What will you do with your one wild and precious life?

     So.... What do I plan to do with my one wild and precious life???? The "working" days are winding down.  I cleaned closets yesterday and carried all of my spring/summer "work" clothes to a consignment shop today.  After thirty years, my last day at work will be February 28. I won't be needing those teacher clothes any longer.  Not that they are bad, they just are not what I wear away from school.  What will the future hold?  Hang on, we're all waiting to see that answer.

Circuit Training - Next New Thing...

Since the week before Christmas, most days have been cold, damp, and rainy.  Not conducive to my long walks outside.  I have tried working with the elliptical and sit up bench, but I just don't enjoy it for days on end.  I broke down near the end of December and, like thousands of other people, I went to get a membership at our local gym.  After asking the prices, I just could not do it.  Mentally, I can't make myself pay fees to exercise when I have an elliptical and sit up bench at home.  I started investigating other "winter" options.  When I first started using Pinterest, I made a "Move my Ass" board.  Blunt, yes, but that has always been my philosophy.  I don't think it matters specifically what type of workout you do, just get up and move.  That, along with a reasonable diet, and you will be fine. I sat and looked back through all the pins on that board and it clicked.  Circuit training!  Some people refer to it as interval training.  Not a new concept, but something I've never done for any length of time.  It meets my requirements including movement, the ability to be done inside, and no need for expensive equipment.  Over the past week, even when out of town, I was able to complete a thirty-minute circuit each day.  Even on days that I have been able to get out and walk a couple of miles, I've still done at least a twenty-minute circuit.  Since I already had an old set of three pound hand weights, I added those to the circuits.  I love that there are MANY different moves that can be incorporated in your daily circuit.  It is wonderful to do something a little different each day.  To give me no excuse, I printed out several different thirty minute circuits.  Each day, I choose a different one. I pulled together moves from several different ones to make some of my own.  Some of the best I've seen are from http://backonpointe.tumblr.com/tagged/workout-challenge, written by a young woman who is a college student and dancer.  She had different workouts for different areas of the body.  Here is one of her ab circuits:

                             

So far, so good.  Boredom has not set in thanks to the variety.  If you would like to "Move Your Ass" along with me, please look at my board on Pinterest for some ideas: http://pinterest.com/terrip919/move-my-ass/.

OMG! 145

OMGoodness! Holy $#!t! I have gained almost ten pounds in less than two weeks! Thank you Christmas dinners!  Cold, rainy weather and family gatherings provided the excuses not to walk or exercise and now, reality sets in for me.  I stepped on the scales and - BOING - I have gained ten pounds!!!! Holy Batman!  I got on the eliptical and walked a mile, did fifty sit ups on the bench, and did thirty leg pull ups  -  too little too late??? Not how I had planned to start the new year...

I knew I had been slack about the exercise; however, this is ridiculous!  Tomorrow = back to walking at least two miles in the weight vest, and more.  At fifty-two, I can't start this stuff...

Gym membership? Starvation! Common sense?  WTH???  Help!

A Move into the 21st Century

In an unexpected move, I got a smartphone.  And it's about time. My old flip phone was dying and when I looked today at Costco, there was no line.  I could walk right up to the kiosk and talk to a real human. A human who answered my questions and did not try to sell me more than I needed.  Sold.

The afternoon has been spent getting familiar with the phone - a Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere II - and downloading apps AND setting up email, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, my blog, and all of the other really important things I "need" to do online.  I can see that this phone can become an addiction.  

Although,as a librarian, I work with computers all day long, live online on my home laptop, and have a Kindle, I had wavered about spending additional money each month for a smartphone.  Today, I caved.  And so far, it is worth every penny of the extra $30.00 each month.  Well, really only $20.00 extra, because the very nice human at the kiosk saw that he could save us $10.00 each month on the data package for our home hot spot! See, this smartphone is already saving us money...

Sandy Hook Elementary School

Sandy Hook Elementary School is a place I had never heard of until today.  My heart, my thoughts, and my prayers are with the staff, students, and families of Sandy Hook Elementary.  I don't want to imagine the anguish felt in that community tonight.  I have been an elementary school teacher and librarian for almost thirty years and watching the coverage of this brings to light my worst fears.  We all want to think our schools are safe and that our children are safe.  We, as a school, can practice lock downs, lock our doors, and ask for identification from adults every day; however, you can't prepare for every, EVERY possibility.  Mental illness has unimaginable power and comes in every size, age, shape, and color.  This is a nightmare come true for parents, school staff members and other adults.  Hopefully, before today, those elementary students had never imagined anything this horrific.

Pearl's{of}Wisdom

I woke up this morning at 4:00 with this amazing idea for a new blog.  It would be named Pearl's {of} Wisdom.  Our dog is named Pearl and we often joke that she is an old human soul in a white bulldog's body.  It seems that her eyes can convey so many thoughts.  I could even see the opening logo - see above.  I opened a picture editor, uploaded one of my photographs and went to work.  Then a thought struck - I wonder if there is another blog with that title?  Time for a quick Google search = "Pearls of wisdom" blog.  Only 1,430,000 results.  I guess my great idea for a new blog isn't too original.

I love writing.  StillMakinganEffort is fluff about clothing.  FitnessatFifty is less fluffy, at least it is about exercise and my attempts to be fit and healthy.  I want to combine fun, humor, thought, and "me" into one written form.  Possible?  

Maybe a new Pinterest board?  Maybe a "Pearl's {of} Wisdom" Facebook page?  Twitter?  I'm sure nobody else thought of those social media outlets.

Cold = Repeat

After several days of above normal temperatures, today was damp and cold.  And I would be in a meeting in a room known for being cold all day long.  First instinct was to grab something warm and cozy for work.  Jeans? Check.  Boots?  Check.  Long-Sleeved t-shirt? Check.  Loose, comfy sweater?  Check.  Fuzzy scarf?  Check.  Warm coat?  Check. Get dressed and go.  Only when I got to work did I realize I had on exactly the same thing I wore to work last Friday, November 30.  Oh well, the earth did not shift and nobody cared.  I was nice and warm all day long and the meeting was with a group of awesome librarians that I am lucky to have as co-workers and friends.

The only difference was the long sleeve t-shirt.  

Tan Reaction shirt from Steinmart ~ $12.00