Turns out that exceptionally sore biceps last week were due to my seldom doing biceps curls and hammer curls. They didn't get sore this week. Perhaps there is some value in training the small arm muscles rather than just concentrating on shoulders and back.
Also, dummy me was once again overdosing on Vitamin D. I keep forgetting that the D3 capsules I have are 2000IU and not 1000IU! That's probably what was causing the sore big toes and some minor return of foot pain. If this keeps up, I'll have to hire a home health aide to supervise my supplement dosages! : )
Walked on Camp May Road. I never, ever get tired of studying the views from that road! It was very windy but I was under-dressed on the way up and didn't sweat much. I added another layer and warm gloves on the way down.
When I first started walking, some snowflakes were blowing around - at least one or two - but the dark cloud blew east toward the Sangres. The snow seems to have passed us by.
Yoga class this morning was good. I may have strained my buttock muscle in Warrior III (the one where you tilt forward and balance on one leg) but it seems minor. The mirrors were helpful. My form is not as bad as I imagined it from just doing yoga at home to an exercise dvd.
I could almost see getting a gym membership just for the classes but after a while, I'd tire of the obligation of going there on a regular basis to get my money's worth.
The nicest thing about a gym is that you do meet like-minded people who value their health. Today I saw Tom and Jean there. They used to hike with the LL group. Tom was working out on the treadmill. He can't hike anymore because of peripheral neuropathy which makes it really hard for him to walk on uneven ground. I also met a woman named Roberta who said that her 85 year old Mom never really exercised and now has all sorts of limitations as to how long she can stand and what movements she can make and generally has lots of aches and pains. Roberta is hoping that through regular exercise, she can be in better shape if she's lucky enough to make that age. Turns out that she was in the melodrama the same year I was but she was a can-can dancer.
It is so tempting to get a membership to the fitness center but I have to restrain myself because it will end up becoming just another obligation, albeit a thrilling one at first.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Yesterday and Today
Yesterday, went with spouse to lower Water Canyon outside of Pajarito Acres. Walked to drainage in Potrillo Canyon. Spouse waited for me just below the final climb to the saddle. I tell you, he was really hot-footing it on the way back! Fortunately now that my foot is healed, I wasn't suffering. He did slow down on the final hill up to the road. We went in the northern entrance where the powerlines are. Wasn't as snowy and icy as the classic middle entrance but there was still some hanging on.
Went to two LA Fitness Center classes today. After the Fifty Plus muscle strengthening class, I went to the Fifty Plus cardio one. Not much in the way of cardio but fun to move to music. I think, though, that I can safely skip that class in the future. Later this week, I'll try their yoga class. I'm concluding that I'd rather do my muscle strengthening at home (even though I'd really rather do anything else!) and go outdoors for my cardio. Maybe there will be a place in my life in the future to join a gym but not now. I feel good when I get outside to exercise.
Spouse went to see Slumdog Millionaire. It's supposed to be good and I'd love to see the scenes of India but I read about two violent scenes in the movie that I didn't want to see. I'll ask spouse how graphic those scenes were.
May walk this evening. It's semi-cloudy here and the Spring winds are gearing up.
Went to two LA Fitness Center classes today. After the Fifty Plus muscle strengthening class, I went to the Fifty Plus cardio one. Not much in the way of cardio but fun to move to music. I think, though, that I can safely skip that class in the future. Later this week, I'll try their yoga class. I'm concluding that I'd rather do my muscle strengthening at home (even though I'd really rather do anything else!) and go outdoors for my cardio. Maybe there will be a place in my life in the future to join a gym but not now. I feel good when I get outside to exercise.
Spouse went to see Slumdog Millionaire. It's supposed to be good and I'd love to see the scenes of India but I read about two violent scenes in the movie that I didn't want to see. I'll ask spouse how graphic those scenes were.
May walk this evening. It's semi-cloudy here and the Spring winds are gearing up.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Odds and Ends
Interesting article in today's Los Alamos Monitor on Dr. Storkan's cancer fight. He did the opposite of the author of the book Anti-Cancer. Dr. Storkan first tried alternative therapy and that strengthened his body but allowed the squamous cell carcinoma to spread to his lymph nodes. Then he allowed conventional medicine - surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy - to help stop the spread. Probably a good idea to use alternative treatments as an adjunct to conventional ones when you have cancer.
