Rediscovering Nature

So, a few months back my husband and I decided to go for a walk in the wooded area surrounding our neighborhood. This is an area that is clearly intended for residential development, but we aren't quite sure what's halted the construction.

Walking into those wooded areas, and exploring every part of it that we have been able to, has awakened something in me that I had forgotten was there. It is so easy to get complacent and fall into a routine that leaves you sitting at a computer more often then not. So, that's what sort of happened with me. I started to forget how much I liked going out into wooded areas, and how much I had always wanted to explore them.

We have found a lot of really interesting things back there. The pond, lake, or whatever you want to call it, that's shown above. It's peaceful there. There aren't a lot of people that go out there during the day, so it's easy to sit by the water and enjoy the after noon. Later in the day, though, and on weekends it's a bit more difficult. There are more kids out there, and more people riding around on ATVs. People that have no respect for the land.

Being able to walk through paths like this, and paths that are less covered with leaf litter, has shown me how observant I can be. I have been able to spot tracks from deer, raccoons, dogs/coyotes, may have spotted a couple of hog tracks, but I'm not sure on that. Even some vulture tracks, which also showed me that my feet are only a little bigger then that birds. We've seen signs of hogs digging for mushrooms, and rubbing most of the bark off of trees. It's been interesting to come across everything we've seen out there.

There's been a couple of disturbing instances, though, where we have seen dead hogs. So far the total count for the hogs are 3 adults and one adolescent. Until we saw the bodies we hadn't been sure that there were hogs in the area. What's so disturbing about it, though, is that the animals were shot only a few hundred feet behind a few houses. There was also a deer near the first hog we found.

Now, we have heard what sounded like shots being fired. We've even found old evidence of it near the lake, but nothing so fresh. I worries me to think that someone would do something like that so close to a residential area. I don't really care that they killed the hog. They didn't leave everything there, they took what they could so the meat didn't go to waste. It's just where they did it. So far, though, we have only heard the shooting. We've yet to run across anyone carrying a rifle out there, though we have run across a couple of deer stands.

Anyway, I know I started sort of rambling there. There is a reason for me sharing this. Every since I first stepped into the woods, since that more adventurous part of me has been reawakened, I've found it impossible to concentrate on my lifting. I mean, I know I was waffling a bit before, but I've pretty much lost all focus since. I know I want to be strong, but more then that I want to learns everything I can about woodcraft. I actually want to learn how to hunt, and path find, and...all of it.

I think that's enough rambling for now. I appreciate you all reading this.

Hurt My Shoulder

So, I've done something to my shoulder. I don't know what, but it finally seems to be easing up. Last week, though, I ended up not really being able to do any lifts because of it. Even laying on my right side, or rolling over in bed, sends a stabbing pain lancing through the shoulder blade.

There isn't any bruising or swelling that I can see, but a friend of mine things I may have sprained it. He said that something similar has happened to him and that's what his doctor said it was. I don't know if this is the case, I certainly hope not. I was able to bench tonight, though I didn't complete all the sets. The benching, for the most part, didn't bother the shoulder. The reason I couldn't finish the sets is because I was probably benching more then I should have been.

Still, I'm not going to let it stop me. I'm going to do what training I can. If something hurts the shoulder, like over head presses of the like, then I'll substitute something else until it's completely healed. We'll just have to see where the week leads me.

Anyway. I don't really have much to add to this post. I wont be posting my numbers yet. I'm still debating on if I'll do it once a week, bi-monthly, or just once a month. I'll likely go on and post this weeks after all the training sessions are over, though.

Thank you all for reading. As always, I appreciate it.

Finally Settling on Short and Long Term Goals

I know that over the past few months I've been very bad at updating my blog. I haven't kept track of my lifts through this forum as I should have. As you may know, I've had trouble settling on a program. Some of that is because I'm dissatisfied with my weight and/or body composition. I don't necessarily mind the weight so much as the current composition at my body.

So, over the next few months, I'm going to be focusing on cleaning my diet up and just maintaining my strength. I may only be able to make small jumps here or there, but overall I just want to maintain my strength level where it is. I will keep personal track of that, but I am not likely to post it since it would be redundant unless I actually make progress.

In all of my waffling between training programs I've lost quiet a bit of strength, but I'll gain that back easily enough. Even with the change in diet I think I'll be back to where I was in a month or so. After that we'll just have to see how my composition as come along to see what I do from there.

I will continue to work on learning the Olympic lifts. I'm concentrating on the Snatch a bit more then the Clean and Jerk since it's so much more complex. I currently can't do a complete Snatch with an empty bar. I'll also likely post my numbers at least once a month so that any progress that is made can be kept track of that way.

Anyway, I know that was a bit rambling, but thank you for reading. It is appreciated.