Hard! It's hard!!

I really needed my Boxster today.

Not that I have one, but I plan on having one, so that's just as good as having one, right?

Anyhow, remember I hiked Little Granite last night?  

Century plants, so you know Dotty was with me.

Well, I remember leaning my very expensive, brand new trekking poles against the vehicle.  I did not, however, recall shortening them and putting them in the car.

Which meant maybe I forgot to?

Heading to the car this morning for BNI, I checked the backseat.  Backpack, boots...no poles.  My heart sunk.

I had sold these boots to get the poles.

Driving in to town, I weighed the chances of the poles still being in the parking lot.  We had left fifteen minutes before they closed the gates for the night; perhaps they were still there?  Glancing at the clock, I calculated how long of a detour it might be.  It was 6:37am, I was a minimum of 15 minutes out-or a half hour round trip, plus the remaining drive across town to BNI.  40 minutes, and be late for BNI (I was embarrassingly late last week) and maybe find my poles?

I became The Stig's female cousin.

Turning right, I hightailed it down Iron Springs Road.  At 6:43am I turned onto Granite Basin Rd, which is typically a leisurely 25mph 4 mile drive to the trailhead.

Not so today.

No star in a reasonably priced car would have beaten me.

Whipping into the trailhead parking, I immediately smile with glee.

My beloved poles, having laid there all night.

Letting out a whoop (and tossing my remaining coffee in the air, narrowly missing getting drenched) I leapt from the car, snapped that picture, tossed the poles in the back and sped back the way I'd come.

Cranking up the tunes, I flew down the road, only occasionally slowing due to the rising sun.  I waltzed into BNI at 7:07am, and regaled a friend with my tale.

I love starting the day on a high.

BNI (Business Networking International) is (duh) a business networking group.  Fortunately, our group is full of people with a great sense of humor, too.  7am on Thursday's is usually full of laughs, but today was exceptionally fun.  Lucille was my table mate, and I was sad that my beautiful Pilates journey with her was almost over.

She even let me rest yesterday!

Next week I have to go elsewhere; my two lined-up facilities on deck are both in PV.

Prescott Valley, for those of you not around here.

It's a long drive from my house.

He's baaaaaaack!

Let's just say the five-day line up of classes (ranging from Zumba to Booty Barre and beyond) scare the crap out of me.

These classes may be fun for the coordinated, but coordinated I am not!

Perhaps I exaggerate; I can put on shoes, and hike.  Is that coordinated?

Last time I did classes, I felt like sore jello.  I am quite reluctant to do them again, but I need to know:

Does being fitter make a difference?

Today, Becky and I hiked Thumb Butte.

Steep side smiles!

She had twisted her ankle during our Flume hike weeks ago; this was our first outing since.  

We did the steep side; I not only managed to hold a conversation the entire time, but the air monster was a no show.

Fitness, I am finding, is an interesting Quest.  I wonder what I'll discover next?

Ready, Set.... #48

Two whole days.

I've been healthy, and I haven't done any exercise in two whole days.

Except squats.  I kinda sorta like those.  Therefore, they can't be exercise.

They are ice cream instead.

Squats come in many different forms (stance), you can add all kinds of different toppings (weights)...yep, from now on I'm calling them Ice Cream Movements, aka ICM's.

ICM's keep the lower back from hurting, and even my smallest jeans are getting baggy in strategic places due to them.

I may just love ICM's.

I know I love hot fudge banana pecan royals, too.

Today is Parry's 13th birthday, and we had brunch with my parents downtown off the square.

I love where I live.

The rest of the day was spent shopping, where I picked up important items.

Items for the 2016 presidential race.

Given that I'm still on antibiotics from last weeks horrid ear infection, I suppose it's ok to have two days of rest.  Before I head here:

Which is three miles down here:

Yep, tomorrow is an inner canyon hike.  I've got new trekking poles for the adventure (I loved Dotty's, so I sold some boots I'd never worn and bought poles with the proceeds) and hope they'll serve me well.  Next week is Pilates...so it's best I do the hike now before my core hates me.

But maybe I'll be able to do a push up?

40: Fever & bikinis...

Buying a swimsuit for your 13 year old daughter-when bikinis are NOT an option-is a difficult proposition.

Parry, who needs attention.

I don't approve of bikinis for preteens and young teenagers; heck, I really don't approve of them at all, and refuse to buy one.

Silly me.  Aren't I old fashioned?  Call me a prude, I don't care.  Plunging neckline?  Fine.  Bare midriff and butt cheeks hanging out?  No.

I remember having this argument with my oldest (who, at 19, has purchased her own.)  In a home with only a few dressing rules, I will not budge.

Excuse me, I appear to be steeped in crimson.

Arizona sunsets never cease to amaze-or distract.

This is the view from my bedroom window; I'm sick with a 101° fever and I think it's my ears once again.

Today was a planned rest day after my 8.2 mile hike up Granite, despite my snarky comments this morning.

https://www.facebook.com/katie.cornelius/posts/10204884060954788

I wasn't sore except for my triceps, due to the new trekking poles I borrowed from Dotty yesterday.

Well worth the investment!

I should have noted the chill I had all day was a sign of oncoming sickness, but I didn't.  We did find a nice suit for Parry, but I didn't have a lot of hope to find one for myself when I saw my reflection in the mirrors.  My capri's sagged in the butt (I'm inbetween sizes) and find something that fit was impossible.  Ah well, looks like with this fever I won't be going tomorrow to the water park any wise.

So I'm sick with something suspiciously like last week.  Guess I wasn't over it...hopefully this time it's not an issue, either.  I've got a fitness quest to complete-see?  No down time for me.

Next week is yoga-looking forward to it!