Dwight R. Smith published a book in 2004, One Mile At a Time: Cycling Through Loss and Renewal, about how cycling around the country helped him after he lost his two sons in a nine year span and then his wife died.
Dorothy Hoard's Guide to Bandelier National Monument is such a beautifully irresistible book made so by Dale Coker's cover photo of a rainbow over Bandelier's ruins and Dorothy's impeccable interpretation of the Bandelier landscape.
One day I have to check out the pinch of land that Santa Fe National Forest bought from the Baca Location Number 1 in 1990. I have the legal description and I can see it on the newest forest service map when I compare it to the 1990 map but I want to get an on the ground view of it.
Dave will soon be releasing a long term weather report. It predicts dryness. He says the storm coming next week will pass us by. He terms the VCNP the Valles Caldera Government Country Club. He used his Labrador Retriever, Thunder Dog, to check out a snow bridge on the East Fork. Thunder Dog fell in but was nonplussed by the icy bath. But, as Dave says, Thunder Dog also likes to eat cat poop!
Dwight R. Smith published a book in 2004, One Mile At a Time: Cycling Through Loss and Renewal, about how cycling around the country helped him after he lost his two sons in a nine year span and then his wife died.
Dorothy Hoard's Guide to Bandelier National Monument is such a beautifully irresistible book made so by Dale Coker's cover photo of a rainbow over Bandelier's ruins and Dorothy's impeccable interpretation of the Bandelier landscape.
One day I have to check out the pinch of land that Santa Fe National Forest bought from the Baca Location Number 1 in 1990. I have the legal description and I can see it on the newest forest service map when I compare it to the 1990 map but I want to get an on the ground view of it.
Dave will soon be releasing a long term weather report. It predicts dryness. He says the storm coming next week will pass us by. He terms the VCNP the Valles Caldera Government Country Club. He used his Labrador Retriever, Thunder Dog, to check out a snow bridge on the East Fork. Thunder Dog fell in but was nonplussed by the icy bath. But, as Dave says, Thunder Dog also likes to eat cat poop!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day!
Went to Santa Fe with spouse. We ate at Outback Steakhouse. I got seared ahi tuna but it tasted more like pastrami or corned beef. I asked for plain wasabi and soy sauce but waiter said they didn't have any but then later, after I ate tuna, brought out soy sauce. Well, anyway, the salty sauces (supposed to be wasabi vinaigrette and a creamy orange sauce that tasted of soy sauce) that came with the tuna tasted all right and were also good to dip the tender vegetables in - yellow squash, snow peas, carrots and broccoli. Sweet potato was a very welcome touch. I deferred on the butter and brown sugar! I made a salad out of the quarter head of romaine underneath the tuna. Had a little of the pumpernickel bread but it tasted like it had sugar in it. Asked them to turn down music and thankfully, they turned it off instead.They were giving everyone a $10 off coupon for visit in March so we'll go back and I'll try the Atlantic salmon. Spouse had 6 ounce steak, baked potato with all the trimmings, including cheese which he said he could have done without and a nice salad - better than at Red Lobster. Outback normally opens at 3pm on Saturday but today, Valentine's Day, opened at noon.
Spouse bought antenna at Walmart. So horribly hard to get a decent picture using converter box. Our roof antenna needs replacing but we're too lazy to bother. I bought a new Totes black golf umbrella. One cannot have too many golf umbrellas and it was only $12!
We stopped at Trader Joe's. I usually don't eat their samples but couldn't resist the 72% chocolate-enrobed strawberries. Didn't buy much because bought plenty yesterday at Smith's in White Rock. Spouse stocked up on seafood and that's a good thing. I bought three bags of organic carrots, a bag of sulfured dried Blenheim apricots and a bag of freeze dried mangosteen. Try to avoid sulfur but the sulfured dried apricots are so much better than the hard, dark unsulfured ones. Sulfur makes me cough a bit, though, but I don't have them often.
