Determination in solving life's frustrations and problems

Today, before my daughter's softball tourney, while the girls were warming up for their game, I went for a jog. I try to get some exercise in while there is "free time". My husband coaches and is there with her. And frankly, she is old enough to know what she should be doing and my presence really is not needed. My leaving the ballpark for 30 to 45 minutes is not detrimental to her playing or her well-being.

 

During these jogging excursions, I take a safe-route near the ball field. The jog is not about the length or speed (my jogs are never about the speed). It is about squeezing some exercise in found free time.

 

Today, I jogged near a subdivision and down a county road. I knew I was in somewhat of disadvantage because much of the early part of the jog was downhill. Of course, on my return to the ball park, I would be jogging (definitely not running) uphill.

 

If I train my mental outlook, during my exercise routines, I can stretch myself, more than if I just go through the motions.

 

As I was jogging downhill--which is not as easy as it seems because downhill is tough on my knees--I kept thinking of my routine jog at home last week. During last Saturday's jog, I seemed to struggle early in the jog. My knees hurt; I wanted to stop before 1 mile in and again around 1.8 miles.

 

At the 2 mile mark, I started up the steepest hill of my jog. I wondered how I could get up the hill without stopping. I thought of my greatest frustration. The hill represented my greatest, current frustration. My defeating the hill meant that I could defeat my greatest, current frustration.

 

I was not going to let the hill (my frustration) defeat me. I needed to beat the hill and keep jogging once I topped it. Because eventually to defeat this real life frustration, I know I cannot only complete the task--work through the problem--but I must also be able to maintain (not just survive) once the problem is solved.

 

The hill last Saturday represented my problem, my frustration. I defeated the hill, accomplished my goal, by hitting the hill with known purpose and outcome, and with confidence. I also kept jogging once I topped the hill and managed to tackle the next hill which is less challenging, but nevertheless harder than straight, flat path.

 

Today, though the hill was long and slow sloping. My method had to be different than last week. The hill represented another type of frustration.This frustration is not a big thing that seems to have an exact solution, but one that will take time to solve, and may not even have known solutions.

 

To defeat this hill, I knew I had to take a different approach--a persistent, yet consistent, determination.

 

As I finished my jog and approached the ballpark, I realized that the methods to meeting the demands in our lives must include both kinds of determination--confidence with purpose and persistent consistency.

 

The confident determination is defined by purpose (of course), but also met with a head-strong determination of wanting to be successful.

 

The persistent consistency means that my consistent actions will eventually help others understand my values. The persistency represents the determination of wanting to stay true to my values. And through consistent behavior and persistent determination, solutions and outcomes eventually become known, maybe less tangible, nevertheless becoming evident.

My favorite cream cheese pound cake

I know this is supposed to be about health and fitness blog, but it is also about peace of mind.

 

What is better than creating peace of mind among family members than cooking everyone's favorite pound cake.

 

Brenda Smith, named Braindog (I love that name) by my former boss, gave me this recipe years ago. I have adjusted the directions to reflect the cooking knowledge of my sister, Nancy.

 

2 sticks butter--softened (I use 2 sticks of margarine that is not whipped)

1 (8 oz) pkg of cream cheese--softened (I use light cream cheese and have had mixed results with fat free cream cheese)

3 cups sugar

6 eggs - at room temperature

1.5 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups plain flour

.25 teaspoon salt (actually I use less than a .25 teaspoon)

 

Preheat oven to 325 F. Grease a bundt pan or two loaf pans.

 

Cream butter and cheese; add sugar to cream mixture. Add eggs one at a time, but to prevent over beating as soon as the yolk is broken add the next egg. Add vanilla. Add flour and salt. I have a good mixer and beating time should take no longer than 7 minutes.

 

Spoon batter into pan. The original recipe says to bake for 1 hour and 10; however, I have to cook the cake to almost 1 hour and 30 minutes. Check doneness by using a toothpick or small thin knife to make sure it comes out clean.

 

del.icio.us Tags: recipe,pound cake

Why run--well jog

I really enjoy being myself during long slow jogs and getting that "feel good" after a good jog.

 

My knees and joints sometimes bother me afterwards, but tightening the muscles and knowing I have worked my heart and lung muscles make me feel like I have done my body as well.

 

Dr. Bob Keith at Auburn University describes how research shows running can increase life span -- "...run for your life". 

 

The article gives us more reasons to exercise regardless of our age.

 

del.icio.us Tags: running,exercise,aging,cario

Twit2fit updates

I gave the details of this week's exercises on the twit2fit Ning page.

 

Sunday jogged slowly 5 miles and walked 2.5 miles

 

Monday upper body weight lifting.

 

Tuesday jogged very slowly 2.5 miles.

 

Friday lower body and mostly leg weight lifting.

 

Saturday another test day with Operation Boot Camp.

Blueberry and Peach Crisp

Flour Topping

1 c. flour

1 egg

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. light brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

Fruit Filling

3 c. peeled, sliced peaches

2 c. fresh blueberries

1 Tbs butter

Pecan Topping

1 c. chopped pecans

1/4 c. flour

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. melted butter

 

Preheat oven 350.

