working out for Disney

[Sans Souci]

Exercise wise I've been in a weird place lately doing retro workouts such as Richard Simmons. Once the holidays set in I need to change things up and never know what type of mood I'll wake up in

I started watching a special on Hulu about him. I ended up turning it off. The fact that it was a TMZ production should have been a tip off that was going to be obnoxious. I remember when he would go on Late Night with David Letterman and Letterman was kind of jerk towards him. I often wondered if that was an act or just Letterman being a jerk. My guess is probably both.

 

[Sans Souci]

Happy Monday

We spent the last week in Florida, so I didn't get on here beyond posting my Wordle results (I think I even forgot a day of that too!). Before we left town, we started to get back into a gym rhythm. We went 3x before leaving for FL. We had hoped to go while in FL since there was a location nearby, but we don't get to see my parents very often. So, we hit the gym in the hotel a couple of times and opted for more family time. We are trying to carve out time for some kind of gym routine now that we're back. We went last night, but we'll see how we do now that we're back in school/work mode. It's been hard because my back has not been happy. Some is likely the extra weight I'm carrying, but the ultra-firm beds a couple of weeks ago and my office chair may also be the culprit. During workouts, it's really just finding what doesn't hurt or feels like it's flexing that area in the right ways. Surprisingly, rowing has been making it happier. It's tough during the holidays, but I'm also trying to get back to healthier food/bev habits. I've been cutting back on my snacking, I'm 4 weeks into being diet soda free, I've started caffeinating with monk fruit sweetened coffee, drinking a lot more water, and some other dietary modifications. We'll see how it goes. At the very least, by traveling for the holiday, my house is not filled with leftovers.

So, no Universal or Disney while we were in FL. It always feels strange to drive through Orlando and not get a taste of any of it. It was tempting though. I went as far as looking at ADR availability on Saturday to see if we could pop in for a resort meal and see some of the decorations. I just couldn't justify it. We were more motivated to avoid having to stop for the night. Most of the week was spent just hanging around the house with my parents. They were grieving the loss of their dog (she passed the day before our arrival), so I know they liked having extra people around. We spent much of our first night watching old family videos, but we also got to see some of the burrowing owls in the park across from their house, we binged Wednesday over the course of three days (Tip- watch with the subtitles if you want some added entertainment), and we took an airboat tour on the northeastern edge of the Everglades. The airboat place was pretty interesting. They had wild/feral peacocks all over the place and number of Quaker Parrots also were hanging around the docks. No pictures of them, but also saw several osprey, a number of iguanas and a juvenile bald eagle.

Was that you who said "I don't do birds."?

 

[Sans Souci]

Hello-

I've just been doing different YouTube workouts. I found a new YouTube channel and the creator puts out a monthly schedule. I started that today. Time will tell if I finish the month or if I go rogue and do my own thing. Today was an upper body workout.

I have jury duty next week. I did It about 4 years ago and they have changed it. You have to show up 4 days in a row to be in the jury pool. It used to be one day or one trial. You have to call the night before to see if they need you, so I am hoping I won't have to go. The last time I was selected, I had to listen to this medical malpractice suit that went on for nearly 3 weeks and I had to take an Uber back then. I told the judge during the voir dire that I had paid for an uber to get to the courthouse and that I would have to do that to serve on a trial. I spent $200 getting there and back for the duration. I took the train a few times, but I still needed an uber to get home, as I don't live near any train stations. I'm not doing that again. Serving on a jury shouldn't create an economic hardship.

I am just glad it's Christmas season. I really need this right now. I opened up the first door on my advent calendar and I had my first cup of Starbucks Holiday Blend. When I go to cook dinner shortly, I will listen to Christmas music as I chop my veggies.

 

[Sans Souci]

Good morning

Just checking in with a 40 min. low impact HIIT workout.

