technology vacation

This will be my last post till the new year. I'm taking a vacation from modern technology for one whole week. No blogs. No facebook. No email. No electronic banking, ect. until the first of the year.

Yeah, sounds pretty impossible to me too.

Yesterday I weighed myself at Bonnie's and I like her scale. It said 230. (: About six pound less than the doctors scale. Since the scale at the nutritionist weighs about 10 pounds heavier than the doctor's, I'm guessing that puts me at about 240, gaining three pounds from my last weigh in. Thank goodness the last weigh-in is Monday, January third. One less stressor.

This morning I took Sharon to the gym. Rode the bike at #7 for about 10 minutes, #10 for another ten minutes, slid up to #12 and finished up at #15. #10 was tough. #12 was tougher. #15 kicked my butt. I only did it for maybe a minute. When I got off I had Jello legs. I guess it would be helpful to know what the numbers mean.

We're supposed to get a snow storm tonight. Maybe as much as a foot. So my exercise tomorrow will be shoveling. Maybe. I never believe the weather people till I see it. This year it will just be three sidewalks instead of the previous five or six. Plus the space in front of my garage.

The Peeps 5K is Friday. The route has been totally changed. It should be interesting. Lydia is coming, as well as her Bari Buddy Kathy. And Bonnie of course. With Bonnie coming off a knee injury, maybe I'll actually beat her across the finish line!

I'll be eating out a lot this week, so exercise every day is going to be critical. Maybe I'll even get to do the walking video I found online. Oh wait, no online. See it will be tough.

See you in 2011.

merry christmas

Today is Christmas. Not much of an event at my house. We only have a tree because I'm stubborn. Let's just say my roommate makes the Grinch and Scrooge look like icons of happiness.

Sharon wanted to go to the gym, so I said yes. I remembered from her orientation that they were open 365 days a year. Holidays were weekend hours. And they were open 4th of July when we went. We arrived and the parking lot was empty. The place however was lit up like it was open. Every light on and the televisions were going. The sign on the door said closed. Apparently I was wrong about orientation. It didn't bother me so much that they were closed, but that they were clearly wasting huge amounts of electricity. I realize you need light for security but flat screen televisions are power hogs. It was disgusting and irresponsible from my point of view.

So we went to Bauer's Rock at Big Rock Park. The lot only holds about four cars. I don't think it gets used much except by teens for beer parties.

As we hiked up the hill I don't think Sharon thought we'd ever get there. It was only about 500 feet, but a bit of an incline. Off on the left was the civil defense horn tower (Do they still use those?) and on the right the broadcast towers for Channel 69. The "road" ended at the broadcast towers, and it turned into a path, which led to a giant hole. I think the hole is relatively new, but people, or animals had formed a new path around it. Up ahead we saw a big rock. Sharon and I thought that was it. But it wasn't. Off to the left was a huge rock formation. Clearly the picture does not do it justice. The rocks were covered by graffiti.

Sharon decided to stay at the bottom and take my picture. However, she zoomed in so you can't see how high I went. I didn't go to the top. The rocks were cold and slippery from the paint. There were beer and water bottles thrown about. the rock that has the white "DE" on it, near the apex, is as far as I got. I really feared falling. I have no health insurance. I may be crazy but I am not a fool.

This was a task for someone young, physically fit, and fearless. Not for some old fat woman with no upper body strength. Except maybe my friend Betsy. She could have done it.

This formation is really near Mountain House Girl Scout camp. I wish I had known about it, I would have taken the kids there. They enjoy Jacobs ladder at Mosey Wood so much and this is so much higher. Of course, the other side is a shear drop down!

Before I started climbing I confirmed that Sharon had her cell phone. I told her exactly where we were at: Big Rock Park. When I got back she was relieved she didn't need to call 911. I am too. When I asked her if she remembered where we were she said "a really big rock, up a really big hill, off of another really big hill." Yep, I would have been dead by the time help arrived. Next time we have an adventure, I'm writing it down.

twas the day before christmas

Doing better at walking this week. I guess it's true, I am goal oriented.

With next week off, and my pledge to turn off technology for a week, I should get mega exercise in. And reading. And knitting. And a movie or three. (Two actually. One each with my niece and nephew. Narnia and what?)

