Weekly Challenge for Jan. 29 to Feb. 5th

This is posted on Monday and dated to begin on Tuesday...

Try something different every day this week. Whether it is stopping by a new store, working out on a different machine, or calling on old friend. Let's mix it up and try something completely different every day.

Mon. Jan 28, 12:17pm

mandajo

I'm game!!! I like to mix stuff up. I wonder what the week will bring.

Monday, January 28, 2008, 12:56 PM

Wow...Okay, this one's gonna be hard for me! I barely have time for the routine stuff...which just shows that I need something like this!

I may not do it every day, but I'm going to try for a couple of new experiences.

On the same lines--my husband recently discovered that our local college Outdoor Program has some snowshoeing outings planned, ten bucks gets equipment rental plus hot chocolate and a guided walk. And he wants to go! That will be Feb 20. I'm excited!

mejaka

Monday, January 28, 2008, 3:01 PM

CoffeeGal

I'm in! I know what Monday's will be! We just started yoga at school on Mondays, but the club I'm the advisor for met on Mondays. Today we changed it just because so many of the girls wanted to go to yoga. :-) Hmmm...what should I do tomorrow
? I think I'm going to make coffee at school. I know that doesn't sound too *new* - but it is a serious change in my schedule.

Monday, January 28, 2008, 5:13 PM

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing ~ Helen Keller

This is a great challenge....I'm going to go for seven days too. i am in a terrible rut and I need to mix it up. Also, I'm going to try NOT to plan too far ahead with this one too but instead allow for some sponteneity.

BTW, I think some of these challenges are inspired by genius. Getting healthy takes on all areas of your life. It's not the same old stuff or tried and true formulas that make the real difference...it's stepping out and going beyond what we know that opens new doors.

This challenge reminds me of the Helen Keller quote, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing" Here's to a week of daring adventures!
Healthy2

Monday, January 28, 2008, 7:24 PM

That's one of my favorite quotes, Healthy2!

mejaka here--today I took the kids sledding (standard snow-day activity) and because the runs were too hard and smooth for my old bones, I stuck my sled in the snow and headed up the mountain. Hiked maybe ten minutes up in snow up to my knees and sometimes to mid-thigh, following deer tracks and just taking in the beauty and stillness (I couldnt' hear a thing from the crowded sledding runs). Then hiked back down.

Monday, January 28, 2008, 9:12 PM

OP here - so glad to hear you guys like the challenge. I am looking forward to mixing it up this week too. Have fun and tell us your tales! Peace, k

Monday, January 28, 2008, 10:13 PM

wearing high heels and they are killing me...

went into a new shop and actually bought something nice for myself...on sale, of course (i'm broke)...

at whole foods and starting my cover letter!

made plans for Indian food on Wed...

Tuesday, January 29, 2008, 6:23 PM

Love the high heels story....sometimes stepping out has less than perfect effects!

There is a road I drive by frequently and I have always wondered what was on the road. Today, I took a look!

What started out as a pretty country road quickly turned into suburbs with brand new mcMansions interspersed with tiny capes built 50 years ago. Occasional farms popped up here and there. I got lost but eventually ended up on a road I know. Now I know what this road is about....and I guess I don't need to check it out again!

I've found some of my best shortcuts and some really pretty routes doing exactly what I did today so I am glad I checked out this road even though the results weren't all that productive this time.
~H2

Tuesday, January 29, 2008, 6:55 PM

mandajo

I started taking fiber sure yesterday. Been having some issues with the restroom and thought it might help. So far, I'm feeling better than I was the other day, so I guess that's a start. Tomorrow, my workout will be strictly on the treadmill. I have yet to have just a day on the dreadmill. I hate the machines. However, I think the elliptical needs a break for a day. We'll see how it goes.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008, 11:47 AM

Walked a new route today...almost twice my usual distance with less hills. Went by some beautiful horse farms and a cranberry bog which was a nice change of pace! Winds were high which made the walk exciting. Traffic was a little heavier which I didn't like.
~H2

Wednesday, January 30, 2008, 5:21 PM

indian was great, but completely threw me off course. i will have to be good tomorrow.

i am not sure what tomorrow. brings...

Wednesday, January 30, 2008, 9:31 PM

Worst day of subbing ever yesterday, followed by one of those talks with my older teenboy that leave you feeling like they will never grow completely up and you just want to bang your head against a brick wall.

New experiences? I was exhausted by the routine ones, although I did sit in the hot tub with Brett and we spent some time talking about the teenboy. Brett's not the verbal type, so that wasn't an everyday kind of experience.

Today we have a snow day. I'll be fixing Miss Anna's baptism dress, which I bought Tuesday. She and I had a shopping outing and she tried on every clearance party dress in three stores. That was new! The one we found is very sweet, not too fussy, soft green velvet with subtle sparkles. Only problem--and this is a size 8 dress for a little girl!--it's nearly backless. A big inverted-triangular hole through which you can see her shoulderblades, spine, waist...Yeah, just what I want my little girl wearing at eight years old. (Dress them like that and then wonder why they don't cover up a little at 16...) Anyway...we bought a little liner and some glimmery filmy fabric to layer in the opening.

