Things I have learned recently

-Running on the beach? Not glamorous. The wind nearly and literally took my breath away until I felt definite lack of oxygen things happening.

-Running with my hair in a ponytail? I get secret joy out of feeling the swish of it back and forth. I know, it's silly, but it is one of those things that bring me small joy.

-My daughter may secretly be a wood nymph. Or something like that.

-The idea of a vacation outside of Oregon excites me.

-Most of the unbidden spiritual moments in my life, ever, have taken place in the woods, near water. I am thankful for the opportunity to experience such things and shall remember this next time I feel the need for spiritual retreat.

30 books to read before your 30

I found this list of books everyone should read before they are 30. So far, with 2 years left, I am failing. The small print ones are the ones I have read and actually remember enough to count for something. I read others in high school but was too busy being a bitter unhappy teen to actually try at school, so they don't count...

1. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse – A powerful story about the importance of life experiences as they relate to approaching an understanding of reality and attaining enlightenment.
2. 1984 by George Orwell – 1984 still holds chief significance nearly 60 years after it was written in 1949. It is widely acclaimed for its haunting vision of an all-knowing government which uses pervasive, 24/7 surveillance tactics to manipulate all citizens of the populace.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – The story surveys the controversial issues of race and economic class in the 1930’s Deep South via a court case of a black man charged with the rape and abuse of a young white girl. It’s a moving tale that delivers a profound message about fighting for justice and against prejudice.
4. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess – A nightmarish vision of insane youth culture that depicts heart wrenching insight into the life of a disturbed adolescent. This novel will blow you away… leaving you breathless, livid, thrilled, and concerned.
5. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway – A short, powerful contemplation on death, ideology and the incredible brutality of war.
6. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy – This masterpiece is so enormous even Tolstoy said it couldn’t be described as a standard novel. The storyline takes place in Russian society during the Napoleonic Era, following the characters of Andrei, Pierre and Natasha… and the tragic and unanticipated way in which their lives interconnect.
7. The Rights of Man by Tom Paine – Written during the era of the French Revolution, this book was one of the first to introduce the concept of human rights from the standpoint of democracy.
8. The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau – A famous quote from the book states that “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” This accurately summarizes the book’s prime position on the importance of individual human rights within society.
9. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez – This novel does not have a plot in the conventional sense, but instead uses various narratives to portray a clear message about the general importance of remembering our cultural history.
10. The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin – Few books have had as significant an impact on the way society views the natural world and the genesis of humankind.
11. The Wisdom of the Desert by Thomas Merton – A collection of thoughts, meditations and reflections that give insight into what life is like to live simply and purely, dedicated to a greater power than ourselves.
12. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell – Gladwell looks at how a small idea, or product concept, can spread like a virus and spark global sociological changes. Specifically, he analyzes “the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable.”
13. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham – Arguably one of the best children’s books ever written; this short novel will help you appreciate the simple pleasures in life. It’s most notable for its playful mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality, and camaraderie.
14. The Art of War by Sun Tzu – One of the oldest books on military strategy in the world. It’s easily the most successful written work on the mechanics of general strategy and business tactics.
15. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien – One of the greatest fictional stories ever told, and by far one of the most popular and influential written works in 20th-century literature. Once you pick up the first book, you’ll read them all.
16. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – This is a tale that lingers on the topic of attaining and maintaining a disciplined heart as it relates to one’s emotional and moral life. Dickens states that we must learn to go against “the first mistaken impulse of the undisciplined heart.”
17. Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot – Probably the wisest poetic prose of modern times. It was written during World War II, and is still entirely relevant today… here’s an excerpt: “The dove descending breaks the air/With flame of incandescent terror/Of which the tongues declare/The only discharge from sin and error/The only hope, or the despair/Lies in the choice of pyre or pyre–/To be redeemed from fire by fire./Who then devised this torment?/Love/Love is the unfamiliar Name/Behind the hands that wave/The intolerable shirt of flame/Which human power cannot remove./We only live, only suspire/Consumed by either fire or fire.”
18. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – This book coined the self-titled term “catch-22” that is widely used in modern-day dialogue. As for the story, its message is clear: What’s commonly held to be good, may be bad… what is sensible, is nonsense. Its one of the greatest literary works of the 20th century. Read it.
19. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – Set in the Jazz Age of the roaring 20’s, this book unravels a cautionary tale of the American dream. Specifically, the reader learns that a few good friends are far more important that a zillion acquaintances, and the drive created from the desire to have something is more valuable than actually having it.
20. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger – This novel firmly stands as an icon for accurately representing the ups and downs of teen angst, defiance and rebellion. If nothing else, it serves as a reminder of the unpredictable teenage mindset.
21. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky – A smooth-flowing, captivating novel of a young man living in poverty who criminally succumbs to the desire for money, and the hefty phychological impact this has on him and the people closest to him.
22. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli – This book does a great job at describing situations of power and statesmanship. From political and corporate power struggles to attaining advancement, influence and authority over others, Machiavelli’s observations apply.
23. Walden by Henry David Thoreau – Thoreau spent two years, two months and two days writing this book in a secluded cabin near the banks of Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. This is a story about being truly free from the pressures of society. The book can speak for itself: “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
24. The Republic by Plato – A gripping and enduring work of philosophy on how life should be lived, justice should be served, and leaders should lead. It also gives the reader a fundamental understanding of western political theory.
25. Lolita – This is the kind of book that blows your mind wide open to conflicting feelings of life, love and corruption… and at times makes you deeply question your own perceptions of each. The story is as devious as it is beautiful.
26. Getting Things Done by David Allen – The quintessential guide to organizing your life and getting things done. Nuff said.
27. How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – This is the granddaddy of all self-improvement books. It is a comprehensive, easy to read guide for winning people over to your way of thinking in both business and personal relationships.
28. Lord of the Flies by William Golding – A powerful and alarming look at the possibilities for savagery in a lawless environment, where compassionate human reasoning is replaced by anarchistic, animal instinct.
29. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck – Steinbeck’s deeply touching tale about the survival of displaced families desperately searching for work in a nation stuck by depression will never cease to be relevant.
30. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov – This anticommunist masterpiece is a multifaceted novel about the clash between good and evil. It dives head first into the topics of greed, corruption and deception as they relate to human nature.
31. BONUS: How To Cook Everything by Mark Bittman – 900 pages of simple instructions on how to cook everything you could ever dream of eating. Pretty much the greatest cookbook ever written. Get through a few recipes each week, and you’ll be a master chef by the time you’re 30.
32. BONUS: Honeymoon with My Brother by Franz Wisner – Franz Wisner had it all… a great job and a beautiful fiancée. Life was good. But then his fiancée dumped him days before their wedding, and his boss basically fired him. So he dragged his younger brother to Costa Rica for his already-scheduled honeymoon and they never turned back… around the world they went for two full years. This is a fun, heartfelt adventure story about life, relationships, and self discovery.

