3-day weekend!

Happy Saturday!  I'm watching the Aggies play at Auburn.  Right now, they are looking good!  But there are still 3 quarters of football left this evening.

I took off yesterday to go to Fort Worth for the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering at the Fort Worth Stock Yards.  I slept a little late then headed north.  Of course, I stopped for kolaches in West!  Yum.  I met up with Dad and his gf at about 11 at the Stock Yards.  It was a little chilly and I think I got a little wind burned on my cheeks but it wasn't too bad.  We watched the chuckwagon "parade" as they arrived at the Stock Yards to set up for the chuckwagon cook-off which was scheduled for today.  I even wore my sister-made custom cowboy boots!

My uncle RL riding in on the JB Chuckwagon.

My aunt flew in from Amarillo so it was fun to see her!  We wandered through the trade show where I found an awesome headband/ear warmer for our outdoor adventures this winter.  I'd love to have more in other colors - like purple and green and a bright yellow or orange, maybe with some sparkle! (hint, hint for Christmas or Halloween or Thanksgiving gifts)  I also got a new bulb for my Scentsy warmer and a new scent to test out in my A&M Scentsy warmer!  It's always fun to see my uncle RL and his wife too!  Fun times!

I came home last night because Gus and I had plans to walk/jog in the Monster Match Mile this morning.  It was a fundraiser for the Scott & White Marrow Donor Program. 

We woke up to a chilly morning this morning - not freezing but probably the coolest morning we've had this fall.  So I dressed in layers and put on my cool new ear warmer and headed to Pepper Creek Trail. 

We wound up walking with a lady and her dog, Daphne, who had done the Drool in the Pool in September.  It was fun to talk to her!  She is already signed up for the Run for the Rovers in Round Rock next month so we'll see them again in a couple weeks.  So I didn't even pay attention to our time.

On a completely different note, this is the first picture of Gus that I have where the gray hair on his chin is super obvious.  My puppy dog is getting old.  :(   He is the oldest dog in our family's pack by at least a couple years, which is crazy to me.  It kind of makes me sad, but it is a good reminder to keep him healthy and fit, keep his joints moving, and get the extra few pounds off his frame. 

Aggies are still leading Auburn! 

Reset and Wednesday Weigh-In

So my Wednesday weigh-in went a lot like my sister's did.  Not well.  According to the stupid scale, I gained 3 pounds, which puts my weight firmly back in the middle of that range I've been stuck in for months.  Here's hoping it's just water weight or hormones or something.  Because I feel better/fitter and my clothes are fitting better, so something is changing.  Just can't let the disappointing weigh-ins derail my progress.

And while I'm on that theme, I reset my goal in my bodymedia fit profile, because I was supposed to weigh 160 pounds by December, which is obviously not realistic at this point.  So it is reset.  It still keeps track of all-time weight loss but has a new timeline for weight loss.

Tomorrow, I'm going to Fort Worth to see my dad and some other family.  I just had to ask for the day off because my dad "mentioned" this weekend to me several times, so I got the hint that he wanted me to go.  It'll just be a day trip, because Gus & I have plans Saturday morning.

We are doing the Monster Match - a 1-mile walk/run benefiting the Scott & White Bone Marrow Match program.  The other option was a 5-mile run, so I opted for the shorter distance.  I also want to find out if I'm eligible for the bone marrow donor program.  There are restrictions for people who have back problems, and while I don't consider my back problems to be severe, I'd like to know more about their guidelines.

Better get some sleep.  Good night!

Pretty sunset this Sunday

Gus and I got to see a beautiful sunset as we walked home from the park this evening.  It was pretty breezy, but that was actually a good thing as the temperature got higher today than it has been.  We walked down to the park, then around the disc golf course and back.  We jogged a little bit.  Gus does so well on the leash when we jog!  With the hands-free leash and the Gentle Leader, we make a good team.

This morning, we went to the Nolan Creek Hike & Bike trail to check it out.  I'd never been there, so I wanted to see what it was all about, because I've been to a restaurant with a patio that overlooks Nolan Creek.  I think it is about a mile long based on the number of steps I took, but the website doesn't even have a map of the trail and the signage along the trail has great historical information about Belton and the Chisholm Trail, but not about distance.  We parked in the middle and walked to each end, so we walked about 2 miles.  It wasn't a bad walk - fun to listen to the creek and see the ducks.  And squirrels - you should have seen Gus go into hunter mode when he spotted a SQUIRREL!  I love seeing his ears go up.

