Little Sophia came through her ear procedure fine this morning, thank God! She had to have tubes put in her ears. My brother, Larry had a knee replacement operation about a week ago and seems to be progressing quite well with his rehab! And now my step dad is having a hernia operation tomorrow morning. I pray all goes well for him.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
We've Selected the 14'er
Grays Peak (14,270 feet) and Torreys Peak (14,267 feet)...these will be our first 14'er challenge this summer! We (Mark and I) will start our training with high altitude hikes on March 5th (if the weather is good). One of our friends (Paulette) hikes with a lady (Eileen) who is an expert hiker and she is willing to train us, too.
We need to get some really comfortable hiking shoes along with some other gear. So, I'm researching what we need to get now.
When I first started working out with my personal trainer this past December, he asked me if I had any specific goals that I wanted to achieve. And, along with losing weight and dropping a couple of sizes, I said it would be nice to hike a 14'er. He keeps asking me if I've selected one yet. He'll be pleasantly surprised when I see him tomorrow morning to know that I now have a plan!
I'm excited about this! The mountains are so beautiful and breathtaking and to think that I may be able to HIKE up a mountain (or two) that size is incredible! These two mountains are rated "moderate" difficulty. The round trip is 8 to 9 miles and the elevation gain is 3,000 to 3,600 feet. It should take 6 to 8 hours to accomplish.
This is an interesting and fun challenge for us! I'll write more updates on our training progress once we begin.
We need to get some really comfortable hiking shoes along with some other gear. So, I'm researching what we need to get now.
When I first started working out with my personal trainer this past December, he asked me if I had any specific goals that I wanted to achieve. And, along with losing weight and dropping a couple of sizes, I said it would be nice to hike a 14'er. He keeps asking me if I've selected one yet. He'll be pleasantly surprised when I see him tomorrow morning to know that I now have a plan!
I'm excited about this! The mountains are so beautiful and breathtaking and to think that I may be able to HIKE up a mountain (or two) that size is incredible! These two mountains are rated "moderate" difficulty. The round trip is 8 to 9 miles and the elevation gain is 3,000 to 3,600 feet. It should take 6 to 8 hours to accomplish.
This is an interesting and fun challenge for us! I'll write more updates on our training progress once we begin.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Band Plays for Elementary School Students
Our New Horizons Band played two sets today for students at Bauder Elementary School in Fort Collins. The kids are so cute and they love it when we show off all the instruments in the band. They seem to love the really big instruments (tuba and euphonium) as well as the loud instruments...percussion (bass drum and timpani). They also got a kick out of the smallest instrument (piccolo).
It's a shame that here in the Poudre School District, they can't start band until 6th grade which is middle school. I don't think they have a strings program either until then. The kids in Fairfax County, Virginia sure are lucky to be able to start early...4th grade!
We're playing again tomorrow for Lopez Elementary School in Fort Collins. And, we found out today that next Friday, we'll play for Johnson Elementary School in town, too.
It's a shame that here in the Poudre School District, they can't start band until 6th grade which is middle school. I don't think they have a strings program either until then. The kids in Fairfax County, Virginia sure are lucky to be able to start early...4th grade!
We're playing again tomorrow for Lopez Elementary School in Fort Collins. And, we found out today that next Friday, we'll play for Johnson Elementary School in town, too.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy Valentine's Day!
The sun is about to come up and despite the little bit of remaining snow on the ground and the cold chill in the air, it's another great day in Colorado! The cloudless sky will bring abundant sunshine today, a perfect backdrop for Valentine's Day!
I'm about to head downstairs to do an hour of my cardio workout before I have to get ready for band rehearsal this morning. I'll finish the rest of the workout later this afternoon. I'm still doing quite well on the weight loss (13 lbs. so far), although I have plateaued the past two weeks. But, the inches are still coming off! I've lost 5.5 inches in my waist and over 2 inches in my hips and thighs in just 8 weeks. Yay! It sure hasn't been easy, but it's become a habit and will stick with me the rest of my life...I'm sure of that!
I took a big step yesterday and got rid of ALL my big pants, even the practically new ones! Yes, rather than boxing them up, I gave them away! I will never go back to that size again!
