I'm number 11! - I'm number 11! - and it only took
8 years!
Saturday, December 31, 2016 39 comments
Tomorrow, January 1, 2017 is my Spark
Anniversary. It was 8 years ago, New Year's Day 2009, that I joined Spark.
I made up some meaningless
username to get started. I only intended to use the trackers not
get involved in anything else. ... Read more
45 years of continuous gym memberships - done!
Wednesday, December 28, 2016 33 comments
Here's my replacement. I understand
the theory behind changing up our fitness routine (challenging our body, combating
boredom
etc.) I agree ... Read more
5 Billion SparkPoints! Our Cumulative Effort Toward a Healthy Lifestyle
Tuesday, December 20, 2016 26 comments
At 11:52 pm last night the
counter reached that milestone. No, I didn't stay up to watch it.
Something jarred me awake at 11:40
and I decided to see how accurate my prediction had been. ... Read
more
One Billion Spark Points Ago - Nov 4, 2014
Sunday, December 18, 2016 24 comments
On that date I posted a blog
as I watched the Spark counter tallying in real time the spark
points of the total membership all over
the world. I was fascinated as it approached 4 Billion points.
As I watched the changing total, I typed m... Read more
My Up and Down Spirit
Friday, December 16, 2016 34 comments
Mind + Body + Environment
= the state of my spirit. My mathematical mind tends to quantify
everything. Over time I've discovered that
I need 2 of the 3 to be positive or at least neutral or my spirit
gets really down. After my Dad ... Read more
My 47 year old tree
Sunday, December 11, 2016 43 comments
How long does an artificial
tree last? I have read opinions and comments on this topic quite
a lot recently. This is Christmas
1969. Can you see the baby under the tree? Baby Jeannie was 3 months
old and I sent this photo to DH who left ... Read more
Minutes Needed to Burn Off ONE Chocolate Chip Cookie
Friday, December 09, 2016 24 comments
Yes, tis the season when cookies
are everywhere Yes, people tend to overindulge No, I rarely stop
at just one, although I admire
those who can just "have a taste" No, my active lifestyle
and love of fitness activities will NOT allow me to ... Read more
Mind games and shoe games in a 5k
Saturday, December 03, 2016 23 comments
My streak is intact. I have
won some age group award every year that I've run in our town's
annual Christmas Classic 5k including
10 straight since retiring in 2007 . It's been my good fortune
to share the course and my age group with some ... Read more
Anime and Me - Finding Inspiration in the Strangest Places
Friday, November 25, 2016 23 comments
" Remaining individual and unique is the true way to achieve
your dream" (Miki - Anime character in "Universal Lady
Justice, Vol 1) I know that I'm not the target demographic audience
for Anime, but every time I expand my horizons I'm sur... Read
more
A Surprise in Walmart
Wednesday, November 23, 2016 23 comments
After my run yesterday,
I stopped at Walmart to buy Christmas presents for a local charity
drive. As I was pondering the many
varieties of Barbie Dolls, I heard "Eileen?" The woman
looked vaguely familiar. She continued "you don't remember
m... Read more
Beware
the "feel good" treadmill
Saturday, November 19, 2016 28 comments
My data driven mind knew
it was wrong - very wrong. Still, I wanted to believe it. DH & I
are in Tennessee visiting his mother in the nursing home. Although
I'm thankful he was finally given
permission to travel (10 weeks after brain s... Read more
Trivia Question - Maybe I have a Dirty House?
Saturday, November 12, 2016 26 comments
I play Spark trivia every
day. I've learned a lot. Today I missed the question about how
many calories are burned yearly through
house cleaning. "A 2005 study published in the British Journal
of Nutrition showed that Brits burn more than ... Read more
RESOLVED! What a beautiful word!
Saturday, November 05, 2016 37 comments
8 weeks past DH's brain
surgery for 2 huge subdural hematomas and the latest CT report
is that the scan is "unremarkable." The
problem (residual blood and swelling) has RESOLVED! He has been
discharged from PT and given the OK by the neuro... Read more
Very
Happy with my "Benchmark" 5K
Saturday, October 29, 2016 31 comments
I recently began running
again as a way to reduce the stress in my life as Joe recovers
from brain surgery. As I posted in my status,
I decided to run the "I Am Woman" 5K this morning for
a benchmark time to improve on and also because: It... Read more
My Cocoon
Thursday, October 27, 2016 30 comments
I spark, I run, I sing and
I play scrabble Monday will be 2 months since Joe's brain surgery.
