Weekly Update (Weekly Wrap-up Edition)

The last couple of weeks have been busy but boring.  Here are the highlights.

I know it's been a couple of weeks since the Solar Eclipse, but I haven't posted about it.  I ordered glasses the Wednesday before and they were supposed to be in my mail by Saturday.  Well Saturday they didn't come.  I stalked the tracking information and it said it would be in my mail on Monday.  At first I was just going to go home at lunch and work from home while I watched it.  But I changed my mind and ran home and went back to work.  I'm glad I went back as a few of us went out and I passed my glasses around.  There were about 50 people out just in front of our building experiencing the beauty of the eclipse.  We had about an 86% eclipse and at the height it looked like a crescent moon.  It was amazing to see such a rare thing.  It has me thinking of traveling to see the full eclipse when it comes back to the US in 7 years.

I've biked a couple times a week for the past month.  It's good to get out there on the bike.  Most have been early morning sunrise rides.


I had an annual check-up for me, my car, and one of my cats.  Of course all separately.  The car passed it's inspection as did I.  Aiden did well for his but he was so scarred that he peed on me while I was trying to comfort him.  Then he hid under the chair and pooped.  The poor thing.  I got home and he still loved me, so all was good.


I was supposed to take a couple days off this week to take a class to get a certificate for work.  They canceled it the afternoon before and now I have to find another to take.  It was disappointing as I was looking forward to the class.

My mom started back teaching school for the fall.  We now have a nurse come by and stay with my dad while she is working.  Thursday I got a call saying my dad snuck away from her.  They did find him as I was on my way to their house.  I decided to stay with them till my mom was done with her class and came home.  My dad did seem agitated, but calmed down a little while I was there.  Apparently he keeps looking for my mom and will take the dog out for a walk looking for her.  Though he has letting the dog off the leash, so a neighbor will be taking her while my mom is not home.  But even without the dog he will go out for a walk looking for my mom.  So the nurse and I took turns going for a short walk with him till my mom got home.  My mom now has gotten bells for the door and is ordering a GPS finder to stick in his wallet.

My work has classes we can take at the gym.  I took a TRX one on Friday and thought it was good.  I didn't think I worked out too hard, but two days later my abs are still hurting every time I move or breath hard.  I will defiantly take the class again.

I finished up another month with a buns challenge.  I haven't thought about September yet, so I may not do this month's challenge.  I really liked this challenge and will probably add in a few things to my daily stretching.

I've caught up on the latest season of Game of Thrones.  I was disappointed that it was only 7 episodes instead of 10, but still another really good season.

Does your animal get scarred at the vet?  Have you taken a class that you could feel two days later and looked forward to taking it again? 

Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Weekly Update (Weekly Wrap-up Edition)

Not much has been going on recently.  But a few small things that were good.

I don't think I mentioned that I got shades for my skylights a few weeks ago and I LOVE them.  I have two skylights in my bedroom and is so bright and so hot up there throughout the day.  I should have done this years ago.


After I had the skylight shades put in, it was still hot upstairs and I realized that there was something wrong with my AC.  They came by and said I had a leak in a coil.  So now it is nice and cool in my house.  So pleasant.

I finished reading The Handmaid's Tale.  After everyone was telling me how good the book was, I was really not impressed.  The whole idea bothered me and it was really never made clear why and how it came to that point.  I didn't have any empathy for the characters either.  It would be like The Hunger Games and just showing the game and not explaining the whole situation and not getting to know the characters.  I reluctantly watched the Hulu series this weekend, again because everyone said how great it was.  I ended up really enjoying the series.  It took a lot of liberties from the book and really got into the characters.  It also gave more of an explanation how a society could get to that point.  I recommend the series, but don't read the book.

Because I have been working a lot, it's been hard for me to get out on the bike while working 10 hour days.  I'm still getting to the gym a couple times a week.  I have also started another 30 day challenge.  I like this one as it doesn't seem to get to so many reps that I just don't have time for it.  If this goes well that site has a few others that look very interesting.

