Warm Homecoming

I'd been away for over a week when I arrived back home yesterday. The 2+ hour drive from the Salt Lake airport to my home in Idaho was 2+ hours too long this time -- I couldn't wait to get back after the stress of the last week!

I admit it -- I did a little speeding where the Interstate was wide open.

So sue me.

Just south of town, I got a call from hubby, saying that he and Number 7 wanted to go to our church team's softball practice and did I want to meet them there.  The day was sunny and breezy, and sitting out in the sunshine watching my two best guys sounded great and incredibly relaxing to me.

Once at the park, I quickly got roped into actually playing -- well, practicing, since that's all it is at this point. Games start soon, though.

I have not played softball since my Senior year of high school, folks. That's 35 years!

But many of my good friends were there -- plenty of women on the team -- so I jumped in.

And had an absolute blast!

It was NEVER this fun in school!  I had no coordination and no athleticism at all in those days, so I dreaded the annual softball season. Compared to the other girls, I was pretty awful.

But I suspect that the change for the better now is due in part to my recent switch from right handed-ness to left handed-ness. I discovered my natural left handed-ness last year when I started playing racquetball. Seemed only logical that that would carry over to softball, and it certainly does.

I'd have played much better in school if I'd known I was naturally left handed.

It makes me want to call my mother because she is the one who insisted that, as a toddler, I learn to write with my right hand (as parents often did in those days because the right hand was the "correct" hand).

There is a teensy-weensy part of me that wants to say, "See????? You should've left well enough alone when I was little!"

Oh wait -- Mom already knows. Scratch the phone call.

After practice, we went to the local sporting goods store to purchase a glove for a lefty player, plus a couple bats and balls. Once home, hubby, Number 7, both dogs, and I trooped out to the back pasture (still unsullied by horses this season). We played catch, we had batting practice, and we discovered that our pasture is the perfect place to practice fielding grounders.

Charley, forbidden to capture the ball and slobber all over it, nevertheless ran in a constant triangle during the game of catch -- from one person to the next. Hank explored the pasture and occasionally hung out with us.

All in all, I think yesterday afternoon was THE best homecoming ever!

- Catherine

The benefits of Monkey Ball

It's Saturday and I didn't have to work at all today.  Wa-hoo!

This morning I slept until 7:45, then padded around in my PJ's, talking to my hubby, eating breakfast, checking email, etc.  I felt relaxed and good.

At 9:10 I headed for the gym for a racquetball practice. My customary routine is to hit a few shots as warm-up, realize that I'm weak and unfocused, and then settle into a 5-7 minute session of serving the ball. No returns, just serves. It's a good way to focus and to get the arm warmed up.

After serving, I backed up on the court so that I could start volleying the ball.

Did I mention that I began the day feeling relaxed? Really relaxed.  I did.

So imagine my surprise when I unconsciously became very aggressive with the ball. I didn't just hit it neat and pretty. No, I tried to smash every possible shot, over and over and over again. Complete with facial grimaces worthy of any tennis great whom you might wish to name. For an hour. Maybe more.

And I felt GREAT while I was doing it and GREAT when I got done. I could have roared like a lion as I walked out of the gym.

Guess I was more stressed from this week than I thought.

That little blue ball makes a great substitute for someone's head . . .

- Catherine

Further adventures in monkey ball

I've pretty well solved the problem of feeling like a monkey in a cage when I play racquetball in the glass-front court.

But I like the term "monkey ball" so I will continue to use it now and then.

There are many tough shots in racquetball.  One of the toughest for me is when the return ball hugs the side wall, leaving little room to hit it without smacking my racquet on the wall or missing completely because my close-up depth perception leaves something to be desired.

Thus I have come to think of the walls as The Side Walls of Death. Because if ever a shot is going to die on me, it's there.

When I practice by myself, I tend to keep score of these skirmishes with The Side Walls of Death.

Some days I actually get in a few points.

I dream of the day when I can say "The backhand is mighty, and the Side Walls of Death have not overcome it."

Sadly, today was not that day.

Not for the forehand, either.

Today The Side Walls of Death claimed a total and absolute shut-out victory in just under 45 minutes.

Tuesday there will be another skirmish.

And one day I intend to win this battle.


 - Catherine

Early rising

It's 6:15 p.m. and I'm due back on duty in another 20 minutes. The conference is in full swing and the week has been very hectic.  I'm tired and a little cranky, but friends are coming to stay for the next three days, and that makes me very happy.

I've continued playing racquetball in the gym next to the conference center, but I switched my time to early morning  -- partly to accommodate my work schedule, which often includes evenings, and partly because there are no spectators at 5:30 in the a.m.