Breakfast smoothie included: spinach, strawberries, carrot, almonds, half red bell pepper, apple, herbal tea, tumeric, rosemary, ginger, hibiscus. You can get a lot of fruit and veggies in a morning smoothie.
Tonight's supper will include rock lobster tails purchased from Smith's and scallops from TJ's.
Dorothy called to tell me she's giving me a copy of her revised guide to Bandelier. It's finally completed but now she has to labor over the historic roads book and income taxes. I'll pick it up from her bag tonight when I go out walking. Was some snow blowing around when we rolled into town. Could be cold and windy tonight. I'll have Prairie Home Companion to listen to.
My big toes are feeling a little better. An unexpected and unwelcome pain had developed in them, perhaps initially caused by the neutral Brooks shoes or, maybe more likely, the Keen waterproof hiking boots - who knows.
My biceps were horribly painful all day yesterday but that seems to have gone away today and I'm thankful for that. I took the LA Fitness Center's muscle strengthening classes Tuesday and Thursday and each day my biceps got exceptionally sore. It should stop happening when my muscles get used to the class. It's not like this is the first time in my life that I've lifted dumbbells!
Spouse bought antenna at Walmart. So horribly hard to get a decent picture using converter box. Our roof antenna needs replacing but we're too lazy to bother. I bought a new Totes black golf umbrella. One cannot have too many golf umbrellas and it was only $12!
We stopped at Trader Joe's. I usually don't eat their samples but couldn't resist the 72% chocolate-enrobed strawberries. Didn't buy much because bought plenty yesterday at Smith's in White Rock. Spouse stocked up on seafood and that's a good thing. I bought three bags of organic carrots, a bag of sulfured dried Blenheim apricots and a bag of freeze dried mangosteen. Try to avoid sulfur but the sulfured dried apricots are so much better than the hard, dark unsulfured ones. Sulfur makes me cough a bit, though, but I don't have them often.
Breakfast smoothie included: spinach, strawberries, carrot, almonds, half red bell pepper, apple, herbal tea, tumeric, rosemary, ginger, hibiscus. You can get a lot of fruit and veggies in a morning smoothie.
Tonight's supper will include rock lobster tails purchased from Smith's and scallops from TJ's.
Dorothy called to tell me she's giving me a copy of her revised guide to Bandelier. It's finally completed but now she has to labor over the historic roads book and income taxes. I'll pick it up from her bag tonight when I go out walking. Was some snow blowing around when we rolled into town. Could be cold and windy tonight. I'll have Prairie Home Companion to listen to.
My big toes are feeling a little better. An unexpected and unwelcome pain had developed in them, perhaps initially caused by the neutral Brooks shoes or, maybe more likely, the Keen waterproof hiking boots - who knows.
My biceps were horribly painful all day yesterday but that seems to have gone away today and I'm thankful for that. I took the LA Fitness Center's muscle strengthening classes Tuesday and Thursday and each day my biceps got exceptionally sore. It should stop happening when my muscles get used to the class. It's not like this is the first time in my life that I've lifted dumbbells!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Nambe Badlands Again
I need to make a few notes to help set in my mind possible pitfalls if I take any groups on this hike.
On the top half of the figure eight, when you are in the arroyo and after you pass the castle butte, watch for the white caliche hill, with a rounded, orangish colored hill behind it to the right, that has the faux snake (a stick) on it. Soon after this, look for a short cut that will take you out of the arroyo. Follow a trail across a flat, sandy stretch and then go downhill to cross the same arroyo you were in and immediately go up a small hill and out of the arroyo. Almost immediately, you climb to your left up an inconspicuous path (not a real trail) to the ridge that leads back to the overlook of the lovely, lone butte I saw from lunch on Wednesday.
To the west, you can see views of U.S.285 and Clara Peak Road from this ridge. Right at the LL group's lunch spot, you go steeply downhill from the ridge and back to the cross on the figure eight, otherwise known as the gray pavement because the rocks look like paved sidewalks. You turn right to go back to NM503.
