So how about that Google Reader news<\/a>? I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty bummed. I’ve been using Google Reader for about 5 years. I love it! It’s such an easy way to subscribe to blogs and news updates. It’s pretty much where I get all my news; I certainly don’t read a newspaper or watch it on TV. I’m currently researching other alternatives to Google<\/a> and I hope there’s one that I like just as much.<\/p>\n In the meantime, you might want to consider subscribing to blogs by email if you don’t use Reader or are worried about it going away soon. I recently added the widget on the right side of my blog so people can sign up for the posts to be delivered in their email. I know, I’m kind of slow to the game. A reader actually suggested I add the feature (so thank you for the tip!). It’s a program that does it all for you and I don’t have your email addresses, so it’s not like it’s a spam program. Anyway, you can find it on the right side:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yesterday I saw my physical therapist, first time since the end of January. I thought I had been making really good progress and in a way I have. He tested my strength and my quads are super strong but my glutes are still weak. I thought all the squats I was doing in Body Pump was helping but apparently it’s just making my quads strong.<\/p>\n He gave me a few new exercises to do in addition to the One Leg Bridge<\/a>. \u00a0I’d already been doing the “clam shell<\/a>” but he is having me add a resistance band to it. I definitely felt the exercise in my glutes with the band! I guess that’s what I’ve been missing.<\/p>\n He gave me two others that are hard to describe. One is with the resistance band around my calves and I get in a squat position and side-step. He also said that I need to start keeping a workout journal. It’s not something I’ve really done before. I’ve kept mileage logs for cycling and running but that’s about it. I think it will be a good practice to get into and it will help pinpoint causes of flare-ups.<\/p>\n After work on Wednesday Michael and I volunteered again at the Pixie Project<\/a>. \u00a0It was another gorgeous day in Portland–dry and warm (like 65 degrees) and it was the perfect dog walking weather.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The first dog we walked was Duke, a beagle. He was super chill and all he wanted to do was sniff everything. He tended to pull on the leash and lead us but he was a really good dog. I have a soft spot for beagles.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Next up was Nora. She was intimidating at first. I’m not sure her breed but I think there was some pit bull in her. I admit, that made me pause a little bit. But she reminded me not to judge a book by its cover. She was the most gentle, sweet, affectionate dog we’ve walk thus far. She was well-behaved on the leash and all she really wanted to do was roll around in the grass.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After walking the dogs we got to play with two puppies<\/a>! They were named Giselle and Kate Moss. \ud83d\ude42 Two tiny chihuahuas.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Man! Did they have energy! The puppies were super tiny and crazy but too cute. It was such a fun night! I absolutely love volunteering there and look forward to it all week long. Michael said he liked volunteering a lot more than he thought he would.<\/p>\n After the puppy playtime, we went to Iron Horse<\/a> for dinner. It’s one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in Portland. The food and service is always good. I was hungry but didn’t want to eat a bunch of food so I got a half order of a salad. I love that they have a “lighter fare” option.<\/p>\n![\"Screen](\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Screen-shot-2013-03-14-at-6.55.24-AM.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhysical Therapy<\/span><\/h4>\n
Pixie Project<\/span><\/h4>\n
![\"beagle\"](\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/beagle-e1363274722435-224x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"nora\"](\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/nora-e1363274814946-224x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"nora2\"](\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/nora2-e1363275904803-224x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"puppy1\"](\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/puppy1-300x225.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"mepuppy\"](\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/mepuppy-e1363276002481-225x300.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nDinner<\/span><\/h4>\n
![\"steaksalad\"](\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/steaksalad-300x224.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n