Off To A Good Start

So far, so good!  I have not missed a day at the gym since I recommitted.  Wish I could make it the same time everyday, but that won't work.  At least I get there and do a minimum of forty minutes of water exercise.  It is so easy to pack on weight and so hard to get it off.  I've taken "road food" with me when I had to go to Bloomington.  Grazing on small mini-meals is working.  Made a fruit salad today.  A pear, an apple, an orange, a tangerine, a banana, some raisins and some almond bits with vanilla Greek yogurt for the dressing.  There is enough to last for a few days.

Sweets are still very tempting!  I really wish I did not like them so much.  Doing fairly well, but not as well as I wish.  Darn those samples at Hy Vee today!

And the journey continues.

No More Excuses

Life has not been the same since June 9th.  The day my sister passed away.  She had been ill and in pain for many years.  In some ways it was a blessing since she is at peace now, and if Heaven exists, she has rejoined the love of her life and her daughter.

I am serving in the capacity of Executor of the Estate and there lies my excuses.  Trying to get the house cleaned out, numerous sales, a large storage unit and lots of "stuff" so we can get the house sold.  She would have qualified as a hoarder.  I have been away from home a lot since the house is in Bloomington.  Having my routine broken up by unpredictability, has given me the excuse to stop going to the gym on a regular basis.  It has given me the excuse to "grab a quick bite".  It has given me the excuse to eat out more often.  These excuses have allowed me to give in to the evil sugar addiction that has plagued me for most of my life.

I have tried to put this on paper several times; only to delete every word.  I don't make New Year's resolutions, so I made a Thanksgiving resolution instead. I resolve to "knock that shit off"!  There is no excuse for me not to take care of myself.  There is no excuse for me regain any of my hard-earned weight loss like I have.  There is no excuse for me to turn to sweets instead of healthy foods.

Am off to a pretty good start and need to keep reminding myself that my continued health is worth the effort.  Have been to the gym for the last four days, even missed the first hour and fifteen minutes of The Voice tonight.  Have given in to sugar once.  I was going to throw the last piece of pumpkin pie away, but ate it instead.  At least I hadn't gotten whipped topping.  I have gone back to "grazing" on several small meals rather than 3 meals a day.  Grazing has always worked for me, I just need to take "road food" with me if I am not going to be at home for an extended period of time.

I am so thankful for so many things in my life, so Thanksgiving was the perfect time to resolve to regain control.  The stresses will continue for some time, but it is up to me how to handle that stress.  I resolve to handle it more effectively through exercise and better food choices.  I resolve to do everything, well almost everything, I can to remain in good health and feeling good about life.  I had hoped to add "stop smoking" to the list, but I am not there yet!  Maybe a Valentine's Day resolution?

Over Five Months

It has been over five months since I have posted a new blog post.  I am not very consistent, but this has been an extended period of silence.  Nothing is wrong.  Just have not been motivated to write.  It has been a long winter, not a bad one, just long.

Have to say that Fridays this winter have not been bad.  Friday is the day I walk dogs and it seems like rain and snow missed on Friday.  Had a few cold mornings, but over-all, dog walking has been good.

On March 24th, the day of the big snowfall, we had the celebration of life service for my niece who had passed away on March 16th at the age of 51.  Damn diabetes!  Rest in peace, Kim.

Had a serious scare with my son who spent almost a week in the ICU with a severe case of cellulitis. The antibiotics  finally kicked in and surgery with tissue removal and possible bone scraping was avoided.

Still going to the gym pretty much every day and maintaining the 20 pound (average) weight loss and so happy to be back in the skinny jeans.  I have given myself a five pound range so I don't get crazy with the numbers.  Have gone over it a couple of times, but have gotten right back on track instead of going "full steam ahead" as I have done in the past.  More determined than I have ever been.  Eating more healthy than I have ever done.  Even have Chia seeds and Quinoa in the cabinet and pomegranate juice in the fridge.  I have eaten kale for the first time in my life and snack on pistachios.

