1..2...3...What a Great Weekend!

I hope your weekend was as good as mine.

It didn't begin so well as I had to work late on Friday night to close up the bookkeeping office and left work late.  Normally that wouldn't bother me at all, but I had made a commitment to walk in the Relay for Life event for the American Cancer Society.  I felt bad,  when my Team Leader called the store and told me I didn't have to come as the event was winding down.  Things sure looked up after that though.  :-)  We watched "Casablanca" after I got home, and thoroughly enjoyed it.


I  had both Saturday and Sunday off.

 First, I got an unexpected refund from the IRS.  Guess the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing over there!  We were able to pay some bills and purchase a few needed (and even some not so needed) items.  Including a new 'smart phone' for me!  Later, I'll explain how smart it really is!

For 3 weeks in a row I have participated in a 5-k event.  I just walked the one this Saturday morning (it was sponsored by the HEB store, for HEB partners and their families.  It didn't cost anything and they provided the water and fresh fruit after the 'race'.  That you HEB 561!

Later that afternoon I called mom and we were able to treat her to a nice dinner at Bajas Grill in downtown Fredericksburg.  Even mom enjoyed the food, including the jicama slaw.  I had a pulled pork sandwich with sweet-potato fries!  Yum!  Leta and Mom had a Bacon, Lettuce and Avocado sandwich.  After we finished dinner we went for a ride and drove out to Luckenbach, where unbeknownst to us, there was a huge motorcycle rally going on.  We headed back into town and had SNT (Saturday Night Treat) at the local dairy queen. 

Sunday we got up and headed into San Antonio.  Called Erica and Tom and agreed to meet them at Henri's Puffy Tacos, as it was Cinco de Mayo and Leta needed to "have herself a margarita."  Erica said she and Tom just happened to be on their way over there!  She called back a few minutes later to inform us that Henri's was closed.  So she suggested we meet at The Alamo Cafe.  Leta thought she knew where it was, but after we got off the highway it wasn't where she expected it.  So I get out my new phone, hit a button that said "Navigation" and say into the phone "Alamo Cafe, San Antonio, Texas."  2 locations pop on my screen and I select the one we want.  The phone then displays a map, showing the route and directions to the restaurant!  As we navigate our way to our destination the phone says "arriving at destination, on right".

We had a nice meal with Erica and Tom and invited them to come out next weekend to spend some time with us, before Erica has to head to Baltimore for her "extership."

Then we went to Dicks Sporting goods and I got shorts (finally) and a tech running shirt.  Then we headed over to JoAnn Fabric and got a few items,  The Christian Book store and picked up a couple of books I "needed" and finally we swung by Office max and picked up a file storage box, to help us ...organize!  No really, we will get organized this time, AND do the craft project(s) from Jo Ann's!!

This morning I got up, downloaded a couple more "apps" to the phone, i.e. Mapmyrun and Myfitnesspal.  Then I put on my new workout clothes and went for a 30 minute 2 mile "run".  The Mapmyrun tracked my run, time and calories and automatically uploaded the information to my account with them on the internet!

Now I've completed my blog entry and have to get ready to go to work.  So I say;

"Bye for Now...Gotta run"

Tom

Race Report for 2 Weeks in a Row (or What, Lost again?)

Two weeks in a row!  First the good news.  I have participated in a run for two weekends in a row now here in Fredericksburg!  Last week was the Miles for Marley Run.  What a fun filled, family orientated event, and for a great cause.  After the run, there was frozen yogurt  and  BBQ!  This weekend I ran the Wildflower Run and had a good time (get the pun, my running friends? :-) ).  Met up with several of the "gals" from work and there were several others from HEB running as well.  Also, I got beat by the "cancer guy" ....AGAIN, and yes he was still stopping to take pictures and to encourage others.  The bad new,  I have managed to get "off course" (for those of you who know me, I sure this comes as a complete shock!) and get lost at both races!  

Miles for Marley -Logo on the course 

During the Miles for Marley race, I think I was too busy encouraging, or being encouraged by my coworker, Sandra (ok we were talking and not paying attention to the arrows marking the course).  We ended up missing a turn for the 5k and finished the race with the people running the mile route.  I KNEW we messed up somewhere when I saw the finish line and the clock said 24 minutes!  We even beat Sandra's daughter to the finish line!  I think we walked about a mile and a half.   I decided to re-walk the course so I could claim the 5k but I didn't time myself.   So I'm calling it a "NOT" (No Official Time) as opposed to a DNF (Did Not Finish)!

