My weekend started off Friday when my friends J & L both called me to let me know that we were having a get together at J's to discuss the upcoming houseboat party (June 1-June 3) and that they would take no excuses from me, that I needed to show up at least for a little while...so I did! Even knowing that I still hadn't packed my backpack for my trip Sat & Sun...
I didn't drink knowing that I needed to be my best for the climb the next day (altho there was still plenty of booze from our last get together...a week ago). I just stuck to drinking water but ended up staying until 12:30 am...got home and threw a few things in my backpack...tried to sleep for a couple of hours and finally got up around 5 am to finish packing and get to the park n ride to meet the rest of the gang...figuring that I would be able to sleep a couple of hours on the ride up to the trail head (which is in SC)...Which didn't happen because I ended up riding with Lee & Kelly and had to play catch up on all the news since I've seen them last...I've missed a couple of outings because of work that they were on...this was my 5th trip with Lee and first with Kelly (his girlfriend) but have been partying with them outside of the AOC...they are fun...oh yeah, John rode with us too...he's a 27 year old who looks to be 19...he's a sweetheart...
This trip we had a pretty big crowd...16 in all...usually there is only about 8-10 peoples but Bruce (our leader) decided "the more the merrier" on this trip...and boy was he right...
there were 4 new campers that I had never met...but mostly I knew everyone...altho I was the oldest in the group..there were a couple of other guys around my age...Bruce is 56 and Buck is 55...(there were 6 gals & 10 guys...a good combination if you ask me...) the youngest was Kelly at 23...
The first day we hiked in about 3 miles wearing our backpacks (mine weighs about 37 pounds..just can't seem to get the weight down...so I was glad that this one was a short trip with backpacks) to our campsite...mostly down hill ( which meant that we would be hiking uphill all the way out the next day...never a good thing)..
We then set up camp and ate lunch..then set out to explore the area sans backpacks....we had 3 waterfalls to see that day...we figure we covered about 6 miles..lots of up and downs but it was a pretty good hike...the waterfalls were beautiful..this area is full of them..it's so amazing..you'll be climbing and all of a sudden you look up and there is this gigantic waterfall in front of you...I'm still a little leery of water so i didn't go swimming but a couple of the guys did...I did take my shoes off and wade in the water a bit..let me tell you it was freakin' cold..I don't know how the guys could stand getting fully submerged...
After spending a great day hiking we all got back to camp and built a fire and fixed our dinners...I had rice & veggies (a convenient dehydrated meal bought from REI that you only need to add boiling water to the bag and eat out of the bag itself...how cool is that...) Then began the fun...normally with the smaller groups you will sit around the campfire and relax...well, this group had other things in mind. (and I must admit that I was one of the instigators OOOPs)..out came all the booze (I had brought a small box of wine) and Bruce dug out his cards..one of the guys (I think it was Matt, the army survivalist who likes to skinny dip) had a little radio with speakers so there was music...(if I remember right there was dancing later...) any way..Bruce had brought this big box of wine (3 liters) and 4 of us (Bruce, John, Lee & I) played cards, a game that I think Bruce made up..it's called Knock...and every time you lose a hand you have to drink....well, I must have lost more hands than I thought (altho I won the game) because when the game was over (I WON...and I never win card games...hmmmm I wonder if the guys let me win just to keep the game going) any hoooo..when I stood up from the ground..the world was spinning and I was feeling no pain..by this time it was around 10 pm and we all decided to go star gazing..an amazing thing in the mountains...something I always love to do...there was this sandbar after crossing the river that we had seen earlier that we decided was the perfect spot for stargazing...so about 6 or 8 of us all trooped off to check it out...now I hate water crossing in the daytime but for some reason I had no problem that night....I just took off my shoes & socks and holding onto a couple of the guys crossed over without any problems...didn't bother with stone jumping, just walked right in up to my knees and crossed it barefooted and all..I know that water must have been cold but the guys said I told them it was "warm" talk about feeling no pain..that was me....We all laid in a pile on the sand bars and watched an amazing sky..I found the Big Dipper...then one of the guys (I'm pretty sure it was Matt)...decided to go skinny dipping in the river (which was only a few feet deep but swift) so there was even a full "moon"!!!!!
On the trip back to camp it seems I decided that I didn't need my pants on to cross the river again...at least this is the story that I was told the next day when Mike C returned them to me....I think this is when the dancing started...
