Friday, August 24, 2018

COOL

I am loving this cooler weather and the breeze!  I didn't my walk in yesterday, but did ride my bike.  =]  We washed all the dog beds (we have 4; beds not dogs), washed the dog and left the windows open over night.  The fresh smells this morning were awesome!!

I enjoyed not sweating profusely during my walk this morning.  7 more days to my goal!!  I haven't been perfect, but there are an abundance of stickers on Ms. R's calendar.  This last week I have been lucky to cross paths with Ms. R and her mom as they drive to a morning appointment.  Total bonus!!

FYI . . . 48 days to VACATION!!  😀

Monday, August 20, 2018

And, it's Monday again!!

August is half way over and it's been a busy one.  The AFS exchange students have arrived, Brian traveled to South Carolina, Parker graduated from Job Corps and I am still walking.

I still feel tired.  Always tired.  I know it is my food choices.  Most days are good, some days are still bad . . . really bad . . . Sigh

My goal is to get through this month, continuing to visit Ms. R's house each day.  I am getting bored with the route.  Yes I try to change it up; 14th St, 13th St, going up and down different side streets.


Wednesday, August 08, 2018

Three days off; Two days on

Oh no!  Three days no go!  Sigh . . . 

I don't even have a good excuse, except to say it was a week of long training days that started at 8am.  That's not even really a good excuse, because I still had time to get my walk and a shower in.  =[

So I was humbled to write Ms. R an apology note for no reward this week, along with a commitment to be more dedicated.

She surprised me with a note and artwork this morning.  Oh, the innocence and joy of youth!

Friday, August 03, 2018

Rough Couple of Days =(

Ugggghhhhh! 

That pretty much sums it up.  I have just felt blah the last couple of days.  Have a head ache.  Am wrestling with a difficult decision.  Hannah's voice on my alarm is broken.  I just want to stay in bed and hide.

No can do.  So on goes the happy face and the "just push through" speech.

Yes, I got my walk in.  Thank heaven for Ms. R and the daily calendar sticker.  It hasn't been pretty.  At timed down right mopey, but I got it done.

Now I sit here catching up on some volunteer work, drinking milk and eating donut holes . . . SERIOUSLY . . . UGGGGGHHHHH . . .

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Grateful for Nature's Beauty

Got a late start today . . . but found some gratefulness in my timing.  These lovelies crossed my path.  They didn't run, just checked me out and went about getting their breakfast.  The buck stayed about 20 feet from the doe and her babies.  I stood and enjoyed for several minutes.  ❤

I made it to the End of July!!

Received a nice phone call from Hannah as I crossed Union and hit the homeward stretch. 🕿


Monday, July 30, 2018

TWO WEEKS!

I hit the two week mark today.  The scale says 3 pounds lost this week.  I know it's an accomplishment, but the vicious voice in my head says . . . "How many times have you lost and regained 3 pounds?  And it you hadn't eaten the cookies this weekend, how many more pounds could you have lost?"

In another book that I have read by my friend Jennifer Pettersen, she talks about the committee in our head who calls meetings talk about us.  She says when we notice that meeting occurring to say two words . . . "Meeting Adjourned."  I didn't think I would need that piece of her advice, but today I can see that it is valid advice.

I bought so new walking shoes.  I am starting to feel some changes in my body.

From 7/28 . . . Really . . . ?

I came out of my room, all dressed to go for my walk, and this was on the table!
Somehow, I was able to resist . . . Both going and returning.

Then it was off to Portland to drop off Brian's car for it's 60,000 mile service and Newberg for lunch with Uncle Jerry.  While in Newberg I adopted a new cat.  Reya, named after a Magic the Gathering character, couldn't stay with Ricky anymore.  He is moving to a new place.
That's her hiding on a shelf in the laundry room.  She is so tiny and cute. 


Thursday, July 26, 2018

Round Trip

Oh Mm Gee!  Did my first round trip today.  I got a late start; 7:40a.  It was already warm.  I got back home at 8:20a.  So not too bad of time; 40 minutes for 2.25 miles.  I can do this!! 🙌

Monday, July 23, 2018

Week 2 Begins

One week down.  Six days of morning walks.  One day of sweat inducing house cleaning.  Two sore legs.  One sore foot.  One reward delivered to Ms. R.


