I learned this week that…
…that it feels good to bump the elliptical resistance up to 9; bumping it up to 10 feels even better. However, it should be noted that doing it too many days in a row leads to über sore thighs and hamstrings so it might be necessary to alternate resistance levels. I will have reevaluate my workout routine accordingly.

…that my newfound affection for the elliptical sorta makes me feel guilty. I see my beloved bike number 3 sitting across the room empty and looking forlorn, and it’s almost as if I’m cheating on it. Maybe we need couples therapy. Or perhaps I need an EliptiGo.
…that thankfully it didn’t take long for my daughter to get the hang of the clarinet. After nearly six weeks, the strangled goose has been replaced with a fairly pleasant, deep-throated sound and tunes that are clearly recognizable. I’m sure the private lessons didn’t hurt the progression of this process. Money well spent, indeed.
…that signing up for Sting’s fan club just to find out that pre-sale tickets were only available for a short window of time – an expired window of time – sucks. Successfully navigating Ticketmaster and getting decent tickets on the day that Sting tickets go one sale to the general public, makes everything right in my world. I think I even saw a rainbow the minute the sale went through. Seriously.
…take home tests are just weird. I sort of understand my professor’s reasoning behind it, but I still feel like I am somehow cheating.

…that the movie The Debt is a spine tingling spy thriller that left me breathless. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a movie so much in quite some time. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes this sort of thing.
…that having aging animals is emotionally and financially draining. Two to the vet this week. One with good news; the other very bad news. Our oldest cat has been referred to an animal oncologist for treatment for Lymphoma. She’s very old and we have some seriously difficult decisions to make.
…that my husband doesn’t get my writing. Oh, he likes learning about the things I’ve learned during the week and enjoys the animal attack entries, but anything else – not so much. I have tried to not allow this to influence what I write and my approach to this blog, but it does and it has. I’d like to say that I don’t care what people think , after all, I dabble with this site solely for creative purposes and to exercise my writing muscle. In truth, I do care. Can you say crushing period of self-doubt? I think I am in need of some serious validation. Hugs? A pat on the head? Anyone? No?
…that sometimes you just can’t wait for Wednesday to highlight man’s stupidity in dealing with Mother Nature’s most ferocious predator of the sea. A 42-year-old British man lost a good portion of both legs when he decided he was smarter than shark spotters at a beach in Cape Town, South Africa. Shark spotting is serious business in this part of the world. They have individuals who are strategically situated and do nothing all day but watch for Great White sharks lurking just off the beaches. On Wednesday, several were spotted in the water. The appropriate action was taken – beaches were closed, warning flags hoisted. This future Darwin Award winner disregarded all of it and went into the water anyway. It didn’t end well. You can read his story [here]. Take notice of the amateur video halfway down the page. The camera will pan down and you can clearly see the monstrous shark in the shallow waters. This man is very lucky to be alive.
…last but not least – this week’s awww moment is brought to you by Tango, a little ginger-haired Francios’ langurs monkey, born at the beginning of the month in London. ***Thank you to my friend, Kelly, for bringing this gem to my attention.***
