New Beginnings

Today's Walk:
Time: 33:31 min
Distance: 1.58 miles
Calories Burned: 164


What some of you don't know about me is that I'm separated from my husband - and not by my choice. It's been a tough month for me. A lot of changes have been forced upon me. Some good. Some bad. Yesterday was a rather tough day. But it made me look at things a little differently.

I need to start doing things for me.
I need to start doing things for my kids.
I need to start looking ahead, and stop looking back.
I need to get serious about certain things in my life, and get silly about others.

I used to be so much different than I am now. I was so much more outgoing. So much more fun to be around. So much more spontaneous. I need to find that version of me and update her. She's always been in there. I see glimpses of her now and then.

Today is my Day 1.


Thing(s) I learned today: Kathy Bates will be playing Charlie Harper's ghost on April 30th in Two and a Half Men. I stopped watching that show years ago and gave it another chance at the start of this season. Didn't last long at all. But I may tune in for this episode just to see what happens.

Song of the Day: Waking Up in Vegas by Katy Perry

I Don't Think We're In Kansas Anymore!

Somehow, when I changed my alarm last night, I also managed to turn my clock back an hour. So instead of getting up at 6:41, I got up at 5:41! I snoozed a few times - as I often do. When I looked at my alarm clock, it said it was 7:31 so I said screw it - I won't walk today. Then I picked up my phone and it said 6:31! At that point it seemed silly not to get up and go walking.


Holy Wind Batman! I almost got blown away!! But it sure was nice out. The wind helped keep me a little cooler than I would have been.


I walked the farthest I've walked thus far. Usually I walk about half a mile and then head home. Today I walked .7 mile and then turned around for a little under 1.5 miles. Not a ton more, but a little bit more every day!


On the radio this morning was some dude talking signs and moons and all kinds of weirdness. People called in and based on their birth date and time of birth - he gave them a reading. Honestly, I think most of his readings could fit anyone!


I think I'm going to do a Song Of The Day (as heard on WXLO). A song that I hear on my walk that speaks to me. Today's Song of the Day: Grenade by Bruno Mars.

New Beginnings

Let's consider today a day of new beginnings.

I went out for my first walk in months. 

It was tough getting out of bed, but I managed to hit the road just before 7:15. For the most part it was good. My hips started getting tired halfway through - that sucks ass! The trip home started to get cold on the face, but I managed to get home with blood still flowing through my cheeks.


When walking, I listen to an app on my smartphone for WXLO. It's the station I listened to on my way to work 3 years ago. While I don't miss the commute a whole lot, I really miss my drive-time radio!


I've decided not to run the Zombie race because it's pretty expensive. But I've made a personal goal for myself of walking/running a 5K this year. There's a loop on my road that's 5K, so I've just got to get to that point and I figure I'll be good!


The other new beginning today - my mom's husband's daughter is being induced with her first baby today. Good luck today Amy and Kelly! We love you and can't wait to meet Charlie!!!!

The Mommas-To-Be.

H-H-H-H-Hello W-W-W-World

Holy hell was it cold out there this morning!

When I left the house it was about 24 degrees out. I started seeing random snowflakes, but then it stopped before I turned around. My face was by far the coldest thing on my body. Guess I need to get something to keep those cheeks warm! I think I have something from my skiing days kicking around - I'll have to look for that before my next walk.

Other than the frigid temps, my walk went well today! Took me a lot longer to get out of bed than I would have liked, but I finally got out the door just before 7:30. My body must have known what was coming outside ;-)

Can I finally say it.... WELCOME WINTER!

I'm Here!!

It's been one helluva month, let me tell you!

Turns out I didn't crack my ribs like I thought, they were just badly bruised. Even better! I got a prescription for Ibuprofen from the doctor and am still taking it twice a day. Fun times! I've got a little bit of a cold, but the bronchitis is gone - YEA!!!

Tomorrow morning I'm walking for the first time in about 2 months. I can't believe it's been that long. Ugh... I miss it a ton and am looking forward to getting back on the wagon and taking steps towards getting healthier this year.

I hope your holidays were good to you and stay tuned for regular posts!

Oh - we're not doing the Run For Your Life 5k because it's pretty expensive. I think we're going to shoot for running next year and signing up very early so that we get in at the cheapest price. I'm on the lookout for a new walk/run in the May-ish time frame. I'd like to do something that raises money for a good cause, so let me know if you know of something!

Seriously.... Just Shoot Me!

After the zoo, I didn't get a chance to walk again before I came down with bronchitis 2 days later. Yes... bronchitis... that I've been fighting for 2 weeks! And today I apparently cracked a rib from all the damn coughing! I kid you not.... I'm 99% sure I cracked a rib.

So needless to say, I need to recover from the bronchitis and the cracked rib before my lungs can handle walking - and walking in the cold weather.

Fear not - I have not given up! Once I've recovered, I will be on the street again! I'm actually missing my walking more than I would have thought after just 3 walks. So stay tuned... I'll be back shortly.

In the mean time - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Lions, And Tigers, And (no) Bears.... OH MY!

Yesterday's walk was brought to you by the Franklin Park Zoo.

Decided to have a change of scenery for my walk yesterday so Team Holm took off for the zoo for the day. Lots of walking and lots of animals and lots of fun!

King of the Jungle

I had 2 favorites. The first one was the lion. Eric and I agreed he looked old and sad, but he still looked majestic! I can only imagine what running in to him in the wild would be like.

My other favorite were the gorillas. I could have sat there all day with one of them. When we got to one of the glass look-throughs, he was there hanging out and decided to sit a while. I swear he was checking out Megan's sneakers when we got there. She had a good time telling him about her sneakers and we sat for quite a while with him - longer than any other animal at the zoo. We got to see 3 adults along with a little one who turned 1 a few weeks ago and her mom.

Megan showing her sneakers to her new friend.

I hadn't been to the zoo in many years, so it was a nice thing to experience with the girls. They loved the animals and loved walking around and interacting with all of the different things. We had a visit from some peacocks during lunch - I don't think the girls liked that so much! But Megan shared a fry with one of them and she warmed up a little bit to them.

If I could have a walk like this, I'd walk every single day! So much fun! Hopefully we can get back there again before our membership expires at the end of February.

Who are these animals??

Even kings need naps.

My little superstar!

Megan makes a new friend.