Due to an argument with my old washing machine I didn't workout this AM. I was trying to be nice to the people coming to get my old washer and dryer and J and I tried to take it up into the yard for them.
Har de har.
Yeah, did you know washing machines are retardedly heavy?
Yup. It's true.
We got it up a few steps from the subbasement and it is sitting in our main basement on a slightly scuffed floor (grrr) and then after many choice words we gave up, strained and angry. I called the lady recieving it and told her to bring 3 burly men with her as we couldn't lift it out for her and if she wanted it she'd just have to get them out of our basement. She will, thank god...
What an annoying evening...
Soggy yet satisfying
The world is not interested in my getting back at walking in the mornings...it was POURING with thunder this morning, so I didn't go out walking. Wimped out...Yes, I caved and slept in. Bad I know, but I was exhausted and stiff from attacking the yard all weekend. My hamstrings are still quite stiff. I did have a good breakfast though and have a chef's salad packed for lunch to try and assuage my guilt a bit...every little bit helps I suppose. I did bike to work though, even in the rain. I pedalled hard and fast and got to work very wet, but feeling much more awake and alert. I brought a change of clothes with me, so other than a slightly damp hairdo I'm good to go.
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I believe it's going to rain tomorrow too so I will dig out my dance fusion DVD and give it a go in the morning- it's been a while, but I need it. I need to plan for rain or I just roll over and go back to bed for half an hour. I'm feeling up to doing more than biking now...that will be a good way to start. Bellydancing doesn't start until later this week (I'm looking at "real" lessons once a week this year to learn more). I'm trying to find a balance this winter between that and the other things I want to get done. Last winter I felt hectic and rushed and didn't get as much done at home as I'd have liked...so I'm trying to find balance this fall...figure out what I really need and going with that. I learned a lot and felt great, but I need to look at all of me, not just the physical.
I'm itching to use my craft room to build a couple of glass panels for the kitchen, so I need to get working at it. As a plus, I'm happy to say I am a bit closer to setting up my exercise area - I posted my old washer and dryer to give away on kijiji and a single mom with 3 kids is going to arrange to come and get them...she's coming to take them away on tuesday - I'm glad to know they'll be used by someone who needs them...and out of my basement :) Crossing my fingers she shows up...
Must get at it. Later taters...
The whole is merely a sum of all it's parts
The wheel went kaplooey (highly technical sciency term) on our elliptical.
Boo. It's an easy fix...but we just have to get the wheel part...which of course noone stocks, but we can order in. J, who wants to work out still, is determined to use it even with the wonky wheel...which hopefully won't screw it up any more than it is now...The part broken is the wheels on the bottom front that look like giant rollerblade wheels. Luckily I can get a new set thru where we bought it from in a week...so that should get us back on track soon. My J is most cranky when he can't work out. He just can't get into walking or running outside, but loves this, so hey. I'll do whatever I can to get it fixed...
On another topic: we're quite pumped, as a few days ago we envisioned a little workout area in our basement down my my craft room and now are itching to get at making it happen. We have to get rid of our old washer and dryer first (anyone? They're free-seriously come on over...) and redo some storage shelves and then I can make some floor to ceiling curtains for to hide them and make it look neat and uncluttered. That will leave a little workout area at the foot of the stairs, which we have even daydreamed about running stereo speakers to and then moving the elliptical and other kit into. Right now the elliptical is in the middle of our downstairs living room...which works, but we're currently revamping the back part of it (which was our office) to make it into J's studio area for him to work in now that the office is upstairs. We couldn't figure out where else to put it. It will be a bit of hardcore moving/reorganising, but it will be cool to have a little area where we can leave out the elliptical, my weights and all that jazz. A little workout area. Cool. Does that make us more fit somehow, just by being in that room? :)
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I've gotta say - this getting organised thing is pretty awesome. We still have a long way to go, but we're getting there bit by bit. Painting the house sort of high jacked that for a little while, as the weather finally was warm and dry for the first time all summer so we had to make it priority to get it done, but now that it's done, it's back to Operation Organise. I'm hoping to have our areas done and set up for winter so we can hibernate and really use the spaces in our house that aren't being used to their full potential.
Exciting times...if we can actually do all we're thinking of, it'll be neat. It won't cost us too much...it will just take time and effort. But someday...whoo!
