Sunday, February 10, 2013

Buzz off Nemo!


Nemo came, dumped a couple of feet of snow on us, then left.  For many it was a cause of panic, partially because of the timing (the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of '78 was a couple of days ago) and partially because we are a nation of wusses nowadays.

Me, I was out there with the shovel early yesterday listening to Floggy Molly (yeah, still kind of on a jag from last week's show).  Here I am, waist deep in snow digging away and singing loudly to the song "Drunken Lullabies" when the plow driver goes by and I waved to him.  As I'm digging, I take a second to pogo to the line, "Then the rosary beads count them one, two, three as they fell apart on the floor..."in the song "What's Left of the Flag," the driver went past the other way and I waved again.   The next time through I was singing along with "So May the Living (Be Dead in Our Wake)" he pulled up and told me I'd be plowed back in before long as there were about 10 more passes scheduled for our street.

I shrugged and said, "I guess I'm at that age where a little exercise wouldn't kill me.  I'm out here with Flogging Molly so no biggie."

He laughed and said, "Let me give you a hand," and then plowed a foot of the plow sludge up to form a barrier to protect the driveway from oncoming plows.  He then pointed up the hill saying, "Here's one now, let's see if it works."  Sure enough, the big plow came by, went around the barrier and my driveway was still in tact.

I thanked the driver and told him to be safe out there.  He smiled and drove off with a final wave.

Sure enough, after every pass, my driveway remained without a new wall of plow crud and my hour or so of effort remained.

Later, my son went out to shovel the walkway from the driveway to the stairs but, a few feet in decided that it would be more fun to create a snow tunnel.  While he was right, it was more fun, the adult in me began to think about the killjoy things adults do like what happens if it collapses or how do I get the groceries up the front steps and those sorts of practical things.  So I went out to clear the walk way and found and he left a message for me.  One was a sign that simply read "Alive Inside" (in case the health department was checking for zombies) and the other was a message on McGreevey the Wonderbug.


It made me smile every time I looked over and saw it.  He was trying to make the Twin Berlin logo to suggest my car loves the band Twin Berlin.  Given my car's musical proclivities - as I am convinced McGreevey does let my iPhone know what is and isn't acceptable play in shuffle mode - I wouldn't doubt that he does indeed prefer Twin Berlin to Kathy Mattea, classical music, George Harrison or something more appropriate for a woman my age.  Given how often punk comes up in shuffle instead of other stuff, I can see where my son and McGreevey were trying to send me a message.

While my back was a little sore last night, it was nothing a little ibuprofen and heating pad couldn't cure and my biceps and abs feel like they are stronger than ever.

The moral of my story?  Does there have to be one?  I suppose it's being kind is often appreciated.  If you're digging out or own a plow or snowblower or something, make someone's day and give them a hand.  You never know, they may really need a smile.

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

What Fresh Hell is This?

I got to the gym with my husband tonight and my first thought was, "It's February, what the hell are all these people doing here?  I thought they were supposed to give up on their resolutions and hit the bar by now..."

The joint was jumping, literally.  People were jumping and lunging all over the place with sadistic trainers following behind barking and all the machines were full.  So much for my bike time this evening.  *sigh*  In fact, the place was so packed the only machines open were a few arc trainers.

Apparently these things are a supposed to be the next generation of elliptical type low impact cardio trainers that move in an arc, not an elliptical, pattern.  I just know the damn thing kicked my butt.  Two minutes into a 30 minute work out, I was thinking, "If something else opens up, I'm bailing!"  Then came the psych-out games with myself.  I needed to last at least 15 minutes (half of what I set for a time) before I could bail.  After 15, it was last another 5 so I have the benefit of a full-on aerobic/cardio workout.  Then it was "damn, just finish off the program."

At the end of 30 minutes, when the thing was "Yep girl, you're done," I almost cheered.

A couple of things here, first the thing has a momentum factor.  Once I started going, there seemed to be a combination of my momentum and the machine's guidance that kept me in motion.  Second, it was a good thing I had an angry Irish punk soundtrack going because I felt like a freakin' step dancer the way my knees were high-stepping the whole time.  If nothing else, using something like this must give you one helluva a good looking butt.

It was a bit frustrating that I could either use the swinging poles for "a whole body workout" that seemed to build up steam in terms of motion, or uncomfortably hold onto the side of the machine and keep reminding myself not to put my weight on my hands, to keep it on my feet.

Why do I keep going to the gym and using the exercise bike instead of going to spin classes?  Well, truth be known spin classes are an hour and my husband won't last more than 30 minutes.  I feel like I have an obligation to get him in there with me, particularly on the nights where I'd rather crash on the couch and watch TV instead.  With two feet of snow predicted to hit here soon, I worry my bike will stay garaged even longer this winter.  But I do need to keep in motion.  I have 100 miles to ride this summer and I will do it.

I look forward to my hand being strong enough for destination deck work outs (although I'm now doing supermans and planks while watching TV) and it won't be long before I'm riding my bike the 6 miles to Harvard Stadium and the 6 miles home when school is no longer in session.  (Yes Brogan, that's a verbal!  But only when I don't have to be at school by 7:30 am :( )  Until then, I'm stuck in a stinky gym but at least I'm alongside my husband, so I can live with that.

In the meantime, don't forget I need your donations to JDRF.  You can click this link:

JDRF Ride: Karla's Page

and donate.  If Louie the supercat could get some scratch together, so can you. ;)

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Last night, I dreamt I could run

It's funny, I always know when an injury is starting to subside for real when I have a dream that I'm running.  This time I dreamt I was in a 5k and was going to just run when it felt good and walk the rest of the way (hmmm wonder why I would dream that strategy? 8-| ) and I ended up running the whole race and having a PR.

That was the sign that I'm ready to start a run to walk program again and the Plantar Fasciitis is now history.  Oh sure, I've had a few twinges (pogoing to Skinny Lister and Floggy Molly in the jolly boots of doom on the concrete House of Blues floor the other night didn't help things), but they dissipate quickly and I haven't worn the brace to bed for about a month now.  I've been using the elliptical or the lifecycle at the gym lately and the splint is gone from my hand, even if my fingers are still stiff, sore and only starting to bend again.

These are all good signs, so it's time to count some days and put together a plan - perhaps a 5 weeks to the Ras?

In the meantime - help support me as I plan to ride my bike 100 miles to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).