Drizzling/Breezy Walk

It was 57 when we started out this morning, and we while we walked (3 1/4 miles in 48 minutes and 30 seconds) it was drizzling when it wasn't breezy. I think as it gets colder warming up at the park before we start the track walking will be counter-productive. I may decide to just use the walk to the park as my warm-up.

Tibetan Refugees Shot

BoingBoing has the story. Like the people of Tibet don't have enough problems....

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 22 (King James Version)

1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.
11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

Long, Slow Walk

We based our walk on taking a nice easy pace and walking for 90 minutes. It's a beautiful clear day with an expected high of 72.

weight: 90 pounds

Southern Festival of Books

Mother and I went to the Southern Festival of Books today. This is the second time it's been held in Memphis, and we've enjoyed it both times. We got downtown and parked by 10 and stayed until 4:30. We saw all the displays, ate chicken kabobs and listened to several speakers. We heard J. A. Jance, 3 women involved in writing a book on various spiritualities of Southern women, and Ace Atkins.

The one disappointment was that the antiquarian booksellers that were there last time were not there this time, and I had so looked forward to browsing their offerings.

Short Walk

We were running late again this morning so walked 2 miles in 30 minutes and 44 seconds. We plan on walking again tonight since #2 Son's fencing has been cancelled for Fall Break.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

It's time to start watching Hallowe'en videos, and tonight we watched It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. We enjoy this every year even as the kids get older.

Another Under-50 Day

Our 3 1/4 mile walk took 49 minutes 45 seconds. We're in week 10 of this chart.

Met Target Again

For the second day in a row we met our target time of under 50 minutes for 3 1/4 miles. Today we made it in 49 minutes and 37 seconds. It was in the low 60's when we set out. High today is predicted to be in the low 80's.

Met the Target

Our current target is 3 1/4 miles in under 50 minutes, and today we did it in 49 minutes and 44 seconds. This was our fastest 1st lap ever at 7 minutes 47 seconds. The westher was clear and cool (mid 50's), and I wore my sweat pants.

weight: 91 pounds

Hymn

Rejoice in God's Saints

Listen to the tune here.

1st verse (text by Fred Pratt Green):

Rejoice in God's saints, today and all days!
A world without saints forgets how to praise.
Their faith in acquiring the habit of prayer,
their depth of adoring, Lord, help us to share.

What is Spiritual Formation?

Definition of Spiritual Formation:

Spiritual formation is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ by the gracious working of God's spirit, for the transformation of the world.

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 25 (NRSV)

1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose.
13 They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.

kids from all over the world

Photographer Danny Goldfield.

Downtown fires

1st United Methodist Church, the oldest congregation in the city, burned down early this morning. It's a sad day.

We got a late start because we were watching the news and noly walked 1 1/2 miles this morning.

Craft Fair

We went to the Pink Palace Craft Fair today. It was a great day and a much better fair than last year. I bought a beautiful turquoise bead necklace with a pendant with a picture of Mary. We bought a copper ornament for the patio.

We walked our 3 1/4 miles in 51 minutes.

Warm, Unseasonably Warm

Temps are averaging 10 degrees warmer than is usual for this time of year, but it was pleasant enough for our morning walk. We walked 3 1/4 miles in 50 minutes and 47 seconds.

More on DRM

BoingBoing has some suggestions on how to observe the day.

When you buy music with DRM someone else decides where you can play it.

Take Back Your Rights: Fight DRM

What would a world with DRM look like?

Once that camel gets its nose in the tent the abuse will increase over time until freedom as we know it will be only a memory.

Day Against DRM

10 Things You Can Do from DefectiveByDesign.org:

Work your way through these actions (some or all) and spread the word that DRM is Defective By Design. Your target is to get the word out to at least 100 people today. and that is easier than you think. Just look at the ideas below and see that you can have some fun and have an impact on the future story of DRM.

* Email your friends and family, use our prepared text. This is the big one - attack that address book!!
* Add this text to your email signature for the day.
* Post on a forum or message board that you subscribe to.
* Download and print this sign and hang one at your desk, the office water cooler, or in an elevator.
* Download and print this leaflet and give it to coworkers or others you see today, maybe even distribute them on your lunch hour or during your commute.
* Sign the Bono petition. We are getting ready to get his answer.
* Google bomb DRM by adding this link to your website or any web page you can edit.
* Digg the day of action
* Watch these videos on YouTube send them to friends and rate them.
* Photograph your actions and post them to Flickr tagged with "dayagainst drm defectivebydesign".

There's much more at the Defective By Design site.

3 1/4 miles

We increased our distance to 3 1/4 miles today. Our time was 51 minutes and 14 seconds. We're aiming at decreasing our time to 50 minutes or less. We're adapting the schedule here. We're starting in week 10 of the intermediate schedule.

And I had a chocolate iced donut for breakfast.

