Five Random Things (Friday Five Edition)

So I don't have a real good topic for Friday Five so I thought I would just spew some randomness your way.

1. I just re-watched The 4400.  I watched it when it came out the first time around and it's been long enough that most of it was like watching it new again.  For those that have not heard of the show (which I think is most everyone), it's about 4400 people who disappeared over the last 50 years and all come back together through a ball of light.  I don't want to spoil things for anyone but most of these people come back with a power of sorts.  Through the show they are able to share their powers.  So my question that I have been thinking about is would you want a power?  Some of them are cool like healing or seeing the future or reading people's mind.  But others kinda suck like giving people disease or passing on debilitating anxiety.  So would you want one knowing you couldn't choose?  On top of that, people had a 50/50 shot of dying instead of getting a power.  Would you take a gamble?  Honestly, I'd be very tempted.  I'm not much of a gambler, but when I do, I usually go all in.

2.  I'm so sick of being chafed after a long run.  Because my sports bras that I have loved are coming to their end of life and if you have been reading my blog, you know my most adored shorts are coming apart at the seams, I've been having to try new items.  I have yet to find a sports bra that will get me over 10 miles before it chafes me.  And I'm tired of spending $60+ on bras that just don't work well.  And I think I've tried them all.  I do have to say that I love Brooks policy that you can try them out and sweat in them and still return, and while I love some of their bras, most are not good for me after 10 miles.  And I lather myself in Glide before every run and still have cuts on me.  Oh and why does any manufacture have to put tags in active wear?  Even if you cut them off, there is that edge of it that digs.

3.  I'm still getting used to the latest update to the iPhone.  Normally you swipe to unlock and now that just brings you to a new screen with news and calendar stuff.  I have to remember to just push the home button.  The texting has a new option to write things with your finger.  It's weird, too.  Oh and the new icons that you can send with a text.  It's sort of like adding a GIF on Twitter.  The Apple Watch got a big update too.  I do like the new face with my activity tracker.  It makes the steps and standing seen, which makes you want to move more.  But my new favorite thing is the Breathe option.  So far it has asked me twice to breathe.  What you do is for one minute you block everything out and concentrate on the watch and your breathing.  I plan on doing it when it asks unless I'm in a meeting or driving or something.

4. I'm thinking of making a shirt to wear at MCM.  I'm still tossing ideas around on what I want it to look like and say.  I want to go for some meaning that the Marines would know or something that expresses my gratitude for their service.

5. It turns out that one of my cats is afraid of thunder.  I've never seen a cat afraid of thunder before.  When I got home last night we had one strike that was close so the thunder made me jump.  It scared Aiden half to death.  The rest of the night while the storm when on he would be laying as flat as he could next to me in the kitchen and then ended up hiding in the bathroom.  No matter what I did, I couldn't seem to calm him, so I just left him in the bathroom to sooth himself.

Oh one more thing.  I just watched the second episode of Designated Survivor and I am totally in love with this show so far.  I hope it keeps up.

Are your pets afraid of thunder?  Do you like the new upgrade to the iPhone?  Would you want a super power?

Linking up with Courtney, Mar & Cynthia 

Heart Rate Training Week 7 (Weekly Wrap-up Edition)

OK, so there wasn't much training going on this week.   I was still having issues with my back and a lot of other things came up.  So let's start it off.....

So the week started out with Labor Day and me on the couch icing my back.  I had taken the week off to spend some of my vacation days (if we don't use 'em we loose 'em).  My back wasn't feeling any better and I was starting to get agitated.  I didn't even go to the gym for my strength training class on Tuesday.

Wednesday I finally got in to see the main therapist.  He said I was really misaligned and my pelvis was twisted all wrong.  He said I really did a job to myself.  While he manipulated me and did some needling, I still hurt.  Hurt less, but I wanted a miracle right then and there.

