They're Just Gym People

I am totally off my game. Completely and utterly off my game. This week would have marked the end of an 8 week routine at the gym. I say would have because I didn't actually finish, and that makes me sad. My gym, Peak Fitness, has been in the news lately and is in the process of filing for bankruptcy, closing some of its locations and selling others. My gym is under new management. The trainers are staying. Nope, they're going over to the other location. Oh wait, no, nope, they're staying. Just kidding, they're leaving. No, really, they're leaving. Yeah... that was my day today on the phone (5 times) with customer service trying to figure out where what was going on. Acquisitions and bankruptcy are fun! Yea!

But, what does this have to do with being able to finish my 8 week routine? Well, because my gym wasn't forthcoming with any details my trainer quit. Taking the equipment I use with him. Because it belongs to him and if he kept it in the gym the bank might take it... because, well, that's what happens when the gym you work for is $100k behind in their rent. Seriously?

Well, with a few hiccups here and there I managed to to hit the gym 3 days a week and I'm very proud of myself. I have been a gym's best customer several times - joined, went for a month or two, and then quit, but still paid the membership for an entire year! I kid you not, at times the actual thought of going to the gym would turn my stomach. This time around I've been a pretty solid gym member since, let's be realistic here, February (I joined in November).

My original goal when I joined the gym was weight loss, because I was tired of my jeans being as uncomfortably tight as they were getting, but I knew that straight weight loss wouldn't make me happy. I wanted total body fitness. How many pounds have I lost? Four (4). How many inches have I lost? I dunno. But my jeans are fitting better. The pair of jeans I bought a size too small? I'm wearing them. Not today, but last week and the week before, maybe tomorrow.

What have I gained? Killer legs, if I must say so myself (and I do) - I haven't seen my legs look this good since high school. Arm muscles - never had those before. My (very rare) runs feel better, smoother (if that makes any sense). I have a little more self respect and a smidgen more confidence (can you tell?). I have even noticed that I get (slightly) less stressed at work and I'm trying harder not to bring work stress home with me. But don't get me wrong, I'm still certifiable some days. Hey, the gym isn't a cure-all.

And tomorrow I will fall and break my ankle. Why? Cause I'm proud and Pride is one of the seven deadly sins. Yep... It'll happen.

Off to bed early... way too tired this week. Hope the week is treating you better. Night, night kiddies.

I Need a One Liner

Another perfect weekend for the books. Starting with a nice quiet date night with Eron on Friday. I was entirely too drained to actually want to go out to dinner though I'm not entirely sure how that worked - someone else do the cooking, serving and cleaning while I kick back with a glass of wine? Nah... lets cook in! We settled on a nice salad from our garden, baked potatoes, and bacon wrapped filets. Not too shabby. Eron and I stumbled on a yummy bottle of wine, Penny Farthing Cabernet Sauvignon - the very last in the store (so we were told). When I read the card describing it as German chocolate cake with a raspberry glaze finish I knew I didn't have to read any further. We wrapped the evening up with the new Terminator flick.

After a yummy breakfast we filled Saturday with a trip to the kitchen supply store, a run to the farmers market, some weeding in the garden and some much needed softball practice. Oh yeah, and my dad and Jackie came to town! They joined us for some post-practice grub and beers at Sunset before they turned in for the evening. Eron, on the other hand, decided it was too early to turn in and he wanted strawberry shortcake with the strawberries we picked up earlier. So we did. But not your run of the mill strawberry shortcake... oh no... strawberry short cake a la Alton Brown. Duh! To die for! So, later when I lament that even after a pretty solid gym regime I haven't lost any weight... we'll know who to blame. Me. Did I mention homemade whipped cream? *sigh*

Sunday was a bit more low key. Laundry and a smidgen of cleaning before heading to dinner with dad and Jackie at Banditos. Mmm... Mexican.

This should be a fun week. Playoffs today and hopefully Wednesday. Eron's mom flies into town tomorrow for a few days before she heads to Bonnaroo. Friday we're heading to Charlotte for NIN. Saturday we head to Maryland where I'll get to meet my neice and Sunday is my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary celebration were Eron will meet the majority of my extended family! Good times! Later kiddies.

III'm Dumb

This is what my door looked like all last night. Awesome. Yeah, my door was locked but that doesn't mean much if my keys are hanging in the lock. It's a shame that I don't have my very nice neighbor living across the way to knock on my door and let me know I had left my keys hanging in the lock... sigh.

Liz is THIS Kind of Girlfriend

I thought this was a fun sequence of pictures from the garden. The first picture is from April 12th and the last was taken today (June 3rd).

The top row is peppers and cucumbers - cucumbers are taking OFF but the peppers have seen better days. Below those are more peppers, spinach, and lettuce - we've made a couple salads with the lettuce and spinach, one involving a homemade bacon vinaigrette. What good is growing your own veggies if you can't totally ruin their healthfulness in a bacon dressing? HAHA! So, below those are the beans, peas and carrots - not much going on there except some wicked growth. Well, I did see a tiny pea pod yesterday. Finally, the tomatoes are along the wall - one plant has about 5 tomatoes but none are ripe... yet.

Before and after - homegrown greens and cucumbers.

I'm about ready for this week to be over with. I'm looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend, starting with a laid back date night with my guy, then a trip to the kitchen supply store and farmers market and hopefully some yummy home cooked/grilled food. Mmmm... can't wait.

Monday is the beginning of our softball playoffs. Go Strikes!
Later kiddies. I hope the rest of your week treats you well!