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 124 (KJV)

1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Saturday

Slow day. The 3-mile walk took 50 minutes and 22 seconds. It was sunny and in the low 60's with a projected high of low 80's. Very pleasant.

Weight: 93 pounds

Feast of St. Michael and All Angels

Revelation 12:7-12

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"

Cold!

Our 3-mile walk took 47 minutes and 3 seconds this morning, and it was COLD! At least, it was cold compared to the temps we've been used to. It was in the low 50's and breezy when we started out and didn't warm up a bit while we were out. I was wishing I'd worn something heavier than a T-shirt.

I bought a little "pie pumpkin" at the grocery store and put it on the round coffee table when I got home. It's feelin' like Fall.

The photo above came from this page at Flickr.

Another under-48 day

The 3 miles took 47 minutes 42 seconds. It was in the mid-60's and cloudy when we started, but it was sunny not long into the walk.

We went to the Mid-South Fair today.

The Walking Program

The Fatfighters Blog is promoting a walking program that looks good. It looks like I would start in week 9 of the Intermediate step. I'm not sure how to increase distance in 1/4 mile increments when the track I walk is a 1/2 mile track.

After a day off, a walk

Today's 3-miles took 47 minutes and 4 seconds.

How Logical Are You?

You Are Incredibly Logical

Move over Spock - you're the new master of logic You think rationally, clearly, and quickly. A seasoned problem solver, your mind is like a computer!

How Logical Are You?

found here.

Under 48

We walked our 3 miles in 47 minutes and 37 seconds.

Cool Moonwalking Bird

from Reddit.

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 1 (KJV)

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Banned Books Week

from the Memphis Business Journal:

In observance of the National Library Association's Banned Books Week, the University of Memphis' Ned R. McWherter Library hosts readings through Sept. 29 beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the library's rotunda. The readings will be from books that were considered controversial at some time in American history. Selections will include "The Rights of Man" by Thomas Paine, "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding and "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. A virtual panel discussion to introduce Banned Books Week will be held today from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Room 226 of the library. All related events are free and open to the public. For more information, call Tom Mendina at 678-4310.

from ALA's Banned Books Week website:

Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. This year, 2006, marks BBW's 25th anniversary (September 23-30).

BBW celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where these two essential conditions are met.

Amnesty International's Banned Books Week site, listing authors persecuted for their writings.

Text of some banned books online includes James Joyce's Ulysses, Canterbury Tales, Defoe's Moll Flanders, Aristophanes' Lysistrata, Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, Jean-Jacques Rousseau's autobiography Confessions, Jack London's Call of the Wild, Thomas Paine's The Rights of Man and his The Age of Reason, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Ambrose Bierce's Can Such Things Be?, Thoreau's Civil Disobedience, "Little Red Riding Hood", Mark Twain's books Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, George Eliot's Silas Marner, Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind, the Bible, and more.

Google's book search page on banned books

New Numa

I just found New Numa:



I got a big kick out of the original:



They make me smile.

There's a video interview at Yahoo!Video.

That video is gone, but there's one here.


The Numa Numa guy has his own web site.

Autumnal Equinox

Today is the Autumnal Equinox. Day and Night are the same length on this day, and the nights get longer from now on. Since Autumn is beginning, I'd love to see some Fall weather -crisp, brisk, sweater weather. High today will be in the 80's.

Rainy

The track was muddy and wet but not flooded. We did 3 miles in 49 minutes and 11 seconds.

Babylon 5 and Paul Williams

We've been watching Babylon 5 episodes on DVD lately, season 2 with #1 Son and season 4 with #2 Son. The season 2 episode we watched today was "Acts of Sacrifice" with Paul Williams, and I discovered that neither one knew who Paul Williams was. I showed them this site, and now they are enlightened.

What is your Spiritual Type?

The test is here.

This is me:

You are a Mystic, known for your imaginative, intuitive spirituality. You value peace, harmony, and inner silence. Mystics are nurtured by walking alone in the woods or sitting quietly with a trusted friend. You may also enjoy poetry, meditation, wordless prayer, candles, art, books, and anything else that helps you connect with God.

Mystics experience God best through rich images and symbols. You are contemplative, introspective, intuitive, and focused on an inner world as real to you as the exterior one. Hearing from God is more important to you than speaking to God. Others may attribute human characteristics to God, but you see God as ineffable, unnamable, and more vast than any known category. You are intrigued by God's mystery.

Mystics want to inspire and persuade others, and need to live lives of significance. At times you push the envelope of spirituality, helping the rest of us imagine who we might become if we followed your lead.

Sometimes you may feel a bit guilty about your need for solitude and silence. If so, you probably have bought into the American myth that says being alone and doing nothing is lazy, antisocial, and unproductive. Stop it -- now. Give yourself permission to retreat and be alone. It's essential for your well-being.

