Weekly mileage report, week 7

Monday- walked 3 miles on the treadmill
Tuesday- walked 3 miles on the treadmill using the 5k route- it had varied inclines and declines
Wednesday- felt too crummy- have a cold and nasty cramps
Thursday- still feeling crummy, but a bit better
Friday- still feeling crummy
Saturday- didn't walk, but I moved lots of boxes and furniture out of the first two cubes and into the house

Total miles week 7: 6
Total miles week 6: 3+
Total miles week 5: 10
Total miles week 4: 12
Total miles week 3: 9
Total miles week 2: 6
Total miles week 1: 3

yes, we lived on crappy country roads, and yes, LMS dressed herself

Fun with photoshop

I've been trying to improve the quality of my photos.
My crappy camera doesn't help the situation, but I'll be getting a nice digital SLR camera for mother's day/birthday/anniversary present, so hopefully that'll make a huge difference.

In the meantime, I've been focusing on trying to get better lighting- specifically natural lighting, and not using the flash. I've also been playing around with Photoshop.

this is one I edited to take away the scars on LMS's face

outdoors

indoors, more editing, and some fun with photoshop

Weekly mileage report, week 6

Monday- intended to walk, even though it was cold and snowing, but decided not to- good thing since the guy picking up the storage container didn't call before coming- just showed up- and I may or may not have been home by then if I'd gone for a walk
Tuesday- on the train
Wednesday- on the train
Thursday- walked about 2 miles
Friday- walked a little with LMS (don't have our jogger right now, so things are more difficult right now)
Saturday- walked all over Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's house), but I didn't have my pedometer on, so I don't know how far we went

Total miles week 6: 3+
Total miles week 5: 10
Total miles week 4: 12
Total miles week 3: 9
Total miles week 2: 6
Total miles week 1: 3

cool old truck on one or our routes (before we moved)

You've gotta try these!

They're so yummy! I looove pecans, and when I saw these in our local health food store, I just had to try them.

It's an interesting combination: pecans, cranberries, black pepper, and orange zest, but it works.

The packet I bought at the health food store was just a single-serving size, but a few weeks later I saw bigger bags at wallyworld. They're not cheap, but they sure are a yummy snack. Try some and tell me if you liked them.

Weekly mileage report, week 5

Monday- ran errands, almost went for a walk when I got back, but it was too cold and windy- I wussed out.
Tuesday- walked 3 miles in the cold and wind
Wednesday- walked 4 miles and got snowed on a little bit- it was just a passing flurry
Thursday- didn't walk- just too exhausted- too many late nights combined with lots of heavy lifting
Friday- got a really good workout moving boxes into the truck then moving them into the cubes
Saturday- even though I was tired and sore, I did get out and walk 3 miles

Total miles week 5: 10
Total miles week 4: 12
Total miles week 3: 9
Total miles week 2: 6
Total miles week 1: 3

the view- I'll miss this

We're all packed and loaded!

We picked up the U-Haul, loaded it, drove into the city, unloaded the U-Haul into the ReloCubes, and returned the U-Haul. Whew!

It took less time than I was afraid it would (thanks to those that helped!), and it almost all fit. I wasn't sure how much space it would all take, and in the end, some of LMS's plastic toys for outside didn't fit. We'll store them at my parents' house till the fall when we come out for a visit when I run the marathon. So, I'm a little disappointed about everything not fitting, but it won't be too difficult to fix in the end. At least all the boxes fit.

Our next big thing (other than my flute solo on Sunday) is the train ride that we'll start Monday night. We're almost there!

I've got a few posts written and scheduled, but I don't think I'll be doing much posting till the end of the month, when my computer has been unpacked.

Now I'm off to go soak in a nice, hot bath tub- I'm sooo sore and tired.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I've been busy the last couple weeks with all the little details of moving:

Peeling the vinyl off LMS's playroom and bedroom walls:

what it used to look like

what it looks like now

Packing lots of boxes:

there's even more in there now

Hauling said boxes out to storage to make the loading process as quick and painless as possible (this Friday!). I think I've got everything out that can go out at this point. I'll pack up the computer tomorrow night, and it, along with my dresser and cupboard and a box of toys and miscellaneous stuff will have to go downstairs Friday morning.

