Day 112 - April 22, 2012

A day of rest.  Sleeping in and several church meetings mean I will not get in 6 mini meals.  And I couldn't do a bike ride in the rain plus thought 6 days of 90 minutes resulted in me needing a break. 

On the surprise- Tipper has been meowing around, coming up but then running back down.  Today she just came on up and is being really friendly!.  We shut the bedroom she had been hiding in hoping it will keep her mingling.  She seems a bit thin- but then maybe it's just Sphinx is so big but she is eating and drinking well.  Holds her ground with the other two and now they let her be.  Hopefully the 3 will become buddies.  Meanwhile, a photo of her!

Day 111- April 21, 2012

Long run on the banner trail.  Stiff from 2 workouts and 90 minutes a day, it was a slow day but got 6 miles in.

The honeysuckle is blooming.  The smell was intoxicating.   A light rain but the sweet aroma kept me going.

Day 110 Friday April 20, 2012

Earth day celebration called Trash Bash today.  Our company let's us participate on company time.  Beautiful day, wonderful company and much accomplished.  I exceeded 10K steps too.

A baby robin has apparently hatched as we noted on the riverwalk trail.......

Day 109 - April, 19, 2012

March was so unusually warm so it's been disappointing how cool and rainy April is.  I know some areas are know for that damp, coolness but I find it really depressing.  Maybe even more depressing that snow!  We've had killing frosts at night after March's 70+ temps.  The 17th it warmed up and we had tornado's and much damage in the general area.

Day 108 - April 18, 2012

Blooms I found on my evening 5 mile walk/jog intervals

Day 107 - April 17, 2012

New best friends.  I am learning to use the Body Bugg.  Apparently doesn't give me as much burn as other things but I know it has been good for me.  Of course now other things are falling behind like morning pages but again I'll get in a new routine. 

Hour of Yoga, Got the Body Bugg registered, at by my plan and another week is on it's way.  Today a walk at lunch followed by my 45 minutes of group training.  Total of 90 minutes.

Day 106 - April 16, 2012

Tonight I spend some time putting down some goals or ways I'd feel I was successful in my training classes.  I've learned the hard way it can't be all about weight.  Some weeks you do the right things and your body just won't cooperate.  Other times when you really haven't earned it, your body drops much more than expected.  It's probably a work in progress but I'm hoping that maybe those weeks when nothing else seems to be working, I can see some of those things happening.

Day 105- April 15, 2012

An email from my Yoga teacher with her signature block of Peace and Balance caught my eye tonight.  Upon reflection I decided this process I am starting with the small group personal trainer and focusing on my needs for a bit is better described as searching for Peace and Balance.  I edited my journal for the process to reflect that.

Day 104 - April 14, 2012

Stormy weather- flash floods..........

Day 103 - April 13, 2012

bye bye my friend.  I must give you up soon for H2O........... sigh..........

Day 102 April 12,2012

Trails are greening up- way too early.  What strange weather.

Day 101 - April 11, 2012

Hillary finally decided to try the Kitty Condo.  Surprisingly, she is the one consistently using it.  She likes to lay on the couch and bat the balls and play mice that hang on it.  The posts are covered with twine type material and she loves to "claw" it.  She hides in the middle box and watches us.

If Sphinx climbs in my lap, Hillary come right over and off he goes.  What a big baby but I have had both in swatting distance content to sit with me and ignore the other.  Now if Tipper would just come up.....

Day 100 - April 10, 2012

I started doing some research due to signing up for a small group personal training sessions and thinking about what I wanted to do once my job ended.  That research I posted to May.

Day 99 - April 9, 2012

At the end of last year, I'd been toying with the idea of starting training for something but work was too up in the air.  We moved buildings, we catch our breath, we released half our staff and again we try to find our balance.  I decided to not waste that work so I wrote them up and pasted them in.  I'd debated on just writing on the pages but decided that the journal blocks could be moved if an event is moved to a different month in later years or if I don't want it on the list any longer.