When we got back to the camp I was met by Hamilton (who all day hadn't said more than 10 words..this was his first trip with us)...I'm not sure what he had been drinking but whatever it was he was feeling no pain..he decided he was a big bird and wanted to fly off with me...Well after some more dancing...Bruce and I got him back to camp but he couldn't remember where he had set up his tent...with 15 tents we were pretty spread out...I knew where my tent was but couldn't remember where he set his up at...so the few of us that were still up (this was around midnight) went on a hunt for the extra tent..his tent ended up being next to mine just a little ways off...Bruce was across from me and Buck was on the east side of me...so that finally left the one man tent on the west of me...All I know is that I was the first to pick that area and set up..those guys set theirs up after me....I guess I just know how to pick a good spot...I always try to get way from the main group but it always seems like there are others that like to camp where I am....I know why Bruce always sets up by me...it's because he knows that his snoring won't bother me.....Connie was going to set her tent up where Hamilton was but I had reminded her of Bruce's snoring so she found a spot further away....any way while the guys were trying to settle Hamilton in his tent (not an easy task, he still wanted to fly away) I crawled into my tent and just laid there while the world was spinning until I fell asleep...
I woke up and it was still dark and I had to go pee so freakin' bad..but it was freezing (it actually only got down to about 40 degrees) and my sleeping bag was so warm (altho it was filled with sand) that I had to really talk myself into crawling out..the world was still spinning so I don't think I had been a sleep that long but I could hear Bruce and someone else snoring (I think it was Buck) so I knew that all was well. There is nothing worse than having to drop your drawers in the middle of the cold night and pee...especially when you've been holding it for so long that it doesn't want to come but your bladder hurts and you know that it will eventually come..you just have to bear the cold for what seems like forever (in actuality it's only about a minute) and since I was on all fours anyway I decided to crawl back to the tent...glad no one could see me...
where i now not only had sand in my bag but leaves and sticks...talk about roughing it...I fell back to sleep and didn't wake up until I heard Rob at my tent asking me if I needed some aspirin and coffee...it was about 7:30 and camp was stirring...usually Rob and I are the first up...I whispered to him that I was afraid to move...he laughed and then I hear Bruce laughing too..so I knew there was no hope for me...that I might as well just get up and face the music...
After everyone finally got up and had breakfast (and spent lots of time laughing and catching up those who went to bed early on all the fun they missed the night before..) we decided to change the plans for the day and take an easier hike not the strenuous one we had planned on, due to the fact that there were a few of us not feeling our best...the only trouble being we would have to hike out wearing our packs instead of hiking all day and then coming back to break camp...I have to admit I was glad of the change altho it meant wearing my backpack for 6 miles instead of the planned 3 miles...at least there wouldn't be any of the going off trail and lots of climbing with river crossing...We ended up at Schoolhouse Falls..where there was more swimming and one of the guys actually caught a small perch (which he threw back) ..we ended up leaving Sara there to enjoy (she was feeling worse than the rest of us altho I didn't realize she was that drunk the night before...some young things just can't take it like us older people...altho Buck and I were moving pretty slow most of the way back) the waterfall and to start back slowly to meet us at the trail head in a couple of hours....so we left the Waterfall counting only 15 heads instead of 16...it felt weird leaving her but since she has done this hike before I knew she knew the trail back..she does a lot of backpacking on her own...normally we won't leave one of our numbers behind....from there we went to this overlook where you can see forever over the mountains ...ate lunch and took our time getting back to the trail head..only to find that Sara wasn't there yet...We spoke to a couple of mountain bikers who told us that they had seen her and she was about an hour behind us..so Rob (the sweetheart that he is) went to find her and to carry her backpack the last mile of which was a bitch of a climb....
So that was my Backpacking trip to Panthertown (which was where I went on my very first backpacking trip last Sept)....it seems that I am now an experienced backpacker...all I know is if I was born rich instead of beautiful I would just forget all the rest of the world and spend all my time backpacking...my dream is to do the AT starting from Georgia to the end...all 2200 miles of it...I can't even imagine all the wonders i would see...of course it would help if I had a hiking buddy or two to go with me...just to keep me out of trouble...Oh well... I guess we all have dreams....
Monday, May 21, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
I'm Back!!!!
Just got home from the park...
Slept pretty good last night and woke up ready to go run/walk at the park...this is the Park that #1 Niece and I used to do...(last year when we were actually doing things together...sigh) and I really haven't taken any of the off trails by myself but decided today to do it...so I took the 2.5 mile Ravine Overlook trail, which added onto my 2 mile walk...so I actually did 4.5 miles...It was a beautiful morning and since this is a wooded trail which climbs down to a ravine then back up I got a good work out...it actually took me 1.5 hrs because I walked most of it..I'm trying to speed up my walking...for some strange reason it's easier for me to run (except uphill) than walk fast...I feel pretty good today...
This is a big park with 2 entrances which is about a 6-7 mile off trail hike from one entrance to the other..so I'm thinking about putting on my day pack one morning and hiking from one to the other..talked to # 1 Niece to see if she wanted to do it with me...but alas she doesn't have anyone to stay with the kids in the mornings...and I'm thinking about doing it early Weds morning since I don't have to be to work until 2 pm...but she did say that she would pick me up at trail end and take me back to my truck...so this might work out...
