down!

P.S. You know me. I am NOT at all competitive!

A Tall Drink of Water

You don't hear it much anymore, but a "tall drink of water" describes a person who is generally long-legged and very attractive. And perhaps could satisfy your "thirst" on a hot day – as water certainly would.

It's not a common expression anymore. But I discovered a brand-new meaning for it this week.

Yesterday when my friend Jenny and I took a walk at lunchtime, she presented this ice cream lover with a special gift! A half-gallon (you read that right) water jug that will definitely keep me hydrated (and running to the restroom) at work. I love it!!

It was so nice, we walked 3 miles! And then after work, I went to shoot pictures of Royals track and field and got a little more sun and 2 more miles of steps!

Those meets are so hard to capture because you've got all the field events going on at the same time for about half an hour, then track starts and you bounce back and forth and try to get a little bit of everything. My favorite thing to shoot is the long jump.

They just fly! I did get other field events plus several running events before I had to go. I just happened to have an appointment with my hair artist at 6:15 p.m. (And those track meets last so long!)

By the time I got home I was sun-kissed and exhausted. And knew I had to sleep carefully to keep my hair styled for another day. Ha. Despite a full-on downpour of a day, I did!

After work, it was a quick stop to check out the brand new Hobby Lobby in Stevens Point. No, I didn't buy anything. This time! Then home to finish going through last night's photos so I could watch The Voice. So much talent this season!

Tomorrow night after work I'll really have some special music. No, not choir practice. Even more special. I'll fill you in after! 

Have a good week and be careful out there!

On This Day

The history books – and my blog – will tell you about a few notable events today.

First, in legitimately a solemn moment in U.S. history, the House of Representatives voted 232 to 197 today to impeach President Trump. As one news source put it: This came exactly one week after rioters forced lawmakers to flee from the very chamber in which they cast ballots in the fourth presidential impeachment in U.S. history – and the first time a president has been impeached twice.

I just feel like maybe 2020 is laughing at us and saying, "Oh, you thought I was tough to deal with? I've got nothing on 2021." Hopefully I'm wrong, but this year is starting off on a wild, unfortunately historic note. 

Just pray for peace. That's all.

On a positive note, even though Mr. Independent was only home 24 hours (not kidding), he was here long enough to open his new mail and...

On this day in history, it was officially confirmed he's a college graduate! Yay. Now go find a job. (For the record, parents never stop nagging, er supporting, you.)

And lastly, of course, it should be noted that this author is closing in on 10,000 steps for the second day this week. I was just a little too relaxed after my massage after work, so I'm gonna have do some laps around the house now to get there.

My side of the bed should be warmed up just in time. Like most days. Not just "on this day"!

One Crack at a Time

This was the funniest thing I saw today. Because I felt it. In my hips, mainly.

It's January 9th and I've gotten 10,000 steps on at last half of the days this year. I wonder how long I can say that! So with new (to me) efforts to get some walks in, I'm feeling it more than other times I've "started over."

Maybe it's age. Well, yes. That's probably it.

It wasn't fun walking up in the middle of night because I felt like my "psychiatric" nerve was pinched to my IT Band and tied together with some glute muscle. It all hurt on my upper and outer back side. Gotta stretch more, that's all. Because I really want to keep this sporadic streak alive. 

So I faced sloth demon and got back out there today.

Remember when I told you last fall when I saw the wooly bear caterpillar with a wide rust band that we were having a mild winter? We are! Well, it might not be ALL winter, so take advantage of the mild conditions now and the next several days.

And don't fall. In the snow or fall victim to excuses. We got this.

#2021newyou #onestepatatime  

Technology Time Capsule

Thought I'd actually try to accomplish something today while hubby was out of the house working the boys' Cranberry Classic basketball tourney at Assumption. So I tackled the closet in what was formerly known as "the computer room" and has been "Jim's office" for the past eight years or so.

The picture above shows what happens when you're cleaning out a closet and you stumble upon a Technology Time Capsule. Apparently, we were concerned about keeping the instructions – and boxes – just in case we needed them. For what, I don't know. (Pretty sure I inherited that logic.)

How many gadgets from the past decade can you identify? Ha. 

We've got a flip phone box, a few non-working pedometers from our days in Iola, boxes for at least three different generations of Samsung Galaxy phones, a box for a Garmin (I guess that was pre-GPS in vehicles and on phones), two for wi-fi routers, one for a "netbook," and lord knows what else.

I got as far as taking them out of the closet and to the kitchen table. I really meant to go through and figure out if it all can be discarded or recycled. But purposely distracted myself and went to take pictures at the basketball tournament. Just the two Assumption games... so I could justify my procrastination.

