The Tree Pose

I am feeling better today. It is a beautiful sunny hot day and I hope it lasts! I know I'm feeling better because I cooked dinner. Breakfast was one slice of organic rye bread with a thin layer of smoked salmon cream cheese for flavour, with fruit and oj and green tea. Lunch was basically the same with a glass of milk added. My water intake is up, mostly due to the heat.

For dinner I made polenta with chicken stock. Once done I put it in a loaf pan and place the pan in the fridge. When we are ready to eat I remove the polenta and grill the slices and serve with sauce. For the sauce I removed sausage meat from the casings and browned the meat with sliced mushrooms and a tin of chopped tomatoes. That's it! You would be so surprised at the amount of flavour. Serve the sauce over the sliced grilled polenta and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. We are having carrot, celery and cucumber sticks for the veggie portion.

I also know I am feeling better as I was able to do 38 minutes on my Wii. I started with the advanced step in order to warm up. I hit a bucket of golf balls and tried unsuccessfully to make it to the third level of the advanced obstacle course. I laugh when I do the math game. I am on the advanced level, (add or subtract numbers to total 15) I can never finish! The Wii keeps telling me to make small hip shakes. My hips seem to make big hip shakes so I add and subtract numbers that I don't want, lol!

I had the Wii make up a yoga routine for me today. I just knew it would include my least favourite yoga positions. Yup! There was the Tree Pose. I was a dancer for years and I embarrass myself that I cannot stop wiggling while trying to hold this pose. I guess this should be another of my goals.

I do feel better; all stretched out again. I am still a little lightheaded and shaky, however, I feel I will not get worse. ( I hope!)

Think good thoughts for tomorrow!

Is It a Virus?

I know I haven't posted in a few days. It's not that I have given up. Not even the cramps kept me down long! I thought I had a bit of a cold or most probably allergies. On Friday I didn't feel good and looking back I thought it was something I ate. I slept in on Saturday and when I finally got up I had to really push myself to do anything. At one point on Saturday I had the chills, nausea, and nearly passed out in our bathroom. The really bad feeling did pass and I passed it off as an anomaly. Well, I still feel bad from allergies and it seems Hubby found out at work today that one of his coworkers had the same symptoms as I had. They went to the clinic and was told it's a virus that's going around. There is nothing to take for a virus so I guess I will just be careful and wash my hands even more than I do now. I work with the public and think I'm immune to it all. I guess I need time to become immune to the new germs. I just wish the public would stop putting their documents in their mouths before handing them over to us!

A STORM is Brewing

What a week of Storms. My heart goes out to all the people in the States who have lost everything to the many Tornadoes this past week. Here in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) we have had our own, "Storm," that has caused its own devastation.

I understand the story of baby Storm has gone viral and is news all over the world. Wow, if I was this babies parents I don't know just what I would do. But I do know that how they have handled the media on slot so far is admiral. They have not exploited their children or had family makeovers, no instant TV stars, no commercial endorsements.

If you are not familiar with the story read the link:http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/newsfeatures/article/995846--star-readers-rage-about-couple-raising-genderless-infant

I first read the story last weekend and the husband and I had a brief discussion about it. I was intrigued by the concept of not labeling our kids the second they are born (or in many cases even before they are born). This idea of letting the child just be a child and encouraging our kids to follow their own interests.

I have two girls (yes, labeled before they were born) but I am OK with it. But I was and still am a fan of Barbara Coloroso's philosophy of child rearing, Kid's Are Worth It. The husband and I followed a lot of her ideas while raising our kids. "Its not life threatening, Its not morally threatening and it will grow out, wash out, fall out (put what ever you need here) are the words we have lived by for many circumstances. Like a few months ago when the little one wanted two black low lights (streaks) in the front part of her hair. Her hairdresser, Sam, was all for it, but let me tell you the older women in the salon were not happy. "If I let her streak her hair now what will she do when she is 15". Same at school, the vice principal was not impressed but as no dress code had been broken (yes, there is one for hair. Only natural colours are permitted) there was nothing she could do about it. Yes, she had plenty to say about it, What Ever! I would constantly repeat to myself and out loud "Its not life threatening, Its not morally threatening and it will grow out".

But I digress back to Storm. I have thought about this all week and I think the main reason a lot of people have gotten so outraged over this story is not because Storm's older brother has long hair (isn't that the latest fashion statement in the celebrity world of kids). It's not cause Storm's brother likes the colour pink. The child is 5 and unless he has been told by adults not to like it why wouldn't he. The only reason I can see for the anger is because Storm's family knows something and you don't! It's like being back in high school and hating the 'in crowd' just cause you're not in the 'in crowd'. Grow up all of you! What is between Storm's legs really is none of our business. There is no reason for you to know what sex Storm is and why do you have to know?

