Isn't that a fine how do you do?

I finally caved and went down to get my tibia xrayed. And it does appear there is a stress fracture. The only way to be 100% sure and get a better image is with an MRI. And I'm just not going to do that. If something does appear on an xray, it's usually a stress fracture that has begun to heal since it will not show up initially on an xray. So, there's no telling how long I've had this. And getting an MRI will not change what it is or what I'm going to do about it.

He didn't tell me to wear a boot (hooray for that!), but did recommend no high impact activity for at least 6 weeks. Hmmmmm. No running *or* walking. And I guess I'm ok with that. It's not like this affects my marathon training or my Olympic trials. Because neither of those are happening. And at least now I know. And now I can lay off for awhile so it can heal and not get any worse.

The bad thing is that I am into week four of my Fit Yum Mum and was thinking about possibly maybe actually enjoying the intervals. What's a girl to do? He said I could to other activities like biking or eliptical or swimming, but none of those are all that convenient. I don't have a bike or an eliptical. Although maybe I could use something down in PT. But that may not be real conducive to my schedule or all that convenient. And it's not like I can go jump in my pool. I'd have to blow it up first.

So, it looks like I'm going to be doing my Fit Yum Mum exercises without the intervals (guess that will still work), some Pilates, and some work on my exer-ball. I'm going to have to figure something out because I can't go 6 weeks without doing *any* cardio at all.

But at least now I know. And that's all I wanted.

Pooey.

Could it be?

I think my tomato plant has two blooms on it!!! I tried to take a picture, but they were too small and my camera couldn't focus. So stay tuned.....

Great spinning throw by my boyfriend last night to help the Yankees beat the first place Devil Rays last night. Here's another clip of his two run double. Jeter was on fiiiiii-yaaaaah as was pitcher Andy Pettitte.

Another very hot day today. The Bloggie Doggie reminds you to hydrate.

For some reason, I had problems with my shins during this morning's intervals. So I just had a nice little slow run on the treadmill and then did the regular Fit Yummy Mummy exercises. I'm half way through week three....The planks are getting a bit easier, but no funner. The squats remain painful.

Celebrating birthdays today are Tom Hanks (52), Jimmy Smits (love him) (53) and (if you care) O.J. Simpson (61).

And lastly, in the "What Was You Thinking?!" department, Doneal Mack has decided the grass isn't always greener. Go Tigers!

Back from whence they came

Everybody left yesterday. We all enjoyed a great weekend, but I think everybody is also very tired. The Bloggie Doggie can sum it all up for you.

My boyfriend was featured on the ESPN Sunday conversation yesterday. (I think the videos scroll on this one. You'll have to click thru them to find him. I say that like somebody else would really want to watch that....) He was also chosen to make his 9th appearance in the All Star Game. I heart him. The Yankees won in 10 last night. A-Rod hit his 536th career homer last night, tying Mickey Mantle for 13th career homers. He was also the top vote getter for the All Star Game. On his home front, however, his wife is also rumored to be filing for divorce today over all the Madonna Kabbalah stuff.

Beattles' drummer Ringo Starr turns 68 today. If I knew this, I had forgotten, but he's married to Barbara Bach who was a Bond Girl in "The Spy Who Loved Me."

I knocked out my Fit Yum Mum this morning. The intervals were a bit rough, but I managed. Better get a move on because Jodi and I have the 5k this Saturday.

Happy Monday!

Once upon a time, there were three little girls who went to the police academy

Cheryl Ladd is eating birthday cake today. She is (are you ready for this?) 57. I used to love LOVE LOVE Charlie's Angels. Connie and I thought we *were* Charlie's Angels. We would play Charlie's Angels while we were playing outside on our bikes. We didn't always get to watch it because it came on Wednesday nights at 9pm which was our bedtime. So we could only watch it if it was a holiday or we were sick or something. Although I remember vividly one night they were forecasting snow overnight and Mom let us stay up to watch it because it seemed like a sure thing we wouldn't be going to school the next day. Daddy loved Jaclyn Smith. I loved Farrah Fawcett. What 12 year old girl didn't want Farrah Hair? She was even married in REAL LIFE to the Six Million Dollar Man. (Remember that?) Your trivia question for the day: Can you remember (WITHOUT GOOGLING!) what the Angels' names (4 of them) were on the show? 1,000 bonus points if you remember the connection between Farrah Fawcett and Cheryl Ladd.

