Went to bed too late (1ish), coughed all night long until I got up and found some very old cough syrup (expired in 2007), which still managed to help. Then the cats decided I should get up at 5, 5:30, 6, 6:15, 6:45, 7, 7:10...you get the picture. Apparently they were awfully dehydrated (my boy also likes to get his water from the tub...but they're not spoiled!), and my girl, despite have 19 lbs reserve was close to starvation. So I finally got up just after 8, fed them, gave George some water and crawled back in for another hour or so of sleep. Coughing resumed immediately, so I gave up and got up. I really needed the sleep though, as I am scheduled to run 32k today. But wait...something else is amiss. Why are my eyes so gucky and why can I see??? Uh-oh...forgot to take the contacts OUT last night. So, now I have a sore chest/back from coughing, I'm tired from lack of sleep, my eyes are irritated because of massive hours of wearing contacts, I have a headache and there's no hot water or heat in my building!!!
Oy...can I start over, please?
The phone calls start coming in from the other tenants (I am Schneider for my building, if anyone gets the 70's reference), so I make the emergency call to the management company and then the plumber. Gee...a plumber on Easter Sunday...that's not gonna cost a lot, huh?!? Still haven't heard from the plumber yet, but I already decided no run for me today. I have lost all desire and umph.
If the plumber calls or gets here soon, then I'll go for a walk with H. before she has to go to work this afternoon. I bought myself a little ham to cook for dinner, and I think I'll make some biscuits and baked beans to go with. Or I'll just crawl back into bed and wait for the day to start over!
Oh, and on top of all of this...no visit from the Bunny to my house and I've looked everywhere! Chocolate would definitely make this all better...
Happy Easter
:)
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Saturday am
Here I sit, waiting for the maintenance dude my building uses to show up, so I can show him the suites that need repairs. However, 10-10:30 is now 10:54!!! I did sleep in a little, and got up, showered, had a coffee, went outside and picked up the trash off my front lawn and hauled some garbage, waiting. I am not good at waiting...
Dad called this morning with another of his cryptic messages. I swear the massive combination of meds and lack of oxygen (let this be a lesson...don't smoke!) has seriously messed with his mind, as he swears that my mother destroyed all of their financial records and now they can't do their taxes. But she feels bad about it (she is showing signs of Alzheimer's, which runs in her family), so I should go and take her for lunch and shopping. How that will help their taxes, I don't know. But I've seen the piles and piles and piles of papers in their office, so I'm pretty sure not everything was destroyed, but I think I'll show up with an organizer and just act like it was buy one, get one free, and hey, for fun, let's clean up the office. Of course, I'm looking at the piles and piles and piles of paper in MY office and thinking the same thing!! Guess I come by it naturally.
It's a lovely day so far here today, so want to take advantage of it. Head off to the farmer's market after maintenance dude leaves (if he ever arrives, that is) and then maybe head out for a nice run or walk. Still blowing and hacking, but the cold appears to be getting weaker, which is good. The cold meds are giving me the shakes, which I do not enjoy, and which make typing a tad difficult!
Okay...it's now after 11. Time to phone maintenance dude and get an ETA.
Later
Dad called this morning with another of his cryptic messages. I swear the massive combination of meds and lack of oxygen (let this be a lesson...don't smoke!) has seriously messed with his mind, as he swears that my mother destroyed all of their financial records and now they can't do their taxes. But she feels bad about it (she is showing signs of Alzheimer's, which runs in her family), so I should go and take her for lunch and shopping. How that will help their taxes, I don't know. But I've seen the piles and piles and piles of papers in their office, so I'm pretty sure not everything was destroyed, but I think I'll show up with an organizer and just act like it was buy one, get one free, and hey, for fun, let's clean up the office. Of course, I'm looking at the piles and piles and piles of paper in MY office and thinking the same thing!! Guess I come by it naturally.
It's a lovely day so far here today, so want to take advantage of it. Head off to the farmer's market after maintenance dude leaves (if he ever arrives, that is) and then maybe head out for a nice run or walk. Still blowing and hacking, but the cold appears to be getting weaker, which is good. The cold meds are giving me the shakes, which I do not enjoy, and which make typing a tad difficult!
Okay...it's now after 11. Time to phone maintenance dude and get an ETA.