I need to get in better shape before this weekend when I do the backpacking trip with the AOC...my first this year...not that I'm really worried about it but it's always nice to be able to keep up with the rest of the gang...I'll be carrying a 35 lb backpack and the extra 20 pounds that I've gained since Oct. last year....so now you see why I'm pushing it....I'm determined that I will be back down to where I was last October by the end of June... and since I'm now on a regular schedule I can stick to some regiment and get some kind of workout each day...
Slept pretty good last night and woke up ready to go run/walk at the park...this is the Park that #1 Niece and I used to do...(last year when we were actually doing things together...sigh) and I really haven't taken any of the off trails by myself but decided today to do it...so I took the 2.5 mile Ravine Overlook trail, which added onto my 2 mile walk...so I actually did 4.5 miles...It was a beautiful morning and since this is a wooded trail which climbs down to a ravine then back up I got a good work out...it actually took me 1.5 hrs because I walked most of it..I'm trying to speed up my walking...for some strange reason it's easier for me to run (except uphill) than walk fast...I feel pretty good today...
This is a big park with 2 entrances which is about a 6-7 mile off trail hike from one entrance to the other..so I'm thinking about putting on my day pack one morning and hiking from one to the other..talked to # 1 Niece to see if she wanted to do it with me...but alas she doesn't have anyone to stay with the kids in the mornings...and I'm thinking about doing it early Weds morning since I don't have to be to work until 2 pm...but she did say that she would pick me up at trail end and take me back to my truck...so this might work out...
I need to get in better shape before this weekend when I do the backpacking trip with the AOC...my first this year...not that I'm really worried about it but it's always nice to be able to keep up with the rest of the gang...I'll be carrying a 35 lb backpack and the extra 20 pounds that I've gained since Oct. last year....so now you see why I'm pushing it....I'm determined that I will be back down to where I was last October by the end of June... and since I'm now on a regular schedule I can stick to some regiment and get some kind of workout each day...
Happy Mothers Day!!!
it was a good Mothers Day for me...I got up early this morning...drank my protein drink...took all my supplements..got into the car and took myself off to the gym to get a good work out...still trying to figure out some of the new machines at the gym...but I like the challenge and I really did need to change up my routine...altho truthfully I haven't been working out much lately (like in the last 5 months) at least not the way I should...but today I got in a good workout..I did 30 mins on the crosstrainer and then hit the weight machines for a back workout...the assisted pull up machine is differant than the one I'm used to (this one you kneel on instead of standing) but I realize how much upper body strength I've lost...I could hardly do 3 sets of pull ups...It's like starting all over again...I'm thinking that I really need to get another personal trainer...I was hoping to work out with some of the guys that I work with but since we all seem to be working differant hours not sure how that is going to work out....it would be nice if Personal Training was included with my membership (especially since I don't pay for that anymore)..I will have to check it out...
I can tell you it's nice working out at the same place that you work at....got done with my morning workout..took a shower ....got dressed and there I was AT WORK...how cool is that...
The Kid, Hubby, Bubba & Lil Bit came to the gym after church and brought me a plant, some earrings and some really cute Mother Day's Cards...I got to show her around the gym and played with the kids in the Kids Klub....as always it was good to see her and the gang..
Surprisingly we were fairly busy at the gym today..not that I got many sales...It was weird but the first two walk ins (that what we call people who come in to check out the gym) were older single guys..for differant reasons neither one was ready to sign up today..but I gave them passes to try the gym out anyway....again I am too NICE...but I think they really will come back . They were both really nice guys, good looking at least to me...one was a coach at one of the local schools and the other was interested in playing racquetball...weird but I could so see me with either one of them...but alas they showed no interest in me ...Oh well ...
the other salesguys always say that "buyers are liars" and that once they walk out that door then you've lost the sale...they may be right but I hope these guys come back and join just to prove them wrong...
I spoke with My Mom on the phone tonight..it's hard to realize that she is in her late 70's....probably because I haven't seen her much in the last few years..I think that she should be the same that she was before Larry died....I know that she is getting up there in years but then so am I LOL.. anyway..it was good talking to her..she made me laugh...
I work tomorrow but not until 3 pm and then I work until midnight...so maybe I'll get up and go to the park and start running again...we'll have to see how good I sleep tonight...
I haven't been sleeping much lately..I have no problem going to sleep but wake up after a couple of hours and then toss & turn all night...don't know what is going on with that...reminds me of all the times right after Larry died...NOT Good...
I can tell you it's nice working out at the same place that you work at....got done with my morning workout..took a shower ....got dressed and there I was AT WORK...how cool is that...
The Kid, Hubby, Bubba & Lil Bit came to the gym after church and brought me a plant, some earrings and some really cute Mother Day's Cards...I got to show her around the gym and played with the kids in the Kids Klub....as always it was good to see her and the gang..