Then my week went all wonky.  My dad, who has dementia, is starting to get worse.  Twice this past week he went for a walk with the dog and couldn't find his way home.  Both times the police were called to get him home.  Everything is fine with him, but we have found that we cannot leave him alone when my mom is at work.  Thankfully I was off work, so it was easy for me to head to their house to help out while my mom was at work.

Thursday I actually made it to the gym.  I felt like I didn't do anything during the class, but it was good to move some and catch up with everyone.  I headed to my parents house so my mom could teach her afternoon class.  Because the police were called, social services had to check in on him that afternoon.  We talked and she gave us some resources that we didn't already have.  Things are fine in that department too, just a routine visit.

Really, everything is good with my dad.  It was just a lot of decisions have to be made and we need to find someone that can stay with my dad while my mom is at work.  It's stressful and it sucks, but my dad is always in a good mood and happy.  We even took the dog for walks and had a nice time.  The cat even joined us on a couple of the walks.  

Friday I went back to the PT and finally started feeling better.  It's been over a week and I was starting to get in that slump when you start to think you will never feel better again.  Weather it's mental or physical there always seems to be a point where you will feel like you will never get better.  I always have to remember that the pain will eventually pass.  And by Friday afternoon, I finally started to feel better.  Which was good as I was taking a friend out to Texas de Brazil to celebrate his birthday.  Yum!

Saturday I finally felt good enough to do something.  The PT said no running, but I could walk on level surfaces like a treadmill.  If I tried to do any hills, I would feel it.  So to the treadmill I went.  I decided to use the gym at my work.  It's usually quiet and I like that.  I decided to try and do 5 miles if everything felt good.  Things were tight in my back, but no sharp pain like I was having.  I set the treadmill to 2.9 which is about a 20:40 minute mile.  To say the least, I was so very bored, even while I was watching Netflix.  They were repaving our parking lot, so I did have something to watch, even if Netflix wasn't completely entertaining me.  I finished the 5 miles and after stretching I didn't feel too bad.  I was glad to get moving some.  That afternoon I got my hair cut.  I'm keeping it short and cute.

The removal of the pavement.  Interesting process.

Sunday, I decided to do the same thing. 5 miles on the treadmill at work.  My back was feeling so much better.  It was still tight but not as bad and not as often.  I bumped it up to 3.0 which was a 20 minute mile.  I was still bored, but I knew it would pass.  They were all done with the paving, so I just had to rely on Netflix to keep me entertained.

I even two books this week.  First was was "The Silent Sister" by Diane Chamberlain.  While I guessed the end pretty quickly, it was still a fun read.  The other was "The Forgotten Girls" by Alexa Steele.  It seemed like a short book cause I flew through it, but maybe just cause it was a page turner.

So this next week will be just as busy and stressful, plus I will have to work.  I know I can have a flexible schedule and can work from home or my parent's home.  I hope that I will be back to running soon.  I will also be really looking forward to next weekend (already).  Have a great week!!

Have you missed 2 weeks of training before?  What do you do to keep entertained while on the treadmill?  Have you ever had a cat that liked to go for a walk?  Have you read any good books lately?

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

Five Fun Things I Did Last Weekend (Friday Five Edition)

I had a pretty good weekend last weekend.  I did a lot of things and still had time to relax.  I even had time to do a little bit of cleaning - a very little bit.

1. Escape Room - There is an episode on Big Bang Theory where they do an Escape Room.  Basically you are "locked" in a room and solve puzzles.  This was the second one I've done and the hour passes by in what feels like 5 minutes.  This room was Edger Allen Poe themed and we had several boxes with locks (both combination and key) where we had to solve puzzles to get them open.  We were supposed to find the raven to win and while we found the box where he was in, we did not open both locks in time.  We just needed another 5 minutes, maybe 10.  So much fun.