Later
Friday, April 10, 2009
Good Friday
Seem to be kicking this cold thing to the curb. Got a relatively good night's sleep (wasn't up every hour on the hour draining sinuses!!), and even managed to sleep in till 9! Man...I remember the days when I used to sleep till 11 or noon...where did those go?? I don't have kids...I don't have any excuse. Sigh...I miss sleeping.
Sipping coffee (1 c espresso w/1 c milk - just the way I like it!), watching some news, getting my banking and finances caught up, and trying to decide if I feel well enough to try a short run. At least it looks like it's going to be a nice day. May have to at least go for a walk, as to not waste the day.
Nothing much else to report...besides the horrific shock of finding our favorite noodle house closed for the weekend last night!! Don't these people know that this is our Thursday night ritual?? Weight Watchers, then noodles - no deviation from the plan! We did find a good alternative though, down by Chinook Centre. Their pho is a little on the spicier side, and the broth isn't nearly as tasty, but still very good. They will do nicely in May when our place is closed for vacation.
Just spent some time chatting with an old friend who lives in Holland (we grew up together, before her family moved back overseas). Same daily struggles, different country. We almost echoed each other talking about weight, exercise, family strive and life in general. Kind of funny.
On that note, Happy Good Friday, get out there and enjoy the day.
Sipping coffee (1 c espresso w/1 c milk - just the way I like it!), watching some news, getting my banking and finances caught up, and trying to decide if I feel well enough to try a short run. At least it looks like it's going to be a nice day. May have to at least go for a walk, as to not waste the day.
Nothing much else to report...besides the horrific shock of finding our favorite noodle house closed for the weekend last night!! Don't these people know that this is our Thursday night ritual?? Weight Watchers, then noodles - no deviation from the plan! We did find a good alternative though, down by Chinook Centre. Their pho is a little on the spicier side, and the broth isn't nearly as tasty, but still very good. They will do nicely in May when our place is closed for vacation.
Just spent some time chatting with an old friend who lives in Holland (we grew up together, before her family moved back overseas). Same daily struggles, different country. We almost echoed each other talking about weight, exercise, family strive and life in general. Kind of funny.
On that note, Happy Good Friday, get out there and enjoy the day.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Why...
I try to get enough sleep...I eat healthy, trying to avoid processed foods and eat my daily allotment of fibre and vegetables and fruit. I run and walk and take vitamins. Yet here I sit, sicker than a dog!!! Obviously didn't run today. Instead came home early and laid down for a 3 hour nap. I need to kick this out soon, as Vancouver approachs faster daily. Can't miss out on vital training now. Time to kick it into high gear...OJ, vitamin C and Zinc and plenty of rest. Hope to be back on track by the weekend.
Of course, with the number of times that I've blown my nose since this morning, I should be down a good 10 pounds by weigh in tomorrow night! LOL!!
Can't wait for chicken pho tomorrow night...it's just spicy enough that it should shake things up in my sinuses and is just so delicious that is has to be good for me! And we have to have it as many times as we can over the next two weeks as the restaurant is closing for a month starting on the 27th!! Granted, I'm happy they're heading home to Vietnam (hopefully to get more recipes!) but does that mean I have to go without weekly pho for a month?!?! I will go into withdrawel!!!
I can barely keep my eyes open, kids, so I am off to bed. Must floss first (have not missed a day since January 12th - quite a feat for me) and then lights out. It'll be an early day tomorrow, as it's my company's annual easter egg hunt (great prizes for the winners) and instead of mini Crave cupcakes this year, they're serving gourmet hot chocolate, muffins and cookies for breakfast. I want to go in early to help out and I'm also a floor champion, meaning I'm the contact for winners/questions, help with the hunt, etc. And then we get a 4-day weekend! Yahoo... My company doesn't observe Family Day (not every province takes the day in February yet, and our company is very big on what is fair for everyone, not just one) so they give us Easter Monday instead. I don't care...I can always use a vacation day or two in February and get a nice break at Easter time.
Later...
Of course, with the number of times that I've blown my nose since this morning, I should be down a good 10 pounds by weigh in tomorrow night! LOL!!
Can't wait for chicken pho tomorrow night...it's just spicy enough that it should shake things up in my sinuses and is just so delicious that is has to be good for me! And we have to have it as many times as we can over the next two weeks as the restaurant is closing for a month starting on the 27th!! Granted, I'm happy they're heading home to Vietnam (hopefully to get more recipes!) but does that mean I have to go without weekly pho for a month?!?! I will go into withdrawel!!!
