working out for Disney

[Songbird76]

Today is the 4th morning in a row that I've waken up to do my routine workout. Well, what was routine until things went off the rails in January. I've also been adding in after work afternoon activity as well as keeping some of the little things I was doing during meetings where I am not a contributor and can just watch the presentations. The treadmill walking at the end of my morning workouts and in the afternoons has been working well and all of this seems to be helping loosen up my calf muscles, but the true test will be when I try to run this weekend. This morning, I wasn't able to tack on any treadmill stuff at the end, but I did a short run/walk outside in the driveway to make up for it.

As for the treadmill...it's done. It still works, but for the last year or so, it was giving off this horrible melted plastic smell if I used it for too long or on higher speeds. Yesterday, that melted plastic smell shifted to a strong burning smell. There is no external evidence of a fire and the belt doesn't appear to have shifted to cause friction burning, but it was bad enough for me to stop and my older daughter could smell it in her bedroom, even with both the gym and bedroom doors being closed. I unplugged it, but for a good hour after this happened, there were all kinds of strange noises coming from what I assume to be the motor housing and power source area. So, it's hitting the curb for trash pickup on Saturday. If it were a pricey treadmill or something new, I'd pursue some kind of repair, but it's going on 5 years old and I believe I paid less than $200 for it when it new. That's dirt cheap for a treadmill. I would like to replace it with something decent, but the $ I'd earmarked for that went towards the new vehicle down payment. I do have some other $ I could put towards one, but I'm going to wait until we have a better idea of summer plans. I'm an optimist and the notion of upcoming travel helps keep me sane, so I'm not ready to just throw all of my summer fun $ into fitness stuff just yet.

Do you use the treadmill a lot, or is it mostly for when the weather is bad and you can't get out to run outside?

 

[Sans Souci]

Sometimes husbands are a bit clueless! But they can be awfully sweet, too. Sometimes I want to clobber mine over the head, and then he does something really thoughtful and I'm like "Aaaaaaw....I need to remember this for the next time he does something stupid!"

Yeah, I think it's a combination of sheltering in place with an indeterminate end and stomach pain that's making me a little less tolerant than usual.

 

[Sans Souci]

Hello-

Today I did a 15 min hiit workout followed up by a 10 minute abs workout. I also got out for a walk. It's such a beautiful day here--sunny, upper 60s.

My husband saw a hummingbird this afternoon. I usually don't see them until the end of May. I hope to see one soon. I do love a good hummingbird battle.

I found a program that uses short resistance loops and longer ones, so I am going to start that one on Monday. It's something I haven't done before, so I hope it will shake things up a bit for me. I'm kind of excited.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

That's a cute idea. I've been seeing people drawing things on the streets and sidewalks. It is mostly positive messages. Things like, "We will get through this together" and "Thank you, health care workers." I did pass one that said, "Corona sucks" with a drawing of the virus. That one warmed the cockles of my black heart.

Yeah...the funny ones out there are pretty good. Today I saw one that bothered me a bit more. I think someone had chalked messages for someone doing a virtual run, but it was clearly done by a teen, because the message that stood out the most was something mocking "boomers." I'm growing pretty tired of the kids not understanding that not everyone over the age of 30 is the boomer generation.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

The shamrock is quite clever.

I thought it was such a cute idea. I forget who (mind is slipping), but someone looked at it and didn't get it. It really loses something when you have to explain it.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Hello-

I did a "Tonique" workout. This one had a lot of hand stands, which are a struggle for me. But I try and it's kind of fun. I never got out for a walk today, since it rained all day.

I tried to get a Telehealth appointment with my doctor to discuss my stomach pain. My appointment is June 3. It's just wearing me down a bit.

We're booked on a Disney cruise in September. My final payment is due the first week of June. I'm thinking we're going to have to pull out. I am waiting to see if we get ill from this and develop antibodies. (I will gladly forgo a cruise if means not catching this.) I don't know, I'm just not feeling it.

