Some interesting reading and discovering something cool

Tonight I was reading up on some star sign information, not because I'm really into star signs, but just out of curiosity really.  And of course every single web page I was looking at had different characteristics.  I wonder who comes up with this and if these people actually did a study on a whole group of people with the same star signs?  I suppose if the person who put the info out there was a Virgo then they probably would have compared a group of people of the same star sign - after all it says quite clearly that a Virgo is very analytical, so it kind of makes sense that it should be a Virgo in charge of the project :-).  It made for some interesting reading the star signs I was reading on.  Are you into star signs and do you agree what it says about your star sign?

This afternoon I discovered a really neat something that I think (or rather hope) would be cool for a certain somebody (can't share anything just yet) and it reminded me of the time I had this pen pal.  Well not really pen pal.  We didn't write actual letters with an actual pen to each other, but we were email buddies for a long time.  We met each other by accident.  Or I suppose not really accident because people are often placed on your road for specific reasons even if the reasons are not always clear.  We were introduced to each other in 2002 or 2003. 

We both thought at the same time we wanted to move to New Zealand and so we both emailed the same person at the same time who was helping people out with information.  He answered our questions and then 'introduced' us to each other and so it started.  In the end we moved first to New Zealand and they ended up going to Australia.  We only met each other in person once.  We were really good email buddies for quite a few years, but sadly I think we were just too different.  Had quite different ideas of life and priorities and she was quite direct to the point where she would often make really hurtful and insensitive comments not thinking how it might affect me.  Hmmm, maybe I should go look up her star sign ;-).  So sadly in the end we just lost contact.  But anyway, back to my point.  She was rather hard to buy anything for for her birthday or for Christmas and usually when I feel I know somebody well enough then I like getting them something that would be special for them.  So sometimes (as in her case) I would spend a long time looking for and thinking of something that would be suitable.  It was really just by accident that on one occasion I found something really different.  She loved cooking.  So much so she collected recipe books.  Can't say I relate much to this as I don't particularly feel inspired by cooking, but she loved it.  I stumbled upon this online company in Australia and they did recipe gifts.  So you get to choose something that would then have the ingredients, the relevant tools, a recipe and a story.  So for instance hers was a Moroccan recipe gift complete with the tagine (I think this is what it is called).  I've never come across any other company doing the same, but I thought it was a rather neat idea at the time.

Do you have specific ideas about gift-giving?

Well I better stop rambling now.  How was your Thursday?

Not the best of days for me today

Today was not a good day for me.  It was one of those days where I just could not get myself going. Okay part of the problem is perhaps that I didn't sleep particularly well last night and woke up around 3am.  Tried to get back to sleep, but simply couldn't.  It was like my brain just switched on.  And boy does time drag slowly when you lie there in the dark waiting for the alarm to finally go off at 6am.  Do you get days like that?  I don't too often get days like this, but I suppose they happen for me because my mind tends to work overtime at times.  I suppose.  Who knows really?  So after I dropped the kids this morning I thought I'd go back to bed for a little bit to try and catch up on some sleep and unfortunately that didn't work so well either.  Oh well, hopefully tonight is a better night.

So naturally today I wasn't too productive.  I should have been, but... well... okay, no excuses.  I mostly just did a few chores around the house (not my favourite part of any day and it seems this never-ending task.  I read once that cleaning a house with kids in it is like brushing your teeth while eating oreos).

This afternoon Caitlyn had her cheerleading session and she had a great time.  Last session of the term.  She does have the holiday programme in the second week of the holidays where Bianca and Caitlyn both will have cheerleading for a few hours each morning.  Bianca especially could do with the extra practise as the end of October we'll be going to Auckland for her competition (Caitlyn is not in a competitive team).  That reminds me - I really need to start looking at accommodation and flights.  October feels a long way away, but it will be here before we know it.  At this stage Bianca is only competing on one day (the Sunday), the date is a bit disappointing as it is the same day (I think) as the Otaki Triathlon that Rose and I both wanted to do and now both of us will be in Auckland.  Will be nice to go and see Bianca's tree again when we are in Auckland and hopefully it is still doing well.