For the flour topping: Combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar, and cinnamon. Beat egg with a fork. Mix egg into flour with fork until crumbly.

For fruit filling: Melt 1 Tbs butter in a sauce pan. Place blueberries and peaches in the sauce pan. Warm slowly on low heat. Stir frequently. After the juices form, Stir in 1 Tbs of Flour. Stir frequently and cook until the juices thicken. Pour fruit and juices into a 2 to 2 1/2 quart buttered baking dish.

Sprinkle flour topping over fruit filling.

For pecan topping: Combine chopped pecan, sugar, flour, brown sugar and  melted butter. Crumble over flour topping.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream. Serves 6 to 7.

Softball and the media

Many of my 300 Twitter followers do not live in Auburn and do not personally know me so they maybe getting tired of the Dixie Youth softball tournament updates. An example:

In district softball tourney, Auburn beat E Montgomery 10-4. Will play Montgomery Gray at 6 pm Tues at Felton Little.Must win 2 games to adv

One reason that I use Twitter to update about softball is to keep my friends who are interested in-the-know. Also, it is also sort of a record.

 

A third reason is that girls' sports do not get the same publicity and recognition from the press. Observing both girls' and boys' recreation and high school sports for several years, I have noticed that boys' sports are reported more often and in more detail than girls' sports. If you doubt me, count the number of articles written in local papers on girls' high school basketball and boys' high school basketball during the regular seasons. Then, do the same for boys' high school baseball and girls' high school softball; and the same for girls' golf and boys' golf. Also, if you don't believe me, pick up your local paper--particularly if you live in a small town--and read the articles on the current Little League and Dixie Youth regional ball games.

 

While I can give numerous examples, I will point out today's issue of the Opelika-Auburn News. The picture is taken of an Auburn boys (from the 11-12 league) at the District tournament in Opelika.

 

The Dixie Youth Ponytail District (11-12 league) tournament in Auburn has been played since Thursday of last week. Two games went into 10 innings (6 innings make the game). Dadeville and Montgomery Gray played consistently good ball for 10 innings with Montgomery Gray pulling out the win in the 10th inning. Auburn and Montgomery Gray went 9 innings with no score, until Montgomery Gray scored 2 runs in the top of the 10th inning. Two of Auburn's pitchers struck 16 batters out in 8 innings. The game was nail biting in that Auburn could never capitalize on the hits. I think Auburn left 12 runners on base throughout the game, but could never get a run around the field.

 

Scoring Auburn's 4th run of the 1st inning of last night's game, the delayed steal home was perfectly executed--classic and exciting. Most all of this tournament's games have been exciting, great ball playing and solid strategy. Yet, we have not seen a reporter or a staff photographer at any of these games. But, they have been available for the boys' games.

 

It's not all about equality. Also, I really want to know. I want to know how the Opelika Dixie Belles (13-15 year olds) play in their upcoming district tournament. I not only want to know if they win or lose, I also want to know who pitched, who hit, and who scored.

 

One advantage of living in a small town is that we get to know most everyone. I watched several girls on the Opelika team grow into good athletes and accomplished pitchers and batter. I want to know about their playing and their successes.

 

Another advantage of living in a small town is that we expect that our local paper report local events. We buy the local paper for the local news--we get state, national and international news from other sources.

 

We are glad that Opelika-Auburn News printed an article on the Auburn and East Montgomery Dixie Youth Ponytail game, even if we had to write it ourselves. If we must, we will write an article for each our games.

 

As far as for my Twitter followers, there are more Twitter messages to come. If the paper will not give credit where credit is due, then we must do it ourselves.

Pizza Soup Recipe

I cooked pizza soup today and one of my daughter's friends wanted the recipe. I might as well share it this way. Pizza soup may not sound very appetizing, but I must admit all three kids really like it.

 

This is my recipe I created after having pizza soup that was on the food bar at a Shoney's restaurant in Orlando, FL years ago. We stayed at the Disney parks all day. Exhausted, we ate late at night at the Shoney's.

 

Every time I make it, it is a little different because I often change the ingredients. I also often cook pasta and pour the soup over the pasta for those who don't like spicy foods.

 

Pizza Soup

 

1 pound ground beef or ground sausage

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

3 potatoes, chopped

1 carrot, sliced

3 to 4 cups of water

1 large can of tomatoes

1 can of garbanzo beans.

1 can of kernel corn

Pepperoni slices (1/2 to 1 bag)

1 jar of Pizza Sauce

Salt

Black Pepper

Crushed red pepper

Garlic salt

Oregano

Brown ground meat with onions and peppers. Meanwhile, in a large pot, boil on medium heat, potatoes and carrots in water for at least 30 minutes. Make sure water is maintained to an acceptable level during boiling time. Potatoes should be almost cooked (almost soft when you insert a fork). Add to potatoes and carrots, tomatoes, and garbanzo beans, cook at least another 15 minutes. Add to the vegetables, the ground meat, pepperoni, and pizza sauce. Add spices to taste.

I often make pizza soup with left over spaghetti sauce.