Looks like it's going to be a Thursday project. After a few more basketball games, of course. 

I mean those boxes aren't going anywhere. Technology might advance while I'm still sorting through them, though!

Eco Break

 I can always gauge how busy my workday was by looking at my FitBit. Did I get a chance for walk breaks to build up to my daily goal of 10,000 steps? Or was I chained to my desk with projects and meetings? 

Today at 5 p.m., I'd recorded 852 steps. And no, I'm not a professional sloth. Just seems like that! 

So instead of a "bio break" – how grownups say potty break – I took an "eco break" to enjoy the great outdoors.

For beauty this time of year, I had to look no further than the back yard for this towering inferno. It's it gorgeous? 

That didn't get me many steps so I ventured down the road and through the woods to snoop on some tree clearing work going on. Saw this weird dead thing hanging. Looked cool, though. So you know I had to take a picture. 

It was pretty awesome being in the woods by myself. Except for the part I was hoping to find my way home. I did! It was just a slow 2,000-step process.

Back to the front yard and pretty tree there. There must be some hungry insects or maybe a disease because all of the leaves have at least one hole in them. I suppose they're like humans. We might look pretty on the outside, but we all have at least one thing (or person) missing in our lives. Don't we?

That's when you look up. You'll always find more beauty, blessings and answers there. If you don't believe me, you might just need an eco break yourself.

Your soul – and FitBit – will thank you.

Background Check

I noticed during my video meetings and chats on my main Mac computer that I really need to tackle the "background" clutter in my office/Scrap Cave. So that was my Sunday project.

Here's the "before" from a Zoom call on Friday night. Yikes.

And this evening – after dumping a whole ton of paper and cardboard into recycling and throwing out a big bag of garbage.

I know I have more to do, but I will celebrate the progress!

I did sneak outside a bit, too. Not as warm as yesterday, but nice. Said hello to some neighbors. Took a social distancing walk with my friend Cindy. And also enjoyed a cup of coffee with Mr. Deck Chair in the late afternoon sun. And watched a Hallmark movie tonight while hubby was doing a fantasy draft for the NFL draft. (Yes, it's a thing.) And got 10,000 steps for the first time in ages.

So I'm all rested up and feeling accomplished for my 41st day at home. Let's make this a good week, shall we?

Glass Half Empty and Dipped in Sugar

I was on a mission today. Well, a list of missions. And I accomplished quite a few.

Since I'm going to be gone scrapping next weekend, I figured I better wrap up my Christmas baking for our family's annual Cookie Bake and Exchange on Thanksgiving weekend. I made my mint chocolate ones last weekend and today I got my almond shortbread cookies done. But first, I had to find a glass...

I had this idea I wanted to roll the dough in balls and flatten the ball with something pretty – like those fancy cut glass designs you'd find on the bottom of a nice vases or glasses, which I had neither of. So I thought, let me try Goodwill. They have a bit of everything.

And thanks to the whiskey drinker who donated his Crown Royal tumbler, they had just what needed!

Does my vision make sense now?

But wait, not done. They have to be Christmas-y somehow. So I melted some chocolate and...

Dipped and added sprinkles. Mission accomplished!

I also got in a trip to the library, a stop at the 8th-grade basketball tournament to shoot photos, and got a great start on organizing my pictures for next weekend. (That will be my primary mission on Sunday.) I also got a Hallmark movie out of my system. But haven't quite reached 5,000 steps on my FitBit.

When you're dealing with a glass all the way empty, something had to give.

The Pick-Your-Pet Days of Summer

Raise your hand if I'm not the only one who reluctantly turned the calendar page this morning. August already? I feel like June and July were each like 4 second long!

Apparently we now enter what's called the Dog Days of Summer. Can we still experience those if we have a cat? Not sure. I also figured Dog Days had something about being lazy like a dog (or cat, really), so I had to look it up.

Spoiler alert: You're about to learn something.

Why are they called the Dog Days of Summer? The ancient Romans called the hottest, most humid days of summer "diēs caniculārēs" or "dog days." The name came about because they associated the hottest days of summer with the star Sirius. Sirius was known as the "Dog Star" because it was the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog).

When are the Dog Days of Summer? According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, they're traditionally the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, which coincide with the dawn rising of Sirius.

So this pretty much means we only have 10 more days to loll around, pant in the heat, and attempt to scratch behind our ears with our hind legs.