On the plus side, I'm happy to say we have totally finished painting our house.
Mehee! All I need to do is put the smiling metal sun (purple!) on the front of the house and hang our mailbox back up.
Tadah!
It really looks great. As there's always something, our yard itself is rather neglected, so it will be a weekend of yard work -the vines in our front yard have shed their leaves...so now instead of a gorgeous green front yard you can just see all the weeds that were hidden under them. (Ugh...I loves me my weeding...not), It's nice making our home better. It's exhausting but utterly fulfilling to sit back at the end of the day with a beer in hand and survey our domain and think "Yeah! WE did that!"
:)
Boo. It's an easy fix...but we just have to get the wheel part...which of course noone stocks, but we can order in. J, who wants to work out still, is determined to use it even with the wonky wheel...which hopefully won't screw it up any more than it is now...The part broken is the wheels on the bottom front that look like giant rollerblade wheels. Luckily I can get a new set thru where we bought it from in a week...so that should get us back on track soon. My J is most cranky when he can't work out. He just can't get into walking or running outside, but loves this, so hey. I'll do whatever I can to get it fixed...
On another topic: we're quite pumped, as a few days ago we envisioned a little workout area in our basement down my my craft room and now are itching to get at making it happen. We have to get rid of our old washer and dryer first (anyone? They're free-seriously come on over...) and redo some storage shelves and then I can make some floor to ceiling curtains for to hide them and make it look neat and uncluttered. That will leave a little workout area at the foot of the stairs, which we have even daydreamed about running stereo speakers to and then moving the elliptical and other kit into. Right now the elliptical is in the middle of our downstairs living room...which works, but we're currently revamping the back part of it (which was our office) to make it into J's studio area for him to work in now that the office is upstairs. We couldn't figure out where else to put it. It will be a bit of hardcore moving/reorganising, but it will be cool to have a little area where we can leave out the elliptical, my weights and all that jazz. A little workout area. Cool. Does that make us more fit somehow, just by being in that room? :)
image source.jpg){kind=link}
I've gotta say - this getting organised thing is pretty awesome. We still have a long way to go, but we're getting there bit by bit. Painting the house sort of high jacked that for a little while, as the weather finally was warm and dry for the first time all summer so we had to make it priority to get it done, but now that it's done, it's back to Operation Organise. I'm hoping to have our areas done and set up for winter so we can hibernate and really use the spaces in our house that aren't being used to their full potential.
Exciting times...if we can actually do all we're thinking of, it'll be neat. It won't cost us too much...it will just take time and effort. But someday...whoo!
On the plus side, I'm happy to say we have totally finished painting our house.
Mehee! All I need to do is put the smiling metal sun (purple!) on the front of the house and hang our mailbox back up.
Tadah!
It really looks great. As there's always something, our yard itself is rather neglected, so it will be a weekend of yard work -the vines in our front yard have shed their leaves...so now instead of a gorgeous green front yard you can just see all the weeds that were hidden under them. (Ugh...I loves me my weeding...not), It's nice making our home better. It's exhausting but utterly fulfilling to sit back at the end of the day with a beer in hand and survey our domain and think "Yeah! WE did that!"
:)
OW
Well...we are 95% done our house painting.
*grin*
Yup - we did it! One 12 hour day of prep and scrape and fill and prime and 2 hardcore days of painting while teetering on scaffolding and ladders and all that's left is a bit of trim for me to finish up this afternoon. I'm taking the afternoon off...just so it is finished. I don't know how long the weather will hold, so I want it done...
And you know what? If I may brag a bit I must say - it looks AWESOME. We changed our minds on colour right before we went to get the paint so instead of grey with red trim/accents our house is now darker grey and purple. PURPLE!
Fantastic.
The grey is totally finished and tbe front door is already done a nice deep purple and we have 1 coat on the accent parts of the front, the mailbox and the metal sun for the front of the house. Only about an hour's work on the purple and we'll be done...
I ache all over and I could have gone to bed last night right after supper, but we did it :) It was exhausting, but so very very worth it.
Yay for us!
*grin*
Yup - we did it! One 12 hour day of prep and scrape and fill and prime and 2 hardcore days of painting while teetering on scaffolding and ladders and all that's left is a bit of trim for me to finish up this afternoon. I'm taking the afternoon off...just so it is finished. I don't know how long the weather will hold, so I want it done...