Surprisingly we were fairly busy at the gym today..not that I got many sales...It was weird but the first two walk ins (that what we call people who come in to check out the gym) were older single guys..for differant reasons neither one was ready to sign up today..but I gave them passes to try the gym out anyway....again I am too NICE...but I think they really will come back . They were both really nice guys, good looking at least to me...one was a coach at one of the local schools and the other was interested in playing racquetball...weird but I could so see me with either one of them...but alas they showed no interest in me ...Oh well ...
the other salesguys always say that "buyers are liars" and that once they walk out that door then you've lost the sale...they may be right but I hope these guys come back and join just to prove them wrong...
I spoke with My Mom on the phone tonight..it's hard to realize that she is in her late 70's....probably because I haven't seen her much in the last few years..I think that she should be the same that she was before Larry died....I know that she is getting up there in years but then so am I LOL.. anyway..it was good talking to her..she made me laugh...
I work tomorrow but not until 3 pm and then I work until midnight...so maybe I'll get up and go to the park and start running again...we'll have to see how good I sleep tonight...
I haven't been sleeping much lately..I have no problem going to sleep but wake up after a couple of hours and then toss & turn all night...don't know what is going on with that...reminds me of all the times right after Larry died...NOT Good...
Friday, May 11, 2007
Day Off...whooohooo
so I think I've learned my lesson as far as pushing myself until I can't see straight...This is what happened to me this last month...but after taking most of the day Saturday and all day Sunday I did great this week at work...I felt like the old Sue for the first time in a long time...I actually relaxed and enjoyed myself...It seems like I forgot that I really do love the gym and totally believe in it..the differance in my selling technique (sp?) is like day & night..instead of being a drudge, I have been a happy energetic person...and I've made more Sales...Whooohooo..enuff in fact that I could take today off and not worry about not making monies....funny thing is...I got a call this morning from T Knox (one of the other sales guys) who told me that one of my "guest pass" guy signed up today (it went in my name)...so I'm making monies even tho I'm not there...now how Good is that...
My next day off will be next Saturday & Sunday because I'm going on a backpacking trip..the first this year.(and I am sooo excited about it)..It's with my friend Bruce who tells me that I am now an experience backpacker...Whoa!!!!..I was signed up for one last month but it got cancelled due to the weather..this one was with my friends Don & Tuyet..who are moving to Hawaii..
When I set up my schedule for work I told my manager that I would work Saturdays & Sundays except for 1 weekend a month so I could go backpacking...
So how have I spent my day off so far....well first thing I did was get up and go to the gym..had a great workout (really the first time at this gym that I could try out alot of the new machines)..I did 30 mins on the cross trainer, and then did legs & abs...I'll probably be feeling it tomorrow since it's been a couple of weeks since I've done any real exercise...
Then I went over to the Kids house and had lunch with her and Lil Bit...the Kid just spent the last week in Phoenix for her job and is taking the day off too so she can spend some time with the kids...Bubba was at school but they will have all the rest of the day to spend together...
Then I came home and haven't really done anything because it is so hot and I refuse to turn on my air conditioning yet..I know that I will have to do it sometime soon but I'm just not ready yet...It's 80 degrees here in my house..don't know what it is out side but my house is usually alot cooler than outsides since I'm surrounded by trees...so here I sit under the fan in my sports bra and shorts sweating like a hog..maybe I'll sweat off a couple of pounds..I can always dream...
I've been looking at some pictures that my friend Joelle sent me from the parties we've been going to....I hate pictures of me...I thought my hair looked good that night only to see that it look flat and greasy...what's with that...and I really have a problem smiling for pictures..In fact...just in case I haven't said it before...I HATE pictures of me...
I'm planning on mowing the rest of the lawn once it gets a little later and cooler (I hope) if my lawn mower will start...I really need to clean up the house...it's amazing how messy it can get with just me living here ...no one to blame but myself....I really need to pack up alot of junk and get rid of it...Hopefully IF this job takes off and I start to make some real monies I will be able to start redecorating the house...First room I want to start off with is my bathroom off the master bedroom...it's needed done for years...in fact the whole inside of the house has needed it for years...just getting motivated and finding the monies to do it...I really should start playing the lottery again ....altho for me it's a waste of monies because I NEVER Win anything on it...Why does it seem that only rich people win things..poor people like me just stay poor and rich people get richer...oppps a little of moanin' Mona there...sorry...I just kicked her out..SexySue....
Time to go clean the house ...get some laundry done and maybe take a nap before mowing the lawn....
My next day off will be next Saturday & Sunday because I'm going on a backpacking trip..the first this year.(and I am sooo excited about it)..It's with my friend Bruce who tells me that I am now an experience backpacker...Whoa!!!!..I was signed up for one last month but it got cancelled due to the weather..this one was with my friends Don & Tuyet..who are moving to Hawaii..
When I set up my schedule for work I told my manager that I would work Saturdays & Sundays except for 1 weekend a month so I could go backpacking...