Todays Toronto Star has a open letter written by the Mother of Storm:http://www.thestar.com/news/article/998960--genderless-baby-s-mother-responds-to-media-frenzy. I commend you Ms. Witterick for trying to set the record straight. And hats off to you and your husband for loving and respecting your children enough to let them make decisions for themselves that are appropriate for their age. When our older daughter was young she would dress herself in layers as she wanted to be prepared for any type of weather. That meant at times she looked like the Michelin Man and at times could not sit because she had on shorts, leggings, track pants, jeans and skirts, all at the same time. But that was her and she eventually learned that having a look outside can be a good indicator on how to dress! Our younger daughter (the artist) loved to wear two different shoes, just because she liked them both. Her most memorable fashion statement was when I cut a leg off of her favourite jeans as the knee was worn through. I told her she could wear them as shorts but she refused so after only cutting the one pant leg off she insisted on having her pants back, (and wore them until she outgrew them) with one long pant leg and one short pant leg. Yes, we got many a second look and yes I would of preferred her not to wear the pants. But what would I be teaching her, "don't think for yourself, don't' express yourself, your ideas are wrong". She will get enough of that line of teaching from well meaning others. It is more important that she know that her parents accept and love her for who she is regardless.

Ms. Witterick let me share some of my experience with you. Raising kids is hard. A lot of the child rearing philosophy we share is great when they are little but it gets very tricky when other people start to have a big influence on your kids. School is a big one (I understand you are homeschooling now but you may not in the future for many different reasons) so be prepared for other adults not to think the same as you. They are not wrong, nor bad but they just have a different way of doing things and for your kids that can be confusing. Letting your kids pick their clothes out and then they go to a school that says girls can only wear pants on Tuesday and Thursdays can be very confusing for them. I remember many a discussion with the older one's teachers because she didn't want to wear her gloves in the winter. She had them in her back pack if she needed them and she had been raised with the thought if your hands get cold you know what to do to make them warm. But teachers would insist she wear them or they wouldn't let her outside. This would drive me crazy but it was a hopeless battle. Why did she not want to wear her gloves: because while having gloves on she could not pick up the pretty stones from the play ground that she wanted to show me at the end of her day.

Ms. Witterick I commend you and your husband for raising your three kids. You have your work cut out for you and kudos to you for standing firm on your convictions. I am sure your three children will grow up in a loving supportive home and hopefully will be strong enough in themselves to reject the negative influence from the outside world. Know you are not alone in your child rearing.

To all the 'in crowd" wannabe's, Storm is not "Genderless". Storm has a gender it's just not any of your business what that gender is!

Catch Up Fridays

(Cathy) I set this page up yesterday and I now just realized that I forgot to send the e-mail out to let the ladies know that the page was set up. Oops!

I hope everyone is enjoying the rain. I hope everyone realizes that I'm being sarcastic! The sun came out for about an hour yesterday. The weatherman keeps saying that this summer is going to be the hottest and sunniest than those summers past. I am not a believer! I tried three times to go outside to garden today and each time I went out it started to rain too hard to continue gardening! (Sunshine) With all of this rain the grass has needed constant cutting and we have not had any pool weather as of yet. P.S. Cathy, thanks for setting up the post for us. (Carolin) Yes, I guess the one nice thing about all this rain is our lawn looks so green and lush. As for the coming summer it is hard to believe that the weather forecast calls for hot, ho,t hot summer. So far it is a cold wet summer.

I now know how they felt in Calgary with all of the snow this past winter!

On to other things. I upped my aerobics to 45 minutes today. I am going to see if that helps to burn more fat. I think that I will need to do at least 30 minutes minimum of aerobics and then add on the yoga and strength and balance exercises. I did 6 minutes of rhythm boxing and advanced step twice. I also did the rhythm parade and obstacle course. I did OK in the snowball fight and not so good and the advanced downhill skiing slalom course. Oh, well. Good job Cathy.

