Why thank you , Bonnie!

Would you like my advice regarding the knee? I am, after all, an MD.

Bonnie, lol! I actually went through the smileys page to see what you were trying to tell me! I hope you get your knee problem worked out soon.

Rant: I asked my boss for time off this afternoon - nothing in my appointment book and things are very quiet. She said "No."
Rave: She changed her mind a few minutes ago!
Great about your checkup, Jor - and condolences to those with aches and pains.
I'm off to the farmers' market nearby and then home to my garden. There are tomatoes to pick, as well as some lavender blossoms - and the eggplants are flowering. (My grandkids are a bit confused about eggplants in the garden, for obvious reasons.)

Rave: Sunday - Leaving for Shendandoah National Park with DH and sons for a week of tent camping, book reading, game playing, and a little bit of hiking! Hope I remember to pack my bear spray! :)

No rants at all!

Bonniebroad, six weeks is about the life span of your sneakers since you are walking every day. Since you are about 5 weeks, they are about done.

If you are wearing them around when you are not exercising, this is adding to the breakdown of the support.

BTW, sneakers do not have to be expensive to work.

My qualifications for this is that I am an AFAA certified aerobics instructor, step aerobics, and personal trainer. AFAA qualifications are very hard so my advice isn't coming lightly.

My tennies must be beyond dead. I run about 6 miles per day -- sometimes up to 12 -- and I've had the same stinky pair for over a year.
:-&

They're so comfy, though. I hate to give them up.

\:D/
1) Finally got to go golfing yesterday for the first time this year since January on Kauai!!!

2) Tore up the front nine with a 42! Very good for me!

:-@
1) Literally tore up the course on the back nine....then tore up the scorecard.
"Kal's Landscaping Co".

2) Everything aches today!

B'broad. Do you "ice"? I got Mrs Kal to ice down after a run or walk and a lot of pain was gone.
Either use bags of frozen peas or freeze some Dixie Cups, tear off the top 1-2" and give yourself an ice massage in the sore areas.
Oh..and I also read recently that red wine is good for fighting inflammation! ((Y))

jor-Congrats on the skin stuff!
Before Lasik eye surgery, I always bought my "goggles thru Costco, Priceclub, et al, too. Saved a bundle.
Now I'll buy non-'scrip sun glasses there!

My feet are so big I don't wear "tennies" anymore...I wear "twenties". 8-}

Summer is over in southcentral Alaska (Anchorage) - heavy rains for the past 2 days, flash flooding on some streets, and 3 houses struck by lightning 3 nights ago!

But we did have a great summer!!

Rant:
I'm jealous of Doc sailing! Where do you sail? This is our first season boatless!
Rave:
Just closed on our new condo yesterday and we're back home after being gone 16yrs.

Happy Friday to all!

Rave: School shopping is almost done and school starts next Thursday! (wilst singing the song on the Staples TV ad "Happy Days Are Here Again") =D>
Rave: Going to the beach tomorrow (w/no kids) for the first time this summer, I can actually close my eyes and relax! The weather is supposed to be 85 and sunny!
Rave: Going to Kenny Chesney outdoor concert tonight! ((d))
Rant: Chances are he won't pick me out of the crowd and bring me back to his retreat on St. John...shucks =;
Rave: Best wishes to all for health, wealth and happy travels! **==

Rave: DH finalized flights for Hawaii in May, 2005! Had to leave 8 days earlier than planned to use FF miles.

Rant: Gonna fly coach this time.

Rave: By flying coach, we will still have 3 more free trips to Hawaii even if we never pay for another ticket!

Sam, the Staples ad I see most frequently is the one where the kid is mad shopping for school supplies and she says.."I thought you said, school's out forever" And Alice Cooper appears and says no...I said "School's out for summer". I have been singing this song over and over and over!

I'm a workout fanatic and not a doctor so I will offer one last bit of advice, if your feet tend to pronate at all this can cause problems, hence a good orthotic for your shoes. And Go is right about changing your shoes.

