Last Day of Winter!

...at least in Japan...
While Japan officially recognizes the vernal equinox as the first day of spring because they are a fairly "westernized" country, the old Japanese (lunar?) calendar says this is the last day of winter, and Feb. 4th is the first day of spring. Today is the day that people throw beans out their doors and windows while saying, "Out with the demons (bad) and in with the good." Nowadays, it is kind of their equivilant to our Halloween. The daffodils have been up since December, and now people have spring flowers on their steps in pots. (things we would see in June in Calgary!!!)
I even saw a tree with blossoms on it!

Anyhow...

Wednesday
Exercise 2/6:Walking
Time: 1 hour

Yesterday
Exercise 3/6: Cycling
Time: 45 min

Today (so far)
Exercise 4/6: Walking
Time: 35 mins

Back to Billy

Exercise 1/6: Abs Workout
Time: 27 min

It is BEEEEEEEAUtiful here today. I think it got up 14˚C today. (But it is supposed to snow on Friday. :P) I actually wore shorts for my workout!

Hirata-cho koen (park)

Yesterday
Exercise 4,5,6/6: Cycling trip
Time: 2:30

The kids were with friends for the day, so Colin and I took the opportunity to cycle to Mt Kinka and back. We had a good time...and slept well last night!

Today, we just got back from Hirata town. We went to a park with a big slide and then to a bike-riding park where you could borrow all kinds of strange bikes to ride. Good times. :)

Now, I am off to Karaoke with some other ALT's. We are sending of an exchange student from America. It is her last night of a 6 month long stay. Not bad for a young high school student on her own!

I'm a Squatter

That could be interpreted several ways...

Exercise 3/6: 100 Squats
Time: NA

One Month Since Christmas!

Time is flying! It has been a month since Mom and Dad M arrived here! Wow.
2 months from now, my parents will be here!! :)
We are starting to gear up with "going home" plans. I am shocked at airfare!!! Is it really true that for the 4 of us, it will cost us $10 000 Can. to get home?????...Actually, that price was to Toronto but it was on Air Canada...and we did find it a bit cheaper on Expedia. But it is still more than double what we spent to get here 2 years ago!
Does anyone out there know a good travel agent? Yikes!

Anyway...
Yesterday...
Exercise 2/6: Cycling (slow)
Time: about 30 min
Cycled to Plant 6 to do grocery shopping...but I had Selah and her friend Konomi with us. Thus the (slow).

btw, Dad M. Remeber the construction on the corner about 2 "blocks" down from us and on the main road? We were all wondering what that would be...
Well, it is a 7-11 and it opens tomorrow! :)

PTA Day

Yesterday was a Parent's day at the kids' school. They schedule them during the school day so it makes it really hard for working parents to attend. Mothers usually take a "paid holiday" (of which they only get 20 per year) in order to be there. ANYWAY, this one happened to extend past my working hours so I was able to go to the last portion...of which was a big group exercise class in Tai chi! An man who immigrated from China 10 years ago, was leading the entire school (plus moms/grammas) in a Tai Chi class. おもしろい！！(very interesting!) ...especially when all the elementary kids were "buzzing" around cuz there parents were there and it was the end of the day ;)
After the class, kids got to go home with their parents instead of walking home in their groups. So, Mixon and Selah and I enjoyed a nice walk home together. :)

Exercise (1/6): Walking
Time: 20 min

Sunday Breakfast

Saturday, Jan 20th
Exercise 3,4/6 : Walking
Time: 25 min each

Sunday, Jan 21st
Exercise 5, 6/6: Cycling
Time: 30 min each way

We had cupons for McDonald's breakfast so we thought we would bike there...
Definitely not gonna make a habit of that! We had to rush out the door to make the 10:30 deadline, so nobody had any "fuel" before we left. Selah cried the whole way and went as slow as she possibly could (it was quite comical). Then there was a LONG line up at McD's cuz of the cupons, the intro of McGriddles in Japan and the fact that the Japanese love to go out for breakfast. As we were standing in line, the employees changed the menu overhead to the lunch menu! Alas, it was 10:30 on the dot and we were still several people back in line. But, as it turns out, they had an eye on who was actually in the building by 10:30 and we got our breakfast items. (phew, didn't want a cheeseburger for breakfast :P)
Anyhow, the ride home was a bit more pleasant with full tummies....I saY "a bit" cuz after all, our tummies were full of McD's :/

Sluggin' it out

Jan 16th
Exercise 1/6: Walking
Time: 40 min
I walked and Selah rode her "scooter". Nice mom/daugher time.

Jan 17th
Exercise 2/6: Walking
Time: 20 min
Didn't feel so hot today, so I only walked to the post office and back. I needed a stamp. Selah must have enjoyed the day before, cuz she came with me again. :)
Afterwards, she went with her bf Konomi and HER mom to the mall to see a cheer-leading demonstration. Guess what Selah wants to do now?

Company for supper tonight. :) My fellow RPA and his Japanese girlfriend are coming over for vegetarian chilli ( i can't remember how to spell chili!!!! My English sucks! I have taken to doing a crossword everyday since I need the practice!). Selah LOVES this young lady and they chatter away in Japanese all the time. Should be fun.

Week 2 of 2007

First of all, I want to say, that despite my lack of daily posting, I DO intend to continue this blog.
Secondly, my intention for 2007, is to continue THIS particular blog until my departure from Japan in July. After that...well...nobody knows! :-o
Once we get settled, that plan is to be as car-free as possible. (That will depend on where we live and what Colin's job will be). Being car-free means being self-propelled: Walking, biking, (taking public transit when those are impossible). In other words, all that exercise will be incorporated into our daily living. I think that experiment will deserve a blog of its own when the time arrives.
As for this second week of 2007...

Jan 8th
Exercise (1/6): Walking
Time: 1 hour

Jan 10th
Exercise (2/6): Cycling
Time: 30 min

Jan 11th
Exercise (3/6): BB's Abs workout
Time: 27 min

Jan 13th
Exercise (4/6): Walking
Time: 1 hour

Jan 14th
Exercise AM (5/6): 100 squats
Time: NA

Exercise PM (6/6): Frisbee with Colin on shakey legs from doing all those squats!
Time: 30 min

...and still 36 min to go until the deadline! :-P

PS...how are those iTunes Rach? What did you buy with your winnings?

Mom and Dad have left the building...for now.

So, the parents (in-law) are currently at Nagoya airport (Centrair) after visiting us in Gifu for 2 weeks. I just heard from Colin that their flight to Narita (Tokyo airport) is cancelled due to strong winds...yet their connecting flight (to Vancouver) is still due to take off on time. Hmmmmm. They are scrambling to figure out what to do with help from ticket agents. I will hear from Colin soon. Maybe they will get a free night in a nice hotel! Dad may end up late for work though.
I have done a ton of walking this past week as we have done the tourist thing with the folks. I know I have done at least 6 times...now lets see if I can recall it all...

Jan 2nd
Exercise 1/6: Walking
Time: 60 min-ish
Took M&D down to Sunomata Castle and back through town.

Jan 4th
Exercise 2/6: Walking/Climbing
Time: 20-30 min
Took M&D to Gifu Castle on top of Mount Kinka via the rope-way (gondola). At the top, there is a good little hike up to the castle proper. Don't get too excited...the castle is fairly new and more like a 3 story museum. I LOOKS like a castle from the outside...but it is definitely not the original...such is the same for most of the sight-seeing items in Japan.

Jan 5th
Exercise 3, 4, 5/6: Walking
Time: All Day
We parked at a local mall and walked 15 min to the train station. Then, once in Kyoto, we walked all day when not on the bus. We saw the Golden Pavilion...a shrine covered in gold with beautiful gardens and ponds. Last restored in 1988 or something like that. It is very beautiful and very gold!
Then, of course, we had to walk back to the car at the end of the day.
It was actually Colin who suggested it was worth 3 workouts! (yeaa)
I am sure Colin or Mom and Dad will post pics of Kyoto...it was pretty cool.

Jan 6th
Exercise 6/6: Walking
Time: 20-30 min
Walked all around Ogaki Station Road...and quickly cuz it was cold! Took Mom to a little sewing/fabric/wool shop...a little hole-in-the wall kind of place stuffed with great stuff. She bought some "made-in-Japan" wool to knit Dad a scarf. :)

Since the beginning of this post...
Mom and Dad were refunded their money and told to take the shinkansen to Tokyo to catch their flight to Vancouver...but that is gonna require 4 transfers on different kinds of trains...and in a foreign language with ALL their luggage (and it is too much for the 2 of them to haul around). So, I think they are just going to try again tomorrow. They have cancellation insurance. On the plus side...we may get them for one more night!
We'll see...