Day 98 - April 8, 2012

In the back of the Possibilities SMASH, I made a list of some things on my "want to do list".    It's a place to list the stuff I'd like to do and then in the front I have by month potential ways to meet that goal.  If I want to the 5K one and I'm ready in April, then I flip to that page.  I left a blank page or two- although on the next page may require me adding something you can see writing on but there is space left.

Day 97,April 7, 2012

Have I mentioned how much I love SMASH books.  The seem to be a good, quick solution to my need for lists and easy scrap books.  I'm trying to stop getting further and further behind.  This one is called - Possibilities.  Activities I've wanted to do.  The cover is I spent a bit of time coloring.  It has these raised designs and they begged me for color-

Day 96 - Friday April 6, 2012

Printed pictures on the way home and added a couple pictures.  Big enough to take the slide and her ego boosted by a boy at the pool, she did her first slide and then would not stop!

Not sure why this page is not clear.  I've taken it 2-3 times and always blurry!

Day 95 - Thursday April 5, 2012

A day with my granddaughter and her birthday buddy (her cousin).  I smashed in the receipt and fold it then used it for notes.

Day 94 - Wednesday April 4, 2012

a final page starting off with the new cruise info.  The flight and itenerary express docs are included in the pocket.  I printed the luggage tag out on card stock to decorage the pocket.  This one will be put aside until we leave on or return from the cruise.

Day 93 Tuesday April 3, 2012

A picture page and a pocket page - finishing out the first cruisetour - at least until I find the stuff I know I have and have misplaced or lost.

The pocket on the right contains notes from friends, including the one that passed away in January, who took care of Sphinx for us.

Day 92 - Sunday April 1 2012

More in the Alaska SMASH

Before

And after.  I could post picture on the "save for later" master page if needed since these are just taped in on the top.

Day 91 - March 31, 2012

From the Alaska SMASH book before and after

Day 90 -Friday March 30, 2012

MUST  
KEEP
GOING
I'm spending too much time working on projects to post.  Day 90- a picture of the tree in our front yard.  It's very unusual to have trees budding and leafing out so early- really still winter here.

Day 89- Thursday March 29, 2012

 Wrote up the description of our time from the arrival at Denali until just about to leave Denali on the 17th.  The next pages in the album- nice picture of the world.  I really believe that I will find the other pictures or papers/documents that I kept from the trip so I am leaving this blank with the idea of adding a low pouch at the bottom to hold this stuff later.

Day 88 - Wednesday March 28,2012

I won't show the 'before" since it's obvious from the after. 
Day one of the trip- our flight to Fairbanks, overnight and the bus ride to Denali.

Day 87 - Tuesday March 27, 2012

I got a SMASH book in the large size.  I'm going to use it to record our ill fated earlier Alaska cruise and the one we "redo" in May.  This is the cover I did.  The picture is an 8 x 10 I did  of a close up of sea lions sunning on a bouy when we did a whale watching cruise in Juneau.  I'm hoping to get what I have recorded now- before we leave- and may even take this along since it's so easy to "smash" stuff in.  Then I'd just have to add the pictures later.  I've already "lost" the pictures from landing in Fairbanks until on the boat in Seward.  So here I am working on this!

I've ordered some other 4 x 6 photos I may possibly add around the corners

Day 86 - Monday March 26 2012

The babies got a new toy- a kitty condo.  Sphinx took the first exploration!

Day 85 - Sunday March 25, 2012

Sommerset Trail.  A bird has a nest that is simply her digging a hole in the dirt.  She blended in with the rocks but she was right there by the trail.  She moved as I walked by so I went back- she scurried off and I couldn't get a picture.  Later she was back with the eggs.  Can't believe how early and how close to the trail they are.  Actual color.  I didn't adjust at all!

Day 84 - Saturday March 24, 2012

Took a 12 mile bike ride today and we saw these geese and ducks from the trial.  Amazing weather!

Day 83 - March 23, 2012

We are going to have breakfast and something happened that has never happened before- Sphynx jumped up in hubby's seat just like every day he too ate at the table!

Day 82 - Thursday March 22, 2012

Signs of budding across the street- really early for the year

Page 81 - Wednesday March 21, 2012

Unreal weather for March.  Prairie dog at the zoo.

