An Apple a Day

I am so proud of myself. I have made it to the gym three days this week. That is not necessarily a huge feat...but for the fact that I was at the gym by at least 6:10 a.m. each of those days says a lot for me. I am not really a morning person. But I know that if I am going to consistently exercise it will have to be in the morning before work. A quote I have hanging in my office is: "To accomplish something you have never done before, you must become someone you have never been before." I am also making it a point to get up and have half-hour scripture study before I head out to the gym as well. My mornings are starting a lot earlier than they used to!

What's going on???

I haven't posted on my blog for a couple of weeks, but I need to. Not that a lot is "going on" with me personally right now. It is just work and then weekends, and a few things on weeknights.

I am trying to get a routine down of being at the gym by 6:00 a.m. Which means I need to leave my home by about 5:30 a.m. Which means I am setting three - yes, three - alarms so I am up by 5:00 a.m. Maybe as I get more into the routine and my body adjusts, I can work down to just one alarm. So two-out-of-three days so far this week. And getting there this morning was easier than Monday. An added incentive is that my nephew, Jon, is there at 6:00 a.m. in the morning as well. Helps to have someone to be somewhat accountable to.

I do have a lot on my mind, though. Mainly, the election and the financial meltdown happening on Wall Street. With that in mind, I think I am going to start my own "political" blog - apart from this one. It's just that my blood is boiling with the lack of responsibility, leadership, accountability, integrity, etc. from the Administration, Congress, private companies, and even consumers. There are other issues I will write about, but the financial mess is the biggy. I will put a link to my "political blog" when I get it started...maybe by this weekend. The impetus for this also comes from a nephew - Roy David (David to me, Roy to others). He is writing a political blog, and he is a bit left of center. I am right of center and so don't particulary agree with views. But rather than seem disrespectful and/or negatively comment on his blog, I will just write my own. But I do enjoy reading his views and his thought process.

On a final note, I had a bridal shower at my home about a week ago. It was a lot of fun. Obviously, part of the preparation was getting my home ready. Those of you who have known me for years know that home organization has not been one of my strengths. But through getting my home ready to have guests, my home is now the peaceful place I want it to be. So I am determined to keep it this way. The last couple of evenings I have canned salsa and chopped up zuccinni for the freezer...but I completely clean up the mess by the time I go to bed. Maybe that is why I can bring myself to get out of bed sooooo early to get to the gym by 6:00 a.m. It is so nice to have a clean, peaceful home. (My home office and bedroom still need work, but I am making steady progress.)

Cress Creek

A favorite short hike that I often take - usually on Sunday after church - is Cress Creek. It is about a 15-minute drive from my home. It provides beautiful views of the Snake River plain.

Looking west - if you follow the river you can faintly see the Menan Buttes.

A great view of the Snake River and amber grain fields up on the hill.

I love living here!!

Fall weather - and LOTOJA

Saturday, September 6, was a classic fall day. Okay, so fall does not officially start for another couple weeks, but it sure feels like fall. The day started off with me doing some things around the house and yard - mowing the lawn, etc. And all the while I kept thinking this feels like a football weather - because I have spent many September Saturdays watching BYU football. What I really should have thought was, "this sure feels like a LOTOJA day". So in the afternoon I headed over to Alpine to see my friend, Karin - elite athlete extraordinare - participate in LOTOJA, the 206-mile bike race from LOgan TO JAckson. I got to see her ride into the feed stop at Alpine and then into the finish at Teton Village in Jackson Hole - she rode 130 miles - over a couple of mountain passes!!! Beautiful day...beautiful scenery!! Great race!!

Karin riding into Alpine

Karin and her Dad (super-support-driver) at Alpine, getting ready for the last leg of the race from Alpine, up Snake River Canyon, and onto Teton Village.

About 50 yards from the finish line.

"Women United" riding into the finish

"Women United"

Linda and Karin - great job!!

And I also got to listen to my BYU Cougars beat the Washington Huskies, 28-27, while I was driving. Go Cougars!! I love fall !!!