Movie Review

I went to see "Spirit of the Marathon II" last night at the IMAX Regal in King of Prussia. The same theater where Brad Pitt made a surprise visit last week for the opening of "World War Z".

"I" was much better than "II".

"II" was inspiring, yes. But honestly I am inspired watching a race - any race. The fact that this one was the 2012 Rome Marathon added fuel to the desire to do more travel events. The scenery was amazing. What a way to see a city. What I didn't enjoy was the backstories of the runners they chose to follow this time.

I understand that running (or any fitness challenge) can change your life. The mental and physical benefits are amazing. But you do not have to be in the pits to reap the rewards. I feel like if this was my first marathon movie I'd be thinking that running only for folks who are overcoming adversity or trying to run off some bad thing that happened to them or someone they loved.

One of my fitness buddies commented that sequels are typically less exciting then the originals.

On a more positive note, I thoroughly enjoyed the group I was with to see the movie. We met at 6:30 for a 7:00 start so we could get seats together. That and the fact that the movie started late gave us time to catch up. This greatly boosted my earlier blue mood. I woke up feeling REALLY tired this morning. But the boost from seeing my fitness friends last night has renewed my commitment to get out on Saturdays whether I feel like it or not.

A Message From the Past.

So I've been a little blue the past few days. I'm not sure of the cause exactly. The  obvious answer is I miss running but what I really miss is my fitness friends. The past three weekends I've been unable to meet up with the group. On Sunday I bailed on helping out at a race where I could have seen many of them. I did get some much needed sleep but I missed something else I needed. And likely the feeling that I needed to sleep was due to being a little down about missing my friends and well...it can be a vicious cycle can't it?

 In my last post I commented that I'm a little lost without a goal. In today's email there appeared day 1 of a 21-day yoga challenge I signed up for almost a month ago and had forgotten about. Yay! Now I have something to commit to and a goal to complete all 21 days! Funny how these things work out sometimes. Funny and maybe just a little bit spooky. :) 

Today's session focused on easy movements with focus on breathing through them. It was only 15 minutes so I did it twice. That was the only way I'd get 30 minutes of exercise today. It has been raining like crazy today. like tropical storm without the wind crazy. The next batch is due in about half an hour and the radar shows tons more rain and thunderstorms too! 

Another Smiling Summer Weekend

SATURDAY

I started the weekend teaching a class. Twice a year we have orientation on Saturdays for new REALTORS who just can't make it on a weekday. It's a mind game to get up for it but once my butt is out of bed I'm fine. Teaching this class is one of my favorite things about my job. I was home just before 4 to rest my feet and change my clothes and then Dave and I walked into Media to have dinner with friends and listen to some of the music going on for Media's annual Blues Stroll.

I had almost forgotten it was this weekend. We had decided not to get tickets because Dave was supposed to have games all day and into the evening. So I was glad when Maggi messaged that she and Russ were planning to come into Media and did we want to meet up. It was nice night to be outside. We were able to dine outside at Sposato's and listen to some music at the Plum Street outside Seven Stones Cafe. Unfortunately, yours truly had to bail early for need of a bathroom. We would not have stayed a whole lot later though since we both had early wake ups for Sunday.

SUNDAY

Well so much for the early wake up. I was supposed to help out at the Oddyssey Half Marathon today. I bailed. Dave left for his ball games and I went back to sleep. I took my guilty feelings out on chores: defrosted the basement freezer, cleaned the kitchen including mopping the floor; walked to Acme to shop for produce then chopped and cooked for meals the first half of this week. I also paid the bills and balanced / closed out our budget for May. There was even a little bit left over to add to our savings. Yay :) After I finished that I tried to get through a few more pages of "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All". I've got 15 pages to go to finish book 1.