I still haven't had the want to run yet, though I can feel it building a little.  After I saw a 10k sticker on someone's car I thought it would be fun to do a 10k this fall.  We will see how the next month takes me.  I officially decided not to sign up for the Richmond Half.  While maybe a run or two in the next few weeks sounds fun, the thought of following a scheduled just doesn't sound like fun right now.  I'm hoping just to find my way back naturally.  It's there, but not like it was.  I know at some point it will be, for now it's not.  Going slow is what is best for me now so I don't completely lose my love for it.

For the past few months, I had had a cat come to visit us nightly on my back deck.  My cats love seeing her and sit and watch her.  They even wait for her by the door, looking out for her each night.  I haven't seen her in the past month.  I didn't know if something happened or if I had just not seen her around.  A week ago she started coming by again.  I broke down and started feeding her some treats that my cats won't eat.  I didn't realize how many nose and paw prints I had on these windows till I took this picture.  I have since cleaned them so that they have a better view of each other.


My cats love sitting and watching her.  She is the black blob on the right outside.


We have been very busy at work as we have a huge project going live in a couple of weeks.  A lot of moving parts which means a lot of testing going on.  While things have been good, I was asked if I'd like to change positions.  It would be a 50/50 split of my time, but this new position is what I want to do with my career, so it's a good move.  I'm excited for the opportunity.

I saw the trailer for "Ready Player One" this weekend.  It's based on a book that is based in the future, but has a lot of 80's pop culture references.  I loved this book and the trailer looks amazing.  I can't wait for it to come out next year.

Have you seen or read "The Handmaid's Tale"?  Have you read "Ready Player One"?  How is your training going?

Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Weekly Update (Weekly Wrap-up Edition)

I haven't been doing a lot of running lately, but I have been getting out there.

Wednesday was National Running Day and I didn't run.  I didn't sleep at all the night before so when my alarm went off I had to just turn it off to get an extra hour of sleep.  I was so tired all day long that I knew that it was the right decision.  I did get a run in on Monday so at least I got one run in this week.

Monday after work I went to get my bike fitted.  This entailed some measurements and then different tests on a spin type bike.  Things to make sure my knees were aligned properly and that I was comfortable.  Then he took those measurements and applied them to my new bike.  Then a few more minor adjustments my bike was ready to take home.

Friday night a friend of mine and I went to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.  They are open late on Fridays as they have half priced wine.  There were tons of people there out enjoying the beautiful weather and some good wine.  We took advantage of the late closing and went to see Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style exhibit.  I've never been into fashion, so I have never heard of him.  But after seeing some of his iconic work, I knew a couple of his outfits.  It really was a fun exhibit and a great night.
 
The next morning I went on my first ride on my new bike.  There were 4 of us that broke off into a group.  We headed up and did about 20 miles up and stopped at Starbucks for a short break and then did 15 miles back.  I have to say that I LOVE my new bike.  Like love, love.  It's such a smooth ride and very little pain in my behind.  I can't wait to go for my next ride.


My dad had his first and probably last day at the day center.  Apparently he got mad because they wanted him to join in and then he got physical.  I talked to my mom and she decided that she will push to get some anti-anxiety drugs for him and find home care for when she is working.  She even said that she knows that my dad is basically gone.  There are little lights of him here and there, but the disease has basically taken over.  I really thought the day center would be such a great thing for both of them and it's sad that it won't work out.

A lot of shows that ended in May are now starting to hit the streaming world.  For those shows that I didn't keep up with during the season are mine to binge this summer.  That and Game of Thrones and Twin Peaks and all TV goodness this summer, I have a feeling I'll be wasting a lot of time in front of the boob tube.

I'm still keeping up with my daily challenge.  Now that we are getting close to the half way mark, I'm having to make sure that I have more time to do the exercises.  We are up to 45 squats and 45 leg lifts.  We go all the way up to 100 of each so that will take some extra time in the morning.

Are there any shows you are looking forward to?  Did you do anything fun this weekend?

Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.

