A Little Free Time - finally....

Well, there is no work for me to do right now, despite me sitting down to do it. The client needs to upload some more for us. So, while I am waiting, a quick blog entry can fill the time.

My cable was out this morning, so no internet or phone. Therefore I could not work then either. So far today, I've managed 40 minutes of work between the cable outage and the no-work problem.

I took Emily out for her 13th birthday today - we had lunch at the Chinese buffet and then went to the thrift store and tried on clothes. She got 3 shirts, a pair of leggings, and a skirt and I got a shirt. Then we stocked up on groceries at Walmart. As a new teenager, we gave Emily permission to wear one item of makeup outside the house. She chose lipstick, so we bought her one of those and some hair stuff.

A new battery got my van going again, so I have wheels.

I have not managed to work out lately. I want to, but I just haven't made it a priority. Can't WAIT for warm weather so I can just go running in the AM's again.

All this working is quite stressful, to be honest. I can do it, but it's going to require a bit more restructuring than I had imagined. Hopefully the kids all step up to the plate and help out, or they'll be in school. The job is a necessity. When I worked before, Bob was home all the time. Now he's working 4 days a week too. Thankfully I can set my own hours.

Homemade pizza is being created now (not by me, you notice!) and soon we will have some gifts to open and cake and ice cream.

Bob is working at the homeless shelter tonight and I think the girls are going along with him.

I finished reading Remarkable Creatures and started Wuthering Heights.

I'm sure there's more I could say, but I better go do some other stuff so I can work later.

Weekly Preview

This week I start training for my new job. I have some self-study items to complete by Monday night and a training session each day Tuesday-Friday.

Sunday - Church, Persuasion on PBS (but my TV died!)
Monday - Lessons, Spanish, Self-Training for New Job
Tuesday - Lessons, Job Training, Sledding Day, Pampered Chef Party (if I can make it)
Wednesday - Lessons, Job Training
Thursday - Lessons, Job Training
Friday - Co-op, Job Training
Saturday - Veggie Tales Premiere, Book Club
Sunday - Dreamcoat w/Janet

A friend is having a Pampered Chef party Tuesday and I would love to go. It's been forever since I've been to one of those. I'd love to get a pizza stone or two, since we are starting to make our own pizzas again.

This week is not as busy as last week, but I do have some odds and ends to work on - soccer stuff, taxes still aren't done, some painting I'd like to accomplish.

I'll be heading to GR with Emily either Saturday night or Sunday morning early. Probably Sunday AM. Janet and I are going to paint the town TECHNICOLOR and Emily is going to spend some quality time with Grandma.

I only did one Tae-bo this past week - forgot to work out one day, was so busy the others that I just kept putting it off. And then last night, when I headed to do it, the TV wouldn't co-operate! Argh. I think I'm going running later today - it's sunny and supposed to hit 37 degrees! It's been a long time since I've gone running. And, no, the scale did not show a loss this week. Maybe the two paczkis I ate had something to do with that too. And all that laffy taffy. lol

I'm not giving anything up for Lent, but I am going to make a concerted effort to get to bed before midnight and get up and get started on the day.

Weekly Preview

This week is going to be a busy one! Something every day, but at least some of them are relaxing events.

Sunday - Valentine's Day, Church, Northanger Abbey on PBS!
Monday - Lessons, Valentine Party (no Spanish)
Tuesday - Lessons, Keepers field trip (E,S), Homeschool Support Meeting (L)
Wednesday - Lessons, Essay Class (D,L), AYSO Board meeting (L)
Thursday - Lessons, Movie with a friend (L)
Friday - Lessons, Youth Game Afternoon (E,D), RR Movie Day (S,J)
Saturday - Something together as a family!
Sunday - Church, Youth Group (E,D)

For Valentine's Day, I bought candy for the kids and will give them Valentines. We will attempt to make it to church. For dinner, we will create heart-shaped pizza. We did that once before and it was fun. There is no youth group and Northanger Abbey is on PBS - one of my FAVORITE movies.

Monday is the homeschool group's bowling party, which seems to have a low turnout this year. Hmmm.... I wouldn't bother with it, but the kids have been looking forward to it for WEEKS already and the three youngest have created Valentine boxes. Pix coming soon!

