Friday, October 31, 2008

Why I Love the YMCA

Yesterday, Thursday, Ben, Jack, and I headed for the Y.  Jack goes to kid watch and Ben and I workout nearly every Thursday before work.  The schedule works for us and if we have a set time to go, we're more likely to be guilted into going.

So, I'm doing my thing on the treadmill.  To me it feels like an out and out sprint.  Granted, I am only running at 4.6 mph, but for someone with a 27 inch inseam, it feels like I'm Flo Jo making her way down the backstretch.  This older woman (greater than 65) gets on the treadmill beside me.  She's walking for 10 minutes and then gets off.

I finish my twenty minutes of hell (aka running, but always feel sooo good afterward).  I did the resistance machines for arms and legs and then headed to the locker room to shower.  Awaiting me in there was the little lady on the next treadmill.

She told me that I was doing a really great job running.  She wished she could still run.  Now, I know that I am not a track star.  Usually I feel like I'm going to cough up one or both lungs while on the treadmill.  Until I turned 30, I had NEVER run for 20 minutes consecutively in my life...not even sure if I had broke 5 or 10 minutes before.  It was so nice and uplifting to have someone (even if she was 65+) recognize your effort.  That was my little piece of gratitude that I felt yesterday.  I don't know her name, but "THANK YOU" little blonde lady with a frizzy ponytail for making me feel like my hypoxia on the treadmill is not all in vain.  You made my day!!!!!  Sometimes it's the little things in life that mean so much....

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Jack's First Pumpkin Carving





Today we carved Jack's first pumpkin ever.  Uncle Tom bought it for him three weeks ago and it has been sitting outside just waiting for the perfect time to carve it.

I thought Jack would be grossed out by the pumpkin's slimy guts, but it was actually Mommy who thought she may need a moment to herself.  Ugh!!!  Jack was a trooper, pulling out the seeds and scooping out the insides.  What a great helper!  His favorite tool was the "Goop Scoop" that came with the carving kit.  He mastered using that in no time flat.

When we were all done, he was very proud of his pumpkin creation.  We put it by the front door with the hay bale, scarecrow, and the mum.  We're anxiously waiting for it to get dark tonight so we can light it up!