Day After

Saturday my sister and I went to Buffalo to do some shopping. I needed some track-suit type of pants to wear for my curling class. I went to the Adidas and Reebok stores - I found some stuff in the women's sizes that fit (!) but nothing was exactly what I needed. Ended up going to Old Navy and getting an XL sweat pants, an XXL training pants to wear underneath, and a polar fleece vest. Then we went to get some groceries and then dinner.

Sunday morning was the curling class. I couldn't remember exactly when the class was to start - I thought 9:30 or 10:30 - but since there wasn't an email from the instructor, I hoped for the best and showed up at 9:30. I was 1/2 an hour early! 

There are 26 of us in the class - but not everyone showed up. The guy I worked with in the clinic, Dave, gave us a course outline and told us when the next couple of classes will be, and a bit about curling etiquette.Then we were divided up among several volunteers and went out on the ice. Some in the class have been on different teams but never had proper instruction, others had played before but want to brush up on their skills, and then there are those that have never played before. We all grouped together and were taught by a different Dave. 

During the clinics I did okay. I was able to walk on the ice and be sort of comfortable - not this time. I was able to do okay in the hack - not this time. I actually fell on my ass a couple times! jeez. And what really bugged me is that I pulled a muscle - but I toughed it out and kept at it. 

Dave had a great idea - he had us get into our delivery stance, then he pulled us a bit so our bodies could feel how they were supposed to move. It worked for me - my stance got better and I didn't fall anymore. My delivery is still crap but it is something I can work on in the kitchen - since that is the only room with tiles on the floor. 

Shortly after 11 we were put on teams and played a couple ends. I had a couple really good deliveries - and I had a couple really lousy deliveries. On my very last throw I could feel my delivery going wrong from the second I stepped out of the hack - - sort of like a golf swing - you know it's going wrong and is going to be awful but you have no choice to follow through. Well - my rock barely made it to the hog line. But since the other rocks were in really good positions we ended up winning that end. 

When I got home we watched a bit of tv and then we had Joe take the air conditioner out in the bedroom and put it in storage. We cleaned out a couple closets - put away the cotton sheets and got out the flannel ones, Bernie went thru some of her stuff.
I made carrot soup and hot dogs for dinner. 

I wanted to take a quick nap - but ended up sleeping for, like, 3 hours. Then I couldn't fall asleep until after 3am. Up at 9 and dead tired. 

going to make chilli for dinner. Have some errands to run this afternoon. 

NLYBD

According to Mz Fit today is National Love Your Body Day.
She had quite a nice post about why she loves her body.

I, on the other hand, am only mildly infatuated with my body: in all honesty, there is just too much of it! Don't get me wrong - I know things could be worse - - and they have been!
Thankfully, things are (sloooooooowly) beginning to be better. I can walk without huffing and puffing or having my knees or ankles hurt. I can swim more laps at the pool than I could a few weeks ago. I can get on the treadmill or elliptical without fear. I am beginning to run again. This weekend I'm starting a curling class.
I want to start working with weights again. I eventually want to take a Zumba and a Spin and a Kickboxing class.

Today I had to go clothes shopping - I've not lost a lot of weight but enough that my current jeans are too lose. Last spring I got 2 pairs of size 18 jeans at Old Navy. I wore them for a few weeks and then, when I was in California, started wearing shorts. I finally gave up the ghost a few weeks ago and admitted it was no longer shorts weather. Oddly enough - both size 18 jeans no longer fit the same! One is tight and the other was comfortable - possibly because I've worn it more and it has stretched out of shape. This weekend is an engagement party for a friend. Both jeans are too ratty to wear to the party - so off I went to see if I could find anything.
At Old Navy I checked out the clearance rack. I found 2 pairs of jeans on the '1/2 off the clearance price' rack. So - 2 pairs of jeans and an exercise shirt for $15. yay! Both jeans are size 18 - but they fit comfortably. Hopefully I won't need them for very long!

Rockin' out

There's a Curling Club a few blocks from where I live. Last year, when I moved here, I sort of thought to myself, "huh, there's something I've always wanted to try. I'll go in sometime and see about classes or a beginner's league."
But - I never did.

Last October I noticed a sign saying that they were going to have clinics. I was out of town when the classes happened. I went in to find out when their next classes would be but the woman I talked to didn't seem to know a lot about it. She took my name and number but I never did hear back.