This morning I took Em on a hike at a beautiful place about an hour outside of town. There is supposed to be falls everywhere, but she opted for the other trail that led away from them. We spent two hours exploring the woods, building fairy homes out of sticks and fallen leaves and counting bugs. She delighted at the centipede sighting, rescued slugs from the trail of dead pine needles stuck to their hind ends and pondered what animals live there. She chased butterflies, talked to birds, and admired flowers. My child became an explorer, a trail guide, and a mountain woman. We sat and ate lunch and she told me to stop and listen to the tree music.

It was beautiful.

*toot* goes my own horn.

So, now that I am all awesome and not paying attention to watching the stop watch as much on my runs I am noticing all sorts of things. Like the pavement that has every tenth of a mile marked with spray paint. And you know what? I ran two and half miles tonight! Now, to some, that may not sound like a whole lot, but to someone who has spent most of her life telling herself she is weak, that is fucking awesome! I had no idea I was running that much. Upon returning home my mom asked how it went because I didn't look winded at all like I usually do.

Go. ME.

The Morning After

I. Am. Exhausted.

One of the neighbors last night gave all the kids sparklers, and we lit off Em's fireworks for everyone because Emily will be at her dad's on the 4th.

The girls drifted off around 11pm last night, after watching The Wizard of Oz in the princess tent in the living room and the obligatory whisper session of secrets. At one point Emily asked "Mom, do we get to whisper in the tent?"

"Yes dear, it's not a sleep over if you can't tell secrets in the tent!"