Since I love heat, I probably won't be entirely lazy. I started making a concerted effort in July to get 10,000 steps a day. Yes, I know I always TRY. But I rarely keep a streak going. Until this time. I officially logged at least 10k a day on every day in July – except July 1, which is surprising because we golfed that day... but also ate a fancy anniversary meal and cheesecake. I probably couldn't walk after that! (Probably why I got my 10k in today before we went out for coconut shrimp at Two Lakes Supper Club!)

Hoping that I can continue that streak of minimum activity in August – and maybe even step up my exercise game. Of course, that might require one of those dog shock collars to get me going. I wonder if that's part of the Dog Days, too.

Yikes. I better keep moving.

Happy August!

Neighborhood Watch Cow

I think our neighborhood watch cow and friend need an umbrella. Not that we need a Mary Poppins look-alike in the 'hood. But I hate for her nice dress to get all drenched in the rain!

And yes, that means it's raining. Again.

Just when I was going to leave the house for a walk, too. Gotta keep up my streak! Last week I got 10,000 steps each day Monday through Friday. Anyone with a desk job knows that's not that easy to do. Now it's Monday again and I'm short. Steps, that is. And yes, I do have an umbrella so I wouldn't have to get my fancy dress (or sweats) drenched either.

But boy, I'd rather be munching on something good like the cow is doing. I see the farmer has kept his floral "sweet treat" strategically out of reach. What a great plan. Flower survives and the cow doesn't scarf down something he doesn't need. He might not be happy but he'll be healthy.

Thanks to this rain – again – my flowers will keep surviving, too. Now if I could just keep MY sweet treats strategically out of reach.

Or go puddle jumping long enough to distract me from remembering they exist. Or pace the driveway under an umbrella. Many, many times.

Sigh. Where's Mary Poppins and her spoonful of sugar when you need her?

The Sideways Shuffle

Did you know "bikini season" is right around the corner? Not that I've worn one since I was 7 years old, but still, the message these days is: Are you ready for it?!

One word: Nope.

All these ads are guilting me into remembering that if I had started and stayed dedicated to some sort of plan months ago, I'd be in a good place right now. But no. I have no willpower. I love my sweets. And I don't want to waste money getting caught up in one of those "eat right and exercise" schemes.

Those never work, do they?

Yeah. I know. They do and that's what you should do. And you'll reach your goals, oh so gradually. Which is never quick enough for Ms. Impatient here. So I say screw it and grab a peanut butter cup or whatever treat is within arm's length. Or even a short drive. No end to my reserves of non-willpower.

That's why I tend to shuffle side to side with my goals rather moving forward.

After getting disgusted not finding something to wear this weekend that fit good and looked good, I shook myself awake and declared I need to do something. As it states above: The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.

OK. Decision made. Not staying. Now... ACTION!

My goal today was to not eat treats at work – no matter whose birthday it was or what was sitting around in candy dishes. When I chose grilled chicken over the "totchos" covered with ground beef and melted cheese for lunch, I demanded a high five from a co-worker. That was a big accomplishment right there because the bad stuff looked sooooo good!

I also got my 10,000 steps in today. High five myself!

But I also grabbed a Schwan's Root Beer Float bar tonight and ate that without blinking – or thinking. After I threw the stick away, I was like, "Oh yeah, that's right. I wasn't going to eat stuff like that today."

Unfortunately, since there's some sort of law you can only start diets on a Monday, I'll have to wait a week, force myself to eat graduation cake this weekend and start after the holiday.

I'm kidding. And it's not a "diet" or I'll quit. Just gotta get moving – even baby steps forward are steps forward – and make more wise choices. We're almost to the season of fresh fruit and veggies. That'll help.

Unfortunately, it comes right after the season of frosting. But I'll find ways to balance it out so I'm ready for one-piece swimsuit season at some point.

Are you ready? Did you do something today that deserves a high five? Celebrate the small stuff, friends. Let's keep moving forward together.

Finding Balance in a 10K

I managed to do two, yes two, 10K's today. Hold the applause.

First of all the "K" is thousands, not kilometers. Still, I rejoice any day I get 10K (or 10,000) steps on my FitBit. Now about that other 10K...

So today was called Sentry Success Day at work. Basically like Christmas in March. We celebrate our successes from the prior year and look forward to goals in the current year. Oh, and play games for prizes. Oh, and eat. And eat. And eat.

Since the theme for this year's event revolved around St. Patrick's Day, our department suggested clothing and food be green. Naturally I concocted some Mint Madness.

Layers of mint chocolate cake, green-colored white chocolate pudding (with shavings of Andes Mints mixed in), crushed Thin Mints, and Cool Whip for contrast. Good, good stuff. But guess what? I brought half of it home.