Since I now have a job (!), I think my friend and I are going to go see Valentine's Day on Thursday. My self-imposed moratorium on spending money on entertainment is over! I really want to see Sherlock Holmes, but that's only playing in one nearby theater and it's not so nearby. Maybe when it comes to the cheap place?

This past week, I once again did 3 Tae-bo workouts - one long, two short. I find it's too hard on my knees to do any activity two days in a row. I am ok with alternating running with tae-bo, but I can't do either one on consecutive days. And since I can't go running.... Well, I guess I COULD, but I am not inclined with the weather and the snow.... Wish I had a treadmill. I lost two pounds since I weighed in last week!

Working twenty flexible hours a week shouldn't be too much of a challenge, but I will need to streamline things around here a little. Meal prep can be handed over to the kids and Bob will have to take up the slack on his days off. Hey, maybe I can teach the kids to do laundry this week!

Weekly Preview

Sunday - Install Dryer, Watch Emma
Monday - Lessons, Spanish
Tuesday - Lessons, Keepers (E,S)
Wednesday - Lessons, Art (E,J), Essay Workshop (L,D)
Thursday - Lessons
Friday - Lessons
Saturday - Something together as a family!
Sunday - Church, Baby Shower, the last Emma

Oh, look! A week with Lessons every day! I am adding teaching the Essay Writing Workshop this week. I am also hoping to schedule another one.

Bob works three days this week - 2 eight hour days and 1 six hour day. Yep, that's ANOTHER cut of hours. At least he only drives in 3 days. This week, he is also volunteering at the homeless shelter in the middle of the night, so he'll be running on caffeine all week.

I sent in my resume to be considered for teaching in an English immersion school in Abu Dhabi. What do you think of that? LOL If we're gonna move, we may as well really MOVE, don't ya think?

I've also started writing web content articles for pay. It pays peanuts really, but it's real money for writing.

Workouts. Hmmm.... I only managed two Tae-bo workouts last week, one 30 min & one 60 min. But the scale has me almost back down to my lowest weight. Another couple pounds and I'll be there. I did fine through Christmas. It was AFTER Christmas that I fell off the wagon. Sigh. And not having hot water and a dryer really made it challenging. Who wants to get all sweaty if you can't have a nice hot shower after? Especially when it's 64 inside?

But this week, I've already done one Tae-bo (30 min) and it should be warmer this week, so I think I can run outside.

We now have a dryer that works. YAY! And the timer works too, which is a change for the better. Thank the Lord that my husband knows how to install this sort of thing!

Kids are getting restless so I better go teach them the new hymn for this month. I can hardly believe January has gone and February is here!

Um, blogging every day? CAN'T DO IT! LOL It left me no time to go read and comment on other people's blogs. Hoping to catch up on that this week.

Weekly Preview

Sunday - Church, Youth Group (D,E)
Monday - Lessons, Spanish
Tuesday - Interview (L), Lessons
Wednesday - Lessons, Dentist (S,E)
Thursday - Lessons
Friday - Co-op
Saturday -
Sunday - Church, Youth Group (D,E)

My workouts this past week were:
T - Tae-bo 8 minute workout (yes,that's a real workout tape, lol)
W - Tae-bo 60 minute workout
Th - 2 mile run/walk with Suzy
Sa - approx 30 minute run (2.5 miles?)

I managed 4 workouts, even if one of them was only 8 minutes long! None of them happened in the morning though. Except the 8 minute one. Thankfully the weather was warmer than it has been so I ran outside twice. Aiming for 4 proper workouts this coming week. Maybe I can manage to get up and do Tae-bo in the mornings before lessons.

Staying up late has been my downfall this past week or so - usually 2 am before I hit the sack. (Like right now! lol) But I've managed to get up each day and get lessons going at 9 am. I can't keep doing that though. Need to get to bed earlier this week.

I had friends over on Friday since our sledding day was canceled - lack of snow on the hill. We scrapbooked for a couple hours in the afternoon while the kids played inside and out.

More to type, but I'm drained and so I'm off to bed. Maybe I can post a couple quick entries during the week.