I sang them to sleep and collapsed on the couch where I slept until they were up at 6am, and then again at 7am. Somehow that feels so much earlier when there are two children here and one of them isn't mine. Today has been a bi-polar friendship day with bouts of "We're sisters!" and "No-thats mine and I don't want you to touch it!" We went to the park for two and a half hours and as we got home the bickering reached a breaking point in which I banished them each to their own couch for a rest time where they proceeded to wiggle and whisper and bicker some more. I put on some George Winston to no avail. Just when I had given up hope I noticed an odd hush fell over the house. Everyone but me is asleep.

Divine.

Summer awesome

Nat King Cole is wafting through the sunny living/dining room, the breeze is blowing gently. Dinner is finished (homemade pizza with garlic whistles, chard, heirloom tomatoes, mushrooms and mozzerella with strawberry lemonade to wash it down). Em has a friend over for a sleepover and I can hear them playing house on the back porch. Later we will make stove top popcorn and cowboy sodas.

Sometimes summer is just so awesome and perfect.

Twilight.

It's my new favorite time of day to run. (And here you thought I was going to talk about that silly book...) This evening I went for a run and found myself laughing through the second half with a sort of self-centered joy I haven't felt in a long time. I realized as I reached the halfway point that I wasn't out of breath, that I wasn't paying attention to time increments as much as usual, and that I was enjoying myself. Now, I have enjoyed all the runs so far, but that doesn't mean that halfway through I wasn't partly feeling like I could crawl home and not care. The thing is, I have spent too much of my the last chunk of life pigeon-holing myself into the 'physically weak' category. I had to watch what I did for so long, and kept telling myself I couldn't do "it", whatever it may be, for so long, that I believed I was not capable of doing so many things. I am delighted with my body that I can not only do this, but that I enjoy it. I love that I can FEEL myself growing stronger.

And running in the evening? SO much better. The cool wind, no hot sun beating down, less traffic. It's perfect. And wakes me up enough to do my homework.

Speaking of homework, my classes are awesome so far. More on that later, I have to go read about sex now...

summertime ease

This enchilada sauce is my new pantry accessory. It saved me tonight. I created a nice little improv enchilada bowl that my kid LOVED! I cubed carrots and zucchini, simmered it in this sauce, poured it over rice and topped with grated cheese. HUGE success. Yay for simple.

Summer classes started yesterday. Who knew online classes would involve so much work? Actually, I did. Wishful thinking told me to hope for otherwise thought I suppose. But so far, aside from the computer class, they are all pretty fun. More on those later.

Finding time to run is hard with the little one here. Now that we are home together all day, all my alone time has vanished when she is home. So, I missed my run today, ah well. She loves to dance so maybe I will make up for it that way?

Also, my freezer jam? KILLER. Its awesome.

Hairstyles of the Damned review

This book was recommended by someone I know. I will admit that the cover was what caught my eye most about this book. Should have been a sign right then and there that I should put it down. But ya know. I didn't. So there. It's angsty and may have been appealing 15 years ago in an "I'm a teenage outcast looking for something to identify with" kind of way. It's also a little to much. I read the first part, was mildly interested in the narrator but just couldn't identify enough to keep going. I skimmed through the rest to see what happens and put it down.

Overall opinion? Meh.

On Becoming Physically Fit

I must be doing something right this time around because there isn't nearly as much pain involved. A lot of people have asked me recently "Why the new interest in working out/running/etc.?" And that question is usually followed by the statement "You look just fine..."

Ok people, this has nothing to do with the way I LOOK. If cared enough about the way I look to push myself this hard I may also be caught leaving the house every day showered, never wearing clothes I had worn the day before, and always with my hair neatly in place and make-up perfectly done. As of right now, that has yet to happen. And I am ok with that. And might I add that I think it's a shame that the majority of people seem to think appearance is the only reason to maintain some sort of exercise routine.

My first reason for doing this is my health, which at times in the past has been scary and way below par. I am an asthmatic with allergies. Now these have their secondary health problems as well. Like poor circulation. Last time I got sick I noticed that my legs had a purplish tint. That is not normal. And not awesome at all unless I was going for resembling some sort of star trek-like alien life form. This is due to lack of oxygen and can lead to all sorts of gross things, like tissue death. Gross.

Another reason is that I hate being such a damn wimp. I guess around the time I left my childs father and dealt with anxiety for the first time in my life, and felt emotionally weak I felt motivated to change that, but the thing is, you can't rush recovery from an abusive situation. So I started to try and change what I could, my physical strength and well-being. Most of it centered on relaxation, but to be completely honest, I was so exhausted from trying to be nice to myself and be a good mom by myself that I didn't have the time or energy.

