What feels like noodles? Burns like asphalt on a 95 degree July afternoon? And is tight enough to bounce quarters off of?
Just about every muscle in my body. Ugh.
I have no idea why this working out thing appeals to me. It wouldn't take much to encourage me to sit on the sofa and down chips and ice cream. Reruns seem so much more appealing when considering the alternative: the attempt to run just a little further or work a little harder or sweat a little more.
Tonight I ran three full laps around the track. And in between there were some wicked ugly things like sit-ups, frog squats and push-ups.
But in the midst of the grunts and groans is a growing sense of accomplishment and a confidence. And I'm not wanting to trade those for a couch.
And working out in a small group has begun to breed other areas where we can grow and change and strengthen and push each other. And why not? Life is a one shot deal. Stagnancy and complacency don't appeal to me. I want to live the life I have and it's going to include my faith being tested and stretched, and my body being pushed to do things it screams about, and my emotional issues getting dealt with and healed. I'd rather those things happen with my willing involvement rather than to me.
Appropriate picture for today.
This was poor Feral Will a couple of years ago after a very unfortunate treasure hunt that yielded dental floss. Don't worry. Everything did come out alright. But there was serious stress and strain involved.
This morning I saved Feral Will from a similar fate. I walked downstairs and found him in the middle of trying to swallow a piece of fishing line. Rob has been loading a fishing pole for an upcoming trip and dropped a 20 inch piece and couldn't find it. Feral did. So. I attempted to snatch the line from his little kitty lips and he fled, with the line clamped betwixt his jaws.
As I got down to his level and cooed, "Here, Kitty, Kitty." I spied the end of the string and managed to grab it pulling it out of his little gullet. Whew. I got it all.
And. Today I went to the dentist. Weird, huh? Coincidence? I certainly hope so!
Our youngest, formerly known as 18, has officially changed her name to 19 today. Happy Birthday, 19.
85 degrees and 90 % humidity is not an excuse to get out of exercise. Today we did the Angie workout. Apparently Cross Fit names their workouts and the more difficult ones are women names ala hurricane.
Helen was last night's and it included jumping pull ups, running and some tricky kettle bell workout that could've taken out an eye.
The slightly modified Angie workout is: jumping pull ups, push ups, sit ups and squats. Because of the temperature, the usual 100 of each was modified to 75 each.
My ..... everything hurts.
And this weekend brought the blessing of seeing God's hand move in lives. Wow. He brought about every detail of some specific prayers and I got to see a miracle of physical healing via surgery, medication and speedy recovery. The details were a series of miracles and the end result is a strengthened faith for more than one person.
And. I had a conversation with someone that completely left me shocked and awed. God has moved a heart, and opened ears, and helped someone see some things clearly. And that is a miracle as well. A huge miracle.
Thanks for all the high fives and encouragement, Ladies. e.m.b. I love that suggestion. Nothing like a little added guilt/responsibility to get those last few feet or last corner rounded. I'm going to use that. I'm all for multi-tasking especially with two very important activities.
Now.
On to the second recent happening that has shown me that I'm further than I thought I was in the fear of others department.
I'm caring less and less about what people think of me. Not that I don't want people to like me or find value in my life's contributions...but...I'm not willing to lose sleep over someone's opinion about me.
Trust me. This is freeing.
Case in point. A few years ago I got a nasty, nasty personal email from someone who hated a review I wrote. The individual didn't pull any punches. And, very obviously, the person didn't actually READ the review. Scanned at best. It bothered me. Not devastated but bothered. But I kept writing reviews. Somehow I've slowly climbed into the top 1000 Amazon reviewers. I've not written reviews just because I want to be in the top 1000 because if that was the case I could write way more reviews and on odd things...most of my reviews are books and movies and those items take a major time commitment and sometimes reviews are tough to write. But. Obviously, I like something about the process. And until I no longer like the process, I'll keep writing them.
The other day I got a review comment that was just ridiculous. Someone didn't like a review I wrote and left a comment questioning how I could be a top 1000 reviewer and suggested that I be dropped several thousand notches in the rankings. And. I reread my review. I don't think I'd change a word. And when I reread the comment and clicked on the person who left it I just kind of felt sorry for someone who felt the need to attack with the passionate negativity that must make for a lot of acid reflux and angst.