Last night, Callie came to the door for food. She ate and then she just stayed there, looking in. I think she wanted us to open the door so she could stand in front of it for heat. My husband found a small box and cut a hole in the front of it. Then he got the self heating pad and put it in there. He put it right by the patio door, since that is where she has been hanging out at night lately. I was doubtful, because I thought she would think it was a trap. She's been neutered, so she's been trapped before. So after she left, my husband put it out. A little while later, he went downstairs and her little face poking out of the front of it. My husband went to bed after midnight and he said she was still in there. I went down at 5:30 and the box was empty, but she came walking to the door when she saw me. I am hoping if we move her house to where the box is, she will use it.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Was that you who said "I don't do birds."?

It may have been. I like seeing them in the wild, but never could own one and get a bit spooked when people have them as pets and let them free in their homes. I had a coworker that had a parrot and I got really freaked out when she invited me over for lunch and the parrot joined us at the table. Well, to be more specific...ON the table.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I have jury duty next week. I did It about 4 years ago and they have changed it. You have to show up 4 days in a row to be in the jury pool. It used to be one day or one trial. You have to call the night before to see if they need you, so I am hoping I won't have to go. The last time I was selected, I had to listen to this medical malpractice suit that went on for nearly 3 weeks and I had to take an Uber back then. I told the judge during the voir dire that I had paid for an uber to get to the courthouse and that I would have to do that to serve on a trial. I spent $200 getting there and back for the duration. I took the train a few times, but I still needed an uber to get home, as I don't live near any train stations. I'm not doing that again. Serving on a jury shouldn't create an economic hardship.

4 days is a lot, let alone 3 weeks. Our county covers the cost of parking or public transportation fees for jury duty, but I heard several people decided to Uber/Lyft when I was last called. Of course, for us, it's usually only 1 day if you're not selected. The financial aspect is what really bothers me. I get that it's our civic duty and that any one of us would want a proper jury if we were ever involved in a trial situation. That being said, there are a lot of people that get called who are technically eligible, but either don't have access to transportation or don't get paid if they're not there. Jury payment isn't going to pay the bills.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Happy Friday!

The four of us wound up hitting the gym on Wednesday night. The rowers were occupied, so I hit the elliptical for my main cardio. It definitely works me harder than the rower...possibly because I'm standing. It was crazy busy, but I managed to get onto all of the upper body machines I wanted to use and finished up for a 10 minute cooldown on a treadmill. Yesterday's fitness was a bit different. I've been having some back pain, so I took the day off and did a hydromassage therapy session and then rested for a while. During the session, it didn't feel like it was really working that area, but the knot in that part of my back now feels almost non-existent. I rested for a while, but it was suggested I make it a more active day to keep things humming along. So, I decided to decorate the yard for the holidays. I may have been a bit too active (like nearly 6 hours of it), but I got it done. It's no real breaking a sweat kind of activity, but it's a lot of squatting, walking, and bending/reaching. I still have to switch around some power sources and set the timers, but it's 99% complete. While my hamstrings and glutes ache from all of the squatting/bending and my arms and upper back ache from all of the reaching, the problem areas in my lower back still feel really good. Today is a rest day.

I'm also so relieved. K finally made National Honor Society. It's been a battle. She had a "wrong place at the wrong time" situation her freshmen year. The admin over the matter was dishonest, said that it wouldn't have any lasting impacts, and that the punishment she received was her only option. It turns out none of this was the case. For whatever reason, she was accepted for both Science and History NHS with no issues, but main NHS was a nightmare. I'll spare you all of the fighting drama, but she was accepted and we didn't have to escalate it to the district. Now to focus on getting my husband a new vehicle so we can give K his truck and get me out of the role as chauffer.

 

[MinnieM123]

Happy Friday!

The four of us wound up hitting the gym on Wednesday night. The rowers were occupied, so I hit the elliptical for my main cardio. It definitely works me harder than the rower...possibly because I'm standing. It was crazy busy, but I managed to get onto all of the upper body machines I wanted to use and finished up for a 10 minute cooldown on a treadmill. Yesterday's fitness was a bit different. I've been having some back pain, so I took the day off and did a hydromassage therapy session and then rested for a while. During the session, it didn't feel like it was really working that area, but the knot in that part of my back now feels almost non-existent. I rested for a while, but it was suggested I make it a more active day to keep things humming along. So, I decided to decorate the yard for the holidays. I may have been a bit too active (like nearly 6 hours of it), but I got it done. It's no real breaking a sweat kind of activity, but it's a lot of squatting, walking, and bending/reaching. I still have to switch around some power sources and set the timers, but it's 99% complete. While my hamstrings and glutes ache from all of the squatting/bending and my arms and upper back ache from all of the reaching, the problem areas in my lower back still feel really good. Today is a rest day.