We have so much to be thankful for.
For all daily activities our life is back to normal except he is
supposed to avoid stress and anything that ... Read more
Competition vs Cooperation
Friday, October 07, 2016 25 comments
Thank you once again for your
comments and good wishes on Joe's continued recovery. He's doing
remarkably well although I will
still be holding my breath until CT scans show all residual blood
and swelling completely gone. They say that will t... Read more
Four weeks after brain surgery
Friday, September 30, 2016 38 comments
DH update: Joe continues
to do very well. He looks and acts the same as before. He's even
back to doing the dishes and scrubbing
the pots. The scabs are gone from his head. The surgeon did a great
job. The scars are almost invisible. ... Read more
2 Pieces of Good News
Friday, September 23, 2016 30 comments
First of all, thank you everyone
for your prayers and good wishes for Joe's recovery. His follow-up
CT scan confirmed what I've been
observing. He's doing REALLY well! Except for the 4 incision scabs
on his head you wouldn't know that he had ... Read more
Sparking in trying times - update on DH
Tuesday, September 13, 2016 48 comments
It's been 13 days since
DH had brain surgery for a subdural hematoma. First the good news
- Joe is doing quite well. He came home on
Thursday and is right now sitting at his computer answering email
after making a pot of coffee for us as h... Read more
Final thoughts of sedemdesiatnici (70 year olds)
Monday, August 29, 2016 23 comments
I learned that new Slovak word
when watching the director of our summer program in Bratislava
being interviewed by a TV reporter.
She said that 31 countries were represented in the 13 levels of
the course. There were over 150 students includin... Read more
Searching for roots and finding new branches
Friday, August 26, 2016 25 comments
In 2008 I set out to find my
roots in Eastern Europe - the hazy history behind the immigration
of my grandparents to America. Grandma
was 17 when she came alone in 1900. My grandfather was a widower
and arrived in 1907. I had 2 documents... Read more
Exploring
the "Big Little Country" - Slovakia - Day 3
Monday, August 22, 2016 20 comments
The final day of our excursion
took us from the heights to the depths and to the northern border
with Poland. Day 2 ended in the
high Tatra Mountains Day 3 we explored one of Slovakia's many caves.
This one is known for the discovery ... Read more
Exploring
the "Big Little Country" - Slovakia - Day 2
Friday, August 19, 2016 19 comments
All 4 excursion buses from the
university met for the night at the same hotel in the city of Proprad
in the Vysoke Tatry (High
Tatra Mountains). This was the view from our window. ... Read more
Exploring
the "Big Little Country" - Slovakia
Thursday, August 18, 2016 19 comments
That slogan of the Slovak
tourist bureau refers to the variety of geographic landscapes,
and historic locations and ethic traditions
within this small country. Our course in Slovak Language and Culture
includes 4 separate 3 day excursions f... Read more
150+ international students and me in the Slovak countryside
Sunday, August 14, 2016 27 comments
We returned from our 3 day excursion
at 11 pm last night. I've got a ton of photos to sort through but
this will give you a snapshot
of my traveling companions. Our group of 40 are visiting a "skanzen" an
open air historical museum with b... Read more
Sites of Bratislava
Wednesday, August 10, 2016 24 comments
On Saturday all the students
went on an all day walking tour of the city. We gathered in front
of the National Theater. It was
a short walk fo... Read more
Every morning in Bratislava, Slovakia
Tuesday, August 09, 2016 29 comments
I walk about 1/4 mile to the
Danube River and along the path there until I come to this bridge.
It's called the Novy Most (new bridge)
or Most UFO... Read more
Singers
don't dance & dancers don't sing?