We Have a Winner!!!!!

Congratulations Rach! You have been vigilant enough to catch me "sleeping" and thus earn $10 of iTunes. (already sent via email).
I didn't even realize that it was Monday (I thought it was Sunday) when Colin read me your comment!
Enjoy.

I almost forgot...

Mom and Dad M. arrive in Nagoya in 4 hours. Presently they are in Tokyo awaiting their connecting flight. In all the excitement, I almost forgot to post before the deadline!!!
(Sorry Dad, I couldn't just roll over for you to get the iTunes! :-P)

Thursday Dec.21st
Exercise 3/6: Walking
Time: 45 min

Saturday, Dec. 23rd
Exercise 4/6: BB's Abs Workout
Time: 27 min

Later that day...
Exercise 5/6: 100 squats
Time: NA

Today...
Exercise 6/6: Walk
Time: 30 min

And there you have it!
I think someone asked it I would be doing this over winter holidays/while Mom and Dad are here. The answer is...YOU BET! I'll try and get Mom and Dad out with me! :-)

Only 4 more days!

Yesterday
Exercise 1/6: Walk
Time: 30 min

Colin is off work from now until Jan 9! So after I got home from work we went for a walk.

Today (there was frost this morning!)
Exercise 2/6: Walk
Time: 45 min

Took a different route today. The sun dipped behind the mountains at 4:23 and then Colin took some photos...then had to run to catch up. I would get him to post them...but he has gone to Nagoya for a staff party...and I am cooking supper.

Mom and Dad Madland...are you ready to do something active everyday that you are here? I need to keep posting even while you are here...and besides, you will need to keep warm somehow ;-).

Blogging Slump

I have to say I have been in no mood to blog this week. I was almost inclined to forget working out this week too. I even said to Colin that I was just going to give someone iTunes this time around. But this blog is like a splinter in my mind. I can't NOT do something. So, even though I havn't been faithful in posting, I HAVE been exercising!
btw...One other reason I haven't been blogging is because I have been using every free moment to knit! I have become knit-crazy. Why? I have no idea. Some of the other female ALT's in this area have started a knit club. I was half amused (cuz they are, like, 10 years younger than me) and half impressed. So I retaught myself to knit! I am working on a scarf. I started searching the internet for a beginner's lesson and found an amazing amount of info/clubs/free patterns etc. Now Selah has started on a scarf for one of her stuffed animals. :-)
(So, Gramma...bring your knitting when you come next week!)

Monday
Exercise (1/6): Abs workout
Time: 27min

Wednesday
Exercise(2/6): Walk and frisbee
Time: 1 hour

Friday
Exercise (3/6): Walk
Time 30 min

Saturday AM
Exercise (4/6): Abs (BB's)
Time: 27 min

Saturday PM
Exercise (5/6): 100 sqats
Time: irrelevant

Sunday
Exercise 6/6: Frisbee
Time: 30 min

So, in Canada right now, it is 10:30pm PST on Saturday. I did it. Not because I wanted to, nor thought I could, but because the blog is here. YOU are here.
Don't give up on me...cuz I just might give up. Somebody came awfully close to getting iTunes this week.

Friday-Now

Exercise 4/6: Walk
Time: 1 hour

Had a work-related meeting, Friday, at a different location. My bike tire has something wrong with it...so I got a ride there from a friend and walked home. Colin picked me up on his way home... I made it to our frisbee-playing place within an hour. Not bad for walking. :-)

Exercise 5/6: Billy's 8 min cardio
Time: 8 min

Did this first thing this morning


Exercise 6/6: Walking
Time: 20 min

Went to Ogaki today and did some brisk walking up and down Station Street.

Present time: 11:54pm, PST Saturday in NA

Yesterday's Marathon

Exercise 3/6: Billy's 8min Cardio, then Abs
Time: 35 min

The kids had their "Marathon" yesterday. I MIGHT be able to convince Mixon to post here...but Selah was a no-go...so I will brag for her. ;-)
Each grade runs with their own, and each grade up, runs a bit farther. Selah ran 800 meters (yes, that was her "marathon"...but ya gotta start somewhere, neh!). She came in 4th! Yea, Selah!

Marathon time...

Exercise 2/6: Lower Body Workout (Billy Blanks) + Karate stretching
Time: 30min

It is marathon time in Japan. (this isn't really about my workout...but it is exercise related!) Students all over the country have been running in Phys. Ed and at recess in order to prepare for their upcoming "marathon"! Now, before you get TOO impressed, the Japanese definition of marathon is entirely different from the western one.
In North America, "Marathon" = a running race of 26.2 miles or 42(approx) km
In Japan, "Marathon" or マラソン= a long distance run..."long distance" being whatever you like, really. My high school students run their marathon on Friday...10km. My kids run their marathon tomorrow (elementary school)...2-3km? I will get Mixon to post about his marathon tomorrow evening.

Its cold!

Exercise 1/6: Abs Workout
Time: 27 min

It is COLD. It is now hovering between 1-5˚C . Mount Ibuki, our local, tallest mountain [volcano?] , which affects our weather patterns, has snow on it. To the locals, this means that winter has arrived. Sure feels like it. No snow down here though.

later

Exercise 6/6: 100 squats
Time: NA

Japanese Language Proficiency Test in 10 hours.
Wish me luck!

Studying my ?????? off!!

Exercise 5/6: Billy's 8min Cardio and Abs Workout
Time: 35min

Study Study Study Study Workout(#5...just finished) study study study study workout(#6...later) study study study study study sleep JLPT Test!!!!!!

First Night in December!

Exercise 4/6: Tae Bo
Time: 40 min

I can't believe it is already December! Mom and Dad M come in 23 days! Christmas is in 24! I only have 2 weeks of school left! (I just took the 3rd week of December off from work...I would only have 1 class to teach that week :-P) It looks like Colin and I get a week's holiday together before Mom and Dad come. The kids are in school until the 26th...yuck! The Japanese don't officially celebrate Christmas so it is a school day. We haven't decided yet whether they will go or not. They will ONLY go if Gramma and Grampa can come see their school that day (since it is the last day of classes).

Chillin' with my boy.

Exercise 3/6: Walking and frisbee
Time: 45 min

Took a walk to the post office to pick up 2 packages. (Thanks, Mom!)
Mixon offered to keep me company, and Selah had just gone to a friend's house, so we headed off together. When we returned, we played frisbee till it got dark, then walked over to pick up Selah. Pretty light workout...but we were moving AND spending time together. :-)

Then we came home and made a big batch of curry & rice. This is a Japanese staple. It is pretty mild over here for the most part. Although you can definitely get HOT curry here. The curry comes in blocks of (almost) dry paste...that is the best way to describe it. You add it to a pot of boiled veggies and meat of choice. (It looks like stew) Then you put it on a plate BESIDE white rice. So, half the plate is white rice, and half the plate is curry. Then you MUST eat it with a spoon...not chopsticks...not a fork...A SPOON! (lol)

The kids at Colin's school freaked out on him when he ate his school lunch of curry with a fork. They wouldn't leave him alone...so he kept eating with his fork. :-P One night we had one of my students and her sister over...we served them curry. As an experiment, we put out chopsticks, forks and spoons, just to see what they would take if they had an option. When I cleaned up supper, I put all forks and chopsticks back in the drawer because they were untouched!

Let's enjoy curry and rice!

Genki Teacher Day

Exercise 2/6: Calisthenics/Volleyball
Time: 30 min

It is exam week. This is how it works: first 3 periods in the morning are exam-time. Then the students go home to study. This goes on all week. In the meantime, teachers are madly marking and preparing the next test. This afternoon, though, was the yearly First Aid/AED training + Teacher Volleyball . So, I sat on a cold gym floor for 1:30min, learning how to use an AED in Japanese! (fun times! :-P) But after that we got to play a couple games of volleyball. THAT was fun. :-)

100 posts!!!

This is now 101, but I just noticed on my dashboard that I had hit 100! (Not that anyone cares but me...but, yea me! ;-) )

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

Do scroll down if you haven't visited recently. There are lots of new entries AND PICTURES! :-o

Study break update...

Yesterday,
Exercise 5/6: Abs Workout
Time: 27 min

Good 'ol Billy!

Just now...2:07 pm (9:07 pm Saturday, PST)
Exercise 6/6: More Frisbee!
Time: 30 min

Maybe we will have to find an Ultimate Frisbee League in Kamloops next year. Anyone know of one?

Happy Belated Birthday Rachel!!!!

My wonderful, sweet, alway-remembers-everyone's-birthday, sister-in-law, Rachel Zalinko, had a birthday on Friday.We missed it. (We suck. Sorry, Rach.)