I can barely keep my eyes open, kids, so I am off to bed. Must floss first (have not missed a day since January 12th - quite a feat for me) and then lights out. It'll be an early day tomorrow, as it's my company's annual easter egg hunt (great prizes for the winners) and instead of mini Crave cupcakes this year, they're serving gourmet hot chocolate, muffins and cookies for breakfast. I want to go in early to help out and I'm also a floor champion, meaning I'm the contact for winners/questions, help with the hunt, etc. And then we get a 4-day weekend! Yahoo... My company doesn't observe Family Day (not every province takes the day in February yet, and our company is very big on what is fair for everyone, not just one) so they give us Easter Monday instead. I don't care...I can always use a vacation day or two in February and get a nice break at Easter time.
Later...
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sunday musings
I said I would and I did. I set the alarm, got out of bed at 7:30 and was on the paths running just after 9. Had a rather large distance to cover today (29km) but also had a contact fitting at Costco at 3, so I decided to run 2 hours and 2 hours back and see how I did.
Dinner last night was fabbo chicken curry with mounds of fresh veggies on rice. That appeared to carbo load me just fine for today, and after breakfast of a few spoonfuls of yogurt, a glass of 1% chocolate milk, oatmeal (1/2 oats, 1 c milk, 1/8 c craisons and a tbsp of sliced almonds), I was ready to run.
Started out nice and strong, sticking to the 10:1 schedule and making good time. There was one of many races going on around town today on the Bow River pathway, along with every person who lives in or around Calgary (can you tell we woke up to a nice day today??), but I persevered and pushed forward. Started at my usual spot in Eau Claire, ran east to Langevin (Edmonton Trail), crossed the river, west to 10th street, crossed the river, west to Crowchild, crossed the river (all those crossings do add up) and then all the way past Shouldice bridge and into Bowness. Did some looping on the sidestreets to hit the 2 hour mark (and 14.3km?) before turning back.
And that's when it happens...doesn't seem to matter if I run out 5k or 50k...when I turn back, I lose steam. So, I walked...but made sure that my heart-rate stayed around the 80% of max mark (which my overall average worked out to 83%...very good) and that my pace did not go much above 9 min/km (9.19 - not too bad). So...I think I need to find a loop, and stop this running out and back garbage. I believe that most of distance running is mental...after all, the mechanics of it is simple...left, right, repeat. But boy oh boy, once those negative voices get in your head, you're done. Vancouver is in 28 sleeps...need to start finding those inspirational thoughts that will get me through it. I want to enjoy this experience, not regret it from the start.
Month over month review:
weight loss in March: 1.2 lbs. People have been commenting on my weight loss, but it really is the reshaping they're seeing, not the number on the scale. I have to remember to say thank you though, which is still difficult not to follow with a "but...".
The inches didn't drop so much this month, as I appear to have rebounded on a few, but then I most certainly didn't stick to the running routine as well in March as I did in February.
Bust: 42, down .25
Waist: 39.75, up .5
Hips: 44.5, up .5
Thigh: 27.5, up .5
Calf: 16.25, up .5
Arm: 12.25, down .75
Running: 94.46 km
Walking: 16.05 km
12 / 31 days
Wow...did I ever mess up training in March. Back at it full force in April - decided that I have to be selfish at work and take my lunch breaks for running, instead of working through them all time. The job will still be there, and won't get done any faster, so why was I so ready to give up on myself?? In fact, so far 5 days into April, and I've already passed 1/3 of last months km's.
That's it for me today. I'm off to find more painkillers (I love to run...have I mentioned that?!) and reheat last night's curry for supper tonight. Make breakfast & lunch for tomorrow and then early to bed!
Have a great night.
Dinner last night was fabbo chicken curry with mounds of fresh veggies on rice. That appeared to carbo load me just fine for today, and after breakfast of a few spoonfuls of yogurt, a glass of 1% chocolate milk, oatmeal (1/2 oats, 1 c milk, 1/8 c craisons and a tbsp of sliced almonds), I was ready to run.