We did it...and we survived!  2013 Wildflower Run

Yesterday, at the Wildflower Run almost everyone missed a turn, because the arrow marking the turn for the 5K was missing.  I thought it was odd that there was an arrow for the "Mile Fun Run" but nothing for the 5 and 10K.  Everyone was ended down the street when a the leaders were heading back yelling "turn around  5k and 10K is the other way".  It was a bit chaotic and after the race the serious racers were a bit (!) upset.  I only went about a block and half the wrong way though so I'm not complaining.  I also think even with the "extra" leg, the course is not a full 5k.  My garmin watch indicates that I ran only 2.58 miles and had a pace of 13:46/mile, which sounds correct.  My official pace is was something like 11:19 which would be close to a PR for me, and being so humid and my lack of ummm trainning, make me doubt the 11:19.  I also thought the course was short last year!  It was still a great time though!

Next week our store is having its own 5k so I'm going for 3 weeks in a row! 

Well, gotta run!

Trip to Port Aransas - with the Boyles

Sunday February 3rd 2013 I headed to San Antonio and met up with Erica and Tom, and we "ran" the Superbowl Transplant for Kids 7K Run.  It was very cool.  It was held along the Riverwalk near downtown San Antonio, where the Riverwalk is more like a park and doesn't have all the shops and restaurants. The San Antonio River flowed over dams and was landscaped beautifully.  I even saw many birds, including a green or tricolored heron.  My time was 1:03:39 (one hour three minutes thrity-nine seconds) and I walked the entire race.  Pace was 16:46   After the race, I headed back to Fredericksburg and got Leta and all our luggage and supplies for the next few days and we headed to the HEB Lodge in Fulton.

On the Road Again too, Geocaching travel bug

We met up with Stefanie, Mark, Luke and my pal Abby in Port Aransas and spent the night at the Days Inn there, as we couldn't check into the Lodge until Monday.  We ate breakfast at the Hotel and then headed out to do some Geocaching.  Our first find was at Mustang Island State Park and Abby found the cache that was so cleverly hidden, I doubt if I would have found it!  We found the second geocache at the State Park as well and a third one back in Port Aransas.  We 'dropped' our travel bug into the third cache and hopefully it will be moved on!

We check into our cabins we got Cabin 11 and were able to drive right up to it, instead of hauling our food, clothing and supplies back to the cabin. Then we headed out to the beach.  Finding it took a bit of an adventure!  The weather was kind of cool, so we didn't get into the water.  We did see guys using huge kites to propel themselves through the water though and they would leap high into the air, almost "parasailing."  The only bad part of the day was the Giant Crab guarding the beach!

Gives me the shivers!

We returned to the cabin and had homemade pizza and played games until it was time to go to bed.  Stefanie for once did not win every game, but then again she was errr "slightly distracted"(!) by these guys.  Her "dance" was more entertaining than the games!

Terror approached the Cabin!

On Tuesday the weather was a bit warmer and we headed to Port Aransas, crossing to the island on the ferry from Aransas Pass.  We headed to the beach where Luke squealed with delight as each wave hit him!  He loved it all and had no fear.  Even getting mouth full of the salt water didn't face him.  Although I do think the handful of mud that he tried to eat, and the subsequent 'washing it out' by mom and dad did phase him abit!

After the beach we headed out to do some birding and went to the birding center where we did see lots of birds, turtles, an alligator skull(?), and even a live alligator across the bay.  Took this picture so we could try to identify this bird later.

What am I?

That night Abby told us she wasn't "'Literally' born in Austin", and used "finger quotes" to emphasis her statement.  Leta asked her is she was 'literally from outspace'.  Abby has developed a habit of insisting she is correct and failing to back down!  Her and I had a little 'tiff' in the HEB in Aransas Pass about the price of Sprite vs the HEB brand. 

On the final day we were there we did get some RAIN.  It rained so hard, I thought maybe a hurricane was coming in, and we 'literally' had ducks right outside our windows!

 

Altogether another GREAT trip!  Leta and I will be heading down there again in a couple of weeks with out good friends Woody and Bendy.  We are going to get some great birding in!

Gotta run for now...

TDG

January Recap

Listening to the rain.....gosh it sounds great.  Well a quick recap of January.

Theme for January seemed to be "Most of my projects start off slow....then taper off"!  (Stolen from another blogger - Art Davis and his blog, Getting fit at fifty!

Began the month at 210 pounds ended it around 215!  Yikes going the wrong way on that one.  Some other goals that I didn't make progress on included the following:

Didn't run any races although signed up for the "Superbowl Sunday 7K to be run on Superbowl Sunday (2/3)
Didn't complete any sewing projects.
Didn't really do the envelop budget thing, nor save any money.
Didn't make it to church at all in January.

On the plus side, Leta and I did start working on James Dobson's devotions, and continue to discuss getting involved (or at least visiting a church)/
At work I've joined the store's version of Slim Down Show Down, and have started working out and counting calories.
Plus looking at several other upcoming races, but having trouble with the timing because Woody and Bendy are coming at the end of February to spend a week with us birding down at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. I've also signed up for the "Presidential Active Lifestyle Challenge".  I'm already on week 3 of 8.
We have made some progress on some tax issues too.  I even have 2013 filed and there is a possibility of getting a bit of a refund!
Finally, Leta had me purchase some fabric for a new pillowcase, and I have it washed....now to iron, cut it and sew it back together and I'll have a sewing project completed!

