Let Me Start Again

Exercise.  I need exercise.

I've started running again.  I am hoping I can get back to the groove of running in the morning and doing some other exercise in between.

Last Saturday afternoon, I ran for about 15 minutes (and walked some distance).  It was a good run.  Then yesterday, Ardi and I exercised together.

That's a good start, I think.  Now if I can only get past the aching muscles.

Give Me a Hand

I finished the book and I completed all thirty lessons by 03 August.  

So the author WAS right ... you CAN draw in 30 days.

Don't you think Mai and I deserved a big hand?

LESSON 30:  YOUR HAND OF CREATIVITY 

Mai's hand ... 

my hand ...

(Of course, even after those thirty lessons, I still don't know for sure if I can draw a decent house, airplane and donut/bagel.)

Small Circle, Small Circle, Big Circle

Aside from the straight lines, I also thoroughly enjoyed drawing the spheres. 

I was quite impressed when I was able to get some texture in the Advanced Level Spheres lesson. I never imagined that a bunch of spiky and squiggly lines could provide such effects.

When we were small, we would draw those koala bears using the song, 'small circle, small circle, big circle (that would make the face of the bear where the small circles were the eyes and the big circle going around the two small circles made the face), six times six, six times six ... thirty six (that would make the arms and then legs of the bear where the first two sixes made the arms and the last two would make the legs)'.  It didn't make for a very impressive bear, but it did remind you what six times six was equal to (plus it got a big laugh from Ardi when I showed him the bear that came with the "song").  

Below is the koala from Lesson 8.  I surprised myself.  I think I've come a long way from the small circle, small circle, big circle bear.

July Journey

I borrowed the book You Can Draw In 30 Days by Mark Kistler from the library.

http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Draw-30-Days/dp/0738212415

Mai and I started our drawing journey on the 03 July.  We  figured we'd be able to finish all thirty lessons before the library book was due.


Mai was able to finish all the lessons by the end of July.  All her work on the thirty lesson is posted in my (slightly more public)  blog.   Below are the sketches I am particularly proud of.

The Rose was Lesson 9.   This was drawn on 08 July, meaning we'd managed to squeeze in nine lessons in just five days.

The Lily was Lesson 14.  This is my bonus challenge sketch.  The core lesson was to draw a single lily.

Lesson 16: The Wave, surprised me. It looks so pretty and I actually sketched this.  Can you believe it?  

Based on the date, I was already one day late on my lessons by this time.  Mai was still on track, and possibly ahead already, but I didn't mind.  I was just happy to draw.

The Rippling Flag bonus challenge of Lesson 17.  These started off as five cylinders, can you imagine?

Beauty in the simplicity of Lesson 23 : A City in One Point Perspective.  

I love perspective.  I had a book on perspective back in Manila but I never really sat down and drew.  So, in spite the fact that this sketch is just a combination of straight lines, I still love it.

Moving right along, we see A Castle in Two Point Perspective c/o Lesson 25.  This was drawn on 27 July, by this time, I was already two days delayed in my lessons!

I needed a couple of extra days to finish my last drawing.   The book had already been renewed once meaning I would have to return it unless I wanted to pay a fine.   

As mentioned, Mai was already done by the end of July.  When I checked my mail on 03 August before going to work, I found a  library notice reminding me that the book was due on the 4th.  I forwarded the library notice to Mai with a message saying "Oh no!!!!! I have draw tonight!"   On my way back from work, I found this encouraging reply from Mai, "Draw! Draw! Draw!"

Guilty as Charged!

Look at the date, oh my goodness how fast time flies.  It is almost August.

I admit it.  I didn't get much exercise this month.

I was busy... doing other things...

(So although the label of this blog post is EXERCISE, it is more like :  EXERCISE ... NOT!)

First Winter Run

I knew this would happen.  The winter cold is too good an excuse not to use for staying indoors.  But of course this excuse can only go so far.  I knew that I would eventually stop fooling myself and get myself back out there.

I haven't been exercising and I am actually scared to step on a scale.  My only consolation is that I can still zip up my pants, so I guess I'm still ok. 

Anyway, it was the birthday of Poppop's brother yesterday and he'd sent us a message saying since we were all invited to his birthday dinner.  Menu consisted of an entree of oignon de frit, our choice of mains (beef or pork medley), char-grilled chicken, beef and greens), siding of pomme frites, and dessert of chilled vanilla bean creme with choice of swirl.     In other words, dinner was at Hungry Jack's and we could have onion rings and french fries, a choice of the burger, bacon deluxe or chicken meal, plus our choice of sundae.

Without dinner to worry about (and the thought of burger and fries for dinner), I decided it was about time I went out again and braved the cold.

Off I went in my running shoes and shorts.  (Even I surprised myself.  Me in shorts?  And in the winter no less!  Don't worry, I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and a cap, too.)  As I was leaving the house, Gino commented that my legs might get cold.  I told him that I was hoping the run would warm me up.  

It was almost 5 pm so the sun had almost set.  As I started my run, I could feel my body taking its time to warm up.  In fact, the thoughts that crossed my mind involved 'sebo' (grease) and blubber. 

Gosh, it has been a long time since I have gone outside to run.

I didn't want to overdo it because it HAS been a long time.  

I decided to run the length of Parsonage instead of going through my Coolong loops or Old Northern Road stretch.  I went up Parsonage all the way to Windsor Road, then headed back.  

I did a solid twenty-minute run, which I thought was pretty good considering when I first started this journey in February, the 20-minute run was my initial goal.  

I brisk walked the rest of the way home.  

I honestly don't know if I'll be able to manage a second winter run.  It is way too cold in the mornings and by the time I get home, it is dark.  But I figure, at least I was able to go out this once.

No Butts About It

Ardi was down with bronchitis the other week.  It is the weather, I tell you.   He was much better this week.  Yesterday he said he was ready to resume his exercise routine.

"Do you want to exercise with me, Mom?"

Tell me, how can one refuse such an offer?  I couldn't.  

I could have though.  I could have refused.  I could have come up with half a dozen good reasons. 

I could have simply said NO.  

But since it has been quite a while since I've gone out for a run (it just keeps getting colder and colder out there) and I haven't gotten any sort of exercise (outside of mini-dashes towards the bus stop), I figured it would be as good a time as any to exercise.

So I said, "Sure!"

Sure ... sure ... sure I said 'sure.'  That was yesterday.

Ouch ... ouch ... now all I can say is 'OUCH.'

I don't know what it is about exercising with Ardi.   When I do the routine on my own, I go through the motions and the counts.  Of course I do it without the benefit of Ardi's watchful eyes and interjected advise like 'do not let your elbows touch down' or 'try not to lean forward' or 'breathe in as you go down, breathe out as you come up.'  I go through exercises he has taught me and wake up the next day without any aching bones nor painful muscles. 

But EVERY SINGLE TIME I have done the "same" routine with Ardi nearby, I wake up with sore body parts.

Yes, indeed.  Today, my butt is aching.  

[Pardon me.  I think the proper way to say it Down Under is 'my bum is aching.']