So I thanked the person for taking the time to comment and moved on. And he's as entitled to his opinion as I am to mine. And I'm free from carrying his opinion around with me. Ahhh freedom. It's a fine thing.
So Dear, Dear, Blog Readers.
I must apologize for leaving you hanging for nigh unto two days.
I just didn't have much to say.
The temperature dropped a bit so I did some laundry. Necessary. And my kitchen and now the entire surrounding areas of the complete and total household are covered in a fine white coating of drywall dust. As is my dear and awesome husband. This is the part that takes forever. The tedious time when nothing much changes and everything is in upheaval.
While dodging dust clouds and retreating from heat I have discovered a few things this past week. Want to know what they are?
Well. I'm going to tell you anyhoo. So jump off now if you don't want to know.
I've discovered that I'm not as fearful as I used to be, and that I'm stronger than I thought. Pretty monumental things, actually.
A year ago a friend suggested that I run a 5K with her. Ha. Really. And that was my reaction. She said her daughter wanted to run it read bad and had talked her into it. I told her that I wished her well and that the best I'd do was walk it. 3.2 miles. Running. Ha. Silly Bear.
Then her daughter found out she was pregnant with baby number three and I was
completely let off the hook.
I started taking exercise seriously a couple of years ago when I felt like a little old lady flopping around on the couch when it was time to get off said couch. Pilates to the rescue. My core now gets me out of plenty of tight spots. But my core is covered with some friendly little Tootsie Rolls and I'd rather not have quite so many. So I've done the crazy things like Shred and a few other exercise DVDs and the Wii. And our food intake has changed for the healthier. But. Running is out of the question. Running hurts. It made me sweat in high school and suck wind and feel embarrassed at my horrific time. Running. Bah!
Tonight I ran over a mile. Not all at once. Eight laps around the track but over half of it running. Why? I'm not sure. Maybe it's because I can see 48 descending rapidly, or maybe I'm just sick and tired of the limits I keep putting on myself because I am the opposite of the little engine that could.
Wonder where this path is going to take me.....
And the second thing experience that has me feeling a little bit encouraged that I'm headed down a healthy path....well, you'll just have to come back.
The personality stew and the implements that keep it moving continued....and the storage container lid is snapping into place, or the end of the kitchen tool/personality profiles.
In my non-scientific research I discovered that I really began to understand the basics of the personality/temperament types and how the body fluids represent them, especially when I could wrap a kitchen tool around it, over it, under it or through it. Of course, the theories have been rethought and retooled for a few hundred years, and tinkered. But to my knowledge I'm the only one who has turned them into kitchen tools.
And as far as kitchen tools go. No cook, basic or gourmet would really have an equipped kitchen without the wire whip, the crock-pot, the 9 x 13 and the skewer. Oh, they are not necessary for all meals, most of the tools are not needed for most meals, but they all come in very handy and are staples.
As are the personalities.
We need each other. The diplomatic, peaceful 9 x 13 phlegmatics are slow to start but essential for roasting, baking and providing life's basic foods and they need cholerics and sanguines to infuse a little passion and enthusiasm into their lives. And phlegmatics are necessary to keep the melancholys from sliding into the dark depths of inner crock-pot stewing despair. What sanguine doesn't need a straight speaking choleric to shed a laser beam of light on a situation that can help them to focus. And the melancholy without an occasional dose of sanguinty can produce a stew that has such concentrated uck that life can become unbearable for those who love them. And without a helping of comfort food from the phlegmatic to ooze a little peace into the stab wounds from an out-of-control choleric skewering, the world would be a painful place. And without the melancholy, there would be a lack of rich and beautiful items that take time to create, and creativity to blend into dishes that enrich life and add beauty.
Bon Appetite.
A few things have happened to the kitchen area!!!! Coats of color! And a pantry now stocked with almost every item I own. It's deep and narrow and FABULOUS. The red and orange are opposite walls and will be joined with a perfectly wonderful yellow. Stay tuned for more. 