And I've been busy practicing my flute (not usually associated with moving, I know). Two weeks ago I received a call from our ward music coordinator, asking if I could play a flute solo this Sunday. It's our last Sunday, but I will still be here, so I said I'd have to practice a bit, since it's been quite awhile since I last played (I think at least a year, if not more, though I didn't tell her that). She responded that she was sure I'd do a good job. Such faith! Luckily, I used to be a fairly decent player, so if I practice a bit I can usually sound decent for whatever I've been asked to do (usually play a number with the choir).

As I've practiced, I've remembered why I was never a really good player: I find practicing the same thing, whether it's music, scales, or whatever, over and over quite tedious. I also have a real problem counting while playing. In band, I'd watch the band leader's down beats to make sure I was in the right place (and it drove me nuts when he wouldn't give a definite down beat), but I was a disaster when it came to marching band. I ran cross country in high school, and since it was at the same time as marching band, I couldn't participate (oh darn!). I did, however, have to do several marching band activities in junior high, and they were a mess: marching in time, in whatever constantly changing formation is required, while playing memorized music. Yeah, that so didn't happen. My brain just doesn't work that way. I'd end up faking that I was playing while trying to at least stay in step and in formation.

Weekly mileage report, week 4

Monday- ran errands again
Tuesday- walked 2 miles
Wednesday- walked 3 miles
Thursday- took a break
Friday- walked 4 miles
Saturday- walked 3 miles

Total miles week 4: 12 miles
Total miles week 3: 9 miles
Total miles week 2: 6 miles
Total miles week 1: 3 miles

Beautiful weather for a walk

cell phone pic of the road stretching out in front of me on my favorite route

There was gorgeous weather today- perfect for a 3 mile walk with Little Miss Sunshine. Not so perfect for hauling half a dozen boxes and two file cabinets out to storage- the ground is defrosting and turning into a sloppy, muddy mess.

We need another cold snap by next Friday, or the ground needs to dry out- Friday the 12th I have to drive a U-Haul truck back to the storage container, and the following Monday the container is supposed to be picked up. Neither is going to work out if the ground stays a muddy sloppy mess.

Weekly mileage report, week 3

Monday- I ran errands (does that count towards my mileage?)
Tuesday- walked 1 mile
Wednesday- walked 3 miles
Thursday- I took a break
Friday- walked 3 miles
Saturday- walked 2 miles

Total week 3: 9 miles
Total week 2: 6 miles
Total week 1: 3 miles

LMS running her 1st race, New Years Day 2009

Walking, packing, and some great news

I didn't walk yesterday because I only got a couple hours of sleep that night (I just could not shut off my brain!), but I did get some projects worked on and some more packing done.

Today I walked 3 miles. My shins are still feeling good- I wear my compression sleeves while I walk and ice them after every walk, and no problems so far.

I've finished all but one of my sewing projects. I'm hoping to finish that one tonight, then tomorrow I'll pack up my sewing machine. I packed up my craft and sewing stuff this afternoon, but ran out of boxes before I finished packing stuff from the closet. I cannot believe how much stuff we had stored in that closet.

I told LMS to put all her toys away (they were scattered all over) so we could start packing some of them. She wasn't real happy about that idea. Luckily for her, I ran out of boxes, so we can't pack them yet.

And for some really good news: last night we got word that we're approved for the house we want to rent! Isn't it pretty? It's in a nice neighborhood, close to work, and has lots of trails in the community- no more getting chased by dogs! Yay!

More walking and sewing projects progress

There's snow still  on the ground, but I still managed to get outside for a walk yesterday and today. Today the weather was actually quite nice- I don't think the snow will be sticking around too much longer.

Yesterday we walked to the house of one the sisters I visit teach- she lives about half mile away, I think, then we walked to the in-laws house. I think I did about a mile all together but I'm not completely sure on the distances since I don't usually go that direction.