Saturday, August 06, 2016 29 comments
That was the situation in
our community theater group in Ohio. Not true in Slovakia! After
Friday's classes were done for the
day, at 4:30 we went to a folk singing workshop. ... Read more
Living as a student in a foreign country
Thursday, August 04, 2016 26 comments
DH and I like to travel, but
this trip is a very different experience. Our usual plan is to
research countries and travel on our own or
with children and grandchildren. We also enjoy river cruises where
our floating hotel takes us to major ci... Read more
Our "palace" in
Slovakia
Sunday, July 31, 2016 35 comments
DH and I are in Bratislava studying
Slovak language and culture. Last time we took this course we lived
in the dorm. The students
were very nice to their old classmates but this time we rented
an apartment in "old town" close to the university...
Read more
Searching for a new suit with Spark help
Friday, July 08, 2016 47 comments
A few months ago I decided to
start swimming again and posted this picture in a blog. After 5
years in a drawer the elastic had
deteriorated ... Read more
My weird hand injury
Wednesday, July 06, 2016 35 comments
Thank you for the good wishes
for recovery. Day 4 and I am almost back to normal but still trying
to do as much as possible with
my left hand. That's not easy. I'm strongly right handed. My left
hand and arm just coast through life. ... Read more
Look! We have twins!
Saturday, July 02, 2016 36 comments
Not children, just matching kayaks Exactly one month ago I blogged that I had
an immediate need to make 3 purchases. The first was a new kay... Read more
How did the 2 of us create HER?
Monday, June 27, 2016 43 comments
That was DH's comment at the conclusion of DD's semi-final performance at the
Cliburn International Piano Competition on Thursday. We watched the live stream
broadcast of the field of 12, down from the original 68 competitors invited to
Fort Wo... Read more
Sparker
Hayburner1969 finishing her semi-final performance at the Cliburn
International Piano Competition
Friday, June 24, 2016 35 comments
I LOVE this picture. At 2am Jeannie (my DD) posted the following on Facebook. "Hey
everyone, I'm totally pooped and crawling into bed, but I want... Read more
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" Several
Amateur Pianists Stand Out in the Quarterfinals of the Cliburn"
Thursday, June 23, 2016 34 comments
And one of them is my DD#1 -
Sparker Hayburner1969 She was pleased with her performance in the
round of 30 (down from the 68 International
competi... Read more
The Medical Benefits
of Sparking by Association
Thursday, June 16, 2016 199 comments
I've written about DH a lot
in the past 7 years. I've called him the "junk food king of the world" For
those who have only known me only a short time, this was my kitchen
table in 2010.
It was not a staged photo. It really looked like t... Read more
It's Spark Guy's fault that my laundry isn't folded
Sunday, June 05, 2016 38 comments
It's DH's fault that I burned
my toast this morning. It's my friend's fault for retiring so that
so much tempting food was right in front
of me today It's the wind's fault that I couldn't kayak longer.
Which are true? Definitely not the fi... Read more
The Way We Were
Friday, June 03, 2016 38 comments
Since I've finished my "old spark friends" project,
here's one of my oldest real life friends. Joe and Me in '63 -
our first date at Rockaway Beach, Long Island, NY. He was 18. I
was almost 16. ... Read more
Three purchases needed - immediately
Thursday, June 02, 2016 40 comments
Tomorrow DH & I will be
married for 49 years. There isn't much we NEED to buy anymore.
You acquire a lot of stuff over a
half century. In the beginning all our worldly possessions fit
into the back of a 1961 station wagon. We didn't downsize... Read
more
May 8 - 31 Series "Where Have All My Old Friends
Gone
Some heavy and totally unexpected race hardware
Sunday, May 01, 2016 29 comments
With all the excitement about music
events lately, I've neglected to mention that I've been rehabbing
another one of my freak yoga
(over-stretching)... Read more
Successful Recital
Monday, April 25, 2016 28 comments
How wonderful to see every seat
occupied. They actually had to quickly run off more copies of the
program. How nice to see my
daughter (Hayburner1969), now the mother of 3 teenagers, performing
again. How great to sleep for 10 hours las... Read more
International Piano Competition
Friday, April 22, 2016 26 comments
Not much keeps me from posting
regularly here, but sometimes attention must be paid elsewhere.
