Better But Not Great

I got to the gym really late as it was damn near 2 pm on a Friday, but a Friday before a forecast of a huge winter storm. The town has already laid down salt lines on a lot of the roads in anticipation of icy roads over the weekend into next Monday. I'm hoping it'll skip us but that's highly unlikely. This after I finally got all the ice off my walkway and driveway yesterday when temps hit the mid-40s and allowed the de-icer to work properly on the stubborn patches. 

Dogs go to the park every morning, and if friends arrive, then we stay later to allow them time to play and socialize. Then another half and hour getting their dog park passes renewed because the website is under construction and the office is on my way to the gym. But there's a lot of paperwork and not everyone is terribly organized. It's okay. I'm not in a rush and the weather is chilly but sunny. 

Finally, on my way and there is a lot of traffic. Especially at the groceries cuz there's early panic about this huge, slow-moving winter storm. I'm really surprised at how empty the gym is when I arrive. There are electricians in the women's locker room, installing the new heater for the sauna. That sauna has been out of commission since early November. The replacement heater has been sitting in its box by the front desk since early December. (Happily, they are done before I come back to shower and change.) 

Wind Breaker is on machine #3 and all the other machines are vacant. I get on #1 and pedal program #2. I think it's the hardest program out of the 3 different "terrains" because it's two pairs of steep hills. I'm not unhappy about the mileage because I'm feeling better than I have in several weeks. That illness, whatever it was, really drained my energy and it's taken a long time to regain my former strength and endurance. Still not quite there yet. But better. 

I know I'm better because, although I haven't been able to add reps to my pull-up set, they feel stronger and the sciatica doesn't bite me until I get tired and start to curl my legs up. Prior to that, I'm able to hold my body straight with ankles crossed and knees bent out enough to feel like I'm shaped like a trapezoid. Weird? Well, yeah, I'm quirky. I know I'm better because I could knock out 30 reps at push-ups without my lower back aching and my toes going numb. Air Squats were fine. Bird Dogs were fine. I'm still skipping Hip Bridges because I don't need to aggravate that tender nerve bundle and ruin all the other movements. 

Tiny Sundews

I could go to the gym tomorrow as the storm isn't expected until the wee hours Sunday through Monday. But I anticipate a lot of shoveling on Monday since there's the potential for 18". That's a lot of snow. And bitter cold temps. Think single digits into negative number territory. Pups will still want park time, but I'll have to limit their time outside cuz frostbite is a real thing, even for winter-loving dogs like Jindos. Besides, they're not purebred Jindos. Good thing the reactive pup likes those "calming chews."

Flowering Venus Fly Trap

Meanwhile, I'm still worried about my kid's pitcher plant (bagged it as per recommendations from other carnivorous plant enthusiasts, placed on a heat mat with good indirect light) and I'm told they can take months to acclimatize and recover. The other plants, 6 venus flytraps, and a pot of teeny tiny sundews seem to be doing okay. As a matter of fact, the VFTs think it's summer (oops), and some are pushing flower stalks. I expect a few blooms any day now. This will be the first and only year that I overwinter them inside with grow lights to make them stronger. Apparently VFTs need a winter dormancy period for optimal life expectancy. Learning new stuff every day! 

23 Jan 2026 1:48-3:03

Frigid Friday

Bare Basics / Electricians in the Locker Room!!

Precor elliptical #1 (2:26)

Program 2

Time: 30 + 5 (5304)

Distance: 2.75

Cal: 301

145, 188-79

Fitbit: 41-137

HGPU 15 (sciatica rep 12 curl legs up)

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (mild sciatica)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 30

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga