Resolutions/Goals for 2010 & The Perfect 10...

I know. I know… everyone is inundating the Internet with resolutions and goals for 2010. It like an endless barrage and you are SO tired of it all ready. Well, sorry to say here’s one more of those. If you don’t want to read any further, I will understand perfectly. Enough is enough is enough and believe me I know because I’m there myself. But for those of you that continue on, there are reasons that this occurs. The success of these goals and resolutions are greatly improved if you follow a few fundamental steps…

1) Make it public! The accountability factor does amazing stuff, and well, that’s why there are so many stating it out on the Internet like I will be below some where here.
2) Write it down. Just by forming it into actual words on paper, it clears up the ideas and narrows it down that resolution or goal.
3) KISS! Keep It Simple Stupid! Don’t get complicated and make it hard on yourself.
4) Celebrate your achievements. You’ve worked hard towards them, and you deserve to reap the rewards!
5) Make reasonable resolutions/goals. They should be close enough to be attainable but still enough out of reach to challenge you.

Follow those above and you have managed to beat the odds of success. Don’t and you might as well be flipping a coin.

Normally, I’m not a resolution type of person. I tend to be goal orientated, and once I have set that goal I tend to be stubborn and tenacious like a Pit Bull with its jaw locked on something. So with that in mind, here’s my list…

1) Save more money, honey! Last year in August, I accomplished a financial goal that I’ve been working on for two years. I became debt free. Now, I want to start putting that money into savings that I’ve been using for paying off these debts with. I have a number in mind, but for fear of being hit up for a loan, I will not state that number here.

2) Run a half marathon. I want to run in half marathon in the Salt Lake City Marathon this Spring, and maybe even give the Park City Marathon a whirl too. Who knows maybe even push myself towards a full marathon in that one but lets get the first one under my belt first. Then we’ll see…

3) Do at least one century on my bicycle. Last year, I only did an 80 mile ride at the Little Red Riding Hood Ride, and that was as close as I got. Two years ago, I did 8 centuries on my bike. Maybe I can manage a happy medium in there somewhere?

4) Participate in the Slow Salty Dog Tri (70.3) and see if I can do better than 10 hours and 25 minutes.

5) Conquer Little Mountain and then Big Mountain, and back on my bicycle. I want to make it up and over and then back up the other side and down. I’ve managed ¾ of this but the backside is a climb that can prove relentless even for someone that likes to climb like me. (I usually climb a canyon once a week during the cycling season.)

6) Participate in the Perfect 10-- For the first 10 weeks in 2010, I want to give this a real go for the money. AND here’s my list for the goals of my Perfect 10…

(1) Lose 10 lbs over the 10 weeks. I think this is doable.
(2) Build up to 10 miles running in under 2.5 hours. I think this will help me train towards doing the half marathon.
(3) Do exercises at least twice a week that work on my balance. For all of you that have read my Boot Camp blogs, you know that I have some MAJOR balance issues.
(4) Make it to the gym at least 3 times a week. I bought that gym membership, and I need to make sure I get my money’s worth.

If you would like to learn more about or participate in the Perfect 10. Here's the link...

http://logmyloss.com/?p=2544

So there! That’s my list and for those that are still reading this posting. I ask for your help in encouraging me and holding me accountable to these. Thanks and Happy New Year!

A Year in Review 2009...

I think it’s always interesting to look back over the year, and see what you’ve done and where you’ve been. I think it was someone famous that once said,” You don’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.” Or maybe that was a line in a movie I saw once? But I think that there is some truth to that, and so here I am looking over the past year.

I’m not sure how to organize this last year and so I’m thinking (as I look out over a newly snow-covered landscape) that I’ll do it a month by month organization with just a quick list of the hi-lights from each. So here we go on my memory stroll of 2009…

January was a month of new beginnings—I started blogging (thanks to Diane in getting me started) and tired cross country skiing for the first time.

February was a social month with the 2nd Annual Black Widow’s Valentine’s Dinner Party and the Sunday Gras Baby Shower Drinking Party.

March had Lent, Yurting, and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

April was the celebration of the Popette’s 76th Birthday and a Potluck goodbye as I stepped down from being the Choir Director at St. Joe’s after 5 years.

May arrived with a piece of my artwork on display in the Salt Lake City Gallery Roll and a fun Gift card Day.

June came and I served as a Road Marshal for the Little Red Riding Hood (Utah’s Woman Only Bike Ride) and then in what I believe was an act of insanity I agreed to do the Slow Salty Dog Tri (70.3).

July proved to be a trying month as I stumbled through starting to train for the Slow Salty Dog and joined Face Book.

August was training and more training for the Slow Salty Dog.

September sprung and before I knew it I had survived the Slow Salty Dog Tri and had a wonderful Park City vacation with the interesting Iron Villa Cook Off.

October came and so did one of my favorite holidays—Halloween! I held my 3rd Annual Tricky Treat Costume Bike Ride, where over 20 fellow cyclists participated.

November proved to be an athletic minded month with “Fun Runs” such as the Chasing Tail and Cold Turkey and then I managed my way into Boot Camp.

December came at last and I actually survived the Boot Camp, Sang “O Holy Night” Duet, and sold some artwork.

I want to thank everyone who came into contact with me over the year. You helped to make this a wonderful year for me and I’m looking forward to seeing what 2010 holds.

Happy New Year to you all and I hope that 2010 proves to be a wonderful fortuitous year for you!

Coming Down Off After Christmas...

It's a little like coming down off of a high of a drug, or I imagine it as such. I wake up the day after Christmas and look at my tree. A bit of a sadness enters my heart, as I realize that Christmas is done and over with. Now I need to see about taking down the Christmas tree; along with all the rest of my Christmas decorations. It's deflating, and I all ready miss Christmas.

I guess part of this "deflating" feeling is that the whole of Christmas season (that started barely the day after Halloween) is building in anticipation to one day. All of this worrying about selection of gifts, purchasing or making of gifts, then the worrying of delivering said gifts. It gets some of us rushing to the point of not knowing what end is up, then BOOM! The day is here and within under an hour, all of those presents are opened up, and the day seems over. Its unfair that all of this preparation goes into one day.

Another part of this sadness, is that after I take down all of those Christmas decorations my apartment is going to feel barren. I traditionally take down my Christmas decorations the first weekend of January. Though, one year I left it up until almost Valentine's Day. Some neighbors really thought I was strange that year. (They even thought they might have to have a Christmas decoration intervention for me.) It's strange how you can hooked on decorations in a month and half's time. ( I usually put them all up the day after Thanksgiving.) I'm unsure if I really want to take them down this next weekend. Though, I will feel like I have tons of room in my apartment now... BUT we shall see what happens. Who knows maybe I'll push it till at least February 1st??!?

Another part of Christmas that I will miss, is that it always seems as though some people are nicer than the rest of the year. It's like that grumpy neighbor down the hall... he actually smiled and waved at me just before Chirstmas! Then, there's those people that you may only see or talk to twice a year, unless there's a funeral. Either you've been too busy or they have and you actually get to do a little catching up with them. It feels good to do that, and you realize that you miss them. But life resumes, and everyone gets busy again after the holidays. It's sad but oh so true.

Christmas was wonderful. I received some very nice gifts, and got to visit with friends (and some relatives over the phone). The duet of "O Holy Night" went off well at the Mid-Night Christmas Mass at St. Joe's. Father Carley even managed to embarrass me a little by announcing about the Crucifix painting that is currently the acting as a Crucifix in the parish hall while the new church is being rebuilt. (I wanted to be 2 inches tall as everyone in the choir was pointing out who he was talking about.) I TRIED to sleep in the next morning, but no--- I was up by 7AM. I opened my two wrapped presents ( most of my presents I had received before or were gift cards) that were under my tree. Afterwards, I made my Christmas calls, went for a walk out in the winter land weather, then, went to my friend Diane's house for an amazing gourmet-like spread of a Christmas dinner. I finished the day, working on a new oil painting. A wonderful day!

But BOOM!! It's over with, and I'm feeling a little blah because Christmas is over with. Darn it!

An Annual Collections Booklet for YOU!

Dear Friends & Loved Ones:

It’s been 8 years that I’ve been doing these little Collections booklets that have my art and poetry in them. (Pictured Below is the cover of this year's ...)

On the Allgood Art Blog site( http://allgoodart.blogspot.com/ ) you can see an electronic edition that I've put together of it. If you would like to have a pdf format copy of this please drop me an email at -- its2allgood4u@yahoo.com

Let me warn you that it is about 5Mb large. I would be more than happy to email you it. I make little changes each year that hopefully are improving the quality of these booklets. This year you will find more changes. I’ve cut out the recipes this year, and added more poetry, and a few new paintings. I hope you enjoy what's included in this blog post and I look forward to any comments that you may make. Please accept this as a gift to you for this Holiday Season.

May you have a Merry Christmas,

a Happy New Year,

and the time to enjoy others!

Thank you --- J. Allgood

The Think Skinny Mantra...

My goal over this holiday season has been to maintain and not gain any weight. Well, I’ve gained two lbs overall but considering what it could have been I don’t think I’m doing too badly. Two lbs., huh? You might think that’s pittance and I’m trying to keep it right there and hold! No more, no more~! I say to myself.

It’s all easier said than done during this time of year, and it almost seems as though the deck the halls strategy is stacked against me! This morning I received my 3rd box of homemade chocolate truffles. Last year, I did not receive any thing close to this and wasn’t focused on trying to lose/ maintain anything; other than my sanity. This year, here I am trying to focus on losing some weight, or at least maintaining, and I’ve got chocolate truffles squeezing out of the woodwork! What’s up with that?!? Is this Murphy’s Law working against me?

On top of it, I have all these social events for the Holidays. It seems that everywhere I go there’s food; or maybe it could be that I’m just noticing it more this year? Food is every where and it’s tempting me. Every morsel, tidbit, and scrape out there playing the song of the sirens; luring me into a land of high calories and fat.

I’ve started saying a mantra over and over to myself. I call it my “Skinny” Mantra. As I’m sitting at a social event where there’s food tempting me, I repeat over and over to myself---“What would a skinny person do?” It’s helped me to hold (so far) to the 2 lbs.

“What would a skinny person do?” I say it as those cute decorated Christmas cookie bars sitting in the middle of table are calling my name. But I don’t reach for them! Nope! Instead, I reach for some more coffee to fill my coffee cup, or I refill my water glass. I don’t want those cookies, desserts, crackers, chips-n-dip to win. This is a war on fat and high calories! Meanwhile, I’m suffering a bit from being water and caffeine logged. Gee, maybe that’s what’s accounting for the 2 lbs.? A little water weight? Yeah, dream on girl! It’s really those darn homemade chocolate truffles that you couldn’t resist this morning with your cup of joe! Yikes! I blew it before 9am this morning!

“What would a skinny person do? … What would a skinny person do?” Hmmm… Go to the gym I guess?!!??!! I think this could be a vicious cycle…

Rubber Duckies, & Christmas Carols...

"Rubber Ducky, your the one!...." The tune has been going on over and over in my head since the other night when I went to a Christmas Concert put on by Voice Male. It's a 6 all men A Cappella group that performance covers contemporary popular songs as well as traditional Latter-day Saint music and some original material. It was my birthday present from Laura. I never know what to expect with her and her presents. Last year, my birthday present was indoor skydiving. (Did I mention that I have a fear of heights?) I had never heard of this group and was unsure as to what to expect... after all this was a Laura present. You need to expect the unexpected! What can I say the woman helps make my life an adventure!
The concert is in a barn at Thanksgiving Point. A barn?!!? Oh, how quaint?! But it wasn't that bad at all. Yes, it is a barn but it's a newly built barn that has a stage and seating. Thanksgiving Point for those of you not familiar with it-- It's a local place that's known for their wonderful gardens and golf course. I've atteended a couple of beautiful weddings that have been held there.

So here we are 4 Catholic woman in the middle of a crowd that was 90% LDS. With my mini skirt, high heeled black boots and low cut shirt, I was definitely a fish out of water. But it was grouping of families that sat around us. The strange thing that I didn't understand until later were the groups of people coming from the concession stand with rubber ducks in hand. They were selling rubber ducks at the concession stand? What the HECK?!?(A Utahn phrase.) Was this some other attachment that the Utah LDS had? I know about them loving ice cream, and always showing up at picnics/BBQ's in tow with the green jello and carrots. But was this another cultural attachment that I hadn't caught onto in the 20 years that I've been living here? I know, I have my slow moments...

The lights go down. The Christmas lights on the trees and some blue lighting on the stage is the only light. A voice comes over the sound system and starts talking in a series of different pitches and sounds. It states that what we are about to hear has no instruments, and continues on with other funny comments like making sure to turn up the volume on your cell phones so that stage members may assist with answering. Then, 6 men walk out on to stage and begin a Christmas Carol. It was amazing hearing the voices blend, and even more amazing was the combination of the singing with the sounds that they made. It really sounded like there were instruments. Some of the traditional Christmas carols had different voices or had newer made up verses. It was funny and very entertaining.

Now the rubber ducks came in about half way through the show. One of them said that this next song has become a staple of every concert that they do, even though it was not a Christmas song. Then, one of the guys sang in a Ernie from Sesame Street voice the rubber ducky song. Meanwhile, everyone that had a rubber ducky was throwing it up on to stage. The kids in the audience was just going wild by this time.

Later in the show, they did the "short" version of the chipmunk song. Three of the members got down on there knees and sang in the high chipmunk voices. Everyone was cracking up. Then, they started talking about the original version of the chipmunk song was quite a bit slower before someone decided to speed up the record player. Of course, they made a comment about anyone know what a record was in the audience. Then with all of them standing and swaying side to side in slow motion they sang the song starting REAL slow and then singing it normal by the end of the song. It was a wonderful and entertaing experience. I could easily see it as a Christmas tradition to go see.

Voice Male formed at Utah State University in 1994 as a nine man group, but over the next two years several members of the group left, and auditions were held for replacements. A short time later a couple more members left leaving the group with six members. Voice Male was runner up in the 2006 Contemporary A Cappella Society awards in the holiday album category for Jingles 2, as well as the holiday song category for O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Members are... John Luthy, vocal percussion/bass; Mike Willson, bass; John Huff, baritone; Phil Kesler, baritone; Mike Bearden, tenor; Richard McAllister, countertenor. You can hear snippets of their music on their website... http://www.voicemalemusic.com/

It's a BAD Attitude MONDAY!!

Ever have one of those days when, you REALLY woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Well, that's how today is going, and I almost ready to plead for a "DO-Over" but not to the extent like the movie "Groundhog Day" when he re-lives the same day almost 30 times over. Though, I will admit there's somethings in that movie I wouldn't mind giving a whirl...

So, I wake up at 4:45AM and hit the snooze a few times. My body just didn't want to get up. It's the first day of giving 24 Hour Fitness a chance at being the gym of choice. Last week it was Curves, and this week it's 24 Hour Fitness. Diane, Sofia, and I are on our second gym in this month's rounds.

I FINALLY decide what to wear to the gym. It's funny, because I worry about what I wear when I know there's going to guys at the gym. It's silly! I know, but I don't care how I look when it's just women. I also didn't know what to expect as far as the locker room because I didn't see it when we took the tour on Saturday afternoon. I wanted to make it so, I didn't have to use a locker room just in case. If that makes sense?

I pull into the parking lot of the gym, and it's a skating rink. I almost did the splits without even trying to when I got out of my car. I managed slowly across the parking lot, then across the street and up a short flight of stairs to the door. Inside, I show my temp pass at the desk. I pause. Now what? Do I go to where they have the class? Do I go check out the locker room? Or should I see if I can find Diane and Sofia some where on the floor? It's not even 6AM and I'm trying to make decisions? Yikes! A REAL silly thing to be stressing over, I know, but it's one of those days when it doesn't take much to throw me for a loop.

I looked out on the floor while I send off a text message. Trying to look cool but I probably looked like a dweeb! Nope, no sign of the gals, so off to the locker room. Here's where I discover that I needed to bring quarters for the lockers to lock. Good thing I dressed for not needing the locker room. But QUARTERS?!??! This bugs me!! This is more like a bus station or airport thing than a gym locker room. But then again, it's been awhile since I've really been in a fitness facility locker room. I guess times of bringing your own lock or just taking the risk of throwing your stuff in a locker and hoping that it'll still be there when you're done is not the way they do things anymore? Hmmmm...and in my present mood, I'm rather pissed that people pay memberships and then have to pay to lock up their stuff in the locker room.

I head to the class, and there's the gals basically set up for the class. I was surprised it was fairly crowded. So I stake out my spot on the floor with a step bench, a pair of smaller weights(4 lbs.), and a bar where I put my own weights on. I put disks on each end that equaled 3-1/2 lbs. for a total of 7 lbs., and whatever the bar may weigh. Class starts and I quickly discovered that it requires some stepping coordination/motor skills that I lack. But overall, it wasn't too bad except that 15 min. into it I discovered my left knee is not happy with one of the lunging with dumbbell moves. The teacher saw that I'm struggling and comes over to give me another option of the exercise. Which was very helpful and I thought very thoughtful on his part.

Later on, as we were doing bench presses with the bar weights while lying on the step bench, he corrected my hand position on the bar weight. I needed to spread my hands out farther to work a different group of muscles. This was good, to least this way I knew what I should be doing. Then, later on we are on our step benches again doing triceps curls with the bar weight. I'm sweating it out, and here comes the teacher again to correct me, yet again. Elbows in, straight arms all the way up, and go as far as I can. He's straddled over me while he lightly directs me where I should be. He's also dripping sweat on me. Not that I really mind a good looking muscular guy sweating over me. It's just I would prefer it to be in another position doing something else than this... and I know this is BAD of me.

Class finishes, and both, Diane & Sofia, are like they really liked the class, and looking forward to seeing what the class is like on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, in my present mood all I could complain about was my left knee was bothering me. Ugh! It was like I was whining!

I rush home, to get ready for work. The class starts at 6AM, and doesn't allow me as much time to get ready for work. So, rush, rush, rush, and I get to work. A co-worker that usually gets there early, has called in sick. It's a Monday and I wonder about whether the other co-worker is going to call in sick too. It's just how things go here. I also realize I forgot my breakfast and lunch too. Not that I really want to eat a great deal today because I've got the company Christmas party tonight. Which is kind of another thing that I'm not really thrilled about. I see these people at work. Do I really want to see them while I'm having dinner at a nice restaurant too? So this Monday just gets better and better!

I skip breakfast and just have coffee. I steal a few pistashios from the president's office jar, and that's lunch. Then, I wonder why this afternoon I have a ever-so-slight headache? Gee woman! It would help if you ate properly and if the phones would stop ringing! But so, that's my MONDAY, and how is yours going? Better I hope!

P.S. I'm sorry to be such a whiner, and complainer.