So how have I spent my day off so far....well first thing I did was get up and go to the gym..had a great workout (really the first time at this gym that I could try out alot of the new machines)..I did 30 mins on the cross trainer, and then did legs & abs...I'll probably be feeling it tomorrow since it's been a couple of weeks since I've done any real exercise...
Then I went over to the Kids house and had lunch with her and Lil Bit...the Kid just spent the last week in Phoenix for her job and is taking the day off too so she can spend some time with the kids...Bubba was at school but they will have all the rest of the day to spend together...
Then I came home and haven't really done anything because it is so hot and I refuse to turn on my air conditioning yet..I know that I will have to do it sometime soon but I'm just not ready yet...It's 80 degrees here in my house..don't know what it is out side but my house is usually alot cooler than outsides since I'm surrounded by trees...so here I sit under the fan in my sports bra and shorts sweating like a hog..maybe I'll sweat off a couple of pounds..I can always dream...
I've been looking at some pictures that my friend Joelle sent me from the parties we've been going to....I hate pictures of me...I thought my hair looked good that night only to see that it look flat and greasy...what's with that...and I really have a problem smiling for pictures..In fact...just in case I haven't said it before...I HATE pictures of me...
I'm planning on mowing the rest of the lawn once it gets a little later and cooler (I hope) if my lawn mower will start...I really need to clean up the house...it's amazing how messy it can get with just me living here ...no one to blame but myself....I really need to pack up alot of junk and get rid of it...Hopefully IF this job takes off and I start to make some real monies I will be able to start redecorating the house...First room I want to start off with is my bathroom off the master bedroom...it's needed done for years...in fact the whole inside of the house has needed it for years...just getting motivated and finding the monies to do it...I really should start playing the lottery again ....altho for me it's a waste of monies because I NEVER Win anything on it...Why does it seem that only rich people win things..poor people like me just stay poor and rich people get richer...oppps a little of moanin' Mona there...sorry...I just kicked her out..SexySue....
Time to go clean the house ...get some laundry done and maybe take a nap before mowing the lawn....
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
My lawn mower is out to get me!!!!!
Proof that my lawn mower hates me....
Sunday when I had all kinds of time to spare I went out to the garage and pulled the lawn mower out...filled it up with gas and tried to start it...pulled that damn cord until my arm was ready to fall off....Would not start...so after about 15 mins I put it back and said forget it...
Today when I had only about an hour and a half before I had to get ready for work.(the whole lawn takes about 2 1/2 hrs with emptying the bag).I decided to try it one more time (just to prove to myself that it won't start) ...now yesterday when I went out to start it I wore my ratty shirt and shorts and of course my really ratty shoes that are falling apart....Today...because I was so sure that the mower won't start I wore my good capri's, and big sweater and no shoes....of course the thing started on the first pull..(go figure)..so there I was with a running lawn mower and if you let go of the handle the thing quits running on you...(god forbid that should happen)...after all my grass is so long that I'm starting to get funny looks (again) from the neighbors..but do they come over and mow the lawn for me....NOOOOOO.....anyway there I was mowing the lawn in my bare feet (which have gotten really wimpy because I wear shoes all of the time) ....there is poision ivy in one of my islands and it has grown over into the side yard....I'm trying not to step in it and instead am stepping on those damn little sweet gum balls (the ones with all the spikes....ouch) but fear not I'm not really crazy enuff to keep this up..after I stepped on the first sweet gum ball I said NO WAY and went and put my shoes on...I figured the damn lawn mower won't start and there I would be with a yard with one strip mowed...but no the thing started right up...so I mowed the front yard today....We'll see if the damn thing starts tommorow so I can finish it up...
Now this same thing happened to me the last time I tried to mow the lawn (about a month ago)
I took off work especially to mow the lawn and couldn't get the thing started...so the next day I decided to pack it up and take it in to Sears for it's yearly tune up but first wanted to try to start it just to make sure it won't start...Damn if the thing didn't start and I ended up mowing the whole lawn that day....again I was dressed to the hilt..what's with that?
so i figure I have to plan on two days for the mowing of the lawn ...first one day to make me look and feel like an idiot trying to start the thing to no avail...and then the second day when I look good to go out and actually mow the lawn....LOL
Sunday when I had all kinds of time to spare I went out to the garage and pulled the lawn mower out...filled it up with gas and tried to start it...pulled that damn cord until my arm was ready to fall off....Would not start...so after about 15 mins I put it back and said forget it...
