Moving More, Mostly

Does this sound familiar?  "My New Year's resolutions are to lose weight and to exercise."  Yep, as with MANY folks, that's my mantra AGAIN this year but this time I am determined to "just do it!"
"Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional and mental states."  ~Carol Welch

One of the main focuses in Weight Watcher's to help with weight loss is to MOVE MORE.   I have to tell you that I do NOT like exercise and have never found anything that I could stick with.  Also, the pain from my fibromyalgia is always there.  Nevertheless, I started at Curves a few weeks ago.

Thanks to my scuba dive buddy and friend, Chris Guld, Curves sounds realistic for me.  As she said, "You're in and out in 30 minutes." 

Some things I like so far are that it's only women (no men to gawk at you), it's 30 minutes, it's very near our house in Florida, the workout includes cardiovascular and resistance training, and the background music is peppy.  
Another motivator is that it's covered by my health insurance under the Silver Sneakers program.  As long as I go at least twice a week, it's free!!

The set-up is a circle of alternating machines and platforms.  You do a machine for 30 seconds, the PA system tells you when to move on, you stand on a little square platform and jog or move 30 seconds, then move to the next machine, etc.

  

Sally is our trainer.  She stays busy at teaching newbies and making sure we don't slide into bad habits by using a machine incorrectly. 

I notice she doesn't bug people though. 

Let's work on those "bat wing" upper arms, OK?

You can see by my "bed-head" hairdo that whenever I wake up, I just get up, put on my clothes, and GO.

It's Cool Down Time

If the beach scene on the wall is to help us feel like we're somewhere else, then I've got news for them --- it ain't working for MaryMay!

In closing, let me quote Anonymous, who said, "The only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, running down their friends, side-stepping responsibility and pushing their luck."  Here's hoping I can do better than that in 2012.

Rocking or Not

Here are some thoughts that are rattling around in my brain and hopefully they'll make sense to you:

Ed came up with an idea that might make us rich --- we'll open a retirement center where the focus is rocking chairs.  At the clubhouse, there'll be no tennis courts, pools, or exercise classes…. just TVs with lots of rocking chairs!

Seriously, when one retires, it would be easy to slip into a pattern of just sitting and rocking.  But, that would bring on health problems and shorten one's life.  

I bought this print in Silver City and read it most every day:

“Most people don't know that there are angels whose only job is to make sure you don't get too comfortable and fall sleep and miss your life.” 

I mentioned in my last post about the Denim and Diamonds Dinner that it was silly to be creating rhinestone shirts, shiny ties, etc.  Well, it’s not really silly because it is important for people to have something to look forward to and plan for.

We purposely bought our winter abode in a larger 55+ community (there are over 1,900 homes here) because there would be a variety of activities and resources with busy, active people.  Also, people here are very involved in serving others in many ways.

When I saw all the people (many of them quite elderly) dancing on Saturday night, I admired them so much.  They could be in rocking chairs!  Instead, they "rock" on the dance floor.

Each of us must find our own way to "rock" and keep active, whether we're retired or not.  Life can be a dismal experience or a glorious time, filled with interesting, fulfilling activities. 

May your angel keep you awake so you won’t miss your life and may you LIVE all the days of your life!  Rock on!

Denim and Diamonds Dinner Dance

Saturday night we went to the annual party of the American Jewish Friendship Club with over a hundred Savanna Club residents.  The theme was Denim and Diamonds, which left the field wide open as to what to wear.

I had fun shopping for some silly rhinestone jewelry, etc.  Jane Roy loaned me a hat and sparkly tank top.  I bought some rhinestones that I sewed onto a denim shirt that I found in my closet.

 I had 5 "diamonds" left so added a "flower" on the back of the shirt.  I know......I'm so silly! (More thoughts "silliness" in another post.)

 

I even found "blingy" shoes!

Most challenging was making Ed a blingy, shiny tie.  I bought a tie at the dollar store and tore it apart to use for a pattern.  I also added some rhinestones to his shirt pocket.  

You know Ed's not into wearing ties so I let him off easy.  He wore it with the collar unbuttoned.

The Critters, the band for the evening, played a great variety of songs, including a couple of their own hits from the 60s.  I was in awe at seeing the dance floor full most of the evening.  

Bobbie and Ron Steinberg are the couple who visited us in Virginia last summer.  Their "adopted" son, Seth, is visiting them.  He's a professional musician on cruise ships and was impressed with the band, too.

Below is another one of my new SC friends, Suzanne Gibbs.  We "met" on Facebook and have emailed quite a bit.  That good old internet is my social network, for sure!

Here's the dynamic denim and diamond duo!

 May your days be filled with fun and plenty of "bling."

A Year Ago

It's hard to believe that my dear Mother went to heaven on a rush of angels' wings a year ago.  It is reassuring to know where she is but oh, how I do miss her!

This song was sung in church the following morning and really touched my heart.  Please take a meditation moment and listen to it:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD2Q-S1tI0Y&feature=related

"Surely the Presence of the Lord"  

by Lanny Wolfe

"Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place,
I can feel His mighty power and his grace.

I can feel the rush of angels' wings, 
I see glory on each face,
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place."

Different Focus for a Ft. Lauderdale Trip

This weekend we went to Ft. Lauderdale to see some of Ed's family.  We stayed with his sister and brother-in-law, Lorraine and Ray Barkett. 

Lorraine and Ray Barkett  2012

We also spent some time with Ed's son, grandson, and daughter-in-law.  I had fun reading with Sean and am pleased at his progress as a second grader. 

I don't think of "Lorraine" as a common name.  What are the chances his sister and daughter-in-law are both named Lorraine?

Sean (7), MaryMay, Ed, Lorraine, and Steve Angelil    2012

3 Generations:  Ed, Sean, and Steve Angelil  2012

Sean Angelil and Tom Barkett (Ray's brother)  2011

I enjoyed helping Ray with Facebook and Lorraine with how to copy and paste.

When we would go to Ft. Lauderdale after being in Virginia, shopping was a main focus.  Now we live in Port St. Lucie 7 months of the year, where we have almost all the stores you can think of, so shopping isn't a strong reason to travel South. 

Being with family IS a good reason to make the 2 hour journey.  It was a fun and relaxing weekend.  Thank you, Lorraine and Ray!

p.s.  One of the highlights of the weekend was getting the painting that I had commissioned my art teacher friend, Anita Orlando, to paint.  I will show it to you as soon as we get it from the framer.