Watch this and see if this doesn't bring back memories. Especially that music. Man, I loved that show.

For my intervals today, I used the incline rather than speed. It really wasn't fun - but it's not supposed to be. My hate for hills has not changed at all. I probably used a whole new set of muscles today so I'm wondering how long it will take before I start feeling this morning's challenge.

Gauge uses his two front paws like hands. It's totally bizarre to watch him do it. He looks like a cat or a raccoon or something sometimes. He will lay on his back and hold a toy with his paws and play with it. It's weird looking. But he's a sweet puppy. And he loves playing with his toys. He wanted me to tell you to notice the new mop that he got in celebration of the upcoming Independence Day holiday.

Kicking off a short work week

Facing this Monday morning isn't too bad since it's a short work week. We did accomplish quite a bit over the weekend so that's good news too. I still have many things to do over the next few days, but as usual, it will all either get done, or it will not have mattered anyway. Jodi did a ton of work while I was at my meeting on Saturday. (He's trying to head off the breakdown.....)

I did my Fit Yum Mum workout this morning. Those intervals kick my rear that's for sure, but it does feel good. The lunges were a bit better this morning and I was determined not to let the planks beat me. Overall, very nice workout.

Today's Bloggie Doggie picture was taken by Cooper yesterday. He took the picture, gave Gauge a big hug and said "I love you so much I could eat you with a fork."

Want a peek into Jordan's world? I can sum it up in three words. The. Jonas. Brothers. This is a picture of her wall.....pretty much anything coming out of her mouth these days centers around those three guys.

Here's a note I found she had written on her desk calendar "Look at posters and figure out a way to get all on without showing wall. Hard." Seems to have done a fine job with that based on the picture above. I agree with an earlier post by Connie - why did we paint? Oh well. Keeps her off the streets.....

Even though most of my world continues the same during the summer, it's so nice to have the break from school. I love the relaxed schedule for my kids. The sense of "nothing to do all day" for them. Their freedom does give us more time to be together to play games or watch movies together. (We are really enjoying trying to solve our Nancy Drew mystery computer game right now!) I seem to have more time to read in the summer too and I love that. The mornings, since everybody sleeps in, are long and quiet for me. No rush to get everybody up and ready and out the door. Our days and nights are nice and relaxed and lazy. Keeps me from completely going over the edge....I love the sounds of summer too. The sprinklers and the air conditioners and the bugs at night. Hope you are enjoying your summer too!

And.....39 days until the Olympics begin! I cannot wait!!!

Look Mom, no cavities!

I went to the dentist yesterday. You really don't realize what a huge feat that is for me. I hate HATE HATE going to the dentist. It's not my DENTIST. I love my dentist. He's a super nice guy. We even go to church together. It's just the whole dental experience. It had been awhile since I had gone for a cleaning. I know, I know, you're really supposed to do that twice a year.....whatever....but then I found this little chip on one of my back teeth. Shoot. That meant I really had to go to the dentist. So I decided I would make two appointments, one for my fixing and one for my cleaning. Well, they're not stupid there at my dentist's office - I have a big chicken sticker on my chart - so when I called to make TWO appointments, they were so sweet and said just come Wednesday afternoon and we can do your cleaning and your fixing. How sweet of them. They figured once they had me in the door, they'd better do everything they needed to. So, I had my cleaning. No cavities!!! Pretty good for somebody who hasn't been to the dentist in...a long time. And then he just made a new little toothy tooth back there. It only took 20 minutes. And didn't even hurt. And I left there without having to have the gas. It was a miraculous day I tell you. So now, I'm sporting some clean, shiny white teethies!