And you know what? If I may brag a bit I must say - it looks AWESOME. We changed our minds on colour right before we went to get the paint so instead of grey with red trim/accents our house is now darker grey and purple. PURPLE!
Fantastic.
The grey is totally finished and tbe front door is already done a nice deep purple and we have 1 coat on the accent parts of the front, the mailbox and the metal sun for the front of the house. Only about an hour's work on the purple and we'll be done...
I ache all over and I could have gone to bed last night right after supper, but we did it :) It was exhausting, but so very very worth it.
Yay for us!
I'm melting...
I've discovered a new weightlloss trick - go to a concert indoors with 400 people on a day when it is 32 degrees out and 90% humidity. Whew.
I'm sure I sweated off 5 pounds by the time the Franz Ferdinand concert was over last night. I was actually somewhat queasy by the end of it all...blech.
But was it worth it?
Yes...it was a great show...
I plan on continuing my sweating it off regimen over the weekend with painting like a nutter. It is supposed to be so hot that I'm planning on getting up super early and then doing indoor stuff during the really hot hours and then finishing up in the evenings.
With any luck I'll get my painting done...I'll try not to melt :)
I'm sure I sweated off 5 pounds by the time the Franz Ferdinand concert was over last night. I was actually somewhat queasy by the end of it all...blech.
But was it worth it?
Yes...it was a great show...
I plan on continuing my sweating it off regimen over the weekend with painting like a nutter. It is supposed to be so hot that I'm planning on getting up super early and then doing indoor stuff during the really hot hours and then finishing up in the evenings.
With any luck I'll get my painting done...I'll try not to melt :)
Another healthy option!
I'm so pumped -my brother got me a potato ricer.
I *love* riced potatoes. My Mum used to make them as a treat for my Dad (he loves them too). I find it so fresh and yummy and way healthier than mashed potatoes...you just boil the potato until it's just soft and skoosh it through the ricer. It makes soft fluffy healthy potatoes tidbits. You can have them plain or ...I love to add some peas and a bit of pepper...yummy. You can even do sweet potatoes or other veggies with them. Even use it for fruit or to make chutney. Yum.
I've looked for a ricer for years, but they were more of a thing in the 50s and 60s when people used them to make perfect lump free mashed potatoes for guests (god forbid there were lumps -how people would talk!). I've never seen one to buy...and believe me I've looked. As someone who owns a twinkie making kit and all manner of kitchen tools, I likes me my kitchen tools.
I'm glad he thought to get it when he saw it - he's a cool guy that way.
So guess what's for supper? Healthy food that's tasty. Gotta love it :)
I *love* riced potatoes. My Mum used to make them as a treat for my Dad (he loves them too). I find it so fresh and yummy and way healthier than mashed potatoes...you just boil the potato until it's just soft and skoosh it through the ricer. It makes soft fluffy healthy potatoes tidbits. You can have them plain or ...I love to add some peas and a bit of pepper...yummy. You can even do sweet potatoes or other veggies with them. Even use it for fruit or to make chutney. Yum.
I've looked for a ricer for years, but they were more of a thing in the 50s and 60s when people used them to make perfect lump free mashed potatoes for guests (god forbid there were lumps -how people would talk!). I've never seen one to buy...and believe me I've looked. As someone who owns a twinkie making kit and all manner of kitchen tools, I likes me my kitchen tools.
I'm glad he thought to get it when he saw it - he's a cool guy that way.
So guess what's for supper? Healthy food that's tasty. Gotta love it :)
Just call me Cuban Pete...
I noticed something this weekend while away dancing my ass off at a music festival: How I dance to some music has changed since I've gotten more physically active...Since starting up running I find that often when I'm really into music I will dance around the room...sort of combining the whole dance and run thing. Part of why I like running so much is because it combines the whole "this music makes me want to MOVE!" thing with fitness without causing the men in white coats to come by my yard and take me in for dancing around the yard every morning for 35 minutes :). I also tend to bust out the shimmies and hip circles without thinking...bellydancing is sneaking in there too.
