July 31, 2009
Last night was a difficult evening to motivate myself to workout.
After work, I went to the practice session for the Special Olympics Equestrian team that I coach, which is an over an hour from home. It was one of those hectic nights where you're running around trying to get everything together. Three of the other four coaches were not a practice for various reasons; two of which I didn't know wouldn't be making it until just a few hours prior to practice.
When I arrived, the one other coach who could make it had started practice, but everything was running behind and there was a need for some direction. I was juggling getting paperwork from parents and giving instruction to the riders. After some shuffling, I was able to focus my attentions on being in the arena and gave some needed one-on-one attention to riders who hadn't gotten much instruction prior to my showing up.
The evening improved dramatically and it ended up being a very productive and fun practice session. After all riders had dismounted and started heading home, I helped put tack and horses away. One of the girls mentioned that she needed help taking a few of the horses to the "far" pasture. It was decided that the girl who needed the help would be riding one horse and would pony a second with one of our athletes riding bareback for the first time. The last horse would be ridden by another person. The other coach and myself decided to walk behind those on horseback in case any issues were to arrive.
So, we started walking along and kept walking and walking and walking. We had been told the other pasture was "a ways, over the railroad tracks and past a field." After walking about a mile or more, we finally arrived at the next pasture. Then, we got to walk back! I figured that in itself was a good workout!
The next step was to drive all the way home, which is over an hour away. After the fresh air and activity, I was half asleep by the time I got home and wanted nothing more than to fall into bed. Of course, I pushed myself to do the workout and really struggled through it. Then, I sat down and didn't want to get up again. It was hard to motivate myself to get in the shower before bed!
I finally made it into the shower and into bed, but it was one of the toughest nights for exercising so far. It's definitely making me not look forward to doing it again tonight. I'm almost through the second week, though!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
The Iced Coffee Conundrum
July 23 - July 27, 2009
In the heat of the Iced Coffee Conundrum, the events were not funny to my mind. However, in retrospect, it's somewhat entertaining.
It all started on Thursday, July 23rd when I began feeling the cravings for a delicious iced coffee. Since I was going in to work late due to a vet appointment for my horse, I thought I'd stop for an iced coffee on my way in. On this particular morning, I happened to stop at a local McDonalds for a snack wrap and a caramel iced coffee. Within moments of pulling away from the drive-through window, I knew something was terribly wrong. I could smell the overly sweet caramel, indicating that too much syrup had been used. For verification, I took my first sip and found I was right; the coffee was terrible! Three sips into it confirmed that I could no way finish this beverage.
Jump ahead to Thursday evening. After a practice session with the equestrian team I'm coaching, I thought it would be a brilliant idea to stop in at Super America, as most of their locations now have an iced mocha machine. Upon entering this store, it became apparent that they were one of the few locations that did not have the desired machine.
Disappointed, I drove across the street to Arby's for a sandwich. I figured they would not have iced coffee, but asked anyway. My suspicions were confirmed and I was talked into purchasing one of their new iced teas. Delicious, yes, but not coffee. Sure, I could have always stopped in at the nearest Caribou or Starbucks, but iced coffee is so much more delicious when the cost is $1 instead of $5.
On Friday, my iced coffee craving subsided slightly and I thought little of it. Then, Saturday rolled around. My boyfriend and I took a drive to pass the afternoon and eventually came upon another Super America store. The front doors advertised that they indeed had the coveted coffee machine. I was yet again denied the opportunity to satisfy my craving, as the store was out of ice! My first thoughts were, "someone hates me!" At this point, I decided that I would no longer hunt for this treasure, as there must be some reason unbeknownst to me that I was coming up short.
Sunday rolled around and although I was not interested in chasing down the iced coffee I was originally craving, I bought a bottled frappuccino in hopes of finally satisfying my iced coffee obsession. Wrong again. The frappuccino was delicious, but not quite right.
This morning, I threw caution into the wind on my way to work and chose to stop at Super America to try again. Yes, they had a working iced coffee machine AND had ice in their soda fountain. My craving is satisfied at last!
