The Daily - September 19-24, 2023 - Summer into Fall, The Charlie Days

9/19/23 - Tuesday

 

 
45 minutes strength workout which included an interesting warm up - get up and down from the floor - get down and lay on stomach then get up. Repeat but get down to different positions - on your right then left side, into plank, your back. Then do it while keeping your right hand glued to your right knee / left hand to left knee / right hand to left knee, etc / hands behind your back! Five minutes of this was tough! It really forces you to move through different positions, increasing mobility. I will incorporate something similar into a daily or every other day routine.

 
I prepped cauliflower for cauliflower Mac and cheese, tried the low carb shiritake noodles for the first time in a spicy miso broth with broccoli, carrots, mushroom and a poached egg. It was really tasty. I doubt I would eat this type of noodle any other way and I don’t know if I can find this product locally but will look for it in the Asian market.

 
The weather has been so perfect - I can take a walk without roasting and sweating. I also painted outside.

 
Erica arrived home late. She will leave tomorrow for London with Lindsay.

 

 
9/20/23 - Wednesday

 

 
Tough 45 minute bike boot camp. I also took my 600th strength class in an afternoon live class (got a shout out!). Took Erica to the train station - she will take it to Chicago, meet up with Lindsay at her apartment before heading to O’Hare to catch their flight to London!

 

 
I made the mushroom low carb ravioli in tomato cream sauce and wow it was delicious. I took Charlie on a walk before Scott arrived home. He ate dinner, Charlie enjoyed a rawhide bone and we all enjoyed an evening walk together.

 

 
9/21/23 - Thursday

 

 
Erica and Lindsay made it to London and reunited with Amira. Today is Brian’s 24th birthday!

 

 
It’s raining this morning - a steady soaking rain. This made it slightly difficult to walk Charlie but we took a very short one after my hard 30 minute bike class. I left her in Erica’s room while I went to the Y to swim. I cut the swim and sauna time short to get back. Now I’m enjoying coffee outside in the front breezeway with Louie on my lap and Charlie next to me on a thick blanket. She seems to miss Erica by sighing.

 

 
We took a long walk after coffee heading towards Porter park. Got caught in a pop up shower just as we entered the park but that quickly burned out and we enjoyed the empty park, taking photos here and there.

 

 
Another post dinner family walk by the retention ponds and we relaxed the rest of the night.

 

 
9/22/23 - Friday

 

 
Early morning rain again as I went to Pilates class. I opted to skip coffee with Brenda Michael and Davonne to get back home to Charlie. Even at 6:30am the roads are dark - kind of depressing - and it’s only the first day of Fall.

 
We took coffee outside on the back patio and I brushed Charlie. I took Charlie to the Pet smart store to buy bones and fish oil. She likes going on these outings especially when the cashier offers her a milk bone.

 

 
Then back home and a long walk through the park. I finished up Noelle’s photos, grilled a bunch of meat and took Charlie on a very short walk. Scott arrived home and I left shortly afterwards to attend the Pygmalion festival in town. This was my first time attending the actual performances - at the Rose bowl. Jill spearheaded the outing since there was a comedian performing. This was to make up for the cancelled Colin Jost show.

 

 
We had access to performances across two stages and the arts vendor area. It was a perfect night for milling around outside and taking in the bands. We watched 2 bands and the comedian inside the Rose Bowl bar and 2 band outside before calling it a night. I normally wouldn’t attend such an event so I’m glad Jill suggested we go. I can see myself attending in future years.

 

 

 
9/23/23 - Saturday

 
25 laps and a 45 minute bike class. Swimming has been frustrating - I don’t seem to getting back to my baseline lap times. It was a short session so I could get back home in time for the live Peloton class. That class wasn’t too bad because I had a strenuous workout on Thursday.

 
Coffee outside with Charlie and Louie. Took Charlie on a walk. Left the house at 1:45 for the 2:30 Illini football game. Scott and I drove separately as I planned to leave at half time to get back to Charlie. The game was fine - the weather was a little warm but with an afternoon game, we get shade half way through the first quarter. The Illini were slow to start but once they found a rhythm got past the Florida team. Scott and I took Charlie on another walk after dinner.

 

 
9/24/23 - Sunday

 
Ah, I got to sleep in! Until 6:30, which is very late for me. I had coffee outside on the patio with all the animals - Charlie by my side, Louie on my lap and Hannah next to Charlie. Scott took a photo and it is funny.