Today when I had only about an hour and a half before I had to get ready for work.(the whole lawn takes about 2 1/2 hrs with emptying the bag).I decided to try it one more time (just to prove to myself that it won't start) ...now yesterday when I went out to start it I wore my ratty shirt and shorts and of course my really ratty shoes that are falling apart....Today...because I was so sure that the mower won't start I wore my good capri's, and big sweater and no shoes....of course the thing started on the first pull..(go figure)..so there I was with a running lawn mower and if you let go of the handle the thing quits running on you...(god forbid that should happen)...after all my grass is so long that I'm starting to get funny looks (again) from the neighbors..but do they come over and mow the lawn for me....NOOOOOO.....anyway there I was mowing the lawn in my bare feet (which have gotten really wimpy because I wear shoes all of the time) ....there is poision ivy in one of my islands and it has grown over into the side yard....I'm trying not to step in it and instead am stepping on those damn little sweet gum balls (the ones with all the spikes....ouch) but fear not I'm not really crazy enuff to keep this up..after I stepped on the first sweet gum ball I said NO WAY and went and put my shoes on...I figured the damn lawn mower won't start and there I would be with a yard with one strip mowed...but no the thing started right up...so I mowed the front yard today....We'll see if the damn thing starts tommorow so I can finish it up...
Now this same thing happened to me the last time I tried to mow the lawn (about a month ago)
I took off work especially to mow the lawn and couldn't get the thing started...so the next day I decided to pack it up and take it in to Sears for it's yearly tune up but first wanted to try to start it just to make sure it won't start...Damn if the thing didn't start and I ended up mowing the whole lawn that day....again I was dressed to the hilt..what's with that?
so i figure I have to plan on two days for the mowing of the lawn ...first one day to make me look and feel like an idiot trying to start the thing to no avail...and then the second day when I look good to go out and actually mow the lawn....LOL
Monday, May 07, 2007
Did you know's
One of the things we are told to do in my job is to inject at least 3 "did you know's" into the conversation with a prospect while give a tour of the gym...this is to show that we are knowledgable about exercise & health....
Now I know all this...but am having problems slipping in the "did you knows" without sounding like an idiot...I've been given no less than 12 pages of "did you knows" to pick from...most of them repeat the same thing but I am working with them to get at least 12 "did you knows" that I can comfortably slip into a conversation...I figure if I practice them enuff it will eventually come easy to me...(one can always hope)
Here's what I've come up with so far (in no particular order)
DID YOU KNOW
that for every 6 pounds you lose, you lose 1 inch of f your waist (this is my favorite and I have used it several times, but it doesn't work too good when you are talking with a skinny person who only wants to tone up) (oh yeah...I know this one is true cause I figured it out from my weight loss and it worked out exactly...too coool!)
muscle is denser than fat..so altho you may not lose pounds while strength training you will lose inches and look thinner...
muscle burns more calories than fat...1 pound of lean muscle will burn 50 calories a day..(I'll take more muscle anyday)
it takes more than 8 hrs for a body to break down carbs. (Not sure what they are trying to say here...maybe eat less carbs...don't know if I'll use this one or not...besides the fact that I haven't been able to figure out how to slip it into a conversation yet)
Waiting for more than 4-5 hrs between meals will cause your blood sugar to bottom out. Leaving you weak, irritable & tired..
Sustained exercise increases your metabolic rate, so that you burn more calories not only during exercise but for several hours after you've stopped.
A study showed that in the course of a year of regular exercisers experience 25% fewer common colds than nonexercisers..
Proper exercise can & will improve your overall posture...
(for the guys) regular exercise can increase your sexual stamina, performance & desire...(I haven't used this one yet...waiting for the right moment...teehheheheh)
women who exercise regularly are 3 times less likely to suffer from depression..
resistance training will increase your body density & strength.
NOT GETTING ENUFF REST CAN HINDER FAT LOSS (I can attest to this one personally)
That's 12 but truthfully..I can only see myself using maybe a couple of them
here are a couple more that I think might work for me better (some of them come from blogs I've read)
Women will not "bulk up" with regular strength training without using steriods...
doing a 5 -10 min warm up doing cardio before will increase your muscle & joint flexibility.
properly stretching before strength training is recommended..improper stretching can cause muscle soreness & injury..
Exercise needs to be varied constantly or your body will adapt to the same movements and you will plateau
Intensity is more important than the number of sets when trying to get bigger & stronger..
you need to commit to working out at least 3 times a week...
****************
I start working regular? hours today..no more of this pushing myself to work 10-12 hrs a day with out a break....I have to take care of myself...altho my hours are not the normal 9-5 hrs (i'll be working 3pm - midnight, taking off Thurs & Fri)..I should be able to adjust and get a real life...the only thing I'm having a problem with is figuring out when to work out...I was thinking I could go to the gym in the morning and get a good work out but with the gas prices going up so high not sure I will be able to afford two hour trips a day...I'm thinking of going in a couple of hours early (say around noon) work out and then take a shower at the gym and get ready there...hey I'll aready be at work...not sure how this will work...I'm hoping to get some racquetball in with my partner on Thurs, Fri & Sat (at the old gym)...
