Questions

I love the questions people ask.  When they receive an unsatisfactory answer they're bound and determind to get it out of you.

It's quite comical.  The less I say, the more they ask.  I know these people well.  They are less concerned about my welfare and more focused on a juicy piece of gossip that can be spread about until eventually any residue of truth is lost with each telling.

I saw a quote recently that amused me.
"Better to hear it from the horses mouth than from some jackass spreading rumors and gossip."

How true is that?!

If you're part of my circle of "besties" you will hear from me.  If you want to know something,  ask me.  If I want you to know I will tell you.  That simple.

Next time someone with questionable motives asks me a question I choose not to answer, they'll get a smile and. "Why do you want to know?

Light

It's 7:39 am and I see a hint of dawn on the horizon.   There IS hope that Spring is approaching!

My FitBit

So I asked for, and received, for Christmas....a Fit Bit.   What is a Fit bit?   It this little piece of technology that you wear on your body - in my case, my wrist - that measures the amount of activity that you do on a daily basis.  

The idea is to register 10,000 steps  - which supposedly is equivalent to 5 miles.

I've been wanting one for some time now.   So I was excited to strap it on my wrist and see just how much activity I get each day.  Surely , between the gym and my yoga classes, I hit that 10,000 step goal each and every day.

Not! 

I was amazed at how little activity I get daily.  Most of days I average between 7500 - 8500 steps.  I have a desk job and I try consciously to get off my chair at least once or twice an hour just to break up the monotony of what I'm doing and to stretch out my body.  But at the end of an 8 hour work day I'm lucky if I have 3000 steps.  Thank goodness for yoga and the gym because they help me get the steps that I do get.

Today I hit the gym and did an hour of cardio and walked around Wal-Mart - My fit bit is registering 6,112 steps.   What??!!     I have until bedtime to register another 3,888 steps.  Guess I'm going to have to do some jumping jacks, lunges and maybe some pushups or something.   Hmmmm....maybe!

The other nifty part of this fit bit thing is that you can compete with other fit bit users to see who can get the most steps.   Now I'm a competitive person - with myself.  I'm not so concerned with competing with others right now, as I am with getting my numbers higher than they are.

I have already determined that starting this week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (my non-gym days), I'm going to walk through the administration building during my lunch - all four floors (steps included), and also do some time on the Eliptical for the remainder of the time.   I do not need 45 minutes to drink my protein shake and/or eat my soup.   I could be doing some exercise that will benefit me in the long run . both mentally and physically.

On a side note - I've already made the decision that this spring I am going to get a mountain bike and ride the trails out at the Rreservoir and explore the Pipestem Dam.  I need something that'll get me outdoors and enjoying the beautiful weather.  And, since I cannot run and the doctor suggested bicycling as exercise and to strengthen my knee and quads, that's my exercise of choice.  Yes, it'll be spendy, but I figure that my health and mental well being is worth it!  (The heck with the nay-sayers!).

I wonder how many steps my fit bit will register then?   Might just have to open my profile up then and start competing with the Lorenzs, Jacksons and Voeltzs!   lol

PS:  The one time my fit bit exceeded 10,000 steps was last week Saturday at the JRCC party.  I registered 13,756!    Who says dancing isn't good exercise (for body and soul!) LOL

Intolerance

I'm amazed at how judgemental or intolerant society has become.  We're quick to bring the gavel down on a person simply because they are different.  Negativity is abundant everywhere you look.  Is it a wonder we feel defeated before we get out of bed and start our day.

Just once I'd like to hear praise instead of cutting words or judgement.   No one is perfect and if you think you are, ask someone.  They'll be all too happy to inform you of your shortcomings. 

Signed,

Tired in ND

Sometimes All You Need To Do is Bust a Move!

Sometimes all you need is a night out with friends to shake the funk.

 

Last night was the annual JRCC Holiday Party - this year hosted by B shift as it was their days off. 

 

I  had mixed emotions about going (some days I wanted it and other days I didn't want to go) because of the funk that I've been in lately.   But I donned my Sioux hockey jersey and made my way to the KC Hall at 430 to meet with my friends Vickie and Donna for a pre- party drink.

 

I made the right decision in going as those two women - each representing a very important part of my "bestie" circle of friends - made me feel better immediately.   Their hugs, smiles and laughter lifted my spirits and made me forget about my funk.

 

As others arrived that feeling of buoyancy intensified.  Drinks were shared, laughter was abundant, the joy of friendship was evident.  I was able to give hugs to Holly, who has spent the last 9 months battling cancer - and Won!  Her hugs, her smiles and her sheer joy at being able to celebrate life in the moment was a reminder to me to live each day.  I learned that another co-worker is in the hospital in Fargo with cancer.  My heart goes out to you Lloyd; you'll be in my daily thoughts and prayers in hopes that you, too, can beat this. 

 

Everyone has a battle they are fighting, but that battle can be just a little bit lighter when the burden is shared with friends who care about you and love you. 