Not kidding. That may give you an idea how many green treats were there today for our potluck. Typically, it would be gone. But today there were green cookies, sugar cookies with green frosting, doughnuts with green sprinkles, green Rice Krispy treats and so on. And that was just the treats, not the real food like Irish stew and mashed potatoes and soda bread and chips and guacamole, etc.

Have you figured out what the other 10K is yet? Here's another clue.

After work, I had a dinner date with my friends Colleen and Nicki, who I used to work with at Renaissance. It's been almost 2 months since the last one so we are overdue. Naturally, I wasn't hungry. But still ordered my Pineapple Express Burger. And ate it.

So yeah, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I consumed 10,000 calories today. Gosh, I hope not. But I'm so full it sure feels like it.

And I'm guessing the 10K's don't cancel each other out. Not exactly balanced on the scales are they?

But let's not talk about scales.

Holy Sit!

I was lying on my back, stretching it and working out the kinks on the foam roller after several hours of working at my computer. As I groan in pleasure and pain simultaneously on the living room floor hubby says, "You know, sitting is the new smoking."

Say what?

I guess it is. I looked it up.

While my January has been so busy – mostly in a chair somewhere – I haven't really kept up on any news, including the story about our sedentary lives leading to earlier deaths.

Researchers have linked the long-term effects of sitting for many hours at a time with Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Even though our lives may seem fast-paced. We are kind of slowing our bodies down. We may spend 8 hours in our office chair then sit in the car for our commute home then binge-watch on Netflix from our couch or recliner. Or spend hours at the computer working on freelance assignments or messing with photos.

We are suffering from "occupational sitting" and it definitely shows on my Fitbit, where I register only a few thousand steps on those busy (sitting) days. There's a reason my wrist buzzes at least once an hour, encouraging me to get up and get some steps. I need to start listening to it. The Fitbit is far wiser than me.

I have been trying to get regular walk breaks in at work so I can reach my goal of 10,000 steps a day. But days like today when I'm super busy, I didn't even have 1,000 steps by lunch. Ouch. So I made sure I went to kickboxing tonight between sitting at work and sitting at choir. Ha. Got some steps anyway and it did feel good to move.

Even if "sitting it the new smoking," I doubt I'll have the urge to light one up. Though I wish someone would light a fire under me to get me moving!

One step at time, right? Sit less. Move more.

And, I guess, live longer. Yay.

After the Storm

After the crazy wind and rain storm that blew through last night, I decided I was not going to break that streak of getting 10,000 steps a day for the past week. Plus, the sky was pinkish and I thought maybe I'd see a rainbow.

Did not see rainbow but sometimes you don't need one. God did not disappoint in the color scheme. A few photos from a walk around the neighborhood...

As a bonus, unlike a lot of friends in central Wisconsin, we had our electrical power all night AND we did not experience flooding.

And yeah, I got my 10,000 steps! The streak continues.

Streak Week

For the first time in like, forever, I got a "gold star" every day of the week for walking, running, polka-ing 10,000 steps a day! Haven't seen that in a long time in my weekly FitBit report!

It was a concerted effort to reach it some days. I wasn't cheating. Just had to circle around the neighborhood "one more time" to reach 10,000. Other days there was kickboxing and running and golfing to contribute. Easy peasy.

Of course, today, Mother Nature is forcing me to rest on my laurels.

First it was quite warm and way beyond humid. Then, it rained. And has been raining since I got home from work. Since I had a few quick design projects to get done, I skipped kickboxing. Now I sit some 4,300 steps short. Gah!

According to the hourly forecast of 100% chance of precipitation at 7 p.m., 95% at 8 p.m. and 80% at 9 p.m., it looks like my streaking days are over.

Whew. You're welcome.

A Little Bit

Following back doctor's orders for once and not finishing my yard work via rock lifting, and not racing around the lake, and not putting my back out in kickboxing.

Sounds good but I merely stood up to go brush my teeth last night, and my neck went out of whack again.

So I am doing just a little bit. The icon above is one of the Fitbit badges that indicate I'm getting steps in. On the nice weather days I am getting steps in this week – 10,000 in fact. On the rainy days, I just sort of plug my device into the computer to charge it.

Well, I don't want it to control my life, do I?

The hard thing is being content with just walking. I do want to do more but know that the wrong thing could set me back. Did I mention this week it feels like I'm 80? Overall, better each day, though!

So I'll keep plugging away, one step at a time, bit by bit on my Fitbit.

The good thing about being 80 is that a person gets smarter with age, right?

How It Adds Up

I love that the secret to living well and longer comes down to simple math. After my huge arithmetic endeavor yesterday, I need that.

