Present!

Last weekend, queenofhalves went to an arts festival and posted in her LJ that she had found something she had to buy for me.

It arrived today: a pendant made from a bear claw.

It's certainly an authentic claw, not one of the many horn or stone claws that are marketed as "bear claws." The nail is layered, with softness beneath, and still anchored in porous bone. There are small pieces of black hair embedded in some of the ridges.

When I opened the package and saw what was inside I cried out so loudly that my daughter was alarmed.

I don't do that very often.

It's a very small claw, so I'm wondering if it was from a very young bear.

In any case, I definitely feel that before I wear it I need to do some kind of ritual honoring the bear -- and my friend who sent it to me.

14 Days - 7 Workouts

It works out to every other day. . . even though I wasn't that consistent. But I made my goal.

I've been alternating treadmill cardio workouts with my Iron Yoga DVD. On average, the cardio workouts are getting longer and more intense (higher speed, alternating with steeper inclines) and I'm lasting longer in the Iron Yoga workout, significantly improving my balance, and am ready to move to heavier hand weights for the first half.

I'm also doing arm presses of various styles as part of each workout, because I'm getting serious about targeting my upper arms.

And I'm stretching. I've doubled the width of my straddle stands, and I'm just about able to touch my head to the floor. My other stretches are getting better too.

I'm tracking the duration and intensity of the workouts, but not obsessing over them. The point is consistency. I need to show up, even if I don't exceed my previous performance. If I start worrying about being "strong enough" or going at it "long enough" or whatever, I'll psyche myself right out of doing anything.