First, let me say I've missed my Spark peeps! I have been away from home more than I've been at home for the past month. I have not been plugged in to the internet. I hope you are all well.

I continue to look for ways to exercise when away from home (which is at least every other week). I told you in my last entry that I was going to take my old Nordic Track to my parents' house to use while there. Well, I didn't do that. The logistics of getting it there and down their very steep basement steps were too daunting. However, I did take my exercise mat, free weights and a workout DVD. Those are in the basement in no 0ne's way - easily accessible to me.

Because my precious daddy is now sleeping most of the day, I have also begun to walk/jog in the early mornings before the temp gets unbearable. I've established a 3.3 mile route. I put on my Garmin heart monitor, with the maximum rate set per my MD's instruction, and take off. When the alert sounds, I slow to a walk. When my pulse rate gets to a reasonable cardiac/aerobic rate, I resume my jog. I'm enjoying this more than I thought I would. Listening to and watching the birds is much more pleasurable than listening to and watching Kelly Ripa or Dr. Oz while running on the treadmill at the Y! I go back "on duty" tomorrow. I hope the weather cooperates. I don't do high temp/humidity very well!

My husband and I took our bicycles to the beach. It is easy to ride there, since the terrain is flat as a pancake! We go the length of the island and back, which is only 15 miles total. We did add a detour through the golf course neighborhood the last day, bringing the trip distance up to 18 miles. Yesterday, I loaded my bike into the back of the truck and rode to a neighboring county with long expanses of lightly trafficked roads. I did 18 miles again, but had to pull a few hills. I really find cycling delightful. I wish it were weight-bearing for the ol' osteoporosis treatment/prevention - but, alas, I must "wog" (Walk/jOG) to "wear" (WeightbEAR)~ So, I'll count my blessings that I'm able to wog and hit the pavement in the morning!

Take care, my friends. Hope to see you soon!