I'm also so relieved. K finally made National Honor Society. It's been a battle. She had a "wrong place at the wrong time" situation her freshmen year. The admin over the matter was dishonest, said that it wouldn't have any lasting impacts, and that the punishment she received was her only option. It turns out none of this was the case. For whatever reason, she was accepted for both Science and History NHS with no issues, but main NHS was a nightmare. I'll spare you all of the fighting drama, but she was accepted and we didn't have to escalate it to the district. Now to focus on getting my husband a new vehicle so we can give K his truck and get me out of the role as chauffer.

Congrats to K on achieving National Honor Society!

 

[Songbird76]

It was Callie. Sometimes, I turn the light on and she's there, other times she comes up to the door once I turn it on.

I am having trouble sticking to one thing or sometimes I can't decide what to do. It's not that I don't have motivation, I just feel like I don't know what to do. LOL

From your check up, it definitely sounds like you are on the right track. Where are you guys staying when you go to WDW?

We're staying at All-star music. We are doing 2 weeks, and for just the 2 of us, we don't need as much space, and we don't spend a lot of time at the resort, so it doesn't have to be fantastic, but we can afford to stay more than just a few days if we go for the cheap resort. We're also going to Universal for a couple days and staying at Endless Summer resort.

 

[Songbird76]

After I got married, we lived in England for a while. My husband tried to teach me to drive his Fiat Tipo. OMG, I sucked so badly. It was a confluence of driving on the opposite side of the road, trying to use my weak left hand to change gears and then trying to figure out what to do with the third pedal. We got to a roundabout and I was freaking out. It was a small roundabout in a residential area, not like one of those 3 lane ones. My husband kept yelling at me to stop riding the clutch. Finally, he told me to pull over and said, "That's enough driving lesson for now." He never took me back out and to be fair, I never asked again. I just walked and took public transportation if I ever needed to go anywhere.

Oh there's no way I could do it if I had to drive on the wrong side of the road. I found it hard enough here where they drive on the right side!

 

[Songbird76]

Hello-

I've just been doing different YouTube workouts. I found a new YouTube channel and the creator puts out a monthly schedule. I started that today. Time will tell if I finish the month or if I go rogue and do my own thing. Today was an upper body workout.

I have jury duty next week. I did It about 4 years ago and they have changed it. You have to show up 4 days in a row to be in the jury pool. It used to be one day or one trial. You have to call the night before to see if they need you, so I am hoping I won't have to go. The last time I was selected, I had to listen to this medical malpractice suit that went on for nearly 3 weeks and I had to take an Uber back then. I told the judge during the voir dire that I had paid for an uber to get to the courthouse and that I would have to do that to serve on a trial. I spent $200 getting there and back for the duration. I took the train a few times, but I still needed an uber to get home, as I don't live near any train stations. I'm not doing that again. Serving on a jury shouldn't create an economic hardship.

I am just glad it's Christmas season. I really need this right now. I opened up the first door on my advent calendar and I had my first cup of Starbucks Holiday Blend. When I go to cook dinner shortly, I will listen to Christmas music as I chop my veggies.

Ugh....jury duty sounds horrendous. Glad that's not a "thing" here!!

 

[Songbird76]

4 days is a lot, let alone 3 weeks. Our county covers the cost of parking or public transportation fees for jury duty, but I heard several people decided to Uber/Lyft when I was last called. Of course, for us, it's usually only 1 day if you're not selected. The financial aspect is what really bothers me. I get that it's our civic duty and that any one of us would want a proper jury if we were ever involved in a trial situation. That being said, there are a lot of people that get called who are technically eligible, but either don't have access to transportation or don't get paid if they're not there. Jury payment isn't going to pay the bills.