Day 80 -Tuesday March 20, 2012

I'll be losing my job around January 10, 2012.  I'll look for a job internally and hope to find one till I can take the early retirement but a lot of people were layed off.  In the last 18 months I've not seen a lot of great matches.  With a little over 2 years from the announcement to the reality of being jobless, I've kind of been in limbo- I need the severance to pay for schooling and the unemployment to live on for at least part of the schooling.  You try to streamline bills, pay down, pay off, and whatever to prepare.  It's been a crazy busy 18 months but you do what you must- there is severance and stay bonus at risk.  Now as the time runs down, I decided it was time to put me first as much as I can.  Menopause, thyroid not working in the normal range, stress, losing exercise partners to new jobs, trying (and sometimes failing) to keep in touch to people that have been dear to you for 15-20 or more years. 

I ended up investing in a personal trainer for a small group.  There will be 6-8 of us and our trainer works with us for an hour twice a week.  I also got a Body Bugg (Think the Biggest Loser).  I've followed "diets" or food plans without the results I've wanted.  It's been a cycle of being really strict for weeks and losing little -none or even a small gain so then "why try".  I hope that the change in routine will will help get my thyroid improving rather than this continually increasing the medications.  I hoped the Body Bugg might show where things aren't working as I would expect.  I'll charge it this weekend and start it on Monday April 16.  I'm hoping the personal trainer can review the diet and exercise from that site once I set it up.  Meanwhile despite what the Doctor and wellness staff have offered up, my trainers suggested eating seems to have a bit of a twist.  I hope her access to the info will keep me doing my exercise and food consistently.  Who knows maybe I'll lose more than the 8 lbs I hope for in 8 weeks and invest in another 8 weeks   :)

At this time I was discovering SMASH journals.  I need to catch up scrapping but also find there is this inbetween place that doesn't need page protectors or necessarily all the bells and whistles.  It's just a place to record where you have come from much like a journal.  A place to cram in the dress I want when I've lost weight or a silly thing that made me happy.  Not necessarily something you have to record in daily but you could.  I might just put a page in the various things as I go and fill it up over a year or so.  Or you might have something to fill it all at once.  For this 8 weeks of finding some balance- eating enough, not too much, getting the right amount and type of exercise, enough sleep, and working with the persoanl trainer I want to record the journey.  Another tool I hope to keeping at it.  Here is the SMASH I started for this and a smple of the first page.

Day 79 - Monday March 19, 2012

Happy Birthday to my baby girl.

Funny how this worked out.  I love sunsets and sunrises.  I just seem to have a camera around and be up for more sunsets than sunrises.  Yesterday was a sunset on a dinner cruise in the waters near Ka'anapali Shores, Maui, Hawaii.  Today is the sunset here in Iowa

Day 78 -Sunday March 18, 2012

Here is one of the entries I made into Island Magazines Photo contest.    When I submitted mine, there were like 750 and a deadline of April 15.  It's now roughly 1200 submissions and for some reason they have extended this to April 27.  Lots of neat photo's to look at

<h2><a href="http://www.islands.com/photo-contest/2012/photos/all/133680">Islands Magazine</a></h2><p>Near Ka'anapali Shores</p><a href="http://www.islands.com/photo-contest/2012/photos/all/133680">View Photo...</a>

I see the picture isn't pulling in so---

Day 77 - March 17, 2012

A fun day at the zoo with some of my grandkids.  The seals and sea lions have a new exhibit.  Here is a picture from beside their pool looking in.

Day 76 - Friday March 16, 2012

You have 5 words for your tombstone to describe your life-

Lived fully till I died

I hope that I have.  I've certainly tried.

How about yours?