In the heat of the Iced Coffee Conundrum, the events were not funny to my mind. However, in retrospect, it's somewhat entertaining.
It all started on Thursday, July 23rd when I began feeling the cravings for a delicious iced coffee. Since I was going in to work late due to a vet appointment for my horse, I thought I'd stop for an iced coffee on my way in. On this particular morning, I happened to stop at a local McDonalds for a snack wrap and a caramel iced coffee. Within moments of pulling away from the drive-through window, I knew something was terribly wrong. I could smell the overly sweet caramel, indicating that too much syrup had been used. For verification, I took my first sip and found I was right; the coffee was terrible! Three sips into it confirmed that I could no way finish this beverage.
Jump ahead to Thursday evening. After a practice session with the equestrian team I'm coaching, I thought it would be a brilliant idea to stop in at Super America, as most of their locations now have an iced mocha machine. Upon entering this store, it became apparent that they were one of the few locations that did not have the desired machine.
Disappointed, I drove across the street to Arby's for a sandwich. I figured they would not have iced coffee, but asked anyway. My suspicions were confirmed and I was talked into purchasing one of their new iced teas. Delicious, yes, but not coffee. Sure, I could have always stopped in at the nearest Caribou or Starbucks, but iced coffee is so much more delicious when the cost is $1 instead of $5.
On Friday, my iced coffee craving subsided slightly and I thought little of it. Then, Saturday rolled around. My boyfriend and I took a drive to pass the afternoon and eventually came upon another Super America store. The front doors advertised that they indeed had the coveted coffee machine. I was yet again denied the opportunity to satisfy my craving, as the store was out of ice! My first thoughts were, "someone hates me!" At this point, I decided that I would no longer hunt for this treasure, as there must be some reason unbeknownst to me that I was coming up short.
Sunday rolled around and although I was not interested in chasing down the iced coffee I was originally craving, I bought a bottled frappuccino in hopes of finally satisfying my iced coffee obsession. Wrong again. The frappuccino was delicious, but not quite right.
This morning, I threw caution into the wind on my way to work and chose to stop at Super America to try again. Yes, they had a working iced coffee machine AND had ice in their soda fountain. My craving is satisfied at last!
My Firsts - An Explanation
July 27, 2009
My Year of Firsts began, as many things do, a New Year's Resolution. Determined not to make the typical resolutions that I cannot keep, such as "lose weight," I prefer choose vague resolutions that I know I can keep.
In 2008, my resolution was to try 50 new beers within the year; as resolution that was kept. In fact, the final number was 51 by midnight on December 31, 2008. Perhaps there will be more to come on this in the future.
For 2009, I decided my resolution should be to try as many new experiences as possible. Although I didn't set a number of experiences nor specify how large the experience had to be, I told myself it had to be more than 25 things and preferably 50. I haven't figured out recently just where I'm at, but thought a blog would be a good thing to add to the new experiences and to use as a place to share my adventures. As we are over half way through the 2009 calendar year, many of my posts will likely be recounted tales of firsts from earlier in the year. A laundry list of the less exciting experiences will likely appear in an upcoming post as well.
I'd like to invite anyone reading this to give feedback and suggestions. As a first time blogger, I could use the help! Enjoy and have a wonderful day!
My Year of Firsts began, as many things do, a New Year's Resolution. Determined not to make the typical resolutions that I cannot keep, such as "lose weight," I prefer choose vague resolutions that I know I can keep.
In 2008, my resolution was to try 50 new beers within the year; as resolution that was kept. In fact, the final number was 51 by midnight on December 31, 2008. Perhaps there will be more to come on this in the future.
For 2009, I decided my resolution should be to try as many new experiences as possible. Although I didn't set a number of experiences nor specify how large the experience had to be, I told myself it had to be more than 25 things and preferably 50. I haven't figured out recently just where I'm at, but thought a blog would be a good thing to add to the new experiences and to use as a place to share my adventures. As we are over half way through the 2009 calendar year, many of my posts will likely be recounted tales of firsts from earlier in the year. A laundry list of the less exciting experiences will likely appear in an upcoming post as well.