Thursday, January 31, 2008, 9:40 AM

mandajo

Did the treadmill today for an hour. The soles of my feet are killing me, so I guess it's time to invest in some new shoes. The walk was ok. It might be something to do once a week to give my body a small break from busting my behing on the elliptical. Don't know what new to do tonight, but I'll figure something out.

Thursday, January 31, 2008, 11:03 AM

Tried another new walking route today. Two new routes in two days after walking the same hills for a couple of months now. Walked 5 and a quarter instead of my usual 3 plus AND I listened to some podcast lectures instead of music. The changes were fun. My brain engaged differently...I'm ready to try it again. Needed a change of pace.

I wore a pretty new lavendar turtleneck today too and went to a restaurant under new management.
~H2

Thursday, January 31, 2008, 7:18 PM

H2 and others, i am inspired. i will get off my butt and head out to work at the cafe rather than sitting here on my couch. i am off! cheers - k

Thursday, January 31, 2008, 8:25 PM

Freezing rain and dandelions

Walked in freezing rain today. Bad weather frequently stops me but the good fortune is the rain started when I was about 15 minutes into my walk. I actually enjoyed walking...listening to the frozen rain drops bounce off my coat...watching the road surface turn white...feeling the crunch under my feet. It was wonderful being outside in the end!

Bought dandelion greens (!). I have never gotten them before but i am up for an adventure. Now to figure out what to do with them!

Hope all of you who are in for this adventure are having some fun out there!
~H2

Friday, February 1, 2008, 5:01 PM

friend is having a party for the parade in her neighborhood! something different. they'll have a keg, so i am going to swing by the store to buy some additions. not sure what i will grab. have a great night everyone! k

Friday, February 1, 2008, 6:16 PM

H2- sounds like some nasty weather.

enjoy the dandies - i bought some for my grandmother before and they just flourished. k

Friday, February 1, 2008, 6:17 PM

Beaded my daughter a necklace for her baptism day instead of buying one. It's not quite finished but it's pretty!

mejaka

Saturday, February 2, 2008, 12:28 AM

Oh nice mejaka! I love to make things...I may break out the sewing machine in the next day or so for a little self expression.

Today, I increased my walking route and did a little retracing of a route I did a couple of days ago (new then) but I started from another place today. Walked about 7 miles. Walked in silence for about half the trip and used iPod for other half. SO it was another day of mixing up my walking routine. This has been a great boost for me. I was feeling really uninspired with the same walk...it is pretty but it was not challenging enough. I am not nearly as fit as I was last summer and I want to hit the road with some energy once the weather gets better which means I need to be able to walk distances with ease.
~H2

Saturday, February 2, 2008, 5:38 PM

Good job, H2!

Sundays don't give much opportunity for changing things up--I'm too busy with church stuff. I did approach a new person at church today--not uncommon for me to walk up and introduce myself at the end of the women's meeting, but since I've been working in the children's organization it's more of an effort, and today I made it.

Monday, February 4, 2008, 12:17 AM

Thanks 12:17! Talking to someone you don't know can make such a difference for the "new" person...and opens the door for them doing the same. It's one of those pass it forward things. Community is built from such endeavors. I have to remind myself to go that extra mile because I get too caught up in my own life. But then I remember that my closest people all started out as strangers...and someone had to open the conversation.

I said when we started here that I was hanging in for the full week. Yesterday was a challenge day. I did something generally out of my league....I watched the Superbowl. I am not a football person (whole life)....but I love some people who adore the game. I have to add that that is a change for me too. I actually befriended a football player about 4 years ago who has become central to my life...and central to me getting healthy. So now I watch the game....not really understanding the nuances but enjoying it on another level. People who are athletes doing their thing.

I'm not all that worried about who wins or loses either....but yesterday I discovered I actually cared. My undefeated team lost in the final quarter...I felt sad for the team....and sad for my friend who is devoted. I am in my fifties and I guess the lesson here is you can change at any point in your life.
~H2

Monday, February 4, 2008, 10:18 AM

mejaka here (aka 12:17)

I remember getting really into a football game once...

My new experience today was thanks to my daughter, and it was more an experience of watching other members of my family try something new. Miss Anna was in charge of the lesson segment of our weekly Family Night. She wanted to do it ALL herself this time, and chose "love" as her topic. It's been a rough week at our house--my husband, on a very exhausting, frustrating day, told my eldest son to pack his bags--this two days before Miss Anna's baptism which she had wanted said eldest son to perform but he was not willing. Son moved out, although feelings have smoothed over and he's somewhat excited about trying things on his own.

But anyway...Anna's idea was to make a Valentine for her brother. And not just any Valentine. She wanted each of us to make a collage of ourselves, which we would then put together into a family portrait.

Now, I'm an artist, and Miss Anna by virtue of being a little girl, is pretty artsy. But the boys are less so, and Brett doesn't consider himself creative at all. But everyone joined in this project for Anna's sake. I had never done this Eric-Carelesque kind of collage but have often wanted to, so it was a lot of fun. And I was surprised and amazed at the results of everyone's work.

If you're already a Snapfish member, the family collage is here:

Link

Tuesday, February 5, 2008, 12:25 AM

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