Rachel is a cool Aunt, a loving sister, a doting mother, a faithful wife (not to mention a "pastor's" wife!), a wonderful daughter (in-law) and Grand-daughter(in-law), and a great friend.
You wear many hats, Rach but you wear them with Grace.
We love you!
We miss you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
お誕生日おめでとうございます

Exercise=study breaks

Here are some more pics from the hike we went on a couple of weeks ago...


Fall Colours!!!















View of the valley below...











...more fall colours...















That's me grilling yakisoba! (yes, with chopsticks)

















Here is Selah with one of her best friends, Konomi-chan, eating grilled meat and onigiri (rice wrapped in seaweed - they eat this in place of our sandwiches)



As for today...
Exercise 4/6: Cycling/Frisbee
Time: 1 hour

Until December 3rd I am buried in my Japanese books. So, I am going to use my exercise as study breaks. I think it will help me stay focussed (sp?) and alert. At the very least it will keep me from becoming fused with my desk!
This morning, the fam went for a bike ride to the castle and played frisbee. Great weather for it. Slightly overcast, not much of a breeze and about 12˚C. Lots of fun.





This is the view from where we play frisbee...

Thanksgiving #2!

Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006
Exercise (3/6): Walking
Time: 1 hour

Okay, so I take it back...but I didn't understand how much walking we would be doing! Plus the "fitness trainer" said it definitely counted! ;-)
We had a great time in Nagoya and needed the walking cuz we ate WAY too much. We were planning to go the Hard Rock Cafe but it was closed that evening. :-P So, we walked to Sakae (the shopping district of Nagoya) and went to the restaurant we ate at last year on this holiday...The Outback Steakhouse and Grill. Now, this may not seem like a big deal to general western readers...but it has been a year since we have eaten like this! We shared an appy and and an entree and were still WAY too full. (I will take that as a good sign!) Lots of ribs...
Then we walked to the Apple store (for Macs....not fruit) and looked around. Cool shop! Then we had to take and hour and a half to walk, ride the subway, ride the train, walk to the car, and drive back to Ogaki. Back in our own town, we went to the late show...yea,...we were milkin' the babysitting for all it was worth! ;-)
Happy Thanksgiving...to Americans and Japanese...
Nagoya is all decorated for Christmas. It was very pretty at night, all lit up.
(Gasp!) A picture! On MY blog!

Time to Catch Up!

Sunday, Nov. 19th, 2006
Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

Due to the weather getting colder, the workouts are getting more intense as well as the warm-up time is getting longer. Can't stretch and work cold muscles hard. (There is no heating in the gym)

Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006
Exercise 2/6: Tae Bo - 8 min Cardio + Abs workout
Time: 40 min

Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006
Exercise: Walking around Nagoya....(mmmm, doesn't count. :-P)

Tonight, Colin and I are going on a DATE! Now, this may seem like no big deal to y'all...BUT IT IS!
We haven't been out by ourselves (on a date) since we left Canada over a year and a half ago. The Japanese don't seem to have a concept of babysitting...or of married people actually spending free time together. :-/
Anyhow, some other JETs figured this out and have bent over backwards to make us arrange a time! (thanks, guys!) So, I am meeting Colin the the big city of Nagoya for supper tonight and we will do some Christmas shopping and see a movie! Woohoo! All while our children are having a blast with trusted friends, Josh and Miki.
(All this to say...I will have to find a time to do a make-up work-out for tonight...)

Studying my ?????? off!!

Saturday, Nov. 18th, 2006
Exercise 5/6: Frisbee with Colin
Time: 30 min

So I am a bookworm right now. I have a Japanese Language Proficiency Test on Dec. 3rd. I totally bombed level 4 (lowest) last year and so, logically, I enrolled in Level 3 this year! :-P
Anyhow, I am madly studying. But, for a study break, Colin and I went to the local shrine and played some frisbee. (that's just not something you hear everyday, eh? ;-) It is the largest space to play nearby. We were wondering how old the original structures are. They look real old and weather-worn. (Hey! Maybe we should ask a local or something...ya think?)

Sunday, Nov. 19th, 2006 - 2-3pm (deadline is 4pm...)
Exercise 6/6: Frisbee and Karate practice
Time: 1 hour

We enjoyed yesterday so much that we went back. :-)
Off to Karate later tonight.

TGIF

Exercise 4/6: Tae Bo: Abs
Time: 27 min

We missed Karate last night, so I am going to have to do a make-up work out between now and the deadline! :-P

Last night

Wednesday, Nov. 15/06

Exercise 3/6: Tae Bo
Time: 40 min

yep. Worked out.

Abs night

Exercise 2/6: Ab work-out
Time: 25 min.

Getting better!
The day I "look" better, I will hold a huge party. Maybe it will be on "the other side", if you know what I mean. I am doing this for my health, not my looks! (okay girls, repeat this 100x! ;-) )

I recently read a quote by Nicole Ritchie regarding her botched plastic surgery. She actually said, "I will never be perfect again."
Awwwwwww, poor baby! :-P

Let's just keep at it.
Ganbarimashou!

A new week underway...

Exercise 1/6: Tae Bo-Mission 2
Time: 40 min

It is getting cold real fast. Our warm fall was lasting a long time and now Mother Nature is making up for it. The thing is, in Japan, there is no insulation in the houses and no central heating. It is just as cold inside as out. You may think it is nice to have a high of 15˚ at this time of year. Sure!! Except, that is also the temperature of my office! Soon the big ol' heaters will come out...the ones at work are propane. The official date in Japan for turning them on is December 1st nation-wide, so until then, it is long undies and lap-blankets!

At home, working-out is a great way to keep warm...although I am finding that I am soon going to have to make the time to shower immediately after. It is too cold to walk around in sweaty clothes while making supper!

People do heat their homes...with portable kerosene heaters. The heaters are turned on only when you are in that room and they reek! The bathroom has no heat...thus the reason for fluffly toilet lid and seat covers!!!! (I had never really understood those as a kid ;-P) It is also why many toilet seats also have a warming function...which some of you may remember me mentioning last year.

Community BBQ

Exercise 6/6: 3.5 Km walk
Time: about 1 hour

Walking with the neighbours for some unknown cause...I LOVE being illiterate! (sarcasm :-/)

(mmmm. I posted the above at about 8:45 am my time and then actually did the walk at about 11am...but I knew I wouldn't be home in time to post it before 4pm... just in case you itunes gluttons out there were wondering about this post ;-))

The cause turned out to be enjoyment of fall leaves in the mountains...not a raise-money-kind- of-thing apparently. We filled up 4 buses and drove about 1 hour into the mountains. Then we hiked for 1 hour to a group BBQ site. This was SO interesting! The shelter had long benches for people to sit on (logs split in half and stained). In between each row were long concrete thingies shaped rougly in a u. We were split in groups of 8 and each group was given a "BBQ Pack" to make a fire in the concrete u. Once the coals were ready we put a grate and a grill across the top of the u. Then we spent the afternoon cooking veggies and meat and yakisoba and fish (whole) and it was so fun! btw the cooking utensil of choice here is chopsticks! Even for a BBQ. I am sure Colin will get around to posting pics on our family website...eventually.

Oh, and after, while we were waiting on the buses, we played some games. We did a ring-toss in pairs: You throw a ring at your partner at the same time and catch your partner's ring with the same hand. Colin and I quickly achieved this...and then being gaijin, had to try something different! ;-) We used 3 and tried juggling as a pair. (we got applause for that) Then we used 4 and tried doing it with both hands simultaneously. That was HARD...but fun.

The other game was a first for me. The equipment were long baton-like rods (but too long to actually do any baton twirling). The women lined up (maybe 7 or so) and held a rod upright in each hand with the bottom touching the ground.

• One person said, "ii se no rei" (ready, here we go) and
• we replied "don don pa".
  
• On the "don don" we tapped out batons on the ground to the beat (1-2), and
• on the "pa" we let go of our own and reached for the person's batons on our right.
  

The goal was for everyone to catch the next person's batons before they fell...and count how many times you could do this in a row as a group. Very fun.

Remembrance Day

This is totally unrelated to my blog-topic, but as I am half a world away and cannot take part in a moment of silence with my country-men, I thought I would express my appreciation here.

Whether you are a pacifist or not, in agreement with Afghanistan or not, etc, I am sure we can all take a moment to remember, reflect and apprectiate the sacrifices of our Canadian soldiers, living and dead, who defend/have defended our country and its people as well as attempt to extend peace to our struggling world.

Please click here to read "In Flanders Fields".

