Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away…
Oh. Wait! Lovely Beatles ballad, but not on topic.
“WHAT IS THE TOPIC?” you ask.
Excellent question!
The topic today is SQUEE-KEY and his journey of 1,481 miles to the faraway Land of U Hogs–Canada.
WARNING, FARAWAY LAND OF CANADA: SQUEE-KEY journal entries will honoUr your enviable spelling paradigm during his walk.
I believe it’s important to turn not-so-fun-thought-bubble-goals into virtual dances in my heart, on my feet, and between my ears.
ColoUrful side-kicks enhance the fun.
A quest began yesterday with Piper Bayard’s snort-worthy blog on Funny Stuff We Found at Walgreens.
She and her lovely fourteen-year-old daughter played Carpe Diem in a Walgreens when they found one redunkulous product on the shelves. Where there is one, there must be more, right? Where there are more, there must be a Picture Party waiting to happen, right?
I L-O-V-E Piper’s humoUr. If you haven’t already read this column, here’s the link again. Right here!
Squee-Key and I await your return.
After reading Piper’s post, I asked for, and received permission to steal her idea. That’s a post for another day.
However, her article sent me on a search for a fun buddy to share the virtual journey to Toronto, where Sherry Isaac (my real friend and imaginary next-door-neighboUr) lives.
My car drove itself to a store I’ve always wanted to visit: The LIFE IS GOOD ® store.
It’s a glee-requisite to visit a store with a registered trademark on LIFE IS GOOD ®.
AND THAT’S WHERE I FOUND SQUEE-KEY
His little back paw has LIFE IS GOOD stitched on it. The round tag on his ear says,
.
*Do what you like * Like what you do *
*Optimism can take you everywhere*
I had to have him.
I think he was pleased that I picked him.
All the baby-blue monkeys may look alike to the untrained eye. But, this little guy had an I’m-with-you smile.
We both went to The Academy to purchase a pedometer to track of our journey of 1,481 miles.
After we agreed on a pedometer, we returned to STARBUCKS.
And emailed this picture to Sherry with a SQUEE! (for glee) as the subject.
.
Sherry Isaac is brilliant. She suggested the name: SQUEE (for glee) and KEY (because this baby blue fluff of plush reminds me of the day I discovered optimism is the KEY to happiness in my many quests.)
WHAT’S THE SCOOP ON THIS JOURNEY?
One of my many quests was to get back into my regular exercise routine. I plan to work out at the gym four days (minimum) per week. One essential part of my workout includes cardio–high intensity, interval-on-a-ten-percent-incline cardio, followed by a brisk walk at five percent. This session usually logs three miles, two ARGHS, and one epiphany.
One of those epiphanies was to keep track of the HIGH intensity miles logged on the treadmill PLUS the steps I take OUTSIDE my house.
- THANK YOU, Jonathan at MY STARBUCKS #6394
SQUEE-KEY is taking a virtual walk to Toronto, Canada (1,481 miles) and will report progress periodically in a column titled WHERE IN THE WORLD IS SQUEE-KEY.
I’ll publish our route in a later post. If any of my buddies (virtual or real-life) want to meet Squee-Key at a STARBUCKS en route, let me know.
Brinda Berry plans to catch up with him near Little Rock, AR and will send a picture of how he’s doing.
So, THAT’S how I plan to turn my health-conscious goal into a game.
- Keep track of those high-intensity miles on the treadmill (I’ll need them for the mountains between here and Toronto), and…
- Use my nifty new pedometer to track miles walked OUTSIDE of the house, because…
- Tracking steps to-and-from the loo, the bedroom, the fridge, the television should not count, and…
- Arrange for Squee-Key to meet as many buddies as we can find en route to Toronto.
SO, how about you? Do you play game with your goals? Think about turning those Blechs into Squees? Have I lost my marbles again? Share your thoughts or just say hi. It’s time to tie on my shoes and tuck my pedometer in my jeans pocket.