Okay enough rambling now.  How was your day?

Just a quick update

Am not feeling very inspired tonight and nothing too important to blog about.  Feeling a bit tired and down so will be heading off to bed soon I think.

The girls had their swim lesson tonight and I was absolutely amazed to see the progress Caitlyn has made.  It doesn't seem that long ago that she could hardly get through the lesson without any tears and now?  Now she is confident, she loves being in her class and can actually swim to some extent. 

Only a few more days then it is school holidays.  The girls can't wait.  I have booked them in for a school holiday programme which I'm hoping they would enjoy.  Can't believe how fast this year is going. 

Saw this picture on Facebook and I don't think I'll ever look at a duck the same way again :-).

And that's it from me for tonight.  Sorry, I did warn you I wasn't feeling particularly inspired.  Hope your day has been good.

A royal title

This morning I received a royal title.  And not just any title - but that of Queen.  Not a duchess or a princess, but no, the ultimate of royal titles.  I think.  I'm not really all that familiar with royal titles.  But Queen does sound rather important.  Don't you think?  Okay... it is the Queen of Slackness, but Queen nonetheless :-). 

Paul told me that he was going to do a 20 minute run before school and then another 8km run at lunch time.  Yes... I know, I feel rather tired reading that too.  Paul wanted to know what I would be doing today exercise-wise and I did indicate that I had a really good effort yesterday with my bike ride and really that should be enough to last me for the week.  Paul wasn't impressed with my reasoning and insisted that I should at least go out and do a walk / run today (and should do this every single day).  He told me that he wasn't interested in excuses or complaints (the two things I'm really good at too). 

He is right though.  I should be doing much more than I am doing at the moment. Every so often I would get a moment of insanity like with my bike ride yesterday, but a lot of the time I seem to get too busy and distracted doing other things and if the weather is unpleasant too...  It becomes too easy to come up with excuses.  It doesn't help that I am probably one of the most impatient people around and of course with exercise there is no way you would ever see immediate results.  So it becomes hard work with little immediate evidence of progress made. 

If I have to be honest then looking at the swimming for instance I can finally see that I have made progress.  It took quite a long time to finally get to this point, but finally I am starting to get the technique, I cope better with more during the session and Val told me on Friday that I've come a long way.  So that is really neat.  So now I really need to put more effort into my biking and running as well.  It is true that I had a huge set-back with my constant leg injuries from a little while back, but I don't have this problem at the moment and really have no excuse.  I just have to put the effort in.  Small steps to start off with and build on that (Paul's advice).

So today I did just that.  I made the effort and did a 5km walk / run. It was hard work (I won't lie), but I did it and that is all that is important.  Hopefully in the not too distant future it will become a bit easier and more of a habit than an effort.  I'll just have to keep at it.

Despite how very hard I find exercise - I do feel really fortunate to have a good team supporting me in all this - Lynley, Val and Paul.  It is great having their interest and expert guidance in a world I don't know all that much about.

So what have you done today to increase your fitness?  The title of Queen of Slackness is already taken and you really have no excuse... ;-).

Feeling rather pleased with myself

Today was a beautiful day.  It was a bit chilly, but we didn't have any rain and not much wind.  I decided that I really didn't have any excuse and that I should take advantage of the great weather and go out for a bike ride.  After all I have this small issue of trying to eventually cycle 90km (about 55.92 miles).

The route I chose is a pretty flat route and I really wanted to try and work on going a longer distance than I would usually go.  Usually (if it does not include hills) I would go around 25km (about 15.53 miles).  Am rather pleased that today I managed 51km (about 31.69 miles).  Still a bit off my target, but a good effort today I think.

Other than this not much else happened.  Mostly just a quiet day at home.  How was your weekend? What did you get up to?