Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Back with a new direction!
I had to take some time off from this blog because it was getting boring to me. Not that the blogging is boring, I just felt like all I ever did was write about being busy, what we did today, blah blah blah. While that can be an accurate view of my life, it's really just not very interesting if you're not in the middle of it!
So, while I was walking last night (6 miles!) I started thinking. I decided I was going to blog less about the blah blah blah of my life, and more about new things I'm learning, or the goings on of the world rather than just the Horde. Of course, if anything really cool happens here, I totally reserve the right to tell about it! But, when life here is blah blah blah field trip, blah blah blah pink eye, I want to have a back up.
Did that make any sense?
So, moving on...
Have you heard of neoteny? It's when adults of a species retain characteristics normally possessed by juveniles. For instance, many domesticated dogs resemble infant or even fetal wolves. There is some evidence to suggest that they are this way because we've chosen them for their "cute" qualities.
Many sources seem to consider humans to be neotenized apes, which is something to consider. Apparently we have a lot in common with fetal chimps, for instance. I'm not seeing a lot around here to indicate that humans are necessarily that much MORE developed than apes, that's for sure. Apparently we've wrecked the dogs, if nothing else!
This is the sort of stuff I think about when I'm walking. Well that and, "Why did I sign up to do this?" and "Man, I have to pee."
We won't be here much tomorrow, as it's Davin's birthday and we've got plans for almost the whole day.
See you soon!
.*.*.
So, while I was walking last night (6 miles!) I started thinking. I decided I was going to blog less about the blah blah blah of my life, and more about new things I'm learning, or the goings on of the world rather than just the Horde. Of course, if anything really cool happens here, I totally reserve the right to tell about it! But, when life here is blah blah blah field trip, blah blah blah pink eye, I want to have a back up.
Did that make any sense?
So, moving on...
Have you heard of neoteny? It's when adults of a species retain characteristics normally possessed by juveniles. For instance, many domesticated dogs resemble infant or even fetal wolves. There is some evidence to suggest that they are this way because we've chosen them for their "cute" qualities.
Many sources seem to consider humans to be neotenized apes, which is something to consider. Apparently we have a lot in common with fetal chimps, for instance. I'm not seeing a lot around here to indicate that humans are necessarily that much MORE developed than apes, that's for sure. Apparently we've wrecked the dogs, if nothing else!
This is the sort of stuff I think about when I'm walking. Well that and, "Why did I sign up to do this?" and "Man, I have to pee."
We won't be here much tomorrow, as it's Davin's birthday and we've got plans for almost the whole day.
See you soon!
Labels: holiday, neoteny, walking
.*.*.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Yo Yo Down
I've gained and lost the same 50ish pounds a few times since 1999. Right now I'm on an upswing, and it's really bothering me.
I don't care so much about how I look, really I don't care how anyone looks. But, I do care that my clothes don't fit, and I feel the excess weight is exacerbating my fibro symptoms. Also, it's just a bunch of extra me I'll be hauling for 30 miles when I do my Challenge Walk.
So, I've decided to try to lose some weight before I go. I started about a month ago, and I've lost 14 pounds so far. There's a LOT to go, but I feel good that I'm going in the right direction :-)
To do that, I've had to cut my calories drastically (darn metabolism) even with all the walking I'm doing. And, since our trip to Iowa, I'm back on the Diet Coke and I don't even care! When you're playing with 1000-1200 calories a day, a can (or more) of 0 calorie frosty goodness is awfully appealing.
Anyway, that's what's up, or down I guess, with me...
.*.*.
I don't care so much about how I look, really I don't care how anyone looks. But, I do care that my clothes don't fit, and I feel the excess weight is exacerbating my fibro symptoms. Also, it's just a bunch of extra me I'll be hauling for 30 miles when I do my Challenge Walk.
