Lost this Week...

But not weight.  Erica came over and we went to Shriner Park and ran and walked for over an hour on the trails there.  We only got lost once or twice.  Had a great time.  Made it to the high point in the park and had a nice view from up there.  Only saw two other 'groups' of people.

Ready to Head Out!

On Wednesday Leta and I had a picnic at Enchanted Rock. I hiked the rock and again made it to the high point.  Then attempted to hike down and around the Rock.  Unfortunately, I decided to follow the path less followed, and ended up losing the trail all together.  I did see lots of interesting rock formations, and wildlife.  And imagined LOTS more around (think rattlesnakes and cougars!).  Luckily (very luckily) I was able to find my way back to the park where Leta was not so patiently waiting for me.  I just returned before she went and notified the park rangers, FBI's missing persons division and the military that I was lost!  I knew she would be worried and she would call out the troops.  All the way back, once I realized how late it was getting, I was praying I would see any helicopters or ranges on quadrunners or on horseback!

I did break  100 miles run/walked Y-T-D this week (including estimated miles at Shriner and Enchanted Rock Parks).

Doesn't look so impressive in this photo

Cool Formation

Delicate Cactus Bloom

General Leta getting ready to direct S&R ops

Yeah the views up there were great too!

I had the weekend off so we went to Austin and watched Abby's and Coach Lindsay's Opening Day Kickball games.  Both teams won, the weather wasn't too hot, and I only got sun burned a bit.  Leta saw lots of old friends and we ran into Mark's parents, Vince and Mary Jane.  As we headed home we stopped and ate at a wonderful BBQ place in Fredericksburg, and then ran into a huge thunderstorm as we headed down route 16 towards Kerrville.  We got hit by hail like I haven''t seen in a long time!  Luckily, there doesn't seem to be any car damage.

Abby on second

Lindsay explaining something to the Umpire

After the games at Gatti's Pizza a tradition.

Vital Stats
Beginning Weight - 204.8
BMI - 30.2
Miles Walked/Ran - 10.88
Y-T-D Miles Walked/Ran - 106.22
Ending Weight -205.2

BMI - 30.3
Weight Lost <Gain>- <.4>

YTD Weight Lost - 14.8

1 Rodeo, 2 Runs, 3 Days Cashiering, and 3.4 Pounds Lost!

What a great week!  We spent a couple days with Abbey (and Mark and Stefanie) and went to the Austin Rodeo.  What an all American event.  It was tons of fun, even if it made me think how much Woodie and
Bendy would love it, and how much I miss them.  I took a bunch of pics and posted the "best of" them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=33521&id=1764104628&l=da9b116b1c

For the second week in a row,I only ran twice,  this week, Sunday and Friday.  I was able to run 25 minutes w/o stopping which means I've now complete W7D3 of the C25K Program and now its on to week 8 and 28 minute runs.  I also set a  PR of 39:17 for the 5K training route.   I also lost 3.4 lbs and am getting close to being in "onederland" (breaking through the 200 lb barrier).

I had a pretty good week at work.  The finally got me on the register and I'm slowly getting my confidence and the 'routine' down, although there is an awful lot to remember.  Hopefully, my till wasn't off much!

Finally I played with an interactive map and am trying to figure out how to post it on each of my posts (like where my  "about me" shows up.  If anyone has any solutions, I would love to hear it).

Vital Stats
Beginning Weight - 208.2
BMI - 30.7
Miles Walked/Ran - 6.38
Y-T-D Miles Walked/Ran - 95.34
Ending Weight -204.8

BMI - 30.2
Weight Lost <Gain>- 3.4
YTD Weight Lost - 15.2

I was pooped on...but still a good week!

It was a good week.  I was able to complete two consecutive runs of 25 minutes.  I lost another pound, started checker(cashier) training, and had a good day today with mom, Leta and Erica.   Oh yeah I almost forgot, I had a hedgehog poop on me!   (Not nearly as gross as it sounds...nothing a tissue couldn't handle.)

Erica and her new cello and her apartment

Well I seem to have blogger's block so I'll just post the Vitals and call it a night.

PS - Here is the little pooper (Talula, the little dear!)