Last month I noticed the sign was up again - clinics would be held for 3 days after Thanksgiving. So I thought, "Bound to make one of those classes!"
I wanted to go on Wednesday - but I had to pick Bernie up from work, take her to pick her car up at the garage, then we went out for dinner.
Thursday I made sure I had dinner ready as soon as she walked thru the door (Potato Soup from the Weight Watchers cookbook). We were talking about stuff and then she decided that she just had to bake some cranberry muffins. While she went out to the grocery store I headed over to the Curling Club.
When I got there I found out that most of the people there had been there the previous 2 nights! yikes! I'm behind before I even start.
Anyway, they were doing stretches. When they were done one of the instructors said it was time to hit the sheets. One of the other instructors asked if there were any 'newbies' but it came out sounding like 'Newfies' which everyone thought was funny. The only newbies were me and 3 retirement age gentlemen. One had played in a league over 30 years ago, the other 2 had never tried it. But like all Canadians - we've seen bonspiels and The Brier on tv!
So the instructor had us watch a little video then he took us down to the ice so we could try walking on the ice. More video. Then we practiced stepping into the hack and working on a delivery (without a rock). It was a bit difficult for me to crouch into the hack because I was wearing blue jeans - which weren't very comfortable - and I'm so not in shape. Then we got to throw the rocks - which was a lot of fun. We each had a few practice ones, then we tried aiming at our instructor. My throws weren't that great - the first didn't go far, the next 2 hit the boards - but each rock went further than the previous one.

Then the clinic was over. *sigh*
It was a lot of fun.

I've signed up for the instructional league. yay!

And today I am very happy because I am not sore at all! I did some stretches but the instructor, Dave, predicted I'd be sore.

all done! (I hope)

I'm baaaaack!

Have been seriously stressed running around. Went back to Windsor for the long weekend. I think we have finally finished up around the house - other than trimming the maple tree along the drive and maybe touching up some painting. Thank the lord that headache is almost over. 

Now - all we have to do is rent the place out again. *sigh* 

It was a good weekend - one of Joe's friends came and helped with the painting, beautiful weather, our SIL spoiled us with the cooking and liquid refreshments. 

On Sunday she took us to brunch at a riverside restaurant in Detroit. Afterwards we stopped at Pewabic Pottery museum/gallery. It is quite a nice place! 

My SIL, Shelagh, at Pewabic Pottery.

Thanksgiving day Bernie made pancakes and sausages for breakfast. Then we went over and finished up at the house. Back to Shelagh's in time for a spaghetti dinner. Then on the road - didn't get home until quite late, midnight or so. 

Tuesday a quiet day for me - Bernie at work and Joe at school. I did some stuff around the apartment, surfed far too much. 

Bernie and I went to the casino after she was done work. A good day for me - I won. However - I think it is enough to pay for the damage done to my car when I hit a racoon when I was driving on the 401 on Friday night. He took out a foglight and did some damage the housing for it. And I think I need two new tires, too. I thought I could put that off since it is almost time to put the winter tires on but was driving in the rain the other night and I was hydroplaning a bit. So - new tires! *sigh* I would have liked to do just about anything else than spend my winnings on the car. 

Today I'm glued to the tv watching the Chile mine rescue. I think this is only the second time since I lost my job that I've actually missed work. (The first time was Michael Jackson's funeral). Obviously I don't watch a lot of tv anymore! 

I have to pick Bernie at work today - her car is in the shop. Afterwards I'm going to go to a curling workshop.

busy, busy, busy

ye gods! It's been a while since I last posted.

Blame my sister's former tenants. They moved out in mid-September and we've been working on getting the place cleaned up and ready for new tenants.
The former tenants seemed like a nice couple and it looked like they took care of the house. Boy - were we wrong! They obviously had anger issues - every bedroom door showed evidence of being kicked in, the front door to the house, too. had been kicked in. At best they rarely cleaned - the soap scum in the shower made everything look gray, and the oven and stove were disgusting. No yard work had been done - grass hadn't been mowed in ages, bushes weren't trimmed (despite my sister leaving her tools at the house. BTW - they took said tools when they left!). Plus - they had lousy decorating taste. And a big smelly dog.
Carpets ripped up and replaced with laminate. Horrid, ugly, tacky paint has been primed and ready for something a bit more neutral. Unfortunately - new bedroom doors are out of our budget. Tons of stuff done. Just one or two things left to do.
There were prospective tenants. However - she didn't want laminate - she wanted new carpeting in both bedrooms. And some other things that we found unreasonable and out of our budget. Said prospective tenant did not appreciate when my brother looked at her, shook his head and said, "You're just renting the place, not buying it." Unable to reach a compromise with her so she moved into a development a few blocks away. I hope for her sake that things aren't as bad there as they used to be. There was a reason my sister didn't buy there.

Thanksgiving is coming up on Monday. No big plans - just going back to finish up the work at my sister's place. Perhaps we will visit the Point Pelee Winery or something. My SIL wants to do a buffet lunch - which sure beats cooking!

Other than that - things are going along much like before. Not much happening.
Haven't been too careful with my eating - but I've been so busy at my sister's that I haven't gained any weight.