 

B-shift outdone themselves with a funny program, crowd participating with JRCC Jeopardy, a dance-off , beer pong, prize drawings, and other activities.  But the fun part came when the dancing started.  It didn't matter who you danced with because everyone was dancing with everyone. 

 

It was joy; it was uplifting.  It's impossible to have a bad time if you have happy feet - and I had happy feet.  

 

 I don't get to dance often (hubs hates dancing), so when I get the opportunity to put on my boogie shoes, I grab it with both hands...errrr....feet...whatever.  lol.    Thank you to ALL of my dancing partners.  A big thank you to my co-worker (aka yoga student) Mike for requesting Free by Zac Brown Band and asking me to dance with him.  He and his wife Michelle are such wonderful spirits in my life - I can't thank them enough for their subtle  words of encouragement this week.   ((hugs to both of you)).  I truly now them as my friends in life. 

 

I was homeward bound when the song "Don't Stop Believing" came over the radio.  Several times this week that song came on the radio - once played by a wonderful DJ Chris Kodiak who knows of my love for Journey and dedicated it to me. 

 

Yes, sometimes the way to forget about the funk for a little while, is to bust a move and Believe!

Post Holiday Yucks

I do not know why but I have a case of the yucks.  No, that's not true.  I DO know why I have the yucks.

 

The holidays are over, the winter is 40 days long (since our first snow) and it's been brutally cold, I've been sick with a monumental cold since Christmas, hubs has been very sick.  And I have friends going through some dark times in their lives (and my heart aches for them).  Oh, and it's tax season. 

 

All perfectly good reasons to put me in this funk that I'm in.   I literally haven't been eating for a couple of days because my stomach is upset.  When I do eat, nothing tastes good.  Have to admit, that's not a bad thing when it comes to the scale.  (Those holiday pounds are now gone).

 

I try hard not to slide in to a slump but this time of year always gets to me; I struggle every year.  This depression or SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) sucks.  And I'm not alone. I have a friend experiencing  sadness also.  I'm not able to be my usual supportive self, it's even more frustrating.  I hope they know that I'm here for them with whatever they may need.  I don't want to be  pushy  and keep hounding saying "I'm here for you" all the time.  I know how I feel when I'm going through personal stuff.  I need space to get inside my head and to find my way through the darkness.   I'm thinking that's the way they're choosing to deal with it too and I understand. 

 

2014 is already starting to be a year of change. 

 

Today was interesting at work.  The Warden announced that he's leaving effective March 1st to take another "new" position within the DOCR.  It's going to make things interesting at JRCC for the next 2-3 months as the application/interview process starts.  If it's filled with someone in house, whose position will open up next?

 

The trainers at Anytime Fitness are leaving their corporation Ultra-Body Fitness and will be managed by the owner of AF, Matt.  Personally I think this change will be a good one...I hope.  They were talking about raising my rates, but I was quite vocal about it.  I've had trainers ever since they opened and I locked in one of the lowest rates available.  They listened...for now.

 

I do not know what other changes are in store...but whatever they are, I hope that I'm in the right frame of mind to handle them.  

 

 

 

 

Deep Freeze

The temperature is -17 degrees with a windchill of -47.  Nice.  The wind is howling across the prairie and all I can think of is, I want to live in Bora Bora! Not realistic, I know, but it sure gives me warmth just thinking about it - and on a day like today, any type of warmth is welcomed!

So far today I've:
breaded/browned  goose legs and put them in the crock pot with a cream sauce
cleaned the bathroom - more like disinfected everything that the cold germ can live on
made caramel rolls
swept the kitchen floor, vacuumed and dusted (I hate dusting)
set the coffee maker for tomorrow
packed my yoga bag for tomorrow (1st class of 2014!)
done three loads of laundry, folded and put away

What I still need to do:
update my yoga blog
pack my lunch for tomorrow
put my yoga stuff back in my vehicle

I definitely have more energy than I did last weekend when I was down and out.  I'm still at 70% of my normal me but trying hard not to push it too hard.  I don't want a relapse of whatever I was sick with.   It's going to be difficult as it is due to my schedule.  M - Yoga, Tue-gym and Yoga, Wed - Yoga, Thur - Gym.  Friday - off, Sat - Gym, Sun - Gym.   (Saturday and Sunday gym dates are depending on how I'm feeling).   

Hubster is suffering through a relapse this weekend.  I think he's been awake a total of maybe 2 hours all day.  His fever spiked last night but its down to a low grade fever today...manageable...so far.   He's in the bedroom watching his shows and I'm in the living room doing the channel flipping thing. 

I have nervous energy.  I've spent more time at home in the last two weeks than I have in the last three months.  I took two weeks off from yoga so give my body a break.  I think the Higher Power had me get sick cuz the Universe knew that I'd pack all my days/nights with activities on the free nights off from yoga.  I had no choice but to stay home and rest.  lol. 

Tomorrow will be my first full week of work in two.  Yuck.  BUT...I'm off on the 17th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day....so a short week is in the sights.  Do-able.