I went walking on Wednesday with Betsy for an hour and did my shopping first at Crest Plaza so I could avoid the dreaded Cold Stone Creamery. Only did the stairs and shopping walking Thursday. Today I went out walking with Sharon. Tried to push her to go a little faster. Tomorrow we're going to the gym and then the hike up to Big Rock Park and then Saturday or Sunday I'll ride the bike again at the gym when I take Sharon.

Guessing the gym will be empty tomorrow.

I did find some fresh motivation this morning at the Wawa. Strangest things you can get there.

I pulled in next to a mini van filled with crap. I noticed because the whole back was covered in bumper stickers. When I went in, there was a 500-600 pound man coming out carrying his big bag. The kind of "fat" person you see on The Biggest Loser. He nearly mowed me over. I felt skinny looking at him, but thought nothing else about it.

Then when I came out the white van was still there. Inside it was the 500 pound man. His seat was all the way back, his shirt had hiked up so his belly was sticking out and it was hanging over the steering wheel. He had a USAToday resting on the steering wheel and his gut. With a giant coffee cup in one hand and one of his breakfast sandwiches in the other.

I was embarrassed by myself. I could keep my eyes off the car. I was staring! I forced myself into my car and finally pulled away.

"There but for the grace of god go I" looped thru my head.

Thank you very fat man. You were a well needed kick in the butt.

happy solstice.

Happy solstice. Did you catch the eclipse? I didn't. I slept thru it. Hopefully Belle saw it from her airplane. I have to remember to ask her.

It's been a long time since I posted.

Excuses: It's cold. I was sick a couple of days. Final exams. Making runs to airports. Mary Liz back from Puerto Rico with sore leg, so old dependable that forces me to walk, isn't.

Just excuses. No action. I'm lazy—pure and simple. But I must stop.

I've been eating (and drinking!) a lot since there is a party with calorie laden food at every doorway, so I need to walk.The nutritionist would like to see another eight pounds gone on January 3 when I go back. I'm hoping to break even.

So the weather should be clearer this week, maybe the high 30s. That's great walking weather. I'm going to go out Wednesday with Betsy. We did go out for a bit in the cold Friday. But I stopped at the Wine & Spirit Shoppe on the way home and there is a Cold Stone Creamery next door. Let's just say that walk didn't count!

I went with Sharon to the gym on Sunday morning and did the bike for 20 minutes at #7. Whatever that means.

So the plan is to walk, even for a little while, everyday till the third. I think on Christmas Day I'm going to go to Big Rock Park, aka Bauer Rock. The hike isn't far but the view is supposed to be great. It's near Bonnie's and that's where I'm having dinner.

Some people have asked me about the nutritionist. Why haven't I said anything else? How's it going?

It's simple. It wasn't what was I looking for. She had her agenda—weight loss. It wasn't mine. I've done all the things she's talking about already. That's when I got stuck and needed help. I don't need to spend money for printouts from the net. I know that my problem lines not as much in portion control but what I eat and in what combination. Clearly too much sugar and carbs. Her solution to that is to eat more animal protein to keep you fuller longer. I would like to eat less animal protein, not more. Quasi vegetarian would suit me well. There seems to be no adjustments in the diet for lifestyle.

Last time she acknowledged that I real do eat a pretty balanced diet. Lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, ect. Not burgers and fries every night, which I think is the stereotype for fat people. She acknowledged that more than likely I am a food addict. I figured that out the first night. I eat from stress. Reduce my stress and the weight and issues go away. Anybody want a roommate? Oh, and I need one job, not three. Apparently she doesn't read the papers. We're in the middle of the great recession. I should thank god that I have three jobs. She suggested therapy. Great, who's gonna pay for it? Obama's health care bill doesn't stand a snowballs chance in hell of making it to execution stage.

Bottom line. I've lost about eight pounds on her scale. That puts me me still plus two on the scale from the doctor. She thinks I should be excited. I'm not. I look at it as gaining two pounds. If she knew me at all she'd know that not only is the glass never half full, but it has a crack, and is leaking profusely.

Can't wait till it's over.

me, a shepherd?

Yesterday I got up at 4 am and drove to Newark to pick up Bob and Mary Liz at the Newark Airport. By 10:30 am I was on a bus to Nazareth for the 51st annual Peace Pilgrimage. I've seen these walkers other years, and thought I should do that some time. But never did.