I need to get back to taking pictures.  So here are a few from an evening this summer when Gus and his friend Bruno got to run off-leash in the new subdivision they are building near the park...

Remember that resolution?

The one about completing six 5Ks this year.

I registered for 2 more!  The 2 in the same weekend.  The hardest part will be waking up early both mornings, because they both require about an hour drive to get there.

The Saturday one is in College Station and is a fundraiser for the Texas A&M's vet school's cancer research program.  It's called Paws To The Pavement.  http://vetmed.tamu.edu/pawstothepavement

The Sunday one is in Round Rock and is a fundraiser for a local dog rescue group.  It's called Run for the Rovers.  http://www.runfortherovers.org/

Then, the plan is to do the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. 

I love that Texas is pretty dog friendly and that Gus is able to participate in most of these with me!  It's a perfect reason and great motivation to get out and exercise with him! 

'skipping around on the clouds'

Lots of stressors today, but God gave us a beautiful day in central Texas, so Gus and I were able to head out for a long walk/jog this evening.  We walked down to the park and then took the trail down to the doggie water fountain so Gus could get a drink before we headed back home.

We followed up the walk with a trip to Petsmart to get glucosamine for Gus' elderly joints.

So...
my awesome cousin ran her first half-marathon on Saturday.  She trained for this race for months - years, probably - in addition to being a wife and a mother to 3 kids.  That takes dedication.  While she was running, at about mile 10, she had a sudden onset of severe pain (tendonitis).  She's on crutches now.  But she finished.  She was crying.  But she finished.  She was disappointed.  But she finished.  What an inspiration.

Then yesterday, she posted this on facebook (I hope she doesn't mind me sharing but I don't want it to get lost in her timeline):

"I didn't use the crutch today. I did a little hobbling. And I believe I had a lot of help in doing so. The second of two special, amazing ladies in my life went to be with the Lord, leaving bodies that would not allow them to walk freely here on earth, literally. You might say they both "lost" their battle against MS, I say they won. And I believe, silly as it may sound, they are teaming up right now to help me get over my own tiny little injury. To teach me, it ain't the end of the world. Bon Voyage Kim, say hi to Kim for us ♥."

One of those Kims is my mom. 

My sister followed it up with this post:

"My sweet cousin posted about the passing of her Aunt Kim today. She got to take the journey to Heaven today to join my mother Kim, who was also Jaimee's aunt. Which brings up a good point that I think of often, but am also guilty of taking advantage of... the Gift of having healthy arms and legs, the gift of being able to do something as simple as walk across a room or pick up items around the house... Whenever I get in a workout rut, I just remember that I have the ability to do things and I Should take advantage. Kim and mom (Kim) were both awesome ladies with BIG hearts. Its very true that The Good Die Young! They are enjoying skipping around on the clouds of Heaven this evening!!! God Bless"

So much truth in those posts. 

Good night.

Wednesday Weigh-In - October 17, 2012

So I'm back to weighing myself daily.  Some days, that is rewarding.  Some days, it is not.  Today was one of those days.  If I compare my weight today to last Wednesday's number, there is no difference.  If I compare Monday's number to last Wednesday, I lost 1 pound.  So it's probably somewhere in between 0 and 1 pound.  But it's not a gain.

I have been stuck on this plateau long enough!  I have to change things up and get started sliding down the weight-loss hill again. 

I'm thinking of signing Gus and me up for two 5Ks in the same weekend in November.  It's hard to find 5Ks that allow dogs - figures there are two in the same weekend.
He and I have been jogging more lately.  Slowly but surely getting in better shape.  He does such a great job with the hands-free leash!

I wore my new sneakers to work today.  I need to break them in so I can start exercising in them, because my other ones are pretty worn out. 

But now, it's bedtime.  Good night.

Back...again...

My sister said I need to start blogging again... and she's right!

So here I am.  I'm going to keep this post short-ish.

I'm getting closer to my resolution to complete six 5Ks in 2012.  The Howell Social Club participated in the Dodge City Days 5K again this July.

We had a great group of people!  Most of us walked, but it seemed easier this year than it did in 2011 so we are progressing.  Next year, we will jog more than we walk!

My sister was brave enough to post her real weight on her blog.  I should do the same but that is a huge thing to share with the "world" even if only a couple people might read it right now.  So that decision is pending.

Good night for now!  (see, short-ish, but hopefully it will get me back in the blogging state of mind!)