Dinner was homemade pizza. I was good and only ate two slices. I saved two slices for tomorrow. Speaking of pizza. Little Miss Sunshine attended a friend's birthday party last year and again last night and she raves about how the pizza this little girl's dad makes is the best pizza that she has ever had. Well of course I had to ask how he makes it. He says that he uses any pizza dough from any grocery store, jarred tomato sauce and pizza mozzarella. It is the same thing that he told me last year when I asked. I told him that he is really killing me as I always make my own sauce. Last year I followed his exact directions (I didn't even know that the grocery stores actually carry pizza mozzarella, but they do). but his pizza still wins. According to Little Miss Sunshine no other pizza even comes close. I must say that when I dropped her off the scent coming from the house was incredible. I was so tempted to ask for a slice so that I could taste for myself but I just couldn't bring myself to do so. Little Miss Sunshine says it's so good that there are never any left overs.

Everything else is about the same around here. Work was busy as we were short one of the girls. I was talking to the lead hand custodian and I was contemplating maybe applying for that job. I would still be working part time but evenings, 4 - 8. I am not thrilled with the hours but it's not that bad and the pay is double what I make now with full benefits. I am going to think about it. I may be able to pick up the girls. Drop them off and get to work on time depending on the school that I would be scheduled at. That is if they even consider me for the position. It's all based on seniority and apparently it would take me years to switch to days. One of the custodians just got days this year and that is after working for 27 years. I don't know, what do you all think? Sounds like crap Sunshine and I think you will hate it. Of course that's just my opinion. I agree with Carolin!

Miss Teen Sunshine got her G1 last week and now she is driving everywhere. To school and back and to work and back. It's kind of nice relaxing while I get chauffeured around but somehow I feel as though my car is no longer mine. Yeah for her but most of all I am so impressed that you can sit in the car and are relaxed. To this day I am still nervous when the teenager drives.

The little one and husband have gone away for the weekend. I spent most of the day today shopping. I had birthday and shower gifts to get but of course I also bought myself lots of stuff. Dresses for the upcoming weddings, summer tops, skirts, capri's. It was a very nice day. Not real sure where the teenager is, last I heard this morning she was going over to a friend's house for a game of dungeon and dragons.

Oh yeah one more thing, a few months ago I bought two books for each of you for our next book club. I forgot to give them to you the last time I saw you.

Have a good week everyone!

Better Today

I felt so much better today in one respect. However, at the same time I seem to be either coming down with a head cold or starting allergies! I am still amazed that even feeling tired and sick I still went downstairs and put in a solid 31 minutes of exercise. I must say that everyday I exercise makes me believe even stronger in the adage that, "it takes 21 days to make a habit".

I warmed up with Advanced Step and the Advanced Obstacle course. I did hit another bucket of golf balls. Hitting golf balls really works the upper body and waist! I stretched out with a long yoga routine and finished with some deep breathing exercises. Yep, felt better afterward!

I will start paying attention to my weight next week. I have 16 days (of the goal I set) to lose 2.2kg. That's a lot of weight and I hope some will disappear with the water gain from this week and I will make more of an effort with food. The food thing is harder than the exercise thing. I'm hungry!

Tomorrow, on "Catch Up Fridays", I will fill you in on my day! Thanks everyone for your continuing support!

38 Minutes Today

I'm feeling much better today. I'm not paying attention to my weight this week. I did get an extra hour of sleep last night so I do feel more rested today. I still managed to nap around 2pm today for about an hour. I made myself get up right afterward and was surprised that I felt good, not draggy.

I ate well today in that my portions were cut way down. I was hungry so every time I felt a hunger pang I drank a glass of water. Mind over matter!

I'm still not ready for a lot of jumping up and down so upon my arrival downstairs I challenged myself with all of the balance and agility games. I tried golf for the first time and actually enjoyed it. The Wii evaluates my swing. I hit two buckets of balls on the driving range and was surprised at how hard it was. I always tease Hubby that golf is an excuse for exercise! I take it back! Hubby came down and tried the driving range when I told him about it and he said it was pretty good!

Before I knew it 38 minutes had passed.

Looking forward to aerobics tomorrow!

EA Sports or My Fitness Coach?

I have to be honest here. I did not exercise either yesterday or today. I have dragged myself to work the last two mornings and upon returning home I crawled on to the couch with Advil and wishing I had remembered I had a heating pad. I'll say it: CRAMPS! They seem to be returning with the same intensity from when I was a teenager! I'm getting migraines, too. I know: TMI!

You will be proud as I did at least weigh in before bed. I also did the body test. That was all I could physically or mentally manage. This will not stop me, I am committed to better health!

This brings me to the reason for the title of this post. In my better moments this weekend I was surfing the web for another Wii fitness game for variety. EA Sports and My Fitness Coach seem to be the two top Wii Fit games per all the various review I read.

Any opinions?