Gloria Richard 
OMG. I want Squee-Key for my very own. Yes? This post is strangely relevant to everything in my life right now. Point 1: I am drinking my morning coffee out of a “Life is Good” mug. Point 2: I have gotten back on track with the exercise program after a miserable January. Point 3: I joined Weight Watchers online and have been on track for 4 weeks now. Point 4: I’ve always wanted to go back to Canada and now I get to visit Sherry with you.
SQUEE, Brinda. You can have one of your very own. LIFE IS GOOD has an online store and an awesome mission to bring play and joy into children’s lives.
I added the link. Perhaps SQUEE-KEY will pick up a twin in Sherwood?
I joined the fitness game a bit behind you. Looks like I’ll have to park in the next county versus the end of parking lots to catch up with you.
Hey Gloria, I live in Toronto as well. Stop by my place when you get here! Squee-Key’s invited, too.
Yay, Joan! I can’t wait to meet you.
This make-it-fun thingie gets an A+ for attitude adjustment.
I exercise for my health, for my brain, and for my budget. I can not afford to replace the clothes in my closet.
But, where was the fun? The adventure? What did those accumulating miles mean?
The FUN is now in the journey as well as the destination. See you soon!
So many things to say…
1. We may be next door neighbours in our imaginary worlds, but a real life friend like Gloria enriches my real life every day. HonoUred to have you, Glo.
2. Joan, we need to meet, too! TRW in March?
3. Brinda, when you meet up with Gloria, slip her a map, will ya? Toronto is not an afternoon road trip from Banff.
4. Credit Clarification: Gloria picked Squee-key’s name, only with original spelling ky. Can’t remember why I suggested sticking an ‘e’ in the middle, but I’m sure she does, and I’m sure she will tell you in a reply to this comment.
5. Feeling guilty about all the miles Gloria is willing to put on to meet me, so am off (finally!!!) to order a replacement for the broken do-hickey on my elliptical.
6. Gloria, only you could find a way to make exercise fun.
7. Re: Squee-Key and the untrained eye. Our pets, and our friends, pick us. I’m sure Squee-key squee-ed with joy when you walked in the door of Life is Good.
8. I agree. Piper’s post, like her Walgreen’s finds, was a hoot!
1. Aw, shucks and back atcha!
2. TRW? Plan the party! Plan the party!
3. Yes, it’s true. Banff is one of our favorite vacation spots. I once suggested Sherry could “drive over for the day.” To which she responded, “SNORT!” I leave the distance Google to those willing to laugh on a public forum.
4. You suggested the KEY spelling because, “it would remind me SQUEE! is KEY to my glee.”
5. STOP with those technical terms, already. Do-hickey, indeed.
6. Not so! You and Carole had a grand old time making MY first belly dance lesson fun. Oh, wait! I was the only one with no shimmy-shake expertise, wasn’t I?
7. Repeat answer to #1
8. AGREED! Piper Bayard rocks and I will shop with her anytime!
Oh I love this! As I’m sure you are all aware I’m an exercise buff. If only it ended up in me actually being buff 😦
Oh well. I love the idea of walking to Toronto, although that would mean actually keeping track of the miles, so I’m glad Gloria is doing it, and not me. I can’t believe you do three miles on treadmill. YOU GO GIRL!
Squee-key is cute, even if I have trouble spelling his name, and I’m sure will be welcomed around the globe!
Squee-key had to be talked off a cliff when I told him your “around the globe” comments, Jessica. He’s fine now.
Not your fault. I failed to prepare him for the extent of his international fame.
You ARE beautiful, just the way you are. Hie thee to August McLaughlin’s site for a read on her Beauty of a Woman series.
Forsooth!
Thanks, faithful friend for popping in for a visit!
Thanks for posting this. You know, it’s weird, I’ve been trying to sulk and be in a bad mood since Friday, but every time I’m about to get there, something keeps intervening – someone will call, or chat with me at the gym, or I’ll read a post like this 🙂 and then I just can’t mope like I planned!
Squee-Key is adorable! He looks like a great cheerleader! And pedometers are an awesome fitness tool. I lost 15 lbs just using a pedometer two years ago.
