Well That Went Fast

I haven't been to the gym in 4 days so I definitely had to go today. Plus, I might be shoveling heaps of that frosty white stuff tomorrow according to the weather forecast. Last week was Winter Break for our school district, and I enjoyed staying up until 1-2 AM and sleeping until 8-9, then taking the dogs to the park. 

I've got a comfy "stadium seat" on the floor near the woodstove and there's nothing more soothing than watching TV next to a toasty fire, especially when temps dropped into the teens. Sometimes, one of the dogs plops down next to me on the floor too.

I'm a big fan of being able to stream old shows to watch from pilot to series finale. So I finally got to watch the last two seasons of an old favorite, Suits, before all the hubbub with British royalty. I enjoy legal dramas although there will never be anything quite like Boston Legal with James Spader and William Shatner. (I've never been an Ally McBeal fan. Nope.) We subscribe to Paramount+ on our Roku streaming device so I've been able to watch fun shows like So Help Me Todd (another comedic legal detective show), and The Good Fight, a spin-off from The Good Wife. CSI: Vegas is good too. But by far, my favorite show lately has been NCIS: Hawaii. And not just because of the beautiful backdrops. 

Unlike the current remake Hawaii 5-0 (which lost its lead Asian characters when the show refused to pay its Asian actors the same as its white actors), NCIS: Hawaii not only has a wonderfully authentic cast, but also infuses local lingo and culture throughout the show. I literally giggled when characters referred to haoles. This show is the complete antithesis to Magnum PI which really had no local color other than palm trees and Hawaiian shirts. The original Hawaii 5-0 (with Jack Lord) at least used local actors for their supporting cast.

I don't even make 2.8 on the elliptical today, but still better than not coming at all. And I feel good about the pull-ups, although I should probably start adding that second set back in. Core was routine and felt fine. If it doesn't snow tonight into tomorrow, I'll be at the gym. Otherwise, I'll be shoveling and salting... 

I went to the store before heading home to take the pups to the park. At the grocery, I see oddly anemic strawberries that are being marketed as Pineberries. The label says they're sweet but I haven't tasted them yet. At $3.99 for 10, they aren't prohibitively expensive but more of a curiosity. Without that luscious red color, do these fruit have the same vitamin C and antioxidant content? Apparently pineberries are also known as pineapple strawberries and aren't a "frankenfruit," but rather, the results of cross-cultivation of some ancient and weird varieties of strawberries. They are said to taste of pineapples. I guess I'll find out tonight since I bought some to try.

27 February 2023
Post Winter Break Monday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 1
Time: 30+5 (5414)
Distance: 2.78
Cal: 305
Avg Hr: 139, 188-73

HGPU 20

Aerobics room perfumed!
15 Hip Bridges
Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga

Non Restful Vacay Week

I found out yesterday that a friend's dog ran away while on a walk with a dog walker. The dog park crews have rallied to share sightings while the bereft girl's parents post flyers. The owner herself is abroad for work and feels totally helpless. This dog is her baby. It made me remember when my own dogs first arrived from South Korea, and how within a few hours, one had escaped and slipped into the bitter January night. Luckily, he didn't wander too far and returned home after 5 days, mostly, I believe, because he could smell the other dog that he had traveled with, and grown up at the rescue with.

Which means I went to bed too late and got up late. I still made it to the gym somewhere between the school day normal at 7 am and yesterday's noontime approach. Enough time to do cardio and slip into the Aerobics Room right after the Wednesday morning class. It still smells overly strong of perfume or deodorant, but I guess that's preferable to body odor. 

I add an extra set of hip bridges because my quads are unusually stiff and sore. But I don't really have time for anything else after eye yoga because I still haven't taken the pups to the park. They had a morning walk so they're not frantic, but there's nothing like running through the park at full gallop and that's what they want.

The lost pup is still lost but he was sighted this morning so at least he survived overnight in the dark, in the wild, in the cold. Because he's not a big dog, it's winter, and there are coyotes and bobcats.

22 February 2023
Late Morning Wednesday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 1
Time: 30+5 (5606)
Distance: 2.84
Cal: 315
Avg Hr: 145, 194-77


15 Hip Bridges
Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga

The Late Morning Old Crowd

I got to the gym close to 11, which was later than I wanted but at least I got there. It was peopled with regulars I haven't seen in a long time and a handful of kids. The dogs went to the park earlier, but had to leave because of dog personality conflicts. The weather is cold and damp. It had snowed lightly in the wee hours but temps are too warm for any snow to stick. It's just wet and cold enough to be unpleasant.

