2011 January » Stop, Drop and Blog

Eat Live Be: Biggest Challenge

Jan 242011

Eat Live Be It’s Monday. And after last night’s football game, despite my absolute joy in the outcome, I’m feeling it. This week’s theme is: What’s Your Biggest Challenge?

The obvious answer is: Myself.

I decided that after five days of two workouts per day, I would allow myself a day and a half off. Meaning I wasn’t going to do any workouts on Friday (though I did take the kids sled riding which must account for something, right) and then, on Saturday, I was going to do a very easy yoga workout. And on Sunday, I’d get back into my groove. Except Saturday came and I went out with friends instead of working out… and ate way too much. And then Sunday came and I really just felt like relaxing (and taking the boys to their first soccer practice of the year) rather than working out… and ate way too much.

So now it’s been three days. And I haven’t done anything. And let’s not even talk about the portion sizes from the past three days, okay?

So, yes, I’m my own biggest challenge. I’m working on it — on myself — as best I can.

I don’t quite know if this is weigh-in week or if it’s next week. The good news is that I stepped on the scale this morning and I’m down two pounds (-2 total) since we started four weeks ago. The bad news is that I find that number completely and utterly frustrating. Granted, if I hadn’t been a complete waste of space this weekend, it might have been different. But now I’m frustrated and want to quit. See? My own biggest challenge = me. Sigh.

Don’t forget to visit the Eat Live Be Facebook page and check out the other participants. Maybe they’re more inspirational this week. I sure hope so.

Firefighter Mike Urban’s Helmet Has Been Returned

fire life, FireFamily Gets Serious 1 Response »

Jan 232011

I hate reporting bad news. It’s not fun. There’s so much bad news in the world on a daily, minute-to-minute basis. But this morning I have good news.

Firefighter Mike Urban’s helmet has been returned to his widow.

I hadn’t yet pulled up any news page to see if there was any further news on the story. Instead, someone who works at the local news station in Framingham took time to comment on my post and let me know that it had been returned. Turns out that he’s also a firefighter. I told you that there is a family in the fire service; we all care for one another.

I read the article and, of course, got a little weepy.

Her husband’s helmet had protected him – at least from physical objects – and “Now, hopefully, it will protect me the rest of my life,” Urban told the cameras. “I can’t hold him anymore, but I can hold onto the helmet.”

I said much the same on Friday. My heart is so relieved that she now has his helmet. The article went on to talk about the Fire Chief, Lance Benjamino, used the return of the helmet to teach his son that some things in life are priceless. And it’s true.

I find it incredibly interesting that the award money wasn’t used. An “anonymous tipster” called in to say that it was behind the station in a backpack (that was also stolen with the helmet) on Friday evening. The fact that the money wasn’t used makes me wonder. Did the thief return the helmet, feeling guilty after all the news coverage? Did the thief’s significant other or mom or grandpa do it? Or was it someone else entirely that tracked it down? It’s interesting. Interest aside, I’m just glad it is home.

I hope that Maureen Urban and her daughters — now in their 20′s — can begin to work through their grief and healing and the messy art of losing someone you love so dearly. It touched me when the article mentioned that Urban’s daughters used to pose in his helmet when they came to the fire station.