Friday Five Firsts (Friday Five Edition)

I was talking to my friends over the weekend and we started discussing firsts.  Not that kind, get your mind out of the gutter.  It started by seeing what our first purchases were on Amazon and what our first plane ride was.  I found the conversation interesting and thought I'd a Friday Five Firsts.

1. Amazon

I have been a purchasing items on Amazon since 1999.  My first order was on January 14, 1999 and I bought 2 books.  A little bit of background of myself.  I was a huge fan of U2 in high school and college.  And to say I was a huge fan, is an understatement.  More like obsessed.  I've seen them in concert all over the country and in Ireland and England.

The next part of this you can't laugh at.  I was in my early 20's.  I wanted to write a story involving the band, but I wanted to use real quotes that the band had out there to create the conversation part of the story.  And like most of my big ideas, I never followed through on it.

Bono: In His Own Words

U2: The Rolling Stones Files 

What is more embarrassing is my second purchase on December 5, 1999.  I know I enjoy reading astrology, but all for fun.  I don't remember buying this book and I haven't seen it anywhere in my house in the last 20 years so it makes me wonder if it was purchased as a gift.

Astrology for Yourself: How to Understand and Interpret Your Own Birth Chart

2.  Plane Ride

While I know I don't remember it, I know when I was about a year we had a trip to Jamaica.  I know we would have flown there but of course I don't remember it.  There is a picture of me with my parents there and I have been told many times that my brother was conceived there.

The first plane ride I remember was going to Mexico.  I was probably 5 or 6.  I remember that we went to a small airport and not Stapleton International Airport in Denver.  My brother and I got those little pins with wings on them.

These are not the wings we got, just an example

3. Tweet

I joined Twitter in January 2009, but I didn't have my first tweet till February 23, 2009.  I remember being very bored in my job and really not having much to do.  I found twitter and that sucked up some of my boredom.

4.  Music

While I was after the time of 8 Tracks (though I remember we played The Chipmunk's Christmas Don't Be Late every Christmas on 8 Track) I actually do remember my first Tape and CD purchases.  I remember my first Tape purchase was done in a Target.  Don't ask me why I remember that detail.  It was What Up, Dog, because it had the song Walk the Dinosaur on it.

I remember getting my first CD player.  It was portable and one of my prized possessions.  The first CD I bought was "Weird Al" Yankovic's Greatest Hits.  I'm not sure why that and if I should be embarrassed by it or proud of my weirdness.  But I do still have that CD.
 

5.  Trouble

I'm sure I got in trouble before this, but this is the first time I got in big trouble.  When I was little I went to a Montessori school.  I was about 4 or 5 at the time and we were out for recess and the door to the teacher's lounge had a sign that said "Do Not Disturb".  I, along with two friends, kept cracking the door open and yelling "Disturb!!".  We thought we were so funny.  The teachers never came out to tell us to stop or anything.  I do remember that evening my parents gave me a talking to and how they were very upset by what I did.  At that age, I was very upset that my parents were upset with me.


What was your first Amazon purchase?  Where was your first plane ride to?  What was your first tweet?  What was the first piece of music you bought?  What did you to do get into trouble the first time?

I'm linking up with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for Friday Five 2.0

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.

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.

Favorites Of All Time (Friday Five Edition)

This week is a Friday Five to learn more about me.  Here are some of my favorite things.

1. TV - Hmm, this is a hard one, so I may list a few.
Veronica Mars - Revolves around a high school girl that is a private investigator. 
Firefly - A band of outlaws in the universe where outer space meets the wild west.  It's only 14 episodes (plus a movie) so go watch it now!
The Big Bang Theory - Summed up in two words - Geek Love

2. Movies - Another hard one.  I think if I had to really think about it it would come down to 2 (trilogies).  Lord of the Ring and Star Wars (episodes 4-6).  There are so many other movies that I just love as well.  I do enjoy most of the super hero movies that are out as well.

3. Books - I love to read, especially a good mystery.  I've read the Alphabet series by Sue Grafton, I've read the Number series by Janet Evanovich.  I've read Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz.  But I have to say my favorite books are not mysteries.

I have to say one of my favorite books is The Princess Bride.  The movie is amazing too, but the book goes into such wonderful detail.  I do have to mention two other books, ones which I recommend to everyone.  First, The Ridiculous Race by Steve Hely and Vali Chandrasekaran.  It's about two guys who race each other around the world but are not allowed to use airplanes.  It's just a hilarious book.  Second, The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman.  It's about a house (and it's garden) through the years.  It starts off in 1750 when the town (and the house) was founded.  Each chapter moves to a next period of time and the people that live there.