Cardio on the elliptical was routine, as were pull-ups. The Aerobics Room smelled heavily of perfume and that was a bit nauseating until it dissipated. Then I decide to do the stair climber for 10 minutes, but that was a mistake. I should've gone for my second set of pull-ups instead of dawdling on cardio, because an elderly lady is stretching in the Stretch Cage when I'm ready. I recognize her from years ago, and while I'm happy she's still active, I'm kicking myself for not seizing the opportunity earlier. I'm not going to wait around either. Meanwhile, the din is emanating from guess who... the Mayor. Still obnoxiously loud and fat as ever. Well, this is incentive to get up earlier tomorrow to avoid the late morning crowd.

Oh well, it's a valid excuse to only do one set of pull-ups. Today feels like the first time I've actually felt my lats during the movement, which is kind of weird. Maybe because my upper arms and shoulders are tired from clipping branches and twigs off the broken tree tops laying in the front yard over the long weekend. It was 62F and definitely good yard work weather. We might have another cord or two of firewood to stack if we can get the logs split. Which means getting a splitter cuz no one's doing this by hand. Nope. It's so inconvenient not having either a truck or a tow hitch... Should we consider buying a splitter? We can't rent one unless we want to rent the truck to tow it home and back... 

We get to pick up a "new" used 2018 Subaru Outback (Legacy wagon) at the end of the week. Even though there are used cars available, prices and mileage are both higher than we'd like. But I confess I was drooling over the 2023 "Wilderness" Forester in the showroom, but I'll wait until I can buy one used in a few years cuz I'm not spending that kind of money on a new car... it's the only Forester that comes with a full-size spare!

21 February 2023
Late Morning Tuesday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 3
Time: 30+5 (5664)
Distance: 2.86
Cal: 318
Avg Hr: 141, 200-84

HGPU 20

Crunches 60
Stretches
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga

StepMill (R)
Manual 10 min
Speed 6 (52-55)
Steps 549
Floors 34
Cal 80
Hr 141

It's Gonna Drop 30 Degrees Tonight

Yesterday was warm and sunny. Today, not so much. In fact, it's overcast and raining sporadically. And while temps will peak at 62F, the low might hit 27 tonight. Hopefully the roads won't be icy in the morning. I know there will be no other dogs are the park today so I can spend a little more time at the gym. 

I get to the elliptical late and there's a "new regular" on machine number one. There are four machines and the last one is sort of clunky. I haven't been on machine number three in years but I give it a whirl... Although I'm initially cold, I warm up quickly. Being warm is key and I finally make it past 2.9 for distance. Yaay me!

I'm drenched by the time I walk into the Aerobics Room. It's not really cold in there but I'm able to cool down and dry out enough. It's quiet and empty. On the other hand, the free weight area is noisy and crowded. Big guy is on one of the Inclined Presses and there's gear next to the other one. I don't know if someone's on it or not but there's so many people gabbering there that I immediately look around to see what other options I have. 

I'm ready to climb up to the stair machine when I remember that there's an inclined bench in the Smith Machine, and no one's using it. The Smith desperately needs maintenance as the bar doesn't descend when I push it up over my head. The tracks are gummy and in desperate need of cleaning and lubrication. DBs as usual instead. Everything is fine, except the seat to this bench is wider and higher than the Matrix brand inclined benches. Which means it's uncomfortable when I sit backwards in it. 

This is the beginning of the President's Day long weekend, and also a week long school break. My son had thoughts about visiting Buffalo just to see what it's like, but it's too late to arrange for dog sitting. I gave him some YouTube links to campus tours instead. He's still waiting to hear from half of the schools he applied to but he's got acceptances to all his safety schools. Now, if I could only get him to take his Learner's Permit exam for driving...

