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.

Another week...

Another week means 3 more tries at the new Pump. Most of the exercises have worked into the routine by now. Lunges are a different story as Wednesday I just could not finish this session. Leg cramps even without any weight on the bar. Not sure what I will do since I work hard and am doing well with the other areas. Using a bar for balance only still did not help. Hope today is better.
Kris has really bumped up his Wall. Weight has been added in each of the areas. I can really see progress when I think of where I was with this at the beginning. It does not seem like it has been 11 months since I started. Wow, good switch off on my habits.

Keep on trucking'

The turnout for the Scarecrow Trail, day 2, was good last Saturday. This is the first year to do 2 days so I consider it successful. Take down of the 'crows started yesterday. I always enjoy this activity and the kids as they see all of the scarecrows.
Today will complete another week of the "new" Pump. Still adjusting and struggling with the tough routines. Lunges are and will always be the killer for me. I just can not get there on these. Kris and his Wall routine has become more challenging for all of us. I may have to only do half of it so that I will have enough to give the Pump the required energy to finish it strong.
I have a few school work days coming up. I have done so little that almost look forward to it.
Temps have dropped and it is really fall now. Low this morning was in mid 30's.
Brrrr....

The house of Pain

Monday I went to the doctor with Fran and was only able to the Wall part of the workout. Wednesday I paid the price for missing. The new Pump really fatigues every muscle group. I am sure the body will adjust to the new demands but very sore in the mean time.
Today I will help with the 4th Grade Ag Day, scheduled to be at the Arboretum but moved to the Show Barn. This is a shame as 440 kids need room to run and always enjoy the scarecrows and garden area. Seems odd that many kids do not realize the food can and does grow from plants. I do hope the cold front and rain that caused the move does make it here.
Hope the soreness goes away today since it will return again on Friday.

Adjusting to the new Pump

Today, Friday, has given us 3 chances to adjust to the new Body Pump. This edition
has many lots of dips, pushups, presses and different plank positions. All of the gang are singing the blues and will until our muscles adjust. Kris has also cranked up his half hour. All in all, I have a very tough Monday, Wednesday and Friday routine. The only real good news is that lunges were the best ever for me today. Not sure if they are getting easier or if they are not as tough as some of the other areas of the workout.

Scarecrow Trail again this Saturday. Lots of visitors thru this week so hope that we get a good crowd for tomorrow.
Need a rest before I go out and help set up for the Trail.

Cool temps coming

The cold front moved in last night bringing rain, some hail and cooler temps. Predictions are upper 30's on Thursday morning. I am anxious about the damage to the scarecrows. Will check this morning. I will also pick up some more mums to sell on Saturday. Hope these were not damaged by the hail.
Body Pump changes music and routines about every 3 months. This causes your body to readjust to the different muscles that get worked. So yesterdays Pump had all of us at near fatigue. This means really sore this morning. Seems funny that moving your hands on the weight bar only slightly works you in different areas.
I hurt this morning but still glad that I started the exercise program almost 10 months ago. I am so much stronger now and proud of the big changes in my life.

Functional strength

Thursday and Friday were long days in preparation for the opening day of the Scarecrow Trail. Saturday too was an all day event.
It did surprise me as to how many of the chores were so much easier this year. Using the T post driver to pound post into the hard red clay was not nearly as hard. Walking what seemed like a million miles around to Trail was also not so bad.
Friday I did get the full workout drill in at the center. Last day for this Body Pump session and Heidi was out. Monday starts anew.
Enjoyed the cooler temps and the Master Gardener event. Fewer scarecrows this year but they seemed to be better quality. I think the classes at school did a class project rather than several of the students making their own. Hope we have lots of visitors again next Saturday.

Busy day at the office

I started my day by taking Fran to get her blood test at 8:00. This made getting to workouts easy as it was just next door. Did a little warm up and went to Kris and the Wall. He has really stepped up our workouts. The half hours went fast and then the Body Pump was next. I knew going in that it was going to be hard since I had missed so many days of this. Surprised but it was not nearly as hard as I thought. Did make it and not much sorer than usual.
Headed to the Nursery and got several flats of fall veggies for the Demo and Hope Gardens. Late this year but maybe we can have success with some things. I did not mind at all loading and unloading in the RAIN. Next stop was Walmart to get the pumpkins, 200 of the cooking sized. We will have art students to assist the younger kids in painting faces on them. Two hundred is a good pickup load and it was still a nice drizzle.
Today I will get the mums for us to sell and help folks start setting up their Scarecrows. The nice rain may make the digging easier for us to set the post. My scarecrow will be "Dusty" .....wish it'd rain.
I look for a fun time this weekend. Fran is getting much stronger by the day. BP is settling down and all seems well. She will have the Trail and a BBQ cook off on Saturday that benefits HOPE. I am sure that I will need to put limits on her.