Tis the Season--- Snow and Stress...

I woke up this morning to a glowing white outside. It was snowing! Yes! I was SO excited! Snow! Finally some white stuff to help put me in the mood for Christmas. Sorry, I guess I'm a bit of a traditionalist... dreaming of my white Christmas. But it just helps me to have some of this white stuff. Not even the commute into work could dash my spirit of enjoyment! SNOW! By the way, I LOVE driving in SNOW! (It's another disease that has no cure!)

You would think that I was a skier or snowboarder living in Utah for all of this excitement over snow. Well, you would be 50% right. I've never tried downhill skiing in Utah, but last year I did try cross country skiing a few times. I didn't do too bad with the cross country skiing. Though, I did have some issues with the going downhill part with the cross country skiing. It makes me think I could be very dangerous with actual downhill skiing. But maybe some day I might give it a try.

But my excitement over snow? It's funny; for I can't really explain it. It's a combination of the season, and a few things that I like to do in the snow-- like snowshoeing, sledding, and snow ball fights. I also enjoy the look and color of the landscape with the white stuff. I guess it could be the artistic side of me.

Here I am excited over snow and at the same time experiencing the maximum stress of the season. I'm trying to put together my Christmas collection booklets ( my art and poetry-- 50 copies), trying to plan for a Christmas Open house to display some of my artwork (this Friday- hopefully I'll sale some art too), trying to get some of the annual Christmas cards out to relatives, and then trying to get some singing practice in for a duet of Holy Night that I'll be singing at the Christmas Midnight Mass. Then, trying to get some exercising in so I can keep in shape. Oh, and I then need to also get Christmas presents for those on my list. I can't help but think... Why am I doing all this to myself!??

I guess it could be worst. Last year, I was the choir organizer. I'm glad I stepped down. But I should have more free time because I'm no longer doing that position. So what happened to that free time? The nearest I can figure is that it went up the chimney in smoke.

So, I find myself going to workouts at 5:30AM Monday, Wednesday, and Friday-- this week at Curves. Diane and I have a plan of taking advantage of some free week offers at different gyms to see where we would like to go. (Sounds like a plan Stan!) On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'm still getting up at the same time and working on my lists of things to do. Then, I'm planning errands on my way home from work to get things to do my lists. These are not just your average errand runs either. Last night, I ran by paper store, then a craft store, then a second hand store, then grab dinner through a fast food... and wham! bam! Thank you mamm! I'm finally home for the night to work on the lists some more. Oy Vey! I've even been working on part of the lists when I should be having lunch at work.

I organize myself with lists. My current main list is almost two feet tall. I kid you not! Then, I have side lists that are specific for some of the things that are on the main list. I know! It's kind of a strange way to organize. But I then check or cross things off the list as I manage to get things done off of the list. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, and keeps me focused on what I need to do. It also helps me to manage my stress level, because the lists break everything down to manageable levels. Because Lord knows, I would be a basket case without my lists! So thus, I put my blinders on and focus on the lists, and I can get everything done. Well, that's the theory anyway!

So if you'll excuse me now, I've got more lists to work on....

BOOT CAMP--Day 12- Graduation!!!

WOW! I made it all the way through a 4 week- three days a week Boot Camp session. I will admit that there were some moments where I was really wondering about my sense of insanity. I'll admit I probably was not sane to begin with especially considering how I felt after the first class and then I agreed to stick with it?? Yikes! I should consider having a therapist on-call!?!

Here arrives day 12! Graduation day! It's almost a version of being a Senior and lasting through the 12 years; only this was just 12 days. (Thank God!) As we arrived for our final Friday circuits session, Diane asked if we got an award for surviving the month. The teacher did not give out any awards. But I will here.... Diane, and Sofia--- how about chocolate versions of graduation hats on a stick. (See Photo) I think over the 12 days we have burned enough calories to earn these! Enjoy girlfriends!! We did it!!

