is an 11 minute mile realistic?

Hmmm.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/23/on-your-marks-get-set-measure-heart-health/

From the study data, Dr. Berry calculated that a man in his 50s who can run a mile in 8 minutes or less, or a woman who can do it in 9 minutes or less, shows a high level of fitness. A 9-minute mile for a man and 10:30 for a woman are signs of moderate fitness; men who can’t run better than a 10-minute mile, and women slower than 12 minutes, fall into the low-fitness category.

Guess I fall into the low-fitness category, c'mon a 20 minute mile. Pathetic, I know. I can do better. Exercise, movement, it's the only way to combat aging according to, well, everyone.

And:

Even so, Dr. Church noted that most of the health benefits of exercise come with moving from low fitness to moderate fitness, and the challenge is finding a way to communicate with and motivate people in the low-fitness category.

“You know whether you’re in the unfit category,” he said. “If you’re physically inactive, if you sit 18 hours a day, if you get exhausted walking up a flight of stairs. If you’ve got a choice between walking two blocks or taking a taxi and you wait 20 minutes to take a taxi, you’re unfit.”

Dr. Berry agreed that mile-time benchmarks might not be good indicators for every individual, given that some highly fit people have physical limitations that prevent them from running fast. The larger issue, he said, is that most people don’t have a clear sense of where they fall on the fitness spectrum, and don’t appreciate the risks that poor fitness poses for overall health.

Even people who take regular walks three times a week may have an inflated sense of their level of fitness, he said, adding, “You’re meeting the guidelines for physical activity, but you’re not necessarily fit.”

While modest levels of exercise are better than nothing, he went on, “getting off the couch is the first step, but vigorous activity has a much more dramatic effect on fitness level.”

reason why I am so stiff and creaky

Go ahead. Google this statement:

After all, every pound you carry around your belly puts 10 pounds of pressure on your joints.

Doctors are saying this is true.

My poor, poor joints. I owe them some movement. I owe them some brownie restraint, too.

c.f.d.i.t

Holds true for almost any endeavor - playing an instrument, acquiring athletic skill or strength, overcoming/replacing a habit, learning homemaking skills, learning a language - you name it.

It's not new, been around forever. The personal discipline formula, then:

Consistency (do it regularly for at least 10 years:)

plus

Frequency (depending on the skill: daily, eod, weekly, etc)

plus

Duration (practice session has to be done long enough, varies with age & current abilities, could be 15 minutes to an hour or two daily)

plus

Intensity (degree of effort, sweat and/or concentration)

plus

Correct technique (does no good to practice if you're practicing it wrong)

equals

Power. Strength. Skill. Freedom.

The ability to begin and stay with the above skill formula, well, that's really not so difficult if the motivation, the 'want-to' is there.

And when the motivation isn't always there, well, personal discipline still trumps all, I think. I have yet to meet an accomplished pianist who is sorry they ever learned to play the piano. I've met lots who wish they had stayed with it. Same with almost any endeavor. Ever met anyone who regrets running a marathon? Or heard anyone say, "I am so sorry I ever learned French?" Who regrets having skills, talent, knowledge? No. It's always those who don't play or don't have physical strength or don't develop a skill or don't speak a language who say they don't miss it and don't need it.

There's so many things that she wishes
She don't even know what she's missin'
And that's how she knows that she missed
--excerpt lyrics from Sandra by Barry Manilow

And how this post on discipline morphed into Barry Manilow lyrics is beyond me. But, anyway. I'm in favor of the big P.D. and wish I had more. Could also use a couple of extra doses of motivation, too. Still working on a formula for that.

prompted by a discussion with bga

The lesson of Eve and Adam, eh?

Here: http://alameda.peralta.edu/Projects/20430/Intro%20to%20Philosophy/Good%20Brahmin.htm

Dunno, my experience tells me that you can be both reasoned and happy. The idea that they are exclusive seems wrong to me.
Also, it's irritating how Voltaire uses clever equivalency of the old woman's faith with her ignorance and bigotry. He never suggests that it's her faith that gives her grounding. Well, that would not be his point. But it is another way of looking at it.