Well, the spinning bike is calling so I must be off! Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
I'm about to head downstairs to do an hour of my cardio workout before I have to get ready for band rehearsal this morning. I'll finish the rest of the workout later this afternoon. I'm still doing quite well on the weight loss (13 lbs. so far), although I have plateaued the past two weeks. But, the inches are still coming off! I've lost 5.5 inches in my waist and over 2 inches in my hips and thighs in just 8 weeks. Yay! It sure hasn't been easy, but it's become a habit and will stick with me the rest of my life...I'm sure of that!
I took a big step yesterday and got rid of ALL my big pants, even the practically new ones! Yes, rather than boxing them up, I gave them away! I will never go back to that size again!
Well, the spinning bike is calling so I must be off! Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Snow and Music...Interesting Night Ahead
Tonight at 7 p.m. is our band's winter concert in Fort Collins and, unfortunately, the weather folks are predicting heavy snow to start around 6 p.m.! If that holds true, it will undoubtedly affect the size of the audience. Tonight's performance is extra special because the band (New Horizons Band of Northern Colorado) is celebrating it's 15 year anniversary! And, we will be recognizing 7 charter members who are still with the band followed by a reception with cake and coffee.
I've got my fingers crossed that the snow will hold off until about 9:30 p.m.!
I've got my fingers crossed that the snow will hold off until about 9:30 p.m.!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Busy January
This was a whirlwind month that kept me so busy I didn't even have time to blog! The month started off with a Sara's 30th birthday celebration followed by spending a night at Sara and Zach's to babysit Sophia. It was the first time both Mom and Dad were away for the whole night! Sophia did quite well, too!
We loaded up the car and headed for the East Coast on January 9th and didn't get home until January 25th. During that time we stayed with Mom and Gene, my sister, Julie and her husband Ray, and my brother, Larry and his wife, Stephanie. We were so excited to meet our new niece, Samantha Solimini and to see our other nephews, Lucas, Alex, and Zachary! As always, it's GREAT whenever I get to see family! And, we also got to have lunch with an old college (and AF) buddy of mine, Louie Botta while we were at my Mom's. He lives just a town over from her!
Our main purpose for the trip was to photograph Stephanie's sister, Melanie's wedding in Wilmington, Delaware. Mark and I shot the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, wedding day preparations, the ceremony, formals, and reception. It was a lot of fun, but admittedly quite stressful and tiresome. We were on our feet most of 12 hours and had some restrictions on photographing during the ceremony. When we awoke the next day, both of us felt like we were hit by a Mack truck! Our feet were sore and my arm and hand muscles ached from holding the cameras so long! We did get a lot of nice pictures...took about 2,000! We're in the editing mode now. Check out the beautiful bride and groom on the right!
Mark had a New Horizons Band swing band gig this past Friday night and now we're preparing for a concert band performance this Thursday! (Because we missed a lot of rehearsals, I'm not playing on 3 of the songs because the parts were handed out after we left.)
Sara and Sophia visited with us yesterday and I can't believe how much Sophia has grown! She's 8 1/2 months now and is always pulling herself up to a standing position! I think she is going to be an early walker! Her two bottom teeth look like they are completely in now. I imagine we'll be seeing some others pop through soon! Thankfully for her parents, she is now sleeping through the night!
I updated our white board "to do" list and it's completely full! We have wine tasting events to plan, a newsletter for the New Horizons International Organization to prepare, upload photos to sell in my Etsy shop, lots of photography tasks to do for my business, in addition to drum practice and band rehearsals! And, this month is Mark's birthday, my brother, Larry's 40th birthday, Ezra's 4th birthday, and Valentine's Day! Whew...lots to prepare for!