Regarding the bottom half of the figure eight, on the way back, after passing the pinnacles on the left side, you walk through a narrow arroyo. Remember to point out to people the house you can see if you look back as soon as you come up out of this arroyo.
On the top half of the figure eight, when you are in the arroyo and after you pass the castle butte, watch for the white caliche hill, with a rounded, orangish colored hill behind it to the right, that has the faux snake (a stick) on it. Soon after this, look for a short cut that will take you out of the arroyo. Follow a trail across a flat, sandy stretch and then go downhill to cross the same arroyo you were in and immediately go up a small hill and out of the arroyo. Almost immediately, you climb to your left up an inconspicuous path (not a real trail) to the ridge that leads back to the overlook of the lovely, lone butte I saw from lunch on Wednesday.
To the west, you can see views of U.S.285 and Clara Peak Road from this ridge. Right at the LL group's lunch spot, you go steeply downhill from the ridge and back to the cross on the figure eight, otherwise known as the gray pavement because the rocks look like paved sidewalks. You turn right to go back to NM503.
Regarding the bottom half of the figure eight, on the way back, after passing the pinnacles on the left side, you walk through a narrow arroyo. Remember to point out to people the house you can see if you look back as soon as you come up out of this arroyo.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Nambe Badlands Hike With LL Gang
Was fun and good exercise. It's hike #51 in the Salzman's book, Hiking Adventures in Northern New Mexico. Very nice of our leaders to agree to take the group on it so I could scout it for the WRSC hiking group. There were twelve of us. Everyone seemed to enjoy the beautiful views of the badland's rock formations and of the Jemez and Sangre Mountains.
The trail starts at the boundary between Nambe Pueblo and BLM land, right where there's a sign on NM503 saying that you're leaving Nambe Pueblo. You park on a dirt road that's just below NM503 and go through a gate that's easy to open and close. You start out walking along the Nambe Pueblo boundary fence and then turn to the right at a three-way trail juncture, leaving the boundary fence, to walk fairly easily uphill a little over one and a half miles to a four-way trail junction that you'll recognize by the gray, pavement-like rock cover. At this point, you can turn to the left and follow an easy path back to the vehicles. I didn't do that option but I bet it's no longer than three to three and a half miles. Our leader did that because her right knee was hurting her. She really gets winded walking uphill and was sweating heavily. Maybe she's become deconditioned with the knee pain.
Or, for a five mile hike, you can turn right and go down into an arroyo. Going down into the arroyo, the trail was rough because it was badly eroded. You follow the arroyo's twists and turns for a while and then go left up a bank and eventually up on top of a mesa for lunch that has great views of the mountains all around and a picturesque butte that had crows flying all around it. From our lunch vantage point, we could see the back of the spine of the Pojoaque Badlands.
Then it's down off the ridge and up and across another and back down to the four-way trail junction to return to the cars. The footing is fine but potentially slippery on this part. Some WRSC members would not appreciate the steepness and neither would some WI's. I'd recommend taking those hikers on the bottom part of the loop, i.e., turning left at the four-way intersection.
It was a beautiful day with high-pressure blue skies and no snow or ice or mud. It's a perfect time to go there before it gets too hot. Our leader said don't go there when it's wet or windy or hot!
Our leader's birthday is February 10 so her husband passed out brownies he had baked.
I took off my gloves for heat regulation but now my hands have the rash again and are very itchy. I need to run hot water on them before they drive me nuts!
I didn't sleep well last night - lots of peeing, lots of putting covers on and taking them off and my right foot bunion was giving me pain, which hasn't happened before. It almost seems like the orthotics are making the bunion bigger but not much I can do about that!
Grandson comes over tonight and I am prepared with ten issues of Boy's Life, which he loves, that I checked out from MPL.
