Dancing With Seagulls...Kingston NY

A friend of mine (Ed who owns the Mountaindale Inn here in Mountaindale) needed a ride up to Kingston and I volunteered my services.  As I often do, grabbed my camera and tossed it into the back seat...my only regret of the day...for some reason I did not grab my Canon L series 100-400 lens.  If I'd know I would see a bald eagle on a cold day in February in Kingston, it so would have been with me.  Rather that blather on about my day, thought I would share a few of my pictures taken along the way.

A Beautiful Sunday...Hard to Believe A Hurricane Was Here

After The Storm

Spring forward, fall back...daylight savings time has arrived signalling a too soon winter all but knocking on our doors as those states hit so hard by Hurricane Sandy worry about a Nor'easter that could hit us this upcoming Wedneday.  Looking out my window on this crisp fall day, the sun shining ever so bright, the remaining leaves bright and inviting it is hard to believe just a few days ago our area was SLAMMED with a major hurricane dubed by some as Frankenstorm.

 

It is during these times that man's humanity to man comes shining through, examples of our generosity evident in abundance from neighbors helping neighbors, to marathoners in New York deciding to stay over the weekend to lend helping hands after the New York City Marathon was cancelled for this year.   If only we could find a way to have such generosity of heart the norm in society, rather than the exception that comes out in times of disaster.

 

Hurricane Sandy has once again like so many disaster before it reminds us all that we are mere humans and no match for Mother Nature and her immense power when she decides to bring the brute force to bear against our communities...it also reminds us to be thankful for what we have, reminds us to be thoughtful and concerned about all those who directly and indirectly are involved in our lives...think the six degrees of separation. 

 

In my own small hamlet (we are a small group of people in downtown Mountaindale) we all pitched in, dealt with the crisis at hand by pulling together, pooling our resources and supplies so that we all got through the storm with as little impact as possible.  Kelsey and Mark's kitchen became the hub of what one can only call a village.  Cooking and a few Coleman lanterns for light kept the cold nights at bay, their small apartment warm, welcoming and cozy.  Judd who lives upstairs from our only local bar went out during the power outage in search of ice, returning home with eight bags full when he got lucky and saw an ice truck pulling into a convenience store miles from home.  Others took their chain saws and went out in search of wood, clearing roads and bringing home some much needed firewood for the fire ring out in the backyard, the evening campfires lifting peoples spirits.

 

The storm was harsh, but through community, everyone made it through, and now with the electric back on and life returning to normal we all have recieved a special gift...we all know and appreciate each other a bit more now than before the storm.

 

Time to grab my camera and go for a nice long walk on this beautiful day after the storm.

After The Storm...Getting Back On Track

This horse had no clue Sandy paid a visit.

For many of us, it has been a very difficult week, Hurricane Sandy pushing us to the limits, and for some pushing them beyond their limits.  People have lost homes, possessions, and tragically, in some cases lost their lives to Mother Nature's fury.  Everything has to be put into perspective, and looking at some people's losses, my own losses (mostly food from the refrigerator) and discomforts, I should be and am thankful that I escaped Sandy's worst in very good shape.  My heart and prayers go out to all those who have lost so much, and wish I could do more for some of those who have lost so much.

 

That said, it was a very rough week...

 

The storm had not even officially made land fall when I lost electric.  It would be four days with no electric, no heat, and for the most part no good food...kept the refrigerator closed hoping I could save the food inside, but in the end it was a losing battle.  Things important to us tend to slide by the way side, and such was the case for me this week.  I was too COLD, too tired and worried to stay up on the new program I have set up for myself.  I did my best to stick to my Isagenix regime, and over all did fairly well at that, but failed miserably in working out, getting my daily exercise, and it showed in my results (or lack there of). 

 

This morning this failure to maintain my dedication to my goals had me very down, down on myself, and doubting my committment.  It could have been so easy to just GIVE UP, but that is not what I wanted to do...so, as the old expression goes, I doubled down, got myself out of my doldrums and did what I needed to do...I made myself my Isagenix Shake, and followed the Isagenix part of my program to a tee today, having my two shakes, using my accelerator, having a healthy under 600 calorie meal, and drinking lots of water...OH, and putting up a post in isaMasterminds.com telling everyone I was having a hard time, and needing some encouragement...which was fast and bountiful in coming.

 

So, as this night wanes and I fight off my own tiredness from a very long week, feel back on track, and motivated to make this upcoming week a great one.

Saturday Morning Isa Update

Been a wonderful Isagenix week here for me. 

In what was a big creative moment for me, got my new Canon L series 100 lens on Monday, and have spent some part of every day since playing with it, seeing what the lens can do, and what it can do just amazes me.  Never have I had the priviledge of using a lens that gives me the clarity and depth of field that this lens gives me.

