Goodbye 50's....hello 60's!

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Tomorrow I turn 60 years old. In the past, I have not been an "oh my gosh, I am ________fill in the blank with a number kind of person. I just believe age is relative and if you are healthy and content, who cares.

But I'd be lying if I said the approaching 60 mark hasn't given me pause. It's not a sad kind of pause but rather a comtemplative kind of pause. And at times during the last couple weeks it has been a "Holy cow...how did 60 come so fast?"

A common enough reaction. Time does seem to go faster as you get older but in truth if I look back over the past 60 years, it really was chock filled of great...and not so great experiences. That makes me smile because I guess I really do believe that I have lived a very full and remarkably lucky life.
I have an extended family that although we are spread out over different states, are incredibly close and supportive. I am happy that I still have the head of our family, my dad, who at 87 years old, still inspires me. We lost our beloved mom 20 years ago but her legacy still runs strong.

I am fortunate to have a fabulous husband who has given my three incredible kids. And although we are now in the college..moving out to the real world kind of stages, I couldn't be more proud of whom they have turned out to be. Of course, there were more than a few gray hairs and moments when drinking on a regular basis to cope with the antics of three teenagers was a distinct possibility, but all in all, I like them as people. Having a guy who I've never doubted for one moment and who tells me on a daily basis how much he loves me and how beautiful I am, is incredible.

Friends...so rich in that. Whether it is my college roommate who I talk to at least three times a week even though we are in different states, or my cooworkers who keep me laughing...I feel incredibly rich in friendships.

As far as physically, I have never felt better. And as you get older, you realize that health cannot be taken for granted and that what you put into it is what you get. I'm proud at the things I can do and the everything I plan to do. I will not use age as an excuse and I will keep pushing myself.

So goodbye 50's you have been great. I have every intention of rocking the 60's.

  

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DOOBRIE 2/9/2012 5:59PM

Sorry I missed your birthday yesterday - hope you had a wonderful day! Won't be long till I'm 60 too (in May). I'm sure you will have many more fulfilling years to come as your life has been blessed with so many lovely things. Many happy returns! Report Inappropriate Comment

Begin again, Finnegan

Sunday, January 01, 2012

No surprise that I haven't posted since September and the that I not only fell off the wagon but am still bouncing.
As usual, workouts are great....couldn't be better. Pleased with st and love all the variety I have done.
So in one way, I am very fit.
Then there is the nutrition/eating thing.
Not so much.
I could join the legions of posters that list the excuses for not eating as well as they should. And while the excuses are valid ( I teach in a high risk school that has been experiencing ongoing cuts with ever expanding class sizes) the excuses are just that...excuses.
So I will readjust my ticker to show the 6 pound weight gain. I could say it is water weight but I suspect it is more a reflection of biscotties, Starbucks peppermint mochas and dips at parties.

And as mentioned on so many boards, so easy to put the weight on and so darn hard to take it off.

So while 6-7 pounds isn't huge...I know what I have to do and how long it will take to get if off.

I have a milestone birthday in February...60 and I was positive I was going to be at a certain weight to bring in that new decade. Well, that is not going to happen but then I think I was thwarted by having a birthday so soon after the holidays.
I did get my first tattoo for my upcoming 60th. Absolutely coolest idea. I had my 87 year old dad write down his last name (my maiden name). I didn't tell him what it was for but I took it to a tattoo artist who replicated my maiden name on my left forearm. To say I love it is an understatement. I love my family and my husband but going from Petrilli (good Italian name ) to a blatantly Irish name was a joke from the universe...
I can't even begin to tell you how many women I have met...young and old, love the idea, especially is their dad is still able to write the family name.

But I digress. So it's back again. I kind of had a self hate party where I beat myself up for a couple days for the weight gain. But that never is sustainable for me for very long.

Back in the saddle again. It's going to be a great year.!

  

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WOOBIE0902 1/13/2012 10:05AM

I like our maiden name better too; Petrilli is so clearly Italian. Luckily my married name also began with a "P" so all the monogrammed glasses and towels could stay! Loved that tat, but am too much of a pain weenie. I still follow the philosophy, "hurt me and I will hurt you back", My old debntist used to politely ask me to have a few drinks before a cleaning and have someone drive me. You are the best sister and friend in the world. Report Inappropriate Comment

DOOBRIE 1/1/2012 1:30PM

I'm sure you'll do great. I've put on weight too but have this feeling that I'll be able to lose it in 2012. Happy New Year! Report Inappropriate Comment

To my 59 year old body....you are a warrior!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

After many, many months of training and anticipation, I completed the warrior dash in Tulsa, Ok. To get an idea of what warrior dash is, check out www.warriordash.com and click on your state.
It is basically a 3.2 mile race (5k) with assorted and challenging obstacles. Our kids came in from Arkansas to compete along with my daughter's boyfriend. My husband didn't want to compete so he was to be our official photo-bag carrier- encourager!
On Saturday morning we were so pumped. I felt like a kid again. We had bought body paint and went crazy.Had the stereo blasting and just had a ball.
When we finally got there,it was much bigger than we ever thought...think huge horse pastures filled with cars with school buses constantly dropping off and picking up people.
Once we got to the grounds it was like a festival. People were in costumes...there was beer and food and the ones that had finished, had on their viking hats. We all were getting incredibly psyched,.