Vital Stats
Beginning Weight - 209.4
BMI - 30.9
Miles Walked/Ran - 6.38
Y-T-D Miles Walked/Ran - 88.96
Ending Weight -208.2
BMI - 30.7
Weight Lost <Gain>- 1.2
YTD Weight Lost - 11.8

Keeping Pace

Although it feels like I have nothing much to report this week, I did set a personal best of 40:12 on my "5k training route", and I signed up for 2 - 5K's.  I even entered them as runs!  I haven't been able to complete any of the C25K runs, although on Wednesday I did run for about 22 of the 25 minutes.  Friday's run attempt was an "epic failure" (to use a term Leta has picked up from playing Farkle), I don't think I ran for more than 3 minutes at a time and took me over 45 minutes to do the route.  I felt so weak mentally.....Time to try again!

Work was ok this week, and I'm scheduled for Checker Training in  Kerrville, which will be nice, so I don't have to drive to Fredericksburg for 2 days!  Had a great "Because People Matter" company update meeting, highlighting company and store achievements from the past year, and communicating goals and programs for the coming year.   Its my understanding they do these meetings twice a year, and they were very detailed and very well done.  I've been brained washed!  Just one example, they have their own version of The Biggest Loser and last year they selected 10 people to compete.  They winner got $10,000 and at they others got $1,000, a make over and a changed life.   (One person in my meeting stood up and announced she had lost 60 lbs...everyone clapped it was an emotional moment).

Today (Sunday) we took mom to Binini Sculpture Ranch near Johnson City.  What an unexpected delightful afternoon.  The weather was gorgeous and there were a lot more Sculptures (around 100!,
by several artists) and an large gallery with painting, stained glass etc.  I loved it!  Leta Loved it and most importantly Mom loved it.  Here is the link to the photo's I took Binini Sculpture Ranch pictures

Bride at 3 AM

Here is the link to their webpage Binini Sculpture Ranch

Vital Stats
Beginning Weight - 210.2
BMI - 31.0
Miles Walked/Ran - 9.57
Y-T-D Miles Walked/Ran - 82.58
Ending Weight -209.4
BMI - 30.9
Weight Lost <Gain>- .8
YTD Weight Lost - 10.6

Darned Cold

Been an interesting week.  I did run on Monday and on Wednesday.  On Wednesday, I completed W6D2 which was run for 10 minutes, walk for 3 minutes and then run for 10 minutes.  Friday's run was to be the 25 minute nonstop run, but unfortunately I came down with a sore throat and head cold, so I have postponed it until tomorrow (Sunday).  My original plan was to run Friday the 25 minute run and Sunday go to the former state park near here and explore some of the trails.  I'm still trying to decide which I will do.  I'm leaning towards the C25K formal training program run, but I have been known to be spontaneous.  Hopefully the cold and sore throat will be healed enough that I won't be able to use it as an excuse!

I had a good week at HEB.  I only had to use the grocery cart tractor thingie twice this week. ..Of course that may be because I lost the walkie talkie the first time, and the second time , the key to the tractor fell out at some point, but it didn't stop until, I accidentally bumped the emergency shut off ....right in the main traffic lane in front of the store!  Of course that happened right around 6 pm...our busiest hour and as it was turning dark....I tried to move the tractor out of the traffic lane, since the flashing light shut off when the emergency shut off was activated.  Unfortunately, the tractor weighs a ton with all the batteries, and it extremely maneuverable thus I was unable to move it over much.   I ran through the parking lot, looking the key...but alas no luck.  I went in to confess, but luckily someone else had already turned in the key and I was able to move it out of the way before one of our customers wiped out the tractor (and their car!).

In spite of all this, I won a 'Thank you for a job well done" scratch off ticket from HEB  (they hand them out to show their appreciation for job well done).  No it wasn't for my clearing the parking lot of grocery carts, but because I helped put up new signs in the parking lot.  I scratched off the ticket and I won a pint of ice cream, as well as being entered into a drawing for $2,000 this quarter!  Maybe my luck is changing....

