We dislike strength training. A lot.

Brain cancer is...

 ...doing what's necessary.

Walking brings us joy, from start to finish.  We find it easy to put on our tennies and head out the door.  We love looking at the sky, varied landscapes, and awesome creatures.  We like saying hello to other walkers.  All of it!

Strength training?  Yucky.  From start to finish.  We find it hard to begin, and it's hard all the way till the last set of shoulder raises.

We know--in our heads--all the reasons strength training is important.  "Flexibility and muscular strength and endurance are key components of fitness."  "Muscle burns more calories than fat."  Blah blah blah.

It's not that we don't know what to do.  We both have thrice weekly strength training schedules that include calisthenics (push ups, sit ups, and the like) and light free-weight lifting.    It's just that we find so many excuses not to follow through.

Today we followed through.   (Above you see Darrell illustrating the Optune version of the weighted crunch in our home gym/rumpus room.)

Here are three things that just may keep us training:

• The mood elevating effect of strength training is pronounced and seems to stick around for us, even longer than for walking.
• The next morning we often wake up and say, "Dang! Our arms look goood!"
• Now that all of California is having a stay-cation, we may be out of excuses.  Sigh.

Happy Friday Evening at Home, Team D!

Today's bloom

Front Yard Camellia

California's Executive Order N-33-20

Brain cancer is...

 ...staying at home, but not without love from friends.

Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-33-20 (here) requires Californians to mostly stay at home starting tonight at midnight. 

Everything we read thus far recognizes activities such as food shopping and caring for loved ones as "essential activities."  It appears that exercise outdoors, such as walking--when undertaken in small groups and with social distancing--is also seen as an essential activity.   We hope for more clarification in the coming hours.

Today was a good dry-run for "staying home" for us.  We were mostly at home and never got within a couple meters of others.  Nonetheless, it was a great day.  Hey...that sounds like most of our days!

Above you see that our porch remains ever so magical with a playful dinner (grilled hotdogs, chips, and peanuts) and...massive toilet paper (not like our mini paper from yesterday)!  Thank you, thank you, Mayfields.  We enjoyed your treats and company...from a distance.

And in a first-ever remote art session (e-conferenced, via Zoom), Kristine, Keiva, and Andi laughed through a couple hours of creativity.  Here's how far we got:

It was our first distance art session, but judging by how much fun it was to be together, chatting and creating, it won't be our last.  Care to join us for a future session?   Just say the word! Whatever skills and materials you have are perfect. Nothing fancy or advanced required.

We know we're like most Californians (and US residents) in that we feel horrible about both the immediate and the longer term, unforeseen consequences of COVID-19 and our societal efforts to suppress it.  Like many, we also feel committed and hopeful that we can pull together to get through this unprecedented emergency together.

What do you need?  Laughter?  Tiny toilet paper?  You name it.  We got you!

Today's bloom:

It's a good day for purple.  Lupines aplenty at Craig Park.

My Husband, the Forager

Brain cancer is...

 ...foraging.

So far it's within guidelines for most of us to go to the store, carefully.  It lifts Darrell's spirits to go on a foraging expedition each morning, coming home with treasures.  You see today's great find, above.

Even more interesting than today's bananas were yesterday's finds:

I put my hand in the shot for scale.  Look how adorable our new toilet paper is!  And the big roll in back?  It's what the guy at the '76 Station offers.  American entrepreneurship?  

Both of Darrell's finds were less expensive than the not-yet-arrived marine toilet paper I one-click shopped several days ago. Every family needs a forager!

Here's today's bloom, from a Hong Kong Orchid Tree at Tri-City Park:

Here's what made us laugh today, from Kristine:

She explained:  "This is Skelly Jr.  He lives in Carbon Canyon.  He loves to dress for the holidays and give public service announcements.  He recently changed from his Cal Trans orange vest and orange cone to his March festive wear.  As you can see, he is a social influencer, reminding us not only to drive safely, but to practice good health."

Thumbs up, Skelly Jr.  And thumbs up to your humans, who still find humor in daily life.

These ducks at Tri-City Park made us laugh too.

We think they wanted our toilet paper, but the signs said not to give them anything.

And for the final sight of the day, here's one that--as Christine says--never seems to get old.

