I've been wanting to write about this fitness class my hubby and I took on Tuesday night at our local community center, but it has taken me until this Thursday morning to actually get up the nerve to write about it... mainly because I AM STILL IN PAIN. Did you hear that? Complete and total pain!

First, let me give you the class description written exactly as it is on the schedule... For all fitness levels, a complete cardio and sculpt class focusing on sports conditioning, designed to MOTIVATE!

My first problem was that I read for all fitness levels and decided, "hey anybody can do this." I had even watched parts of the class the last few weeks. There were all types of people in there - skinny, not-so-skinny, older, younger... no problem... I can do this. Phil looked at the description and read focusing on sports conditioning and was pumped. This was going to be his kind of workout thinking anything that would help him get his golf game in shape, or to help him go long in a parking lot game of throw and catch the football.

Well, we took the class - all 50 minutes of it - and I still can't walk. Well, I can walk, but I am hurting. Going up and down our stairs is a major dilemma... even squatting to sit on the toilet causes agony. And Phil is feeling the same pain. The leader of the class helped us all through the class - she was a great motivator - and after class she told me that this class was an easy 500 - 600 calorie burn. Ooohhhh - I loved hearing that. She teaches this class on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and we will go back - but just not tonight. My legs and arms are going to need a weekend to get their feeling back.

Tonight - Chiefs football - the last pre-season home game. I'm going and can't wait to tailgate. Mainly because I will be sitting down, enjoying some great food, great friends and great weather. Go Chiefs!

You Are a Frappacino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet Your caffeine addiction level: low

The other day, Perry asked me if he could bring along his new Cars CD with us - no, not the 80's band that I danced to back in my younger days - but the new Disney Cars CD. He got it into his head that he wanted to listen to his new CD in the car while we were running errands. I relunctantly agreed knowing that I would have to remember to pop it out of the car CD player later. Bedtime will come... I'll be tucking him in... saying goodnight, and then he'll need his CD and darn if it isn't down in the car! But like I said, I agreed to sacrifice listening to his music and not my own. What I didn't realize though was that he was going to make my heart melt right there in that car. As soon as I placed the CD in its slot, Perry was instructing me to "go to 5, go to 5, mom." Okay, I'll go to 5 thinking that his new favorite song "Life is a Highway"was just that one and he couldn't wait for me to listen to it with him. But I pressed #5, and it was this beautiful song performed by James Taylor called "Our Town." A beautiful slow song about life in a small town. As we are listening to this beautiful song, I looked back at him staring out the window, eyes shining as he is enjoying the view of his little town, and I melt. Tears start to form in my eyes as I learn right then and there that he is that tender-hearted, old soul that is affected by music just like his mama. Music has always affected me - still does. If I hear a song that moves me, I will listen to that song over and over. Thank goodness for iPods as I now listen to moving songs over and over and over... Songs that move me - just like that song "Our Town" did for Perry. When it was over, he says to me "Mama, isn't that a pretty song?" Oh yes, it is indeed. Thank you for letting me listen to that song, Perry, and thank you for being the wonderful and inspiring 7-1/2 year old that you have grown to be.

For 6 years now, our family has lived in a neighborhood that is located down in a valley- the developers call it Meadows. When you give directions to visitors, you tell them to "drive down the valley" past the pool, etc. This middle-class subdivision has all the amenities... pools, the elementary school Perry attends, a park and a playground, a baseball field and even a fishin' hole for those who have the leisure time to actually "fish." One of the other amenities is sidewalks - all around the streets and cul-de-sacs they are - just begging to be walked. And walked they are.

One sidewalk in particular that I must talk about will literally lead you back up from the valley. It's one long sidewalk that goes on and on and on - up a rather large hill.

It is exactly one mile up and one mile down.

For the past 6 years, I have watched many people trek up the hill -- mothers pushing strollers, joggers with iPods, teachers after school, even some children with their parents have marched up that hill. I've watched all these neighbors going up that hill - wondering how they must feel after reaching the top.


I go walking with my friend Karen at least once a week later at night - when the sun starts going down and it has cooled off. I've often talked the talk about going up that hill and tonight I told her "it was time." I think she wanted to talk me out of it, but I was not going to let her. It was going to be tonight or never. And now that I've done it, it really wasn't all that bad. Don't get me wrong - I was totally huffin' and a puffin' when I reached the top, but I did it! The funny thing is that as much as I want to shout it from the rooftops, I'm not going to. If I tell any of my neighbors that I just climbed the hill tonight, they will look at me as if I am a foreigner - I mean everybody has walked the hill. But I had not ever tried it - but now I've done it!

WW Update" -3.2 lbs for a total of 34 lbs.

What time is it, you ask? My mom will be able to tell you when she receives the clock I made for her tonight at the local big box scrapbook store. I took the class with my 2 friends, Rachael and Janna, and I must tell you that it is one cool clock. It has pictures of her grandkids taking the place of some of the numbers. And it is in purples and browns which will look beeeuuutiful in her dining room. As soon as I get picture savvy, I will post a pic of the clock. It is really cool, I tell ya!

Amy - my friend of many years - and I decided that we would try out a Step class tonight at our local community center. All set to go with my towel and water bottle, I left the house feeling like I could do this with my eyes closed. After all, I used to "sweat to the oldies" with Richard Simmons and Jazzercise like it was going out of style while I was in my 20's living with my best friend Laurie. This couldn't be that different, right? W.R.O.N.G.!! Our teacher she was good - she was moving fast - and if you couldn't keep up, you were just left out in the cold. She had those double kicks - or were they triple kicks? down pat. And it was the same with all the other "steppers" - they were mighty - they had done this before and no "newbies" were going to stop them from getting their workout in. We ended up completing all 50 minutes of the class, but we were in a daze when it was finished. Were we really this uncoordinated? Were we really feeling this "old"? After walking the track to cool ourselves down, we searched the weekly calendar for some other offered class. This may not have been the class for us, but by golly, we were going to give another class the pleasure of our uncoordinated company.

Today we invited my brother and his wife over to help me set up my new laptop, and since they were over here, mom and dad might as well come and hang out also. It was a gorgeous day outside - low 80's - so we sat out on our back deck watching Perry and his dad play football. We grilled chicken, drank some iced green tea and just enjoyed the time together. I'm thankful and blessed that most of my family lives near me and we can spend time together so easily.

There he went - off to school - in his "did it, done it, bought the t-shirt" kind of way. He always amazes me - his confidence so high - so much like his dad. I have faith in you buddy... I know this will be a great year for you. Enjoy second grade and just live each day to its fullest!