Honestly, I don't like the jury system for the simple reason that people on a jury are not professionals. They don't know the laws. And they don't always get to hear all the evidence, meaning it's not always a fair trial. A judge can give instructions to the jury, but people are biased by nature. People's experiences and education will influence their thinking. There is no way to get a completely unbiased jury. And since jury members haven't studied law, they don't always know how to interpret certain bits of evidence. The whole premise of "innocent until proven guilty" doesn't seem to be true. And in some cases, what "proves" guilt has to be so excessive that there's almost no way to get a conviction for certain things, because how one interprets something will be interpreted a different way by someone else, so if you have to have a unanimous decision, that's TOUGH. I've been watching a lot of the crime series on netflix and whatnot...there was one about the innocence project where they look at old cases of people in jail who are almost certainly wrongly convicted....where there were violations of their civil rights, or where evidence that could have helped prove their innocence wasn't allowed in court. Which they aren't supposed to have to PROVE innocence....how did they get "proven" guilty when there was evidence withheld that proved they weren't? That's not a fair trial then. I find the whole thing scary....that untrained and uninformed people can decide the fate of someone's life. They can put someone behind bars for life, or even suggest they be put to death, without having a bit of experience in law. If you are wrongly accused, you could spend decades of your life in prison because the jury didn't understand what they heard. Just the fact that you are charged makes the jury pre-disposed to suspect you are guilty, because they figure you wouldn't be there if there wasn't a whole lot of evidence that you did the crime. They just want to get it over with and get back to their lives. THEY aren't going to be serving the sentence and there are no repercussions for getting it wrong. If you are later exonerated, nothing happens to the jury who found you guilty. There is absolutely no incentive to make sure you got it right. I think most people probably go in wanting to do a good job, but if you're losing pay, or missing time with your kids, or you're just bored and tune out, you aren't motivated to pay as close attention as you maybe should. Your mind wanders and you miss that crucial bit of information that could have made a difference to the outcome. I think the whole thing is scary!


Congrats to K on NHS!!! That's great! Aren't dishonest administrators the WORST??

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Hello-

I've just been doing different YouTube workouts. I found a new YouTube channel and the creator puts out a monthly schedule. I started that today. Time will tell if I finish the month or if I go rogue and do my own thing. Today was an upper body workout.

I have jury duty next week. I did It about 4 years ago and they have changed it. You have to show up 4 days in a row to be in the jury pool. It used to be one day or one trial. You have to call the night before to see if they need you, so I am hoping I won't have to go. The last time I was selected, I had to listen to this medical malpractice suit that went on for nearly 3 weeks and I had to take an Uber back then. I told the judge during the voir dire that I had paid for an uber to get to the courthouse and that I would have to do that to serve on a trial. I spent $200 getting there and back for the duration. I took the train a few times, but I still needed an uber to get home, as I don't live near any train stations. I'm not doing that again. Serving on a jury shouldn't create an economic hardship.

I am just glad it's Christmas season. I really need this right now. I opened up the first door on my advent calendar and I had my first cup of Starbucks Holiday Blend. When I go to cook dinner shortly, I will listen to Christmas music as I chop my veggies.

I had no idea jury duty lasted more than one day if you weren't picked for a jury until recently. Maryland it's one day, if you aren't picked, you go home. Specifically in Baltimore County, you may not even have to report. You get assigned a number. If your number is called, you report. If not, you don't report. I've been called twice, but only had to report once. The second time I had to go, they scheduled me for the first week of the fiscal year, which was the absolute worst time for them to schedule me. I purposely rescheduled for a Friday; they had no case for us and let us all go at around noon. I also heard some courts don't let you take electronics into the waiting room...I had my phone and laptop in there so I could work while waiting. I guess Maryland isn't all that bad.

 

[Figgy1]

Congrats to K on achieving National Honor Society!

X2

 

[Sans Souci]

It may have been. I like seeing them in the wild, but never could own one and get a bit spooked when people have them as pets and let them free in their homes. I had a coworker that had a parrot and I got really freaked out when she invited me over for lunch and the parrot joined us at the table. Well, to be more specific...ON the table.

