Elliptical

All together now: say e-l-l-i-p-t-i-c-a-l. That's right - elliptical. I know it sounds like a shape, and maybe that's what I'll have after a while - a shape!

I have always enjoyed fast walking as my favorite exercise, either outdoors or on a treadmill. However, because my right heel has been giving me so much pain, it's been almost impossible to accomplish. I've only gone to the gym once a week for three weeks in a row. Dick has been encouraging me to try the elliptical machine at the gym, so today I did. What a workout! I was only on it half as long as I have usually gone on the tread mill, I walked only half as far, I burned half the amount of calories, but I was exhausted from it. My heart rate was much higher than it normally was on the treadmill, I was sweating, and my legs felt like jelly afterward. But my heel did not hurt while on it, so I guess I will switch my allegiance to the elliptical.

Unfortunately, Valentine's Day falls on a Thursday this year, the evening that Dick works at Advance Auto Parts, so we aren't doing anything special this evening. But he did have some chocolates on the counter for me when I got home from the gym. I found a neat card for him that said:

Whenever I see an older couple
holding hands, I pause.
I imagine all they have experienced-
jobs, maybe children,
worries, vacations,
homes, disappointments,
tragedies, joys,
I see their entwined fingers.
I see them walking
in perfect cadence,
comfortable in being quiet.
I see in them the gentle joy
that a lifetime of loving can give.
And I look forward
to the privilege
of growing old
and holding hands
with you.

Happy Valentine's Day

Twenty-eight years ago Valentine's Day was also on a Thursday and I was great with child. At 7:30 PM it became obvious that Jeremy was going to make his grand entrance into the world. I thought I would be having a Valentine's baby, but he wanted his own special day and waited until 12:45 AM. Jeremy has been making grand entrances ever since! I'll post a picture of him tomorrow on his birthday.