Let the Challenge Begin

A few weeks ago I looked in the mirror and realized I was starting to look and feel middle aged. Granted, I am middle aged, but I really don't want to feel it so much as even look it. I decided to take stock in what needed to change. I have always been active. I've belonged to a gym for years, took up running several years ago, participate in winter sports. But for the most part everything has been hit and miss for the last three years. It's like a took a fitness vacation. I've also noticed lately I've been very lax with my usually strict diet. Lots of sugar and alcohol on the menu. With a history of diabetes in the family that's not a good road to go down.
So I joined a fitness group with the intention of getting back into shape so I can start running again. Let me tell you, I didn't realize what lousy shape I let myself get into till a couple of days after my first class and every single muscle in my body was shrieking at me.
The hard part is today. I'm starting to wean off the sugar and the booze. Sugar not so hard. But alcohol.......well lets just say I have a great appreciation for all things micro brewed and distilled. This is going to be a little tougher. But I have faith that I can persevere.
This weekend I'm supposed to exercise on my own. I can't believe what a huge challenge that has become for the woman who used to get up at 5am to go for a run. Gaaaaah is all I can say to that.
But we all have to start somewhere. So off I go. Wish me luck.

Things To Be Thankful For

Things to be thankful for are so many that I like to list and summarize simply to keep these thoughts in my head at all times. Sort of a mental antidepressant. A happy reminder of the good things in my life.
I'm most thankful for my wonderful and funny parents. I, like so many ungrateful offspring, don't always appreciate their caring and concern. I forget to call for weeks at a time and roll my eyes at unsolicited advice. But what would my life be without them there. Parents won't always be around and I need to remember that. They recently learned how to text so everyday I get funny blurbs from them. Its a nice way to stay in touch between phone calls. It's nice to know they are right there at all times.
I'm thankful for the gift of having children. They can be royal pains in my behind sometimes but I never am sorry I had them. Being a mother gave me a whole new perspective on life. I love to see them all together, laughing and sharing stories about when they were small. I even enjoy seeing them squabble after a few hours of being together.
I'm also thankful for the small things. My new french press that makes the most amazing coffee in the world. My puppies cuddled on my lap at night while I read.
There is so much to be happy about. But this is what is foremost on my mind this week.

Off Season

For New Years Eve this year we decided to go camping. We have a 32' trailer that we usually take out all summer. We go to the lake, switch on the a/c and enjoy the hot eastern Washington and Oregon heat (intermittently of course, that's what the a/c is for).Winter camping isn't something we've ever done before.
It's been a bit of an experience. First off, thank heaven for space heaters. For one, they keep a constant source of heat that doesn't over power like the furnace. They also keep the pipes from freezing.......too much. Mark has pretty much worn out my blow dryer the last couple of mornings trying to unfreeze our pipes. We actually forgot our water hose, it was frozen to the ground at home anyway, so the trailer resort host loaned us his. Mark made a comment that it looked like the guy had dragged it out of the dump. He wasn't exaggerating. It's greasy, green and frayed. But it works. Of course yesterday morning it was frozen.
Somehow it really doesn't matter though when you look out in the morning and the trees are frosty and white. There is hardly anyone here in the 800 hookup resort. There is a trail down to the river that you can walk completely alone. Mark is spending the daylight hours up on the hill hunting elk. So I have plenty of time to sew, cut out patterns, draw in my sketch book, take the dogs for endless walks.
I think this has been an amazing start to the new year. Tomorrow we will thaw, pack, hook up and head home to another work week. I'm thinking I really like winter camping a lot. May have to get a few more trips in before the seasons start to change and everyone else shows up looking for a place to park.