Started out nice and strong, sticking to the 10:1 schedule and making good time. There was one of many races going on around town today on the Bow River pathway, along with every person who lives in or around Calgary (can you tell we woke up to a nice day today??), but I persevered and pushed forward. Started at my usual spot in Eau Claire, ran east to Langevin (Edmonton Trail), crossed the river, west to 10th street, crossed the river, west to Crowchild, crossed the river (all those crossings do add up) and then all the way past Shouldice bridge and into Bowness. Did some looping on the sidestreets to hit the 2 hour mark (and 14.3km?) before turning back.
And that's when it happens...doesn't seem to matter if I run out 5k or 50k...when I turn back, I lose steam. So, I walked...but made sure that my heart-rate stayed around the 80% of max mark (which my overall average worked out to 83%...very good) and that my pace did not go much above 9 min/km (9.19 - not too bad). So...I think I need to find a loop, and stop this running out and back garbage. I believe that most of distance running is mental...after all, the mechanics of it is simple...left, right, repeat. But boy oh boy, once those negative voices get in your head, you're done. Vancouver is in 28 sleeps...need to start finding those inspirational thoughts that will get me through it. I want to enjoy this experience, not regret it from the start.
Month over month review:
weight loss in March: 1.2 lbs. People have been commenting on my weight loss, but it really is the reshaping they're seeing, not the number on the scale. I have to remember to say thank you though, which is still difficult not to follow with a "but...".
The inches didn't drop so much this month, as I appear to have rebounded on a few, but then I most certainly didn't stick to the running routine as well in March as I did in February.
Bust: 42, down .25
Waist: 39.75, up .5
Hips: 44.5, up .5
Thigh: 27.5, up .5
Calf: 16.25, up .5
Arm: 12.25, down .75
Running: 94.46 km
Walking: 16.05 km
12 / 31 days
Wow...did I ever mess up training in March. Back at it full force in April - decided that I have to be selfish at work and take my lunch breaks for running, instead of working through them all time. The job will still be there, and won't get done any faster, so why was I so ready to give up on myself?? In fact, so far 5 days into April, and I've already passed 1/3 of last months km's.
That's it for me today. I'm off to find more painkillers (I love to run...have I mentioned that?!) and reheat last night's curry for supper tonight. Make breakfast & lunch for tomorrow and then early to bed!
Have a great night.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Nice Saturday
I'm a little scared...it's been 24 hours and no new snow...how ever will we make it through this "nice" spell?!?
Got up bright and early (ugh) this morning and met up with C. & E. (part of the Saturday morning coffee crew - H. stayed in bed and caught up with some much needed z's) and we went for our usual walk. But I suggested earlier that we shake things up, and we took a new route through Sunnyside, and down it's pathway, which unfortunately is not totally cleaned...funniest sight ever watching C. literally sliding backwards, till I could grab her hand and pull her to safety! Guess you had to be there... But the end goal of the new route was the Crescent Heights staircase. 167 steps bottom to top, and they are nice, big steps (I have big feet and long legs and appreciate that someone tall actually built something that the rest of us can use with ease!)...we did one lap up and down - didn't want to kill them both their first time...we'll work up to more laps in the future. Great butt workout. I was also out of breath by the time I got to the top, and it made me sad that I used to be able to do 10 laps (not per flight, but bottom to top and back down), with push-ups, cross-overs, double-ups, etc, at lunch...yes, in an hour. And that includes there and back to the office, which is roughly another km. Sigh...decided that after Vancouver training is done, I will make that my Tuesday/Thursday routine again, and work my way back to 10, maybe even 12 this year.
Did hook up with H. after coffee and we went to the Farmer's market...for someone who didn't 'need' anything, I sure came home with a very full, very heavy sack! Carrots, the most wonderful smelling tomatoes (they actually smell like a tomato should!), whole wheat pita, olives, the most amazing curry sauce I have ever tasted (locally made, with no crap in it), spinach, sweet potato, cauliflower (can you guess what I'm having for supper tonight??) and some more basil. Then I had a brief, albeit accidental nap on the couch before walking down to the Tech Shop and purchasing some new runners. Figure I have a month to get them broken in. Good news...they were $60 off the regular price, so I spent that $60 on a new pair of capris. I am a sucker for running clothes...doesn't help me run any faster, but dang it, I look gooooooood!
Carbing up tonight with my curry, to get ready for the 29k I will do tomorrow.
Vancouver...29 sleeps and counting...