Weekly Preview

Sunday - Church, Youth Group (D,E)
Monday - Lessons, Spanish
Tuesday - Lessons, Dr. Appts (D,E,J,S)
Wednesday - Lessons, Dentist Appts (D,J)
Thursday - Lessons, Interview (L)
Friday - Co-op, Scrapbooking (L)
Saturday - Scrapbooking (L)
Sunday - Scrapbooking (L), Church, Youth Group (D,E)

I got called back for a second interview for the Assistant job. I guess they liked me enough to have me come back again. That will be Thursday. I think I'll need to buy something to wear. And do my roots.

Spanish is supposed to start this week, but the co-op class I teach is being postponed a week. That's annoying because I wanted my two classes to be on the same schedule. Argh. The co-op one could end up being canceled, I suppose.

David and Emily ordered glasses and hopefully those will come in toward the beginning of the week. They told me they would be in YESTERDAY, so maybe Monday? James and Suzy were both found to have 20/20 vision, so no need for spectacles!

Birthday sleepovers kept James and David busy Friday night. David was invited to an airsoft birthday "sleepover" (although apparently no one actually SLEPT). So, I took the opportunity to schedule James's belated birthday celebration. He had his two best friends come sleep over (and yes, they DID sleep). I took them twilight sledding (time of day, not literature theme) and we made mini pizzas.

Bob is going to have a new work supervisor. The current one is being transferred to a different store. Changes. Hmmm....

I've got to get ready for scrapbooking and I am hoping to get a lot of Spanish stuff finished. I may have to just settle for making sure I am ready for Monday, at this point. LOL

I did Tae-bo twice this week (60 min and 45 min) and will do it again this evening (probably the short one). No running again. Guess I need some yaktrax if I plan to run outside before March. Wish the treadmill had not blown up. At least I can do the tae-bo. It's an intense workout and it will keep my endurance up.

Weekly Preview

Monday - Writing
Tuesday - Writing & David turns 15!
Wednesday - Writing
Thursday - Writing, New Year's Eve (no plans right now!)
Friday - New Year's Day - thrift store sale!? & More Writing
Saturday - No plans! except Writing. lol
Sunday - Church

I've got a LOT of writing to do, since I've been procrastinating my work. I work best under pressure anyway, right?

The annual half-off clothing sale at my favorite thrift store should happen once again on New Year's Day. I plan to go and buy some new "skinny" clothes, in a size smaller. Some of them may be a little tight, but they ought to fit great within 5 lbs and they'll be good incentive. Plus I need an interview outfit.

Bob is working M, W, Th and F this week. I think it's 9-5:30 each day except once it is 11-7:30

Last week's workouts:
M - Tae-bo (30 min)
W - 3 mile run (hilly course)
Sat - 3 mile run

Tuesday I attempted a "Barbie" workout tape with Suzy. It was HER idea, but she had a little whiny fit in the middle of it and gave up, so I quit too. Got about 10 minutes into it.

I have been averaging only 3 workouts a week since the weather got cold. Once the New Year starts, I will work harder at getting 4 sessions in per week. If I have to do more Tae-bo or aerobics, so be it. I can only run outside if the weather cooperates. I won't endanger myself by running if it is icy.

Weekly Preview

Monday - Lessons, Scrapbooking with friends
Tuesday - Lessons
Wednesday - Lessons
Thursday - Lessons
Friday - Christmas Pool Party for SOF
Saturday - Family Christmas in GR
Sunday - GR

The kids want to make card houses this week and I want to be sure to get gingerbread houses done sometime before Christmas.

I started selling on amazon.com. Created an account and listed some movies. Going to list books too - a few each day.

Bob is working M, W, Th 10-6:30 and Fri 11-7:30.

Last week's workouts:
S - 3 mile jog
T - Tae-bo (30 min)
F - Tae-bo (60 min)
Sa - 3 mile race (5K)

I had hoped to get one more running day in, but the weather was rather uncooperative.

I've decided to train for a 10K, with my sights set on the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival in June. That ought to be motivating, right?