No, I'm not competing. My daughter (Hayburner1969)
is the pianist. I was thinking of how to explain the history of
all this when this article a... Read more
" but
I know I want to check in"
Thursday, April 07, 2016 28 comments
Thank you to Alicia363 whose
blog this morning reignited my flickering spark. www.sparkpeople.com/mypa
ge_public_journal_individu
al.asp?blog_id=6135806 I've come to believe that just checking
in here is the key to k... Read more
Spark - my touchstone and motivation during a stressful week
Monday, April 04, 2016 33 comments
Last week was tough. On Easter
Sunday DH & I drove 8 hours
to attend the funeral of a dear friend on Monday. We could have
saved 45 minutes if we hadn't mindlessly followed our GPS instructions
which took us over some crazy mountain roads. Th... Read more
The Unchecked Task
Monday, March 21, 2016 26 comments
My status says that I'm checking
off tasks one by one by one. That is true and prompted by Spark
Guy's Ultimate Challenge to
extend spark principles to other areas of our lives. Now a confession:
There is one task unchecked. Not only ... Read more
A Milestone Trivia Day and my Compromise Approach
Wednesday, March 16, 2016 29 comments
I start every day with a cup
of coffee and Spark. It's been over 7 years now. I like trivia.
It's kind of a cliff notes version
of reading the articles plus a way to test if I've retained the
information I once knew. However, I was disa... Read more
I am the Phantom Racer
Sunday, March 13, 2016 29 comments
My first race of the season was
interesting. I never race in winter or in the heat of the summer.
I'm a weather wimp. My goal during
those months is simply to maintain a fitness base. So yesterday
DH & I drove 75 miles to a city where DD... Read more
Why pass a bill to deny my right to know what I'm eating?
Thursday, February 25, 2016 39 comments
I'm trying hard to eat natural,
to eat REAL food. I'm reading labels. I'm trying to decipher the
different ways ingredients can
be disguised. I know I'm responsible for what I put in my mouth.
Why make it harder for me to know what... Read more
The Long and Winding Road
Sunday, February 21, 2016 42 comments
I'm always amazed at Spark
connections. Today it was Spark-Guy's Ultimate Challenge blog that
blended perfectly with my deep thoughts
this week. Thank you, sparkers, for the kind words on my blogs
about DH & me. Here we are in the b... Read more
The Evolution of a Stealth Sparker
Friday, February 19, 2016 41 comments
My last blog hinted at DH's
alternatives when faced with being housebound by bad weather. A
bit of history: This was my table
in 2010 when I blogged that I lived with the "Junk Food King
of the World." I had reached my goal weight by the... Read
more
"
There are always alternatives" - Mr Spock
Thursday, February 18, 2016 39 comments
That's Spock of Star Trek,
not the author of the baby books. The original 60s TV show was
a favorite of DH and me. He was an aerospace
engineer working on the Lunar Module and I was a HS math teacher.
Years later I had a poster in my clas... Read more
A Different View
of Valentine's Day
Sunday, February 14, 2016 218 comments
I appreciate the Valentine
Goodies from Spark Friends just as I like receiving comments and
notes of encouragement all year.
It's nice to feel connected to people and something bigger than
ourselves. Now as I log in to SP this morning fo... Read more
Still learning after all these Spark years
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 28 comments
Spark and Sparkers have
been responsible for my continued motivation and success. However,
I had become complacent. I know what I have
to do and logging in here has kept me doing it. So what a surprise
to realize that since 2013 I could... Read more
You know you're weird when the doc calls the intern in to observe
Monday, February 01, 2016 19 comments
Nothing serious, fortunately.
I was at an appointment to get new orthotics. The ones I got last
year are fine for walking but I
CANNOT run in them. I've been using a pair that is now 4 years
old. Maybe a new pair will solve my shoe problem? ... Read more
Shoe Woes Continue - I feel like Goldilocks
Monday, February 01, 2016 21 comments
I've always identified with
the fairy tale, "The Princess
and the Pea." Her problem was the mattresses. Mine are the
shoes. Now I have a new alter ego. This is my living room floor
right now. ... Read more
Targeted Advertising
Saturday, January 30, 2016 22 comments
I wasn't going to blog today.