Circuits today were very similar as the last two weeks but with a few changes in the stations. We started with the usual warm ups of the high knee run in place, then the knees out to side run in place, then the butt kick run in place. I'm still having trouble getting my knees up very far, and my but kicks are still kind of lousy. But I've made a little improvement over the 12 days.

Then, of course, she had us all run in place while she went through the stations. I'm actually adjusting and remembering what she does at each station; that by the time I get around to that station I know what to do. Maybe I'm getting use to being semi-alert at 5:30AM or I'm becoming "Old-Hat" at knowing what to do. Nawh! Couldn't be true!

So I start at the station with the figure eight exercise band wrapped around my tennis shoes and do my back hamstring curls to the beat of the music. Of course, I'm also alert enough to be singing along with the music. The teacher just laughs, and I think she's surprised that I know so many words to the songs.

" 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1... Switch!" Announces the teacher as we all make a move to our left. Now it's bicep curls with an exercise band. Then the next station is suppose to be jumping jacks around the ladder. My left knee was not happy with jumping this morning. So I ended up doing another fancy foot work dance around the rope ladder that was lying on the floor.

Next was the NASTY station! Or I wanted to call it such. You put your feet up on a lower balance beam that's about 2 feet off the floor, bend your knees flat on your back, hands off to side, and you lift AND squeeze your glutes up. WHOOAA!! I could really feel the burn on this one. When it was time to go to the next station I had to roll gently to my side, and almost crawl a bit to the next station.

Then, back to the triceps lift and then, the sit ups station. Jump rope was the next station. I jumped for a bit but my knee still wasn't cooperating so I did a little run in place instead. Next, it was on to the squats with weights. Well, you were supposed to hold two 15 lbs. weights off to your sides as you squatted down and barely touched the blue mat behind you. I just used one of the 15 lbs. weight up front as I did this station. Yeah, I'm still relatively a whimp. I'll admit it!

Then the break station--- the trampoline! Bounce, bounce, bounce! Yahoo! Then, for the last station it was a vertical row with an exercise band. Feel those upper arms... burn, baby, burn! "30 second break! Get some water before the next round", calls out the teacher. I walk over to my water bottle. Then, we go back to the station we start for another round of fun! We did three rounds all together.

For the last bit we all came back to the mat and did a little stretching. Class was then over. It seemed anti-climatic! So Audrey (the teacher) I have a theory for why you take the month of December off..... See below.....

Yeah! Admit it's your December side gig! LOL!

BOOT CAMP--Day 11- Yoga with a Cat, Cow, & a Windy Tree...

I have really amazed myself with getting through this Boot Camp intact. I've made it 11 out of the 12! Wow! My second round of Yoga in Boot Camp. I will say that I fared a little bit better this time. Part of the reason is that over the last weekend they had replaced the mat where the Boot Camp takes place. The new mat was not as cushy as the old mat. I think the other part of why it did went better this time is that I knew a little more of what to expect. Lesser is the devil you know?

Here it was 5:30AM and there were only three of us; plus the teacher. I was standing alone next to the mat in my sock less feet when the other two filed in at 5:27AM. Where was everyone? Normally there's 6 or 7 at least. I guess I wasn't the only one that had issues during the last time we had Yoga? Or maybe they read my last blog about yoga and ended up getting totally scared off? I wouldn't blame them. It requires quite a bit of balance, flexibility, and you have to think about how to get your body into each pose. And well, at 5:30AM-- I don't think many would be up to this sort of thing. But what really stuck with me after the last yoga was that I just felt SO much more relaxed during the rest of the day. It made for a rather nice day.