After my trip to the dentist, I got home and fixed a quick dinner before we headed to church. It had been a very relaxing day for the ol' kiddies because they still had on their PJs at 5pm. I told Cooper to put on some "Poopah shorts" (khaki cargo shorts - Daddy just loved those kind of shorts - lots of pockets!) and a "nice striped tshirt". He came out of his room wearing some black soccer shorts and a Tennessee jersey, both of which are lovingly handed down lovingly by big cousin Trenton. "What happened to the Poopah shorts and the nice shirt?" "I wanted to wear my cousins shorts and my cousins shirt." Jordan then appeared wearing a cute little number - jeans, grey t-shirt, little white sweater, big clunky earrings. She looked cute. Then I realized the grey t-shirt was a shirt that Daddy used to wear that Jordan now wears as a NIGHT SHIRT. She said she just wanted to be able to come home and take off her jeans and sweater and be ready for bed! I just pick my battles. Hey, we all made it to church!

Got up bright and early today (ok, so it wasn't bright, it was just early) and did my Fit Yum Mum workout. It was great. Well, most of it was great. The intervals were super. It felt great and I am really happy with my speed and how that felt. The exercises were a bit tricky. I managed to do most of them. I *hate* lunges and squats. They really hurt my knees. But I did the best I could. And those planks - ugh. For the birds. (Here's a picture of a side plank. Harder than it looks.) But it was a good workout. The A/C is being fixed this afternoon (yea!!) so it was still toasty up there. I was dripping with sweat. Felt like I had gone to one of those Bikram Yoga classes where you do yoga in a burning up room. People pay good money to exercise in 105 degree rooms. And look at me - getting it for free!

GUESS WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS TODAY?!?!?!? My boyfriend!!!!! Lots of big birthday kisses to Derek Jeter who turns 34.

Today is also National Handshake Day.

Gauge the Bloggie Doggie has many toys. And I have to say, this doggie really loves playing with his toys. This is one of his faves. We call it "The Blue Thing". How original.

I love summer. Does it get any better than this?

Thanks to pal Patti who picked these perfect peaches with her parents, and her peeps at her place of profession profited with a portion. Wasn't that pun positively pukish?

Have a great day everybody!

Fit Yummy Mummy

I'm working on a new exercise program that Connie found for me. It's a combination of exercises (called resistance training) and cardio (called intervals). There are a few options you can have when you set up the schedule. You can either do your resistance training and intervals at the same time and have a rest day between each workout day (working out three TIMES a week). Or you can do your resistance training in the morning and your intervals at night; again having a rest day between each (working out three DAYS a week). Or you can do your resistance training one day and your intervals the next day, allowing one day of rest for the week (working out six DAYS a week). I think I'm going to do a spinoff combination of the first and the last options. Because I still need to have a day or two of just running - not intervals. Just a 2 or 3 mile run. And if I go for the St. Jude Half in December, I'll have to add some longer weekend runs too. Not time yet to think about that though.

The premise of the intervals is brief, high intensity periods of exercise (i.e. walking, biking, running AS FAST AS YOU CAN) alternated with active recovery periods where you slow down just enough to catch your breath. The intervals are really only meant to last about 15 minutes.

I think it will work nicely for me and, in the end, will help my goal of shaving some time off my pace so I can focus on some decent short run times and give it a good shot at some 5k races.

Oh, I didn't tell you what the program is called. It's called (are you ready for this?) Fit Yummy Mummy. Apparently 'yummy mummy' is a slang term (maybe British?) for attractive older woman/mother. Hmmmmmm. Kind of stupid, but if it works.......

Soooo, we'll see how all this goes.

Today is National Fried Okra Day. I wish I were celebrating this national holiday at Mom's.....

Happy Birthday today to Carly Simon who turns 63. I still wish to this day that she had stayed married to James Taylor. What musical genes their kids have. Wow. I love both of them. I think they are both just so incredibly gifted. I think I'll listen to one of their CDs on my way to work today.

And for the Doggie Picture of the Day, here is Gauge doing one of his favorite things - looking out the front door.