Biking with the kids

Exercise 5/6: Biking
Time: 2, 30min rides

Colin is at a "work event" tonight, so the kids and I managed to squeeze in a ride to the video store before dark....then we ate supper at McDonald's. :-o (hey, I had a salad...and some fries....and a chestnut-custard pie.) Well, good thing we had to ride home again to! ;-)

Now we are waiting on a student of mine to arrive. She comes every week to hang out and watch English movies! :-) (Yea, the same girl we visited her family with this past summer). Tonight she is bringing her sister and we are watching Cheaper by the Dozen 2. I was remembering that we went to the first movie with my parents in Calgary. I wanted to see it with my Dad because he read the book to us as children because it was one of his favorite books growing up! So, here's to you, Dad! I will think of you half-way round the world as we watch Steve Martin mutilate the original story. ;-)

Oh, and check this out! I was blown away by reading my sister-in-law's new blog and finding MY blog mentioned! Who knew l'le ol' me could inspire someone else with my daily battle. Cool! That inspires ME! Thanks, L-A!

Blessings Anyone?

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006
Exercise 3/6: Lower Body Work Out
Time: 25 min

Opened the last of my new Billy Blank's DVD's today. Wooowee. That hurt. (But it is a good hurt, if you know what I mean. ;-)
I have noticed that the BB work outs have been helping my overall endurance and strength in Karate. (yeah)

Speaking of which:
Thursday, Nov 9th, 2006

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:15

One of the rules of the Dojo in "no socks/shoes", so we enter with bare feet all the time. Tonight was the first night that the gym floor started to feel cool to the touch. By the end of December, it will be painful. Colin's parents will be visiting about that time. They should get a good kick out of seeing us dance around trying to keep our feet off the floor as much as possible! (If they can stand the cold sitting through a work-out! ;-)

As for the title...
We are right in between Canadian Thanksgiving and American Thanksgiving. Also, the Japanese holiday of "Labor and Thanksgiving Day" in on the 23rd as well. (We are crashing a full-on Turkey Dinner with some American ALT's that day!! My mouth is watering already) Anyway, the other night I was laying in bed thinking about all the things I am thankful for. So here are some of the things I came up with:

I am thankful for

Hot cups of tea to wrap my hands around
Hot coffee in the morning
Hot baths to soak in (see a pattern here?)
Covers to bury under
Children to snuggle with
A Hubby to keep me warm (he may differ with me on that...since he is the warm one ;-)

Friends to share joys and sorrows with
Family near and far that I love and love me
Canadian Soldiers willing to fight/die for me (us) (btw, wear a poppy!)
A God who knows me (us)

What about you?
What are YOU thankful for?
Please share your comments.

During a Thunderstorm

Exercise 2/6: Abs workout-Taebo
Time: 27 min

Got to work-out during a thunderstorm. Had visions of being zapped thru the tv! ;-)
It was overcast all day and I was actually chilled at work in my short sleeve t-shirt!

I think it is funny that Japanese people think that because I am wearing short sleeves in the fall, I should be cold. It doesn't matter that I have fleece jogging pants on and they are wearing a miniskirt BUT long sleeves. (lol)

Karate

Exercise: Karate
Time: 1:30

Hurt my hand again in about the same place, doing the same block, except this time it was against Sensei! He is solid!
...still didn't break it. (not that I am trying too!...even tho it is starting to look like it...;-) )

I can't think of any pithy titles right now...

Sunday, Nov 5th, 2006

Exercise 6/6: Tae Bo/Misson 2
Time: 40 min

My shoulders are tired...but I met the deadline.

I once again submit that this blog has been the best thing in accountability for me! I just can't make excuses! :-)

Family Bike Ride

Saturday, Nov 4th, 2006

Exercise 5/6: Biking
Time: 1:30

Beautiful day for a family ride. We returned our videos via the bike path route.
It is Nov. 4th and the forcasted highs have not dipped below 20˚C yet. Even the Japanese are saying it is too hot for this time of year! I guess that makes up for last winter when they had the most snow in 50 years.

A Taste of Commuting

Thursday 3/6: Biking
Time: 35-40 min

Had a conference to attend yesterday with all Assistant Language Teachers from my prefecture. Lucky for me, it was within biking distance. I first biked all the way to a "nearby" train station to meet first year ALT's and walk them to the venue. (When you are essentially illiterate, getting to a place for the first time is always a challenge).
I am guessing it was about a 12-13 km ride.
Colin's Dad mailed us the bike paniers from Canada...it is SO nice to have those...I carted a change of clothes, a bunch of books (for a book exchange) and my purse etc without a second thought. It made the idea of going car-free in Canada much more plausible to me. (My husband and I have been exploring this idea for many reasons. You can check out our
"cultural vertigo" blog for more on that...)

Exercise 4/6: walk
Time: about 2 hours

Some of the ALTs from my region wanted to hang out after the conference and didn't particularly want to go to the nomihoudai.
(A nomihoudai is a "drinking party" in Japan. One price covers a 7-10 course meal and all-you -can-drink within a time limit of 2 hours for about the equivilant of $30.00.)
Anyhow, none of us had cars there, and I had my bike which eliminated the train as a possibililty. I offered to cook supper...but that meant we walked that same distance home to my place. They were game, so we walked! :-) It has been a long time since I have walked that far. We don't slow down that much very often or consider walking that distance as a possible option. But we had a great time! We had a great chance to just chat, enjoy the sunset and get some exercise.
When we got home, everyone pitched in, and we made bruchetta, yakisoba and then enjoyed a couple of well-earned creampuffs for dessert (kinda like the Costco ones...).

As for the walk, (and I say this like my English students in their journals) I think want walk next time.

More Tae Bo

Exercise 2/6: Mission 2
Time: 40 min

Not much to say...I am going to bed. :-)

Karate

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

We had to do sit-ups in class tonight. I kicked Colin's butt in ab-endurance...Only done the AB work-out from Tae-bo a couple of times and I already notice a difference! (Not in looks, but in ability) ;-)

Walking in my son's shoes

By that title, I don't mean that I am experiencing what it is like to be him...I mean I am literally walking in his shoes! I borrowed his sandals to go to work this week! His feet are as big as mine...and he is only 9!

Friday 5/6: Walk/jog
Time: 25 min


Saturday 6/6: Tae Bo, Mission 3
Time: 30 min

Karate

Thursday, Oct. 26th, 2006

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

I was remembering yesterday that I forgot to mention that I had weighed in on Saturday.
I'm holding steady. (yea?)
I often get to this point. (how many of you out there can identify with me, let me hear an AMEN!)
I have lost a few pounds, I have worked hard (and for longer than 30 days, so it SHOULD be a habit). But now the schedule has changed, the days are shorter, the type of my workouts have changed due to those things, and my weight steadies out. This season has heavier food, Christmas and all its culinary wonders is just around the corner, and then a long, cold, boring winter. My weight starts to curve up again. Then in the spring, when the weather gets nice, I start this cycle all over again.
SO
I am at a cross roads now. I have a blog (accountability). Will I break the cycle? That is what I am aiming for. My one dilema is how to increase my times of "high heart-rate cardio" during my week. (It would seem that this is what most helps in losing weight over time, though it is what I least enjoy in exercise).

It is that time of year...

...to be indoors. Not that it is overly chilly here. The high today was 26˚C and it was sunny....beautiful! But it gets dark before 5:30, and there is not time to BE outside in an exercise manner due to childminding (I know, I have lamented this before...).
But that feel is also in the air now. Tonight we had homemade cream of potato/veggie soup with biscuits. MMMMMM warm \autumny feel. I LOVE that! :-)

...2 months from today is CHRISTMAS! Yatta! (Japanese for "Yippee!")

Exercise 3/6: Tae Bo and Tug-O'-War
Time: 40min and 1 hour

Yep, I said Tug-O'-War. November 3rd is a national holiday in Japan. It is Labour Thanksgiving Day. Our kids have signed on to a neighbourhood team to compete in a city-wide Tug-O'-War Competition on that day. It is being held to promote city-wide unity and "togetherness" since 3 small towns joined Ogaki city this year. (our town being one of them)
Tonight was the team practice. How can you practice for Tug-O'-War, you ask? Well, let me tell you, it is a precision sport, don't you know! There is technique that requires body, mind and spirit (and blisters!). And, the judges are using English!

1. "Pick up the rope!" (we can/must pick up the rope-a big thick old-fashioned rope-...at this point we grip in such a way as to pull the rope "apart", put it under our elbow, stand perpendicular with feet planted.

2. "Steady the reins" - we must pull it taut so the middle mark is in line with the boundary and becomes still.

3. "Pull!" - now we must lean straight back, look at the ceiling, and take baby-steps backwards.

