The Eowyn Challenge Update

I tabulate my walking miles at the end of each month, unlike Miz Mik who totals her miles weekly. I like the feeling that I have some miles behind me. My pedometer broke in early September and was replaced within a week by a new one and I've been wearing that every day (except on Sundays out at the Renaissance Faire). I've been averaging two to four miles a day if I treadmill first thing in the morning, 1.5 to 2.5 miles if I don't.

I really enjoyed the strength of Eowyn. She wasn't willing

to sit in the background and let the men do all of the

dirty work.

August totals found me past my meeting with Gildor and hiding from a Black Rider near the Stock-brook. By the end of September I am already in the Old Forest, just about to meet up with Old Man Willow and Tom Bombadil. I feel like I am actually starting to get somewhere now that I'm out of the Shire and truly having "An Adventure". Once more my thanks go out to Surgical Steel who directed me to the Eowyn Challenge more than a year ago. I love the fact that I'm walking to Rivendell while trying to get my weight under control.

I adored this view of Edoras with the mountains in the background.

The open plains were perfect for horses, the mountains gave

strength. I wanted to live there from the first sight.

DH and I are having discussions about what we will do if we ever retire. I want to play - travel, work on my art and my writing, generally have a wonderful time not having to go in to the shop every day. He will probably die from inactivity because he needs structure in his life. I can self-schedule more than effectively. So - given our discussions and arguments - if we ever retire he'll be bored and I'll still be busy. I wonder if retirement will be worth it....

Finally A Day Off

It's been two weeks since my last "normal" day off and I finally get one today. Call me happy! That doesn't mean that I'll be sitting around, I have a long list of things that I need to do, but I'll have a chance to do some laundry and talk with Aearwan late this afternoon - yeah...happy. I have to make serious inroads to cleaning today and I owe Lai some serious beta work, so those two things are my focii today.

The women came through where the men fell short. Hmmm...wonder if there is a life lesson there???

Congratulations to the Women's Gymnastics team for winning the Gold in team competition. It was the US team's to win and Russia's to lose. I really felt for the young Russian gymnast who had such a dismal showing on the floor exercises. You could tell that she was just devastated, and she was cute as a button.

Beach volleyball can be such a physical game. It's fun to watch.

It hasn't been a cakewalk for the US this year, but it's been a fun journey so far. The Germans did a wonderful job in equestrian competition coming away with both team and individual gold, and the men's gymnastics team competition self-destructed. But we're pulling off beach volleyball and our women's soccer team is doing very well.

It's a good thing Gandalf isn't counting on me to meet him in Bree. I'd be running very late. But...baby steps are OK if one hasn't walked in years.

It's a slow walk so far for me on the treadmill, but I've been sticking with my determination to walk every day. I missed four days in July from the day that I determined to start, and I told myself that I would increase my distance to a mile a day for August. On the Eowyn Challenge (EowynChallenge.net recommended to me by Surgical Steel many months ago) I have reached the Stock Road, so not very far yet, but if I can stick with my goals for August, I'll be near the Elves camp of Woodhill by the end of the month. I know it doesn't sound like much, but just working out for a while each morning has been a positive thing and I know from my past that it takes me a while to build up my stamina, etc. So...baby steps but steps nonetheless and I'm pleased that so far I'm sticking with it.