And a third reason is that I get bored really easily. Now that I have these long stretches of time when my daughter is with her father, I find myself getting bored. And when I get bored I become apathetic and lazy. And then I just feel like a slug. The best part of the running part of this new plan is the rush I feel after a run, and the new energy that lasts for hours after a run. I love that I can feel my body changing, breathing better, running longer and faster, I just feel more alive.

It just HAPPENS to be a nice side effect that my legs look less chicken-like as this all progresses.

I just found a yoga routine that centers on abdominal strengthening. Oy. Thats the only sore spot I have right now. There is one exercise where you lay flat on your back and lift your legs into the air, keeping them straight. I did what felt like a million of those yesterday. It also happens to be a part of my warm-ups for my runs, and damn if it wasn't the hardest part today. But, the warm-ups have been doing wonders for the run. I think that is part of the reason i haven't been sore.

Anyhow. I feel good. (Despite being bitter about probably not going to Anne-Marie's solstice party today, lame car troubles.)

run run as fast as you can...

I had an awesome run today. I am impressed by how much I ENJOY this. It's a pleasant side effect I guess. I was thrilled when I noticed today during my run that I wasn't as out of breath as usual and that I had made it farther than I usually do. What is even more exciting to me is that I still haven't even progressed out of the week one runs in the program due to interruptions in my schedule, and I already feel these things. I breath better and I have more energy. And my chicken legs feel stronger!

I have recently changed my route and its a lovely change. I no longer run along the busy road, but along a farm road with lovely trees and fewer cars meaning less exhaust which makes for happier asthmatic lungs.

On the schedule for the rest of the day? Finish making freezer jam, today it's strawberry blueberry. Do some laundry, and clean the kitchen. And read on my little porch in the sun. Emily just switched to a full week home and a full week at her dad's and while it kills me to be away from her for so long, I will admit it is quite nice to have the house to myself for so long.

P.S. I am eating toast with sunflower butter and homemade strawberry jam. My jam is bitchin.

Something about being with my best friend reverts me back to a careless and slightly childish person in the most enjoyable of ways. On monday my little one headed to her dads house and Vanessa and I crammed all the "adult time" in as we possibly could before she left. This invovled bingo at Sam Bond's, which is cool if you don't mind heinous crowds. It wasn't our thing considering neither of us had gotten much sleep this week. And our original plan was to make strawberry jam all day on Tuesday. Until we woke up on Tuesday morning and she told me about this list she made while recovering from knee surgery about all the things she wanted to do when she was better. How can you not try and make as many of those things happen as possible? One of the items was watch the sunset on the beach while drinking whiskey. Now, I am not much of a whiskey person, but I do like the beach. So just like that we headed to the beach. (We took strawberries with us and made jam at the beach house we stayed at.)



We spent time walking on the beach, a very short time. The above picture was taken just before we stripped coats and jumped into the ocean for a swim. It was wonderful. We made awesome jam, a bitchin dinner, and Vanessa had her whiskey at sunset. Then we headed back out to the beach for shenanigans such as trying this seesaw we found...
and climbing trees, and doing cartwheels and generally just doing whatever came to mind. It struck me mid-cartwheel that I don't do this nearly often enough. Life gets so structured somehow between my daughters schedule and routine, homework, housework and all the other structures within my life that add to a routine and plan being created for my life around me. How joyful to just let go of that all, even if for just two days, and fly by the seat of our pants? I returned home yesterday after a 6am beach departure to babysit for a family needing care during a post-car accident doctors appointment, exhausted to the bone, sore from running on the beach, but feeling more light-hearted, youthful, and happy than I have in a long time. It is so rare that I do these things for myself, as a person, not as mom, and I am proud of myself for beginning to recognize that need and honor it. Besides, how could I resist being a total jack ass with someone so wonderful?

Sometimes life is grand.

My five year old woke up this morning next to me and without even saying good morning proclaimed "My fairy godmother is here, I just know it! Auntie Nessa is here, mom!" And bounded out of the bedroom and into the living room to find she was right. Her eyes were huge with excitement and she danced and bounced in place in front of Auntie Nessa and started formulating plans in her head of what will be done.