The trail starts at the boundary between Nambe Pueblo and BLM land, right where there's a sign on NM503 saying that you're leaving Nambe Pueblo. You park on a dirt road that's just below NM503 and go through a gate that's easy to open and close. You start out walking along the Nambe Pueblo boundary fence and then turn to the right at a three-way trail juncture, leaving the boundary fence, to walk fairly easily uphill a little over one and a half miles to a four-way trail junction that you'll recognize by the gray, pavement-like rock cover. At this point, you can turn to the left and follow an easy path back to the vehicles. I didn't do that option but I bet it's no longer than three to three and a half miles. Our leader did that because her right knee was hurting her. She really gets winded walking uphill and was sweating heavily. Maybe she's become deconditioned with the knee pain.
Or, for a five mile hike, you can turn right and go down into an arroyo. Going down into the arroyo, the trail was rough because it was badly eroded. You follow the arroyo's twists and turns for a while and then go left up a bank and eventually up on top of a mesa for lunch that has great views of the mountains all around and a picturesque butte that had crows flying all around it. From our lunch vantage point, we could see the back of the spine of the Pojoaque Badlands.
Then it's down off the ridge and up and across another and back down to the four-way trail junction to return to the cars. The footing is fine but potentially slippery on this part. Some WRSC members would not appreciate the steepness and neither would some WI's. I'd recommend taking those hikers on the bottom part of the loop, i.e., turning left at the four-way intersection.
It was a beautiful day with high-pressure blue skies and no snow or ice or mud. It's a perfect time to go there before it gets too hot. Our leader said don't go there when it's wet or windy or hot!
Our leader's birthday is February 10 so her husband passed out brownies he had baked.
I took off my gloves for heat regulation but now my hands have the rash again and are very itchy. I need to run hot water on them before they drive me nuts!
I didn't sleep well last night - lots of peeing, lots of putting covers on and taking them off and my right foot bunion was giving me pain, which hasn't happened before. It almost seems like the orthotics are making the bunion bigger but not much I can do about that!
Grandson comes over tonight and I am prepared with ten issues of Boy's Life, which he loves, that I checked out from MPL.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
What's Going On? Not Much
Got up at 8am which is loads better than 10:30am. Walked usual 4 miles RT on Camp May Road. Trying to do it only once a week so as not to aggravate knees and feet. Pretty views as always.
Called Los Alamos County when I got home to report potholes on West Road, sand that needs sweeping on Camp May Road, drainage problem on Camp May Road and tripping hazard dirt piles near library.
Did load of laundry. Running dishwasher and soon must put away a bunch of dishes.
Enjoying reading Above Timberline: A Rocky Mountain Journal by Dwight Smith. Interesting that he dictated the book into a tape recorder and someone else transcribed it. I Googled Brown's Pass, Colorado and found some photos on WebShots. It's a stark but beautiful area. Brown's Cabin, where Dwight lives for the summer, is at 11,500' in the Collegiate Peaks.
Going to get rid of the GRE books I scavenged from the library non-return shelves.
Have to get up at 6:30am to go on LL hike to Nambe Badlands. I want to learn that hike so the WRSC group can go on it. Their leader asked me to check it out.
Grandson's teacher wants to do an experiment and see what grandson is like at school if he doesn't take the ADHD medicine.
Called Los Alamos County when I got home to report potholes on West Road, sand that needs sweeping on Camp May Road, drainage problem on Camp May Road and tripping hazard dirt piles near library.
Did load of laundry. Running dishwasher and soon must put away a bunch of dishes.
Enjoying reading Above Timberline: A Rocky Mountain Journal by Dwight Smith. Interesting that he dictated the book into a tape recorder and someone else transcribed it. I Googled Brown's Pass, Colorado and found some photos on WebShots. It's a stark but beautiful area. Brown's Cabin, where Dwight lives for the summer, is at 11,500' in the Collegiate Peaks.
Going to get rid of the GRE books I scavenged from the library non-return shelves.
Have to get up at 6:30am to go on LL hike to Nambe Badlands. I want to learn that hike so the WRSC group can go on it. Their leader asked me to check it out.
Grandson's teacher wants to do an experiment and see what grandson is like at school if he doesn't take the ADHD medicine.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Grandson Was Over Tonight
Daughter is taking a jujitsu class on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Y from 7-8:30pm. We'll watch grandson for her every other week.