Today I walked 3 miles, and it felt quite good. I'm tired, but not sore. I've been using my compression sleeves, and I think they're making a huge difference. The first two days I walked I didn't use the compression sleeves, and my shins were a little sore- sore muscle sore, not shinsplint sore- but still sore. Last Monday I pulled out my compression sleeves and have been using them since without any soreness. Hopefully it lasts- I'd really like to be able to run without shinsplints.

I finally sat down and knocked some of my sewing projects out- some mending, another pair of leggings for LMS, some mesh produce bags, a tan skirt for me (I bought the fabric when I was pregnant with LMS more than 4 years ago, intending to make a maternity skirt, but I never got around to it), and started my envelope wallet. I want to get my sewing finished so I can pack up all my sewing supplies and my sewing machine.

LMS's new leggings

Weekly mileage report, Week 2

It took me most of the day, but I managed to get out and walk two miles this afternoon. In my defense, it was cold, alternating snow flurries and fog, so visibility wasn't the greatest. I ended up going during LMS's nap because I was worried about taking her with me- worried about how slick the road might be and worried about how cold it was. I think the stroller would probably have been ok- BOB does a great job on all sorts of terrain, but she definitely would have gotten cold, even bundled up and with the rain cover on.

Over my jacket I wore my day-glo green cycling jersey to make sure I could be seen from at least a mile away, and I didn't worry about the slickness of the roads, because I had my YakTrax Pro on my shoes. I actually bought them (and a set for my FIL) for Christmas last year (more than a year ago), but this was the first time I've used them. I've just been too wussy about getting out in inclement weather. I have to say, I didn't worry about my footing at all- the metal spring things give awesome traction, even on icy roads.Well worth the money I spent (I think about $20-25 on ebay?), and hopefully now I will be more confident about getting out in bad weather.

July '08: LMS wearing my cycling jersey inside out and backward

This week:
Monday: ran errands
Tuesday: walked 2 miles
Wednesday: walked 1 mile
Thursday: walked 1 mile
Friday: watched Mr. M's niece
Saturday: walked 2 miles

Total: walked 6 miles

I've gotten quite a bit done this week

Since we spent a good portion of Monday running around doing errands, I didn't go for a walk. However, Tuesday I walked 2 miles, and Wednesday I walked 1 mile. I was planning on taking Thursday off, but there was a last minute change in plans (I was needed to help watch a niece on Friday), so I walked a mile on Thursday and took Friday off instead.

I also packed up our books, movies, papers from the filing cabinets, and the clothes we won't be needing till after the move. It's amazing how much stuff we have. I keep taking boxes out to the storage container, and there's still so much that still has to go out- toys, my sewing and craft stuff, and so on. I can't wait to sort it all out and declutter.

I made our Amtrak reservations, but I'm a little perturbed. I had read online that if you buy a particular Thomas the Train DVD, it has a code for a free child's seat with purchase of an adult seat. So I bought the DVD, and tried to book our seats using the code. Turns out that the 'some exclusions may apply' should have been spelled out better:

• you can't book online- it has to be in person or over the phone
• it only applies to the regular reserved seats- it can't be used when upgrading to a sleeping compartment

So I wasn't able to use the code. Very disgusting. Anyone want a Thomas the Tank DVD?

I did figure out that by changing the route slightly, I could save some money. On the original route, point A to point B to point C, the least expensive sleeping compartment is not available on the point B to point C leg. By changing the route to point A to point B to point D to point C, we're on a different train for the second leg (point B to point D), and the least expensive sleeping compartment is available.  We do end up with a bit more time spent waiting in between legs, and a bit more time on the train, but between the savings and the later arrival (evening rather than middle of the afternoon, so Mr. M won't have to get off work early), I figure it should be worth it.

I made the reservations for the ReloCubes a couple weeks ago, and this week I called and made the appointment to have the storage container picked up after we unload it. Just a few more things to get taken care of, and we'll be ready for the move.

our little cutie, with a bit of rugburn from a tumble down the stairs