I Found Shel in Costco

I have decided to participate in the National Blog Post Month for November.  That means I am going to be posting each day of November.

November 8, 2013

A chilly "only getting into the 50's" day.

Here are this evening's four-forty five views.

 I didn't see  the birds while I was taking this shot. You have to look very closely at the above photo to see what appear to be tiny black dots in the clouds.

The Dry Retention Basin Across The Street

Today we went to our first personal training session with Linda.  The first thing she did was gather our personal health information, along with height, weight and BMI measurements.
She explained the advantages of an exercise program.  Of course, these are things we already know.  But, she is a motivator and that's what we need.
We started off with a 10 minute warm up on the treadmill.  That was followed with a couple of sets on a weight machine.   After that it was back on the treadmill for another twenty minutes.
She advised me to walk every day and she gave Ross a lot of pointers on his eating habits.  Two big things were to keep a food diary and to not eat anything after 8 p.m.
We each set personal goals and hopefully we will have achieved them when we meet with her again in two weeks.
Afterwards we went on a shopping trip to Costco.*  The store was overstocked with holiday goodies. That's when I questioned the wiseness of our decision to start a fitness routine at this time of the year.

As the holidays approach, I feel a terrible sadness setting in.  In the long ago and most recent past, our family has suffered several losses around this time of year.  And painfully once again, we are struggling with a critical illness in the family.

As always, but especially now, my thoughts are of one son as my heart is breaking for my other one.

Perhaps this exercise program is exactly what we need to do, especially at this time of the year.

Oh yeah and then there is this little guy.

How Cute Is He?

Sheer Joyfulness 

*While we were in Costco, browsing the book tables I discovered Shel Silverstein.  Yes, I guess I have been living under a rock, because no, I have never heard of him.  But I flipped through his book of poems, "Where The Sidewalk Ends" and became thoroughly enchanted.  I just knew Bella would love it too, so I bought it for her.  When I talked to her, though, this evening and asked her if she had any poetry books she told me that she had a Shel Silverstein book, the one I just bought for her and she loved it.  I knew she would.

Happy Ending?

by Shel Silverstein

There are no happy endings.

Endings are the saddest part,

So just give me a happy middle

And a very happy start.

Yeah, I agree, Shel.