A fun time had by all

2. Long Run - I know to most people that doesn't sound like fun, but I really do enjoy long runs.  And after our group brought food and drinks and had a social afterward.  There was some good food and a couple new beers to try.  I really ended up liking Evin Twin Mission Gose.  It's a sour/salt beer that did not taste anything like beer.  Most of us shared a can as none of us knew if we would like it.  I did.  Basically everyone else didn't.

3. Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! - This was a fun movie.  It was a good mix of a new story line, nostalgia cameos, and a heck of a lot of Chris Hemsworth in a tight white t-shirt.

4. More Downton Abby - I binged more Downton Abby on Sunday.  It's so not what I expected from all of the press it had gotten throughout the years.  It's such a typical soap opera that it's hard to find anything to hate.  Lies, scheming, births, deaths, who's in love with who, and even a back from death.  Great fun.

5.  Kitties - Snuggling with my kitties on Sunday.  Surprisingly, I haven't really posted anything about these loons in my life that are amazing.  I have 3 - yes, I'm that crazy cat lady.  My old lady, Brianna - she will be 17 in September, is my little shadow, and really hates the other two.  And my two boys, who are now 2 years old.  I found them in my back yard two years ago and knew they were mine.  They love Bree just as much as she hates them.  Aiden is my little snuggle bug and Riley is so very skiddish, but lovable when he isn't hiding.

Brianna, Riley, and Aiden snoozing on the bed

Did you do anything fun last weekend?  Are you planning on doing anything fun this weekend?

Linking up with Courtney, Mar & Cynthia 

My Favorite Shows I've Been Binge Watching (Friday Five Edition)

A few months back I got rid of cable.  Part of me has found it freeing not turning on the TV the moment I get home and the other part is loving the binge watching.  I have found so many shows that I never watched before.  With thanks to Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, I now can watch almost anything.  I haven't been all night binging yet, but I have put off things like house work and errands, but really, I will find any reason to put those off.

1. Gilmore Girls - This show is about a mother/daughter relationship from the daughter's sophomore year to graduation of college.  I've seen most of the episodes several times, but with the new movies coming out later this summer, I had to watch it all again.  I really love the idea of living in a small town like that where everyone knows everyone.

2. Jessica Jones - When I was younger I read some comic books.  Mostly X-Men and Spider-man.  Now with the super hero craze, they are bringing out all these characters I've never heard of.  Jessica Jones is one of them.  This is about Jessica who has super strength and a man who is obsessed with her.  The catch is this man can control everyone by just speaking to them.  How do you get rid of a stocker that can control everything you say and do?  Very fun series.

3. Sherlock - This is the British version of Sherlock Homes played by Benedict Comerbatch.  I do love mysteries including almost any Sherlock type tv show, movie, or book.  This series does take place in the modern times, and not the 1800's and is so engaging.  The only problem I have with it is that the seasons are only 3 episodes.  So there are only 7 of them to watch.  As a side note, I really like Elementary (the US modern day version of Sherlock with a female Watson) as well.

4. Downton Abby - So I only recently got on this bandwagon and have been enjoying it.  It's about a rich family in the early 1900's and the interactions of their life and their servants.  I just finished season 2 and I have to say it such a soap opera.  I love it!

5. Seinfeld - This is another show that I've seen most of the episodes several times.  I've been watching this as I tend to like something on in the background.  I still find this show hilarious and relevant.  And it's fun to watch a show before everyone had cell phones as a reminder how things used to be before we were all connected 24/7.  And the catchphrases - "These pretzels are making me thirsty" and "Master of my domain" and "Yada, yada, yada" and "Not that there's anything wrong with that".

** Bonus **
Series that I look forward to either when I have time or they finally come out on a streaming service.
1. The Flash - Season 2 (then I will be caught up and can watch new episodes on Hulu in the fall)
2. The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
3. Stranger Things
4. Silicon Valley
5. Luke Cage

Do you have a show that you are binging on now?  What show do you most look forward to?

Linking up with Courtney, Mar & Cynthia