My MIL used to have a budgerigar and she used to let it "free fly" in her house. It was some times hard to find a place to sit that it hadn't used as a toilet . Not only that, it hated women and she never covered it at night. I was relieved it was gone the last time I visited her.

 

[Sans Souci]

Happy Friday!

The four of us wound up hitting the gym on Wednesday night. The rowers were occupied, so I hit the elliptical for my main cardio. It definitely works me harder than the rower...possibly because I'm standing. It was crazy busy, but I managed to get onto all of the upper body machines I wanted to use and finished up for a 10 minute cooldown on a treadmill. Yesterday's fitness was a bit different. I've been having some back pain, so I took the day off and did a hydromassage therapy session and then rested for a while. During the session, it didn't feel like it was really working that area, but the knot in that part of my back now feels almost non-existent. I rested for a while, but it was suggested I make it a more active day to keep things humming along. So, I decided to decorate the yard for the holidays. I may have been a bit too active (like nearly 6 hours of it), but I got it done. It's no real breaking a sweat kind of activity, but it's a lot of squatting, walking, and bending/reaching. I still have to switch around some power sources and set the timers, but it's 99% complete. While my hamstrings and glutes ache from all of the squatting/bending and my arms and upper back ache from all of the reaching, the problem areas in my lower back still feel really good. Today is a rest day.

I'm also so relieved. K finally made National Honor Society. It's been a battle. She had a "wrong place at the wrong time" situation her freshmen year. The admin over the matter was dishonest, said that it wouldn't have any lasting impacts, and that the punishment she received was her only option. It turns out none of this was the case. For whatever reason, she was accepted for both Science and History NHS with no issues, but main NHS was a nightmare. I'll spare you all of the fighting drama, but she was accepted and we didn't have to escalate it to the district. Now to focus on getting my husband a new vehicle so we can give K his truck and get me out of the role as chauffer.

Congrats to K!

Are you still going to quit your gym? It sounds like you've been hitting a lot lately.

You should post a photo your house decorations (only if you feel comfortable).

 

[Sans Souci]

We're staying at All-star music. We are doing 2 weeks, and for just the 2 of us, we don't need as much space, and we don't spend a lot of time at the resort, so it doesn't have to be fantastic, but we can afford to stay more than just a few days if we go for the cheap resort. We're also going to Universal for a couple days and staying at Endless Summer resort.

I'd stay at the larger resorts if I only came every few years and maximize my times in the park, too, especially if it means you can stay longer. I've stayed there before cruises. I'm too anxious to fly in the day of a cruise (and typically isn't recommended) and when you stay at a Disney resort, you can get the Disney bus to Port Canaveral.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Honestly, I don't like the jury system for the simple reason that people on a jury are not professionals. They don't know the laws. And they don't always get to hear all the evidence, meaning it's not always a fair trial. A judge can give instructions to the jury, but people are biased by nature. People's experiences and education will influence their thinking. There is no way to get a completely unbiased jury. And since jury members haven't studied law, they don't always know how to interpret certain bits of evidence. The whole premise of "innocent until proven guilty" doesn't seem to be true. And in some cases, what "proves" guilt has to be so excessive that there's almost no way to get a conviction for certain things, because how one interprets something will be interpreted a different way by someone else, so if you have to have a unanimous decision, that's TOUGH. I've been watching a lot of the crime series on netflix and whatnot...there was one about the innocence project where they look at old cases of people in jail who are almost certainly wrongly convicted....where there were violations of their civil rights, or where evidence that could have helped prove their innocence wasn't allowed in court. Which they aren't supposed to have to PROVE innocence....how did they get "proven" guilty when there was evidence withheld that proved they weren't? That's not a fair trial then. I find the whole thing scary....that untrained and uninformed people can decide the fate of someone's life. They can put someone behind bars for life, or even suggest they be put to death, without having a bit of experience in law. If you are wrongly accused, you could spend decades of your life in prison because the jury didn't understand what they heard. Just the fact that you are charged makes the jury pre-disposed to suspect you are guilty, because they figure you wouldn't be there if there wasn't a whole lot of evidence that you did the crime. They just want to get it over with and get back to their lives. THEY aren't going to be serving the sentence and there are no repercussions for getting it wrong. If you are later exonerated, nothing happens to the jury who found you guilty. There is absolutely no incentive to make sure you got it right. I think most people probably go in wanting to do a good job, but if you're losing pay, or missing time with your kids, or you're just bored and tune out, you aren't motivated to pay as close attention as you maybe should. Your mind wanders and you miss that crucial bit of information that could have made a difference to the outcome. I think the whole thing is scary!


