Never Give Up

 

The spin class was interesting yesterday. There's a maximum of 10 people per class. It's a large room that can hold 70 bikes plus the front part where the instructor sits. Only the back two rows were being used, with half of the room empty. AH - it appears that they are also doing yoga in this room. Yep - they have a massive yoga room, but only 10 people are allowed in the room. It's very frustrating. But I'm not letting it get me down. The gym and the instructors have been very accommodating by adding extra classes. And Joseph is the BEST spin class instruction EVER. He's so humble - you want to sweat your butt off just to make him happy! How crazy is that???

We already had to reserve a bike for the class. If only 10 people can go, but more than 10 people want to go, well, you know where this is going. So the app on my phone allows us to register two hours after the class. Well, that's not quite true. The class starts at 6 AM and so we can reserve for next week at 8 AM this week. 

I was walking Murphy, and I was contemplating this concept. Hmm - it's 8 AM, and I had better get myself organized. So in the forest, in the rain, with an umbrella and Murphy, I registered for next week on my phone. I checked the time - 8:03, and there were three spots left!!! Oh yes - I knew that was going to happen as I heard everyone say that when they left. 

If that's what it takes, then I guess I have to be on the ball. No worries - thank god for apps on our phone. Murphy was none too pleased to have to wait. But I cranked out 32 KM, and just when I thought I was done, a great song came on the playlist (The Sound of Silence). Hey - I just googled that song, and it was written by Paul Simon in the 60s!!! I didn't remember that it was Simon and Garfunkel who performed that song. But it's impactful, and when you're ready to throw in the towel, you CAN go further!!! Just believe in yourself! 

I'm trying to keep my walking up even though I'm busy. I'm doing double-digit mileages most days - so that's a minimum of 10 KM every day. Why? Well, not only do I have the Virtual Challenges that I'm walking, but it's for my peace of mind. It's for my brain and my mental health. When I used to walk to the library, it was a quick 10-minute walk. Now I take a long way, and it's almost a half-hour walk to the library. But I feel great!! My weight is just below the bottom of my target, and I'm thrilled about that. But that doesn't mean that I don't eat bad stuff - I just finished off the second pumpkin pie with WHIPPED CREAM. I didn't feel guilty in the least. 

In total, I did over 20,000 steps yesterday. Is that excessive? I don't think so as the steps were calculated throughout the entire day. In addition to the walk with the dogs and the walk to the library, I was busy in the house. However, imagine if you got up in the morning and stayed in the house all day and were fairly inactive. How many steps would that be? It would kill me to do that. My mental health would be in the toilet, my sense of curiosity would be dead (I love to check out the neighborhood as I walk), and well - I just can't imagine being that sedentary. I'd shrivel up and die. 

But I will lay off the sugar for a bit. Not that I've overindulged, but sugar is not good. Well, too much is not good. 

I'll give you an update on the Virtual Challenge tomorrow. Time is marching on, and thankfully so am I. And I see two new challenges - the Ring Road in Iceland and the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia.  Oh - I want to do both of them!!! I will, but first, I need to finish Route 66. I was tempted to wait until the end of the year to start a new one, but I might start one the moment I finish Route 66. 

I accomplished a lot yesterday, but it never seems to be enough to catch up. The one thing I'm not getting done is any personal sewing. Yet again, this morning, I was at the computer trying to get the sign-ups for Long Time Gone straightened out. I think I have everything under control, and everyone should have received two e-mails from me. We have a big class, and I can't wait to get started!!! 

Hopefully, tomorrow, I'll get some sewing done because I have stuff that needs to be done!!!

But this is what I did get done yesterday. 

This customer quilt was on the long arm, and it was done, but it hadn't been removed. So it's now off and time to get it trimmed. 

Customer quilt - DONE

Then I got two more small customer quilts done. 

Customer quilt - DONE

Customer quilt - DONE

I got quite a bit of machine embroidery done. Don't you love this flower?? It's gorgeous, and it goes into my sample book. 

Machine embroidery sample

And then I pulled this cat off the mySewnet Library. Oh my - it's adorable!!!!  I'm not sure what I'll do with him yet, but he's cute. 

If you aren't familiar with mySewnet Library, it's a subscription-based service for machine embroidery designs. There's lots of new stuff added each week, and I love going in there to check out stuff. You can look at the designs and information in the library. You just can't download anything if you don't have a subscription. I love about it because when I find a design that I like, I just hit SEND, and it loads the design onto the Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC2 or the PFAFF creative icon or the PREMIER+ 2 software on my laptop. Yep - it's so easy!!!!

And OH GOD - more books came in from the library, and I did a bad thing. I've been to the library two days in a row, and lately, I've only been getting the books that I put on hold. But I checked the NEW book rack the other day, and well, I brought home three more. I couldn't help myself. The shelf I put the library books on is overflowing!!! NO MORE BOOKS for a while. 

I finished one audiobook yesterday (the one written by Mary L. Trump) - an interesting read, and that's all I'm going to say, but if you get a chance to read it, I would. I started a new one by Louise Penny, but for some reason, I felt distracted as I ran between the long-arm and the embroidery machine, so I don't feel that I'm really following the story, although I am. I LOVE her books. No wonder I was distracted as both the long arm and the embroidery machine require thought as you use them!

I had one presentation last night, and although I had a wee bit of lag time, I didn't have any drops. Knocking on wood as I say that. One more tonight, and then I'm done until Tuesday, but loads to prep in the meantime. 

On that note, I'm out of here. I still have a good morning full of computer work - that darned pattern is staring me in the face, and now that I know how to edit the pattern, I have run out of excuses to finish it off. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!