So, I've decided to try to lose some weight before I go. I started about a month ago, and I've lost 14 pounds so far. There's a LOT to go, but I feel good that I'm going in the right direction :-)
To do that, I've had to cut my calories drastically (darn metabolism) even with all the walking I'm doing. And, since our trip to Iowa, I'm back on the Diet Coke and I don't even care! When you're playing with 1000-1200 calories a day, a can (or more) of 0 calorie frosty goodness is awfully appealing.
Anyway, that's what's up, or down I guess, with me...
Labels: MS Walk, walking, weight loss
.*.*.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
30 Miles in 2 days!
I've been spending a lot of time walking (and I haven't even gotten lost except for that one day. Aren't you proud?) I've been trying to increase my distance since early last month when I decided to do the MS Challenge Walk this October in PA.
It's 30 miles in 2 days, and I REALLY WANT to do it. I was pretty sedentery until December, so I'm starting slow. But, I have 9 more months to train, and I'm confident I can do it!
If you want to see my personal page (and maybe even donate a tiny bit) go ahead and click here: Jen's MS Challenge Walk Page. (You can find a secret if you check here, it's my real last name. Shhhhh!)
My mom has MS, so this is really close to my heart. She was diagnosed over 10 years ago, and not a lot has changed as far as treatments for her in that time.
In the next few days, I'm going to start a blog just to track my training and donations, and I'll let you know when it's ready.
Thanks for being so patient with me!
.*.*.
It's 30 miles in 2 days, and I REALLY WANT to do it. I was pretty sedentery until December, so I'm starting slow. But, I have 9 more months to train, and I'm confident I can do it!
If you want to see my personal page (and maybe even donate a tiny bit) go ahead and click here: Jen's MS Challenge Walk Page. (You can find a secret if you check here, it's my real last name. Shhhhh!)
My mom has MS, so this is really close to my heart. She was diagnosed over 10 years ago, and not a lot has changed as far as treatments for her in that time.
In the next few days, I'm going to start a blog just to track my training and donations, and I'll let you know when it's ready.
Thanks for being so patient with me!
.*.*.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Life is going on and on and on!
Wow, it's been SOOOOO busy here!
I don't know if you all remember, but a few months ago we got a houseguest, she's staying here while she is going through a (rather nasty) divorce. Well, a lot has changed here recently, and her kids are coming over to visit her here several times a week, and every other weekend. It's TOTALLY AWESOME to see them, but it's hectic here because that makes 9 kids in the house pretty regularly. So, it's chaos, but a good kind of chaos.
I've been doing a lot more walking, I'm gearing up for a long walk in the fall. I'll give you more details when I iron them out. I'm up to 10-12 miles a week, and I haven't gotten lost again! Plus, today, I met another woman who was out walking, and we exchanged phone numbers so I may have a walking buddy right in my neighborhood!
in about 15 minutes, we'll be doing signups for our homeschool group's co-op. Tomorrow I will try to come back in and let you all know what we're going to be doing, unless the 9 kids thing overwhelms me, in which case I'll be back on Monday!
.*.*.
I don't know if you all remember, but a few months ago we got a houseguest, she's staying here while she is going through a (rather nasty) divorce. Well, a lot has changed here recently, and her kids are coming over to visit her here several times a week, and every other weekend. It's TOTALLY AWESOME to see them, but it's hectic here because that makes 9 kids in the house pretty regularly. So, it's chaos, but a good kind of chaos.
I've been doing a lot more walking, I'm gearing up for a long walk in the fall. I'll give you more details when I iron them out. I'm up to 10-12 miles a week, and I haven't gotten lost again! Plus, today, I met another woman who was out walking, and we exchanged phone numbers so I may have a walking buddy right in my neighborhood!
in about 15 minutes, we'll be doing signups for our homeschool group's co-op. Tomorrow I will try to come back in and let you all know what we're going to be doing, unless the 9 kids thing overwhelms me, in which case I'll be back on Monday!
Labels: homeschooling, walking
.*.*.