Yes, that's 5:30 a.m. folks. I roll out of bed at 5:15, sleepwalk into my workout clothes and thence to the gym, practice for 45 minutes to an hour, walk back to the condo, take a shower, put on makeup, and am facing the day by 7:15 a.m.

The little blue racquetball balls continue to torment me.  The other day I served a be-a-u-tiful serve -- so straight that the ball came right back at me off the wall.  Right to my ankle. Where it thudded against flesh and bone and then huddled on the court floor at my feet. Sobbing. 

I laughed. 

Then today I made another beautiful shot. I could see the ball coming straight back at me, very low to the ground, so I jumped -- intending to jump over it.  I misjudged the velocity or something -- because I jumped and then landed ON it.  Thankfully my other foot landed squarely on the ground and I didn't fall over.

Again, I laughed.

You practice this game long enough by yourself and you end up anthropomorphizing the equipment. 

It's a busy season at work and I am bombarded all day with requests, fires to put out, schedules to keep, meetings to attend.  These are tough days.  So it comforts me to have victory, even if it's only over a little blue ball at 5:30 in the morning.

- Catherine

Catching up

So, I am the biggest slacker blogger of all time, I think. I haven't written a word since last Wednesday! The only excuse that I can offer is that I've been busy, busy, busy -- both work and fun.

We spent last Saturday morning on the racquetball court -- #7 and I, that is. Turns out he loves the game, too, so I hauled him along with me to the gym -- after purchasing a second racquet and some work-out clothing at the nearby sporting goods store. My friend, Rhonda, who is my RB buddy and teacher, brought her teenage daughter -- we sent the kids to another court while Rhonda and I got down to business.

I'm doing so much better.

I actually scored six points against Rhonda.

Instead of my customary five.

I see the progress here. Don't you?

I haven't had the opportunity to ride my horse lately, but I'm hoping to get some time in very soon. (Hint to my nephew: you so do NOT need that job that is taking up all your time; paychecks are overrated. Aunt Cath needs to ride!)

I finished reading the Ian Rutledge Mystery series that is written by Charles Todd.  I'm so sad it's over!!! It's a fantastic series -- the best I've read, I think.  Please hurry up, Mr. Todd, and write the next volume because I'm going to waste away to nothing, pining for the next book.

And now -- time for work!

- Catherine

Adventures in Racquetball

So, my current Facebook status reads:

Q: Why are Catherine's solitary racquetball practices so very effective? A: Because her shots are still so wildly unpredictable that it's like playing against another person.

Actually, it really is rather funny that I can practice so well against myself for the time being.  I talk to myself on the court, too.

As you know if you've read my blog posts (here and here) I took a nasty spill that resulted in eight stitches in my chin. It was only my second time out on the court. Some may think that, being as I'm 51 years old, a serious injury the second time out really doesn't bode well for my success in racquetball.  To them, I say, "stuff it!"  (In the nicest way possible, of course.)

I truly enjoy the games and the practices -- really love the workout that works both body and mind.

So, I'm going to keep at it.  If my fellow blogger, Christy, (a former non-runner) can train for a 5K run, I can learn to play racquetball.

Rock on, sisters!

- Catherine

Friday's Fave Five

Thanks once again to Susanne at Living to Tell for hosting this weekly attitude adjuster. If you'd like to play along, you can link up at Susanne's blog entry for today.

These are my five favorite things about the week that is now ending.

Drum roll, please......

1.  31 days until I get a hug from #4 (who has been in South Korea for the last 2 1/2 years).

2. #4 has been accepted to graduate school at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City -- a mere 2 1/2 hours away from where we live!  (True, I don't yet know if she will decide to accept their offer, but it's nice to think that she might!)

3. A fun Super Bowl Sunday with #7 and his friends, and having the opportunity to meet his friends' parents and get to know them. They are good folk and we hope to see them again soon.

4. I received a blog award from Angie!

5. Finally solved the Restless Leg Syndrome problem that has been completely plaguing me for the last 3 weeks! And it's all thanks to the nice lady in the video. Turns out the particular workout that I've chosen from her series is perfect to do before bedtime.  It works the muscles of the back, the core and the legs, thus quieting the Restless Leg problem for the night. Yay!  And thanks, Teresa Tapp!  (Once again, let me emphasize that I have no financial interest in the T-Tapp company.)

That's the Friday Fave Five. What about you?

- Catherine

A wee bit of snow and workout

With all due respect to my family and friends who are bracing for another major snowstorm in the Northeast.....

It snowed here last night. Just enough to be annoying and dangerous. It was so little, really, that I was able to sweep it off the front steps with a broom, but when I went out with the dog for our morning walk, I discovered treacherous sidewalks and streets. I waited patiently to cross at one corner and the driver courteously stopped for me -- AFTER he fishtailed from one side to the other in his effort to slow down from 25 m.p.h. to a full stop. A wee bit scary to watch him, but he eventually gave me a thumbs up to cross the street in front of him along with a cheerful smile!