So, it begins, with the child's pose. Then, we start, again, with the mimicking of animals and furniture. One question that comes to me... why are there not any food orientated poses? Or are they only for the well advanced? Hmmm... So it goes... Table, Cat, Cow, Table, Cow, Cat... Stretching those back muscles out. We moved on into a downward Dog. Then bringing up a leg through the center, we flowed into the Warrior one pose. Well, some of us flowed. I sort of felt like a drunken sailor stumbling in at the last minute being the ever so graceful person that I am. (ha-ha!) Then, it was Warrior two and reverse Warrior. Here I was starting to have just a bit of my balance issues. But not too bad, and I continue to plug along at it; or should I say I tittered along?

There were a whole series of more poses that we went into. None of which I can really remember the order of, after all it is 5:30AM in the morning. But also, there was the added issue of trying to balance and figure out how to get into these poses.

Among the poses, there was a side split where you face off to the side, spread you legs out as far as you can with you feet straight forward, and reach down with you hands on to the floor. Then, one step more-- try to walk your hands back through your legs at the same time trying to bring your body closer to you legs. Believe me it's not as easy as the teacher made it look.

Then, there was the airplane (or that's what I called it) where you're trying to stand on one leg with one leg out behind you (straight) with your back (straight), and then you could either put your arms (straight) out in front of you or you could put them straight out to the sides to help you balance. I bet you can figure out what I did. I was also tending to have some straight issues, too! I will admit that I managed this one for almost a full 30 seconds before I lost my balance.

Shortly after this came the dancer pose. Another one of those one legged poses where you grab the ankle with the same hand and well you can see what I supposed to do in this photo. I didn't even come close to this one. Just goes to show, grace and me don't arrive at the same destination.( Photo: Dancer pose.)

Another pose was called the open moon, and no this wasn't one of those moons where you pulled your pants down around your ankles. This was like raising both your arm and your leg on the same side while trying to stand on one leg. And for the life of me I'm not sure where the other arm went to or where for sure my body was supposed to be. I was lucky just to manage a quick 15 seconds at having both appendages up in the air at the same time.

Now I am happy to admit I did manage to do the Tree pose. Granted it was a rather an unsteady tree where my arms were flailing everywhere in hopes of maintaining my balance. The teacher was showing that there was all kinds of ways to have the branches on your tree, and I said my tree was experiencing a windy day. (Photo: Tree Pose)

Then again, there was the pigeon pose. I asked the teacher why it was called a pigeon. It certainly doesn't look like the bird. She said maybe it was the way the knee was positioned, and it kind of looks like a wing. I tell you this is one HELL of a stretch through the hips! Owwww! And then we went into the Screaming Pigeon! Well, on one side I did manage to grab my foot and bring up into a some what likeness of the pose. BUT the other side--- FORGIT-A-BOUD-IT! I knew that my foot was back there some where, but darn if I could make my hand connect with my foot.

A new one thrown at us this time was the Crow pose. When the teacher first said the name, I was like what?!?! Crow? I'll probably be eating Crow before I can manage it if its anything like that other bird pose called pigeon. You put your hands on the mat about shoulder width apart, bend you arms at the elbows, and then put your knees on your elbows. Then, you lift your feet off of the mat so that all of your body is on your hands. Well, I got into the beginning of this pose, and could only manage 5 seconds of having one foot off of the mat. (Photo: A properly performed Crow pose.)

Eventually, we worked our way into the Plow pose again. I still think a backhoe is needed to get my butt off of the mat. Try as I might I still couldn't swing my butt up. I was also concerned that if I built up too much momentum to get my butt up there that I would continue to the point where I would go over completely and snap my neck. I didn't want risk a chance of this happening. I do have some semblance of self preservation.

Lastly, we went into the Yoga Ball, as I call it, where you contract every muscle in your body. Squeeze them toes and work all the way up to scrunching the face muscles. Then, from that you lay out flat on your back with your arms out and palms up. You concentrate on relaxing all of you muscles from your toes to your face. I almost could have fallen asleep this was so relaxing, and felt oh so good! And so, now I just have one more day of Boot Camp... Friday Circuits, here we come!