Wonderland!

The days after my birthday were spent in Gatlinburg, TN exploring the former Wonderland Hotal and Clubhouse near the Elkmont Campgrounds.  I had spent the week before googling and looking at maps and knew on a theoretical level exactly where it was, but getting there was another story.

Fortunately, I am good at maps. We found it almost right away.  I walked down the road because I wanted to go in via the steps.  The group with me didn't believe they were there so they just started climbing up the hill.  I walked for about a quarter of a mile and I found it!

Beautiful hair, right?  LOL!

While this isn't a big secret place, it was fun to explore knowing the history.  There were several homes in the area that were vacation homes back when the hotel was active.  They were beautiful homes (at least they were at one point).  It is a shame to see them in such a state.

So I came, I found, I conquered the Wonderland hotel exploration.  Now I need to find my next adventure!

Fall

I have been feeling a little down lately.  When I think back on past falls, I realize this is a common thing.  I find it slightly funny because on an intellectual level I LOVE the fall!  My birthday, the changing leaves, my birthday, cooler temps, and of course, my birthday.  It is interesting to realize that while this is my favorite time of year I am not able to enjoy it to the extent that I want.

While I cannot pinpoint why I feel bad, I can focus on what I can do to help me feel better.  Going outside as often as possible during this time of year helps, however working 2 jobs from 7:30am-9:00pm doesn't allow a lot of strolls in the woods.

I WAS working out almost every morning.  I would be at the YMCA right at 5am and would get my work out in before starting my day.  That schedule was disrupted when I started my second job however and I haven't been able to get back in the habit and I can feel my body getting lazier as a result.

One thing that is working is hobbies; easy ones like reading on breaks, journals where I am writing nothing of importance but practicing my handwriting skills, Christmas shopping (yes, already!), and sleeping.  Between working and still trying to be full time mommy I don't get a lot of time for the above, but I have to make time for it for my own sanity!

The good news is I get a break starting this weekend.  I am going to Gatlinburg and get to hike around the Smokey Mountains for a day or two, then an extra day off when I get home to sleep.  Let's hope that turns my mood and outlook around!!

Going Offline...

...for the weekend.

I am going into the country this weekend to visit the inlaws for Easter.  The problem is my mother-in-law's house does not currently have internet access and my cell phone has no signal, meaning I have no connection to the internet for the weekend.

Because I am constantly online, this has me completely bummed out.  Never mind the fact that I can use it as time to sleep or even spend time with the kids, but to not be able to use it when I want to...oh the horror!

So I am making plans now.  I need 1) a book to read, 2) a recipe to try, and 3) my journal.  Of course I will be spending time with my kids, but when we visit mamaw they are usually wrapped around her legs and she loves it (understandably) and the hubby is off doing some maintenance issue for her so I am just sitting there in the middle of BFE twiddling my thumbs.

For the recipe, I think I will be trying this...

It looks cute and Easter-y and hopefully will take up a little time.

I will bring my journal since I rarely write in it.  I even blogged about it HERE.  But since 2008 (and it's rediscovery in 2011) it has barely been filled...

Now the book...I am open to suggestions????

Run, Lisa Run!

This past weekend I hit a milestone I don't believe I have reached since high school (or early college).  I ran .5 mile without having to walk.  Now that may not seem like a big deal to most people, and some may be thinking "whoopty-do, she ran a whole half mile" but for me, it is a BIG deal.

I have never been a strong runner.  I am told by my doctors that it is a result of having double pneumonia as a baby then multiple bouts of pneumonia as a child and adult.  Each time my lungs would get weaker and weaker.  I fully expect that to be what kills me someday (hopefully when I am in my 80's or 90's), and every time I get a full cold it progresses quickly into pneumonia.  (I also tend to blame the fact that my mom smoked like a chimney in the house throughout my entire childhood, but that is another LOOONG blog).  

I am also prone to sinus infections.  Those started when I moved back to Cincinnati after living in Morehead, KY for 6 years.  I get them multiple times every year, and at least once a year they include a fun attack of bronchitis.  In the past 3-4 years I have even needed an inhaler during those times.

Needless to say, respiratory infections/illnesses are the norm for me, which makes any activity involving extensive cardio work potentially problematic.

This year has been a little different.  I have yet to get a sinus infection that needed an antibiotic to cure it, and I haven't had more than a mildly stuffy nose and sinus headaches this season.  It could be because of the mild weather, combined with the fact that I have been doing Zumba anywhere from 2-5 times a week depending on what the kids have going on.

My next goal is to make it a full mile nonstop.  Now when I say run, I don't really count the speed.  I have no idea if I am running a 10 minute mile or a 14 minutes mile.  I know I am not sprinting, that's for sure.  I would call it more of a jog.  But it is getting the job done.  And though I may  not keep up with the marathon runners or the healthier people who do it all the time, I am happy with the progess I have made!

Maybe by this time next year I will be able to pull off a 5K in 30 minutes!