On the other hand, don't get so carried away retreating that you become a recluse. That only deprives the world of your gifts and deprives you of the lessons that come from being with others. Some Mystics may have a true vocation for solitary prayer, but the rest of you need to alternate retreat time with involvement and interaction.

Famous Mystics:

Thomas Merton | Enya | John (the Gospel writer)
Brother Lawrence (Practicing the Presence of God)
Desert mothers and fathers | Charlie Brown
Sister Wendy | Phoebe Buffay | Julian of Norwich
Luke | Anthony de Mello | The Who

The Upper Room has some information on saints here.

Cool and Sunny

We walked 3 miles in 48 minutes and 1 second this morning.

Chilly

It was in the mid-50's when we started out this morning, and I wore sweat pants. We walked 3 miles in 48 minutes and 37 seconds.

Avast there, me hearties!

It's Talk Like a Pirate Day. Aaarrrr!

If you're not quite sure how to talk like a pirate check out these helpful videos:

Rain

We got a late start, and the rain had flooded sections of the track that we had to detour around. We just walked 2 miles this morning. Our time was 37 minutes and 28 seconds.

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 19 (KJV)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Shins

My shins have been bothering me the last couple of days during the first 1/2 mile or so of our walk, so I googled for some suggestions on what to do about it. I found lots of info, but the page I'm keeping handy is at The Walking Site. Some of their suggestions for exercises:

Walking on heels, and walking on toes: Probably the single easiest way to strengthen your shins is to walk on your heels.

Toe taps: Standing or sitting, tap the floor with the foot for 2 minutes.

Heel raises: Stand on one leg with a chair turned backwards in front of you. Holding onto the chair back, raise up on your toes keeping your knee straight. Hold for 1 second. Slowly lower to the ground. Repeat 10 times. Toe raises: Same as heel raises only stand on heels and raise toes.

Saturday

We walked a little later in the morning but not much later than usual. The 3 miles took 48 minutes and 57 seconds.

weight: 93 pounds

Good Time

We did the 3-mile walk in 47 minutes 59 seconds. I'm aiming at walking a 15 minute mile eventually, and this week has surely been good progress towards that.

Happy Birthday, Walter Koenig!

The wiki entry for him is here. That page has links to several other good sites.

under 50

The walk, that is. Our 3-mile walk took 49 minutes this morning. We were a little later getting started this morning, and there's an entirely different set of people on the track depending on what time of day it is.

What's your theological worldview?

Here's mine:

You scored as Roman Catholic. You are Roman Catholic. Church tradition and ecclesial authority are hugely important, and the most important part of worship for you is mass. As the Mother of God, Mary is important in your theology, and as the communion of saints includes the living and the dead, you can also ask the saints to intercede for you. Roman Catholic 100% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 89% Modern Liberal 64% Emergent/Postmodern 57% Neo orthodox 57% Classical Liberal 29% Charismatic/Pentecostal 0% Reformed Evangelical 0% Fundamentalist 0% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

What is your worldview?

Here's what this quiz says I am:

You scored as Cultural Creative. Cultural Creatives are probably the newest group to enter this realm. You are a modern thinker who tends to shy away from organized religion but still feels as if there is something greater than ourselves. You are very spiritual, even if you are not religious. Life has a meaning outside of the rational. Cultural Creative 75% Postmodernist 69% Idealist 63% Existentialist 56% Romanticist 19% Modernist 19% Materialist 0% Fundamentalist 0% What is Your World View? created with QuizFarm.com

Getting Easier

The 3-mile walk seems to be getting easier now, and this morning it took 49 minutes and 59 seconds. I think the longer stretching before and after is helping keep me from feeling as stiff.

There is some information about stretching before and after walking here and here.

Drizzly

Our 3-mile walk took 52 minutes and 52 seconds today.

9/11

Our 3-mile walk took 53 minutes and 3 seconds this morning.

Archbshop Rowan Williams' thoughts:
audio here or read what he had to say here. I saw this at a Methodist minister's blog.

The New York Times has coverage of the families most affected by the events of that day, and GetReligion calls the reflections "amazingly faith free".

"7 Days in September" at GoogleVideo.

I've seen a lot of tribute videos and commemoration sites online marking this 5th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. There is a digital archive here. The Library of Congress site is here. CNN's video archive is here and their coverage for today is here. A 9/11 timeline is here.

This is one of the tribute videos I found:



And another one that's shorter:



Links to video of Osama Bin Laden's response to the tragedy:

part 1

part 2

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 124 (KJV)

1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Saturday

Our 3-mile walk took 50 minutes and 2 seconds this morning. We walked later than usual this morning, and there were a lot of people at the track.

Star Trek - Happy 40th Anniversary!

Star Trek in pictures from the BBC.

Space.com's report.

TV.com's report.

Report from CNN.

Robins

I don't think I've ever seen as many robins as I saw at the park yesterday and today during our walks. There were huge flocks, with robins everyhere. I've always liked robins. They were the first birds I drew pictures of as a child.