Day 75 - Thursday March 15, 2012

Today was another edit to the Lists book.  This time it's 100 foods to try before you die.    You can google it and find some versions but I decided to use this one

http://culinspiration.wordpress.com/2009/05/03/100-foods-to-try-before-you-die/

Of the 100 I can count
Venison
Nettle Tea
Uuevos Rancheros
Black Pudding (blood Sausage)
Cheese Fondue
Carp
Calamari
PB & J
Hot Dog from a street cart (NYC)
Fruit wine - my friends father made home made wine- tried a fair array but not a big wine drinker
Steamed pork buns
Pistachio Ice Cream
Heirloom tomatoes
Fresh wild berries (growing up in the country made this easy.  Only place I've had gooseberries fresh)
Foie Gras
Rice and Beans
Brawn or Head Cheese
Dulce de Leche
Oysters
Baklava
Wasabi Peas
Clam Chowder
Sauerkraut  (my grandma's homemade was my favorite)
Rootbeer Float
Jello shot or Vodka Jelly
gumbo
Oxtail (soup)
goat's mile
Chicken Tikka Masala
Eel
Original Crispy Creme
Paneer
McDonald's Big Mac Meal
Spaetzle
Beer avobe 8% ABV
S'mores
Frog legs
Balgnats,churros, elephant ears or funnel cakes - think I've had 3 of the 4
Fried Plantain
Gazpacho
Caviar and blini
Hostess Fruit Pie
Road Kill (the Pheasant my ex husband hit and killed with his truck)
Snail
Bellini
Tom Yum
Eggs Benedict
goulash
Flowers -dandelions
Spam
soft shell Crab
Catfish
Bagel and Lox
Polenta
Snake

By my count that is 52-  How about you?  How many do you have?

Day 74 - Wednesday March 14, 2012

I've been doing a lot of organizing again mainly because I found this transistioning stuff to the basement left me unable to sit down effectively and just work on creative stuff daily.  Additionally preparing for being out of work or having it slow down enough to use vacation time, I want to be ready catch up at home and do things like painting.  In the process of my sorting, I'd found a list of "places" I had on my list.  They aren't in the 100 list so I created an addendum on the unused page behind that list.  I won't bore you with the photo- it's not that exciting or really easy to photograph well- but I will share with you those places-

Hannibal, MO  My childhood love of Mark Twain
Savannah, GA  So I can see the places mentioned in Midnight of the Garden of Good and Evil
Atlanta, GA-    Thinking if I were that close go see HotLanta
Tybee Island, GA- might be able to add it in
Sante Fe, NM  I passed through the area once in my youth and was very taken by it
Taos, NM        same as Sante Fe
Show-Low Arizona- again I traveled through and it felt "homelike"
Area 51, NV  I can't explain this- idle curiousity. 
Rachel, NV- time the above trip for the organized midnight run while I am there
Molokai-Lanai when I can return to Maui and do the day ferry trips there
Kauai, the Big Island and Maui - Oahu for that matter I'd return to in a heartbeat!
Chincoteague Island, VA - back to my childhood- Remember Misty of Chincoteague?
Belgium- to find out some family histor regarding my great grandfather
Any of the Laura Ingalls Wilder home locations!

Day 73 - Tuesday March 13, 2012

So I had some days done but then got worried about copyright issues.  On top of PC issues, downloading of pictures issues- I was about to just give up.  I decided that on those days I'll just have an additional 'do over" that I can post.

I have a book- List yourself.  I think that most of it's good but some pages I would not fill in.  I was at the same time some days pulling up Wreck This Journal or This is not a Book.  I thought- this is my book.  I've written in it.  It's not like it will be resold or shared anyway so why not accomodate what I need.  Add in some of the "lists".  Bucket lists if you will.  If I don't finish them it's cool but fun things to watch for opportunities if I got the chance.  The first adaptation I did was from 100placestovisit.com.  You can see the entire list there.    Of the 100, I have been to 7
Los Angeles
Seattle (come May for our do over Alaskan cruise)
Grand Canyon
New York
Las Vegas
Waikiki/Honolulu
Juneau

Already on my wish list
Ngorongoro Center, Tanzania (and our companion church)
Great Barrier Reef
Ayers Rock, AU
Darwin, AU
Key West, FL
New Orleans, LA
Melbourne, AU
Perth, AU
Dublin, Ireland
Washington, DC
Aucklund, NZ
Madagascar, Africa
Machu Pichu, Peru
Nairobi, Kenya
Capetown, S Africa
Sydney, AU

I won't likely manage those let alone all the 100 but a girls gotta dream big!