My knee has been very happy lately so starting tomorrow I will begin some speed walking in the morning - 45 minutes hopefully. Then I'll add runny bits here and there in a few weeks if all goes well. Hopefully my knee will be happy with this. And yes, I have a very good excuse as to why I didn't this morning. It's my husband's birthday so I got up early to make him blueberry lemon scones for breakfast before I took off to work. They are yummy.
Yeah. It's like that! ;)
Paintercize
I'm seeing how many calories can be burned going up and down and up and down up and down and up and down up and down and up and down up and down and up and down up and down and up and down up and down and up and down up and down and up and down up and down and up and down up and down and up and down a ladder with a paintbrush and paint scraper...
I'm priming and painting the trim and siding on my house. It's taking a while as the time I booked off to do this was rainy the whole time so I'm picking away at it now after work before sunset, much to the entertainment of my neighbors.
Painting burns calories right? :)
I'm priming and painting the trim and siding on my house. It's taking a while as the time I booked off to do this was rainy the whole time so I'm picking away at it now after work before sunset, much to the entertainment of my neighbors.
Painting burns calories right? :)
Good times
I had a great weekend at the lake...even tho it rained saturday morning (complete with thunder and the whole bit) by the evening it was clearing up with a lake as calm as glass. We went for a few hikes once the rain stopped and then went out for a nice 2 hour canoe ride after supper (BBQ steak...mmm...). When we got back it was time for the last of the peach pie...YUM :)
Sunday it was gorgeous out so we got in a fishing trip (we all caught our limits!) and some swimming in the lake. The lake was very cold, but we were quite stubborn and swam for about half an hour after which we came in teeth chattering for some rum and coffee. Then a quick family meal and it was back home, jiggety jig. We got to play with our new camera this weekend (which is waterproof) which was cool...once I figure out how to get photos OFF it I'll post a few on my other blog.
It was over far too quickly. But it wasn't such a food fest like it normally is. I've found trips at the lake are a bit better now...my Mum has given up her "eat eat eat" thing she's always had for us all. There aren't snacks out 24/7 anymore. There's fruit and tea and the odd cookie STAT, but nothing like the snackery on every free flat counter top that she usually has had. I know my Dad is trying to be more healthy (he has a quite the jelly belly on him) so she figures not having it out will curb the nibbling. I know it sure helped me, that's for sure :) I have no willpower so my usual solution at home is to just not have treats about and then I won't be tempted (and give in to said temptation). It reminded meto continue to keep the treats out of the house...
It was so nice to see my Mum and Dad. They're both keeping busy and my Mum, who has some fairly major heart problems, has finally found a pace of life and gotten the medications she needs that makes her happy and full of energy...she was doing much better than she was last I saw her.
I heart my mum...
I did forget some work stuff up there...which made for me going in early to work today to do something AGAIN as I'd left the calculations up there and had to redo them all (boo)...but it's done now, and I'm here at work sniffling and sneezing as little as possible. As soon as I can I'm off home to bed to relax under the covers with some tea and nyquil...aahhh...
LATER: Screw the nyquil. Fiddling with my new camera is too much fun!
I've uploaded some pictures and video from the weekend.
Gaze in awe at my fishing skills.
Gasp in wonder at how my hair flies around in the fish boat...
Oh Yes...check it out...we are, indeed, all kinds of cool :)
Sunday it was gorgeous out so we got in a fishing trip (we all caught our limits!) and some swimming in the lake. The lake was very cold, but we were quite stubborn and swam for about half an hour after which we came in teeth chattering for some rum and coffee. Then a quick family meal and it was back home, jiggety jig. We got to play with our new camera this weekend (which is waterproof) which was cool...once I figure out how to get photos OFF it I'll post a few on my other blog.
It was over far too quickly. But it wasn't such a food fest like it normally is. I've found trips at the lake are a bit better now...my Mum has given up her "eat eat eat" thing she's always had for us all. There aren't snacks out 24/7 anymore. There's fruit and tea and the odd cookie STAT, but nothing like the snackery on every free flat counter top that she usually has had. I know my Dad is trying to be more healthy (he has a quite the jelly belly on him) so she figures not having it out will curb the nibbling. I know it sure helped me, that's for sure :) I have no willpower so my usual solution at home is to just not have treats about and then I won't be tempted (and give in to said temptation). It reminded meto continue to keep the treats out of the house...