We walked 3 miles in 52 minutes and 10 seconds.

Stiff

And my shins hurt some. And so do my calves a bit. I'm stretching before and after the walk. We walked the 3 miles at the park in 51 minutes and 6 seconds.

Chilly

It was in the 60's when we set out this morning. We walked the 3 miles in 53 minutes and 43 seconds.

We watched The Holy Thief during lunch and The Pilgrim of Hate before bed.

Fall is coming

It's darker every morning we walk, with the sun setting later each day, and it's been cooler, too. This morning we walked 3 miles in 49 minutes and 49 seconds.

Breakfast: raisin bran and hot tea. Lunch: turkey sandwich, chips, water. Supper: rice and roasted veffies with cheese and walnuts, water and dessert.

We watched The Raven in the Foregate during lunch. We watched The Rose Rent before bed.

Death of Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter

Steve Irwin has died after being stung in the heart by a stingray. Tragic. There are news stories by the score, including stories at CNN.com, BBC News, news.com.au, LiveScience.com,

Tribute video:



More tribute videos are here.

Labor Day

We moved up to 3 miles to day and did it in a little over 55 minutes.

Breakfast: swiss mocha and raisin bran. Lunch & Supper were barbque at Mother's.

Before bed we walked a little over 2 miles in an easy-going 38 minutes and 30 seconds.

We watched A Morbid Taste for Bones, which is one of my favorites of the Cadfaels.

More Cadfael

Tonight we watched "The Virgin in the Ice". #2 Son explained how this presentation differed from the book since he's read the book fairly recently while my reading was so long ago I no longer clearly remember the books.

Worried Man Blues

Worried Man Blues

I takes a worried man to sing a worried song....

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 45 (KJV)

1 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
2 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
9 Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
13 The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
15 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.
16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
17 I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

Saturday

We walked our 2 1/2 miles in 42 minutes and 19 seconds.

Breakfast: raisin bran and hot tea. Lunch: turkey sub sandwich and chips. Supper: hotdog and chips. Dessert for lunch and supper: Sugar Smacks.

We watched more Cadfael videos.

Lazy Day

I overslept and so didn't walk at all.

We watched 3 of the Cadfael videos during our pizza supper.

Happy BlogDay!

I saw the post here at That'sFit telling all about today being the 2nd annual BlogDay. There's a site here that tells its history and has instructions for participating. It's a bit late in the day for me to jump on the bandwagon this year, but I've set myself a reminder for next August 31.

Brother Cadfael

I got a coupon in an email that offered 30% off any one item at Borders, so I went right out and bought The Complete Cadfael Collection. There is a guide to all 13 episodes here. I remember when these came out I had already read many of the books by Ellis Peters, and I enjoyed the series. Now the sons have read the books and will certainly also enjoy these DVDs. #2 Son and I watched The Leper of St. Giles during lunch this afternoon.

Photo from this wikipedia page.

And here is an interesting fan video:

S_L_O_W walk

We walked the 2 1/2 miles very slowly this morning.

Breakfast: Raisin Bran and hot tea. Lunch: roll, walnuts, raisins and water with the usual Sugar Smacks for dessert, but I'm beginning to run low on the Sugar Smacks. Supper: Baked catfish filets, spinach, corn on the cob, tomato and water, with, of course, Sugar Smacks for dessert.

Glenn Ford has died.

Google news links are here. CNN's obituary is here. His page at imdb.com is here. ClassicMovies.org has a tribute site here. TheGoldenYears.org has lots of links here.

The photo above is from http://www.celebstation.org/actors/glenn_ford.php

"Stupid in America"

seen first at Kay Brooks' blog, but forgotten until I was reminded of it today at Why Homeschool.

Mammogram

We walked our 2 1/2 miles at the track in the park this morning in 41 minutes and 44 seconds.

Breakfast was 2 blueberry muffins and coffee at Mother's after my mammogram. My appointment was at 9:10, I got there at 8:50 and was out by 9:12. Very efficient. Not at all like the time the other clinic kept me waiting for _ hours_ after the test was completed. Mammograms are recommended everyyear or two from the age of 40 to the age of 49 and annually after that. There's a tutorial here. BreastCancer.org has information here. The American Cancer Society has information here.

Lunch: pita bread, raisins, Sun Chips and water. And, of course Sugar Smacks. Supper was white beans and cornbread and coffee.

We walked 2.1 miles in 38 minutes before bed.

Fisherman's Nightmare

Cloudy, overcast, muggy...

It rained after our walk. We did the 2 1/2 miles in 40 minutes and 44 seconds, which is our best time yet. I'm not sure how long we'll keep this up before we move to a 3-mile walk.

We walked 1 1/2 miles before bed. It took us 26 minutes and 31 seconds.