The little red truck has gone to the scrap yard.  I loved that little red truck, but decided I did not want to put any more money into its' repairs.

Grandkids are growing up.  Softball practice has started and there is a violin recital coming up this month.

I am looking forward to hiking now that the weather is beginning to break.  I have gone on a couple of short walks, but I want to hit the trails.  Been fighting off a bout of anger, and nothing soothes this restless soul like being in the Temple of the Tall Trees.

Life goes on.

Another Year

Another year has passed.  No it's not New Year's Day, it has been the anniversary of my birth.  I was born one year too early to be counted among the "baby boomers" since it was 1944.  Yep, that makes me sixty-eight!  Not ashamed to admit it, in fact, I'm kinda proud to have made it this far. 

This has been the year that I developed a deep spirituality while hiking in the woods.  I call hiking the act of entering the Temple of the Tall Trees.  I am grounded and centered while in the woods.  It doesn't matter if it is the flat terrain of Cooper North or the challenge of the Pimiteoui.  I get some of that same feeling when practicing Tai Chi.  I need to practice more often!

This year brought the birth of my fourth grandchild.  A beautiful little girl named Brianna.  She joins Angie, Evren and Milo as the lights of my life. 

This was the year that my oncologist said I didn't need to see him anymore.  Fifteen years cancer free!  I went into a state of panic.  I reminded him that he is the one that orders my other annual tests, biannual bone scan and my two prescriptions.  I was relieved to be scheduled for next year.  I don't care if I am seen by the Nurse Practitioner, it is reassuring to be in the office.

This was the year that I attended my 50th class reunion.  Fifty years since I graduated high school.  It does not seem possible!  I have made contact with some classmates through Facebook, but others I had not see for fifty years!  It was good to see people again.

This was the year that I joined the Riverplex.  Had I known how much I enjoy going to the gym, I might have joined long ago.  I do believe that things happen when they are meant to happen.  This was my time.  Since August 1st, I have missed three days.  Once I was out of town and twice, I was "under the weather",  Many days, I go more than once.  I'm back in my "skinny jeans" and feel great!

This was the year that I kept my commitment to volunteer at PAWS if I found that I did not have to go back to work.  I look forward to Friday mornings walking the dogs. 

I have so much to be grateful for, and I am!

National Night Out Against Crime

The first Tuesday in August has been set aside as National Night Out for over 25 years and hosted in Peoria for 12 or 13 years.  Last night the occasion was marked in several neighborhoods throughout Peoria, including the East Bluff.  In years past, East Bluff neighborhoods held their own events, almost seeking bragging rights as to which could "do it best".  For the last couple of years, Serenity, Glen Oak and East Bluff United neighborhoods have joined forces to sponsor the event.  Still, the emphasis was on agencies passing out information and goodies (I am still using my pens from PDC last year), fire trucks, Armadillos, and food.  A block party for lots of blocks.

This year, the focus changed to action.  The East Bluff neighborhoods joined forces for a rally to bring awareness to the residents that crime prevention begins with us, the residents.  Of course there were a few activities for kids.  Face painting, frisbees, a toss game, water sprayer and an appearance by McRuff.

  

The media was there.  We had WMBD/Fox 43, PJS and Dennis Eggemeyer coordinating PCCEO's Captions coverage of events. 31/43 had nice coverage on the local news and PJS had a good photo of the diverse group that formed to "take it to the streets".  A commenter on PJS said the "gangbangers had a good laugh".  Perhaps they did, but it very well may not be the last laugh.  There are many of us in the East Bluff that are committed to change, positive change and transformation.