It was so nice to see my Mum and Dad. They're both keeping busy and my Mum, who has some fairly major heart problems, has finally found a pace of life and gotten the medications she needs that makes her happy and full of energy...she was doing much better than she was last I saw her.
I heart my mum...
I did forget some work stuff up there...which made for me going in early to work today to do something AGAIN as I'd left the calculations up there and had to redo them all (boo)...but it's done now, and I'm here at work sniffling and sneezing as little as possible. As soon as I can I'm off home to bed to relax under the covers with some tea and nyquil...aahhh...
LATER: Screw the nyquil. Fiddling with my new camera is too much fun!
I've uploaded some pictures and video from the weekend.
Gaze in awe at my fishing skills.
Gasp in wonder at how my hair flies around in the fish boat...
Oh Yes...check it out...we are, indeed, all kinds of cool :)
All that and a piece of pie
Well my pie filled world is slowing down finally. The fruit we brought back from BC was made into pies, which I and my family have been eating for a week or so. I have also gotten the cold J had last week, but it's my own fault - I kept sneaking kisses from a sickly guy...what are ya gonna do? I'm just going to medicate myself up and have a good weekend regardless...
This weekend we are heading up to the lake to visit my parents...I've saved a peach pie to take up for them and I'm looking forward to a weekend of swimming and hiking and BBQs (I have some steaks to take along...yum). I'm bringing up my snorkel and flippers...I can't wait to swim around the lake with J - since he's learned to swim a few years ago it's been great sharing all these things I've enjoyed doing since I was a kid with him...I'm hoping that someday he'll be comfortable enough under water that we can go somewhere and snorkel at coral reefs. We'll see. For now it's snorkel and look at minnows...I'll take it. Even fishing and canoeing are up for grabs now, as he's not spending his entire time freaked out that he might drown (that tended to suck out any enjoyment he's had from those things before). My doc said swimming might help my annoying knee heal up better...I'll see how it handles the swimming there. If it likes it I may do some swimming when we get back home for a while :). Starting September I'm declaring my rest period for my knee over and I want to jump back into things without mucking my knee up again. Hopefully slow and steady (plus starting up my bellydancing again) will do the trick.
My Mum and Dad have friends at the lake right now so it will make the visit a bit less hectic. My Dad is always worried that we aren't enjoying ourselves when we come up and is looking for things for use to do all the time. I'm just glad to see them...and be in one of my most favourite places on earth. We just go up to see them and relax. I love to swim and hike...pick berries with my Mum...watch the stars come out over the lake at night one by one...fiddle out in the shop with Dad and drink hot chocolate and play cards and dominoes until the wee hours.
Can you tell I'm looking forward to the weekend? :)
Hope you all have a good weekend.
This weekend we are heading up to the lake to visit my parents...I've saved a peach pie to take up for them and I'm looking forward to a weekend of swimming and hiking and BBQs (I have some steaks to take along...yum). I'm bringing up my snorkel and flippers...I can't wait to swim around the lake with J - since he's learned to swim a few years ago it's been great sharing all these things I've enjoyed doing since I was a kid with him...I'm hoping that someday he'll be comfortable enough under water that we can go somewhere and snorkel at coral reefs. We'll see. For now it's snorkel and look at minnows...I'll take it. Even fishing and canoeing are up for grabs now, as he's not spending his entire time freaked out that he might drown (that tended to suck out any enjoyment he's had from those things before). My doc said swimming might help my annoying knee heal up better...I'll see how it handles the swimming there. If it likes it I may do some swimming when we get back home for a while :). Starting September I'm declaring my rest period for my knee over and I want to jump back into things without mucking my knee up again. Hopefully slow and steady (plus starting up my bellydancing again) will do the trick.
My Mum and Dad have friends at the lake right now so it will make the visit a bit less hectic. My Dad is always worried that we aren't enjoying ourselves when we come up and is looking for things for use to do all the time. I'm just glad to see them...and be in one of my most favourite places on earth. We just go up to see them and relax. I love to swim and hike...pick berries with my Mum...watch the stars come out over the lake at night one by one...fiddle out in the shop with Dad and drink hot chocolate and play cards and dominoes until the wee hours.
Can you tell I'm looking forward to the weekend? :)
Hope you all have a good weekend.
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