Now that I've been walking so much, 10-miles doesn't seem far anymore. Besides, when else could you "safely" walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem?

We met near the YMCA in Bethlehem and boarded school buses to Nazareth Moravian church. It's right on the square and the town creche is beautiful. I took pictures. You can see them in my webshots album.

We waited there for at least another hour. I didn't realize they staggered the bsses, so I didn't need to get there so early. While waiting I was asked if I wanted to be a shepherd. Sure. What is a shepherd? The answer: You keep the "flock" safe and together. Make sure nobody gets left behind. For my "job" I was issued an orange safety vest.

I believe one of the older women was named Fern. My guess was she was one of the organizers. She mentioned while we were waiting that most of the Moravian churches in the area had Putzes. But theirs was covered up so we couldn't see it. I was a tad disappointed because I had never seen theirs, but oh well. Then a hand went up. "What's a Putz? I know what it is in Yiddish but I'm guessing it's not the same." Made me smile.

Looking around the room in the church basement there were some really old people. They were going to walk. At least one in their 90s. A half-dozen or so in their 80s, a good dozen in their 70s and a large group in their 60s. Some had done it for nearly all previous walks. It was inspirational.

The very old people walked better than some of the young ones! The youngest walkers were in strollers.

Then we headed down to Rt. 191. Where the Nazareth police let us j-walk. That was fun. I don't like that intersection in a car.  Close to Hecktown we saw another photographer. I thought he might be from the Express, but I didn't see anything in today's paper. Never saw anyone from the Call.

After what I thought was a long stop at a church in Hecktown, we proceeded down 191. Our next stop was a very long break at the Bethlehem Baptist church. My guess is 45 minutes. I was there a half hour and for that section I assigned the rear with two ladies having some serious trouble walking. Finally before McDonald's they got on the sweep van. But the rest of the group was a good three blocks ahead. Uphill,

Finally we got going again, and everyone seemed to be moving quicker. Maybe it was sidewalks. Maybe it was the long break, but they were moving. I was in the front for that section and got snapped by the Bethlehem Press photographer. (We'll see Wednesday if it's in.)

At the First Church of the Nazarene we picked up candles and lanterns. It was about 4:45 pm and and getting dark. By the time the procession reached Central Moravian it was dark. I peeled off and went back to the car. The group would sing carols in from of Central and then hike up to Christ Church for soup (bring your own bowl) and a lecture by Nancy Tate of Lepoco.

It was a good day. A great walk for a great cause. But I have to tell you those mammoth breaks were hard. 15 minutes is long enough for a break.

If you want to read about the walk,  a "journalist" or was she a blogger, was there from patch.com. She posted a story today. With a bunch of pictures. I'm not in any.

baby it's cold outside

It's a fun song, and this week true. I'm trying to get in at least some walking everyday thru the winter. Partly because it's encouraged by the nutritionist. Partly because I'll turn into a bigger fat blob if I don't.

Tuesday I walked at lunch time, round trip only a mile.  Better than nothing. This morning I walked down to the grocery store. Shockingly it's only a mile and a half round trip. I thought it was at least a mile.

Saturday is the Peace Pilgrimage from Nazareth to Bethlehem. That's 10 miles and no fund raising. Hope the bitter cold end for it. I have to remember to pull the bells off my sneakers before I go.

links

At T'ai Chi they teach you about breathing. Your breath controls your energy and that what's what relieves your stress. I also heard this at a walking class, Breathwalk (through Walk for all Seasons), I took a year ago. It combines walking and yoga techinques together. It was tough. Today, this showed up in my NPR feed. Yet another reminder that breathing correctly relieves stress. All I need to do is do it!

Right after I posted that I thought I was a food addict, my friend Angel sent me this. More stuff to think about.

Nutritionist today. I certainly didn't lose weight this week. Might have gained. Last week I ate out every day, at least once. Sometimes twice. Not good for the budget or the waist.

another walk with lydia

Now that Lyd has discovered walking, I frequently have a walking buddy. Of course, when she loses another 50 pounds, she'll speed off ahead of me. Oh well.

Saturday she mentioned walking Sunday while she was visiting her dad at the hospital. It's about 5 blocks from my place. Sunday she Facebooked me. Wanna go at 1:30. So I said of course.

So about 1:15 I hiked up to the hospital, and waited in the lobby till she came down. I had on a coat, scarf, hat, and gloves. She had on a hoodie. Brrrr.

