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Jan. 6th, 2005 09:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ellyssianSnow and Ice
The drive home last night started off with rain, gradually turned into some sleet as I approached the farm-line, and didn't become snow until after I crossed the Kittatinny Ridge. Nothing was sticking on the ground until I was almost home - our local wooded area always seems to attract more rain/fog/snow than the surrounding area.
A number of trees are leaning from the ice. A native hemlock and a leyland cypress were folded in half - Justin removed as much of the weighty snow as possible, hopefully they'll stretch out a bit as the sun clears the ice from their needles. The tops of the cherry trees - which already tend to bend - were nearly touching the ground. An oak or maple lost a large 20x15' branch across the driveway - didn't verify which tree it came from. Justin and I were able to drag it up to the top of the driveway and into the woods a bit.
The roads, however were quite clear, and by the time I got below the Ridge, the fields looked like my yard had the previous night. By the end of the middle third of the way in, the snow was barely a dusting. Thankfully, snow and ice weren't present here in Bethlehem - that might have been dangerous just through the incompetence of the road maintenance.
Despite all that, still nothing to call school on yesterday, and worth the 1-2 hour delay most area schools called.
Exercise
With the asthma settling down, I've been able to get back to a regular workout. Sooner or later I'll build up some more strength in my lungs, and hopefully the asthma will diminish or disappear. I'm less confident that the blood pressure or cholesterol will get below levels where medication is needed, but they certainly get a more immediate minor improvement, so you never know.
Currently, Justin and I are alternating the core exercises with a short-form of the core and a some Jeet Kune Do. We're only doing a handful of the core stuff, as we were still building slowly when the asthma kicked in a little less than a month ago. Eventually, that will build, and we'll also cycle in some Qi Gong, Yoga, and Pilates workouts, to alternate with the Jeet Kune Do.
We're also supplementing in the evening, on one of the trampolines the kids received for Christmas. At this point, I'm probably too close to the 220lb weight limit, but it's proving excellent to bring Justin up to an eye-to-eye level with me, as Justin blocks and I attack. Although Deb has Justin and Rachel spending some time jogging on it each day, we're using it to focus Justin's balance and to help him gain confidence in holding his ground. One of his biggest faults when sparring - and it has been, even when he was first training at a school against opponents his own size - is that he constantly withdraws, to the point of putting himself up against a wall, or tripping and falling over obstacles behind him. Not that withdrawing from a real fight is bad - it's really the best thing to do - but it must be done in a controlled manner. We've only done a couple of sessions, but he's already feeling more confident, and stepping off the trampoline less.
The drive home last night started off with rain, gradually turned into some sleet as I approached the farm-line, and didn't become snow until after I crossed the Kittatinny Ridge. Nothing was sticking on the ground until I was almost home - our local wooded area always seems to attract more rain/fog/snow than the surrounding area.
A number of trees are leaning from the ice. A native hemlock and a leyland cypress were folded in half - Justin removed as much of the weighty snow as possible, hopefully they'll stretch out a bit as the sun clears the ice from their needles. The tops of the cherry trees - which already tend to bend - were nearly touching the ground. An oak or maple lost a large 20x15' branch across the driveway - didn't verify which tree it came from. Justin and I were able to drag it up to the top of the driveway and into the woods a bit.
The roads, however were quite clear, and by the time I got below the Ridge, the fields looked like my yard had the previous night. By the end of the middle third of the way in, the snow was barely a dusting. Thankfully, snow and ice weren't present here in Bethlehem - that might have been dangerous just through the incompetence of the road maintenance.
Despite all that, still nothing to call school on yesterday, and worth the 1-2 hour delay most area schools called.
Exercise
With the asthma settling down, I've been able to get back to a regular workout. Sooner or later I'll build up some more strength in my lungs, and hopefully the asthma will diminish or disappear. I'm less confident that the blood pressure or cholesterol will get below levels where medication is needed, but they certainly get a more immediate minor improvement, so you never know.
Currently, Justin and I are alternating the core exercises with a short-form of the core and a some Jeet Kune Do. We're only doing a handful of the core stuff, as we were still building slowly when the asthma kicked in a little less than a month ago. Eventually, that will build, and we'll also cycle in some Qi Gong, Yoga, and Pilates workouts, to alternate with the Jeet Kune Do.
We're also supplementing in the evening, on one of the trampolines the kids received for Christmas. At this point, I'm probably too close to the 220lb weight limit, but it's proving excellent to bring Justin up to an eye-to-eye level with me, as Justin blocks and I attack. Although Deb has Justin and Rachel spending some time jogging on it each day, we're using it to focus Justin's balance and to help him gain confidence in holding his ground. One of his biggest faults when sparring - and it has been, even when he was first training at a school against opponents his own size - is that he constantly withdraws, to the point of putting himself up against a wall, or tripping and falling over obstacles behind him. Not that withdrawing from a real fight is bad - it's really the best thing to do - but it must be done in a controlled manner. We've only done a couple of sessions, but he's already feeling more confident, and stepping off the trampoline less.
