cherydactyl

As if I needed another. I just like exercise.

Athletes and people who exercise not only have better bods — they have better brains too, a host of studies have now firmly established.

A review of studies published earlier this month, in fact, found that a balanced diet and regular exercise can protect the brain and ward off mental disorders.

Read the complete article at http://www.livescience.com/health/080806-brain-exercise.html

And...I just purchased a tag-a-long bike attachment so we can go on longer bike rides without over-taxing my younger daughter. Of course, a few weeks ago we did a round trip that took us from home, to our local library branch, to S's former school, to Qdoba, up by Arborland, south through The Village (where we had a stop due to an injury to older daughter S...which resulted in a trip to urgent care and three rather deep stitches--her dad picked her up and drove her), then back home. Google maps helped me to estimate a round trip of 9.1 miles for that. There were lots of rest stops, but she did it with no complaints. Go M! But we can probably have fewer rests with the tag-a-long, which makes bike errands slightly more practical. :) Now I just have to worry about how to lock the bike trailer thingy along with my bike. Well, and assembling it when it gets here, I guess. :)

And Hey!!! Google Maps has added a feature I can really get behind...you can specify walking or driving when getting directions now!! Cool! That will be very helpful when estimating routes for walking. *does a happy dance*

It's been a busy "break" week in my household. My two kidlins and I kept ourselves busy with playdates, errands, some extra videos from the library, and a spot of sledding. The snow this week kept us from adventures further afield as I had planned...I didn't really want to go to Cranbrook during a snow advisory, for example.

Yesterday, I got to go walking with shekkara at the county farm park, which was a challenge due to the snow. Powdery and several inches deep, it made walking rather more of a slog. We didn't see any other walkers in the park itself, but we did see a number of cross-country skiers. A pair of walkers passed us on the sidewalk along Washtenaw when we took a loop around the park instead of through. I felt kind of funny about that...we need to pick up the pace a bit, I guess. There's still lots of time before the Freep Half Marathon in the fall. I am rather jealous of the cross-country skiers. I want some skis!!

Then I came home and had just enough time to shower, season the soup in the crock cooker, and clean up a little bit before our first gamer guest arrived for some 18XX action. I spent the first hour or so shooting the breeze with guests and preparing more food while I tried to herd us into playing 1861; I got my wish. The kids watched movies and played games and tried to get our guests to tickle them, mostly successfully. It amuses me greatly that I was still able to beat the competition, even though I was doing a fair amount of cooking and hostessing through the game. Women playing 18XX games are rather a rarity, so it gives me great satisfaction when I show I can play well. I've passed 'resigned' on this issue of hostessing and gone on to be able to say I enjoy being able to cook for people and still play well. I guess it's just what I get for playing a "man's game." :) 1861 is definitely my current favorite among 18XX games...I will have to look in to getting a copy when I have a little extra cash.

Unfortunately, it looks like illyaa may have gotten the nasty flu that's going around. It didn't show up until yesterday evening after our guests had left, in the form of a fever. My best guess is he got something from tammylc, because she's been battling infection after infection for several weeks, and he saw her briefly earlier this week. I fervently hope the rest of us can escape whatever ick he has. *crosses fingers* He's on the couch snoring gently as I write.

I helped older daughter S make breakfast this morning, then cleaned and sanitized the kitchen in an effort to kill any stray viruses. Take that!!! There's stew in the crock cooker for dinner later (beef, shallots, garlic, red potatoes, carrots, rosemary, black pepper, bay laurel, and the remainder of a bottle of wine I had left in the fridge). I plan to get out the the library with the kids today, and I hope to tackle my desk too, as the paper tigers have rather multiplied this week.