 

 

 
I met Jill and her mom at lake of the woods for a hike in the woods. It was nice. After lunch I made Honey twist bread for Janice. Her son is home from the hospital now which is great.

 

 
We took Charlie on her third walk of the day, played ball with her and settled in for some football.

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The Daily - September 18, 2023 - Monday

Another wild dream - I’m in a cabin where I need to change clothes for upcoming travel. A group of people come up to cabin’s open screened window and spray mace inside. Or something like a smoke bomb. I gather my things and go. Then I’m at the airport and the gate is up at some mezzanine level between the first and second floor. I take the special stairs and enter an area that feels like a viewing box at an arena. Then I’m called to the gate and have to climb over people. I discover my ticket is to Germany, not home to Champaign. I’m traveling for Cabot but don’t have any of the phone numbers and I’m trying to figure all of that out. I realize I can make the flight change at the gate with the agent and I wake up. So weird!!!

 

 
30 minute bike, 20 laps and 20 minutes in the sauna. It’s chilly outside this morning and I’m now hanging out by the pond wrapped in my swim parka!

 

 
I followed up on medical insurance tasks which always makes me anxious - I know it shouldn’t but that’s something I need to work on. I did find out the local Walgreens is part of the prescription network so that is good and I can transfer any existing scripts from the CVS.

 

 
I learned a photo I had submitted to Champaign Forest Preserve’s calendar contest was short listed for inclusion in the calendar. The final process allows people to vote on their Facebook page to select the top 14 photos. I submitted two photos and this one made the cut. I took the photo in late July at the Buffalo Trace Prairie. The title is "Surprise Visitor" - can you tell why?

 

 

 
I cooked the pork dumpling meatballs and they were very tasty. I looked in on Janice’s cats. Scott came home and we ate, took a walk then went to the Aldi. I was disappointed with the empty produce shelves but happy with the selection of grass fed steaks at a nice price - we had great rib eye steaks over the weekend - so yummy.

 

 
I didn’t sleep great last night so was very tired once the sun set (7pm). We’re trying to keep lights low once the sun goes down - emphasizing that circadian rhythm element to gain better sleep.

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The Daily - September 17, 2023 - Sunday Photoshoot

I slept in until 6:30. Had weird dreams - some people dumped three kittens in our driveway. Charlie was here, I confronted the cat dumpers and they apologized, said they would take the kittens back. Then I let them in for a tour of the house. This was not our house! Walk in laundry then an empty salad bar that I claimed we used to house condiments. It looked like something you would see in a restaurant. The family room was furnished with dark rust leather couch with wooden ball feet. Now that I think about it, maybe the couch is similar to what Janice has in her living room. So weird!

 
Today is a rest day - I did a short core routine and foam rolled. The foam rolling felt great.

 
I mixed together ground pork dumpling filling and will air fry them tomorrow.

 
Had a photo shoot with Noelle Ramaly this evening. I hadn’t seen her since she was a little child and here she is, a senior in high school with her small plane pilot’s license!

 

 
This session was super fun - she pulled the plane she flies out of the hanger and we took photos of her with it. The only drawback was the bright sun. It had been cloudy all day long until a burst of rain rolled through and then clear skies. Maura was a big help providing some shade with a bedsheet I brought but we were only able to keep that set up for a few photos. Still, I’m happy with several photos. We also went to the Japan house and got many great photos - just a sample here, she deserves her own post.

 

 

 

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The Daily - September 16, 2023 - Saturday Games

I didn’t sleep well (because I'm not used to eating and socializing after 7pm) and considered reducing today’s workout but thought how I should focus on the fun I would have / how good I would feel after and that got me out of bed and to the pool.

 

 
En route, the sky took my breath away - inky blue cloud layers were tipped with deep red - the start of a vivid sunrise. I can see parts of the sky via the large windows at the pool and watched the sky turn fiery shades of red and pink as I completed each lap. I swam faster than my recent paces which felt great. I’ve been discouraged by my recent swimming performance so this was encouraging.

 

 
After 30 laps I went home and knocked out a 60 minute endurance ride followed by a 5 minute cool down and 10 minutes of stretching. No joke, I was very hungry after all of it so I deviated from my normal routine of having coffee first and then preparing my morning meal. Instead I made coffee and a huge breakfast and enjoyed it all at once. We had to leave by 10:30 to get to the Illini football game so I was short of time anyways. It all worked out great.