Breakfast: toast with Benecol, water and hot tea. Lunch: pita bread, walnuts, raisins and water. Supper: Salmon patty, corn, green beans, sweet potato and water. Bedtime snack: Sugar Smacks

We watched The Chronicles of Riddick tonight. I had seen the director's cut of this movie, but this was the PG-13 version edited for re-rating. There were some significant differences. #2 Son had never seen this and really enjoyed it. The movie site is here.

Weights again

We walked 2 1/2 miles in just over 41 minutes this morning, and then I did the Kathy Smith Lift Weights to Lose Weight DVD. I'm using 2- and 3-pd. weights. I used the step as a bench for one exercise and a chair for the others.

Breakfast: toast with Benecol and water and hot tea. Lunch: pita bread, cheese, blueberries, water and Sugar Smacks. Supper: cheese toast, walnuts and water.

I saw The Daughter today. She seems to like dorm life. We miss her but are happy she's having this experience. #1 Son likes his classes. #2 Son started 10th grade today.

Reading: Kiln People by David Brin.

Poodle Aerobics

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 84 (KJV)

1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Saturday continues to slow down

Weight: 95

I thought yesterday was slow as far as exercise went, but I haven't done anything yet today. I was so tired last night I didn't even take my night-time walk. I woke up tired this morning.

later: We did take a nice slow 1 1/2 mile walk tonight, not even checking the time.

Breakfast: raisin bread toast with Benecol and hot tea. Lunch: Mexican food out. Supper: toast and fruit, water and hot tea.

I'm looking at this site on cardio workouts today.

Busy Friday!

Lots to do today, but we started off with our 2 1/2 mile walk in 42 minutes 5 seconds.

Breakfast: 2 pieces raisin bread toast with Benecol. Lunch: pita bread with oil, blueberries, Sugar Smacks. Supper: cheese pizza, bread stick with oil. Bedtime snack: Sugar Smacks.

I'm looking at the about.com walking site today.

We watched Laura tonight. I love this film so am always happy when someone suggests it. Filmsite.org has a nice page on this movie here.

Tired

I think next week I'll change my weight routine from MWF to MTh. I'm not sore -just tired.

We walked the 2 1/2 miles in 45 minutes 27 seconds this morning and plan on continuing the 2 1/2 mile distance for at least another week before moving up to 3 miles.

Before bed we walked 1 1/2 miles in about 28 minutes.

Breakfast: 2 slices raisin bread toast with Benecol and water. Lunch: pita bread with dipping oil, orange slices, spinach/tomato salad, Sugar Smacks and water. Supper: cheese omelet, home-made biscuits, spinach/tomato salad, water.

I'm checking out this site today.

2nd day of weights

We walked 2 1/2 miles in 44 minutes 44 seconds. After we got back I did the upper and lower body segments of Kathy Smith's Lift Weights to Lose Weight DVD -the same one I did Monday. I had more trouble with it today, with muscle fatigue I didn't feel Monday. She suggests alternating 6 weeks of this program with 6 weeks of the track that uses heavier weights. I'm using 2- and 3-pound weights and no weights on my legs. I skipped the abs routine. I have so much trouble with ab exercises.

After supper we did a 1-mile walk. Before bed I did Leslie Sansone's 3-mile walk.

I'm more tired than usual today and have some soreness.

Breakfast: 2 pieces of raisin bread toast with Benecol and hot tea. Lunch: roll with dipping oil, cheddar cheese, blueberries, water. Supper: wild rice with zucchini, green beans, tomato/spinach salad, orange wedges, water. Sugar Smacks for dessert for lunch and for a bedtime snack.

The Step

We walked 2 1/2 miles at the park in a little over 56 minutes this morning. My step came yesterday, so after my walk I did the beginner part of Kathy Smith's Step Workout DVD without the arm movements. There are some free instructional step videos here.

Breakfast: 2 pieces of raisin bread toast with Benecol and Constant Comment tea. Lunch: Sourdough roll with dipping oil, blueberries, Sugar Smacks and water. Supper: Spaghetti, french bread, Sugar Smacks and water.

The Firm

Yeah, well, I tried The Firm Super Cardio Mix DVD, and it required entirely too much modification to be a useful addition to my program. Whew! I may never be in good enough shape to do this one.

I followed it with Kathy Smith's Lift Weights to Lose Weight DVD. This was the 2nd time I've used it. I did not complete the abs routine but was able to do the upper and lower body routines using 2- and 3-lb. weights. I've found a bench here that I can use, so I follow the program as she does it. This will be a regular part of my MWF weight work.

We had a nice 22-minute 1-mile walk before bed.

I skipped breakfast. Lunch: tuna, sweet pickle, pita bread with dipping oil and banana. Supper: Spinach Canneloni and coffee. I had water and Sugar Smacks with both meals.