People reason all the time and are happy as clams, but it can't be psuedo-reasoning. We have to reason from reality, if we don't then we are conflicted, no? I don't know that any of us ever do, not all the time. The ignorant can be stupid yet smart, and the world has always contained educated, smart people who are plenty stupid in super clever ways.

viva las glitz

Two birds, one stone. Jiao saw Las Vegas and Cate slept in a real (cough, cough) castle. Until we can visit the real castles of Europe, kitschy Excalibur will have to do.


Then on to Arizona. This trip was also highly nostalgic. The Rockin' R dinner/show has not changed much since the 20 plus years we were last there. Cate loved the yodeling.

A fast trip with all my favorite people (sans Kody, boo).

Also able while there to attend Casey's wedding luncheon and reception. Great to visit with my brother Cliff and Jeff and their families and Cam and his little family. Also saw Aunt Laurene at the reception and Uncle Clinton (Jay) my mother's brother, who I hadn't seen since her funeral. Always good to see my people.

cate at 4

Oh, the difference a year can make. In a years time we went from all things pink and princessy to everything girl power dragony.

The theme this year was 'Astrid, How to Train your Dragon' planned mostly by Cate. She made up many of the games and made up most of the adventures for the Dragon Egg Hunt. I loved that she contributed so much in the way of imagination. That's exactly what I hoped she would do. The talking and and the planning, it's fun.

Here we go, then.

The cake and decorations. Notice the dragon pinata made out of a paper bag. In times past there was always difficulty whacking the thing open, so in order to make it easier I switched from paper mache to a bag. Well, didn't work. They still had a hard time breaking it open.


Donning their viking hats (made by Kenz) and decorating their shields. They also received their Dragon Training manual which consisted mostly of coloring pages. 4 year olds can't read:)


They played pin the teeth on toothless (Cate thought this one up) and feed the dragon using cardboard fish.

Then Brig led them in Dragon Training. They practiced their moves and had to fend off rocks (paper wads) thrown at them. At the end of Dragon Training they received a Dragon Training Survival Kit made up of: Shields (cookies), Rocks (marshmallows), Rock breakers (dum dum suckers), Spears (licorice), Wings (fruit slices), and Whips (gummi worms).


Next up, my favorite part. The Dragon Egg Hunt Adventure, wherein they had to follow the map to find the Dragon Nest.

They had to enter a dark and eery cave. Nope, no nest there.


Then they had to swim the river and watch out for the snapping crocodiles that bit them on the bum. Then jump in the viking ship and row, row to the next island.


Trek across the tall grass and avoid snakes until they came to the mountains. Climb the mountain (the stairs) until they came to the tallest one, an active volcano. Oh no, the volcano decided to erupt. Silly string spewed out everywhere.


This next part was scary and tricky. Had to pass the sleeping dragon. Even though they tiptoed quietly by that dragon woke up and tried to grab them. Oh, the squeals and screams. Little girls love dragons to scare them:) But once they got past they were led to the nest of individual dragon eggs hiding in the ottoman. Their paper mache eggs contained candy including candy lipstick because even if you are a dragon warrior you still like girly stuff:)


Cate with her dragon egg. Her face says it all. Totally worth all the cardboard.

happy birthday, bug

Dinosaur necklace and unkempt hair. Oh, you remind me in so many ways of your mother:) So glad you were born, little one.


I knew Cate would love this. A seesaw that swivels. I am jealous. There is nothing like going 'round and 'round and up and down, now is there?


I'm up to my elbows in cake batter and frosting. Tomorrow is the big Dragon party. It's going to be ferociously awesome.

one eyed jack

A few pics then for the non-squeamish. Look away if you are and if you question my good sense in posting these, well, remember I am the one who went around recommending mywound.com to all the fam. I think it’s an Arnett thing, we like to revel in all things gross.

Here’s the before, where you can clearly see my genetically droopy eye plus 40 years of hard contact lens wear. Bad combination, bad.


After surgery wherein darling ld pokes fun of my disability and makes up pirate names to call me.


This morning. The unveiling. The doctor assures me this will heal and right itself in time. I’m trusting because It’s not pretty.


You should feel sorry for me and bring me dinner and rub my head and say, ‘Poor, poor bunny’. Wait. Ld already did.

Glad to have this behind me. By middle of summer I should be able to have the Lasix.