We're waiting for warm weather. Yes, I know it's only April and I shouldn't complain because it's not January or February-like weather. However, we did have a brush with frost on several mornings. But, I would love to have a calm day without high winds, some sunshine and blue skies. We may be in for this type weather this week. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I had some issues with technology last week. Spent time on the phone with two different vendors and finally everything is straightened out. What caused all the problems? I'm not sure, but it seems that a change of address might have been the culprit.
We enjoyed an afternoon of bridge with our former neighbors and drove to Monrovia to play. Next month they plan to come to our place and we'll be the hosts. We drove by our old house and realized that all the daffodils had already bloomed as well as the flowering pears that line the driveway. We didn't see a for sale sign but I wouldn't be surprised if one appears very soon.
On Friday morning I packed an overnight bag and Ray dropped me off at church so I could get a ride with three other women from church for a trip to Clifty Falls State Park for the Indiana District LWML Retreat. The drive took only about 90 minutes. We checked into our motel and then had lunch at the Red Pepper Inn. Several had not toured the Lanier Mansion so we all decided we'd do that after lunch. The house was built in 1844 and faces the Ohio River. The grounds are beautiful today but back in 1844 not so much as the house was surrounded by industry and the streets were dusty. Mr. Lanier did much for the State of Indiana and that is probably one reason why the State purchased the house in 1925 and maintains it as a museum.
Ray picked me up from church a few minutes before 5 p.m. Saturday afternoon and we returned home and changed clothes for dinner out with our bridge-playing friends. They planned to pick us up at 5:45 to drive to Fishers (NE Indianapolis) to celebrate Jan's birthday. None of us had ever been to Peterson's Restaurant, but we learned it has been in operation for 15 years. Everyone had something different: my choice of entree was tuna; Jan had filet mignon; her husband Halibut and Ray had some sort of Argentinian beef dish. We enjoyed shared appetizers, wine and dessert. The restaurant gets a "thumbs up" from me.
After church this morning, we just had time to get to the gym for a yoga class. The fitness room was practically filled. All the morning classes we've gone to since our move have had very small attendance unlike what we were used to at the Plainfield Rec Center. I have a feeling that the late afternoon and evening classes are popular here in Greenwood. So far we haven't gone to any of them and I doubt that we will -- but I will never say "never."
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
April Showers
Yesterday when I ran the Half Marathon the weather was perfect. A day we'd like to bottle! Since about noon today it's been raining. It's definitely an indoor day unless you are a duck!
The race yesterday wasn't my best effort but I can't complain since I didn't put in the training miles I've done in the past. I didn't get out early because of cold weather and then the last several weeks I was involved with our move. I still haven't figured out a good routine or place(s) to run for the coming months. Even at a slower pace, I still placed #1 for women in the 70+ age group. The award was a large glass tumbler with the race logo on the side. Maybe I'll start a new collection of tumblers. I gave quite a few away that I had accumulated the past several years.
In case you're wondering, my time for the 13.1 miles was 2 hours, 43 minutes, 29 seconds. The first half was definitely faster than the second half proving that lack of endurance was my downfall. Here's to a better Half Marathon in September!
The race yesterday wasn't my best effort but I can't complain since I didn't put in the training miles I've done in the past. I didn't get out early because of cold weather and then the last several weeks I was involved with our move. I still haven't figured out a good routine or place(s) to run for the coming months. Even at a slower pace, I still placed #1 for women in the 70+ age group. The award was a large glass tumbler with the race logo on the side. Maybe I'll start a new collection of tumblers. I gave quite a few away that I had accumulated the past several years.
In case you're wondering, my time for the 13.1 miles was 2 hours, 43 minutes, 29 seconds. The first half was definitely faster than the second half proving that lack of endurance was my downfall. Here's to a better Half Marathon in September!
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Challenged
Before moving we usually spent an hour or more at the Plainfield Rec Center five days a week. We became comfortable with the Yoga and Pilates classes and also the cycling classes. Since we've moved we are trying new classes as I probably mentioned in a recent post.
A couple of the classes we've tried include a lot of movement. I've always been challenged when it comes to dance steps. It takes me a while to get the rhythm so I felt a bit awkward this morning but I don't think anyone noticed. There were a lot of participants, probably 90% being women. At one point we used hand held weights to get in a bit of strengthening too.
Last Saturday we both participated in a small race at the Plainfield Rec Center. I ran the 10 mile course to see if I was ready for this coming weekend's Half Marathon. After finishing first in the 66 and above category, I guess I can say I'm ready. As I said, this was a small race but it was surprising to finish first when I'm in the upper 70s. Ray registered for the 5K and also finished first in the same category (66 and above), not bad for someone who is 80!
We're enjoying some real signs of spring this week. Daffodils and forsythia are blooming and the flowering pear and other flowering trees are showing color. We are seeing green on many small shrubs and I noticed last weekend many people were mowing lawns, most for the first time this year.
A couple of the classes we've tried include a lot of movement. I've always been challenged when it comes to dance steps. It takes me a while to get the rhythm so I felt a bit awkward this morning but I don't think anyone noticed. There were a lot of participants, probably 90% being women. At one point we used hand held weights to get in a bit of strengthening too.
