It seems appropriate that today is blisteringly hot since it is Cinco de Mayo, a celebration of Mexican independence from French domination. It was definitely cold last week, and the temps will cool down as the days pass. Yesterday was pleasant enough for me to dig out my electric weed wacker to pulverize all the wild garlic mustard and other weeds along my driveway. I also started a plan to trim those problematic driveway hedges, but that will take more than one day, and since my driveway dips but I'd like the hedges to look straight, some fluorescent pink surveyor tape to draw a line across the privets. This to guide my snippers since it's difficult to determine a horizon line if the ground keeps changing elevation.
It would be easier if I stood in my neighbor's parking area since their ground is higher and actually level. Ugh. But I really hate the woman who lives there so we don't speak. I think she is a terrible person for adopting cats and then turning them loose to abbreviated lives as ferals without medical care. One died of a huge tumor in my basement. The other had kittens in my woodpile but the animal shelter wouldn't accept them and told me to leave them for mama cat. I'm sure that they didn't survive even after mama moved them. We have owls, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, bears...
She has done this reckless release of cats several times but not lately. Still, there were at least 4-5 cats that started off in her house (I could see them in the window as I walked by with my dogs) and the next thing you know they're in my yard and she's banging a tin of cat food. And of course, No Habla Anglais. If she accidentally gets our mail, she tosses it on the ground. Someone comes by in the morning to pick her up for either shopping or work. She doesn't own the house as it's a rental. The fellow who used to share that space was very nice and hard working, but he died suddenly while sitting in his truck. He has not been replaced with a permanent new tenant.
My forearms are a bit sore today from hacking back the wild roses that threaten to take over portions of my yard. We've had a lot of rain, the lakes and reservoirs all look very full so it's puzzling to get persistent warnings of an outdoor fire ban. Everything is wet. What exactly is catching fire? The lilac bush across the road wafts a fragrant perfume down my driveway. I see small milkweed plants popping up in an area of lawn that didn't have milkweeds before. But the area previously populated is barren of such seedlings. However, dandelions and carpet bugleweed keep the yard humming and buzzing. I can hear a catbird in the trees.
Today, there are a lot of cars in the parking lot so I'm really surprised that the gym is mostly empty. People must be at the Mexican restaurant next door! I claim elliptical #1 and pedal program 3. Wind Breaker is already on machine #3, and the Inverted J fellow shows up after I've ascended the Stair Master. Pull-ups weren't quite as good as last week, and I blame my sore forearms and yard work. I notice a middle-aged guy standing next to the cable machine. He always looks lost, like he's hoping someone knowledgeable will rescue him, but it's not the first time he's been to the gym.
It's much too hot today to do anything outside. The dogs went to the park, socialized a bit and mostly waited for squirrels in the trees. My pups are happiest when temps are in the high 30s to low 40s. I worry a bit about one of the dogs as he seems to be panting a lot, except when he's sleeping. Is this a sign of a heart or lung problem? They go for their annual exams in June but truly, they are so stressed that their hearts are racing and I don't know that a heart or lung defect can be detected.
However, I can get the bigger dog, the one with the worst dental tartar, to eat a "snacky" dental chew from ProDen PlaqueOff. It purportedly contains the same magic seaweed to assist in minimizing dental plaque build up. Between that, the edible doggie toothgel after dinner, and the DentaLife chicken sticks after lunch, I'm hoping to see an improvement in their oral hygiene.
Back at the gym, I also do 15 minutes on the step machine, and because I'm already "primed" I'm drenched when I step off. The free weight area was empty and that's always a temptation. I opted to do the Tricept BB routine with added DBs for shoulders and biceps. Not planning to be back at the gym until Friday so this should be okay.
The gym starts to fill with kids and I'm ready to step into the Aerobics Room. Disappointed that it's not ice cold. Nope. Feels a bit like a greenhouse. Everything is routine, except for push-ups. I can't keep track of how many reps so I have to guess. Air Squats go better as I count aloud. Sometimes you need the sound of your physical voice in order to register the count. I'm sure not getting enough sleep is a large part of the problem...
Inside the locker room, someone has left a backpack on the counter. I glance at it as I'm drying my hair after showering. It says Hogwarts. Oh my! I know there's a remake of the Harry Potter series that will be truer to the books. My kid and I read all the books. My kid's last day of final exams is next week, sooner than expected. I guess I should start planning where we will be stopping on the long drive to and from Buffalo.
5 May 2026 12:51-3:12
Blazing Cinco de Mayo Tuesday
Heatwave post yard work
Precor elliptical #1 (1:29)
Program 3
Time: 30 + 5 (5282)
Distance: 2.74
Cal: 299
Precor HR: 151, 188 max
Fitbit: 51-135
HGPU 18
Matrix StairMaster (R) (1:43-1:58)
Manual timer 13 + 2:32
Speed 5 (49-45) / 2 (36) / 1 (29)
Steps 661
Floors 41
Cal: 100
Hr 152
Skull Crushers/RipSkulls (2:04-2:35)
30 lbs x 24 reps x 4
S/s with
DB Laterals w/u 10 lbs x 15 reps
15 x 15 x 3
S/s with
DB Alt Curls w/u 10 lbs x 12 ea
15 x 12 x 3
20 Piriformis/Hip flex (steamy!)
10 Hamstring stretches
DeadBugs 20 x 5 (mild tingly foot)
10 Piriformis stretches
Child’s Pose
Cat/Cow stretch 12
Child’s Pose
Fire Hydrants 30 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2 (mild tingling)
Arm rotations 20
Push-Ups 25? completely lost count!
Air Squats 25
Supine lower bent knee twist 10
Neck Stretch / eye yoga
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