17 February 2023
Rainy Friday

Precor elliptical #3
Program 2
Time: 30+5 (5814)
Distance: 2.91
Cal: 327
Avg Hr: 151, 197-125

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys
10 lbs x 25/15/25 warm up
15 lbs x 25/15/25
20/15/20 x 25/15/25 x 3 sets

Older and Weaker

I got to the gym and pedaled. It wasn't great but it wasn't horrible. I'm tired and even though I get warmed up, my hands are still cold and my toes are a little numb. I get my 20 reps but I'm not liking feeling weak for the last several reps. Which means I really need to put more effort into it. Core feels routine. It feels good and I'm often tempted to nap while laying on the mat.

Temps are unseasonably warm, peaking at 62F this afternoon for a New York February. I feel cold when exiting the Aerobics Room but 10 minutes on the step machine gets me warm again. And then I go for round two for pull-ups. It's still hard, maybe harder. But I muscle through the reps, and then I'm done. Shower, change, and take pups to the park. The boys have a new canine friend that they like to roll around, chase and get filthy with. 

My pinky toe still looks swollen. It's still tender and sensitive. I need to reduce the inflammation somehow. Topical antihistamines? Maybe hemorrhoid cream? Because I'm pretty sure that the pinky is tender because the swelling is impinging on nerves. But why is it still swollen? Is there still damage, or is it that drainage is blocked? I have no idea. But I can slather the toe in cream...

16 February 2023
Thursday peaks 61F?!

Precor elliptical #1
Program 1
Time: 30+5 (5532)
Distance: 2.81
Cal: 311
Avg Hr: 141, 192-75

HGPU 20

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga

StepMill (R)
Manual 10 min
Speed 6 (52-55)
Steps 519 / 545
Floors 34
Cal 80
Hr 126

HGPU 20 but it’s hard

Valentine Tuesday

I've never seen the supermarket so overwhelmingly full of flowers and candy before. I doubt if they will sell it all before the end of day. I told my son that by tomorrow, candies will be half price, not that we need any more sweets or snacks in the house. The boys stopped off at H-Mart before heading home from their Boy Scout weekend, and Asian food markets are chock full of all sorts of interesting and colorful flavors. H-Mart is Korean but carries a wide assortment of international foods.

I was still dreaming when the alarm sounded this morning, but unlike other mornings, I actually remembered my dream. It wasn't exciting or colorful, just a bit mundane and slightly puzzling. Of course, I haven't had enough sleep and toy with the idea of bailing on the gym, but I don't. It's Tuesday and not very crowded or colorful. It's also Valentine's Day, a Hallmark fabricated holiday to sell cards, flower and candy, but only the stores seem to be celebrating it. 

I'm totally surprised when my husband texts me Happy Valentines. I send a Snoopy & Woodstock gif. He's in Boston until tomorrow. He's been totally fine when he's sober, but he never stays that way for very long. I have been a lot more vocal about how upset I am with him. Once his mandatory weekly meetings end in March, I'm worried that he'll just revert to his previous drinking habits. This is exhausting. 

We've gotten a preliminary cost of repair for the smushed car, and what insurance will pay to call it totaled. It's not enough to buy a new used car. Subarus, even used ones, are pricey although it's reassuring to see that there are some for sale.

Today, I'm so tired I forget to pedal backwards at seven and a half minutes and only notice at fourteen minutes that I'm still pedaling forward. Which means that I pedal backwards from minute fifteen to thirty, and barely make it past 2.8. I dawdle during Core and then I have to put my hoodie back on because I'm cold. Later, at the bench, I only have to worry about my hands being cold, because cold hands means cold numb fingers, and that's not good when  you've got a barbell hovering over your face. 

I don't have my thumb/glove positioned right during one of my Skull Crusher sets and the knurled bar chafes against my skin. Other than the forearm tendons close to the elbow becoming a little sore, the sets feel okay. I do one set of Rip Skulls. So far my sciatica hasn't complained. Next time maybe I'll add a second set. If I can work up to three I might consider adding a little weight...

14 February 2023
Valentine Tuesday

Precor elliptical #2
Program 3
Time: 30+5 (5486)
Distance: 2.81
Cal: 310
Avg Hr: 132, 198-111

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga

Skull Crushers (Numb cold fingers)
30 lbs x 25 reps
Rip Skulls x 20 legs flat out
SC 35 lbs x 20 (thumb!), 23, 25

Post SuperBowl Monday

I didn't actually watch the big game, but I made sure to view all the commercials, and the halftime show thanks to digital streaming and endless commentaries on the best and the worst. I'll admit, I was impressed with the floating platforms that Rihanna and her dancers were performing on. And those white fluffy two-piece outfits made everyone look like dancing chickens. Dark shades only added to the effect. RiRi was resplendent in a blood red outfit, complete with molded breastplate and belly protector (she looks to be 5-6 mos along).