I stopped in at the DVD store tonight looking for exercise videos and found one on bellydancing. Hmmm... Wonder how silly I'd look doing bellydancing.

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 111 (KJV)

1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

I have not tried a treadmill yet, but....

H.T. to http://www.starling-fitness.com/

Increased distance

weight: 95

We walked 2 1/2 miles at the park today in 52 ' 23". My heart rate ranged from 112 to 137 during our time on the track, so I'm not able to keep it at a steady level. When I got home I did Kathy Smith's New Yoga Intermediate DVD. I liked this video. I was afraid that "intermediate" would be too advanced for me, but 2 of the 4 people on the DVD offer clear modifications for beginners and those who are less flexible. It is a 55-minute routine broken into 2 segments with a short relaxation in between, so you have a good place to stop if you don't want to complete the entire video. It's been a long time since I did any yoga and I'm not sure I'm maintaining correct form, but Kathy Smith emphasizes going as far into the pose as you comfortably can while keeping proper form. It's the form that's important.

I skipped breakfast somehow, but lunch was a sourdough roll with dipping oil, blueberries, walnuts, water, Sugar Smacks for dessert and coffee.

The 2-Week Mark

Weight: 95

It's been 2 weeks since I started my new exercise plan. This morning we were back to walking in the park, but our 2 miles took over 44 minutes. We were slow. Tonight I did the 15-minute tai chi segment of Kathy Smith's Cardio Knockout DVD. It was divided into 2 sections, each led by a different person. This was a very light exercise day.

Breakfast: 2 blueberry muffins and tea at Mother's. Lunch: sourdough roll with dipping oil, walnuts, a banana, water and Sugar Smacks for dessert. Supper: waffle with blueberries & walnuts, water and coffee.

More Kathy Smith

Reating Heart Rate: 57

Weight: 95

This morning I did Kathy Smith's Kickboxing program. I picked it up because I had read reviews saying it was a good aerobics program for beginners. It challenged me, and there were times that she said to go "up to tempo" when I did half-time instead. I made it to the end of the workout with modifications, and it'll be good to see my progress as I get stronger. It was fun. I'll probably use this one once a week or so.

Tonight I did the Leslie Sansone 3-mile walk again. My dh says I should use the heart rate monitor to check myself during the exercises, so I'll start that tomorrow.

Breakfast: swiss mocha (I got a late staart today). Lunch: pita bread with dipping oil, blueberries, squash & zucchini, water and Sugar Smacks. Supper: Scrambled eggs, toast with orange marmalade, mushrooms, orange wedges, water, coffee and Moose Tracks ice cream for dessert.

Aerobic step

Resting Heart Rate: 57

Weight: 96

I've been researching "the step" with an eye on buying one. The only ones I can find in local stores are the shorter kind that are about 24" long. I've seen Reebok steps, Sports Authority steps, The Step Body Fusion Kit and The Step Home Trainer. I haven't seen the longer 40" step in any stores where I've looked, but it is available online.

I did the Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds Walk Strong DVD this morning. She calls it the equivalent of a 2-mile walk but says it's better because she incorporates arm movements with weights at intervals. I didn't like this one as much because I felt like the interval weight work interrupted my morning "walk". I think I'd rather do the aerobic exercise as a unit and do strength training separately. If I could only find a beginner-level strength training dvd that didn't require major equipment purchases. I don't know anything about the concept of interval training, though, so there are probably benefits to it that I just don't know about.

In the mid-afternoon I did Leslie Sansone's 1-mile walk. It was an easy 15-minutes, and I just did it in my regular clothes. It made for a nice break.

Tonight I did the Kathy Smith Moving Through Menopause program again, but this time I skipped the strength training segment and only did the aerobics and yoga sections. I really do think I'd rather have aerobics without weights that I could do every day and then some separate strength training DVDs that I could use on MWF.

I forgot all about breakfast, but lunch was pita bread with dipping oil, blueberries, water and Sugar Smacks for dessert. Supper was at the church where I ate spaghetti, french bread, salad, coffee, angel food cake and vanilla ice cream.

Putting the new tools to use

Resting heart rate: 54

Weight: 95

DH is going out of town for a few days and had to leave early this morning, so we didn't walk. I plan on substituting a video for the walk a bit later.

update: I did the Leslie Sansone 1-mile express walk, skipping the cooldown and moving straight into the 2-mile express walk. They are on the same DVD and it worked ok, but I think the 3-mile express walk DVD would work better. I'll pick it up soon and try it.

update again: I did the 3-mile walk this afternoon and liked it. I enjoy Sansone's DVDs so far. Tonight I previewed Kathy Smith's Weight Loss Workout and did some of it. The camera work seemed determined to focus everywhere but on the feet during the leg segments, and I had a bit of trouble seeing what she was doing. I'll know more when I do the full video. She follows the exercise routine with an explanation of her suggested diet plan -1200 calories a day taken from the 4 food groups (starches/fruits&veggies being most important and meats&beans/dairy being eaten with less frequency). Very basic.

