Signs

It's actually quite warm out today. Way too warm for the skyways. I wish I'd had my bike, so I could ride home, but then I would've missed out on the following signs out on Nicollet.

A guy sitting on the sidewalk, eating a big slice of pizza, holding a sign that read:

"No food"

At first read, I thought, "Why? Because you're already eating a slice? What about later? Why would anyone turn down food?"

Then I read the rest of the sign:

"No money
Anything will help"

Oops! This poor man wasn't turning down food, he was simply stating he didn't have any. D'oh! (on my part)

A couple blocks later, there was a kid (late teens, early twenties), holding this sign:

"Wife Kidnapted Ransom .99"

I feel bad for his wife, if he has one. It would suck to be held with such little value by the one who should value you the most.

Then I glimpsed the other side of his sign:

"Will work half assed ... "

I'm not sure how he ended that sentence, but ...

I certainly hope the first guy gets more sympathy.

Why I'm Smiling Today...

It's FRIDAY!

The sun is shining brightly.

The temps are actually warm, too.

I got out of class early.

I walked outside to work. WITHOUT wearing a jacket.

The traffic lights were favorable in my route, so where I didn't have to stand and wait for too many.

I nicely zigzagged through downtown, coming across a really cool, old building in the midst of the modern skyscrapers.

I also stumbled upon and walked through a small park outside the government center.

My new ID arrived at work; my fidgeting hands broke my old one.

It's gonna be a great weekend!

Hope you all have something fun planned. :)

Goal Update

I know you've all been on the edge of your seats wondering if I achieved my fitness goal for the month of April.

Well, I DID IT!!!

Sadly, with very disappointing results:

Weight: 148.6 → 150.4
Body Fat %: 39.7 → 39.6
BMI: 25.1 → 25.4
Muscle %: 25 → 25.4

Actually, now that I write it down like that, it doesn't seem too bad. I gained a little weight but also muscle. :)

The most depressing was that it turns out we can't really afford even a small shopping spree right now. Boooo!!!

May's goal is to exercise 5-6 days per week, including two days in the weight room.
I should make a food goal, but I'll save that for June. ;)

On a slightly different note - Only SIX weeks until my Pedal 'n Paddle weekend!!! I'm getting excited.

Where Does the Time Go?

Spring has come and gone and will (hopefully) come again soon. I've been struggling a lot this spring. I blame SAD. I think getting a real taste a warmer weather made it so much more difficult to accept the relapse back into colder temps. I'm hopeful that it will not last long.

In an effort to overcome SAD, I've been attempting (the past few days) to brighten my outlook. I've been trying to wear brighter, more spring-like colors. While this has helped immensely, it has also been a part of the problem. Staring into my closet filled with browns, oranges, and reds, it's becoming more and more diffcult to decide on a cheery outfit.

And so, although April is nearly over, my workout goal for April has been to beef up my exercise schedule. It's kind of a complicated schedule, so let's just simplify it by saying my goal is to exercise 23 days from April 2nd to April 30. I've got it all scheduled out. It's a mix of running, biking, and swimming. So far, I've met this goal. Only one more week to go! :)

My prize for attaining this goal? A SHOPPING SPREE! I get to buy some fun, spring/summer clothes. It's been very motivating. I just know I'll meet this goal.

It had been awhile, so I also decided to update the look of my blog. Let me know what you think.

I'd especially like to point out the addition of a couple widgets in my right sidebar. I've joined a site called Daily Mile (basically a twitter-like site for althetes). I've added a widget that simply states the total miles I've done (since joining the site) and one that gives a snippet of my most recent workout. I only joined the site yesterday, but I'd already recommend it to anyone that wants a nice, easy way to track and reflect on their exercise routine.

For those of you that may celebrate it, HAPPY EASTER tomorrow!

Is Winter Over YET??

My clothing certainly seems to think so. :)

This past Saturday, the zipper broke on my (3-year-old) winter coat.

This morning, my boots have eaten another pair of my socks.

It just dawned on me today, that the holes in my socks must be from my boots. I have gone through so. many. pairs of socks this winter. It's ridiculous! Now, I've got to either trash them....or learn how to darn socks. Several of said ruined socks I just got this past Christmas from the Ugly Sock Fairy, and I'm just not ready to part with them yet.

Stupid boots!! :P

This is MN, afterall, so, although Spring is nearing calendar-wise, there is still a good chance we'll get more snow this season.

I need new boots, a new coat.
I don't want to buy them, though.
Especially knowing after this one, we'll only have one more winter.
It's so hard to buy new winter stuff knowing it will only get used for one season.
Guess time will tell if I buckle.

At least one post in March? Check!

Hot Yoga. Oh yeah!

I got a great deal on a yoga package at CorePowerYoga. Unlimited yoga for one month. I started last night.

I gotta say, I wasn't very impressed with the class last night. It was so crowded. The music was too loud. I was at one end of the studio, and when the instructor was at the other end, I couldn't hear her. At all. It was very annoying! Especially for a novice yogi like me.

Today I went back during lunch (Gotta get my money's work, y'know.) for Hot Yoga Express. What an entirely different experience! I'd done hot yoga before, back in August, and really loved it. This was actually the same instructor. I'm sure he didn't remember me from 6+ months ago.

I checked in, changed, and waited in the studio. It was warm and comforting.

Partly into the practice, Patrick (the instructor) was walking us through a pose when he called one of the women by name. I thought, Wow, I wonder how long you have to come here before the instructor knows your name.

Then I heard him say something about it being her first time, so it was okay to say at stage 1.

A few minutes later, I heard him say MY name as he corrected my posture. Wow! I totally blown away. Very impressive to know my name after just checking me in minutes before class started.

In general hot yoga is more concentrated on strength and posture than on flow, which I really like. I think it's a great way to start yoga.

And Patrick makes you feel so comfortable with his slight corrections and helping you to focus.

If anyone wants to join me sometime, let me know!

Cold Enough for Ya?

I received this as a forward from my aunt in Arizona. I thought it was incredibly funny! Instead of forwarding it on to others, I thought I'd just post in up on my blog.

65°
Arizonans turn on the heat.
People in Minnesota plant gardens.

60°
Californians shiver uncontrollably.
People in Minnesota sunbathe.

50°
Italian & English cars won't start.
People in Minnesota drive with the windows down..

40°
Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, wool hats.
People in Minnesota throw on a flannel shirt.

35°
New York landlords finally turn up the heat.
People in Minnesota have the last cookout before it gets cold.

20°
People in Miami all die.
Minnesotans close the windows.

0°
Californians fly away to Mexico.
People in Minnesota get out their winter coats.

 - 10° below zero:
Hollywood disintegrates.
The Girl Scouts in Minnesota are selling cookies door to door.

 - 20° below zero:
Washington DC runs out of hot air. (Ya think? Nah.).
People in Minnesota let the dogs sleep indoors.

 - 30° below zero:
Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
Minnesotans get upset because they can't start the snowmobile.

-40°  below zero:
ALL atomic motion stops.
People in Minnesota start saying..."Cold enough for ya?"

-50°  below zero:
Hell freezes over.
Minnesota public schools will open 2 hours late.

In some ways, I think this email forward is eerily accurate. It was relatively warm today; we actually approached 30°F!! In turn, I wore a skirt to work yesterday, and no long johns for a walk outside this afternoon. Guess I'm more Minnesotan than I like to admit. :))