I got up late (7:00) and I have a lot to do. This is NOT a complaint
about advertising in general,
neither on Spark or anywhere else. It's more about how I see myself
and how advertisers view me. Because I'm... Read more
Carnegie Hall! Here I Come!
Thursday, January 28, 2016 32 comments
No, I haven't suddenly been "discovered" and
I didn't just buy a ticket. I'm actually going to be on the stage
singing
- in a chorus in a concert in June. It's not the NY Philharmonic
and it is not one of their premier events, but I'll be ... Read
more
My split sports personality - watching 2 channels at once
Monday, January 25, 2016 15 comments
I know why the networks schedule
figure skating against football. Surely each will appeal to only
one segment of the population.
Except for me, again the oddball. Yesterday, Denver vs New England
began at 3pm, so I had one hour to watch... Read more
Snowbound
- fitness info for the data driven mind of a "confused
squirrel"
Sunday, January 24, 2016 20 comments
After one blizzard day of fitness
walking around the house, strength training and yoga, I had to
keep up my motivation for day 2. I
would much rather be outside running or walking, but my neighborhood
looked like this. ... Read more
Relatively Speaking - Continuing Yesterday's Deep Thoughts
Saturday, January 23, 2016 22 comments
Yesterday I pondered what
was considered a "significant" amount
of weight loss and the attitudes of and toward those who have lost
(or want to lose) different amounts of weight. Of course magazines
want to make sales and spotlight the extre... Read more
Relatively Insignificant - The Power of Words
Friday, January 22, 2016 22 comments
I'm blaming this blog on the
blizzard. I have time to ponder and think deep thoughts. Yesterday
I was included on a group sparkmail
regarding a request to interview women with a unique story and
aha moment who fit certain other criteria. ... Read more
Eat what I want? Yep, I'm doing that!
Thursday, January 21, 2016 28 comments
Last night DH & I were
having dinner - spaghetti, which I carefully weighed on my food
scale before cooking it. He also threw
2 thick slices of garlic bread in the oven and asked me if I wanted
some. No thanks - and that was that. It remi... Read more
Today is DH's 71st Birthday - Look what he bought last night!
Monday, January 18, 2016 32 comments
It weighs 2lbs 8oz and has
12 assorted varieties of slices. So each slice is 3.3 oz We are
NOT having a party. He bought this
for the TWO of ... Read more
Tech Savvy or Dinosaur?
Sunday, January 10, 2016 22 comments
Two things prompted this introspective
blog this morning. 1) Yesterday I was describing my virtual treks
around the world to my friends
at the gym. We're all retired. I will be 69 in June. A few people
said they couldn't do that. They don... Read more
A Tradition Unfamiliar to Me and a 12 Course Meal
Friday, January 08, 2016 16 comments
This is about food, not religion,
but yesterday Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Christmas.
This is not my tradition,
but it could have been if earlier generations had made different
decisions. DH & I were invited to parti... Read more
The Spark Effect - My Multitasking Blog
Wednesday, January 06, 2016 17 comments
DH & I are getting on
the road soon for a 6 hour drive to North Carolina. We have an
event there at 5:30 (a special dinner).
My computer is very slow right now. DH is downloading something
and satellite access out here in the country isn'... Read more
A confession: Competitive Yoga - My Goal: Be a MAINSTAY!
Monday, January 04, 2016 21 comments
I must explain that cryptic
title. I hate it when I do stupid things. I can be really hard
on myself, especially if my stupidity
affects someone else. I'm not that hard on others. We're all human
and make mistakes. Fortunately, my l... Read more
My
First Pot of Soup and the "Ultimate Challenge" is
the reason.
Saturday, January 02, 2016 26 comments
Considering that I've been
on this earth for nearly 70 years, that title must sound strange
to "real" cooks, but to
me soup is what I eat when I'm sick. Then I just open a can. Spark
Guy's Ultimate Challenge encourages us to extend spark... Read
more
New Year - New Clothes (from the clearance rack)
Friday, January 01, 2016 17 comments
I recently agreed on a Sparker's
blog that I wasn't going to buy much (if anything) new this year.
Of course, it's not all that
hard for me. After nearly 50 years together, there's not much DH
and I need that we don't already have. That means... Read more
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