The rope must go 4 meters one-way, within one minute, in order for a team to win.
I have no idea how many teams will be competing...I'll let you know. It could be a LONG afternoon! ;-)

The kids had a blast...so it will be worth it.

Mission 3

Exercise 2/6: Tae Bo
Time: 30 min

So I pulled out another of the Billy Blanks DVD's, Mission 3: Rock Solid Abs.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

My first Karate injury...almost

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

So, because all my "senpai" (seniors) have gone up a level (as ruefully mentioned in a previous post ;-) the sparring has also gone up a level. FUN!
And as also previously mentioned, I really like sparring with my husband! He is the one in the class (besides sensei) that I can actually let it loose with, and not worry about hurting. But last night, I didn't move fast enough. I brought my hand down to block his front kick and my hand met his shin. His shin won! (No, tears though...sensei doesn't allow crying in class. ;-)
I have a beautiful bruise on the side of my hand below my pinky finger. :-) Don't worry, I am not complaining! In fact, I was kind of hoping it was fractured! How cool would that be! I have never had a broken bone, and this would certainly be a great way to earn one.
I continued sparring...and I moved a lot quicker! And I do not have a fracture. :(

I think my parents named me aptly: Kelly = maiden warrior
(lol)

5 & 6

Exercise 5/6: 8 minute Cardio blaster thingy for Tae Bo
Time: uuuuh....8 minutes.

Exercise 6/6: Bike Ride
Time: 1 hour

Tried to get the kids to go for a family bike ride...but by the time we had made them finish their chores the doorbell was ringing and friends were wanting to play. They were chomping at the bit...and they had done their chores well (after slight coercion ;-), so we let them go.
AND that meant Colin and I could ride together! We so rarely get time alone in Japan, so we jumped at the chance. (we haven't been on a "date" since we left Canada)
It was great. It is a beautiful day (if a bit windy) so we soaked up the sun and each other's company. (no iPod today ;-)

The Competitor in me takes a hit.

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

Tonight was hard on my competitive side. ;-)
I missed the most recent Karate test because of being sick last week. Colin (and my 2 other Japanese friends) did not. They passed. (Congratulations!) I did not even take the test.
SO, at Karate, we line up by rank/seniority. I had to shift down tonight...by three. That was hard to swallow. I know it sounds SO silly that this bothered me...and it is. I am glad I can laugh at myself...and that I can catch up at the end of the month! ;-) (lol)
Ganbarimashou!

Misson 2 Accomplished

Wednesday, October 18th, 2006
Exercise 3/6: Tae-Bo
Time: 42 min

Aaaaaaaah.

Feeling Good

Teusday, October 17th, 2006

Exercise 2/6: Mission 1...again
Time: 40 min

It is feeling too easy again! WooHoo!
Tomorrow, Mission 2

It is my Birthday today (did I post, yesterday, that it would be?).
Wow, I AM getting old....my memory is going.
Anyway, we went to a little "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant in Gifu City called El Paso. That's right...a Mexican restaurant in the middle of Japan (this is NOT Tokyo, baby). And it was literally a hole in the wall! There was room for 3 "groups. You walked in the door and the bar was on your left with about 6 bar stools. You could just squeeze down this like a hallway (the bath room door on your right...which opened into your path if someone was coming out at the time....). At the back were tables enough for 3 small groups. It was smaller than my kitchen here in Japan! The food was authentic though! I think the owner was half Japanese, half Mexican. The food was AMAZING! (And we paid for it!!! there was a 400yen charge per person, just for walking in the door...that is about $4 Can.). The best part was the TV up in the corner showing Johnny Cash and the Carter Family about 30 years ago doing a country gospel concert! After that was Loretta Lynn crooning Inspirational Hymns!
We listened to How Great Thou Art and The Old Rugged Cross, eating authentic Mexican food in the heart of Japan. Sometimes Japan is very surreal! (This belongs on our Cultural Vertigo Blog!)
Also of mention...My hubby gave me the new Dixie Chicks album, "Taking the Long Way". I have decided that the title track is my theme song for my 34th year! :-) It will also be a great riding tune.
btw contrary to this BLOG entry...I am NOT a country music fan!
(If I am, I am still denying it. ;-)

Like Rach said...

...Back at 'er!

Exercise 1/6: Mission 1 - Tae-bo
Time: 42 min

Nice 'n easy. Only my throat was soar at the end of this. I am definitely almost better. What a wierd virus I had. Getting better has come in waves. I would have a shower, or visit with someone (I am a people person) and would feel better for an hour or so, and then feel feverish again as I "came down"...although I didn't actually have a fever after last Monday.

Today is BEAUTIFUL!!!! It was 26 or 27 degrees here today. Locals here are complaining that it is hot for this time of year. I kindly informed them that this was like July in Calgary. I had to laugh at the weather warning today...there was an advisory out for "dry air".

The rice paddy, that our kitchen window faces, was harvested this past weekend. I am a little sad about that. I won't ever see the rice at peak growing-season blowing in the wind again...we will be gone from Japan in July next summer. I am not a little sad about that! ;-) Definitely looking forward to returning to friends and family in my home country.

Still struggling

My week off is almost over and I am still flagging.
It is amazing how much a fever takes out of a person! It doesn't help when you have to keep working...
I am well over the actual fever, but I am struggling to keep from getting a secondary infection. I feel terrible still. Today I slept in, had brunch hung then folded laundry and had to lay down. I slept again for an hour and a half!
Then we went for a family bike ride. A nice slow pace. My first work-out since being sick (and yet not altogether better). I am back home with a splitting headache and I feel exhausted. Sheesh! What did I pick up?!
Anyhow, the sunset was nice on the way home. The clock says 5:51 on Sat. evening and it is dark now.
Tonight we are having a one-year anniversary party for our Karate Dojo! Tomorrow night is supossed to be our 2nd test for yellow-belt...but I am in no shape to take it. I will have to break it gently to Edo-Sensei. ;-)

ねつ が あります

That title translates as, "I have a fever".
That translates as, "I am not working out for a few days this week".
Thought I'd give you a heads up...

Last week when I took my daughter to the hospital for her heart check-up, I thought...this place is full of sick people. I am going to be sick in about 10 days or so. (That was a week ago Thursday). Humph. (>_<)

So, I am not sure about work tomorrow. The best bet for me is to go in to work and let them SEE I have a fever. Then they will shoo me home. Otherwise, there is a good possibility they will expect me to have a doctor's note...and I have no way to get to the doctor. Well, I could ride my bike or take the bus, but who wants to do that with a fever?

People here in Japan actually die from overwork, AND that is written on their death certificate! My friend from the next-door prefecture noticed one of her co-workers looked like death one day, so she asked her supervisor why he looked so terrible. The reply was that he had just had his KIDNEY OUT the day before because he has cancer!!!!! That's right. He was back at work the next day. So, I guess I can go to work with a low-grade fever. They don't like it if it is contagious, though...that is why I think I will get shooed home. There isn't a substitute teacher system over here, and they DO NOT want to get sick. Other teachers have to divide and carry their co-worker's load until they return. Very good incentive to not stay away! My position, though, does not carry those consequences, since no one else can do my job.
We'll have to wait and see...

I love my iPod!!!!!

SO,we finally got out iPod Nano in the mail. I LOVE IT!!!!

Linea, I am now enjoying my rides! ;-)
I rode to a business meeting on Friday and I don't think I have ever ridden so hard...nor enjoyed it so much. I rocked out! I think every Japanese person driving by must have thought I was hilarious, or crazy, or both...but I didn't care! (I did refrain from actually singing out loud ;-)
When I arrived at the Board of Education, I was muddy and sweaty and red-in-the face. (I arrived early and had brought a change of clothes...don't worry). My Japanese Big Cheese is known to be very dour and grumpy, but Yamada-sensei happened to walk by just as I was parking my bike and actually laughed out loud!!!! Now, by Japanese standards, that is actually quite a rude thing to do...but again, I didn't care! :-)
Fun, fun, fun!

Exercise 5/6: Biking
Time: 25 min approx.
Av. HR: really high

Had a business meeting for 3 hours. Then I rode home. The sunset was amazing!!!
Fun, fun, fun.

Exercise 6/6:
Time: 25 min approx.
Av HR: almost as high as before

-rode fast enough to get home before the sunset was over!

Good thing I did all this earlier in the week. Today I have a cold and feel like crap. But, it is only my 2nd since arriving here 15 months ago, so I can't complain.

Karate

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

We are having a one-year anniversery dinner for our dojo a week from Saturday night! Hard to believe it has been that long already.

Settling into routine...