Scarecrow Trail and other activities..

The Scarecrow Trail begin this Saturday so many obligations will hinder my workout schedule for the week. Monday was our Master Gardener meeting. This with taking Fran for blood work prevented me from the usual workout. Today Keep Jacksonville Beautiful meeting, but hope to workout afterwards. Wednesday I must pick up donated items for the Trail event, this includes pumpkins and mums. Also must spend some time with tidying up my area of the demo garden, and finishing up my scarecrow. Thursday and Friday will be long days of assisting folks install their crows.
Seems funny that these activities were once things that I thrived on and now although I will enjoy them, are getting in the way of workouts. I really miss my workouts and with the stress of being Frans nurse and care giver, really Need them. Guess things will get pushed back another week which I know will be good but hard and difficult to achieve.

Back up to speed

I was with Fran in the hospital Tuesday and until Wednesday around 4:00. Fran is still dragging around and now near up to speed. Lots of new meds and BP low each morning. Hope things start to improve soon.
Since I missed some of Monday and all of Wednesday, Friday's workout was just my routine and Kris's Wall. I just did not think I was ready for the Pump. Kris has really stepped up the exercises for his half hour. Much heavier with the weights we use with the stations. Hard but I got through it.
Hope to get some time in this weekend. Monday calls for blood test for Fran so not sure what this will allow. Master Gardeners meeting too so know there will be little workout time. Scarecrow Trail opens Saturday so lots to get done. I am way behind on my chores for this.
I know when I do get back it will be super hard the first times.

Best guy in class

I finished off the last week of September with 4 days of workouts. All were good efforts and seem to help with the stress. Kris has really pumped up his Express class so it is much more than a warm up. A few new younger guys have joined in the fun. Always fun to watch young guys on their first day as they shake their heads at the old guys. Body Pump is always hard. Squats are a bit easier but the lunges will never get better, I don't think. My legs just can not handle that many reps of them.
Friday was odd in that I was the only guy in the class, not sure where my other buddies were but that made me best in class.
The weather has cooled a good bit but still no rain. Mid 50's this morning. I will do some of the workout today but have another Scarecrow meeting this morning. May need to pull out the long sleeve shirt this morning. Tomorrow is Fran's day at the hospital.

Beautiful weather and the Plant Sale

Friday was the usual hard workout. Sailed through it and spent most of the afternoon setting up for the plant sale. Seemed funny that I was not going to have a booth this fall but I was not alone. Saturday was the sale. Started slow but picked up and stayed busy most of the morning. We did not have nearly the selection of plants as years past but we did fair for the heat and drought. Not sure of the total sales but maybe half of past sales. One thing I do know is it was much easier to carry plants to folks cars across the parking lot. It was good to be my my gardening friends and enjoy the start to fall. Anything beats the heat of the past several months.

It has been a while since I was a smoker and not working out. So glad I made those changes.

Workouts and stress

Yesterday we had our Consult visit with the Dr. It was better news than we expected, Fran will still have a stent put in but less complication than first thought. That is great news and we both are ready for Oct. 4 so we can put this behind us. She will stay one night and be released on her Birthday.
Needless to say this has caused stress. Hard workout have really helped me with this. Kris has really upped the "Wall" and the Pump is still a real challenge. Heidi taped the Pump session for her recertification as an instructor. Wednesday I really pushed in both exercise programs. Very sore today but the exercise does improve sleeping, or should.
May go in for a little work today. Plant sale Saturday, not sure about the turnout or number of members with much to sell. The heat and drought has really taken a toll on most of our gardens. Demo Garden still looks good.

RAIN !!! Wonderful cooling rain.

Saturday was cloudy and misty most of the day which cooled us off a bit. Sunday more of the same but very little rain. Sunday night it started to really rain and rain it did most of the night. This morning the cool damp air was so refreshing almost like the start of fall. A little more than a inch of rain for most of East Texas.
Workouts were cut a bit short this morning as I had a Scarecrow Trail meeting. I did get "my" routine and Kris's Wall. I worked it hard and was tired after the combined hour of work.
Scarecrow Trail is coming along. This is such a fun event and really got lots in the community out. I hope it will be good again this year. The Plant Sale is this Saturday. I am not thinking that many will have much to sell. The heat and drought has killed or severely stunted most of the things I would usually pot up to sell. I do not look for this to be a big successful fund raiser.

Rain, wow what the rain did for the attitude of many.