Last Saturday we both participated in a small race at the Plainfield Rec Center. I ran the 10 mile course to see if I was ready for this coming weekend's Half Marathon. After finishing first in the 66 and above category, I guess I can say I'm ready. As I said, this was a small race but it was surprising to finish first when I'm in the upper 70s. Ray registered for the 5K and also finished first in the same category (66 and above), not bad for someone who is 80!
We're enjoying some real signs of spring this week. Daffodils and forsythia are blooming and the flowering pear and other flowering trees are showing color. We are seeing green on many small shrubs and I noticed last weekend many people were mowing lawns, most for the first time this year.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Spring Storms
We were preparing to leave about mid-morning today when we realized that the storm passing through central Indiana was upon us. Boy did the rain come down in sheets. We changed our plans and stayed home and watched some small hail that accompanied the storm.
Later, when the rain stopped, we headed out and stopped at nearby Independence Park. It's a rather small park but has a running trail that we'll try another day. We drove on to a local church that has a Community Life Center where we applied for membership. Thanks to Eli Lilly and our insurance plan we have free membership. The appeal for this fitness center was an indoor track that we used today. Seven laps to the mile. They also offer a few fitness classes and have some resistance machines.
Last week we also joined LA Fitness using our free membership. The fitness centers get reimbursed whenever we check in so having two or more memberships works fine for us and we can use the one that has the class we like on the day we want.
This afternoon, the skies darkened again and we heard thunder. Before long, the rains started again and we saw hailstones on the ground. What an unusual happening -- two hailstorms in one day! Does anyone remember such an occurrence?
Thinking back about 10 days or so, we returned to Oak Creek to clean the basement on Monday, March 30. The house was completely empty. We had a few donations that were to be picked up by a local charity and we left them on the front porch. Ray was in the truck and he left before I was finished and I held back tears as I drove away for what I thought was the last time. As it turned out, our donations didn't get picked up (we checked with a neighbor). On Wednesday we stopped at the BMV to get updated driver's licenses and then returned to Oak Creek and loaded everything on the truck to take to Goodwill.
On one afternoon last week, I met Kylie, Jayden and Dustin at a park where Jayden had a good time getting a little dirty rolling down the big hill and enjoying the playground. The temperature was nice but we had a strong breeze making it feel a little chilly. The next afternoon Ray and I returned to the park to use the trail -- about a 1-1/2 mile loop. I'm sure we'll be back when this current rainy spell passes.
I was able to go to both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services this year and, of course, the Sunrise Service last Sunday at 7:00 AM. The choir sang at all three services and even sang an original piece sung to a very familiar melody. Very moving. Easter breakfast had an assortment of dishes each equally delicious in my opinion.
We were home in time to prepare a spinach salad and some fruit to take to the Martin's house. For years they have come to our house where there was always an egg hunt for someone. As hostess, Nancy invited a number of people and there were quite a few little ones running around the yard looking for candy filled eggs. Several eggs had a dollar bill!
We're expecting more rain tomorrow and next week, but the coming weekend is supposed to be nice. We'll need a few days to dry out. Wishing some of this rain could fall on California. They need rain.
Later, when the rain stopped, we headed out and stopped at nearby Independence Park. It's a rather small park but has a running trail that we'll try another day. We drove on to a local church that has a Community Life Center where we applied for membership. Thanks to Eli Lilly and our insurance plan we have free membership. The appeal for this fitness center was an indoor track that we used today. Seven laps to the mile. They also offer a few fitness classes and have some resistance machines.
Last week we also joined LA Fitness using our free membership. The fitness centers get reimbursed whenever we check in so having two or more memberships works fine for us and we can use the one that has the class we like on the day we want.
This afternoon, the skies darkened again and we heard thunder. Before long, the rains started again and we saw hailstones on the ground. What an unusual happening -- two hailstorms in one day! Does anyone remember such an occurrence?
Thinking back about 10 days or so, we returned to Oak Creek to clean the basement on Monday, March 30. The house was completely empty. We had a few donations that were to be picked up by a local charity and we left them on the front porch. Ray was in the truck and he left before I was finished and I held back tears as I drove away for what I thought was the last time. As it turned out, our donations didn't get picked up (we checked with a neighbor). On Wednesday we stopped at the BMV to get updated driver's licenses and then returned to Oak Creek and loaded everything on the truck to take to Goodwill.
On one afternoon last week, I met Kylie, Jayden and Dustin at a park where Jayden had a good time getting a little dirty rolling down the big hill and enjoying the playground. The temperature was nice but we had a strong breeze making it feel a little chilly. The next afternoon Ray and I returned to the park to use the trail -- about a 1-1/2 mile loop. I'm sure we'll be back when this current rainy spell passes.
I was able to go to both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services this year and, of course, the Sunrise Service last Sunday at 7:00 AM. The choir sang at all three services and even sang an original piece sung to a very familiar melody. Very moving. Easter breakfast had an assortment of dishes each equally delicious in my opinion.
We were home in time to prepare a spinach salad and some fruit to take to the Martin's house. For years they have come to our house where there was always an egg hunt for someone. As hostess, Nancy invited a number of people and there were quite a few little ones running around the yard looking for candy filled eggs. Several eggs had a dollar bill!
We're expecting more rain tomorrow and next week, but the coming weekend is supposed to be nice. We'll need a few days to dry out. Wishing some of this rain could fall on California. They need rain.
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