Archive for May, 2020

Awesome Day

May 7, 2020

Happy Birthday to my bestest friend ever, Valery Griffiths! We have known each other since we were in the first grade. We have had our share of ups and downs but the ups and all the fun sure have outweighed the downs. So many memories come to mind when I think about us — high school, college years, marriages, babies, too many to even count. I am so lucky to have you as such a great friend! No matter how long between our talks these days, I know you are always there for me! Love you much and hope you had a fabulous day!!

Valery and I go way back as you see from above. So, of course, I thought of her as soon as I got up this morning. Hope she had a wonderful day.

Nothing too exciting through the day. Well, we did have a staff meeting! Wednesdays are fun because we get to see everyone. We all show up to the meeting wherever we might be…work, home, kitchen, living room, den…and today it was quite odd as everyone was either wearing red or had something red with them. Odd…oh wait…that’s Mr. Roberts favorite color (NOT). It has been great to still be able to have fun even if we can’t be together.

After work, I went on my daily walk. Today I talked to Julia (one of my nieces) while I walked 2.03 miles. I love being able to talk with my nieces and nephews whenever I feel like it. I have always loved being an Aunt and it is very special to me that they will take the time to still talk to me even as they grow older.

Check out the cool map Julia and I made on our walk.

Dinner was chicken alfredo made by Grace. Great job Grace! It was delicious and I even have some for lunch tomorrow.

After dinner, the girls decided I should go to the track with them. Grace was working on shot put and Olivia was going to ride her bike. I guess I’m walking. So, I called my mom and we chatted while I was walking. Had to go when Grace decided I needed to take some video of her throwing the shot-put. Oh, and then even I got a turn. My first throw of the season was NOT very good. But this old lady couldn’t even remember how I was supposed to do it!!

We then headed for home and just as I got home, I got to talk to another one of my nieces, Rowan. She called and chatted about her day, the money she is saving to buy more horses or even a cow, then she was telling me about the Mother’s Day art project she was making. She sent me a photo so I could see what she was doing. It was so cute. Then she said, “did you look at the other one?” what other one? oh I see it, there is another photo….

IMG_8526

…my heart melted. She is so sweet. Did I tell that I really love being an Aunt and I love my nieces and nephews? What an awesome way to finish the day.

 

Did I really just use those?

May 6, 2020

Ok, hopefully my internet connection is better today than it has been. Perhaps I just need to use my phone as a hotspot. So I did a Zoom update and things appeared to better but then as soon as Matt was explaining the workout, my audio kept cutting out. I left class, started my phone hotspot and then rejoined.

May 6 – Zoom 

Who will be venturing up today for this 5:30 a.m. workout…..Dave, Bob, Jeff, Heather, Lacey, Nikki, and me 

CHAN Warm Up (10:00)
25 jumping jacks
25 front jumping jacks
10/10 spiderman lunges
10/10 lateral lunges
inchworm + push ups (5,4,3,2,1)
10/10 speedskaters
10/10 arm circles forward/backward
10 arm pretzels
10/10 shoulder rolls/ forward/backward
0:30/0:30 lateral neck stretch
0:30/0:30 posterior neck stretch
10/10 wrist circles

Skill and Build-Up
Front Squat Prep
2 rounds
10/10 quadruped rotations, slow
5 squat therapy reps
5 paused front squats

Build Up
0:30 row, bike, or run  (bike)
5 swings (with object being used in workout) (15lb db)
5 front squats (workout weight) (15lb db set)

Workout
Every 4:00 for 20:00 (5 sets)
15/12 cal bike or row (bike 1:00-1:15 – tried to stay with my speed between 18.5-20)
15 kettlebell swings (15lb db)
15 front squats (goblet squat with dumbbell) (used 15lb db set)

Core Accessory Work (10:00)
4 rounds NOT for time (could only do 3)
15 side plank dips, left (10, 10,10)
0:15 side plank hold, left
15 side plank dips, right (10,10,10)
0:15 side plank hold, right

Wow, I can’t believe I was able to get through that entire workout with the 15 lb dumbbells! I had the set of 10 lb ones sitting right next to me in case I needed them but I actually felt pretty strong. By the time I got to 8 or 9 squats I wasn’t sure I keep going but then I knew I was at the halfway point so keep going. Ok, I couldn’t breathe when I was finished doing them but I did usually get 1:45 or so to rest before I had to start the next round.

I guess you know it’s a good workout when you feel drenched.
Now to shower and get ready for work. Have a nice day everyone.

Gold Stars?

May 6, 2020

Nothing too exciting today. Just another day at the quiet school. Somedays it is nice that there are no interruptions and you can actually get work done. But this is NOT how it is supposed to be.

