Skiing

Jim and I went to Michigan skiing yesterday. Jim wanted to be gone by 9AM, but we didn't even wake up until 9:30! So, we got a late start. Oh, well! We grabbed a quick bite to eat and left at 10:22. We went to Brighton, which is about 1 1/2 hours from here. We got there just in time for a bit of lunch. After lunch we went up the mountain...really just a large hill, but by Houston standards, it was a mountain! It has not been really cold the past week, so they had to make snow. We rented our skis, put on all the gear and headed outside. First, we had to find the green slope...for me! It is a pretty small skiing area, so it wasn't hard to find. The chair lift is always the trickiest part for me. It just intimidates me! When we got to the top, it was kinda weird...the back of the mountain was naked...I mean, there was no snow! Ha, what a site. After a few hours we went to the lodge...my face was hurting from being so cold. We had a snack and a couple of drinks. I decided I was through, but Jim was gonna go again. He got up, went to the bathroom and came back deciding he wasn't gonna go back. He has been gimpy with his right knee for some time and he thought it best not to go back. So, we loaded up and went to our hotel. After checking in, we went downstairs to the hot tub. With all the working out I've been doing and Jim's gimpy leg, the heat from the water felt good. Back in the room we vegged. Since we had a tub (and if you know me well, you know I love my weekly bubble bath), I took a long bubble bath while drinking hot tea. Ha, I'm so easily entertained! When we parked at the hotel we saw Leo's Coney Island right across the street. We've been eating healthy, but we didn't have the energy to go far. I found a menu and they had all kinds of stuff...burgers, sandwiches, Greek food, and lots more. Jim walked over to get supper for us. I didn't care what it was, as long as I didn't have to get dressed and go! He brought back some really great food...moussaka (eggplant/beef casserole, rice, Greek salad, chicken kabob, and some kind of Greek bread that was SO good!). Tv and reading was the rest of the exciting evening. This morning we got up and had breakfast in the hotel and headed back to Ohio. Back home at 11AM.

Jim is going to Pennsylvania tomorrow for 2 nights. I'll work out Monday and Wednesday while he is gone. We may go skiing again on February 6, but, we will ski at night, which I've never done. Then, I fly home on the 7th.

More about the New Year!

Well, I've done something that I've long wanted to do...I hired a personal trainer! Wow. I actually joined a gym in Ohio and hired a trainer within the gym. It is SUCH a cool place...

http://www.urbanactive.com/trainerfinder/websites/60092/maumee/index.html


On Friday Kurt kicked my ass...for the first time. All in the legs. This weekend was painful...literally! I continued to stretch all weekend and could get around with much more ease this morning...just in time to go see Kurt again! Today's focus was upper body...arms, abs, lower back. Kurt is really good for me. He cheers me on and will slip in a few extra counts when he knows I can do it. I will probably need a straw to slurp up soup tomorrow! This gym has a lot of apparatuses (not sure how to spell that!) that I've not seen before. I'm really excited to be going and doing something good for my mind and body.

Last night Jim and I and a guy we met on the job in Missouri, Brad, went to a pro hockey game. The Toledo Walleyes. How creative is THAT name?! I swear they are called the Walleyes. In case you don't know, that is a fish. The funniest part was when they scored, people would throw REAL, but dead, walleys and octopus' onto the rink. Strange. It was a fast action game that we really enjoyed. Before we went to the game, we ate Chicago deep dish pizza. THAT is a deep pizza.

Jim and I went house shopping yesterday. We are not going to sell our house in Texas. All we need is something small...2 bedrooms would be plenty. There are lots of really cool OOOLLLDDD house here. I mean, like built in 1900 old. I told Jim that after living in TW for 12 years, that I'm spoiled and like NEW, but I like the character of OLD. After looking at a bunch of houses, I told Jim that right now I like staying in our 5th wheel. We'll just continue to be trailer trash, for now.

In other news, the weather has warmed up here. We finally went above 32 degrees for the first time since Christmas. Albeit, it is only like 33 or 34. This weekend we are going to Michigan to go snow skiing. We went 2 years ago while in Wisconsin, so I'm excited to go again. Hopefully, all of my muscle groups will have been stretched and worked out this week that I will not be sore!

A Brand New Year 2010

2009 has come and gone. Lots of memories were made, new friendships, loss of loved ones, new family members, travels, a move to another state, new animals in the family, home improvements, lessons learned, some sadness, lots of happiness......

2010 looks to be an interesting year. January in Ohio has been C.O.L.D.! February will have a trip to Scottsdale for Jim and I and followed by a trip to Hawaii. That is the only state my Dad has never been to...so, I NEED to take him! My niece, Abby, will also be going. March will be a trip to Florida with Welded, April will start some really nice weather, May...well, I don't know that far ahead at the moment!