This week my goal is to work harder at not snacking.  Super hard for me.  Especially in the afternoons.  Also hard as pastries and other goodies appear often in our office kitchen.  😱

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Day 5 . . . I want it to be easier . . . NOW

Getting up is getting easier; the aching in my body is not.  I know it will come.  Working through the rough part is hard.

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

A little "R" Motivation

Today I walked approximately 1.1 miles for the 3rd day in a row.  But . . . I almost didn't.

The plan is to hitch a ride from Brian over to a friend's house.  Ironically, we have matching house numbers; 710.  Ours on the east, theirs on the west.  According to Google, we are 1.1 walking miles apart.

Our friend's have four children, the youngest is six years old.  R is a glorious child, vivacious and smart.  She is my motivation.  The second part of the plan is the clipboard I placed in their yard.  Each day that I walk, I place a sticker on a calendar.  When I make it seven days in a row, R gets a reward.

Today, Brian left early.  I didn't realize this was happening until I hear the dog food hitting the bowl. He was on his way to the car when I stopped him.  He waited.  I got dressed.  I walked.  I couldn't let R down.  Someday I hope it will transition into I can't let myself down.

Friday, July 13, 2018

90 day count down begins!

In 90 days, Brian and I will get on an airplane bound for London!  I can't wait, but I have a lot to accomplish in 90 days.  For serious . . . I need to get serious!

Monday, July 02, 2018

And Monday it is!

One of my other five second rule things is Hannah's voice counting down and saying "get up" as my alarm.  Today I woke up on my own, before the alarm went off.  The hard part for me is actually getting out of bed.  My goal for today was to get up on time and go for a walk.  After a fashion, both of those were accomplished.  I did wake up, but I laid there until Brian got out of the shower.  I did get up and we made the bed.  Then I spent 45 minutes browsing Facebook and YouTube.  I settled upon a walking video by Leslie Sansone that I am familiar with.  I put my tennis shoes on and did a 15 minute, 1 mile walk indoors.  It wasn't perfect, but it got the job done.

July 1 - New Beginnings

For 2018, July 1 falls on a Sunday.  It is the beginning of a new week, a new month, a new quarter.  It is summer and the weather is perfect.  Making it the perfect time for a new start.

I've been listening to Mel Robbins' book "The 5 Second Rule".  The gist of the rule is that you can change any habit in 5 seconds, but interrupting and redirecting your thoughts.

Add to this, Brian and I have book our first major vacation together.  We've traveled, we've even left the country.  But there were always children at home with grandma, work or other responsibilities to worry about.

So . . .  I have decided to use the five second rule to be more grateful, more faithful, more healthy, more in-tune with me.  I want to enjoy our trip with worries.

I created this poster and have it by the door in my office.  My thinking is to remind myself to turn left when I am restless.  The candy box, candy bowl, licorice tub and kitchen are all to the right!


June 30 - A Brief Update

Hannah graduated from Lane Community College in Eugene on Saturday, June 16th with an Associates degree in Exercise & Movement Science.  She is living with her boyfriend of 2.5 year Dillon.

Parker is attending Job Corps in Astoria.  He is working on becoming a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant.  He is working at his externship at Water's Edge here in The Dalles.  He has work at the Sleep Center and is currently at Internal Medicine.  Next week he will work in Cardiology and then back to Astoria to finish up his training.

Eli graduated from The Dalles High School on Saturday, June 9th.  He is still working on  his future plans.  But for now, he is working at our local Staples in the Copy Center.

Brian finished his Bachelors degree from Chico State.  But he decided to go to work for Google instead of teach.  It was a rough start as a temp with no benefits.  But he has continued to work his way up one ladder and switch over to another one.  We appreciate him being a full time Googler and the benefits it brings to our family.

I was recruited to return to Orchard View Farms.  I am working under their new Controller as the Accountant.  I still get to be around my first love, Payroll.  But it's been fun doing something different.