As for the commercials, I'm a sucker for ones with animals in them, especially dogs. And creepy bunnies (Tubi with vibes from Donnie Darko). Everyone's making a big deal about the Farmer's Dog spot, about growing up with a cherished pup. But I'm fond of the Amazon one with the pandemic dog suddenly left home alone. And of course, he acts up by destroying the house. Thankfully, instead of being "re-homed" or abandoned, the dog's family has a better solution. Whew!

Now we're all asking that uncomfortable question, "Does Amazon sell puppies online?" Good gosh, no! As a matter of fact, as of February 2nd of this year, as a cost-cutting measure, Amazon discontinued their Smile program which had allowed customers to donate a tiny percentage of their purchases to a 501(c) charity of their choice. The Jindo Love Rescue group in South Korea had benefited from this for the past few years. But no more.

The gym parking lot is sparsely populated for a Monday. I'm thinking Super Bowl hangovers. I'm tired too because once again I'm not getting enough REM hours. Even that last pull-up feels harder than it should. Core is okay, and I have time to do 10 minutes on the Step Machine. I don't get as sweaty as I should even though all the settings are the same as before. I never know whether the steps will move at 55 spm (or more or less) even though I've set it for level 6 (translates to 60 steps per minute or spm). Today the machine spent most of the time at 52. Other days it'll hover between 55 and 57. It's very capricious for a machine.

Over the weekend, I read that routine vaccinations that might make a difference as to whether you develop Alzheimer's as you age. I get the flu shot every year because I've been devastated by "mild" flus and I don't want to experience something worse. I'm hesitant about getting the shingles vaccine though because it's two shots spaced a few weeks apart and only good for 3 years, the same amount of protection that having shingles itself will give you. Of course, I suspect that each bout of shingles might get progressively worse, so I have to give this some serious consideration. And maybe taking the shingles shots every 3 years might protect against dementia? But will it also ward off cold sores? At least I'm eating my fiber, not just for my gut/bowel health and cholesterol benefits, but now it seems, as another defense against Alzheimer's.

13 February 2023
Post SuperBowl Monday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 2
Time: 30+5 (5540)
Distance: 2.82
Cal: 313
Avg Hr: 142, 178-78

HGPU 20

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga

StepMill (R)
Manual 10 min
Speed 6 (52-55)
Steps 519
Floors 32
Cal 76
Hr 126

Just a Princess

I've really missed the occasional dusting of cocoa powder in my morning brew so today I indulged. It helps that last night I read an article finally telling me how much cadmium and lead are in the Hershey's 100% cocoa after having searched online for this information for the past several weeks! It's not nothing, but it's low enough that a dusting once a week shouldn't really hurt. Click here to access the As You Sow website. Or just glance at the screen grab for a quick peak... 

Tiny biting insects are giving me grief, the rash on my thighs are inexplicable so much worse, new fissures keep forming right where fingernails emerge from fingertips, and temps peak at 65F this sunny day in mid February. The gym parking lot is really crowded but maybe they all went for a run outside because the gym itself isn't busy.

I'd like to kill my husband's alarm since he has it set for 5:30 AM regardless of whether he plans to get up or not. That robs me of 30 minutes of quality sleep because once it sounds, I can't actually go back to sleep while he's snoring away. Ugh. My alarm is set for 6 AM. Which means I am godawful tired when I start to exercise. 

I lay on my hoodie in the Aerobics Room because I can't stand wearing the garment when I'm doing crunches or dead bugs: the seam along the hem binder is thick enough to be painful when I'm laying on it. It's the same reason I can't wear T-shirts when I exercise: the sleeve seams chafe my armpits and underarms until they're raw and painful. Yep, I'm a princess. The one who felt the pea under 20 mattresses. 