They spent the morning making baby paper cranes to go with her mommy one that I stumbled through making yesterday (and kept my swearing to a minimum.) Auntie Nessa makes them with much more grace than I do. I made pancakes and smoothies and we lit the breakfast chalice and ate together.

Emily said "Mom, I want to go on a walk with just Auntie Nessa, not you, is that ok?" They just bounded down the sidewalk and out of sight as I stared and sighed. I feel so blessed to have an Auntie Nessa in our lives. To have THE Auntie Nessa in our lives. I think every parent, especially single parents need at least one friend like her. The one that knows you so well you don't have to talk but you do because it's enjoyable. Who is in sync with your parenting style to the point where they can step in when needed with no anxiety or worries. One who is so in love with your child that you can see it in her smile and eyes. And one whom your child is absolutely giddy at the mention of. Being around her makes being a parent even more enjoyable and relaxed.

I feel blessed.

A perfect morning

My daughter and I are currently sharing a love affair with these awesome pancakes and grooving to the Bob Marley station on pandora.com

It's pretty cute to watch her bounce and dance to Bob in her nightgown and wild curly hair. This morning we are celebrating the beginning of our summer. Yesterday was my last final of spring term and her last day at her pre-k and the start of the summer of unplanned exploration with semi-planned camping trips, beach trips and road trips that allow ample time of unstructured discovery time in wild and magical places. And ya know, spring cleaning. Today we are getting rid of books and clothes, and yes, I bribed my child with the incentive of being able to keep the money from her stuff that the resale stores give us for it, whats so wrong with that?

If your a pancake fan, you have to try these (pulled from this vegan website that is awesome)...

Pancakes (Version 3)

Breakfast - Pancakes - -

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups unbleached plain organic flour
• 1/2 cup sucanat or brown sugar
• 1 T baking powder
• 1 t salt
• 1-2 t cinnamon
• 2 cups soymilk
• 2/3 stick soy margarine, melted and cooled a bit
• 1 T vanilla extract
• Opt: blueberries

METHOD

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, and the liquid ones in a smaller bowl. Add the liquid to the dry, blending with a whisk (but not too much, or you'll activate the gluten in the flour. That's a secret). Now stir in the blueberries.

Cook them over medium-low heat (adjusting as neccessary), using the butter to grease the pan lightly for each cake if you aren't using a non-stick pan. Serve with *Vermont* maple syrup.

I use real butter because I feel like it, but earth balance works out well too. It makes about 10-12 small pancakes. We like them with fresh strawberries and syrup on top.

oh books

I want to read this book about nature deficit disorder. We talked about it briefly in my global health class the other day and it got me to thinking. What are the effects on childrens' and society's development of the continuously decreasing exposure to natural and wild lands? I think about the role that the forest played in my development and I can't even begin to fathom what I would be like or the life I would lead had I not had the incredible opportunity to explore that world. Had I not been shown that so much life exists there, the plants we eat, and the hidden magical things in the woods, like the whirlpools and natural hot springs we used to find.

It is a scary thought that children grow up AFRAID of what is found in nature because as they age that fear leads them to put effort into avoiding or getting rid of whatever they are afraid of, which is the last thing we need, really.

Let's all just go camping!

so I may have overdone it a little bit...

Yesterday was to be my day of rest, and restorative yoga. Oops. There was a fitness seminar at school that I had been planning on attending all term. When I started this whole couch to 5k thing I didn't time it all that right because it was the day after my first run in which my leg muscles were reminding me how comfortable they had become in a more sedentary lifestyle. In other words, they were incredibly fatigued and slightly sore. But I really wanted to go to this fitness seminar. They are great because they are free and are led my fitness pro's that I would usually have to pay money I am not willing to part with in order to benefit from their services. Thanks to student fees, I don't even realize I am paying them anyhow. This one was on warming up properly before working out, running, etc. The title was "A nice warm and toasty warm up with Anna". In my head I am picturing easy little stretches that will get me ready to go. Oh boy was I wrong. I guess stretching is the wrong way to warm up according to the latest fitness research because when you stretch you don't get as much power in your exercise or something like that. The most effective way to warm up is to actually WORK the muscles you will be using so they are warmed up and ready to go. Makes sense. It's like trying to get your hand to ball up into a fist first thing in the morning. It doesn't work. After you wake up a bit it does. Anyhow.

