Boxing

I am loving my boxing class! Never in a million years would I have ever picked myself as someone who would enjoy boxing and yet here I am. Boxing makes me sweat more than anything else, more than Zumba (which I also love), more than jogging, more than the 30 day Facebook AB challenge. Boxing makes my shoulders and my legs feel stiff. The day after my first boxing session I could barely pull my jeans up. Yet despite all this the buzz, that feeling of exhilaration that I get after each session makes it all worthwhile.

I am lucky that the mixed session that I attend is filled with really nice people, everyone of them is lovely and helpful and just adds to the whole positive experience. If you are looking for a fun (please note I use the word fun loosely make no mistake boxing is extremely hard work) and liberating form of exercise than you must give boxing a try.

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Feeling good

Feeling pretty good about myself today. I got to spend the morning with my gorgeous girl. We went out for breakfast, then we went shopping before her orthodontic appointment at 10:30am. Work was productive and after work my girlfriend text me to ask if I wanted to join her in running around the oval while our boys were at soccer training.

I am not really a runner. I haven’t really been running since high school when I was in the cross country team. Today was a real challenge and I only managed to run 3 and half laps around the oval, but we walked at a brisk to fast pace continuously for a good hour. I felt so good during and after and even now a couple of hours later.

Our boys were cheering us on, every time we went past them they would ask how many laps we had walked /run. It was so much fun.

And to top off my good day, my dear friend is out of hospital and has been given the all clear. Like I said I’m feeling pretty good today, hope the rest of the blogosphere is too.

The Yellow Dog Project

The Yellow Dog Project is a global movement for owners of dogs that need space. The project aims to educate the public as well as dog owners to identify dogs needing space, and to promote appropriate contact of dogs. These dogs are easily identified they will either be wearing a yellow ribbon or have something yellow on their leash.

Yellow Dogs are dogs who need space – they are not necessarily aggressive dogs but more often are dogs who have issues of fear; pain from recent surgery; are a rescue or shelter dog who has not yet had sufficient training or mastered obedience; are in training for work or service; or other reasons specific to the dog.

The Yellow Dog Project is not an excuse to avoid properly training your dog. It is not an admission guilt and it is definitely not a waiver of responsibility.

If you do see a dog with a yellow ribbon on its leash please ensure that you maintain a safe distance and do not approach this dog with your dog. Allow the owner and his dog sufficient time to move out of your way.

You too can help dogs around the world receive the space they need by spreading the word of TheYellow Dog Project.

Winter sports

Winter is my least favourite season of the year. Cold dark nights and wet and windy days are not my idea of fun at all.

This year winter appears to have set in earlier than ever. Technically we have only just embarked on the last month of Autumn, and yet it already feels like hibernation time. In a another life I could totally have been a bear. The whole idea of sleeping through winter appeals to me on so many levels.

Unfortunately most boy sports are actually winter sports, so tonight I will be braving the elements as I sit and wait for my son to finish his soccer training. Once he is finished I will rush him home only to pick up the other son who also has basketball training tonight.

Luckily last years Mother’s Day gift from my daughter was a cute travel mug which I plan on taking along with me tonight. I think a nice steaming cup of tea is just what is in order.

The Mutt’s Nutts

Today I was lucky enough to have tickets to the hilarious comedy show “The Mutt’s Nutts” featuring international Dog Listener Tony Knight.

The event which was a dinner and show was part of The Melbourne Comedy Festival. Ticket sales were in support of The Golden Retriever Rescue Organization, so not only did we have an awesome time but we were supporting a great cause at the sand time.

Tony Knight entertained the crowd with his side splitting stories from the other side of the leash.

He offered valuable insight on how dogs think and act. Not surprisingly dogs behave a lot like humans we were informed as we are both pack animals.

I laughed a lot and had a lovely meal in a quaint little pizzeria. The company was great in fact the whole evening was my idea of heaven.

Re-blogging

I am not computer savvy at all. I wish I was but sadly no. Today I re-blogged for the very first time, and it felt good kind of like figuring out how to solve a problem that you have been battling with for a while. Not that it took me that long to figure out, but I was worried I’d mess it up or do it wrong, or even that it wouldn’t work, but thankfully it did, and if I can help to spread the message by re blogging than I am glad to help.

I think that this is where our kids have us at an disadvantage, you see they do not fear technology, are not afraid of pressing the wrong button or making a mistake. I never cease to be amazed at how quickly my children navigate a computer or iPad or iPhone, how quickly their fingers move across the screen, never hesitating, never second guessing.

I too want to be more like this but unfortunately It is not second nature for me, rather something that I need to constantly learn, a skill that I must keep perfecting, for no sooner have I mastered one thing something new has already come along and it’s time to learn that. There is a lot I still have to learn especially about blogging and wordpress and all that it can do, but I am up for the challenge.

Alzheimer’s

Today at work we had a professional development day on understanding Alzheimer’s a form of Dementia.

The three hour presentation was both informative and scary and completely sad. According to the figures the amount of people diagnosed with Dementia is set to soar, the prediction is that by 2050 figures would have risen by 300% that’s an alarming increase for sure.

There is no cure for Dementia however there are treatment options available that can help slow the progression of the disease down.