I swept the sidewalk that leads to our front steps, and then, following city code, I cleared the sidewalk that fronts our house. I definitely increased my heart rate in the 20 minutes that it took me to perform the deed, which means that, coupled with my brisk walk, I've worked out for the day.

Hallelujah! I don't have to deal with the nice lady in the video until tomorrow.

Stay warm and dry, family and friends!

- Catherine

The Core

Yesterday marked the third time that I used my new workout DVD. I actually progressed a bit further this time -- before having to give up and just watch because my muscles simply wouldn't do what the nice lady in the video wanted them to do.

She says it's all about The Core.

My Core says otherwise.

I think of General Douglas MacArthur in his farewell speech to West Point, when he spoke the immortal line: "But I want you to know that when I cross the river, my last conscious thoughts will be of the Corps, and the Corps, and the Corps."

Obviously he never met the nice lady in the video and her Core.

My last conscious thoughts are NOT going to be about The Core, I can promise you. Instead, they'll probably be something very dark concerning my lack of anything Core.

- Catherine

Oh, the agony

I started my new workout regimen today. And I about died.

I like the T-Tapp series of workouts (disclaimer: I have no financial interest in T-Tapp©). Two years ago I did their 15-minute Basic Plus workout every day for several months, and it worked very nicely to help me lose a few inches. And then I developed a rotator cuff problem and I had to find something different. I wanted to take my time, consider my options, and find just the right workout that would help me get in shape but not aggravate the shoulder.

I guess a whole year should have been enough time.

Because it has been a WHOLE year since I worked out.

So, here it is January 2010. There are only 6 months left until it's time to run my annual Summer Session -- a job that kicked my butt, physically, in the summer of 2009. I cannot afford to be that exhausted again. So I've got to get in shape.

A friend of mine used one of the other T-Tapp workouts last year and really loved it -- and it's designed for middle-aged women. Well, hey, that's me! So I bought it. And I tried it.

And I hate it.

I'm sure it's very well designed and will do exactly what the nice lady in the video says it will do. But I'll be 100 years old by then, judging by today's results.

HOW did I get so out of shape???

- Catherine

Beach Cruiser

Bought myself a beach cruiser bicycle the other day, which might perhaps be seen as an odd choice for land-locked Pocatello, Idaho. But I disliked all my road bikes with their 600 finely-tuned gears and their rock-hard rides. The heavy steel frame of the beach cruiser, the fat tires and the coaster brake – as well as the seat just made for a middle-aged rump – lured me with a promise of bicycle comfort that I could no longer resist.

Plus the doctor says I HAVE to get daily exercise, no matter what -- so I had a medical excuse.

My first ride of 20 minutes on mostly flat terrain left me winded and with wobbly legs. Clearly this will require some effort on my part.

But tooling along, when I wasn’t noticing the burn in my thigh muscles, I felt years younger. This is the kind of bike I grew up riding – indeed the kind of bike I learned to ride on when I was about 8 years old and my parents had managed to snag a bike for no money (the only way we had bikes when we were little). And the weather in Pocatello in these waning days of summer 2008 has been absolutely peerless: chilly mornings, clear and warm days, a mild breeze. Can’t beat it for outdoor activities.

And surprisingly (to me), biking around town gives a much better perspective of this place I call home now. You really learn the streets and can appreciate the beauty and charm of the yards and houses when you’re cruising at 4 m.p.h. through a neighborhood. We’ve had a fairly green summer, and everyone’s flowers and yards are still quite lush. There are proud, glorious sunflowers and cheerful geraniums everywhere. It puts me in mind of the last days of summer at the Shore, when most of the East Coast humidity is gone, the breeze is stirring the sand, the wild roses tumble over the fences, and the days are crystal clear.

You get the picture.

The beach cruiser bike is clearly a pleasure bike – a mixed blessing to my self-esteem because I think it inspires pity in motorists who watch the middle-aged lady pedaling her big bicycle along the side of the road. They stop their cars at intersections in order to let me cross – as if I were a pedestrian in a crosswalk and not a moving vehicle subject to the same rules of the road as they. Weird, but at least I get safely across the road (unlike when I’m on my motor scooter and motorists seem intent on mowing me down if at all possible).

I’ve just returned from a ride, winded and with muscles burning, but the breeze and the sun were so exhilarating that I just can’t mind the discomfort. The last days of summer are going fast, but I intend to slowly soak up as much of them as I can on my beach cruiser.

What’s your bicycle story?