Hey Go Travel..I thought about getting my AFAA but haven't done it yet. Too much going on. Do you do double step? One of my favorite classes! :-)

Rave: the tree trimmers came today to remove the huge tree (about 75 feet) that uprooted in Charlety and has been leaning against our three story condos, causing minimal damage to the eves and roof. It was the messiest tree in the world and I'm glad to be rid of it.

Rant: two of the six owners are having fits because they wanted the tree stood back up so it would "re root".

Condos!!

Well, guys, talked to the Fitness Director at our Y. As for the shoes, I have only used them for 3 of the last four weeks, to walk two miles a day, no other use.......... don't wear them otherwise so no way is it the shoes. The Fitness Director at the Y says he also wears New Balance, considers them one of the very best, and that I should get at least six months out of them, walking two to three miles a day, and most people wear them much longer. He also advised me to talk to their physical therapist and trainers regarding the knee pain, which I shall do next week.

GoTravel, my brother is a long-time marathon walker/runner, does 6 to 8 miles at least 4 times a week, wears Etonics, takes great care of himself, and I know that he does not get new shoes that often. He couldn't afford it! :-) But I much appreciate your concern and advice, and I'm sure I will get to the bottom of this. The director talked to me about my gait, HOW I'm walking, said that could really affect your knees...... so will keep you posted.

Happy Friday all!

Buckeyemom, I haven't taught a class in some time but I taught double step and triple step (one step on each side and one in front).

The book you need to buy is quite overwhelming but you must buy it. The best way to study is to find a buddy to get certified with. You can get your basic aerobics certification without getting your step certification. You must learn all the muscle groups by name (PIA).

AFAA is big on teaching in 8 counts to the music. All step combinations must be in 4 sets of 8 to the music. Example; basic right step, basic left, right V step, left V step, 2 turn steps, over the top, back over the top. If you count it out you have 64 counts. That was one of the hardest things for me.

Another biggie is actually calling the steps. Practice at home. You would be surprised how hard it can be.

Lastly, you must get your CPR certification by the Red Cross.

It's worth it. You work out for free.

One last thing, one of the hard things about teaching is making sure that everyone from the 65 year old first time student to the 18 year old that wants your job student gets a good workout.

Do it. It's fun!

Martha, how are you not crippled?

I don't ever pay more than $30 for workout shoes. I always buy them on sale.

Sports Authority just had a big 2 for $40 sale and I bought the same two pair of Saucony's for $40.

ElendilPickle, thanks but the Wal-Mart in my town does not have an optical department. I got my glasses at Wal-Mart where I used to live a few years back. I found an optical store today that gives a 20% discount because I have Blue Cross insurance (which doesn't even cover eye glasses).

Thank you to some of you who congratulated my skin cancer checkup. I had a few "suspisious" spots frozen off but no biopsy samples taken for the first time!

Hey everybody, use a screen in the sun and have fun. 8-)

Patrick, Thats a hoot that some of the owners wanted the 75 ft. tree stood back up to re root. There is not way it would survive. That's like expecting the Christmas tree to take root in the living room!

GoTravel-I am also a Group Ex. instructor and Personal Trainer (actually, I don't train anymore-I was last in the position of District Fitness Mngr for a large chain in California). But I do still teach step-love teaching and have taught for 17 yearss-yikes! Makes me sound older than my 33 years. I have ACE and NASM. The latter is quite possibly the best PT certification you can obtain-great people, I worked with them personally. Blah blah blah...anyway,

RANT: These FREAKIN allergies.

RANT: My baby girl is going through a rough patch with sleeping. Just when you think you've got it down...

RAVE: She's sitting up!

Jor, I agree that Costco has great prices on eyeglasses. My eye doctor wanted almost $400 for progressive trifocals. I went to Costco the next year, used their eye doctor and the total cost was less that $140. AND my insurance covered as much as they would have at my other eye doctor. I only buy my glasses at Costco now.