My nephew Matt called me today. It was great to talk but had to hang up as my work phone was ringing and needed to take care of some business 🙂 But it was great and I told him I’ll call him soon – probably one evening when I’m out walking. Oh, I have to tell you that Matt is a Dr. doing his residency in Salt Lake City. We are so very proud of him! Matt is the oldest of my 17 nieces and nephews and he was definitely my first love! Him and I were such buddies while he was growing up. I’m happy that he will still take the time to talk to his old aunt 🙂

After work I went for my daily walk. Walked 1.97 miles while talking to my friend Lisa. It is always such a joy to talk with her. She’s someone  I can totally be myself with and we both just say whatever we feel like….even if it’s at the same time!!

While walking I came upon gold stars. Hmmmm…I wonder what those are from?? I decided that someone was trying to make me feel good. They wanted me to know that I deserve a “gold star” for walking so much these days.

Ya know, I really love these maps. I think I’m going to try to purposely walk in various directions so my maps don’t come out so square or rectangle. I think they should look more creative. So, perhaps in the next couple of days, I will come up with something that looks fun!

Olivia made tater tot casserole and we enjoyed dinner. When we were finished, I had a video call from Rowan. Well, she had a whole group video going. She was bored and decided that she should talk to Grandma, Aunt Teresa, Victoria, and Aunt Beth. Aunt Beth must have been busy as she never did answer. Victoria was headed outside to take Oliver for a walk. It was fun to walk around her apartment complex with her. She then went and sat in the dog park area in the middle of the complex so Oliver could get off his leash. How fun it was to watch him run around and then especially fun when some children from the apartments came out to play with him. You could tell one of them had played with Oliver before because she was not afraid of him jumping on her and she was trying to tell her friends it was ok too.

Always fun to video chat with those you love 🙂

 

Another Day at the Gym… I Mean Home

May 5, 2020

Technology is awesome – except when it isn’t. My internet connection kept freezing, had to restart my computer, still froze up once I was back in the class. Finally had to switch to using my phone as a hot spot. Irritating…

May 5
Zooming with Bob, Dave, Jeff, Nikki, Heather, Lacey

General Warm-Up (10:00)
EMOM 9:00
Minute 1: Mountain climbers
Minute 2: Glute bridge hold
Minute 3: 0:25/0:25 side plank to reach through

Skill and Build Up (10:00)
Power Clean Progressions (5:00) (10lb db set)
with barbell or PVC
3 clean deadlift to mid-thigh
3 clean deadlift to shrug
3 muscle clean
3 “lands” in the power position
3 hang power clean
3 power clean

Build Up
3-3-3   (10 lb set, 15, 15)
power clean, building up in load

Workout (20:00) (15 lb set)
EMOM of 10:00 (10 sets)
3 power cleans (5 with db)

Immediately into
every 2:00 for 10:00 (5 sets)
3 deadlifts (5 with db)

Core Accessory Work (10:00)
3 Rounds
20 Hollow sit-ups (10, 6, 5)
30 arm haulers (20, 20, 20)
40 flutter kicks (floor) (30, 30, 30)

Another week in quarantine begins…

May 5, 2020

 

Another Monday arriving at school knowing that there won’t be any students in the building. So sad and I miss all the kids. The school building is supposed to have children in it! Today is our weekly drop-off/pick-up of school work. It’s nice to get a chance to see a few of the families.

Today was also our spring flower delivery day. I went down and helped unload the truck and sort some of the flowers. Then, back up to help answer phone, empty and sort papers from folders. Got lots of steps in today.

Went for a walk when I got home, tried to call a couple of people but they weren’t available to talk. So, I called my phone buddy who I know is ALWAYS available to talk…my dear niece Rowan. We have all kinds of phone conversations at all times of the day. Hope she always calls me when she needs someone to talk to.

Got home from the walk just in time for a delicious dinner of stuffed peppers made by Grace. Her first attempt and they were very good. The kids and I then decided that whoever wanted to go for a walk could go and get ice cream. WAIT — who made up that rule???!! I normally jump in my car and drive to the ice cream store. Oh, ok…I guess I did? This quarantine thing is definitely getting to me….I chose to walk to the ice cream store. Wow… very odd….

