Nearing The End of a Wintery Sleep

To keep to the theme of mammals in the 70s, there are two notable songs about horses. “A Horse with no Name”, and of course “Wildfire”. I know all the lyrics to both of them, do you? Before we left on our trip I downloaded (legally of course) a bunch of songs from the 70s – I’ve been having trips down memory lane ever since.

I've been through the desert on a horse with no name,
It felt good to be out of the rain.
In the desert you can remember your name,
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain.
La, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
La, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la 

~”A horse with no Name” Songwriters: BUNNELL, DEWEY

She comes down from Yellow Mountain
On a dark, flat land she rides
On a pony she named Wildfire
With a whirlwind by her side
On a cold Nebraska night
Oh, they say she died one winter
When there came a killing frost
And the pony she named Wildfire
Busted down it's stall
In a blizzard he was lost

She ran calling Wildfire …

~Songwriters: LORD, PETER/SMITH, V JEFFREY/HALL, DARYL F/ALLEN, SARA

~

It is a grey day that started with flurries, which changed to then rain as the day progressed. Forecast high? 9C! Yippee, finally some temps above freezing. But the damp is seeping into my bones – it feels cold out without the sun.

Last night we celebrated Carm’s birthday with a quiet dinner of takeout and bubbles. We were all celebrated out!

Signed up for our next Ballroom dancing class – no beginner class this time around so we’re going to try Rumba classes for 4 weeks. Should be fun!

“The trees were gathered closely in the copse, as if to gain strength from one another against the bitter winds. A white mantle of snow still lay at their feet, a testament to a long winter’s grip. Forgotten long ago, a bird’s nest was crushed in the snow at their feet. Waiting. All of them waiting for the warm sunshine to free them from their wintery sleep. Counting not the minutes or hours, but the length of the days.” ~me

Another 70s Mammal

I got back on the treadmill today! A one week “break” and I could feel the difference – it was harder again. While I was power walking to the sounds of music, the 70s classic “Fox on the Run” started playing. Ummmm… okay… sure. Catchy tune though!

I don't wanna know your name
'Cause you don't look the same
The way you did before

Okay, you think you got a pretty face
But the rest of you is out of place
You looked all right before

Fox on the run
You scream and everybody comes a running
Take a run and hide yourself away
Foxy on the run, f-foxy
Fox on the run and hide away… ~

"Fox On The Run" was written by Scott, Andrew / Priest, Stephen / Connolly, Brian / Tucker, Michael.

Myna asked me on Facebook this morning how my “clean” eating was going. Well, up until the party, it was going well. I would say that 80% of eating was low gluten, vegan whole foods. Except for take out once a week or so… Was I losing weight? No. But since I have been strength training and exercising I have been putting on muscle, and I think losing fat (at least that’s what I’m telling myself!). I have visible muscle in some places now and catch myself flexing them in the mirror – what a goof! I feel good! (not today after a week of junk food tho).

Spring isn’t here yet. It is a bright winter day, with temps well below freezing, but thankfully a strong sun. Looking outside it could be the middle of winter. Bleck.

 

Here’s a new word for you:  Collywobbles: pain in the abdomen and especially in the stomach; a bellyache.

I was awake for a few hours last night with collywobbles, probably due to the chips I ate before going to before bed.

 

Mind is everything. Muscle - pieces of rubber. All that I am, I am because of my mind. ~Paavo Nurmi

I Finally Found It

This morning I remembered that I had been using the blue treat bowl in the kitchen as I had been training Spike there. So… I figured that it had to be in one of the cupboards, and sure enough, there it was, in the cupboard with the placemats and napkins. Logical spot? I have a dim memory of putting it there, thinking at the time that it would be easy to find, and that if I did forget I’d surely run across it eventually… ha.

The sun was shining strongly this morning, but with the temps of –10C;  this afternoon the snow started falling again… so of course the snow on the ground still remains. I wonder where those robins are today? The weather forecast for the weekend forecasts warming up to above zero, so maybe spring will come.

With all the busyness of getting ready for the party, my exercise routine had been put aside… and still is… I’m having trouble finding the energy and motivation to get back at it. Perhaps I need another rest day, and will get back at it tomorrow.

I couldn’t decide on a quote today so included two.

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”
― John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America