Breakfast: raisin bran with extra raisins and hot tea. Lunch: Cozymel's chicken flauta and chicken enchilada with beans and rice and coke. Supper: tuna, pita bread with dipping oil, blueberries, water, Sugar Smacks and coffee.

Overdoing it yesterday hurt...

I walked the 2 miles this morning, but it took 44 minutes and I wasn't able to continue the activity with an exercise video when I got home. I'll keep my options open and may use a video later in the day.

I did use a video in the mid-afternoon: Leslie Sansone's Brisk 2-Mile Walk. This is the 2nd of her DVDs I've done, having done the 1-mile walk a few days ago. This is very doable. It's easy to follow while still getting my heart rate up. Besides the walk-in-place move she includes side-to-side movement, knee raises, leg kicks, spreading the legs out a bit and back kicks to vary the walk and add interest. She uses the stretchie with this one, too, to add a bit of arm motion and resistance. I just moved my arms without the stretchie, but I bought a set of 3 this afternoon and will incorporate that next time. I think adding more of her videos to my rotation would be a good idea.

We waited about an hour after supper and took a 30-minute stroll -about 1 1/2 miles. My heart rate was 119 half-way through and 120 when we finished.

I bought a few other things today besides the stretchie. I bought a simple analog bathroom scale, a wrist watch-style heart rate monitor, a pair of 1-pound ankle weights and a couple of 3-pound hex weights. I also bought a basic Pilates DVD to give to my sister and niece for Christmas.

I had raisin bran with 1/4 cup extra raisins, hot tea and water for breakfast. Lunch was 1/2 turkey sandwich on regular sandwich bread with lettuce, tomato and sliced mushroom; some fritos and salsa; water; and Sugar Smacks. Supper was 3 bean tacos (soft shell) with lettuce, tomato and mushroom and water. I had Sugar Smacks and coffee for a bedtime snack. I'm having a cup of hot tea now.

Taking the day off

I skipped breakfast except for coffee but had baked potato with sour cream; salad with lettuce, tomato and sliced mushroom; steamed squash and zucchini; and spice cake and mint chocolate chip ice cream for lunch. Supper was 1/2 of a turkey sub sandwich with lettuce and tomato; fritos and salsa; and more cake and ice cream.

We didn't exercise today, taking it as a rest day, but we did decide to take a short stroll before supper. We got carried away, though, and walked for an hour at a slow easy pace.

I want one of those heart rate monitors that looks like a wrist watch.

I want a bathroom scale.

Sunday Psalm

Psalm 130 (KJV)

1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Saying "No" to Aeroboxing

We did the 2 mile walk in 35 minutes 22 seconds this morning. My heart rate was 140. When we got home I previewed Kathy Smith's Aerobox Workout. Way too much for me at my (lack of ) fitness level. The intensity just looks like more than I can handle.

Breakfast was raisin bran, water and coffee. For lunch I had water, 1/2 of a turkey sub with swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickle. I ate Sugar Smacks for dessert.

My report came yesterday from my physical exam, and my LDL cholesterol level is 106. That's higher than I'd like to see it, so I'll be cutting out butter and sour cream and cutting down on cheese. This exercise program ought to help some, too, so motivation to continue shouldn't be a problem.

Singin' in the Rain

Well, not singing, but walking. It wasn't raining when we left the house, but by the time we had walked to the track (which takes about 5 minutes) and had almost finished the first 1/2 mile it was steadily drizzling. The rain kept picking up, but we kept walking and finished the 2 miles in 35 1/2 minutes. My heart rate was 150 when I checked it, but I didn't feel winded at all. When I got back to the house I changed into dry clothes and tried out Kathy Smith's Lift Weights to Lose Weight DVD. That was a mistake. I haven't had any trouble doing an aerobics video after the 2-mile walk, but I've never done any weight work before. I couldn't always finish the number of repetitions. I think I'll use this program at another time of day next time. There were a number of frustrations for me in using this. She emphasizes maintaining good form, but I really can't tell if I'm doing that or not. My dh has agreed to spot me to check that out. Another frustration is that at the beginning she says you'll need a chair _or_ a bench but then at one point gives instructions to lie on the bench. I had to sit that one out completely, as lying on my chair didn't seem like a great idea. There are 3 segments: a 20-minute upper body workout, a 20-minute lower body workout and a short abs segment. The upper body work-out uses 2 sets of weights. She suggests 3- and 5-pounds, but I used 2-pound weights as that is all I have. I think I'll get 3-pound weights to use for the heavy sets; I just think 5 pounds is too heavy for me. The lower body section uses lots of leg lifts, squats and lunges. My last frustration came in the abs workout. All her fellow exercisers were well-trained, flat-tummied and strong in this area. I'm totally inexperienced, poochy-tummied and very weak in this area. She offered no accomodations for those who can't already accomplish the sit-up tasks. I can barely raise my shoulders off the ground while on my back, much less raise even further for counts 2 and 3, but I don't know how to adjust the activity so that I'll reap any benefit from it. I'll be skipping the abs segment for a (long) time and looking for a video with doable abs exercises.

