madameblogalot

While doing my morning cycling during my stay in Singapore, I did not often enough have a camera with me. I know better than this based on past experiences! I did get a couple of shots to share. One morning I got a nice photo of the sun rise but I took it with a borrowed cell phone and don’t have it here. Next time I need to try to remember to get a shot of all the traffic that I am riding with. This is probably the scariest part for me! I did get a good work out each time I cycled as I am not used to the hilly terrain. And for aneven better work out, my sister put me on a bike that needed servicing! Then she was kind enough to trade bikes with me on our return home! Here are some of the sights seen while cycling:

bikes loaded up to head to cycling path

the end of Yishun cycling path

looking across, I believe that is Malaysia across the sea in the background

don’t know what this tree is, just thought it was pretty

DON’T FEED THE MONKEYS

path at Admiralty Park

the monkeys

My daughter and I leave today for an extended trip overseas to visit my sister. The guys will be staying here holding down the home front. This is a first for our family. I am really torn. I am excited and looking forward to our trip, particularly the warm weather! At the same time, I am worried about the guys being “home alone”. I know it will be good, for all of us. I know it will be fun and something we will treasure always. So, in just a few hours, we’re off!

A friend of mine just told me she thinks they will be getting a house soon. She is very happy as she has three young kids of her own and now her teenaged stepson is living with them too. Now is a great time for their family to get a new house. I would think that the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit that is still available will really help them out as well. This young family is one for whom this kind of credit makes sense. They are a young family with both parents working and doing the best they can to provide for their kids. I know the $8000 credit will only benefit them. I hope this all works out for them!

While watching Texas Country Reporter last night, we came across a great program taking place not too very far from us. It is called Tour de Hood . Dr. Veon McReynolds has in effect started an inner city cycling club. This cycling group is for all ages and abilities. He has collected an array of bicycles and allows folks to come out on Saturday mornings for a ride. The ride is at an easy pace for everyone to enjoy. At the halfway point, there is a break for fruit and water. Helmets, bikes, snacks, and even t shirts to wear are all provide to participants at no cost. All are invited to join. You can bring your own bike if you prefer. And if you have a bike that is not working, you are invited to come on Fridays and they will help you fix it! Dr. McReynolds is also wanting to get a few three wheeled bikes so that senior citizens who don’t feel comfortable on a bicycle will still be able to join in the fun of each week’s ride.

For his birthday, my son’s only real request was a car. The one he has been driving has been on its last leg since it was flooded last April. It still has that wet car reek, and it doesn’t run well. We told him we could not nor would not get him another. Since then, the Jeep has pretty much quit. Even my husband agreed our son really should not drive it. So now my son is in the market to look at used cars. He has enough money in the bank to look for an affordable older car.

I found one website where you can search through the models you want, looking for used ford cars, used volkswagen cars or whatever other model you are interested in. Unfortunately for my son, these cars are located in the UK. But I know this type of service is very convenient for those who would benefit from such an easy search tool. I like how you can just get a quick look at the car and its info before having to contact the seller about it.

Since I have my orthotics now, I had to get some neutral fit shoes to accommodate them. I went to the running shoe store we usually buy from. I told them what I needed and they showed me four pair to choose from. I actually ended up getting the men’s version of a New Balance model. Afterward, I stopped by Academy to look for a pair of walking around shoes. I noticed they had the exact same pair of shoes I had just bought. For $35 cheaper! I was torn. I wanted to get the significantly better price but I wanted to give business to the folks who had spent time helping me out. So after calling my husband and figuring out how to best handle it, I went back to On The Run and talked with them. They matched Academy’s price! If you are in my area and need a good place to buy running shoes, be sure to head to On The Run. They’ll do you right!

The Hollow Hills: I finished this second book in the Merlin trilogy this month. Again it was a good escape and I enjoyed reading the legend from Merlin’s point of view. I liked how the title resonated throughout the story. I would say this was a HIT for me.

The Last Enchantment: I also finished the last book in the Merlin trilogy this month. This part of the story did not captivate me quite as much and I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because I’m not familiar enough with the legend (I didn’t know about Merlin’s assistant-although my son did!) Or maybe it was all the editing errors in this edition. I find that so distracting. Although it’s a long book, there were several errors. I found it strange since I had been reading a large hard back copy which contained all three of the books in one edition (I did read The Crystal Cave in its own edition.) Overall, I still found myself wanting to get back to the story when I’d missed a couple of days. I guess I would rate it as a HIT too.

The City of Ember: My daughter and I watched this movie together. Although it was not outstanding, it was fun enough. My daughter liked the young girl who played in the movie. I thought the show was a little weird in spots but it was watchable and adventuresome enough for older kids. There was no bad language. And it did make me want to find the original book. So I guess that’s enough to make it a HIT for me.