Exercise 3/6: Mission 1: Tae-Bo
Time: 40 min

It is getting easier every day...though I am not sure that is a good thing ;-). I will have to add weight and tighten those bands!
The town clock started chiming an hour earlier on Monday. "What is this?" you say, "Daylight Savings Time isn't until the end of the month."
Ah, yes. But in Japan, they don't have DST. Each town or neighbourhood has a chime at 6pm. This is the signal for all children to return home. (Actually, most children arrive home at that time...they LEAVE wherever they are 5 minutes before that. The Japanese have an expression that being 5 minutes early is actually being on time...Man! have WE had to adjust!!!!)
Well, now the daylight is getting shorter, so on the first school-day of October, the chime is rolled back to 5pm. Thus, our after-school routine has to change because there is less time available to play...AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT! ;-)
Anyhow, I am figuring all that out now...when to work-out, when the kids do their homework, when to make supper etc. I think we've just about got it.

Its Oc-freaking-tober!

I can't believe it is October already. Time is flying here in Japan, the second year round. :-)
I am currently going to follow Billie Blank's work-out schedule and am on week 2 of that. He suggested a rest on Monday...so I did.
Today after school, however,

Exercise 2/6: Mission Two/Upper Body work-out
Time: 40 min

Conundrum

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

I really enjoyed tonight. I especially like sparring with Colin. (and NO, not because he is my husband;) . He is the only one in the class, besides Sensei, who I can really go after with no fear of hurting them. My kids don't really try very hard. :-( and after a year of Karate, I think it is because they just don't like it. I am preferring to think this way because I don't want to think they are lazy...
...well, their problem might be solved because it is fee time once again and we are not sure if we can afford it. (we need to be able to return to Canada in 10 months...). We shall see how it turns out.
When we DO get back to Canada, I am really interested in continuing my Karate training. I have previously posted on this blog why I like it so much. Number 1 because it is something we do as a family. However, I don't want to cram it down the kids' throats if it is genuinely not something they enjoy. I know Selah would love gymnastics and Mixon would love basketball. But that could mean different nights out and a lot of money. So, there is the conundrum. How do we keep everyone in the family active and healthy AND enjoying it, but not give up family time and a balanced lifestyle in regards to time management. Is it possible? I invite your comments.

Now, where were we?

Friday, Sept. 29th
Exercise 5/6: Tae-Bo: Mission Two
Time: 45 min

Great work-out! My arms and shoulders are killing me! The Bands work great. Because they are adjustable, I think Colin would even love this work-out. I will see if I can convince him...;-)

Saturday....had ALT's over. I got great exercise cleaning the house ahead of time, but I think I set a precedent already that excludes this from counting as exercise...

Sunday AM...(I still have 3 hours until my deadline of Sat. midnight in BC, Canada...
Exercise 6/6: Billy Blanks 8-Minutes SuperCharged Cardio
Time: 8 minutes (ha ha)

I actually worked up a pretty good sweat! Great work-out when you don't have much time.

Karate with a headache

Thursday, Sept. 28th
Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

Looking at getting another notch on my yellow belt. There is a test in a couple of weeks. :-)

I spent the morning at the city hospital with my daughter (long story...but good news. Check out my famiy blog:-) Anyhow, I didn't have anything to eat or drink between 6 am and 1pm and by the time I got to Karate last night, even though I HAD eaten and re-hydrated, it wasn't enough. WOW. My headache got worse over the course of the evening to the point where I thought I would vomit! I rarely get headaches anymore (maybe its Japan?...or my diet in Japan?) and have only bought one or two small packages of Tylonal since we came here last year. But this was definitely in the catagory of migraine-type pain.
I thought that doing Karate would HELP the headache go away, but it only served to make it worse this time. I am thinking it is due to the above. Oh well, a couple of tylonal and a nap put me in good stead. And I did complete the work out. :-)

Tae-Bo

Exercise 3/6: Tae-Bo
Time: 45 min

Learning the new moves. :-)
Cleaned the bottom of my runners beforehand , so I could work out in my living room. Hope I didn't bother the people downstairs too much ;-). At least it is low-impact compared to aerobics.

2 for 1

Sunday, Sept 24th.
Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

Monday, Sept 25th.
Exercise 2/6: Tae-Bo from my new DVD's!!!!!!
Time: 45min

Yep, my problem of being "housebound" by darkness and children is solved! It would seem that Colin had ordered the exercise DVD's that I wanted a long time ago. They arrived a couple of days ago! Thanks Mom, for shipping them over. :-)
I tried the first video out today. It was just the intro video in order to learn the proper techniques. But it was fun! And ALOT of it matches with Karate (I guess the instructer on the DVD, Billy Blanks, being a 7-time world martial arts Champion would have something to do with it...:-/) Anyhow, I am amused.

Sports Day #2

Exercise 6/6: Walking/Tugging/3-legged running ;-)
Time: 40 min (walking)/other stuff...throughout the day

Today was the kid's school sports day in the morning and the town one in the afternoon. For those of you faithful readers, last year we attended 4 seperate sports festivals. Our town merged with the closest big city in April, so some things have been restructered. This year, the town and the school shared the festival and it ran very smoothly...not much differently actually.
Last year, the Madlands loved this day...except Mixon, who was still in the throes of culture shock. He shed many tears last year and wouldn't let us out of his sight (it was very hard to participate in some things...) . Today, last year was barely a memory :-). We hardly saw both kids all day, except from afar, and then they were waving huge flags or organizing OTHER kids into groups for the next game. My neighbours were keenly watching the mouths of my children during the cheering contest to see if they knew the Japanese. They still can't get over the fact that our kids are fluent and have no accent! ;-)
We have come to learn, this past year, that this little town does very little changing in general. I think our presence here has been quite an experience, not just for us, but for many of them as well.
It was a good day.

Friday and Early don't go together!

Exercise 5/6: 100 squats/5 hindu push-ups (previously called yoga-push-ups...)/60 crunches ( in 2 sets of 30)

I did NOT want to get up this morning. But once again...y'all came to the rescue. I was convincing myself to work out after school...but knowing at the same time that I probably wouldn't...being Friday afternoon and all. Then I remembered I would have to post 6 times this week...and that leaves only Friday and Saturday to get the last 2 in. So, I got up and worked out this morning.
This accountability (the threat of having to put out money for failure...) really works! :-)

Tired Kiddies

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

Karate was chaos tonight. All the kids in elementary school were out to lunch. The one kid still in kindergarten cried for the first half and then spent quite a bit of time in the toilet pooping. (I only mention it because it was a big deal...) Selah spun in circles and rarely paid attention and Mixon sat on the side with an upset stomach. They are all exhausted from being back to school AND practicing every day for undoukai (sports festival). None of them really wanted to be at Karate.
Anyhow, I had a fairly decent workout AND enjoyed myself...at the very least, the kids were amusing. ;-)

100 in a row!

Exercise 3/6: 100 squats in a row! 50 crunches. 3 (in a row) yoga push-ups.
(NOTE: Previous squats were done in sets of 10 with 2 yoga push ups at the end of each set...)

Wow, my quads felt like like big knots after that was done! I surprised myself by getting to 100! (this seems to be a running theme in my work-out journey....)
Now, if I could just walk... (ha ha, just kidding)

いたい です!!!

Exercise 2/6: 70 squats/14 yoga push-ups/ 35 sit-ups on the ABS ball (& I don't mean crunches!)

The title today is "itai desu" which roughly translates as It Hurts!!! Yesterday, I was still recovering from back catching and Karate the night after. (How embarrasing! ;-) So, I took the day "off". It was a national holiday in Japan, so I REALLY took the day off! :)

Today we have an interesting dilema. Colin has decided to drive to school from now on. That means he wants to work out in the mornings before work, too. But we can't both go riding and neither of us is willing to get up at 5:00 either...but the point is moot because it is too dark to ride then. After school I could go except I can't. The kids need their mom and Colin doesn't get home until it is almost dark. hmmmmm. How to (both) get a cardio workout is the question of the day.

