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!!!!!!