 

Tuesday and Wednesday did my second Isagenix Cleanse. for Life deep cleanse, and because I remembered to actually eat some of my Isagenix snacks, it was a much easier experience than my first deep cleanse...On Thursday morning I took my body measurements for the first time since going on the program, and the results are miraculous.  I've lost so far 16.5 total body inches, with the largest loss in my gut (Budda Belly).  In just two short weeks...ended the cleanse on my 14th day of my 30 day Isagenix Cleanse, I can see a very noticable change in my body shape, and in the fact that my clothes are already fitting much looser.

 

Some other changes I am noticing...think of it as David Lettermans Top Ten List.

 

1. Noticing that my eyes are sparkling again.
2. My face looks healthier...I get chip munk cheeks when I gain weight, and face is thinning down.
3. My finger and toenails look healthier...more pink, and less brittle.
4. I am getting thinner everywhere.
5. With Isagenix and the exercise I am getting, my body seems to be getting more tone and definition.  Still not BUFF, but seeing tone.
6. Emotionally feeling better about myself, and see myself caring more about how I look and how I present myself to the world.
7. I seem to have more mental clarity, am able to focus better.
8. The Isagenix combined with the water I have been drinking has my bodily functions working better.
9. Find myself exciting and embracing of this new lifestyle...Isagenix is a life/lifestyle choice, not something you pick up and put down.
10. My energy levels are WAY UP!

Going to go back in my post today and see how I am doing on the goals I set for myself, and already know that if I get my stationary bike ride in today, have hit one of my most important goals of the week, which was to bike or hike at least 5 out of the 7 days in the week...so, as I stated, has been just a fabulous Isagenix week.  One thing I want to fucus in on more, is KNOWING THE PRODUCT, and how to best share it with friends, family and strangers.  Everyone have a great day.

Evening Update...Blog Now Can Be Read In 35 Languages

I don't readily admit it, but am a bit of a Geek here.  I am constantly looking for new gizmos and gadgets that make my blog accessible to a greater audience.  This e vening I decided to try out the Google Language Gadget on this blog...you can find it over on the right side bar just down from the top of page.  Click on the drop down menu and select your language, and instantly the blog is translated into one of 35 languages from around the world.

 

This for me is such exciting news for my Isagenix blog, truly will allow me to share my own journey, and the opportunity that is Isagenix to a world wide audience with the click of a mouse.  Looking at the various countries that Isagenix does business in, looking at the company's potential for world wide expansion, this gadget truly excites me.  Cannot wait to reach a point where I can qualify myself to sign up Associates in foreign nations around the world.

 

In other news of a more personal nature:

 

1.  For those who have my blog since its inception, you'll understand the significance of this...I unburied my bike today, and tomorrow will start making it road ready.

2.  Got my new Canon L series 100-400 MM Zoom lens...WOW, what a lens.  Did take one picture with it...shared above, but it poured down rain ALL DAY, so it was not the day to be taking such a delicate piece of equipment out in the woods for a few hours.

3.  Getting myself ready for my second two day Deep Cleanse...this time I will remember to eat my Isa Snacks.

Waiting On Camera Lens, Setting Weekly Isagenix Goals

Big thing for me today is waiting on my Canon L series 100-400 MM Zoom lens.  For anyone who is familiar with digital cameras, its arrival is a BIG DEAL for me, and sure you understand it.  So hurry up Fed Ex!  Even though it is raining out, so wanting to get it soon enough to at least go out and play with it a little bit.  

Yesterday, starting laying out a few goals that I am going to further outline below...one of them was to use my stationary bike or go hiking at least five out of the seven days this week starting today and running through Sunday.  This morning I biked, covering 7.11 miles and burning off 166 calories.  My goal is to look at pushing my ride time up to 48 minutes next week.  Putting a nutritious super food like Isagenix into my body is not enough to take me where I want to go...I have to exercise as well.  So, my goals for the week:

1.  Use my stationary bike, or go out hiking (at least five miles) a minimum of five out of the next seven days from October 15-21.

2.  Stick to my Isagenix Routine.

3.  Do my second two day Isagenix Deep Cleanse...this starts tomorrow morning.

4.  Water,,,,drink lots and lots of water each day.  Right now, that means at least 90 ounces each and every day.  As someone who has never been a big water drinker, this is a HUGE ONE for me...so far, have managed it.

5.  Work on my blog more...already put up the new Contact Me page today, and have also put up a page that goes right to my page on the Isagenix website.  So, want to keep working on this, but can check it off and it is ONLY MONDAY.

6.  Keep reading Isagenix group posts, watching Isagenix videos and learning.  Wanting to start putting some of the things I am learning right here on the blog so people have easy access to them.

7.  Continue to work on sharing the Isagenix way of life with my friends.

8.  Unload my car, take care of laundry, and clean the apartment...UGGGG...there is a full morning or afternoon's work.

9.  Get my LeMond (a real bike) out, put air in the tires and get it road ready.

10.  Since I cannot afford a personal trainer, do some online research on what it is I need to do to get in shape, do set goals, and come up with a workout routine.

I think that is a good list of ten goals for the week.