We headed out Ostrum and headed north on the Hill To Hill Bridge. About 50 feet onto the bridge Lydia says, 'I've never walked on this bridge before. I probably saw fireworks on the New Street, but never this one.' Bonnie and I always take a picture when we cross a new bridge, so I snatched her camera and dashed ahead and took the picture. Tradition!

We took the Second Avenue ramp and came back Lehigh Street. Lyd wanted to see St. Nick so we went to Christkindlmarkt. (Lydia should not have taken this picture from the side!) They had some really cool handcrafted pepper mills. Temptation was great. Anyway, she's talking to St. Nick and he says to sit on his knee. She says I'll break your knee. Needless to say, he won.

We walked around a bit more, and then headed out of the Market and down to Lehigh Street and over the Fahy (New Street) Bridge. Lydia hadn't eaten since breakfast, so we stopped at Lehigh Pizza for a slice.  As we headed up Third Street she saw The Hill.

We both totally forgot that to start at the hospital you had to hike back up a hill to get back. The Third Street hill is relatively steep. We discussed option. Then she said, 'let's do it." And up we went. We got about half way, the bridge crossing, and had to wait for the light. Gave her a little break. Then up to Cherokee we went. Non stop. We stopped at the stop for maybe 5 seconds and we were off again.

I left her at St. Luke's Place, and headed home. Her milage 3.37. Mine 4.125.

50:46!

ellie's angel logo.

The Jingle Bell run for arthritis was today. I finished the 5K in 50:46. Whoo Hoo. Well ahead of the rest of Ellie's Angels. Lydia 61:50;  Kathy 63:xx; and Sharon 65:56. Bonnie is still sitting out with her knee injury.

Last night I picked up our bibs, tees, and jingle bells. Then I stopped at Party City for halos. The tee-shirt transfers ended up not working so we went without the logo.

This event requires costumes. And some were really fun.

It was Kathy and Lydia's first 5K. Both had gastric by-pass and are down about 100 pounds. I told them I was going for 50 minutes, and I'd come back and get them when I crossed the finish.

We started and ended at Northampton Community College. The course was hillier than I remembered. Hills usually wipe me out. I can't tell you the route, I'm not familiar with the streets in the sub-division.

kathy, me, sharon, bonnie, lydia

About half way Bonnie called in her Jillian voice and said, now I want you to power walk from the next tree to the third tree. Only there were no trees, but I did power walk a bit. Even before she called.

After I crossed the finish, I talked to Bonnie for a minute and headed back out, backwards. They had started leaving traffic thru, so it was harder to go back. Lydia was already on the home stretch. Kathy was about a half block behind. No one knew where Sharon was. I saw her, still in the sub-division. And waiting at the light. Then I walked in with her. Of the three, she was the only one struggle. But she didn't finish last!

Lights in the Parkway 5k

Lydia and I did a 5K in the dark. Well almost dark. It was Lights in the Parkway after all.

The walk was only 2 miles, but it was a good starter for Lydia. It was also a great thing for me. How often to I get to do one of these things and don't need to worry about distractions? We finished in 51.48. Ooops. Too much stopping and picture taking. Sadly, people finished after us.

It was quite a hike from the parking area, so we probably did a 5K in the end.

It was dark and muddy. It rained all day. The 5K for the runners followed a similar route, but they only had a mile of the lights. Our whole thing had lights!

We started at the Vultee Street exit, went down the hill, and across the parking lot adjacent to the iron bridge. Then we headed down the muddy gravel bridal path with the lights on our right. We followed that to the Robin Hood Bridge and crossed the bridge, turned around and came back. At that point they told us if we just wanted to see the lights we could turn around. Lydia said an astounding NO. If I'm doing this, I'm doing it.

 We headed out the road to 15th street to the entrance of the parkway where the big sign was. turned around and went thru the lights, this time with lights on both sides of us.
The course ended with the huge hill back up to Vultee Street.

Tomorrow is the Jingle Bell Run. It's a costume event and the costumed runners will be out in full force. Our team is Ellie's Angels. Named after my sister, and Lyds mom, Elin.

I designed a logo for the shirts, but could use it. The iron-ons for dark colors have a horrible white plastic background. The transparent ones you can't see. I'm going to stop at Party City and see if they have halos to wear.