 

 
It was perfect football weather - a little warm to start but with a breeze. By half time clouds tempered the heat of the sun. I wish the Illini offense played better but the game was against strong Penn State, so we didn’t expect a win. We left at the end of the third quarter.

 
I spent the rest of the day finishing up laundry, checking in on Janice’s cats and watching football. I was super tired and retired to bed around 8:30.

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The Daily - September 15, 2023 - Friday, Enjoying Small Things

Up early for 5:30 Pilates class then off to Peoria to get Lexi serviced. It’s a 90 minute drive and I’m not sure it’s really worth it. I will admit the customer service people are very nice and helpful. But I had to wait two hours for a simple tire rotation and inspection. I’ll probably go to the dealer at the more critical mileage milestones like 50, 75 and 100K. I’m sure I can arrange for good service locally.

 

 
I was super hungry after getting the car back so I did the easy thing and hit the close by chick fil a. At first glance of the drive through line, I thought I was in for another long wait but that restaurant runs like an oiled machine!

 

 
Once back home, I enjoyed my home made chicken strip salad then went to check in on Janice’s cats.

 

 
Scott arrived home and enjoyed his unexpected chicken strips. We went for a walk, enjoying the perfect weather - we saw butterflies and the Big Blue Heron in the slough.

 

 
Nancy texted our group for an impromptu gathering / crappy happy hour. We each brought what we had - dips, cheese, olives, crackers, wine and wow, “food just happened”. We enjoyed a couple hours chatting and unwinding from the day / week. I am so very grateful for my group of friends.

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The Daily - September 13-14, 2023 - Uneventful Days, Thoughts on Doing Hard Things

9/13/23 - Wednesday 60 minutes of bike / strength and I’m now outside with my coffee. It’s another blue sky, cool morning.

 
I haven’t been sleeping great and ended up taking a 2 hour nap this afternoon.

 
I did laundry, grilled up a bunch of meat, had dinner with Scott and we went for a nice walk.

 

 
9/14/23 - Thursday

 
Great workouts this morning - 45 minute Intervals with Arms class then 30 laps in the pool. Also spent 20 minutes in the sauna.

 
I enjoyed coffee outside then checked in on Janice’s cats. In the afternoon I spent time painting outside, using a new filbert brush and really liking the results.

 
After dinner, Scott and I went for a nice walk through Porter park. His working means we spend more time together once he gets back home.

 

 
I follow James Clear and subscribe to his weekly newsletter. One of today's newsletter subject touched upon doing Hard things.

 

“When you're doing something hard, focus on the fun part. Many people make a subtle mistake, which is they emphasize how difficult it is to do something. They tell themselves writing is hard or running is hard or math is hard. And so on. The dominant thought in their mind is that this is hard to do. And it is true these things (and many others in life) can be challenging.

 

 
Meanwhile, people who thrive in a given area are often emphasizing a completely different aspect of the experience. They are thinking about how it feels good to move their body rather than telling themselves exercise is hard. Or, perhaps, they aren't really thinking much at all. They may slip into a trance during their run, a meditative rhythm.

 

 
But what they are almost certainly not doing is repeating a mental story about how hard it is to do the thing. Their dominant thought is about some element of the experience they enjoy. They are working hard, but with the fun part in mind."

 
Yes - totally agree! What drives me to work out when I don’t feel like it is knowing how good I’ll feel afterwards. I think about the experience - the things I’ll hear, see, smell and how those experiences are beautiful and precious. Stars in the sky. Sunrise, clouds, sparkles of sunshine. In the pool, there’s the mesmerizing play of light against blue water, the waves, the cool wash of water over one’s skin. Believe me, there are many days when I don’t want to get into that water but I always feel better at the end of the swim. So I don’t dwell on how hard it is or will be, I just go and do.

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The Daily - September 12, 2023 - Tuesday - 31 years

It is Scott and my 31 year wedding anniversary. We celebrated with a nice meal from Texas Roadhouse, enjoyed at home. We also took a walk on a perfect late afternoon. It’s these simple things that fill me with joy and contentment.

 

 

 
I also did strength training and yoga this morning. Prior to yoga I stopped by Janice’s house to look in on her cats to find Mike there and he provided me information on Joe and that situation. As I had hypothesized, the incident happened while the processing unit was being taken out of service for a maintenance outage. These transitional conditions have a higher potential for abnormal conditions. Most safety measures and mitigations focus heavily on steady state - when the unit is operating.

 

 
I had my Global entry interview and received approval into the program.

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