For breakfast I had raisin bran and hot tea. For lunch I had 1/2 of a turkey sub sandwich (with lettuce, tomato and swiss cheese), a sweet pickle, a banana, water and Sugar Smacks for dessert.

My opthalmology appointment went well. My uncorrected vision is 20/25, I don't need new glasses and my eyes are healthy with no signs of glaucoma. He talked about the eventual need for bifocals when I start wearing glasses more often, but now I only wear them to drive. I use reading glasses sometimes.

image from wikimedia

More exercising

Today I walked 2 miles in 40 minutes, and my heart rate during the walk has gone down since I started doing this. It was 119 right after today's walk. Then I used a new video: Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds 1-mile walk. It was an easy routine to follow, just like it says: "walk." She varies walking in place by adding easy steps of side steps, kicks, knee lefts, widening the stance and back kicks. She uses a "stretchie" for some resistance training, but, as I don't have one, I did the arm movements without it. This may be the perfect non-threatening beginner exercise video for those who just want to increase their activity level. It's uncomplicated, starts off slow, builds up gradually, eases off for a cool-down and finishes with stretches. Not much in the way of stretches, though. She cues you when you've reached the half-mile point and talks a bit about the music setting the pace. There is a group of people exercising with her, and she encourages you by mentioning the ages of the oldest (72) and youngest (28) and praising the 55-year-old grandmother there who had lost a lot of weight with the program. There is a lot of "you can do this" and "doesn't this feel good" pep talk throughout the mile.

For breakfast I had 2 pieces of wheat toast with butter, cranberry juice and hot tea. For lunch I had 1/2 of a turkey sub with lettuce, tomato and swiss cheese with water, a dill pickle spear, blueberries and Sugar Smacks for dessert. For supper I had a salmon patty, canned asparagus, cranberry sauce, 1/2 of a baked sweet potato and water with more sugar smacks for dessert to go with my coffee.

We walked a mile before bed tonight after watching a Babylon 5 episode on dvd. It took us a little over 20 minutes. More information on Babylon 5 is here and here. I'm a fan from the original airing of the first episode.

Getting Healthy

My dh says that keeping a record of my progress and program might be motivating for me, so I thought I'd do that here.

My goal is to improve my overall fitness. That ought to be easy to attain since it's such a broad goal.

So far I've been walking every day (but not Sunday) and have done an aerobics video every day. The first 4 days I did Richard Simmons videos in this order: Sweatin' to the Oldies 1, 2 and 3, and Sweat and Shout. The Richard Simmons videos seemed to get a bit more strenuous through the series, but I may just have been wearing out. The first one is the only one to use floor exercises. The 2nd one is the only one to use weights and a chair. I'll be rotating these with other videos. I've heard that most people who start with videos quit when they tire of the few they have. I'm taking steps to avoid that temptation. I've been doing some research, I've made a list, and now I'm picking up DVD's to rotate.

Today I walked 2 miles at the park in 40 minutes and did the Kathy Smith Moving Through Menopause video. I really like this video. There are 3 sections: the first is an aerobics workout, the second is an easy weight routine, and the last is a yoga session. It's easy enough for me to be able to make it through the entire routine, while providing options for ramping up when I'm more experienced and easing off when I tire. She's cheerful and motivating without being "perky" or silly. I felt comfortable doing the activities and wouldn't have been embarrassed for someone to walk in on me -not always true of the Richard Simmons programs. She provides intros with helpful health information which can be skipped to move straight from one exercise segment to the other. The DVD includes information on menopause, symptom relief, general diet and supplement information for menopausal and peri-menopausal women and encouragement to visit Kathy Smith's web presence at ivillage.com. That site at www.ivillage.com/kathysmith is no longer active.

I'm also going to track my diet here. I'm not overweight and not in a weight-loss program, but part of healthy living is a healthy diet. If I write it out I'm sure I'll be better able to see ways to improve it. I had 2 pieces of wheat toast with butter and a cup of Constant Comment tea for breakfast. For lunch I had pita bread with dipping oil, cheddar cheese, blueberries and a coke. Supper was the church fellowship meal. Tonight was chicken from Sam's, which I never eat, so I had the mashed potatoes, green peas, apples cooked with cinnamon, and ice cream. Not a healthy meal. If I've figured right my total calorie intake for today was 1413.25. That seems about right, and it's a typical food day for me (except for the supper). I've seen so many estimates for how many calories I should eat to maintain my current weight -from 1126 to 1734) that I won't be counting the calories as a general rule.

(photo from Flickr)