I have time to do my DB Shoulder routine. Nothing hurts so I'm pleased. Maybe next week I'll have time to add a fourth set? The dogs get to the park late but happily, there's a new pup to play with. It's someone they've met once before and they're very excited to race, wrestle and romp about. My son and hubs go to Alpine Scout Camp this weekend with their Troop and prospective Cub Scouts who are thinking of joining our Troop when they "cross over." The big draw is (besides the wooden fort, pirate ship, and faux mining camp) the nearby High Exposure Indoor Climbing and Ninja Obstacle Course. Meanwhile, I get to stay home with the pups and enjoy some quiet time...

10 February 2023
Friday Princess

Precor elliptical #1
Program 1
Time: 30+5 (5576)
Distance: 2.83
Cal: 313
Avg Hr: 142, 190-73

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys
10 lbs x 25/15/25 warm up
15 lbs x 25/15/25
20/15/20 x 25/15/25 x 3 sets

Maybe I'm Hibernating

Even though temps are balmy for a February in the northeast, I feel cold when I first step up onto the elliptical. It takes several minutes before the handlebars register my HR and I'm surprised that five and a half minutes into program 3 and my HR registers a paltry 67. Give it another few minutes and it zooms up a hundred points. Is that normal? Or even reasonable? I have no idea but it happens to me on more than one piece of equipment so it's probably me. Or the way my skin and vessels transmit data to the device... Click here to read about variable heart rates.

My hands are often so cold that they get painfully numb. I go to sleep with them stuffed into the sleeves of my hoodie. (Yes, I wear a hoodie over my flannel nightgown to bed, along with an alpaca wool hat and socks.) It doesn't help that the dry winter air and frequent handwashing and dish washing are causing painful fissures in my fingertips. Moisturizing is often futile because greasy fingers can't use a cell phone or tap the keyboard. Even the "liquid skin" is only moderately helpful because while it is a sealant, it is also extremely drying.

I skipped the gym yesterday to spend a few hours in the yard, snipping tendrils off the downed branches that litter both the front and back yards. It was a good day for yard work since the sun was out. The fallen branches are entwined with Oriental Bittersweet, which means thick vines with ladder-like protruding branches that catch everything. It's impossible to load any of the debris into the wheelbarrow until it's trimmed into relatively "straight" segments bereft of grabby fingers. At least I managed to clear the storm drain. At this point, I'm thinking I should buy my own wood chipper.

At the gym, I toy with the idea of doing 10 minutes on the step machine until I see Barbie chatting with Ken. She's on the Stepper and he's alongside on a different gliding running simulator. (I don't fit into that machine either--I've tried but my arms are too short and the machine's not very adjustable.) I didn't see the Bob Paris wannabe today. He's usually noticeable because of all the loud grunting, probably to impress the attractive (and taller than him) brunette who appears to be his girlfriend. Admittedly, he does have a really good build but there's no need for all the noise.

For those of us who remember, this was Bob Paris

9 February 2023

Overcast Thursday

Precor elliptical #1

Program 3

Time: 30+5 (5492)

Distance: 2.80

Cal: 310

Avg Hr: 147, 184-67!

HGPU 20

Crunches 60

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

60 Dead Bugs

15 Hip Bridges

Elbow Plank 60s

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12x

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Upper body stretch

Eye yoga

Still Tired Tuesday

My son has a sinus infection and an unrelated rash on his legs, but it's not going to make him skip school. I know he's as tired as I am, if not more so because he's also stressed about completing projects in school. No "senioritis" for this kid.

It's 21F this morning and I need to get gas before heading to the gym so I'm late. However, I do have time to do cardio, core and even a few sets for triceps. I sneak in a set of Rip Skulls at the warmup weight. I'll find out tomorrow if that aggravated my sciatica. Adding an additional 5 lbs total makes the subsequent Skull Crushers a bit harder. 

When I don't focus completely, I lose count of my reps so the second set is either 17 or 20 reps. So annoying. I really have to count aloud but under my breath because it's not like I'm in the free weight area alone. There are several other bodies working out, some chatting more than actually lifting but that's not my problem.

The tow truck finally showed up today. I guess we'll find out if we can get the car repaired. Because that'd be better than having to shop for a new used vehicle. The tow guy said he just got the call today because he's second on the list that insurance uses. Costs more but actually shows up as opposed to being ghosted by the first company.

