Knee Pain

The 30-Day Shred includes a lot of squatting.  I'm being careful to execute each movement properly to minimize knee pain.  Nevertheless, I'm noticing that my right knee is hurting more than usual as I descend the stairs.  It's not bad enough for me to quit the program, but I think I need to do something about it.

Years ago my right knee gave out as I was walking down stairs.  After some research, I bought a brace, which got me through the episode.  For several years after, I always packed the brace when we traveled just in case it happened again, which it never did.  But now I think a knee brace is just what I need and, of course, I can't find it.  It's probably in one of our suitcases currently buried as we prepare for the foundation fix.

So, with ice and snow on the way, I went to my reliable online store, Amazon.  They had the perfect brace and, since I have Prime, it will be here Wednesday.  I love the internet!


(Day 7 of 30-Day Shred:  Didn't seem as long. . .must be building endurance?)

Cupcake Bargain

Today I had a cupcake craving.  So I decided to visit the Schnucks bakery while I was grocery shopping.  In their case they had a variety of cupcakes but they were all packaged in half and full dozens.  I just wanted two cupcakes, one for me and one for Jim.  The beauty of a cupcake is portion control.  A portion is one cupcake, not six or twelve.

I decided to ask if I could get just two cupcakes.  Turned out I could and they would be made to order!  I chose the cake and icing flavors, and the sprinkles.  At a free-standing bakery, one cupcake is $3-4 dollars. My bill was a bargain $1.99 for two!  Now I just have to restrain myself from visiting the bakery every time I shop at Schnucks :-)


(Day 6 of 30-Day Shred:  DVD player wouldn't start with the DVD stuck inside.  Moved my gear upstairs and used Roku to access my Amazon videos.  Gotta love technology!)

Weekends Are Too Short

I would love to have a full weekend for errands and fun.  Instead, I really only have Saturday.  Sundays are eaten up with going to mass and visiting mom, after which Elliott usually comes to grandma's for one-on-one time.

So today, like most Saturdays, I spent several hours in the morning working on mom's finances and the company books.  Normally I would then shower and run errands.  But today I did squeeze in my workout first.

Fortunately I didn't have too many errands.  That gave me a short breather before getting ready for an evening out.  Once or twice a year, one of our suppliers takes us to dinner and the Repertory Theatre.  They're a nice couple and we always have good conversations. Nevertheless, I'd much rather be spending the evening in, watching a movie or two. Weekends are meant for recharging and mine are too short.


(Day 5 of 30-Day Shred:  Still HATE jumping jacks!)

Different World

Today is Friday so I watched both boys.  I can't imagine it ever being easy.  When Jonah's awake, he's fussing about not being allowed to play with Elliott's toys.  When Jonah's napping, it seems I'm constantly reminding Elliott not to be too loud.

Truthfully, however, Elliott did very well today.  I gave him the seven Lego skeletons I snagged on Ebay and he was thrilled.  Most of the day he spent setting up scenes while watching Lego videos on YouTube using my iPad.

He even let me workout this morning.  I told him it would only be one episode of The Backyardigans.  So while Elliott watched his show on the portable DVD player, I used the one attached to the television.

What a different world Elliott lives in.  He almost refuses to believe there once was no internet.  And he finds it difficult to imagine a time when such things as Tivo, cell phones, and computers didn't exist.   Honestly, I have a hard time imagining those days myself!


(Day 4 of 30-Day Shred:  Barely any soreness; cardio remains the most difficult part.)