Congrats to K on NHS!!! That's great! Aren't dishonest administrators the WORST??

I never realized how much the jury really misses until I watched the trial for the case I wasn't selected for this past spring. They have a livestream from the courtroom and there was so much that went on inside the courtroom that the jury never hears. I also recall during voir dire that a lot of people had opinions on the tidbits of info they were given, but were constantly being reminded that their opinions didn't align with what the law allows. At the end of the day, a long trial puts significant stress on a juror's life. You want to do the right thing, but when it's impacting your job and family life, it's hard not to just want to get it over and done.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

My MIL used to have a budgerigar and she used to let it "free fly" in her house. It was some times hard to find a place to sit that it hadn't used as a toilet . Not only that, it hated women and she never covered it at night. I was relieved it was gone the last time I visited her.

I could never handle that. I have a hard enough time stomaching dog poo while housebreaking puppies. I could never handle a bird allowed to freely relieve themselves like that.

 

[Sans Souci]

Honestly, I don't like the jury system for the simple reason that people on a jury are not professionals. They don't know the laws. And they don't always get to hear all the evidence, meaning it's not always a fair trial. A judge can give instructions to the jury, but people are biased by nature. People's experiences and education will influence their thinking. There is no way to get a completely unbiased jury. And since jury members haven't studied law, they don't always know how to interpret certain bits of evidence. The whole premise of "innocent until proven guilty" doesn't seem to be true. And in some cases, what "proves" guilt has to be so excessive that there's almost no way to get a conviction for certain things, because how one interprets something will be interpreted a different way by someone else, so if you have to have a unanimous decision, that's TOUGH. I've been watching a lot of the crime series on netflix and whatnot...there was one about the innocence project where they look at old cases of people in jail who are almost certainly wrongly convicted....where there were violations of their civil rights, or where evidence that could have helped prove their innocence wasn't allowed in court. Which they aren't supposed to have to PROVE innocence....how did they get "proven" guilty when there was evidence withheld that proved they weren't? That's not a fair trial then. I find the whole thing scary....that untrained and uninformed people can decide the fate of someone's life. They can put someone behind bars for life, or even suggest they be put to death, without having a bit of experience in law. If you are wrongly accused, you could spend decades of your life in prison because the jury didn't understand what they heard. Just the fact that you are charged makes the jury pre-disposed to suspect you are guilty, because they figure you wouldn't be there if there wasn't a whole lot of evidence that you did the crime. They just want to get it over with and get back to their lives. THEY aren't going to be serving the sentence and there are no repercussions for getting it wrong. If you are later exonerated, nothing happens to the jury who found you guilty. There is absolutely no incentive to make sure you got it right. I think most people probably go in wanting to do a good job, but if you're losing pay, or missing time with your kids, or you're just bored and tune out, you aren't motivated to pay as close attention as you maybe should. Your mind wanders and you miss that crucial bit of information that could have made a difference to the outcome. I think the whole thing is scary!


Congrats to K on NHS!!! That's great! Aren't dishonest administrators the WORST??

I have only sat for a civil trial. Obviously, you can't discuss the case with jurors until you go to deliberate. We all went to lunch together everyday, I never had any idea what these people thought of the trial. When it was time to deliberate, as soon as the door closed, we all simultaneously said the defendant was not guilty. But, we didn't want to tell the manager we were done, because that looks really bad, so we took about a half an hour to discuss why. It was a good thing, because people brought up stuff that didn't stick out to me and I did the same. I would have liked to have been able to take notes, but it was not permitted. This trial went on for nearly three weeks and sometimes we'd show up to the courthouse, only to be told court was canceled, so a lot of time elapsed between the start and the end and it was hard for me to recall everything with weekends and days where court was canceled.