We heard how the younger a person is diagnosed with Dementia the faster the disease will spread, this is because as we age our bodies metabolism naturally slows down.

There is no one determinate that causes Dementia but it has been proven that a healthy lifestyle can go a long way in helping to prevent Dementia. Brain training exercises that stimulate brain development are also very good.

Tooth brushing was used as an example of a skill that needs to be taught, first one learns to hold the toothbrush, then place a small amount of toothpaste onto the brush and then to actually brush our teeth. Once we have mastered this skill we are able to perform it without having to think about the steps involved so it was suggested that we now teach ourselves to brush our teeth using our other hand. Learning this skill will create a new pathway inside our brains and in the event that we are affected by Alzheimer’s and the initial pathway for brushing our teeth is erased from our memory we will still have another brain pathway in order to brush our teeth.

Anything we can do to create new pathways in the brain will go a long way in the fight against Dementia.

Aside from short term memory which is the first thing to go in a person suffering from Dementia, they will also lose their insight, their ability to plan and their spatial awareness.

I cannot imagine how it would feel to slowly lose your life, apparently the disease begins well before there are any signs present.

We were shown a breakthrough video on a person so heavily affected by Dementia that she could no longer talk and the amazing way that Naomi Feil founder of Validation therapy was able to communicate with her.

Please note that this video is very powerful and extremely moving.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CrZXz10FcVM&feature=plpp

Starting today I plan on exercising my brain every opportunity I can, I’m sure once you have seen the video you too will feel the same way.

How much is too much?

My daughter attended the most amazing birthday party yesterday. It was a rock star themed party and the birthday girls parents went all out to make everyone feel just like a real celebrity.

The day began with a walk down the red carpet, followed by a recording session of their very own CD, then there was a break for food, which was followed by a photo shoot, and then at 6pm the Limousine arrived and took them on an hour long drive around the suburbs with a visit to McDonald’s, before finally arriving back at 7pm.

Every girl received a copy of the CD they recorded and memories that will last a very long time.

Here is the thing though my daughter is eleven years old and this was an eleven year old birthday party. After this every other party will now pale in comparison, so this got me thinking just how much is too much? Are we overdoing it a little?

As amazing as this party was, it was I believe a little over the top, especially for the age group of the children. If children are out riding in limousines whilst at primary school what will they be wanting come high school. As parents we are already working longer hours to be able to afford to send our children to good schools, to buy them nice things, to offer them as many opportunities as we can, but there always seems to be more, more that they want, a newer gaming console a flashier phone and on and on it goes as we as parents try to cater to all their needs their whims and wants.

Maybe though its not about giving them all they want, maybe it’s about teaching them to be thankful for what they have regardless how much or how little that may be. Maybe we should be trying to teach them more about giving and less about taking, more about helping others and making a difference in the world for then they will become true stars and their light will shine bright for all to see.

My Bird Hates Me Again

So my bird hates me again. Every year around this time just before spring is here Stan’s hormones kick into angry bird mode and my beautiful loving little Quaker turns into a mad little biting machine.

If you have birds you will know exactly what I am talking about, his whole demeanour changes, there is a look in his eyes a certain way that he moves, he is reluctant to come out of his cage, very vocal, there may be beak clicking or tail wagging, but if you miss all those signs you won’t be able to miss the excruciating bite that is no doubt heading your way.

Much like the self absorbed teenager, a parrot too becomes self absorbed and defensive around this time of year. Try not to be too hard on yourself or take it too personally.

So what can you do to snap you bird out of this phase? well nothing really, you just have to ride it out. Thankfully this uncharacteristic mood change does not last long and just when you think there is no light at the end of the tunnel that you have lost the love of your beloved friend for ever then suddenly he is back often sweeter than ever, calling out to you to come and play, giving you kisses, singing and talking happily again.

Unfortunately for me Stan’s transformation from loving bird to angry bird is only just commencing but I know that before long angry bird will be no more than a distant memory, and my beautiful boy will love me again.

Kids and Housework

Getting kids to help with housework is like pulling teeth at the best of times, but sometimes it’s just not worth the effort, or the nagging. Chances are they will do half a job anyway and you will need to go over it all again. I must admit that my kids don’t help out around the house as much as they should and I know that I am to blame for that.

But every now and again they do offer to help usually at a cost, and when this happens I must admit I do make the most of it. Today my twins have been busy cleaning up their bedrooms, dusting and putting toys away. The catch is that they want some new toy, the latest version of the tamagotchi and so in order to raise funds they have offered to do odd jobs around the house. Tomorrow they are going to wash and vacuum my car. I’m sure my husband will make the most of this and will most likely get them to rake up the leaves in the front garden as well.

When I was growing up we were expected to help out around the house all the time. We cleaned and ironed, we helped with the gardening the shopping, you name it we were expected to do it. I guess that’s why my children are able to get away with not doing anything I think sub consciously it is me rebelling against my parents.

Yet I can see the value of the chores we were expected to do now that I am a mother. It taught me a lot more than I could have ever thought back then when I was complaining about dusting the lounge room, or sweeping the driveway. It taught me that in life you have to work for every thing that you get, a lesson I am not at all sure my own children have any concept of.

If only there was some medium, some way to get the messages of life across to our children without having to go to the extremes.