Despite the challenge of being away from home at the beginning of this week, I did an acceptable job of minding what I was eating. This week I want to keep going and also get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. I've slacked off and I know I need it to keep my mood in check. Without a goal I'm floundering. :( I'm looking forward to maybe getting out with some fitness buddies next weekend.
The US Open (golf) is happening at Merion Golf Club this week. It will be a traffic nightmare for some around here. I'm hoping they don't discover my back roads. ;)

Heart update: I have noticed that - in addition to exercise - the flutters also become much more noticeable if I am under-hydrated, tired, or too long between meals. I mention this because it occurs to me that there is a lesson to be learned. Eating, hydration, and rest are essential ALL the time. A person's heart likely works harder/stresses anytime your body is not properly fueled, watered and rested. We take it for granted as it compensates and beats along its merry way. Whatever my issue is now, is just causing my heart to nag me for not taking care of it. These reminders are keeping me on track. After I get my heart fixed I hope I remember to continue to treat it well.

Work and Fun in Harrisburg

Sunday through Wednesday (today) I was in Harrisburg, PA for our state association business meetings. These meetings are held three times a year. The title suggests I combined work with fun in these past three days. Truth is I love my job so much that it's not really work anymore. In addition to information, I get a lot out of these meetings learning the perspectives of REALTORS across the state. The rules and regulations that govern these folks is universal but the way they practice within those parameters is not and it can be fascinating (and yes sometimes scary).

A couple of years ago I started taking the train rather than driving. It's about the same amount of travel time but on the train I can leave later on Sunday and catch up on business or pleasure reading on the trip.

I tried to take a photo of the sunset we chased on the way
to Harrisburg on Sunday. It was much prettier than this
photo allows.



Weekend Win All Around

Yesterday we went with the Media Lions Club on a bus trip to Atlantic City. I don't think either of us has any real hankering to spend time in AC but it was for a good cause so why not.

When we arrived we were given debit style cards for $20 to be spent in the casino - Trump Plaza. I'm not a big fan of Donald Trump but the cards were only good in that casino so we headed to the 25 cent slots. I ended up walking away with $34 which covered half our dinner bill at the buffet at Ceasars. I'm glad we went to the buffet because it made it a lot easier to choose my food wisely. I could see what I was getting so better able to stick to the plan. I said I wouldn't bore you with details of my menus but I think I deserve big high fives for what I DID NOT eat.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter!!!!!!

Dave is really lucky he 's married because no less than three times he asked "Are you sure you don't want to taste this?" The way I see it 'for better or worse' means my reply is "No thank you" instead of a smack upside the head.

Today we went to see "Star Trek: Into Darkness". It was way cool and tons better than the first Star Trek prequel. LACarolynG - if you have not seen the movie and you are a trek fan you must go see it. There is a scene just for you!!!! If you are not a fan I'll tell you in a private message about it ;) I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I loved the parallels and references to other Start Trek stuff especially the eventual use of the deflector shield (I was getting worried they wouldn't). I can't say more without giving things away to those who might still want to see it. And for once I saw a movie early in  it's run so there might actually be people who didn't yet. :)  However, for the family reading this you'll get a chuckle that one of the technical producers was Tommy Gormley. (Gormley is my maiden name for those non family readers). But I don't think my brother was EVER called Tommy in his entire life.

I must be getting old, less picky or maybe ....just maybe movies are returning to 'normal'. I saw trailers for more than one movie I'd actually go see. Usually I'm lucky if there is one and most of them don't even make it to the maybe category. Last Vegas can't help but be funny with Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Robert DeNiro and Kevin Kline. And when the preview for Ender's Game came on I leaned over and told Dave I wanted to see it before I even know what it was about. Harrison Ford... do I really have to say more? Despicable Me two is coming out. I never saw DM One but so many people I know loved it I think we should rent One and then go see Two.

I may try to read the book Ender's Game before seeing the movie. However, first I have to read "The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All" If you've already read it please don't give anything away. My sisters - Kt, Meg and Christine have begun our own virtual book club. We have no idea how this will work and that's half the fun. We live in Media, PA; Lansdowne, PA; Clinton, NJ; and Kissimmee, Fl. I'll let you know. I generally read more than one book at a time but I already had another one started so I've got a ways to go before I can get to Ender's Game.

Tonight I'm off to Harrisburg, PA for three days of work meetings. I'll also get to do some "Wander Walking" there and there is a group outing to the Harrisburg Senators baseball game on Tuesday. I'll blog from there if fatigue and my Ipad allow. Until then ---

"Live Long and Prosper" which is kind of another way to say "Keep Smiling and Keep Moving".