Got up bright and early (ugh) this morning and met up with C. & E. (part of the Saturday morning coffee crew - H. stayed in bed and caught up with some much needed z's) and we went for our usual walk. But I suggested earlier that we shake things up, and we took a new route through Sunnyside, and down it's pathway, which unfortunately is not totally cleaned...funniest sight ever watching C. literally sliding backwards, till I could grab her hand and pull her to safety! Guess you had to be there... But the end goal of the new route was the Crescent Heights staircase. 167 steps bottom to top, and they are nice, big steps (I have big feet and long legs and appreciate that someone tall actually built something that the rest of us can use with ease!)...we did one lap up and down - didn't want to kill them both their first time...we'll work up to more laps in the future. Great butt workout. I was also out of breath by the time I got to the top, and it made me sad that I used to be able to do 10 laps (not per flight, but bottom to top and back down), with push-ups, cross-overs, double-ups, etc, at lunch...yes, in an hour. And that includes there and back to the office, which is roughly another km. Sigh...decided that after Vancouver training is done, I will make that my Tuesday/Thursday routine again, and work my way back to 10, maybe even 12 this year.
Did hook up with H. after coffee and we went to the Farmer's market...for someone who didn't 'need' anything, I sure came home with a very full, very heavy sack! Carrots, the most wonderful smelling tomatoes (they actually smell like a tomato should!), whole wheat pita, olives, the most amazing curry sauce I have ever tasted (locally made, with no crap in it), spinach, sweet potato, cauliflower (can you guess what I'm having for supper tonight??) and some more basil. Then I had a brief, albeit accidental nap on the couch before walking down to the Tech Shop and purchasing some new runners. Figure I have a month to get them broken in. Good news...they were $60 off the regular price, so I spent that $60 on a new pair of capris. I am a sucker for running clothes...doesn't help me run any faster, but dang it, I look gooooooood!
Carbing up tonight with my curry, to get ready for the 29k I will do tomorrow.
Vancouver...29 sleeps and counting...
Friday, April 3, 2009
Friday night musings
So...when did I become a cheap drunk?!?! Two pints people...that's all I had was two pints, and I can barely keep my eyes open! I started reading some of the other postings, and for fear of nodding off, decided that I'll get all caught up tomorrow!!
Good thing that the only fast food joint (McD's) is right beside the Crack-Macs downtown. That and that alone kept me from going in and ordering a very, very, very large order of fries. Mmmmmm...Guinness and fries...they were made for each other. So instead, because I knew walking home (yes, I still walked, and since it is April and Spring, I've decided to shake my fist defiantly at Miss "Crabby Be-otch" Mother Nature and wear a light coat and sandels to work today...sadly, she shoke back and I was cold walking home...sigh...) that me and cooking wasn't going to work this evening, I did stop into Safeway and picked up some Chinese. I wanted something greasy, so settled on ginger beef (not bad), satay pork (amazingly lean and quite delish) and some dumplings. Not the best choices (veggies in the satay were scant tonight) but it could have been a Big Mac and fries...so I'll take it.
Watching some TV, and then hitting the sack. Want to challenge the Saturday morning walking crew to the Crescent Heights stairs...167 steps bottom to top. Haven't done them myself for a long time, and I actually miss them...awesome butt workout!
My couch and Guinness (now, where did THAT one come from??) are calling me. Till next time.
Good thing that the only fast food joint (McD's) is right beside the Crack-Macs downtown. That and that alone kept me from going in and ordering a very, very, very large order of fries. Mmmmmm...Guinness and fries...they were made for each other. So instead, because I knew walking home (yes, I still walked, and since it is April and Spring, I've decided to shake my fist defiantly at Miss "Crabby Be-otch" Mother Nature and wear a light coat and sandels to work today...sadly, she shoke back and I was cold walking home...sigh...) that me and cooking wasn't going to work this evening, I did stop into Safeway and picked up some Chinese. I wanted something greasy, so settled on ginger beef (not bad), satay pork (amazingly lean and quite delish) and some dumplings. Not the best choices (veggies in the satay were scant tonight) but it could have been a Big Mac and fries...so I'll take it.
Watching some TV, and then hitting the sack. Want to challenge the Saturday morning walking crew to the Crescent Heights stairs...167 steps bottom to top. Haven't done them myself for a long time, and I actually miss them...awesome butt workout!
My couch and Guinness (now, where did THAT one come from??) are calling me. Till next time.
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