Well I have hit the gym the last two days, and its been great! Yesterday, for the first time, I ran on the treadmill! Usually I just walk, but I decided to try a light jog. Damn, it hurt!!! So out of 22 minutes I jogged 5 mins yesterday and 6 today, broken up of course. I figure it's a start. I really thought it would be hard on my lungs and breathing etc if I jogged, due to allergies and no training, but I found that part was ok, but it sure did burn my legs and bum!! Perhaps I'll bump up my weight training on those parts:) It certainly has been an experience tho. On the lighter side, I do still have a slightly weak bladder;) Yet another thing to work on!

Also, Easter has come and I can say goodbye to Lent, and to my alcohol restriction!! Oh happy glass of wine:) However, my Dad imparted some knowledge to me, which I guess should not have been new:( When giving up something during Lent, its not enough to give it up - one should also take the money generally used on this and give it to a charity. That will be next years goal.

No cross stitching time today. I headed to the church to sort music, then to the cross stitch store to pick up part of my order. I also picked up a cute little monkey measuring tape:) So if no real time to stitch, at least I hit the store:)

Well onto a little stitching, some wine and American Idol!!

Finally got back to the gym today. The last couple of weeks have been bad with headaches, so I haven't been going. But I've been feeling ok this weekend and today, so I decided to go work out. Missing a few weeks really slows ya down! The workout really tired me out, but in a good way:) I'll be going again tomorrow.

On the stitching front, I've been working on the sampler for Bro and Sis-in-law, and plugging away at the ornament too. I'll upload some pics this weekend to show off my progress.

Thursday is my b-day. I'll be 35 yrs old. Arrrggghhh!! How old is that! I swear just yesterday I was 30. Where does the time go. I think I'll take Friday off in honor of the occasion and do some stitching:)

Well I'm off to stitch a little more before bedtime.

A really stormy day down here. Lots of rain and thunder and lightning (very, very frightening me:). We were under a tornado watch for most of the day, but all of that action was a little to our south. Now things are much calmer and quieter. Temps are getting much better too - up in the high 60's today, even with all the rain, and only going to get better.

Still working on the puppy tonight. Got his ear finished, and I'm now working on his spots. I'll be glad when I'm done with this one. I think I said last time that I started working on a piece for Patrick for Valentine's Day. It's little and won't take long to finish - just a little saying - but I thought it was nice and sweet. I was supposed to go to the stitching store this past Wednesday to get the fibres to kit up the Ottawa piece, but unfortunately I got stuck at school until 4:30, and then I had to be at Church for around 5:00, so no stitching store this week. Since it's in the southern end of the city near my Church I usually try to go on Wednesday nights instead of making a trip just for that. Trying to save gas and money in today's economy:)

Tomorrow is Friday, and I'm very glad for that. It's also a teacher planning day, so no kiddos at school. But I have lots to do. Already looking forward to a productive day at work and a very relaxing weekend with lots of stitching:)

I did plan to go to the gym today, but I've felt kinda yucky today, and since it was pouring when I left school I skipped it. So I will definately hit the gym tomorrow before starting the relaxing weekend:)

Well I'm off to watch Fringe and stitch a little more before bed. Update pics of stitching coming this weekend.

Ah Monday, how I loathe thee:) School was busy today even though alot of students were absent. It being Florida, and being several degrees below freezing this morning, some kids didn't come because they were too cold to stand outside to wait for the bus. I thought about not going, but don't want to waste the days.
Tonight we took down the tree and inside decorations. I normally don't take them down quite so early, but I wanted to rearrange the living room furniture. Patrick is still not sure about the new configuration, but I really quite like it. The only thing is that the chairs we are now sitting in are closer to the sliding glass doors, and there is a bit of a draft due to the doggie door. So I think this weekend I will buy a curtain rod and nice thick curtain and put that up. That should take care of it:)
With all the undecorating and moving tonight, I've had no stitching time. But I will have tomorrow. I also went to the gym today after school. First time since Dec. 23. It felt great getting back into routine. I've really grown quite used to working out, and am starting to enjoy the challenges of walking longer or faster and lifting more times or heavier weights. I figure I've got about 15 more lbs to go to my goal. Right now I'm at my pre-preg weight, so I'm happy with that.
Well, I'm off to bed to read for a bit.

Monday's are always fun. Actually today was not too bad. I hardly accomplished anything teaching wise today. The 5th graders are putting on a play on Thursday, so we had play practice this morning. Then after lunch we had a "Good Touch Bad Touch" program. Just sucked the life outta my day:) Then I hit the gym. After a 2 week break I sure felt a little weak and wimpy. So I did 10 mins on the bike and 20 on the elliptical, and was pretty wiped out. I still have a little snuffly, coughy stuff going on, so I figured I'd had enough after 30 mins of cardio. I'll go back tomorrow and do some weights too.