4. Race - I have to say my favorite race of all time is the WDW Marathon.  Even though I was dealing with food poisoning, I think the on course spectators and entertainment was enough to keep anyone from thinking too much about how many miles they were running.  A very close second is the Star Wars Half Marathon in Disneyland.  This January I ran Dopey and then all three Star Wars races the next weekend.  And that half marathon was my favorite race of all of them.  They even had the Cos Players out on the race for some extra entertainment.  I felt so strong and had so much fun that it was perfect ending to a very long two weeks.

5. Vacation - By far, hands down, my cross country trip from LA to VA.  I saw some amazing things, including the Grand Canyon, Graceland, the Joshua Tree National Park, and the Four Corners, to name a few.  Yes the trip was by myself, but that allowed me to go where I want, leave when I want, and drive as much as I'd like.  I did do a travel blog of this trip and have everything but the last couple days documented.  I loved the trip so much that I plan in the next year or two to do it again on the northern route.  Maybe a race out in California and a drive home, hmm, sounds like a dream.

Do you have a favorite book, movie, or trip?  A favorite race?

Linking up with Courtney, Mar & Cynthia 

Tons of Books

Starting at the beginning of this year, I have been really obsessed with reading.  I can't get enough of the written word.  My favorites seem to by mystery/thrillers, especially when they have to do with a strong female role, especially if they are P.I.s.  I don't know what the drawl is, but it has me reading and that's great.  I use to be an avid reader when I was a teenager.  I hit college and found that I had better things to do.  A few years back, I started up again.  And this year I'm devowering every book I can find.  Here is the list of books I have read this year.

1) Eat, Pray, Love - Now not a normal type book for me but a friend let me borrow it several months before and I thought I should just get it read.  It does have some interesting tidbits, but I'm not a huge fan of the last part of the book.  And I watched the movie after I finished the book and all I have to say is that it's too long.

2) Murder... Suicide... Whatever... - This is a new P.I. writer that took a real long time to get to the jist of the story, but the last third picked up enough that I just ordered the second book in this series.


3) I is for Innocent - This book I borrowed from my mom.  I have never read the Alphabet series, but I did listen to U is for Undertow on my cross country trip last November.  Both books were light and a fun read so I decided to start from the beginning.

4) The Red Garden - I loved this book and would recommend it to almost anyone.  It's a bunch of short stories (sort of) that have to do with a town from it's founding to present day.  You follow the generations of families in this town through the different short stories and just fall in love with the town.

5) A is for Alibi - So I started the Alphabet series from the beginning.  A light quick read, that is enjoyable.  Though it is weird to read books from the '80s and see how things have changed.

6) Postmortem - This series fallows a Chief Medical Officer as she gets the mysteries that surround her "patients".  I got into this series from a recommendation from someone because it takes place in my home town.  It's real cool to read about the different parts of town and roads that I really know.

7) B is for Burglar - Another Kinsey Milhone story.  Not much to say about the series beyond they are easy and fun reads.  Though I have started to notice that the Epilogue is never even a page long, so I feel like the arc of the story comes, we find out who did it, and then that's it.  No real end to the story like I would like to see.  But the books are still fun and easy reads.

8) Body of Evidence - The second in the Kay Scarpetta series.  Same as the first, though I missed having her niece around.  She was a fun character that added balance.  This series also was first written in the 80's so I'm having to remember that cell phones were not normal and they really had to look for a pay phone to talk to anyone. 

9) Jane Eyre - This was a book on CD that I was listening to when I had time.  There are a lot of classic books that I never read and always wanted to.  I really enjoyed this story a lot.

10) C is for Corpse - Same as all the other Kinsey Milhone series.

11) All that Remains - The third in the Kay Scarpetta series.  And more of the same.

12) The Spellmans Strike Again - This is the fourth in the Spellman series that I have read over the last couple years.  I really do enjoy this series.  It's a P.I. that has grown up in a family of P.I.s.  The family is nuts and the stories are fun.  I would really recommend this series to anyone that likes a quick mystery involving crazy people.

13) Cruel and Unusual - This is the forth in the Kay Scarpetta series.  I am now noticing that every case she gets involved in, turns out to be all about her.  I understand that the investigator has to get involved, but the reason of these bad things can't always be because of the main character.  But over all the book was good, just starting to be a little bothersome.  I have been told her latest books aren't any good, so I'll keep reading them till I'm not happy reading them at all.

14) D is for Deadbeat - The forth in the Kinsey Milhone series.  Again enjoyable and a little put off by the lack of conclusion.  But not enough to stop reading the series.


15) E is for Evidence - The fifth in the Kinsey Milhone series.  Same as the rest.

Currently I am reading the next book after Murder... Suicide... Whatever... I'm also reading a book on a Kindle which is going slow as I save that for when I'm out of the house, and just started a book on CD which will also go slow as my commute is not long so I don't have that many opportune times to just listen to a book.  I will review other books as I finish them.