Posted at 12:10 PM in Jamie | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 08:54 PM in just a thought | Permalink | Comments (3)
When the new year rolled around, I decided, for myself, that I would hit the gym once a week. Not 3 times, not everyday, but simply once a week.
So far, so good.
My coworker thought I was shooting a little low and should aim from twice a week, but for some reason I knew that would be "more pressure" for me to meet. So I just kept it at once a week. If I could do that, then I would be happy. Heck, I've been paying for a membership for...gulp...almost 10 years and have probably used it less than 10 times. 24 Hour Fitness just got a nice chunk of my money for nothing.
Last week, I walked on the treadmill for about 45 minutes. While I did pump up the speed, I didn't increase the incline and ended up not really breaking a sweat. It probably wasn't much of a workout for most people, but for me it was a good start. At least I went, right?
I checked out the schedule and found out there was a step class at 9am. Perfect. I can drop Keira off at school and head straight to the gym. It's been quite some time (probably more than 10 years) since I've done step, so I knew I'd be pretty uncoordinated and completely lost. But I have to start somewhere right?
I stepped on the eliptical for about 10 minutes to get my heart going and then waited outside the classroom with a bunch of other people. No joke, but I thought I was going to a class for senior citizens. Every single person standing in front of me had to have been at least 50 years old, and then there was me. But I told myself, even if it is, I'm still going. That's what I was standing there for.
So, as one class cleared out and another one filed in, I found my spot off to the side of the teacher. I could still see, but I didn't want to be in the way of other seasoned steppers. And then class started...
For the most part, I kept moving. I recognized some of the moves and was completely lost on others, but I kept moving. I think I looked at the clock a handful of times, but the first time it was about 24 minutes into the class. What the heck? I made it 24 minutes and wasn't in desperation?! I managed to finish up the remaining 36 minutes, still somewhat lost but sweating nonetheless.
I'm giving myself a small pat on the back for making it through. I was watching one class goer throughout the class and passed by her on the way out of the bathroom. I thanked her for letting me watch her and her movements, because it had been so long since I've gone. She reassured me that she was once in my same position but I'll eventually get there.
Will I be going again next week? Hopefully yes. I can't think of any good excuses not to.
Posted at 01:04 PM in Jamie | Permalink | Comments (1)
Posted at 12:06 PM in What We're Up to | Permalink | Comments (0)
I've seen quite a few people taking part in Fat Mum Slim's January Photo-A-Day Challenge. And I've decided I'm going to jump on the wagon and join in.
The prompt for days 1 and 2 were "today" and "something new". I took pictures for these prompts without really knowing it and before I decided to do the challenge. Day 1 involved us going out for a New Year's day walk and day 2 showed Mike and Keira wearing their new threads.
Day 3: Heart
Keira's attempt at a heart with her fingers, and mine against the sky at dusk.
Day 4: The view from here
sitting beneath a jellyfish canopy on the Jumping Jellyfish ride at Disney's California Adventure and at one end of Main Street at Disneyland.
I'll be adding my photos to my 2013 Project Life. And I'm super excited that I was able to re-teach myself how to resize and crop photos, then paste them to a new canvas in PhotoShop Elements. Now I can save myself some paper and ink!!
Posted at 10:48 PM in photo a day | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted at 03:03 PM in just a thought, Keira, Mike | Permalink | Comments (0)
the last day of 2012:
good morning
the last of the cheesebread from Virginia Bakery in Berkeley
home from his last day of work
her last lunch: spaghetti
the last garbage pick-up
nap time
our houseguests
a friendly game of ping pong
We went to a friends' house for New Year's Eve and all three of us managed to stay up until midnight. Keira had a tiny meltdown shortly before midnight, but I was able to diffuse it enough that we could properly ring in the new year.
our gracious hosts, Sofia and Phi
dinner of Phiovanni shrimp, Vietnamese baked salmon and vermicelli
Jonah and Keira having milk and watching Special Agent Oso
a special NYE princess parade
a HUGE breakthrough for Keira...she got up close and even pet a dog! Bailey is so mellow, Keira wasn't scared at all.
For the past few years, since we've had Keira, I've taken a picture of us both at the end of one year and beginning of the next. This year was more of the same.
taken on 12/31/12 at 11:57pm
Happy New Year!! taken 1/1/13 at 12:02am
Posted at 08:05 PM in family life, What We're Up to | Permalink | Comments (1)
I decided to take full advantage of being on leave during the holidays, so Keira and I, along with my mom who was already with us, headed up to the Bay Area for a week. The weather wasn't the best (i.e. cold and rainy) and Keira was sick with a runny nose and cough, but we still managed to spend time with family while we were there.
We did a lot of hanging out at home, tv watching, playing and eating:
I managed to get out and have dinner with two of my college roommates, Fiona and Sarah. Sarah, who I roomed with for 3 years, is expecting her first baby (a girl!) in February. Maybe our two littles will share the same birthday!
Before picking up Mike from the airport, my brother, Keira and I went to Bay Street in Emeryville to walk around. There was the coolest Christmas tree made out of shopping carts on display too!
My cousin Jason and his fiancee Donna hosted the Ko family Christmas this year and while everyone was packed in, we had a fun time. We had a White Elephant gift exchange as well as gifts for the kids. And the food? There was tons of it. It was nonstop eating from the time we entered until the time we left.
We headed back to So Cal on Sunday, and the rain followed us for the first half of the trip. By the time we made it to So Cal, there was a bit of sun to greet us. Mike was only up north for 3 days and he was tired of the rain.
I bought myself a Christmas present back in October and it arrived just in time...on Christmas Eve. The website itself is not up and running until sometime in January, but I plan on adding to my rings if and when the time comes :)
We headed to Mike's sister's house for Christmas Eve, and had all the Lieu grandkids in one place. There was more eating and a somewhat chaotic gift opening session too.
We spent Christmas Day at home, starting off with breakfast put together by my brother and I and then Keira opening more gifts from Santa. Mike and I had lunch with some friends later on and then dinner with my parents and Ryan and Julie. A pretty lowkey day.
I've been really blessed to have all this time off during the holidays, and I know it probably won't happen again. I'm starting to get myself mentally ready to return to work after the new year and I think a small part of me is ready to go. Being home is nice and I wouldn't trade it in for anything, but I know I'm needed at work and I need to bring home a real paycheck again!I
Posted at 09:13 AM in family life, What We're Up to | Permalink | Comments (0)