Well that's about it for now.  I hope to post some pictures and blog a bit about our recent trip to the Port Aransas area with Mark, Stefanie, Abby and Luke!

Gotta run for now though.....
TDG

Goals for 2013

“Accepting oneself does not preclude an attempt to become better.”
 ― Flannery O'Connor

It has been a week already since my last blog entry, and I thought I was going to make an entry the next day.  I've decided to just list some of the goals.  I've even started on putting them together in a three-ring binder!

I was browsing the H-E-B website early this morning and I noticed on the Health Living Page, that if all my biometric numbers are within the "optimal" range, they will pay a $175 dollar bonus in December!  If they are:

• Blood Pressure (<120/<80)
• Fasting Glucose (<100mg/dL)
• Body Mass Index (18.5 -24.9)
• Total Cholesterol (<200 (LDL<100,HDL >60)

My first goal is to qualify for the Biometric Bonus!

To get there I will need to lose weight.  My goal weight should be in the range of 130 -165, which means my  second goal is to lose a minimum of  52 lbs, or about a lb a week for the entire year, but I only have until have until September 30th!

I will do this by exercising a minimum of 2 times per week, tracking my progress, by blogging and logging my journay through the coming year, and entering a minumum of 6 races (1 mile minumum distance).

I would like to finish a minimum of 6 sewing projects.  At least 4 of which using Fabrick already purchased!

My financial goals are to continue to work on our budget system, save more than just what is going into the 401K, increase by 1/2 of a percent and resolve some past issues that are still out there.

Spiritually, I would to be more intentional about devotions, reading the bible and going to church.  A goal of 1 once per month seems like a 'doable' goal!

OK they are now in writing and fairly specific.  Now I need to actually do them and be held accountable.  

YOU have my permission to keep me on track, and/or encourage me!

Gott run!

Still Procrastinating....and Goals for 2013

Yep, it is 2 weeks into the new year and I still haven't formally (or even informally) come up with a list of resolutions for this year.  I have been thinking a lot about goals and habits and what I want to accomplish and change this year, and what I am willing to "pay" to achieve them.  I know many people don't like the idea of New Year's Resolution, but it has an appeal to me.  I sorta think it is a natural starting spot (even if I am 2 weeks behind), but I also get the idea that there is nothing magical about the January 1st date, and I do give my permission to start at any time, now, tomorrow or the first of next month.  Although with my habit of procrastination sooner is probably better than latter!  Leta  and I seem to be naturally partial to the I'll think about it tomorrow"!

Most of the advise I have seen about achieving goals, says to focus on one goal at a time.  There are so many goals and things I would like to change, deciding on which one to start with seems like it will take a lot of thought and time.  Besides how will I determine which is the most important?  My health, fitness, and weight related goals, or my financial goals (the creditors will just have to wait!), and I guess those craft projects will continue to gather dust...

Another method is focusing or emphasizing on one goal for a specific bit of time, say working on the diet intensely for a month or 7 weeks then moving on to working on another goal for the next period time and cycling through the goals and then coming back and starting going through the list of challenges again.

So how do I prioritize the goals, can and should I have concurrent goals and efforts to change habits?  Do I try to track progress.  Again, the advise seems to be write the goals down.  Break goals down into smaller goals or actions that can be taken.  Track progress.  All this sounds reasonable, but then how exactly do I do this?  Do I use spreadsheets?  Blog entries, 44 Things website?  A different one for each goal (this is the one that I think makes the most sense, a spreadsheet for tracking weight history, or developing a budget, the "map my run" webpage for tracking fitness goals, blogging for tracking personal growth etc)?

What does each goal cost?    For example if the goal is something like "Run 500 miles in 2013 for health",   it will take time and energy, gotta get off my butt and turn off computer and lace up the shoes.  Put down "Runners World" and log miles ran, buying the running shoes and paying the entry fees instead of buying the candy bar or eating dinner out. 

Well I just noticed it is almost 4 am and one of my goals is to get to bed earlier so I better end this post.  One of my "ideals" (for those of you that don't like "resolutions") is to blog a lot more 2013.  So hopefully I'll have some more progress to report very soon!  Hopefully tomorrow ;-)

Gotta Run.
TDG

Words to Live By

Recently I've been thinking about sayings, quotes, bible verses, that I think I should try to follow as I continue on this journey known as life.  I don't always (understatement alert!) follow them, but believe I should.  Some of my favorite follow, in no particular order. 

"Treat others as you would want to be treated."

"Do it now!"  < I' really need to work on this one>

"All things in moderation" Hmmmm that is another one I need to work!

"Save for a raining day."  Yikes that my third strike!

"Pay yourself first"

"Save 10% of your income, Give 10% and live on  the rest."

"Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things. "

Please share your favorites!