I also finally got the autopsy results for Liam. They found nothing. Which is great in the way that there is nothing genetically wrong that we can't fix. But unfortunately we still have no answers, and we probably never will. Right now I'm just glad that we have the results. I feel like now it's finally finished. And that is a big feeling of relief.

Finally, tonight I got 1.5 hours of stitching in - all on the dumb dalmation:) Really want this UFO out of the way. Hopefully by Christmas....

A new month has come and half way gone. It's amazing to me how some days seem to fly by, and others drag. Although I have to admit that the draggy days are much fewer and far between than they were when I was younger.

Today we said goodbye to our priest at church. He is moving to a new church on Martha's Vineyard. Sounds glorious:) I'm sure he'll be great there. He's a nice guy, full of energy and humor.

This has been a very lazy weekend for me. I've got a bit of a cold, so I've been very lazy and mediciney. I'm actually typing this from the bed, where, when I'm finished this, I will take my nyquil and turn out the light. Yep, sleepy time at 8:30pm. How old am I!!

I have to confess that I have gotten no stitching done at all. I am woefully behind on what I am doing. Perhaps this week will be easier for that. If not, next week is Thanksgiving, and I have Wednesday-Sunday off, so I'll make sure to find some time. Speaking of Thanksgiving, I'm cooking the dinner this year. My folks are coming down, and having dinner here on Thursday, then shopping on Friday. Should be a fun time. Perhaps on Saturday we'll put the tree up:) Love my Christmas tree.

I have only a few goals this month. Stitching wise, I need to continue to work on the letter and on the dalmation piece. (I don't like it, so I'll try to ebay it when it's finished.) I'd also like to do an ornament, so I'll see if I have a small one I can do pretty quick. I'd also like to get my Christmas shopping started - and close to finished. I know it's only November, but I already feel behind in that because Pat's b-day is at the beginning of December, and I usually buy his b-day and Christmas presents at the same time. Gotta get on the ball!! I also need to get back to working out. With being out of town last weekend, and being sick this past week, I haven't been to the gym, but I'll be back at it tomorrow:)

Well I'm off to suck down some Nyquil now.

Tuesday's are so much fun:) Actually today was ok. We had benchmark testing in math today, so I had 17 students in the library (which they call the media center down here) for 2 hours. There were two sessions, each were supposed to be 40 minutes, but because my kiddos are ESE they can have extended time, hence the two hours. I'm also allowed to read the questions to them, so I did alot of reading math questions too. Tomorrow is the science benchmark test. Two 40 minute sessions, which of course are extended for my kids.

Tonight we're heading out to dinner with Pat's boss, who's in town from California. We're going to a restaurant called Copeland's. I've been there once before and it was very nice and quite expensive. Tonight though, the bill is not ours to worry about, so that's a good thing:)

I'm really enjoying my work outs. I love doing the weight machines, but I'm decreasing my time on them so I can increase my cardio time since that's whats going to burn the fat. I'll keep up a few of the machines in order to strengthen the muscles under the fat. I'm up to 20 mins on the elliptical, so I need to add another 10 for it to be most beneficial. I'm also trying to increase the reps on the weight machines, but I am trying to keep the whole workout under an hour.

Well, I'm off to get dressed for tonight. Looking forward to some good food.

We have joined a gym! I was in a great gym in Tennessee for several months - during the time when Pat had already moved to Florida and I was still up there. I found I had alot more free time on my hands with Pat not at home, so I found this little Christian based gym that was safe, friendly and comfortable. I actually had a great deal with them - I taught a class for autistic kids, or whatever kids came, once a week, and got a free membership. It was awesome:) This gym is alot bigger, so no deals like that, but it's Christian based, safe and friendly. I felt very comfortable today when I tried it out, and we went and signed up when Pat got home from work. I'm very excited about it - I looked forward to the workout all day long.

A few weeks ago I had severe stomach pain. I figured I had an ulcer due to stress, went to the doctor and got sent for tests. The first test showed there was no bacteria, so I went on prilosec and tagamet. The pain has finally gone, but this morning I had an upper GI test done. What an interesting procedure. The technology is absolutely amazing. I was actually able to watch the liquid they had given me move from my stomach into my small intestine and down into my colon. Very entertaining:)
Unbelievably, I've already got the results - no problems:) So good news all around today.