It does makes sense. It adds up to both physical and mental health. But just like anything else that is "simple," that does not mean it is "easy." As a word person (not math!), I see that mistaken assumption a lot.

Eat Half: For me, I have been trying to eat less (not half by any means) and granting myself exceptions for birthday cake and ice cream, of course. Slowly, but surely, I am seeing some results. I'll take progress in any measure.

Walk Double: I've been trying to walk or exercise more. Am having issues with my FitBit but I don't NEED that to tell me I've moved. I just need to move! Of course, tonight in kickboxing I am pretty sure I pinched or pulled my sciatic nerve. Or as a friend of ours calls it, the "psychiatric nerve." Now that might make more sense with me!

Laugh Triple: I absolutely love the freeing power of a good laugh. When we allow too much stress in, the laugh bubbles are trapped and can't get out. We have to let go once in awhile. More than once in awhile. When you have one of those moments of hilarity where you are laughing so hard you can't breathe, your shoulders and body are shaking but no sound comes out, those are the best. Total euphoria. The best endorphins around!

Love Without Measure: This is a toughy. You can easily express boundless love to a baby, a puppy or anything that will love you back unconditionally. Normal-size humans, though, come with a risk. What if I love them more than they love me? What if I get hurt? What if I do love them but never learned how to match my demonstration with my depth of feeling?

It's not that easy. But I can see why doing any and all of these things will make you feel better. Part of it is not putting so much stock in what others are doing or what others may think of you for what you are (or aren't) doing. That's the "let it go" part. Like any accomplishment on such a grand scale, it's difficult but rewarding.

I'm glad Tibet shared their secret. It's worth a shot, don't you think? Really, what do we have to lose?

I Heart The 80s

With a high reaching 81, we may have set a record in Wisconsin Rapids for April 17. I know Wausau did, so there's a good chance we did, too. I love the 80s!

Slept in and went to 10:30 a.m. church today. Before I left, I did a 3-mile run/walk – this time walking one song, but running two! Also, before I left the house, Sylvester was already in the window saying, "Places, everyone! This is how you do Sunday."

I took a cue from that later! Brought Mr. Deck Chair out of hibernation. Unfortunately, the front deck had too many hornets visiting. So I spent some quality time with Mr. Deck Chair's cousin across the street. That worked!

Meanwhile, hubby was restoring our living room to a room with a view. Thanks to my 2 black thumbs, I can't grow anything around here. But, for some reason, we've had trees sprouting up in places we don't want them! So Jim borrowed his dad's mini chainsaw and got to work.

This is the "before" view. Granted, it was taken 3 1/2 weeks ago, so the snow is finally gone. But you can see we have trees right outside our big picture window – that should offer a view of the backyard.

Jim carefully sawing the little tree trunks. I had two concerns: One that he'd hurt himself with the chainsaw – even if it was little. Two that he'd disturb a ground bees' nest. It has happened to me in that same spot!

Grateful he only made bit of a mess. Nothing that required a call to 9-1-1.

And nothing that couldn't be cleaned up quickly. We finally have a view again from our window – our clean window (with an accidental reflection). Nice work, hubby! We may need to tackle a few more projects out there before returning the chainsaw. Can't decide if I feel qualified to operate it. I can barely operate a vacuum cleaner. This would be new.

Didn't have much ambition to help. Had some design work to do on the computer, then did some grocery shopping. Somehow I got 10,000 steps again today.

Just another reason I heart the 80s!

Running Out of Juice

Despite my crazy work week, I am not the only thing running out of juice.

My FitBit died today. I swear I just charged it 2 nights ago. But now I am questioning whether I was so distracted with work on the brain, that I forgot to plug the charger IN. Duh me. Totally possible.

Meanwhile, my computer mouse is on "extremely low" battery power so I have to blog quickly so I can charge it! Not much to report today anway... unless I go off on a tangent saying things better left unsaid. 

On the plus side, despite waking up to snow on the deck and Carter's car another consecutive day, our weather man had this to report today...

The bad news: Snow will develop later tonight and it will be a chilly weekend!

The good news: A surge of warmth is likely in the second half of April! "Be patient, spring lovers," he said.

I don't know about you, but I am not exactly loaded with patience these days. One of the lessons I re-learned today – which I am not going to go off on a tangent about – is the definition of insanity. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Whether that is waking up and expecting spring (silly us) or expecting someone's behavior or attitude to change because, well, WE think it's about time.

The weather doesn't work that way and neither do people.

Maybe I need a little re-charge myself so I can pump up the patience and tolerance barometer to full capacity. Who knows? I might take that negative charge and turn it to a positive?

Could be a "pattern change," just like the weather.