The last few weeks have been fairly quiet. Spent much of my time keeping plants alive, well, giving up on them and letting the sun win.One geranium that survived last summer quit last week. Tomatoes are long done for as well. Only things doing well are the okras and the jalapenos. I need to get out in the garden soon and get it ready for the fall planting. Haven't decided just what to plant yet...

It has cooled down a bit lately. Shivered stepping outside the other morning. It feels like fall, but fortunately only briefly. It is too soon for summer to end, I need at least another month of warm weather to carry me through the coming winter. Winter, blech.

Back in school as of Thursday. Only one in-person class this semester that meets once a month. Should be a fun class though. The other two will keep me busy, but I am also doing my practicum starting next Wednesday. Soon, Carol will have interviews to do, so more driving around for that. It is going to be an intense fall.

Hit the 30 pounds lost mark this week. Still averaging about 2 pounds a week. Some weeks more some less, but it is always coming down. Even better, I went under the 11 minute per elliptical mile mark last week. Managed to maintain that speed through the whole week as well. I am pondering the potential for putting on park shoes an padding round the path. Actually, I may get up early tomorrow morning, slip down to the park and go see if I can run at all. Last time I managed a few 1/8 mile shots but it was hard.

It is coming up to dad's birthday again. What would he be this year? 93? I am thinking of him tonight because I had a dream of the old farm last night. For some reason I wanted to take some photos, but couldn't? At least the bear was not standing by my night table again! Now that made me whimper and wiggle my paws.

Sometimes I still find it strange to be in Texas. Was walking out of the grocery store today and saw the Texas Lottery machine flirting with everyone and felt alien again. 14 months in Texas and still missing NC!

Hope everyone is taking care of themselves.

Another week of mostly hot. 100 and more every day. Gets boring after awhile, same ole same ole.:) I was forced to water the lawn this morning, it has been looking bad lately, but I finally gave in and watered. For most of the summer the showers were coming frequently enough to keep it alive and green. Haven't really had any rain in the last week and so everything is now brown.

I gave up on the south west corner of our back yard. The plants there have been struggling for awhile, but this morning I said enough and did not give them any water. Kinda sad, but it is going to remain hot for the next week or two so no point watering something that won't survive anyway.

The rest of the week has been uneventful. Regular workouts, slow weight loss, eating lots. Carol is losing weight and looking svelter!

Two weeks till school start!

Hot week here, every day has been above 100. We have had a couple of t-showers in the evenings that help. Even some of the big trees are busy losing leaves in an attempt to stay alive in the heat. Most of the garden is in deep survival mode, though I water daily. My hydrangea is suffering, I water her twice daily but it looks like she has suffered some heat damage. The okra, however, is thriving. Little baby okras are harvested daily. Carol goes yum!


Not much else going on here. Working out on the elliptical 6 days a week. Managed a 11.95 min/mile this morning. That will not translate to a 12 min/mile of actual walking, but it is still tons better than I could do just a few weeks ago. In the almost 3 months that I have been changing my lifestyle, I have lost 23 pounds! I can see the changes already.

I am enjoying the exercise and healthier eating. Feels great to be working at getting healthy again.

August already!! Bit of a quiet week here.

Good news first: in the 10 weeks I have been on this diet I have lost 20 pounds. A nice, steady 2 pound a week loss. SparkPeople is working for me. Add to that the 6 days a week I work on the elliptical, and you have a healthier, happier me. Right now I am working for a 12 minute mile on the elliptical, and I am getting closer. Managed a 12.6 min/mile yesterday. Realized last week that I was not in training for anything, so there was no need for me to be following a heavy training schedule. My morning workouts have become pleasant and enjoyable once more. Best of all, I measured this morning and I have lost 2 inches off my belly (measured at the belly button) in the past month. The dangerous fat is moving!

I went out Friday and picked up a heart rate monitor. We were unsure about the reliability of the elliptical readings, and they were becoming more and more of a concern for both of us. The elliptical's readings were being used to estimate calorie burn for Sparks, which was raising our food intake. Neither of us was losing weight, so we wanted to check. Turns out the elliptical is reasonably close for me, but out by 25% (high) for Carol. The male/female exercise difference. The elliptical must have been calibrated using a man.

The weather has hotted up once more. Highs in the 100s, feels like 109. Summer in Texas. Can't help but feel sorry for all those who have to work outside in the heat.