I'd like to invite anyone reading this to give feedback and suggestions. As a first time blogger, I could use the help! Enjoy and have a wonderful day!
Fear of Heights Confirmed
July 26, 2009
Today is the day that my fear of heights was confirmed, or perhaps, re-confirmed.
Upon much debate on "what to do," my boyfriend and I decided we would explore a local state park. We settled on St. Croix State Park near Hinckley, MN. Upon entering the park, I purchased a Minnesota State Parks annual pass, a first in my lifetime.
After reading the map and setting out on our way through the miles upon miles of roads in the park, we eventually decided to visit the fire tower inside the park. At first glance, a sane person might determine it was much too high to attempt. Unfortunately, we weren't sane at the moment and thought we'd give it a try.
The climb up the tower wasn't as bad as I expected, but I suspect the exercising I'd done over the past week helped immensely. When we arrived on the third platform from the top of the tower, we stopped to consider whether we should continue all the way to the top or not. Again, we went for it, but one at a time, as you can feel the vibrations in the tower when people are climbing the stairs.
He made it to the top for a brief moment, then descended back to the platform where I was waiting. It was now my turn to continue to the top. Upon reaching the summit, I forced myself to look straight down, which caused my stomach to drop. It was frightening, as I usually cannot climb a short ladder for fear of falling. But, I took a deep breath and started my descent to ground level.
I have to admit that the descent was much worse, as you are forced to look down. Being that the sides of the tower are protected only by chicken wire, one's mind displays vivid pictures of tumbling down the steps and having the wire give way. Shakily, I told myself to focus on one step at a time and to not stop and think.
When I reached ground level, I found that I was very proud of myself for making it all the way up and then safely down the tower. Even more, I was pleased that I was not winded, the shaking quickly subsided and there was no pain in my muscles. Obviously, the squats and lunges I've done over the past week were helping immensely!
In one day I had accomplished a physical feat I didn't believe myself able to do well, the mental feat of facing my fear of heights, as well as two firsts to add to my collection for 2009!
Today is the day that my fear of heights was confirmed, or perhaps, re-confirmed.
Upon much debate on "what to do," my boyfriend and I decided we would explore a local state park. We settled on St. Croix State Park near Hinckley, MN. Upon entering the park, I purchased a Minnesota State Parks annual pass, a first in my lifetime.
After reading the map and setting out on our way through the miles upon miles of roads in the park, we eventually decided to visit the fire tower inside the park. At first glance, a sane person might determine it was much too high to attempt. Unfortunately, we weren't sane at the moment and thought we'd give it a try.
The climb up the tower wasn't as bad as I expected, but I suspect the exercising I'd done over the past week helped immensely. When we arrived on the third platform from the top of the tower, we stopped to consider whether we should continue all the way to the top or not. Again, we went for it, but one at a time, as you can feel the vibrations in the tower when people are climbing the stairs.
He made it to the top for a brief moment, then descended back to the platform where I was waiting. It was now my turn to continue to the top. Upon reaching the summit, I forced myself to look straight down, which caused my stomach to drop. It was frightening, as I usually cannot climb a short ladder for fear of falling. But, I took a deep breath and started my descent to ground level.
I have to admit that the descent was much worse, as you are forced to look down. Being that the sides of the tower are protected only by chicken wire, one's mind displays vivid pictures of tumbling down the steps and having the wire give way. Shakily, I told myself to focus on one step at a time and to not stop and think.
When I reached ground level, I found that I was very proud of myself for making it all the way up and then safely down the tower. Even more, I was pleased that I was not winded, the shaking quickly subsided and there was no pain in my muscles. Obviously, the squats and lunges I've done over the past week were helping immensely!
In one day I had accomplished a physical feat I didn't believe myself able to do well, the mental feat of facing my fear of heights, as well as two firsts to add to my collection for 2009!
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