  

 Residents were joined by a number of dignitaries, area pastors, candidates and elected officials.  There was an announcement concerning the Peoria Reads' Don't Shoot initiative. Signs were made by the children at the Boys & Girls Club and by volunteers.  Everyone proudly donned their tee-shirts showing their commitment to the neighborhood.  Some people who were present were: States Attorney Jerry Brady, Sheriff Mike McCoy, Chief Steve Settingsgaard, Mayor Jim Ardis, Senator Dave Koehler, candidate for Senate Pat Sullivan, Councilman Tim Riggenbach, among others.

  Residents pledged to the East Bluff, determined to show "We Own It" marched behind our banner.

Detweiller Park

I have driven through Detweiller Park numerous times over the years.  I have taken pictures of beautiful fall colors there and stopped at the playground when I had little kids, but I had never hiked any of the trails.  "Back in the day", I wasn't doing any hiking.  I printed out the map of the trails, but forgot to take it with me.  I went on a fairly short hike, but there will be more to come.  I am glad that trail maps are available on the Peoria Park District website.

Entering the park from Route 29, a visitor sees the Korean War Veteran's Memorial and the remnant of an ancient tree.  From that point, I turned left to find the first of the trails I would walk.  I started with the River Overlook trail.  It is a short climb uphill that comes out on Detweiller Drive.  I did not know that it picks up on the other side of the road and turned around.  There was no view of the river on the part of the trail that I walked.  Will have to give it another try!

I drove on down toward the sand volleyball court where Dry Run Trail and the Pimiteoui Trail begin.  There are more trails to be explored and I am looking forward to the adventure.

Walk on!

Fort Creve Coeur

I must admit that I have lived in the area since 1980 and had never visited Fort Creve Coeur until today.  I learned about the trail yesterday (Sunday) while hiking Illinois Bluff Trail (Robinson Park - North).  In the midst of the approximately 6.5 miles walked, the Fort Creve Coeur trail was mentioned.  My curiosity was piqued and I decided to check it out.  At the end of Park Street, one will find the monument for the old fort that celebrates the early French settlers and heritage.  Near the monument is the trail that leads to the woods and ultimately to Fort Creve Coeur.

The trail starts with a few steps, then a path and then a lot more steps!  On the way back, I counted the steps.  There are 197 of them.  It wasn't bad going down them, but we won't talk about going back up!  At the bottom of the steps the trail continues to a dry creek bed that serves as the crossing to the trail that then begins to go up hill.

From the trail head, there is no indication as to how many steps there will be.  They just keep going and going! 

The path is well marked.  After crossing the dry creek bed where a remnants indicate a bridge once was, the trail begins to climb the opposite side of the gully.  It is a very nice wooded area .  There are several types of wildflowers and native grasses along the way.  Large power lines cross the trail and allow a view of the Illinois River with Peoria in the distance.

The trail continues climbing until it ultimately comes out onto a well maintained grassy area.  Looking to the left, Fort Creve Coeur comes into view!  The fort was open.  Inside there were four small "lean-to's".  There appeared to be an area for horses and another for bunk beds.  It is too bad that a small amount of graffiti marked each lean-to.  There was no view of the river from the fort although there may have been at one time.

Going back the way I came, I took a side trail right before the dry creek bed.  The trail led to the railroad tracks where a long coal hauling train sat waiting for the signal to go.  The Chicago & Illinois Midland engines were brightly painted and appeared in good shape.  Round trip for the walk was approximately 1.6 miles and actually a pretty mild, but enjoyable hike.  After returning to the car, I decided to take a little drive.

I drove along Wesley Road and found a little park on the opposite side of the train tracks that had benches, grills and picnic tables.  It provided a great area to sit near the Illinois River and contemplate the state of the world.  The park also offered a visit to the past.  It has an old two-swing swing set.  The seats were weathered wood and all the metal parts looked really old.  From the park, you can look to the right and see Peoria in the distance or to the left and see barges, the lock & dam area and the I474 bridge in the distance.

This was a really pleasant way to spend a Monday morning!  I have to wonder what other trails I have not discovered.  Any suggestions?