Happy Birthday, Dave!
I guess I am a day late to write that, but I was thinking it all day yesterday! We got up and went to Cardinal Fitness first thing ydy morning. I did 10 minutes on the elliptical and 30 on the recumbent bike, while Michael spent the whole 40 minutes on the bike. I got lots done ydy, working on student stuff and writing my very exciting first lesson of Fix Your Photos!

Michael was off in the afternoon ydy and so we went together to run some errands, getting set for our Race Party tomorrow. I went walking with Maddy, too. :)

Today we got up at the crack of dawn and did our workout. I did half on the elliptical and half on the bike. Then we set off into action! We went to Sam's, Target, Marsh North, and Marsh West, putting together all the stuff that we needed for our party.

We came home and I worked in the garage, we took the trash and stuff to recycling, and then I worked a bit more in the garage. Then we did a little picking up and scrubbing, and now we're just resting. I vow to start wholeheartedly into the Flylady program right after Memorial Day, now that we're getting caught up with things.

I opted to do all the class preparations and so we didn't get out to do anything exciting on Tuesday. I really wish that I could impress upon myself that procrastination is NOT GOOD when it comes to my class preparations. What happens is that, during the course of the 6 weeks, students and the other teachers give me feedback on things that could be stated better, screenshots that need to be added, and the occasional typo.

Then, at the last minute before the class starts, I realize that I need to implement these changes in the lessons before they go out to the students. I have to then save my lessons as PDFs, add the header/footers, implement the security, and resave for each lesson of each class. I guess it doesn't sound like much, but when I'm trying to get the Classroom Forums opened, send out welcome posts, and check in new students, it's just something else that I don't need to be doing at the last minute.

Anyway, things are going well on that front! Students are checking in and I'm happy about that. I made a movie today!

The fitness front is good. Here's our gym -- Cardinal Fitness. The machines in the foreground are the ellipticals. Actually, I think that our gym is not this large.

We went ydy and today early in the morning. Michael actually had this morning off from work, bc they were able to arrange some things. So we went to the gym and did our thing (bike and elliptical for me, and bike for M) and then went to the Bakehouse and brought breakfast goodies home!

Michael's knees are doing much better. Today's the last day of his Medrol. He's getting around and doing stuff just like normal. It's just the walking that has turned into recumbent bike for 2 weeks. When we're done with this recovery time, we're going to be doing the gym half the time and walk half the time. Or at least that's the current plan.

When we go on our month to the east, I'm not sure how things will shake out, but maybe Michael can do it with somewhat slower walking. And then when we go to Tucson, there are lots of gyms. We may get back into bicycling, too!

In addition to the gym, I've been taking a 15 minute walk with Maddy every day. She really loves to walk and needs the exercise.

Michael has today off from work again because, when they found out about his injury, they blocked him off for the 2 days. He'll be back there tomorrow though.

So we took this opportunity to go early, try out the stuff at Cardinal Fitness, and then we joined! It's a spotlessly clean and friendly place. Plenty of machines and this morning there were just a few other people, none of whom were sweating, merely glowing. ;) I think that college kids shower BEFORE they work out. Makes sense; I always did!

My Photoshop class Summer Session starts tomorrow, so if you are planning to sign up and have not done it yet, DO. This page has all the links to tell you about the classes and to sign up.

We're talking about doing something today, but ... not sure what I'm going to be able to do with all the get-ready stuff that I have to do for my classes. Hrmm...

Michael's appointment with the Dr. went well today... except that Michael can't walk for 2 weeks! After that, he will be limited to walking 3 or 4 days per week.

That's ok though. The doc said that bicycling, swimming, or elliptical exercising is fine, and we figure that any of these is close enough to walking to count for our streak (almost 4 1/2 years, without missing a day!).

What happened is that Michael's kneecap was pulled off-center, creating inflammation and roughness under the kneecap. The inflammation was resolved quickly with the Medrol dosepack, and so he's feeling lots better.

So... we don't want our streak to end, so we're working today on alternatives.

We looked all over the net at various pieces of fitness equipment, including recumbent bikes and elliptical trainers. Prices for what looked good to us hovered at around $1500. [gulp] The doc said that Nordic Track is out – too much impact!

Then we decided… we are going to join a gym – Cardinal Fitness. It's downtown right off the square. They have lots of ellipticals they assured us. They open at 5am so we can go and work out.. and then hit the Bakehouse for breakfast! ;) They have a month-to-month plan, and maybe the college girls will encourage both of us to work harder!

It’s a shame to have to work out INSIDE this time of year, but… well, the doc said that if you save your knees from daily stressors like fitness walking, you can have them for things that you really want to do… like hiking!! And that rang the bell for Michael.

I’ll continue walking with Maddy for at least a short walk every day, but will go with M to the gym too. :) After 2 weeks of rest (no exercise-walking for M), we’ll walk 3 or 4 days a week and do the elliptical the other days.

Well… time to think about supper! Where to go… LOL!

Michael is doing much better today, probably because of the steroid pills he started ydy. And for those of you who thought that our walking-every-day streak had ended you're WRONG! We drove over to Ivy Tech and parked. Maddy and I did our regular 3-mile Ivy Trek. Meanwhile, Michael took our Leki poles and did his own trek around the parking lot there. He went all around the building once and then several laps around the lot where we'd parked. He walked for 35 minutes and then worked out with our 5 lb dumbells for 10 minutes till Maddy and I returned.

Today we were hoping to have a friend come to get some pet things that we no longer need. We were going to just give them to her. She had told us that she'd be here first thing this morning. We had planned to do the transfer and then go for our walk. Then we were going to drive to Hagerstown.

Well... so she didn't show up. Michael called and she said that she'd be here at 2:30. So we went and did our walk and then came back and waited. And now it's nighttime and she never did come. Well... I am a nice person, but I feel like she owes us a Sunday. Tomorrow I'll call the Humane Society and see if they can use the things. [sigh]