100 pushups starts!

W1 (Week One) D1 (Day One)

Given that during my initial test I managed eight pushups, I started at Level 2.

First I did 7 pushups, then rest 60 seconds
Then I glanced at the wrong section of the chart. I thought I was supposed to do 5 pushups (I should have done 7) then rest 60 seconds
Then I was supposed to do 5 pushups. Since I'd screwed up, I did 6. Rest 60 seconds
Then I did 4, rested 60 seconds
Then I'm supposed to do as many as I can. I managed 8. So in the future, when I do these reports, I'll write it like this:

100 pushups W1 D1
7, 5, 6, 4, (8)

100 pushups again - who else is on board?

I know that jbru, minnehaha K. and davidschroth are already doing the challenge.

Who else is doing it already, or is going to start? kiwiria, aome (I think???) and irinaauthor. Anybody else? Leave a comment!

Go, Team Pushups! Go, go, go!

edited to add: Roll call:
me
jbru
minnehaha K.
davidschroth
rvrjoe775
mjryan
johnridley
kiwiria
aome
irinaauthor
minnaleigh
bekkio
jennet
iamdigitalis
617
zorb47
http://utterings.wordpress.com
xnera
sociofemme
elfundeb
origamilady
guipago
brithistorian

and a whole lot more, undoubtedly.

Others have indicated they may jump on the bandwagon, too.

So yeah, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is moved back

This is the most sensible thing I've read on the subject so far.

Count me disappointed but resigned.

Setting Goals

What with the 100 pushup challenge, I've been thinking about the goals I have in my life, and the progress I'm making toward them. I'm a Myers-Briggs ENFJ, and the "J" means that I'm into goals, schedules, structures (unlike my husband, who in contrast is a "P" go-with-the-flow sort of guy. A frequent source of, shall we say, not seeing eye-to-eye on things in our marriage).

I like setting goals for myself. I respond well to them, for the most part. Sometimes, however, I get frustrated with myself because I am not making the progress I would like. Sometimes that is due to the goal I have in mind isn't very realistic; sometimes I sabotage myself--mildly. Sometimes real life gets in the way (i.e., Rob's job loss has been a set back in a number of different areas).

( Money Goals )

( Fitness Goals )

( Other goals )

What are some of your goals?

Delia is being evaluated tonight for black belt

Due to her attendance at camp, she missed the official third black belt screening last week, but sensei said they would evaluate her during class tonight. Which was awfully nice of them, because it meant we didn't have to drive to camp, pick her up from camp, take her to the screening, bring her back to camp and come back home, which would have been about 320 miles in all.

If she passes, she will take the black belt exam September 6.

Cross your fingers for Delia, please!

Happy birthday

Happy birthday to haniaw, cross-stitcher extraordinaire. I'm looking at the cross-stitched bonsai tree you sent to me above my desk as I write this. Hope you've had a good one!

Acorn in shoe

Since I buy cheap-ass shoes at Payless, and the heels wear down quickly, I develop holes in my shoes, and pebbles often get lodged in there. When I start to hear rattling noises when I walk, I take off the shoe and patiently wedge the hole open with a finger or paperclip, until I pry the pebble out of the hole in the heel and throw it away.

Today I found an acorn lodged in the heel of my sandal.

Sweet.

I don't mind that it is there. It doesn't rattle, unlike the pebbles. In fact, leaving it in there in the heel will keep the pebbles OUT.

the holy tree grows hidden within the heart
the seed lies nestled in secret within the shoe
a reminder of the earth beneath me
the yogi says, while doing Tree Pose,
find your balance
and if at first you start to sway, don't give up
trees sway
get more grounded
I turn my shabby sandal over in my hand
place it on the floor
and slip it over my foot
my walking root
I stride away, swaying,
tree in my heart
toes spread wide
seed in my shoe kissing the earth with every step

Today's Wizard Rock Offering: Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls song free for download

Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls has a new song available for free download:

There's a fanfic novel called James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing. It was approved by JK Rowling, and it basically takes place 8 years after the end of Deathly Hallows.

There is now a youtube film series being made based on the book. The people doing the series approached me and asked if I'd be interesting in doing a song for it (much like I did for Erin Pyne's fanfic film, The Potter Prophecy).

I was hesitant at first, just because I already have a lot of songs to write (for the remaining EPs). So I told them I'd see if I could fit it in. Well, the very next day (yesterday) I had a few hours free during the afternoon, so I wrote and recorded a song.

Like I said, it's called 'In Your Shadow'. I haven't read the book, so all I was going on was that James feels like he lives in the shadow of his father.

Here's a link to the youtube series' website: http://www.wix.com/thehall/elderscrossingseries

( And here are the lyrics to the tune )

I read a part of this fanfic novel that Christian mentions myself awhile ago; haven't finished it. But this song's lyrics can easily be understood as canon, too--you can easily see James (Harry's son) feeling this way. And, like all of Christian's work, it's a lovely song, well-produced. Recommended, and again, free for download (if you have a MySpace account).

As always, for my own curiosity, please comment if you listen and like. Thanks.