Thursday, August 11, 2011

Chupacabra Days of Summer


In keeping the tradition of doing everything but what I need to be doing, (e.g. completing my exercise commitment for the day, or packing in preparation for our next move).  In fact, I think I started this blog when I should have been getting ready to move to Texas!  So without further ado....


You know its hot when the bank temperature signs apologize for displaying the current temperature!


I worked Tuesday fairly early and got home around 6:30 PM.  It had been (actually it still was) a very hot day in Texas.  So the house had been hot all day (even with A/C) and Leta had been "trapped" all day, as I had taken the car to work, so she was a bit stir crazy and more than a little ready to go for a drive and cool down in the car.  (It's a/c works GREAT and will frost your glasses when you get out of the car).  I think you know going for drives is one of our favorite things to do.  So anyhow (sorry apparently I write like I talk, rambling and all over the place!) I pulled into the driveway and before I could git out of the car, Leta was by my door saying "move over, we are going somewhere, I don't get where, but we are going." 

We cruised around the outskirts of town, when all of a sudden I noticed some movement just off the shoulder of the road, and Leta sees it at the same time and we both yell "Its a Roadrunner!"  and it was running!  What a cool bird!  Later (by now we were further out in the country) we are driving and see a large mostly black bird along the side of the road, and we both think it is a vulture, as they are so prevalent, but then notice it has a large white area on its breast and neck and a 'crown', and again as we go buy we both yell "I think that was a crested caracara!"   We also saw a Scissor-tail sitting on the fence, and innumerable deer, both white-tail, axis, and other exotics.

We really enjoyed the drive and looking for wildlife and examining every creek as we crossed the bridges to see if there was even a drop of water in a pool.    We think we are seeing so many animals, because they are moving earlier looking for water, and food, as most of the 'grasses' have died.  They are having lots of trouble with snakes (someone posted a picture on facebook of a seven plus foot rattlesnake they killed on their ranch) and scorpions, etc  

Also the other night, I got off at midnight, and on the way home we saw a bobcat run across the road!  Yes, we are sure it wasn't a dog, cat, coyote, raccoon, armadillo, opossum, or even a Chupacabra (a mytholigcal mexican animal, the name means goat blood sucker)! 

Yesterday, I had off and continuing the tradition of doing everything but what I should be doing we drove to San Antonio to Hancock Fabrics and Leta picked out material for 2 sewing Projects for me.  I want to make her a tote bag with 1 or 2 "Log Cabin" squares.  I even have checked out the book "Quilt in a Day" which has instructions to make a QUILT (with many squares, not just 2 ) so I figure I should be able to whip it out quickly!  Here is the material she selected for that project. 


The second project is a blanket for baby Luke.  Here is the selection for the blanket (Stefanie wants a 'monkey' theme for Luke so we honored that!


Well I think I've stalled long enough and this post is probably getting boring so I think I better go find some socks and my running shoes and head out before it gets too much hotter.  Sorry!


Saturday, August 6, 2011

July Update

Only a little late, but better late than never, right?

It has been very hot and it reflects in  my (lack of) running.  Although it started off pretty good.  I ran a 4 mile(!) run in San Antoniom (see race report here ).  After that I was "lucky" if I ran more than once a week, although I always managed to run at least once per week.    To combat the lack of 'getting' out there and "Just do it" (note to self nice tag line, maybe I should copy right it!) I signed up for a Presidential Fitness Challenge on the Active.com web sight (see here for more info), and the 10k training program.

Goals for August:
Participate and record Presidential Fitness Challenge work outs, (30 minutes of exercise, 5 times a week!)
Run 50 miles (highest monthly mileage ever)
Lose 5 lbs
Get house packed up and cleaned
Get yard cleaned up
Get moved
Blog and complete 3 sewing projects (quilted place mats, Leta's Log-cabin tote bag, and Luke's baby quilt)

Wow lots to do!  (speaking of which, I need to finish this post and go for a morning run!)

Happy trails to you!

Without further ado, here are the not so pretty stats from July.  Although the could have been worse

Miles Run - 26.02  pace of 13:30
Y-T-D miles -  234.29
WT - 194
LBS gained - 1.8 lbs
Y-T-D LBS lost - 26.0

Leta didn't get out and walk, too hot and sore.  But new apartment has a pool, trails and is across the street from the high school so we should have ample opportunity to work out. 
Y-T-D miles -  3.1
LBS lost - 19 (from her last Dr.s appointment)
Y-T-D LBS lost