I made mushroom-goat cheese quesadillas for dinner. My husband loved them and he doesn't even know it is a Weight Watchers recipe.

Wow! June 3rd! I hate how long, even in normal conditions, it can take to get in to some doctors. I know a lot of doctors were able to boost the number of visits with all of this virtual stuff.

My parents have backed out of all of their cruising. They still have other travel they're planning on if it's allowed at that point, but I know a number of people who are thinking twice about cruises. I really hope they can get antibody tests out there. Our area/state testing numbers are extremely low, but it's because nobody I know (including me) wants to go out to get tested if they're not showing symptoms.

Those quesadillas sound delicious!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Do you use the treadmill a lot, or is it mostly for when the weather is bad and you can't get out to run outside?

The one that I had was built strictly for walking, and wasn't even great for that. The belt was only 13" wide and it had a built in 2" permanent incline. So, you really had to hold the rails to walk on it to stay steady, even for just a light walk. I had been using it anywhere from 10-30 min a day just to supplement everything else I'm doing, but because I couldn't run on it, it never replaced running outside. Still, it would be nice to have something if it's a torrential downpour or 9 million degrees and humid.

 

[Songbird76]

Yeah, I think it's a combination of sheltering in place with an indeterminate end and stomach pain that's making me a little less tolerant than usual.

I think that's perfectly normal under these circumstances. We're all at home together and getting in each others' way. There's bound to be some friction. Normally I would have the house to myself during the day, but now everyone is home, and they are working, so I can't make a bunch of noise vaccuming or mowing the lawn, and I work in the evening, so I'm not home to do those things when they aren't working anymore. And since I'm still leaving the house to work, AND I still have all the normal stuff to do like laundry, grocery shopping, cooking...it's hard to motivate myself to do more on the weekends when everyone is free. I want a weekend, too. And it's frustrating because more people home means more dishes, more food prep, etc...I am just aching to have the house back to myself. My routine is off. And I think that's true for most people...the routine is not what they are used to, so we're all a bit sensitive right now and having to adjust. Is your husband still offended that you wanted to walk by yourself?

 

[Sans Souci]

Yeah...the funny ones out there are pretty good. Today I saw one that bothered me a bit more. I think someone had chalked messages for someone doing a virtual run, but it was clearly done by a teen, because the message that stood out the most was something mocking "boomers." I'm growing pretty tired of the kids not understanding that not everyone over the age of 30 is the boomer generation.

I thought that whole "OK, boomer" peaked at the beginning of the year. Don't get me started on "Karen."

 

[Sans Souci]

I think that's perfectly normal under these circumstances. We're all at home together and getting in each others' way. There's bound to be some friction. Normally I would have the house to myself during the day, but now everyone is home, and they are working, so I can't make a bunch of noise vaccuming or mowing the lawn, and I work in the evening, so I'm not home to do those things when they aren't working anymore. And since I'm still leaving the house to work, AND I still have all the normal stuff to do like laundry, grocery shopping, cooking...it's hard to motivate myself to do more on the weekends when everyone is free. I want a weekend, too. And it's frustrating because more people home means more dishes, more food prep, etc...I am just aching to have the house back to myself. My routine is off. And I think that's true for most people...the routine is not what they are used to, so we're all a bit sensitive right now and having to adjust. Is your husband still offended that you wanted to walk by yourself?

Yes, I feel like I am cooking non-stop. I know I am cooking one less meal per week than I usually do, but I am baking more bread than usual. I feel like I am always cleaning my kitchen. My son seems to think if you use a glass once, it can't be used again. You would think 4-5 people live here, not three with all of the dishes and classes.

He's not offended anymore, but I just wanted some time alone. I like listening to music when I walk, too. I can't do that when I am walking with him.

