Just Another Music Monday

So this band is called the Ting Tings. They were the musical guests on Saturday Night Live this past weekend,in case you were awake to catch it. Pretty cool indie-pop group, even though this song of theirs has been played out by radio. It's called "That's Not My Name" and this is the remix of the song. The original, non-remixed version is pretty cool, very minimalistic, bass, drums and vocals.

This is also one of my favorite songs to polish off my "mountains off, mountains on" spin class. I teach 3 to 4 profiles, and the m-off/m-on always gets finished off with a HIGH ENERGY tempo free spin. This is one of them. At 1:30 I get everyone up out of their saddles and we do jumps to strengthen out the muslces around our hips and inner thighs, at 3:40 we start a tempo climb, and then return to jumps and free spin at 4:20 until the end. My heart rate soars, sweat and snot pours down my face, and my legs feel like cooked noodles. But I feel as if I'm SOARING. FLYING. I get such a high from hitting that peak on my spin bike. Such an incredible, addictive high.

Unfortunately, I've been unable to fully enjoy my favorite Ting Tings tune because of this thing:
It is a robo-cop looking soft cast boot I've been wearing since the first week of December, and it has prevented me from spinning to my heart's content. I tore a plantar tendon behind my second toe's joint on my left foot. Early in November I tried to jump over Laverne to avoid tripping over her, but ended up injuring my foot on our tile. I didn't know I had injured it as badly as I had, I just thought it was sore. Well, it wasn't, and I did that 5K in the first week of November to raise money for war vets....only to end up giving myself a stress fracture. Sheesh.

My sexy Jimmy Choo-

The tests showed the tiniest, tiniest of tears, and the littlest fracture, but boy, does it ever KILL!!!! I can't believe how something so tiny can cause so much pain. I had to wear this thing during our Christmas vacation out east, and even though I tried to dress it up with colorful socks and such, it still sucked to have to be in it.
I've been feeling kind of melancholy and blue, on and off, for the past couple of months. I've been working long hours and I chalked it up to that, but this past week I started to ride my bike again and I realized that I depended on spinning & staying active to balance out the demands of every day life. Well, since I've been in the boot I've been teaching my spin classes by coaching off the bike. This week it was good to be "back in the saddle" so to speak. Even though I can't stand up in my pedals yet - I have to take it easy for a few weeks yet - it still felt so darned good to work up a sweat again.

I realized that I have sorely missed that feel-good, adrenaline rush, addictive sensation that only high energy, cardio aerobics can give me. It is mother nature's anti-depressant, the feel good elixir, and it has been taken away from me for over 2 months. I used to spin 3 to 4 times per week, and no matter how crazy and out of control life could get, I knew I could count on spinning to lift me up.

Spinning isn't the only thing, walking and running as well. Ed has been walking the pups every day, morning and night. His part was usually the mornings, and I was the one who took them to the park every night. We'd be out for at least an hour every night and I loved it. I looked forward to it after work. It has been weeks since I've been able to take them out. I miss it so much. I know they love it, but I loved it even more. It felt good to feel my muscles stretch, contract, lengthen, and become warm and flexible, especially after sitting at my desk for 9+ hours while working.

One of the unhealthy side effects of "da boot" and the inactivity has been my weight. It didn't help that this happened during the holidays, right when I indulged in everything put before me. I've put on about 10 pounds, maybe more, and it is amazing how much more pain that has created for me in my foot. Just that little bit of additional weight to bear has literally made the pain unbearable. So, since I haven't been able to kick up the calorie burning cardio, I've had to cut back on general calories until I can get moving again. I've lost 4 lbs since the holidays, but I hate not being able to eat without thinking about the portions. It sucks.

I can't wait for my foot to get better. Honestly, I feel like a caged tiger. In May my Lil Sister and I are doing the Coronado Bridge race and I really, really, really want to participate. It benefits Navy families. Today I was fitted for a "harder soft cast"....huh? They used this neat plaster of Paris stuff to make a mold of my foot. It should be ready in about 3 weeks. My doc says I can start "hard walking and soft running" then. I. CAN'T. WAIT.

Ed has been so good and patient with me in my "reduced" state. He works just as late as I do, or later, but doesn't mind taking the furkids out every night. Last week he came home with flowers for me, for no reason, which is the best reason. They brightened my heart.
A couple of weeks ago I arrived home to a package at our door. Whatever could it be?

Why, it is Wrigley and Chumley! And they are stars of their very own little coffee table book!
Many of you know Laura from over at Live Happy/Smileygirl's blog. Her love beasts, Wrigley the Golden Retriever, and Chumley the Mizundastood Kat, have antics and hysterics that are worthy of a book! Laura had a bunch of post-its all throughout the book with funny little anecdotes and they had me laughing forever and ever. Thanks Laura!!!

Then, just the other day I arrived home from work to find this pretty wrapped packaged at our door, along with a gift bag that had a 2010 calendar inside.
The calendar is from Dr. Michael's office, one of our local vets, and one of the best vets in town. The June centerfolds are none other than my friend Maria's furbabies, Bacchus and Dolce!!! That's Bacchus on the right with his lovable pumpkin head. They are just the sweetest doggie souls, and Maria is one of the most considerate and thoughtful friends that I have. I thank God for her.

She saw this beautiful art piece and thought of us. It is made of wood with an antiqued print and ink. I'm planning on re-painting the front entryway, and I'm going to put this up right above a mirror I want to place on the front wall.
Thank you Maria. You have no idea how much this made my day. :-)

I didn't mean for this post to get all blubbery and down. But, this is where I come to release and purge. One of the many benefits of blogging, it feels good to throw your thoughts and emotions out there and know that they are not your own burden anymore. You have so many, many friends to help you carry what's weighing you down. Somehow, just by writing it down, it now weighs less on my mind.

I'm grateful I have that here in Blogistan, and I'm especially grateful I have it in my "real" life with my beloved family and friends.