Vacation is over.. time to get back on track =)

We had a blast in Minnesota!

The first few days at home I felt great.  Energized and ready to continue on our quest to get to MN and move on to the next phase of our business.

Then as the days go by, and things that you set out to do don't get done, and more days pass with no workouts.. blah blah blah becomes our life again.

I think that both D and I were so bummed to be coming home we actually got into a funk.  Into a blah routine

The same as quitting smoking..

Your food and nutrition choices can reduce your risk of cancer - the same as quitting smoking.  If you eat optimally 30 - 60% of cancers can be prevented.

The same as quitting smoking.


The SAME as quitting smoking.

Amazing.

MN Renissance Festival - 4.8 Miles

The MN Renissance Festival is set in the middle of the forest with huge permanent buildings that reside there year 'round.  Costumes/Street Clothes are about 50/50 for the visitors.  I love theatrical Minnesotans. =)



At the entrance to the Ren Fest. 

Happy Fairy

My Happy Beer Fairies

MN Trip - Dominoes is a very serious game.

Aunt Jan, Uncle Larry, Cousin Bob, Hubby D, Niece Kate. 

MN State Fair - 3.9 Miles

On Wednesday we went to the MN State Fair where all kinds of food can be found on a stick or deep fried.  I won't torture you with what we ate while we were there - but it was all pretty good. =)

The MN State Fair is huge.  They grow items on the grounds that I always find really impressive.  I was amazed at the height of the sunflowers this year.  If you notice that woman in the background, she is just over the height of the fence.  Crazy Sunflowers. =)

The building with robots was pretty cool.  We were impressed with the tire set on this unit and a few others.  The wheels are made up of smaller wheels that are on rotating casters - very cool!

One of them even had written in marker on the side:
"All your           belong to us"

On the bar below it are mechanical components from almost every sci fi movie/show we have seen.  Flux Capacitator. =)

We heard that the MN State Fair is only beat in size by the TX State Fair.  This is just ONE road of people.















That evening we had the opportunity to attend the Weird Al concert at the MN State Fair.  Just like the showman he is he had video clips, costume changes and put on an awesome show.  D laughed through the entire concert. =)

White and Nerdy

My White & Indian and Nerdy =)

Fireworks from our seat when the show was over.  Couldn't be more perfect.  I was so happy to have my best two peeps with me at such an amazing day/night.  =)

Thanks =)

MN Trip - Walk around the lake - 5.1 Miles

The month before we left for MN my routine started to fall apart.  I was focused on our trip, our business, getting ready to be gone for 10 days takes some prep. =)  I was drinking less water, sleeping less, not spending my time on ME at all.  I would gain and lose the same 6lbs over and over again throughout the month.

When I arrived in MN it was time to reset focus and start thinking about me again.

My aunt and I head out Monday morning for a walk.  She takes their two small dogs and one has a hard time walking far due to her age and so my aunt walks in loops.  Walk a blocks distance on the trail, then turn around, walk back, then turn around and walk back moving slowly down the trail.  This is fine for the one deciding when we are turning, but for the follower this can be alarming each time we turn.  I finally decide I need to break away from this loop de loop pack and head out on my own.  I have my cell phone - if I get lost I have Maps on the phone. =)

Shortly into my walk I come across this in the gutter next to where I am walking.  Road kill.  Yeah this is kinda gross but definitely struck me in that moment as I am walking to save my life - this is where we all go.  My eventual destination won't be much different than this little former creature.  Keep walking.

On the far side of the lake there is a public access area.  There is a crane in the middle of the floating walkway.

This is the view from the water's edge - I am halfway done with my walk.  I feel so alive! =)

In the end I walked around the entire lake - 5.1 Miles.  This is the farthest I have walked at one time.  It felt so great to be out in the beautiful fresh MN air. =)

 

I felt so awesome being physical active again when I got back I headed up to the Maple Grove pool for 30 minutes of laps.

I ended up getting a blister on my foot.  Wow my feet look really dry. =)

Not bad for the start of a vacation.

SparkPeople.com

I was really having a good time on The Biggest Loser Club site.  The community there is fantastic!  Boot Camps, Challenges constantly starting, archives of articles, exercise video demonstrations and the food database and ability to make changes was pretty good.

However, for a pay site - it really is lacking.  Given that we create web promotional sites for a living and I know how much it costs to implement/update tools, it was clear that the site hasn't had an updated much since its launch several years ago.  It was discouraging at times to try to explain to newbies how to get to their