 

[Sans Souci]

Good morning ☀

I started my 10 week program today. Let's see if I stick with it, I usually bail once I get bored. This one uses longer resistance bands and shorter loops. It was novel for me. I had to put the band under a couch leg and get inside the loop. I had to squat down and "walk" with the loop around my hips, so I really had to push against the resistance. I had to resist the pull back when I walked backwards, too. I think I might be sore tomorrow.

I am hoping to get out for a walk today. I went out yesterday in the rain. It makes social distancing much easier.

Tonight's dinner is chicken with lemon, chickpeas and olives tonight. I'm serving it with some veggies and whole wheat couscous.

Have a great day, everyone!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I thought that whole "OK, boomer" peaked at the beginning of the year. Don't get me started on "Karen."

While I've come to regret it, my kids have learned both terms through me! They are still wrapping their heads around boomers, but I'm pleased to report that I'm not a Karen. Well, at least by the definitions we've been given, but I'm sure just like boomer, some will use it to describe anyone older than them that annoys them in some way.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Today is a break day, but I was pretty good over the weekend.

Saturday was a mess in the tracking sense. My GPS disengaged during the run and my distance was off, along with my speed. The speed was showing me faster than I was. In some ways, it was a good thing, because when I thought I was faster and doing really well, I pushed even harder and did even better. I just now know that those numbers are all off. After the run, I biked for about 7 miles, did some leg work and abs and felt pretty good about things. We decided to go on a longer drive to get out the crazies. It was sunny during my walk, but things clouded up as we hit the road. I actually really like gloomy weather (when it's not flooding my home), and I wasn't driving, so I took some "fun" sky pictures.

It was a nice drive. We got to the edge of downtown and then turned south to get to our old neighborhood. We were going too fast for good pictures, but I always love a drive by the sculpture park put together by this local pipe company. Just to give you some perspective on size, the fishing rod in some of the pictures is hooked into a full sized regular cab Chevy Silverado.

Eclectic Menagerie Park

A private collection of massive steel monsters guarding a Texas pipe works.

www.atlasobscura.com

After that, we went by the old house. Not a lot has changed, and that which has was something we were trying to avoid, so not much to see. Then we went by the ball fields near the old house and the house we lived in before the kids were born, which was in a totally different part of town.

I went out for another run/walk on Sunday. The GPS stayed engaged, but it shorted me on mileage this time. It put me at 4.81 miles when a reliable mapping tool I have put me at 5.24. As frustrating as that is, my feet hurting was the bigger issue. I think it's because I'm not moving enough and I've put on some pounds during all of this stay at home stuff. At least Sunday was good weather for being out there.

Hubby has been trying to get me to reintroduce dairy, so I made this ricotta bake...

Between Saturday's gluten free pizza and this thing, my stomach just said no. So, I'm going to have to be very selective and lean more towards low to no lactose if I want dairy.

Today was a break day. I may still go for a walk a little later, but we'll see. I spent my morning at the car dealership watching old reruns...

I haven't even made a payment on the new ride and it's in the shop. The a/c wasn't blowing cold and I guess there's some kind of leak, so we'll see how long this takes. At least I got to literally stop and smell the roses outside while waiting for my husband to pick me up.

 

[Sans Souci]

While I've come to regret it, my kids have learned both terms through me! They are still wrapping their heads around boomers, but I'm pleased to report that I'm not a Karen. Well, at least by the definitions we've been given, but I'm sure just like boomer, some will use it to describe anyone older than them that annoys them in some way.

Karen bothers me because I have been seeing it used to dismiss and shut up any woman's viewpoint that someone disagrees with. It's intellectually lazy.--it is the equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears, because you don't want to hear what someone is saying. When you mention Karen used in that way, it's the Most Karen Thing Ever, so you can't win for losing. I find it telling there is no male equivalent of Karen. Men act like "Karens," too. I guess when they do it, it's assertiveness.

 

[Sans Souci]

Today is a break day, but I was pretty good over the weekend.