I wanted to walk with him but spouse had him watch a show he taped off the Science Channel so I walked by myself back and forth to the LA Airport for my exercise.
I wanted to walk with him but spouse had him watch a show he taped off the Science Channel so I walked by myself back and forth to the LA Airport for my exercise.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Hungry
I drove to White Rock this morning to check out the Jemez House Thrift Shop for old jackets with elastic sleeves. I want to cut off the bottom of the sleeve above the wrist to make homemade gaiters. The gravel that I collect in my shoes when I hike isn't doing my orthotics any good. I didn't find any jackets or anything else to buy. Stopped at WRMPL and got out a bunch of new books that I don't have time to read in a week but I'll browse them next week.
Spouse is at work now putting the finishing touches on his hour long presentation that he'll give next week.
Got gas at Metzgers and then decided to drive back up to the townsite and check out the library's non-return shelves. Found nothing but did buy Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone for $4. I'll never actually use it but it will be good for reference and loads cheaper than buying it brand new! It has loads of recipes using dairy in it so it's vegetarian and not vegan but recipes are adaptable.
Oh, yes, I dumped some wheat grass powder at the icy edge of Ashley Pond for the fishies! When took out the plastic bag, it smelled so grassy! My smoothie this morning tasted so much better without it!
Drove back home and plan to eat a very late lunch soon and then get back on the computer for some web surfing. Always questing after some idea or another! I want to find a place to order printer ink cartridges online. Computers are timesavers but also timewasters but I'm insolubly hooked into them!
I'll tape Prairie Home Companion at 4pm and listen to it when I exercise by walking downtown tonight!
Spouse is at work now putting the finishing touches on his hour long presentation that he'll give next week.
Got gas at Metzgers and then decided to drive back up to the townsite and check out the library's non-return shelves. Found nothing but did buy Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone for $4. I'll never actually use it but it will be good for reference and loads cheaper than buying it brand new! It has loads of recipes using dairy in it so it's vegetarian and not vegan but recipes are adaptable.
Oh, yes, I dumped some wheat grass powder at the icy edge of Ashley Pond for the fishies! When took out the plastic bag, it smelled so grassy! My smoothie this morning tasted so much better without it!
Drove back home and plan to eat a very late lunch soon and then get back on the computer for some web surfing. Always questing after some idea or another! I want to find a place to order printer ink cartridges online. Computers are timesavers but also timewasters but I'm insolubly hooked into them!
I'll tape Prairie Home Companion at 4pm and listen to it when I exercise by walking downtown tonight!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wonderful to Be Able to Hike
I hike pain-free nowadays with the wonderful orthotics from the Albuquerque physical therapist - what a blessing!
Went with spouse on WRSC hike on road to sewer treatment plant. They actually were adventurous enough to take a look-see at the new sewer treatment plant. The payoff was that they also got to see all the fantastical shaped tent rocks in Pueblo Canyon near the new plant. They enjoyed speculating on the shapes and imagined they saw Jaws, Darth Vader, an eagle, Cyrano de Bergerac. We did 4 1/2 miles altogether. There were only five of us. There is talk that the group may go on the Railrunner trip January 27. Mary asked if I would check out the Nambe Badlands from the Salzman's book for a future hike. I would like to do that next week.
Enjoying quiet time at home after finishing load of laundry. Am surfing on the computer. Spouse went into work this afternoon to refine his presentation that he'll give next week.
Went with spouse on WRSC hike on road to sewer treatment plant. They actually were adventurous enough to take a look-see at the new sewer treatment plant. The payoff was that they also got to see all the fantastical shaped tent rocks in Pueblo Canyon near the new plant. They enjoyed speculating on the shapes and imagined they saw Jaws, Darth Vader, an eagle, Cyrano de Bergerac. We did 4 1/2 miles altogether. There were only five of us. There is talk that the group may go on the Railrunner trip January 27. Mary asked if I would check out the Nambe Badlands from the Salzman's book for a future hike. I would like to do that next week.
Enjoying quiet time at home after finishing load of laundry. Am surfing on the computer. Spouse went into work this afternoon to refine his presentation that he'll give next week.
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