And, certainly not last on my list...I'm still working out with a trainer twice a week and working out additionally on my own a total of 6 days a week! I started with my trainer on Dec 14th. In addition to working out with him, I use the online program, myfitnesspal.com, to track my daily calories and workouts. (Thanks, Michelle for the suggestion on this app!) This program is available on a smart phone, too and automatically syncs. So far, I've dropped a size and almost 12 pounds! I've also lost 5 inches in my waist, 1.5 inches in my hips and 2 inches in each thigh! IT WORKS!!! There is absolutely no mystery as to how to lose the weight...you must be dedicated to watching what you eat AND workout 6 days a week! That's it! There are NO shortcuts! My goal is to lose another 10 pounds and then to MAINTAIN. I know the 6 days a week of workouts will need to continue forever. That's what it takes to be healthy. (And, that's what the medical community recommends for exercise.) When I was on our trip back East, I couldn't always do a cardio workout but for many of the days, I found ways to do strength training in the house. And, I used the hotel fitness rooms when we were traveling. You can check on my weight loss progress at the bottom of this blog...you'll see "myfitnesspal" tracker there.
As busy as the month of January was, February is starting out to be even more so! I'll check in as I can.
We loaded up the car and headed for the East Coast on January 9th and didn't get home until January 25th. During that time we stayed with Mom and Gene, my sister, Julie and her husband Ray, and my brother, Larry and his wife, Stephanie. We were so excited to meet our new niece, Samantha Solimini and to see our other nephews, Lucas, Alex, and Zachary! As always, it's GREAT whenever I get to see family! And, we also got to have lunch with an old college (and AF) buddy of mine, Louie Botta while we were at my Mom's. He lives just a town over from her!
Our main purpose for the trip was to photograph Stephanie's sister, Melanie's wedding in Wilmington, Delaware. Mark and I shot the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, wedding day preparations, the ceremony, formals, and reception. It was a lot of fun, but admittedly quite stressful and tiresome. We were on our feet most of 12 hours and had some restrictions on photographing during the ceremony. When we awoke the next day, both of us felt like we were hit by a Mack truck! Our feet were sore and my arm and hand muscles ached from holding the cameras so long! We did get a lot of nice pictures...took about 2,000! We're in the editing mode now. Check out the beautiful bride and groom on the right!
Mark had a New Horizons Band swing band gig this past Friday night and now we're preparing for a concert band performance this Thursday! (Because we missed a lot of rehearsals, I'm not playing on 3 of the songs because the parts were handed out after we left.)
Sara and Sophia visited with us yesterday and I can't believe how much Sophia has grown! She's 8 1/2 months now and is always pulling herself up to a standing position! I think she is going to be an early walker! Her two bottom teeth look like they are completely in now. I imagine we'll be seeing some others pop through soon! Thankfully for her parents, she is now sleeping through the night!
I updated our white board "to do" list and it's completely full! We have wine tasting events to plan, a newsletter for the New Horizons International Organization to prepare, upload photos to sell in my Etsy shop, lots of photography tasks to do for my business, in addition to drum practice and band rehearsals! And, this month is Mark's birthday, my brother, Larry's 40th birthday, Ezra's 4th birthday, and Valentine's Day! Whew...lots to prepare for!
And, certainly not last on my list...I'm still working out with a trainer twice a week and working out additionally on my own a total of 6 days a week! I started with my trainer on Dec 14th. In addition to working out with him, I use the online program, myfitnesspal.com, to track my daily calories and workouts. (Thanks, Michelle for the suggestion on this app!) This program is available on a smart phone, too and automatically syncs. So far, I've dropped a size and almost 12 pounds! I've also lost 5 inches in my waist, 1.5 inches in my hips and 2 inches in each thigh! IT WORKS!!! There is absolutely no mystery as to how to lose the weight...you must be dedicated to watching what you eat AND workout 6 days a week! That's it! There are NO shortcuts! My goal is to lose another 10 pounds and then to MAINTAIN. I know the 6 days a week of workouts will need to continue forever. That's what it takes to be healthy. (And, that's what the medical community recommends for exercise.) When I was on our trip back East, I couldn't always do a cardio workout but for many of the days, I found ways to do strength training in the house. And, I used the hotel fitness rooms when we were traveling. You can check on my weight loss progress at the bottom of this blog...you'll see "myfitnesspal" tracker there.
As busy as the month of January was, February is starting out to be even more so! I'll check in as I can.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Exceptionally Beautiful Colorado Sunrise
Yesterday morning, I was up before dawn getting ready to workout when I was treated to a fantastic site...the most beautiful sunrise I've ever seen! Check out the picture on the right and be sure to click on the picture to see others.
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