Typhoon Humidity

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

Wow, is it humid tonight! There is a big Typhoon heading north between Japan's West Coast and Korea. This morning, the forecast said it would be over top of us by tomorrow. But when I checked a couple of hours later, ShanShan had changed course enough that we wouldn't be in the danger circle. It is cloudy, rainy and VERY HUMID though. I hardly had to move tonight and I had sweat pouring off of me. The air is thick and heavy. But, at least we don't have to deal with a typhoon here over the next couple of days.

btw: i am down another kilogram...which means another 2.2 pounds. :-)

Softball

Exercise 6/6: Backcatcher!
Time: 1 hour

Last night I was wondering how I could legitimately post softball as a work-out. Standing at 2nd base and then batting once in a while just doesn't get the heart-rate going. Then, they made me back-catcher! Now, I have NEVER played that position before (first handicap), I speak very elemenary Japanese (2nd handicap), and I am not well-versed in the details of Softball rules (3rd handicap). I was very grateful to my Dad last night, for all the times we went and played catch at the field down the street while I was growing up! I held my own pretty well. I kept hearing my team-mates yell, "Nice Catchie" (that is the Japanese accent...they actually have a lot of 'English' words in softball, here). And, it also happened that we, as a team, sucked! So, I was behind home plate for most of the evening. When we were up to bat, it was only for 3 batters, usually. By the end of the evening I was soaked in sweat. I had had a full work-out: squat, catch, stand, throw, squat, catch, stand, throw, squat, catch (nice catchie!), stand throw, repeat all evening!
Kudos to all back-catchers out there. I had no idea!
I am also sporting a beautiful war-wound this morning. I caught a ball with my calf last night and this morning I have a lovely contusion that hurts with every step. But I am proud to bear it! ;-)

Yesterday

Exercise 5/6: cycling all over town
Time: about 1 hour

It is a long weekend!!! Monday is Respect for the Aged Day in Japan.
Yesterday after school, we biked to the next town to get videos and then back to our Plant 6 (like Superstore) to get groceries. I remember last year when we got here, we found it SO overwhelming to have to go to Plant 6 on a bike to get groceries for 4 people. Mind you we only had 1 bike at the time...
Now that we have 4 bikes (actually 6, but that's another story) we use Selah's basket, my basket and one backpack. That does us for half the week, so we go 2 times. Not bad...and we get exercise and family-time out of the deal. (the kids have resisted initially because this cuts into their playtime with friends, but they are getting used to it. AND once we are actually on the way, they like it...I was the same way as a kid ;-)

Karate

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

I enjoyed it...but the kids are tired. Getting back into routine makes Thursday nights seem long.

A Trip for Coffee

Exercise 3/6: 2 stints of cycling
Time: 35-ish min X 2 = more than 1 hour

Sports Day yesterday was a blast. :-) I ran with some girls in a 5 legged race. We were anchors for our team and our team fell way behind so when we ran we were totally on our own...all eyes on us. We chanted 1-2-1-2-1-2...in English and got around the pylon without falling. :-) If you have to lose...lose big! ;-)
After supper, I rode to Ogaki on my bike. I was out of coffee beans! Desperate times call for desperate measures. Anyhow, I went to my favourite coffee shop in the mall (Tully's) and met a friend there. We chatted (far too long!) over a peach smoothie and a banana/acai yogurt shake and then I rode home again.
One thing I am looking forward to back in Canada is wider roads and sidewalks! (Mind you, the vehicles will be going twice the speed...). I read the other day that Kamloops is well-known for its Mountain Biking trails! Those will be nice too!
Colin has all but given up on cycling all the way to work...again. After investing in better quality tires, he went to get on his bike yesterday morning and found a flat.:-| There is one section of the trail that is littered with debris (glass, metal etc) and he seems to pick something up everytime he rides by. Anyhow, he only cycled to our local train station today. It is about a 15 min ride for him. The commute will take just as long.

AM Strength

Exercise 2/6: 60 squats/12 Yoga push-ups

Today is Sport's Festival Day at the high school. I am on the white team this year and get to run in the 6 legged race (5 people)? Anyhow, I'll let you know how it goes. ;-)

Also, I am going to ride into Ogaki tonight for coffee with a friend. Going car-less tonight.

Karate

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

Tonight was a stretching night...literally! We always do stretches, but tonight we worked with partners to stretch out our legs. I stood with my back against the wall and Colin stood facing me. He did a horse stance (in a squat position with feet parallel but far apart and knees out...like straddling a horse) and I put one leg on his shoulder (in various kicking positions...one front kick. another was a side kick) and then he stood slowly until I couldn't take anymore..and froze. Then we switched. A couple of the kids from one family are super flexible and they can do the splits in any direction. There is much difference between them and I in this exercise! ;-)

Colin has bought new tires that seem to be more durable. So, we shall see how they hold up during this week's commute. Ganbatte, my love!

Cutting it close!

Wow, my deadline is 1 1/2 hours away!
...but that is okay cuz I finished my workouts. :-P

Saturday AM
Exercise 5/6: cycling
Time: 40:13
Av. HR: 142

Saturday PM
Exercise 6/6: Neo River (climbing/hiking/river-walking...on my feet all day etc)

We took the ALT's from our area out to our favourite swimming hole. We rented 2 vans (which was a feat in and of itself) and drove out together for the day. It has been raining heavily this week (and terribly humid) so the river was quite high! Our usual place to set up "camp" was under water and the current was quite strong...
...to read more, check out our family blog, Stories of Cultural Vertigo. (I don't want to have to type it all twice ;-) )

Too many flats

But they weren't mine! I didn't go riding Thursday morning for 2 reasons...1) it was pouring and 2) I have Karate in the evening. But, Colin called from some town on his way home from school, after his 2nd flat. (Thank-goodness for cell phones!) All his patches were used up (because he has had a flat almost everyday this week!). Then he tried a different tube and it allowed him to "limp" home by 6:30. So, I didn't have to take the car and try to find him. Needless to say, we missed Karate and he was just a little discouraged about riding to work. On Sunday, he will take some time to go buy quality tires.
So, yesterday ended up being my day off of exercising.
I chickened out of riding this morning cuz it was pouring.
I will have to do a workout after school. Maybe I will risk bugging my neighbours, put on some Aerosmith and do my own version of a Karate/Tae-bo work out in my living room.
More later...

uuugh.

Exercise 4/6: 60 sqats/14 yoga push-ups/ 20 sit ups

Woke up this morning on time but felt really queasy. So I opted for a strength work-out instead of nothing at all. [It is shorter in length and closer to the toilet ;-) ]

Riding

Exercise 3/6: Cycling
Time: 34:52
Av. HR: 146

A little slower this morning...but no harm in that. At least I was out there. I had no source of inspiriation either (like Asahi man yesterday...or Colin the time before that...or tunes)

Colin and I are going to invest in an iPod Nano...but we are waiting until after Sept 16th or so. The rumor is that Apple is coming out with a new version that is aluminum (won't scratch so easily), has more memory and costs less. We are going to TRY to share one. ;-)

Eeeeearly!

Exercise 2/6: Cycling
Time: 33:25
Av. HR: 151

I set the alarm for 5am. It was still dark so I reset it for 5:30. Yuck. Anyhow, I got in my ride before Colin had to go to work. Now if I can just get myself into bed at a decent time on a regular basis it shouldn't be too bad. (If the grammas here can be up and gardening by that hour, I can haul my hynie onto a bike).
I had fun trying to keep up with a university racer this morning. He was wearing his Asahi University cycling uniform...and he was fast. So, it was more like, "let's see if I can finish this length before he laps me...again! ;-) Seriously, he was fast.

Karate Night

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

Fall is in the air! Not like back in Canada, but the evenings are definitely feeling cooler (sometimes goes as low as 23˚C!) and its getting dark earlier! Woohoo!

Why I like Karate...

A friend of mine asked me to post some of my reasons for doing or enjoying Karate, so I will try my best.

First and foremost, it was something we could do as a family. I didn't want to be a "soccer mom" or something like that...where I would sit for 2 hours on the sidelines instead of working out. I am probably the one in my family who needs excercise the most! ;-) We are progressing as a family, and even thought the kids complain sometimes...we are in it together.

Secondly, I have a sense of strength and acheivement. I started Karate at 32 and now have my yellow belt, and no reason why I can't get my black belt within the next few years if I keep at it. How cool is that?! I have been pleasantly surprised. I also feel more secure/strong...like I could take care of myself if I ended up in a situation where I absolutely had to.

Thirdly, I like what Karate stands for. It is used for self-defense only and has several "rules" that I believe are totally compatible with my faith. At least, I have found verses in the Bible that could match with each one of the following:

Hitotsu (means "one", and they are all numbered as such since they are all equally important)

Hitotsu: Seek perfection of character
Hitotsu: Be faithful
Hitotsu: Endeavor
Hitotsu: Respect others
Hitotsu: Refrain from violent behaviour

The classes held in the dojo consist of students of all levels. The more senior members help train the lesser level members by example. I don't have to worry about "performing" or sparring because we don't do those things until we are ready. For example, as a yellow belt, I spare with my peers, but at this level, the sparring is "promised". It is like a set routine so we know exactly what is coming and how to react. As we progress to a higher level the sparring will become more free...but by then we will have enough training so we will know how to react. Furthermore, I don't need to enter tournaments in order to pass my levels.

I also like the fact that this is teaching my kids discipline and respect...and perserverance. It also provides us with community. We spend a lot of free time with the members of our dojo, which is a cool side benefit.