We were in 12:30 wave and there were about 500 people to a wave. And off we went. The first part was 1/2 mile run over grass and hills that quckly turned into trails into the woods. Stones, incredibly steep hills, vines everywhere kind of upped the challenge. Some of the other obstacles were climbing a wall with a rope, climbing to the top of a huge apparatus of cargo nets and coming down other side, rappelling down a very high wall, going through above waist water over logs, climbing over old cars and tires, jumping over fire and going under barbed wire in a mud pit.

The boys quickly left us in the dust but Kelsey and I had our own pace. The first mile was the hardest for me. The obstacles were really challenging but I still hated the run the most. We finished in 1 hour 8 minutes. I came in fifth in my age group. Honestly, I was thrilled I could do every obstacle and finish.

We all had a blast and are totally committed to doing it again. I know now how to really train to increase my time. There is no reason I cannot be in the top three in my age group.
If warrior dash is in your state, check it ou.
Haven't had this much fun in a long time..

Dear Body,

You have done many wonderous things over my lifespan. The greatest perhaps, was to give birth to one wonderful daughter and two outstanding sons. It's kind of hard to top that! But it shouldn't take away from the every day wear and tear of what you have done...bending, reaching, walking, manipulating, holding and on and on. And I am more aware of that every day.
But yesterday, you outdid yourself.
You are a warrior.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

DOOBRIE 9/29/2011 2:15AM

Wow, that is awesome! Congratulations for even attempting it, never mind coming in the top five in your group! Report Inappropriate Comment

Wore shorts to the gym for the first time....

Sunday, September 11, 2011

This is big for me. I usually wear danskin capris..always black and I love them. But I sweat buckets and ran today before I went to the gym to do weights. I figured it was early and there are very few people at the gym that early. So I decided to go for it. I asked my husband a million times..."are these ok" and he answered as any husband who has been married for 25 years would answer. 'They look fine..you are beautiful". LOL. This is when I miss having my daughter at home because she is always honest. Diplomatic, but honest.
It's a big deal to me because my legs are the part of my body that I am rarely satisfied with. And yeah, I've come to the realization that they are good legs...they work well...no problems BUT I always wanted the long, leggy look. Who doesn't?
But at 5'3" that isn't going to happen and I am ok with that.
But today I just thought "what the heck?"

I survived. I was cooler. I was even told by some people that they didn't realize my legs were in great shape. (They are very nice people.)

It's small but it's a big milestone for me because I never thought I would go to the gym in shorts.
Change is good.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CHAOSTHEORY635 9/11/2011 5:12PM

yup, i'm with you in the will-never-have-long-legs category :) at 5'1 it's just impossible! don't think i've EVER worn shorts to the gym, though...too lazy to shave! Report Inappropriate Comment

Seriously pumped for this

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

So it looks like all three our "kids" will be coming in for warrior dash on September24th. Check it out:

http://www.warriordash.com/register2011_
oklahoma.php

I've really stepped up my training for this. But I've gotta say the scaling the wall looks a little intimidating. I hope there are footholds or this is going to be hysterically funny. I can handle mud, barbed wire, water, and everything else but the wall might be difficult. And oh yeah, jumping over the fire. Sure hope the weather cools down.
We aren't all in the same wave but that's ok. There's free viking hats, beer, a tshirt and live music.
I think it's going to be a family memory.
My husband is the official driver and photographer. He weenied out. But then, I might need someone to carry me to the car.
The pt I work with every couple months is offering bootcamp for all the Saturdays leading up to the event. I am in. I need all the help I can get.
But I am really pumped for this and after looking at the obstacle course again AND reading some of the info, I am on the straight and narrow.
If there is an obstacle I can't do, I can just walk around it and still get a "Finishers" medal. Don't plan on doing that but I am also not going to kill myself.
I really think a lot of it is mental so I told my kids I'm going to kick their butts. Have to think positive but let's get serious. That isn't going to happen.
We will be muddy, wet and exhausted but hey, life is short and you might as well go for the brass ring.
Or the oxygen tank if need be.