Saturday was a mess in the tracking sense. My GPS disengaged during the run and my distance was off, along with my speed. The speed was showing me faster than I was. In some ways, it was a good thing, because when I thought I was faster and doing really well, I pushed even harder and did even better. I just now know that those numbers are all off. After the run, I biked for about 7 miles, did some leg work and abs and felt pretty good about things. We decided to go on a longer drive to get out the crazies. It was sunny during my walk, but things clouded up as we hit the road. I actually really like gloomy weather (when it's not flooding my home), and I wasn't driving, so I took some "fun" sky pictures.

It was a nice drive. We got to the edge of downtown and then turned south to get to our old neighborhood. We were going too fast for good pictures, but I always love a drive by the sculpture park put together by this local pipe company. Just to give you some perspective on size, the fishing rod in some of the pictures is hooked into a full sized regular cab Chevy Silverado.

Eclectic Menagerie Park

A private collection of massive steel monsters guarding a Texas pipe works.

www.atlasobscura.com

After that, we went by the old house. Not a lot has changed, and that which has was something we were trying to avoid, so not much to see. Then we went by the ball fields near the old house and the house we lived in before the kids were born, which was in a totally different part of town.

I went out for another run/walk on Sunday. The GPS stayed engaged, but it shorted me on mileage this time. It put me at 4.81 miles when a reliable mapping tool I have put me at 5.24. As frustrating as that is, my feet hurting was the bigger issue. I think it's because I'm not moving enough and I've put on some pounds during all of this stay at home stuff. At least Sunday was good weather for being out there.

Hubby has been trying to get me to reintroduce dairy, so I made this ricotta bake...

Between Saturday's gluten free pizza and this thing, my stomach just said no. So, I'm going to have to be very selective and lean more towards low to no lactose if I want dairy.

Today was a break day. I may still go for a walk a little later, but we'll see. I spent my morning at the car dealership watching old reruns...

I haven't even made a payment on the new ride and it's in the shop. The a/c wasn't blowing cold and I guess there's some kind of leak, so we'll see how long this takes. At least I got to literally stop and smell the roses outside while waiting for my husband to pick me up.

I love the cloud photos. It kind of reminds me of the film Independence Day.

What is a "ricotta bake?" It looks like a lasagna, how is it different? I love ricotta. Sometimes I eat it with a drizzle of honey and pistachios.

I have been back to my hometown every Thanksgiving since 2016. I can't bring myself to drive past my old house. I lived there (on and off) from 1983-2016. My mother told me they cut down a lot of the decorative shrubs and evergreens we had.

 

[Sans Souci]

Hello-

Checking with an upper body workout from yesterday and a 20 min HIIT workout this AM. I had to order a longer resistance band, because my longest one is too short for me. Wow, they went up in price at Amazon. I bought a set of three back in December and it was only a few dollars more than the single one I ordered yesterday. I guess people are serious about their Quarantine Glow Ups.

I have made sandwich bread twice this week, it came out great. My son blitzes through it. I made one loaf with butter and the other with vegetable oil for the sake of comparison and the butter loaf was superior in flavor. I did like the way the vegetable oil dough felt, though.

I am making coconut chicken curry with pineapple salsa for dinner tonight. It's a WW recipe. I am on the straight and narrow this week. I hope my scale moves in the right direction Friday morning.

 

[Songbird76]

Karen bothers me because I have been seeing it used to dismiss and shut up any woman's viewpoint that someone disagrees with. It's intellectually lazy.--it is the equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears, because you don't want to hear what someone is saying. When you mention Karen used in that way, it's the Most Karen Thing Ever, so you can't win for losing. I find it telling there is no male equivalent of Karen. Men act like "Karens," too. I guess when they do it, it's assertiveness.

I have heard "Kevin" for the male equivalent of Karen, but it's not used nearly as often. Where did "Karen" even come from? Was there a TV character named Karen or something?