Weekly Preview

Sunday - Church, Decorate Tree, Make Cookies, Youth Group (E,D)
Monday - Lessons, Teach 2 Spanish classes, ERRANDS!
Tuesday - Lessons, Young Marines?? (J)
Wednesday - Lessons
Thursday - Lessons
Friday - Lessons, Science Club (J)
Saturday - Santa Shuffle 5K, Book Club

Bob is working M, T, W 10-6:30 and Sa Fri 11-7:30. [UPDATE - Bob asked to work Fri instead of Sat and his boss agreed with no problem. This makes things much easier for us on Sat.]

Still haven't figured out James' birthday. Maybe we'll just be doing a sleepover. I can't figure out a good night either, though! [UPDATE - I think it'll be after Christmas as I think our available weekend dates are all filled.]

I am not sure if we will keep doing Young Marines. Neither of the friends James thought was going to do it with him has done so, and I hate the every-week commitment. Especially in Lapeer. And he hasn't LOVED it.

And Emily is hoping to have a gathering of her friends too, before Christmas, so we have to decide on a time to do that too. [UPDATE - I think we'll end up doing something between Christmas and New Year's for her, too. That changes her plans a little, but I think we can make it work.]

Last week's workouts:
M - 3 mile jog
W - 3 mile jog
Sa - Tae-Bo (60 min)

Yeah, I didn't manage as many workouts as usual. The TV didn't co-operate and life was a little busier. This week I hope to get in 3 jogs (including the 5K on Sat) and 2 Tae-Bo workouts (one long, one short). I'm going to run on the best weather days. I already started out with a 3 mile jog today (Sunday).

Completed Workouts

Completed Workouts:
S - None
M - Tae-bo (27 minutes) and 100 crunches
T - Jog 3 miles and 100 crunches
W - Tae-bo (attempted the long video, but pooped out before the end - made about 45 min)
Th - Jog 3 miles
Fr - Tae-bo (short)
Sa - None

Completed Workouts

Completed Workouts:
S - None
M - Tae-bo (27 min)
T - Jog 2.4 miles
W - Tae-bo (60 min)
R - None (too distracted)
F - Tae-bo (27 min)
Sa - Jog 1.5 miles (tired & twinge in knee)

Going to up the jogging next week and hit a 3 mile run at least once, preferably twice.

Completed Workouts

Completed Workouts:
S - None
M - None - resting,
T - Kickboxing at church
W - Jog 2.4 miles
T - Tae-bo (27 min)
F - Tae-bo (60 min)
Sa - Painting a room (2 hours or more)

The Tuesday kickboxing class isn't very challenging compared to the other class I took or compared to Tae-bo, but it's a good pace for Emily.

On Wednesday, I jogged TWO MILES WITHOUT STOPPING! I was so excited that I even woo-hoo'd right there in the cemetery. LOL I walked there and back and ran 4 loops. I even did a 20 second speed burst on each loop.

That was the only jog I managed this week - and it was such a nice week too! It's been too chilly for me in the mornings and I only managed an afternoon jog the one time.

I woke up today really sore (in a good way) from the long Tae-bo video I did Friday night, rather late. I worked very hard on it. Today we painted the dining room - mostly David and I - and sparkpeople.com says 2 hours of painting burns 700 calories! So, that was my workout for today - that and scrubbing the floor on my knees.

I'll jog Sunday.

Completed Workouts

Completed Workouts -
S - 3 mile jog
M - None - resting
T - Jog 1 mile (treadmill problems again! Argh!)
W - Tae-bo (50 min; I skipped the biceps/triceps work)
Th - Jog 2.4 miles (4 loops and walked there/back; kids went me)
Fr - Tae-bo (27 min)
Sa - 2.4 mile jog

On Saturday, I had hoped for 3 miles, but I was not in good form and my right Achilles tendon was tight. So, I alternated jogging and walking a bit more than usual and stopped after 4 loops instead of 6.

I tried treadmill jogging on Tuesday, but after about a mile, it overheated. That's what it did before. And not only did it overheat, it also popped the circuit breaker. And now even when I put in the little key thing, it pops the circuit breaker. In my admittedly under-informed opinion, it needs a new motor. This was a free treadmill we got from a church acquaintance. Her basement had flooded and the treadmill was in there. So, it likely got wet. Not sure if we will try to fix it, or just trash it. Hate to trash it. I was so looking forward to using it this winter.