We hope you are safe, calm, and still smiling, Team D.  Happy Wednesday.



 

Will You Still Be there, Florida?

Brain cancer is...

 ...NOT going to Florida in three weeks.

Darrell has always wanted to drive the Overseas Highway and stay in Key West.  We had tickets in hand for this Easter trip, to include visits to all three of Florida's National Parks.  See the dotted line, leading to the red pin?  That's us taking a seaplane to the Dry Tortugas.

Today we cancelled the trip.  You'll wait for us, won't you, Florida?

This post recognizes the disruption in plans that so many people are facing.  We hope you get where you desired sooner rather than later.   We are so sorry!

Heart-Shaped Leaves:  Nature Spreading Some Love

 Today's Bloom:  Thanks Kim!

St. Patrick's Day Smile:  Nova Brielle (Thanks for Making us Laugh Out Loud!)

Ten Reasons We're Smiling Today

Brain cancer is...

 ...smiling.

It seems like most of us are looking for reasons to smile these days.  We found at least ten reasons today.  Then we stopped counting.  Here are our first ten:

1. Above you see that we found 70% isopropyl alcohol today.  It's a mandatory item for Darrell's array changes.
2. Everyone out and about in stores seemed calmer and connected today.  People made eye contact.
3. We were in touch with all households in our immediate family.   Everyone is safe and holding steady.
4. Our Regional Park Angels, Tim and Ginger, renewed our park pass and dropped it off today.  Really?  Year Five?  Hoorah!
5. We walked near (about six feet from) Christine with our newly renewed park pass, missing the rain before and after at Craig Park.
6. We bought a throw pillow featuring the face of a cow.
7. We are about to launch our huge map art project.  We think it'll be more map than art.
8. Andi made soup.
9. Darrell's smile makes everyone smile.  Right?
10. The world keeps blooming.  We close with two of our front yard roses.

Are you smiling?  If not, call us.  We love you and we care about you.  We also remember a bunch of knock knock jokes from our kids.  All our best, Team D.

Sunday Fun Day

Brain cancer is...

 ...having fun in new places.

On our way home from Dana point the other day, we realized just how close we are to other coastal places. Upper Newport Bay, for example, is only about 20 minutes from us.

Today we walked part of the Back Bay Loop Trail (above).  We've walked parts of the back bay before, but not this, the northernmost boundary.  Lovely!  If we are reading our map correctly, that's Tern Island in the midground.

We hope you had some fun on your Sunday too.

In case you're short on blooms, here's a mega dose of today's sunflowers at the Bay.

Social Distancing Does Not Equal Social Isolation

Brain cancer is...

...practicing social distancing.

Above you see us after dinner out with Geoff and Beth.  Yes, we were with friends, and yes, we went out.  We did say we were practicing our social distancing.  There was less hugging and more maintenance of some space.  But out, enjoying each other's company, for sure.  We aren't certain when we'll be together next.  

Like the rest of the US, we're reading up and trying to do our part to "flatten the curve"  of the COVID spread with techniques like risk assessment, good hand washing, and social distancing.  

As we watch the media and see all the empty shelves at the grocery stores, we are so grateful for our people.  Our people already know what this helpful article says:  Social distancing should not mean social isolation.  Here are some ideas:

• Let's all stay connected to nature.  Sure we should maintain a six-foot distance from humans, but we can get as close as we like to the birds.

The season's first babies

• Let's take care of each other...and keep each other laughing.  Denise, for instance, promises us she won't let us go without toilet paper. Love you, Denise!  But we do also love a challenge.  Ha ha.

• Let's look for the silver linings.  Like most on-campus college students, nephew Christian was required to pack up his dorm room early and finish the term at home, online.  The silver lining?  A college Skelly sighting...in March.  Awesome.

• Let's make every night a date night.  Suzie and Gary make this social distancing look goood!

• Let's keep watching the world bloom.

Ginger found poppies when her workshop got COVID cancelled.

Kristin captured front door beauties.

In the face of all the uncertainty, we are reminded:  Whatever happens, we'll face it together.  

Thank you for keeping our world a bright and hopeful place!

Photo credits:  Geoff, Brady, Suzie, Ginger, and Kristin.