6 February 2023
Freezing Tuesday

Precor elliptical #2
Program 2
Time: 30+5 (5530)
Distance: 2.83
Cal: 313
Avg Hr: 149, 192-85

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga

Skull Crushers
30 lbs x 25 reps
Rip Skulls x 20
SC 35 lbs x 20, 17-20?, 25

Time Crunch Monday

While the arctic chill has passed, the stream leading to the lake is still frozen white and solid. I've never seen that before. Temps hit mid-40s but it still feels cold, especially when the wind kicks up. I do the minimum workout: cardio and core because I need to rush home to pay the tree folks who are taking another big maple down. My husband left for Boston this morning and won't be back until Wednesday. No word from the tow truck that's supposed to take the damaged car to the auto collision shop. 

You would think that it'd be the repair shop that'd tow the vehicle, but nope. The insurance company uses a tow truck broker who gets a local outfit to do the deed. Seems like too many middlemen to be efficient. Clearly the system is broken since it's now been two full business days and no word about who's coming. I need to be home to hand off the keys since I'm not leaving them in the car. It's a quarter to five so obviously it's not happening today. And I have no intention of staying home all week just in case someone shows up...

Insurance at least covered 80% of the rental car cost so my husband could go to work. He got a Toyota Rav4, which has grown considerably since it was first introduced. No longer a CRV, it has ground clearance that matches the average pickup truck. It is noticeably bigger than our Subaru Foresters. I literally have to climb into the car. My feet don't reach the ground from the front passenger seat and passenger seats aren't adjustable for height. It seems odd that online, the Rav4 is still described as a compact SUV. I think that needs updating...

I got a reasonable workout done. My feet were numb at first because I was cold. My pinky toe is still swollen and sensitive and the three hammer toes were on the verge of cramping because they didn't like being flattened against the mat when I stretched into Child's Pose. My back did not knot up during pull-ups but I kept the rep count at 20. Those last 3 have always been a struggle and I don't seem to be improving. The first dozen are always good though so I'm not backsliding too much...

6 February 2023
Minimum Monday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 2
Time: 30+5 (5452)
Distance: 2.8
Cal: 308
Avg Hr: 149, 182-77

HGPU 20 (no knot! Yaaay!)

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga

The Blustery Day

The weather app warned of freezing spray this morning. While 19F does indeed mean black ice and other frozen hazards, spray isn't normally one of them. Further investigation leads me to believe that this warning is for coastal areas only. I live in a county that is bordered by the Hudson River to the far west and another state to the east. No need to worry about "spray" unless I planned to go boating in the ocean. No frozen spray in our lakes, ponds and streams. The wind, however, is another matter.

Although temps hover at 18F, the wind chill makes frostbite seem imminent to exposed fingers and faces. While I understand the concept of wind chill, I've often wondered how it's calculated. Of course, you can fine anything on the internet. Click here for the wind chill calculator, and here as well. The first site also provides an explanation and equation if you want to do a deeper dive. 

I don't care what anyone says, I find the Fahrenheit measurements to be nuanced and accurate when I want to know what temperature something is. There's a huge gap between 0 and 100 in the Centigrade system unless you also want to use fractions. Which is why this image made me laugh. It's a keeper. 

Skies are clear and sunny but the howling wind keeps a lot of dog owners from the park today. Swaying trees and dropping branches are a serious consideration in a tree-filled park. I cut my workout short so I can take advantage and bring my pups earlier. And by short, I mean I only do one round of the last set of DB Shoulders instead of 3. I'm leery of pushing too hard, especially since I woke up really tired but without the knot under the left shoulder blade. However, after a dozen pull-ups, the knot reappeared, verifying my belief that it's a lat muscle spasm. Ugh. Well, at least I knocked out cardio with some panache.

So, I only do one set and it actually doesn't feel bad at all. Of course, under normal circumstances, I feel fine until the third set when everything is tired and prone to injury. When I drive home to get my dogs, I see a wire and branches in the road just past my hedges. Upon approaching my front door I see that my neighbor's tree has just fallen over and landed on my husband's car. 

He's kicking himself for not driving to the store sooner. Then he would've missed all the drama and only come home to a tree laying across his parking spot and our hedges. The car's probably totaled but we won't know until the tree is removed and the vehicle towed to a repair shop for a proper assessment.