Dancing at Lughnasa: I had never heard of this show before. Nor had I heard of the pagan holiday of Lughnasa. I was drawn into this version of the stage play put on by an area high school. I was impressed with the composure and maturity exuded by the young actors. And they did a pretty good job with the Irish accents as well. I found much of the show interesting and could relate to the character of the oldest sister maybe a little too much. I am not sure if the show is depressing or not. But I give this rendition a HIT.

Among the Impostors: This second book in the Shadow Children series is filled with mystery and plot twists. It is easy to read and easy to get absorbed into. My daughter was excited to get it from the library and finish it in just over an hour! Of course, then I had to read it! This story was also a HIT with me.

Among the Betrayed: Not much more than an hour after finishing the second Shadow Children book, my daughter finished this one and asked what the next one is! This book was a bit confusing at the beginning, as the story continues to twist and turn on itself. My daughter and I both found it a HIT.

The Wicked Day: I finished the last book in the Arthur series. This one has little to do with Merlin and finishes the story about Arthur and Mordred, again told from a different point of view from most Arthurian legends. I did not know much about the end of the saga so was interested in reading this. Though I am not sure where the differences lie in this retelling, the author states that she approaches the story telling it with a view as to why and how Mordred became Arthur’s bane and doom. I agree with the author in the fact that the way Arthur is portrayed in the end (of the legend) seems to nearly contradict what he had been before. I also learned that about the real Mordred, very little is said and that most of what is said about him in surviving legend is simply made up and romanticized (incidentally, that is the case too with the character Lancelot whose real name was Bediver or Bedwyn.) Again I was able to lose myself in the story. Overall, I guess I would call it a HIT as well.

The Other Side of Heaven: is a movie about a Mormon missionary to Tonga in the 1950s. The story was fine, interesting even. And the scenery breath taking. But there were some things I just questioned as to how accurate they were. I know Hollywood often takes liberties in these kinds of movies. But I questioned things like the clothes worn by the natives and how they got certain items. And the storm towards the end of the show was overdone. The show was neither a HIT or a MISS with me.

Among the Barons: This next in the Shadow Children series is again filled with mystery and plot twists. I really enjoyed this next installment of the story. I rate it as a HIT.

Among the Brave: Seems as if we are flying through this kids’ series.
This book made me think of the Nazis, Again, I like the twists in the story. I do wonder though how the adults all listen to the kids! At any rate, I still rate it a HIT.

The Screwtape Letters: The stage production of C.S. Lewis’ book is absolutely excellent! Max McLean did an outstanding job, as did Karen Eleanor Wright. I love the way the set was done. I would love to see this production again. This one was a big HIT with my entire family.

My dad called to tell me there is an upcoming Get Motivated seminar in our area. I had never heard of this before. So I checked out the website. Though it’s touted as business seminar, it seems to be a day of motivating speakers, learning how to get the best out of yourself and your daily interactions. It looks to be an eventful day filled with inspiring talks by Colin Powell, Sarah Palin, Lou Holtz, Zig Zigler and others. It sounds like they will really put on a show, utilizing pyrotechnics, live music and special effects. They say this is a seminar for everyone!

I just came across a video blurb for Raj Patel’s newest book The Value of Nothing. I have never read or heard anything put out by Patel, but I found the ideas presented in this new book to be very thought provoking.

Patel strives to bring out the ideas of over-consumption, something that I do believe most of us in modern America struggle with. I like how he juxtaposes the value we have placed on certain items, such as factories vs. forests and “value meals” vs. vegetables and fruits. Just from watching the video, I would be interested in the reading through the book to see what ideas he is really presenting. I don’t want to go to an extreme, say, where the trees or animals have more value than a human life, but I do think it’s time the pendulum gets balanced.

I think that it is time to re-evaluate where we all are in our lives, in history and what kind of legacy we want to leave those coming behind us. I don’t think that all of what has brought us here is evil, but I do think it’s important to see how we got where we are and how we can improve on areas that need improvement. I think that is part of learning. I tell my daughter that is exactly why we have to study history.

I know we will not be on this earth forever. I do believe it too will pass away. But as long as we are here I believe we are called to be the best stewards of it that we can be. I am going to check out the chance win a copy of this new book. It should at least provide some very interesting reading and some really good things to think about.

Today’s training called for a short swim, 21 minutes. I was glad for the “rest” since I was hurting after my hour on the elliptical machine last night. But I wanted to do something different. Usually I just swim a slow, steady pace lap after lap. I had talked to one lady who is now doing triathlons in her 60s! Her daughter had told her to increase her speed to swim four laps as fast as you can then rest. Well, I knew I couldn’t swim four laps fast, so I tried for two laps fast*, then a lap of breast stroke.

Wow! I was struggling after the first lap! But I did three sets of these. Then, I did on lap fast and a length breast stroke. I think I did four sets of those. After I was done I was glad. And if felt good to do something different. Since I had wanted to quit after that first set, I rewarded myself with five minutes in the hot tub after I finished!

*fast is a relative term. I just did my own version of “fast”. I am pretty sure it was faster than my regular stroke!