Need I say more? If your doctor says you are fit, I would recommend this martial art to anyone.
Click here to view our dojo Homepage

School has begun!

Friday, Sept. 1st
Exercise (5/6): 60 squates, 14 yoga push ups

The kids (and Colin) started back to school today. I had the day off because I assumed the kids would be coming home at 11 or 12...but they had a regular day of classes! So I had the day to myself! So, I purged the house of summer holidays and cleaned my arse off! I think that should almost count as my workout...;-)
The weather is also definitely cooling off here. I am feeling chilled when the weather dips below 28˚C on the odd day. It is still usually in the 30's unless it rains, but the nighttime temp. is getting lower. Yeaah!

Today, Sept 2nd
Exercise (6/6): Cliff jumping at the Neo River

Yes, we went again. And we are taking the Seino Region JET ALT's next weekend! There should be about 20 of us. It is now our daisuki (大好き) {favourite} place in Japan! :-)

Karate

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: about 1:30

Hmmmm. Not much to say...same old same old.

Ride with Colin

Exercise (3/6): Cycling
Time: 42:53 (about 1 hour)
HR: 155

The kids were at their friends' houses so we took the chance to go for a ride together! Fun! I work way harder when he is around. The sun was about to set as we finished up. I was cursing the wind while riding but it sure was nice afterwards.

Back in the Saddle

Exercise 2/6: Cycling
Time: 25:21 (40 min)
HR: 150

Well that sucked!
I got up this morning and tried to put my contacts in. My eyes just about popped out of my head! I think my solution went bad in the heat...you know...the whole "store below 35˚" - thing just doesn't work here in Japan. So, now I have to wear my glasses all day.
Then I went for a ride. I got up at 6 am. Colin says, "Have fun!" and I just gave him the evil eye. Starting next week I will have to get up at 5am if I want to go for a ride, because he will be cycling to school and leaving here at 6:30 every morning! Yes, that's right...he will bike for about 1:30 one way to commute to school. (It is all bike path...he discovered a new route on Saturday). That means that before and after school I am very limited as to what I can do for a work out, unless I get up at 5 am. grrrrrrrr.
Back to my ride... I need biking shorts! I was VERY uncomfortable by the end of 2 laps and couldn't do a third. I was getting hot spots (the step before blisters) where one should not!
So, needless to say, I am off to a grumpy start today.
But hey, it is better for me than laying in bed, right? (yea, right)

What a day!

It was quite the active day for us Madlands in Japan...

Exercise (1/6): 2 games of softball and then Karate
Time: each game was 1 hour (about 4 innings) and the Karate 2 hours (about 1:30)...I'm tired!

Strength Workout

Saturday...
Exercise (6/6): 55 squats, 12 yoga push-ups

The yoga push ups seem to be getting easier. My Karate-sensei calls them "cat stretches" cuz, well, they look like a cat stretching.

Lovin' the River

Exercise(5/6): Cliff Jumping in the Neo River
Time: quite awhile!

Got a Canadian guest coming for dinner...gotta run!

Karate Night

Tis Thursday, so we went to Karate...

Exercise (4/6): Karate
Time: 1:30

I felt really awful tonight. I had the day off of work, just for a bit of a break with the family. But it is really hot, so I didn't eat much and we sat around all day. Then all of a sudden I was working out. I think I was dehydrated to start and so the workout just got harder. Next time, I will keep myself better hydrated...even if I am not so active.

Starting to bike for life

I don't know if you have recently visited our family blog about our life in Japan, but we, as a family, spend a lot of time imagining and planning for our return to Canada. We have been doing a lot of thinking about our fitness, health AND (as we read the Canadian newspapers online) about the increasing obesity problem in Canada. Anyhow, long story short, we are planning to go car-free when we return to Canada.
Impossible, you say? Not at all. Click here to read more on that topic.
So, we have started the transition here in Japan. We still have a car, and are saddled with those payments for awhile, but we are trying to use it less and less. This has consequences...and they are all positive. (at least for my health...not neccesarily for my convenience!) It also means that, as I continue to become more active, I will have to become more "clear" about my exercise. When school starts, Sept 1st, the exercise that I log in here, will have to be an actual workout. Either a strength workout or aerobic (in which my Heart Rate is being monitored). I am not sure where Karate fits into this. I guess I will have to discuss that with my "personal trainer" ;-)

Exercise (3/6): Cycling (errands)
Time: about 1 hour

Catching Up

Okay, so, I took Sunday off. Although, I did spend 2 hours helping clean the elementary school in prep for school to start again. And we biked there and home. But I am not logging that as exercise/workout. It was a great calorie burner...but as I become more and more active, I will need to be more specific and log "workouts" as opposed to general exercise.

Monday, August 21st: Left for a 2-day Conference for new JETs in my prefecture held in Gifu City. It was only overnight so I packed light and put it on the back of my bike and biked to Ogaki city train station. I met up there with the new ALT's and we went together.

Exercise (1/6): Cycling
Time: 40 min

Tuesday, August 22nd: same exercise, only returing home!
Exercise (2/6): Cycling
Time: 40 min

Just made it!

This was close timing! I did the exercise yesterday, but I think the deadline is in about 8 hours from now. ;-)

Exercise: Cycling (the family and I biked to downtown to play at the castle park. It took about 40 minutes on way)
Then we took several new ALT's on a walking tour of downtown to show them where things (like the 24 hour post office/bank/ramen noodle shops etc were...since, unless they have some proficiency in Japanese, its not an easy thing to do. (I was learning new things myself yesterday, and I have been here a year! What a difference it makes to be a literate person. I look forward to that aspect of returning to Canada next year :-))

Time: 40 +40= 80 min cycling
walking a lot of the evening.

Good news! The scale shows that I am down about 2 1/2 Kilos since I started. That's about 5lbs. Small yea! (I love using Kilos when it come to HOW MUCH weight I need to lose because it doesn't seem like so much. But when it comes to reporting how much weight I have lost already...I like using pounds because is sounds like so much MORE! ;-) sheeesh, I can be such a girl!)

Karate

Exercise (5/6): Karate
Time: 1:30 (It is actually 2 hours but there was a 30 min break)

It was a good steady workout tonight. We started to learned Heiyansandan. (for you Karate buffs...)
The kids did really well tonight even though it is HOT. It is especially humid tonight because of a typhoon south of us. We don't have the storm...just heavy air and sometimes a dump of rain.

Cliff Jumping in the Neo

What a wonderful day! To beat the heat we went to the mountains for a picnic with some friends. We spent the afternoon cliff jumping and "swimming" upstream on the Neo (Nay-oh) River and then BBQ-ing supper. The Japanese sure know how to picnic! Yatta! When it got to be dusk, we finished the picnic with the children smashing a watermelon like a pinata, blindfolded and all just with the watermelon on the ground. Then we at huge chunks! After that we roasted some marshmallows and set off some small fireworks.

Exercise(4/6): Swimming/cliff jumping (which includes climbing)
Time: all afternoon

A True Cultural Experience

We travelled to Gero town in Gifu prefecture yesterday. This is what it is all about! Not a bus tour, or pre-planned trip being "touristy". We went and stayed with the family of a student of mine in their little hometown to see their ancient yearly festival. They fed us traditional Japanese food for supper...what a spread! I ate fish on a stick...literally! River fish cooked whole on a stick. I ate skin/flesh/bones...everything! (aren't you impressed, Mom?)
We saw men in towels riding on a platform representing their fire god, and later fireworks. Today we were in Takayama 高山 (means "tall mountains") and saw their local temple and walked the streets. They call it "Little Kyoto". Keep your eye on our family blog...we will post pictures and stories there.

Anyway, my exercise...
2/6: Walking all over Gero
3/6: Walking all over Takayama

Tomorrow we are going to the mountains for a BBQ with our Karate-sensei. Should be fun...and hot. I am enjoying all this fun stuff but I am starting to crave routine again. I look forward to going back to school in the regard that my workouts will be of a more consistant variety.

Obon

Exercise (1/6): cycling
Time: 45 min or so
Av Heart Rate: 157 for 26:33

No Karate today because it is the Japanese time for Obon. It is not an official Japanese holiday due to seperation of religion and state, but everyone takes it anyway. They celebrate their dead ancestors and pray to them. Often there are all night dances. All the cemeteries are lit up with lanterns/candles and other streamers and stuff.
So, I went cycling. I didn't go for long because it got dark on me! Oops. But I went all out. One direction I was flying (I thought, wow! I've improved!). Then I turned around...Dang! Riding into the wind sucks! Oh well, I guess I just have to look at it as extra exercise. I sure got my heart rate up tonight. :-)