Leta and I went out to Mo Ranch and walked the Labyrinth.  Then we went to the Kerrville Wildlife Sanctuary and did some birding.  Saw just a few birds but still had a great day.  Notable birds for us were blue birds and an American Kestrel and we heard a King Fisher and saw some kind of wood pecker.  Also, my most common birding experience occurred repeatedly "I can hear it, but I can't see it".

Leta praying at center of Labyrinth at Mo Ranch

I had a tough time coming to the decision to share this next item.  An accident happened back in my old home town of Jackson Mi, which claimed the life of wife and her unborn child.  Her husband, had started a blog, the day they discovered they were to pregnant, abd has continued to blog.  I feel like such a voyeur reading about his about first his joy and feeling about becoming a father, and then about the unimaginable loss he has suffered, but at the same time, I haven't been able to stop reading and find great inspiration in his faith, and the comments posted there..  It seems the blog was originally entitled Our little secret, but after the accident was changed to 'Sad and Chara" (for Chad and Sara, the parents).  Here is the link if you would like to read it http://sadandchara.blogspot.com/

Vital Stats
Beginning Weight - 212.2
BMI - 31.3
Miles Walked/Ran - 6.38
Y-T-D Miles Walked/Ran - 73.01
Ending Weight -210.2
BMI - 31.0
Weight Lost <Gain>- 2.0
YTD Weight Lost - 9.8

A better week overall

Another good and bad week.  GAINED 1.4 lbs mainly because of terrible eating choices.  Fast food, too many sugary foods, too many "seconds" and even "thirds".  On the good side. I completed the 20 minute run, on my second attempt.  Later in the week, I also set a person record for my 5k workout route.   (Just over 40 minutes).  I'm pumped!  So pumped, I'm ready to sign up this coming week for a 5k race!  I'll let you'll know in next week's posting which one we have decided on.).

I also had a good week at HEB (meaning I got my first check!).  Seriously, I did have a good week, enjoy working for HEB and with my coworkers.  So far they seem as nice as those I left back in Jackson.  This coming week, I'm scheduled to learn the "quickcart"  method of retrieving carts from the lot.  They are going to let me run the little remote control 'cart pusher, tractor thingie' (yes, I'm pretty sure that is the technical name for it).

Finally, as part of my cross training, today we were at Mark and Stefanie's and I was challenged by Abby to a round of Just Dance II for the Wii.  I WON!  (Yes, this was the first dance contest I have ever won)  I'm pretty sure I would have won, even if her Aunt OHNO (Lindsay) wasn't holding 6 year-old Abby down and tickling the bejesus out of her!  I'm pretty sure, I'm not going to be able to move tomorrow, due to some of the moves I busted today...BTW,  if I had Abby's energy, I'm not sure how fast I could run my route., she had dances with Lindsay, her mom, and still wanted to walk Dixie!

Vital Stats
Beginning Weight - 210.8
BMI - 31.1
Miles Walked/Ran - 9.57
Y-T-D Miles Walked/Ran - 66.63
Ending Weight -212.2
BMI - 31.3
Weight Lost <Gain>- <1.4>
YTD Weight Lost - 7.8

Good Week even though...

Well this was a good week, even though, I didn't run the full 20 minutes on the c25k Program.  My mind was playing games with me...and I'm pretty sure it cheats!  I was able to run for more than 15 minutes (which is about twice as long as my previous longest run!), so I'm not being too hard on myself for not completing it.  In addition I set a PR for my training run course, with a time of 43:08, besting my previous time by1:31, not too bad an improvement for an old man!

Leta will probably take credit, because this was the first time I ran in my new asics shoes.  Or maybe they will want to us me in a commercial!

Other good news, is we had a great time at the zoo on Monday, with the granddaughter and with Stefanie and Mark .  For me the highlight was Abby fed the birds nectar!  Here is another favorite picture.  Ok cut me some slack, I'm the grandpa so I'm entitled!

I lost 2 more pounds this week and I start my first shift at HEB this afternoon.

So all and all a good week even though.... :-)

Vital Stats
Beginning Weight - 212.8
BMI - 31.4
Miles Walked/Ran - 9.48
Y-T-D Miles Walked/Ran - 57.06
Ending Weight -210.8
BMI - 31.1
Weight Lost - 2.0
YTD Weight Lost - 9.2