The party last night was nice..I stuck to drinking only water and got home early (around 10:30 pm)..it wasn't the wild party that I've been doing lately but it was nice to sit around and visit with people who have the same interests that I do.. there wasn't as many people as I thought there would be. I felt bad for Don & Tuyet but they didn't seem to be bothered about it...They are such a nice couple..they met on a back packing trip a couple of years ago...in fact the first backpacking trip I did last fall was the Panthertown trip and they were on it (it was their one year anniversary trip)...I've been on a couple of trips with them and they have always been fun...i will miss them...but they are planning on having us all to Hawaii for a backpacking trip...this is one I won't miss...even if I have to put the whole trip on a credit card...
Oh yeah...one of the things we did last night was make our own sushi....it was interesting and there were lots of differant things to make them with.(mangos, smoked salmon, crab meat, avocados, celery, pickled ginger, lobster pieces..just to name a few)...so after we rolled our own and sliced them...we got to sample everyones....yummmy....it was fun...there was alot of Hawaiian foods there...I sampled a couple but didn't overdue it...can't remember the names of anything I tried..but the dessert was good...it was a coconut custard topped with strawberries.
I feel pretty good today...ready to get out there and show the world what I'm made out of....
Now I know all this...but am having problems slipping in the "did you knows" without sounding like an idiot...I've been given no less than 12 pages of "did you knows" to pick from...most of them repeat the same thing but I am working with them to get at least 12 "did you knows" that I can comfortably slip into a conversation...I figure if I practice them enuff it will eventually come easy to me...(one can always hope)
Here's what I've come up with so far (in no particular order)
DID YOU KNOW
that for every 6 pounds you lose, you lose 1 inch of f your waist (this is my favorite and I have used it several times, but it doesn't work too good when you are talking with a skinny person who only wants to tone up) (oh yeah...I know this one is true cause I figured it out from my weight loss and it worked out exactly...too coool!)
muscle is denser than fat..so altho you may not lose pounds while strength training you will lose inches and look thinner...
muscle burns more calories than fat...1 pound of lean muscle will burn 50 calories a day..(I'll take more muscle anyday)
it takes more than 8 hrs for a body to break down carbs. (Not sure what they are trying to say here...maybe eat less carbs...don't know if I'll use this one or not...besides the fact that I haven't been able to figure out how to slip it into a conversation yet)
Waiting for more than 4-5 hrs between meals will cause your blood sugar to bottom out. Leaving you weak, irritable & tired..
Sustained exercise increases your metabolic rate, so that you burn more calories not only during exercise but for several hours after you've stopped.
A study showed that in the course of a year of regular exercisers experience 25% fewer common colds than nonexercisers..
Proper exercise can & will improve your overall posture...
(for the guys) regular exercise can increase your sexual stamina, performance & desire...(I haven't used this one yet...waiting for the right moment...teehheheheh)
women who exercise regularly are 3 times less likely to suffer from depression..
resistance training will increase your body density & strength.
NOT GETTING ENUFF REST CAN HINDER FAT LOSS (I can attest to this one personally)
That's 12 but truthfully..I can only see myself using maybe a couple of them
here are a couple more that I think might work for me better (some of them come from blogs I've read)
Women will not "bulk up" with regular strength training without using steriods...
doing a 5 -10 min warm up doing cardio before will increase your muscle & joint flexibility.
properly stretching before strength training is recommended..improper stretching can cause muscle soreness & injury..
Exercise needs to be varied constantly or your body will adapt to the same movements and you will plateau
Intensity is more important than the number of sets when trying to get bigger & stronger..
you need to commit to working out at least 3 times a week...
****************
I start working regular? hours today..no more of this pushing myself to work 10-12 hrs a day with out a break....I have to take care of myself...altho my hours are not the normal 9-5 hrs (i'll be working 3pm - midnight, taking off Thurs & Fri)..I should be able to adjust and get a real life...the only thing I'm having a problem with is figuring out when to work out...I was thinking I could go to the gym in the morning and get a good work out but with the gas prices going up so high not sure I will be able to afford two hour trips a day...I'm thinking of going in a couple of hours early (say around noon) work out and then take a shower at the gym and get ready there...hey I'll aready be at work...not sure how this will work...I'm hoping to get some racquetball in with my partner on Thurs, Fri & Sat (at the old gym)...
The party last night was nice..I stuck to drinking only water and got home early (around 10:30 pm)..it wasn't the wild party that I've been doing lately but it was nice to sit around and visit with people who have the same interests that I do.. there wasn't as many people as I thought there would be. I felt bad for Don & Tuyet but they didn't seem to be bothered about it...They are such a nice couple..they met on a back packing trip a couple of years ago...in fact the first backpacking trip I did last fall was the Panthertown trip and they were on it (it was their one year anniversary trip)...I've been on a couple of trips with them and they have always been fun...i will miss them...but they are planning on having us all to Hawaii for a backpacking trip...this is one I won't miss...even if I have to put the whole trip on a credit card...