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Karen bothers me because I have been seeing it used to dismiss and shut up any woman's viewpoint that someone disagrees with. It's intellectually lazy.--it is the equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears, because you don't want to hear what someone is saying. When you mention Karen used in that way, it's the Most Karen Thing Ever, so you can't win for losing. I find it telling there is no male equivalent of Karen. Men act like "Karens," too. I guess when they do it, it's assertiveness.

We'd never heard it before her daughter said it, so like any adult, we had to search for definitions. The definitions we found for a Karen boiled down to entitled soccer mom with a snobbish streak, insisting their actions are justified because they deserve the best and that anyone doing any less is just ignorant or too meek to demand what they deserve. I can see how it could easily take a turn and demean women who are intelligent and are just standing up for what's right. Unfortunately, the person where I first learned this fits a lot of the negative descriptions we've found. Still, she's proud of it and won't be changing any time soon. It's just embarrassing when you go out for a meal and she insists on speaking to the chef about how to cook pasta (did this once with take out too- everyone heard that telephone call), or wants to sit your server down and show him pictures of the different kinds of couscous so he knows better for next time, or insists on a free milk at a fast food place because they forgot hers a few weeks ago. I mean, it's definitely assertive and these are certainly areas where she's in disagreement with how things were done...and in some cases were just wrong. I guess I just have a different threshold for things where I'll complain and take a different tone with people when I do.

I love the cloud photos. It kind of reminds me of the film Independence Day.

What is a "ricotta bake?" It looks like a lasagna, how is it different? I love ricotta. Sometimes I eat it with a drizzle of honey and pistachios.

I have been back to my hometown every Thanksgiving since 2016. I can't bring myself to drive past my old house. I lived there (on and off) from 1983-2016. My mother told me they cut down a lot of the decorative shrubs and evergreens we had.

I took pasta (gluten free) and added in whipped ricotta (a lot of it!) with grated asiago, fresh mozzarella, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, flat leaf parsley, and topped it with bagged shredded Italian blend cheese and gluten free Italian bread crumbs.

I have lived in 6 different states and a lot of different houses and apartments, so it's hard to say exactly where childhood home is. The homes we drove by for this were our first home as a couple and our first home with the kids. Our first home as a couple has a little more sentimental value since it was my FIL's house before he sold it to my husband. It's changed owners several times since, but aside from them destroying the front porch, we've gotten to see other changes through real estate listings. The funniest of which is them covering all of the floors and at least the bottom half of the walls with marble. It looks like a casino in there now! I think 2011 was the last time I drove by my home in FL...not a lot changed. I haven't seen any of our houses in NJ since 2005. I don't think I'd remember any of the other places from when I was really young.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Week 2 of getting back into a workout routine is going well. I'm not doing anything exciting, but I think it's helping my mental state and keeping me from totally pigging out with all of the food around here. I walked after my standard gym routine today, but decided to add another 20+ minutes of walking during my lunch. It's nothing too crazy...just driveway to backyard and repeat. There's at least a little hill in the yard and the driveway slopes a little, so at least there's a little in the way of elevation changes.

I think I also convinced my husband into getting a treadmill to put downstairs IF I can find a decent one that either rolls or has a space saver option. I'd still really like to test something out before buying. We're one of the states starting to open things up, but I'm not quite ready to go full on treadmill shopping in a store just yet. So, I'm going to give it a few weeks...maybe until the end of May. That might also give me a better idea of whether or not Disney will be happening for us in July. My 60 day mark is coming up and I'm still on the fence about tickets. I usually just go with room only and look at add on closer to the date so that I don't have all of my $ with Disney up front.

 

[Sans Souci]

I have heard "Kevin" for the male equivalent of Karen, but it's not used nearly as often. Where did "Karen" even come from? Was there a TV character named Karen or something?

It came from a meme. I'm pretty sure Kate Gosselin was the prototype, though. She started that hairstyle that you see in the "Let me speak to your manager" meme.