Happy Birthday Cassie!

In my new tradition of blogging, I want to wish my wonderful daughter a Happy Birthday. I didn't post yesterday (on her actual birthday) because I felt my post was so bland compared to her sister's! Well, we all know QG has a way with words that I can only hope to achieve some day. :)

Happy Birthday Cassie! I love you!!!

Batman Lives!

Batman was at the gym tonight.

The gym has a Lifestyle Adjustable Dual Pulley machine, which is basically an all-in-one machine with pulleys and stacks of weights. As I was working my triceps and biceps with a mere 15 pounds of free weights, I caught sight of a man (aka Batman) hanging upside down from this machine. I didn't mean to, but ended up staring at him for a good 20 seconds.

The guy brought his own ankle straps to the gym, hung upside down spread eagle style, and did upside down sit-ups. He really looked like a bat, because he was dressed all in black and the machine was in a corner. Normally, I'd think the guy was a show-off. But he was mid fifties, balding, not very handsome, but very muscular.

Amazing, but humbling.

Congratulations Adam!

I'm smiling ear to ear. It's so wonderful to see (or hear) your children happy!

Adam received his acceptance letter from Macalester College today. It was his first choice of school, and he was worried about whether he would get accepted. The college is located in St. Paul, MN and is a small liberal arts college with under 2000 students. Strong academics, politically active, very liberal, with a diverse student population. Surprisingly, 13% of their students are international and they pull kids from all over the country (not just the midwest). http://www.macalester.edu/

Congrats Adam! I'm very happy for you!

BTW, just what is a Macalester Scot? It's an odd sort of mascot name... ;)

Does every gym have a Tats?

QG (Quartergoddess for short) has posted about "Tats" a man at her gym. Evidently, he provides nice eye candy for her.

I'm new to going to a gym. (Yes, QG -- I'm one of those newbies that annoy you when they use your favorite machine.) I noticed a well built man with tattoos today... quite the muscle bound guy. Not my type, but interesting to look at.

My gym has all of the cardio machines facing windows. So you can stare at the built-in TV, the outside world, or your reflection in the TV if you have it turned off. So, no staring at my local Tats while doing cardio... but I had to wait for him to get off the darn weight machines today. Kinda annoying that every machine I went to use was set at really heavy weights, but at least I had something to look at.

Happy Birthday Kelly!

I planned to call you to wish you a happy birthday. By the time I had a short break at work, it was 5pm. Because that means midnight in London, I didn't call and wake you.

I love you very much and miss you!

Obama can't fix it without all of our help.

Why does the election and inauguration of Barack Obama move me so much? Yes, he is the first African American president; but, that's not the reason for my emotions.

For the first time in my life, I feel hope for my country. Obama inspires me, and I'm hopeful he will inspire our country. As individuals, we have become "Me-Centric", very selfish and materialistic. We stopped believing in our government, and that our country was something to be proud of. We need to think about others, and do what's right because it's right - not because it's easy or self promoting.

I believe that only through a significant change in American attitude can this country salvage our future.

If we do nothing, our planet will die from global warming.
If we do nothing, our country's treasure will continue to flow to our enemies as we buy their oil.
If we do nothing, our greedy corporations will continue to control our government and lives.
If we do nothing, our health care system will serve less and less citizens; our schools will fail more children; our middle class will continue to erode; and our hungry will go unfed.
If we do nothing, we do not help stop the genocide, hunger, and disease running rampant in other lands.

Our government can't make these changes. People need to do it, one step at a time. Through volunteering your time and talents. Through giving money to those in need. Through buying American products even if they cost a little more. Through living "green" to limit our dependence on foreign energies. Through being healthier to limit the stress on our health care and financial systems. Through mentoring a child. Through being a better parent. Through living within or below our means.

So, why does this man move me so? I think it's because I see the possibility of a better nation if he can truly inspire us all to change.

Spinning kicked my butt..

I just started working out - again. Only this time, I'm going to stick to it! I have no lofty goals. I merely want to be stronger, my lungs better, and to cultivate a new habit of self-care. If I happen to lose some weight (or inches) in the process, that's just a pleasant bonus.

I joined a gym, even though I have both a treadmill and an elliptical machine at home. I joined with a friend, in hopes of motivating each other. Well, Tom moved out of town and I still have a membership. It's an awesome gym - at the Waunakee Village Center. Clean, bright, not too crowded (except on Saturdays at 10am), brand new building and machines, people of all ages, and CLEAN.

Well, folks, in my enthusiasm to get started on a healthy habit... I enrolled for a Spinning class. I thought, how hard can it be? It's just riding a stationary bike, right? WRONG. It's darn HARD. On average, my 50 minute class will burn 500 to 600 calories if I push myself at 60% exertion. No lie! Well, I exerted and exerted but I still couldn't get out of my seat for those standing hill climbs for very long!

Oh well -- the 65 y/o woman on the bike next to me couldn't do the standing climbs either. It made me feel good to know that at least I could keep up with her. And by class #10, I'll be so much stronger!