Oh yeah...one of the things we did last night was make our own sushi....it was interesting and there were lots of differant things to make them with.(mangos, smoked salmon, crab meat, avocados, celery, pickled ginger, lobster pieces..just to name a few)...so after we rolled our own and sliced them...we got to sample everyones....yummmy....it was fun...there was alot of Hawaiian foods there...I sampled a couple but didn't overdue it...can't remember the names of anything I tried..but the dessert was good...it was a coconut custard topped with strawberries.
I feel pretty good today...ready to get out there and show the world what I'm made out of....
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Playing Catch UP
so much and so little is happening in my life now that I sometimes feel like Life is out of Control...
Today I'm taking time for MYSELF and playing catch up on all the things I LIKE & Love to do...
I've become a Party Animal...ok..Truthfully...maybe I've always been one ...but it seems like lately all I do is work & Party...leaving no time for anything else...in the past 2 weeks I've gone on 1 date (the date from hell), a jazz festival at the park, three parties (I have another one to go to today, a going away party for some friends that backpack with me..they are moving to Hawaii...lucky people) and worked 120 hrs..haven't slept much and it's catching up with me.
WORK...I've been putting alot of hours into my job..We opened the new gym just this past week....it's freakin' beautiful...there are alot of new machines that I'm still trying to figure out how to adjust and use...I haven't had time (except for late one night) to really work out on all the machines and the new racquetball courts keep calling me but again I haven't had time to get in them..I'm still playing racquetball (but only about once a week) with my partners at the old gym (it's only a 15 min drive from the new gym) . I did show up for work yesterday (after partying all night...got in about 3:30 am) and realized I can't keep this up..I needed a day off soo bad...the problem is that in Sales if I miss work I don't earn money and right now I'm more broke than I have been since The Kid was first born...and believe me I was broke then...but I realized that I wasn't doing myself or my job any good the way I was...(dragging my ass) so I took the rest of the day and today off to regroup myself...I keep questioning myself that Sales is where I should be ...I like it but I don't really know if there is a "Future" for me in it...besides I'm up against some really young smart salesmen (who have been in the industry for years)...it's really a " dog eat dog" world and there are some hungry Wolves out there...so what I have to do is look at what I can bring to the table and work on making myself the best damn salesperson that LA Fitness ever saw...I know I can do it but not if I let myself get so wore down that I can't seem to think...I have to remember that I'm not in my 20's, 30,s or even 40's anymore and that i have to give myself time to regroup...I can't let myself get stressed and so worn down...I do need rest and relaxation....
I have been honored to be awarded a "Thinking Blogger Award" by #1 Niece and I know I need to pay it forward (which I will do soon) but first I want to get caught up on what everyone has been doing in the blogger world..it seems like I've been away forever..and there are so many blogs to read....
Today I'm taking time for MYSELF and playing catch up on all the things I LIKE & Love to do...
I've become a Party Animal...ok..Truthfully...maybe I've always been one ...but it seems like lately all I do is work & Party...leaving no time for anything else...in the past 2 weeks I've gone on 1 date (the date from hell), a jazz festival at the park, three parties (I have another one to go to today, a going away party for some friends that backpack with me..they are moving to Hawaii...lucky people) and worked 120 hrs..haven't slept much and it's catching up with me.
WORK...I've been putting alot of hours into my job..We opened the new gym just this past week....it's freakin' beautiful...there are alot of new machines that I'm still trying to figure out how to adjust and use...I haven't had time (except for late one night) to really work out on all the machines and the new racquetball courts keep calling me but again I haven't had time to get in them..I'm still playing racquetball (but only about once a week) with my partners at the old gym (it's only a 15 min drive from the new gym) . I did show up for work yesterday (after partying all night...got in about 3:30 am) and realized I can't keep this up..I needed a day off soo bad...the problem is that in Sales if I miss work I don't earn money and right now I'm more broke than I have been since The Kid was first born...and believe me I was broke then...but I realized that I wasn't doing myself or my job any good the way I was...(dragging my ass) so I took the rest of the day and today off to regroup myself...I keep questioning myself that Sales is where I should be ...I like it but I don't really know if there is a "Future" for me in it...besides I'm up against some really young smart salesmen (who have been in the industry for years)...it's really a " dog eat dog" world and there are some hungry Wolves out there...so what I have to do is look at what I can bring to the table and work on making myself the best damn salesperson that LA Fitness ever saw...I know I can do it but not if I let myself get so wore down that I can't seem to think...I have to remember that I'm not in my 20's, 30,s or even 40's anymore and that i have to give myself time to regroup...I can't let myself get stressed and so worn down...I do need rest and relaxation....
I have been honored to be awarded a "Thinking Blogger Award" by #1 Niece and I know I need to pay it forward (which I will do soon) but first I want to get caught up on what everyone has been doing in the blogger world..it seems like I've been away forever..and there are so many blogs to read....
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