This seminar KICKED MY ASS! It was an hour of lunges and other "cored muscles activated" moves. By the end, my already upset thighs were shaking. My legs were noodley and I felt like I was going to fall over. Thats not to say it wasn't fun though, because it was awesome. And now I know stuff that I didn't before, which is also awesome. What it does mean is that today, my legs down right hurt. And are stiff. I was SUPPOSED to go for run #2 today, but I can barely walk across the house let alone work up to a light jog. So it is postponed until tomorrow. Which is ok because I have a ton of homework and studying to do. Both of my finals are at the beginning of the week next week, which is nice because I am done sooner, but also gives me less time to prep. I need to remind myself that the end of the term is the worst time to slack off.

feel the burn

So I kinda love running. I went of my first run today and I love how every muscle in my body feels more awake now. I can even breathe better. In all fairness though, shortly before running, I was feeling rather lazy and was TOTALLY going to wuss out until my dear mother got home and I realized how irritable and cooped up I was feeling, and had to do something about it. SO I ran. AND it was awesome. How about that? I can already feel the burn in my thighs, but man, I just may have killer legs once I get to the 5k mark. Or at least have stronger lungs. Which will rock.

I am getting more and more excited for summer. My best friend works in the mountains for eight days at a time and has six days off. She has decided that she is going to give up her house for the summer since she is never there anyhow, and come live here for six days at a time. Her and I go way back to my very first UU youth con. She gets here on Thursday next week and I am loving the possibilities. And despite the depth at which I hate the pollen, I love this time of year because the fresh produce is just everywhere! I *will* learn how to can this year so that I can preserve some stuff, and will also be drying a fair amount too.

And the thinderstorms! I am in heaven! I know I shouldn't be because of the damage and tornado warnings and what not, but I CAN BREATHE! And they are so beautiful to watch. It reminds of the town I was born in August. (Did you catch the part about tornado warnings? In Oregon??? Woot global climate change!)

So here's the plan...

I have always been in love with the idea of being a runner. Not so much the running. But I hear rave reviews about this program, and it makes total sense. I started it one in the fall, but my job at the time effectively squashed most things out of my life other than work, and my kiddo of course! So, I am starting again. Anne-Marie is on board, who else? The more people going along with me the more I think I will stick to it...

Now the challenge is being able to overcome the pollen too...luckily, allergy meds are coming to save my days.

The schedule from here.

Week	Workout 1	Workout 2	Workout 3
1	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
2	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
3	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)
4	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
5	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes) Walk 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog two miles (or 20 minutes) with no walking.
6	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2-1/4 miles (or 25 minutes) with no walking.
7	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).
8	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).
9	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).	The final workout! Congratulations! Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).

I can smell the summer

Two weeks left in this term, one of which is finals so I only have to go for two days to take a test. I cannot begin to tell you how very relieved I will be when Tuesday of next week rolls around. I love my classes this term, but I am feeling a bit squashed. I am also looking forward to having all online classes for the summer.

Lately, I have been taking really poor care of myself, which is bad timing because the pollen is out in full force, which makes me want to hide inside all the days of my life. This is not conducive to having a five year old. So I am making these resolutions for summer:

1) Continue exercising at least five days a week, even though I won't have the fancy school gym to do so. I will be picking the couch to 5k program back up, and tailoring my yoga routine to counter the running, so flexibility and relaxation. I tend to through in pilates with it too because who doesn't want killer abs?

2) I am starting the detox over since I let it go during week one due to youth con. After detox I am going to try and maintain a 60% raw food diet, and no processed foods. And eat as local as possible. More rant on that one later.

3) Get those damn tomatoes planted, as well as a second round of greens and peas.


4) Get rid of at least 50% of the shit in my house. It is insanely cluttered and I am sick of it. My mother is moving out in a month or so and I figure it is the perfect time to purge myself of all the posessions wearing me down and organize what is left. With this also comes taking the coat closet and turning it into a dry goods storage so I can buy larger quantities of bulk foods.

5) Learn to can foods from Sara, and get a better food dehydrator. Preserve as much food as possible. This of course means an excuse to spend lots of time berry picking.

6) Take my daughter into the woods and camp as much as possible. Today in global health we learned about nature defecit disorder and it is terrifying. And it's an excuse to go camping without feeling so irresponsible.