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Introduction Text March 3rd, 2019 Happily starting my Walk to Rivendell once again! March 15, 2016 I am back to Sparkpeople after another long hiatus. More later... ---– I am back to Sparkpeople after a long hiatus. Much has occurred in all areas of my life in the last year and a half. My partner and I did sell our house. We moved to a rental cottage in a planned community on the Oregon Coast. We planned to stay in the area where we lived for twenty years. But, we found the perfect place to live and a wonderful new community to live in that is much, much closer to our kids in Seatle. We are very close to the Canadian border. The Pacific Northwest is spectacular. We have found wonderful new friends and neighbors. My partner and I were legally married after 39 happy years together in Seattle. Our kids were our witnesses. It was very moving, very special. We celebrated by taking a wonderful cruise in the Mediterranean. It was amazing, all of it. But, we both agree that Venice was a very special place to spend time. We have been blessed. We have been in our new home for about 6 months. I am still getting the garage organized. Lol...We are settling in and we are loving it. I want to acknowledge that I am glad Sparkpeople is still right here where I left it. Blessings on us all, everyone. UPDATED 12/14/2012: Be kinder than necessary... My thoughts and prayers are with the youngsters, families, neighbors, friends, brave teachers and staff, the survivors and the ones who did not survive the senseless massacre that happened in America today. Yet again. Not again. Remember Sandy Hook. UPDATED 6/17/2012: Remember to enjoy the journey and savor the moments we have. While some days can SEEM long, Life itself is short. Updated 12/11/2011: Dreams CAN Be Achieved. Dream BIG. Update 5/1/2011: Thanks to YELLOWBIRD01 for this powerful message: "I like to live one day at a time. I don't worry about tomorrow, it's not here yet and I try and forget about yesterday, it's already done and over with. You do have to look to the future, but don't live today for next week . . you never know what will happen next week. I like to stay in the now, it's much easier to live one day at a time and not worry about what "could" happen next week." GREAT!! Update 4/26/2011: I'd like to say that I have lost 5% of my weight in the Winter 5% Challenge. Didn't happen. I've had some backsliding and have regained some of the weight that I have previously shed. I look forward to getting myself focused and moving in the right direction. I am excited that I have completed Rhythm Island for the second time using Wii Walk It Out. I've started my third Island build today. This is very motivating for me and I do enjoy it. Here's to the Spring Challenge. One day at a time... Update: 2/13/2011: I am excited by the upcoming Winter 5% Challenge that starts on 2/19/2011. It is a focused 56 day excursion with goals to reach for and to complete, support to give and to get, and a real feeling of participatory accomplishment at the end. At least that is what I felt at the end of my just completed first 5% Challenge. While I did not lose 5% of my weight, I did gain insight, confidence, excitement for other's successes, and a real sense of teamwork with my teammates and team leaders. I also reaffirmed my belief that even small steps can create great change over time. I'm in this for the long haul, no quick fixes. Just showing up and doing what needs to be done. Am I perfect. Nope. That's not my goal really. I am learning new, healthier ways of being and doing. It takes practice, repeated learning. Falling down and getting up to go for it yet again. Thre words for this go 'round: "I am determined." Update 11/28/2010: I am choosing to focus on improving my life through healthy eating and exercise. I set up my exercise center in my garage and used the WII Fit to start. The real breakthrough for me, exercise wise, was getting Walk It Out for Wii. This has been so engaging and so much fun for me. I used it most everyday for many months. Using Walk It Out helped my health and strength to improve so that I could "step-up" to another level. I started the Walk to Rivendell Challenge on 3/4/2010. Both "walks" (Walk It Out and Walk to Rivendell Challenge on SP Message Boards) are exactly what I needed. I feel so much better. My healthy numbers improved. I am off most of the meds I was on. The BP meds have been changed and have been greatly reduced. My BP readings are now in a good zone and stable and steady as we go. HooRay! After my hike to Drift Creek Falls in September, I got the confidence and the idea that I could challenge my body to do more. So, I dusted off a DVD I've had and never thought I would be able to do. I watched it once when I got it and felt it would be impossible for me to do. Thanks to Walk It Out, I am in good enough shape to use Leslie Sansone's 2 Mile Brisk Walk DVD everyday! I started slowly at first, in the sense that I walked while she did all the knee lifts and kicks and arm moves. But, very quickly I realized that I could keep up. I could do it. I could do it without being injured or hurting the next day. Sansone is very good at focusing on the safety aspects of keeping the core strong and not holding your breath as you exercise. I have been doing this now for a few weeks. I am doing the 2 Mile Brisk Walk twice a day on most days! I use my Omron pedometer and track my total distance walked every day. I continue logging the info on myWalk to Rivendell. It is so motivating for me. I have been logging between 4 and 6 miles everyday. I feel good. I feel energized. I feel stronger. I have better balance. I am sleeping better. Life is GOOD! "...walking walking walking ahead vibrantly and sincerely, yet with no place in need of going� no place we can go It is as simple as one foot in front of the other!" Buddhist Rev. Taigu Solvitur Ambulando: it is solved by walking!

My overall goal is to continue to build a healthy lifestyle and live it most days. I want to always remember to Enjoy The Journey! Pass it on...

I use many of Sparkpeople's services everyday. I track my nutrition and fitness and look forward to reading articles and inspirational member blogs on a daily basis. Update 4/26/2011: I'd like to say that I have lost 5% of my weight in the Winter 5% Challenge. Didn't happen. I've had some backsliding and have regained some of the weight that I have previously shed. I look forward to getting myself focused and moving in the right direction. I am excited that I have completed Rhythm Island for the second time using Wii Walk It Out. I've started my third Island build today. This is very motivating for me and I do enjoy it. Here's to the Spring Challenge. One day at a time... Update 2/13/2011: I am fully enjoying participation on the Walk to Rivendell Challenge, the Virtual Walk Across America, and the Winter 5% Challenge. I continue to use Wii Walk It Out and Leslie Sansone Walk At Home DVDs. I have had a recent setback with a recurring knee injury, but I am getting

I enjoy volunteering at a local non-profit now that I am retired. I love reading, gardening, photography, and traveling, and spending time with my partner, friends, and family. I hope in some way to make a positive difference in the world.

It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end. -Ursula K. LeGuin Nothing happens unless first the dream. -Carl Sandburg "It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." ~e.e. cummins "Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself." ~Harvey Fierstein "Wherever you go, go with all your heart."~Confucius "I'm not doing this to change me into something different. I'm doing this to make who I currently am even better." WAUSUP Blog Excerpt 9/7/2010 "You must not waste one second of this precious life." -Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Add a Link Pacific Standard Time You have to speak your dream out loud. Kelly Corrigan Solvitur Ambulando: It is solved by walking... "The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say." - Bilbo Baggins, as he leaves the Shire, The Fe
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