 

Another Morning of CrossFit

May 4, 2020

Who will show up on this lovely Monday morning to begin the day with a great workout?
Bob, Dave, Jeff Fisher, Nikki, Heather

Warm-Up (8:00)
3 Rounds
0:20 jumping jacks
0:10 rest
0:20 mountain climbers
0:10 rest

2 Rounds
5 inchworms +2 push-ups + 2 squats
10/10 dynamic calf stretch

“Maupin”
4 Rounds for time (32:30)
800m run (3:30 bike)
49 push-ups (29 on knees)
49 sit-ups (15 with feet under couch)
49 squats (29)

Cool Down
2 Rounds
0:45/0:45 standing calf stretch
1:00 foam roll t-spine

Someday I may be able to do a sit-up unassisted but for now I’m lucky to get past the 8 I had been able to do! I feel like I should be able to do some of this stuff especially after I have been going to CrossFit since December. Why can’t I do a sit-up? Oh that’s right, people keep reminding me I’m 50…and totally out of shape (well, I was a shape…round…but guess that’s not really how you should be when you are 50.)

Have a great day!

 

 

Another beautiful day

May 3, 2020

Girls and I went out and about to run errands, cleaned up a few things in the house, and Olivia put fertilizer on the lawn. Grace then needed to finish some homework and Olivia sorted through clothes. I went outside and sat in my “home office” and did a couple things for work. It was so beautiful out there.

Later, Grace and I headed up to the track to take some more photos of her. Senior year is just such a bummer for her. We then came home and took a walk while we were waiting for dinner to be finished.

The day was relaxing but fun as well.

 

Summer??

May 2, 2020

Oh my heavens, today felt like Summer! Is it? Ok, fine, my son brings me to reality and tells me that technically it is only spring and we live in Michigan.

The girls and I worked out in the yard digging rose of sharon trees to move out in front of the house, moving some bricks, breaking back the trumpet vine, mowing the lawn, cleaning deck furniture and setting up the summer outdoor living space.

We are looking forward to Monday when the flowers arrive and we can plant some prettiness in our flower boxes, pots, and chairs.

We were then able to relax a bit outside while Noah grilled pork steaks for dinner.
I enjoyed taking pictures and videos of the kids as they were enjoying the outside as well.

The sounds of summer were great as well…Grace playing her guitar, the girls singing without a care in the world, and the sizzling of steaks on the grill.

 

What the Heck am I doing?

May 2, 2020

Ok, I don’t really know what is wrong with me….I got up and left my house at 7:45 a.m. to go for a WALK…. What?? That is not me. This quarantine is really doing something weird to me. We have to get back to normal soon!

I met up with Brenna as soon as I got to my deck. So great to catch up with her as I wandered the town. Actually I think I just wander around now to see what kind of map I can make 🙂

Have a great day! I might chat with you later – it’s supposed to be a beautiful day and we hope to get a few things done outside 🙂

 

CrossFit – Zoom

May 1, 2020

May 1 – Zoom 

Technology is awesome! I wonder who will show up for the 5:30 a.m. workout…..Dave, Bob, Nikki, and me 

Technology was not great this morning either — again, audio cut out and I was only hearing maybe every other word or so. I left the meeting twice and came back in but I never could get it to work right. I just sent Matt a few chats and watched and followed along.

CHAN Warm Up (10:00)
25 jumping jacks
25 front jumping jacks
10/10 spiderman lunges (missed this audio cut out and restarted zoom)
10/10 lateral lunges (missed this audio cut out and restarted zoom)
inchworm + push ups (5,4,3,2,1) (2)
10/10 speedskaters
10/10 arm circles forward/backward
10 arm pretzels
10/10 shoulder rolls/ forward/backward
0:30/0:30 lateral neck stretch
0:30/0:30 posterior neck stretch

Workout Prep (5:00)
5 broad jumps
5 no push-up burpees
0:20 row or bike
3 box jumps, low
3 burpees
0:20 row or bike

Workout (21:00)
EMOM
Minute 1: 15 box jumps (15, 16, 16, 15, 15, 16, 15)
Minute 2: 15 burpees (10, 8, 8, 6, 8, 8, 7)
Minute 3: 15 cal/12 cal row or bike (no idea how many calories just did 1 min)

Core Finisher
3 sets
10 1-1-2 tuck crunch (5)
10 lying leg raise + hip lift (5)

Mapping a 5k

May 1, 2020

What in the world just happened??

It started as a casual walk with Grace and Olivia. Just to leave home, walk to the cemetery, walk around the big loop and back home just to map where I will really have to walk when I’m ready to do a 5K for time. 

We left, headed up the street, just walking, talking and enjoying the outdoors. Got to the cemetery and decided we probably just need to do the big outer loop. So we kept going. Girls had to make a pitstop so I told them I would keep walking. They have long legs, they can catch up. 

I got almost to the end of the path and called to see where they were? They were just checking stuff out and exploring. I told them I was not going to stop because I was walking at a pretty good speed. 

Got home and I had just walked a 5K in 59:00 minutes. So I’m pretty sure when I get ready to do these virtual 5Ks I can definitely do it in less than 54.