Meanwhile, my husband needs a car to drive to work on Monday and now won't be able to fulfill his duties as a Cabin Master for the Scout Camp this weekend. At least there seem to be used cars for sale, unlike a year ago when there weren't any at all.

3 February 2023
Friday Fatigue Irony

Precor elliptical #2
Program 1
Time: 30+5 (5858)
Distance: 2.92
Cal: 328
Avg Hr: 151, 200-76

HGPU 20 (left knot reappears)

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys
10 lbs x 25/15/25 warm up
15 lbs x 25/15/25
20/15/20 x 25/15/25

Arctic Still to Come

Today is Groundhog Day and I feel sorry for the chubby marmot, pulled from a deep slumber just to squint at a multitude of overstuffed officials and pandering photographers, just to tell us what we already know: winter's here and will be for several weeks. Never mind that temps should rise into the 40s and maybe 50s next week! Tomorrow will witness overnight subzero temps. It's good to have firewood in the house and a wood stove to burn it in. 

My husband volunteered to be the Camp Master at the local Boy Scout Camp. He'll get to use the Camp Master's cabin which I assume has heat. Doubt if any Scouts will be tent camping this weekend! There's no alcohol allowed on the premise so I'm hoping that he just brings food, various streaming platforms (laptop, phone, tablet) and lots of warm clothes as he will have to make rounds to check the various cabin sites throughout the grounds. He hasn't been able to totally quit drinking in spite of weekly meetings and the threat of potential future legal liabilities. His problem is that he just doesn't take this as seriously as he should: the addict's denial kicking in...

My body is vaguely sore all over: the knot under my left shoulder blade, a mildly sore left hand, the bruised right pinky toe, glutes toying with a bout of sciatica. It makes pedaling not as easy as I'd like but I do get warmed up. Core is routine. Because I still have that problematic knot in my back, I skip doing the DB shoulder routine: the reverse inclined flys are going to aggravate it at the heavier weight. I could just do Lateral Raises and Inclined DB Presses but what if the Lateral Raises also aggravate my upper back? I'd rather wait until tomorrow and see I'm not better. Instead, I do triceps and focus on getting reps.

I have to take my hoodie off to do Skull Crushers. While I don't actually feel cold, my fingers start to go numb and I have to increase the rest time between sets. It's probably a combination of Raynaud's syndrome and having my hands over my head for extended length of time. I don't have traditional Raynaud's so my fingers and toes don't go blue, but they do get icy cold and numb very quickly. Luckily, I can do my sets without dropping the BB on my face. Whew!

2 February 2023
Arctic Chill Thursday

Precor elliptical #2
Program 3
Time: 30+5 (5540)
Distance: 2.82
Cal: 313
Avg Hr: 143, 182-84

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga

Skull Crushers
30 lbs x 25 reps
35 lbs x 25 x 3 sets

It's Always Something Small At First

I woke up with a knot in my back under the left shoulder blade. Coincidentally, my left thumb and hand felt sprained, as if I'd been thumb-wrestling all night. Not good omens for my gym routine to say the least. The arctic cold isn't due until Friday but it felt a lot colder this morning than past mornings. The sore thumb got progressively worse, especially noticeable when trying to hold a water bottle to my lips to sip. But it wasn't the digits that did me in on pull-ups; it was the upper back "knot" that didn't appreciate pull-ups although I could still do over a dozen.

The knot didn't cause too many problems during core and it felt nice just to lay flat on the floor. The bruised pinky toe is still bruised, but less so although it still looks swollen and discolored. Well, who looks at toes anyway? Especially in winter! After showering, I notice the tell-tale waffle pattern of a sneaker sole on the side of my calf. I have no recollection of what might've caused that. My skin is so pressure sensitive and "non-resilient" that at least 20 minutes elapsed between my noticing the impression and when it might have happened. Most living human skin doesn't behave like that.

The upper back knot gets worse as the day wears on. Slinging my gym bag, heavy with wet towels, over my left shoulder definitely hurts. Twisting to get in and out of my car is difficult. At least I got my son to help me with the 50 lb purchase of black oil sunflower seed to keep the feeder stocked. I'm definitely going to miss him next year...

1 February 2023
Arctic Chill Wednesday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 2
Time: 30+5 (5576)
Distance: 2.84
Cal: 315
Avg Hr: 153, 196-78

HGPU 20

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
15 Hip Bridges
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga