The days slipped away, now a month..

Not sure why I have not been writing on the blog other than just lazy. The no smoking is a year now as is the workouts. I guess the holidays, a bout with the flu, a few days of school work and a trip to Waco are my best excuses.
I am holding my own in the fitness department but progress is slow. I have developed a slight pain in my left leg just above the knee. Not the knee but the muscle just above it. This has really slowed me with gaining any progress in the squats and lunges area. A new Body Pump routine started yesterday and this really is going to be tough to master. I still do Kris's wall prior to Body Pump.
Still very proud that I quit smoking and started working out. I know this has been the best possible change anyone could make.

I hope to get back to the habit of writing in the blog. It is neat to read back and track my progress.

Good news, long day and a buch of poop..

Going to Tyler for a doctors appointment always seems like an all day ordeal. Seems like no matter the time of the appointment it is always an hour later. Good news is that the stent is working and all looked good with Fran. Doctor said to come back in a year. A long day as we were not home until almost 5:00.
Called a plumber prior to going to Tyler as we had issues with both bath rooms. The long day allowed the water to over flow and leave us a nice few inches of poopy water in the shower and both floors. Plumber arrived at 6:30 and all is working well now. Clean up better today.
Missed the workout classes yesterday as well as Monday. I am sure that Friday will be tough.
Interesting funeral today. The man wanted to have his funeral the served lunch to all attendees. About 300 guest expected so this means 35 or so tables to decorate with greenery. A pickup load of pine, magnolia and holly did the trick, lots of help so no problem.

Funeral this morning.

One year ago

December 14 was my first day in the gym and the first real effort to become a non-smoker. Some days feel like I have been working out for a long time and other days let me know that I am really just a beginner. I can say that my first workouts are not much more than a warm up now. I remember first joining the Express class and barely making it through the half hour. Whispering "Is that all you got ?" A little later came the Body Pump, an additional hour of hard work. I did not think that I would ever be at the place I am now with the physical fitness stage that I have reached. The biggest achievement has been health improvements that came with not smoking. Very proud of my progress of this year.
Monday was the Christmas luncheon for Master Gardeners. Dave's last meeting and Jim will be our 2012 President. I know he will do great. Enjoyed the day but it did mean that I was not able to do the full workout at the gym. Wednesday will be Fran's follow up visit to her doctor in Tyler. This will also shorten my workouts.
Almost forgot that Keep Jacksonville Beautiful meets this morning. Better get to going. More later.

Weather

Lots of needed rain and now very cold. Cold is when it is below my age, so the twenties sure make it cold.
Today after the workouts I will participate in a customer satisfaction meeting at the gym. Guess this is an annual deal. Several of us old guys will do it. Might be that we were the only ones that took them up are they think we will give them only positive comments. We will see.
This comes at my one year date. It does seem odd that I have been working out every week for almost a year. The gains are many but seem to be much slower now than at the first. So glad that I no longer smoke and have become so much more fit.
Feel great about all but lunges. The legs just can not handle these.

First hard freeze

Monday after Thanksgiving drew a big crowd even with the first hard freeze of the season. Twenty-eight degrees this morning with ice in the back of the truck.
Workouts were tough for all of us. Both Kris and Heidi are Aggies and not too happy since they were defeated by the horns. I think they took out some frustrations on us.
Thanksgiving was not so fun. We had planned on going to Waco to be with my Sisters. Fran was sick all night and not feeling so good that morning. No turkey or much else cooked so I had to get a hot plate off of the steam table from the grocery store. Green dressing is not my taste. Oh well.

The day that the rains came..

The best news of the day is we are finally getting one of those soaking, all nighter rains. Even through the darkness, I can see that the dry creek has running water. This has been a long time coming. Maybe with the burn bans lifted, I can burn the many burn piles soon.
Last week I met Travis and we worked out of town for a couple of days. This was fun as it had been a while since we had worked. Things fell into place and the days went well and the district folks were pleased. This did have me miss the Wednesday workout classes. I did make Friday and was not able to complete the lunge routine. Yesterday Heidi was out and we had a new gal as our leader. The routine was hard but somewhat different than the usual Body Pump. Much easier on the legs but much tougher on the upper body. I do not think the new gal was certified to do Body Pump as she was careful to never use that term. Oh well, from looking at her muscled up build, whatever she does works.
This week being Thanksgiving may require additional effort for the Friday classes. Thursday we will travel to Waco for the big meal. It will be just the 3 Daniel kids as all of our children will be missing this year. Guess it will just be remembering the old days with my Sisters. Lots of ballgames lots of food, I know it will be a good time.

Veterans Day

Friday was 11/11/11 and Veterans Day. Frank's wife baked a cake for the workout crew to celebrate. After the Pump most of us were beat but joined the party. She had Frank's picture at age 18. He was rear gunner on the "Dirty Gurty". Still looks like a young man.
I had to give up on the lunges for today. Too much pain in the left leg and did not want to strain it more. Rest it until Monday and will see where I can go then.