YOU have come to the right place to be rescued from sulk and bad mood purgatory. Why?
Because you followed that redunkulous title for this article over here. And, that means you don’t want to be in a blue mood.
Thanks for the visit, Stacy. I’m going to check out your site, which appears to be thepublishingpact.blogspot.com.
Me thinks I’ve been there before and me thinks I liked it. Forsooth.
NOTE TO SELF: What is it with you and the days of yore speak today? Investigate. Report back only if results suggest sanity.
Yea, verily! Sanity? Tis surely overrated. Thou’rt merely suffering a case of the vapors! Huzzah!
Okay Gloria, Sherry, et all … I just got back from my daily swim thing … Not yet ready to walk to Toronto, since I am waaaay too far south these days to even think of walking to my native New York. So, what the ex. thing does is clear your head … I was in a valley, looking up at the sky and thought … get the heck out of here and swim. Now I feel energized. Those endorphins are great for what ails us.
Squee away girl, you are such a fun inspiration. Used to pick up one of Janet E’s Stephanie Plum books when I needed a charge of laughter … now all I have to do is come over here and you chase away the blechs and blahs.
Thanks funny girl 🙂
I TOTALLY agree. Endorphins are great for what ails us.
Reward enough on its own merits. I have more energy for the day after I push from my tush and take it (them? me? myself?) to the workout room.
SQUEE! Just to be compared to Janet E on any level makes me swoon.
Okay, that was a bit over-the-top-dramatic, but I choose not to erase it. There’s glee in them thar words.
You are welcome, Florence, amiga mia. A pox on the blechs and blahs!
Hi Gloria.
Glad to hear you’re keeping up with your goals. I didn’t make any, so I’m bang up to date and on track. I’m with on the walking things though. I do 30 mins most mornings which cheers me up no end (despite the sarky comment I can just feel you typing right now).
Cheers!
My treadmill and my pedometer have been “on the road.” I need to access mapsco, so I know where the little guy is going to sleep tonight.
Texas is one BIG dang state. It’s going take a month before we get to Sherwood, AR.
LOVE your strategy to achieve goals. That’s why I sometimes have to-done lists for a day, a week…
I. Love. Squee-Key. And you, of course. 🙂 Thanks for a burst of sunshine. What a fabulous motivation idea for getting the miles under your feet! Perhaps you wouldn’t mind if I linked this post to my blog next time I’m talking about running? I think it would encourage some of my readers, as it did me.
And if Squee-Key could make it to Virginia Beach on his way to Canada, I’d be glad to take him to get a suntan…
Squee! Janie, I’d be honored if you chose to link to this post the next time you talk about running.
I rerouted.
Squee-Key will visit Virginia Beach on his way to Canada. DON’T let him get near any banana “bar” drinks with those tiny umbrellas. He can’t be trusted.
As for motivation, it’s turned out to be all I’d hoped. I know I want to get him to Toronto. I track my high-intensity miles on the treadmill, then use the pedometer to track additional distance.
I KNOW I have that commitment. A day off? No! Can’t do it. My next step is to get Mapsco routing from here through Little Rock (where I’ll send Squee-key for pics with Brinda at her local Starbucks). TONS of fun. I may do a where-in-the-world is Squee-key column once a month — maybe twice. Depends on how much progress we make.
Warning: Your dogs may think you’re nuts if you march-in-place while folding laundry or doing dishes.
Whoop! A commercial just came on. Time for a stroll around the yard with my hand weights! BEST of luck to you in your journey.
God, he’s adorable. If Squee-Key comes to Vancouver, I would love to meet him.
Squee Key should take the Northern route home. His new stealth mission? Snatching those coloUrful, wonderful U’s as he treks East to West across Canada. Perhaps he’ll choose to route himself from Vancouver B.C. to Vancouver, Washington — 351 miles– but imagine all the U’s he’ll have with him!
Yes, I suffer “coloUr, honoUr, humoUr..” envy. My bags are thoroughly searched for illegal U-napping when I cross the border. Squee Key can charm his way through customs.