Catch Up On The Last Few Weeks (Weekly Wrap-up Edition)

So I haven't done a weekly wrap up in a few weeks so I thought I'd do a quick recap.

Last I left it, my mom was having knee surgery.  She did great.  They had her standing and putting a little weight on it 5 hours after the surgery.  She went home 2 days later and has been doing great with her recovery.

My dad went into respite for the week while my mom recovered.  I think he did well.  At least that's what they said.  He is home now and hasn't lost his routine, which is what my mom was worried of.  He will be starting a day center next week, which will give my mom some time to herself and it will also give him other stimulation.  I hope it helps him.  I can tell things have gotten worse with him as he is quick to get frustrated, which then he takes out on whomever is trying to help.  It just makes me mad because that is not him.  He is such a gentle man and to see him do that is very upsetting because it's not him, it's the horrible disease.  So maybe having some trained individuals around him a few hours a day might help.

I just finished Robin Robert's book, "Everybody's Got Something", and as the title says, everyone does have something to get through.  It just seems like the right time to read this to know that I'm not the only one dealing with something.  I LOVED this book.  It was about her latest health struggle and throughout the whole book I wished she was my friend.  She is such a real person and so uplifting.  The next book on the deck is "The Handmaid's Tale".  It's not a type of book I tend to read, but my mom gave it to me for my birthday and I have had several people say that I have to read the book and then watch the series on Hulu.

 
I saw a couple of movies.  The first Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which I really enjoyed.  It was very funny, despite the boring family issue it was a fun movie.  I also saw Alien: Covenant.  It's the sequel to the prequel of Alien.  It was a typical Alien movie - fun and scary.

A couple friends at work decided to do a 30 day fitness challenge.  I've thought about doing one of these, but usually that was in the middle of the month and I am too OCD to start something like that in the middle of the month.  And I would never remember when it was the first of the month to start it.  So we are doing the 30 Day Buns, Guns, & Abs Challenge from Squishy Cheeks & Cupcakes.  We are on the 4th day and I need to get off my butt and do today's set.

I went on my first real ride on Saturday.  Probably did too much the first time.  The ride I like to do takes off a few miles from my house.  It's great because I don't have to load my bike on my car and can just ride up there.  Doing that, the ride turned out to be 25 miles.  About 10 miles more then I probably should have.  It was the first Saturday of the month and the bike group has a new rider ride.  I didn't realize that this year they moved it to a different place, so I was the only one there that wanted to do the smallest amount of miles.  So I was on my own on the way back.  I really wanted to wait for someone, but I had to get to my hair appointment.  It really wasn't that bad as there was very little traffic.  The only problem was that my ass HURT.  Like bad.  So bad that a few miles from my house I thought I was going to throw up.  I couldn't wait to get off the bike.  That'll teach me for doing too much too quickly.

I got home and quickly showered and headed to my hair appointment.  Since I cut it short, I have been on the fence on if I want to keep it short or grow it out again.   A few weeks ago I had a dream that told me what I wanted to do - grow it out so that I can cut it and give it to Locks of Love.  Locks of Love takes long hair that is cut and turns it into wigs for those going through health issues which makes them lose their hair.  So we have to grow out the dyed blond hair first so it will probably take a couple of years to get it long enough.  But I'm excited.

After my hair appointment I decided to look into getting a new bike.  Not really because of my bum, but just to make riding much more comfortable as my bike is just a little bit too long for me.  After a couple of years of saying I need to get a bike, I finally pulled the cord and did it.  I had been eyeing the Avail Advanced since I did a test ride two summers ago.  I went into a local shop here and did another test ride and I knew it had to come home with me.  I'll go back to the shop tomorrow to get it fitted and I'll bring it home then.  I'm so excited for my next ride next weekend.

Today I think I'm getting sick again, or should I say my allergies are kicking my ass again.   I was just dealing with this less then 2 weeks ago so it is very irritating.  We will see what tomorrow brings.

Have you read any good books lately?  Have you seen any good movies lately?  Have you ever cut your hair for Locks of Love?

Linking up with Holly and Tricia's Weekly Wrap Up.