And can I just say, I love Tae-bo?? It's not too hard, but it makes me sweat. Very good workout. Plus there are varying levels and lengths and different workouts so I don't get too bored. And once I've done it a few times, I can turn down the volume and listen to my MP3 player instead.

I do miss my kickboxing classes though. Those were 30 minutes of cardio kick and 30 minutes of strength/toning exercises. I need to add in those crunches and such-like to my routine.

I have just over a month to my goal date and I have 7 more pounds to lose to my goal weight. It won't be quite a year since I started. I need to get intense about that last bit of weight. I've come a long way and I want to hit my mark!

Completed Workouts

Completed Workouts:
S - Jog 2.9 miles (5 loops and walking there/back)
M - None - resting
T - Kickboxing 20 min and running 10 laps of the gym at church
W - Jog 2.9 miles (5 loops and walking there/back)
Th - Tae-bo video (27 min)
Fri - none (LOTR marathon day ALL DAY)
Sa - 60 min Tae-bo video (instead of Fri)

I ran a mile and a half (3 loops) without stopping this week. I've done that before, but I can't do it consistently. Yet.

I am not working on increasing speed 0r distance until I can consistently jog 4 or maybe 5 loops without slowing to a walk. I'm sure I can work up to that . Then I will tackle running a little faster (since what I do now is barely a jog, lol) and doing 3 miles as my normal run instead of my "long run".

Completed Workouts

Completed Workouts:
S - 4 mile Bike Ride with Suzy and James
M - None - resting
T -Jog 2.4 miles (4 loops and walking there/back)
W - Tae-bo Instructional Video at home with Emily (not much of a workout)
Th - Jog 2.4 miles (4 loops and walking there/back)
Fri - none
Sa - long Tae-bo video (instead of Fri)

I just can't make it to that 9:00 kickboxing class with Emily and still manage to do a proper day's lessons with the other kids. So until the class is at a more workable time, it's going to be Tae-bo videos for us.

Completed Workouts

Completed Workouts
S - None - resting
M - None, overslept and busy day
T -Jog 2.5 miles
W - woke up feeling queasy so skipped kickboxing (Em was pleased! lol)
Th - still feeling punky so didn't do any exercise
Fri - Tae-bo video (27 min)
Sa - Jogged 3 miles; walked there and back
Su - Planning to head out now for a 4 mile bike ride

Completed Workouts

Completed Workouts -
S - None - resting,
M - Tae-bo video (65 minutes)
T -Jog 1.0 miles (darn treadmill died!)
W - Kickboxing Class with Emily
Th - Jog 2.5 miles
Fri - Nothing. My knees were bothering and I overslept besides. :-D
Sa - Jogged 3.4 miles (6 loops, plus walking there and back)

Workout Log

Completed Workouts -
S - None - resting
M - Jog 2 miles
T -Tae-bo video (35 min)
W - Jog 2 miles
Th - Played soccer with Suzy's team for 40 minutes
Fri - None
Sa - jogged 2.5 miles (and was nearly late for soccer, so I didn't go the full 3 miles)

Workout Log

Completed Workouts -
S - ran 5K (3 mi),
M - None - resting,
T - 1 mile jog, but hilly,
W - Tae-bo video (30 min),
Th - 2 mile jog,
Fri - ran out of time,
Sa - 2 mile jog,
Su - wanted to bike, but didn't have time, so rested

Workout Log

Here was the workout plan for the week: - S - none, M - Tae-bo video or none?, T - jog, W - kickboxing class?, Th - jog, Fri - kickboxing class, Sa - none?, Su - 5K race.

Here's how it panned out:
Sunday - none (gone all day for family reunion)
Monday - none (resting from long jog on Sat)
Tuesday - jogged 1.5 miles (only about 1/8 mile of walking in that, after the first mile!)
Wednesday - kickboxing class (30 min Cardio Kick and 30 min abs and strength training)
Thursday - jogged 1.5 miles (only about 1/8 mile of walking in that, after the first mile!)
Friday - Tae-bo basic kickboxing video (27 min) (instead of class)
Saturday - Watched soccer for about 90 minutes. (Doesn't that count? no? Darn! lol)
Sunday - Ran my first 5K!

Don't miss the new weekly preview just below this post. Sorry my blog is so boring lately! lol